Donohue’s Steak House Closes After 76 Years on Lexington Avenue

Donohue’s Steak House on Lexington Avenue poured its final drinks last weekend. The Upper East Side restaurant, which opened in 1950, ended service after 76 years. It was one of the last family-run steakhouses in the neighborhood, known for its no-frills menu and dark wood booths.

Monday morning, the front windows still bore the faded gold lettering. Regulars gathered outside, some taking photos, others swapping memories about late-night burgers and Thanksgiving dinners. The staff, many of whom had worked at Donohue’s for decades, cleared out the dining room. The last shift ended quietly, with longtime bartender Margaret O’Leary locking up just before midnight on Sunday.

Donohue’s kept its menu simple: steaks, baked potatoes, shrimp cocktail, and not much else. Prices stayed steady compared to nearby restaurants, with the sirloin holding at $38 through the spring. The crowd skewed older, with many customers living nearby. Sunday nights, the bar was often full of regulars watching the Yankees or talking politics.

The closing leaves a gap on Lexington between 64th and 65th Streets. Several new cocktail bars have opened nearby since May, but none offer the same old-school atmosphere. The Donohue family cited rising costs and changing neighborhood habits as reasons for shutting down. For many, the steakhouse represented a version of the Upper East Side that is harder to find each year.