Peter Luger Steak House

I’ve been hearing so much about this place.

First, there was the post + giveaway where I asked all my readers to share their favorite steak and/or burger places. This particular restaurant kept showing up over and over again.

Then, there was the winner of that same giveaway who, after enjoying the meal courtesy of the winning gift card, told us “the dinner was good, but not as good as Peter Luger.”

And then there are the numerous accolades, such as Zagat’s number 1 steakhouse 26 years in a row or the Michelin star. How many casual steak houses get Michelin stars?

When we found out we would be going to New York again this year, Bryan said, “there are two places I definitely want to try. Peter Luger and Marea.”

I was lucky enough to land a 12pm reservation for four last minute, so we decided to meet up with some friends for lunch in Brooklyn at this super famous steak house.

Peter Luger is right across the Williamsburg bridge in Brooklyn. It’s been around since 1887, although the Luger family sold it to one of their biggest fans, Sol Forman, when business started declining in 1950. Thankfully, Mr. Forman was able to revive the place enough to garner an excellent review from the New York Times. This boosted its popularity, and it has remained that way ever since. Today, Mr. Forman’s granddaughter oversees the buying of the meat (which actually undergoes an extremely rigorous process!).

We love walking, so we actually walked from Midtown (around 50th street) all the way to Brooklyn. The bridge has a wonderfully huge pedestrian/bike section that makes walking easy and very pleasant.

It’s a long walk from Midtown (I think it took us around an hour), so we were relieved when we finally saw the restaurant. It’s really right on the other side of the bridge.

We heard the thick bacon was good, so we ordered it. I wish we had known how big it was! Silly us, we ordered one slice per person, which was way too much food. Seriously, I think one slice for the table (just to taste) would have been plenty. The bacon was very tasty though – juicy, nicely charred, and flavorful.

Of course, the showstopper was their signature dish – the Porterhouse. Peter Luger only purchases USDA prime beef, mostly from the Midwest. Above that, however, they personally inspect each piece of meat and only purchase ones that pass their own even higher standards. They look at factors such as color, fat distribution, and bones.

We ordered the Porterhouse for 4, which is basically two Porterhouses. The crust was beautifully charred and the inside was a perfect medium rare. In short, it was absolutely delicious. This steak seriously rivals the best steaks we’ve ever had. Ha ha, we thought we would have trouble finishing it, but we ate the whole thing!

The sides are also really really good. I think their creamed spinach is the best I’ve ever had in my entire life. It was exceptionally smooth and “creamy,” yet did not seem to actually contain much cream or cheese. Perhaps it was more broth-based. Whatever it was, I preferred it so much more to typical creamed spinach, which I personally find to be too rich for my tastes.

Similarly, the German roasted potatoes were fantastic, with perfectly crispy browned edges. Many recommend these two sides, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Cash only!

Well, close. Peter Luger only accepts cash, checks, debit cards, and their own branded credit card. Thankfully, there is an ATM literally right outside the restaurant.

Overall, I can see why this restaurant is so popular. Though the menu is limited, they execute every single item tremendously well. The steaks, of course, steal the show, and you must try the Porterhouse your first time here. The creamed spinach and roasted potatoes are also delicious, and makes perfect sides to this very very satisfying meal.