Atmosphere is that of a classic steak house. Service was great! Our server Omar was phenomenal. The steaks were cooked exactly as order. I enjoyed a great martini and the wine list is extensive as varied. A bit overpriced, definitely not your every week outing but the food made up for it. read more

The place looks like you stepped back in time when you enter. Sadly that's the end of the greatness to this once beloved establishment. Like Big Paulie the service and food are swimming with the fishes. The ambiance is circa 1920-1950, the wait staff is best described as that place in Las Vegas that are rude on purpose. The bartender was a nice guy though and the drinks he poured at the bar was the nights highlight. Don't expect to find vodka Red Bulls here it is more alcohol over ice type place. The app was good fresh Buffalo Mozzarella over two tiny slices of tomato and plenty of basil. The steak Fromage was the worst I've had in NYC. Overly salted the steak was not trimmed properly, it was hard to cut and they left multiple hard fat pockets on the steak. Definitely overpriced and nowhere near its glory days. The side dishes were so bland, no flavor, no seasoning. Just boring and there. The cheesecake, just go to juniors a few blocks away. read more

Sparks Steak House - Menu - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

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In terms of restaurants I've reviewed, this place holds a unique position for me because (a) I only ate there once, and that was (b) over 30 years ago, and (c) I don't even particularly like steak. I don't dislike steak, but I can live without it. Sparks must have really made an impression on me. Yes, it did. When I was a kid, we did have steak for dinner often enough, and I can remember my mother (or father, or both) criticizing me for slathering the steak in A1 sauce, asking me rather plaintively, "Don't you want to actually taste the steak? All you're tasting now is that sauce." They seemed somewhat upset that I was oblivious to the privileged position I was lucky enough to be in to be offered steak on a fairly regular basis for my dining delectation (despite her exasperation, my mom continued to buy the A1 steak sauce; she told me once about growing up poor in Depression-era Jersey City. Her family could only afford meat once a week, and it was always lamb, the cheapest meat available at the time. How things change with the decades! I think lamb is very expensive now, although I very rarely eat it). So, what do I really think about steak? It's ok. I can enjoy a good piece of steak on occasion, but I prefer chicken, or pork, or seafood. Generally speaking, steak would be the last thing I'd order in a restaurant. In fact, I have to admit that if I never ate another piece of steak in my life, it wouldn't bother me all that much. So why the 5-star rating for a restaurant that specializes in steak? That you ate at once over 30 years ago? My oldest friend, knowing of my lifelong fascination with all things organized crime, treated me and a business-associate/friend to dinner here in the early 90s. Unlike me, he loves steak and knew I'd be fascinated to be eating at the place where the 1985 Paul Castellano rub-out occurred (as an aside, I have to mention that Howard Stern to me is the scum of the earth, but because I'm fair, or at least think I am, I have to admit that he's made me laugh out loud at times. One such time was when he called Sparks to make a reservation for dinner, saying, "I'd like to make a reservation tonight for 2 people in the no-shooting section, please." The person taking the call hung up on him). What do I remember about the 1-time experience? I remember the steak was the thickest, juiciest piece of steak I had ever had in my life, without a fragment of gristle on it (the cuts my parents bought tended to have gristle in them that you had to gnaw your way through). That steak literally exploded with flavor. My friend also ordered cracked crab as an accompaniment for the 3 of us. I remember the bill came to over $400, which was big money back then (still is, as far as I'm concerned). I remember leaving the place (I think we had been drinking wine throughout the meal) with the white cloth napkin tucked around my neck like a boxer's towel for some reason (I didn't deliberately take it, obviously, but I still have it as a souvenir). I'm assuming in retrospect that we had a potato served as a side with all that expensive food, but all I can remember now is the superlative steak and the cracked crab. On 1 other occasion, we ate at Smith & Wolensky's, which was very, very good (I remember columnist/author Sidney Zion was eating by himself at a table near us), but Sparks still lives vibrantly on in my memory. Thirty-plus years later, and I can't forget that steak. Another friend lives in Manhattan and often eats with his wife at Gallagher's, a place I've never tried. For some reason, he always texts me pictures of their meal. An Olympic sized steak, mashed potatoes, what looks like spinach. Politely, I always respond, "Looks delicious!" What I don't add is, "It can't be as delicious as the steak I had at Sparks. And where's the cracked crab?" I've always said that if for some reason I was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to lethal injection, my last meal would probably be pizza, or lasagna (assuming I had any appetite at all in the hours prior to my exit from this vale of tears). However, if someone stepped in (my oldest friend, for instance) and said, "Look, forget the pizza and/or lasagna; I've got a freshly cooked steak from Sparks for you!" I'm not saying I'd give up the pizza or the lasagna, but...it would definitely give me pause. (Assuming I had any appetite at all...of course...) For a restaurant specializing in steak, I can't think of any greater praise that I, as a non-steak-lover, could give. Highly, highly recommended. (And, apropos of Paul Castellano, remember that the old-time mob guys always knew the best restaurants in NYC and patronized them; Castellano was a regular customer at Sparks until a charismatic moron named Gotti sent him to his final reward, minus a final steak dinner; at least his assassins let Crazy Joe Gallo enjoy a last repast before blowing him away at Umberto's, another great restaurant, but one that no longer exists, unfortunately). read more

Long time New Yorker, my oldest wanted Sparks, where Paul Castellano had his last steak. Service was supreme, martinis (mine was a Titos Limoncello) excellent, baked clams, spinach salad, prime sirloin with broiled lobster and shrimp. The $6 extra for the roquefort cheese for the salad was not worth it. Chateau Montelana 2018 for $320 was only a 60% markup was spectacular. Sparks is known for their wine. NY cheesecake excellent. My final is only 4 star as I need a rib eye vs a prime sirloin. Lobster and shrimp were tremendous. read more

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Having done several other Manhattan steakhouses, this place looked on-par with the others and quickly was added to my queue. Cool looking spot - large framed photos on the walls, hosts and hostesses in tuxedos, cloth tablecloths, nice plates etc. We had a reservation and were sat immediately. Ordered a Caprese and Caesar salad to share as an appetizer. The Caesar was ok- nothing exciting and to me kind of bland overall. The caprese was ALOT but I appreciated the portion- it came with oils and my half had little to no basil. Tomatoes and cheese - it was fine. For my entree I ordered the steak fromage which is topped with Roquefort cheese (a sharper saltier bleu cheese). I ordered it medium. We shared mashed potatoes and asparagus. The sides were meh - the potatoes had NO FLAVOR. was like I was eating mush in a bowl. The steak was good - the Roquefort was a different touch than I'm used to - but - was just kind of bland. I ordered the cheesecake for dessert - standard as well. I don't know - I guess I could argue that it was solid no real ups or downs but it was also bland overall. I would go elsewhere (Gallaghers, Madras) before here. Just had a better experience there. read more

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Now pushing 60, Sparks is a venerable, old school steakhouse on 46th Street in NYC. Spectacular dry aged steaks and immaculate service define this clubby, white linen eatery that comes with an infamous backstory defined by the 1985 execution of Gambino crime boss Paul Castellano. Although I can't guarantee that your visit will pack as much firepower, I can guarantee an excellent filet. Five easy stars. read more

Found the steak here to be very solid. Cooked well, and quite tasty. I don'tt believe it was dry aged, but it was tasty. Apps and drinks were also good (on the pricey side though). Very old school place. Carpets seem to be from casino Service was fine. Don't think the waiter smiled, but he was quick. read more

NYC STEAKHOUSE TOUR (4th Stop) . We had to include Sparks SteakHouse in our NYC Steakhouse Tour..., Sparks is a true New York classic with a fascinating history. Established in the 1960s, it's become part of the city's lore--not just for its world-class steaks, but also for the infamous mob story of 1985, when mob boss Paul Castellano was gunned down right outside the entrance. While that piece of history adds to its notoriety, today Sparks is all about old-school charm, fine dining, and impeccable service. The atmosphere is elegant yet welcoming, with attentive service that makes the whole dining experience seamless. The highlight of the night was the sirloin--perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor. It had that beautiful sear on the outside with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture inside. You can really tell they use prime cuts and know exactly how to prepare them. The wine list is extensive and pairs beautifully with the steaks, and the sides are hearty and satisfying without overshadowing the main star. We tried the broccoli. Overall, Sparks is a must for anyone who appreciates a true New York steakhouse experience. Highly recommended!! read more

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Place was decorated great for Christmas. Service was attentive. Large portions of super high quality steak cooked how ever you like. Best baked claims I've ever had. Perfect amount of breading and a slight fishy taste. Lots of classic desserts to choose from. read more

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The Mr. wanted to visit an 'old school' steak house and after doing a little research via YouTube chose Sparks Steak House for our NYC anniversary dinner. We ordered the recommended sirloin steak medium rare, spinach, and hash browns. The steak was cooked perfectly but somewhat chewy in places. The potatoes needed butter, onions, and maybe some garlic to give it more flavor. There was also a lot of burnt bits mixed in with the potatoes, so they ate dry. Finally, the spinach was not bad but not great. All in all it was a very mediocre meal at a very expensive price. The service was nice. Not overly attentive, but we have no complaints about our server and tipped him well. There are so many amazing restaurants in NYC. I wish this was one of them. read more

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This historic restaurant in the heart of Manhattan, has a charm that's been around for 60 years. Established in 1966, many famous New York figures have dined in the same tables I sat down in. I believe it's held up for so long because of the staff's professionalism, they'll work as a team to take care of you the entire meal. The warm lighting and the comfort from the classic furnishings provide an atmosphere that relaxes the soul. The menu was massive and had a large selection of wines with the name, country or type of wine, price, and year. The entrees are attention grabbing, and has delicious descriptions for each item. The table ordered swordfish, steak, and lobster; all of which were delicious. I ordered the swordfish. The filet was perfect and easy to cut; you're able to eat every piece of it. The texture was perfectly seared and bursting with a savory taste. I was very happy for a seafood item at a steakhouse because it was an uncommon order that ended up being really good. We had a variety of appetizers and I only enjoyed the Caesar salad and oysters; the oyster with mignonette sauce was a fan favorite! For drinks the fan favorite was their lemon drops. Overall, excellent meal, fantastic service, and delicious cocktails, it's the best. read more

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Our experience was good until it wasn't. Food was overall good including reasonable portions for the prices. The Chilean sea bass was not salted well - some sides had way more salt while other areas were completely bland. The steaks were all cooked to the proper temperature. The one major negative about our meal was our server. Though very efficient and seem to really want to put on a show, the service was sloppy. There were wine and sauce stains all over our tablecloth from him. He also had a huge problem with upselling every other dish. He would tell us what we shouldn't order and what he would do for us instead. All of his recommendations ended up hitting our bill at the end, and we didn't like any of them. Our server alone really dampened what could have been a great dinner. read more

Had the oysters raw very tasty and not too salty. Also had Shrimp cocktail, huge shrimp (oxymoron) lol. Fresh and crisp! For dinner I ordered filet mignon which was done perfectly and a nice size piece. With that I had on the side asparagus done perfectly and a baked potato. Are it all even the skin lol. Nice ambiance. I used to go here with family often when we lived close by. Great food servers! Fantastic still! read more

Sparks Steak House - Dining area - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

Our service was great although some might consider it 'hovering', the location & interior of Sparks was wonderful. My husband chose this restaurant because of the history it has. It is like stepping back into time. My husband ordered the filet & loved it. He said it was perfectly seasoned, tender & cooked to order. It was HUGE, probably the largest filet I've ever seen. My nephew ordered the steak strips with peppers & onions & loved it. Very tender & nicely seasoned. I ordered the salmon. The serving was huge but the taste was rather bland. It needed some seasoning. For the table, we ordered broccoli & a baked potato. The broccoli was enough to share with the 3 of us but not really the potato even though we had been told that all the sides were sharable. We had a slice of cheesecake. It was very smooth & good. This is a VERY expensive restaurant! I don't know that I have ever spent $370 for 3 for dinner with ZERO alcohol. Don't know that I'd do it again but for the history & the steak dishes, it was good. read more

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Celebrated my 49th birthday here with family and it was amazing! Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection, but what made the experience so special was our excellent waiter, Rasheed, and the maître D, Sayed! They were so attentive and kind, and made sure we had the best experience. Thank you so much for an unforgettable birthday! read more

The quality, preparation, and flavor of everything we tried, including the steaks, vegetables, shirmp, and desserts, was superb. Nothing was over seasoned or over sauced. Frankly, the best we ever had of those items in any restaurant, let alone one specializing in steak. The service and attentiveness were also outstanding. The decor and atmosphere are older and darker than we like, but after taking the first bites of the food and experiencing the great service, those issues faded into obscurity and were irrelevant to our overall delicious and comfortable evening. read more

I've been going to Sparks for decades. At one point it was my go-to steakhouse in Manhattan. It is still a reliable place to get a good steak but it is not what it was. I always get Sirloin when I visit and after this most recent visit I continue to label it is a good, but no longer great steak. The service and waitstaff are still very good so it all balances out to a good evening but go there for the "NY Steakhouse experience", not solely for the steak. read more

It's been over 10 years since my last visit, and Sparks is still one of the best steakhouses in NYC. The portions are massive, the service remains top-tier, and the wine list feels endless. Whether you're a born-and-bred New Yorker or just passing through, this iconic spot is an experience you need to have. read more

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I haven't been there since Covid, but I went there twice at the time and the food was fabulous. I'm assuming it still is after all these years. read more

I came to this steak house because of the murder of mob boss Paul Castellano outside the restaurant in 1985. I give a chance to try even I saw mix review on the internet. How I feel as a new Yorker? Admitting, here again you can't go to famous place without tourist and most of touristy place has higher price than local place. I expected to get a knowledgeable service with a good taste food but both of them were below my expectations. Steak was ok but my server gave me the wrong wine. He gave me plum wine instead of Moscato. It was obvious that the color of the wine I ordered was different. I actually had a sip to make sure he gave me the right one in case I was wrong, but it turned out to be he gave me the wrong one. I called him but he acted offensive and keep saying it was correct, and it was bartender gave it to him so it shouldn't be mistake. He wanted to prove me wrong so bad so he went back to the bartender and turned out to be the bartender gave me the wrong wine from the beginning. My point was, I expected the server to be knowledgeable enough about everything the restaurant sells and if it is a question from a customer, the server shouldn't have an ego. If he/she didn't know they should ask first before assumption. My opinion, if you want to experience one time restaurant that has a history. You can try here. read more

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Really nice weekday power lunch here. Quiet, classic NYC interior. We all ordered the same steak at the same temperature, done-ness varied quite widely, but I was happy with my cut. The highlight here was the vanilla ice cream in port dessert. This old-fashioned dish needs to make a comeback, my god. read more

Thursday night - massively busy, I was concerned as I was going to a 16 top table for work Xmas dinner. The ambiance was great, we had a huge table in the bar area and is was hopping, everyone having an after work drink and dinner. A great martini got us off to a good start, I asked for slightly wet, they nailed it. Mixed shared appetizers was a great idea, crab meat and large poached shrimp, great bread, we had other but I forget what. I ordered NY sirloin - perfection and huge, I barely could eat it, but I did! Sides, crispy potatoes and creamed spinach both were also delicious. A NY classic steakhouse brought their A game on one of the busiest nights of the year. read more

Sparks Steak House - Steak perfection - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

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We sat in the bar area for people watching ...But our waiter Rashid was the best. Awesome service. We had so much fun. It's a lot of very good food and the wine pours dont leave you feel cheated. A great night and great service, read more

So this seems to be the direction that most, if not all, of the classic New York steakhouses have gone. Great service, high prices, loud and busy rooms overrun with tourists, and two star food. Our steaks were cooked a little too much--cooked dry, really, and was far too salty. The bread and salted butter, meh (not really warm and butter too cold). The Caesar salads, meh (somehow both over and under-chopped lettuce with a thin coat of dressing). Creamed spinach meh (a bit runny, not the rich a delicious side you'd expect. Hashbrowns meh (basically gently chopped potatoes, with some fry on just some of them). But the desserts were pretty good! My pecan/walnut pie slice was unfortunately about two bites of pie and three bites of crust... But back to the steak. It was a generous portion, but just... dry and without any personality, in part because it was over salted. It was so bad that we committed the cardinal sin of asking for A1... which they had. Anyway, again the service and management is great, but don't expect much from the actual food. read more

The food, service, and ambiance were all excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring that my water glass was always full. The food was delicious and fresh. The 4lb Maine lobster was priced at $164, which I considered a great value. Great experience! read more

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This place is very famous and plays into NYC folklore. There are apparently 5 organized crime families in NYC so I'm told. This is where Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino family was gunned down as he either left or entered the restaurant. I hope it was after the meal because the food is pretty good. Pretty pretty good. With that background in the rear view mirror... Lighting was bright Noise was limited No pipes in music--hooray! Service was excellent The shrimp and baked clams appetizer was small. Small shells (but 4) but large shrimp (but 2) was very good....,well cooked and seasoned nicely. Not jaw to the floor excellent best ever but darn good. The steak was about average for a high end steakhouse. Not the best, but good. The crust was amazing and it was seasoned just right. Not the most tender but acceptable. The filet was cooked medium (not medium well as ordered) and the sirloin was cooked medium well (not medium as ordered). They don't serve with signature steak sauce. The creamed spinach was a miss. Not sure the err but maybe too much garlic, too little pepper and too little salt? Also, maybe some additional Parmesan and/ mozzarella cheese folded in would have helped! I have cooked this dish many times and it was not right. The potatoes were--again, not great but very good. The chunks were a little too big or a little too small but relatively few were in between. Not the Goldilocks (just right) of potatoes! In any event, for what it cost us, the value was not there. Great service and great ambiance didn't make up for the mehhh food. read more

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What an historic gem. My husband and I have always wanted to eat at Sparks so we finally had the chance to drive up from Maryland on my birthday. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere were incredible and we will absolutely return. Thanks Sparks for making my 50th birthday a memorable celebration. read more

Sparks Steak House - Bill - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

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Meh. The sirloin though cooked perfectly to medium rare was not at all tender with some tough bits. Our server was slow and hard of hearing. Took 5 minutes to get our menus while he cleaned his other tables. I'll stick with Wolfgang's or Peter Luger. read more

Alex took great care of us and knew the menu backwards and forwards. The steak was great but not to be missed are the raw bar, sides and desserts. A NY staple for a reason. read more

Amazing food and phenomenal experience. Anas was an amazing waiter and he made sure we had everything we wanted. I've never had a more attentive and friendly waiter! Try and get him if you come! Not only was the food stellar (highly recommend the prime sirloin and the main lobster), they provided the best experience from changing table cloths to offering lemon and hot water after eating. Really impressed and would come back a million times! Favorite dishes: Prime sirloin Lobster Hash browns Mushroom caps read more

Sparks Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

Hands down the best restaurant in all of New York! I had the most perfectly cooked beef slices I have ever had. I have so much to say but I only have so much time. The food Excellent! The service Excellent! The atmosphere Excellent! It was all excellent! read more

Horrible and low grade at best. The service was the lowest par of any steakhouse in Manhattan.

One-Star Experience Unfortunately, this was the worst dining experience we had during our trip to New York--and that's saying a lot considering the subway rats were more pleasant than our server. We came here as a dream experience that quickly turned into a nightmare. We came for the history of the restaurant, the Cetta brothers would be so disappointed. From the moment we were seated, our server was incredibly rude and seemed bothered by even the most basic requests. There was no warmth, no attentiveness, and certainly no professionalism. It felt like we were an inconvenience rather than guests. The food didn't make up for it either. Lobster was overcooked and rubbery. Sides were forgettable and lacked seasoning. We've had better meals at chain restaurants for half the cost. This was the only truly disappointing experience we had in New York. A city known for its amazing food deserves better representation than this place. Save your money and go somewhere else--you'll be glad you did. read more

Sparks Steak House - Outside entry - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

My family and I dined here a few night ago. We came early so there wasn't a big crowd. We were very impressed with how polite and friendly the staff was, especially our waiter Rachid. He made some excellent recommendations and made sure we were well taken care of. The food was excellent. We had steak (obviously) and a fish, all of which exceeded our expectations. read more

Overpriced and not worth the reputation. The food is mediocre at best. And the staff are completely unprofessional for a restaurant at this price point. There are far better steakhouses in New York where the service matches what you are paying for. read more

Food was okay, really 4 out of 10 . I went as a kid with my mom and had an amazing experience so wanted to recreate that with my own children as an adult . The pricetag did not bother me because I assumed it would be as good quality as it was in the past . Its just not that great of place as i remembered to from the past. Pretty disappointing overall. read more

Definitely an old school steakhouse ambiance. Elegant decor and table settings. Service was very good. Polite and mostly attentive. I did not think the taste of my filet met the price point--although it was an indeed a huge cut. Unfortunately, was not among the best I have had. read more

Came with the family to celebrate a special occasion. We had reservations so they seated us quickly. The service was just ok. Our server appeared upset that only one person was drinking wine. Their wine list had a huge selection but I was the only one drinking so I just wanted to order wine by the glass . The food was ok. Everything is a la carte. We order veal , steaks , and fish dishes with some sides of vegetables and a baked potato. The flavors were bland. I expected more for flavor. Going back to our service. I never experience anyone toss the silverware on our table while setting up our dishes. Overall the experience was no good. I won't be returning to this establishment. They need to work on their customer service. This experience was not with $600. read more

Sparks is your classic old school NYC streak house. Our friends are regulars there and hence the outstanding service. Ambiance is more of that back in the day vibe with a mix of young and old dining in nicely spaced out tables. Food is excellent. Although it's a steak house, I opted for lobster, and fish. A win! Sparks is consistent and that's why they are still around. read more

Sparks Steak House - Lobster - Steakhouses Near Me - New York, New York

Love the ambiance of this place. Very old school NY steakhouse with a charming vibe. I feel weird saying this for a steakhouse but get the lobster. It was amazing. The wine list is also very impressive and included several large format options (we loved the 2015 Quintessa). Definitely a staple spot for NY! read more

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