Bobby Van's Park Avenue - 'The Original'

The Scene – This masculine space at the base of Park Avenue caters to a business crowd culled from local office buildings. Although it lacks the patina of places like Peter Luger's and Sparks, it still has a steakhouse's telltale wood paneling, chalkboard specials and decorative wine bottles. The service, although good, can be a bit officious at times. – – The Food – The kitchen caters to culinary hedonists who let their cholesterol be damned in favor of juicy, well-aged steaks, buttery, pan-roasted hash browns and predictably rich creamed spinach. There's also a full…

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What to Drink:: The wine list features almost 800 bottles, including a number of smart Napa Valley vintages, as well as more moderately priced selections.

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User Reviews (17)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“If you are looking for a romantic setting, this is not the place for you.”
dessert	0.0% positive	“The best part of the meal, imo, was the shellfish bouquet, but again, insanely expensive ($35 pp including 1 small crab cake).”
drinks	50.0% positive	“The wine list, while impressive, offered NOTHING in the reasonable category, so again, unless you are an oenophile, do u really need to pay $150 per bottle?” “Bobby Van's lost (or did not take) our reservations and repeatedly blamed us for it; the clientele was rude and obnoxious; the bar was over crowded, the restaurant was smoky and loud the service was mediocre.” “Great wines and classic side dishes make Bobby Van's a very.” “The $13 caesar salad graciously was written off, reducing the bill for dinner, one glass of mediocre wine, and one gin and tonic for me, my wife and my ten year old daughter to "only" $230 without tip.”
food quality	71.4300012588501% positive	“Having made a point of seeking out each newly opened steakhouse contender, I can say, pound-for-pound, Bobby Van's on Park serves the best steaks in Manhattan & is #2 to Luger's overall in NYC.” “" I then said, "I did not like the caesar salad.” “GREAT steak, welcoming service” “Waiter was very friendly steaks did need to be checked on often for the Temp.” “The best part of the meal, imo, was the shellfish bouquet, but again, insanely expensive ($35 pp including 1 small crab cake).” “The steak was good but I think vwey expensive.” “love restaurants, I have dined in many restaurants all up and down the east and west coasts, and I appreciate good food and good service.” “PS: The bread was very good.” “Really enjoy a meal here at this top notch midtown steakhouse.” “The portions here are big and the quality of the steaks is first rate.” “It is a great place for steaks just expect to pay almost $100 pp.” “This place served wonderful food but it seems overpriced and the portions are huge.” “Aside from it being the most expensive steak dinner I have ever had (everything was at least 10-20% higher than any place I have been to), the service was not impressive (until we pretended we were in the Sahara, we couldn't get a glass of water).” “The food was good but for the prices, it was definitely not worth it.” “Thankfully, the steak was good, but the food couldn't save the restaurant from a bad rating.” “The $13 caesar salad graciously was written off, reducing the bill for dinner, one glass of mediocre wine, and one gin and tonic for me, my wife and my ten year old daughter to "only" $230 without tip.” “had the bone in rib eye cooked perfectly rare accompanied by a great salad and fried zucchini.” “Great wines and classic side dishes make Bobby Van's a very.” “Simply put, the food here was amazing, everything you would expect from a place rated the #1 steakhouse in America.” “No, I don't work for Bobby Van's, I just LOVE steak, and Bobby Van's is the place I go to for the Best!” “They serve New York's BEST steak, period.” “Appetizers very good, but the steak is second to none!” “Otherwise the food was excellent - we went around 8:30 on Tues night and waited 15 minutes for a table.” “-The a la carte side of mashed potatoes was good, but very small (and $11).” “The Casaer salad was dry and lacked flavor.” “Luger's is overrated, Sparks is very good, but none serve a better steak than Bobby Van's.” “The caesar salad was not good and the busboys cleared it away after I ate perhaps 15% of it.” “Had an unbelievable artichoke salad and than an awesome beef wellington dish.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The waiter was very helpful, offering to split the caesar we ordered, and also said he'd bring us something my companion had enjoyed there before, even though it wasn't on the menu.”
overall	100.0% positive	“It is a great place for steaks just expect to pay almost $100 pp.” “This is my husband's favorite restaurant in New York City.”
service	54.54999923706055% positive	“Our waiter, Steve, was terrible.” “Bobby Van's lost (or did not take) our reservations and repeatedly blamed us for it; the clientele was rude and obnoxious; the bar was over crowded, the restaurant was smoky and loud the service was mediocre.” “informed the manager as we were leaving that I had a terrible experience.” “The waiter was very helpful, offering to split the caesar we ordered, and also said he'd bring us something my companion had enjoyed there before, even though it wasn't on the menu.” “was with a large party (but we were the ONLY party) and service was slow.” “Everyone was courteous and the servers were attentive.” “love restaurants, I have dined in many restaurants all up and down the east and west coasts, and I appreciate good food and good service.” “GREAT steak, welcoming service” “downpour. The staff was warm and friendly, and I was seated immediately.” “Aside from it being the most expensive steak dinner I have ever had (everything was at least 10-20% higher than any place I have been to), the service was not impressive (until we pretended we were in the Sahara, we couldn't get a glass of water).” “Waiter was very friendly steaks did need to be checked on often for the Temp.”
value	57.14000225067139% positive	“The steak was good but I think vwey expensive.” “The portions here are big and the quality of the steaks is first rate.” “Aside from it being the most expensive steak dinner I have ever had (everything was at least 10-20% higher than any place I have been to), the service was not impressive (until we pretended we were in the Sahara, we couldn't get a glass of water).” “In addition, the dinner was way overpriced, $145 per person.” “The food was good but for the prices, it was definitely not worth it.” “The best part of the meal, imo, was the shellfish bouquet, but again, insanely expensive ($35 pp including 1 small crab cake).” “This place served wonderful food but it seems overpriced and the portions are huge.”
wait time	33.3299994468689% positive	“Service was a bit slow even though we were only one of a few tables there that night.” “was with a large party (but we were the ONLY party) and service was slow.” “Otherwise the food was excellent - we went around 8:30 on Tues night and waited 15 minutes for a table.”

06/08/11

Grest steak, good price

by JMD62

Been here a couple of times, food and service are great. The sides that come w/ the steak are large. No hipsters, no crying babys...The price is good, i dont know why some people are unhappy w/ it. This is manhattan, people pay $8 an hour for parking (in queens its 50¢) $46 steak is not a big deal. Good place to go for business dinners or drinks.

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07/19/09

A punishing (and expensive) dining experience

by TommyM1

The food was uneven

- The Casaer salad was dry and lacked flavor.

- The Broccoli rabe was slightly undercooked and flavorless.

-The a la carte side of mashed potatoes was good, but very small (and $11).

- The $46 ribeye on bone was decent but light on flavor and very fatty

The wine by the glass list was short and very weak.

I ordered a Malbec which was watery and flavorless. I sent it back (something I do unoften) in favor of a cabernet (the only one by the glass), which was better but only slightly so.

Now to the service. Uggh. I can only suspect that our waiter not only was new but had never worked in any service industry before.

First, after the salad course was served, the waiter disappeared. The caesar salad was not good and the busboys cleared it away after I ate perhaps 15% of it. When the waiter reappeared, I told him, "I did not care for the caesar salad." He replied, "Hmmm?" I then said, "I did not like the caesar salad. It was too dry and flavorless" Whereupon he defensively stated that I should have told him before.

Second, I went to the restroom, and returned to find my steak sitting at the table. For a $46 ribeye, I expect it to be served when I am at the table. Not sitting there without me.

Third, when I placed my dinner order, I had asked for a glass of malbec to be served with my steak,. It did not arrive until five minutes after my steak.

Fourth, the malbec was weak and ultimately undrinkable, and I had to wait 5 minutes before I could flag the waiter and ask the waiter to replace it. He grunted and walked away without taking my wine glass. When he reappeared with the glass of cabernet, he replaced the wine glass without a word.

Fifth, when I received the bill, I noticed I was charged for the caeser salad I did not eat. I pointed this out to the waiter, whereupon he argued that I had said the salad was "all right" and therefore he should charge me. I said OK, but then stating he "wanted to make me happy" he ripped the bill out of my hand and stated he would talk to the manager. He returned, putting the bill back on the table without comment. The $13 caesar salad graciously was written off, reducing the bill for dinner, one glass of mediocre wine, and one gin and tonic for me, my wife and my ten year old daughter to "only" $230 without tip.

I informed the manager as we were leaving that I had a terrible experience. He was unresponsive and unapologetic.

I ate at Jack In The Box two days ago and had a much better dining experience. Truly. I love restaurants, I have dined in many restaurants all up and down the east and west coasts, and I appreciate good food and good service. this place - apparently it is a tourist trap for unsuspecting visitors. There are plenty of other great restaurants in NYC.

PS: The bread was very good.

Pros: The bread
Cons: Uneven food, unbelievably bad service

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03/27/09

Overpriced

by damanincharlotte

In balance was an OK experience. The steak was good but I think vwey expensive. I was with a large party (but we were the ONLY party) and service was slow.

If I was paying I would try another place next time.

Pros: Steak was good
Cons: prices are high, slow service

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03/10/08

Great Steak

by citybug6768

I had a wonderful time at Bobby Van's this past weekend. I went here before going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. Had an unbelievable artichoke salad and than an awesome beef wellington dish. Simply put, the food here was amazing, everything you would expect from a place rated the #1 steakhouse in America. I saw the bad reviews and thought I should tell the other side of the story. People are very critical in this city, everybody thinks they are a New York Times food critic, but this place is truly top-notch. Also, they service your table with a team of people, totally professional and world class, in my opinion. Most importanly is the steak. I think the best in the City is Sparks, and this was just as good! Go to the website and then give this place a shot....from my experience I can't see how you would be disappointed.

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02/21/08

If you like ribeye, this is the place for you.

by ahollero

This is my husband's favorite restaurant in New York City. A must is their ribeye. It is quite expensive for $46 but well worth it. We haven't really tried anything else on the menu but the ribeye. The service is average but nothing spectacular. Our waiter did not do much talking but at the end, he did surprise us with a complimentary cake when he found out we were celebrating my husband's birthday. If you are looking for a romantic setting, this is not the place for you. It has a very business-like atmosphere. Despite its average service and setting, we always return for the RIBEYE!!!!

Pros: In mid-town, no wait, Good portions
Cons: Hard to find, tucked away, Room for improvement in the service department

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Editor's Tips

06/08/11

Grest steak, good price

by JMD62

07/19/09

A punishing (and expensive) dining experience

by TommyM1

03/27/09

Overpriced

by damanincharlotte

03/10/08

Great Steak

by citybug6768

02/21/08

If you like ribeye, this is the place for you.

by ahollero

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