Just returned from a weekend trip to NYC. I'd never been to NYC so my S.O. gave me a weekend trip as my Christmas present. We stayed at the Plaza and got an upgraded room overlooking Central Park. We did some touristy stuff (Rockefeller Center, The Met, Broadway, etc) but the highlight was, as always, the food. A few details:

Friday: Peter Luger's steakhouse in Brooklyn. I've finally found a steakhouse that can compete with Manny's in Minneapolis. PL's is everything I've heard and then some. We had so much fun exchanging barbs with wait staff in the brightly-lit and loud dining area. Tommy, the host, was a riot. We started with the tomato & onion salad served with special sauce (tastes like steak sauce + tarter sauce). The tomatoes were dark red, juicy and delicious. The onions were very strong but we didn't mind. Then it was on to the bacon -- picture a footlong slab of 1/2" thick bacon. Incredible. We then had the porterhouse for two served rare. Such a treat. One of the best cuts of meat we've ever had. The creamed spinach and french fries were just ok. For dessert, we had key lime pie and the chocolate sundae served with their delicious schlag. I felt like using the schlag for shaving cream! PL now joins Manny's as my co-#1 favorite steak place.

Saturday: Bond Street Sushi. This restaurant supposedly has the best sushi NYC has to offer. We tried the sushi/sashimi omikase and it was good, not great. The tuna was blood red and incredible but the rest was just ok. We enjoyed a '01 Cloudy Bay SB with the meal and some port after dinner. Great stuff. The part that soured me was after approx. 2.5 hours, we were very rudely asked to "move it along" b/c another group had been waiting for a long time for their reservation. Trust me when I tell you that we took our sweet time to move it along. We would have gladly left sooner had she had been the least bit polite. I just can't tolerate rudeness. I went to Nobu in Miami last week and if the NYC-version is anything close to it, Bond Street can't hold a candle to Nobu.

Other highlights: we had drinks each night at the Oak Bar in the Plaza before hitting the town. For those who are familiar with the Oak Bar, there's no need for me to sell you on how wonderful it is. We enjoyed lunch at the Carnegie Deli on Saturday -- best pastrami I've ever had. Stopped at the Stage Deli Sunday morning for lox and bagels. I wanted to stop at Morrell's after seeing the Rockefeller Center but we just couldn't squeeze it in.

A truly memorable trip. Can't wait to return to discover the not-so-touristy gems NYC has to offer.

Peter Luger's is a place I'd like to try at least once. Thanks for the notes. Question -- one of the courses was a slab o bacon?

You order the bacon by the slice -- $1.95/per. I recommend ordering as much as you can possibly stomach.

Glad to hear that you had a Good Time in NYC. NYC rocks. Hard to match NY & all it has to offer. Did you hit any shows?

LCC, we saw Blue Man Group at the Astor Theater -- pretty entertaining. Tried to get last second tickets to Hairspray but just couldn't pull the trigger on the $250 price tag per!

Nahhh, you should have told me (in advance). Have good connection for 1/2-price tickets (to most of the Brdwy Shows). And, I actually mentioned it in the Off-Topic a couple of times. Next time.

Peter Luger's: Always wanted to go. Never got the chance. Every time I decide to go & say I am going, I end-up @ a different place. That's what I hear--- a Great place.

Sounds like a great weekend. The Oak Bar in the Plaza -- we used to go there for drinks (as high schoolers!! ) to act like grown-ups. (Did you see Eloise?? )

LCC - I will remember the 1/2 price tip!!

Peter Luger's isby far the best steakhouse I've ever dined in. Number would be Spark's, but it's a distsnt number two. The German fired potatoes, creamed spinach, tomato and onions are also great. I don't like apple strudel, but Peter Luger's warm apple strudel with macadamia nut ice cream and schlag is one of the world's great desserts. Years ago, the WS ran anarticle on the best steakhouses in the country, in which they were rated 40 points for food, 30 for service and decor, and 30 for the wine list. Peter Luger's was not in the top ten, but on the page following number ten, the WS listed Peter Luger's and said that because their wine list was poor, was they didn't make the top ten. WS further stated that there was no finer steak in the country than Peter Luger's. If you get the chance, I urge you to try it.

My problem with Peter Luger's Brooklyn is that they do Not take reservations. And, it is a guessing game. Sometimes, you will wait 1-2 hours. And, they will sit you @ 12:00am. If it wasn't for that, I would have already dined there, for sure.

LCC -- they do take reservations. We called a month ahead and got a 9:45pm reservation. We were seated by 9:55pm despite a jam-packed bar.

The 1 in Brooklyn??? If Yes, then they just started doing that...

We usually go to the one in Great Neck.

The one in Great Neck isnt as good as the one in Brooklyn...They have a Great Neck attitude, which isnt the best...Yes I live in Great Neck...

Yes, I am talking about the "original" 1 (in Brooklyn). If they take Reservations now (which would be something new), that would be Great.

Must disagree with my buddy, tt. I've been going to Peter Luger's for thrity years and I've been to both of them many times. The steak is the exact same and so are the side dishes. We know all the waiters at both places so service and attitude aren't a problem with one exception. there's one waiter in Great Neck who I will not permit to serve us.

When I am ready to go, Board-o, I'll PM you for that dude's name so I know whom to avoid.

We could go together and I'll point him out to you.

QueenOfHearts: In reply to, "...LCC - I will remember the 1/2 price tip!!"

... Of course, let me know. I see what I can do. Warning, though---No Mama Mia, or any other "HOT" Show like that...

LCC - can you do 1/2 price way in advance or a la Ticket/Ticket?
Great Neck - I remember the La Crepe or Magic Crepe or whatever that crepe place was called up on Northern Blvd. back a couple of decades. Reminds me of the crepes and the rolling Cubans from Seinfeld.

So, Kimber, what about Eloise??!!

PM sent your way...