Benny John’s Bar and Grill
We had an excellent dinner at Benny John’s Bar and Grill on Friday, April 21, 2023, where owner Mirso Lekic greeted each guest warmly. When we dined at the restaurant, it had been open for less than one-month, but the service was impeccable and the food well-prepared and presented. Mirso also owns Tudor City Steakhouse (located at 45 Tudor City Place in New York) and is well acquainted with the art of delivering exceptional hospitality.
Restaurant guests have a choice of indoor or outdoor dining, and on the night we dined at the restaurant guitarist Larry Lugar and bass player Bobby Arkin (younger brother of actor Alan Arkin) entertained outdoor guests with a selection of jazz and bossa nova songs to create a lively and enchanting ambience for diners.
Larry Lugar and Bobby Arkin
Indoor dining featured tables dressed in white linens with vases of fresh flowers gracing the tables, wood framed mirrors accented with sconces, artwork lining the walls, and a large copper sculpture hanging from the ceiling outside the open kitchen. The look is modern with clean lines and contemporary style. The well-stocked bar seats eight and there is an interesting cocktail menu that includes two sake cocktails, something that you do not usually see on many bar menus.
Although Benny John’s is a steakhouse, the menu is diverse enough to appeal to both meat and seafood lovers, as well as vegetarians. The menu is divided into sections: From the Sea, Appetizers, Salads, Soup, Prime Steaks & Chops, Burgers, Pasta & Risotto, Fish, Chicken, Vegetables, Classic Sides, and Potatoes.
Crab Cale
We began our dining experience with glasses of champagne to pair with our appetizer of a Crab Cake, and a Caesar Salad. The crab cake was a generous amount of seasoned crab meat that was served with a golden crust on a bed of tartare sauce and accompanied by a mixed green salad and halved cherry tomatoes. The crab cake was delicious and a delightful introduction to the restaurant’s style.
Caesar Salad
The Caesar Salad was dressed in homemade Caesar dressing and presented topped with a generous amount of shaved parmesan cheese, and crunchy croutons. Bread snobs that we are, we fell in love with their bread presented in a breadbasket with accompanying butter. The bread was light, airy, with a crispy crust that was hard to resist.
Prime NY Sirloin Steak
For one of our entrees, we selected the 22-ounce Prime NY Sirloin Steak, which was U.S.D.A. Prime, Dry Aged in their own aging box. The steak was cooked to perfection, presented precut, and arranged back around the bone on a sizzling plate where George, our server, picked up each piece of the steak and seared it in the sizzling juices on the plate before placing it on a dinner plate. The steak was presented with three sauces. Bearnaise, Au Poivre, and their own Benny John’s. Although all sauces were delicious (Edward) loved the Au Poivre to complement the steak, and (Debra) loved the Benny John’s sauce drizzled over the accompanying crispy steak fries. Also delicious was the Classic Side of creamed spinach.
Prime NY Sirloin Steak, creamed spinach, steak fries
A great steak deserves a delicious wine to complement it and was paired with a glass of Hacienda Albae Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, 14.5% alcohol, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla, Spain. This was a big, bold aromatic red wine that was mature, had excellent mouthfeel, and was well-matched with the mouthwatering steak.
Branzino
Branzino was one of the specials for the evening, which was beautifully presented, filleted, and butterflied, with accompanying steamed broccoli, carrots, and zucchini. The pairing wine was a glass of Roche des Lumières, Earl Doucet, Sancerre 2022, 13.5%, Les Plessis Sury-en-Vaux (Cher), France. This elegant white wine was the perfect accompaniment to the tender, flaky, and buttery rich Bronzino.
Crème Brûlée
We ended the evening on a sweet note by sharing one of their tempting desserts, Crème Brûlée topped with fresh blueberries, sprinkled with confectionary sugar, and garnished with fresh mint leaves. One of the joys of eating Crème Brûlée is cracking the caramelized sugar crust and spooning up the creamy custard below. The combination of crisp sugar and creamy custard was irresistible with its mélange of textures, and their version was light, luscious, and delicious. Paired with espressos it was the perfect finale to a great Friday evening dining at Benny John’s Bar and Grill.
Debra C. Argen amd Mirso Lekic, Owner
While we loved what we ordered, when we saw waiters pass by with a colossal Shrimp Cocktail, a French Onion Soup dripping with a plethora of melted cheese on top, and a wedge of New York Cheesecake that would feed a family, we knew that we would want to return soon to try them.
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
See you at Benny John’s Bar and Grill
Restaurant Hours: Benny John’s Bar and Grill is open for Lunch Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm, for Early Dinner from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm, for Dinner Monday through Sunday from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, and Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. The restaurant also offers a Prixe Fixe Lunch Menu – Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm, an Early Prixe Fixe Dinner from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm, and a Happy Hour Menu available all day every day with special drink prices and Bar Bites.
For more information on Benny John’s Bar and Grill please visit their website at: www.bennyjohnsnyc.com
Benny John’s Bar and Grill
8 East 48th Street (between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue)
New York, New York 10017
United States
Telephone; +1-212-500-1857
Email: hello@bennyjohnsnyc.com
Website: www.bennyjohnsnyc.com
Instagram: : https://www.instagram.com/bennyjohnsnyc/
Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LuxuryExperience
Follow Luxury Experience on Twitter: www.twitter.com/luxurypair @luxurypair
Follow Luxury Experience on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/luxurypair @luxurypair
© April 2023. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.
