Empire Steak House East

On our list of the best special-occasion restaurants in New York.

A former opera house that later became Versailles, the club where Edith Piaf once sang, houses Empire Steak House's East 50th Street location; the domed ceiling and acoustics carry over, keeping the dining room quieter than most steakhouses its size. Steaks are dry-aged in house for 28 days, and the Emperor's cut for two comes with sides like truffle mac and cheese and fried onions. Save room for the chocolate mousse cake with its Oreo crust. A second-floor event space, the Tomahawk Room, holds up to 175 for private parties.