Redeye Grill is a jewel in the crown of the Fireman Hospitality Group but I probably do not have to tell you that! This Modern American brasserie style resto has served solid fare that ranges from great steaks to the freshest seafood for decades now. (It is probably best known for its award winning fish dishes more than anything else and they are said to have the best preparation of branzino in town–it’s simply grilled and then served with lemon, capers, thyme and sautéed spinach.) Redeye Grill has been the go-to place for anyone going to shows at Carnegie Hall or on Broadway and there is a good reason for it–the food is solid and the service is friendly. Another part of Redeye Grill’s allure is that fact that tables are placed far apart because it’s such a big space.
I can never resist a good steak so I had to get the eight-ounce filet mignon done between medium rare and straight up medium–and it was big enough to share with my guest. The French Fries that the filet comes with are among NYC’s best–they are perfectly golden on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. Call me unoriginal for ordering a steak but this one is deeply soul satisfying to even the fussiest meat eaters!
Our server suggested that we also share the CoQ Au Vin which takes a full two days to cook and includes two large pieces of dark meat chicken and a classic “stew” of brown sauce, bacon lardons, carrots, pearl onions and celery purée. This is what you call soul satisfying comfort food kept to the original old school French recipe. It is the type of dish that you can’t go wrong with and people apparently head over to Redeye Grill from near and far to get it! All the veggies used are organic but being a serious carnivore, I fell in love with the thick bacon lardons and decided that I could probably live on them, LOL!
My guest and I shared one of the Redeye Grill’s extra large legendary sides–cashew Brussels sprouts. The sprouts are roasted with olive oil, topped with a Thai peanut sauce and then tossed with a large amount of roasted cashews. Yes, this dish is as great as it sounds. The blackened outer leaves are my favorite part of this savory side! A side this large would serve a vegetarian well as an entree! I saw some of the diners around use ordered the charred asparagus featuring some great organic farm-to-table asparagus that were the perfect thickness.
Speaking of large portions, that extends to Redeye Grill’s desserts, which are perfect for two or three people to share. The banana cream pie is reaching legendary status amongst aficionados of this ages-old dessert that is becoming increasingly hard to find in fine NYC eateries. Some people just go to the Redeye Grill just for this mile-high pie after the theaters let out–and who could blame them? The banana filling is sweet and dense and the presentation is lovely–there are homemade dark chocolate flakes scattered over the pie and plate that make it look like a piece of 1960s modern art.
Friends told me to try Redeye Grill’s dark chocolate layer cake and I am so glad that I ordered it to share with my guest Gail (who has a great website called worleygig.com that features great art and food features). This is a huge slab of chocolate cake that must be six inches tall and a few inches deep! It is sided with a lovely light whipped cream but what makes this cake over the top great is the fudge-like frosting. This chocolate layer cake tastes as good as it looks in the photo above–I promise you! This cake is strictly for those who believe that there is no such thing as too much frosting. You might need a doggy bag to take half of your serving home especially if you’ve already had a significant amount of the banana cream pie!
Redeye Grill has a stunning bar area where you can eat and take in their artisanal cocktails and extensive wine selection. I did not partake of any alcohol on my visit but they supposedly have the best Old Fashioned in town–it’s made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, bergamot syrup and coffee bitters. A quirky cocktail called the Blueberry Mule made with Tito’s vodka, blueberries, prickly pear and ginger beer is also quite popular and you can see guests ordering them right and left. You do not need a reservation to dine at this legendary NYC brasserie but it is strongly recommended since Redeye Grill is usually very crowded during peak dining hours. Children and large parties are welcome. For more info or to make a reservation, go to www.redeyegrill.com.
