I remember the days when Midtown East used to be packed with restaurants and people, but since COVID, large portions of the area have drained of life and restaurants. Reserve Cut Park Avenue has been trying to fill this gap and meet the needs of the non-Jewish and Jewish residents and workers looking for fine dining and observing Kosher. Taking over the old American Cut location at 109 E 56th St, New York, NY 10022, brings a new vibe to the area around Park Ave that has been dead for years. The atmosphere and decor are some of the best and are better than the original. I didn’t take any pictures since that restaurant was packed, and people’s privacy needs to be respected.
Kosher Steakhouses, Steak and Sushi All in One
One of the reasons why I love Kosher Steakhouses is their combination and mastery of my two favorite foods, Steak and Sushi. I have yet to visit one that has not had at least one of those stand out. Reserve Cut Park Avenue is no exception. We did not go crazy with what we ordered for the table, a basic spread of one or two items for each category focusing on the specialties of the restaurant. The appetizers were simple: RC Crispy Rice and Hand Rolled Potato Gnocchi.
Both dishes were good, but the RC Crispy Rice was too thick for me. Yes, I know the irony of me complaining about thickness does not go unnoticed. It’s just my personal choice and opinion. I like the rice bed to be thinner; this way, it is more crispy and easier to pick up with chopsticks. The sushi course was the Midtown Truffle Tuna Roll, a solid choice and a table pleaser. I highly recommend this for a first-timer.
The Entree was the 10-oz Prime Reserve Cut, which was a clear standout with the meat quality. The cut of beef was soft, tender, and juicy. To say the least, I wish more Steakhoueses had this good of a cut. The only improvement I would have is to have the flat top sear on it. Again, this is a personal preference. Not everyone will agree with me, but I like a full sear more than grill marks.
Last was dessert. As we all know, I am not crazy about it. But you can never go wrong with a Baked Alaska and an Espresso Martini. All the Martinis were on point at Reserve Cut, but the Espresso Martini was a standout.
Overall Opinion
I would definitely go back to Reserve Cut Park Avenue. Kosher or not, it is a solid Steakhouse. The overall order will change, but not by much. I want to try more of the appetizers and sushi rolls. I would also like to try the burger; kosher burgers are always interesting, as they can’t have cheese, so the chef has to use other ingredients to kick it up. The steak is a reorder, hands down.
As always, this is just the opinion of some Fat Guy from Brooklyn. What do I know? If you want to read more about my adventures in steakhouses or restaurants, click on the words.