mortons vs. smith and wolensky

[yeshana]

i have an opportunity to have a gift certificate to morton's or smith and wolensky. we love porterhouse and a great vodka martini in a fine martini up glass (a must). the certificate will be for either 100 or 200 dollars (it's reward points from credit card)
who votes for what and which certificate?

[yeshana]

LOOKS LIKE SW GET'S OUR BUSINESS. TOO BAD WE'RE LIMITED TO 2 COICES. THANKS FOR ALL OF THE RESPONSES!

[vegas]

not really, b/c you can use that AmEx Rewards certificate at any of the S & W group restaurants, i.e. Cite, Maloney & Porcelli, Post House, etc.

[yeshana]

WHICH SHOULD WE GO TO? SM IS HAVING A LUNCH AND 10 WINE SPECIAL IN MID MARCH FOR 10.00 ADDED TO LUNCH BILL. WE LIKE TO EAT MIDDAY WHEN IT'S A LARGE MEAL SO THE TIMING IS GOOD. SHOULD WE GO TO ONE OF THE OTHERS INSTEAD?

[yeshana]

s&w was an awful meal. steak was ok. dinner w/o wine - just horrid salad, potato and steak only was 200.00! only decent thing was the steak- fair though! parking was a bargain- 13.00- never parked for less than 20.00 when garaging it!

[idia]

Between the two you asked about, there is no contest for me. I actually had a "bad" steak at Morton's. Maybe it was a fluke but once bitten, twice shy.
S & W has not hurt me so far. And their present TV commercials of music from Bach's Mass in Bm are superb with a logo to match!
("If steak were a religion, this would be its cathedral!")

[jfood]

What's to compare. S&W is a true steakhouse with a great steak.

Morton's has gone downhill over the last ten years and is not true to the Chicago location on the 70's. I actually left half my steak on a plate last year (first and only time i did not finish a PH is 30 years) and when the head waiter came over for the normal "how is everything?" i told him the steak was horrible. His reaction was "Thank you" and walked away. All i could do was smile at my colleagues.

I'd choose a bunch of steak places over Morton's while very few over S&W.

[bakedbeans]

Personally I think the S&W Bone In Cajun RibEye is the best steak in NYC.

[ESNY]

Of the two I'd pick S&W. At least they dry-age their steaks unlike the wet-aged mush Morton's sells.

[ChowDiva]

Morton's has one of the best dressed-up steak options I've ever had, 2 petite filets on toasts, topped w/ lump crabmeat and bernaise sauce. Sort of a filet mignon "benedict". However, if a more clean steak is your thing, I'd go to Luger's. Best steak around (IMO).

[harrison]

I prefer s&w - if you eat on the Wollensky Grill side, you're seated right by the bar and very capable bartenders.

Of course, if it's porterhouse you love, you should go to Luger.