Im a little torn on how to rate 54th Street Scratch Grill & Bar. I didn't dislike it, but I also…read moredidn't leave feeling like I had to come back immediately. Overall, I'd say the atmosphere was the strongest part of the experience.
We were staying at a nearby hotel, so being able to walk over was really convenient. We were greeted right away and seated within a few minutes, even though it looked like they were having a busy evening.
The restaurant itself has a really fun atmosphere. There's a lot happening... sports memorabilia, photos, decorations, TVs, and plenty of people laughing and enjoying themselves. It has a very lively pub/sports-bar feel without being uncomfortable or overwhelming. I had never been to a 54th Street before, so I enjoyed taking everything in.
For dinner, I ordered the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. I chose it because it was one of the dishes I saw recommended over and over again. Unfortunately, this was the biggest disappointment of the meal.
The chicken was very thin, extremely overcooked, dry, and difficult to chew. It honestly reminded me more of a basic frozen chicken tender than a freshly prepared piece of chicken. It was covered in white gravy, but the gravy couldn't really save the chicken. Maybe it was just an off night, but based on how highly recommended this dish was, I expected much more.
The mashed potatoes were good and the little buttered roll was fine, but neither was particularly memorable.
The Brussels sprouts were actually one of the better parts of my meal. They had a sweet glaze and cranberries, with a scoop of a white, cheese-like sauce served alongside them. I'm not completely sure what the sauce was, but the combination was good.
My daughter ordered the mac & cheese with bacon crumble. It was a pretty straightforward pasta with a house cheese sauce and bacon on top, but she ate about half of it, so I'd say it was definitely kid-approved.
My other kiddo had a simple cheese quesadilla, which was good and exactly what he wanted.
We also tried the fried pickles, and those were probably my favorite thing we ordered. The breading was really good, and I liked the seasoning it had a little bit of a spicy kick. A few of the pickles were slightly cold in the center, so they could have used a little more time in the fryer, but overall they were delicious. My only complaint was the very small amount of ranch that came with them.
Overall, I think 54th Street has a great atmosphere and a fun, casual environment, but my particular meal didn't really live up to the recommendations I had seen. I'd be willing to come back if I'm ever in San Antonio again and try something different.
I don't regret going, and I definitely wouldn't tell someone not to try it. I just wouldn't order the chicken fried chicken again. Maybe I caught them on an off night.