Second Feature @MansionNYC The Mansion Restaurant Since 1945 by Owner Phil Philips and Executive Chef and Owner John Philips #1634YorkAvenue #UpperEastSide
Owners Phil Philips and John Philips, second and third generation of The Mansion Restaurant!
Peachy really loved the Broiled Salmon Salad
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know the Philips family of The Mansion Restaurant in the absolute best part of town, the Upper East Side. In 1931, the late John Philips came to the USA from Cyprus, Greece and began The Mansion Restaurant in 1954 diagonally across 86th Street and York Avenue from where it is today. He married his waitress, Dora, a first-generation German American born in the USA in 1913 and you can meet their son Phil today! We were delighted to be greeted by Phil as soon as we arrived and we worked with his son and co-owner and Executive Chef, John Philips. Previously, they were first featured on Whom You Know in 2011 and we were thrilled to return. The commitment to quality cuisine, the friendly atmosphere and the amazing history are all huge reasons why you should go to The Mansion Restaurant.
We began with the Caesar Salad: fresh romaine well-cut joins croutons and their homemade caesar dressing correctly made with raw egg in the fine tradition of a Caesar Salad. We asked to add anchovies and they did.
We count nearly 20 Salads on their menu and this quantity really shows up all competition.
Note some places don't offer protein combinations to add to your salad.
Note some places only offer grilled chicken or shrimp.
Note some places only offer grilled chicken or shrimp.
The best places offer around four or five protein choices to add to your salad.
Looking at this menu, we count OVER A DOZEN PROTEIN CHOICES!!! Yay!
Everyone that really knows Peachy knows of her strong commitment to BEC (pig bacon, egg and cheese). But when in Rome....John tells us that the Philip (Dad, second generation) and John's (son, third generation) Favorite Breakfast Sandwich is a popular kiddo here:
With a croissant sourced from Ceci Cela bakery on Spring Street, two eggs scrambled with white cheddar fabulously rejoice with Canadian Bacon to make your day, even you Clint.
Speaking of which, The Mansion Restaurant has a strong acting resume and has appeared in two seasons of Only Murders in the Building, and Gossip Girl as well. The Burger Section is also well-populated: meet The Mansion Burger! We really liked the sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms and mozzarella that joined the party.
Rounding out our enchantment with the House Specialty Salads this visit, please meet the Dorean Salad above and the Broiled Salmon Salad, below. The Mansion Restaurant is patronized by they approximate 90 percent locals, and many dishes are actually named after people they know. We don't know Dorean but we agree with her signature salad choice of warm mozzarella (obviously one of our most favorite vegetables), tomato, outstandingly delicious roasted peppers, pesto and fresh basil. This red base really sets it apart and it achieves the different without being ridiculous. Many places overemphasize trends and being different and in the course of doing so, sacrifice quality. Not here.
The Broiled Salmon of 12oz sourced from the North Atlantic and grilled to a perfect medium perches upon uberfresh mixed greens and we were thrilled with the combination and quality. Vegetables are sourced daily here we are told.
Of course, they listened to Ms. Pretty Picky and put the dressing on the side.
Triple Decker Clubs are gorgeously assembled and we chose the Egg Salad (across the board, their eggs are terrific) and Bacon (of course, from a pig) on Panne Casa bread. You can tell that they use the very best Hellmann's and they added just a little more for Peachy and it's perfection with the Mariah cured bacon which is most flavorful and not at all smoky. We are very big fans of Fish and Chips given our Irish and English background both genetically and residentially and John's Fish and Chips are truly spectacular. Every two days North Atlantic Haddock arrives to revel in fish fry flour batter which is lighter and fresher and of course it like everything else on the menu is made to order. There are around 200 menu items.
Open from 6am to midnight seven days a week where you can have anything from the menu at any time, The Mansion Restaurant has been located at 1634 York Avenue at East 86th since the 1950's and we really like all their patriotism too. 109 seats are inside while 60 are outside, and 20 to 50 menu item specials change four times a year. They do use many local purveyors.
Finally, the Spinach Pie boasts a lot of fantastic spinach and has a 10/90 Ricotta/Feta ratio. We thought the dill, onions and scallions sauteed in Greek Olive Oil were a tremendous addition.
It's the founder John Philips's Cyprian recipe and we are sure he is smiling down proudly today upstairs hanging out with our pal Ed maybe at the counter up there.
Finally, the super competitive The Mansion Restaurant has a Sautee Section that also puts the competition to shame in quantity with around 18 choices. Decisive Peachy chose something she doesn't see anywhere else: Chicken Michelle. Michelle lives upstairs. Semolina pasta is a revelation in cream sauce teaming up with a perfect ratio of scallions and mushrooms and sauteed chicken breast.
The Mansion Restaurant impressed us on our second visit and we look forward to seeing what they do next! Our X followers should note especially that they are on this, X is something ALL restaurants should be on!
