Peter Luger Steak House: The 1887 Williamsburg Porterhouse Institution
Peter Luger doesn’t do a happy hour — it’s a steakhouse institution that’s been at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge since 1887. There’s no deal to chase here; there’s the porterhouse, and the ritual around it.
The signature is the dry-aged porterhouse “for two, three or four,” carved tableside and served sizzling in its own fat with the house steak sauce. The honest read: it’s expensive, the dining room is plain and old-school, the waiters are famously gruff — and the single most important thing to know is the payment rule.
What to Expect
There’s no happy hour. The one thing to sort before you go is payment: the Brooklyn location is cash-favoring and does not take regular credit cards — only the Peter Luger Card, US debit cards, US checks with ID, or cash. Reservations (via Resy) are essential and book out. Order the porterhouse, the thick-cut bacon, and the German-style sides; this is a planned, special-occasion meal, not a drop-in.
The Room
The rooms are deliberately unfussy — wood-paneled, beer-hall-plain, no scene — which is the point. Beef is hand-selected USDA Prime, dry-aged on site, and the porterhouse comes carved and sizzling. It’s a James Beard “America’s Classics” honoree (2002); it no longer holds a Michelin star and famously took a zero-star NYT review in 2019, yet it stays packed. About a six-minute walk from the Marcy Ave J/M/Z.
Who Peter Luger Steak House Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Special-occasion steak | The dry-aged porterhouse for two is the reason the place is a pilgrimage. |
| Old-school NYC | A plain, wood-paneled room and career waiters — atmosphere by subtraction. |
| Out-of-town guest | One of the city’s defining restaurants, open since 1887. |
| Plan-ahead dinner | Reservations and the cash-only rule make this a meal you arrange, not wing. |
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Peter Luger Steak House FAQ
Does Peter Luger have a happy hour?
No — Peter Luger is a steakhouse with no happy hour; the draw is the dry-aged porterhouse.
Does Peter Luger take credit cards?
The Brooklyn location is cash-favoring — no regular credit cards; only the Peter Luger Card, US debit, US check with ID, or cash.
What should you order at Peter Luger?
The dry-aged porterhouse ‘for two’ (or three/four), carved tableside, with thick-cut bacon and the German-style sides.
Where is Peter Luger?
178 Broadway in Williamsburg, about a six-minute walk from the Marcy Ave J/M/Z.
Happy hour times and deals last verified June 2026. Details can change — confirm with Peter Luger Steak House before visiting for a specific deal.