The Godfather Part Two. Toy Story Two. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Legally Blonde Two (meh not so much). All of what was listed are sequels to originals that actually was on par or better than its original counterpart. So naturally I was excited to review the brand new hotspot Chester Midtown, which is the sister restaurant to The Chester located in the uber-trendy Meatpacking district in Manhattan. Chester Midtown location is on East 33rd Street between Park and Madison. I rallied a friend of mine to dine and dish on Friday night, and was quite impressed with the results if I do say so myself.
Something that was definitely noticeable upon arrival was how spacious Chester Midtown really is. You don’t really see it at first but when the hostess took me and my friend to our table we realized the location is fantastic if you are ever planning a big party or a group dinner with friends. Service was top notch as they were consistently able to help me and my friend out and navigate what we should order. At this point in the experience, things were going swimmingly.
Now, onto the food. The food itself was spectacular and although the menu wasn’t as chock full as some other restaurants that I have reviewed, they definitely made up for it with the dishes that we were served. I am not one to drink much, however the Hellfire Cocktail is absolute great way to start the evening off, if you are into spicy types of food and drink. The added hot pepper in the drink itself really kicked it up a notch yet also had a sweet after taste that really went down easily and was quite delicious. I don’t turn down a good meatball. A versatile type of food with what you can put on it, I was very happy with the end result of their version. Theirs are slow braised and covered in Panko, Parmesan and Ricotta with a great and hearty tomato sauce to dunk in. Totally delicious.
The raw bar runs a muck, but I would always suggest going with a classic like shrimp cocktail as it is a good way to start your meal off. Chester Midtown also has a great line of Artisanal Flatbread Pizzas that come packed with a big punch of flavor. There are a couple to choose from, however I would recommend the Prosciutto Flatbread with fresh arugula on top. The combination of the leafy lettuce with the warm mozzarella bread and tasty Proscuitto is another great example of how to start your meal off right.
Onto the main courses, the Fried Chicken is one to try if you happen to like fried chicken (if you don’t, you clearly have issues). It has sweet tea brine, blistered shishitos and a yummy Thai Dressing. If that doesn’t strike your fancy, Chester Midtown has quite the unique Burger that is flavorful and then some. It comes with hanger steak, pimento cheese, miso-russian dressing on a handmade bun. Tasty as can be. They come with HUGE steak fries which are generously seasoned and are a great pairing for the burger itself. My friend had the Stout-Braised Short Ribs with parsnip, pear, beet oil and herbs. When you can cut through the meat easily, you know it will be a great dish. Boy was it ever. Between these three though, I would highly recommend the burger the most as I am a burger fiend and am always on the lookout for the next great hunk of beef.
Check out Chester Midtown yourself if you are in the midtown area. Definitely worth the visit in my opinion!
Chester’s Midtown
45 East 33rd Street (Between Park & Madison)
(212) 201-1228