Sparks Steakhouse: The Greatest Steakhouse in Manhattan, New York!

Sparks Steakhouse, a mid-town Manhattan eatery renowned for its prime cuts of choice beef, large, succulent lobsters, and expansive wine list, has been a popular New York City attraction since its opening in 1977. Located at 210 E. 46th street in downtown Manhattan, Sparks has a trendy, upbeat atmosphere, expansive dining area, and attentive staff. Although Manhattan has no shortage of restaurants and steakhouses, it was Sparks that was named "The Greatest Steakhouse in Manhattan" by the New York Post. A meat lover's paradise, the meat selection and quality is what put Sparks on the map. Sparks boasts tender cuts of prime sirloin, juicy fillet mignon, and extra thick veal chops as some of its more popular meat dishes. And for the seafood lover, in addition to the tender cuts of halibut and sea bass, Sparks has some of the biggest and most succulent broiled lobsters in all of New York, which range anywhere from 3-pounds to nearly 6-pounds!

Located in the swanky downtown Manhattan area, a stone's throw away from the United Nations building, Sparks is a favored dining spot for the many foreign dignitaries and consulates visiting the New York area. And more than a few lucky diners have rubbed elbows with an occasional celebrity or two feasting on a prime cut of Sparks' beef. Regardless of the dinner clientele, it's the quality of the food and the atmosphere that keep the seats and tables at Sparks full. With its mahogany-paneled walls adorned with a collection of fine pastoral paintings, its brightly adorned dining area, and the hustle and bustle of busy wait staff scurrying about, Sparks is the stereotypical classic New York steakhouse. And the wine list is one of the biggest of any New York steakhouse.

With one of the largest wine cellars of any restaurant in New York City, Sparks' wine list is exceptionally varied. With a huge selection of choices that vary both in vintage and in price, there are several excellent Bordeaux's and Cabernet's that sell for under $50 per bottle. Sparks also has a huge selection of more vintage and costly big-ticket bottles that are sure to please even the pickiest wine fancier. Whether you are looking for a top-of-the-line vintage bottle of wine or a good tasting yet cost effective bottle, Sparks is sure to meet your needs. With such a large and varied wine selection, Sparks has won the coveted "Grand Award" from Wine Spectator Magazine every year since 1981. And in addition to the great food, atmosphere and wine, Sparks will always have the sinister designation of having an unwritten menu option that nobody wants: The Paul Castellano Special!

The Paul Castellano special, as it turned out, was a meal that never got ordered. Sparks was the site of one of the highest-profile Mafia assassinations to ever occur in the sordid history of the Italian Mafia. For it was at Sparks, on the fateful night of December 16, 1985, that "Big" Paul Castellano, the Gambino Godfather, and his protege and driver, Tommy Billotti, were gunned down right outside the front entrance to Sparks Steakhouse. In what was to be a leisurely dinner between Castellano and his "associates" turned out to be the last supper that wasn't. Paul, who fancied himself a bit of a meat connoisseur, believed that the beef at Sparks was second-to-none. And he was no doubt looking forward to conducting his "business" while enjoying a thick, juicy steak. But it was not to be. And Sparks, forever after, will always be associated with the spectacular Mob slaying of Paul Castellano, and the "Paul Castellano Special" is a sort of inside joke and ode to the high-profile slaying. And that's unfortunate. The majority of Sparks' patrons are honest, law-abiding citizens, and the fact that a major crime boss was a big fan of the food at Sparks should not diminish the standing and appeal of Sparks Steakhouse, the quintessential New York steakhouse that has earned its ranking as the number #1 steakhouse in Manhattan!