Bobby Van's

Bobby Van’s is a solid after-work spot—perfect for drinks or dinner. The bartender was super attentive and made excellent cocktails. The food was all really good: the shrimp, steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and homemade chips hit the spot. For dessert, we had what I think was the chocolate mud cake—it tasted like a rich brownie sundae and was absolutely perfect for a sweet tooth.

Harry the manager/host was so friendly and welcoming. The bar was full. He offered a table for us to have drinks and appetizers. Now this is old school charm. We had a great time! Bobby Van’s is now our go-to spot for lunch, dinner and drinks. Thanks Harry! Food was great! The crab cake was a bit too fishy tasting.

Amazing. Delicious. Top notch service. The best bread pudding I have ever tasted.

Everything so good. Spotless place to go with your family or by yourself. Best Burguer I have tried in Nyc. 100% recommended.

Wow!!!! My boyfriend planned a date night here and wow was it fantastic. Chill vibe, classy but laid back environment. We both had the bone in rib steak which was phenomenal. Neither of us could finish our steaks and we aren’t light weights. The drinks were great and service was exceptional. I had a Baileys coffee at the end of the meal and it was fantastic. The sides were amazing also we had mashed potato and creamed spinach. Left overs the next day were also five star.

Bobby Van’s is tucked away off of Hemsley Walk, and the entrance is art deco but reasonable unassuming. But it has a special place in my heart. Many years ago I came back into the city after a long work day. Most everything around Grand Central was closed, but I stopped by and found the bar at Bobby Van’s busy and LOUD. The dining room was closing down, but the bartender was extremely helpful and let me order a lobster cocktail and steak to take back to my hotel room. Best ‘room service’ ever. I recently had a chance to re-visit the restaurant. I wanted to sit at the bar, but it was very crowded. Despite a busy night and despite me being a single diner, the front desk staff was very accommodating and found me a table in the main dining room. I had the chop chop salad and, keeping with the theme, a veal chop. The waiter was very friendly and offered me a half portion on mashed potatoes as a side to the veal. Nice touch. Overall I would say the food was ‘good’ but not exceptional, and probably not as good as Keen’s or Smith and Wollensky. BUT, the service (15 years ago and now) at Bobby Van’s is exceptional and beats most restaurants that I have visited in NYC (especially the attention to a single diner, which is rare). Come here for the food, but stay for the service.

I’ve always wanted to visit here and when I finally did, it was too late at night (10 PM). The bartender was welcoming and humorous. As a party of two, we only grabbed two glasses of wine to be considerate of the kitchen staff, although they wanted to accommodate. I definitely need to return to have their steak.

Well worth the price tag, honestly one of the best (if not the best) steaks I've had in years. Service was also good banter which added to the evening. A delight to return having not been to a Bobby Van's in a few years

Great steakhouse experience. Service both in the bar and the restaurant were exceptional. Thanks to Michael. Ribeye, Sole, Sea Bass, baked clams. All excellent

Booked a table at Bobby Vans for a business dinner. The first thing I noted is how old school the whole place is from the decor to the host / manager. Harkening back to a bygone era. It was charming at first but it slowly became a distraction. Everyone spoke with short tones that dripped with this sense of faux familiarity. And our server had the worst table-side manner I've seen in a long time. My colleague thought "maybe it's their schtick". Like an Ed Debevic's in Chicago where assholery is part of the experience. But reading the other reviews, seems like we were just that lucky. Case in point ... we ordered a bottle of wine. Or rather I picked the wine. My colleague flagged server and ordered it. Then he stepped away. Wine was brought to the table. I told the server I could taste the wine. He ignored me. Wouldn't do it until my colleague returned. Same when I asked for the check. He totally ignored me until minutes later my colleague asked for the check. I'm trying not to jump to conclusions but it's worth noting I was the only non-white person at our table. So that really rubbed me the wrong way. Given all that, I still had high hopes for the food, and unfortunately it was just ok. I had the lamb chops and they were well prepared. Served old school style with a small ramekin of mint jelly on the side. But nothing to write home about. Side dishes were below average. We had asparagus and hash browns. Asparagus were huge but pretty bland. Hasbrowns also bland. All that amounts to a below average dining experience, especially for NYC standards. Perhaps most surprising was how packed it was on a Wednesday evening. This could just be one of those situations where it's not for me but appeals to others.

I've been to another Bobby Van's before for restaurant week and had a mediocre experience. I was hoping this would be better (I would give places a second chance /benefit of the doubt) but it fell in line with my previous experience. Service is ok - the table for larger groups of 5+ isn't small, but I felt like the waiters were a bit too close (space wise) when pouring wine or setting food down. But they did a decent job of clearing plates or serving the super small last portion of a dish to a guest. Food is fine. I shared a porterhouse for 2 ($75/person) and it was cooked nicely. I personally prefer my steak a little seasoned or salted but this steak is for the meat purists. My other friend got the petite filet mignon and was not a fan. The person that got the burger enjoyed it. And someone got the chicken francese, and they liked it. Sides are decent, though the onion rings aren't rings but just a fried onion pieces (probably a whole onion). Also could have been seasoned with a bit more salt. We came during a work lunch hour, so everyone here was coming for a corporate or client lunch. Not sure about the evening crowd, but it's likely similar given the location

Great location near Grand Central with views of the street and area. Service here is always top notch. The Horseradish Crusted Salmon was a good sized portion and delicious. The sides were also good, especially the mashed potatoes.

No frills, steak is done correctly at requested temperature. Goes well with the house special sauce. Attentive service.

Exceptional start to finish. Appetizers shared for the table were exceptional. Best Tuna Tar Tar I've ever tasted. Calamari was very good. Special Lobster melted in your mouth. Entire table got Ribeyes. All cooked to perfection. Sides were ample. Definitely start with the Bacon! Service was off the charts. 1st time there and treated like a regular. Full and Total Endorsement.

Went for lunch. Had blackened shrimp over Wedge salad. The shrimp were very over cooked and dried out. The wedge was served pre sliced and bland. Was not satisfied at all. For the price they charge, I expect much better.

Bobby Van's is not a restaurant, it's an institution. My unique experiences in this place make it special and memorable. Looking for a spot for a business meeting, my contact was coming from Connecticut and I was coming from Florida, so naturally, a place close to Grand Central would make it convenient for both. In fact, my plane ride was just a bit longer than her train commute. We arrive without a reservation, and I was promptly admonished by these two burly Italian gentlemen at the host stance for being so pretentious in assuming that would be able to find a table for lunch in this establishment without reservation. This exchange was in good nature and we all shared a good laugh. Needless to say, they were able to arrange something for us, a table for 2 in the middle of the hustle and bustle. After not being in NYC for almost 3 years, this was exactly the experience I needed to rekindle my love for this city. Most of the staff has worked in this place for decades, and if you engage them in conversation you will hear the most amazing stories about commuting in the subway, hey, after all, you are in Grand Central in NYC! As for the food, it is typical steakhouse style, you order your main entre and the sides are all separate. As a vegan (occasionally pescetarian) I found the sides: Mushrooms, potato, broccolini, and veggies, to be perfectly appropriate and quite abundant. I closed the deal! and 2022 turned out to be an awesome year.

Wow! Haven't been to Bobby Van's in years, as always they were on point! Melt in your mouth prime rib, perfectly cooked! Great atmosphere, easy walk from Grand Central. How can you go wrong!

We had lunch here yesterday for a group of 6 and it was just overall horrendous. Our waiter was rude time and time again to us and the ribeye steak was flavorless and I ordered medium rare and it was more like medium well. Look at this "chocolate mousse" cake which was hard as a brick and had no chocolate mousse in it. Have been to the other Bobby Van's locations in the city and they were excellent just wouldn't recommend this location at all. In a city of so many great steakhouses, I am not sure I will ever come back to this one. Only added one additional star to two cause it's the holidays!

We had an amazing dinner here last fall which has taken me too long to put in here. We had a table near the back which was a little quiet and a fantastic server. The steaks were cooked perfectly and everything was delicious. Great location and worth a trip

Al is great and attentive. Food is outstanding and ambiance is fun. I highly recommend this place

Bobby Van's fits right in with the midtown Manhattan action. Place is lively and happening. When packed the restaurant - certainly the bar - can become a bit tight and overly loud however the service and menu more than make up for it. The cold seafood tower provided a fine starter followed by multiple steak orders. My Filet Mignon - ordered medium rare - arrived medium but was enjoyed nevertheless. Service was again spot on all evening and everyone left with smiles.

Amazing food. Perfect service. I had crab cake for an appetizer and the tuna for dinner. Broccoli side was some of the best broccoli I've ever had and we also had the tater tots for a side. The hospitality here was just fabulous. Not really enough room for us but they brought out a table- moved us into a corner and it was done so pleasantly I didn't mind being shoe-horned into a spot where the table literally would have had to be moved for me to get up. 10/10 I am returning here for another meal.

Jose was fantastic. He took the stress out of our 4 hour delay. Great customer service!

I came here right after the new year in 2020 on a Saturday night for a date. We were looking for some classic dishes and that's exactly what we got. The service was great as well. We ordered the chicken parm with a side of pasta and chilean sea bass. Both dishes were excellent. The size of the chicken parm was generous and very cheesy, but should be given the price. Inversely, a slightly larger piece of sea bass would have been nice, but it was cooked to perfection and flaky. The sauce was almost a bit tangy and complimented the fish and shiitake mushrooms nicely. Overall, it has a very clubhouse type of feel and from what I saw, the steaks looked good from what other tables ordered that night as well even if we didn't order any steak.

Old school steakhouse--what you would expect. Every thing tastes good and the service is attentive. Not a single female on serving staff which I found interesting. I wish the menu had descriptions of some of the items because you don't know what an item is or all the ways of ordering unless you have been there before. Noticed some of the servers try to add additional items to your check without head of table ordering (extra bottles of water, additional sides, etc)

one of my friends used to rave about this joint. we called and they had openings for christmas eve so we show up. but after dining there yesterday i was not impressed. it's the ghost of christmas past and should stay in past. steakhouses normally have amazing bread that's an actual thing. ha! we asked for warm bread and were told no but eventually it was given to us. wasn't impressed i was hungry and bread and butter is my weakness but it was meh. i started with the bacon i never had bacon precut for me at a steakhouse. i like it thicc and uncut so it was very odd presentation and again it was just ok. i had the salmon it was horseradish crusted couldn't taste it even one bit just call it regular salmon. the asparagus god i love asparagus minus the stinky urine effects but i wish it was cooked more or seasoned at least it was very bland the chocolate cake nothing anything special prob equivalent to easy bake oven cake. maybe it was an off day because of the holiday which is weird game should be stepped up maybe it's effects of pandemic but this place took a nosedive

Remarkable Valentines Day Lunch! The food was prepared perfectly and came out so very hot, sizzling. My first time trying a Steak Gorgonzola..oMG, the steak medium well juicy creamy sauce, I loved it. The a la carte sides mashed potatoes(yum), grilled mushrooms(delicious), creamed spinach(good). Hubby had a medium bone in Rib Eye, SOO much larger than I expected & tasted really delicious. We both tried the Argentinean Malbec -Paul Hobbs great compliment to our meals. Mainly the staff was quite wonderful, extremely friendly and attentive from the moment we walked in the well decorated space until we were too full to leave. Definitely would go back.

Been to this location numerous times because it is right next to my NYC office. Their steaks are always dependable and I always love their bread basket. The lunch clientele seem to be primarily people from the nearby investment banks. The staff is always friendly and attentive. Several servers stop by throughout the meal to check on us. This most recent visit I decided to try something other than steaks and our waiter said they have the best chicken parmagian in the city. I'm glad I took his recommendation because it was definitely one of the best I've had. The breading was light and the cutlet was pan fried rather than deep fried. The marinara sauce was bold and tangy and there was plenty of mozzarella and parmagian cheese on top. It was also served with a side of angel hair. This has now become my favorite dish here.

Amazing, courteous, knowledgeable staff. Can't compliment the waiters and host more. The steak was great, the sides were great (we had the spinach), the appetizer was amazing (had the tuna tar tar) and the wine was phenomenal (we had The Big Easy). Good spot. The only thing that could be updated a bit is the ambiance

Fantastic service. Stopped in for an afternoon snack and drinks. Ryan and Mick were very attentive and friendly. Will be back for more delicious food and wine

First of all let me start off by saying the staff was magnificent they were on point with bringing out our food in a good amount of time ...they checked back with us and made sure that everything was running smoothly and that we were enjoying our meal. Very courteous professional and friendly staff The food was amazing I got the chicken Parmesan two of my friends got steaks and we all shared a few different appetizers. The food was very filling I had to bring some home with me and the drinks were on point. I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant from the food to the ambience and the staff and the drinks ...everything was great! I look forward to returning back and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who would like a good fine dining experience

Bone - in Rib Eye Steak cooked medium well with side of creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, asparagus and Cabernet

I went with a friend to Bobby Van's. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very nice. I had the Chilean Sea Bass which was flavorful,flaky and satisfying.The bed of bok choy,shitake mushroom and asparagus the fish was laid on was cooked just right,and had crisp crunchy consistency.Not soggy. My friend had sirloin medium rare and it was excellent as well. My friend had a side of mash potatoes that tasted home made like my grandma's. My dessert was bread pudding with bourbon sauce..made in house it was very good. Bourbon sauce on it was fire! I had a lemon drop which was ok but the dinner made up for it. When in the city I would definitely go back. It is a good spot for girls night out or romantic night with your significant other.

Went here 5 years ago for my birthday and remember having the best salmon of my life. Craved it today so my husband and i went again. I actually called to make sure they still offered the same horseradish crusted salmon and they did. This experience was as great as last time, if not better. We were served by Khladio, who was the sweetest. We learned a lot about him and his background. My husband ordered a steak with creamed spinach and fries. He said this creamed spinach may have been better than Wolfgang's (which is his fav spot). We were given free dessert by Khladio as well. One was a chocolate mouse cheesecake type of dessert with a layer of chocolate cake. It was the best dessert ever. I'm usually not a fan of chocolate but this was so delicious. We also got a original cheesecake which was also delicious. We will be back soon.

This place and the staff as well as the food is worth 5 stars all day every day. The steaks and fish and salads are to die for. The atmosphere is awesome and the price is right.

Bobby Van's Steakhouse is simply excellent. The menu is impressive, I was overwhelmed with the choices. After trying out many things off their menu, I must say that Bone-in Rib Eye Steak is my favourite. The service here is excellent. I will certainly be back again next time I'm in area.

My wife and I ate at Bobby Van's this past Friday. Although they were booked we were able to find a table by the bar. Our waiter was a good guy. We started with the wedge which was anything but a wedge. It was 4 slices of lettuce. I had the bone in Rib-eye that was nothing short of disgusting. The server came by with the rib eye and said to be careful as the plate was hot. The plate was hot but the steak was not. I think I spent $65 for the worst steak I have ever had. I had more fat and grizzle than actual steak. I will not go back. The quality has taken a huge turn for the worst. Go elsewhere.

I had heard about the legend that is Bobby Van's from many family members and friends who raves "it is the best steak they've ever had." When I traveled to NYC from San Francisco for a weekend this was obviously on my to-do list. I tried to go in with no expectations (which was a challenge) so I couldn't be disappointed. However the experience far exceeded anything I could have possibly imagined. We walked in and the service was extremely welcoming and friendly from the start. We were seated immediately and our waiter was very polite and friendly. We proceeded to order the Porterhouse for two and a side of fries. The steak arrived quite quickly - I'd say probably within 15 minutes of ordering. The preparation was gorgeous and it was mouthwatering just to look at. I almost cried when I had my first bite. So perfectly crusted and seasoned on the outside and the inside melted in my mouth like butter. And the "side" of fries was enough to feed a village. Everything was fantastic all around but the steak itself was absolutely the best steak I've ever had. It was a completely different animal (metaphorically not literally) from anything I've ever had. Be prepared, it is definitely a pricey establishment (paid around $150 for two people) but nothing too crazy, and for what you get it is absolutely 100% worth it. My only complaint is that as I write this review an hour or so after the meal, I am scared I won't be able to enjoy another steak again. There's just no comparison to other steaks and, believe me, I eat a LOT of steaks. 5 stars across the board, no question about it. I recommend every single human on earth at some point needs to make the quest to Bobby Van's. I can't wait to go back.

In a city inundated with some of the world's best steakhouses, I sometimes feel a little peeved at myself for not liking steak more. I'll never turn away a bite of some good filet and I make a mean roast beef barley stew, but I also never met a fruit I didn't love and I'll do my damn hardest to show salad-haters the error of their ways (the secret is cheese, lots of it, and a killer dressing). With all that said, I loved eating at Bobby Van's, thanks to our waiter (Klaus or Klaude). He was witty without being intrusive, and bid us the warmest good-bye. The food was also excellent. I liked my goat cheese salad so much that I boxed up the other half to go (which took Klaus aback because, honestly, who wraps up a few more bites of lettuce and tomato?). This wasn't any ordinary salad, though. No, this one came with pinwheels of golden-fried goat cheese that hugged toasted croutons. I'm willing to bet even the most die-hard carnivore would eat this salad. I also loved my sesame tuna, which came with a pile of pink ginger shreds doused in wasabi (cleared up my sinuses real good). The bread basket could have been a bit warmer, but there was some good variety among the breads (including crackers with herbs, pretzel sticks, two kinds of multigrain, and some kind of dinner roll). My favorite was the multigrain bun laden with pumpkin and sunflower seeds. And, of course, because I can't finish a meal without something sweet, I had to order the tiramisu. I was stuffed by then, so I took that one to go as well (thanks, Klaus), only to end up eating it twenty minutes later. Very popular with the local suits crowd, as almost every table was taken on a typical Wednesday lunch. The setting is definitely scotch-and-cigars, but I'd go back just for Klaus and the goat cheese salad.

Came here on a Tuesday after work. Reservations are recommended The good: Food was amazing delicious. The Cajun rib eye (the night's special) has been one of the most tasty steaks I've had. The spinach and mashed potatoes yummy as well. The bad: One of the waiter seemed either rude or just super old fashioned (I couldn't quite tell). Place feels a little snobbish Final Verdict: Would return if invited but not rushing any time soon.

OMG, the Sirloin Steak was the best I've had anywhere, any-time! So big I had to take some home. I started with Baked Clams, there must have been 8 large ones on the plate and cooked to perfection. Hash Browns and Onions were delicious. Some of the waitstaff have been here for 20+ years and it shows with the level of service.

Best burger ever ! Greeted with a smile by this fantastic guy Patrick, who Made us feel welcome and comfortable! We loved the onion rings , fries and burgers and steak ! So glad to find a new hangout in midtown with fun people!

Very good old time NY steakhouse. Classic Italian style Service. Huge onion rings. Steak was perfect. Brussels undercooked. Scaffolding outside window irritating.

Went there with 4 other people for a Christmas gathering. Was completely disappointed in such terrible service that was provided to us. The waiter never replenished our drinks or asked how our meal was. For spending such a large sum of money you need to provide better service. I definitely won't return or recommend this restaurant to anyone.!!!!!!!

I've been coming here for the last 8 years for work lunches. It is consistantly one of the best steakhouses in the city. They have the best filet mignon i've ever had. I've also had some amazing seafood dishes here. Prices are a little expensive where they don't need to be ($16 for a very basic house salad). I'm not a huge fan of charging a lot just because it's "a steakhouse". That loses one star...otherwise everything is excellent!

Went here for my friends birthday and was impressed with the venue and service. Meal proved to be good but nothing spectacular.

Everything was very good at Bobby Van's Steakhouse. Friendly staff and great atmosphere all year round. Bobby Van's Steakhouse has a terrific Goat Cheese Salad, try it I believe you would really like it, I certainly love it. And also, the service was awesome and the staff was very welcoming. Can not wait to come back to Bobby Van's Steakhouse for more.

Solid steakhouse experience in the middle of midtown. Great baked clams and a good selection of oysters to start. And the reason for coming here doesn't disappoint because the ribeye is on par with some of the best in the city.

Nice affordable place to eat...if you're an oil tycoon. Came here for a girl's night dinner last summer. The staff, both hostess and waiter were professional, friendly, helpful and had a great sense of humor. We began with a great basket of bread and each got a margarita. The margaritas were pretty small, but very strong. After we finished the drinks we contemplated on getting a second one, but ultimately decided not to. THANK GOODNESS WE DIDN'T! The margaritas (we found out upon receiving the bill) were twenty dollars each! But, who cares! We're a group of Rockefeller descendants, $60 for three drinks is nothing! Wait...what's that? We're not Rockefellers? We're three teachers on a teaching salary? Oh...well this is awkward then :/ I've been all over the city and never paid so much money for one drink. Drinks aside, the meal was incredibly good and well worth the price. I ordered the medallions of beef bordelaise. Incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful...melt in your mouth good! We got sides of creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Potatoes were amazing! Spinach was a bit funky tasting, almost had a perfume like taste? The ambiance was nice, but typical for a steakhouse. Dark, polished wood, almost an upscale "pub-ish" ambiance. Overall, a good night and excellent meal.

Amazing experience. I started with a drink at the bar, where the bartender Dennis is the most charming, charismatic and professional barkeep I ever met. We then moved to the dining room for lunch. The place was packed but the service was impeccable. The steak was perfect. Great filet mignon.

Had dinner here last night with a group of girls. It's a traditional steakhouse but certainly not at the top of the list in New York City. Upon entrance the gentleman saw that we had reservation but because the whole party wasn't there (we were early) we weren't seated. There wasn't a great place to wait. The small bar off the entrance had folks drinking so couldn't have a seat. It was kind of a bummer. We had steaks, which were good, but my steak wasn't cooked to order. I asked for a medium rare steak which came out somewhere between a medium and a medium well steak. Bummer. We ordered a 3 pound lobster to share to make it a surf and turf, the lobster was very well cooked. The wine. My friend ordered a Malbec which was "meh" at $75/ bottle. I looked it up, 89 points (meh) that sells for $14.79. I absolutely get the backup, but come on, but a quality stark house should serve better wine for that kind of price. I didn't love the service, it didn't reflex service you experience at an upscale steakhouse.

do not get the chop chop salad there is no lettuce just tomatoes and onions there is no greens

Got a recommendation to dine at this place and it was spot on. We ate the cajun rib eye, and wow it was delicious, full of flavor. It's a must eat. I would recommend this place to anyone in the mood for some great steak.

Went there for a business lunch. Place was packed and no lunch special just the regular menu. Most people had the lobster bisque which was good followed by an average salad. One person had the filet which was slightly overlooked but tasty. Overall an average experience at exceptionally steep prices.

Must say that Bobby Van's Steakhouse is such a nice place. Flavorful menu items and outstanding service. The menu is really good, lots of very good choices, I had to go with Filet Mignon, and it was great. Team so very kind, fun, and accommodating. You will really like Bobby Van's Steakhouse.

For all the steakhouses that are clustered in the Midtown area, Bobby Van's is a standout when it comes to a blend of quality food, service, and vibe surprisingly. The "stuffy air" that often intimidates and deters many from enjoying a meal at steakhouses will find BV to be a pleasant surprise. This particular location resembles that of a speakeasy yet retains the traditional decor and ambiance to appeal to business professionals and non-business patrons alike. P.S. - The burger is excellent!

I've stopped for a drink a few times before, so this time I wanted to try out the food. It was fairly busy for a weekday evening but I really thought the service was good. Like most steakhouses, they fix your plates and make it all very easy. We started with a tomato mozzarella salad, think bacon strips, and a cold lobster and crab dish. The bacon was tasty with a nice crisp, the salad nice and fresh, and he seafood delicious as always. The issue I had was our main course steak. We ordered a porterhouse for 3 and asked for it to be medium rare and medium. The steak for the most part was very rare, which isn't too big of a problem for me, but some of the people I was with couldn't deal with. The sides were a good pairing with the steaks and for the most part, a good meal. I've been to many steakhouses in NYC, and although I enjoyed my meal, I'd prefer a few others before returning.