Help - dinner at PJ Clarkes, no choice

[beetlebug]

So, I have a family dinner at PJClarkes tonight. I can't change the location so now I am trying for personal damage control. The reviews on the board aren't promising for either food or service.

Any better then decent food choices?

My stomach thanks you in advance.

[beetlebug]

Well, dinner was meh. I tried to keep it simple and ordered a skirt steak frites. No sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly at medium rare but it was undersalted. It just lacked flavor. The fries were ok, but not hot. The sides of sauteed spinach and button mushrooms were good. I mean, it's really hard to mess those up.

I was disappointed in the tater tots. They lacked any discernable potato flavor. The ketchup wasn't to my taste. I really liked the smoky aspect but found it a bit too sweet. The rest of the table loved the ketchup though.

Lastly, my spouse wasn't thrilled with his rockfish dish. Underseasoned and bland.

Service was fine, albeit a bit slow. There are really cool pictures on the walls of the restaurant though. But, other than that, I wouldn't rush here any time soon.

[MikeR]

Sounds like you didn't do too badly. You should have asked the waiter for a fresh batch of fries, though. I do, whenever I get a tepid order, and then they get the idea that maybe they should wait until they see the fryer unloaded before bringing me a replacement order.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention ketchup around here other than me when I praised the ketchup at Ray's Hell Burger. Tater tots? Why?

I've heard that it's a rule of thumb that plain fish isn't a very good choice at any place with a name that starts with two initials. ;)

[beetlebug]

Reading some other sites, lookalike I should stay away from the burger, french dip and Mac and cheese. The fish and chips and raw bar may be the way to go. But any advice would be appreciated.

[michael4ny]

I'm afraid I can't help you with your question but the really sad thing here is that 40 years ago P.J. Clarks in Manhattan had some of the best burgers and Home fries in the City. Even Jackie Kennedy was a regular back then.