Looking for a good steakhouse, no particular area in Manhattan, staying on W 51st St. between 8th and 9th but can take a taxi, price range less than $100 for 2. Thanks!

That's a bit light of a budget, but if you aren't big drinkers you might be okay. Keen's and Rothmann's are both great places in midtown. Rothmann's has a lot of non-steak dishes, if your date isn't a huge carnivore.

Traditional NYC steakhouses serve everything a la carte, and a steak is usually $30+ and includes nothing on the side. If you get a glass of wine, a side, and a salad to share, you'll pay well over $50 per person.

You could go to the Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse Churraascaria Plataforma for $50 per person, though this doesn't include the cost of drinks or dessert, but it does include tons of food, and it's quite good. It's on 49th Street between 8th and 9th aves.

I think Michael Jordan's in Grand Central has a special that includes an "express" special filet mignon for around $30. However, I have never been very satisifed with the quality of the meat there for the high prices, though I must say that $30 is a much better deal for a small steak dinner than the usual $40 for just the steak itself.

As others have noted, it will be extremely difficult to fit your budget within reputable steak houses here in Manhattan.

Keen's is my first choice, good steaks with that old New York ambiance, but I'd suggest that you don't bother with this restaurant as steaks cost upwards of $38 and you will not have the benefit of any sides.

Churascaria Plataforma is good but it is not, shall we say, very New York. These types of restaurants pretty much exist everywhere. But, I agree that Plataforma is pretty good.

Here are a couple where you can stretch your budget:

Knickerbocker Grill (in the Village, specifically University Place). Good cuts of steaks, well prepared to your liking, at low to mid $30's and you can share a side and have a non-liquor drink.

Smith & Wollensky GRILL (50th Street and 3rd Avenue). Please note that I capitalized the "GRILL" part of the restaurant's name. This is at the groundfloor of the main restaurant and their steak prices are lower than those of the main dining room. I actually like this room better as you can get a table by the atrium overlooking the streets. Steak prices start at around $28.

Ben Benson is around the corner on 52nd St., between 6/7th Aves. but under $100 will be tricky.

It's our favorite steakhouse in NY.

Good info so far. I THINK Del Friscos, not far from your hotel, may have a prix fixe early dinner. It's listed in the Zagat guide at $31/person but I see no mention of it on their website.
http://www.delfriscos.com/default.asp

If you are big wine drinkers, Cite has a wine dinner prix fixe for $69/person that's a 3 course meal with unlimited wine. One of the entree options is steak.
http://www.citerestaurant.com/wine_dinner.asp

The NY TImes ran an article last month about eating in lounges of restaurants for less. They mentioned Keen's pub menu.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/di...&ex=1155096000

The section on Keen's mentions prime rib and mutton chop both for $24 in the lounge (obviously smaller sizes but still satisfying) vs. $45 or more in the restaurant.

Another option for good steak is go to a French brasserie and order steak frites. Balthazar's in Soho is very good.

I was going to suggest the same as mclaurie, when my husband and I feel like steak, we go to Ruth Chris/Mortons/Smith & Wollensky, Palm (the one on West 50th), DelFriscos (which has a really nice bar menu), and sit at the bar, share a steak and some sides. Even with a couple of vodkas and a glass of wine, we usually stay under $150, so if you don't drink you'd be ahead of the game. We find the portions at the steakhouses HUGE, one 12 ounce steak is more than enough for two, unless you have a huge appetite. A more "reasonable" steak house is Malony & Porcelli.

With all due respect, I don't think sharing a dinner is a great suggestion.

In fact, I don't think I've ever seen 2 people share a dinner in a NY restaurant.

You can get a good steak (and a great steak au poivre) for $100 for two (including wine) at Les Halles at 28th and Park or downtown on John St. I say this because my husband and I ate there recently and our bill was $100 (including tax, not tip).

Les Halles has a steak/frites special for lunch for $17. The steak is pretty nice and the fries are among the best in NYC. However, it is nowhere near the 'real' steakhouse experience.

Craftsteak (85 tenth Ave)in a fairly new arrival in NYC and so worth the experience -- you can pick and choose and come out close to your price range -- mind you, you ar picking the beef based on flavor, texture and rancher -- check out the web site for a better idea--http://www.craftrestaurant.com/craftsteak_newyork.html

What is a steakhouse experience?

I also recommend Les Halles. Not a steakhouse, but they have steak and frites (incredible frites). Plenty of atmosphere.

Plataforma is fine, but it is not a "top" restaurant.

A "steakhouse experience", in my mind, involves a clubby/gentlemanly atmosphere in which massive hunks of beef are served, unadorned on a plate. Sides are straightforward (iceberg lettuce wedge w/ blue cheese, lump crabmeat, etc.). Keen's and Smith and Wollensky both personify this descirption.

Dylan Prime and Angelo and Maxies are not "top tier" steakhouses, but also quite good.

I recommend Sparks, Dylan Prime, Wolfgang's and Peter Luger's (which is out in Brooklyn but amazing). Les Halles is not a steakhouse, you can order steak there but it's a French Bistro that's fairly casual. Houston's isn't what I'd call a steakhouse either, but it's a nicer restaurant than Les Halles and they've got pretty good steak.

These are all good steakhouses. However, to have the minimal level of dining satisfaction, it will be extremely difficult, clpse to impossible, to fit the OP's budget at Sparks (my vote for the best in Manhattan), Dylan Prime nor Lugers.

I'd suggest to the OP not to even bother with these places with the budget of $100 for 2.

Houston's is a nicer restaurant than Les Halles?!? Seriously? Houston's is a chain that is only one step above Applebees/Bennigans/TGIFridays and the like.

Les Halles is not just a bistro, it is also a butcher shop. I'd call it a French steakhouse. It is also the home of the chef/author Anthony Bourdain, although I doubt he cooks there much anymore.

Most definitely Les Halles over Houstons.

Which of the Les Halles locations is better? Or how do they differ in atmosphere, etc. I'm guessing the food is similar, and it appears extremely slightly lower priced downtown, but other factors are hard to compare from the website.

The one downtown caters more to the financial district crowd, and the neighborhood is kind of ugly. The one in midtown is more boisterous with a better atmosphere - much better neighborhood, IMO.

Anyone consider Wolfgang's on 32nd and Park?