The Ultimate Father’s Day Dining Guide
They bring the beef (and chicken, and pork) at Hill Country Barbecue.
Far be it from us to indulge in gender stereotypes. We know a lot of manly fathers who can appreciate a good pear and goat cheese salad or an elderflower-based cocktail. And yet, there are still plenty of guys who crave nothing more than a shot of bourbon and a hunk of beef with a steak knife driven through the middle. So we’ve covered our bases this year to make sure we satisfy all kinds of dads this Father’s Day. From BBQ at Hill Country to steaks at the legendary Keens Steakhouse and even a beer crawl at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Queens.
North End Grill
Does your dad crave smoked meat, but still prefers a more upscale dining experience? North End Grill provides the perfect happy medium. Floyd Cardoz’ Battery Park kitchen is outfitted with both charcoal and wood-fired grills, which lend sizzle to dishes, like Black Angus Prime Beef Tenderloin, Eden Farms Berkshire Pork Chops, and Whole European Branzino. Would you rather do brunch? It’s not just for moms you know. Check out their $55 prix fixe, Father’s Day brunch, which features Maple Bacon Croissants, Creekstone Farms Steak Hash with Fried Eggs, and optional Scotch pairings.
Read MoreKeens Steakhouse
It’s all about beef at this circa-1885 chophouse, that is unless you’re talking about their infamous Mutton Chops, a rite of passage for any self-respective carnivore. But the bulk of the menu is devoted to finely marbled, juicy meat of the Sirloin, T-Bone, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib and Porterhouse sorts, all USDA Prime and dry-aged in house. And the mammoth midtown space (actually three connected townhouses) is perfectly suited to such a manly mecca. While you’re thanking dad, check out the ceilings strewn with over 50,000 clay pipes, all belonging to former customers. In fact, Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Will Rogers and Albert Einstein are only a few of the famous members of Keens’ famed Pipe Club! Although nowadays, those pipes are for display only… the smoking ban killed the tradition years ago. Don’t forget to end the evening with their famous carrot cake.
Hill Country
For some men, the epitome of “XY chromosome cuisine” is anything that can be basted, brined, and thrown into a barbecue pit. That’s where Hill Country comes in. House specialties brisket, sausage and ribs are all cooked over Texas Post Oak in their custom meat smoking room, before being measured by the pound and deposited on butcher block paper. But the fun doesn’t need to stop after dinner. Bring dad downstairs to the Boot Bar for a pitcher of Shiner Bock beer, a shot of bourbon or tequila, and an evening of Rockabilly, Honky Tonk, or American Roots music. And stop by the market on the way out for Lone Star State favorites like Kreuz sausage, a Big Red soda, or our favorite, Elizabeth Karmel’s PB & J cupcake to-go.
Read MorePeter Luger
Let’s be honest. Where steakhouses are concerned, Luger’s is a legend no father would protest about for Father’s Day. The stringent, cash-only policy and notoriously surly service has done little to dampen nostalgia for this 125-year-old, Williamsburg steakhouse. That’s because it’s a quintessential New York experience that never gets old. First things first, start with the Extra-Thick Cut Bacon and an order of Sliced Tomato And Onion. Grab an onion roll, add the bacon, tomato and onion, smear it with some Luger’s sauce and make yourself a sandwich. But don’t fill up as you’ll want to save room for their dry-aged Porterhouse. Sized to feed 1-4, the beautifully marbled meat arrives sliced on a sizzling platter and pooled in its own mineral juices. Side it with the Creamed Spinach and Hash Browns and prepare to overeat. Can’t make it to Brooklyn this year? You can order the meat by mail-order nowadays, shipped in a reusable cooler with two complimentary bottles of Luger’s Old Fashioned Steak Sauce. Sounds like the perfect Father’s Day present! And don’t forget to order a Holy Cow Sundae with extra shlag for dessert.
Read MoreThe Cannibal
Just like big sibling Resto, The Cannibal takes its meat very seriously (how could it not, with a name like that?). A café and butcher shop by day and charcuterie and small plates spot by night, The Cannibal offers a communal bar, a butcher counter with eight seats, (watch chef Preston break down an entire steer!) and an outdoor garden for sipping one of 450 draft beers while you tear into some meat with dear old dad. There’s also a large format feast offered every Sunday (ie. perfect for Father’s Day), which can be reserved for parties of 4 to 6 people. It features a three-course, Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person, or $65 when paired with wine, beer and spirits. Do dad a solid and go for the upgrade.
Char No. 4
Did dad teach you the value of a dollar? Then he’ll appreciate this Father’s Day deal of 20% off gift certificates to Char No. 4. But thrifty doesn’t mean cheap. This southern-inflected Cobble Hill restaurant nurtures a serious passion for top-shelf bourbon, not to mention top notch comfort food. Choose from over 150 whiskeys, served either straight or in cocktail form. Try the Spicy Buck, made with Weller Antique bourbon and Blenheim Spicy Ginger Ale, or maybe a pour of Old Grandad 100 Proof. It all pairs perfectly with meaty fare, like the Smoked and Fried Pork Nuggets, House Cured Lamb Pastrami, and Beef and Cheddar Sausage, topped with barbecued onions, dill pickles, and borracho beans.
Pork Slope
If your dad doesn’t care much for hoity toity trappings and pedigreed cocktails, head to the rowdy Brooklyn roadhouse, Pork Slope. It’s got all the makings of a man cave, from coin operated pool tables, 25 beer taps and an extensive selection of whiskeys, to a pair of taxidermied boar heads on the walls. And chef Dale Talde serves fun, fattening, and more often that not, pork-centric pub grub, like St. Louis Ribs, Brisket Sandwiches, Tater Tots, and the house special Porky Melt (sausage patties and American cheese on rye). Think your pop has what it takes to become a regular? Enroll him in the 100-shot club. When he reaches his goal, he’ll have his name engraved on a trophy housed behind the bar!
Read MoreBohemian Hall and Beer Garden
What could be manlier than steaks and Scotch? How about brew and brats at New York’s oldest beer garden? This massive, century-old Astoria bar offers an exhaustive selection of wieners and wursts (try the Grilled country Kielbasa with Red Cabbage and Steamed Bread Dumplings), along with Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, and of course, giant steins of imported Czechoslovakian Lagers and Bocks. Is your dad still hung up on the idea of steak? They’re actually offering a special during Father’s Day weekend… a 16-ounce Ribeye for only $16. Oh, and if your dad’s a bit of a gambler, you might want to consider celebrating on Saturday instead. Free poker night kicks off at 8pm!
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