The Dynamo Room
Restaurant · Chelsea ·
Craft cocktails, curated bites, electric pre-show energy near MSG
Craft cocktails, curated bites, electric pre-show energy near MSG
"Midtown newcomer the Dynamo Room, a modern steakhouse from Sunday Hospitality with chef partner Jaime Young and chef Derek Boccagno, is now serving weekday lunch (Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) complete with a retro lineup of lunchtime martinis in mini and full pours ($12, $22) — Gibsons, Vespers, dirty martinis, and cosmos included. The menu spans raw bar platters ($28 to $148), entree salads, and a $30.95 express lunch featuring choices like salmon with chimichurri or hanger steak frites (add $10). On the new outdoor promenade adjacent to Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, you can dig into a lush burger dribbled with au jus tableside or segue to the more dressed-up prime rib or rib-eye, with sides from creamed greens to mac and cheese or asparagus. A less expensive bar menu and a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday bring cheaper drinks, oysters, and snacks." - Melissa McCart
"I saw that the Dynamo Room is included among spots that bring different takes on steak to the table via carts, turning carving into a show." - Jaya Saxena
"There’s a lot to be excited about around 33rd Street and 8th Ave. The Knicks, obviously, and The Dynamo Room, a new steakhouse from the team behind Sunday in Brooklyn, and the restaurants in the Hotel Chelsea. Expect lots of steaks, lobster, and an extensive raw bar in a space inspired by the downtown restaurants and oyster cellars popular around the turn of the 20th century." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, bryan kim
"In Midtown, a $34.95 chocolate tart capped with a caviar dollop makes for an unusual‑by‑U.S.‑standards splurge that guests find pleasantly surprising; as co‑founder Jaime Young notes, the room can justify it as one of the only full‑service spots to ball out after a Knicks win near Madison Square Garden, even as many ticket holders come and go quickly and the team watches whether fall events keep them for a splurgy finish." - Dalya Benor
"Fresh, fun, and a little bit hip, this sprawling Midtown steakhouse-oyster bar mashup delivers both spectacle and comfort: big circular bars, a breezy plaza-facing patio, and an old-school 'Presenting of the Meat' before you choose your cut. My perfect order starts at the bar or patio with freezing-cold $20 martinis and the fantastic off-menu burger - a dense, funky patty under a huge blob of melted cheddar and sinus-clearing house horseradish, theatrically drenched tableside with prime rib jus (a definite fork-and-knife situation) and flanked by a mountain of beef-tallow fries. For sharing, I like the English-cut prime rib platter, the neatly sliced deckle (rib-eye cap), and a crock of house steak sauce for zip, plus sides like the light-yet-luscious smoked cheddar souffle, classic mashed, mac and cheese, and creamed greens. Snacky hits include buttery crab-and-leek toast, plenty of oysters from both coasts (the Long Island peekos are chef Derek Boccagno's pick), and Parker House rolls with roasted garlic butter - best timed to soak up prime-rib juices. Bigger splurges span rib-eyes and porterhouse for the table, even caviar service with cheddar waffles, while the jumbo-lump crab cake, chilled deviled lobster, and caviar spaghetti with pancetta keep the party rolling. Desserts punch above their weight: a superb New York cheesecake from pastry chef Andrew Yeeles led a lineup that also impressed (cherries jubilee sundae, many-layered carrot cake, and a caramel-drizzled crumb cake). The bar menu runs a bit cheaper and adds a legit French dip, and the Madison Square Garden-adjacent location - at the base of the Penn 2 tower - makes it ideal for pre-gaming, though the scene swings with arena events." - Scott Lynch