About five years ago a group of my friends had reservations to go to Peter Luger in Brooklyn. Being a former Brooklynite, I was very excited. The night before we were to go, my mother, who was fighting cancer, took a turn for the worse. I backed out of the festivities and missed what was hailed as the ultimate steak. Two evenings later, my mother passed away. Shortly after my mother's passing I was out with one of the members of the Luger evening and after offering his condolences, pledged that we would make another reservation. Our group decided on Election night. Since that first night, we have since gone to Smith & Wollensky's, Bobby Van's, Jakes, and returned for a second showing at Luger's.
Luger's doesn't look like much when you walk in. An average size bar, a check in area that looks like a betting window at a racetrack and old wood tables with no table clothes. Some say the waiters are surly, but they are probably just tired of dealing with years of tourists who wouldn't know a porterhouse from an outhouse. The first time we went, we knew the shtick and the waiter never even handed us menus. The martinis were flowing a nice bottle of wine was on the table, and we started with a piece of slab bacon that can only be described as orgasmic. Imagine the crispy part of a regular piece of bacon and now widen it to a 1/2 thick and make it twice as thick and twice as long. Dig in! The sauteed spinach, the home fries, the tomato & onion salad slathered in their steak sauce. You're in heaven even before the steak arrives. And then it does.
The sizzle of the steak on the hot plate. The juices from the steak mixed with the drawn butter. The waiter grabs two large spoons and grabs two pieces from the strip side and one from the filet side. Places them on your plate and then pours the juice/butter mixture over it. A dollop of spinach, some home fries and your plate looks almost too good to eat - Almost. The charred crust, the dark red middle and the first bite is a combination of sweet, salty, and savory. The second bite is better and before you know it there is nothing but a bone left, where once laid a steak bigger than most house cats. Desserts are almost as good as the meal and this coming from someone who would usually rather skip dessert and have more dinner.
Last night I returned for my third visit in 5 years. I was with a different crowd this time. The food was just as good. Per couple it was $250, which might sound excessive, but it's not. When you consider that almost 40% of your bill pays for the best steak you will eat in your life. Isn't that worth it? I don't like going out and spending a lot for food, but I will find the time, the money and the appetite for Luger's every time.
Luger's doesn't look like much when you walk in. An average size bar, a check in area that looks like a betting window at a racetrack and old wood tables with no table clothes. Some say the waiters are surly, but they are probably just tired of dealing with years of tourists who wouldn't know a porterhouse from an outhouse. The first time we went, we knew the shtick and the waiter never even handed us menus. The martinis were flowing a nice bottle of wine was on the table, and we started with a piece of slab bacon that can only be described as orgasmic. Imagine the crispy part of a regular piece of bacon and now widen it to a 1/2 thick and make it twice as thick and twice as long. Dig in! The sauteed spinach, the home fries, the tomato & onion salad slathered in their steak sauce. You're in heaven even before the steak arrives. And then it does.
The sizzle of the steak on the hot plate. The juices from the steak mixed with the drawn butter. The waiter grabs two large spoons and grabs two pieces from the strip side and one from the filet side. Places them on your plate and then pours the juice/butter mixture over it. A dollop of spinach, some home fries and your plate looks almost too good to eat - Almost. The charred crust, the dark red middle and the first bite is a combination of sweet, salty, and savory. The second bite is better and before you know it there is nothing but a bone left, where once laid a steak bigger than most house cats. Desserts are almost as good as the meal and this coming from someone who would usually rather skip dessert and have more dinner.
Last night I returned for my third visit in 5 years. I was with a different crowd this time. The food was just as good. Per couple it was $250, which might sound excessive, but it's not. When you consider that almost 40% of your bill pays for the best steak you will eat in your life. Isn't that worth it? I don't like going out and spending a lot for food, but I will find the time, the money and the appetite for Luger's every time.
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