Occidental Grill, in the Financial District, tries to capture a little old-world city style. The restaurant is dark, with plush high walled booths and a gaslamp ambiance. The bar in the front of the restaurant has a charming, dark wood "gentleman's club" feeling.

We stopped in for a late lunch. The restaurant was full, but not overly crowded. Throughout the meal, the service was the only problem. Our server ignored us on several occasions, glasses went unfilled for entirely too long, and—most disappointing—a vegetarian friend was sorely misinformed about his meal choices.

The menu
The menu is packed with American steak and seafood dishes. The Occidental's menu states "this is not a health club," and the menu shows it.

The grilled prawns with corn cakes were delicious. The prawns were butterflied and dripping with butter, served on delicious warm corn pancakes with a chile salsa and fresh guacamole.

The smoked porkchop with horseradish mashed potatoes was beautifully presented and wonderful. The porkchop is a stunning cut of meat and served juicy and hot. The menu has other dishes, such as marinated flank steak, as well as several salad choices, including the standard caesar and cobb salads.

Vegetarians not wanted
Don't bother with the Occidental if you're a vegetarian. There is one ostensibly vegetarian dish on the menu: grilled vegetable lasagna. But our friend asked the waiter for the Salad Nicoise without the tuna, hoping to get the potatoes, beans and vegetables promised on the menu.

Our friend told the waiter that he was a vegetarian, and the waiter confirmed his order and seemed to understand. However, the dish arrived with only a few leaves of lettuce.

Worse, the "drunken black beans" he ordered as a side dish were prepared with meat, which he discovered halfway through. The server should have explained the dish more thoroughly and offered other choices.

Shaken, not stirred
Occidental Grill is a good choice for meat-eating lunchtime friends, or a martini after work if you can overlook the service problems. I wouldn't bother trekking downtown to have dinner here.

If you go
Entrees at the Occidental Grill average $10-15. The restaurant has a full bar and a good wine list available. The restaurant allows cigar smoking in the bar.



Recommended: Yes

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