Alison C.
Yelp
I had been to The Kitchen Step years ago for a special wine dinner and had found the food just OK. However, I knew that set menu meals should not be utilized as a true judge of the chef's abilities, as the kitchen would just be cooking in bulk for a large group. So, I kept the restaurant on my list to try again at a future point. Well, my boyfriend surprised me with a birthday dinner there recently, and I was excited to give it another shot.
When we walked into the warm, cozy restaurant on that rainy evening, we were greeted by a very sweet and friendly hostess, who took us to a nice table next to the windows with a view of Jersey Avenue. We tucked ourselves in and ordered cocktails from our similarly nice server. I selected the Chai Flyer, which included Tanqueray gin, Aperol, chai-infused vermouth, and a pomegranate cordial. The drink was boozy with just the perfect hint of sweetness from the pomegranate and seasonal spice from the chai. I thought it was excellent! My companion had gone with the Elote Pina, which was a blend of Mezcal Union, elote pineapple shrub, agave, lime, and bitters. He really enjoyed it, and I took a sip, finding it smoky and just lightly fruity.
In addition to our entrees, we decided to order the Warm Ciabatta that apparently came from Balthazar Bakery, a favorite of mine. The $6 plate included 4 slices of bread, which were not thrilled we had to pay for, but did find enjoyable. We were not sure how fresh the bread had been, as it was toasted, but it was tasty nonetheless. While I typically do not butter my slices, theirs was served with a tantalizing roasted garlic herb butter that I could not resist. It was great!
For my main dish, I opted for the Black Angus Hanger Steak, which was served over a delicious squash puree and cubes of braised celeriac. The steak itself was a bit under my requested medium preparation, which made some pieces a bit chewy, but it was otherwise tasty. There was also a creamy, peppery au poivre sauce poured over the meat that I really enjoyed. My boyfriend thought his Burger with an onion compote and bacon (he skipped the cheddar) was really good, and the accompanying herbed fries were thin and crispy.
As I received my main dish, I also wound up getting another beverage, but switching to wine. I asked for tastes of both the 2018 "Kitchen Step" Pinot Noir from the Central Coast of California, as well as the 2022 Bodegas Escorihuela "1884" Single Vineyard Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. I had selected these two reds based on their fruity descriptions. While I typically love Pinots from that region of California, I was not impressed. I thought the exclusive vintage was too light and watery. The Malbec, on the other hand, was organic, unoaked, well-balanced in its low acidity, and full of ripe, dark berry flavors. I asked for a full glass of that one, which was surprising, as I was typically not a Malbec fan.
For dessert, we were enticed into each ordering a Hot Chocolate, his topped with a bruléed marshmallow fluff and mine without. We skipped the booze, though there was an option to include it. We went all in on the cocoa, however, by also ordering a slice of the Flourless Chocolate Cake, which was like a decadent, rich brownie, topped with a marshmallow whip frosting. The restaurant was nice enough to even put a candle on the plate. Lastly, they gave us an appreciative send-off as we headed out into the wet night.
Our Kitchen Step experience was great, and I was so glad that I gave it another try.