Quality Eats, located in the West Village, is a different take on a steakhouse – from the location to the food, everything seems to have been reimagined and given a modern spin. Throughout every course, I found interesting food that was also comforting and familiar – quite a successful combination. This place is also super affordable for what you’re getting. All of the steaks are under $30. I don’t know where else you can find those prices and get the level of sophistication you’ll find here. It’s also especially worth talking about the desserts, which mostly consist of Instagram hype-worthy ice cream sundaes, that really do taste as good as they look. Overall, it’s a fun and indulgent meal that seems fitting for both a special occasion, as well as a nice date night. There’s something super approachable about this place that doesn’t detract from it also being special. I left the meal feeling really excited about and even “high” off of both the food and the experience. I felt compelled to plan out an immediate return.
Grilled Nueske’s Bacon: A plate of grilled Nueske’s bacon, typical to the kind you’d find at other steakhouses, but then turned on it’s head once you add peanut butter and jalapeño jelly. The combination of salty, sweet and heat is truly incredible and indulgent. I couldn’t stop eating this. It’s definitely one of the must-order items on the menu.
Crab & Avocado: Jumbo lump crab with cilantro and citrus fruits over an avocado mousse. This is one of the lighter items that I had, and it was fresh, acidic and just delicious. As you can see you get nice chunks of crab and fruit in the dish, and it all comes together for a really nice refreshing bite.
Grilled Octopus: This is grilled octopus with rice beans and beluga lentils. Though one could easily be distracted with the steak on the menu, this might be the best octopus I’ve ever had (or at least it’s up there). It’s perfectly cooked and flavored. The beans/lentil mixture is incredible and texturally pairs well with the octopus. This is an excellent option if you’re not feeling a steak.
The Don Ameche: I don’t even know how to begin to describe the perfection of this dish. Here you have slices of filet cooked to your preference atop pieces of chicken liver mousse toast and grilled onions, with a balsamic-dressed arugula side salad. It’s totally rich and indulgent, and just really f-ing good – and for $29? Yes please.
Cacio E Pepe Orzo (left), Creamed Spinach Hush Puppies (right)
Haricots Verts (green beans)
Baked Potato Monkey Bread
All of the sides were delicious. I particularly liked the cacio e pepe orzo, which was like a sophisticated mac and cheese, and the creamed spinach hush puppies, which weren’t actually hush puppy-like, but were just delicious creamy fried spinach balls. The green beans were a nice, standard veggie to have on the table. Though the baked potato monkey bread was good (and looks amazing), I felt it could have had more flavor. It was a bit bland and chewy, and just didn’t totally do it for me.
Gingerbread Man (top): Apple butter ice cream, cinnamon-molasses cake, gingerbread village people
Birthday Cake (right): Chocolate malt ice cream, confetti cake, vanilla icing
This Sh*t Is Bananas (bottom): Roasted banana ice cream, peanut butter caramel, candied bacon, cinnamon toast
S’More (left): Burnt marshmallow ice cream, graham cracker shortbread, fudge swirls
I often feel like over-the-top desserts at restaurants get Instagram points for looks, but never taste as good as you’d hope. All four ice cream sundaes break that mold. They look good, they taste better, and you’d be a fool to skip out on ordering one of them. I love ice cream, and these were all amazing.
Quality Eats: 19 Greenwich Avenue, New York, NY ($$-$$$)
