Have you experienced the joy of dining alone?

Lunch for one in Peter Luger Steak House

Rare New York strip for one

Last week I wrote about my rejuvenating trip to a Williamsburg day spa. I was so organised for that trip that I was dressed with my swimsuit under my clothes (just as the most famous of Irish emigrants to New York  - Éilis in Brooklyn - had done before me). I packed a big towel and a small towel. I packed a book and a face cream and even a hair mask. But I forgot my underwear. So taking the New York braless trend up a notch, I dressed afterwards in a t-shirt, skirt and sandals and nothing else and walked out into the Williamsburg light, “commando” - as our Friends would say.

It was 1:30pm. I had no other plans for the day and nowhere to be for another 3 hours. I took out my phone and looked at the map and saw that the renowned Peter Luger Steak House was nearby. 

Peter Luger’s first came on my radar when I watched the 2018 New York episode of food travel show, Somebody Feed Phil -  an episode I have watched at least 5 times since. If you haven't seen this show, give it a try. Phil Rosenthal wrote the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond and his wife, Monica Horan (who played tall-cop Robert's wife Amy on that show) regularly appears. Phil travels the world, showcasing the cuisine of wherever he visits with an infectious and child-like enthusiasm. His energy levels were only matched (nay, outdone) on one occasion and that was the Ireland episode (season 2, episode 2) where he came face to face with the Happy Pear who he seemed to view like the rest of us in Ireland do: with awe and confusion. 

Phil reacts to one of the Happy Pear doing a handstand no one asked them to do

Now, a mere 20 minute walk from this restaurant I’d wanted to visit for five years, even the fact that I could see online that it was fully booked didn’t put me off. I couldn't not at least ask. 

Twenty minutes later, standing outside the door, located opposite a very beautiful, domed, white building housing Williamsburg Savings Bank, my confidence had waned. I wasn't exactly looking the part. My hair was wet. I wasn't wearing any underwear and though I was almost certain they couldn't tell, I suspected that I carried my uneasiness with that situation in my face and body language. But it was 2pm (late for lunch) and I was but a party of one. This had to be in my favour.  I ventured in.

Williamsburg Bridge and Williamsburg Savings Bank, Photo by Chalo Gallardo on Unsplash

It was busy but I fancied my chances. I immediately clocked available spots at the bar. There was lots of staff and I was directed towards the maître d'. While making an almost unnerving level of eye contact, he informed me that they don't accept credit cards and when I said that's no problem he asked if it was my first time (yes). He told me that I could either sit at the bar or a table but for a first-timer they recommended a table to “get the full experience” and who was I to argue with that. I was led into a beautifully bare dining room. Large windows facing out onto the street. Simple wooden tables. A painting of the Williamsburg Bridge hung on the wall. A waiter called Aloisius gave me a glass of water and a menu  and before he left said “I’ll bring you some bread and budd-ah and then we’ll thawk”. I immediately loved Aloisius and the restaurant. I took a photo of the menu on the table together with the gravy boat bearing the words: “Peter Luger Steak House Sauce” and sent it to my husband with the caption “I’m in”. 

The joy of dining by yourself is that you really can order whatever you want. You think you order whatever you want any time but if you're in someone else’s company you have to go through the whole “Are we doing starters?” dance. “I’d do a starter if you want? But I’d leave it if you want? Will we split one? OK we’ll split one. I’d go for the burrata…oh the gnocchi ok the gnocchi yeah I’d do gnocchi”. I knew what I wanted and I ordered it. Skip the starters. I was in a steakhouse and I was going to get straight down to business. I ordered the only steak on the menu that was for one person (the New York strip). How would I like it? Rare.

The restaurant is very much built for groups. Many of the steaks are for 2, 3 and 4 people sharing and even with the sides, there were only two that came in one portion. I asked Aloisius what sides he recommended. Spinach. I wasn't too enamoured by that and the fries came for one and what more could you need with steak than chips? A glass of red wine, you’re right. I’d already ordered that. So Aloisius took my order and I took in the room. 

A couple in their late 40s sat beside me. Definitely a new couple because when the steak arrived, the woman declared “Oh it’s sizzling hot like my boyfriend”. Nobody responded and I felt like I was at bad standup. I was absolutely dying on the inside for her. She said it again and the waiter and the boyfriend pretended they hadn't heard her the first time and laughed. I noticed they had the spinach and to be fair to Aloisius, it did look good. It was creamed spinach, I should have said that. You don't want the word “wilted” anywhere on a menu do you? And definitely not on a date with your sizzling hot boyfriend.

Then Aloisius came out with my steak saying “Hot stuff coming through! And I don't mean me!” and though it was almost exactly the same joke that fell flat one table over, he somehow delivered it with more panache at the same time as being self-deprecating. I laughed and didn't fake it (I never fake it).  Aloisius set the steak down and ordered me to “Take a picture of it, it’s a good looking cow” and as he served it, he assured me it was the best cholesterol money could buy and though I was sure he said the same thing to all the girls, I wondered if maybe I was falling in love with Aloisius. 

The steak was beautiful and the chips were so good. Perfection. I ate every bite. After singing happy birthday to one half of the couple next to me, I asked for the check which came with two chocolate gold coins. I settled up and left. Happy as a clam.