Donohue's Steak House

Donohue's is one of New York's great antidotes to trend fatigue - Review - New York - The Infatuation

"Donohue’s is an Upper East Side classic with supersized martinis, Irish bartenders who have tales to tell, and french onion soup that tastes like licking a bouillon cube. Though red meat is certainly on the menu, the "Steak House" in the restaurant's name is unnecessary. Instead, treat this place like a pub without any beers on tap, or the closest thing to a New Yorker cartoon come to life. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute The best place to absorb Donohue's is at the well-polished bar, where martinis overflow and the joshing between the staff and longtime regulars is unparalleled. You’ll hear some shaggy dog stories if you hang around long enough, maybe about Bernie Madoff’s go-to order or the art dealer who died and left $100,000 to Donohue's waitress-owner (Maureen) and her niece (also named Maureen) in his will. If you do plan on bringing a group here—maybe the J.G. Melon line is too long and this is your back-up—it’s best to call ahead for a reservation, even the night of. Those big leather booths are often occupied, mostly by people who wander in from their nearby apartments. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute Solo or not, the bill will always be a little higher than you want it to be. For an establishment that’s been serving pretty much the same “Lunch, Dinner, Supper” items since 1950, Donohue’s prices are very much modern, especially if you go the steak route. We’d recommend going the more reliable burger route anyway. (The steaks are fun, but they're diner-quality.) If a regular named Kenneth is there picking up his dinner, he'll probably tell you to go the fish route. Take or leave his advice, but definitely ask him about writing New York, Old Friend, and whether any of his songs were inspired by Donohue's itself. Those stories are even better than the burgers. Food Rundown Martini Treat this martini with respect. For one, it inspired the spectacular version at Le Veau d’Or. It’s mixed in a pint glass, which then functions as a generous, dangerous sidecar. A squeezy bottle marked “Olive Juice” next to the old rotary phone is your sign to get it dirty. According to one of the newer bartenders, he made over a 100 of them on his first night behind the counter. Manhattans are served the same way, but we’d go martini here. (The Irish coffee is also pretty good.) photo credit: Kate Previte Prime Chopped Beef Burger Similar to the burger at JG Melon, Donohue's version reliably comes out medium, no matter what you say. But it’s a good, honest bar burger that’s let down mostly by its bun—drier some days than others. The burger comes with fries (or slaw, but get fries) that are thick-cut and soft inside, as if all the starches broke down a long time ago. If you didn't already believe food can be a form of time travel, you will after you eat this. We like ours with cheese and bacon. French Onion Soup Somehow hits the spot despite being overly salty—especially compared to the low-sodium approach of much of the other food here. photo credit: Kate Previte Prime Chopped Sirloin Steak Our favorite thing about this steak is the three “ringed onions” on top (as they’re referred to in the framed vintage menu on the wall). The fact that the dish comes with two sides certainly doesn't hurt, either. The steaks here feel like old-fashioned diner food, cooked by rote rather than precise calibration. This market price 16oz sirloin costs around $67, but smaller and cheaper cuts start at $37. photo credit: Kate Previte Maryland Turkey You may someday crave a TV dinner or a tray of hospital food. This plate of suspiciously soft mashed potatoes, salty gravy, and white meat will satisfy that particular itch. photo credit: Noah Devereaux" - Sonal Shah