Peter Luger Steak House

 

4

54

Ben H.

Temple City, CA

Hands down one of the best steak places.  They handpick their dry aged beef and deliver it to you perfectly seared on the outside and succulent/juicy on the inside (served on a hot plate with melted butter).  The flavor/texture/quality is top notch.  

Make sure to set a reservation well ahead of time and be at the restaurant on time (we were 15 min. late and ended up waiting an hr.).

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26

19

samantha m.

New York, NY

Wow this was incredible. Good food, juicy tender meat it melted in my mouth.  We had reservations, we probably waited for five min..  It lives up to it's name!

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Elite '08

92

200

Peter K.

New York, NY

I made a dinner reservation for six on a Friday night (1/11) in hopes to happily celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Lucky for me, I got the coveted [sic] 9:45 PM time slot. We had a round of drinks at the bar and were then summoned into the dining room.

I was disappointed with the steak*.

We ordered:
- salad
- jumbo shrimp cocktail
- bacon
- potatoes
- creamed spinach
- porterhouse for 2 medium rare
- porterhouse for 3 medium well
- cheese cake
- lemon tart with schlag

I don't think Peter Luger's prepares a steak any other way besides medium rare...

"Hook me up with a pound of flesh, Antonio**".

Everything was good; our waiter had jokes and did not try hard to entertain us (pretended to drink out of the wine bottle, make snarky comments, etc). I appreciated that.. The steak, however, was NOT GREAT. Is this what draws people here?

The name Peter Luger is lost in an indestructible bubble of respect; the brand has blinded many diners and they don't question it anymore. I think PL is like Craigslist's*** casual encounters/missed connections; you browse, hoping to score. You will be disappointed because your expectations were set too high. You may discover:

1) The "casual encounter - w4m" you were talking to was a dude old enough to be your daddy.
2) The "casual encounter - m4w" you were talking to was your best friend's boyfriend.
3) The "missed connection" you were talking to is a pervert, just like you, soliciting and responding to 1 & 2.****

Is this restaurant the ultimate steak experience in NYC? Absolutely not.*****

* My punchline was delivered prematurely. When there are 20+ reviews it's gets old... Pedro might as well tell you the verdict now then digress for the rest of the review.
** Something Shylock of "The Merchant of Venice" would say reflecting upon present day vernacular.
*** Oh no! PL = CL? How else would Pedro grab your attention and motivate you to vote, compliment and fan? I even posted pictures. Well I expect a few to hate me after this (those who make rational decisions while receiving a "bologna wash").
**** Pedro should write screenplays for movies that win Razzies. Pedro will stop referring to himself in the 3rd person.
***** The steak is overrated, but good enough to try once (I've foolishly been here a few times, but with different people). My family and friends enjoyed it at least.

I leave you with a moment of Zen:
             __________________________
            {  Is this NYC's best steakhouse? }
            {     Or CL's casual encounters?    }
             ----------------------------------------------
                    _          _                 O
                   /   \~~~/   \                 o
    ,---------(        . .      )              ^__^
   /               \__     __/               (oo)\ _____
  /|                   ( \    |(     "\ 0 /"    (__)\             )\/\
 ^ \      /___\     / \  |           |                ||-----w |
    |__|        |__|  -"           / \               ||         ||

IFHTP 3

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2

9

Jo K.

New York, NY

the steak  was delicious and steak-wise I think it was the best I had so far in NYC! The steak is set in the middle for everyone to share and enjoy and comes with a yummy steak sauce that I thought really complimented the steak...  However,  the side dishes were very disappointing and the ambiance is kind of strange.

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8

45

Danielle M.

Long Beach, NY

Everything about this place was incredible - the steak, wine, side dishes, dessert and the waiters!!!!!!!  We went for mothers day and couldn't have had a better dinner and time.

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1

6

Mike C.

New York, NY

The king of steaks, period. I have been there numerous times and have yet to be disappointed. Just be sure to book your weekend reservations in advance unless you don't mind eating at 10pm.

2 Slices of Bacon + 1 Bottle of Wine + Steak for 2 + German Potatoes + Holy Cow w/ Extra Schlag = The Perfect Meal

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2

7

Tetsu N.

Dublin, CA

The best steaks in the world, really.

I eat a lot of steak, but am really picky on how it's prepared.  The magic of preparing steaks for those of us who like medium rare, or rare, is in the searing.  And the hotter the searing oven, the better.  Anything less than 1600 degrees is home made quality.  Which is why I don't often go out to eat steak, preferring to cook at home on an 800 degree grill.

Peter Luger makes steaks using a 2000 degree searing oven and then serve it on a 500 degree cast iron plate.  

Now THAT's a good steak.

It's good enough that I'll go out of my way to go to Peter Lugers whenever I'm in New York, without exception.

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0

14

Jimmy Y.

Forest Hills, NY

I am not a meat expert or anything but I don't think you need to be to know that the steak here is amazing. Drenched in butter and perfectly cooked, the meat melts in your mouth. The steak is served in terms of how many people are in your party. Ex. Steak for 2,3,4. The portions are good and with sides (mash potatoes, spinach, etc. ) and an appetizer, it will satisfy the piggiest of all eaters. Desert was ehhh, I mean its a steakhouse. The Bill was typical for a premium steak house. Expect to pay 80+ for a very good piece of steak. Also the service was great even when the place seemed really busy.

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3

27

Annie H.

Fresh Meadows, NY

I'm not sure there's even a need for me to add my two cents about this place.

Just... GO.  It's all it's hyped up to be and more.

Even looking at the reviews now makes my mouth water!

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2

124

Donkey K.

Tacoma, WA

Peter Luger's is not just the best steak in New York, it is the best steak anywhere on the planet.  There's a reason why the restaurant is still packed at 10 pm on a weekday.  If you are visiting Manhattan be sure to book your reservation WELL in advance (You may end up eating there for lunch  or...at 10 pm on a weekday).  The place is nothing to look at.  The tables are covered in red and white plastic picnic table cloths.  The lobby smells vaguely like bathroom cleaner and urinal cakes (you put up with a lot to enjoy the priviledge of Peter Luger's).  The waitstaff is notororious for being occassionally rude or snobby (urban legend has it that someone once asked for her steak well-done and the waiter told her that McDonald's may better suit her needs.

But the food is amazing.  Porterhouse medium rare comes out nice and red in the middle, slightly charred on the outside.  Delicious.  Truly different than anywhere else.  Other unsuspected treats:  thick cut bacon as an appetizer and the home-made whipped cream with your dessert.

Expect an ungodly expensive cab ride from Manhattan and to wait around for your gypsie cab to get back.  Add this to the already expensive tab.  It's worth it though.

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2

15

Frankly S.

Brooklyn, NY

When my vegetarian college friend returned from a 6 month trip to China and had begun eating meat after 13 years, I vowed to take him to the best steak house in NYC.  Thus began my love affair with Peter Luger.

You haven't had steak unless you've had Peter Luger's.  There's nothing else I can say to convince you.  Read the other reviews.  Make your reservation well in advance.

Get the steak medium rare (or medium if you absolutely must) and a side of creamed spinach.

Oh, and the onion rolls are awesome.  Ask for more and they'll let you take some home.

I mean, when I eat there, I walk away with *afterglow*.

So you know...  try it.

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56

68

Irene S.

San Francisco, CA

When I heard this was the best steak in NY, I made some assumptions. I thought that I'd be walking into an uptight, pretentious, snottball of a place where the everyone gives you the once-over. Boy, to my sheer delight was I mistaken. It's definitely a nice change of scenery when an esteemed steakhouse is so homey and laid back.
Our party of 8 was late for our reservation, but thankfully we were still able to get seated quickly. Our server who has supposedly been working there for over a decade was charming and hilarious. When I looked up from time to time, it was interesting to see butchers walking past us with their bloody aprons, carrying huge slabs of meat into the kitchen...Funny, didn't have any effect on my appetite whatsoever, but then again I am quite a sav :P

Anyway, we ordered the creamed spinach, french fried potatoes, and steak for four. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the creamed spinach, because you ask yourself, " Is there any cream with this spinach?" but it was actually very good. The potatoes were solid, and the steak? I don't know where to start...We ordered it medium rare, and it was the perfect medium rare indeed. What I loved other than the fact that it was tender and delicious, was that the outside was slightly crispy. I had my steak without their house steak sauce (slightly too sweet and tangy for my tastebuds) but I did drizzle on some of that excess goodness (aka fat drippings) onto my steak.....mMmMm....

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Elite '08

88

92

Sadie S.

Brooklyn, NY

I love Peter Luger's, and I just can't be objective about it - everything about the experience makes me happy: the bare wood tables, the surly career waiters, the cash-only policy and the dizzyingly rich, pre-sliced porterhouse, swimming in buttery juices.  Run your cake of oniony, crusty hash browns through the natural gravy; have a bit of creamed spinach; dip your onion roll in the sweet horseradish sauce.  Nothing ever changes, but to me it's absolutely perfect as it is.  The best steak in New York - or the world!

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0

10

Handoyo S.

San Francisco, CA

Peter Luger is a place that all steak lover must visit once in their life time. We went there during this year's spring break and boy were we impressed.

For appetizer, we had the sizzling bacon; probably the baddest and thickest bacon I'll ever see. And the tastiest too!

My favorite cut for steak is rib eye, due to the marbling. But since Peter Luger is famous for its porterhouse, we ordered it and it was extremely good. I usually hate fillet mignon because it's too lean but Peter Luger's is extremely juicy and I find the buttery sauce extremely 'helpful.'

For sides, we had the creamed spinach and the German fried potatoes. The former was mediocre but the latter kicks ass. The dessert was disappointing though. My girlfriend ordered the sorbet and it turned out that it was just Haagen Dazs shorbet, given some fancy presentation. I had the Holy cow sundae and it was ordinary as well.

One last thing I want to make note of is, Peter Luger's steak is very 'traditional.' I mean, it's extremely simple, no gimmicks, but it's very tasty. One of the best steaks I've ever had in my life.

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1

11

Eric C.

Brooklyn, NY

I was raised in a "steak and potatoes" household, so when I was in high school I revolted and became a vegetarian.  Years later, I have started eating meat again, but steaks, on occasion, make me a little squeamish (I know, what kind of man am I?).  But, goddamn, are these steaks good. I'll even eat them rare.  They're fucking GOOD.  I'm gonna bring my dad here next time he visits, so he recognizes that I am not a lettuce-eating lady, but a full-blown DUDE, with an appetite for BEEF. Seriously, though.

If you like steak, even if you don't really like steak. You gotta eat there.

Another plus (to me, anyway): the atmosphere is real low-key, surly even, which means don't bother putting your napkin on your lap or using the proper fork - just enjoy your slab o' beef.

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0

4

Mikey d.

Studio City, CA

STEAK LIKE BUTTER.  SERVICE LIKE A ROUGH PROSTATE EXAM.

There.  I said it.  Just so you know where I'm coming from.

If anyone says that the steak there isn't good, they're biased by something that has nothing to do with deliciousness.  I had the bone-in masterpiece, pre-sliced and it's crispy-outside/juicy-melty-inside was unreal.  That is not disputed.

However, for the sheer cost of the steak by itself, I thought I could have received ONE smile.  I did not.  Perhaps they practice the 'new cruelty' described from "L'Idiot" (LA Story).  Maybe they just don't like filipino guys who eat solo.  Maybe it's true that the bad service is just part of the charm of the place.

I just would have appreciated it if they had just pants'ed me and punched me in the face when I stepped in the door so I wouldn't have any illusion that I'd be treated well.

Great service is part of an amazing dining experience.  When it's this neglected, GREAT food cannot overcome it (unless said patron likes being punished... because they are bad...  a baaaad, baaaaad boy.....).

Yes, I'm suggesting that one's pleasure derived from being treated badly (especially in this place) is sado-masochistic in nature.

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3

19

Dena L.

Brooklyn, NY

I'm going to start out by praising the least predictable part of Peter Luger's - the atmosphere. It's been described in magazines as a "beer-hall" atmosphere, which is an easy way to say that there's nothing frilly or snobby about the place, which could very easily decorate with a little more pomp and flourish, given their reputation. But they don't, which is great, because it shows that they trust their food enough to not have to rely on appearance. The place is brightly lit, lots of square four-tops in a fairly small room with simple chandeliers.

Second pleasant surprise - the service. I'd heard that Luger servers could be brusque, even insulting, but our server was incredible. He chatted with us over our wine choice (an Israeli cabernet, which was awesome!) and the steak. He was easy going and willing to describe the different sides and steak choices - we loved him, and left a hefty tip.

Third - the food. Our appetizers - sliced tomatoes and a thick strip of bacon - were just "eh." The tomatoes were big, yeah, but not super sweet or juicy or anything. I've had better. The bacon was good, but not as juicy or flavorful as others I've had.

Our waiter suggested we get the 30 oz. steak for two ($85) - a porterhouse. We took his suggestion. It came in a huge platter, pre-sliced into chunks, and the butter that it's cooked in pooled in the side of the plate. Christ, it looked amazing (and very overwhelming). We ordered rare - there was absolutely no blood, it was absolutely tender and delicious. If it had been sliced thin, it would have been as tender as tuna sashimi, no question.

We had the German-style french fries/hash browns, which were excellent, and some broccoli. Two bottles of wine, 30 oz. of steak later, there was no way we could fit any dessert in, even though we were tempted to try. The whole thing was over-the-top, gluttonous, and memorable.

Total: $230 (before tip! Note: they only accept cash, or their exclusive Peter Luger credit card, which you can apply for online). I'm no moneybags, but I've got to say that it was totally worth it.

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0

3

Samuel C.

West Los Angeles, CA

Geez, was this place crowded.  I went on a Tuesday night and had reservations at 8:45pm but didn't get seated til closer to 9:15pm.  There were four of us in the group (3 girls), so we got the steak for three and asked for it medium rare.  We also ordered the much-hyped creamed spinach, the German fried potatoes and some onion rings.  

The steak came out rarer than expected, even for medium rare.  I like bloody steak as much as the next person, but even this was a tad uncooked.  Luckily, our waiter Danny was a really nice guy (contrary to the gruff service most reviews warn you of) and was able to take the rarer pieces back to the kitchen for some additional broiling.  The steak was quite delicious, among the best I've ever had though I wouldn't go so far as to say the best.  

The creamed spinach was nasty.  No two ways around it.  After reading all the rave reviews, I was looking forward to this side dish but, at the end of the night, it was the one with the most leftover despite being the smallest of the portions.  The German fried potatoes were also kinda meh--think of a cross between breakfast potatoes and hash browns.  What was surprisingly good was the order of onion rings.  Lightly battered and not oily in the least bit, it turned out to be the perfect accompaniment to the delicious steak.

For dessert, we ordered an ice cream sundae and some chocolate mousse cake.  The sundae was great--deliciously rich hot fudge topped by a mountain of equally rich whipped cream.  Make sure you unclog your arteries before tackling this dessert.  The chocolate mousse cake was a complete miss by my standards, not nearly flavorful enough nor enough contrast in taste between the crust and the mousse itself.

At $260, tip included, for a steak for three, creamed spinach for two, Germain fried potatoes for two, onion rings, an ice cream sundae, chocolate mousse cake and six diet cokes, it's no cheap meal but well worth the experience at least once in your life--just choose your sides and desserts wisely.

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Elite '08

112

136

Sue L.

San Francisco, CA

Johnny Carson said: The best meal of my entire life was at Peter Luger's.

What an awesome experience! Stepping into Peter Luger's sure felt like stepping back into time. Everything from the bar to the waiters to the cash registers (make sure you bring cash because they don't accept credit cards) exuded old world.

We ordered the porterhouse for 4 and 2 side dishes (hash and creamed spinach). I wanted to eat the bone! Enough said.

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3

8

Kate H.

New York, NY

I feel like I can call myself a regular now...7 times in one year? Does that qualify? I L-O-V-E this place and am never disappointed. They are always consistently delish. A friend of mine that now lives in Hong Kong makes special trips to NYC when he's in the States just so he can get his Peter Luger fix...so of course I have to tag along. I've also taken my parents here on their first visit to NYC and my sis and her bf on their first visit. We always get the same thing (tomato/onion salad, bacon, steak-medium rare, german potatoes, creamed spinich) and always save room for dessert, complete with schlag. The cheesecake is amazing.

Love the good 'ol boys atmosphere and the great service. I'll go back again and again...and again.

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Elite '08

81

241

Lara R.

New York, NY

I raaaaarely eat red meat. And even less frequently will opt for a steak. I'm the one who gets chicken at a steak restaurant without flinching. However, this place is all about the steaks. And come to think of it, I think that was basically all that they have... oh, they do have lamb chops and a fresh fish selection. But definitely not my typical chicken fall-back! This is also the first time I've been to a true local steak house. Other than this outing, most other upper-end steaks (and some of you might cringe here) I have tried were at Ruth's Chris and Outback. The only local variety would be Pastis.

Anyhow, we were going to do the single steak and split until our waiter chimed in that "you came here for the PorterHouse... might I suggest the steak for two?". So, we did the steak for two (for three!). And it was delicious. My mom likes her meat well done and I didn't want it 100% well done, so they even did a sort of midway level somewhere not quite medium well, but not all the way to well done. And it was perfect. Mmmmm.

I was curious about the German potatoes, but we were lured away by the plate loads of lightly battered onion rings that just looked divine. And they were ... just pefect. My sister had the fries. We also got a mixed green salad, which was way more than enough for the two of us which was eating it.

It was funny to note that ALL of the servers and bartenders were male. Is that a requirement here?!? We did not encounter the gruffness commonly stated in print reviews. Perhaps a lucky day? Definitely remember to bring cash (hah and lots of it).

Very good food. Too bad we were too full to try their cheesecake, which indeed sounded mighty tempting. It was tasty enough to even have this basically non-red-meat eater almost craving another slice or two of an upscale steak. Mmmmm.

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1

5

Benjamin H.

Fremont, CA

The suffocating hype--  I wasn't sure if Peter Luger would be able to live up to it.  Made a lunch reservation with 8 of my tourist buddies.  Stepping into this joint, we were down right giddy-- awaiting the carnal feast that was to ensue.  The wait staff was not so amused.  It was the same old grizzly guys you see on the Food Network.  I couldn't care less what they thought and made them suffer through some photographs.  

We ordered everything-- Porter House, bacon, fat chunks of tomatoes and onions drizzled with their BBQ sauce, creamed spinach,  potatoes, the holy cow-- there was more much more-- the subsequent food coma has dulled my memory.

The Porterhouse came sliced, sizzling on a plate.  It simply melted in your mouth and was tremendously scrumptious.  I subtracted a star for having to carry a huge wad of cash through the perilous queens/brooklyn subway station.

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Elite '08

399

399

Audrey J.

New York, NY

Over.

Rated.

The steak is good. The sides (particularly the bacon) are good.  However, it's nothing that you cannot get in Manhattan and in a more pleasant environment with, say, a credit card machine.

They take only cash. The wait for a table can be EXCRUCIATING. Their waitstaff is kinda curmudgeony-gruff. The ambiance -- if you can call it that -- is very old school and reminds me, inexplicably, of the cinematography from "There Will Be Blood." Speaking of "There Will Be Blood," I halfway expected there to BE blood(shed) as six of us, amongst whom there were preferences for (1) rare/practically still moo-ing, (2) medium rare, (3) medium, and (4) medium-well/well done (OH THE TRAVESTY), tried to figure out three porterhouses and how best to request the preparation. We ended up with one each of (1), (2), and (3) because I fear the waiters might've spit in our food if we had dared to go with a well done. (SERIOUSLY, WTF, and, yes, I agree -- that person and I should part ways as friends.)

Anyway, yeah...overrated.

Also, possibly "U"-worthy note to those who are reading this review: Do not order your meat well-done in my presence or I will not be responsible for any of my ensuing snarkiness.

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46

5

anthony h.

Brooklyn, NY

a little over rated but very good, steaks are very tender

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8

6

Steven C.

San Francisco, CA

i hopped on a plane out of SFO at 11:15pm on friday night.  after 5 plus hours of 15 minutes naps i was greeted with construction work on the metro that meant a 2 hour trek from JFK to the upper west side.  after a non-stop day of all that new york had to offer i was pleased to find that despite showing up a half-hour early to our 10:45pm (last seating) reservation we were shown pretty much immediately to a table.

believe the hype.  beats donovan's or any other steakhouse in san diego and beats anything i've had in the city of san francisco (not that you would expect great meat in this hippie vegan-happy town).  even though we had been to 4 other dining establishments in the previous 12 hours, we made room in our stomachs to down salads, steak for two, creamed spinach, and german potatoes.  that first bite of fillet was to die for.  my physical exhaustion turned in to an adrenaline rush.  SF people may rave about house of prime rib's creamed spinach, but it has nothing on peter luger's.

you may have read that their service is wretched.  i thought it might be too with the way i was spoken to on the phone when making our reservation.  perhaps it was because my dining companion's smile could light up all of manhattan or perhaps it was just that it's a sincere joy to watch the same little asian girl down so much red meat, but our first waiter was no less than outstanding.  and when he had to rush off to the hospital because his baby was being delivered (congrats!) our second waiter was also a delight.  peter luger's certainly likes to toot its own horn, but for good reason.  

note : you maybe tempted to save a piece of fillet for one last delicious bite.  if you're a notoriously slow eater like me and my friend, don't.  it's best served hot.

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3

37

Jesse W.

Doraville, GA

This place came very highly recommended. In fact, most people told me that it was the best steak I would ever eat. It wasn't. Don't get me wrong, the food was very good, but it certainly wasn't the best I'd ever had. Keep you expectations reasonable and you won't be disappointed.

It's worth mentioning that the service also seemed a little curt as well;  maybe it was because it was so busy, maybe their popularity is such that the service doesn't really impact the traffic that much.

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Elite '08

120

354

Jen N.

New York, NY

I've been abstaining from reviewing Luger's because I wanted to experience lunch here first.  Today, I did so, and I have to say, it will be only for dinners from this point forth.  I've heard from numerous people that the burger is nothing special, but I was one of those retarded kids that had to put my hand on the burner first hand before learning my lesson properly.  I'd liken my experience of lunch to this painful lesson.  Otherwise, Luger would probably be 5 stars all the way for all of my dinner experiences.

Because my brother and I are both taking a break from corporate America simultaneously, we decided to have a drinking lunch.  We both got Brooklyn Lagers with our burgers (medium rare) with bacon, cheese (American is the only option), and split fries.  Just so we felt like we were having some veggie product, we also got the creamed spinach, which has always been a personal favourite.  Bad idea on all counts except for the beer, fries, and bacon.

Kudos for cooking up a perfectly medium rare burger.  Unfortunately, the burger was just not that great.  I hate American cheese, but I thought I'd be open-minded and realized that when it comes to cheese, I'm just not.  I tried to peel away as much of it as possible.  The bacon, however, was excellent!  My brother's initial reaction of "WTF, bacon for $3?!?!" later changed to "Dude, this tastes like the German version of samgyupsal!"  The creamed spinach was much less pleasing than any of my previous experiences, and for the first time, we didn't finish it.  Bro:  "Yo, creamed spinach should never be ordered before dinnertime."  I'd have to say, I agreed wholeheartedly in this case.

So lunch was a flop.

However, dinner is a different story.  I've been coming to Luger's for over 10 years for dinner, and in a previous life, have had the luxury of an expense account.  Whenever unimaginative clients came into town, this was my mainstay for a reliably unbelievable meal, especially with meat-eating Southerners.  The steaks really are melt-in-your-mouth good, and every dinner experience I've had here were write-home worthy.  I've seen all sorts of patrons here, from the nobodies to the high profiles (names will be protected cause I hate star-fucking), and when it comes to a delicious hunk of meat, it doesn't matter who you are for you to be able to enjoy it properly.

Don't ever go for lunch unless you're a glutton for punishment.  But if you're a glutton for uber-fine steak cooked to a perfect rare (or whatever temperature you may prefer your meat), dinner is meat o'clock here any day of the year.

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4

32

Monica T.

New York, NY

The food is a bit too greasy.  I was still in High School when i came here so I felt really out of place.  Everyone was old...not to be disrespectful..but lots of them were 40+ and older.  The decor of the place is very old school, if u're into that.

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37

26

Justin S.

Brooklyn, NY

Skip it. If this is an out of the way destination, destine to be elsewhere. I have heard about this restaurant since I was 10 and remembered making a point to go there.
Let's just go down the line here:
- If I am going to drop over a hundred dollars (which I never have a problem with except...) on a meal for two, just food mind you, no drinks, I don't want to feel like I am sitting at the dining hall at an American Legion surrounded by fat retards in an overly lit galleon.
- The "world famous" steak sauce is "Drum roll, please..." cocktail sauce mixed with corn syrup. Disgusting. Why would you need to put cocktail sauce on your steak? (refer to next point)
- The steak is absolutely, completely flavorless. It wasn't even seasoned! At all. No char from the grill either. Nothing. The texture was nice, no doubt about it, but I can put a pillow in my mouth if all I need is texture.
- The only good thing was the service which seems to be the only thing other people complain about. Our waiter knew that he was putting on this tough guy attitude and was a really nice guy.
I have yet to find a good steak in NY, but why am I even trying, I'm from Texas. That'd be like trying to find decent salsa here.
This seems like a place that at one time was fucking awesome and has just lived on a reputation, kind of like the entire city of Austin.
Now it's filled with guys who wish they were Tony Soprano treating their mistresses to an evening out.

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1

Noah L.

New York, NY

This is simply the best steakhouse I've ever eaten at, and will always be my favorite.  Now, there have been some less-than-stellar reviews on here, and some of the points made are fair.  But the key to understanding and appreciating Peter Luger is knowing what you're getting into.

If your idea of a great steakhouse is tuxedo-clad waiters serving you pepper-crusted prime cuts with a Rosemary garnish and a nice red wine, then you are not a Luger's guy or girl.  If you need that type of environment and like your steaks covered in spices to cover up the blandness of the meat, then please, by all means, skip Luger's and make some more room for us.

But if you appreciate a REAL slab of beef -- prepared in 1800+ degree ovens, slathered in butter, oil, grease, etc., and served with the best creamed spinach you've ever eaten, the most juicy and perfect sliced tomatoes and onions, and a steak sauce that's _almost_ unnecessary but so good as to have to make at least a brief appearance during each course -- then Luger's is your only choice.

The environment is noisy, the waiters are charmingly gruff, the menus are basically useless (you look like an amateur if you actually read one), and the choices you have to make are simple:  What do you want to drink?  How many tomato & onion salads do you want?  How many shrimp cocktails do you want?  And how's the steak going to be prepared.  And that's it.

And then you get your steak.  And it's just awesome -- your taste buds go nuts, your stomach expands, your head swirls, and yeah.  You're happy.

Don't be upset about the environment or worry that the steak's covered in butter.  THAT'S WHAT LUGER'S IS ABOUT.  Don't worry that they slice it up for you -- they're not babying you, they're preparing the steak the best possible way.  They don't defy the steakhouse experience -  they define it.

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5

143

chris c.

San Mateo, CA

We had a big group so we managed to try the porterhouse (for 2), the ribeye and lamb.  Best bang for the buck would be the porterhouse and I'd not order the lamb again.  Nothing bad about it but when there's great cow to be had, leave Shaun alone (Wallace and Gromit quote "A Close Shave").  When you're a real carnivore, you cherish the charred exterior, the oodles of oily juice drippings and lack of any distracting side dishes.  I'm a real carnivore.  I stayed away from the creamed spinach and onion rings and thoroughly enjoyed my charred ribeye.

It took a couple of bites to get used to the charred outside but after that, it was heaven in the mouth.  Some may boggle at the lack of frills and stuffiness of the restaurant.  That was an added bonus for me.

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57

Johnny R.

San Francisco, CA

This place does live up to the hype especially when you go with people who have the "Lugar Credit Card".  Perfect treatment, perfect steaks, not much else to mention.

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0

4

Anthony T.

Brooklyn, NY

There's the beef!!!!

Steak Lovers must try Peter's once in your life. Order a Porterhouse  steak for 1,2,3, or 4!!!! Bring cash because they don't accept credit cards.

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2

23

Sachin P.

New York, NY

WHAT?!?! seriously, i have no idea what the hype is all about. we dropped $80 for mediocre steaks. the bacon app was amazing, but the steaks had no flavor at all! ridic.

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11

17

anton d.

New York, NY

Things to do at Peter Luger:

1) BELIEVE THE HYPE!
2) Let the server recommend (strong-arm you into) your order.
3) When in doubt, go one level rarer (ie. if you normally do MED, go for MED RARE - the plate is hot so the steak will still cook after it's served)
4) BELIEVE THE HYPE!
5) Bring cash.

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2

7

MARIA L.

Miami, FL

Best steak house I've ever been to! Juicy bacon, great tomato/onion starter. Hold on....(salivating in Miami), lol! Yes, if it means handing out $$ to get sitted, I suggest you do so. An experience you won't forget!

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4

38

Robert R.

New York, NY

I was expecting to think this place was overrated, but I was wrong.  I think it lives up to the hype.

Joined by a friend, we had two Brooklyn Lagers at the bar, a strip of bacon each, Steak for Two, creamed spinach, a bottle of Chateau-Neuf-de-Pape and a sundae.  The bacon was amazing.  Salty, meaty, a little bit of fat for flavor and marked with marks from the grill.  The steak was amazing, and this is coming from someone who does not really love steak.  The creamed spinach was the best I have ever had at a steak house - not too overwhelmingly rich, which is often the case. The wine is wine - the restaurant does not deserve credit.  The sundae was decadent.  And delicious.  

Service - I had heard the waiters are jerk so many times, I was really looking forward to that.  Come to find out, they were perfectly polite and had great suggestions on what to order.  I thought they were perfect - it's a steakhouse, not a fancy French restaurant - know what you are getting into before you sit down.

Price - not cheap, but worth every penny.

Atmosphere - I had never heard anyone describe this place appropriately.  It has the decor of a German or Austrian beer hall, which I thought was the perfect setting for an old-school steakhouse.  The one thing they could do was bring down the lights a little.  Not too dim, but it felt like daytime lighting, and we sat down at 10 PM.

All considered, this place is great.  It totally lives us to its reputation, and I am very glad that I finally checked it off of my list of NY places to try.  I would rank it number 1 for NY steakhouses.  Prior to visiting Luger, I would have put Quality Meats or Sparks in top slot.

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1

55

Anna L.

NY

Took clients here (as per their request) last month for an early dinner on a Monday night (March 10th).  Was crazy packed and there was a 20 minute wait despite our reservation.   I've been here before but it was so many years that I've forgotten about the experience.    No frills boys club type of place.  Lively place.  The food was yummy but not totally awesome.  My favorite part was the bacon....

Appetizers:   Bacon as an appetizer?  Both the bacon (thick slabs, think more ham than anything else) and the mutant tomato/onions tasted awesome with the Peter Lugers sauce.

Steak:  We had a great of 8 and thus ordered two steaks for four (porterhouse cut).  One medium (how could they?!) and another medium rare (as steak should be eaten!).   I thought the steak was tasty but nothing extraordinary.  Is it wrong to admit I felt the porterhouse I had at the bar @ Ruth's Chris in Scottsdale was just as good?

Dessert:  Schlag anyone?

Cost:  After tax/tip, it was $990 for a group of 8.  Paid by check (and took my firm a month to reimburse me).  I discovered though they don't take credit cards, they do take debit cards... so leave the check book and cash at home next time.

Oddly enough, the clients went to Wolfgang's the night before... and said it was pretty much the same as Lugers except for the vibe/decor/location.

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