A Classic NYC Steakhouse: Gotham Bar and Grill

Gotham Bar and Grill, located at 12 East 12th Street, is a classic NYC institution that sometimes flies under the radar.

In fact, in 2011 it was given its fifth consecutive three-star review from The New York Times. Gotham opened in 1984, so it may be a stretch to call it an institution. But in such a high-turnover market at Manhattan, it certainly standing tall.

Let me preface this by saying that I was raised above Gotham—literally. I spent the first 21 years of my life on the 10th floor of the adjacent building, so Gotham has a particularly esteemed place in my heart and as my family’s go-to eatery for decades. But my love affair with it goes beyond nostalgia.

Large, comfortable, and striking, it’s one of the first things you see even before you enter, visible through Gotham’s oversized 12th Street windows. Professional bartenders, the ones you get to really know, original mixology, and lunch-friendly spritzers are only a few of its fantastic qualities.

The vertical aesthetic of Gotham’s dishes were the first of its kind and changed food presentation globally. Thirty-one years later, and they still fuse amazing taste with skyscraper plating that makes any meal feel festive.

The trend of late might be for tiny, 20-seat boîtes, but I like the sheer indulgence of Gotham, with its dramatic ceiling heights, voluminous multi-level layout, and generous tables.

Gotham Bar and Grill—a restaurant you have to visit at least once to call yourself a true New Yorker. See you there.