Taking husband to NYC for birthday and Staying at the Benjamin Hotel I need a recommendation for a steak house--nothing too fancy, ie no coat or tie. Any suggestions within walking distance and any awesome Mexican food for another night??

Best steak in NY in Peter Luger's - but it's in Brooklyn.

In Manhattan we like BLT prime and thnk Del Frisco;s is very overrated (don;t trust any restaurant that has to advertise in cabs).

Just bring lots of $$$ - cash for Peter Luger.

Keens Steakhouse, est. 1885, on W. 36th Street.

Down in Greenwich Village - Strip House has very good steak and an great bit of nostalgia. http://www.striphouse.com/

I believe there are also Mexican places in the Village area but can't tell you which ones. Walked by several as I recall, but save that cuisine for here in San Diego.

And while I have not dined there - Del Frisco - http://delfriscos.com/new_york-details.php - midtown - gets good reviews and I enjoyed a wonderful/big Bone In Ribeye during a business luncheon in the Apple a few years ago at Bobby Fays - also midtown - around 54th as I recall. http://bobbyvans.com/Bobby_Vans_Steakhouse/Welcome.html

Just marvelous, and I event took part of it back to the room and had a steak sandwich the next day before walking it off around Greenwich Village.

Actually - NYC has a number of very good steakhouses.

Mole is the one I was thinking of in Greenwich Village http://www.molenyc.com/ and over toward the East Village - I believe Dos Todos is supposed to be good.

Oops - that's Dos Toros: http://www.dostoros.com/about.html

We love Buenos Aires in the Village. We've had fabulous Argentine food here and it's a bit different than a traditional New York steakhouse. The atmosphere is wonderful, service is outstanding and the beef and blood sausage is some of the best I've had. Here's the address:

513 E 6th Street - (between A and B Aves.)

I also like The Old Homestead Steakhouse in the meatpacking district. They seem to be a quasi-chain with branches in New York, New Jersey and Las Vegas! The NYC restaurant has been there since 1878.

Both places are casual enough. No suit jackets required, that's for sure.

At the Benjamin you're actually in Steakhouse Central. Within a few blocks are Palm http://www.thepalm.com/Palm-One and Palm Two, Sparks http://www.sparkssteakhouse.com/, Smith & Wollensky http://www.smithandwollenskynyc.com/ and no doubt several others. Also nearby is the reasonable and informal Le Relais de Venise l'Entrecôte http://www.relaisdevenise.com/newyork/, offering only steak, fries and salad. A good buy.

Unfortunately, no good traditional Mexican food in the area, but Pampano http://www.richardsandoval.com/pampano/index.php and Maya http://www.richardsandoval.com/mayany/index.php both offer excellent modern Mexican cooking.

We also like the Strip House in the West Village.

NY is not known for its Mexican restaurants. Maybe you can try some other cuisines that are different, there is all sorts of other sensational food in NYC.

There are very few suit and tie restaurants left in NY, especially at the medium price range and lower.

Agree that you'll be staying in "steakhouse central", even if none of them are Peter Luger's. (Also a lot of good Japanese in that vicinity...)

Also good is Ben Benson's, across town on 52nd Street: http://benbensons.com/

Your hotel isn't far from the original P.J. Clarke's if you want a good burger after that steak.

If you want a nearby Mex fix, go to Dos Caminos on 3rd and 50th. At least the margaritas are delicious! Or grab a margarita and fresh-made guacamole at Zocalo on the dining concourse of Grand Central - though the ambiance leaves a bit to be desired LOL. Otherwise IMO the only good Mexican food is in the outer boroughs...

(Go to menupages.com for restaurant details and user reviews. It's a great resource for NYC!)

Ben Benson's is calling it quits.

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2012/05...next_month.php

Oh that's so sad! I don't frequent steakhouses, but that place was terrific. One of a kind, like the articles said.

If you want a fix of tacos for a snack or lunch, you can try the Pampano Taqueria, a branch of
Pampano in the basement of an office building at 805 Third Avenue, very close to the hotel @ Third Ave. and 49th Streets.


Open 11:30am to 3pm only.


http://www.richardsandoval.com/pampa...o_taqueria.pdf


Regular down-home Mexican food is probably better sampled outside Manhattan, in Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Sunset Park-- neighborhoods that the average visitor will not have time for. The restaurants and food trucks there cater more to local Mexicans than the better known places in Manhattan.

Forgot to mention this place, on 10th Avenue (25 minutes or so walk from the hotel) for Mexican in a non-fancy atmosphere:


http://tulcingorestaurant.com/

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant...ngo-del-valle/



Agree, though, that you should probably substitute one of the legions of good Asian places for Mexican while in this area.