A Gem of a New York City Restaurant

I was taken out to dinner a few weeks ago by some of the sales staff of my former employer as they felt that I helped them with some sales leads, (I'm a Search Engine Specialist) and I was asked to choose the restaurant. Now I always remembered watching the old "Odd Couple" TV show with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall and it seemed that every time Oscar went into a restaurant in that show, it looked similar to Smith & Wollensky on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. So I chose this as the place to eat.

We met on a Friday evening in the summer, so I knew we wouldn't all get their till 7 or 8pm. I arrived at 6:30pm and the maître d'told me to have a seat at the bar and have a drink and not to worry about my reservation, as most of the reservations made would be late. I thanked him and sauntered over to the bar.

I ordered my standard Vodka and Cranberry. Now, I believe I can drink with the best of them. In fact, I believe I can trace my lineage back to the earliest drunken sailors on Roman galleys. I digress. Have you ever went to a bar in New York, ordered and consumed your drink and the cranberry juice tasted like something other than cranberry juice and the vodka was hiding in another glass or another bar? This drink prepared was perfectly made; the desired effect I was seeking was achieved.

I normally have three or four drinks, especially with dinner but I had only one for the entire night! We were seated comfortably on the second floor and the waiter came and asked us what we wanted to start with and we all ordered water and he brought out some fresh and warm bread. We all decided that we would have the seafood appetizer (there were four of us) as a starter, tomato and mozzarella salad in a vinaigrette seasoned sauce.

The main fare for me was the well done "Hulk Hogan" prime rib (I added in the Hulk Hogan moniker for effect) with seared asparagus. The other members of my party ordered a T-bone steak dish for two or was it three. The final member of the party ordered a fish dinner; something filleted.

I like a restaurant, whose wait staff seems genuinely interested in your comfort and the enjoyment of your meal. Not the wait staff who will say anything to appear groveling to get the end-of-meal tip. Our waiter gave us our space, made suggestions and really made sure our dining experience at Smith & Wollensky was going to be something to fondly remember. I recommend Smith & Wollensky strongly as they provide a value for the money spent, for the comfortable seating and for satisfying the ancestral drunken sailor in me.

They are conveniently located at 49th Street and 3rd Avenue, with transportation nearby (6 train at 51st and Lexington and the E, V and 6 train at 53rd and 3rd Avenue). It is minutes from Penn and Grand Central Stations. Visit their website at: smithandwollensky. I took some photos to show try and capture some of our dining experience.




The outside of Smith & Wollensky






The stairway to the upper level. Notice the photos of previous patrons, showing that Smith & Wollensky has a rich history in New York.





This was the Appetizer (Note the Shrimps on Steroids)










This is the steak I had. I was watching my weight, so I washed down my meal with a small diet coke.









This was the two-person T-Bone steak


Overall, the experience was pleasant and the staff warm and friendly. There is good value and you will not leave Smith & Wollensky expecting to have a midnight snack at home.