Any difference in the 2 locations as far as the food goes. Thanks, Mike
Same food. Waiters in Williamsburg have a touch more attitude, which makes for a more enjoyable experience.
It's been a few years since I've been there, but it's always a good time. I prefer the original location though. But remember: they don't take credit cards, so bring cash or apply for The Peter Luger Card online.
I see they now have online ordering / shipping of steaks to your home. Not cheap, but they look great. Peter Luger - Butcher Shop - Our Peter Luger Steaks
IMHO, go to Wolfgangs, opened by the former head waiter at Peter Luger's - better quality and a better experience all around. Not an institution like Luger's but.....
Lugers is played out... I would try this down the block on Metropolitan- St. Anselm - Williamsburg - New York Magazine Restaurant Guide
There are so many copycat steakhouses that were started by former Luger chefs, it's almost hard to tell which ones are for real.
Don't forget the days of fat infusion! Amazing flavor, unlike most if not all steak preps we've had, but I'm not a fan of the steakattack combined with the "experience".
I agree that Wolfgang's is much better. I was unimpressed with Luger's the last 2 times I went (Williamsburg). I had a reservation, and I still had to wait a hour. The service is always fair at best, steak under cooked, sides cold and nobody cares. Ehhhh
Couldn't get into Luger's a couple of years ago, so we went to DeStefano's Steakhouse. Great steak, wine and friendly service.
There's been a shortage of truly great prime beef for some time now. Everyone has had to deal with lower quality as well as less of what now passes for best available (Purveyors are now butchering in a way that forces restaurants to accept lower cuts. Adding an extra rib to a "saddle", for example, means a steak house has to get rid of an additional imperfect steak or two. And there's only so much you can grind into tartar or hamburger -- $$$) Lugers Williamsburg is where the movers and shakers go. That's why it gets the better meat or, probably more accurately, less of the lesser steaks. Someone used to give The Boss a Lugers gift certificate every year for a while, so we ate there once a year for about seven consecutive years. These guys can't make a decent home fry anymore. Their spinach is less and less flavorful, the service less and less tolerable. (Purveyors push baby spinach nowadays in order to avoid the consequences of the somewhat recent E coli outbreaks associated with more mature spinach. Baby spinach is also cheaper. That, or if they're carrying over recipes from when they opened, they're getting lower end frozen stuff.) Opt for french fries and onion rings, don't order a steak cooked passed medium-rare as you'll get a lower quality cut, and try to get in for either an early dinner or lunch, as those are the only times the kitchen isn't overwhelmed these days (they used to handle the rush much better.) Skip dessert altogether. NY Metro has far better steakhouses. And given the service at Lugers, there's nothing to be gained by going there. (If you want to just check it out, grab a burger for lunch. Not a bad deal, and you can get a feel for the place.)
I used to go to Luger's regularly when I lived in the city but last time I was there, it was underwhelming. five foodies in my group and all of us agreed. Wolfgang's is indeed a pretty good alternative, imho. call me old school but I still like Spark's. all that being said, we have some pretty darn good steakhouses here in Dallas...
Sushimon355, I will take the original Bob's on Lemontree in Dallas anytime over Lugers and almost anywhere. NYC, Pietro's, if I recall, 43rd between 1st and second. Luger's was a waste of time and money. I lived there 12 years and did business there over40 years.
hey Phil, give Nick & Sam's a try next time you're in town. make sure to get a table in the bar...trust me, you'll thank me later
Great steakhouses should be its own thread! I was watching something on TV and does Luger really cut up your steak before they serve it? The last person to cut up my food for me was my grandma! Sounds like it'd help the steak to cool off and dry out faster…T
Yes, Luger's does slice up your porterhouse into thick strips...some slices are more rare than others so each person can help themselves to what they like. There's a ton of juice in the platter so no chance of the steak drying out. All that being said, I still prefer Wolfgang's...great steaks, better ambience, nicer waiters, better wine list, more convenient location and they take credit cards.
Ok, good point. So, this sounds like a huge multi-person affair like a steak fiorentina. I'll have to add them to my to-do list the next time I am in the old home town. Thanks!...T
Had the veal parm at pietros yesterday and finished it tonight. That big, that good. Do quite a bit of client entertaining and I'm on 42nd and second. I'm in the area of Palm, sparks, smith n wollensky, Ben and jacks, wolfgangs on park ave, etc. That said, Love keens, old school with a fantastic scotch selection. Palm has great lunch specials. Wolf gangs is awesome too. Lugers? Wasn't impressed last few times there.
Another vote for Keens..... Our lunch place for ten years when we had our office in the Empire State Building.
