York Grill

Saddened that they are closed. They had the best skirt steak and a really good apple cake.

It’s good for what it is.
The food is descent but it didn’t blow me away although the food was priced well.
I wouldn’t go back unless I would want to celebrate an occasion.
The service was just ok, we had a neurotic waiter that was a bit of a looney.

Glad is got shut down — my 2^nd meal was horrible. Brought 10 people to be wowed by a local joint — instead they we’re wowed by the joint we had at home — the food sucked

Our most recent visit to York was perhaps our best yet. We’d been coming here for years and this being our best, including a musical performance from Dominic «Uncle Junior» Chianese of The Sopranos. It was a Thursday night in late June and we celebrated my Mother’s birthday here, as we have celebrated so many happy occasions.
Unfortunately, apparently, the York Grill has closed — we walked by and noticed the entirety of the restaurant is shuttered and empty. It’s unfortunate, to say the least, when a great place — not just a great neighborhood place — closes its doors, and I can only hope the owners closed not because of a lack of diners or support, because if they were struggling, we would have made it our business to visit far more regularly.
In most cases, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone — but we knew, and we’ll miss this wonderful place.

This is my favorite restaurant in Manhattan. I knew when I saw it, that I would like it. It is tucked away on York Ave., and right around the block from my place. It’s cozy, charming, and has a real Billy Joel/​New-​York-​State-​of-​Mind-​elegance to it.
I recommend the Kobe Beef burger, the skirt steak (delicious), any of their wines (they have a nice list), and any of their specialty desserts of the evening

I bought the Living Social $ 40 deal and expected it to use it during the Sunday brunch, but unfortunately it actually doesn’t apply to it so it was my mistake. In the fine print it stated it only worked for dinner. Anyhow I still ate Sunday brunch here and first my impressions of the place: I thought it’d be trendy, but actually it didn’t seem that way. The few people who were having brunch looked like neighborhood regulars and the crowd was mostly middle age to elders. I’d probably get a better sense of what the place is really like during dinner.
As for the Sunday brunch menu, they have a decent variety with the salads mixed in. I got the Pasta du Jour, which was a Ravioli dish. Typical expensive restaurant in that they gave about 6 pieces of Ravioli for $ 22 and honestly it didn’t make me jump out of my seat. It tasted «OK» and when I looked around I saw other people with a huge sandwich on their plates so in retrospect I should’ve gotten whatever that was!
Overall the restaurant was quiet and since it’s on York Avenue, pretty much isolated and in a residential area. If you like very quiet restaurants with not too many inhabitants, but «OK» food and selection then this is the place for you. If you’re more like me, where you want the place to be packed, a bit of noise and trendy with 20 somethings then you probably would think this is a boring spot to eat at.

My bf got a LivingSocial deal for $ 40 so we came here with his sister and her husband on a Saturday around 9pm. York Grill is quietly tucked away (as is everything on York Ave) but definitely can hold its own as a formidable neighborhood bistro (and somewhere between the all around family resto. I mean they do cheesily advertise their summer special with is this $ 40 Lobster Clam Bake. aka a shit ton of seafood arranged in no particular order and requires a bib to eat).
The interior is rather steak-​house like and since everyone raves about the skirt steak, that’s what my bf ordered. It came out super dark due to its marinade (some kind of red wine reduction if I recall) and tender, he said. It came with caramelized onions, baby carrots and mashed potatoes. These were pretty whatever– I tried the potatoes they seemed fine– freshly made but not too well seasoned. I didn’t try the steak (non red meat eater, here). $ 29
I ordered the cod-​this was sooo good! I’d give it 4 starts just for this (and the bread basket. more to come on this. I know I’m going backwards.)
I had: the baked Miso Glazed Chatham Day Boat Cod over golden quinoa mounted with a sauté of baby tiger shrimp, house cured bacon and scallion finished with a drizzle of kaffir lime beurre blanc. $ 27. It was super healthy but also really tasty. The cod was not terribly overly Miso’ed, which I sort of hate. The shrimps were so soft and buttery and the quinoa soaked up the juices perfectly. This was a really memorable fish dish.
My bf’s sister and hubby got full from a bar mitzvah earlier so they went light with salads: the Hudson valley red beet salad (beautiful presentation), and the cobb salad. $ 10ish. I didn’t try another of these but they came in sizable portions (at least the Cobb).
We didn’t order wine or dessert. We filled up on the bread (at least I did) which was banging– but then again, I could create a whole list over bread baskets even if they aren’t that specials. These were just dinner rolls, wheat and white bread with herbed butter but warm bread will simply win me over any day.
Our waiter was SO nice and friendly– he was patient, gave us good recommendations, and always had a smile on his face. He never pressured us to order more food, which is always appreciated.
The interior is also pretty spacious so feel free to come for a group outing, despite some of those that are saying it’s a romantic joint (I, in fact, don’t think it’s very romantic at all).
Four stars for our waiter, the bread and the cod.

Why did it take me so long to walk through the door of this place? I live on 88 and York so this is literally the closest restaurant to my apartment. In over a year living here, I never even thought of coming in.
I purchased a deal on LivingSocial for 50% off $ 40 of food. Last night me and my girlfriend tried it out and the food was really really delicious. I had a porterhouse cut pork chop that was massive and fantastic. My martini was made perfectly. Prices were on the higher side but the portions were HUGE… so that works for me. Wine was fairly priced too.
My only complaint was our fried calamari appetizer was way too over cooked and crispy/​oily. I thought it was going to be the beginning of a not so great meal but much to my surprise everything else was really awesome.
We also loved the ambiance. Very mellow and cool. I can deff see us coming back frequently and enjoying some drinks in the bar and lounge areas.
Nice job York Grill… You have 2 new fans!

I dropped in around 7 PM on a Monday night for dinner at the bar. I enjoyed a good burger and a decent glass of malbec, and ended the evening with some port.
The bartender was friendly and so were the other patrons. The crowd was mostly in theur late 30s to early 50s, and many seemed like neighborhood regulars. I expect to be back again in the middle of the week for some comfortable revelry.

Fantastic place — great service and food. I had the crabcakes and the salmon. Bravo!

I have now been here a few times. Every time we get the same waitress, and she is pretty amazing. The first time we went, she made sure that we knew about the skirt steak. I don’t eat meat, so I ordered one of the fish specials. I don’t remember exactly what it was, but it was tasty. But not as good as the skirt steak (I’m told). The other times I’ve gone, everyone at our table, except for me, got the skirt steak.
The mushroom appetizer is awesome. And if you have room, try some of the desserts. They are worth it.

I visited York Grill a few weeks ago, and let me say, the trip to 90^th Street was worth the fantastic food at York Grill!
First of all, the service was superb. The waiters were great, and I don’t know who it was that visited our table to check on us (I’m guessing the owner or the host?), but he was so friendly! He definitely did not give off the typical professional waiter vibe — he treated us like we were old regulars that he was chummy with. It made the experience that much better!
And the food, omg, the FOOD! We ordered the calamari to share as an appetizer, and while it was your typical calamari dish, the portion was enormous! The best part of the meal, however, were our main courses. I ordered the warm romaine salad topped with shaved pecorino Romano, and it was amazing! I was afraid the dressing would be too creamy and heavy, but it was honestly perfect! And although it’s listed as an appetizer, it was large enough to have as an entrée. My brother ordered the skirt steak, and as other reviewers have said, it was phenomenal! I tried some, and we both agreed that it was the best steak we’ve ever eaten. This was quite possibly the best meal we’ve ever eaten! Definitely worth the trek uptown!
All in all, one of the best restaurants that I’ve been too — great service and great food. What more could a girl ask for?

I came here for a friend’s birthday dinner and I have to agree with the other Unilocalers the Skirt steak is out of this work. I read the reviews here so I knew what others enjoyed and I have to say I was not disappointed. The mashed potatoes were also fabulous. I wasn’t overly excited about their appetizer choices but that is really my only complaint.
I would highly recommend York Grill if you find yourself in this part of town. It is a little out of the way for most but it is worth the trek.

I join my fellow Unilocalers on this: the skirt steak IS amazing. I had the chance to taste the pork chop too (which is a giant piece of meat), and it was good… maybe a lil too rare for me, but still tasty and tender.
The service was welcoming and professional, and the place itself is cute. Definitely a good choice in the neighborhood.

Terrific skirt steak that will make you think about for weeks afterwards. If you come up all the way up to this hidden gem on the far UES just get the skirt steak. Seriously. I mean it.
I have not experienced brunch here, but I did notice the less than favorable reviews here about it. My rating is based on the dinners I have had at York Grill. Great service, a bit sophisticated décor and vibe, and interesting menu with rotating specials by season. Also, it is a nice «adult» type place for a romantic dinner or date. Definitely not a place to take the kids.
Again, the skirt steak is the only entrée I will order here. Prepared just right — grilled and marinated — the house specialty, served with caramelized onions, baby carrots and mashed potatoes. Tender, tasty, always satisfying. For an appetizer I have had the crab cakes — fresh and nicely prepared. Wine list is not that large but enough to pick out a nice wine for the meal. A bit on the medium to pricier side to have dinner here but worth it.
Usually crowded on weekend nights so call for a reservation. Just a nice neighborhood place to relax and have a semi-​upscale dinner.

Two of us tried this place over the long July4th weekend for brunch.
Food:
Both of us would rate the food as 4 out of 5. The entrees are standard fare. They taste good but nothing original or interesting about them. The pre fixe menu starts at $ 19.95 and includes a drink, a «basket of muffins» (i.e. 1 muffin cut into quarters), a plate of not-​so-​fresh fruit, and a main entrée.
Service & Staff:
Perhaps because there was only one other table that was occupied, the staff was standing around talking loudly and their presence was disruptive. They were not warm or friendly. Service was ok.
Ambience: The place has formal décor with upholstered ceilings and ornate designs. We didnt care much for it but it would be a good option for dates, more formal family meals etc. Upbeat jazz music was fun!
Overall, the place would rate as «not bad». I probably wont go back here.

Yeah, yeah the food was good. Steak, delicious and perfectly cooked. Wine list, great variety. Teriyaki skirt steak, sexy. Portions, just right. Prices, fabulous — especially considering the upscale vibe. But this was hands-​down, 100%, entirely the most hilarious service I have ever experienced.
The family was in town, and the pickiest of all of us decided he wanted steak. Reviews for York Grill looked good, so off we went. Immediately after being seated, our waiter made sure to point out the spelling errors on the menu and ensure us that it was not HIS fault. I appreciate good spellers, so, well done.
We perused the menu and made our initial selections. Dad was strongly considering the French onion soup and one of the daily specials. Sassy waiter returned, and before we could get a word in, he proceeded to tell us that the French onion soup was NOT, in fact, the French onion soup that regular York Grill patrons had come to know and love. It was a CHEAP IMITATION. Overly salty, made with a poor-​quality stock, almost inedibly greasy, and NOT AN OPTION. The daily special my father was thinking about? TERRIBLE. No idea why it was even printed. MUCH better things on the menu.
Then…uh…we just let him order for us. He made excellent choices, and everything was delicious and what I’d imagine a regular York Grill patron would expect.
So, either this guy is a top waiter with some sort of serious job security or he no longer works there. I’ll be back to find out (and eat more of that amazing skirt steak).

Last night my wife and I went to the York Grill and enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed the Prefix Chicken Milanese for $ 25.95 and my wife enjoyed the special salad and shrimp cocktail. A great bottle of Shiraz and very attentive wait service. I met Tony the owner last night and he really knows how to run a strong restaurant.
I would recommend to all.

York Grill is literally around the corner from my apartment so I’ve been there a couple of times. The skirt steak, as others have pointed out, is to die for. Admittedly, the mashed potatoes and veggies it comes with were pretty unenthusiastic but the skirt steak itself definitely makes up for it.
The restaurant is very nice and the crowd itself is a more older and moneyed so it’s a pretty quiet and calm atmosphere. The prices are on the higher side, but the food is worth it.
Also recommend the burger from the prix fixe menu!

Good brunch with good prices. Good Bloody Mary’s. Dinner is totally overpriced for the quality and taste of the food, although this place always seems pretty crowded at night. That is probably due to the fact that it is one of the only fine dining restaurants on York in the 80’s.