Donohue's Steak House Reviews

The decor of this place has a touch of the old (late 1950s?) Upper East Side about it, which is nice and so does the menu, which ought to be, even if the prices are all too up to date. Maybe we should have gone for the steaks, but the cheeseburgers were a touch disappointing. I'll give it one more try, but I'm not sure that Don Draper would.

If you grew up in NYC in the 50's, this type joint was in every borough. It was a watering hole for working men and their families- welcoming, edible food and not expensive.The authentic look and feel of todays Donohue's is just right and just as cozy. However, the current clientele is anything but working class- don't go with a tee shirt, jeans or flip flops. You also pay Manhattan prices.This is diner food, but not better. I inquired about fried chicken . A well meaning waitress told me it was pre-frozen and not cooked fresh. I had roast turkey which tasted as if from a deli turkey roll. Other items were a bit better. I recommend stopping for a leisurely drink at the pleasant bar

Old school vibe, prompt service; good food and drink. Nice escape from the trendy/pompous offerings in the area.

Neighborhood 'Restaurant and Bar' that offers great steaks and other delicious menu items from salad to poultry,fish and meat. Family run restaurant that provides a home atmosphere. Donnie's represents a disappearing restaurant from the NY scene

We have been twice on our trip to NYC, and had the filet steak done to perfection once and a lunch special the net time. Good, large drinks in this restaurant founded in 1950.

I love Donohue's Steak House. The food is "good". The atmosphere is fabulous....if you sit at the bar. Tom is an outstanding bartender. He is old-school, classy, professional, and right on in every way. Sitting at a table, however, brings another vibe. There is a waitress there who is loud, shrill, and almost nasty in the way she deals with people. Does she really need to scream down the bar? Enough to discourage folks from coming back. Hopefully, she is not the wave of the future and tomorrow will be as good as it has always been

Very friendly crowd. Most are regulars. Excellent Cosmo - YUM ! Ate at bar, despite having a reservation. Ordered Bronzino - was fine -- nothing "special" came with tarter sauce! YUCK Baked pot was dry, broccoli bland. You go for the camaraderie, the booze, and the friendly, up-scale locals. All recommended their burger as "best in town" -- how many times have I heard that!

I have passed this place so many times, but finally stopped in for dinner. Was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the steak and service. The atmosphere is old NY and the wine list needs some attention. Id definitely return…

Really traditional food very good quality and nice. The service was ok but really not more than okay.

Pluses of the restaurant are the nostalgia, the neighborly feel, and the friendliness of the staff. But the food is just mediocre. The steak I had was flavorless. The menu is mired in the 50s, which, face it, was not a high point of the culinary arts. There are better (far better) steakhouses. With all the restaurants in NYC, why go here?

We came here for dinner. This is more of a "beer" than "wine" restaurant. The interior is straight out of the 60's with dark wood panel walls. In fact the whole restaurant is a bit dark. We ordered burgers, steaks and pork chops (served the irish way with apple sauce). The burgers were good, the steak a little fatty. The pork chops were enormous. While the food was good, the place seems more aimed at regulars than the tourist trade who may prefer some of the more modern steak chains.

Really wanted a steak and this was close to our hotel. It was pretty good food, but service was slow. We spent $100 on food alone (no liquor). You could tell they cater to the neighborhood regulars which was fine, but I wouldn't go back if I visited NYC again.

It was a cold afternoon. We needed a place to get warm. We tucked in to Donohue's. What a special treat. Bruno was working the bar and was a delight. Good recommendations on the menu, good conversation, and great Manhattans. A highly recommended steakhouse to get away from the din of the city. Bruno, bless you.

We had read an article in the newspaper about Donohue's and decided we had to visit this old school New York steak house. It is very hard to find this kind of restaurant anymore and we were excited to have a meal in an establishment that seems virtually unchanged since its opening in 1950. The nostalgia is strong. The specials are written on chalk boards in the back of the house. The ambiance is dark and the booths are cozy. You will find dishes here no one else would dare to carry in 2019; London broil, ham steak, and probably ten kinds of broiled fish. Donohue's is refreshingly different. However, I unfortunately cannot get on board with the food. I ordered the prime rib. The flavor was nice but it was served more medium than the medium-rare I had ordered and our server didn't seem interested in changing it for me. The mashed potatoes and side of carrots were very bland. I don't even think the had been seasoned with salt and pepper. The carrot cake for dessert was good but I've certainly had better elsewhere. I appreciate the tradition and character of Donohue's. It is a blast from the past. But the food could definitely use a little more love and seasoning.

Being in the neighborhood, and having to entertain members of our family who live in NYC, we choosed Donohue on Lex. Good choice! Everybody was very happy with the setting, the service and especially the food. And it was very reasonably priced. I have to dwell on my lamb chop as I had never had such a huge, tasty and juicy piece of meat; I highly recommend it. Their wine list is good too.

Very friendly and the portions were just right for my appetite. Family owned is what makes this place so good. They know almost everyone who comes in.

Ate here Christmas Eve with my family and never again will I come across a worse meal...all the food was undercooked by a mile with the worse mozzarella sticks ever..burnt was an understatement and the frocked prices of this place was scandalous...the price for 5 of us with 3 starters and 5 mains with a round of drinks came to $337 like that is absolutely outrageous! Honestly everyone it’s really not worth quater that amount of money! Stay away!

We stayed at Affinia Gardens so this place was really close, however my suggestion is walk past and find somewhere else to eat. We are pretty accommodating when it comes to service (we're Australians and servicein Aus is always a bit slack) but this was ridiculous. Food really ordinary and very slow and server so bad when she gave us the bill she told us not to not worry about the gratuity - yes, it was that bad and quite expensive for what we got - go somewhere else!!

So we just moved to NYC and read a review of Donahue's. We live on the UWS and went there after work one night---let me just say that if we lived on the UES, my husband would pick me up here every night. Donahue's is a trip back in time. Definitely a neighborhood place--great people watching. It's as if you just didn't feel like cooking that night, but yet you wanted a martini or manhattan, some good company, and a steak. Don't expect Morton's quality. This is home cooking (yes, the salad dressing is Wishbone) at its finest. Seriously, go here. It's the old New York. We're going back.

Once you step foot into Donohue's, you know you are in the old school place in NYC. The bar and booths that transform you back in time to bygone era. We were there for a late lunch or early dinner and saw the place with the regulars dropping in. The food was nothing spectacular but was solid meals that will fill you. We were doing our best to eat sensibly but this isn't the place to worry about your waistline. The bar is full service and the drinks are good. Overall, I recommend this place for authentic NYC experience and one of the few places open all afternoon.

A step back in time to old New York with not a hint of pretense. A group of four or five wandered in and were told in a matter-fact-way that we needed a reservation because the place was booked do we were served but advised that the we could only have it for so long. Now, the joint was nearly empty except for one old guy in a he back but sure enough, as we nearing the end of our meal, the place was packed and for good reason. Our steaks were perfect and we all marveled that we'd never discovered it before. Clearly, it's a hidden gem because the regulars want to keep it to themselves.

New York City used to have this kind of place all over, but no more. It's a great adult place to go for a good steak, sandwich or stiff drink. General atmosphere is a throw back to a time gone by that makes you feel comfortable. The servers are great down to earth people no flash just good service. Most people in restaurant and bar are locals, even a few celebrities who live in the area. I really enjoy the shepherds pie and the sirloin steaks and the conversation with whoever we run into at the bar.

Tiny; not elegant; but we always eat here multiple times when in New York City because the food is great (simple not chic) and the atmosphere unpretentious and the prices, for NYC, well within reason.

Popped in for our last lunch before leaving for the flight from JFK to London. Had the shrimp cocktail, chicken soup, pork chops and veal. Was fresh, and tasty. The bread was wonderful too. A nice end to a great trip to NYC for NYE. Good local place will come again .

They now require reservations, apparently. New bartender Richie was rudest man I have ever encountered. Have been going there for years but will never go again after his treatment. A sad decline for a once fun neighborhood spot.

My husband and I were there last week.. it is open SUNDAYS... wonderful meal and the people that work were are outstanding....

I have been here 3 times in 1 month, each time for my favorite dish, pork chops. The place is so old fashioned without striving to be - it just is. I don't think they have a website or wifi, just food and drinks. There seem to be a lot lot of regulars, but walk ins are treated well as well. If you have to eat alone, eat here at the bar (the bartender is friendly) or at table.

Love the laid back feel - Food is great, Drinks are Perfect. Service is better than eating at Mom's!

Donohue's is one of the last non-trendy, non-hipster, non-foodie, high quality restaurants in Manhattan. Nothing "sourced". No farm-to-table BS. Steaks, chops, iceberg lettuce salad, blue cheese dressing. Red leatherette banquettes. This is the place retro, old school, etc., bars and restaurants try to emulate. You go here for a Martini and a steak and a chat with the owner-bartender and other guests who are friendly but also mind their own business. Most other diners seemed to be well off, long time and local patrons. It's been here forever, but this being NYC who knows how much longer it will be around. Not cheap but worth every bite and sip.

First time here had to sit at the bar because on Sunday reservations needed for dinner. But we didn't really care. We watched football and I had the best broiled pork chops I've ever had. Could only eat one of the two. Love the small neighborhood restaurant atmosphere with leather booths and two rows of tables. We were waited on by the owner who gave us great service. Three days later on a Thursday, we made a dinner reservation for 5:00 pm, sat in a booth, and I had the best london broil I've ever had. We are returning to NYC on December 16 and will have lunch there. Highly recommend!

Went here for quick dinner with friends while visiting NYC. It was just ok but it was an old school atmosphere. Service was mediocre and the food above average. Not the best New York has to offer but still ok.

I treated old friend at Donohue's Steak House the other night. We both had an absolute ball. Our steaks were cooked to perfection; very well done for him, very rare for me. Sides of onion rings and french fries were both excellent. We had a great time chatting and watching some of the old-timers at the bar with a shot of whiskey and a beer chaser. The staff was very friendly, and cleanliness was quite good including the men's room. We both had a very warm feeling about this place, and it wasn't just from the beer either.

This place is a great place to have lunch or dinner. I prefer to usually sit at the bar and order a steak which comes with a small salad and side. The price is good at $30 and they have good specials as well. This is just a down to earth place on the upper east side with a lot of history and solid food. Great food, good price and interesting people. I am surprised there are not more reviews, although it is probably better this place stays a secret. I try and go once a month and enjoy it.

Best tuna fish sandwich...made fresh to order, great grilled cheese with bacon. Dinner on Thursday nights corned beef and cabbage.

Took my daughter and her friend for steak night and they split a steak and they each finished there half. My daughter and her friend had there own ice cream which even the bowl is small is to big for a 7 year old to finish. I had the bronzino fish which was very good

We go here every time we come too Manhattan we love the homely feel and the most amazing service on the whole island, the place hasn't changed since it was opened and has remained family owned and run the whole time, we would recommend his place too everyone and cannot wait too return....LOVE IT

Upper East Side hangout. The best. Been there forever. Real New Yorkers.

Has a nostalgia vibe, a trip back in time. Friendly and helpful the wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. I had the corned beef and cabbage and my wife had the scrod, both could be recommended.

I met some old friends for dinner at Donohue's for an evening of re-connecting. They picked the place out as somewhere in their neighborhood where they had come before. It's convenient to the subway, off the southeast end of Central Park. We sat in a booth, which felt crowded, but hey, it's New York City, right? The food was decent, although I would not describe it as gourmet. Just a bit overpriced, but again, it's New York. I had a cheeseburger and the waiter never asked me how I would like it cooked. It came out medium, not the best I've ever had but also not the worst. I did appreciate that the staff allowed us to have a "European" (i.e., slow) pace for the meal, as we had not seen each other for several years. I'd eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

Full of locals!! Brilliant atmosphere - first went here 7 years ago and it hasn't changed. Deep, leather, booths. Great steaks and home cooked pies also. Really friendly staff. A real gem. Quite pricey but huge portions of freshly cooked home produce and it is Upper Eastside, New York. Great for people watching!

this is our meat lovers spot, we go there quite often with hubby and we always felt welcome as well as full when we we left

This place has been a haunt for the parents of one of us for many years, but it only became one after we had left New York some 30 years ago. New York used to be filled with places like this: cozy Irish bar with a restaurant attached serving old fashioned food, decent but nothing exceptional, some with better food than others. Few of those places remain, but this is one of them. It is dark inside. Ball games always on the TV over the bar (and just a single normal TV, not a bunch of big screens). Folks who live or work in the neighborhood often come for a drink, and the bar is often crowded. The restaurant in the back often gets crowded at night with people from the neighborhood, and there are many regulars. Cocktails are good, but don't come in looking for trendy ones. Beer is in bottles. If you want wine, you'll get standard domestic stuff. Food varies from adequate to good. Although its name says steakhouse, fish has often been a favorite meal here. On weekends, check the specials board; if scallops are on it, get them if you like them (the owner brings them in fresh from her home on Long Island, where she gets them direct from the fishermen). Burgers are good, and the roast chicken is tasty, in the old fashioned, salty-gravy kind of way. This is the kind of place regulars treat like their own home. But outsiders should not feel intimidated; it is not that kind of place. It is more the kind of place where anyone is made to feel at home.

Food was so-so. Spinach had no taste, and was very watery. Waitresses seemed to have their own favorite customers with whom they chatted most of the time. Ours never returned til she brought the check. Didn't seem to care if there was anything wrong with meal. They had no draft beer, and only the usual selection of commercial bottled beer. We passed on their dessert and coffee and stopped at a diner a few doors away for coffee and cheesecake, very good and served by a delightful young woman.

NIce place to eat. Food is average, but good. Portions are good. Not overly crowded like most of the italian places, so good to get away from the crowds. More of a local establishment. Not touristy. Booths are alittle small, next time sit at a table or bar.

Nothing special. A neighborhood place but not as good as I can cook at home. They just don't make a huge effort especially on the sides. Doesn't take too much thought, creativity or expense to make something a little more special than boiled carrots.

Wanted to eat something heavy and enjoyable before an evening of drinking so I chose Donohue's...appears to be a neighborhood institution and one could tell after walking in...smaller than I thought but intimate and cozy with wood lined walls...we were seated immediately despite being early for a reservation and it took a few minutes before we got menus...very friendly server who was attentive to our needs...the surprise was the meal itself--portions were rather small for the price and the flavors weren't memorable...it was a good dining experience but expected more.

Great service, very good homestyle food with the usual favorites and daily specials. The staff is friendly, accommodating but polite. Eating here is fun but also comfortable with tasty food very well prepared.

I need to start by saying that we didn't taste the food... however, for 5 gals looking for a "fun" spot to eat great food, this missed the mark. It was DEAD on a Friday night at 8pm- there were scattered couples and outdated vinyl furniture. Suffice to say, it scared us away!

This really is an old-fashioned traditional steakhouse and therefore it is all the more surpring to find it on the Upper East Side. It feels very much like a family run restaurant for local inhabitants. We had very good steaks and cheesecake. Prices are reasonable for the location. Service is somewhat haphazard but pleasant nonetheless.

Outstanding and tasty seals and chops! Awesome old time restaurant with great service and that old bar smell. The food comes out hot, fresh and well plated! Perfect for a quick lunch or a meeting, meet an old friend, just all over great.

Cheeseburger with cheddar cheese and bacon. Manhattan with bourbon knob creek. Dirty martini with Kettle One. Sinatra in background.

Been here a few times and long standing place is a beacon for steak lovers. Fir me it is the corned beef hash. And scrambled eggs. Best place around and it comes out like you order it. Lots of locals know it and so should you

This place just felt good. The atmosphere was so cozy, and the food was just excellent. If you're a good eavesdropper, you can hear the most interesting statements from the older, obviously-all-regulars clientele. The service was excellent. And, as I stated, it was the only restaurant we went to more than once on our trip. All 3 of us got the steak both times we went, with a salad and a baked potato. Utterly standard, but so so so good.

Recently ate at Donohue's for the first time. The place is homey almost clubby with warm booths and a friendly wait staff. I had a wonderful plate of pork chops but my wife wasn't as lucky. She asked how the lamb chops were and was told "great," but they arrived very fatty and she decided not to send them back for the sake of time. We'll definitely try Donhue's agin.

We were in the neighborhood and looking for a place to have lunch and watch the Mets game. We were fortunate enough to come upon Donohue's where we enjoyed a delicious sandwich and a glass of wine. This is a neighborhood place, as evidenced by the sprinkling of locals at the bar and in the dining room. The decor is old fashioned and so is the menu. But you are greeted warmly and well served and you can't ask for more. If we are ever again nearby at meal time, we will not hesitate to visit again.

This is a small old restaurant that looks like it hasn’t been renovated in 50 years. I would recommend the French Onion Soup and wedge salad. The burger and fries were nothing special and I would not order it again. The service was good. Can’t comment on the steaks. Hard to get excited about a return visit.

We've dined at Donohue's at least twenty times and we regret that we shall never do so again. The reason is they employ the most horrible, angry and rude waiter we have ever encountered in my life (I'm 61). We have been "served" by this rude man on previous Sunday's but his level of rudeness rose to the toxic level last night. lasnnnight.nihStay

Donohue's has been there since long-ago 1950, and it perfectly preserves what made it popular when Truman was in the White House. There is nothing fussy, or forced, about what a later age would call its "ambience"--the restaurant just keeps honorably doing what it always did. Which is to serve, at the highest level, the kind of American food that has long since disappeared from most Manhattan menus. For instance, you can get a plate of sliced turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes; and that greatest of vanishing dishes, really good corned beef hash. But if you're not in a nostalgic mood, forget the turkey and have a perfectly-cooked steak, or the remarkably fine hamburger. Even if you're just stopping in for a drink, you'll leave happy: the bartender, like the rest of the staff, is friendly, accommodating, and professional.

Donahue’s is a local steakhouse with charm. We were attracted to it because it showed $$ rather than $$$$, that is what we needed. We wanted a good steak, salad, potato, glass of wine, and then to go home to bed. We wanted to make a reservation but could not find the app that this restaurant uses to make an online reservation. So since it was only 6pm on a Monday night, we took our chances and walked in. The first person who greeted us was a surly hostess who asked us if we had a reservation? When we said no (without explaining why), she looked around as if she could not seat us, despite the empty tables. We found that amusing and were eventually offered a table. We liked our server, who had a better attitude. We enjoyed the salad, the potato, and the wine. Unfortunately, the filet (which we ordered because it was the better cut we saw on the menu) was tough. We ordered medium and it was medium, but it was not juicy nor tender. I would’ve been somewhat satisfied with this steak if I haven’t had expectations that a steakhouse charging almost $50 for a steak would’ve served a better one. That said, we would come back if we get a reservation and we have something other than the steak. The people there looked like they were really enjoying themselves and that they were locals who come here all the time. We think that ambience is what you’re paying for to go there and that may really be worth it!

Been coming to Donohue's for years for basic, neighborhood food and whenever I was hit by a liver with bacon craving. Found out in the last visit that liver is no longer offered. Everything went downhill from there. The menu has been changed. Every entree begins at $29, which is fine, I understand that rents and expenses keep going uncontrollably up, but I expect a good meal and our food was terrible. Pot roast with no taste whatsoever. And to top it off, the owner wasn't there, and the service was downright bad. Super disappointed and somewhat sad. Food and service quality they can control.

We were looking for a genuine New York dinning experience and we found it at Donohue's! Wonderful location, awesome interior, great service and delicious food. Our family of three absolutely loved it! It felt like we time travelled to a different epoch when everything - food and service included- was better. It was a nice way to celebrate our overall New York experience.

i am very very picky about my steak and meat here in new york city... but i really think that the steak here is one of a kind!

Donohue's is a neighborhood institution. The food is really glorified diner cuisine (comfort food?). The wait staff has been here forever and knows what the customers want. I think a lot of the customers eat here regularly. They serve martinis in the original, smaller-sized glasses rather than the enormous buckets people use now and I love that.

I had two hours to kill in the middle of the day and wanted a drink. I was on Lexington Ave and spotted Donohue's. I came in at an off-peak hour and sat at the bar, surrounded by locals who, from the sounds of it, came in everyday for lunch. The décor, the cash register, the bartender, even the conversation made me feel like I had gone back to the early 1960s. There were no beer taps. I ordered a beer, which made me the odd man out. All the characters at the bar were enjoying their signature cocktails. It was a really cool atmosphere and I could have sat there all day enjoying the atmosphere and the clientele. Next time I am in NYC, I am coming back for a steak dinner with my wife.