The foodies dream. I was pissed about the drive but amazed after I got there. Steak was AWESOME. Lobster was incredible (and I am a tough grade). Story behind the place....priceless. If you decide to take to the plunge, get there EARLY as a line forms very fast and gets longer along with the wait for a table.
I also stopped at Ruth Chris another day and was totally disenchanted. After a lot of hype, I have no plans of repeating.
I have sought steaks all over this great land but would never think of going to New Jersey for one (see Fred Armison's devastatingly funny SNL parodies of former Gov. Patterson, as in "You what I love to see in my rear-view mirror? New Jersey!). But in all my travels (which have included the wonderful St. Elmos in Indianapolis and Del Frisco's Double Eagle outside Dallas, as well as all the Palms, Ben Benson's and Peter Luger's), I've never been to Sammy's Roumanian Steak House in NY. Have you tried it?
if it's steak you're looking for you could do a lot better than sammy's but if you're a fan of eastern european delights and some good old fashioned old world ambience sammy's is an experience not to be missed.
homestead was very good...strip house was great...palms was good but not amazing. I was surprised to find such good food in NJ at sammys and I was equally as surprised that ruth chris was a bust. It was over seasoned...way too much salt, pepper and butter. I find a great cut of meat speaks for itself....I like to taste IT, not the pepper and butter Not only that but it was tough. A bad day for them? I cant see how all 3 steaks were prepared so bad. Some people suggested it was indeed the location and that the chain is better elsewhere. Lets hope so. Service was good though...
Slathered in garlic butter to which I say, what doesn't taste good slathered in garlic butter?!
Posted By: inicky46
I have sought steaks all over this great land but would never think of going to New Jersey for one (see Fred Armison's devastatingly funny SNL parodies of former Gov. Patterson, as in "You what I love to see in my rear-view mirror? New Jersey!). But in all my travels (which have included the wonderful St. Elmos in Indianapolis and Del Frisco's Double Eagle outside Dallas, as well as all the Palms, Ben Benson's and Peter Luger's), I've never been to Sammy's Roumanian Steak House in NY. Have you tried it?
I am still a great fan of Sammy's Romanian. This is not a steak house per se, but a slice of a specific era of Jewish life and cuisine. Go there for the experience, not just the food, it is enormous fun. The chopped liver is fantastic, the steak slathered in garlic is wonderful, and vodka is served in blocks of ice. This is not finely marbled New York Sirloin (for which you go to Wolenskys, Post House, or Strip House) or Porterhouse (for which you go to Lugers, Wolfgangs, or Ben and Jacks). This is much more utilitarian meat (as would be the hanger steak at Les Halles, by the way) but it is still great stuff. That being said, it is a once a year thing, as the food is extremely heavy. One leaves in a miasma of garlic.
THE BEST STEAK HOUSE IN THE WORLD IS PETER LUGER AND THEY LOCATE IN BROOKLYN NEAR THE WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE AND NOBODY COME SECOND TO COMPARE TO THIS ...THEY HAVE GREAT SREVICE AND VERY ENTHUSIATIC WAITERS WILLING TO HELP YOU AND THE FOOD IS GREAT .. GREATEST . STEAK YOU WILL EVER EAT......YOU NEED A APPT ... DO NOT EMBARESS THAT PLACE
Ah yes, Sammy's. I used to go there with my parents when I grew up in Jersey. Yes the steak is awesome and I've been to Lugers, Prime, Ruth Cris, etc..... Sammy's is the best for steak. DOn't forget the cottage fries!
the lobster was amazing....I mean sick. I usually never eat lobster outside of new england because its always disappointing. I took a chance and have been dying for more ever since. The story behind the place is very interesting too....
Another favorite of mine. You can't beat having a 2 1/2 pounder at the Brant Point Grill on Nantucket harbor and hearing the 10:00 p.m. ferry come in while you're chompin' on the tail. Like they say, "Best tail in town!" You should join me on Nantucket sometime. I boil 'em in seawater direct from the beach. But first we have "the race of death:" the winner goes into the pot first! PS: Cara, not sure why lobster wouldn't be perfectly fine outside of New England. It's shipped live everywhere, so the only way it could be screwed up is if it's overcooked.
Try it in the winter sometime! I spent all of Feb. and most of March there and, man, it's bleak! No wonder the winter sport there is drinking! Hard to find a decent restaurant that's open, or anyone to talk to. Plus, you've got to go to Hyannis to find a provider! I was celibate the whole time!
Yes. Many restaurants re-open then and there's an event called Christmas Stroll, where they close the old cobble-stoned Main Street area and people wear 19th century dress and sing carols. Lots of tourists, though. Still, I think the best month there is September: the tourists are gone but it's still summer. Warm water, great food, bliss! May and June are great, too, but the water's still cold.
I usually stick with 1 3/4 #ders..... Hard shell winter lobsters.....
I don't have seawater at my disposal but I put a rack in the bottom of the "Chamber Of Death", saute some aromatics, garlic, celery, shallot, then I add a good sauv blanc (New Zealand typically) and steam the fuckers. The wine perfumes the flesh beautifully..... I save the juice for a stock base.....
I melt some Vermont Cabot butter, blend it with parsley & lemon and serve.........
I make a MEAN lobster and corn chowda with the culls as well.........
I don't even like steak sauce, but I must at P Luger. It's delicious. I enjoy Benjamin Steakhouse too, and I'm at Del Friscos so often I have a table, PHL and NYC.
which ruth chris did you go to? i've been meaning to go to the weehawkin one because it's close to me. i hope that's not the one you had the bad experience with
No sign either. Have to know it is there or you will drive by as the area is dark and secluded. Just look for the expensive cars in the lot. It was a speakeasy in a former life. Is the bumper pool table still in the bar downstairs?
Anyway, I have been to more than a few and offer the folowing comments:
Lugers in Brooklyn. Overpriced and people are rude. Their buthchered and aged cows are not better than those of other places. Alot of people swear by it and I think it is just the reputation and that many "celebrities" may be found there. Sort of like Silver Oak (a quality cabernet but it does not live up to the hype) and what was Il Mulino (Il Giglio is just as good and, if you have an in, Tiro a Segno in the Village is even better). Maybe Lugers has changed but, at least for me, it is a pain to get too so I can sit at a picnic table (and I do not mind this if the food and service is great -- it is the same at Sammy's), get treated badly, pay $30.00 for a McCallan 12 and be expected to be grateful when someone slaps some schlag (whipped cream) on my stawberies and expects me to act like they are doing me a favor. Please. If I want that, I'll go to a Dick's Last Resort and have a better time for alot less money.
On alternate steak places in NYC, Wolfgangs in midtown was opened by a couple of waiters from Lugers (who perhaps had had enough) and the meat is just as good in a wholly more elegant atmosphere which, IMHO, counts alot when one is dining. Is the meat at Lugers rally better than at Ben Benson's? Maybe my tastes are not so refined, but I do not see it. Heck, Keene's is even more interesting and, although I was there for and only had the mutton chop, my guess is the porterhouse is not qualitatively different there either. Sparks is great too. Awesome atmosphere. Just no porterhouse which is a drag. Elegance and respect for the patrons though.
On Ruth's, they are all different. I agree that the one in Morris County sucks. However, the one in Weehawken on the Hudson River has always been consistently good and there is a nice pool hall next door to boot. The one in San Francisco is great too. Always a crap shoot with Ruth's though. The high end chains are all iffy. Not a fan of Morton's although it is quality meat. I like all of the Capital Grille's I have been too though (Providence, NYC and Philly).
If you are in Chicago, try Gene & Georgetti www.geneandgeorgetti.com. Old school Italian Steakhouse. Hmmmm. A trip for steaks and blues may be in order. Been too long.
In the end, it is strictly a matter of personal preference. IMHO, the meat in all of the high end steakhouses is not qualitatively different. Hence, it is the atmoshpere and service that makes the difference for me. That said, I wish Spark's had a porterhouse. Alas, I am left to suffer through oysters and Steak Fromage.
Add an attractive lady who likes steaks to the package at any of these places and now you are really talking. I am thinking it is high time we meet Cara. Seems we may have alot in common. Perhaps a cocktail or two at the Campbell Apartment, a qulity steak dinner and seeing where the evening may lead!
Have you trieddelfriscos? I have heard many raves and now bcd has added to them....sammys was a delight but I admit I would have been bummed if I got there an hour later and ended up on the line to get in! Hugs!
when you get there the main menu is awesome and filled with treats. Even the murals on the walls are intact from years ago when it opened. As the waiter about why there are palm trees in the pictures...a cute story
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Not only that but it was tough. A bad day for them? I cant see how all 3 steaks were prepared so bad. Some people suggested it was indeed the location and that the chain is better elsewhere. Lets hope so.
