A steakhouse , steak house , or chophouse is a restaurant that specializes in steaks and chops . Modern steakhouses may also carry other cuts of meat including poultry , roast prime rib , and veal , as well as fish and other seafood .
14-669: The Main Deli Steak House , also known simply as Main Deli or The Main , was a delicatessen and steakhouse located on Saint Laurent Boulevard in Montreal , Quebec , Canada. Main Deli was established in 1974 by Peter Varvaro Sr. Varvaro was Italian in background, but grew up immersed in the Jewish language and culture. The deli remained a family business, and two of Varvaro's children have opened their own deli restaurants in
28-497: A frequent customer of Main Deli said “From what I heard, many Montrealers preferred it to Schwartz’s. It felt like it had more of the real traditional feel, while Schwartz’s can feel kind of touristy.” Some of the regular clients of the Main Deli in the past included Stanley Lewis and Leonard Cohen , as well as Céline Dion , who had gone on to become their competition as one of the owners of Schwartz's. The Varvaro family sold
42-623: Is now owned and operated by his grandsons Greg and Marc Sherry. In the mid-20th century, a Texan who enjoyed the restaurant told Harry Sherry that he would send him a cow. Two weeks later a statue of a cow was delivered and has since become a signature symbol of the Old Homestead. In the 1990s, the restaurant was the first in the United States to introduce Wagyu beef from Japan. In order to be certified, Greg and Marc had to work with Japanese farmers to bring their facilities up to
56-540: Is the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in the United States and is senior to Keens and Peter Luger Steak House . In 1994, Ruth Reichl of The New York Times stated that "for sheer quantity, nothing can beat the Homestead". Reichl described the porterhouse for two as "thicker than the Manhattan phone book and twice as heavy". The steakhouse has made appearances in multiple television shows, including
70-578: The United States . Staff at the Old Homestead Steakhouse are represented by UNITE HERE Local 100. In 1868, a German family established the Old Homestead Steakhouse, then called Tidewater Trading Post, in Manhattan's Meatpacking District on West 14th and 9th Avenue . In the 1940s long-time employee and former dishwasher, Harry Sherry, purchased the restaurant. Sherry later passed the legacy down to his family. The steakhouse
84-506: The suburbs of Montreal using their father's secret recipe for smoked meat , with Philip operating Delibee's, and Peter Jr. running Smoke Meat Pete which won the Montreal Gazette ’s annual ‘Best Montreal Sandwich Award’ in 2001. Main Deli was right across the street from their main business rival, the famed Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen . The two restaurants were often compared against each other in their patronage and
98-562: The 1690s and served individual portions of meat, known as chops . The traditional nature of the food served was zealously maintained through the later 19th century despite the new cooking styles from the Continent , which were becoming fashionable. The houses were normally open only for men. The oldest chophouse in London, Simpson's Tavern is regarded as an institution of London and retains its 19th century decor. The steakhouse started in
112-602: The United States in the mid-19th century as a development from traditional inns and bars. Steakhouses can be casual or formal fine-dining restaurants. The oldest continuously operating steakhouse in the United States is the Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City , established in 1868. Prior to that, there were chophouses in New York City such as Cobweb Hall, owned by David Pattullo, which
126-486: The flavours of their Montreal-style smoked meat . While both establishments continued to be rated highly in recent years, Main Deli never won the ‘Best Montreal Sandwich Award’ which usually went to Schwartz's. Furthermore, Schwartz's was always much more popular among tourists who lined up there for hours while ignoring the Main Deli, attributed to Schwartz's "worldwide fame that makes it a must-enjoy attraction for tourists after 95 years in existence". Perhaps because of this,
140-788: The health code standard in America. Two additional locations were opened with one in Atlantic City at the Borgata and the other in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace . The Atlantic City location was named best restaurant in Atlantic City by Zagat 's "2012 America's Top Restaurants". In 2023, it was announced the Caesars Palace location would be closing and would be replaced by a Bobby Flay restaurant. The Old Homestead
154-624: The restaurant in 2013 after Peter Sr. died. However under new ownership, the quality of the food began to decline while prices rose, as the meat wasn't smoked in-house anymore while the coleslaw was taken off the menu. The Main Deli closed in May 2023, with its demise attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal , unrelenting city construction on Saint Laurent Boulevard, and rising costs from recent food inflation . The Main Deli's primary offering
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#1732772099726168-414: Was Montreal smoked meat , which they cured and smoked in the back of their restaurant. Whole beef briskets were cured with brine and their own spice mix consisting of black pepper , garlic , coriander , mustard seed , and other ingredients found in Montreal steak seasonings . The meat was then smoked in a smoking oven and steamed to completion. Peter Varvaro Sr. indicated that while the spice mixture
182-484: Was important, it was the method of smoking and cooking the meat that contributed to its flavours and textures. The restaurant was also well known for its smoked meat poutine, smoked meat burger, and coleslaw. Peter Sr. reportedly made everything by hand. 45°30′57″N 73°34′39″W / 45.515925°N 73.577582°W / 45.515925; -73.577582 Steakhouse Chophouses started in London in
196-519: Was known for its mutton chops and offered additional menu options such as beefsteaks , lamb kidneys, bacon , and potatoes . Today, steakhouses are found throughout the USA. Old Homestead Steakhouse The Old Homestead Steakhouse is a steakhouse established in 1868 whose flagship location is in Manhattan , New York City. The restaurant is the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in
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