Iconic UES Steakhouse Ponders Closing After 75 Years As It Begins New Venture In The Hamptons

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Donohue's Steak House has created a sense of home on the Upper East Side for the past 75 years, but with the opening of its new restaurant in the Hamptons this summer, the owner is pondering closing the Upper East Side institution for good.

Nothing is final yet, but Maureen Donohue-Peters, the third-generation owner of the beloved steakhouse, told Patch she's considering closing up shop on Lexington Avenue and 64th Street — where the restaurant has stood since 1950 — after the lease ends in December 2026.

If Donohue-Peters were to close the original Upper East Side location, it would be because she wants to focus on her new venture in the Hamptons (opening soon!) and because she no longer feels safe in the city, she said.

"A lot of restaurants, bodegas and little shops have started to be robbed — people are breaking into places late at night, sometimes at gunpoint," Donohue-Peters, who lives in Long Island City, told Patch. "You know, when you start going to work, looking over your shoulder before you open the door, there's an issue."

In the 19th Precinct, which includes the Upper East Side, there have been zero shootings this year, but burglaries have gone up by 17.2 percent, compared to this time last year, according to the NYPD.

"To me, it feels like going home, so it would be a shame to see it close," Donohue-Peters said of the restaurant.

However, for the steakhouse's devotees, there is some good news: A second Donohue's Steak House is opening at the site of the former Post Stop Cafe on Main Street in Westhampton Beach this summer. A loyal customer of Donohue's helped facilitate the new venture, Donohue-Peters said.

Donohue-Peters has partnered with her niece, Mary Barrie, in the new location. Barrie currently manages the New York City location, which just celebrated its 75th anniversary in April.

"All the customers are very friendly — it's their home as well," Barrie said of the Upper East Side location. "A lot of people in the city don't have family in the city, and they come in and we're a second home to them."

Though it's a new venture for the Donohue's team, the Hamptons space will keep the same vintage, homey feel that earned the original location a dedicated customer base and a reputation as an unofficial clubhouse for the well-known and average Joes alike.

It's a natural next step for the Donohue's team — Donohue-Peters and Barrie both grew up near Westhampton Beach.

"Westhampton has been so warm, so welcoming," Donohue-Peters said, adding that about a third of her customers live out east.

The Hamptons space, formerly an old-school post office, features a charming front porch. In a few weeks, it will be ready to welcome guests.

"We're just thrilled for what's next," Donohue-Peters said.

Know of a business opening or closing in Manhattan? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.