PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

Steakhouses are often stereotyped as bastions of male bonding; testosterone-fueled with red meat and hearty drinks. But BLT (Bistro Laurent Tourendel) Steak breaks that mold in a big way; on the night I visited, I noticed more women -- slinky and model-like -- chomping on thick cuts of beef than men. That doesn't mean men can't also enjoy the beef here; served in cast-iron pots and finished in steak butter with a choice of sauces -- béarnaise, red wine, horseradish, and bleu cheese, to name a few. The signature is the porterhouse for two (a whopping $70), but I recommend the New York strip or the short ribs braised in red wine. Both dishes can be shared, which may be a good idea, especially after devouring the airy complimentary popovers and sampling an appetizer such as the incredible tuna tartare or a side of onion rings, potato gratin, or creamy spinach. Even after sharing one of the meats, you might not have room for the chestnut-chocolate sundae or peanut-butter chocolate mousse, and that would be a shame. This is not a restaurant for intimate conversation; even the music was muffled by the din of the diners.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's New York City 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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