LUGER'S UPDATE!
Just got back from eating at Peter Luger's, which I hadn't done for several months. As always, I enjoyed it tremendously.
The meal progressed as follows (bear in mind there were five of us):
First of all, we never, ever ask for or order from a menu. That's definitely a sign that you're a Luger's virgin
We started off with some shrimp, as well as tomatos and onions. I don't know how they always manage to serve such large and juicy tomatoes regardless of the time of year.
We ordered steak for three and lamb for three as main courses. The steak is a porterhouse that comes sliced on a large platter, the edge of which is rested on an inverted coffee-cup saucer. This allows the juices to flow to the opposite side, making it easier for the waiter to spoon it up and serve it with your meat (the waiters fill your plate for your first course.) I prefer my meat a little better done than the rest of the guys, so I let my pieces cook for several additional seconds on the edge of the sizzling-hot platter. Tender and delicious, as always.
I'm not much of a lamb eater, so I left that to the others. They enjoyed it, although all preferred the steak (our one friend who always prefers the lamb wasn't able to join us tonight.)
For sides, we had creamed spinach, hash brown potatoes and, for our first time after perhaps 25 trips to Luger's, Canadian Bacon (at my request). All were great complements to our meal, although the bacon's a bit salty for my taste. It's appropriately salty -- just more so than I prefer.
The desserts are great, but the real reason we order them is to get to the "schlag" -- i.e., the whipped cream. As "transport food" for that whipped cream, we ordered one slice each of cheesecake, apple pie and pecan pie. The pecan pie, which isn't my favorite thing, is fantastic. The cheesecake is very good. The apple pie doesn't really do it for me, but it's certainly not bad. My one friend doesn't like apple pie, but loves theirs. So, as with anything, it's all a matter of taste. We pocketed the complimentary chocolate-gold coins at the end of our meal, and headed home.
I hope this brought the Luger's experience slightly to life, even though I didn't take time to note the environment (essentially unchanged from 1887, it would seem), or the waiter (remarkably pleasant and accommodating for a Luger's waiter.) On a final note, I was the one in the group to recognize the famous diner at the next table: Brian Setzer of the Brian Setzer Orchestra (formerly of the Stray Cats). Maybe he'll write in next....