Keens Steakhouse

Sometimes you have to get back to basics.....

Keens Steakhouse has been in exsistance since 1885 as a steakhouse.  Before that it was a part of the Lamb's Club, a private club consisting of theater and literary types that originated in London.  As you can imagine this has history written all over it's walls...and ceilings.  Hanging from the ceiling you will find the many churchwarden pipes smoked by such well known members as Albert Einstein, Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Will Rogers, J.P. Morgan and many others.  This is a virtual museum to the past with scores of past political cartoons framed on the walls.  This simple decor extends to everything here, including the food.

This is getting back to basics; no foams, no foie gras, no reduction  or compote, simple straightforward food.  Up first is a basket of rolls, hard on the outside, warm and soft on the inside.  Accompanying that you get a dish of carrot and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing.  To make it fance they throw in an olive and pickle.  Order a scotch from thier huge list and get going with the meat already! 



From Keens Steakhouse website

What we are  really here for is the famous Mutton Chop.  This saddle of adult sheep is crispy brown on the outside and juicy medium rare on the inside.  Served with some wilted escarole and you have a man's meal.  Order a side of potatoes (they come mashed, fried or boiled) and maybe some sauteed field mushrooms.  Oh, wait, what's this, mint jelly?  Well I guess it's kind of a sauce, but I had no use for it.  All I needed was some salt and pepper.  Basics!  Yes the Mutton Chop can be hard to carve out; use your hands, or scrape the meat off the bone with your fork as I did, you don't need to worry about appearances here.  And yes the meat is that good and sweeter next to the bone.