I crossed #15 off my to do list recently: I dined at Peter Luger.

Sometimes iconic experiences don’t live up to the hype but Peter Luger absolutely did. I loved it.

The restaurant is from another time. It was established in 1887 but is aging quite well.

There are gleaming brass light fixtures throughout, wood paneling and in a little booth, a purple haired cashier (I’m pretty sure her hair isn’t purple out of trendiness). The servers, all men from what I can tell, are no-nonsense. Not brusque, but efficient.

https://instagram.com/p/2SNKx8m-W4/

And then there’s the food. I dined at Peter Luger with a business partner for lunch so our meal was slightly less indulgent than it might have been if we went for dinner. This means we didn’t have the bacon appetizer – sadness!

We had steak for two even though my dining companion T isn’t a big meat eater. Our waiter Manny steered me away from steak for one because the cut of beef, a Porterhouse, is superior in steak for two. T also ordered a sole entrée from the daily specials menu. You can indeed eat at Peter Luger even if you don’t eat meat.

It’s quite the destination for international tourists (not in a bad way).

If you go, keep in mind that Peter Luger is cash only (unless you have a Peter Luger credit card, and I don’t know anyone who does) and meals are not inexpensive.

I will definitely go back – whenever I can get a reservation that is.

Check out more of my NYC To Do List here.