Theatrical steakhouse with flamboyant meat presentations and service

"I note that Nusr‑Et Steakhouse has finally launched a happy hour since opening last May: it's served at the bar daily from noon to 5 p.m. and includes small bites like fajitas and salmon crostinis, along with discounted drinks — red and white wines for $8, beer for $6, and house cocktails for $8." - Cathy Chaplin

"I also note that his Boston outlet was closed for not following COVID-19 protocols during the pandemic." - Farley Elliott

"A theatrical, celebrity-oriented steakhouse run by social-media restaurateur Nusret “Salt Bae” Gökçe is known for extravagant presentations of meat—recently captured in a widely viewed Twitter video showing a gold-flake–topped hunk of beef being elaborately sliced and seasoned with the chef’s signature elbow-salt flourish in front of an awed table; NFL receiver Amari Cooper and his friends reacted with cheers, Cooper declined when the owner attempted to feed him by hand, and an Instagram personality later devoured the piece." - Brittanie Shey

"A new Boston branch of a celebrity chef’s upscale steakhouse at 100 Arlington St. in Back Bay opened on September 18 and was ordered shut by the city on September 26 amid allegations including ongoing failure to follow COVID-19 public-safety standards, opening without a health permit, and having two blocked fire exits. The Licensing Board and the Inspectional Services Department are involved (ISD issues have reportedly been addressed), and management is scheduled for a virtual Licensing Board hearing on September 29. Social-media footage and multiple 311 complaints allege overcrowding, poor social distancing, and lax mask-wearing by staff and customers. The brand has a checkered U.S. history, including reported labor disputes that led to a $230,000 out-of-court settlement with former New York staffers and other legal battles, and the proprietor has previously generated controversy for politically charged posts. When it reopens it plans to resume indoor dining as well as takeout and delivery, including an extravagant $600 gold-leaf–wrapped steak option for home service." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"A flashy, high-ceilinged steakhouse from internet personality Nusret Gökçe known for theatrical tableside service and a menu built around various cuts of steak and lamb, meatballs, salads, and classic steakhouse sides. The Boston dining room echoes the previous tenant’s mosaic-accented interior and is likely to emphasize dramatic presentations (tableside salting, cart-served items) even as critics have described the chain more as dinner theater than a consistent steakhouse; steaks are typically wet-aged wagyu with heavy marbling and premium price points. The brand’s U.S. expansion has drawn both fervent fans and controversy around management and past labor and publicity issues; opening details on hours and service options are pending." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal