The Press Club Grill

 

LET’S GO TO PRESS!!  On the east border of Greeley Square, just a couple of blocks from Macy’s, you’ll find The Press Club Grill, a swanky, yet unpretentious restaurant and bar that harkens back to the Mad Men days.  One would almost expect to find Jimmy Breslin hunched over the elegant bar, or Walter Winchell doing a live broadcast from the private dining room upstairs.  Period murals above the banquettes, a vintage-look black and white tile floor, and tiny lamps with red lampshades on each table, complete the yesteryear look and feel.  Appropriately, The Press Club Grill is situated in an area which was once the home of New York’s major periodicals, including The NY Times, the NY Herald, and the NY Tribune, making it a most appropriate location.  And the food from Chef Franklin Becker makes dining at PCG an experience that’s not to be missed!

This was our second visit to The Press Club Grill and once again, it did not disappoint!  We began with two of their signature cocktails; the Martinique for me - made with a three-rum blend, Grand Marnier, lemon, grenadine and an absinthe wash.  I found it had a nice combination of sweet and tart, with spiced rum helping provide balance.  Vincent had the Diamond District, made with bourbon, cherry whiskey and lemon bitters.  This one was quite bourbon forward but had lovely, citrusy undertones.  And lastly, our server treated us to the special cocktail of the night; the Frosé.  Essentially a rosé wine slush, it was livened up by a good dose of watermelon-basil vodka!  Neither Vincent nor I enjoy wine, but the Frosé was fabulous!

Our appetizers were all absolutely wonderful; from the unctuously beefy Steak Tartare - the high quality of the beef was evident from the first bite - to the super fresh Tuna Tartare, where the tuna was the star, but complemented beautifully by the herbs, onion, basil and other accompaniments.  And lastly, the Summertime in New York, which brought to mind a variation on a Caprese salad, with cucumber, ricotta, tomato and watermelon - was summery, herbaceous and showcased a gorgeous presentation!  A real stunner!

Pressing on…(See what I did there?!)…our main courses arrived next.  I had chosen the Sea Scallops.  Served with corn, pancetta and cockles, the scallops themselves were cooked perfectly, with a beautiful caramelization, and the flavors of the corn and pancetta complemented the sweetness of the golden brown mollusks, proving that Chef Becker understands balanced flavors.  Vincent had ordered the Steak Diane Burger.  Topped with caramelized onions, a truffle relish, and Fontina and Gruyère cheeses, the burger was tender, unbelievably juicy, and decadently satisfying!  Even the steak fries that came with it, were hearty and masterfully fried - not greasy at all!  Oh, and the side of Creamed Spinach, made with béchamel and Parmesan cheese was rich and

luscious!

We were both fairly stuffed at this point, but one of the desserts called out to me!  The Popsicle!  This was an actual house-made ice cream bar, combining apricot sorbet and  jasmine tea ice cream, all enrobed in a Dulce de Leche shell!  OMG!  The sorbet gave it a tart, fruity zing, which was then offset nicely by the ice cream, which provided a subtle floral balance.  And that Dulce chocolate shell just brought the flavors together making each bite a delight!  Seriously, they should package these and sell them in specialty gourmet shops!  If they did, I’d be in big trouble!  As it turned out, Vincent’s birthday was approaching, and although he hadn’t planned on dessert, our server brought him a little ice cream cupcake with a candle in it!  Sweet!  And yummy!

At the moment, The Press Club Grill is something of a hidden gem.  I say this because they’re around the corner from the entrance to the Martinique Hotel, which is undergoing renovations. Because of this, one of those ubiquitous sidewalk sheds surrounds much of that corner and slightly masks the restaurant’s entrance. But make your way past all of that and travel back in time with expertly mixed cocktails, sumptuous cuisine from a master chef, and friendly, efficient service from a staff who clearly understand the food they’re presenting!  STOP THE PRESS!  Take it from me, The Press Club Grill is im-Press-ive!