Monday kicked off Restaurant Week, and I spent it with my roommate Al and our friend Alex at Smith & Wollensky. Now we’re all looking for a little something different when it comes to this infamous week - Al and I appreciate a good value, while Alex would rather enjoy a meal she couldn’t make herself. Regardless, Smith & Wollensky, one of the older restaurants in the city (since 1977!), pulled us in.
The feel of the restaurant is that old-school steakhouse feel. It is pretty much a boys club, and if you are expecting pretty plates and cute decor, you are at the wrong steakhouse. The service was pretty much the same as the decor- simple. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t over the top. It’s almost like since we went with the Restaurant Week menu, we were almost an afterthought to the server.
The meal started with some bread on table, and I appreciated the ample amounts of butter and different kinds of loaves - raisin bread, salt bread and wheat bread. This bread was all delicious. For the first course, I had to choose between calamari, soup and salads, and I went with the caesar salad. Wasn’t too impressed with it - felt like there was a lack of dressing and the salad wasn’t the freshest. To be honest, I would much prefer the salad at the Outback Steakhouse instead.
I came though for the steak, and the steak delivered. The steak was phenomenal. I had the filet, medium rare, and it melted in your mouth and was delicious. The bernaise sauce on the side went well with it, but the steak was so good it didn’t really need it. If I put my value hat on though, I was disappointed the steak didn’t come with any vegetables or even some polenta for crying out loud. I mean come on it is Restaurant Week and you are seriously going to make me order some sides?…which we did. Creamed spinach. Eh. Tasted really pureed.
On to dessert. I went with the hot apple betty. If you work at Smith & Wollensky and are reading this, I highly recommend you swap out the vanilla sauce you paired with it, and put some vanilla ice cream instead since I love the hot/cold combination. Regardless, my dessert was very good and I enjoyed it, but would have loved something cold to go with this hot treat. Like everything else about the restaurant, the dessert was no frills - just a doughey pocket filled with apples, syrup and raisins. And our server was kind enough to offer coffee and tea - after dessert was finished.
As far as Restaurant Week goes, Smith & Wollenksy is a good value, but isn’t anywhere close to one of our favorite steakhouses in the city. My advice - if you are looking for steak, try somewhere else first.
The Basics Name: Smith & Wollensky Location: 797 3rd Ave (between 50th and 49th) Who to bring: Friends, Parents, Guys’ Night Out Price: $$$$ It’s Restaurant Week! Overall: Good, but hold out for the right steakhouse. 3 stars.
