I can’t let this one pass.
So, at the start of the summer, Bruni published something in the Times about how the redone Minetta Tavern was possibly the best steakhouse in New York and since then I’ve been meaning to go. I finally got to this last weekend. I like McNally’s places: he builds out restaurants that are like tributes to the sort of places you want to eat every night. I’d been to the Minetta Tavern before he took it over. I liked the rennovation, all I ever remember of the place was the silhouette tiles and dust. Heirloom tomato appetizer was decent. And then the entree.
Worst steak I’ve ever had outside of airline food: Their medium-rare bone-in NY Strip. Comically awful. Truly awful. I would have felt guilty feeding it to a dog. Come to think of it, I haven’t had airline steak quite that bad.
Burnt to charcoal and covered in salt on one side. Not bad on the other. A bit grey an eighth of an inch in and then a solid cold raw core. Poorly finished with butter in some spots. The spots which tasted of too much butter. Salty. Just all around terrible.
The meat itself seemed ok, so this is just someone in the kitchen slamming one out. Or maybe it’s a tribute to crap downtown dining of yore.
I hear the burger is good. I wouldn’t know. I had the worst steak ever.