Restaurant Review : Peter Luger Steakhouse, Brooklyn, New York, USA

New York and steak go hand in hand. There are plenty of steakhouse options to choose from but if you ask someone where can you get the real deal, the answer is nearly unanimous. Peter Luger at Brooklyn. We made our reservations and headed to the famed steakhouse to check out what makes it the most recommended steakhouse in town.

Easy to locate and within a short walk from the nearest subway, Peter Luger is hard to miss. You walk past glass windows to get to the main door. The old world ambience  of this German brauhaus which has been in business since 1897 hits you like a whiff of fresh air in a city famed for modern skyscrapers. Once through the door, you enter the waiting area which has a bar to one side and a wall full of Zagat-Best Steakhouse Awards for the past decade. These really build up your expectations from the upcoming meal and I crossed my fingers we won't be let down. We were a good half hour late and the cheery but mildly sarcastic waiter informed us we'll have to wait an hour to get our table. Only to get it ten minutes later!


The mostly older waiters in their white uniforms hovering about the place lend Peter Luger a stately but homely look. We were shown to our table by the window overlooking the street. Our designated waiter for the evening looked like an old hand. He took our jackets and politely enquired if we had had a good trip to the US thus far. We obviously looked like tourists with me clutching the NY map in one hand and a camera in the other. The tables and chairs are quite basic but still adequately comfortable. Whilst waiting to place our order, we looked around the dining area and in true NY spirit the mix of crowd was truly global. Some Asians, some Europeans and of course some Americans. Some nattily dressed and some dressed casually. But all there for a common goal : to enjoy the experience of Peter Luger.

The main course has steak options for 2/3/4 diners. Knowing American portion sizes are gigantic coupled with my keenness to have a mix of red and white meat, we enquired if there was any portion size suitable for one diner. To our disappointment, the porterhouse is not served for one diner so we ordered a single steak (USD 40) and sole fish (USD 35). There was a choice of Atlantic Salmon and Sole Fish amongst the 'fish of the season.' Keeping us company on the chilly night was Peter Luger's proprietary brand of red wine which is not available elsewhere. A 2009 Napa Valley product, it is steeply priced at USD 55. It has a lovely aroma and went very well with our food. A portion of creamed spinach and hashed potatoes (USD 15 each) also formed part of our order. 

The food was served in a prompt manner. The sheer size of the single steak left me gaping. Are they serious when they say it is good for one person ? It was done to perfect medium rare and came on a sizzling hot plate drenched in some fat juice. Okay not some. Lot of fat juice. But was it heavenly! I am not a big red meat eater so maybe my top billing doesn't count for much. But when my steak doting husband who is stingy with compliments said the same, I knew we had come to a special place. The fillet of sole fish was another shocker. To come up with so much fillet, I wonder how many fish went into it. If it was one, then it must be a massive one! The fish was done wonderfully well and I was torn between gobbling up the steak in NY's THE steakhouse or doing justice to what is probably the best fish fillet I've ever had. I opted for the latter simply because the steak portion was beyond our capacity. The creamed spinach was very tasty and has to be one of the best side dishes anywhere. It could have been a meal on its own. The hashed potatoes were just okay.

We were flat out stuffed by the end of the meal and seeing the multitude of people asking for doggy bags, we were tempted too to take away the remainder portion but finally decided against it. Some things just don't taste the same when fresh out of the kitchen vis-a-vis heated a second time 15 hours later in a microwave. Our waiter politely asked us if we would like a dessert and I can swear I thought he was joking. Who can have a dessert after that gluttony ? We declined but were still offered Peter Luger branded chocolate gold coins whilst we waited for the cheque. I happily munched on one as a palate cleanser and like everything else that evening, these too were winners. Please do remember to carry cash if you decide to dine at Peter Luger's. Only cash and select debit cards are accepted. As for credit cards, only Peter Luger's branded credit card is accepted here. Think of it as old fashioned and inconvenient, but going by the crowds thronging the restaurant, it is admirable they get people to do as they wish.

The evening at Peter Luger's was undoubtedly one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Unpretentious surroundings, excellent food coupled with prompt service (which made me feel good about leaving a 20% tip) all add up for a superlative dining experience. Some people had warned us about shoddy service (racist) but honestly, we didn't get any of those vibes. In fact, the cheery and little sarcastic tone of the waiters was entertaining when compared to the poker faced service one normally gets at restaurants. If you need any pointed tips for the place, just remember to fast before coming here and don't be surprised if you still need a doggy bag ! Don't try to walk in as reservations are a must. Make them. Now!