New Yorkers avoid eating around Times Square because it’s crowded, expensive, and filled with chain restaurants that may not offer the most authentic or high-quality dining experiences. With so many wonderful dining options available throughout the city, locals prefer to seek out more unique and less touristy places to enjoy a meal.
That’s perfectly understandable. However when we visit New York City to see Broadway shows, eating in the Theater District is a necessity. We’ve managed to find a few places to find a decent meal but we’ll get away from the tourist traps any chance we get.
Recently, we discovered a New York institution that we had walked by dozens of times without ever giving a second thought to dining there. In 20/20 hindsight, that was a huge mistake on our part. I’m referring to Gallaghers Steakhouse located on W 52nd St.
Gallaghers Steakhouse
When an establishment has been around for nearly 100 years, there’s bound to be an interesting story or two about its history. Gallaghers Steakhouse opened in 1927 as a speakeasy during the prohibition era. When prohibition ended in 1933, Gallaghers became Broadway’s first steakhouse. With a guest list of actors, athletes, businessmen and a share of shady individuals, Gallaghers became THE place to go.
However, as times change, so do tastes. Gallaghers had a tough time until it almost went out of business in 2013, even posting a closing date for employees. That’s when the current owners took over and put $5 million into what they call a “restoration” of the restaurant. Instead of modernizing it, they chose to keep the wood paneling, U-shaped bar, and the original grills, which use 15 bags of charcoal every day.
The resurgence of retro establishments has played a key role in attracting a fresh wave of customers to the restaurant. This new crowd is eager to sample the timeless allure of classic cocktails and indulge in the richness of USDA Prime dry-aged beef. Notably, the meat locker, visible to those passing by on 52nd St, adds a uniqueness to the overall dining experience.
Our Visits
My first visit to Gallaghers was on my solo work trip to New York in 2019. I needed somewhere to eat after catching a show on an evening off from my assignment. Passing Gallaghers, the meat room visible from the street caught my attention and I decided to stop. Since I didn’t have a reservation, I grabbed a seat at the bar and had one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Manhattan.
Our next visit was during a vacation trip several months later, for lunch, when they serve a 2- or 3-course menu. This is the best time to visit if you’re on a budget.
We visited again on our most recent trip to New York, and I’m happy to say that the steaks are still as good as I remembered them from my first visit five years ago. My food pictures admittedly aren’t the best, as I prefer eating food instead of taking pictures of it.
Lesson Learned
We’ve been exploring more of these “old” New York locations on our trips, and we haven’t been disappointed.
For many years, we avoided the Times Square/Theater District, like stereotypical New Yorkers (although we moved to Florida almost 25 years ago, both my wife Sharon and I grew up in the NYC region), thinking that everything there would be overpriced and of lower quality. However, we’ve come to realize that there are some hidden gems in the area that are worth visiting. Many of these establishments have been around for decades, predating the influx of chain stores and eateries, and average tourist attractions.
Gallaghers is able to keep items, such as the original grills, which would be difficult to recreate today. However, not everything at Gallaghers is original. While the men’s room urinals may appear to be the same ones used by Babe Ruth, they are actually from the stables at John Hay Whitney’s estate in Manhasset, N.Y. and were purchased from a salvage store in Harlem.
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Cover Photo: Gallaghers Steakhouse website
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
In 2022 we visited after a show and just made it to our table before closing time. It was a great experience.
I had a completely opposite experience at Gallaghers two weeks ago when I took a client there for lunch. This was my first visit there and will be my last. My ribeye was not flavorful and was full of gristle like stuff. I also had their creamy potatoes (forgot their name) as a side that were inedible due to being severely oversalted. Since I was there with a client, I didn’t want to raise any issues with the servers who, by the way, weren’t nearly as attentive as they should be at this price point.