Peter Luger Steak House: The Taste was Great but not so Tender
Written: May 18 '05 (Updated Jul 08 '05)
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Pros: A taste that is incredible and hard to describe.
Cons: The meat was chewy.
The Bottom Line: The flavour was incredible and I'll have to go back and give them another try with my wife.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Peter Luger Steak House |
I have heard many good things about Peter Lugers being the Best steak out there. In fact their web site proudly displays the words that it has been Zagat rated as New York's No. 1 Steak House for 20 years in a row! That's quite an accomplishment. I finally had the opportunity to try the place this week. I went to their Great Neck restaurant that, according to one of the waiters, has been open for over forty years. The original Peter Luger of Brooklyn has been serving steaks since 1887! I was there in the afternoon and it was quiet. From what I have heard you must have reservations in the evening and weekends.
Walking in the Door
The decor was exactly what I expected. The stone building with leaded glass windows had an entrance just steps away from the valet parking. Many plaques lined the walls with front covers and articles displaying a who's who of culinary critiques and top stars.
Peter Luger Steak House has paneled oak throughout with prints of American masterpieces on the walls. The oak floor continues through the small bar and most of the four or five rooms until you get to the plaid carpeting that covers the large room in the back. I would say it is for acoustical reasons because it really does little for the decor. Brass lamps hung from the walls.
Lofted ceilings with open beams finish the room. All tables have white cloths and are bare of any other non-essentials like candles, flowers, or centerpieces. Besides salt and pepper is a fine wine list that should be able to suit all tastes. The chairs were mixed in that some had arms and some not. Though there are now "No Smoking" signs I could imagine the smoky atmosphere that once must have filled these rooms that look to be the perfect gentlemen's hideaway.
There is no music and, for that matter, I thought it odd that there were no aromas either. That did come later though when the platters with the steaks came out.
Service
The staff was all male ages 40-50+ and many with a continental touch. They were professional and, I might add, friendly when engaged. They were outfitted in white shirts white aprons and black bow ties. My waiter watched over me the full time I was there and others asked if I needed anything as they walked by too. Service was attentive without the waitstaff hovering.
Everything was brought out in a timely fashion after placing our orders.
The Menu
Many do not even look at the menu. Steaks are sold for one, two, three or four, priced from $36.95-$151.80. Some chops and other items were also on the menu but it was the steak that I saw on every table. That is what this place is known for. In reading their site I found out that The USDA Prime steaks are of a cut called the short loin and
The loins of beef sit in a temperature controlled cooler where air circulates around them. After the meat is properly aged, it is butchered and brought up to the kitchen for broiling.
Side dishes are available like creamed spinach, fried and baked potatoes. These are about $7.00 and serve one or two big guys like me.
Appetizers are available and I had the most delicious tomato in their sauce that I have ever had. That's right a tomato and I'm raving about it. On the table is their sauce. It is like a very sweet cocktail sauce with just the right amount of horse radish. It was excellent on that tomato that was also ripe and flavourful but also had good body.
A Caesar salad at $8.95 looked good and the mixed salad left something to be desired in its presentation.
My Experience
After being seated the waiter asked for a drink order. Most of the guys had draught beers. I joined them with a Becks Dark. We were asked if we wanted a menu. Most had never been there before and said yes. I can see there is really no need for one once you know there is only one cut of steak in four different portions. A few side dishes are ordered too. There is a bit of a surprise on the menu that I will tell you about shortly.
I decided to order up one steak for myself. The waiter came over with a basket of rolls. They were very good but coming out with just a few pats of butter for five guys just didn't make sense. I particularly like a roll with caraway seeds and a sweet and salty taste on the outside. The onion bread was a bit too burned for my liking. Flat crackers and other rolls were offered too.
We talked a while in anticipation for our steaks that were being prepared. We knew it was almost time when the waiter came and cleared some space on the table. Then the sizzling platters came out. Be careful, they are very hot.
The aroma and sound was wonderful. The steak is already sliced in sections off the bone with the bone staying on the plate. The waiter served a few slices of the steak to me. The taste was incredibly good. The outside is crispy with charcoal-like flavour. The inside was rare as I ordered it and looked o, so good. The flavour was intensely good, like no other steak I have had before. I was at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse a number of months back and their steak was excellent. The taste of Peter Lugers was even better. Part of it was the consistency and texture of crispness of the seared steak in the mouth.
I must say, however, that I was disappointed in how chewy the steak was. I was expecting a much more tender steak. Each time I put the hot steak in my mouth that is drowning in butter it was perfection, then the chewiness came in.
I did try the Peter Luger Sauce that has a horseradish bite to it while still being sweet to the tongue. It was very good on my tomato earlier, and from what I hear, people absolutely love the stuff but I just couldn't spoil the flavour of the meat with it. The meat tasted that good.
The creamed spinach came in small oval bowls and it was good but nothing could stand up to the flavour of the steaks.
The total bill came out to a bit over $300 dollars with the bar tab.
Desserts like cheese cake, ice cream, apple strudel and more were available but unfortunately we all had to get back to work.
As we paid the bill, cash only, the waiter brought out some silver dollar sized chocolates for all the guys.
Peter Luger Steak House can accommodate large groups but reservations must be made. Here's some info from their site.
Private functions are available in either one of our fine locations. Visit any of our Restaurants & Banquet Facilities whether it's in Brooklyn, NY or Great Neck, LI.
For more information or to make a banquet reservation of over 10 people, please call Dorothy at 718-387-0500.
Please call the restaurants directly for parties of 10 or less at Brooklyn at 718-387-7400 or Great Neck at 516-487-8800. Reservations are not taken online. Please call the restaurants directly.
A Little Surprise
If you do happen to look at the menu you will notice lunch specials that star either a pot roast or prime rib. These are served only Mon-Fri in the afternoon. The prices are $15.95. So if you are broke you can still make your way to Peter Luger's in the afternoon.
As we left we passed Burton and Dolye Steak House and Moton's The Steakhouse. These other places rallied around Peter Luger's in the Great Neck area on Northern Boulevard. I'll have to give them a try some time to see if the flavour can match. I doubt it.
In rating this restaurant I had a hard time. I really would have liked to have given it five star. The broiled meat had a flavour that was the absolute best I have ever had but being a bit tough turned me off. OK not exactly tough but far from tender. I suppose the word I have used before is the correct one, chewy.
Even so,I'll go with a four star and recommended. Everyone needs to try the taste of a Peter Luger steak at least once.
Some fine NY Dining as reviewed by popsrocks
Tavern on the Green A romantic restaurant in Central Park / ESPN Zone A sports bar, arcade, and MORE! / Pig'n'Whistle, an up-beat Times Square Pub / Osteria Stella Fine Northern Italian in Times Square / Sylvia's, a southern soul restaurant in Harlem / Fraunce's Tavern Lower Manhattan. GW ate here. / Katz's Deli A NYC landmark / The Boathouse Cafe More romance in Central Park / Gotham Bar and Grill A top NY restaurant. / The Carnegie Deli / Stage Deli
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Best Suited For: Business
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