Lefty's

Menus? We don't need no stinkin' menus!

2012-02-22T14:23:00.000-06:00

Many Lefty's regulars don't even want a menu, ordering instead off the "Specials" sheet - the Chef's delicious creations made from the freshest seasonal ingredients.

So, what do you want to eat?

Coconut Dream Pie

2012-01-26T15:24:00.000-06:00

Our made-from-scratch Coconut Cream Pie is catching up with our best-selling Key Lime Meringue pie in popularity. Many of our Coconut Cream connoisseur customers claim it's the best they've ever had.

Come in and have a slice.

Italian Dinner Week!

2011-11-10T16:43:00.001-06:00

People always ask me where I go for great Italian food.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

"Lefty's Italian Dinner Week"

Monday, Nov. 14 - Sunday, Nov. 20

Get together with your family and friends for:

Saltimbocca, Osso Buco, Lobster with Vodka Sauce, Fresh Pasta, Meatballs and Sausage

"If 'Living Well is the Best Revenge' then 'Vengence is a Meal Best Served at Lefty's!"

Bill Hale

2011-10-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

1921 - 2011

Lefty's bids a fond farewell to our good pal, Bill Hale - a character actor and stunt man during the Golden Age of Movies and Television who shared the screen with legendary stars Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and John Wayne.

Bill was also the bandleader of his own combo in Rat-Pack era Las Vegas.

We all looked forward to Friday nights at Lefty's when Bill and his lovely wife, Gladys would join us for dinner, drinks, and laughs.

So long pardner...We will miss you.

Top photo courtesy of memphisfilmfestival.com Bottom photo (c) C. Andrako

Bite Me!

2011-10-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

The weather is changing and so are Lefty's specials. Come check out our Fall Lunch and Dinner Specials.

Let's Go Rangers!!!

"HAPPY HALLOWEEN"

Cheers!

2011-07-29T12:43:00.000-05:00

Chris at McSorley's Old Ale House - NYC

I made New York City my home for years and whenever I go back to visit family and friends we usually wind up in one of the great old bars of New York.

Some nights we'll go from one tavern to another, many being well over 100 years old.

Chris checks in with Lefty's on his cell from McSorley's, NYC.

I didn't move to New York until the late 70's so I missed great saloons like Toots Shor's and the Stork Club, however I spent years roaming the city looking for old joints to have a few drinks.

Old bars have character...and they attract characters.

Some of the best times I've had have been at the bar. Lefty's has the most interesting and diverse clientele. Artists, musicians, sports figures, restaurant workers, business people - all mingling together, enjoying good food and conversation, getting a buzz, and hopefully getting lucky. Now that's what I call social networking.

Tattoo artist, Jay Strange, sets up his easel for a little late night painting at Lefty's.

Old Town Bar - NYC

Chris' Recommended NYC Bars

Old Town Bar

McSorley's Old Ale House

Fanelli Cafe

21 Club

The Ear Inn

Click on each bar to visit their websites.

Photo of Old Town Bar by Peter Sylvester Photography. Available for purchase on Old Town Bar website.

Welcome New Facebook Friends!

2011-07-06T16:41:00.000-05:00

Welcome new friends!!! It's always great to see new faces in the Lefty's crowd.

Just like our steaks, we're sizzling every night with cool music, hip comfort food, and old school ambience.

Tell your friends: "Let's meet at Lefty's!"

Photos (c) C. Andrako for Lefty's

Catch of the Day: Lefty's Video #1

2011-05-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

Travels with Chris: Paris

2011-04-23T17:28:00.000-05:00

Paris is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. It is filled with generations of independent family-owned restaurants, cafes, and historical culinary landmarks.

Au Lapin Agile in Montmartre

Hanging out at Rodin's house

The heart and soul of France is the art of food and wine. I feel at home anyplace that has the same passion for dining as my family and I do.

Shopping at J. Dupeyron, specializing in Vintage Armagnac since the 1700's

We stayed for a while in a country house with a garden not far from Champagne. I loved visiting the villages, shopping for local wine and cheese, getting recipes and advice from the butcher, and smelling the fresh baked bread and pastries from a family bakery.

A friend's dog - Farfel- takes me on a tour of the village.

Bringing our bounty home, picking vegetables in the garden still warm from the sun, cooking boeuf a la bourguignonne and.....

fresh apple Tarte Tatin and dining outdoors as the French countryside turns from day to night -

It doesn't get any better than that.

It's good to be King.

Photos (c) Chris Papageorge All Rights Reserved

Travels With Chris: Mexico

2011-04-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

Everyone in my family loves to travel and as a restaurant family we travel to eat. My wife and I have always preferred the warmth of a house or apartment over that of a hotel...and having access to a kitchen enriches our travel experience tenfold.

Lunch on our rooftop

For some travelers cooking is a chore they'd rather leave behind...but for us it's a way to immerse ourselves in another culture and interract with the locals.

To spend an afternoon in the market of any foreign town or village is to feel all of your senses come alive with the true essence of that particular place...just what traveling is all about.

And, of course, we love the street food and discovering great restaurants, too.

Here are a few photos from one of our many visits to central Colonial Mexico.

Buying Gorditas on the street

Pork Carnitas at the Apollo in San Miguel de Allende

We shopped in the markets and recreated our favorite carnitas at our casita.

Me - Looking for Robert Mitchum

Photos (c) Chris Papageorge All Rights Reserved

Lefty's "Weekend of Love"

2011-02-09T18:31:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year, which is good news for you romantics out there. Who wouldn't like a few extra days of champagne and roses? ( Not to mention a better chance at securing a reservation.)

This year we're making it an entire "Weekend of Love" - with decorations, plenty of champagne, and delicious specials created with romance in mind.

Lefty's has always been a favorite place for marriage proposals, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.

"What an honor it is to have people choose our restaurant for the most important days of their lives."

We'll be more than happy to help you plan that special memory.

This Weekend

"Get Lucky at Lefty's"

***

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

A "Super" Menu for the "Super Bowl"

2011-02-02T00:42:00.000-06:00

Welcome Packers and Steelers fans! It's a Super Bowl celebration all week at Lefty's with dishes created just for you.

With a nod to our Wisconsin friends we've added:

A Handcut 16oz. New York Strip topped with Hook's Wisconsin Blue Cheese Walnut Butter

And for our Pennsylvania fans and friends:

A Warm Hershey's Chocolate Kahlua Cake `a la Mode

And remember: No matter who wins the big game, you can't lose at Lefty's.

Texas Cobra Club Rolls In To Lefty's

2011-01-30T14:46:00.000-06:00

Last night, the Texas Cobra Club rolled into Lefty's parking lot once again and created a curvaceous spectacle.

While they dined on lobsters and steaks the moon came out, the lights came on, and our parking lot was transformed into a movie set of 1960's cool.

Thank You, Texas Cobra Club for a Great Night!

A photo album of this event will be added to our Facebook Page later in the week.

Click photos to enlarge.

Cobra Club at Lefty's

2011-01-29T13:33:00.000-06:00

The Cobra Club will be at Lefty's today - Saturday Jan. 29 - at 4:30.

Come by and see the cool cars and have a lobster.

Elvis and Chicken-Fried Steaks at Lefty's!

2011-01-06T15:50:00.000-06:00

Two Elvis' show up at Lefty's on one night! What are the odds?

Happy Birthday, Elvis! While we can't guarantee an appearance by the King himself, we can guarantee a meal fit for the King. This Fri. and Sat. night we'll be serving our very regal Prime Filet Mignon Chicken-Fried Steak, our fluffy mashed potatoes, and our made-from-scratch cream gravy in his honor...and in yours, too.

And if that's not enough - Loosen your belt for a hunka hunka "Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie".

Chris will be spinning all your favorite Elvis hits. Let's party.

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Season's Greetings

2010-12-23T14:04:00.000-06:00

Season's Greetings

from

The Papageorge Family

and everyone at

Lefty's

Toasting the Season with the NFL and the No. Texas Food Bank

2010-12-07T14:50:00.000-06:00

Toast the Season with one of these exceptional wines from our wine list. From Chardonnays to Pinots, aficionados know that Lefty's offers the finest wines at the lowest mark-up in town. (And that leaves more money for Santa to order a thick, juicy steak!)

Proceeds from the following wines contribute two and a half meals per bottle to the North Texas Food Bank in an effort from Lefty's, the E&J Gallo Winery and the NFL to feed the hungry this holiday season.

Alamos Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina............6.............24

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa.............9.5.............42

From NYC to Dallas - Our Family Restaurants

2010-11-18T20:02:00.002-06:00

The Splendid Cafe - NYC

Posted by Chris - After almost a century in the restaurant business there's no end to the restaurant stories my family can tell. Thousands of people have walked through our doors and eaten our food...and just as we've left an impression on them, they've left an impression on us. Next week when we get together for Thanksgiving, the conversation will invariably turn to the past and to those family members and customers who have meant so much to us.

It was my Greek grandfather who opened our first family restaurant in America. There he is seated at the counter in the photo above with his brothers and staff surrounding him. The Splendid Cafe opened in NYC in 1910 and served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What I wouldn't give for one of those original menus. Check out the cigars and cigar boxes on the right.

The Bar-B-Q Matic - Akron, Ohio

This was our next restaurant - the Bar-B-Q Matic in Akron, Ohio. 1940. It was famous for the rosemary and garlic rotisserie chickens that turned in the window. My grandfather, "Pop" - as us grandkids called him - had the ingenious idea to position the vent so that the aroma of the roasting birds wafted out into the street and drew in a hungry and faithful clientele. It was also known for its broiled steaks and chops.

The Golden Nugget - Dallas, Texas

And then came - Dallas. The Golden Nugget was located on Harry Hines Blvd. back when Harry Hines was Restaurant Row. People rode their horses there and tied them up out front. Each cowhide booth had its own juke box which played great old Country Western songs and there was also a big Wurlitzer in back. We loved the saddle-seats at the counter, the wagon-wheel chandeliers, and the longhorns that hung on the walls. I was so young I had to climb up on the tables to bus them. The Golden Nugget served everything from eggs in the skillet to hamburgers, spaghetti, ribs, and our delicious Mexican platter.

The Papageorge Family in front of the Bar-B-Q Matic in Akron, Ohio

...and in front of Lefty's in 1995

We've served our finest to Laborers, Dignitaries, the Famous, and the Infamous

Much more to come.....

Click photos to Enlarge

Actor Matt Barr Loves Lefty's Lobster

2010-11-12T17:29:00.000-06:00

It's always a thrill when a celebrity mentions 'Lefty's' as one of their favorite spots. Heart-throb actor and Allen, Tx. native, Matt Barr, and his family have been loyal Lefty's customers for years. Barr, the star of the CW series Hellcats, One Tree Hill, Commander in Chief, and Harper's Island was profiled on Channel 33 this week and a film crew was sent to Lefty's to shoot some footage.

Thank You, Matt, for choosing Lefty's as one of your favorite places.

Click on to Matt's highlighted name to visit his website.

Lunch at Lefty's

2010-11-09T14:50:00.000-06:00

Hi everybody. Chris' wife, Pilar here. I stopped by Lefty's for lunch yesterday and I saw lots of new faces in the crowd. When sunlight streams into that big, red dining room there's a whole different ambience from the night before. Customers tell us it's like getting two restaurants in one...and we agree.

The menu's different, too....but the emphasis is always on the fresh and seasonal. If you've never joined us for lunch you'll want to try one of our fried shrimp or oyster po' boys, our big salads with your choice of shrimp, chicken, salmon, or lobster, or our popular cheeseburger. (We're told it's the best in the city.) I couldn't decide between two of the specials yesterday - the Ahi Tuna Burger or the Fried Lobster Po' Boy. There's my final choice, above. Love those Lobster Po' Boys!

Have you had our potato salad? This is the real deal. The real old-fashioned, like Mama used to make, picnic potato salad. In fact, the recipe is from one of the great cooks of all time - the Matriarch of our family - Norma. We've had customers order it for their parties by the gallon. Our East coast sister-in-law has half of Brooklyn making this potato salad! Come try it.

Lefty's is open for Lunch - Monday thru Friday - 11:00 to 2:00

Home Away from Home

2010-11-06T17:39:00.001-05:00

If you can't make it to the East Coast this weekend you know where to go. Lefty's is a mecca for the homesick Easterner - and for anybody who craves the ambience of a cozy, seaside tavern.

We just got in some beautiful, fresh Alaskan Halibut and the Chef's making Bouillabaise with fresh, sweet shellfish from the East Coast.

...and save room for a slice of our Coconut Creme Pie!

See you at Lefty's.

See You at Lefty's

2010-11-04T17:33:00.001-05:00

It's Friday...and you know what that means. Our loyal regulars will be knocking off early and meeting up at Lefty's to get a headstart to their weekend. We hear there's a familiar face back in town. Mr. Watson, I presume?

If you'd like to make a Reservation you can make it right from our Facebook page. Click on to the Facebook badge on the right and when you arrive on our page click the 'Reservations' tab and 'Voila!' you're linked to 'Open Tables'.

Our chef has been inspired by the cooler weather, so come see what's cooking tonight. On Wednesday night he made this spicy, Mexican soup which received rave reviews from our diners. The crispy herb toasts were the perfect accompaniment. Fresh and seasonal is the way we do it at Lefty's.

While over at Facebook, don't forget to 'Like' our page by clicking the Thumbs Up icon at the top of the page. You'll receive an update to your Wall every time we post. Thanks for stopping by. See you at Lefty's.

Welcome to Lefty's Blog

2010-11-02T16:53:00.005-05:00

Here it is! Welcome to Lefty's blog. This is where we'll be bringing you great stories, photos, and updates on the restaurant you've called your favorite for over 15 years. Our grandfather opened his first restaurant in NYC in 1910 and we're proud to be carrying on that tradition three generations later. Click on for posts and photos of our family history, our spectacular dishes, our affordable wine list...and for posts about YOU - our loyal (and sometimes crazy and eccentric) clientele.

Whenever we post here, a snippet will arrive on our Facebook page with a direct link to our blog. Lefty's blog will be our on-line magazine with vibrant photography, articles, and contributing writers. So, join us here on Blogger and over at Facebook, too - where you'll find photo albums filled with the memories that have made Lefty's your choice for celebrating special occasions.

Stay tuned for much more to come.