Saturday, October 19, 2013

Keen's Steakhouse

This is another NY landmark kind of place

Believe I did it about a year ago and was just curious if anything had changed

Ha ha...I love it when there are a bunch of raves and then a REAL sour apple ( there was another one if you kept going with these reviews but I figure the place still seems to be pleasing its intended clientele as usual)

Keens Steakhouse

4.0 star rating
844 reviews Rating Details
Category: Steakhouses  [Edit]
72 W 36th St
(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10018
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 947-3636
Make a Reservation
Nearest Transit Station:
34 St. - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
42 St. - Bryant Pk (B, D, F, M)
5 Ave. (7, 7X)
Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Attire:
Dressy
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$$$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Classy
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "I highly recommend the creamed spinach and the mashed potatoes." In 153 reviews
  • "Thousands of pipes line the ceiling, and art adorns the walls." In 194 reviews
  • "Awesome old school, good'ol boy NY steakhouse." In 118 reviews
Show more review highlights
Rating Distribution | Trend
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838 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 31 friends
    • 58 reviews
    New York, NY
    10/14/2013 3 photos 1 check-in here
    Best steakhouse in Manhattan so far.

    We got the porter house for two and chateaubriand for two. Medium rare, but it came out more medium.

    I think Peter Lugers does their Porter House and thick cut bacon better. More juicy. Though Keens does give out some yummy sauces for their steaks.

    Everyone at the table agreed that the chateaubriand was the best. The meat was so soft and the perfect amount of chewiness.   The slight charred flavor gave the meat an extra omfp.

    I hate spinach so i didn't try the cream spinach, but everyone else at my table coudn't stop raving about it.

    The interior was super nice and vintage looking. Many floors for seating. Service was great albiet a little gruff. I love how they gave complimentary veggies with the bread bc gods know how much lbs of meat we are eating. The veggies made me feel that at least i am pretending to be healthy.

    4.5 stars: not all around perfect but close to it.
    • Bacon
    • Chateaubriand
    • Porterhouse
  • Review from

    • 37 friends
    • 30 reviews
    New York, NY
    10/8/2013
    Yabba dabba doo, Flinstone sized portions!  Old school steakhouse with a cozy feel.  The room is lined with mahogany walls and the ceiling is decorated with old cigar pipes.  When you enter the restaurant, there are displays of pipes that were used by some very famous and historical figures.

    We started with the thick cut bacon appetizer...usually 1 order is 1 strip of bacon.  This plate came filled with 4 strips of bacon.  Did I accidentally order a bacon meal?!  This must be heaven!  For entrees we had the Mutton Chop and Prime Rib.  Delicious.  The mint jelly with the mutton chop is delectable and the Prime Rib could feed 2.  The mutton wasn't as gamy as I had anticipated, and the mint jelly helps offset the gamy flavor.

    I couldn't finish the Prime Rib and ended up taking the leftovers and bone home.  My dog had the best meal of her life and would have gnawed on that large bone for hours if I didn't take it away from her!
  • Review from

    • 11 friends
    • 27 reviews
    JACKSON HTS, NY
    9/12/2013 6 photos 1 check-in here
    Keens is an old-school Steakhouse. The place has been open since 1885 and hasn't lost that sense of history. Thousands of pipes line the ceiling, and art adorns the walls. This is as old-school as it gets, and that's a good thing. This is a place you get dressed up for, or at least should. No one wants to see a $55 cut of Aged Beef get served to a guy in a T-Shirt and jeans (Blasphemy!). It just doesn't feel right. Take that guy, and toss him in a suit worthy of an episode of Mad Men, and you get the picture of what feels right. They do have a dress code. Business Casual. Remember, you're here for the meat. Dry-Aged on the premise. USDA Prime Grade. Vegetarians and Vegans need not apply.

    We made a reservation for three, ended up being two. We were seated promptly in the Lincoln Room (the only room you should I.M.H.O.) and ordered drinks and appetizers.

    I ordered the Prime Rib. Kings Cut. Medium Rare and cooked to perfection. Probably the best piece of beef I've ever eaten. Also one of the biggest cuts of meat I've ever seen. Side of Yukon Mashed that was smooth as silk.

    My companion ordered the Mutton Chop, cooked Medium Rare, and whose size was also of impressive proportion. Needless to say there was nothing but the bone it rode in on left on the plate.

    Their Scotch menu is impressive, with a leather bound book that's the size of most diner menus. If there's a Scotch made in this world, I'm sure they have it. Their cocktail list also compliments very well with the food. Dessert was also of note. A simple Hot Fudge Sundae was very good, and very impressive. With what little room I had left , I tackled what I could. Wish I had more space.

    The staff is attentive, on point and knowledgeable. There wasn't a point where we couldn't get a hold of our waiter. There is also a Pub downstairs, with a Pub menu if you're dining alone or don't have a large group in tow.

    If you love your meat, you have to come to Keens. After you come here, no other steakhouse will do.
    • Shrimp Cocktail
    • Scotch Flight
    • Lincoln Room Ceiling
  • Review from

    Redwood City, CA
    10/14/2013
    I wasn't able to get a reservation so I ended up just eating at the bar.  For starters I had a reasonably priced glass of champagne (reasonably priced as far as champagne in steakhouses goes) and a wedge salad, which was excellent.  My main course was a softball-sized medium rare 12-oz hunk of juicy filet mignon and a half order of creamed spinich (as the full orders of veggies are meant for two people.)  No complaints about the food - I got exactly what I ordered and enjoyed the hell out of it.  Total before tip came to about $85.
  • Review from

    New Brunswick, NJ
    9/9/2013 1 check-in here
    Excellent-Very Impressed.

    Went with a group of 21 people for a 30th birthday. 21 loud, obnoxious, picky late 20 early 30 something's.

    The wait staff was patient with us. They were able to split the bill into three parts and did not complain about the 7 different  credit cards situation which always arises in a big group. Turned out to be about $85 per person. Not to shabby considering we ordered almost everything on the menu and a ton of drinks.

    This is a great place for a group. Ordering a bunch of porterhouses for two or three and some sides keeps the cost down and the service can absolutely keep up with everyone's needs. Not one order messed up or one steak under or over cooked.  There were groups of 10- 20 all over the restaurant. The place is huge.

    It is loud as hell but atmosphere is fun. The stench of money and meat fill the air.
  • Review from

    • 24 friends
    • 38 reviews
    Los Angeles, CA
    9/12/2013
    Aaaah New York is always beautful during the summer. We stopped by here on our way to our next tour. I had the Prime Rib Of Beef, Kings Cut, it was perfectly seasoned! The service was great, extremely attentive and courteous. At the end of course I had to order the INFAMOUS New York Cheesecake. It was real good but nothing that you can't get out there in L.A.

    Hope to stop by this place again in a few weeks :)
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 6 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    10/17/2013
    I went to Keens for lunch yesterday for a special birthday occasion.  There were two of us and we were seated immediately in the lovely wood filled dining room.  I noticed that other tables had been served a large basket of fresh bread.
    I am astonished to read that other reviewers have referred to the carrots, pickles, blue cheese dressing and the fresh bread that started their meal.  We received none and concluded that maybe you have to request it. Really ...at these prices?? My partner asked about the mutton chop and was blandly told by the waiter "It's legendary" (so is Jimmy Hoffa).  He ordered the chop and I had the filet mignon.  They were just okay.  The service became erratic as we were told our waiter was leaving and being replaced.  The service staff approached our table at least four times to ask if they could remove our dishes before we finished.  We got the impression that they wanted to end their shift and not be inconvenienced by pesky $235 bill customers.  I have been to many NYC steakhouses where the service is excellent, food delicious and often worthy of the steep prices.  This is not one of them.
  • Review from

    Northridge, CA
    9/17/2013
    Great old school steakhouse.
    Service was great as was the NY.  Only complaint was the baked potato was cold but other than that, would've given 5 stars!
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 1 review
    Rockville Centre, NY
    10/17/2013
    An excellent traditional old style steakhouse everything is prepared well not over cooked or seasoned. The staff is also very warm and courteous the ambience is quaint. My husband and I enjoy coming into the city catching a show and dining at this establishment when in the mood for a delicious steak.
  • Review from

    • 12 friends
    • 125 reviews
    San Francisco, CA
    10/9/2013
    For all steaks beyond porterhouse, this is my place.  Especially when I crave a prime rib.
  • Review from

    • 42 friends
    • 29 reviews
    New York, NY
    10/7/2013 3 photos
    Ordered the Tbone Steak medium rare. Out of all the steaks I've tried, this steak didn't have much taste, even though it had juices and was cooked medium rare. My friends ordered the prime ribeye and porter house for two and it was also sub par for both of them.  Maybe next time we should order their signature mutten chops, that might change my view of this steakhouse
    • Bacon and oysters. Bacon is a definite order
    • Lobster bisque, T-bone steak, porter house and prime rib
    • Wall and ceiling of pipes
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 9 reviews
    New York, NY
    10/14/2013
    The food was pretty awesome, like we have expected! :) We ordered steak for 3 for four people, but we couldnt finish it; it was still too much. The creamy spinach tasted really nice! This is the best steakhouse I have been to so far (in NY).
  • Review from

    Beverly Hills, CA
    8/9/2013 3 check-ins here
    55%
    Pretty good mutton chop.

    ***

    Came here sometime in late '12, and returned again Jul' 13 to try the $48ish mutton chop.  I was pleased but not blown away the first time I tried it.  I was in the area again and decided to give it another try again.  I don't think my opinion changed as much the second time.  I'll break my review down to different areas.  I'd like to write about the food, service, and ambiance.

    The food was good overall.  I liked my mutton chop, a thick cut of bone-in lamb, but its not something I'd take over a regular steak or more conventional lamb chops.  I did enjoy it, but not the extent that I'd return for the dish.  Maybe it's just not a dish that's for me.  I'll break down what I liked and didn't care so much for the mutton chop.

    Our Legendary Mutton Chop $48.50 (dish rating 50%)

    This was a thick cut of meat, approx 16oz or so.  Overall the meat is fairly dense and rich.  The meat comes with some cooked greens and a more modest side of cooked leafy greens, maybe spinach.  There are no carbs included.  I ordered a side of fries for around $10.  It's a large portion and something you can share between maybe 2-4 diners.

    What I liked about the mutton chop:
    -I requested the meat prepared medium rare, and much of the meat inside remained that way.  I do wish there was a bit more sear towards the edges, but Im not sure if thats reasonable given the thickness of the cut.  The meat was very juicy.
    -The is an aggressive flavor of lamb, which isn't for everyone, but something I like and appreciated here.
    -The sweet mint jelly was a good contrast to the lamb's gaminess and the metallic flavor that comes from the blood.
    -Visually the steak is quite intimidating to look at.  Portion size is quite generous and it provides for a hearty meal.
    -The leafy greens work well, particularly when it's soaked in the lamb au jus.  I only wish there might have been more of it.
    -Overall it is a delicious steak dinner for around $50.

    Qualities I didn't care for as much:
    -Flavor wise, there was something harsh about about the metallic flavor of the meat.  It's just a preference of mine.  I don't care for beef sirloin for a similar reason.  I didn't notice it as much with the first few bites.  As I got further along enjoy the meat, the sensation became gradually more unpleasant.  I found myself dousing the meat with more mint jelly as to obscure the flavor of the meat.
    -It was certainly something I found more tolerable than sirloin, but not quite something I enjoyed towards the end.

    Overall, I don't see myself ordering the mutton chop again.  It's certainly a matter of preference, and I want to be clear I don't intend to criticize the quality of ingredients or execution as the basis of what didn't work for me.

    Value seems reasonable for whats offered here.  I do wish fries or potatoes would have been included without spending another $10 for a very large portion.  maybe something smaller for around $6 would have been appreciated.  It was sad I had to waste more than half the fries I got.

    Service was about average.  I think our server and the bussers were capable, but it was more cordial and impersonal, without being uptight.  It wasn't memorable either way, and Im okay with that.

    Ambiance is very cool.  I loved the old dark furniture and the multitude of smoking pipes adorning the ceiling.  The lighting was restrained, but not to the extent that it became difficult to see.  Acoustic levels are non intrusive.  I love the ambiance.

    Keens is a cool steakhouse.  I would certainly be intrigued to return for other cuts of meat.  Their bar next door also offers the same menu, with a more modestly priced bar menu in addition.  I will definitely return to try that.

    I certainly recommend giving Keen's mutton chop a try and decide for yourself if you like.  Its a cool experience for the novelty even if you don't care for it.
  • Review from

    New York, NY
    8/15/2013
    I'll lead with this: that was the largest prime rib I've ever had. I think a part of that was fortune, as the friend sitting next to me ordered the same prime rib and it wasn't nearly as monstrous. Having said that, it tasted quite good and I'd look forward to going back again for another occasion. I'd come more frequently but eating half of a cow at once can't be good for one's health.

    The place has a pretty casual vibe, and feels entirely too crowded wherever you stand or sit. Nonetheless, the staff is friendly and they do their best to make it a good experience. I was very disappointed with the cocktails and drinks, though. The cocktails don't seem to be made very well (typical restaurant cocktail), and the single malt scotches I typically drink did not taste right. Something about how the bottles are kept changed the integrity of the drink, and I don't know what it is.

    My prime rib king's cut cooked to a medium rare was probably the best prime rib I had in NYC. I did try other meats ordered by people at my table, but the prime rib was definitely the best choice in my opinion. The legendary mutton chop is also a monstrosity, but the taste was only decent. The porterhouse was a well prepared piece of steak but I'd say it doesn't top the same dish at Peter Luger's. The filet mignon was dry and I could tell it wasn't their specialty. Get the prime rib.

    Their sides are standard, as the mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were all decent but underwhelming. The slab of bacon comes three strips to a plate, and I felt that it was too heavily salted. Nonetheless, the prime rib alone garners four stars even though not much else would be able to add a fifth.
  • Review from

    • 8 friends
    • 59 reviews
    San Francisco, CA
    9/29/2013 1 photo
    Went to New York last week and I wanted to take my gurlfrwen out for hosting me. I chose Club A based on their yelp reviews.

    We ordered the Porterhouse for 2 (medium rare of course) calamari, smoked bacon appetizer, lobster ravioli, truffled Mac and cheese, and creamed spinach.

    We ate until we were stuffed everything was delicious. The waiter was very courteous and gave us free glasses of wine, free desserts, and free champagne courtesy of the owner! Bruno the owner even toasted with us and asked if we enjoyed our dinner :) great customer service and I will highly recommend Club A to anyone I know visiting New York!

    You can easily make reservations on yelp using open table!
    • Lobster ravioli, Mac and cheese, porterhouse, cream spinach.


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