Modelled after an all-American diner (in the most mass-market sense possible), NY Steak Shack opened this past month at a strategic spot across the corridor from McDonald's in the Mid Valley mall, roping in a beefy number of peak-hour patrons so far.
The place is conceived to be colourfully cheerful, filled with flourishes to evoke the Big Apple. Its team is hard-working & the food is considerately priced & competently prepared, but ultimately, NY Steak Shack might seem more like a shoppers' pit stop & a big-budget bid to become a commercialised chain than a genuinely rousing entry into KL's F&B scene.
Still, the steaks here are reasonable value for money; a grilled sizzling rib-eye costs RM25.90 before taxes for 150 grams & RM32.90 for 200 grams (we had the latter). Either comes with a choice of sauce (demi-glace, black pepper, button mushrooms or caramelised onions) & two sides (fries, mashed potatoes, pumpkin rice, coleslaw, corn on the cob or mixed veggies).
Texture was fair (tender, but with a nice bite nevertheless); taste-wise, a bit bland. Note: It might work better to order your steak one or two levels of doneness below your true preference, since it's still being cooked on the hot plate when it lands at the table. We ordered this blue, but by the time we sliced into it, it teetered on medium rare.
Char-grilled double beef burger (RM25.90). The patties are thick & taste pretty juicy at first bite, but the fillers in them might leave them bordering on a strange, powdery sort of moistness.
Honey-fried chicken (RM18.90), 200 grams of butterflied chicken breast marinated in pure honey, paired with mustard dressing. Sweetish, though not overly so, but this still leans toward a fast-food type of chicken.
Caramel banana milkshake (RM9.90); could be creamier & frostier. We're probably nitpicking too much over NY Steak Shack's shortcomings; it's not a bad place & it's certainly extremely far from a rip-off, but some of its recipes could benefit from tweaking. Still, it works well enough as a simple, straightforward venue for steaks, burgers & shakes; customers might leave contented.
NY Steak Shack
Lower Ground, Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. Second branch expected at Sunway Pyramid.
Lower Ground, Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. Second branch expected at Sunway Pyramid.
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