Astoria residents will now be able to feast on quality steak with the opening of Uncle Jack’s Meat House.
Queens native Willie Degel opened his second Meat House Location on Dec. 4 at 36-18 Ditmars Blvd. Degel also owns and operates three Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse locations, including one in Bayside, which made its debut in 1996; the West Side, which opened in 2003 and a Midtown location, which had its grand opening in 2004.
The restaurants were named after Degel’s godfather, who owned a steakhouse and speak easy in Manhattan in the 1920s. Diners can choose from options such as steak burgers, U.S.D.A. steaks and cuts, sandwiches, salads and offerings from the charcuterie station.
Dessert options include the “Baking Bad” scratch cookie plate, “O.M.G. It’s Huge” coconut cream pie and the fudge brownie soufflé.
Degel also had his own show on the Food Network called “Restaurant Stakeout” where he would travel to different restaurants and install hidden cameras to identify service issues. Degel would then call staff meetings to address these issues. The show lasted for four seasons from 2012 through 2014.
Celebrities, sports stars and politicians, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have visited his steakhouse locations and Degel previously had a partnership with Madison Square Garden to get naming rights to a steak sandwich stand in the arena.
In addition to his steakhouse and meat house chains, Degel operates Jack’s Shack Organic Eatery on Long Island, which serves all-natural burgers, salads, tacos and fruit smoothies. His steak sauces — Uncle Jack’s Steak Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Sesame Teriyaki Sauce and Lemon Grass Ginger Sauce — are available in 3,000 gourmet stores, according to his website.
The Astoria location is open on Sundays through Wednesdays from 4 to 11 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Uncle Jack’s Meat House will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party that includes a free champagne toast and party favors. To make a reservation, click here.
