Del Frisco’s Grille in Rockefeller Center is the more affordable offshoot of the national chain’s famed steakhouse, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, located just across Sixth Avenue. Situated on the edge of the plaza with a large, patio-style outdoor seating area, it serves as a secluded hideaway from hordes of milling tourists in a neighborhood populated primarily by Irish dives and bank-busting fine dining spots.
Here, you’ll find all the hallmarks of a chain restaurant, albeit an upscale version. Diners post up at the brass bar counter or settle into rows of brown-leather banquettes for appetizers such as cheesesteak eggrolls ($16.50) and “lollipop chicken wings” ($17.50), while the drinks list is dotted with cloying concoctions like a sangria pop with peach schnapps, pinot grigio and an actual popsicle ($16), and the signature “VIP” ($16), fortified with Hawaiian-pineapple–infused clementine vodka.
Despite some shortcomings on the menu, the Midtown standby packs out with corporate media suits (the restaurant shares space with NBCUniversal, News Corp and others) for happy hour, in part because the service is friendly and efficient, and partly because if the mood for a full service dinner strikes, there’s no reason not to take a front-row seat overlooking the square for a proper cut of steak. Del Frisco’s stays true to its roots here: leave the finger foods behind and opt for the stuff that calls for cutlery, like an 8 oz. Filet Mignon ($39), or the tender 16 oz. Ribeye ($44.50). It’s one area where the Grille is sure to stand out from other chains.
BY: TIME OUT COMMUNITY REVIEWER SHAWN McCREESH