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PETER LUGER Steak House in Brooklyn became a launching pad for yet another rival last month when three longtime waiters left to open Ben & Jack’s. “We are living the American dream,” says Jack Sinanaj, a co-owner of the new Manhattan steak house with brother Russ and cousins Ben and Harry (not a Luger veteran). The four partners put more than $1 million - their life’s savings - into the venture. Further burning their former employer, the defectors lured Burim Barjami from the famous chophouse’s kitchen to be executive chef, and a former Luger bartender, Teddy Kempinski, as maitre d’. Ben & Jack’s is at 219 E. 44th St., the former site of Jimmy Sung’s Chinese restaurant. Amy Rubenstein, who co-owns Peter Luger and is married to public relations czar Howard Rubenstein, says “it’s business as usual” at the popular restaurant since the departures.
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“For Pete’s sake Peter Luger headwaiter Wolfgang Zwiener left the mighty meat shrine to open Wolfgang’s last year, and now staffers (and brothers) Jack and Russ Sinanaj have defected to open Ben & Jack’s Steak House, with their cousin Ben. Like Luger’s the place is filled with dark wood furniture and large mirrors, and the specialty is presliced USDA prime steak. Those with a fear of mad cow, or meat in general, need not fret: The menu includes seafood - salmon, tuna, Chilean sea bass and a four-pound jumbo lobster. You can ask Ben or Jack about other options; they’re waiting tables here, too.”
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RESTAURANTS: GO, CONSIDER, STOP
Ben and Jack’s Steakhouse
This is the brainchild of a group of former Peter Luger waiters who decided to try to recreate the magic of the legendary Brooklyn restaurant in Manhattan. They have succeeded and offer some of the most delicious steaks and seafood in town. Everything is mouthwateringly good, and here you can use your credit card!
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