Keen on Keens Steakhouse

Keen's Steakhouse: Creamed Spinach, Potatoes, & Prime Rib

Confession time folks: this was actually our second visit to legendary Keen's Steakhouse. But we liked it so much that we returned quickly and I didn't even have time to write a post about it yet. When our favorite steak place Dylan Prime closed earlier this year we were at a loss so I put together a list of new steakhouses to try. We tried and really enjoyed Del Frisco's, but Keen's historic status really piqued my interest, so when we were celebrating my first project launch at my new job, this is where we headed.

As soon as you walk in you are hit over the head with the legacy of the place. The entryway is full of their famous clay pipes signed by celebrities going back over 100 years. Despite how it sounds and the fact that it's in Midtown it doesn't come off as totally tacky. The tuxedoed host informed us that there was quite a wait for the main dining room, but after our last visit we were hip to putting our name on the bar dining room which has a shorter wait. 

We headed to the bar itself to get ourselves our signature steakhouse drinks: an Old Fashioned for The Mr. and a dirty vodka martini for me. The bar itself is worth calling out. It's super classy in a way that is chic without being stuffy. The bartenders make really good drinks and there is NO music. This was an epiphany I had on the second visit- the sound acoustics in there are absolute perfection. Enough of a din for ambience, but you can easily have a conversation while you sip on your beverage of choice.

Finally, a tuxedoed fellow found us and brought us to our table. As seasoned vets, we put in our order for creamed spinach, potatoes, and Prime Rib right away- we ordered the same thing (plus oysters) on our last visit and it was absolute perfection. And we'll probably order the same thing next time, as we will absolutely be back for more!

At a glance (5 point scale):

• Food: 5
• Ambience: 5
• Service: 5