Best NYC Steakhouse
 

This one is real simple....

I am looking for what many would consider to be the best steakhouse in NYC that is NOT a chain but can be if all else fails.

I have eaten at what I consider to be some of the best moo joints in the land (Chicago Chophouse, Bern's and Abe & Louie's to name a few).

At the end of the day, the priority is on the food but other elements such as service, ambience, price and reputation are important too. Notice that I don't mention wine as it would stand to reason that a great steakhouse would have an equally great wine list.

That's it. Suggest away!!!

Thanks

Strip House, followed by Keen's. Those are my nominations, and I'm sure you'll receive many.

If you value service and ambiance, then Peter Luger's will not make you happy.

For food alone Peter Luger. But - it's in a very inconvenient location - and is one of those New York institutions where a gruff staff is considered picturesque (think the soup nazi).

And it's cash only at Peter Luger.

Last time I went to Luger, the server was *very* friendly, which was a change from my previous visits. I've been told by others that it's been going this way lately.

Craft Steak - 85 tenth Ave

This is not simple. It's debated endlessly. There are dozens of good steak places in NYC and everyone will have their favorites. There are also differences in terms of which cuts of meat you like. The top places are
Peter Luger
Sparks
Del Frisco (chain)
Strip House
Wolfgang's
BLT STeak
BLT Prime
Keen's
Bobby Van's

You'll find lots of good threads on chowhound.com

Second for the BLT restaurants - very good.

second for keens! peter lugar is good, for the overall experience, but keens is my personal fave. haven't been to striphouse but it is a favorite of a colleagues.

Sparks

Unfortunately, for some of the better NYC steakhouses, having a deep and good wine list is not a priority. Lugers and Keens come to mind when good steaks are considered, but one will have to settle for thin, unexciting and somtimes, run-of-the-mill wines.

Sparks provide what I consider the best and deepest wine list with a more than decent cuts of meat.

Del Frisco, a chain and whose steaks I would not endorse, also has a good wine list.

My first choice would be Striphouse.
Was just there on saturday night and had a great strip steak.

2nd choice would be Keens.

Sparks. The steaks are so tender you don't even need a steak knife.

Sparks

del frisco's

Another vote for craftsteak - excellent wine list, terrific sides and great way to taste the different types of steak - corn fed vs. grass fed. Had a grass fed strip steak there that was a revelation.

Runners up would be Sparks and Striphouse.

I've also had very good steak at the downtown Landmarc - not a steak house per se, but the rib-eye is great.

I don't agree that on food alone Peter Luger's wins. I just don't get the whole "steak for two," "steak for four" concept. My experience was that part of it was overdone and part of it was underdone. I wasn't impressed and haven't been back.