132 replies to this topic

[dagordon]

Can't really understand anyone who would disagree that the cote de boeuf at Minetta Tavern is fairly obviously the best steak in Manhattan.

[patrickamory]

I'd categorize Minetta Tavern as not a classic steakhouse, so not in the running. True, the thread title asks what's the best steak in Manhattan, but the first post poses it in the context of Peter Luger, so I'm presuming we're talking:

- grainfed, dry-aged Midwestern beef
- porterhouse, T-bone, strip steak or sirloin
- older male waiters
- the offer not to look at a menu
- starters of shrimp cocktail and sliced tomato & onion with blue cheese
- sides of hash browns and creamed spinach
- a clubby, masculine ambience
- and probably a location in midtown

If you add other kinds of steak & restaurant into the equation, the possibilities are endless (and less interesting, in my mind).

[Sneakeater]

If you're talking about dry-aged trad cuts, it seems silly to me to eliminate Minetta.

[Bobster]

No thoughts about Frankie & Johnnie's?

[patrickamory]

If you're talking about dry-aged trad cuts, it seems silly to me to eliminate Minetta.

It's not just the cut, it's the menu, the style, and the experience.

[Sneakeater]

Understand. It's not a steakhouse. It just happens to have the best sub-Luger (and possibly Wolfgang's on the right night) steak in New York.

[Sneakeater]

So, to recap, people interested in eating great dry-aged prime steak should disregard Minetta, even though it has the second- or third-best steak in the City, because:

1. The decor is interesting.

2. Service is friendly and attentive; and

3. If your dining companions don't want steak, they have interesting choices and aren't stuck with second-rate salmon.

Makes sense to me.

[patrickamory]

Went to Luger last night for the first time since they opened the new dining room (yes, it's been a couple of years since my last trip).

Shrimp cocktail, sliced tomato and onion with blue cheese dressing, steak for 4 medium rare, hash browns and cream spinach. Followed by a chocolate sundae and of course the gold-foil chocolate coins. Wines were a 2007 Groth and a Mondavi Cab. Started with Beefeater martinis.

The steak was very good. The best I've had at Luger? No, but not the worst either. The filets in particular were particularly seared and crunchy, and that's not my favorite part of a porterhouse - but they really stood out this time. The strip was excellent, musty & rich throughout most of the loin on both porterhouses.

Not the out-of-body experience I've had there on occasion, but still joyous & heartwarming. I plan to return again soon.

[oakapple]

So, to recap, people interested in eating great dry-aged prime steak should disregard Minetta, even though it has the second- or third-best steak in the City, because:

1. The decor is interesting.

2. Service is friendly and attentive; and

3. If your dining companions don't want steak, they have interesting choices and aren't stuck with second-rate salmon.

Makes sense to me.

NYC steakhouses fall into two categories: the classics (steaks, along with predictable appetizers and sides) and modern (where the steaks can be great, but the rest of the menu doesn't follow a forumula). He's reviewing the first kind.

Minetta may very well be the best of the second group, and maybe the best overall (if you believe Bruni), but to be fair you would also need to include Strip House, Porter House, Quality Meats, BLT Steak, and BLT Prime among that clan.

[Sneakeater]

And what's interesting about each of those places is that Minetta is an order of magnitude better than any and all of them.

(I can't think of a time when the second or third-best steak in New York WASN'T at a steakhouse. This is a significant and interesting new development.)

Edited by Sneakeater, 29 July 2011 - 02:52 PM.

[gastrodamus]

completely agree with sneakeater. while minetta isn't a classic steakhouse, its côte de boeuf is hands down the best steak in the city. we should be comparing cut to cut; not by narrowly defining what a steakhouse is. minetta also serves one of the best burgers in town even though it's not a classic burger joint.

[Sneakeater]

Remember when the rule of thumb was, don't order steak in anyplace other than a steakhouse?

This is a change.

[dagordon]

completely agree with sneakeater. while minetta isn't a classic steakhouse, its côte de boeuf is hands down the best steak in the city. we should be comparing cut to cut; not by narrowly defining what a steakhouse is. minetta also serves one of the best burgers in town even though it's not a classic burger joint.

one of the best burgers?