OLD HOMESTEAD STEAKHOUSE: A $350 STEAK I’LL NEVER FORGET
The Cost - $381
The Atmosphere – While Old Homestead Steakhouse is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, it predates the trendy, high end area of New York City by quite some time. The restaurant opened its doors in 1868 in what was then considered the Meat Packing District. To this day, the storied New York eatery has retained its old-world feel with chairs and booths upholstered in red to go along with wood furniture and walls. Smart casual dress is just fine though there will certainly be many diners who dress up for a night out. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak times, weekends, and holidays.
The Old Homestead Steakhouse is a New York institution - there aren’t many restaurants that last ten years in the city’s ever-changing food scene, let alone more than 150. The iconic restaurant has always been recognized for the quality of its beef and while it hasn’t always had Japanese Wagyu on the menu, it now sells some of the most sought after meat in the world. We went to the Old Homestead Steakhouse to try their best cut of meat – the Japanese Wagyu “A5+” Steak.
The Order – 12 Oz, Japanese Wagyu “A5+” Steak
The Fantastic – I have lived in Argentina, had Japanese Wagyu at fine dining restaurants, and have eaten a lot of steaks in my life but I don’t think I have ever had a steak that was as buttery and delicious as the Old Homestead Steakhouse’s A5+ Wagyu Steak. The steak was first seasoned with a homemade salt mix and then thrown onto the flat top for no more than two minutes before it was moved over to a grill for the final minute or two of cooking. It was given a minute to breathe before it was plated on top of a hashbrown cake with a mix of asparagus and shiitake mushrooms in an Asian-inspired sauce on the side. The meat, which was imported from Japan, had beautiful marbling that made each and every bite special. It tasted like no other steak I’ve had before and was so smooth, buttery and delicious that my immediate reaction was an unconscious blurting of “holy sh*t.” It was probably the best steak I’ve ever had in my life.
The hashbrown cake and the vegetables were fine but the steak was all I needed. However, I did also get the restaurant’s truffle mac & cheese and creamed spinach sides, each of which came in a cute little pot, and both of which were absolutely delicious as well. The two sides were such great versions of classics that were really nicely done and perfect for a chilly winter day. While the 12 ounces of meat alone might leave two people a bit hungry if shared, the addition of the sides and accompaniments made this a perfectly sized meal for a pair of diners eager to try the incredible meat in what may turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Verdict – It is not every day that the opportunity comes along to eat such a high quality piece of meat. I am beyond grateful and feel so privileged to have been able to do so and it is a food memory that will live with me for a long, long time. If you are a steak lover and are looking for a unique way to celebrate a special occasion, this Old Homestead steak does not disappoint.