He said...the indulging of carnivoral desires

Although I would not call myself a "foodie" per se, I love food. After all who doesn't? Food is great - it nourishes, it entertains, it is artful, and most importantly, tasty. So a friend and I decided to hit up what has been described as the "be all, end all" of steakhouses: Peter Luger's.

For those of us in NYC, there are two locations: one in trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn and the other in upscale Great Neck which is on the Queens/Nassau border. While it has been said that the one in Great Neck is the better of the two, I compared menus and found that the one in Great Neck did indeed contain a more comprehensive menu of additional entree items such as Maine Lobster, Broiled Chicken and Fresh Fish of the season. They also offer more robust luncheon specials, served before 3 PM including Sundays, whereas the 'burg location does not.

The Brooklyn Menu can be seen here:
Williamsburg Menu

Now I wouldn't give you the Williamsburg menu and not offer the other now would I??
Great Neck Menu

So... On to the juicy parts.

The Williamsburg location is set on a corner, with a rather uneventful facade, but still classy and suitable.





Upon entering, you are greeted by a lengthy classic wooden bar. To be honest I would have expected a slightly more upscale feel to match the reputation that precedes Peter Luger as well as its prices. We were seated quickly and courteously at wooden tables. The interior decor, although not ugly or distasteful, felt...lacking in a certain sense. I denno, maybe I had preconceptions going there and expected something different, but it seemed rather plain. However, there is beauty and function in simplicity and in no way does it necessarily detract from the experience. I would note, however, that the lighting could have been a bit more dim, it may lend more depth and detail to the wooden surfaces, as well as providing an ambiance more cozy and intimate that is usually characteristic of a good atmosphere for a date.

We were quickly greeted by our waiter and offered a bread basket and several cubes of butter. The wine list was extensive and I found myself wishing I knew more about wine culture and actually liked red wine (I'm more of a crisp Riesling kinda guy) I decided to make a decision where (and I borrow from Carly's repertoire of wise sayings) "I can do no wrong" and went with a nice cold glass of Brooklyn Lager. The lovely lady to my side suggested we go for the "steak for two" along with a side of creamed spinach; after looking over the menu, I could not help but concur. There is no choice as to how the steak is prepared or marinated, it is pan seared with a medley of seasonings and butter, served alongside the famous Peter Luger steaksauce.

After some chatting, a monstrous platter of sizzling steak, cooked medium rare made its way to our table as well as our side dish. The waiter curtly served us portions of each, and of course, we dug in. The first bite of steak was awesome - the exterior was cooked to a slight crisp and the inside was as soft as could be. The knife cut through each slice quite literally like a hot knife through butter. The steak sauce left me wanting; it was on the sweet side, and we both happened to prefer the tangy, slightly spicy taste of A1. Though the steak was very good, steak for two was more than necessary for the both of us, and I consider myself to have quite the hearty appetite. I would recommend ordering steak for one less than your party, and perhaps order an extra side dish or two instead. It will add balance and variety to your meal, while still giving you the pleasure of a finely tuned steak.

The creamed spinach was pleasurable, but again nothing to write home about (but good enough to blog about!). Again, I would recommend trying a few different side dishes and appetizers - it is easier to do this with a larger party, as two can only eat so much.

Dessert choices looked appetizing; staples like apple strudel, ice cream, cheesecake and pecan pie looked tempting, but we were both too full for its attempt to tempt to take hold on our penchant for sweets.

Overall the dining experience was pleasant, albeit somewhat overrated. This wall of seemingly unending Zagat reviews are far from being unfounded, but I found the experience to be YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).



Prices are on the expensive side, expect to spend $70+ on tax, tip and one drink. Of course, cost will vary depending on what you order and how large your party is, but nonetheless it is on the pricey side. It is definitely worth at least a visit if you consider yourself to be at minimum an amateur connoisseur of steak. Be sure to know your wine, (or at least pretend to!) and definitely bring good company. In my experience, a few awesome friends go a long way to make your dinner out that much better; and of course, I was fortunate enough to have had great company to make my first visit to Peter Luger's a pleasurable one.


-Chris