Morton’s Grille opened recently in the space previously occupied by Vic & Anthony’s, another steakhouse. I was invited there recently to sample the “
casually-elegant sister restaurant” to Morton’s Steakhouse.
When I arrived before my dining partner, I mentioned to the hostess that it was my friend’s birthday and wondered if they’d recognize it by putting a candle in the dessert.
They did more than one better. The first special acknowledgment was souvenir menus with a Happy Birthday to my friend printed on top!
We sipped our medium-bodied 2010 Rioja (Zuazo Gaston, Crianza, $32) as we decided what to order. I must warn: Be careful when the large loaf of warm bread arrives with soft butter, as it’s addicting.
I recommend the crispy veggie roll sushi ($17) filled with tempura fried asparagus, sweet mango, cucumber, crunchy carrots and avocado, plated with a drizzle of spicy mayo. No pickled ginger or wasabi to be found, though.
Also tasty are the tacos with double corn tortillas filled with braised beef short ribs, pico de gallo, sliced onions and fresh avocado slices served with a drizzle of chipotle mayo ($13).
A nice touch are the hot towels and fresh lemon slices served after our tacos, and later in the meal — when we really needed them — after the BBQ ribs.
As you’d expect our center-cut rib-eye steak ($39) was cooked exactly how ordered: medium rare. It was, though, more gristly than steaks I’ve had at the Grille’s sister steakhouse. As fry lovers, we 
couldn’t resist ordering a side of Parmesan truffle matchstick fries ($9) that we couldn’t stop nibbling.
The miss of the evening were the bacon-fat braised baby back ribs served with a huge pile of matchstick fries and Texas-style BBQ sauce ($27). Sadly the ribs tasted as if they had been stored too long in a refrigerator.
Don’t miss the Asian flavored, fresh ginger snap peas with red peppers, all sprinkled with black and white sesame seed ($11).
Without asking, a gigantic portion the white chocolate pecan bread pudding ($10) drizzled with a bourbon caramel sauce arrived with a lit candle. As we nibbled that, we ordered the dense decadent flourless chocolate cake —”La bete noir”— ($10) topped with whipped cream and drizzled with a raspberry puree.
And finally, someone came to take our photo and handed us that souvenir, too. Morton’s Grille certainly knows how to make birthday’s special, and at reasonable prices.
– bonnie
Follow @BonnieBOTB
Morton’s Grille
Gramercy/Flatiron
233 Park Avenue South,
New York, NY 10003
(212) 220-9200
I was hoping for the copycat recipe for the Morton’s steak tacos!
Have you reached out to Morton’s? They might be thrilled to provide a recipe!