Everyone loves a good steakhouse, if you’re not vegetarian or vegan that is. While many travel sites tend to only cover centrally located Manhattan restaurants when they recommend great foodie finds in the Big Apple, we’ve brought you everything from great coffee picks, fabulous chocolate in Brooklyn and great local foodie picks to fabulous Austrian food in an artsy neighborhood in a Red Hook loft, the creative and delicious in Bushwick, great brunch list (be sure to check out Renee’s top brunches in Harlem post) and Malaysian Street Food in the Village.
We’ve been exploring foodie treasures in the Bronx over the past six months or so, from Charlies in the South Bronx to Portofino in City Island (there’s plenty more we’d like to cover on Arthur Avenue and beyond), but our latest find is a steakhouse, but on the other side of the Bronx, on the opposite end of the city from our more recent discoveries.
Situated in Riverdale on the west side of the Bronx, the last stop on the 1 train (VanCortland) Jake’s Steakhouse not only serves up a wide array of delicious steaks, but they also offer scrumptious appetizers from Mussels Fra Diavolo, Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, Clams and Oysters on the half shell” and Jumble Shrimp Cocktail, to name a few.
For mains, you’ve got to try one of their steaks of course, since it is their specialty. If you like a great hearty steak or chop cooked just right to perfection and also want romantic ambiance, then Jake’s Steakhouse is your place.
We had the pleasure of trying the T-Bone for Two, which is sliced off the bone with natural beef jus. Absolutely delicious! Remember they are known for their steaks, so you really can’t go wrong with any of their cuts.
Located on three levels, the ambiance is warm and inviting with a small but lively bar downstairs. Jake’s will get you in the mood with a fine glass or bottle of vino. Renee and I did this review together and had a boat load of fun diving into their delicious appetizer choices while sampling a few of their white and red wine selections.
We started the evening by pairing our appetizers with the a glass Chateau tour de Gouplin La France, a lovely and crisp Bordeaux Blanc and a glass of Principato-Italia, an Italian pinot grigio, both of which were a nice match with the oysters.
The “Mussels Fra Diavolo” are from the Prince Edward Isle and prepared in a spicy marinara sauce. For all my fellow mussel lovers out there, they are a must try.
We took a chance on the Pepper Ridge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State’s Walla Walla Valley for our steaks, however it didn’t hit home, even after an hour in the decanter. Since it was taking a long time to open, we moved on.
While an hour really isn’t that long to wait for a wine to open, it is when you’re not at home dining with friends and your mouth watering steaks are well on their way. We played it safe and opted for the 2012 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford Estates. We like Honig in general because they are a sustainable farm, family owned and operated and solar powered. We’ve been to their vineyard a few times now and have always had great experiences with their wines over the years.
The 2012 Honig Cab paired beautifully with our steaks. For all of my linguistically inclined readers out there, the word “Honig” is Dutch and means “Honey”.
After the oysters, we moved onto something a little heavier. Who doesn’t like fried calamari? Below is Jake’s version, which is fried in a lightly seasoned batter served with a mouth watering marinara sauce. Che delizioso!!!
Did I mention that the shrimp appetizer was enormous? Take a look at their jumbo size shrimp served with a spicy horseradish cocktail. Although Renee is not lover of horseradish, I gladly stated that I would have no problem whatsoever finishing her portion. She seemly looked at me with her blue eyes while I slowly savored every last bite of her jumbo shrimp.
Oysters on the half shell.
Although I am not a bacon lover, the Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon is definitely worth a try. It has a wonderfully smokey flavor with a hint of sweet applewood. The arugula goes nicely to balance the sweetness of the applewood with the bitterness of the arugula. It is a great combination.
The “Petite Filet” is a medallion of filet, flamed boiled and served with beef jus. I recommend getting this piece of succulent beef rare or medium rare to fully enjoy its incredible flavors. Yes, that’s a drizzle of cheese on the top!
We didn’t have the opportunity to try the Jake’s Famous Baby Back Ribs but it was worth a photo since our neighbors ordered it with big smiles on their faces — they had been here before. The ribs are barbeque glazed and served in traditional style with french fries and coleslaw. Our oh so happy neighbor left nothing on his plate.
Lobster tail can be added to any entree. How scrumptious does this look? Well worth the add.
Some of the sides dishes worth a try include sauteed asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, brussel sprouts and sauteed onions, all of which I would highly recommend and go very well with any steak dish.
Brussel Spouts” with a light seasoning to accompany an entree.
“Sauteed Onions with Mushrooms” – personally, we both can never get enough of sauteed mushrooms, especially with garlic.
Jake’s famous “Frizzled Onions”.
“Did you leave space for desserts?” our waitress asked.
How about this Broadway brownie, which is a double fudge brownie served warm with vanilla ice cream and a caramel sauce drizzled on top. It is a great way to end the evening.
I should also mention that Jake’s dessert options won’t leave you frustrated — there’s plenty to choose from. They also serves a Jake’s Boston Cream Pie, Creme Brulee, ‘Tiramisu, Jake’s Bread Pudding, Apple Strudel and more.
A piece of Jake’s famous homemade “Pecan Pie A La Mode” with a cappuccino is a little slice of heaven.
“Apple Strudel” served warm with vanilla ice cream was another one of our favorites.
Then, there’s Jake”s Bread Pudding, served with vanilla ice cream topped with caramel sauce. And yes, it really tastes as good as it looks.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Domeisy, our very gracious waitress who did a phenomenal job making us feel at home from the time we sat down to the end of our meal. Also thanks to Megan who was a gracious hostess and made us feel well cared for throughout the entire evening.
I highly recommend Jake’s for a memorable dining experience — it’s a great fit for a quiet romantic evening out (I’d recommend a table on the third floor and request a booth or a window table). It’s also a great choice for groups or families. Remember, it’s not all happening in Manhattan!
Photo credits: Renee Blodgett.
Details:
Jake’s Steakhouse
6031 Broadway
Bronx, NY 10471
718.581.0182
Note: we were hosted but I can assure you all opinions are most definitely my own.
Anthony Compagnone is a bilingual speech and language therapist by day and has been helping kids and adults with their speech and language needs for over 20 years in New York.
He is also a keen martial artist and has practiced a number of disciplines from kempo to kung fu and everything in between.
Also a champion of his two incredible kids, yoga, hiking and traveling, he contributes to We Blog the World about family travel, hotel and product reviews and of course culture, where his language skills are a huge asset. He speaks 5 languages but is most proficient in English, Spanish and French.
