damnlines for iPhoneLive lines & push alerts — freeGetdamnlines.comA cash-only Williamsburg steakhouse open since 1887, where the porterhouse is the point and getting a table is the hard part.
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at Peter Luger Steak House yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
The line at Peter Luger is really the reservation. Forbes reports the Brooklyn location is 'notoriously hard to book,' with a waitlist that 'can stretch out for months,' while Mashed says you can reserve up to about a month ahead and that tables fill fast. The room dates to 1887 (per Wikipedia) and runs on a house-account system — Forbes counts roughly 100,000 Peter Luger Card holders who never touch the cash line.
Walk-ins are the other line. Yelp regulars say the restaurant takes walk-ins only from the 11:45am open until 2pm, then goes reservations-only; show up on a weekday around 2–3pm and the wait is often little to none, but at busier times regulars describe waits of 'more than an hour.' Mashed notes there's a large bar at the entrance where you wait — 'they'll serve a mean martini whilst you wait for a table to free up.'
Timing is everything. Luger VP Daniel Turtel told Forbes that 'early weekday lunches are a great way to sneak in' and the bar before 3pm is a good bet; for dinner he said '9PM is the right time to try to snag a last-minute seat,' when you'll wait but your name lands before they close out tables. And it stays cash-only: the restaurant's own site says it takes no credit cards, only the Peter Luger Card, US checks with ID, US debit cards, and cash.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: Reservations for Peter Luger's Brooklyn location are taken via Resy, and parties of 10 or fewer can also call the restaurant directly at 718-387-7400, per the venue's official reservations page. Larger private functions/banquets require emailing [email protected].
Yelp regulars report little to no wait on weekday afternoons around 2–3pm, but say the walk-in wait is generally 'more than an hour' at busier times. Walk-ins are only accepted until 2pm; after that it's reservations-only.
For dinner, effectively yes. Forbes describes a Brooklyn waitlist that can stretch out for months, and Mashed says tables fill quickly within the roughly one-month booking window. Walk-ins are possible before 2pm.
Early weekday lunch. Luger VP Daniel Turtel told Forbes that 'early weekday lunches are a great way to sneak in' and the bar before 3pm is a good bet; for dinner he suggested trying around 9pm.
Yes. The restaurant's own site says it does not accept credit cards at either location — only the Peter Luger Card, US checks with ID, US debit cards, and cash.
Mashed says you can book up to about a month ahead and tables fill quickly, and Forbes notes the Brooklyn location is notoriously hard to book with a monthslong waitlist. Weekend dinners go first.
Yes - per the venue's official site, reservations for the Brooklyn location are booked through Resy, and parties of 10 or fewer can also call 718-387-7400 directly.
The venue's official reservations page does not address walk-in availability, so this isn't established; it focuses on how to book via Resy or phone.
Sources: Forbes: How To Get A Table At Peter Luger · Mashed: Peter Luger — What To Know Before You Eat There · Peter Luger Steak House official: Locations & Reservations · Yelp Q&A: Do they accept walk-ins? — Peter Luger · Wikipedia: Peter Luger Steak House