Gallagher's NYC

About a year ago we were walking around New York City and blundered into Gallagher's Steak House. We were just looking for a drink, but we found so much more. Upon entering Gallagher's you walk by a giant 'meat locker' with aged beef strip loins and other primal cuts inside. We sat down at the worn, all wood bar and ordered a drink. Within a few minutes of taking in the ambiance and smelling the charcoal fire, I knew we were staying for dinner. We snacked on fresh kettle chips and had a few more drinks. An hour later the Maitre d', vintage in years, ask us to follow him. He sat us in the main dining room which was very loud and full of energy. You could see the entire kitchen including the charcoal fire. There was about 20 people behind the line all busy cooking. The din of plates and silverware clanging together was a constant. The seasoned waiters walked around the room joking and entertaining everyone. People talked and laughed loudly; the place was full of life. At this point, I didn't even care if the steak was going to be good or not. The atmosphere itself was completely worth it. But then the steak came and it delivered. It was a great steak. One that I would think about for some time...

After a year of anticipation we finally made it back to Gallagher's last weekend. Will it be just as good? Will it meet up to the hype that I created? Is that even possible? Probably not. Every time I look back at the great meals I've had in my life they all seem to have a few things in common: I was doing something memorable or I was with people that made me happy. You know the way food can taste with your toes in the sand and the Caribbean sun in your face. The way perfectly slow roasted prime rib can taste when you're surrounded by family at Christmas dinner. The way lobster and steamers can taste at a BBQ competition in Maine during the summer. The way an impromptu gathering of friends can produce something magical with some beat up charcoal grills. And the way a steak can taste after you've blundered into a great old school, prohibition era steak house. These things are hard to reproduce, and when you try, they seem to fall short. Sometimes I don't think it has that much to do with the food. I think it has a lot to do with the environment and the people around you. Don't get me wrong, the food has to be awesome too. But, if you eat the best tasting steak in the world, but you're in a dingy room all by yourself, it's gonna suck.

So, we tried to recreate a feeling, a moment, and a meal. And we came pretty damn close...