Why, at Del Frisco's in Rockefeller Center, the secret ingredient isn't the aged beef – it's the vault dining room.

To the outside world, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in Midtown Manhattan is known as a carnivore's canteen, where every weeknight, the glass-wrapped dining room teems with festive young folks in pinstripe suits set loose from the office buildings surrounding it. But just steps below, in a former bank vault–turned–wine cellar, lies one of New York's best-kept secrets: Del Frisco's spectacular, wood-paneled private dining room.

With space for 80, the long rectangular chamber evokes a cellar theme with its rough stone floor, arched ceiling and soft, neutral lighting. These days the old vault's currency is in liquid form -- some 15,000 wine bottles displayed behind glass in cedar racks. The rarefied setting has proven a perfect spot for post-deal meals recently hosted by nearby investment banks JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and UBS.

What makes the steakhouse a prime choice for dealmakers looking for a unique venue? Its versatility. "Companies usually have sit-down dinners here," says Scott Gould, Del Frisco's general manager. "But sometimes they want to have a more casual event, like a walk-around, meet-and-greet wine tasting, and we can do that, too."

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