Skip to content
Meat Hause

The Steakhouse Showdown

Two steakhouses. One scorecard.

Pick any two restaurants the Council has reviewed. Meet them first, read each verdict and what we'd order, then see exactly where the points went.

Meet the contenders

Who's on the card.

  • Peter Luger Steakhouse exterior and sign in Williamsburg, photographed in February 2026
    Peter Luger Steakhouse exterior in Williamsburg, photographed February 14, 2026. Photo: Kidfly182 / CC BY 4.0. Cropped and resized for the web. Credit details.

    First pick · No.4 · Williamsburg

    Peter Luger Steak House

    When the Legend Outpaces the Steak

    An iconic Brooklyn institution, some strong classics and a spectacular finish, but not the steakhouse revelation the Council expected.

    Best for
    • Old-School Institution
    • Dessert Finish
  • Delmonico's rounded corner entrance at night, with stone columns, lit lamps and the restaurant's name carved above the doors
    Delmonico’s exterior in Lower Manhattan. Photo: Meat Hause. Credit details.

    Second pick · No.2 · Financial District

    Delmonico's

    A Classic That Still Knows How to Host

    Seafood, serious steaks and old-school hospitality made this New York institution an easy night to enjoy, if not the Council's ultimate benchmark.

    Best for
    • Old-School Institution
    • Big Steak Spread

The verdict

The case for each.

First pick Peter Luger Steak House

Go for the bacon, the schlag and the sense of occasion.

From our published review of Peter Luger Steak House. Read the full review

Second pick Delmonico's

Go for the hospitality, the Seafood Plateau and the house steaks, and expect a polished, generous night.

From our published review of Delmonico's. Read the full review

From the Dish Rundown

What we'd order.

First pick Peter Luger Steak House

  1. The Bright Spot

    Luger's Sizzling Bacon

    Definitely awesome, and the strongest plate before dessert.

  2. The House Cuts

    Steak for Three and a Rib Steak

    A steak for three plus a rib steak for one: a classic order that was good rather than exceptional, especially for the price.

  3. Finish With

    Desserts with schlag

    Apple strudel and pecan pie under the house whipped cream, spooned on in quantity: the highlight of the night.

Second pick Delmonico's

  1. Worth Trying

    Seafood Plateau

    A generous opener that was really, really good and set the pace for the night: raw-bar seafood and shellfish.

  2. The House Cuts

    Signature Delmonico Ribeye and Wagyu Côte De Boeuf

    The signature cuts, cooked well and served hot. Great all round, though no single plate reached the next level.

  3. A Qualified Pick

    Baked Alaska

    Spectacular theater when the flames were dancing, but merely okay to eat: the banana gelato seemed too frozen. Order it for the show.

Now, the numbers

The Steakhouse Showdown.

Official Council ratings, both on the Meat Hause Rubric.

Peter Luger Steak House

Council rating
74.15/100
Steak only
68.75/100
Scorecards
4

Delmonico's

Council rating
86.44/100
Steak only
89.90/100
Scorecards
5
  • Council rating: Delmonico's +12.29
  • Steak only: Delmonico's +21.15 (already part of the Council rating, not ranked on its own)

Head to head

Where the points went.

Seven weighted categories. Each bar shows the share of that category's points earned; the points themselves add up to the official score.

  1. Steak Experienceout of 40 points

    Delmonico's +8.46 points

    Peter Luger Steak House27.50 / 40 · 68.75%
    Delmonico's35.96 / 40 · 89.90%

  2. Appetizers & Sidesout of 15 points

    Peter Luger Steak House +0.38 points

    Peter Luger Steak House12.70 / 15 · 84.67%
    Delmonico's12.32 / 15 · 82.13%

  3. Atmosphere & Ambianceout of 12 points

    Delmonico's +1.20 points

    Peter Luger Steak House8.80 / 12 · 73.33%
    Delmonico's10.00 / 12 · 83.33%

  4. Service & Hospitalityout of 12 points

    Delmonico's +0.93 points

    Peter Luger Steak House9.95 / 12 · 82.92%
    Delmonico's10.88 / 12 · 90.67%

  5. Valueout of 8 points

    Delmonico's +1.64 points

    Peter Luger Steak House5.40 / 8 · 67.50%
    Delmonico's7.04 / 8 · 88.00%

  6. Beverage Programout of 8 points

    Delmonico's +1.28 points

    Peter Luger Steak House4.80 / 8 · 60.00%
    Delmonico's6.08 / 8 · 76.00%

  7. Desserts & The Finishout of 5 points

    Peter Luger Steak House +0.84 points

    Peter Luger Steak House5.00 / 5 · 100.00%
    Delmonico's4.16 / 5 · 83.20%

Peter Luger Steak House: 7 categories, 74.15 points in all.

Delmonico's: 7 categories, 86.44 points in all.

How to read this
  • Both restaurants are scored on the Meat Hause Rubric, from 4 and 5 eligible member scorecards. Guest scores never count.
  • Bar percentages are for comparison only; the weighted points decide the official score. The steak-only rating is Steak Experience points scaled to 100.
  • Verdicts and dishes come from each published review; the numbers come only from the Council’s scoring.
How We Score

Make your pick

Where are you booking?

Explore the full Index