Sparks Steak House — Restaurant in New York

My experience with SSH is so rich and deep that I wouldn't know where to start. I began enjoying the great juicy steaks and the 5-star service and ambiance of Sparks back in 1997. Doing the math, it's 20 years of dining at the top of the world. I have the fortune of having experienced it throughout the year and under different environmental conditions (in the winter, in the summer, with steak lovers, with vegetarians, with cigar aficionados and, last but not least, seafood lovers). Not once, let me state this again, NOT ONCE, was I ever let down or failed to impress (and to be impressed) by the perfect piece of Kabuki Theatre, that is the interaction between the Maitre D', the bartenders, the waiting staff (at all levels), and the kitchen. Now, my review could stop right here and you would know that if you wanted to be treated like royalty, SSH would be the place to be BUT, on top of that, Sparks has never ceased to provide me with the perfect-meat standard against which I would rate all of my other carnivorous experiences.

I ate terrific steaks in New Orleans, Dallas, DC, Miami, Boston, Montreal, not to mention the many other NYC's specialized establishments (and I kept at North America because that is the home of proper Steak Houses). NONE other was able to provide me with the excellence of Sparks' choices, and quality across the board (seafood, red meat, vegetables, desserts, wine and even hot beverages). You know, back in the 1990s, a then-significant other happened to be vegetarian. I wanted her to experience Sparks but was afraid she would just not get it. Lo and behold, she was offered a vegetarian option that, to this day, remains one of the most delicious servings of vegetables I ever tasted in my life. She (the vegetarian) was equally "guilty" of her "eating habits" during a visit at the now-defunct "Lutèce" and there too she, and I by association, experienced incredible vegetables (it was small pumpkins, I reckon) but that's another story and for another review.

So, let me try to get back to the core and conclude this. I have had filet-mignons, sirloins, prime-ribs, salmons, baked potatoes, hashed potatoes and many other delicious gastronomic nuggets and my memory of it all is so vibrant that I am salivating simply by writing about them. If push comes to shove, I would go for Sirloin (medium-rare) but I know of friends who would swear by the filet-mignon or the ribs, or the lobster (different strokes for different folks, I guess). There is one last thing I want to add, before I hit the publish button, though. Another aspect which left a long-lasting, and outstanding, memory on me is the amount and gravitas of the personalities I ran into at Sparks. I am not starstruck, by any mean, but over the decades, I have run into then-French President Jacques Chirac (coming out of a private room during the UN General Assembly in September), Gregory Peck, John Hammond Jr. and many, many more. You might not trust me but do you really think that, say, Gregory Peck, with all of his expertise, fine taste, and riches would settle for anything less than the absolute best?

Go to Sparks with confidence, I'll be looking forward to reading your future...

I have been to this steakhouse 5 times in the last two months for business dinners. My company reserves private rooms and I have brought many clients to this establishment. They have failed to recognize that or acknowledged me. The first three times I reserved a private room to host clients - I was with a male counterpart. The restaurant treated him as VIP, made sure our clients had full glasses, were not stingy with the sides or desserts. A few weeks ago, I came for. a private dinner with two of my female counterparts and our clients - I was appalled by the way we were treated. Our room was not prepared with the correct AV equipment, the server left menus on the table all night and disrupted our speaker many times. When informed myself and a guest needed a gluten free option for dessert - the server acted annoyed and asked if we could 'split one'. I have spent thousands of dollars at this restaurant and was also doing so that evening. When one of the guests let the server know his steak was too salty (not usual, but they did taste like bricks of salt that night), the server just said "ok" instead of offering my guest a replacement. I spent 3k that night, to give you an idea why I was very disturbed by this. I thought it may be a fluke. However, I had another private dinner there this evening (it was already arranged or else I would have changed the venue.) Again, it was under my name and I did not have a male counterpart assigned to the reservation with me. Our pre-fix menu includes non alcoholic drinks for our guests - Our server whom is guaranteed a 20% tip - acts as if he that guarantee does not mean he has to treat guests with respect. I asked him to ask my guests if they would like a drink - when they asked what they may have.. he rudely said "you don't know what soft drinks are?" instead of informing the table what is offered. I had to ask for the proper amount of sides, and ask the server to offer my guests coffee and tea service. The difference in service when reserving as a woman or man is palpable, I understand this is an old school establishment - but I expected any kind of respect or gratitude to be shown to me as I have brought them many private dinners. The difference in treatment is palpable. I am sure this is great for a date. Or family dinner. I cannot recommend for business dinners. I will no longer be using this establishment and will be sure to inform my counterparts of their...

I was extremely disappointed in the food! I have eaten at Flemings, Mortons, Ruth and Chris, Javier's and all of their steaks and food has been amazing especially their steaks! Even Outbacks was far better than Sparks! First of all the waiter kept telling me what it is I wanted to eat and how I wanted my meat cooked. I do not mind a recommendation but leave it at that. The appetizers were flavorless. The sauce for the shrimp cocktail was the worst I have ever had and the bread was hard as a rock. I like my meat very rare which is what it was on the inside but it was burnt, charred almost black on the outside and because it was burnt on the outside it tasted like charcoal and was impossible to chew. I thought about sending it back but I just wanted to get out of there at that point. The mushrooms that the waiter insisted we did not need because "The meat is a big cut and you will get too full" were bland at best. I asked for a baked potatos for my son and I with everything on it and when they were brought to the table there was nothing on them. I had to wait to get a waiters attention to get some butter for them although they did bring a bowl of sour cream with the potato. Short of cooking it I literally had to prepare the potato myself. There were at least 5 waiters standing around and only two other tables occupied and not once did they come back to ask if we wanted something else to drink or eat. They also forgot my sons soda and we had to flag someone over who eventually brought it to him. With all of those waiters standing around you would think they would be more attentive. When I pay 400.00 for dinner I expect a certain quality in my food and my service. I realize that we had a very late dinner and I am sure everyone wanted to go home but that is no excuse for the awful food and service that we received. I will never return nor will I recommend...