Crystal really enjoys a good steak and her birthday is coming up so I took the opportunity to finally make the trip to Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn to celebrate. For those that don’t know, Lugers was established in 1888 and is considered by some to be the best steak in the US. It won best steak in NYC the last 24 years in a row and has a 28 Zagat score.
I called 2 weeks in advanced and was told I should call 2 months in advance. They had 1 opening for the month which was Saturday 23rd @ 9:45PM. We left at 9PM and went down 87S to the Triboro into Brooklyn and then the BQE to the Williamsburg Bridge. Luger’s is right under the bridge and they do have free parking. Given the prices, they should.
For those that want coddling or excellent service, this place is not for you. The servers have been known to be borderline rude. I guess it’s the experience. You can tell they have a bit of an act but it’s downright real if you ask me. To be honest, it looks like a dump but it’s best compared to a 1940’s vintage German bar. The actual bar is shit. It looks like something in a frat house. We ordered a Brooklyn draft and a Becks beer for $13 total. We got seated 20 minutes later at 10:05PM and it was PACKED. The actual dining room is shit. The chairs feel like something out of a old bingo hall and the tables look like something made out of a re-used entertainment center at Walmart.
Our waiter brings over menus which is shocking to me. Typically, they do not. Here’s the convo:
“What will you have?”
“Steak for 2. Medium Rare because of her. Spinach. Potatoes for 2. Oh, and bacon for 2. Oh. 1/2 bottle of XXX wine too. (Some shit Crystal likes)”.
“Sure.”
For those that don’t know. Most quality steak houses just serve porterhouse (strip/filet) and that’s it. They mimic Lugers with Steak for 1/2/3/4/etc…
He walks away. Bread comes and it’s in a basket and they are good but tasted like not as fresh as I had hoped. They were about 6 and 4 had baked onions on them and the others were some sort of herbs. Their famous steak sauce is a spicy cocktail sauce and it comes in this big ass gravy boat. It was damn tasty.
Bacon comes. It’s thick and actually lean but you know it’s not good for you. It’s amazing. I am NOT a bacon fan but it’s what you are supposed to have. It was WELL worth it. It tasted/looked like fried pork loin.
Then, the steak arrives. They flip over a saucer and the steak plate sits on it so the fat/juices run down to the bottom. It’s pre-sliced and they dish out some onto your plate and put some juice on it and then put your sides around your plate and that’s it.
Words cannot describe the difference between this and a place like Outback. It’s very different in quality. Is it worth it? Well, that’s something that you need to decide but I wanted to try. It’s lightly chared on the outside and the inside is red. I mean, perfectly cooked. It’s a tad crisp on the outside but the knife just sinks through it. I haven’t eaten at too many nice places but Crystal has eaten at Ruth Cris/Morton/Tollgate (Dry-aged place in Westchester)/Shula/Jacks/and some other fancy places and she said it was the best she ever had by far. I mean, you can just tell it’s on another level.
We finished and I am struggling but we decided to get desert just because it’s what is said to experience. Crystal got Apple Strudel and I got the “Holy Cow” Ice Cream Sundae. I couldn’t finish it. It’s just a big ass sundae and it comes with their whipped cream that is like glue. It will hurt you. It’s very very rich.
Fantastic meal. The best I ever had in my life. Worth it? Well, again, that depends on what you enjoy but I am willing to try.
Cost break down:
$13 2 beers
$2 tip
$35 1/2 bottle of some red wine
$85 Steak for 2
$20.90 Spinach/Potatoes
$5.50 2 slices of bacon
$18 2 desserts
$36 tip
$215.40 total
BTW, cash or Luger Credit Card only.
A wonderful experience.