Mrs. J’s Sacred Cow is one of those classic, slightly theatrical New York neighborhood restaurants that pops up in memories and ephemera from mid-20th century into the 1990s.

Quick snapshot

* Mrs. J’s Sacred Cow was a longtime Upper West Side steakhouse (often cited at addresses on or near West 72nd Street). It was established around 1947 and remained a neighborhood fixture into the 1980s–1990s. ([Daytonian in Manhattan][1], [Flashbak][2])

* It was known as a steak-and-chops place — steaks, ribs, lobster and similar “classic” fare — and frequently described as having a lively, social vibe. ([Daytonian in Manhattan][1], [West Side Rag][3])

* One of the restaurant’s more memorable features in recollections and ads was live, showy service: singing waiters/waitresses and a bit of cabaret/entertainment (the basement reportedly housed a cabaret space). ([Daytonian in Manhattan][1], [West Side Rag][4])

* Mrs. J’s has become a collectible subject — matchbooks, menus and photos from the place turn up on auction sites and in local nostalgia pieces, which is how a lot of the public record survives.