Z Prime Italian Steakhouse — Restaurant in City of White Plains

This is going to be lengthy ...

I dined at Z Prime on Friday, November 16, 2018.

Let me begin by saying the food at Z Prime was great! And, the restaurant atmosphere was refreshingly different (in a great way)!

That said, our waiter, Shaban, much left to be desired. At least thats the server name on my receipt. Shaban also happens to be the name of one of the first people to review Z Prime according the Google reviews (9 months ago); 5-stars before they ever opened ... suspect.

This is my first Google restaurant review, I typically never write a review because if I don't like a place I just don't go back. But thats the crux of the situation here, I genuinely enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, but the service left a bad taste in my mouth.

Shaban screwed up four (4) times and not once did he just own it, instead each time it was someone else's fault ... he even blamed me once!

1. The cocktail order; he brought me the wrong drink, it happens, I get it, but his excuse was that the bartender messed up the order because she is "new" ... buddy the restaurant has been open 16 days, everyone is new!
2. I ordered the "Bone-In N.Y." ($65), when my steak arrived I was given a "N.Y. Strip" ($58) which I kept because I did not want my wife's Lobster Capellini to get cold waiting for me. Thats fine, it was delicious, but ...
3. If you've ever been to a steakhouse or worked at one you should know that a "Bone-In N.Y." is a "strip" cut of steak. Apparently not Shaban, because he proceeded to bring the menu over to me and say that I got a "N.Y. Strip" because that is the only "strip" on the menu. According to Shaban, the "Bone-In N.Y." is NOT a strip and its my fault I didn't get what I wanted because when I ordered I said "Bone-In N.Y. Strip" please. WOW ... just wow ... seriously!
4. When the bill arrived there was an extra $2 "martini" charge added to the two cocktails we ordered for some reason ... maybe it was a penalty for sending back my first cocktail ... who knows. But Shaban, again did not take the blame, he threw that one on the computer, saying it was a computer error. All this tells me is that he does not know how to work a POS system or every paying customer was getting charged an extra $2 on top of the already pricey cocktails if in fact it really was a computer error.

In conclusion, Z Prime is exactly what White Plains needs. The food was great and the atmosphere bucks the trend of most other stuffy steakhouses. However, if a waiter can't own up to his mistakes then he should not be getting the gratuities/tips that he is going to be making when the menu prices are what Z Prime is charging. I have no issue paying good money for dinner, especially when its good quality food, but for me to pay $235 for dinner for two, the waiter screw up 4 times, and I get nothing comped nor an apology ... that I take issue with. Like I said earlier, I never leave reviews, but I felt compelled to because I used to be a steakhouse waiter and I want to like Z Prime and I want to go back, but if I do, they are going to need to tighten up the professionalism of the wait staff (my apologies to every other server of whom I did not have the pleasure of sitting in your section).

I hope to be back soon and have a better experience, but for now the three-stars is going to stick. Thanks...

What an AMAZING experience. From the moment you walk through the door it wreaks first class. You truly get what you pay for. From drinks, to appetizers, to the amazing steaks and desserts..this place is a win. The hostess is gorgeous and a direct reflection of what lay beyond. The decor is beautiful and perfectly fitting of a "trendy" modern steakhouse😉. Not your stuffy grandparents steakhouse and this is a wonderful thing. Linen napkin service I promise, but lively, energetic music (nice mix of dance, EDM, afrobeats and R nB. Seating was very comfortable. We had a party of 7 and not smashed together in small seats how some restaurants, particularly in NYC do. Again back on the amazing ambiance when you sit down and the well decorated bar with a great choice of a popular Tequila. Lychee Martini was really good...probably the only complaint if you want to call it that is I wish the bartender could have been a tad more heavy handed. Was goof, but more like a punch so it stopped me from buying another. We had meatball, calamari, thick cut bacon, fried dumplings for the apps. All were really good. The dumplings may have been a tad over done but good none the less. Everyone raved over the thick cut bacon and the meatballs. Entrees were, ribeye, Kansas City, 2 surf and turf and a Cowboy steak. One person had chicken over pasta which he stated was probably the best he ever had in his life. The steaks here....phewww. The Kansas was mine which is a T-bone and is hands down the best steak I have ever had and I am a big restaurant guy. I love trying new places, not just in NY, but Boston, Miami, CT and Atlanta. None can hold a candle to this T-bone that I have come across. Was super tender and cooked to my perfect liking (med well). Considering it was one of the lower priced steaks I can only imagine what the $600 steak taste like..lol. Sorry to state prices but I think that example shows contrast in the quality because the Kansas taste and (melted) like it was at that price point. Everyone at the table raved about and was still talking about the meal today (Tuesday) and we went on a Sunday evening. If but only once this is a must have once in your life. Our server was very friendly, responsive and had a great sense of humor (a big plus for me in any restaurant). We didn't think we wanted to dessert, but he brought out a beautiful display of desserts which everyone (that didn't want dessert, lol) devoured. The presentation was amazing and were perfectly made for sharing. A nice array of flavors for the palate from a cinnamon Gelato, to a chocolate lava cake. Every single piece of the evening for the family was fantastic. This is my second trip and will be back again. Maybe I'll splurge for my birthday on the Japanese ribeye lol. We had 2 teens with us but I wouldn't recommend any younger than 16. My 16 yr old has an expanded palate and appreciates and understands quality food. I think any younger it would be a waste.

Overall amazing! Do yourself a favor if you have a special celebration for you or someone really special...take...

Made an OpenTable reservation for this place tonight at 8PM. Was seated promptly. I sat down, and was brought over drink menu’s, then my bread came out. I was told by the server that they don't have tap water. If you have a bar that is not true because you have soda guns that shoot out water. I was then asked if everything is okay, and if I would like to see a menu? Strange because I usually get the menu when I’m seated at a table. I then order the clams, which were horrible. I don’t even think I tasted a clam, it tasted like a box of stove top thrown on top of a clam shell. I also ordered a Cesar salad- it had tomatoes in it? And was salty as all hell. I then proceeded to ask about the 24K Gold steak, my waiter had no idea, asked everyone including bus boys- finally went in kitchen and asked the chef and he said it’s kind of expensive? He said it was normally 900.00 to 1k but can do it for me for 600 because I’m a nice person? Didn’t know steak prices are negotiable… Never got clam forks for my clams, then he came back to my table and was snippy with me and said, next time sir we do the 24K Gold steak, no because there will be no next time. You then serve me garlic mashed potatoes which were ice cold, and my steak sucked for the price. Then on top of it you put a random 9.00 charge on my bill and tell me it’s for the credit card processing fee but it’s listed no where on your menu and you charge me gratuity for two people. If you plan on being a “high end” steakhouse please act like it.

I asked myself when I got home why I didn’t pay the $40-$50 to Uber to The J House and spend less and get a steak that’s 10x better.

Will not be returning to this place, it’s a rip off, and the worst steak I ate in my enitre life. Please tell your servers to maybe pay attention when someone’s wine glass is empty- the only way you would of got me to stay for desert was if you actually cared about your customers.

Half my steak was cooked medium and half my steak was cooked well done,...