Bobby Van's Steakhouse (East 54th Street), New York

Culinarily speaking, it’s hard to find anything more classic New York City than a thick, juicy steak. Bobby Van knows that well. He opened his first restaurant in the Hamptons during the summer of ’69, and, though his storyline was nixed from the Bryan Adams hit, the brand eventually found fame as a family of grills and steakhouses now renowned throughout the city and East Coast.

The menu at each eatery opens with a selection of salads and appetizers, which may include delicate sliced tomato with buffalo mozzarella or thick cut apple wood smoked bacon. Entrees may prove to be the hardest course to decide on, with a selection that spans seafood, chicken, and a steak selection of prime aged filet and marinated skirt steak. Each space also holds a full bar stocked with spirits and wines handpicked by the sommelier.

With five locations in Manhattan, each Bobby Van’s establishment carries with it a bit of the city’s history. The restaurant on 54th Street occupies a handsome, wood-paneled dining room that was formerly a hangout for Sinatra and the Rat Pack.