The last time I visited 610 West Hartsdale Avenue, it was Mighty Joe Young’s. The safari motif was everywhere—bamboo paper on the walls, fake palm trees in the corner—and it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.
A few years ago, the owners of Benjamin Steakhouse, traveled north from their midtown spot, and saw the location’s potential. A couple of renovations inside and out, and the restaurant has transformed into a high-end eatery perfect for a first date, Father’s Day dinner, or an after work drink with friends.
The main room opens up to an expansive dining room, with a few booths and tables offering a cozy nook for both small and large groups alike. Benjamin’s, like most steakhouses, has that definite masculine feel, but it lacks the “stuffiness” I’ve found in other steakhouses. The eatery is well balanced—waiters were serving families, ladies clearly enjoying a girls’ night out, and a few men in suits most likely talking business. My dining partner and I were lucky enough to sit fireside to shake off that winter chill.
{IntoxiKate Tip!}
If you’re booking in advance with a table of four or less, try to snag the fireside table, which not only warms you up from the chilly temperatures we’ve had this season, but also offers an intimate atmosphere.
While the cocktail list certainly was tempting—love a good martini with steak—my dining partner and I choose a bottle of red wine off of the extensive wine list. The hardest part of the evening turned out to be selecting a first course—with oysters, shrimp cocktail and crab cakes on the menu it’s hard to make a selection—but we (smartly) decided on the Benjamin’s salad for two ($14.95). A light start to the meat smorgasburg to come. The organic greens, red onion, and apple housed a few generous lumps of crabmeat, so we were able to have the “surf” part of the meal.
{IntoxiKate Tip!}
Benjamin’s Steakhouse is currently participating in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, so it’s the perfect time to try options from the menu.
Click here for the #HVRW menu.
Staying with the “for two” theme, we decided to order the steak for two ($85.95) as our main entrée, pairing that an order of the asparagus ($10.95) and cottage fries ($8.95). When our dishes arrived at the table, we soon noticed another theme of the evening—”supersized.” Our generous portion of steak (cooked to perfection) was more than enough for two people, with a decent amount leaving via doogie bag. The asparagus was also enormous, but still sweet.
Although I wasn’t sure if I had room for dessert, I couldn’t resist the apple strudel which was certainly well-worth the extra calories—the delicate pastry housed an overflow of warm, cinnamon apples. (I highly recommend!)
{Benjamin Steakhouse: 610 W. Hartsdale Ave., White Plains, 914-428-6868, www.benjaminsteakhouse.com}
