Before heading to see Forest Whitaker as Erie Smith in Eugene O’Neill’s one-act two-character basically monologue play, Hughie on Broadway, I stopped into Empire Steakhouse. Not the original one on 54, 
but the midtown newer one on East 50th. The space — in a previous life — was an opera house, and emanates that style with high ceilings and a winding staircase to a second floor lounge.
The margarita ($13.95), was prepared exactly how requested without any simple syrup and with a splash of orange juice added to the Avion Silver Tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice. They offer an extensive global wine list boasting close to 400 wines. We let the manager select the wines by the glass for us ($12.95 each).
We started by sharing the baked clams (6 for $14.95 ) and the tender and herb imbibed portabella heaped with so much moist crabmeat 
($18.95) the mushroom was hidden. I’d highly recommend the latter. Lovers of the fattiness of pork belly will like the extra thick sizzling bacon ($5.95 per slice) as there’s still ribbons of lot fat in the slice. With that, we each sipped white wine by the glass. My friend the Coppola Chardonnay and me the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.
Also good is the Caesar salad ($12.95), — nothing out of the ordinary — romaine with croutons and Parmesan shavings, as it should be. I was happy that it wasn’t drowning in dressing.
For our entrees, my dining partner had a filet mignon ($48.95), cooked exactly how he requested, along with sauteed mushrooms ($13.95) and crunchy home-fried German potatoes for two ($12.95). I tried the thick slice of Chilean sea bass ($35.95) with the creamed spinach ($10.95), not too creamy as I like it. With that, my friend had a glass 
of Petite Syrah, and I the rich Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Series.
For dessert we shared the non-oozing as it should chocolate lava cake ($10.95) with whipped cream and the graham cracker crust, not too sweet key lime pie ($10.95). I’d recommend the latter.
– bonnie
BonnieBOTB
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Empire Steakhouse
151 East 50th Street
New York City
(212) 582-6900
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