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Category: Steakhouses [Edit]
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South SideMarcy Ave (J, M, Z)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 12:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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talk about OUTRAGEOUS!!! This steak is the absolute BEST. It's tender, juicy, and delicious. I had it with side dishes of creamed spinach and German potatoes. The creamed spinach is great . The German potatoes are very tasty.
DESERTS.......... I was full, but I just had to have the 'HOLY COW SUNDAE. I ate it all it was so good.
Service was good, ambiance was appropriate.
I'll definitely be going back.
Be sure to try the Canadian bacon, great appetizer
I'm a little scared I'll be struck by lightening for giving Peter Luger -the Godfather of steakhouses- anything less than 5 stars. I'm even questioning it myself. But if I'm honestly writing about the experience, I have to give 4 stars for only one reason: the steak.
That's correct... the bread, bacon, tomato and onion salad, creamed spinach, German potatoes, onion rings, cheesecake, AND ice cream sundae were all insanely good (highlights: spinach, bacon, onion rings). The steak sauce is unique and tasty. The service was surly, yet somehow appropriate. Our table was great. We only had to wait 5 minutes for our reservation. But the steak -the coup de grace- was not my favorite.
We had one steak for 3, prepared MR. It was enormous and cut into pieces (as I had been expecting). What surprised me was the range in quality from piece to piece. Everyone got at least one great piece from the steak, but many were fatty, slightly tough, and markedly worse than the good pieces.
It could be a matter of taste... I usually order leaner steaks... but I have enough confidence in my palate to detect and appreciate all well prepared cuts of meat. I don't eat Kobe ribeye and spit it out crying, "Eeek! Too fatty!" There's good fat and bad fat. The pieces no one wanted were most definitely bad fat.
Speaking of fat... in case you can't get enough in your diet, they also ladle the rendered beef fat on top of your steak as they're serving you. Wouldn't want to miss out on that liquid gold!
Onto desserts: Cheesecake and ice cream sundae were awesome. If you actually have room for dessert, I'm impressed. None of us had room- we MADE room. Because that's what a real food lover does, baby! Prepare yourself mentally for the food coma of ages.
(Note to the ladies: don't wear your Herve Leger bandage dress. Trust me.)
You have to eat here. I think it's on the Top 100 things to try before you die. Whether or not you come back is up to you. 4 out of 5 doctors would recommend only trying it once... maybe twice if immediately followed by Lipitor and a marathon.
Really? Do I have to write a review? I mean.. c'mon, it's PETER LUGERS!!!
Yes, it's in a dodgy neighborhood, but if you can't handle it, don't come, it'll open up reservations for me & my tummy =)
#1 thing you MUST try is their bacon. 1 slice per bacon lover. My bf and I shared one, and I was eying his half the whole time.
Porterhouse for 2 comes sizzling hot in it's own grease and they cut it for you before it comes to your table and serve you the first piece.
Reservations are a must, a month in advance for dinner, a couple weeks for lunch/late afternoon meals. 2:45 was a good time to go, not too much of a wait, and we were done in time for a little shopping before our 8pm show on Broadway.
As everyone has said before, they only take cash and peter luger cards. About $150~$175 for 2.
Oh, did I mention the Peter Luger chocolate coins? yum yum.
Kat approved!
What's all the hype about?? I gotta say I was not impressed -
The location is in a neighborhood just a bit too scary for me to have a girls night out at this place. I made the mistake, and wound up with a bad case of the paranoids... what was that, who's there?? ...ack!!
The decoration is beyond outdated, its just plain lazy.
And lastly, I've actually tasted better steak on a good day at Outback... seriously. Nuff said.
How do you sum up the feeling of satisfaction where at the end of the dinner, you just prop your seat back and rest your two coupled hands on your now (2 notches on the belt loosened) belly while you let out deep breaths.
It is kind of comforting yet disturbing at the same time how a long historical steakhouse (where the ownership has changed frequently) that the place is so dressed down and family oriented, yet its priced pretty up there. Makes one wonder.
Regardless of the rugged service, and slapping the meat in a tin plate right dab in the middle, it just beckons for the animal inside us to tear up this porterhouse like savages. The porterhouse is their popular cut, and interestingly, its the cut that has one large side of the New York Strip and a small side of the filet mignon, both very tasty. When we told them meduim rare, it came out perfectly with a red center, often very difficult to cook due to the bone.
And the Peter lugers sauce (I still think its ketchup and jam) goes on everything, like anything you can see on the table deserves a slab of that good sauce. I had ordered the beefy tomatoes and onions, but realized it was just big cuts of raw tomato and onion.......slab on that sauce and it was all good.
I don't know if its because I rarely order porterhouse, but for this specific cut here, I am a fan.
I've lived around the corver from this famous steakhouse for 2 years. Just absorbing all of the amazing feedback from others experiences. Finally, my boyfriend and I found the perfect excuse to go, which was to celebrate a promotion.
The verdict: 100% DISSAPOINTED!!!
I'm a foodie, but to me that menas he whole package of a restaurant. This place had GOOD steak. Not GREAT, not the BEST but just plain GOOD.
But eveything else was AWFUL. The ambience is not appetizing, its so damn bright in there that I started countinmg the pores on peoples faces. The service, wait what service???? We were never offered drinks, or even brought any tap water, the waiter just walked over and looked at us like"ok, so what do you want" I spent so much money here and it was not worth a dime. I will never ever return. Sorry Mr. Lugar.
Two days before running the NY marathon, my husband was binging for carbs and protein so we decided to have dinner here.
Granted, the reservation was made a month in advance, so we were pretty excited. I was especially excited because despite living in NYC for 5 years, I never had the chance to go until now!
Well, the steak was good but truth be told, I WAS NOT WOWED. We asked for the steak medium rare, but it was seriously dripping red, and most of the center next to the bone was raw. I don't know about you folks, but medium pinkish red I can do, this I had a very hard time swallowing.
My husband (who always orders med rare) completely agreed. The sides were okay. The tomatoes and onions were a nice fresh veggie complement to our meal, but only after mixing it with the steak sauce.
We had the PL signature wine. Full Bodied and a good pairing. The waiter kept pressing us to order the spinach and potatoes and practically just put the order in himself. Spinach was good, but I'd pass on the potatoes.
I wanted to be impressed but unfortunately just found it to be good. I'd definitely prefer Maestros, Cut, or Lawrys..... 3.5 stars!
Meat thrown on the table as though we were eating in a prison.
The meat was cut into bite size pieces, I have not had anyone cut my meat since I was a baby, truly bizarre!
We could have bought an entire cow, and had it butchered, for the price.
What else can I say about LUGER'S? Its possibly the best steak house ever. hands down. Bar none. Porterhouse, T Bone, Rib Eye, Fillet, all so wonderful. Lamb too! The serve a kick butt creamed spinach as well. A German style fried potato, onion rings A fantastic wine list and full bar, naturally.
Save room for the dessert menu. Cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, tarts, pies, and ice cream.
Bring plenty of cash, though- Mr. Luger accepts no credit cards, with the exception of his own.
I'm generally not a huge fan of red meat but....this place brings out the carnivore in me!
Hands down the best steak I've EVER had!
No fancy decor or impressive ambiance - just delicious, melt-in-your-mouth steak. So juicy, tender, and buttery....
They are famous for their Luger Porterhouse and thick-sliced bacon.
You'll need to make reservations up to 6 weeks in advance...
And don't forget - it's cash only here!
Went here with some friends from out of town and my expectations were sky high with this place. As everybody knows this place is the best steak house in the city and most likely the world.
We began our meal with the bacon. We ordered 6 slices of bacon. Truly an amazing app! I would highly recommend getting them "well done" as we weren't aware of this and received some bacon that was a little on the rarer side then what we would have preferred.
We had the porterhouse for 2 done medium rare. The steaks were large and cut up and ready to be served. The meat was the best steak i've ever had. The meat was perfectly prepared and both the filet mignon and sirloin sides were both tender and delicious. The steaks arrived sizzling in the plate and were both just perfect.
We also ordered creamed spinach, fries and the German potatoes. All sides were excellent.
I would have to say that I have eaten at some of the finer steak houses in the country and this is one of the finest and best. Its surprises me that the place itself isn't redone to update it or make it more swanky. The place is very unassuming and very normal. I guess when you serve the meat like this you could have a picnic table and people would be ok. This is again the best I've ever had and my VERY high expectations were met well. I would like to point out though that to say this is the greatest by far is misleading. Is it great, yes, is it the best, yes. However a great steak at another place is just slightly below this place.
Another awesome thing to add is that they have a FREE Parking lot across the street. That's pretty impressive especially in city to be able to drive in and park for free. We actually went in the early afternoon, parked here and then took a taxi into the city and were able to park here all day for free. Not a bad option for your parking needs.
It's been a month since I ate here and I am still fantasizing about going back. I've ordered the steak sauce just to try and hold me over until I can get back there.
Let me break this down...
Either I have to go back and move every other 5 star rating of a steakhouse to 4 stars, or Yelp needs to give us a 6th Star to add on.
From the beginning, you enter this steakhouse and observe the wooden bar on the left. Sit there and order a martini or a bourbon drink. No cosmos, no margarita, no cranberry... just get a real drink and show some respect. Once we sat, our waiter took our drink order and was actually a bit more friendly than I expected. He was no frills, just business, so maybe some folks who expect servers to completely kiss their ass and wipe up after them would consider him rude, but I liked it.
Everything is amazing here. By all means, order plenty of the bacon appetizer. It's by the slice and it runs about $3-4 each slice, but the slices are like ham steaks. The beefsteak tomatoes are great as well. As a mid course, we ordered some lamb chops. These were outstanding, but not necessary.
Now for the steak... okay, you can order steak for 2, 3, or 4 people. These are T-bone cuts, and the house specialty. Get them. Depending on how much you and your friends/family can eat, a steak for 2 can easily feed 3 in my opinion (especially after the apps). Same goes for 3 or 4 person steaks. They are not cheap either. They also serve a ribeye cut, but we did not have enough people to order one of those as well. Next time I will try.
The steaks come out on large plates, pre sliced for your convenience. They place them on top of a saucer so the plate tips to one side. This allows the juices to run down one side, and you can spoon them over the steak on your plate. The taste was amazing. Those who don't realize this do not have the palate for prime aged beef. You can taste the fact that this beef is raised with care, fed a special diet, and has not been laying around or transported for months before cooking. It is dry aged on site and amazingly flavorful. I can't compare this to Kobe, it's just not fair, but compared to all other traditional beef (and cattle diets) this is by far the best.
And do not be ashamed to use their steak sauce. It goes with EVERYTHING and it's amazing stuff.
The sides are great as well. Very solid creamed spinach and the Luger potatoes are perfect. Yes, the sauce goes with them as well :)
Lastly, dessert was off the hook. I don't do dessert too often... I like one small bite of chocolate to leave a sweet taste, but get the apple strudel with "schlage". It's fantastic.
All in all, this place was worth the wait, and worth the crazy calls in order to get a reservation on my birthday. I will surely go back and hopefully take my brother some time. I recommend going with at least 4 people so everyone gets to share some good stuff. Enjoy!
I wish there was something special to say about this restaurant experience. I can not.
I have been looking forward to Lugers for YEARS. And maybe therein lies the problem. Too much expectation...not enough follow through.
The food was better than average. But when you're thinking it will be amazing, "better than average" doesn't really cut it.
I can say that their bacon itself was worth the cab ride over the bridge. Everything else... not so much. :(
Food = C+
Service = B+
Atmosphere = D+
Overall = C
So this year turned out to be yet another boring Halloween for me which is why im writing this review of Peter Luger's tonight, after checking it out with the guys a few hours ago, as opposed to going crazy in the city right now haha.
First and foremost, let me say that the atmosphere seems to be a bit misconceived, judging from the other reviews. Some people make it seem like a hole in the wall, which it is not. The Scene is an Old fashioned Country style setting which gives the place a comfy feeling to go with the bustling atmosphere. Its not the latest swanky lounge by any means, but from my experience it was classy enough and had a relatively elegant crowd.
On to the food.... there isnt an abundance of options here so we skipped right over the appetizers and went straight for the meat. There was four of us and 3 people wanted their steak medium-well. I was the loner that wanted it Medium Rare. As we were placing our orders, the waiter recommended that we get the Steak for two because it was alot better then the Single Steak. Given that this was our first visit we heeded the advice and went with the Steak for four. Unfortunately that meant that i was automatically bunched into the medium-well group.
....and thats exactly why im giving Peter Luger's a 5 star rating. Even though i had the Medium Well, the steak was pretty much perfect and i can only imagine how much better it would be how i wanted it done. the Subtle hint of flavor added by their specialty steak sauce puts it over the top and is what really seperates it from the other top steaks in NY.
The Sides are simple but effective... good creamed spinash, german fried potatoes, fresh vegetables, etc. Certainly not the best sides you can find but they serve their purposed by being very well made and light enough to not overpower the Steak.
There are alot more fancy Steakhouses in NY with more selection, bigger menus, better bars, better decoration etc. But Peter Luger's is a simple place where you can taste years of mastering and perfection.
Their porterhouse was just fine. No seasonings. Only beef. Cooked medium, the center was buttery, and you couldn't taste or feel the grain. My verdict is that the steak was great, but not amazing. Try the creamed spinach (magically creamy without any obvious traces of cream) and the smoked bacon (very different than the kind of bacon you have at breakfast) was thick, smoky, fatty and delicious. I was disappointed by their bread, but let's face it: you don't come to Peter Luger's for the bread, or anything else besides the meat for that matter.
Porterhouse steak for 6 people, plus 1/2 a bottle of red wine and one order each of German fried potatoes and creamed spinach came out to about $70 person (including tax and tip). We each had more than our fill.
They do prefer cash only, but you may pay with debit (the server said they rarely split the bill more than 2 ways on debit cards so bring cash if you have a large party and plan to "split" the bill). Although the place was VERY busy on a Sunday night (our reservation was for 7:45PM), we were promptly seated, served, etc. AND they were perfectly okay with us splitting the bill between 2 debit cards and a pile of cash. Stay classy PL!
Clear why they have 1 Michelin star vs. having 2 or 3. Again, great steak, just not AMAZING.
Anybody that says Luger's is less than 5 stars needs to learn about steak a little bit more. This isn't Outback people. This steakhouse is all about the meat. Not the seasoning. Not the ambiance. Not that apple martini that you asked for but never got, cause the waiter smacked you at the back of your head.
This is Aged Prime meat at it's best. Simply cooked. Simply seasoned. Simply FUCKING phenomenal.
Don't be upset if the waiter looks at you unforgivingly because you ordered your protein medium well to well done.
This isn't for you if you like your protein with lots of Montreal Steak Seasoning....drowning in A1 sauce.
This isn't for everybody. And that's ok. Taste is relative.
But if you must insist on going, order rare, medium-rare, or medium ONLY. If you don't know the reasoning why....go ask somebody BIOTCH! And make sure you order the creamed spinach side. Yum Yum!
Otherwise, don't you dare make one negative comment about their meat on your review. Punk!
i had to save luger for my 300th. it was just too perfect of a bday dinner not to.
have you ever had a group of friends who have another friend that you've never met and they go on and on about how funny he is and how "you 2 would get along so well! your senses of humor are exactly the same. i can't wait to get you two in the same room. it's going to be amazing!"? and when you finally met this friend you're completely unimpressed by their sense of humor which in turn makes you question your sense of humor and frankly how your "friends" perceive you. ever had that?
peter luger was nothing like that. i'd heard, over and over, for years how great peter was. how delicious peter was. how absolutely earth shattering the steak was and how the sides were just as special.
and he is.
that big, perfectly medium rare piece of meat that Mike (our Turkish now Brooklynite waiter) slapped down on the table was probably THE best steak i've ever put in my mouth. they cook the house aged meat in a salamander and the result looks charred to hell...the bone still kinda smoking on the plate...but inside the meat is perfectly aged and intensely flavorful. just simple, perfect steak.
the sliced tomato appetizer was a great start, however it was early November so i'm sure they weren't the best tomatoes they've ever served. the creamed spinach was delectable and the hash brown type potatoes were good but i think we should have opted for a baked potato ...a classic steakhouse side.
the service was efficient and gruffly old school. the atmosphere was about the same. but you and i both know that ain't why you go to peter luger.
visit peter sometime...you two are so much alike...you'll get along famously.
While I'm loyal to Manhattan's Old Homestead as having the best steak in NYC, I have to admit Peter Luger cooks up some good meats (though this is in Brooklyn, so the prize still goes to OH. Yes, I'm a city-snob. Your mailing address doesn't say 'New York, NY'? You do not live in the city).
This is not a place to wow your date or have a happy hour, or even to have conversation while you have dinner. This is a place where you sit at one of the wooden tables, place your order, and eat your meat. Period. I swore I heard the cow moo in the backroom before they brought out my steak, it's that fresh. I can definitely appreciate the no-frills approach to cooking their meats - the steak is delicious without any excessive amounts of spices/sauces added.
Remember to bring your cash, I don't think they take any other kind of payment - they are truly old-school like that.
Interesting. Not what I expected, but decent. I think I'll stick to the filet cut from now on no matter what and just avoid steakhouses like this that don't offer it :-) (I'm, a filet snob hahah)
Look, it wasn't bad, there is a "experience factor" indeed but if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a steak .... Not straying from Ruth Chris again.
Peter Luger's porterhouse steak, medium rare, with a side of creamed spinach and a glass of red wine . . . or the kind of mind-blowing sex that leaves you lightheaded and walking funny for hours after?
Hands down, no contest, Peter Luger's.
Best steak of my life. The Mortons and Ruth's Chrises will never be able to compare. If there's ever a reason to live in Brooklyn, this is it. (Sorry, people, I watch Gossip Girl, okay?)
So good I topped it off with a cigarette on the walk back to the subway, and I'm not even a smoker.
Best steak in the whole country so far. The old wooden floor and matching tables made it feel like we were eating in a barn.
I had a lot of expectations for this place. I heard RAVE reviews from one of my best friends. That being said, the meat was good but not the best I have had. Try Chophouse in Chicago.
Anyways, I think the meat was a bit tough and hard to chew. The spinach and potatoes were delish as sides. And I liked the gold chocolate coins they gave us at the end of the meal.
Don't expect good service- they are busy!!
Been to both Peter L's. The one in Brooklyn I would give a 3, the one in Garden City I would give a 4. Worth a trip if you've never been but not a calendar place holder if you know what I mean
If you want to clog your arteries fast this is the place to do it!
I stuffed myself silly with the steak (medium) and bacon (and I normally don't like bacon!).
Let me say - that was not bacon I ate...that was pork heaven!
the steak itself is to DIE for! All the oily buttery goodness..
OH
MY
GAWD!
Spinach and potato also wonderfully delicious! I had the potato w/ the Peter Luger sauce and it was sooo yum!
can I tell you that I had leftovers (shocker of shockers) and had the steak the next day. I was disappointed to find that they didn't drench the doggy bag (yes folks...they place leftovers in an actual BAG) with the butter-y goodness from the plate.
After nuking - more oil and butter ooozed from the meat and I was once again swimming in artery-clogging heaven!
IT TASTED JUST AS GOOD! IF NOT BETTER!!!!
NOTE: do not waste your stomach space with the bread! I know you get hungry - as I did - but you will regret not having enough space to finish all the meat!
Unless you want to take back a doggy bag and re-live the wonderful meat experience all over again from the comforts of your kitchen...then by all means chow down everything you see!
I went here yesterday for the first time, for a bachelor party. We had about 20 guys, and were attended to by about 5 waiters. The bachelor's brother, clearly a wise man, hooked it all up such that we didn't even order anything.
Only two questions pertaining to the menu were asked by the wait staff. 1: Does anyone not eat pork? 2: How do you like your steak? Given that information, they left the table, returning with our drinks and some bread. The start of an hour-long cavalcade of delectability the likes of which will, if we're lucky, stay in our arteries for decades. Food just started coming to the table, ably placed between our greedy, starved, cow-craving selves.
First came the shrimp cocktails... Monstrous shrimp,just the right blend of crisp, meaty, and shrimpaliscious. On the heels of the shrimp came tomato/onion plates. I'm not a fan of raw onion as an appetizer, I'm not sure who is, but the tomatoes were huge and delicious, so I had two.
Next, the bacon. Man, if you like bacon, you do not want to die without trying the bacon at Peter Lugers. Thick, chewy, still sizzling, slightly burned (in all the right places). The kind of bacon that requires 2 forks - use one to eat, one to fend off whoever is sitting next to you.
Then came the main attraction. Huge double-sized sliced racks of porterhouse steak, oozing with juices, which were collecting at either end of the plates, somehow still boiling . Five mammoth plates consisting of about 30 thick pink slices of beef each... and these weren't your gramma's slices, it took 4 bites to eat one. The steak came with creamed spinach, impeccably prepared, and hash browns, which were also on the spot, the perfect mix between medium-sized chewy chunks and small crispy shards.
After all of this, we weren't done. They had 6 or 7 choices of desserts - I went for the pecan pie, although the apple strudel was also calling in my ear. Along with the desserts came two humongous bowls filled with schlog, their insane German whipped cream. I could have bathed in it. I think a few of the guys actually did.
Yup, it was a total schlogfest.
I think in every review I write, I wish I could give half-stars. C'mon Yelp! In this case, the reason I do not give this 5-stars is as follows:
- the steak sauce is way overrated. It is basically just cocktail sauce with a little bbq sauce in it. I wasn't a fan, it was way better on the shrimp than on the steak.
- they had no hot sauce except tabasco. BIG FAIL.
- no oysters. yes, I know, Germany isn't really known for their oysters, but I expect great steakhouses to have them, and hey, tabasco isn't German and they had it, so, they coulda had oysters.
The best food ever! I've always wanted to come here, but you HAVE to know someone to get it!! Period. I mean you can wait 6 months for ridiculous reservations or get a hook up. Anyways, I had the latter and as soon as we walked in the bar area was packed and we gave our names. Within 30 seconds we were seated. I gave this 5 stars because of the food, not because of their ethic. They tell you only 2/3 times available to eat because the dining room is empty!!!! Then at 5:30 and 10:30 they fill the dining room so you don't see the trick. They want you to buy drinks at the bar for your 3 hour wait. I got dirty looks from the mob standing in the lobby all night. Not my fault, but seriously...it's worth it!!! Besides the shady practice, the food was to die for. Put this on your things to do before you die list in the top 10. The steak was ordered for 2 medium. It was a little overdone, but still somehow perfect. We had the humongous shrimp cocktail, creamed spinach and apple something with the heavenly homemade whipped cream called slough I think?! Anyways I practically rolled out of there. The bill I'm sure was about $300. We each had 3 drinks! Worth the wait. The look of the place had a fancy masculine older feel. Kinda like your lawyer Dads office? Anyways call your NY friend to get you in and enjoy!
One of the best steaks I've eaten and definitely one of the most expensive meals ever! I grew up spending many summers in Argentina, justly known for some of the best meat in the world. I have to tip my hat to Peter Luger's steak! It is an experience that you will never forget because it tastes amazing and it will cost you! Don't expect: a nice place, wonderful service, nor choices on the menu. What's for dinner?? Steak...and a couple of side dishes! Enjoy!!
I feel this place is waaaay overhyped! Delicious steak? Yes! And now I get what people mean when they review it as a "man" steak. Its just steak! and it tastes like you just killed the cow and tossed it onto the grill.... or at least thats what I think it would taste like if thats what happened. It has the most "gamey" taste I have ever eaten in a steak and it tasted just as good when I got it back to California. Perfectly seared, thick and tender! The german potatoes are pretty damn good too! Overall this place has delivered but people have given it more credit than it deserves but i would probably not visit again unless I was passing through.
Prior to Peters, I went to a steakhouse which was closer to where we were staying in Manhattan. Benjamin Steakhouse which is apparently a restaurant which was stared by one of Peter Lugers previous Chefs. Benjamins has a lot of similarities with Peters from the dress code to the menu and to the way they serve thier steak.... but the Steak and even the German Potatoes at Benajmins are hands down better than Peter Lugers and they take credit!! Thats a whole other review though.
What's the hype? The steak is mediocre to say the least. The sides are better. The staffs are friendly but the service is something else...And all this uncalled for attitude at the receptionist's desk is unwelcoming!!
Been there,done that - never again...
Step right up and spin the Peter Luger Burger Roulette Wheel for your chance at getting anything but what you wanted!
I'm sorry, my table must've stuttered. When we all said "Medium Rare", you must've thought we meant "Surprise us!". Surely, that's why my dining companion to the left had a well done burger, yet the one on the plate to my right sprouted out red juices. By a stroke of luck, mine was actually medium rare.
A 1/2 lb burger for $8.99 is not a bad lunch deal, especially if you consider the quality of the meat. So slather on the Peter Luger sauce to rescue the otherwise mild tasting beef patty, and order a bunch of sides to give your taste buds a rest. The fries, giant thick slices of bacon, and creamed spinach all got nods of approval around the table. Finish the meal with a Schlag-laden sundae for that warm and happy feeling that can only come after consuming massive amounts of meat and sugar.
Let's face, how can I possibly re-phrase what so many yelpers have already said more eloquently? Peter Luger porterhouse is one of a kind!
Some people say if you get the one for two, you get better cuts than the "steak for four". Some say steak for three is a good choice. I'll say it'll be slightly different every time, and it will be absolutely amazing every time!
A few notes on a Sept visit:
The manager and wait staff are actually very nice and recently accommodated our group despite being late for the reservation (we basically got there at closing time, but with good reason...!)
I wasn't too impressed with the creamed spinach side, but that's completely trivial.
Two very drunk, older businessman had accidentally swallowed a set of loudspeakers with their steak and were shouting at the top of their lungs, but again, I could not be paid to care.
Steak:5
Sides:4
Service:4.5
Atmosphere:4
Justification of claim to fame: 100%
Honestly, I feel really cool that I finally went to Peter Lugers. I took my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday (what better way to show love than NY's best steak and bacon).
I tried to make reservations 3 weeks before for a Monday night and they were all booked! I freaked out, but then I kept calling and on that day was able to get 9:45 reservations. I was very skeptical but was shocked that when we got there, sure enough, the place was packed. Literally every table was sat. We were sat right away too, 9:45 on the dot, but I wouldn't underestimate the reservation thing even though some people on here have said you don't need them.
Our waiter was SO nice! He asked if it was our first time there and gave us menus and when over them with us (there are like 5 things on the menu). He told us what was worth ordering and not worth ordering. My boyfriend wanted his steak rare and I wanted it medium, and our waiter even said it would be ok to order the steak for 2. I was worried, but when the steak came out he worked it like magic! He served my boyfriend first (asked me if it was okay, HA!) and then "cooked" my pieces on the sizzling hot parts of the plate until they were medium! Amazing.
We also got some pieces of bacon, broccoli, and potatoes.
Best steak I've ever eaten, hands down. I only eat red meat on very special occasions (I just don't like it that much) and I will gladly eat here again anytime.
Lastly, Peter Lugers is super casual. There were some people dressed nicely (like me, because it was a "special" occasion), but there were lots of guys in hats and shorts and flipflops. Its VERY bright and loud in there, sort of reminds me of a cafeteria. No need to dress up.
It's not like I can say anything new about Peter Luger. Ignore all bad reviews based on service; attitude is a requirement to work there. And who cares: it's all about the meat. I've been for steak a few times. It's been a while but the heavenly smell of the sizzling steak when it arrives at your table is memorable enough to feed my steak dreams for life. If you offered to wrap me up in that steak and bury me in it, I wouldn't put up a fight.
And I finally tried the burger the other day. Holy. Cheeseburger. Batman. It was even brought home for me after sitting in a car for an hour and it was still a religious experience. Any burger purist would agree that the meat itself is simply the best in the city. Cooked just right (medium rare), juicy but not greasy, perfect meat-to-cheese ratio, and ideally substantial, not soggy bun. Whether they even offer toppings I don't know but it's irrelevant - this burger needs nothing but to be on a plate in front of my loving eyes.
My favorite steak place EVER! The sauce they use is amazing. I have been here several times and it is always amazing. It does not go unnoticed, by me that there are ALL MALE servers, though. Get with the times people! It is also cash only, so you better come here stacked! The T-Bone is the only cut anyone should ever order here. All the sides were also very good. You leave here full and appreciative for the effort. I will return again, my precious!
Cows want to be served here.
I could hear its last breaths in my medium rare steak,
"Heaven for you and for me"
Every side is just what I want next to my steak: creamed spinach, fries, onion rings, sliced tomato/ onion and THICK JUICY BACON.
I have been here twice in my life. The first time I was 10 and came with the family and ate like a king. I remember the big bowl of shlag (incredible fresh delicious whip cream) was something you wanted to put your head in. The second time was today- a Saturday; the only day they sell burgers, which I found good but nothing really impressive. What I was still impressed with was the decor, staff, the sides, the shlag and my steak.
I think next time, I want shlag on my steak and an ambulance home so I can lay down all the way home.
Why did he put us in front of restroom twice???
I thought over and over but can't find the reason. I'm a tourist and my younger brother has lived here in NY since last year. As I can't visit him very often, at this time, he wanted to treat me to something special and took me the steak house last weekend saying that it's number one steak house in NY.
He mad a reservation a week ago and when we arrived there at 12:45, there were a lot of empty tables. As a waiter took us a table right in front of restroom, I tried to disregard thundering flushing sound behind me but I can't. So, my brother asked a manager to change our table and he did.
However, I was so shocked to know that it was in front of another restroom. Untill we finished our lunch there, there were still a lot of empty tables around us. I really wanted to protest but I didn't do so, as my brother did not want to make any noise and I did not want to hurt him. I just still can't believe how mean they could be to us.
The steak and even pecan pie were good and waiters' service was not bad but their special consideration for our table allocation was enough to blow up every good impression about the restaurant.
** DISCLAIMER: This review is for the burger and sides only! I love the steak and have already given it plenty of praise in my review of the Long Island branch. **
As part of Tony C's merry band of food pornographers (so described by Ms. Joolie T), I was looking forward to biting into what has been said is the best burger in the city. The interior was lovely, our table was round, and eight stomachs sat empty. So is the setup for the story to follow.
Almost everyone at the table got the burger. One soul ordered a steak. We shall not speak of the steak, since that story has been told before. I think everyone ordered their burger medium rare, but what came from the kitchen was a crap shoot. (I'm in no way referring to their burgers as poop, just using the vernacular.) Some people got medium rare, others got medium. Already, there was a feeling of uncertainty in the air as we dug into our burgers.
Mine was a lucky medium rare but the salt must have run away with the pepper because there was no basic seasoning to be had in my burger. I was incredulous. I also couldn't get over the fact that although it was medium rare, it was dry. The steak sauce didn't help since the bun absorbed every drop of it. I chewed through the half pounder like a trooper, but I was not loving it. The saving grace were the sides, which I already knew were excellent. Due to the cholesterol bombs that awaited us, three of us shared the bacon and creamed spinach. Still excellent. The sundae was a decadent, but satisfying ending to the meal. I could've done without the sprinkling of gold chocolate coins on the table by our exuberant waiter. My inner kiddie, having been denied an excellent burger, was not in the mood for cheesy.
A note to the management at Peter Luger - please take your burger off the menu or else work on putting some flavor into it. Thanks.
I've heard great things about it by ways of fellow burger connoisseurs. Friends and family members have mentioned it to me. I've even read about its greatness through the Internet!!
And yet, others have shunned the very idea of.., going to Peter Luger's for a Hamburger! Naysayers would retort, "When you go to Peter Luger's, you don't look at the menu, you order a steak, some sides, and nothing else..."
I've been to Peter Luger's, and I've tried their signature dish. It's ok.
This time around I returned with an ensemble.., consisting of some of the most diversified and discerning palates around.
We had high expectations for Peter Luger's Burger.
This is the premier chophouse around serving dry-aged beef. Their burger must be good... And, it was good. However, it wasn't great.
We all ordered med-rare. And, the burgers were churned out to us in the range of med-rare, medium, to medium-done.
I tasted some nice beefiness in there, that is, when the bun wasn't over-powering the patty with its sweet/corny flavor. And, the bun was too chewy... Plus, the bun-to-patty ratio was totally off. There wasn't enough patty meat, or there was too much bun. As another guest mentioned.., "This tastes bland; seems like they forgot the salt & pepper.." I agree. Furthermore, it was missing a good amount of exterior char, and a great deal of internal juiciness. So, that's what prevents a burger from being great.
The overall experience of enjoying a meal at Peter Luger's though was spectacular. It's everything you expect from the best steak house in town. The hostess was extremely accommodating to our tardy group that kept on shrinking in size. Our waiter was snarky, helpful, and more importantly tactful about his snarkiness.
The fries were thick-cut, crispy, and flavorful. The Creamed-spinach was oh-so-creamy. The Ice Cream Sundae was orgasmic. And, the Thick-cut Bacon?.., the bacon stole the show; best dish!
overated.
ever since i stepped out of ponderosa (do they even exist still?) and outback steakhouse and came into the world of higher end steakhouses... i've always heard that i MUST try peter luger's in brooklyn. just like how madison square garden is the mecca of basketball... peter luger steak house is the mecca of steaks.
sadly... it did not meet up to that title... not even close.
to start off... we ordered the luger's sizzling bacon which is extra thick and by the slice. this was the best part of the meal. i should have ordered 10 more slices if i'd known what the steak was going to taste like. for the main course we had the dinner for 4... which is basically 2 of their porterhouses. it comes out in a large hot skillet and all cut up ready to eat. i didn't like that because it cooled the steak faster. the meat quality is good but it had absolutely no flavor. maybe that's why they have the luger's special sauce. but even with that i didn't like it. it tasted like cocktail sauce... not something you want to compliment your steak with. our sides were creamed spinach and german fried potatoes. creamed spinach didn't have enough cream and the german fried potatoes was a glorified hash brown. nothing special about both.
come on ny... i know you can do better steaks than this.
Visit Luger's for a meal so satisfying that the fact you just spent 100 bucks makes you feel as if you got away with a bargain. My friends and I took away a couple of key lessons from our first visit that we did not repeat the second time around. A) We did not demolish the bread basket B) We skipped the starchy sides and only ordered thick cut bacon and tomato and onion with Luger's sauce. With extra room in our stomachs to spare we ordered more steak. The porterhouse is juicy, tender, and deliciously meaty. There's a reason why Zagat has rated Luger the top steakhouse in New York for something ridiculous like 20 straight years. Accept no imitators my friends and call waaaay ahead for a reservation.
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