Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina — Restaurant in New York

I've dined here a few times and have always had great experiences. Last night was entirely different and I write this review, offering fair warning, for those planning a special event there in the near future; I'll clarify what I mean by that shortly.

Last night I hosted a dinner with (7) individuals. Again, since I've dined here a few times, I was near certain that everyone was going to have a great time. And when everyone will spend about $400 per person, I felt comfortable that the premium pricing would be matched by great food & service.

Here's all the things that went wrong for Bourbon last night, specific to the experience our party of (7) had:

1. We were seated at 6:30pm and they had already run out of a few menu items (appetizers, etc.)

2. When they took our drink orders, they would deliver 4 out of the 7 drinks...and the balance just never came. So we would politely inquire and ask where the other 3 drinks were....and they again, never came quickly....but arrived about 30 minutes later.

3. After we ordered some appetizers, they never cleared our tables of menus, empty plates and glasses. Our table looked like a construction site. I had to ask two separate staff members to clear our table.

4. They never asked us if we wanted "another round"....which we did. We had to press, on multiple occasions if we could order another round. These drinks again, came late and incomplete.

5. On three separate occasions, they dropped off a round of drinks....but these weren't our orders and rather were for other tables & parties....three times....

6. Our steaks took over 1 hour to arrive. My friends and I frequent many NYC steak joints (Quality Meats, Delmonicos, Peter Lugers, etc.) and in all cases, after you're served the waiters typically come over to ask us our how meat was prepared. This never happened, matter of fact, after our steaks were dropped off, we were never asked if they were prepared properly, if we need anything else, drinks, etc.

7. Our servers never refilled our water glasses without being asked multiple times.

8. Near the end of our 3 hour ordeal, my party and I just wanted to leave and "chalk this one up as a loss".... I told our waitress that we were all very disappointed and that I was looking for some quid pro quo. They accommodated us with a few deserts, on the house.

So back to my original point, I've nearly always had great experiences here but last night was truly one to forget. Will I go back there one day? Perhaps but I'll cycle through some other higher end steak joints before testing my luck again.

So if you're planning a critical business function or family event, you may want to think twice about going to this location. Perhaps some staff called in sick, etc but I would expect that a high end restaurant would "figure that out" and always offer their clients a frictionless experience....regardless of what may be happening...

TLDR - Prime location for a close friend's Birthday / Business celebration!

Every year, for the birthdays of close friends and family, we try to find a prime steakhouse to celebrate. This year, we chose Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, and wow, what an experience!

We managed to get a reservation at 7:30 PM by booking a few days in advance. From the moment we arrived, we could tell this wasn’t just another steakhouse. Walking through the beautiful entrance of the JW Marriott Essex House and into the restaurant, you’re immediately hit with a sense of luxury and sophistication. The location, right in front of Central Park, sets the perfect scene for an upscale dinner, and you feel like you’re in for something special.

The service was warm and professional, and we were greeted with something unexpected—three types of French fries instead of the usual bread basket you find at most steakhouses. These fries came with house-made sauces, and it was such a fun and delicious start to the evening.

The drinks didn’t disappoint either; I had a Manhattan that was spot-on, and the rest of our group enjoyed their cocktails just as much.

For our mains, we ordered the Ribeye, New York Strip, and a few sides—all cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. The only hiccup was that they forgot our Wagyu steak, but honestly, they more than made up for it. By the time we noticed the mistake, we’d already finished the other dishes, so we decided to cancel the Wagyu. When we mentioned this, the manager came over personally, apologized, and offered to make it up to us with dessert or anything we would like.

What came next was a huge surprise—they brought out every dessert on the menu for us to enjoy! We were six people, and every dessert was absolutely incredible. It turned a small mistake into one of the most memorable parts of the evening. They didn’t charge us for the desserts, which we truly appreciated, and of course, we made sure to leave a generous tip.

Even though we stayed until late and were the last ones in the restaurant, the staff treated us so kindly, offering coffee and tea and even singing to the birthday boy (or should I say, the birthday man—39 years young!). Their hospitality and attention to detail made the whole evening feel really special.

If you’re looking for an amazing spot for a birthday, business outing, or just a great night out, I can’t recommend Bourbon Steak enough. We’re already planning to come back, and they even told us about their hidden lunch menu with burgers, so now we have another reason to return.

Thank you, Bourbon Steak, for an unforgettable night! I’ll be sharing some photos from our experience so others can see just how amazing it was.

If you read this and went there - let me know how was your...

The moment you step into a restaurant, it should be an unforgettable experience. With Michael Mina's reputation of owning over 40 restaurants worldwide, my expectations were high for his first NYC restaurant, Bourbon. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment.

I hoped for a memorable last dinner gathering with my dad, showcasing New York's high-level dining scene. Instead, it turned into an unsatisfying experience that left me deeply upset.

Steak: 2/10: As a steakhouse, the most crucial dish was a disaster. The steak was overcooked to at least medium, if not more. Despite the server Mijin's insistence that the bone was medium rare, the majority of the steak was undeniably overcooked (image for reference). It was a very thin cut of 20oz bone-in ribeye, lacking essential seasoning like salt—a fundamental element of a great steak. Rather than correcting the mistake, the server was defensive and argumentative telling me that’s is the way it’s cooked. Like I don’t understand the purpose of going to a steakhouse if I can cook better ones at home. The house sauce, far too acidic, didn't complement the steak at all. For a better steak, I recommend Benjamin Steakhouse instead.

Service: 3/10: The service was far below standard. We had to request water while sitting in the center of the room. When the table was cleaned, sauce was spilled without apology. No one checked on us to see how we were enjoying our meal. A high level restaurant like this, these detail should be the basic equity.

Timing: Unrated: I requested the food to be served when ready, but ten plates arrived all at once, overwhelming the table. There was no effort or awareness to space out the dishes for a more pleasant dining experience.

Pinwheel Truffle Bread: 7/10: Slightly dense and dry, best shared between two. The green onion and sea salt were nice touches.

Tuna Tartare: 4/10: Overpowered by sesame oil, making the delicate tuna taste oily and heavy.

Dover sole Fish: 5/10: Innovative with a unique pastry texture, but bland and overcooked, resulting in a dry, dense dish.

Tomato Tart: 8.5/10: The standout dish. Perfect texture, crunch, and acidity.

Duck Breast: 7/10: Quite good, with a nice touch of cherry.

-Onion Soup: 5/10: overly sweet, not balanced at all. Cannot finish a whole bowl by yourself.

Interior Design: 9/10: Beautiful surroundings and great lighting, creating a perfect ambiance for dates.

-Solid wine menu!

Despite ordering most of the server's recommendations, this was the honest experience we had. What should have been a highlight of our trip was marred by poor execution and service, leaving a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons. I personally would not recommend...