We did Father’s Day at Peter Luger in Great Neck this year, and there are a few things you need to know if you’d like to do the same. This is not a “just show up and wing it” kind of place. It’s a 130-year-old steakhouse with its own way of doing things, and a few of those things will trip you up if nobody warns you first.
So consider this me warning you. Here are the 5 things I wish I’d known before walking in, so you can show up like you’ve done this a hundred times.
1. They don’t take credit cards. At all.
This is the big one, so I’m putting it first. Peter Luger does not accept credit cards. Not Visa, not Amex, not your fancy travel points card. At both the Brooklyn and Great Neck locations, you can pay with cash, a US debit card, a US check with photo ID, or their own Peter Luger Card. That’s it.
I know. In 2026! But that’s part of the charm, and honestly, it’s kind of a vibe once you lean into it.
A few tips so this doesn’t catch you off guard:
- Bring cash for the tip. Even if you pay the bill with debit, you’ll want cash on hand to tip your server. This is the part most people forget.
- Hit the ATM before you go. A steak dinner here adds up fast, and you don’t want to be doing math at the table.
2. Each location books differently. Great Neck is phone only.
Peter Luger has two New York spots: the original in Brooklyn (178 Broadway) and the one we went to in Great Neck (255 Northern Blvd). There are also locations in Las Vegas and Tokyo if you’re feeling fancy, but for us Long Island folks, Great Neck is the move.
Here’s the catch: you can only book Great Neck by calling them directly at (516) 487-8800. No online booking, no app. Just an old-fashioned phone call. Brooklyn you can book online through Resy or by phone, but Great Neck wants to hear your voice.
A couple more booking things worth knowing:
- Reservations open about one month in advance, and the good times fill up fast, especially weekends and holidays like, oh, Father’s Day. Plan ahead.
- They’ll hold your table for 15 minutes, so don’t be the late one. Get the whole group there on time.
3. The menu looks long, but the steak is the whole point.
You’ll get a full menu, but here’s the secret: Peter Luger is really known for two cuts of beef – the porterhouse and the rib steak. The porterhouse is the star, and it comes as “steak for two,” “for three,” and “for four,” so you order based on your group.
What surprised me my first time:
- The steak comes pre-sliced. Your server cuts it for you and plates the first round, then leaves the rest on the table to share family-style. No sawing away with your knife.
- They’ll suggest medium-rare, and there’s a reason. It’s what they’re famous for.
- You won’t need steak sauce. The meat is served in its own buttery juices, and there’s the house “Luger’s Own” sauce for the tomatoes. But if I’m being honest, I LOVE to put their steak sauce on their steak. LOL
If steak isn’t your thing, they do have lamb chops, salmon, sole, and a burger (the Luger Burger is a lunch thing, served until 3:45pm). But you came for the steak. Get the steak.
4. Order the bacon. Seriously, the bacon.
If you take one thing from this whole post besides the cash rule, let it be this: order the extra-thick sizzling bacon as an appetizer. It started as a staff-only snack and now it’s one of the most famous things on the menu. It’s thick, smoky, and a little ridiculous, and yes, you’re already eating a giant steak. Order it anyway.
While we’re talking food, the sides come big and built for sharing. The classics everyone gets:
- Creamed spinach (a must)
- German fried potatoes
- The tomato and onion salad with that house sauce
And save room for the cheesecake with schlag (that’s their whipped cream) or the chocolate mousse pie. The portions are generous, so go in hungry and pace yourself.
5. There’s no strict dress code. Just come as you are.
Good news if you were stressing about what to wear: Peter Luger has no formal dress code. You’ll see people in jeans and a nice shirt sitting right next to folks dressed up for a celebration. Anything from casual to dressy works. I’d skip the gym clothes and flip-flops, but otherwise, wear what makes you comfortable.
The vibe inside is old-school and wood-paneled, the kind of place that’s been doing the exact same thing for over a century. It’s not trying to be trendy, and that’s exactly why people keep coming back.
The bottom line: Bring cash, call ahead for Great Neck, get the porterhouse and the bacon, and show up on time. Do those four things and you’re golden. It’s a special-occasion kind of spot, and once you know the rules, it’s one of the best meals on Long Island