13 American Steakhouses With Decades Of Stories Behind Them

Steakhouses with real history don’t just serve dinner – they serve atmosphere, memory, and a sense of place that can’t be faked.

Step inside one of these long-standing institutions and you’ll feel it immediately: the low glow of worn-in lighting, the familiar sizzle from the kitchen, and the quiet confidence of a dining room that has seen generations come and go.

The recipes stay steady, the service carries its own rhythm, and every corner seems to hold a story.

1. Peter Luger Steak House – Brooklyn, New York (est. 1887)

Brooklyn’s crown jewel has been grilling perfection since Grover Cleveland was president. This Williamsburg institution treats regulars and tourists alike to thick porterhouses that arrive sizzling on scorching platters.

The no-nonsense German beer hall atmosphere hasn’t changed much in over a century.

Waiters still wear the same style of uniforms, and the secret house steak sauce remains a closely guarded family recipe that’s sparked countless imitation attempts.

2. Keens Steakhouse – New York, New York (est. 1885)

Look up and you’ll spot over 90,000 clay pipes hanging from the ceiling – each one belonging to a past patron.

This theatrical district legend started as a pipe club where actors, writers, and politicians would stash their smokes between visits.

The mutton chop here is legendary, a dish so massive it hangs off the plate. Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Albert Einstein all dined beneath those pipes, making Keens a true time capsule of American history.

3. St. Elmo Steak House – Indianapolis, Indiana (est. 1902)

Fair warning: the shrimp cocktail here will clear your sinuses faster than any cold medicine.

St. Elmo’s infamous horseradish-loaded sauce has brought tears to the eyes of celebrities and race car drivers for decades.

Located in downtown Indy since before the first 500 race, this spot feeds hungry crowds during race week like nowhere else.

The neon sign out front has become as iconic to Indianapolis as the Speedway itself, glowing red for over a century.

4. The Old Homestead – New York, New York (est. 1868)

Before the Meatpacking District was trendy, The Old Homestead was already an institution.

Opened just three years after the Civil War ended, this is Manhattan’s oldest steakhouse, outlasting economic crashes, prohibition, and countless food trends.

The Gotham rib steak here weighs in at a whopping 30 ounces of dry-aged perfection.

Celebrity photos line the walls like a who’s who of American entertainment, each one a testament to decades of consistent excellence and old-school charm.

5. Gorat’s Steak House – Omaha, Nebraska (est. 1944)

Warren Buffett eats here so often he has a regular booth, and that alone tells you everything.

This unassuming Omaha gem has been serving the Oracle of Omaha and regular folks alike since World War II was still raging.

The T-bone is cooked to absolute perfection, and the old-school supper club vibe feels frozen in time.

Red leather booths, classic cocktails, and zero pretension make Gorat’s a refreshing reminder that great steak doesn’t need fancy trappings.

6. Manny’s Steakhouse – Minneapolis, Minnesota (est. 1987)

Okay, so 1987 isn’t ancient history, but Manny’s has packed more legendary moments into four decades than most restaurants manage in a century.

This downtown Minneapolis powerhouse has become the go-to spot for celebrations, power lunches, and serious steak lovers.

The dry-aged cuts here are massive, and the sides are equally generous – perfect for Minnesota-sized appetites.

The wine list is encyclopedic, and the service strikes that rare balance between professional and genuinely warm, making every visit feel special.

7. Randy’s Steakhouse – Frisco, Texas (home since 1860s, steakhouse since 1993)

The building itself predates the Civil War, which automatically makes it ancient by Texas standards.

What started as a family homestead in the 1860s eventually became one of Frisco’s most beloved steakhouses, blending frontier history with serious beef.

The atmosphere feels like dining in a well-preserved piece of frontier history, complete with original architecture and enough charm to make you forget the sprawling suburbs just outside the door.

8. Lawry’s The Prime Rib – Beverly Hills, California (est. 1938)

Forget choosing your cut – Lawry’s does one thing and does it perfectly.

The spinning salad bowl arrives tableside first, followed by a gleaming silver cart bearing massive roasts of prime rib, carved to your preferred doneness right before your eyes.

The ritual hasn’t changed since 1938, and regulars wouldn’t have it any other way.

Old Hollywood glamour meets impeccable service in a setting that feels both special and comfortably timeless, making every meal feel like an event worth celebrating.

9. Gene & Georgetti – Chicago, Illinois (est. 1941)

Chicago’s oldest steakhouse sits in River North, serving the same no-frills excellence since Pearl Harbor.

Gene and Georgetti opened their joint with simple goals: great steaks, strong drinks, and a place where everyone from construction workers to CEOs felt welcome.

The garbage salad – loaded with everything – is almost as famous as the steaks themselves.

The atmosphere is pure Chicago: unpretentious, loud, and filled with regulars who’ve been coming here for decades, swapping stories over perfectly charred ribeyes and cold beers.

10. Bern’s Steak House – Tampa, Florida (est. 1956)

Half a million bottles of wine sit in the cellar below. Yes, you read that right – this Tampa institution houses one of the world’s largest restaurant wine collections, making it a pilgrimage site for oenophiles and carnivores alike.

Bern Laxer aged his own beef, grew his own vegetables, and roasted his own coffee, obsessing over every detail.

That fanatical dedication continues today, with steaks cut to your exact specifications and cooked to laser-precise temperatures. The dessert room upstairs is legendary too.

11. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (est. 1910)

Located in the historic Stockyards, Cattlemen’s literally sits where cattle were once traded and sold.

Cowboys, ranchers, and meatpackers have been fueling up here since 1910, making it as authentically Western as steakhouses get.

The lamb fries (yes, those) are a house specialty for the adventurous.

But the real draw is knowing your steak probably traveled only a few hundred feet from stockyard to kitchen, embodying Oklahoma’s ranching heritage in every perfectly seasoned, flame-kissed bite.

12. Doe’s Eat Place – Greenville, Mississippi (est. 1941)

Don’t let the humble exterior fool you – this Mississippi Delta legend has been slinging massive T-bones from a residential-looking building since 1941.

Dominick “Doe” Signa started serving steaks from his grocery store’s kitchen, and the rest is culinary history.

The steaks here are enormous, cooked in a skillet, and served on plates that barely contain them.

The atmosphere is wonderfully unpretentious – you might walk through the kitchen to reach your table – making Doe’s a refreshingly authentic taste of Delta tradition.

13. Jake’s Famous Crawfish – Portland, Oregon (est. 1892, steak legacy included)

While crawfish gets top billing, Jake’s has been serving serious steaks since before Oregon was even a mature state.

This downtown Portland icon opened in 1892, making it one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest continuously operating restaurants, period.

The Victorian atmosphere transports diners to another era, when Portland was a rough-and-tumble port city and a good steak dinner meant you’d made it through another successful week of frontier commerce.