With its deep, beefy aroma, richly marbled interior, and juicy presentation, prime rib has long been the centerpiece of holiday tables, celebratory dinners, and classic steakhouses. Many people believe the word “prime” refers to a USDA designation, but in truth, it refers to the location on the cow — the primal section, between the shoulder and the loin — from which the beef is cut. In other words, the prime rib is taken from the middle of a cluster of 13 ribs in the cow’s midsection. When served with a side of hearty mashed potatoes, it’s hard to beat. But it can also be a bit of a hassle to make at home, including deciding which type of prime rib to buy, such as the luxurious dry-aged prime rib or the standing rib roast.
Amid all this uncertainty, we suggest delegating your prime rib experience to a restaurant that knows what it’s doing, and there are certainly plenty of those in New York City. For this reason, we’ve put together a list of the best restaurants in the city where you can get good prime rib, basing our recommendations on a combination of personal experience, professional and amateur reviews, and the level of care each restaurant puts into its prime rib dishes. We looked at restaurants known for serving great food in general, those with highly skilled chefs who use fine ingredients, and the spots that put a lot of dedicated care into the texture and flavor of their prime rib.
4 Charles Prime Rib
With a name like that, it’s no surprise that 4 Charles Prime Rib has made the list of best prime rib joints in the city. While all the options on its menu — steak or otherwise — are delectable, its prime rib takes the proverbial cake. It offers four different cuts of prime rib, including a thinly sliced English cut, a thicker Chicago cut, a bone-in King cut, and the pièce de résistance, the 4 Charles Cut: Gorgonzola-aged prime rib served with horseradish cream and natural beef jus. According to many a Google reviewer, the latter two options in particular have added up to the best prime rib they’ve ever had.
Not for nothing, the place has received widespread attention from the world’s top food intelligentsia. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has given it high praise, it’s been featured in the Michelin Guide, and The New York Times often mentions it as a worthy destination. The only drawback, if there is one, is that it may take you a while to get a reservation. It’s one of the hardest tables to land in NYC, on account of its small space and the tendency of its patrons to stay awhile…