Gallagher’s Steakhouse Lunch Review: The Best $34 Prix Fixe in Midtown NYC

I was stuck at one of those cybersecurity seminars in Midtown where the food can best be described as technically edible. You know the type. Conference coffee that has been sitting out since sunrise, sandwiches that somehow taste dry and wet at the same time, and a Caesar salad that looked like it had been through a difficult breakup.

Now look, free food is free food. If it is free, it is for me.

But when I saw what was being served and realized I had a lunch break, I did what any rational adult would do. I escaped and went to Gallagher’s Steakhouse.

The Deal

Gallagher’s has a three course lunch prix fixe for $34, which in Midtown Manhattan is practically a government subsidy. At this point some deli sandwiches cost twenty bucks, so getting a steakhouse lunch for thirty four dollars feels like finding a winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk.

I ordered the prix fixe with a Caesar salad, sliced filet mignon, and cheesecake. Naturally I also added a steak tartare and a couple of martinis because I was technically off the clock and that is what adults do. Or at least that is what I tell myself.

The Caesar Salad

Solid. Not too big, not too small. Just enough to get the meal started without filling you up. It was not going to change your life but it did its job and did not embarrass itself. Considering the Caesar situation I have encountered elsewhere in this city that is actually high praise.

The Sliced Filet Mignon

This was the star of the lunch.

Around six ounces give or take. The steak came sliced with crispy potatoes and mushrooms and was cooked perfectly. Good flavor, good portion size, and honestly better than a lot of lunches that cost significantly more.

For $34 in Midtown, sitting at a steakhouse bar eating filet mignon feels like cheating the system. I am not going to apologize for it.

The Steak Tartare

Good, but I have been spoiled lately.

I have had some outstanding tartares recently that packed extra seasoning and a little heat. Gallagher’s version was more traditional and straightforward. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I just happened to be in the mood for something with a little more punch. That is less a criticism of Gallagher’s and more a reflection of how deep I am into this tartare rabbit hole.

The Cheesecake

Banging.

Maybe a touch sweeter than I normally prefer but still excellent and a perfect finish to the meal. Sometimes a dessert just does exactly what it is supposed to do and you leave satisfied. This was one of those times.

The Martinis

Gallagher’s continues to deliver on the martini front.

I had both a classic martini and an espresso martini. They were exactly what I needed to make the next few hours of cybersecurity lectures significantly more enjoyable.

Funny how encryption standards become more interesting after a couple of martinis.

Final Verdict

This is one of the best lunch deals in Midtown. The service was excellent, the steak was great, and even after tax and tip you are still spending around what some places charge for a basic lunch and a drink.

Gallagher’s has been a New York institution for decades for a reason. The $34 prix fixe is a legitimate steal and if you are anywhere near Midtown, especially if you are attending a conference at the Sheraton Times Square or anywhere nearby, do yourself a favor and skip the conference buffet.

Go get the filet.

As always, what do I know? I am just a fat guy from Brooklyn trying to survive the week, one martini at a time.

Looking for more NYC restaurant reviews? Check out my Best Steakhouses in NYC, Best Burgers in NYC, and Best Restaurants in NYC lists.