Frankie & Johnnie's Steak

The Scene – Frankie and Johnnie's opened as a speakeasy in 1926, and it retains much of that atmosphere, with deep velvet benches and tiny wooden tables. Though the room is no longer filled with smoke, it feels as though it should be. Big windows with heavy blinds look out on Eighth Avenue. Waiters are slow but meticulous, caring for every detail. – – The Food – Steaks are well-aged and perfectly broiled: The T-bone in particular is juicy and full of flavor, and the porterhouse for two is also top-quality. Outside the realm of steak, things aren't so certain: The pork…

Read full featured review

Editor's Tips

When to Go:: Although there's no pre-theater prix-fixe deal, it's still a great place to go before or after a show. Conversely, to avoid the theater crowd, make a reservation for 8pm.

Write a Review

User Reviews (57)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Food was great, atmosphere was terrific, real old school New York.” “The decor was very interesting.” “The environment was very fun to dine in, I'd definetly recommend it to my friends.” “Despite our spontaneous craving, we were looking for a romantic setting.” “The atmosphere was extremely pleasing-- a small and intimate setting, not loud and crowded like some of the better known steakhouses in Manhattan.” “Great steaks, interesting decor”
dessert	100.0% positive	“would recommend Frankie and Johnnies fourless chocolate torte desert to anyone, it was amazing!”
drinks	90.0% positive	“The food was delicious and the wine selection was great.” “The wait-staff was nice but slow on the drink re-fills.” “The barkeeper is friendly and really knows how to make a drink!” “wound up having the Chilean Sea Bass which was really good and the waiter's wine recommendation was excellent.” “Had to order drinks from the kitchen runner and get the check from the ice water runner.”
food quality	95.76000213623047% positive	“And the food was good too!” “I've never been a big steak eater but now I am.” “But, get over that and, you'll get some of the best steaks anywhere!” “Frankie & Johnnie's has great steaks, and the service was excellent.” “Frankie and Johnnies is definitely the place to go if you are in the mood for a good meal at a classic restaurant.” “The steak is just soooo good, and the winelist is extensive.” “had the best steak I've ever tasted at Frankie & Johnnie's.” “Would only go back to try the steak (but I know there plently of other good steak houses in the city).” “Excellent steaks” “The food was excellent and the place was really neat.” “Great steak, efficient service, appreciated recommendations from waiter which all resulted in positive experience.” “Great steaks, interesting decor” “And the french fries were great too.” “After many visits to F&J's I can say I have always had a great meal.” “lso had the potatoes au gratin which were really good too.” “Our seafood apps were fresh and tasty and my ribeye was rich and fulfilling.” “My parents loved their food, and of course there was enough leftover for everybody to walk away with a doggie bag.” “They're done just the way you want them and the quality of the meat is outstanding!” “The service was great and we had lots of food leftover to bring home.” “This is definitely the palce to go to get your money's worth if you are looking for great steak in the city.” “best steak around” “If you are looking for a good steak this is the place.” “The food was great, as always.” “The food and service was absolutely terrific!” “The service is warm and professional while the food is out of this world.” “true shame, because the steaks are excellent.” “The food was great.” “Everyone was happy with their steaks and chops.” “And the steak was great, of course.” “make great steak - This was better.” “We enjoyed the lump crab cocktail, shrimp cocktail,filet mignon, creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes-all were excellent.” “Excellent food: I was visiting my sister and broither-in-law in NYC last week and we ate here and the food was delicious.” “Such good service and even better food.” “As far as a steak house goes they have very good prices.” “know a good steak when I get one.” “The appetizers and side dishes were very good.” “The T-bone weas awesome, the steak sauce was superb and our waiter was very helpful when we couldn't decide what to get.” “The sirloin steak was amazing and the proportions huge!” “For the kind of money they charge for a steak with no veggie, salad or potato they can afford to have someone clean the dirt that is everywhere.” “This is a cool place with great food.” “It is the best steak ever!” “It seemed like a place where those in the know would go for a quiet dinner with good service and great food.” “My parents and I visited Frankie & Johnnie's over the weekend and the food was incredible!” “The food was delicious-- if you want a good piece of steak, this is the place to go.” “am not a big steak lover, but my father promised I would love the steak here and he was right.” “Might I suggest the Porterhouse, with a side of mashed potatoes.” “could not believe the fabulous flavor of steak.” “caesar salad and an excellent surf and turf.” “T-bone steak was amazing.” “Excellent meal” “great steaks!” “The steaks at this place were wicked good.” “The food was delicious and the wine selection was great.” “my boyfriend and i eat a lot of meat and have been to most of the best places around town and for steak, this one is definitely tops.” “The salmon was great, and the mashed potatoes are to die for!” “Definitely a good steak, and the waiters know how to steer (no pun intended) in the right direction.” “The steak was good but they undercooked it and it had to be sent back, by a long shot.” “Oh my gosh - By far the best steak and salmon my husband and I have enjoyed in a long time.” “Their surf and turf is very yummy.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The food was delicious and the wine selection was great.” “The steak is just soooo good, and the winelist is extensive.”
overall	100.0% positive	“If you are looking for a good steak this is the place.” “its a great place.” “My boys and I had a great time--the place is awesome--old school New York style.” “The food was delicious-- if you want a good piece of steak, this is the place to go.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Would only go back to try the steak (but I know there plently of other good steak houses in the city).”
service	93.47999572753906% positive	“Adjoining diners (who were receiving SOME service) were nonetheless also dissatisfied.” “Not only did we get limo service to and from the restaurant - but the dinner was amazing.” “The service was good but the waiters are older then the dirt on the lamps, and they seem unhappy to be there at all.” “Great steak, efficient service, appreciated recommendations from waiter which all resulted in positive experience.” “The hostess was very nice and helpful.” “If you end up going there (big mistake), stay away from the waiter with the big mole on his face.” “The food and service was absolutely terrific!” “wound up having the Chilean Sea Bass which was really good and the waiter's wine recommendation was excellent.” “The T-bone weas awesome, the steak sauce was superb and our waiter was very helpful when we couldn't decide what to get.” “The service is warm and professional while the food is out of this world.” “The service was great and we had lots of food leftover to bring home.” “Frankie & Johnnie's has great steaks, and the service was excellent.” “the service was good, you can tell those guys were pros.” “have seen many famous people there.” “Such good service and even better food.” “Definitely a good steak, and the waiters know how to steer (no pun intended) in the right direction.” “The barkeeper is friendly and really knows how to make a drink!” “The service was wonderful, and our waiter was and server were very friendly.” “And our server was great, he was very attentative.” “Our waiter was extremely attentive and even shared offered his service when I couldnt decide.” “The waiters were chatty and provided great service.” “The wait-staff was nice but slow on the drink re-fills.” “It seemed like a place where those in the know would go for a quiet dinner with good service and great food.”
value	85.71000099182129% positive	“This restaurant is expensive, but you are certainly getting what you pay for.” “This is definitely the palce to go to get your money's worth if you are looking for great steak in the city.” “The prices were what you would expect at a good steakhouse in any large city.” “For the kind of money they charge for a steak with no veggie, salad or potato they can afford to have someone clean the dirt that is everywhere.” “As far as a steak house goes they have very good prices.” “We were amazed that the prices were better that in our favorite steakhouse in Columbus Ohio.” “The sirloin steak was amazing and the proportions huge!”
wait time	83.33000183105469% positive	“The steak was good but they undercooked it and it had to be sent back, by a long shot.” “Oh my gosh - By far the best steak and salmon my husband and I have enjoyed in a long time.” “The wait-staff was nice but slow on the drink re-fills.”

08/14/11

Underwhelmed!

by RCUSA

I normally don't eat in the Times Square area when I head into the city. Can't expect much in a tourist area. But I had treated a guest to an exhibit and it made sense to eat nearby. Even with my lowered expectations, I was still disappointed in my dining experience. While the servers are friendly enough, they're really just order takers and food runners. Our server delivered my filet mignon, clearly without checking if it was cooked as I ordered it. I asked for medium, and it came out almost raw. In fairness, it was seasoned well and the outer portion was tasty, but the inside was the worst cut of filet I've ever had...anywhere. Lots of fat and very tough to cut. At no point did the server visit the table to check on our satisfaction.

We poured our own wine. Not a big deal, really, but nicer places add that touch.

The decor was mundane and the space very cramped. The coffee station was out in plain view, right next to a table of diners. The pictures on the wall included the standard fare of autographed celebs, but I think the most recent one was from 1980.

Seriously, it was so obvious that this restaurant believes every patron is a one-time visitor, and they have no interest in making a good impression.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

11/02/10

one of the best steaks on manhattan

by martina higgins

good steaks !!! *****

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

02/01/10

terrible

by CSMobileUser5

terrible. they don't eccentric serve real mashed potatoes.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

08/19/08

one of the worst dinners of my life

by gersh94

One of the worst dining experiences of my life.

6 of us went here for my parents' 40th anniversary and they kept serving my brother after we had finished each course.

He got his oysters very late and then his t-bone came out 15 min after the rest of us got our food - he ordered medium and it was very, very rare. After 2 more tries he switched to a sirloin and it too was way too underdone. By this time the rest of us had finished our meal

To make things worse, Peter, the manager was uncaring and disrespectful.

The waiter was gracious enough to offer to take the uneaten steak off the bill (like I would have paid for it anyway) and offered us a glass of wine and a piece of cheesecake for the anniversary. Big deal.

This place should be avoided, there are a ton of other really good steakhouses in the city (Quality Meats, Del Frisco's, Keens). It's a dinosaur that should be extinct.

Pros: none
Cons: manager is a boor - couldn't get all 6 dishes out at the same time - one they couldn't get right at all

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

07/13/08

Dirty, No A.C & not worth the money

by imayesfan

Went to the 45th street location before a show. This was my first time there at Frankie and Johnnies and it will be my last. Im a New Yorker not a tourist and i like a place with character but this was DIRTY. The seats were filthy, there was no AC on and the wall unti was 100 years old and the place wascovered in dust everywhere. For the kind of money they charge for a steak with no veggie, salad or potato they can afford to have someone clean the dirt that is everywhere.

I had a Filet Mignon and lobster tail and the scalloped potatoes. The Lobster tail was small and tough. The steak was good but they undercooked it and it had to be sent back, by a long shot. The potatoes were part raw. They were awful. Everything seemed very plain with no spices and no sauces to be found anywhere. Also, its very expensive considering the food isnt very good. It was busy but i suppose that is due to the fact that people want to eat close to the theatre district.

The service was good but the waiters are older then the dirt on the lamps, and they seem unhappy to be there at all.

Again it was stiffling hot with little AC to be had, and cramped so close to other tables that you could not have a private conversation if you wanted to.

200$ inlcuded 2 drinks, 2 dinners, 1 salad, 1 potato dish and oh yes, the cheesecake that they opened from a box of sara lee. Half frozen and tasteless.

Im not that picky either !

Wont be going back there anytime soon.

Pros: Good steaks
Cons: Just about everything else but the location

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

Write a Review

See more Frankie & Johnnie's Steak reviews

Frankie & Johnnie's Steak

Years in business

Price:

Category:

Payment Methods:

Restaurant Special Features:

General Info:

Cuisine:

What People Are Saying About Frankie & Johnnie's Steak

Contributor

Contributor

Editor's Tips

08/14/11

Underwhelmed!

by RCUSA

11/02/10

one of the best steaks on manhattan

by martina higgins

02/01/10

terrible

by CSMobileUser5

08/19/08

one of the worst dinners of my life

by gersh94

07/13/08

Dirty, No A.C & not worth the money

by imayesfan

The Details on Frankie & Johnnie's Steak

Place Categories:

Things To Do Nearby Frankie & Johnnie's Steak

Lists In Manhattan

Recent Reviews In Manhattan

More Info

Contact

More Navigation

Partner Sites: