Choice Joints & Rare Luxury – New York’s Top 5 Steakhouses

Finding a good steak in the city can be rare; so if you do find one, well done (pun intended). In New York City, there are a myriad of options when hunting for that delicious, mouth watering steak. To make your life easier here are Haute Living’s top 5 Steak Houses in New York.

Peter Luger Steak House
Anyone who knows steak in NY knows Lugers. The Peter Luger Steak House was established in 1887 and boasts a mix of clientele as rich and varied as the city itself. The restaurant is as traditional a steakhouse as you will find, and has been rated New York’s number 1 for 24 years in a row. As a glowing endorsement, the reviews just get juicier and juicier.

’No other steakhouse serves a porterhouse so breathtaking’ New York Times, ‘makes carnivores salivate at just hearing the name’ Zagat Survey 2007, ‘maintains a level of steak quality that is simply unmatched in America’, Gourmet Magazine.

Located in Brooklyn, the decor is more functional than luxurious, and the staff has a reputation of being more salty than sweet, but don’t let that deter you. The creamed spinach is nearly as famous as the buttery marbled porterhouse, and sharing, if you’re so inclined, is de rigueur. You can order a steak for 2, 3 or 4 and do not leave without trying the renowned Peter Luger ‘Old Fashioned Sauce’.

If that’s not enough, for the lazier steak lover, the Peter Luger delivery service will bring succulent rib eye straight to your door. However, for the full experience, get to the establishment itself and you’ll leave licking your fingers and utterly content.

Peter Luger Steakhouse is located at 178 Broadway, Brooklyn,
Tel – 718-387-7400

Benjamin Steakhouse
Two former Peter Luger protégés (Chef Arturo Mcleod & Benjamin Prelvukaj) branched out to Manhattan and created Benjamin Steakhouse, and as one may imagine, it follows a similar winning formula to that of their previous employer. Steaks come pre-sliced, sizzling on the plate, and the house sauce is spiced with horse radish. Like Lugers, Benjamin’s offers steak for 2, 3, or 4, and they’ve included the impressive offering of steak for 11.

The decor is more luxurious than Lugers, as one might expect given its Midtown Dylan Hotel location, and there’s an elegant atmosphere in Benjamin’s that is not common with many of its steakhouse relatives. With 5,000 square feet available, the restaurant features a 10 ft high fireplace, a vaulted decorative ceiling, and luxury brown leather seats. If you like style to ooze from your steakhouse as much as I like blood from my mignon, rest assured, Benjamin’s is the place for you.

Most importantly, the steak is succulent and tantalizing. The options are kept simple, filet mignon, rib-eye, porterhouse, or sirloin and the side of German potatoes are worth the reservation alone. Indeed, the menu offers a wide variety, from familiar steakhouse favorites to traditional seafood. It’s a bit pricier than some of its fellow eateries, but hey it’s New York City, and its great steak. Benjamin’s is definitely worth the experience but don’t just take our word for it, pay them a visit. You will not be disappointed.

Benjamin Steakhouse is located at 52 East 41st Street, New York
Tel – 212-297-9177

Strip House
In the world of steak houses, Strip House deserves a unique spot all to its self. Executive Chef John Schenk has created an innovative menu which will both challenge and inspire your taste buds. With 6 locations around the country, Strip House can boast to be one of America’s finest steakhouses.
A somewhat distant relation of the traditional steakhouse, the Strip House offers innovative dishes alongside a more traditional menu. One such unique offering is the Tequila and Steak pairing menu, with every flavor complimenting the other magnificently. The fig and foie gras appetizer is exceptional and the cold seafood platter is perfect for those that perhaps want a little surf and turf encounter.
Once again, the price is higher than a more traditional steakhouse but the perfectly cooked, tender, juicy steak makes it easily one of the best in Manhattan. If you prefer a more casual experience, you can sit at the bar, whilst the dining room is noisier than expected, but lively and full of character.

The decor is straight from a 1920’s cabaret club. The stylish interior was designed by David Rockwell, and the dark red dim lighting is heaving with class and intrigue. The wall is adorned with alluring black and white photographs of women taken at Studio Marasse in Vienna circa 1900. Both the ambiance and the food make this steakhouse well worth a visit.

“No other place matches Strip House for outstanding steaks and eye-appealing art on the walls” – Forbes.com

Strip House is located at 13 East 12th Street, New York
Tel – 212-328-0000

BLT Steak
Executive Chef Laurent Tourondel has brought his classical French training to the steakhouse genre and the result is the impressive BLT concept, a combination of French sensibilities and the hearty constituents of American cuisine. There is a very wide range of delicately cut meat available, from an enormous 40 ounce porterhouse to a surgically sliced flatiron cut Kobe beef.

The bistro’s bright, comfortable ambiance and steakhouse fare provide the perfect balance for those that wish to eat familiar great food in a trendy environment.  Of course all the classics are on the menu too, including a melt-in-the-mouth tender filet mignon. In addition to the magnificent beef, there is also a selection of sumptuous seafood and inspiring signature salads to keep the feast modern and varied. Some of the classic sides with an innovative twist include Parmesan gnocchi and oversized onion rings. The restaurant also holds an award winning wine list, featuring new and old world wines.
The service is excellent and you will leave satisfied, but yearning to return very soon. The infusion of classical European cooking and traditional American favorites set the tone for this modern steakhouse. If you want your experience to be new and fresh, visit BLT for the classic steak house meets modern cuisine with devastatingly delicious results.

BLT is located at 106 East 57th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues,
Tel – 212-752-7470

Sparks Steakhouse
The final restaurant worthy of the Haute Living top 5 is New York’s famous Sparks Steakhouse. This steakhouse has both outstanding tradition and history. Sparks was originally opened on East 18th street by Pat and Mike Cetta in 1966, and they moved to their current location in 1977.

The restaurant has no shortage of admirers. ‘The greatest steakhouse in Manhattan”-The New York Post, “Melt in the mouth prime steaks”-Zagat Review. The food is traditional and the steaks are without a doubt, some of the best in the city. The Sparks prime sirloin is a must for anyone hankering after a juicy, perfectly aged, delicious piece of meat.

A lesser known Spark fact is that they carry an extensive wine list. In fact, the restaurant has won Wine Spectators Magazine’s Grand Award every year since 1981, so treat yourself to a rare vintage whilst enjoying that medium prime cut. After your meal, feel free to select a cigar from the impressive Cigar Humidor, which holds a wider range than many tobacco shops.

The staff are friendly, the dining room is large (687 seats) and the impressive Jim Brady designed decor will certainly catch the eye. If you decide to sample Spark’s fare, you will be paying for the quality you receive, and you also never know who may be sitting at the table next to you. Previous patrons include the late Gregory Peck and former French President Jacques Chirac. Infamously, in December 1985 former New York mob boss Paul Castellano and his bodyguard were shot outside Sparks, presumably as they were on their way in for a perfectly bloodied sirloin.

Whether you’re just visiting New York or have lived here all your life, this Steakhouse is definitely not to be missed.

Sparks Steakhouse is located at 210 East 46th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue
Tel – 212-687-4855