13 E 12th St (between University Pl and 5th Ave, Greenwich Village)
Fatty Kat Eats: New England Sea Scallops, Kobe Steak, Veal Rib Chop, Crisp Goose Fat Potatoes, Caramelized Banana Tart
Sunday nights mean Mondays and real life are right around the corner. So what's better than steak night on Sunday night? ... That's right. Steak is a great way to soften the blow and enjoy a couple moments of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
I've been to Strip House a couple times in my fatty life, and I always feel as if I'm eating dinner in a terrible episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The jarring red lights and walking dead uniforms really scream "underworld" to me. Thankfully the spacious seating and hospitable (albeit practiced) service shoos some of that Buffy-ness away.
We started with the unassuming New England Sea Scallops and dove straight into the luscious broth. There was corn and edamame succotash hiding under some of the juiciest seared scallops this underworld has ever seen. This dish is the meaning of Sunday Funday.
Despite being a zombie, our server did a good job of selling us one of the specials, the Potato Gnocchi with Truffle Butter and White Truffle. So close! These glorious dollops were so close to perfection it hurts. The rich truffle butter was obviously on a different level, but the potato gnocchi couldn't quite get there. It was a few notches too sticky, but we still finished the whole plate.
I have very few qualms about eating veal, because veal is damn tasty. The Veal Rib Chop was large and in charge. I don't know how someone, fatty or not, can finish a 2 inch thick steak in one sitting. @yimbabwe obviously took home the MVP award Sunday night. This baby (pun intended) was incredibly juicy, and the full flavored wild mushrooms and jus gave it a little oomph.
Again, our server did a good job of robbing us blind when we gave in to the steak special of the night, a 6 oz. Kobe Steak. Hallelujah. There is a god, because nothing on earth could create such a perfect piece of meat. All we could say was, "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" Cooked perfectly, medium-rare. Seasoned beautifully. Devoured slowly. Reminisced about, longingly.
The restaurant's menu has an intense potato section, as any good steakhouse should. You typically find the usuals at any given steakhouse (i.e. mashed, au gratin, baked, fried), but you'll be lucky to come across another Crisp Goose Fat Potatoes. This impending heart attack is not much to look at, but it's all packed on the inside. The crunchy exterior has my name all over it as it represents the love child between potato au gratin and crispy fries. My only complaint? Too salty.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Standard fare. We were happy to have something green on the table, although covered in butter!
Y'all already know about my second stomach, perfectly customized for desserts that just won't fit in the first stomach. Sunday night was no different. I had tried the Caramelized Banana Tart years ago, and it reminded me of a creme brûlée (never a bad thing), so we got it again this time. The vanilla ice cream and candied pecans (underneath) were lovely complements to the soft, caramelized bananas. It won't wow your socks off, but it's a beautiful and tasty dish.
In my experience, Profiteroles are rarely good enough to write home about. They're easy and safe to order, but hard to share. The ensuing mess of ice cream, chocolate and puff pastry can only be shared between close friends and family. I typically prefer mine stuffed with whipped cream rather than ice cream, but we gave these a chance. Random note: the only place I only like cream puffs is at Panade in the LES. Their puff sandwiches are also insane. Go! Now!
Overall, we had a hugely successfully Sunday Funday steak night. We're still not ready for Monday morning, but that Kobe steak was SO NEXT LEVEL. To be cheesy about it, and because I love being cheesy...it's the stuff that dreams are made of. The end.
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