TAK Room 2020 (NYC)

The photo says it all. It’s been a LONG TIME since I posted a Best Meal Ever. And now Thomas Keller gets another one on the list. And Jarrod Huth gets his first one.

NYers are the most industrious, motivated, hard-working geographic group in America, if not the world. But they are so damn LAZY when it involves heading out of your neighborhood to enjoy an amazing meal. It just doesn’t make sense. How many Upper East Siders will make the effort to head to Hudson Yards for dinner now that they’ve already seen the Vessel? TAK Room is your neighborhood spot, but it’s just not in your neighborhood. You should bring lunch to work every day so you can save money to eat here every month. It’s a special occasion meal for every special occasion. Make the effort. Get involved.

Start downstairs at the incredible cocktail bar where you can gander over $1000 pours of whiskey from the 1890s. Pretty cool. I wish I had the money… But treat yourself to a fairly-priced glass of Stagg Jr. before heading upstairs.

Once you get upstairs, you will find a beautiful room, a stunning view, incredible service, live jazz, and the most tremendous food brought to you by Keller’s team. It all adds up the the PERFECT VIBE.

It’s a place where you want to wear a suit and tie…but, clearly, you do not have to.

Here’s what we had for the celebration of my closest friend’s father’s birthday:

  • Black Manhattan (substitute Sicilian Averno for Sweet Vermouth)
  • Crudite (the dip for the veggies was the unheralded star
  • Homemade potato chips with French Onion Dip
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Tableside Caesar Salad
  • Prime Short Rib Wellington (braised for 40 hours before getting wrapped with mushrooms, crepe and pastry)
  • Cote de Boeuf
  • Steak Fries
  • Creamed Spinach
  • Chocolate Cake
  • Cheesecake
  • Caramel corn

This was so good. Every component had Kelleristic Execution. I cannot wait to return and try everything else on the menu!