Sparks Steak House Reviews

Wonderful service and one of the best meals I have ever had. Try the beef medallions. Go and you will not regret it!!

Great steaks, huge servings, attentive staff make for a fine dinner Very comfortable atmosphere Mid town location - a little pricey

Ok so it was our last day in the city after an unbelievable 6 days and we decided to go to one of the city’s famous steak houses before our flight later that evening and decided Sparks would a good choice, first of all when you arrive it’s very dark and not so welcoming, very old style steak house, which is fine as I like history but it reminded me of a funeral home very quiet and gloomy, maybe because it was early lunch and we where among the first through the doors, anyway we are greeted by the front of house who shows us our table, then the waiter brings us our menu, we decide on the prime sirloin and knew it wasn’t cheap $60 each plus we ordered a couple of drinks and a side of jacket potato. We waited around half hour which is acceptable I guess, the steaks arrived and looked appetising enough, but that’s where it ended, the jacket potato was dry and over cooked again fine even though it was over $10 it’s a steak house after all, I asked mine cooked medium and it came more well done, it wasn’t a bad steak it just wasn’t something that you would expect in such a place, a big slab of meat, in no way the slightest bit tender whatsoever, still pink ish but no flavour through the meat and a little chewy, again it wasn’t bad just not what you expect from a so called fine dining establishment. I have eaten at some good steak places over the years and what you get is favour, tenderness, and every mouthful a joy that melts in the mouth, this was none of that just a big piece of bouncy over cocked unloved sirloin that lacked in flavour and nothing else good that redeemed the experience. Then the bill, ok so I know this isn’t going to be exactly reasonable and we have plenty of cash left so are prepared, as it’s our last day we aren’t too fussed, however the bill came to $182 which I thought was a joke so I left $210 as I couldn’t be bothered making a fuss and I might add that the cutlery was nothing short of a disgrace my falk was covered in the previous diners food so my partner swapped it off another table, again not wanting to make a fuss and everything is so old and worn, cutlery all bent not to mention dirty because they can’t wash up properly at Sparks, so getting back to the bill I gave $210 on a $180 bill and as we where leaving I could see the obnoxious waiter mumbling to himself, we asked what is up ? He said is so many words that this wasn’t enough and started rambling on about the service and his reputation and demanded another $20 so we reluctantly gave it as I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle, but the cheek of the man who is so far stuck up himself was unbelievable, $50 tip was good enough only when he asked for it, what a joke after the meal failed to live up to anything more than a $50 at best for the 2 of us, theses clowns are so far removed from reality it is funny, I have had far superior steak in my own city for a third of the price, we’ve been to Spain & Italy and had beautiful steaks pre cooked to choose from and cooked to perfection from the open grill, I wouldn’t have had an issue if not for the bland steak and then a price like as if the cow was Royalty, do me a favour you can tell these scam artists aren’t interested in the customer unless your blowing thousands in there as I’m sure some might, more fool them, but trust me you are better off going to a proper steak place in the city for half the price as your guaranteed to get a better meal off the grill, there are far better more superior places to eat, this place must still be in denial and trading off its former reputation since the mob graced it’s dining rooms, well it ain’t nothing to shout about believe me, also they didn’t even have the courtesy to ask how our meal was ? No even a was everything ok ? No just rude and demanding more money from us, very unprofessional and disgusting behaviour, this place is a blot on the NYC steakhouse industry. Overall a terrible experience, please avoid at all costs, your better off getting a steak from a local diner or street vendor, it would probably have more flavour and be tender for a fraction of the price. If you’re happy to be robed in broad daylight and eat tasteless slabs of meat and suffer dirty cutlery and be humiliated by the front of house because they wanted more tip then this is the place for you, if not then eat anywhere else and you’ll be fine we did and never had a problem until the day we walked into sparks, my only regret is I didn’t kick up a fuss and I so wished I’d have just left the $180 and then said your food and service was pathetic and I want you to refund me $50 but hey you live and learn hopefully this helps people when deciding where to eat in the city.

I was informed by word of mouth that this ace had some of the best steaks in the city. I have experienced places in the city with almost $100 steaks, so I was quite excited to see if this place was up to par. Upon entrance, we were immediately seated (party of 3). After requesting drinks, appetizers, and main course, I could not believe how attentive the service staff were! The food was.... phenomenal. I definatel agree with those who told me the steaks were amazing. And the best part, the steaks were better tasting and half the price of the other steak house I went to in the city. We also had great dessert as well! Dress code, seemed to be at least business casual, we dressed up for the night but there were other families in casual wear. Between the 3 of use, the bill was about $100 a piece (see picture) I will never forget the taste of that steak!

Fantastic from start to finish. Warm welcome, attentive waiters, the size of the portions were huge! The steak was well cooked and there was a lot of it. So pleased I got to visit and try this place. Would love to come back

We arrive without reservation and are very well received by the team. Only adult with 2 children tired by the trip, we take ONE plate of steak with bleeding Bordeaux sauce and ONE caesar salad size starter. The plate arrives very quickly and the waiters bring us 3 plates and 3 knives to share. This is excellent and enough! With a glass of Super Tuscan, the adult is happy and the children enjoyed the tenderness of the meat. Try it!

Great people, great ambiance, and the steaks were out of this world!!! Get the Sirloin special! Great steak!

I was with my wife's family celebrating her nieces engagement, I had the worst filet that I have ever had. I didn't send it back because I didn't want to ruin the meal for the rest of the family. Ordered medium rare, it was burnt on the outside and raw in the middle, but it was also full of gristle, didn't know that was even possible with a filet. The rest of the meal was just okay, not sure why it is so highly rated. I can't complain about the cost, we knew that going in.

The food was good, but the service was extremely uneven. To begin with, we all had baked clams served on a burning hot dish where the waiter didn't bother to warn us. The waiters frequently reached over our shoulders when they should have gone around the table to serve us . Lastly, while we were still at the table talking, a waiter asked us if he could change the table cloth, and then another waiter brushed of some spilled food with his bare hands and covered the spot with a napkin. These things should not take place in an elegant restaurant with expensive menus.

Stay away if you are not WHITE!!! Great piece of meat but a bad steak and ruined experience by the lazy waiters. ( a tall fat, baldy at mid 40s) Stay away from this restaurant if you are not white. We were seated for 10 minutes and no one gives a damn about us. While another white couple was immediately offered menu, water, and bread. Finally when I ask around a few waiters about who is our waiter; someone came(after they standing around and talking for 5 minutes) to ask us what we want to drink without given us a menu! They seem to be more interested in talking amongst themselves rather than provide service to customers. We have been to many steak houses around the world and this is absolutely the worst experience we have ever had at any price level!! For the food, meat quality is good but badly cooked, I asked for a rare steak and was given a bleu. Apparently they don’t know how to cook steak in a so called high end steak house. But again, great restaurant if you are white.

A great New York steakhouse. Great service, great atmosphere, fantastic wine choice and generous portion sizes. My only complaint is I couldn’t eat more

This restaurant is rich in history. Very elegant in appearance. Our waiter was helpful to guide us through our choices. The portions for the entrees were huge. Ok, average cost was $42(ish). But, the tuna, sea bass, steak and shrimp were enough for ten people. I had the tuna and helped on the sea bass. Both were cooked perfectly. For side veggies the waiter suggested to get only two. We did not eat them all between four of us. I told two friends who went and had the same great service and well prepared food.

We had a function with a private room downstairs which was nice. Can’t say the waiters were that good and they kept talking loudly while the speeches were on. Food was good but portions were simply too big. Massive amount of food wasted. Expensive.

Wow probably the best steak I have ever eaten ! Walking in this restaurant is like the setting for a 1950s gangster movie ! In the nicest possible way ! The matre’d meets you with a warm handshake then off to your table for a culinary experience like no other ! The waiters sure do know there business and execute it to perfection! Fantastic array of wines and an extensive menu that will please everyone,the portions are massive but the quality is of the highest order ! Can praise this establishment enough so all I will say is get down there and feast like a king ! Thanks for an amazing experience guys see you soon.

Fabulous steak and sides in this traditional New York steakhouse. We could easily have over ordered but the the excellent advice the knowledgeable waiter provided. Perfect food, incredible wine and attentive service made this a 5 star review.

They may serve steaks at Sparks, but I'll never get to know. Had reservations for 7:30 Pm last night. Arrived 15 minutes early to a mob of people with reservations standing in the doorway, and at every inch of space at the restaurant's entrance.Every table in this large eating venue was occupied, and the people waiting to be seated was to numerous to determine. The staff member in charge of seating didn't seem to care if one had a reservation, or not. All he cared about was who was more willing to slip him some cash to get a table. The utter chaos in this joint reminded me of a fire drill at a school for delinquents. no rhyme, no order, and no regard for folks who may have had a once in a life time chance to have dinner at Sparks. We were treated as though we were cattle going to the stock yards for slaughter. We left after waiting more than a half hour. How dare this place overbook to the point of violating the existing fire laws of NY city? This joint should be inspected by the fire department on a regular basis because several laws are being broken daily. So in the end, we never got to eat at Sparks, we got as far as the front lobby! So can some one tell me: do they serve stakes there? I'll never know.

Very overrated place! I wanted to visit this restaurant just because of the history of it (like many other people) and it seems like they take an advantage of that. The steaks, drinks and everything else are extremely expensive. Quality is ok, but not wow. $80 steak with no side dish… Airconditioning is blowing too hard which made me uncomfortable.

The food and service were absolutely beyond reproach. Steaks were cooked perfectly and the waitress was awesome. But the portions are ridiculous. It was a horrible waste of food. One at our table ordered the filet mignon and honestly it looked like a small roast. We should have shared but I guess we did not understand just how huge the servings would be. The creamed spinach was so so, not great. The hash browns were good. I would recommend this place because the steaks are fantastic, just please share!

Five of us had a reservation for five PM dinner. We were seated immediately. 45 minutes later no food had arrived. Waiter informed us there was an outage in the kitchen, to be patient. We told him our hired limo is arriving at 6:30 PM for the Genesis concert on Long Island at 8 PM. At 6:10 PM our food was served. Lamb chops were good and on point. Steaks overdone. Mashed potatoes runny and not worth the hefty price. Other sides were okay. We had to rush through our meal! Decided to give them another try the next night. Lamb chops were good, salmon was good but the steaks were overcooked again. Service was slow and the waiter was rude. After dropping over $1,000 in two nights we spoke to the manager. He listened but we don’t think cared. The place was packed both nights so don’t need our business. We will oblige and try another restaurant!

Flat out horrendous and the worst steakhouse experience I’ve ever had. Have eaten in over 100 steakhouses 1. Took 15 minutes after being seated to even get water 2. Took 20 minutes to get a menu 3. The servers behind me kept hitting me in the back as they stood over table next to us 4. Server was the worst I’ve ever had in a steakhouse. Took 30 minutes to get an iced tea after asking, took 30 minutes to get a hot tea after asking, left our finished plates for 30 minutes before even stopping by, came by once to refill waters and had to ask to get drink refills. He was more worried about resetting other tables than serving guests. 5. Food sucked. Got a filet medium and it was undercooked and under seasoned. Another guest got a lobster and he said it wasn’t good. The crispy potatoes were burnt and tasted like old grease. Baked potato looked like it was out of a $5 bag from Shop-Rite. Ridiculous for the price they charged. Absolutely disappointing- understand why they were the only steakhouse in NYC with last minute reservations open on a Sat night during holiday week in NYC. Wouldn’t come back ever.

I think the large broiled lobsters we shared with our steaks were the highlight of the meal. Sides were all good. Service was good. Steaks were cooked properly but not as tender as expected of prime dry aged meat. Otherwise a great steakhouse.

The restaurant itself it’s beautiful, the staff are fantastic and service was extremely quick. The menu is amazing, cannot fault the food and although it is on the pricey end, you get what you pay for as the whole experience was gorgeous. Highly recommend for a fine dining evening.

Yes, It can happen at Sparks. The bill was to be expected 405.00 The sautés of mushrooms were wet and gross. The baked potato was grainy and flavorless. The Beef Filet was OK at best. Lots of fat. The tuna steak was raw inside the asked for med well. IT was re grilled and then it was gross. The salmon was dry and flavorless. The waiter at the end dropped a butter knife on me and did not even apologize. You will not see my face there again soon. Hey managers of Sparks you lost a good family. DETAILS matter. What a waste of time and money for very average quality. The The Sparks I remember. Eat at La Mela instead in Little Italy. Delicious! Great quality and attention to detail. DON'T give this Sparks a thought please.

We came here for my son's 25th birthday. This is a great place for celebrations and just visit. The steaks were very good and there is nothing less than a 14oz steak. Staff was friendly and helpful with allergies. Desserts were big as well. Prices are reasonable for New York. We had a fabulous time. Decor is beautiful. Nice long bar. The history of the Steak House put us in that time of that era we know about.

We arrived promptly for our reservations at 7 p.m. and were seated immediately. We ordered two cocktails to start, and talk about a stiff martini! It came with the most delicious blue cheese olives. Our server Lucky, was always checking in on us. For starters we had the clams and shrimp & clams and crab meat. Both were fresh and wonderful. The Caesars salad was one of the best we've ever had. My wife had the Chilean Sea Bass, it look light a marshmallow! Very good! I opted for the sliced steak, which came in a nice med-rare, very tender. The only thing lacking was the dessert pecan pie, which was pretty average. Otherwise a perfect meal. Finally this place is off my bucket list!

Excellent customer service. I had the best steak I have ever eaten along with the wonderful side dishes which included asparagus, baked potato, sautéed mushrooms, and hash brown casserole. The portions are very large for the side dishes which are meant to be shared. The wine list is impressive and the appetizers were simply delicious. We started the dining experience with shrimp cocktail and mozzarella, tomato, prosciutto.

I am a total foodie. I saved Sparks for our last evening in NYC expecting to pay a lot of money, but telling myself it is worth it as the good food give me great pleasure. We left disappointed. The scallops smelled really bad and I am pretty sure they were bad, my boyfriend, who does not like shellfish, was not able to bear the smell, I tried one and it tasted as it smelled. We did not say anything as we were a bit intimidated by the classy atmosphere and our casual outfit at the beginning. I will also agree with the guy that pointed out the rock-hard butter - really annoying thing. And I agree that they do not cook the meat to your liking. I ordered medium and it was good toward the ends and became more and more raw to the middle. The middle third of the stake was awful with a lot of gristle, I had to discretely spit bites in my napkin :(. My boyfriend had to have a too long discussion to order a well dome stake (yes, I agree that is nit the right way, but he has the right to eat the stake that he pays for to his liking). Half of it was rawer than my medium. At least the wine was amazing, still-too expensive. Bottomline: decided to pay what equals the minimum monthly salary in Bulgaria for a dinner and were glad to do it for really good stakes, but that was not the case and I tremendously regret going there!

Every Ney York trip that’s a Must stop for me. Best Steak experience (Sirlion, their signature dish), as a starter the baked clams... wine list is incredible (try the Prisoner). Service is excellent. What to say more... simply the best :-)

The restaurant itself is large! After eating at many places, I have to say I was impressed with NOT having the feeling that I was sharing my dinner with the people at the next table. There ARE many tables, but they seat you in a way that offers privacy. I like that. Our server's name was "Lucky". He gave us excellent service. His advice and recommendations were very helpful. Much appreciated. Yes, the wine menu is crazy big, to the point where you order your wine by number. The food: My spouse loves steak. I am NOT a lover of steak. It's more the texture that I don't like rather than the meat itself. That being said, I ordered and enjoyed a Filet Mignon-Well Done. Yes, yes, I know..........lol The chef butterflied my steak and it was cooked to perfection (to my liking). It was very tender. My spouse had his steak medium rare, also prepared to his liking. We shared a mozzarella/tomato salad. and a side of roasted potatoes. All excellent. For desert, we had New York Cheesecake. YUM! Although dinner was on the high end in price, the food, the service, the layout, was all great. We will eat here again.

Amazing service by Hector. Wonderful veal chop, steaks, spinach salad, vegetables and desserts. Impeccable service and beautiful restaurant.

So when it comes to the food it was okay. There are much better steak houses in town. But it’s an institution. But the wine list, if you enjoy good wines, is probably the best priced in NYC. Really. My guess is nearly half compared to other restaurants. Very good wines, reasonably priced. I would come back only for the wines (and an okay steak).

I planned a first time visit to Sparks to celebrate my son’s 16th birthday - excellent decision. Making an online reservation was easy. The ambiance of this establishment is unmatched - absolutely classic and flawless. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the service/attentiveness is incredible. I enjoyed lovely Italian wine, Caesar salad, and beef medallions. My son ordered filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and sautéed onions. I cannot emphasize how perfect the service was - our server was wonderful, knowledgeable and personable, we were so well cared for at this establishment. I truly wanted my son to experience fine dining and Sparks hit every mark and beyond - I am forever loyal and appreciative because of our experience this evening!! And may I recommend the cheesecake and Amaretto- fantastic!!! Thank you!! Melissa & Leo 😃❤️

I booked a table but it looked like you could just walk in. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The crab meat & scallops was very tasty and i followed that with the thick veal chop which was thick. It was cooked perfectly apart from a corner which was burnt but not enough to ruin the meat.

I've been to this venerable steakhouse (one of NYC's oldest) many times. Professional waitstaff, excellent food, friendly managers. Recommended!

Hector always takes great care of us. Service is wonderfully attentive. Fabulous food-steaks, crab salad, chopped salad (not on menu but amazing!) veal chop, and best cheesecake. Wonderful drinks too! Cannot be beat.

Went boxing day, very busy, waiters couldn't do enough for you, refilled your glass just as you got to the last drop. Expensive but worth for a special occasion. Would go again.

I have been to this steakhouse 5 times in the last two months for business dinners. My company reserves private rooms and I have brought many clients to this establishment. They have failed to recognize that or acknowledged me. The first three times I reserved a private room to host clients - I was with a male counterpart. The restaurant treated him as VIP, made sure our clients had full glasses, were not stingy with the sides or desserts. A few weeks ago, I came for. a private dinner with two of my female counterparts and our clients - I was appalled by the way we were treated. Our room was not prepared with the correct AV equipment, the server left menus on the table all night and disrupted our speaker many times. When informed myself and a guest needed a gluten free option for dessert - the server acted annoyed and asked if we could 'split one'. I have spent thousands of dollars at this restaurant and was also doing so that evening. When one of the guests let the server know his steak was too salty (not usual, but they did taste like bricks of salt that night), the server just said "ok" instead of offering my guest a replacement. I spent 3k that night, to give you an idea why I was very disturbed by this. I thought it may be a fluke. However, I had another private dinner there this evening (it was already arranged or else I would have changed the venue.) Again, it was under my name and I did not have a male counterpart assigned to the reservation with me. Our pre-fix menu includes non alcoholic drinks for our guests - Our server whom is guaranteed a 20% tip - acts as if he that guarantee does not mean he has to treat guests with respect. I asked him to ask my guests if they would like a drink - when they asked what they may have.. he rudely said "you don't know what soft drinks are?" instead of informing the table what is offered. I had to ask for the proper amount of sides, and ask the server to offer my guests coffee and tea service. The difference in service when reserving as a woman or man is palpable, I understand this is an old school establishment - but I expected any kind of respect or gratitude to be shown to me as I have brought them many private dinners. The difference in treatment is palpable. I am sure this is great for a date. Or family dinner. I cannot recommend for business dinners. I will no longer be using this establishment and will be sure to inform my counterparts of their rudeness as well.

We visited here as my husband wanted to go due to its Mob related history, we loved the old style feel to the restaurant (more character over swanky modern places) the service was faultless with the same waiter attending to us all evening. we both had the steak, believe reviews when they say they're HUGE, 3 times the size of what we're using to been served in the UK, both were cooked to perfection. Thought the price reasonable and was a highlight of our holiday

Called in here on the off chance of getting a table, the place was full but after about a five minute wait we were seated. Beautiful traditional decor, very professional and efficient staff, comfortable seating and an absolutely amazing steak. Not cheap, but worth every penny.

Yes Sparks is expensive, but definitely worth every Dollar!. Wonderful ambience, staff very attentive and last but not least food and steaks excellent!! Cannot say enough. Would highly recommend!.

We had such an amazing night. The gentleman at the door welcomed us and was super cute and joking around with our little boy. Our waiter was awesome and kept coming back to check on us to make sure everything was good. The cuts were pretty large: we ordered 2 steaks and 3 sides and it was more than enough for all 3 of us. We’ve been to several steakhouses around the world and this was by far the absolute best!

An NYC institution. Old school charm, exceptional service and portion size no one will ever complain about. Steaks are the stars. Pricey but oh so worth it!

I happen to be one of those people that will never write a negative review unless the situation is so egregious that it demands me to sit down in front of a computer and spill my heart out. We had a reservation at Sparks for 7:30 this evening. Our special Christmas dinner outing was a total of four people. Two of the four had medical issues that inhibited their ability to walk or stand for extended periods of time. I am actually a restaurant owner that understands how a restaurant works.. That being said, we arrived to Sparks about 10 minutes early to see a crowd near the door of at least 25 people. The gentleman or host was busy trying to organize a disorganized mess. I trusted that our confirmed reservation wold be honored, People everywhere. After 45 minutes of waiting, we left to go back to our hotel and our night was ruined. Afterwards, I realized that no tables were "held" for reservations. It was also evident that some people that "greased" the host were seated above reservations. That was clearly evident. Sparks, you lost what could have been a good customer AND as previously mentioned that your overbooking to insure the filled house really does affect peoples lives that are going out for special occasions. Shame on you!

Service was great, but sirloin was nothing special. No wedge and salad was ordinary. Key Lime pie was awesome and dining room was impressive.

Incredible dinner—the seafood platter appetizer and lobster platter were amazing. Veal chop was the best ever as were the vegetables and dessert platters. Service was excellent.

Had a wonderful time here with friends, enjoying some of the history of the restaurant and great steak. Charred to perfection on the outside and cooked perfectly within. Not a drop of juice or flavor was wasted.

Fantastic meat! Old style steak house, very full - of course a tourist place but absolutely worth to visit! Take a Filet Mignon - very big and fantastic meat quality. Since you get so much meat I recommend to skip any starter (I had Caprese Salad, not very good, bad quality of the tomatoes), you will get so much meat that you should only focus on that. Just meat and a nice red wine (wine prices high but it‘s New York..)

Salads were exceptional. Burrata and tomato was the best ever. Even the simple greens and tomato was so fresh and delicious. The steaks were all prime and super tender and flavorful. My veal chop was likewise cooked to perfection. Professional and attentive waitstaff. Fair prices.

This used to be my favorite steakhouse. Now it’s gone so far downhill, it’s in the sub-basement. The dining room is decrepit, old and dirty, and not very crowded. The salads were pathetic dried up , old lettuce. The sides were decent. The veal chop and steak were tough, tasteless, burned on the outside, basically inedible. Service was atrocious. Dessert was sad. Not the steakhouse it once was. Do not waste your time and money. No one is dying to eat here.

We love this restaurant & have been eating here for many years. We’ve never been disappointed! Fantastic steaks & great service! It was so great being back in NYC & getting to have one of their delicious steaks again.

We came for a family dinner, the staff went above and beyond with service! Food was amazing - steak was cooked perfect! Our table was ready right on time We can’t wait to return!

Not ostentatious. Simple but eloquent. Great food. Booze menu is interesting. History. Plus with my love tonight. Life is good !

This restaurant has history, ambience and great food. Service is great and fast. Staff is very friendly and accomodating.

Am absurdly expensive mess. The prices here are outrageous. The vegetables are frozen. The lamb is $100, the sides come w shredded lettuce. It's empty because the prices don't make any sense. I've been here countless times. Lived in the area for 25 years. They are taking advantage of "inflation" and it shows. Was empty. Again...3 lamb chops are $99.95! That's more than Vegas!

absolutley first class all the way, we had the same waiter from 5 years ago, and he was on top form, the food was amazing, the staff were friendly and they did a little happy birthday song for her as well, thanks, next time I am in NY I will come back

My wife and I came here as I had read reviews before we came to NYC and fancied a visit to an old fashioned steakhouse. It certainly is that. Nice big tasty steak with creamed spinach and mash, more than I could finish. Was more interested in people watching than the fixtures. Couldn’t fault the service which was very attentive. It is overpriced for what you get but hey I knew that before I went.

have to order the Sirloin(and share), hash browns, asparagus and the cream of spinach!!! Service is excellent and they have plenty of wines to choose from.

Very nice place, menu is a la carte, they do take credit cards. Steaks were fantastic! We went with family and met another family. They do allow splitting steaks as we did with our daughters. The filet was primo, even split it was still about 8-9oz a piece. Price for a family of 4 about $315 with tip. Place has a dim quiet conversation atmosphere, didn’t see any babies, ball caps not welcome. It was worth it, food was great, mafia history was great, highly recommend!!

The restaurant is nice but annoyingly noisy. The cleanliness is not the best and the food just decent. The steak has arrived cold. We definitely won't go back there.

I went to Sparks and Rasheed was our waiter and he is the best. He is very friendly and knowledgeable of the wines. He gave great recommendations for food and really made us feel welcome and at home. I’ve now been back 3x times Sparks is becoming our new go to spot because of our initial time there. They really treat yoj well here and the steaks are the best in the city.

We started a tradition of having our wedding anniversary special dinner every year now and last night August 31st, we carried on that tradition. We always start with a glass on of wine and the bartender who waited on us was fantastic and the wine was great, always a great move on our part. The dinner was excellent again. I chose the steak fromage and my wife had the lobster tails and shrimp and both dishes were exceptional and the waiter was very attentive, and made our special night a perfect night. The nice touch of our night was the cheesecake with happy anniversary spelled out alongside the outer edge of the plate. Thank you.

This is an old school steakhouse with Italian roots. The food is brought out on carts. We ate an excellent perfectly cooked sirloin steak, salads and the best baked potatoes (crispy skin). The service is attentive but not intrusive. On a Saturday night, this restaurant has a lively, celebratory atmosphere in the dining area. This is one of my husband’s favorite non-chain steakhouses in the country (like St. Elmo’s in Indy) so I know he will want to come here again on our next trip to NYC.

I haven't been back to Sparks in many years, but decided to try it again. Our table was waiting when we arrived & our waiter came to greet us within minutes of being seated. We ordered drinks & he came back promptly to take our order. The food was done with perfection & couldn't be more pleased. The ambiance hasn't changed much over the years, but is warm, colorful & inviting. Over-all, a great experience!

When they give your coat and scarf to the another party, Sal the manager won't re-imburse you for your loss. Spend 800 dollars on a meal and they have regards for the customer for their mistake

We booked Sparks for my husband's birthday dinner...I let him select the restaurant and he picked this one because of some "famous" mob stories. We arrived on time, dressed for a nice restaurant and were promptly seated. The first thing we noticed and noticed throughout the dinner was how poorly dressed some patrons were. Of course this is no fault of the restaurant, but surely people could dress a little better for a nice place like this. Our waiter came over and handed us menus, pointing out the wine menu in the center. He never introduced himself and was a bit brusque. When he returned, we ordered a bottle of wine and water. He brought the wine and we ordered our meals: jamon and melon as a shared starter, tomato and onion "salad" and steak fromage for my husband and the Caesar's salad and sirloin for me with a side of creamed spinach. The melon starter was wonderful....there is not much better than the sweet and salty of that combination. My husband's tomato and onion was dressed in what tasted like a homemade Italian dressing. It was very good. My Caesar's salad was good too...the dressing was nice and garlicky, but not overwhelmingly so. Then we got out steaks....we were very underwhelmed and frankly disappointed in the steaks. The Gorgonzola on top of my husband's steak was good, but the steak itself was almost inedible. And entire half of it was all fat and gristle. The other half appeared to be cooked right (he requested medium), but it was very chewy. Mine was cooked to medium rare as I asked, and was not quite as fatty, but that char on it was too much....it tastes almost burned on the outside. We might have provided feedback about them, but our waiter was so busy that he didn't really stop by to check on us until we'd essentially given up on the meat. He asked if we wanted dessert and we requested cheesecake. I was impressed that they recalled my mention of it being my husband's birthday and brought a candle with his cake on a plate that read "happy birthday" in chocolate. Nice touch... In the end, with our tip, the bill was $430. While I fully expected the bill to be in that price range and was okay with it, for the money, I think the food and experience is better at other steak houses in NYC.

I first went to Spark's back in 1976. At that time they were located around E 12th St. We've been going non-stop for more than 40 years becoming our favorite family restaurant in the whole world. First taking our children and lately our grandchildren. It is definitely the best steakhouse in the world! Quality is always the best and they know how to cook your steaks just as you order it. Salads are wonderful as well as side dishes, my favorites being the tomato salad with Roquefort dressing, the creamed spinach and the hash browns. Desserts are delicious, we don't miss either the cheesecake, the pecan pie or the berries with a home made cream. Service is impeccable. I love they change your tablecloths just before dessert getting to finish your meal in white crispy fresh ones. Their wine list is fabulous! I hope to keep going back many more years.

Sparks was highly recommended by several people we know so a visit was a must. Old fashioned type dining room that was huge. Lots of history and hype which in my opinion it trades on but which has not kept up with the competition. We ordered a Fillet and a Ribeye, both good average stakes but lacked that Char grilled taste. Service was very good and it’s a place to tick off the New York bucket list. Huge wine menu of over 1500+ bottles!! Deserts good especially the sorbet which is served peel on!

My 4th dinner at Sparks - a favorite of mine when in the city. Professional steakhouse waiters make a difference. My go-to is the sirloin cooked more pink than red with a Pittsburgh char. Can be a tough temp to hit with a char, but they nailed it again.

We found this restaurant on Tripadvisor and book it for our recent visit. Great meal, steak to die for, impeccable service. It was like stepping back in time - you expected Frank Sinatra to walk by your table!

The best steakhouse in NY hands down. Love Delmonico’s but nothing beats this place for a steak. One of the must go restaurants when you are here.

We went in a Tuesday night around 5:00. The place was empty, but that didn’t stop the service from being terrible. The waiter asked what we wanted, and when we asked for menus, he was annoyed. My son and I got fillets which had a ton of fat on them. Side of mushrooms had no taste. Service was slow and didn’t check back in. We had to ask for the check after sitting with dirty dishes piled in front of us for 20 minutes. Total disappointment considering the prices here.

Excellent meal and service! We had a very nice private table in a corner. Our server was extremely helpful..i wish i could remember his name.

Classic NYC old school steak house. Excellent service, excellent food, power tables in the corners. Was exactly what you want from a steak house date - great meal!

Staff was great. Went there for my son’s 18 th birthday! Food and drinks were excellent, along with the dessert! Would recommend it to my family.

Oh my days what an experience!!! Literally the best steak I have ever eaten in my whole life. The guys behind the bar are real New York and do their job like they live there!! Every aspect of the meal was spot on and so tasty from the steaks to the sides and my hand made Manhattan and my wife’s Tom colins. Will be definitely returning during our trip

Be careful, restaurant around 100 dollars per person, but the decor and service are impeccable. Huge wine list. Very large portion of meat

A must do every time we visit New York. Steak Fromage and Steak Scallapini are excellent. Steaks, service and atmosphere are always excellent. Will continue to return each visit to NYC.

I walked in without a reservation on a Wednesday night. They welcomed me to a seat at the bar. Two TVs showing live sports. Friendly chatty bartender. Friendly chatty patrons - a regular Cheers. Perhaps the best steak I ever ate, and I have eaten at nearly all high end steakhouses. The outside had a thick, crisp, tasty char. The inside was pink, extremely juicy with a rich meaty flavor. Excellent Washington State pinot noir poured at the bar. Expensive, but you get a complete evening, and it’s cheaper than a Broadway show.

Classic old school mob wife NYC vibes. Amazing food and service. Over the top class. Oversized steaks and wine list. 10/10

My wife and I dined at Sparks on the evening of 05-18-19. The food, service, atmosphere were all excellent.

This restaurant is a must if you love steak. The sirloin was one of the best I’ve ever had. I had the garlic lemon shrimp as an appetizer which was a perfect start. The four sides we ordered were shared by all four of us. The waitstaff was extremely attentive and we were seated at the time of our reservation.

You will get an excellent steak, excellent service, and an extensive wine list to pick from. They will make your evening special.

Sparks was my favorite steak house in the world, I had been many times pre-Covid and have also been to hundreds of other steakhouses, so being number one meant something. I took my son last night, after telling him (and others) how great it was and was extremely disappointed. The biggest problem was that both of our steaks were over cooked, the one mistake a steakhouse should never make. He ordered the fillet, I had the sirloin. His fillet was cooked well (see picture), in retrospect I should have said something but he did not complain until he left half of it over. My sirloin was slightly better, it was cooked medium and was at least edible with the (excellent) sautéed onions. Given the level of competition among steak houses, it’s sad to see that Sparks has gone from best to arguably the worst I’ve had in NYC in ten years. I hope they can turn it around.

Trust them on the amount of sides needed...the steaks are huge and superb. Love the old school vibe and distance between tables...felt intimate but also spacious.

Sparks is a traditional New York Steak House with a colorful New York history. Excellent meal with excellent service - just what you would expect. They also have plenty of larger tables to accomodate larger groups with a reservation. Heads Up: It's about a 20 minute walk to the theater district if you are planning to catch a show after your meal, so plan ahead.

This place is rather pricey, however the portion sizes are absolutely enormous. They do not skimp on the steak and they cook it perfectly. Words just cannot describe how the steak tastes. The waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful and surprisingly no service charge was put on the final bill. However, the meal leaves you making a decent contribution due to the sheer enjoyment of the meal. The restrooms were also great with their self-changing protective seating cover. All in all we had a very good experience from the ambiance, service, meal and cost Thank you so much - we will definitely pass on our recommendations.

I have been going to to Sparks for 20+ years and this is my first review. I consider Sparks family over the years and maybe this is why I did not write a review earlier. There is nothing not to love. The food is fabulous, the waiters are the best, the nostalgia is the icing. Since the 60’s this place has become the epicenter of what fine dining is all about in NYC. So much to enjoy as I have done for business and pleasure over the years. You want the best NYC has to offer, go visit my friends at Sparks….it will go down as a top foodie experience you have ever had…

Amazing atmosphere, amazing steaks, great service, quite expensive but well worth it for that authentic NY steak house.

First time dining at Sparks. Steak Fromage was very good as expected. Others in our group had Steak and mushrooms as well as filet mignon. Everything prepared as ordered. Sides were amazing. Asparagus and hash browns were a big hit with everyone. We will be returning to Sparks during next visit to NYC.

It is good, no doubt about it. The reputation of this establishment probably exceeds its reality. There are better NYC steaks.

Steak for 2! Been before so knew what to expect it’s a very old restaurant and a staple of New York. Didn’t bother with starters as knee the steaks were BIG! Opted for a fillet, medium rare and a sirloin, medium rare served plus a side of hashbrowns and cream spinach. Probably day the sirloin was tastier. Washed down with a soda and 2 glasses of red bargain at $250 inc tip

This is proper old school service like no other. I think Sparks is the best steak house in NYC. I know all the others and have been to all, but my go-to is Sparks. We have been going for over 25 years. Occasionally we stray to the "other top steak houses" but always come back to Sparks. Not only is the food outstanding but as I said, the service is an experience in itself. The staff are professionals and take pride in their service. If you are coming to NYC - this is a must-do. You won't be disappointed.

Highly recommend for meat eaters , a few blocks away from all the tourist traps . This is where New Yorkers go for their steaks . Cozy , excellent service , feel like you are in New York . Excellent cuts and sides .

I had the extreme pleasure of having dinner last Monday night. I had not been at Sparks in many years. I was alone after a long meeting. Sparks was a few blocks away. I sat at the bar. One TV had the Mets, the other the Yankees. I grew up in NYC, so I was in heaven. I'm a big wine guy. Sparks has -- bar none -- the best half bottle list in the country. [Sorry Bern's] Domestic and foreign, an array of older vintages. I had a cocktail while reading the list. Then someone else ordered Manhattan, my winter drink. The bartender garnished it with cherries that had been dried and then macerated in brandy. The PERFECT accompaniment. Wished I known that when I walked it! i ate three courses - salad, steak, dessert. Each was excellent, the steak cooked exactly as i wanted it. But of course it was -- this is Sparks! I spent the evening chatting with the bartender because business was slow that evening. An Australian chap by birth who claimed to be a Mets fan. But he Mets knowledge convinced me he was real. In all -- a great evening.

As steakhouses go this one is very mediocre. I have been to many New York City steakhouses and this one does not rate as well as the others. Ordered the fillet mignon medium and it came out rare. I don’t feel that a New York City steakhouse should ever miss the mark cooking your meat to your order. I also ordered the mashed potatoes. They came out as purée. I literally could pour them out of the bowl. Overall I do not rate this steakhouse as one of the better ones in New York City. I would go elsewhere.

Food was quite good. However, although very friendly, our servers seemed very inexperienced and that was disappointing given the cost of this dinner. We asked if there was a cocktail menu. Server said there might be one at the bar and he would check. No menu was ever provided. Server was not familiar with the dinner menu. I asked about the cut of meat used for one dish and was told it would be filet. I was served a strip steak. It was an excellent steak, so I didn't feel the need to complain. There aren't many items on the menu - so I was surprised the server did not know the correct answer. Each time drinks and meals were brought to the table, we were asked who ordered each item. When I go to a restaurant like this I want the staff to know the table and to place items in front of me with minimal disruption. We were hoping for an old school steakhouse experience. The food delivered, the service did not.

If you are interested in the Italian mafia in New York and love great meat, this is the place to go! Extremely good service, fantastic staff, absolutely amazing meat and an old fashion charm. Be hungry when you go, the steaks are enormous. A must in New York!

Service from our main server was subpar. One of our party ordered their steak well done. Our server’s attitude went negative from there. Each couple in our party split some sides and an entree each. Food was okay. Definitely not the best steak I’ve had. There are many better steak houses in NYC to spend what we spent there. I won’t go back.

Sparks is no longer what it was. The service is still very good, the wine list is excellent, but the food was very disappointing. I had a filet minion and it looked like it was cooked right — pink to red in the middle — but it was very dry. My wife’s swordfish was dry and unseasoned. What a shame.

We love great steaks and as much as we wanted to love this place, the steaks were not very good. The food is extremely overpriced, $17 for a small baked potato, $18 for cold mashed potatoes that appeared to be from a box, $17 for three stalks of broccoli, and $75 for steaks that had large pieces of gristle and were sinewy. The best thing we ate was a salad. The quality was not good at all and certainly not what one expects at these prices. We don’t mind paying for a good meal but this was not that. The waitstaff is efficient but the overall tone of the restaurant is hushed and pretentious. The coat check girl barely uttered a word never mind a smile, and the maitre de was authoritative and unfriendly with each and every party that arrived. It seemed as though he expected guests to be grateful that he located their reservation and was willing to have them seated. I observed him as our coats were being hung and could not believe that he actually directed people to stand where he pointed. No greeting upon arrival or when leaving. Next time, we will go down the street to smith and wolensky. Will not return and not recommending this place.

We visited here as a family, my husband and I and my parents. My husband found this restaurant due to its interesting history and the fact it’s the oldest steak house in NY. Miguel was our waiter and he was absolutely wonderful! Even told my Mam off for pouring her own wine (joking obviously). The fillet steak was the best I have ever tasted, and the mashed potato was to die for! It is expensive here and the tip isn’t included in the bill so the waiters really cater to your needs as they’re working hard for their tips. I recommend to anyone and Miguel the waiter was wonderful. He has worked there for 10 years, I get the sense all of the staff have worked in this steak house for many years! You won’t be disappointed if you visit here!

To be honest, I’m not surprised that I left disappointed as I read the reviews before we went. I had hoped that we would still find a way to enjoy Sparks, given its history and our low fuss mentality. We should have listened to the poor reviews and gone elsewhere. They just seem to go out of their way to not care about your experience. Some of the other reviews were spot on. The service was simply put, lazy. I could also describe it as indifferent, cranky, and lacking effort. It’s a big place, so even though it was a Saturday night in December, we were able to get a reservation made only days before. We sat for 10 minutes without being greeted. The waiter, who never told us his name throughout the entire experience, walks over and says ‘what are you getting?’. Not ‘hello’, ‘how are you’, or anything of the sort. Not a word about the menu. Lazy. Frankly, overly chatty servers can be annoying but this is way worse. I’ve never had a waiter with less interest in pretending to care. I’d take the overly talkative, won’t leave you alone service any day over this. The rolls served were stale, the butter rock hard. For the price of the menu, warm the butter for goodness sake. The appetizer of shrimp was just average. The steak ordered medium rare came out raw. I love rare steak as well so that would have been fine if it was a little undercooked. This was raw. It was not the type of place you send back food. So we took it to go, left without so much as a ‘thank you for coming’ and ‘have a good night’. There are much better spots in the city. Avoid this one.

I am a New Yorker a bit removed now, but when I come back to the City Sparks is the best! Great service, steaks, overall food, and ambiance! The other reviewers that say it is too noisy, or expensive...............live a bit and appreciate life!

Service is average not good, the food is too expensive the flavors are good but not extraordinary, you need to order your side separate after paying more than 45 dollars for a steak

Really classic steakhouse in New York. Very pricey but the service and quality of food is worth it for a special occasion. It’s a individual steak place not good for shared plates. The portions are big so it’s all good.

a classic steak house, also with chops, and great sides. before laws changed this is the kind of place for an after dinner cigar + snifter of brandy. try to figure out what is in the incredible peppercorn sauce

We had not been to Sparks, in many years, but had memories of great meals in the past. This evening, both of our steaks were very tough (NOT anticipated at $57 per steak!). We also came for the outstanding wine list, but not wanting a full bottle of red, for myself; I asked about red wine by the glass. I did not see a by the glass wine list, but was offered one of two cabernet's. I knew them both. The best offered was a Freemark Abbey, very average. I expected more/better choices.

Sparks has been around for a good number of years and is rightfully considered one of the best steak houses in the NYC. It's a fine dining place which is strictly al a carte The menu is diversified enough for most diners. Please know that it is a bit pricey so if you are hesitant, check out the web site before you call for a reservation. I enjoyed the combination shrimp scampi/clams oreganato appetizer. My sirloin steak was rather thick and cooked exactly as I had ordered. Never been there before? Definitely give it a try.

The Mr. wanted to visit an 'old school' steak house and after doing a little research via YouTube chose Sparks Steak House for our NYC anniversary dinner. We ordered the recommended sirloin steak medium rare, spinach, and hash browns. The steak was cooked perfectly but somewhat chewy in places. The potatoes needed butter, onions, and maybe some garlic to give it more flavor. There was also a lot of burnt bits mixed in with the potatoes, so they ate dry. Finally, the spinach was not bad but not great. All in all it was a very mediocre meal at a very expensive price. The service was nice. Not overly attentive, but we have no complaints about our server and tipped him well. There are so many amazing restaurants in NYC. I wish this was one of them.

Made reservations through Open Table and noted it was for a birthday. Very nice birthday dessert served as a surprise ending (see photo). Very traditional SteakHouse with good food. Salad and lump meat crab cocktail recommended. The only caveat here is that we went on a busy night, and service was a bit spotty - had to get waiter's attention a couple of times. But won't let this one experience skew our final opinion.

Visited here as a group of 12 with high expectations and no one was disappointed. Although on the face of it the Sirloin Steak @ $57 might sound a little pricey, it was huge, about 18 oz. I asked for medium rare and that is exactly what i received.....to perfection. The meat was tender and although there was a little fat, as you would hope for to give the meat some added flavour, it wasn't full of gristle as is often the case. My wife had the the Filet Mignon which cut like butter. There was veg and hash browns which were very good but in all reality I didn't care, the steak had my full attention. I will definitely go back. The only thing I would say, the wine was very dear, but you do have a choice not to drink it !!

Always excellent service-be sure to ask for Hector-the best! Our 50th anniversary and the food was wonderful! The veal chop is amazing as is the spinach salad, and desserts!

We sat at the bar and had the good fortune of being waited on by Mike. Very genial and excellent service. We had wine and appetizers. We love the ambiance and would definitely return.

We love to eat at Sparks while visiting New York City. The service and the food are consistently excellent! We are never disappointed!

Great steak house with 60's atmosphere, good efficient service, few hundreds bottles on the wine list and one of the best steaks ever.

The service was amazing and the atmosphere was incredible. Each course led up to one of the best steaks I’ve had. My wife had sliced steak and son had the filet. Both were amazed at how tender the cut was. If you’re into the Mafia stories this place is a must see. Definitely will be back when we visit NYC again.

My husband took me to Sparks for our anniversary. As soon as we walked in this beautiful restaurant, we were seated. The service was quick. I ordered the sliced steak with mushrooms which melted in my mouth, so delicious! My husband's prime sirloin steak was seared to perfection. When we left the restaurant, my husband dropped his credit card, our waiter found us one block down the street to return it to him. We cannot thank him enough!!!!! We will definitely visit this restaurant again.

Food was delicious and service was excellent. Try the sliced steak with peppers and onions or the fillet steak. Side dishes were also good and the desserts were excellent.

If you want good steak expect to spend a pretty penny and it’s no exception here but it’s worth it, the proportions they give are large and the sides are family style. Great service worth the visit

Hector is the best. Their sirloin steak is outstanding as is the lamb chops. Great steak house with a lot of history. This is our third visit and it's on the top of our list when ln we visit NYC

We heard about Sparks and the history and while in New York we were so excited about dining at such an iconic restaurant We were greeted by a tuxedoed gentleman, taken to coat check (so old school!) and seated at a.very nice table. All good. Then....the lighting felt like we were at a diner. Very bright, no ambiance. The web site indicated business casual...nope. Although we were dressed properly seated nearby were customers in jeans and sweatshirts! Totally ruining the experience. Our waiter was very nice however we placed our order. Sharing the Cesar salad, potato and mushrooms and each having a filet. NOT BEING GIVEN THE HEADS UP THAT THE FILET WAS 16 OUNCES! Total lack of customer service! Fortunately our hotel room has a refrigerator and we could take the leftovers with us. We each only ate less than half of this massive piece of meat! Would absolutely not go back nor recommend the restaurant. Save your money and visit one of the many other wonderful restaurants in NYC! Certainly this one is not worth it!

Great experience. All the flair and ritual you want from the NYC steakhouse experience. They let you take your time and soak it all in. Excellent steaks, excellent starters, excellent seafood, and a special wet martini loaded with blue cheese olives. Despite what they say about the dress code, way too many slobs. Enforce the code and make men wear blazers and sport coats again!

Our family recently returned to Spark's two nights in a row, after some great meals in the past. This is supposedly a 4.5 star dining establishment. However, we'll never be eating there again, regardless of their previous reputation or menu options!! There are many other fine establishments within the city that we'll be going to instead. Our first night back, 12/10/21, five of us were seated promptly, drinks & bread delivered, and main courses ordered, all in a timely manner. We had a 5pm reservation, and were there early enough that it was not busy at all. After an hour, our waiter informed us that they had some sort of computer issue, such that our order hadn't even gone thru to the kitchen yet, and they apologized over and over again. We reiterated that we had another commitment in which we were to attend and needed to be picked up by 6:30, and they agreed to "expedite it". By 6:15 our food arrived, and we hurriedly scarfed it down best we could so we could be on our way. After all that, all they agreed to do was comp us one round of drinks, and nothing else! We certainly felt an establishment such as this could have done much more, but chose not to. We gave them some benefit of the doubt, since the food was good, albeit the side dish portions are quite lacking, and agreed we'd be back. So, the next night, 12/11/21. We agreed to give them another chance. We returned at 8:15pm, to a much busier venue than the previous night, but not surprising given the time of day, and a Saturday night at that. We're seated right away, place settings fixed, water poured, and bread delivered. Then nothing, for about 15-20 minutes. Nothing! No bread plates, no waiter, no drink order, etc. Yet, tables all around us are getting non stop service. Finally, I flag down our waiter and mention that no one has come back at all, and we're losing patience. He implies "we're very busy and you'll have to be patient", to the point where I then say I was just getting ready to go talk to the maitre d and let then know what's going on. He quickly snips "go right ahead". Basically, who cares, have at it. At this point we're all ready to leave, and if it weren't for the time of day, and the fact that it was Saturday night, and not much else available, we would have. Magically, things started moving along, and our waiter decided he probably needed to keep his job. Same small portions, but same decent food. Overall sense of things is, like every other business during these Covid times, is they don't yet have enough help to a adequately run their business like they used to. Yet they book the place out like they used to and make excuses because of it. We eat, again decent food, and wrap things up. All the while, at this point, our waiter appears to have nothing more than an attitude! We provide this feedback to the maitre d as we prepare to leave, and get the head nodding, apologies, and are handed a business card. No offer to return on them for a future visit or anything. No comped drinks or meals. A freaking card! Thanks. What a show they put on there, just because we're Sparks! A wise guy, old school, steak house, which is living on their past. Well, keep up that kind of service, and customers providing their crappy experiences, and they won't last. Guarantee you that!! Go elsewhere.

Our family of four dined here on 27 December 2022 on a trip from Ireland. The food was superb (even though one of us is vegetarian!). Our host Sayed Mohran was amazing and gave us a tour and discussed the history of the restaurant which was fascinating. Sayed is a gentleman and whilst the food was excellent, we would return to the restaurant just for Sayed's hospitality. Thank you!

Sequestered myself in this old school joint, lauded by the New Yorker magazine as having the "absolute best" steak in the city. So, I went with the prime sirloin with mushroom caps and a Franciscan cabernet. Sat in the back facing the door since this was also where Paul "Big Pauli" Costellano, who headed the Gambino crime family, was shot in the face and assassinated in 1985. Bartender said he "ate lead for his last meal." Cheers to my colleagues eating kale ton

The steak here is not cheap, but is so delicious and huge that it easily satisfies 2 people. Like taking a step back in time, the waiters, decor, atmosphere were what we were hoping for. Extremely busy - yet the good acoustics meant we could easily talk. Loved it. Special moment and worth the treat.

Sparks is the ultimate NY steak house. I ordered the fliet mignon. There were no number of ounces promised on the menu. When it came the steak was the size of my fist. Probably 12 or 16 ounces, perfectly charred on the outside and rare on the inside. It was like eating a giant tub of soft yummy butter. The service: impeccable. Dinner for three, with tip and one bottle of wine, was $492.46. Worth every penny!

Our waiter was terrible. Our server was unattentive and I had to wave him down repeatedly for water, wine and the bill. But even was we were seated, we were never asked if we would like drinks. Never. After 20 minutes I had to wave him down and request wine. The restaurant has only half full, on Sunday February 19th. Our reservation was at 7pm

Although I have dined at many fine steakhouses the filet mignon at Sparks was by far the best I have ever had. It was prepared perfectly and was tender and delicious. In addition, the side dishes and service were also excellent. I can’t imagine any other restaurant surpassing the quality of food and service that I encountered.

This is a great place that’s stood the test of time and feed lots of people . Must do NY strip, hash browns and assortments of other dishes. Great service, delicious food and NY classic

A "staple" restaurant in NYC, It has lost some of its intimacy. Its size challenges the quality of service. Steaks are very well prepared. The menu is somewhat limited. there is better in NYC,

We went on a Monday night, a party of five. We were greeted very friendly and seated. Our server, however, showed up with an nasty attitude. He proceeded to scold our son and daughter on how they ordered a salad to share and began to slam things on the table and reach across people, when serving. The food was excellent but his behavior ruined our dining experience. That said, the steaks were prepared properly and delicious. Sides were all very good, and the cheesecake was excellent.

You know you are in for a great dinner when greeted by a Maitre D in a tux. The bar is fantastic and actually a great place to dine. Ask for Table 6, it’s the one you want. Their specialty is a sirloin and it’s amazing. And of course, get a Manhattan

One of the best meals I've had in New York from start to finish. The steaks were perfectly cooked and seasoned (I recommend the sirloin over the fillet mignon), the sides (hash browns and creamed spinach) outstanding, and the lump crab with scallops starter was so good I wanted to order another one. Cheesecake is worth going for dessert. I've read comments here about poor service and waiters being rude. That wasn't at all my experience. From the host at the door to our excellent waiter, we felt welcome and well served. I often wonder if people who claim to have problems with wait staff aren't themselves difficult to begin with and therefore the source of the "problem."

Be sure to ask for Hector—exceptional service and outstanding food. Unbelievable veal chop and steaks—brought dessert with a candle for my belated bday!

We were welcomed and looked after by Hector who made our visit and experience memorable. The food was outstanding and the service was second to none! Hector gave us the best recommendations and wow were they good!! He also made a little dessert medley to celebrate our daughter’s birthday. A very nice touch!

Not our first time at Sparks. And probably not our last either. The venue is a bit outdated and it needs some renovations but on the other hand it is that actual look that gives you the old school feeling you want when you eat at a steakhouse. Especially this particular one, with its infamous story (if you know what i mean). We started off at the bar to build up an appetite. I like no martini better than the ones i have in a steakhouse before dinner. They just know how to make them. We were on a celebratory mood as well so it tasted twice as good. Once we got to the table we ordered the wine... excellent Chateauneuf du Pape! And now... the food! We ordered a few appetizers, and a couple of steaks. All to share. Food was delicious and, as usual, vast! We couldn't finish the whole thing (thank goodness for doggy bags!). Steakhouses are another sector that are seriously getting hit with inflation and that inevitably translates into higher menu prices. I don't blame them entirely for the prices but i do feel the need to warn you about it. Overall a good experience and will surely go back.

Old school NY city steak house. This is not a chain restaurant. Steaks and service are outstanding, as is the wine selection. You can't find better. The bartenders are professionals and don't need to measure their pour. Great selection of Bourbons.

Went with my wife and a friend. Really fantastic food and service. Lots of people in there and a bit loud but highly recommended.

Went to sparks last night with my husband, we were so impressed with the quality of the food.everything was delicious and outstanding. Keep in mind am not a steak lover husband is . Once a year we eat in a iNew York City steak house so husband can enjoy a steak dinner. SPARKS has been the best hands down. The service was outstanding our server MiQUEL was exceptional friendly and very attentive. He went out and beyond to make sure that everything was going well.

Both food and wine excellent. Very capable service. We had the sirloin, the crabmeat cocktail and of course the hash browns. Wine list is huge and very well priced for what it is (perfectly aged bottles). Great selection of wine and other beverages for pre or post dinner as well. This is the best steak house in Manhattan

The hotel staff recommend this place to us. its a bit of a walk from Times Square. Its in the office area of New York, so most of the people dining there are from the near by offices enjoying quick drink or business meeting . Portion of the food is big, its on ala carte , so its up to you to add a appetisers . they have a huge choices of wine but limited on beer . Waiters are attentive, its a cosy place to dine . we were lucky just to walk in without any reservation at all. I do suggest make a reservation to avoid disappointment. as the place is really busy .

I have worked at many meetings at NY and NJ venues and must say the service and food at Spark's has been one of the best. Our meeting staff led by Anas was superb. He went above and beyond to make sure everything was on time and all guests were taken of. Highly recommend it and will definitely be back.

Very nice service, great quality steak, sides were fairly tasty also. I would highly recommend the prime steak with the cheese on top. One of the best steaks I have had, and at their price very reasonable.

So glad we went here. The experience and meal were outstanding. Was a little hesitant with so many great steakhouses in NY, but highly recommend. Believe it or not, their best cut in my opinion is their prime sirloin, yep, I said sirloin. This is probably the best steak I had while in NY and top 3 of all time. Could not believe the hype, but I'm a believer now. Cannot believe a sirloin steak can be this good! Amazing. Rest of the table had broiled shrimp, salmon and sliced steak. The sliced steak was also very delicious with Bordelaise sauce and mushrooms. Shrimp and salmon also very tasty. Service was outstanding. This old school steakhouse is sure to please. I would love to go here again!

Amazing evening and had great service from the amazing Nez. Can't wait to come back. Great food, great entertainment

This has been one of my favorite steak restaurants for many years. But, I have to say, our steaks were a little tough. We were a little disappointed. We love the side dishes. I will go again though & hope the steaks are more tender. (Prime sirloin).

My hubby, 8 year old son, and I went to Spark’s over Memorial Day weekend. There are tons of steak places to choose from in the NYC, but my hubs specifically chose Spark’s due to its mob ties and the dude that gunned down outside of it year ago; the hubs wanted the experience. The food was so so. There wasn’t a huge steak selection. They did have a very large wine selection tho. (However, the first wine in the Pinot Noir section was Meomi-my personal fave that you can get for $18 at the grocery store-it was $70 at Spark’s.) We had a prime fillet, steak fromage, lemon garlic shrimp, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and $100 bottle of wine. The bill was $300 before tip. The food was okay. Not bad but far from over the top. The steaks themselves needed some simple salt and seasoning. The wait staff was on it and the ambiance was typical of a steak house-dark wood and low lighting. Overall, I would recommend it, but not highly. Know you won’t have the best steak of your life, but it’s a cool experience. I gave 4 stars instead of 3 bc they were super nice and cool about my son dining with us and not all swanky restaurants are.

Great location , great setting, great staff followed with the best food I’ve eaten in a very long time

As always we love the atmosphere of Sparks. We had a side table which was kind of private. Our Waiter was very good and nice. We started with a Caesar salad which was very good. The steak was excellent. The Strawberries Romonoff was very good. We gave it a 4 because the mashed potatoes had cheese in it and not real good. Also the Broccoli was not good.

I came here for an old school steak dinner and was not disappointed. My group of three had reservations but their system was down. We were in rush so we waited. The maitre'd put his nose down and got us through quickly enough. The three of us wanted a lot of meat. We split their famous sirloin (the best beef of the night) ,a steak smothered in roquefort cheese (rich - great to share but would have probably been too much if I ordered it myself), and the lamb chops (tasty and generous). All of the entries came out with a nice char and satisfied our deep carnivorous cravings. The real winner for the three of us, however, was the broiled shrimp we ordered as an appetizer. Those shrimpies were delicious. The mashed potatoes were super smooth and creamy. The atmosphere felt like date night at an Italian / mob movie - not bad, just those feels. Service was quick and on point. The dinner as a whole was great; it probably would have been a five if we hadn't gone to Keen's Steakhouse the night before. If I am going to drop the money required at Sparks I am going to want the absolute best.

We visited Sparks last week and we were disappointed with the restaurant. The Maitre D was sitting at the bar on his phone upon our arrival, nice man but his suit needs replacing as do all the shirts on the staff. We noticed it was all older gentlemen on the floor and we could not see one lady working in the restaurant. The place in general requires a good scrubbing. Food wise, steaks were massive, outrageous even. no flavour just bulk. We has a fillet and a Sirloin along with dried out mushrooms, burnt onions and some crispy potato. It was expensive for what it was, this was not the issue, less meat more quality, and some decent side orders would assist greatly. When we were leaving and after depositing a very decent tip to our waiter, we requested him to call a taxi, his answer was we don't do that, As we were leaving the Maitre D was at the bar on his phone and never even looked up as we said goodnight.

Sparks has for many years been one of my favorite steak houses in NYC. I hadn't been there in a while and loved diving back into those hash brown potatoes. They are marvelous. My prime sirloin had a GREAT flavor but it was a little hard to cut. That's the only reason it got a 4 rating instead of a 5. The service was great as usual.

If you are Italian it's like walking into a family members house. You feel right at home. The highlight of my trip each year is going to Sparks. It is old time NYC Italian. We always sit at the bar. Michael the bartender is above and beyond any bartender I have seen. We love talking with him and the other customers we usually end up chatting with. We were there this year during a Yankee playoff game. Well that just added a whole other layer of greatness to the experience. We all were cheering and it was so much fun.

The Good: - Good atmosphere - Prompt service - Quality of the steaks is excellent - We bumped into Jeniffer Lopez on our way out The Bad: - Sizes don't fit current understanding of health, environment etc

Excellent service. Superb room. Nice big table for four. Flawless cocktails and beautiful wine list. BY Strip lives up to the reputation of this iconic American steakhouse. Surpassable. Value for Award justified absolutely. To go and come back, each time a huge pleasure!

Didn’t book, was just a walk up for two of us. Very busy - almost full to capacity but they got us seated super quick. We both ordered filet mignon and I can say my steak was cooked to perfection, served with style and enjoyed to the max. Unlike most steak houses there was no size guide to what we would get, it seems one size fits all. It was large in my opinion and for someone with a smaller appetite maybe overbearing. Our server was attentive but not intrusive, price was as expected, it is after all an exclusive and historic location. The experience was well worth it.

Our first visit to New York and Sparks Steakhouse had been recommended as a must. Beautiful restaurant staff dressed the part but main course what a disappointment we knew it was going to be an expensive meal but thought it would be worth it. Ordered fillet minion which I like well done it was butterflies but still pink in middle as steak comes on its own $59.99 a pop sides were ordered mushrooms, onions and mashed potato at $11.99 each lifted spoon to put mash on plate and was like runny soup it oozes into steak and ran round the rest of the dinner hailed waiter and asked what kind of potato was it he replied Mash I asked again this time if it was powdered potato to be told it was Asked waiter to take the disgusting runny mush away and asked why in a restaurant of high calibration would they serve powdered potatoes. My whole meal was ruined with the gritty mush that ran through it It does not say on menu powdered potato And I’m sorry at $11.99 for powdered potato that was like soup a rip off. Needless to say complained and did not pay for potatoes or my steak. Would not recommend this place. Very disappointed

Classic restaurant with an old fashioned feel. Service was great and very posh but our overall experience was ok. We had a bottle of wine, the waiter brought in the wrong bottle at first so we changed it. Started with bufala and tomato (22$ for a slice) and the lump crab meat - when we asked for crab and scallops. We were taking our time and the steaks came out before we had finished our appetizers, they took them away without asking if we were done - still had a few bites left. Steaks were good, my husband took the mushroom sliced steak great sauce! I had the steak fromage with blue cheese plus a side of asparagus. Everything was hot that’s great! To finish, chocolate mousse cake - it was good.

Three months ago we reserved a private room for a holiday family party. We were looking forward to having a catered affair and had family traveling long distances to attend. The night before the event they called and cancelled on us, they promised to find us a nice quiet spot somewhere else but put us in the main dining room where everyone had to order off the menu. The room was noisy and the service was disappointing. The food was OK, nothing to write home about and definitely not worth the price. The waiters kept trying to push more appetizers and side dishes on us, this was the only time they were actually attentive. They did give us a free dessert for the table but that small gesture didn't excuse there horrible behavior. I would never trust them to do a private party again. The only reason I gave them one star was because of a very kind gentleman named Ricardo Cordero who tried to make the night as pleasant for us as possible.

More famous for the hit on Paul Castellano and his driver by Gotti than for the steaks,, have had better and much cheaper..

Truly outstanding… The Steak Fromage was probably the best steak I’ve had in a very long time - and certainly the best steak I’ve had in New York over this two week business visit. Service was perfectly judged - the whole experience was a genuine pleasure.

My son and I were in New York and ate here the first night. Outstanding dinner. I had the lamb chops and they were outstanding. My son had a steak and said it was great. Started meal with a glass of wine and salad. We ordered a baked potato to split and they brought us two small baked potatoes, very nice touch. Other reviewers complained about the size of the steaks, yes they were large but you get what you pay for. I ate every bite of my lamb chops, three double and my son ate every bite of his steak. If it is too big to finish take the rest home for a sandwich. Will definitely go back if ever in New York.

Yet another incredible dinner at Sparks -- the Ambiance, the Food, the Service, and the Wine List are all still the Best. I highly recommend Sparks for anyone looking for a Top-Shelf dining experience. My party of 10 for dinner on May 20 was graciously accommodated by the very professional team at Sparks. Rachid and his Team did a fantastic job on a very busy night and I must say that it was one of the best times I have ever had at Sparks. My clients were very impressed and pleased with the setup in the Rose Room and the food was, as it always is, very tasty and beautifully prepared. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Sal and Sayed who helped make this evening of client entertainment at Sparks a very enjoyable experience for us all. I hope to visit this very fine establishment in the near future.

If you want a proper authentic NY experience this is defo the place!!! We arrived early to have a drink at the bar and so glad we did. The barmen are so attentive! I love their NY accents! The place is beautiful and so iconically historic. We then sat for dinner. I had Mozzarella and Tomato starter, 2x Fillet steaks and sides. The steak was huge and so juicy!! I wish I didn’t bother with the starter...I was so full! Make sure you skip lunch that day! All the staff are brilliant and welcoming. It really is worth the visit. Loved it.