By: Yetta Moskowitz, Lubicom Marketing Staff

Last year marked the 13th annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE.) As we prepare for this year’s epic event on February 17, 2020, we decided to take a look back at some of the amazing meat restaurants that we got to experience.

As with every KFWE event, the evening’s festivities offered visitors a chance to sample mouthwatering fare from today’s top-trending kosher restaurants along with the opportunity to be among the first to sample hundreds of new top-shelf wines and spirits from around the world. After all, what’s wine without awesome cuisine?

Whether it’s a special occasion, anniversary or other milestone marked, steakhouses are where people go to celebrate and whoop it up. In business, folks will also choose to gather and close deals over a good steak.

So, without further ado, here are some of the top meat restaurants you need to visit for your next special occasion.

Reserve Cut

Sometimes dreams do come true. Albert Allaham descends from a long line of master butchers dating back over 200 years to Damascus Syria. Albert, who worked countless hours to learn the family’s expert techniques, brought his vision to life when he opened “Reserve Cut,” a sister-store to the family’s butcher shop in Brooklyn, “The Prime Cut.” When you step foot in here, you’re a guest in Albert’s home, and you’ll be treated as such. Nothing is left unattended in this modern upscale steakhouse. For a truly high-end party experience, you must check out Reserve Cut lounge, complete with silk draped walls and glass inlay tables, or their Rooftop featuring stunning 360-degree views of Manhattan, spectacular sunsets and a private bar. Reserve Cut attracts diners who appreciate fine food, whether they keep kosher or not. Fun fact: Six years and counting, Reserve Cut cannot take their short rib tacos off the menu. You may want to go see why for yourself.

UN Plaza Grill

A steak is more than just a steak at the UN Plaza grill. The restaurant is outfitted in paparazzi-worthy artistic finishes and flanked by signature NY city views. No restaurant can compete with the ambiance and striking lighting at the UN Plaza Grill. You come here when you want a quintessential private dining experience without the accompanying echoes of others’ chatter and laughter. Expect absolutely nothing less from the food. Steaks are 100% USDA grain fed prime beef, aged for a minimum of 36 days. Indulge in the Chef’s specials – too many to list. Truffle Bone Marrow Oil is one exclusive ingredient that piqued our interest in this kitchen. Ask them for their Sichuan Beef Pot Stickers – people can’t get enough of this Japanese dumpling.

Buffalo2Go 

Located in the Kosher Midtown food court, Buffalo2Go is home to the original kosher buffalo wing. This is the place you call when you have a mix of adults and kids or any other group with diverse taste buds. They’ve got something for everyone in your home or office. When you order or cater with Buffalo2Go, you know you can please ‘em all. No matter the occasion or mood you’re in – they’ve got your favorite flavor- be it spicy, plain or sweet. You’ll want to make a mental note that General Tso’s Chicken, Poke Bowls, Honey BBQ Wings, and Schnitzel Sandwiches are always on order at Buffalo2Go.

Judd’s Memphis Kitchen

Judd’s Memphis Kitchen, based out of Cedarhurst NY, is a dream come true for this native Tennessee boy who always wanted to introduce true southern comfort food to the kosher world. They specialize in smoked and non-smoked southern delicacies with new and unique flavors in the kosher market. Judd’s best customers are the people who know they’re not coming for the same old burger or schnitzel. The JW burger dubbed ‘the $100 burger’ [which should tell you a thing or two] is by far the most popular item on the menu. Rice milk is but one of the secrets of the kitchen in this restaurant. You can find Judd and his popular TV show on Instagram @trippingkosher. A fun-loving all-inclusive persona sets Judd’s kitchen apart from other kosher American style cuisine restaurants. Visit them, and see for yourself!

Marani Restaurant 

When you want to take a step back in time and explore the history of the cuisine and heritage of the Georgian Jewish Community, go no further than Marani Restaurant in Rego Park, NY. Marani is uncompromising when it comes to authentic and delicious recipes. You’re not coming here for your typical fare­–think fried cornbread, baked mushrooms in clay pots, Imeruli style beef pie and even specialty Georgian sodas in assorted flavors like tarragon and pear. And although you probably won’t be able to pronounce some of the items on their menu, know that each dish is comfort food at its finest, all dressed up with flavors you’ll certainly love! In this kitchen, a custom blend of imported spices and a good dosage of pure love play a key role. The quality control, combined with genuine warmth and care, makes for a truly unique and memorable dining experience.

Teaneck Doghouse 

Where do you hang out with your non-Jewish colleagues in Bergen County without feeling completely awkward? At the Teaneck Doghouse, of course. This is the premier kosher sports bar with 28 TV’s and the ability to show all sporting games and events. Plus, it’s the only kosher casual restaurant in the area that serves alcohol. Drink options include 60 unique beers and a wide variety of spirits. To top that off, the menu boasts typical gastropub fare: Specialty hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled and fried chicken, and meatball and steak sandwiches. Beef jerky and signature BBQ brisket round out the offerings with burgers coming in as the all-time favorite. This is not a hush-hush formal attire kind of place, but rather a fun family-friendly spot to come watch your favorite game no matter where you’re from.

Alenbi 

Situated in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, Alenbi serves the food of modern-day Israel – one of the most intriguing cuisines in the culinary world. The menu here is influenced by the rich cultures of Jewish kitchens from across the Middle-East and Europe. Chef Elior is a veteran Israeli chef who began his career in the kitchen of Frida Kahlo in Tel Aviv. From there, he worked his way to the acclaimed Mizlala and Catit Restaurants under the tutelage of Chef Meir Adoni. The six-seat bar and unique dining set up [furniture made and imported all the way from Israel!] gives guests a unique view of the hustle & bustle in the kitchen. Every dish has a story and carries a long tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Great Falls Bistro

Where do you go when you want to savor the moment and not have someone else pace your meal? There’s only one place: Great Falls Bistro. Custom-built extra-large tables await your presence and allow for several food choices lingering on the table as you enjoy your meal. It takes a visionary to convert a turn of the century factory into a comfortable retro-chic atmosphere where diners come to experience something different, something better. For Shamir Einhorn, only the finest cuts of meat will do. Dry-aged on the premises for 32 days makes for a dark red merlot color meat that grills beautifully and flavorfully. In this restaurant, you’ll never be rushed. This has got to be one of the most unique locations in New Jersey, a stylish industrial loft space where food meets artistry. This place takes you back to the time when cuisine was valued for its unique, natural freshness and purity of flavor; when ingredients were scrupulously selected to entice and excite through sight, scent, and taste.

Bison & Bourbon

When you want to dine differently, you go to the largest kosher meat restaurant in Brooklyn. The secret is out – this is where food lovers escape. It’s a good thing they’re just 10-15 minutes away from most Jewish communities in Brooklyn, Queens & Manhattan. Occupying a renovated 1920s-era warehouse, Bison & Bourbon focuses on a wide “Bites” selection, and hearty entrées. How cool is it that these guys carefully repurposed the original building materials from the 1920’s to retain an authentic Prohibition-era charm? Choose between the beautiful mezzanine complete with a balcony, or the charming courtyard for a truly outstanding meal. The varied meats and exquisite bourbons don’t disappoint.

The Loft 

In the heart of Boro Park yet tucked out of view, a chic nook for upscale dining awaits discovery. Yup! It’s The Loft, located on 40th Street right off 13th Avenue. Take a step inside, and you’re instantly transported from Southwest Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan. The interior is perhaps best described as loft-like, yet cozy, and a little romantic—the perfect setting for a night out. Two separate dining areas on the first floor are divided by a glass waterfall feature, and an upper story yields ample space to accommodate up to 75 people. The restaurant has been cultivating a following that is thrilled to find a local yet trendy eatery that can rival Manhattan competitors. Be sure to visit this place if you’re looking for American cuisine with an ethnic touch in Boro Park. Chef Boris Poleschuk transforms prime grilled meats into artfully arranged dishes using gourmet organic herbs and only the freshest ingredients. The Loft is where it’s at.

We’ve wrapped it up for you – bookmark this page and you’ll never need to ask again – where to go out to eat, celebrate, chill, or just plain enjoy life.

And be sure to read this article, to check out all of the other incredible vendors from last year’s KFWE too.