Steak for one
Traditional steakhouses usually have meals that are meant to be shared - huge side dishes, etc.
What is the best steak place (bistro, any kind of ethnic restaurant) that would be good for one person - someplace where the vegetables are already on the plate, if you know what I mean.
Steak has to be really fabulous - I like prime dry-aged strips best, but I'm guessing I might end up with a lesser cut in a place like this?
Eujeanie
Jun 06, 2008 01:03PM
I understand what your saying about huge portions. However, if you want a truly great steak you need to go to a great old fashioned steakhouse.
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I think what I REALLY want to do is go to Keen's for the mutton chop. Love lamb, never had Mutton. What's stopping me is I've been to Keen's for lunch in the Pub (loved it - but this was before the no trans fat fries) and I really wanted to go someplace I've never been.
But...I've never had mutton. Do you order it the same way you would order your lamb or steak? (medium rare for me).
Would you feel uncomfortable as a solo in the main dining room?
(Sorry I keep asking this, but I'm a 56 year old woman and I've never dined solo that much, so I'm a little unsure about it).
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Hey, Eujeanie,
No need to apologize for asking questions. After all, the raison d'etre of Chowhound is to help fellow Hounds have the best chow experiences possible.
Keens is our favorite NYC steakhouse. Since you've been there before, you probably know that it attracts a very varied clientele, including families with children. A woman of a certain age should not feel uncomfortable dining solo in the main dining room, and I'm sure the service staff will treat you with courtesy.
Re: the mutton chop. It is not really mutton, but rather, aged lamb. It happens to be my husband's favorite thing to order there. It is huge! He orders it "as the chef prefers." That way, you get it the way it's supposed to be cooked. It comes with, iirc, a lettuce (Romaine?) salad on the plate.
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That sounds perfect! I liked sitting in the Pub for lunch, but the tables were SO TINY and elbow to elbow.
I just hope the chef doesn't prefer it well done, but I HAD heard that mutton does need to be cooked a little more than lamb, that's why I asked. I've also heard that it's not "real" mutton but that's hard to find these days. I actually had the opportunity to eat mutton only once before (a chop house in Northern New Jersey - Bully's maybe? - it was 25 years ago) and was talked out of it by the waiter (they never believe a woman likes gamey, real meat) . I've regretted it ever since.
I know I've been flailing all over the place with where I wanted to go, but it's not like you guys on this board who live there, who if you don't go to a restaurant one week you can go there the next...when you come to the greatest city in the world all too infrequently there is a lot of pressure to choose wisely. Thanks, RGR.
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Eujeanie,
I totally understand your desire to have only the best dining experiences. Even natives hate to waste a meal on mediocrity.
As far as seating in Keens' main dining room is concerned, the tables for two -- which I presume is where you will be seated -- are along a banquette and, unfortunately, are not much better than the Pub Room when it comes to elbow room. Maybe you'll get lucky and be seated on the far end toward the rear of the room. I think that table is roomier.
P.S. I just checked with my husband, and he says the mutton never arrived well done.
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If I decide not to go to Keen's (since I've already been), I've done a little more searching and found another place that fits my original query (a steak for one without huge sides) - how about the Knickerbocker on University Place? Yes or no for a solo?
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Knickerbocker is pretty good for solo dining...it has the bar room up front with tables, as well as a decent-sized bar that's good to eat at too. It also has a good wine-by-the-glass selection...
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Knickerbocker does a very good steak, but it's not on a par with Keens et al. The decor is not in keeping with the high prices, but it's a convivial place and I think you'd be fine flying solo there. The crab cake is a super starter!
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Is it an interesting part of the Village to walk around before dinner? I've really only been south of Washington Square.
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The immediate area isn't that interesting, but it's only a few blocks from Washington Square Park.
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