Bar Brief: Desmond's Steak House

No, this isn't a steakhouse owned by Desmond from "Lost." It does have a bar. Should you go to it?

• Location: Midtown West, Manhattan
• Designation: steakhouse that has a bar in it
• Whisky selection ??? probably not great?
• Average to high prices for Manhattan

While we understand that this is a steakhouse, the goal is to review the bar for whisky drinkers. This is difficult when there is no spirits list... and the bottles are not arranged in any particular way on the bar and are scattered... and the staff is not helpful. We saw maybe four Scotch bottles and another four American whiskies randomly tucked away on shelves. To be fair, there may be hidden bottles.

There are some whiskies in there somewhere.

Full disclosure: we visited Desmond's using our NYC Good Whiskey Passports. This means we were drinking for "free," so there's a possibility that our service was affected by this (being that it was not so great). I'd certainly like to think that the size of our drams were affected, because if they give that little to "real" customers, it should not cost money. We did not elect to have more drinks, but guessing based on the cocktail menu, drinks are expensive.

You would be forgiven for thinking there was nothing in this glass. In fact, this represents the full pour. The bartender told us he was giving us less because it was "strong." How considerate.

Yes, the place was marble everywhere, waiters in coats, live piano etc etc. But that does not mean that you should be lousy to participants in a program that you elected to join. Why did you even join?

Should you go here to drink whisky? Maybe if you are old, have the appearance of being rich, like steak, are using your company account, and have a very limited taste in whisky. So probably not.

Rating: recommend x0.

"I give this spot a thumbs down. I'm on the fence with it, any bar with an old woman playing Frank Sinatra on piano is so classy and so foreign to me, that I just assume it's awesome and that I'm not awesome enough to 'get it.'"  - Evan

"This one is a no go from me--at least as a whiskey bar--for all of the reasons you gents stated above. I will add that the one redeeming thing from our visit was I found a place in Midtown that has $1 oysters (if you can get them).  Also, in looking at their menu I will mention that their brunch menu has a surprising number of vegetarian options and they have bottomless drinks.  Just sayin'."  - Greg

"The service made it very clear that this was not a place for me, and I'm inclined to agree as a result."  - Quinn 

Website: http://www.desmondssteakhouse.com 
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/desmonds-steakhouse-new-york

Get to there: 156 West 38th Street New York, NY 10018