Mid-range steak house in NYC?

April 11, 2007 9:08 AM

Mid-range steak house in NYC?

A friend insists on taking me out for a steak dinner in return for a favor I did for him. I know what the good high-end steakhouses are (Luger's, Strip House, Wolfgang's, Q-Meats, etc.) but I don't want to decimate his wallet, as it wasn't that big enough of a favor to demand the finest of meats. He's letting me choose the place and I am stumped, so any recommendations for a good steak joint below the high-end options would be great. Or a non-steakhouse that has a few good menu options would work as well. Thanks!

posted by lovejones to food & drink (15 comments total)

Staghorn?
posted by fet at 9:17 AM on April 11, 2007

del friscos near radio city music hall on 6th ave
posted by goldism at 9:19 AM on April 11, 2007

Actually, while Luger is (IMO) the best, it's significantly less expensive than Sparks / BLT steak / strip house / etc. As long as you don't go completely nuts, you can have a great meal there without going broke. Plus, the house signature dish is the porterhouse for 2 people which ends up being a bit less per person than you'd expect.
posted by luriete at 9:25 AM on April 11, 2007

Don't bother with a midrange steakhouse (good steak is expensive and I wouldn't trust a "steakhouse" that didn't serve good steak). Just go get steak-frites and beer at any of the dozens of bistros in Manhattan. I haven't lived in NYC for years so I'll let someone else suggest one.
posted by otio at 9:26 AM on April 11, 2007

Old Homestead or Keens, but I wouldn't exactly call them "mid-range". I don't know, maybe compared to Luger's.
posted by mattbucher at 9:30 AM on April 11, 2007

i happen to love Angelo and Maxies.
steaks are about $25.00.
posted by picture_yellow at 9:31 AM on April 11, 2007

del friscos is good, but it's not any cheaper than Luger. I honestly can't think of any good, less expensive steakhouses.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 9:35 AM on April 11, 2007

Les Halles has great meat and is reasonably priced. Steak & frites run about $20, but I highly recommend the prime rib on the bone for two. It looks like something out of the Flintstones.
posted by Gamblor at 9:40 AM on April 11, 2007

Les Halles is decent - their tartare is good, as are any of their duck dishes. There's also Employees Only, a bistro open very late, which has a good, solid meat-centric menu. As Otio notes, though, there are a dozen decent bistros with at least good steak frites in Manhattan alone.
posted by luriete at 9:43 AM on April 11, 2007

I've been to Luger's several times, it's definitely more than I'm comfortable asking him to pay. But the bistro idea is spot on, I don't know why I hadn't thought of that. I think I'll just take him to Les Halles or Raoul's. Thanks for the input, all.
posted by lovejones at 9:50 AM on April 11, 2007

Iguess you've already made up your mind but how about Luger's for lunch? The hamburger, from the lunch menu, is comparably priced to a diner or somewhere loathsome like Chili's but is made with Luger's porterhouse trimmings - outstanding! Throw in the side of bacon and the side of tomatoes with sauce and you are in heaven and your buddy is not out that much scratch...
posted by dirtdirt at 10:05 AM on April 11, 2007

Employees Only (EO) is great but bring some cute girls if you're going late or you'll have a wait to get in. Freeman's has a good seared filet mignon but you'll have to find the restaurant first (hint: its at the end of an alley).
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:03 AM on April 11, 2007

I see you might be going for the bistro idea, but I do think The Capital Grill is good. Keens would never be considered mid-range. How about sitting at the bar at Smith & Wolenski's?
posted by Sk4n at 11:47 AM on April 11, 2007

Is Gallagher's midrange? I enjoyed a nice steak there on my last NYC trip, but the in-laws paid & I don't recall what the tab was.

I also like Les Halles, for the food and because Anthony Bourdain is such a cool cat.
posted by altcountryman at 1:46 PM on April 11, 2007

Rothman's is a good place for steak. I've also heard that the steaks at the Mesa Grill are good, but I wouldn't know since I always get the pork loin when I go there!
posted by Afroblanco at 9:58 PM on April 11, 2007