
Visit #1 · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
West Side Steakhouse
- Score
- 55/100
- Worth a return visit
- no
- Ranked
- #5/5
Manhattan, 5 out of 10
Arrived in a martini glass (instead of a coupe glass), with a Maraschino (not Luxardo) cherry already sunk to the bottom and no pick across the rim. Looked and tasted a bit “light”. Nicely chilled glass.
Shrimp Cocktail, 5 out of 10
Three small shrimp with little/no snap. No horseradish alongside to adjust the strength of the sauce.
Filet Mignon, 15 out of 30
Cooked to the medium rare I ordered, which was the best part. The cut wasn’t a barrel cut (rather, it was more flat and wide rather than tall), and there was little/no crust. Mostly lean, but there were several pieces that had noticeable fat.
Creamed Spinach, 9 out of 10
Good texture, “saucy, but not too saucy,” and light enough that it never turned heavy over the meal.
New York Cheesecake, 2 out of 5
Had very little taste to it and the crust was “moist and dense”. No berries. The whipped cream was literally “wet.”
The Room, 5 out of 10
Casual - the “neighborhood steakhouse” feel. The acoustics were good: I held a conversation without straining to hear.
Service, 6 out of 10
Just “Ok.” The primary server took roughly ten minutes to appear to take our order. I asked for a side of horseradish with the steak and it never came. After we finished, clearing the plates took a long time.
Extras, 3 out of 5
Rolls, warm and good. Would’ve been nice if the butter was served unpackaged. Nice to have a real candle on the table. The steak knives could use an upgrade.
Value, 5 out of 10
The five items came to $109: the Manhattan at $17, the shrimp cocktail at $17, the filet at $55, the creamed spinach at $8 and the cheesecake at $12. That’s $109 before tax for the order. All things considered, value was “par for the course.”