Our 7 Favorite Steakhouses in NYC
There is no one single best steakhouse in NYC. That's because there are quite a few that satisfy effectively, each in a unique way. There are the classics: straightforward and storied, with good green veggie sides and a wood-clad dining room. But maybe you've had enough of that, and are finding yourself hankering for something sleeker, more inventive. Perhaps someplace younger and fresher is more your speed. Or maybe it's the buzzy Korean barbecue spot that's not only one of the city's best steakhouses, but one of its best restaurants period. The enduring beauty of the steakhouse—no matter which one you pick—is that it can be counted on to deliver something high-protein and special, no matter the variations on the form. Below, find the best steakhouse in NYC for every type of diner according to our editors and contributors.
Read our complete New York City guide here, which includes:
Courtesy Gage & Tollner/Lizzie MunrorestaurantGage & Tollner
$$$Gage & Tollner is more than 100 years old, but somehow manages to feel exactly like a Brooklyn restaurant of today should: inviting, thoughtful, and bustling—with a dose of history mixed in for good measure. It’s the type of restaurant that reminds guests why New York is a great city to dine in. The landmarked interior at Gage & Tollner is lined with mirrors and cherry wood arches and lit by brass chandeliers. It’s precisely the type of place to order a classic cocktail, like one of the seven martinis on offer or a Manhattan. The menu leans into steakhouse classics like New York strip steak and shrimp cocktail, but there are more modern touches here too like clams kimsino, made with bacon-kimchi butter, and crispy hen of the woods mushrooms with black garlic aioli and house Sriracha. No matter your dinner order, make sure you save room for the baked Alaska created by former pastry chef Caroline Schiff, who was named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine in 2022. Under a large singed meringue coat sits layers of fresh mint, dark chocolate, and amarena cherry ice cream and chocolate cookie crunch. —Devra Ferst, contributor
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Rey Lopez/Bourbon SteakrestaurantBourbon Steak
$$$Bourbon Steak is the kind of place I would take my mom to dinner at when she visits (that is, if my mom were less Californian, and more of a martini-and-steak right on the park kind of woman). This spot screams Uptown (or rather, politely whispers), and when I dipped into the moody, air-conditioned space on a balmy summer night, it was undeniably the choice of many for indulgent surf and turf—there’s a gold-trimmed cart that rolls past tables, proffering a regal King Crab; caviar service, seemingly a non-negotiable at any American restaurant these days, is Petrossian of Paris; and a section of the menu is titled “World of Wagyu.” It’s the same steakhouse concept chef Michael Mina has brought to cities like Miami and LA. Here, in his entry to New York City, the JW Marriott Essex House is its home. This restaurant is not rewriting history, or breaking boundaries: it’s just a very, very good incarnation of a classic experience, with some of the best service in town. Don’t be afraid to dip into the meat-free fare—the hearts of palm salad, the tuna tartare, and the scallops were serious highlights. —Megan Spurrell, associate articles director
Liz Clayman/Peter Luger SteakhouserestaurantPeter Luger Steak House
$$$Peter Luger isn't just the Brooklyn steakhouse. It's just might be the New York City steakhouse, especially if history carries any weight with you, dear reader. This fine establishment has sat at the same address in the Williamsburg Bridge's shadow since 1887, and the interiors carry about as many frills as your average public house—dark wood, plaster walls, and so on. The menu is just as unadorned, with the most popular menu items being the dry-aged steak for two, steak for three, or steak for four. You can also, rest assured, get a single steak, lamb chops, salmon, or filet of sole. The Luger's sizzling bacon is not to be missed, nor are the sliced tomatoes and onions with Luger's Own sauce (pro tip: they go quite well together.) If you're there before 3:45 p.m., you'd also be wise to order the over-½-lb Luger burger, which is so simple and bloody with optional American cheese that your eyes will roll back in your head. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor
Lucky'srestaurantLucky's
$$$This summer, the Montecito and Malibu staple Lucky's Steakhouse came to roost on a bustling street in New York’s Soho—and has been a fun addition to the city’s oft-stodgy steakhouse landscape ever since. Importantly, it’s a cool counterpoint—with its intimate size, Jazz Age-y murals, sexy date-night vibe, and a menu that accommodates non-steak eaters (i.e. me, a pescatarian). I know what you’re thinking: Why is a non-meat eater reviewing Lucky’s? Well, precisely for the fact that steakhouses can be wincingly non-inclusive, despite often being the restaurant of choice on special occasions. And Lucky’s feels different, not least because of its ambience. On a recent night, we started with the oysters, the peaky-toe crab cocktail, house chips, and Jimmy’s Greek salad (named after a family member of the owner). I then got the salmon, initially a perverse choice—because it usually plays poor country cousin at most steakhouses—but it was excellent. And we really dug into the sides—onion rings, market vegetables, and creamed corn. Both times I ate there, my companions ordered the 10-oz Gene’s Filet and I heard murmurs of firm approval. Whatever your dietary preference, don’t miss Lucky’s martini service, for which multiple servers will shake (or stir) your drinks table-side and in unison—because a little theatre hurts no one. —Arati Menon, global digital director
Gary HerestaurantCote
$$$Head 10 blocks south of New York’s Koreatown (see an itinerary of the neighborhood here), and you'll find Cote, a Korean steakhouse and one of the city’s best and buzziest restaurants. There’s no shortage of a la carte options, but the prix-fixe Butcher’s Feast is where diners should start. For $74 a person, you're treated to seasonal ban-chan, savory egg soufflé, two stews (including spicy kimchi stew), and the house selection of beef, including USDA Prime and Wagyu, cooked on the table with smokeless grills. The restaurant’s award-winning wine list features an impressive Champagne selection, and all by-the-glass pours come from Magnums, the large-format bottles that sommeliers say keeps wines younger and fresher. —D.F.
American CutrestaurantAmerican Cut
$$$The menu doesn’t stray too far from the classics—American Cut plays into the name, offering the usual cuts you’ll see in any American steakhouse menu paired with a hip, laidback atmosphere. Expect to see New York strip, skirt steak, filet mignon, bone-in ribeye, and the ever-popular tomahawk, but the cuts that make your trip worthwhile is the porterhouse or the pastrami ribeye. The porterhouse has all the theatrics that you’d expect in New York with a flambéed tableside experience, while the pastrami ribeye is incredibly soft and is an elevated take on a iconic sandwich with a dollop of mustard included. Most of the menu is grilled and it’s not uncommon to see darker-hues on the plate, while the sides bring pops of color and really meld the vibrant flavors and overall look together. A must-have is the sunchocked spinach, it pairs well with a wide range of meat on the menu and its buttery and rich. It’ll make you excited to eat your vegetables. —Paris Wilson, commerce writer
Trevor Williams/GettyrestaurantWolfgang's Steakhouse
$$$Wolfgang's Steakhouse is an old-school spot in all the best ways. There are several locations, and while all are fantastic, the one on 33rd and Park stands out from the rest. The low arched tiled ceilings alone should have a historic designation. The waiters remind me of a friend's dad dressed in all white with a white apron, effortlessly whisking perfectly cooked steaks from table to table. You'll find tables filled with young finance bros ending their night, power players sealing a business deal over a bottle of Barolo, friends and family celebrating another year around the sun, and everything in between. My go-to order, and what my husband and I get EVERY time without bothering with the menu: Caesar salad, beefsteak tomato with bleu cheese dressing, a strip of thick-cut bacon, steak for to, and a side of German potatoes. We share everything and take nothing home. Be sure to come hungry! —Eugene Shevertalov, associate entertainment director
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