Great vid as always. If I am ever in that area again, I plan to visit Sparks myself. I am a longtime mob enthusiast who has read countless books and watched countless movies and documentaries on these guys. I have heard that Sparks does indeed offer "off the menu" rib cuts (both ribeye steak and also prime rib roast I believe) that you have to ask for. A few fun facts about Big Paul Castellano: He was trained as a butcher in his younger years, and he also owned companies that sold beef, poultry, and other meats - his meat businesses apparently provided a sizeable chunk of his substantial legit ("on the record") income. I imagine that a good portion of his sales came from customers who were made offers they couldn't refuse - and who preferred to have their signatures on those sales contracts rather than their brains. 😄 Paul knew a lot about beef, and his meal of choice at Spark's was prime rib roast - always cut from the third rib, which he believed to be the best cut in terms of flavor, tenderness, etc. As much as Paul liked dining at Sparks, he did not care for the management - he felt disrespected and insulted because they apparently never offered him so much as a complimentary drink, despite his obvious status and the fact that he spent tons of money there over many years. A nearby rival restaurant owner quipped some time after the double assassination of Paul and Tommy that if he had known that the double murder of the two would have made Sparks such a household name and tourist trap that he would have dragged their bodies over in front of his place and told the cops that they were murdered there. 😆 Much of this info comes from the fascinating book "Boss of Bosses" written by two former FBI agents not long after the murders. They had surveilled Paul for an extended period from a nearby vacant home and actually took him into custody when he was indicted in a federal case not long before he was killed. The book has been the subject of some controversy - some former Castellano associates have said that the book was disrespectful to Castellano's family for various reasons. And at least one former LE officer has claimed that the two former feds who wrote the book made some things up - such as their claims that they knocked out Paul's outside guard dogs with drugged steaks one night and disabled the mansion's alarm system in order to plant bugs. That other LE officer said that Paul's cable tv was made to act up from down the street, and an undercover agent was sent in as a cable tv repairman and planted bugs. Paul had the mansion custom built on Todt Hill in Staten Island. It is a spectacular dwelling inside and out on a corner lot that I believe is currently listed for sale.
Thanks so much for sharing! I had heard the same rumor about off menu steaks and asked for the ribeye but the waiter told me they didn’t serve it. It’s totally possible you could have different luck with a different waiter or on another day! The Gambino stuff is fascinating and it doesn’t surprise me at all that places like this with mob connections can really draw in a lot of people. Appreciate all of the info! And let us know if you’re able to get any of the off menu steaks!
I haven't been there in years! My Italian grandfather was a "limo driver" back in the day, and he had a lot of connections in NYC. He took me there when I was too young to appreciate it as I would now. I'd certainly go back just for the nostalgia!
This video was dope, back to the 10 minute videos as usual, love the longer food reviews. Hey Kristin and Will? Why don't you guys use your community tab. It really has helped me grow my channel.
Thanks! We have a hard time knowing how long the videos will come out when we’re filming. But that’s a good idea! We tried it a couple times a while back but didn’t get a ton of engagement. Now that we have a bigger audience maybe they’d do better!
If you are ever in Toronto, Canada the Keg Mansion is worth trying. It is a more affordable steakhouse chain (not by any means among the great steakhouses in the city). What they do have is nice ambiance and their accessible pricing. The Keg (formerly Massey) Mansion has a fascinating story behind it. The historic building was owned by one of the richest and most powerful families in Canada. One of the male heirs somehow got involved with one of the young servants - not sure if he attacked her. She ended up shooting and killing him. It was a shocking story at that day an age when it was unheard of for a woman to kill a man. There is a legend that many people have seen a young servant or seen the elevator open on its own.
Thank you so much! That does sound really interesting. We're actually hoping to plan a trip to Toronto and Montreal soon so we'll have to check this place out!
@@travelfuller You're welcome. I am happy to offer suggestions. Your dollar will stretch far here with the exchange rate. I recommend you come in summer or autumn. Montreal is snowy during the winter.
Before Covid, I dined at Sparks with friends. I had a medium rare filet mignon. It was one of the most tender, flavorful pieces of meat I ever had. Unfortunately, it did get very loud, and it was difficult to have your own conversation. FYI, since Covid, many NYC restaurants have condensed their menus. To compare meals in NYC restaurants before & after Covid might be unfair to the restaurant. 🤔 Thank you for your reviews. NYers love to socialize over good food. I have a suggestion. Interested in a food crawl? My friends and I (again before Covid) did a food crawl in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Vernon Blvd. Had a great time!! 👍
Thank you! I believe Sparks has had this shortened menu for a very long time, maybe even since opening. Yes we always love a good food crawl! What places did you try in Williamsburg?
Great video guys! I'm with you on their menu. It's way too limited of beef options for a steakhouse. Overall, I thought Sparks was alright, but indeed, that mob connection really has put them on the map more so than their food.
The butchers could literally pack up the steak and leave it in the freezer for a day or so and it would be "aged". Any good steakhouse does their own dry aging in house. It seems a bit shady that the restaurant would use the term aged. Generally mousse cakes cost less to make than egg filled cakes so that portion size was defiinitely too small. It also looked like an industrial cake. Plus the garnish looked a bit amateur. I was very surprised how far apart the tables were. My guess is their target market is customers who aren't necessarily looking for the best or most expensive steakhouse in the city and they pay midtown rent and other expenses by cutting some corners.
Yeah it's a bit unfortunate they are able to label things as "aged" so easily. And completely agree about the dessert. We've been here before and it's often filled with businessmen out for a corporate dinner or tourists interested in the mob ties. It probably was a fabulous steakhouse at some point but not any longer
Ok guys… i have one dinner in NYC next week…I have res at Smith & Wollensky’s, Haswksmoore and the new Michael Mina Bourbon Steak…. Which would you recommend
That’s such a difficult question! We haven’t tried Bourbon Steak yet, we’re hoping to do that one soon so we’re really not sure about that. If you’re looking for an iconic New York City steakhouse and love prime rib, Smith & Wollensky is your spot but we personally love the ambiance at Hawksmoor and for a sirloin or porterhouse we like it just a little more
I just found your channel after u left a comment on James Andrews' Sparks review, really looking forward to watching the rest of your content. You are very engaging
Ok guys… i have one dinner in NYC next week…I have res at Smith & Wollensky’s, Haswksmoore and the new Michael Mina Bourbon Steak…. Which would you recomment
Grew up in NYC, and me and everyone I know never had a desire to go there. Manhattan really lost all the great steakhouses that normal people can afford. The ones that are left are ridiculously overpriced for what you get. Mainly for tourists.
This one in particular seems very much geared towards tourists. One of our absolute favorites is St. Anselm in Brooklyn. Amazing steaks and not touristy at all
Paul Castellano appeared to be a stand up guy. He wasn't an attention seeker, he didn't like violence and he never went after innocent people and didn't use or sell drugs. He was everything that gotti wasn't.
I ate at Spark's over twenty years ago and remember the food being excellent but for a prominent NYC steakhouse, that is one of the worst menus I have ever seen. A filet and sirloin are the only options - AT A STEAKHOUSE??? Most steakhouses undercook their steaks by one level, so if you want truly medium rare you need to order it either medium or medium rare plus. I still consider both Smith & Wollensky (best prime rib anywhere, period!) and Morton's the best steakhouses.
Was the menu just filet and strip when you went the last time? We don’t fully understand what would cause them to make that decision. Especially when they’re missing some of the most popular steakhouse cuts! We went to Smith & Wollenskys for our last video and the prime rib was outstanding. We haven’t been to Morton’s in a while but are planning on trying the popular chains soon!
@@travelfuller I cannot remember that far back. It was a vendor who invited my company to their holiday party. Beer and wine flowed and it was free, which always makes everything seem better. My favorite steak is prime rib, which is very hard to find on a menu these days, which is why I strongly recommend Smith & Wollensky as the best steakhouse in NYC
There are rumors that he would order an off the menu dry aged ribeye and that you can still get one if you ask. We asked and they said it wasn't true but you never know!
Great vid as always. If I am ever in that area again, I plan to visit Sparks myself. I am a longtime mob enthusiast who has read countless books and watched countless movies and documentaries on these guys.
I have heard that Sparks does indeed offer "off the menu" rib cuts (both ribeye steak and also prime rib roast I believe) that you have to ask for.
A few fun facts about Big Paul Castellano:
He was trained as a butcher in his younger years, and he also owned companies that sold beef, poultry, and other meats - his meat businesses apparently provided a sizeable chunk of his substantial legit ("on the record") income. I imagine that a good portion of his sales came from customers who were made offers they couldn't refuse - and who preferred to have their signatures on those sales contracts rather than their brains. 😄
Paul knew a lot about beef, and his meal of choice at Spark's was prime rib roast - always cut from the third rib, which he believed to be the best cut in terms of flavor, tenderness, etc.
As much as Paul liked dining at Sparks, he did not care for the management - he felt disrespected and insulted because they apparently never offered him so much as a complimentary drink, despite his obvious status and the fact that he spent tons of money there over many years.
A nearby rival restaurant owner quipped some time after the double assassination of Paul and Tommy that if he had known that the double murder of the two would have made Sparks such a household name and tourist trap that he would have dragged their bodies over in front of his place and told the cops that they were murdered there. 😆
Much of this info comes from the fascinating book "Boss of Bosses" written by two former FBI agents not long after the murders. They had surveilled Paul for an extended period from a nearby vacant home and actually took him into custody when he was indicted in a federal case not long before he was killed. The book has been the subject of some controversy - some former Castellano associates have said that the book was disrespectful to Castellano's family for various reasons.
And at least one former LE officer has claimed that the two former feds who wrote the book made some things up - such as their claims that they knocked out Paul's outside guard dogs with drugged steaks one night and disabled the mansion's alarm system in order to plant bugs. That other LE officer said that Paul's cable tv was made to act up from down the street, and an undercover agent was sent in as a cable tv repairman and planted bugs.
Paul had the mansion custom built on Todt Hill in Staten Island. It is a spectacular dwelling inside and out on a corner lot that I believe is currently listed for sale.
Thanks so much for sharing! I had heard the same rumor about off menu steaks and asked for the ribeye but the waiter told me they didn’t serve it. It’s totally possible you could have different luck with a different waiter or on another day! The Gambino stuff is fascinating and it doesn’t surprise me at all that places like this with mob connections can really draw in a lot of people. Appreciate all of the info! And let us know if you’re able to get any of the off menu steaks!
Went to this place like 3 weeks ago, can’t forget that taste, solid steak.
One of the best steakhouses in NYC IMO. Love that place!
so happy you guys have a sponsor
Same! This one was a one off but hopefully we’ll be able to get more in the future!
I haven't been there in years! My Italian grandfather was a "limo driver" back in the day, and he had a lot of connections in NYC. He took me there when I was too young to appreciate it as I would now. I'd certainly go back just for the nostalgia!
That's amazing! Would definitely be worth the trip back
No disrespect, a limo driver is just that. If he was specifically someone’s driver that would have deeper connotations.
This video was dope, back to the 10 minute videos as usual, love the longer food reviews. Hey Kristin and Will? Why don't you guys use your community tab. It really has helped me grow my channel.
Thanks! We have a hard time knowing how long the videos will come out when we’re filming. But that’s a good idea! We tried it a couple times a while back but didn’t get a ton of engagement. Now that we have a bigger audience maybe they’d do better!
If you are ever in Toronto, Canada the Keg Mansion is worth trying. It is a more affordable steakhouse chain (not by any means among the great steakhouses in the city). What they do have is nice ambiance and their accessible pricing. The Keg (formerly Massey) Mansion has a fascinating story behind it. The historic building was owned by one of the richest and most powerful families in Canada. One of the male heirs somehow got involved with one of the young servants - not sure if he attacked her. She ended up shooting and killing him. It was a shocking story at that day an age when it was unheard of for a woman to kill a man. There is a legend that many people have seen a young servant or seen the elevator open on its own.
Thank you so much! That does sound really interesting. We're actually hoping to plan a trip to Toronto and Montreal soon so we'll have to check this place out!
@@travelfuller You're welcome. I am happy to offer suggestions. Your dollar will stretch far here with the exchange rate. I recommend you come in summer or autumn. Montreal is snowy during the winter.
Interesting
Was taken aback by that chocolate cake, $16 for a sliver of seemingly mass produced cake is crazy. Glad you guys are honest about it.
Can’t say that was worth it
Such a beautiful.interior. Great vid
I’ve been waiting for this review.
Hope you’re not disappointed! What do you think of Sparks?
Before Covid, I dined at Sparks with friends. I had a medium rare filet mignon. It was one of the most tender, flavorful pieces of meat I ever had. Unfortunately, it did get very loud, and it was difficult to have your own conversation. FYI, since Covid, many NYC restaurants have condensed their menus. To compare meals in NYC restaurants before & after Covid might be unfair to the restaurant. 🤔 Thank you for your reviews. NYers love to socialize over good food. I have a suggestion. Interested in a food crawl? My friends and I (again before Covid) did a food crawl in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Vernon Blvd. Had a great time!! 👍
Thank you! I believe Sparks has had this shortened menu for a very long time, maybe even since opening. Yes we always love a good food crawl! What places did you try in Williamsburg?
That’s dude looks like a skinny Adam Sandler
Lol I thought the same thing
Adam Sandler on crack
Thank you for the review. I recently tried Amber Steakhouse in Greenpoint and I was very impressed. Maybe a future review?
Thanks for the recommendation! We haven’t heard of it but would be happy to check it out
Great video guys! I'm with you on their menu. It's way too limited of beef options for a steakhouse. Overall, I thought Sparks was alright, but indeed, that mob connection really has put them on the map more so than their food.
Couldn’t agree more! And you were spot on with the atmosphere. The lack of music and people was a bit uncomfortable for such a huge restaurant
The butchers could literally pack up the steak and leave it in the freezer for a day or so and it would be "aged". Any good steakhouse does their own dry aging in house. It seems a bit shady that the restaurant would use the term aged. Generally mousse cakes cost less to make than egg filled cakes so that portion size was defiinitely too small. It also looked like an industrial cake. Plus the garnish looked a bit amateur. I was very surprised how far apart the tables were. My guess is their target market is customers who aren't necessarily looking for the best or most expensive steakhouse in the city and they pay midtown rent and other expenses by cutting some corners.
Yeah it's a bit unfortunate they are able to label things as "aged" so easily. And completely agree about the dessert. We've been here before and it's often filled with businessmen out for a corporate dinner or tourists interested in the mob ties. It probably was a fabulous steakhouse at some point but not any longer
Ok guys… i have one dinner in NYC next week…I have res at Smith & Wollensky’s, Haswksmoore and the new Michael Mina Bourbon Steak…. Which would you recommend
That’s such a difficult question! We haven’t tried Bourbon Steak yet, we’re hoping to do that one soon so we’re really not sure about that. If you’re looking for an iconic New York City steakhouse and love prime rib, Smith & Wollensky is your spot but we personally love the ambiance at Hawksmoor and for a sirloin or porterhouse we like it just a little more
I was kind of looking for your recommendation on which one to try please
Some are better than others for different reasons but of the two we prefer Hawksmoor
I just found your channel after u left a comment on James Andrews' Sparks review, really looking forward to watching the rest of your content. You are very engaging
@@humdumdiggdy haha we're fans of James' channel! Thanks for watching! Let us know if there are any restaurants we should check out
Food looks amazing again.
Which is it a sirloin or New York Strip, just wondering?
It’s definitely a New York Strip, not sure why it’s called Prime Sirloin
Tommy And Paul's Last Meal.I Wonder who picked up the TAB?????😋🚫👍😉
That’s the worst part! They were getting there not leaving. So they didn’t even get to eat!
Killed before they went in
@tonyparisi3975 WE will Never know what they were going to order for drinks 🍸 😒 and food and who would 🤔 pick up thr tab?????
Ok guys… i have one dinner in NYC next week…I have res at Smith & Wollensky’s, Haswksmoore and the new Michael Mina Bourbon Steak…. Which would you recomment
Keenes
I've noticed both u guys enjoy a delicious steak ... have u ever tried a tri - tip or hangar steaks ?
Yes! We’ve had hanger steaks at St. Anselm and Smith & Wollensky and both were amazing!
The sponsorship!!!! 🤩🤗🥰 wow
Grew up in NYC, and me and everyone I know never had a desire to go there.
Manhattan really lost all the great steakhouses that normal people can afford. The ones that are left are ridiculously overpriced for what you get. Mainly for tourists.
This one in particular seems very much geared towards tourists. One of our absolute favorites is St. Anselm in Brooklyn. Amazing steaks and not touristy at all
WHAT THE HELL ARE UA-camRS DOINF ON THAT KIND OF RESTAURANT 😮 GOTTI IS REVOLVING ON HIS GRAVE
Johnny Carson said Castelano ordered the steak but he should have had duck.
This actually made us laugh out loud!
Paul Castellano appeared to be a stand up guy. He wasn't an attention seeker, he didn't like violence and he never went after innocent people and didn't use or sell drugs. He was everything that gotti wasn't.
I ate at Spark's over twenty years ago and remember the food being excellent but for a prominent NYC steakhouse, that is one of the worst menus I have ever seen. A filet and sirloin are the only options - AT A STEAKHOUSE??? Most steakhouses undercook their steaks by one level, so if you want truly medium rare you need to order it either medium or medium rare plus. I still consider both Smith & Wollensky (best prime rib anywhere, period!) and Morton's the best steakhouses.
Was the menu just filet and strip when you went the last time? We don’t fully understand what would cause them to make that decision. Especially when they’re missing some of the most popular steakhouse cuts! We went to Smith & Wollenskys for our last video and the prime rib was outstanding. We haven’t been to Morton’s in a while but are planning on trying the popular chains soon!
@@travelfuller I cannot remember that far back. It was a vendor who invited my company to their holiday party. Beer and wine flowed and it was free, which always makes everything seem better. My favorite steak is prime rib, which is very hard to find on a menu these days, which is why I strongly recommend Smith & Wollensky as the best steakhouse in NYC
Bobby Vans in midtown was pretty good a few years ago
Baddest-ass Steakhouse in the country
Is it really bad when i went here i wore a expensive dark suit and got a uber black to the resturant 😅
That’s hilarious!
I see that Sparks features the vocal fry as well.
lol it seems to always be on the menu
Let’s not forget the up talk. 😜
We’re working on it!
I wish 🤞 I had your JOB L O L😂😅❤
Same! Maybe this can be our job one day
Great vid as always, but that bag! Would be A great gift to a girlfriend.
Haha yes! Kristin was stoked about this sponsorship
Sparks not dry aged? That’s what paulie got killed over ? 😂
There are rumors that he would order an off the menu dry aged ribeye and that you can still get one if you ask. We asked and they said it wasn't true but you never know!
You should team up with UA!
Yuck. UA is a joke. Way too amateurish.
That would be a lot of fun! And James Andrews!
James Andrews - yes. UA - no.
UA is a good guy. Very honest reviews
“The prime sirloin is a New York strip.” What does that mean? 🤔
We’re really not sure why they call it that but I can tell you for sure, what they call a Prime Sirloin in the menu is actually New York Strip
🥩 😍👌🏼
They look like brother and sister with the exact same nose.
You look beautiful in this video.