The iconic Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse in DC was not able to answer my question at dinner and I truly wish to know the answer.
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2Since "Bone-In New York Cut Sirloin" is obviously the name of a dish on the menu of the Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse and not a standard name for a cut of beef, I don't know who should be able to answer you if not the steakhouse itself?– Tor-Einar JarnbjoNov 13, 2014 at 17:32
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2 Answers
The short answer? The bone. And here's why.
As this page shows, (the Wikipedia entry for Strip Steak), there are several name variants for the very same cut of beef. You've simply hit upon two of them, let's say. A New York Strip is a sirloin, but is generally cut from the uppermost section where, that is, the meat is most tender (aka does less work). This is called the strip loin part of the sirloin. It's my personal favorite, bone in. But that variation is known as a Kansas City Strip. This is the distinction you have made with the idea of a "Bone-In New York Cut Sirloin"
That said, the New York Strip may be cut, prepared, and served with or without bone. The presence of bone adds just one more dimension of flavor that some diner's prefer and, of some note, serves to prove that the cut came from the strip loin. More definitively, here we find
The strip steak is also known as striploin, shell steak, Delmonico, New York or Kansas City strip steak. Cut from the strip loin part of the sirloin, the strip steak consists of a muscle that does little work, and it is particularly tender. When still attached to the bone, and with a piece of the beef tenderloin also included, the strip steak becomes a T-bone steak or a Porterhouse steak. The Kansas City strip steak usually has a portion of the bone connected, whereas the New York strip steak is boneless.
Here too, we find yet other variants on the name as well as a graphic which shows where the cut is taken from
This cut has many aliases, New York steak, Kansas City steak, boneless Club steak or Ambassador steak to name a few.
Given all these nuances and variants, it's no wonder not even the surest restauranteur had for you a ready answer to this question.
[EDIT]
Having since learned that this is a Smith & Wollensky menu item, as worded, there's really no excuse for their not having been able to make for you this distinction.
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@Stephen Eure, (1)did you mean to post that comment here or to the OP? (2)an answer not expounded upon in the form of reasoning, citations, etc., comes across as a bit flip and, at minimum, provides no real room for confidence in its merits (3)funny Nov 13, 2014 at 19:03
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I posted it as what I thought was a short clarification that might simplify your answer to the OP. It did not seem relevant as an official answer since you answered the question very completely. But I wanted to make sure that the fundamental answer to the question was clear to the OP so I posted it as an addendum to your official answer. It was not posted with the intention of being flip or funny. I should have added the opinion that Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse should have been able to answer the question the OP asked. Alas, my own favorite steakhouse in DC has closed: Blackies. Nov 13, 2014 at 21:19
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Thanks to all who came to my rescue in answering this question. I called back to the restaurant and asked to speak to the chef (not indicating what I wanted to the "gatekeeper" hostess. Jim, the chef assured me the Bone-In New York Cut Sirloin on the menu is a New York Strip Steak!– MichellNov 14, 2014 at 15:24
The T-Bone steak is called the T-Bone because the bone has 2 sections in the shape of a T. One side of the T-Bone steak is the NY Strip / Kansas City Strip. The other side is a small piece of the filet mignon.
The Porterhouse steak is a T-bone, but with the full filet mignon.
