Trying to keep the restaurant reviews on BiteoftheBest fresh keeps me from developing relationships with neighborhood haunts as I don’t return that often to local places. One of my upper east side friends shared her favorite local place, Donoghue’s Steak House, a midtown institution with devout regulars.

Donoghue’s is a neighborhood place you know about, not one you discover visiting their website. There isn’t one. It’s been around since 1950, offering good, fresh pub food.  It also was featured on Billions — season three, fourth episode on Showtime —  when some of the show’s characters met at this locale to decide how to handle one of the other characters.

My friend had the loaded with cheese and bacon crispy potato skins ($12) and a house green salad topped with shredded carrots and grape tomatoes ($10). I indulged in their lobster roll  ($36.95) listed on the blackboard special, especially after our waitress Maureen explained that the salad is made fresh from the lobsters that they purchase live.  I chose their steak fries over coleslaw.  I also learned that Donoghue’s fries them fresh instead of holding them under lights. I liked that — and enjoyed my sandwich.

I’ll return for sure.

Donohue’s Steak House
Upper East Side
845 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10065
(212) 744-0938