One of my most cherished childhood memories involves my parents taking my sister and me to Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Peter Luger, established in 1887, is not just a restaurant; it’s a New York City institution, consistently ranked among the top steakhouses. Even today, it remains true to its heritage with its German beer hall décor and waiters sporting classic bow ties. Their menu, famously concise, centers around top-quality, dry-aged porterhouse steak and has remained virtually unchanged since my childhood.
My parents were devoted patrons of Peter Luger during our time living in New York, frequenting it so often they became familiar faces to the staff. Now, whenever they visit, conversations inevitably drift back to nostalgic Peter Luger meals, reminiscing about the irresistible crispy German fried potatoes and the velvety creamed spinach. Recently, I realized my partner, Caitlin, had never experienced Peter Luger. To celebrate our second anniversary this past August, I decided it was time to introduce her to the legendary steakhouse, though we initially ended up at the Great Neck location due to booking constraints at Peter Luger Brooklyn.
Like many, I was aware that Peter Luger operates two locations: the original in Brooklyn and another in Great Neck. My initial attempt to secure a reservation at Peter Luger Brooklyn was unsuccessful – it was completely booked. At the time, missing out on Brooklyn felt like a setback, and we “settled” for Great Neck.
This led me to delve into the ongoing debate: was the Peter Luger Great Neck location truly the authentic Peter Luger experience? It was Caitlin’s first time, and my own memories of Peter Luger were from childhood. My research confirmed a strong division of opinion. My Dad, a staunch advocate for Peter Luger Brooklyn, emphasized the significance of the older ovens and the unique ambiance, declaring it incomparable. Conversely, my Uncle Rick believed the taste to be identical at both locations, only noting that Great Neck also offered lobster. Online forums echoed this split sentiment, with opinions evenly divided on which location was superior.
Great Neck, I must admit, was impressive. Caitlin thoroughly enjoyed her first Peter Luger experience, but neither of us had a benchmark from the Brooklyn location. After sharing photos of our Great Neck visit on social media, the response was immediate and passionate! Friends passionately debated whether Great Neck could truly measure up to Peter Luger Brooklyn. The consensus remained divided, with many arguing that Brooklyn offered not only superior ambiance but also better food. Others maintained that the two locations were indistinguishable. This online debate solidified our decision: Caitlin and I needed to conduct our own comparison. Challenge accepted!
A few months later, my mom called with a proposition: my brother, Brendon-Sage, needed a couch to crash on for a weekend. She also suggested making a reservation at Peter Luger Brooklyn as a Christmas gift for the three of us. Brendon had also never been to Peter Luger, and Caitlin and I were thrilled at the chance to finally experience Peter Luger Brooklyn and settle the debate once and for all. I made the reservation about a month and a half in advance – a stark contrast to Great Neck, where reservations could likely be secured on the same day.
So, let’s get to what you really want to know:
Peter Luger Brooklyn boasts its own parking lot…a significant advantage in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where street parking is notoriously challenging. While Peter Luger Great Neck also offers a parking lot and valet service, it’s almost expected in Long Island. The Brooklyn parking lot was a definite perk, though valet parking would have been appreciated, especially given the winter chill and the lot being a short walk away.
In terms of location, Peter Luger Brooklyn is the undeniable winner. Great Neck simply cannot compete with the vibrant atmosphere of downtown Brooklyn. Being in the heart of Williamsburg, with a beautiful, historic bank across the street, added a touch of grandeur to the entire experience. Peter Luger Great Neck, in comparison, is situated on Northern Boulevard, surrounded by car dealerships and auto body shops.
Our reservation at Peter Luger Brooklyn was for 7:45 pm, and we arrived slightly early to enjoy drinks at the bar. It wasn’t overly crowded when we arrived, but within twenty minutes, the place was bustling. At Peter Luger Great Neck, we also started at the bar, where I enjoyed a “Luger” beer. I was slightly disappointed that Peter Luger Brooklyn didn’t offer a “Luger” beer, but the bartender was helpful in recommending a similar alternative.
Speaking of the bar, Caitlin ordered a glass of wine at the bar of each location, and Peter Luger’s wine pour deserves special mention. This isn’t a dainty, sommelier-approved pour. Peter Luger pours generously, right to the rim! It’s the kind of pour that suggests a long day, a relaxing evening, and a willingness to indulge. Bravo, Peter Luger, for your generous pours!
Comparing the layouts of the two locations, I didn’t have strong feelings either way, but I appreciated how the bar at Peter Luger Brooklyn was situated closer to the host stand. This made it easier to hear when our reservation was called. In Great Neck, the bar is in a separate, smaller room. However, to their credit, the hostess at Great Neck personally came to the bar area to call out reservation names. Caitlin found Peter Luger Brooklyn to be significantly nicer than the Great Neck location. While both steakhouses share the German beer hall aesthetic, she felt Peter Luger Brooklyn executed it more tastefully, creating a more upscale ambiance compared to Great Neck.
Around 7:30 pm, we were seated for dinner at Peter Luger Brooklyn. Having dined at Peter Luger in the past, I knew our order: the Steak for Three (medium rare, of course – why cook it more when it’s already been sacrificed?), creamed spinach, and Luger’s Special German Fried Potatoes. In fact, as I began to speak, our waiter politely anticipated my order, and he was spot on. We had ordered the same dishes at Peter Luger Great Neck.
Our waiter at Peter Luger Brooklyn, Lorenzo, was exceptional. He was attentive, knowledgeable about the wine list, and genuinely focused on ensuring we had a great experience. In contrast, our server in Great Neck was merely adequate – somewhat disinterested and aloof, seemingly wanting to turn over our table quickly. We didn’t even bother to get his name. This difference was notable, especially given the stereotype of Brooklyn waiters being older and gruff. Lorenzo, however, was genuinely invested in our dining experience.
At our anniversary dinner in Great Neck, we deviated from tradition slightly by ordering the Sizzling Bacon appetizer. The “extra-thick bacon by the slice” description was too tempting to resist. The bacon was transformative. Once you’ve tasted Peter Luger’s bacon, you realize you’ve never truly experienced bacon before. There’s no turning back. The next morning, your regular breakfast bacon will pale in comparison. The Peter Luger Brooklyn bacon, while still outstanding, wasn’t quite as crispy and charred as the Great Neck version Caitlin and I had enjoyed. However, the Brooklyn slices seemed larger (more bacon, yes!). Both were fantastic, thick-cut, and beautifully cured, but I personally preferred the crispier Great Neck bacon, while Caitlin favored the Brooklyn bacon. My brother, Brendon, was simply happy to have bacon. In short, if you visit Peter Luger and skip the bacon, you’re missing out.
A quick note: the onion rolls are incredible – densely packed with onions and bursting with flavor. Resisting the urge to fill up on these before the main course was a challenge.
We naturally ordered wine for the table, choosing a 2011 Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir. One bottle turned into two by the end of the evening – as often happens! This 89-point wine had a beautiful dark red hue, a pleasant texture, and a weight that complemented our dry-aged porterhouse perfectly, with notes of dark cherries and spice.
One surprisingly delightful aspect of Peter Luger at both locations was their rendition of the birthday song. At both restaurants, a nearby table was celebrating a birthday, and the waiters emerged to sing “Happy Birthday.” This was far from a generic chain restaurant birthday song. The waiters possessed rich, baritone voices and sounded remarkably professional. After witnessing this twice, we speculated that singing auditions might be part of the Peter Luger hiring process.
When the rest of our food arrived at Peter Luger Brooklyn, I didn’t detect any significant difference in the creamed spinach and potatoes compared to Great Neck. The “for two” portion of German fried potatoes is generously sized, easily enough for six. These fried and seasoned chopped potatoes with onions are similar to home fries and were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside at both locations. The creamed spinach was also phenomenal at both restaurants. Again, the “for two” portion is ample for at least four people. Even for those who don’t typically favor spinach, Peter Luger’s creamed spinach is exceptional – creamy, silky, and melts in your mouth. And, of course, the Luger sauce is a champion condiment!
Now, about the steak – the centerpiece of the Peter Luger experience. Peter Luger serves their steak on a large, sizzling platter, pre-cut, and family-style. The Peter Luger Brooklyn steak was phenomenal, cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was the kind of steak that demands slow chewing to fully savor each bite. Here’s where I noticed the most significant difference between the locations: while the Peter Luger Great Neck steak was also a perfect medium rare, the sear differed. The sear on the Great Neck steak created a much crispier, more charred outer layer than the sear on our Peter Luger Brooklyn steak. Temperature-wise, both were perfect. I personally preferred the Great Neck steak due to the more pronounced sear.
Caitlin, on the other hand, preferred the Peter Luger Brooklyn steak. She felt it was slightly more rare than the Great Neck steak, which she found a touch overdone for medium rare. For me, the sear is a matter of personal preference, and I loved the crispy outer layer. However, I understand why many would favor the Peter Luger Brooklyn version. This difference likely comes down to the kitchens and the legendary older stoves and ovens in Brooklyn. These older ovens may impart a gentler, less intense heat compared to the newer equipment in Great Neck.
After we finished our meal at Peter Luger Brooklyn, our waiter Lorenzo graciously packed our leftovers and even provided a small container of Luger sauce to take home – a delightful, albeit discreet, gesture (apparently not standard practice). Both Peter Luger meals resulted in enough leftovers for a complete dinner the following night, which certainly softens the impact of the bill.
Another important detail: Peter Luger primarily accepts their own Peter Luger credit card, but they also accept debit cards – it’s not a cash-only establishment.
To conclude our evening at Peter Luger Brooklyn, Brendon and I ordered Irish coffees. We had observed the bartender expertly preparing them earlier and knew we had to try them. They were phenomenal – incredibly delicious! The three of us also shared the cheesecake, which was incredibly creamy and served with a generous bowl of freshly made whipped cream. We were completely full after dinner, but making room for that homemade cheesecake with homemade whipped cream was undoubtedly one of the best decisions of the night. The second bottle of wine might have played a role, but it was an epic dessert experience. Ultimately, dinner at Peter Luger Brooklyn was fantastic – a true treat for all of us.
And so, the verdict:
In my opinion, the differences between Peter Luger Brooklyn and Great Neck are minimal. You truly can’t go wrong with either location, explaining the lack of consensus on which is superior. The service was noticeably better at Peter Luger Brooklyn. While Caitlin preferred the food at Peter Luger Brooklyn outright, I still lean slightly towards the Peter Luger Great Neck steak due to my preference for the crisper sear. However, even with my personal preference for the Great Neck steak, if I were making a reservation or recommending a location, I would choose Peter Luger Brooklyn. It ultimately comes down to location and ambiance. When choosing a winner, we lean towards the original – Peter Luger Brooklyn… but be sure to book your reservation well in advance!
Tell us what you think! Do you agree with our assessment, or are we completely off base? Do you prefer Peter Luger Great Neck? Let us know in the comments below!
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