The Mysterious Case of the Luger's Rat Diaspora
The strangest things pop up in the comments sections of posts. Take the discussion on Tuesday of the new development at 324 Bedford. It’s humming along with the standard mix of armchair criticism and rumor-mongering when someone named Anonymous drops this gem: Did you guys know that when Peter Luger was finally convinced by some…
The strangest things pop up in the comments sections of posts. Take the discussion on Tuesday of the new development at 324 Bedford. It’s humming along with the standard mix of armchair criticism and rumor-mongering when someone named Anonymous drops this gem:
Did you guys know that when Peter Luger was finally convinced by some needling health inspector to exterminate, its population of rats dispersed into the surrounding neighborhood, infesting everyone’s homes with the rodents. I just found this out from our structural engineer, who’d worked with the owners of Peter Luger back in the rat days.
Now you’ve got our attention. We’re curious to know when this extermination occurred and whether any local homeowners can confirm this spill-over effect.
Condos at 324 Bedford [Brownstoner] GMAP
Luger’s Photo from here
Sometimes when I jog past, I have to hurdle the rats en masse. Sometimes though, I’ll stop and kick the rats around. Actually, the question should be…why are they so sluggish?
they are delicious breaded and deep fried, almost as good as the onion flower
Is everyone sure that the secret to their excellent steaks isn’t that they SERVE the rats? That’s one way to exterminate without the sweet smell of decay.
ha ha. We share a sense of humor. Good to know.
We thought it was funny, too–with the fairy-tale ending that the rats are no longer there (en masse, at least).
When he told me this story, it was a funny anecdote. I don’t know if it’s exaggerated. From his telling, this happened in the 80s, late 80s I think.
I shuoldn’t have said anything. I thought it was funny, but clearly it is a shock to everyone’s dining system.
What the story leaves out: Luger’s refused to pay the agreed-upon amount for the rodent expulsion. A few weeks later, mysterious flute-like music was heard around Bedford St. Entranced, the owners’ children followed the sound and disappeared. Rumors say they have been spotted recently wandering the streets of Bushwick.
rats and mice – always. almost in every restaurant that I’ve worked in. nice, popular restaurants. just saying.
oh, good lord! the idea that rats “dispersed” into the surrounding neighborhood and “infested everyone’s homes” is utterly ludicrous. it’s also an obvious lie. there is a rat population on the south side, DUH.
there are mice and rats in the city. a restaurant that is immaculate, and regularly exterminated, will have mouse or rat droppings in it from time to time, because the suckers run into the buildings.
you’ll also read about fly infestation on the DOH site; in the summer, there are flies. a couple of flies buzzing about on the day of the inspection gets a “presence of live flies” notation. this stuff is all par for the course.
BTW, the DOH makes substantial revenues from fines for violations.
so take it easy, folks. luger is an outstanding restaurant, and it’s very clean, and the food is handled properly.