"Old school NYC alive and well!" This Village Bar + Steakhouse has charm, solid food, martinis, served with a side of nostalgia. Knickerbocker Bar & Grill is one of those spots that feels like it's been waiting for you since the 1970s and is mildly annoyed you took this long to show up. Dim lighting, wood-paneled walls, framed posters, leather booths - it's old guy gruff lf NYC where you expect a guy to walk in with 2 salacious hookers What's to cheer - Get a martini. Served the right way with an iced extra of the overage on the side - Service is very "we've done this for decades" - professional, fast, no nonsense, but they actually pay attention. - Tbone, creamed spinach, and shrimp cocktail that haven't changed in decades - Reasonably priced for you get. No 70's stagflation here What's to jeer - it's a bit older crowd for sure - nothing is "innovative" here read more

I've been coming to this restaurant on and off for nearly 30 years, dating back to when I lived in NYC in the 1990s, and until recently, it's always been a place I genuinely enjoyed. After buying a place nearby last year, I was excited to return more often and make it part of my regular rotation again. Unfortunately, my most recent experience (March 2026) has completely changed that. The evening started off well enough. We had cocktails and then lentil soup as an appetizer, which was very good and reminded me why I've liked this place for so long. Things took a turn when our entrées arrived. My friend ordered a T-bone steak, medium rare. What was initially served came out closer to medium/medium-well, which the waiter acknowledged and offered to have redone. When the second steak arrived, the temperature was correct, but the cut was not. It was essentially just a bone-in New York strip, with no filet portion at all. When we asked about the missing filet side, the waiter said he would check. What followed was disappointing and frankly baffling. The manager came over and insisted that a T-bone does not always include a filet mignon portion (we would need to get a porterhouse for that), and refused to correct the order or provide a proper cut. This is simply incorrect. A T-bone, by definition, includes both the strip and the filet. Despite our reasonable attempts to explain, he was dismissive and condescending, treating us as though we didn't understand basic cuts of meat or were trying to game the situation. At nearly $60 for a steak, it's not unreasonable to expect both the correct temperature and the correct cut. While we had already sent one steak back for being overcooked, that shouldn't preclude the restaurant from delivering what was actually ordered the second time around. The manager sent over a complimentary dessert, which we didn't even want... and by that point, the damage was done. It felt more like a token gesture than a genuine attempt to resolve the issue. The overall tone and attitude completely soured the experience. But it does give us something to talk about. Especially with our friends in the food industry (laughing at either his misunderstanding or attempt to pull the wool over our eyes about meat cuts). It's especially sad for me because I've had consistently positive experiences here in the past, particularly with another manager (Jake, I believe), who is always professional and welcoming a real gentlemen. This experience, however, was the opposite. It's a shame to say, I'm no longer inclined to return. Longstanding loyalty only goes so far, and being spoken down to over something the restaurant got wrong is hard to overlook. read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - T bone steak (1) - American Near Me - New York, New York

Every time I visit NY, this is a must! Everyone is so nice and friendly. The food is always so delicious. The bread is my favorite-French and cornbread. Be sure to order the Chocolate Soufflé. Get the martini..they give you extra! read more

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Came here for Valentine's Day dinner. The steak was awesome. Would definitely recommend. They had live jazz playing via piano. Both the service and the ambiance was wonderful. read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Menu - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Lamb shank was very tender and was fall off the bone but could have had better seasoning/flavor. Farro was good, The tomatos were the best thing in that dish. The Tbone was fair, a little tough in the fatty spots that I thought would be tender. Great value though with good amount of sides. Onion rings on top were a good choice. The cookie pie was decadent but could have been cooked longer as it was a little too gooey. This place is good for family dinners, at first we were the youngest people there. Then later in the night the place started filling up. A little old timey like a stepback into time. Good for them for being popular for long. read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Braised lamb shank in rosemary jus - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Knickerbocker Bar & Grill is fantastic! It's a beautiful dark wood establishment and and it was decorated for quite a bit for Halloween. The bread is amazing! I split the iceberg and Bleu and the specialty pasta with my friend and it was the perfect dinner. Very flavorful. Another friend has the chicken and she loved it. The service is great. Everyone was helpful and friendly. The waiter decided our table needed to be larger, so he opened the extensions. We didn't have to ask. I recommend eating here if you are in NYC. read more

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It has been 20 years since I last dined here. It lived up to my expectations with the steak for 2. Mostly tender and cooked to order (med rare). The place has not changed much (that is a good thing). The waiter was attentive and friendly. Great NY ambiance. It feels like a neighborhood place. Very busy on a Thursday at 7 PM. Solid choice to dine. read more

This was my first time at this spot & it did not disappoint! Came for early dinner on a Friday nite & the place got progressively busy as we ate. Never so loud that you couldn't hear the person next to you but definitely bustling. The shrimp cocktail was amazing & the French Martini was beyond delish. We all went carnivorous w steak meals & pretty much cleaned our plates. A solid 10 out of 10 w service, food & vibe. Plus I love the artwork..vintage posters from old time NY. I can't wait to return! read more

I went for dinner on New Years before 9pm. The lobster bisque was a terrible fish soup with 3 shrimps on top. The waiter was amazing, kind and very attentive. The 2 of us sat in main room near the bar which was great. read more

Nice Lobster Bisque w/3 jumbo shrimp in the middle! Went twice befire Xmas, first time I had the 10 oz filet mignon which was a little too much after the bisque and the warm cornbread. 2bd time I had the petite filet which I finshed completely, with a small portion of fries rather than the mashed. From tbe street its hard to tell but it's a fine steakhouse. Was a bit taken aback by the $3.50pp music cover the 2nd visit for the 3pc jazz trio. read more

I had been going to knickerbocker for years, and after covid price for the formerly amazing T bone went up which is understandable . Inflation sucks, but shrinkflation to go along with it sucks. It's down to a quarter of the thickness it used to be. Like I said I understand you need to catch up with the times , but giving less for a higher price sucks. read more

Classic restaurant. Wonderful service and food. Perfect for a special occasion or even that special occasion of a night out with your family. read more

We've been coming here since the early 1990's and it's one of the last archetypical New York "steakhouses". Live jazz, good food, East Village location, people who know your name, familiar (as in yummy) food, strong drinks, a solid wine list that's not ostentatious and John who can grant you a prime table on a Saturday night at 8pm. The old Gotham Bar and Grill is no longer, Ray's Pizza is long gone, Balducci's a distant memory, Dallas BBQ - who?, 1/5 Steakhouse, B Daltons, the Olive Tree Cafe, Figaro's and the Rocky Horror Picture Show during 8th Street's heyday as one of the most popular streets in NYC are pure nostalgia, but the Knickerbocker lives on in person, unchanged. Thank you John and Craig for the easy evening. Good food, good wine, good times here. read more

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I walked into this place not knowing about it with no expectations on a Thursday at 6:30 and I found the most amazing old-school steakhouse with live jazz and original artwork on the wall. That is fantastic and the food is amazing. Had the steak fruits and a glass of Cabernet: perfect. The maître was amazing and told me about the history of the place and the service was great. What a pleasant surprise and what a great time I had and I would recommend this to anyone if you're in this area or are looking for someplace to have dinner with friends and family or just stopping in for a bite, friendly upscale jazzy cool atmosphere original Hershfeld artwork on the walls. What a treat will definitely come back. read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Steak, Frites, and a glass of Cabernet - American Near Me - New York, New York

Great views! Sexy environment! Sweet attendants. Legends has it the dry martini was discovered here, but 'we' know. lol I'll be back when the weather is better to chill outside. read more

One of my all-time favorite restaurants. I have been going here my whole life, so this space holds memories of birthday parties, dinner dates, and other celebratory occasions. Halloween is especially fun, the entire restaurant gets decorated and the staff costumes are hysterical. The steak is consistently delicious, served with mouth watering creamed spinach and onion rings. The frisée salad is also yummy, and the restaurant provides hearty corn bread as well. For non meat or steak eaters there are many chicken, fish, and vegetarian options. read more

Old School Steak House with old school repeat customers. Although not trendy any longer, a favorite steak house of mine- we only get the T-Bone, and it is really fun to get it for a table of 6. Sides are standard and solid, and always opt for onion strings on top. Staff was on point, and amazing all around. Awesome decore from booths to the bar, and the piano makes everything its the loud music. Wine list is sad, and I could find a bottle that retails over $15, so expect a 300% mark up on a bottle of wine, compared to the standard 100%. Drinks from the bar were strong and came quick. I can't say this enough-I really liked the staff and their interaction with all patrons. read more

Perfect creamed spinach and cocktail jazz. What more could one want? Some website said no reservations were available on a Friday night at 8:30. So we did the old school thing and called. The maitre d', John, was happy to give us a swell spot right in the front window, about 14 feet from the piano. The place was hoppin that chilly night with the nearby bar packed with (judging by their cheerful gab with the barkeep) Loyal Regulars. A sharp young waiter named Lance promptly materialized to welcome us and take our drink order. Within 4 minutes he was back with a gem of a bourbon Manhattan in an iced beaker, like a single perfect rose. This, despite the brisk trade at the bar. The menu is just varied enough to please any taste without inducing analysis paralysis. It's definitely on the Old School Hearty side (28 oz steak?) My girlfriend was happy to see some significant salads which served as her main. This was well because we ordered the intriguing "Caviar Pie" as a starter. I expected a couple of teaspoons of the stuff with pointy toast. We got the toast alright, next to a small torte composed of layers of egg salad and creamy goat cheese topped with a thick spread of sparkling black beads. By itself it would've made a meal. I hadn't swallowed a morsel since a 6 AM airport breakfast, but we still left a slice of the torte to save room for the mains. The wedge salad perfectly satisfied my girlfriend who snagged a bite or two of my hearty roast chicken. The chicken, served in a reduction with baked butternut squash and dried cherries is the kind of dish that should be served in a soundproof booth so as not to perplex fellow patrons hearing exclamations of delight by the happy diner, while he ignores frequent under-table nudges by his girlfriend's dainty slipper. The creamed spinach, the item that first caught my eye on Yelp, actually healed some of my childhood abandonment issues. Despite the busy scene, the tinkling of the piano, like the rocks in an Old Fashioned, and the playful thrum of the standup base were masterfully delivered in such a way as to complement our conversation without overpowering it. From time to time we just sat listening a reverie of gratitude that such a haven exists. Finally, a word about some negative reviews regarding inattentive or downright snooty service. It's a personal bugaboo of mine, but those reviews are something like two years or more old. Both John and Lance made us feel like regulars. Lance was perfectly attentive, despite having plenty of business to take care of he never seemed to rush us, and was always there when needed. And John has a downright gift for hospitality and warmth. I imagine the whole restaurant is filled with staff who are proud of this place and eager to share their joy. read more

Have wanted to try this place for so long and im glad I went. Walked in on a Saturday at 7:30 and got seated immediately and the service was phenomenal and very nice people there. The food itself, the steak frites was delicious I was going back and forth with the actual cuts of steak or this on the menu and I'd say it was worth it. I think this place maybe one of my favorites read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Steak Frites - American Near Me - New York, New York

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I went here for a couple drinks and sat at the bar. Everyone was super friendly... the host, the bartender (Hazel) and the other patrons. It was a great atmosphere and I felt really welcomed there. Definitely going to get dinner there next time, everything smelled delicious. Highly recommend. read more

We really loved our experience at the Knick. Everything was tip to tail incredible. Ron helped me organize my 30th birthday there on Friday 3/31 at 8 PM. We worked together for weeks to get the menu right and I really appreciate how helpful, communicative, and honest he was. He is a genuinely nice person and it was great to work with him. One thing that we loved is that there wasn't a minimum spend and no "private party room" fee. This made this much more affordable per person. We did price fix (20% tip included). We ate: family Caesar salads, mini crab cakes (YUM! this was my fave!!!), smoked salmon potato latkes, and T Bone steak. We had a ton of martinis (with extra olives!) and red wine. We really loved our incredible service. The waiters were on the top of their game, especially knowing how difficult my group can be (haha) and how big the group was. We really felt taken care of. They also helped carve up my massive, 12 inch round chocolate cake that I brought in from a Park Slope bakery near my apartment (Buttermilk Bake Shop). I hope they kept some slices for the kitchen because the cake was great. They also played me a little song on piano at the end of the night and I got up to dance. Haha. It was so fun! read more

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Cozy spot with great food and service. Very much liked the French onion soup and the ribs were very good. Everyone was happy with their meal and prices were good. Drinks were basically double size! Very cool read more

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Four of us enjoyed a good evening at this restaurant. The fried chicken was huge portions and cooked extremely well, the pasta dishes were well cooked and the food came out in a timely fashion. The wait staff were very attentive and friendly. The soufflé was delicious and hot and puffy, well done, will be back again. read more

sadly this restaurant has gone downhill .For years the food quality was excellent and have gone many times . The past few years the quality has deteriorated and the quality of the meat is inferior . The wine undrinkable and crème brule frozen cold? steak completely well done when ordered med rare read more

My friend Holden keep telling me to come here. Finally made it. Nice place. We were greeted as soon as we arrived. Got a nice table. Our waitress was super nice. Place has an old school vibe. Which i like we got nice bottle of wine which was reasonably priced. Here is the food rundown. Got the frisee salad. Very good. Shrimp cocktail was ok. My daughter got the tuna entree. I tasted it. It was good. The children parmesan was a special. It was very good. The steak frites was a miss. Probably should have gotten the porterhouse. Overall a nice place. I would go back. Unfortunately there were a couple of misses as far as the food goes. Prices were fair read more

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The Knickerbocker is back! Great things are worth waiting for. The Knickerbocker does not disappoint. My favorite New York Bar and Grill with a true "Village" vide......with the BEST steak in town. Porterhouse amazing , cooked exactly as order. true NYC iconic institution with incredible food great service. read more

This is a classic Greenwich Village spot with the classic "bar & grill" fare, and a bit of their own spin on some dishes. I've not had a meal here that disappoints, and the atmosphere and ambiance is classic NYC Village. Highly recommended, though its staying power is testament to its quality and customer appreciation. Here's to hoping they won't be going anywhere anytime soon. read more

Amazing steaks!! Great cocktails!! Has an authentic, long time serving NYC feel. Some things like the Covid barriers between booths could be removed and some corners of the space spruced up but GO for the steaks and ask for Johnathan. He's been there almost 10 years and is always the BEST! Can't wait to get back. read more

This place is the real deal. Traditional, New York bar and Grill that is well known by downtown New Yorkers. I have been going consistently for more than 25 years and I've never had a disappointing experience. OK fine. One time they didn't have the arugula pasta that came with the seafood special but I survived. Good drinks good atmosphere helpful and friendly waitstaff and the ambience is great. Fun bonus is the last few times I've been I've seen some very well-known New Yorkers who live locally out dinner. Rarely overcrowded. if you're in New York and you want to see what old New York looks like before everything was designed for Instagram go here. read more

Ordered the 12 oz skirt steak. The portion was generous- probably 16oz. The steak was EXCELLENT !! Cooked perfectly. The best skirt steak I've had in a long time. read more

Excellent love the ambience the service is great. Music good jazz. Steaks delicious. I recommend it! Enjoy

On a par with many of the city's fine steak houses but in a much more casual atmosphere and a lot less pricey as a TBone for two at $100 is what passes for less pricey these days. Taste wise everything was fine. In addition to the above T Bone, we also had a shell steak and a filet mignon. All were cooked to perfection. The salads (Caesar and wedge) and the sides (mushrooms and spinach) were also steak house worthy. Even the alcohol prices seemed reasonable for Manhattan. Definitely worthy of a return trip. read more

We usually eat at the bar when we come here. All the bartenders have been friendly. We always start with a perfectly made martini. They make a great ceaser salad and always perfectly cook the filet mignon. A gem of a restaurant read more

This 5th star from us comes from the value! The quality of the steaks we had were excellent and were extremely competitive with the big name places charging 20-40% more. If you want the full fancy uppity steak house experience, go to keens or wherever else, but if you're looking for a badass steak in a pub setting, this is the place! We will definitely be back! Hidden gem! read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Very happy wife! ( thank you!) - American Near Me - New York, New York

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This place gets mad props for a variety of reasons. I've passed by here countless times but never realized just how good it was until I finally give this a try. Their signature T-bone steak was 100% top notch. The way they cook it was more Keen's than Peter Luger, however I definitely thought the T-bone here was better than what I had at Keen's. The flavor, sear, texture and even grease level was just right. Not too heavy and plenty of natural flavor. I can see why many people seem to like this place as their dark horse steak joint. It helps that they also include 2 sides - in my case a very generous helping of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The former was excellent and actually pairs very well with their exceptionally delicious home made steak house. The latter was a bit too creamy for my preference but maybe others might enjoy a thicker cream spinach. I also had their popular French Onion soup and I can see why it's quite well liked. The cheese was baked perfectly, the soup was flavorful but not too salty and all in all it was just savory in the best of ways. Last but not least I gave the chocolate souflee a try. It was a very rich and devilish concoction that was well worth the extra toll it took on my stomach. All in all a perfect way to end what was a very delicious meal. The ambiance of the entire place was extremely old school with its wood paneling and overall warm atmosphere. It was packed to the gills at 6pm on a Friday night, and for good reason. Our server was very attentive and friendly. This restaurant really nails it in terms of the overall experience - from the service to the food to the overall memorable ambiance. It's like a slice of old New York that I'm very glad is still in existence and a part of the fabric of the neighborhood. I'll definitely be back. read more

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill - Signature T Knickerbocker 's Famous T - Bone Steaks - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Been my fave steakhouse for almost three decades...had a GREAT experience last night with friends... our server Stephanie was SO great and added to the fun!! Thank you, and love you knickerbocker!!! Tom C. read more

Came here with a friend Christmas week after hearing that this is the place for killer martinis. The martinis were adequate (the ones I make at home are better!) but the server was absolutely wonderful. The place was packed, festive, and beautifully decorated for the holidays. We did not eat dinner here as there was really nothing appealing for two vegans. Excellent covid precautions were in place and much appreciated. I will go back, but just for the bar. read more

An old school favorite. Been coming for - Almost 30 years and that's a blip on the regulars calendars. A phenomenal T-Bone - both sides cooked medium rare and juicy. So glad they are back from the Covid close. Just hope Americans don't fuck it up and cause another close. A great place to bring a book or your kindle and just sit at the bar order a cocktail or 2 and then a shrimp cocktail and hang out on a blustery day. You won't be the only one... Go just go! read more

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Warm, "old New York" vibe with dark walls and leather booths. Also tables for larger groups. Traditional dishes like onion soup and burgers and salads - all reliable and tasty. For a cozy, warm atmosphere - a good, even festive choice. read more

Big fan of this place. Have only been here a couple times since the 1990's, but it never disappoints. A little old-fashioned, but in a comfortable way. The place has been around so long, it's become a classic. We enjoyed all our entrees; I got steak frites and the meat was a perfect medium-rare. Everybody ate everything, so that means we earned dessert! It was a birthday, and the birthday girl wanted the dessert special of bread pudding. Not my first choice, but it was delicious, with raspberry sauce and ice cream. Would gladly go back anytime. read more