Being a sports bar is kind of like being a high-school jock: It’s great while it lasts, but few make the transition to a more sophisticated level comfortably. A welcome exception is Jake’s Steakhouse, an elegant, clubby meatery across from Van Cortlandt Park. Replete with dark gleaming wood and crisp white table linens, both the casual downstairs bar-and-booths area and the more formal dining room upstairs retain the mellow affability of a local watering-hole, but add to it the polish that a football hero’s parents can only hope he’ll acquire in the Ivy League. Flavors here are strong rather than subtle, but no less well-chosen for that: Jake’s filet mignon dresses up the flavorful meat with a sharp gorgonzola topping and frizzled onions, and a hefty serving of pork chops is unexpectedly enhanced by caramelized apples in a robust Dijon sauce. Even salads offer original and tasty combinations: The brie salad mixes a hearty helping of its namesake cheese with shiitake mushrooms, pecans, and romaine in a raspberry vinaigrette. Standards like creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes are cooked to classical perfection. If there’s one thing sports fans appreciate, it’s maintaining those time-honored traditions.
— Jessica Branch
After a recent Yankee game we were craving some delicious food and thought of Jake's. Pessimistic about getting reservations on such short notice, we were able to score reservations for 7:30 on a Friday night. We headed to the restaurant and had a drink at the bar while waiting for our table to be ready. The bar staff as well as the hostess were extremely pleasant and welcoming. Once our table was ready, we were attended to by a lovely waitress who offered her suggestions as to what would be best to order. After starting with the fried calamari, we moved on to steak, creamed spinach, garlic mashed and fries. The meal lasted well over 2 hours, and at no point did we feel rushed, quite the opposite in all honesty. The food was absolutely comparable to Landmarc or Frankie & Johnnie's; the service greatly exceeds both. I will absolutely return.
For the most part, the food we tried here was not bad, but don't be fooled by reviews saying this is a NYC steakhouse in the Bronx. If you drive, arrive early: street parking is scarce and it took 20 minutes to get to the front of the valet line as there was only one mopey attendant (who, as we would see from our table upstairs, later attempted to give my car to another diner). Atmosphere is very casual, downstairs is loud and mostly bar, upstairs is quieter but sparse. Overall, much more Outback than Sparks. Service was noticeably understaffed and incredibly slow - 2 1/2 hours to get through appetizers and entrees, we didn't dare wait longer for dessert. Steaks were substantial and good, but lamb chops were gamey and almost metallic in spots. Garlic mashed and creamed spinach were good and hearty. For a local spot, a nice addition and a notch up from other restaurants in the area, so the answers below reflect what the neighborhood lacks. But for a real NY steakhouse, head down the block and hop on the #1 train.