Nikolay Volper recently opened 212 Steakhouse with the goal of making Japanese Kobe beef and other 
high-end cuts of beef more accessible. I was invited there recently to sample the tasty offerings from his Greek executive chef Christos Kalamvokis.
I could have made a meal out of the flavorful appetizers. The unusual wild salmon ceviche ($13) combined avocado, mango, radishes, lime and jalapeño. The stack of fried zucchini ($9) are thin like chips, served with a very thin yogurt and dill sauce reminiscent of tzaziki. Don’t miss 
the hearty portion of sushi-quality grilled octopus ($24), served warm with peppers and red onions in a light vinaigrette. Also tasty is the soup ($12) made with organic spinach, Greek yogurt and chicken stock that comes with a feta-topped crostini.
The baby arugula ($14) salad with caramelized walnuts, apple slices and both Manchego and blue cheese, would have been tasty if not drowning in the vinaigrette. I suggest asking for the dressing on the side.
We sampled Kobe beef, the Japanese highly regulated meat. According to owner Nikolay Volper, 212 Steakhouse is the “only 
restaurant on the East Coast officially approved by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association from Japan to offer authentic Kobe beef.” The ribeye, strip loin and tenderloin Kobe are priced $15 per ounce, with a 3-ounce minimum. It’s so rich that I’m not sure you could eat much more than that.
If you can, I suggest the dry-aged Australian Waygu porterhouse steak ($79 for 28-ounce portion). Worth every penny! And that’s more than enough for two.
With our meats we tried the sautéed Brussels sprouts ($10) that I’d recommend; the sweet potato wedges ($10) that were a bit too undercooked and not “spicy” as menu described; and the crispy polenta fries topped with Parmesan ($12).
Save room for at least some gelato. I’d suggest the espresso with chocolate chip gelato ($3) that we sampled as a side to the runny warm molten chocolate fondant cake ($13).
– bonnie
212 Steakhouse
Midtown East
316 E 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 858-0646
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