Benjamin Steakhouse — Restaurant in New York

I recently dined at Benjamin Steakhouse, and my overall experience was far from what I had expected from such a well-known establishment. I must say that the steak itself was quite good, but the negatives of the evening far outweighed any positive aspects. The most glaring issue I encountered during my visit was the abysmal service. It's disheartening to admit, but it left me questioning whether it was due to the color of my skin or my choice of attire. No one should ever feel judged or discriminated against when they're trying to enjoy a meal, especially at a fancy restaurant like Benjamin Steakhouse. The moment I walked in, I noticed some cold stares and less-than-warm welcomes from the staff, which immediately set the tone for the evening. The hostess who seated me did so with indifference, and my waiter seemed to be in a hurry to get through the motions rather than provide attentive service. Requests for simple things like water refills were met with considerable delays, and the overall attitude of the staff left much to be desired. To make matters worse, the sides that accompanied the steak were utterly disappointing. I understand that a steakhouse's reputation primarily rests on the quality of its steaks, but the sides should complement the main dish, not diminish the overall dining experience. The sides I ordered were not only subpar in taste, but they were also served cold. It was an unfortunate letdown and a stark contrast to the quality I had anticipated from a restaurant of this stature. As a last resort, I decided to speak with the manager about my experience, hoping for some resolution or at least acknowledgment of the issues I faced. However, the manager's response was far from friendly or understanding. He seemed disinterested and dismissive, providing no solutions or apologies. It was disheartening to witness such a lack of concern for customer satisfaction, especially when I had approached the matter with courtesy and patience. In sum, my visit to Benjamin Steakhouse was marred by substandard service, disappointing side dishes, and a complete lack of professionalism from the management. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this restaurant to anyone based on the experience I had. Discrimination or not, every diner deserves to be treated with respect and enjoy a quality meal at a reputable establishment, and Benjamin Steakhouse failed to deliver on both fronts...

Went for Restaurant week dinner last Tuesday. I was really looking forward to it reading the good reviews. I even compared it with other steakhouses doing Restaurant Week as well.

Reservation wise, quick and easy via Open Table. I requested for a really good table celebrating a milestone event. They gave a wonderful one by the balcony. That was a nice touch.

As for the food, we did take advantage of the restaurant week menu but also ordered from the main menu. For appetizers, I had calamari which was delicious with their marinara sauce. My husband had the slab of Canadian bacon. Both good and pretty generous. I ordered a glass of Champagne and husband had a glass of Malbec. They did offer bread too but it's not the freshly baked irresistible bread with butter type, I skipped this. Wish it was better.

We both got the sirloin for entree and it came with mashed potato and vegetables. I found the steak okay, it was medium well not medium rare as I asked. I only ate half and left the rest untouched. Thankfully we ordered the Surf and Turf which was $85 and menu says, 12 oz filet mignon, 2 oz lobster, 2 oz shrimp, 1 oz king crab, bordelaise, beurre blanc for $84.95 so we were excited and asked for it medium rare plus. It came and presentation is beautiful but felt underwhelmed to be honest. Didn't really feel the lobster and especially didn't see the crab in it though so that was a let down.

Dessert was chocolate mousse which came recommended, it was good but didn't really deliver that perfect dessert pleasure. My husband got the ice cream which was supposed to be vanilla and strawberry and he got chocolate and strawberry, he doesn't like chocolate ice cream so it was also just okay.

Overall, 3.5 but bumping it to a 4 because of the wonderful service from Jet last Tuesday night and for giving us a great table by the balcony. There was also a guy who kept on asking 'how's everything going?" from tables who had white customers and for at least 3-4 times that night, chose to not ask how the asians and people of color are finding everything. $230+ and a generous tip later, everything adds up to the experience. It wasn't bad for sure, it just felt a little flat. Wishing it was a much better experience to write and rave about as...

I rarely leave reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience yesterday due to the racism I encountered.

I visited for the restaurant week deal, almost my fifth time here, recalling the good memories from previous visits. Unfortunately, this will be my last.

My reservation was at 6:30 PM. Upon arrival, we were escorted to the second balcony floor, which had around four occupied tables: three with East Asians and one with a white family who were speaking Spanish. My girlfriend already had an iffy feeling, but we sat down because I liked the balcony view.

Two waiters managed the balcony tables, navigating a narrow, busy hallway. Our waiter seemed disorganized. Our table lacked steak sauce, and I didn't even see a drink menu. After requesting one, I ordered a cocktail, but the server forgot to take my wine glass and the drink menu. Eventually, I had to ask the server who brought our entrées to clear them.

The steak was alright. I usually order the porterhouse, but it wasn't on the restaurant week menu. I got a bone-in ribeye, and my girlfriend ordered filet mignon. They were perfectly cooked but a bit dry. I'd recommend the porterhouse if you decide to visit.

As the evening progressed, more people arrived, still mostly Asian parties on the balcony floor (around seven tables). There was only one white party on the balcony floor. Looking down at the main floor, I saw no Asian parties, mostly white diners with a few Asians accompanying them. It felt like they were segregating us, reminiscent of places like Peter Luger, known for clustering Asians in one area.

I paid the check and went downstairs to use the bathroom before leaving. In the dimly lit restroom, I saw the only African American working there, handing out paper towels to customers. We had a brief conversation, and when I asked him where he was from, he told me he was from Senegal. It was a poignant reminder of the evening's...