T-BAR STEAK & LOUNGE
Location: 1278 Third Avenue
NY, NY 1002
212-772-0404
www.tbarnyc.com
"We’re more than a steak house," said legendary owner of the uptake remake of his previous venue. May be, but those two steaks we devoured were some of the most perfect specimens in town. What I think Mr. Fortuna means is that T-Bar is so hip and miles above the stodgy steak house standard that he doesn’t want to be labeled.
And why should he be when appetizers, breads, sides, seafood and desserts are way out of the steak house league. What plump fried oysters and such an inventive crabmeat salad with just a touch of mayo and a garnish of avocado and pineapple.
There’s great branzino here and a potato-bacon-Gruyere cake that’s to die for. But save room for desserts that took Fortuna, who is a confessed addict, a month to create. The strawberry number (shown) is terrific, but eclipsed by a banana parfait that lies somewhere between a French coupe and an English Trifle. Trifle indeed. It’s worth the price of dinner. Cocktails, wines and service are all in tune and T-Bar is a delight from start to finish.
T-BAR STEAK & LOUNGE
1278 3rd Avenue, NYC
Date Established: October 2007
Cuisine: Contemporary Modern American Steakhouse
Owner: Tony Fortuna
Executive Chef: Ben Zwicker
General Manager: Datza
The Space: The design of the restaurant has a playful, colorful edge that feels zip codes away from the club chair stuffiness of most steak houses around NYC. The colors throughout the room are a mix of greens and bright oranges.
Signature Dishes: Appetizers: Angel Chicken Wings, Smoked Salmon “Ravioli”, Classic Escargot
Entrees: Grilled Mediterranean Branzino, 4 prime cuts (26oz T Bone), Mezzi Rigatoni Alla Bolognese
Desserts: Strawberry Shortcake, Crème Brule
Dining Room Hours: Monday – Saturday: Lunch: 12PM – 3PM
Bar: 3:00PM – Midnight
Dinner 5:30PM – 10:30PM
Sunday: Dinner: 5:30PM – 9:30PM
Price Range: Appetizers: $9 - $18; Entrees: $21 - $42
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover.
Reservations: Recommended.
Wheelchair Access: Restaurant and located on ground level
Believe it or not, in the midst of New York’s steakhouse mania, there is hardly an example of the current craze on the Upper East Side. That is, until now. Leave it to Tony Fortuna, to create a shining stand out amidst the area’s trattorias and sushi bars. The man who ran the front-of-the-house at Jean Georges Vongerichten’s 4 star Lafayette, and the Plaza Athenee’s restaurant, now brings us an exciting stylish, modern steakhouse on the Upper East Side.
Ben Zwicker, executive chef of T-Bar Steak & Lounge, has created a menu that amuses all steak aficionados and seafood lovers. As the original chef from Lenox Room, Ben has stayed on board to revitalize this contemporary Upper East Side restaurant. The menu combines contemporary flavors and ingredients with traditional recipes. The raw bar includes a wide range of sweet, tangy, and savory tartars. There is a steak bar that includes four prime cuts including a 26-oz. T-bone, along with succulent tuna and salmon steak dishes. Inventive steak sauces like miso mustard and mint chutney are offered to compliment every steak. The appetizers are classic and market driven and are comprised of a Roast Hudson Valley Beet salad, Chopped Ceaser Salad, Smoked Salmon “Ravioli”, and Honey BBQ Chicken Wings. The signature side dishes are the perfect accompaniment and include French fries seasoned with paprika and an Applewood Smoked Bacon and Aged Gruyere Potato Cake.
Desserts include a luscious version of strawberry shortcake with fresh plump fruit, whipped cream, moist pound cake and crisp meringue shells. Other desserts are comprised of a crème brule, beignets, and a banana pudding cake.
The design of the restaurant has a playful, colorful edge that feels zip codes away from the club chair stuffiness of most steak houses around NYC. Walls are adorned with glass light fixtures enclosed with seasonal dried leaves and flowers, the room pops with color, and the bar scene is as vibrant as the room. The hues throughout the room are a mix of greens and bright oranges and with crisp white tiles that enhance the feeling of a clean and modern restaurant.
T-Bar will no doubt give midtown steer palaces a run for the money.
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