Steakhouse · Brooklyn, 1887
Peter Luger Steak House
Peter Luger Steak House is a steakhouse in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, established in 1887 and owned by the Forman family since 1950, known for its dry-aged USDA Prime porterhouse.
At a glance
- City
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Founded
- 1887
- Style
- American chophouse
- Beef
- USDA Prime, dry-aged on site
- Known for
- Porterhouse for two to four
One porterhouse, for two to four
Peter Luger is an American chophouse at 178 Broadway, Brooklyn, near the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. Its menu centers on a single format: a USDA Prime porterhouse, sliced and served for two, three or four people.
Besides the original house, the restaurant has a branch in Great Neck, New York (opened in 1968), one in Ebisu, Tokyo (2021), and one at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (November 2023).
Sold at auction to Sol Forman, 1950
The business opened in 1887 as "Carl Luger's Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley". Peter Luger owned it and his nephew Carl ran the kitchen. In 1950 the property was sold at auction to Sol Forman; Wikipedia names Seymour Sloyer as his partner in the purchase.
The Forman family has managed the restaurant since. Marsha Forman took charge of meat selection after training for two years with a retired grader from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Prime short loins, aged in house
The restaurant states that it buys only USDA Prime beef, selected by hand. The short loins are dry-aged on the premises in a room with controlled temperature, humidity and airflow, then butchered in house. The restaurant does not publish the number of days of aging.
The porterhouse is cut from the short loin and includes both the strip and the tenderloin on either side of the bone.
Under the broiler
Steaks are cooked under a broiler in the restaurant's kitchen. The type of broiler and its fuel are not described in the restaurant's own materials.
Porterhouse, and no credit cards
The porterhouse for two to four people is the dish associated with the house. The Brooklyn and Great Neck locations do not accept credit cards; payment is in cash, by US debit card, by check, or with the restaurant's own Peter Luger card.
A Michelin star, 2006 to 2022
Peter Luger received one Michelin star in the first Michelin Guide to New York City, published in 2006, and lost it in the 2022 guide.
The New York Times has reviewed it several times: Craig Claiborne gave it four stars in 1968, Ruth Reichl three stars in 1995 and Frank Bruni two stars in 2007. In 2019 Pete Wells gave it zero stars.
Frequently asked questions
Does Peter Luger take credit cards?
Not at the Brooklyn and Great Neck locations. They accept cash, US debit cards, checks and the Peter Luger card.
When was Peter Luger founded?
In 1887, in Brooklyn, as Carl Luger's Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley. The Forman family has owned it since 1950.
Does Peter Luger have a Michelin star?
It held one star from the first New York guide in 2006 and lost it in the 2022 guide.
Where are the Peter Luger locations?
Brooklyn (178 Broadway), Great Neck in New York, Ebisu in Tokyo, and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Sources
4
- Peter Luger Steak House. "Our Story." peterluger.com/pages/our-story
- Peter Luger Steak House. "Menus." peterluger.com/pages/menus
- Wikipedia. "Peter Luger Steak House." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Luger_Steak_House
- Fine Dining Lovers. "Michelin Guide New York 2022: see the new stars." www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/michelin-guide-new-york-2022-see-new-stars
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