14 Best Steakhouses in New York City for Old-School Chops, Wagyu, and the Perfect Martini

When you're visiting New York City, a visit to a steakhouse is most certainly in order.Courtesy Delmonico'sNo single steakhouse can beat out all the others in NYC. Each has its strengths, and some are certainly better than others. There are the classics—Keens and Gallaghers in Midtown, Delmonico's in the Financial District, Peter Luger over in Williamsburg—that have been here for a hundred years or more, and for good reason. They are dimly-lit, tavern-like, with walls clad in wood. The menus do not change. The new and newish guard variously emulate and do their own thing. Increasingly, we are seeing steakhouses taking the basic assignment—red meat and sides in a formal dining room—and running with it in various cultural directions. Below, we've rounded up our favorites across this board. What's most important is their shared ability to make its diner feel important, a feat that goes beyond (but does require) the ability to gorge on good steak.Read our complete New York City guide here, which includes:The Best Restaurants in NYCThe Best Hotels in NYCThe Best Bars in NYCThe GrillSeagram Building, 99 E 52nd St, Midtown ManhattanI am forming the opinion that a steakhouse's cardinal function is to make its diners feel important. No place has succeeded so impeccably in this mission as The Grill, where I was whisked from a downstairs lobby into the glamorous dining room as though a visiting board member come to town to be courted and impressed. I went for lunch, so the metal chain curtains that undulate (yes, they are ever-moving) over the massive windows shimmered in the daylight. Everyone except for me, it seemed, as there on very important business. I was the only male diner that I could see not in a jacket. The menu is very spendy (you cannot get a cocktail for less than $26) and therefore especially reserved for special occasions. Peppered filet mignon and martini, I'd say, are the way to go, but if it's lunch and the prime rib roast beef sandwich is being served, it's a worthy detour. —C.H.Read Full ReviewGage & Tollner372 Fulton Street, Downtown BrooklynGage & 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, contributorRead Full Review4 Charles Prime Rib4 Charles St, West Village, ManhattanThe best thing that happened to me at 4 Charles Prime Rib was that I made a new friend. Steak and martinis and burgers, they're all fabulous—make no mistake. But sometimes it’s the life that comes at you in pursuit of those delicious menu items that leaves you feeling the most full. Too corny? Allow me to elaborate.4 Charles is one of the toughest tables in town. Like Torrisi, it’s practically a private members' club where the only people who can land a reservation are those who’ve eaten there before. Hopeful walk-ins start lining up over an hour before opening at 4 p.m., and I got there at 2:45 p.m. to find myself second in line. I sat on the West Village townhouse stoop and enjoyed the day, enjoyed the sight of the staff puttering around setting up, glared at the people with reservations who we in line agreed were “line cutters.” When the host began seating people around 3:45 p.m., she told me that I was the first single walk-in and would therefore enjoy the one table by the door that they reserve for such parties. The man behind me, who arrived nary five minutes after I did, was told he would therefore have to wait until I was done. “Can’t I just sit with him?” he asked in earnest bewilderment. “Sure!” I responded.And so together we unhinged our jaws and ate the 10-ounce double wagyu smash burger with thick slabs of bacon, his with an egg, and together we poured the beef jus over the pink center of the titular 4 Charles Cut and expressed our unexpected delight with the horseradish cream accoutrement. Together we drank martinis—I, a perfect vesper; he, an espresso; and then a chocolate each. If you’re going to try to go, I recommend you do so in this way. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editorRead Full ReviewPeter Luger Steak House178 Broadway, Williamsburg, BrooklynPeter Luger isn't just the Brooklyn steakhouse. It 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. —C.H.Read Full ReviewLucky's224 Lafayette St, SoHo, ManhattanThis 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.Read Full ReviewCote16 West 22 St, Flatiron, ManhattanHead 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. There's also a second location at 550 Madison that's a bit grander, should that suit you. —D.F.Read Full ReviewGallaghers228 W 52nd Street, Midtown ManhattanGallaghers is the best steakhouse to eat at before a Broadway show. Wood paneled walls covered in framed old photographs (one of singer Perry Comon had to be labeled “this is not Jeffrey Epstein” due to those two men’s shared resemblance) offset the inhumane Midtown environment just beyond the front door. This is a place that’s as good for steak (and it really is good for steak) as it is for all of the accoutrements one expects of a good steakhouse—beyond the bovine, highlights include the old fashioned, the creamed spinach, the house-smoked bacon, and the beautifully browned veal chop parmigiana. Putting it all over the edge is the people watching—real live businesspeople drowning their sorrows at the bar alongside the theatergoers, and haughty waiters doing buttoned-up to the max. —C.H.Read Full ReviewKeens Steakhouse72 W 36th Street, Midtown ManhattanThe only difficult choice to make when entering Keens is where to look first. Is it up, at the 90,000 pipes lining the ceiling? To the glass cases, where the most famous churchwardens—15-inch pipes—smoked by the likes of Babe Ruth and General MacArthur are stored? In the bar, are you mesmerized by the Miss Keen painting (a nude, lounging on her bear rug) right away, or are you too distracted by the New-York-ad-men-in-the-'50s vibe? This steakhouse, open since 1883, delivers something new to look at every time you go. Keens was originally called a chop house, in recognition of its famous mutton chop, and although that is good and musty and intense, most people are ordering steak. There’s the porterhouse for two or three, the chateaubriand, and the filet mignon—which is actually fabulous here. You want the béarnaise or au poivre sauce on the side, and the creamed spinach, which is less a vegetable than it is dessert. There's also the matter of the burger, which can be ordered up to the dining room from the more casual bar menu. —Alex Van BurenRead Full ReviewCuerno1271 Avenue of the Americas, Midtown ManhattanFrom the moment you walk into Cuerno, there's a sense of importance—the crowd, in suits and slicked back hair, is well-dressed; the dining room is always bustling and full, necks turning to see who else has walked in; and tableside preparations are happening left and right. This is Northern Mexican meat at its finest, in a space that feels true to that spirit—big leather booths, a colorful tile mural of a skeleton riding a bull—and with a menu that won't let you down. There are expected starters, like fresh guac and queso fundido, but also a chicarrón de pulpo bursting with flavor, and a charcoal-roasted cauliflower complemented by truffle and habanero. The main event, of course, are the steaks, like the decadent Taco Taquero with perfect skirt steak, and fire-roasted bone marrow scooped onto each tortilla tableside, or the Norteño-style arrachera served with chiltepin butter and avocado salsa.Portions are generous, so come in a group of four people minimum to actually try different sections of the menu. And though most steakhouses focus on wine (and the wine list is good here), I like the chance to pair smoky mezcal and tequila cocktails with the heavier food. —Megan SpurrellRead Full ReviewSt. Anselm355 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg, BrooklynNot just in Williamsburg, not just in New York City, but truly one of the coziest, best-value steakhouses I’ve ever been to, St. Anselm manages a rare balance: laid-back yet elevated, intimate without trying too hard, and consistently delicious. The space feels like a hidden tavern—dark wood, low light, and just enough buzz and energy to make it feel like a special night out. The Butcher’s Steak is the standout—charred to perfection, tender and juicy inside, and ideal for sharing (for two) alongside fingerling potatoes and long green beans. Go for a group lunch or, better yet, settle in after dark when the candles are lit and the place feels like a warm, secret pocket of the city. Ask your server—or better yet, belly up to the bar—and you’ll get a wine recommendation that pairs not just with the food, but with your mood. —Jessica ChapelRead Full ReviewBuenos Aires513 E 6th Street, East Village, ManhattanBuenos Aires earns major points for nostalgia: The tiny dining room is adorned in hanging soccer jerseys, televisions showing live games and commentary, and scarfs and pendants for teams like the Boca Juniors. There are couples on dates, families with kids, and even, in my case, a dude who came in alone and ordered his regular with his headphones in. (Ask about celebrities and they'll bring out an iPad with photos of grinning staff beside countless Latin America soccer players, American actors, and even Matt Damon who apparently hosted two birthday parties here in the early 2000s.) All to say, this isn't the place to bring the corporate account or close the deal, but it is the place to roll up your sleeves and tuck into a massive skirt steak, expertly cooked, and served no-frills—just a great piece of meat on a plate. Do save room for the empanadas (carne cortada a cuchillo, of course); on my next visit, I'm planning to order the sweetbreads as well. —M.S.Read Full ReviewGolden Steer at One Fifth1 Fifth Avenue, West Village, ManhattanGlam, glam, glam with a capital G. Golden Steer's New York iteration—the original is in Vegas, and little of that location's trademark opulence has been sacrificed in adapting the brand for New York. We're not in Midtown either, but in the West Village, and this is a fitting addition to that neighborhood as it increasingly wears its wealth on its sleeve. Entering this crimson bunker is a cinematic experience—long hallways flanked by side quests like the capacious but moody bar. What to get? Sink into your plush booth and go full Sin City: the bloody bull oyster shooter (where a rich beef broth-spiked shot of bloody mary chases the slime), the big ole baked potato, and a Caesar dotingly mixed tableside. Any cut of meat will do. —C.H.Read Full ReviewDelmonico's56 Beaver St, Financial District, ManhattanThe definitive downtown steakhouse is also New York City's oldest. Its home since 1837 is 56 Beaver Street, a dramatic triangular lot at the intersection of Beaver, William, and South William in the Financial District. When I visited on a mid-May evening, the exterior was bedecked in American regalia—they were to film an episode of The Gilded Age there the next day (the new season is currently airing on HBO) depicting the ticker tape parade welcoming the Statue of Liberty to the city. All of this history would be moot were the steakhouse inside not very good, which it is from top to bottom—superlative, doting service in the mural-clad dining room, stiff drinks, perfect cuts of meat. As with every steakhouse, there are a couple of signature items beyond steak that you should consider. Here, it's wedge salad and buttery Lobster Newberg, said to have been invented there. Don't miss either, but steak is still the thing, namely the titular flagship cut—a glistening 18-ounce ribeye that stands alone on the plate, needing no accoutrements. —Charlie HobbsRead Full ReviewCarversteak305 W 48th St, Midtown ManhattanDinner and a show in New York City’s midtown sounds fabulous, but in practice usually means settling for a meal that delivers more on convenience than cuisine or atmosphere. Carvesteak, a newish steakhouse on the west side of 48th street, stepped up to all these qualities after I saw The Rocky Horror Show earlier this year. Designed by David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, it’s moody, mirrored interiors are filled with little nods to the Broadway history it shoulders—including a dramatic velvet curtain that the bartender at the martini bar told me was once part of the set for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera (even if untrue, it certainly looked the part). Speaking of the martini bar, it’s not to be missed: a pocket-sized station to post yourself up at before or after dinner. Food-wise, this is a classic steakhouse menu, but with a little bit of flashiness thanks to the restaurant’s Las Vegas origins (it debuted at Resorts World Las Vegas in 2021): think, prime cuts and aged rib eyes with all the sides and sauces you would expect, but also the option to order a potato and caviar “popsicle.” There’s a pre-theater menu, too, but for the full experience I suggest coming hungry and catching the last call before 10 p.m. —Lale ArikogluRead Full ReviewCharlie Hobbs is an Associate Editor at Condé Nast Traveler, where he chips in on pop culture, food and beverage, hotels, and features coverage. He grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut and went to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he studied English Literature and worked on Contrast, the ... 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