STK Midtown, centrally located near HBO in the Grace Plaza hosted a massive Mardi Gras bash to celebrate five years of success.
STK Midtown, part of the major The ONE Group, whose properties include Asselina and Bagatelle (a favorite of the jetset crowd- just drop into the one in the Fairmont Hotel Dubai- full of party-loving Europeans and artistically-inclined Arabs), has had great success. Two spots in NYC and more across the USA, ONE Group has this down to an art, so it comes as no surprise that STK has managed to last this long in Midtown, where lots of hungry suits have a considerable roster of steak spots to choose from. STK Midtown is in a prime spot, parked on Grace plaza, the enormous space has a variety of tiers and bars as well as a myriad of tables and booths, more akin to a uber-posh cafeteria than a intimate steakhouse. Make no mistake- this is not a problem: the tight tables and the crowded bar makes STK a great place to hang out and meet new people. It’s a strength that carries over from Bagatelle (which you can’t visit without making a friend or two).
There’s something about STK that is conductive human interaction. Maybe it’s the low center of gravity or the high ceilings paired with moody, sexy lighting that boosts confidence. In any case, with thumping music and the low, open tables with spotlights on each, STK is positioned nicely as a low-pressure club rather than a steakhouse. A walk to the back of the space affords guests a chance to survey the crowd to see who they know- or should be knowing- the ultimate status for anyone out to see or be seen. The space becomes a runway, a seated audience for your night.
The crowd was lively and excited for the Mardi Gras celebration that was coinciding with the five-year anniversary. Dancers with enormous plumes of feathers sprouting from their backsides made their way through the crowd inside while outside, a photobooth and dancer on stilts posed on the street, with Rolls-Royces and Maybachs parked a few feet away. The drinks were poured and the snacks were passed: crawfish to lobster lettuce wraps to giant truffle fries stacked like JENGA. Guests donned beautiful masks and beads in the classic Mardi Gras way. ’80s classics piped through the sound system providing a clever backdrop.
Steakhouses in NYC must impress. They must be sophisticated, surprising, tasteful, and fun. It must be a scene, it must be an environment. It must have exceptional steaks and a crowd you want to be around. Does STK hit the mark? Let’s just say a bad steakhouse in NYC wouldn’t be celebrating five years of success.