What to Order at Keens Steakhouse

Keens Steakhouse (keens.com) is a Midtown institution that has been serving since 1885, as famous for its ceiling of thousands of clay pipes as for its steaks. It is a classic American chophouse where the menu rewards knowing what to order, since the signatures are specific and the portions are enormous. This guide covers the dishes worth the trip, what to know about the room, and how to actually land a table. DinnerElite tracks Keens Steakhouse and emails you the moment a table opens.

What should you order at Keens Steakhouse?

The one order everyone points to is the mutton chop, a roughly 26-ounce saddle of lamb that Keens has served since it opened in 1885. It is enormous and genuinely gamey, so it is the pick if you already love lamb and the wrong pick if you do not. For beef, the prime porterhouse for two is the classic shared centerpiece, cut from USDA prime beef that Keens dry-ages on premises. Beyond the marquee cuts, the room is quietly known for its Dover sole and, per longtime reviewers, one of the best green salads in the city. Sides run traditional steakhouse, so build around the chop or the porterhouse and add creamed spinach or hash browns for the table. The mutton chop runs around $68, per a 2026 review, so treat it as the splurge it is.

What should you know about the room at Keens?

Keens is as much a historic experience as a meal, and ordering with that in mind helps. The dining rooms are lined with pipe racks and framed history that reach back to the 1880s, which makes it a strong pick for an occasion or an out-of-town guest who wants old New York. Portions are large across the board, so a shared porterhouse or a mutton chop plus a couple of sides usually feeds two without a pile of appetizers. The pub room up front serves the full menu and is the more casual, walk-in-friendly way in if the dining rooms are booked. Come hungry and plan to linger, since this is not a rushed meal.

How do you actually get a table at Keens Steakhouse?

Keens takes reservations, and prime dinner times fill in well ahead, especially around the holidays and for large groups. The pub room up front is the friendlier option, since it serves the full menu and takes walk-ins when the dining rooms are full. When a reserved table is what you want, they move quickly once they open, which is where a cancellation alert helps. DinnerElite watches Keens Steakhouse around the clock and emails you the moment a table appears, whether from a fresh release or someone else's change of plans. We send alerts and never book automatically. The one exception is our Expert plan, where a human on our team books hard tables on your behalf. If you are chasing a steak, our roundup of 4 Charles alternatives covers the rest of the city's hard steak tables.

Frequently asked questions

What is Keens Steakhouse known for?

Its mutton chop, a roughly 26-ounce saddle of lamb it has served since 1885, plus dry-aged USDA prime steaks and a historic Midtown room lined with thousands of clay pipes. It is one of New York's oldest steakhouses.

What should you order at Keens for the first time?

If you like lamb, order the mutton chop at least once, since it is the signature. If you do not, get the prime porterhouse for two and a couple of classic steakhouse sides. The Dover sole is the non-beef pick.

Is the Keens mutton chop worth it?

It is the reason many people go, but it is a big, genuinely gamey piece of lamb, so it is worth it if you already enjoy lamb and probably too strong if you do not. It runs around $68 per a 2026 review, so it is a splurge.

Can you eat at Keens without a reservation?

Often, yes. The pub room up front serves the full menu and takes walk-ins when the dining rooms are booked, so the bar is the reliable way in on a busy night.

Does DinnerElite book the table for me?

No. We send alerts and you book the table yourself. The one exception is our Expert plan, where a human concierge books on your behalf.