Keens Steakhouse has stood tall on 72 W. 36th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue since the original owner Albert Keen opened up the restaurant in 1885. It’s Manhattan’s second oldest steakhouse, Old Homestead is the oldest. It was originally called, Keen’s English Chop House, later shortened to Keen’s Steakhouse.
They have a fabulous bar there and they serve a special dish there that I absolutely love.
Let’s head on over to the Garment District and have a dinner and a few drinks and a Tuesday night dinner at the bar in Keen’s Steakhouse.
——
Bar Number 145: Keens Steakhouse, Wednesday June 16, 2026
Here we are at Keens Steakhouse on a lovely evening in the Garment District in New York City…but we won’t be entering through these doors…
We’re going over here, to the bar of course!
And it’s through these doors that we will enter!
Okay, here’s the story…I came in here over an hour ago around 7:45pm and the bar was completely packed, so I went to an Irish bar across the street and figured it would calm down in a half an hour or so. Came back around 8:20pm, still jammed! Back to the Irish bar and now it’s going on 9pm and it’s still packed to the rafters in here! They close at 10:30pm, so the clock is ticking!
Even the seats opposite the bar are completely filled up…are we going to have to eat at that stupid Irish bar? That would be a true disappointment that would be hard to bounce back from!
Just as I walked to the back of the bar, a guy paid his bill, got up and I grabbed his stool…uh, I guess, “I grabbed his seat,” sounds better!
Either way, we’re seated at Keens bar, I placed my order with the bartender and all is well for the evening! I didn’t get a photo of the bartender because he’s completely slammed. I’ll just take a few photos in here until our dinner gets here…because, hey, that’s what I do.
There’s the back of the bar and as you can see, it’s a very well stocked bar!
This painting, titled, Miss Keens is the focal point of the back of the bar wall. It’s been hanging in here for decades and I’ve probably spent hours gazing at it through the years and my many stops in here.
Hello, Miss Keens, wonderful to see you once again! You’re looking lovely, as always!
I found a fantastic essay on Miss Keens by artist and writer, Patricia Watwood. Click on this link to read it: Who Painted Miss Keens.
Check out Patricia’s website right here: Patricia Watwood.
A stationary ceiling fan hangs overhead beneath a classic tin ceiling.
Meanwhile, back at my prized seat at the still packed bar, it looks like dinner is just about to arrive…
And there it is in all of its meat, potato and fried egg glory: The Keens Prime Rib Hash, served only in the pub.
I discovered this decades ago and it’s one of my favorite meals in all of New York City. If you come to New York, you have to stop by Keens bar and order this. It’s truly a work of edible art.
I can’t possibly describe the symphony of glorious flavors that dance on your tastebuds as you take bite after bite of this heavenly hash! I haven’t had it in years and this is a fabulous moment in time!
Read more about it here and if you’d like to try attempt this at home, here’s the recipe.
What a wonderous meal and it was certainly worth the wait! Thank you Keens Steakhouse!
——
The Drinks
I had a trifecta of Budweisers during my time at Keens Steakhouse.