DISH OF THE WEEK: Luger Burger at PETER LUGER STEAKHOUSE

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

Last week, I sang the praises of the burger from one of New York’s newest modern steakhouses. Today I’m going to continue my burger party by highlighting one of New York’s oldest and msot iconic steakhouses.

I had never been inside Peter Luger. It was one of the few classic New York institutions that I knew I had to visit at some point in my life. The two classic dishes are the very expensive porterhouse for two (close to $100) and the burger, which is only served at lunchtime.

One day recently, I found myself walking over the Williamsburg Bridge to kill some time before a video shoot and I tried to come up with a place to eat lunch. It wasn’t until I descended and saw the iconic exterior that I realized this was the perfect time to try this burger.

I asked to sit at the bar, but the bar had closed for the day. I was lucky that a table was available for little ol’ me. Despite not ordering any drinks, sides, or appetizers, the professional waiters gave me great service and very quickly brought over one fine looking cheeseburger.

And this is all about the burger. There were no fries or fancy sauces to hide the flavor of the meat. I added on a slice of American cheese which enhanced the juicy richness of the chopped steak. An excellent seeded bun served as the mighty vessel. This burger had a perfectly seasoned, charred exterior. Meat juices that slowly emerged released big flavors with each bite. The patty is composed from the trimmings of the dry-aged steaks and broiled under the same fire. You can certainly taste the quality of their full steaks in this lunch-time special.

Ok, now that I got you all drooling over the course of the last two weeks, I’m moving on from my spontaneous two-week burger celebration. Next week, back to the regularly scheduled program. That is until I end up sitting down at another NY steakhouse and being wowed by another excellent burger.