When most people head to a baseball game, they expect to fill up on concession-stand hot dogs or a bucket of popcorn, washed down with an overpriced beer.
However, during a recent visit to Citi Field, I skipped the concession stands and booked a reservation at Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House, the full-service steakhouse tucked inside the ballpark.
The meal cost far more than the typical game-day fare, but it also offered an experience that felt worlds away from eating in the stadium seats.
“We’re slinging chicken tenders, and we have to make sure the hot dogs are good,” Citi Field senior executive chef Jason Eksterowicz told Business Insider.
“Those items are what keep the lights on,” he said. “But this menu really separates us from the rest of the pack.”
From a $215 dry-aged Tomahawk steak to white-napkin service, here’s what it was like to trade a classic baseball dinner for one of the most upscale meals you can have at a Major League ballpark.
Portions of the meal were provided by Pat Lafrieda’s Chophouse, while Business Insider paid for the remaining items and the gratuity.
Pat Lafrieda’s Chop House is inside the Clover Club, an exclusive, premium seating area at Citi Field.
The full-service restaurant is located inside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda near the main entrance, making it easy to visit before first pitch.
I booked a reservation at Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House on a recent gameday in early July. Reservations can be made online through OpenTable or by calling the restaurant.
It’s only open to premium ticket holders, including those with access to the Delta Sky 360 Club, Clover Suites, Hyundai Club, Metropolitan Platinum, Gold, and Silver, plus Field Gold and Silver seat holders.
Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House is run by one of New York’s most famous butchers.
The steakhouse is operated by Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, a family-owned company that has supplied premium beef to New York restaurants for generations and has partnered with Citi Field for years.
My reservation fell during the game, so I was curious to see whether one of the ballpark’s most upscale dining experiences would actually be worth the price, and missing the game in person.
Walking in, it felt much more like a Manhattan steakhouse than a sports venue.
The dark wooden tables were set with cloth napkins, place settings, and wine glasses, creating an elegant atmosphere.
It was brighter than many steakhouses I’ve dined at, but it still felt upscale compared to other dining options inside the stadium.
Thankfully, I could still keep up with the game while I ate.
Televisions throughout the restaurant made it easy to follow every inning while enjoying dinner. Unlike at a traditional concession stand, I never felt like I had to rush through my meal to miss the action.
The slower pace made the experience feel more like dinner at a restaurant than grabbing food during a baseball game. It struck a nice balance between fine dining and game-day excitement.
The menu featured classic steakhouse favorites.
The menu featured dry-aged steaks, seafood, salads, burgers, and appetizers, along with an extensive wine list.
Although there were plenty of familiar steakhouse dishes, there were also lighter options for anyone not looking to order a massive steak, like sandwiches and salads.
Prices were significantly higher than traditional stadium food, but comparable to those at upscale steakhouses in New York City. I appreciated that there was something for nearly every appetite.
I started with one of the Mets’ signature cocktails.
Before ordering dinner, I tried one of the restaurant’s themed cocktails: the Queens Quencher ($27.89), served in a souvenir Mets glass and made with blue curaçao.
It was refreshing, lightly sweet, and a fun way to lean into the ballpark atmosphere.
While the drink was certainly priced like stadium food, it helped make the meal feel like a special occasion. If you’re already splurging on dinner, I’d recommend starting with a cocktail.
My server also started me off with some complimentary popcorn before I ordered.
Instead of bread, servers brought out bowls of freshly popped popcorn to snack on before the meal arrived.
It was a clever nod to classic baseball food while still feeling a bit more elevated than concession-stand popcorn. The popcorn was buttery, surprisingly addictive, and immediately reminded me that I was still dining inside a ballpark in a fun, but not corny, way.
The chopped salad was fresh and satisfying.
To start my meal, I ordered the chopped salad ($20), which was prepared with gorgonzola cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, plum tomatoes, red onion, and blue-cheese ranch dressing.
It was a simple salad done well.
Every bite had a little bit of everything, making it flavorful without feeling heavy. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the dressing was well-balanced. It was a refreshing way to begin what would be a very rich meal.
My only complaint was that the salad was a little too wet for my tastes — but, if you’re a fan of dressing, this might be right up your alley.
The crispy rice with tuna was one of my favorite dishes.
Typically available on the restaurant’s dinner menu, the crispy rice ($28) came with tuna tartare, avocado, spicy mayo, candied lemon, and scallions.
Each piece was beautifully plated and packed with flavor, despite its small size.
This appetizer felt like something I’d expect to find at a trendy sushi restaurant rather than inside a baseball stadium. Of everything I tried before the steak, the crispy rice impressed me the most.
The tuna was unbelievably fresh, the spicy mayo packed the right amount of kick, and the dish came together nearly flawlessly.
I thought the rice cakes could have been a bit crispier. The consistency was closer to flattened balls of sticky rice than to crispy rice.
The Tomahawk steak was the star of the meal.
For my entrée, the restaurant brought out its unbelievably massive Tomahawk steak for two ($215), one of its signature dishes.
It arrived beautifully presented with a deep crust on the outside and a perfectly pink center. The beef was rich, juicy, and incredibly tender, making it clear why Pat LaFrieda has built such a strong reputation among steak lovers in New York City and beyond.
Although it was expensive, it lived up to its price tag.
When it came down to flavor, I was blown away.
The steak had a thick, peppery crust that gave way to melt-in-your-mouth medium-rare meat. Paired with chimichurri sauce and caramelized onions, this meal was a far cry from anything I’ve ever eaten at a stadium before.
This meal reminded me more of a Vegas resort than a baseball stadium. According to Chef Eksterowicz, that’s intentional.
“This stadium is designed more along the lines of a resort,” Eksterowicz, who spent much of his career at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas before joining Citi Field in 2017, told me.
“Instead of a big pool, it’s a baseball field.”
The Tomahawk would easily feed two or even three people, especially with appetizers and sides.
Ordering it family-style is probably the best value if you’re dining with a group. While the price is steep, splitting the cost makes the experience much more approachable.
For one of the most memorable meals you can have at Citi Field, the price didn’t seem too outlandish to me.
My Pat Lafrieda steakhouse dinner changed how I think about ballpark food.
After dinner, I understood why Citi Field has earned a reputation for having some of the best food in Major League Baseball.
While Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House is far more expensive than grabbing a hot dog in the concourse, it delivers a genuinely upscale dining experience that still lets you enjoy the game in a more relaxed setting, without the need for a black-tie dress code or over-the-top presentation.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, attending a game with colleagues or clients, or simply want to splurge while at Citi Field, I think it’s one of the most unusual ways to experience the stadium.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post I ate at Pat Lafrieda’s Chop House at Citi Field. It was expensive, but a far cry from the typical baseball-game hot dog. appeared first on Business Insider.
