The Beastie Boys and Run DMC at Vinyl Steakhouse

The other night, in one of the city’s newest dining establishments, a guest asked his server for some cream.

Not a remarkable request to overhear in a restaurant, except for what happened next. Within minutes, the whole dining room was treated to a generous serving of Cream, with an uppercase C — specifically that group’s “White Room,” from their 1968 double album “Wheels of Fire.”

Vinyl Steakhouse, in the Flatiron district, is devoted to the marriage of exquisite dining and excellent music. Coming off 19th Street, the first thing you notice, in fact, is the music. Not just the sound coming out of the Totem speakers — on this occasion, Side B of the Rolling Stones’ “Some Girls” LP — but wooden shelves lined with vintage vinyl records. Farther in, closer to the kitchen, diners sit under black-and-white photos of Debbie Harry and the Beastie Boys.

“The concept was born of the idea of having a prime steak with a bottle of Napa Cab while ‘Can't You Hear Me Knocking’ by the Stones was playing,” said Kevin Flannery, who runs the restaurant with his wife, and Vinyl Steakhouse sommelier, Sofia.

Flannery’s record collection, displayed throughout Vinyl Steakhouse and providing its soundtrack, began 20 years ago in Columbus, Ohio, where he bought his first record — ‘Slow Train Coming’ by Bob Dylan — at Johnny O’s House of Music.

The eclectic collection centers on the suitably flavorful music of the ’60s and ’70s. Your creamy spinach carbonara, topped with egg yolk, might be complemented by Creedence Clearwater Revival, while your hearty ribeye may meet its match in the hearty growl of Joe Cocker or the guitar histrionics of Jimmy Page.

As for the musical accompaniment to that luscious molten chocolate cake: the luscious sounds of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” naturally.

Sample of the Vinyl Steakhouse record collection

This is all in stark contrast to some storied New York steakhouses where, as Flannery points out, diners often eat in silence.

“People are so tired of going to a steakhouse and getting the same old routine and recipes,” he said. “At Vinyl Steakhouse we simply wash away these assumptions and make the steakhouse dining experience fun, exciting, welcoming, and rewarding.”

Vinyl Steakhouse has another connection to, shall we say, certain ’70s rock traditions: it happens to sit on the site of Magickal Childe, an occultist bookshop run by ornery New York warlock Herman Slater.

Rest assured, though: the juju, Flannery says, assuredly, is great.

Kevin, who's in charge of the music selection from night to night? What inspires the choice of record?

Sofia and I as the owners typically provide the setlist nightly ensuring it’s grounded in 1960-70s rock but contains plenty of playful high energy funk, disco, hip hop, jazz, ’80s and ’90s sprinkled in. We read the room by way of the energy levels of the night, if the guests are celebrating or conducting business, older or younger, etc. then we adapt the vibe to try and best suit the current environment.

The concept was born of the idea of having a prime steak with a bottle of Napa Cab while “Can't You Hear Me Knocking” by the Stones was playing, and all the while you were getting stunning settings, five-star service and all the wonders of fine dining. We do play the full A-side or B-side of the album we choose so we take great consideration into how the side plays in its entirety. We always try to stay in the wheelhouse of playing ’60-’70s rock as our “home base” that we always come back to — but we love to play around and play all genres. It keeps the guests guessing what next great hit full A-side or B-side is coming up next, while safely knowing rock’n’roll will be back shortly, even if we take a left turn for a side or two!

What was the vision behind the design and decor of Vinyl Steakhouse?

The design was meant to put a focus on the magic and allure of vinyl records with the vinyl library section upfront which makes you instantly know music is going to be central to the evening. The front vinyl library room is warm and welcoming and it's one of our favorite areas. Sofia and I designed the collage wall ourselves adding in eclectic band, movie and music posters that show the casual aspect of Vinyl Steakhouse while being offset with stunning marble tabletops and our copper wrapped wine and cocktail bars.

There is a giant abstract art piece by Brian Higgins adorning the wall that we commissioned and multiple vintage pieces found throughout on the shelves to make the area as thought-provoking as the vinyl sleeves can be.

As you move further into the dining room, we wanted to relax the record vibes and move into more of an Art Deco Era vibe at the bar with amber lights, lots of glass mirror elements, round globe light fixtures — in essence you are brought back in time to the era when vinyl was all you could listen to, down to the vintage bartender uniforms of the era with the arm garters.

The third and final segment of the design is an extension of the bar’s amber lighting into the dining room but a bit of a left turn to the modern world with state-of-the-art modern dangling pendant light fixtures over the dining room tables.

Two original prints from rock’n’roll photographer Ebet Roberts are on the walls of the dining room, one of the Beastie Boys with Run DMC and the other of Debbie Harry and Chris Stein from Blondie in New York in the ‘80s. These prints convey the culture of Vinyl to our guests: come as you are, be who you are and enjoy the best of a fine dining steakhouse while you do so. The custom made modern gray banquettes are a contrast to the classic red so typical of major NYC steakhouses, and the linen-less wood tables again represent a modern yet classic dining room not to be confused with a stuffy steakhouse. The tables are set with modern top of the line wine glasses and cutlery that are in a class of their own with our Year & Day stainless steel steak knives.

What would you say about the state of steak — and steakhouses — in New York City? How does Vinyl Steakhouse respond to that?

Steak is still the most iconic and classic meal in NYC. You simply cannot beat the experience of going out for a great steak in this city. I am a firm believer in the steakhouse model and I think it's the best dining experience you can find of all the cuisines and concepts out there.

My opinion on the state of steakhouses is that we are the future of steakhouses in New York City and maybe the country. People are so tired of going to a steakhouse and getting the same old routine and recipes. They mostly offer menus that have been unchallenged by great chefs, ordinary music played at an ambient level or not playing music at all — yes, many don't even play music! — a stuffy maitre'd or server wearing a bowtie to try and impress you and a dress code requirement that is from a bygone era.

At Vinyl Steakhouse we simply wash away these assumptions and make the steakhouse dining experience fun, exciting, welcoming and rewarding. Simply put we have taken the best aspects of the worthiest competitors such as Keens, Wolfgangs, Peter Luger, Gallaghers and more, and combined the best parts of those aspects with the greatest dive bars this city has to offer. The jukebox hits, the camaraderie, the warm and welcoming staff meets the best prime beef in Manhattan and some of the best cocktails and wines you can find in any steakhouse in the city. As for the namesake – steak – you have to buy the best of the best to compete here.

Vinyl Steakhouse spares no expense on this and we use a 4th generation meat cutter in business since the late 1800s to provide our beef and we dare say that it's arguably the best beef in all of New York City.