BROOKLYN:
9. Peter Luger Steakhouse (1887)

Hungry carnivores salivate at the thought of steak from Peter Luger. The iconic steak house, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, first had its start when German immigrant Carl Luger opened the establishment in 1887. Back then, it was known as “Carl Luger’s Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley.” The business adopted its current name after Carl’s son, Peter, took over the chain of command and rebranded it as a steak house.

Following Peter’s death in 1941, the establishment fell into a period of despair; his son, Frederick, lacked the necessary experience and skills to maintain it. Soon enough, it was put up for auction and purchased by Sol Forman, who ran a metal-ware business across the street. (Forman, a longtime patron, reportedly ate two or three steaks there a day).

With the help of his family, he was able to restore Peter Luger back to its former glory. Today, it remains a family operated business, which has been consistently rated the top steakhouse in New York time and time again.