An influential New York Stock Exchange market maker and long-time habitué of the top-rated Brooklyn steak house complains to a Peter Luger manager about the long wait for a table.  He slips the man forty bucks.  And waits. “I thought there was a recession,” the customer complains.

        “What recession?” says the manager. “No signs of it here.” Business is up 15% so far this year, he claims.

        “Yes,” says the waiter to the specialist, finally claiming his table.  “We could be doing better now than the Mafia.”

Click here for "Steaks Worthy of the Road Food Warrior," June 4, 2007.

Click here for "Sizzling Steak Wars," a Vintage Insatiable Critic, January 3, 1994.

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