After 76 years serving the Upper East Side, Donohue’s Steak House is set to close its doors this Friday, marking the end of an era for one of New York City’s enduring family-run establishments. Maureen Donohue-Peters, who began working at the restaurant nearly five decades ago and assumed ownership in 2000 following the death of her father, Michael Donohue, will personally oversee the final service at the Lexington Avenue location.

Despite the decision to shutter the restaurant, Donohue-Peters, 64, has maintained a hands-on approach, frequently bartending alone in recent weeks, serving a mix of regulars and newcomers alike. The restaurant, known for its mid-20th century ambiance and traditional Americana menu, will cease operations in its current form. The space has attracted interest from several prospective restaurateurs, although the landlord, David Berger, says negotiations remain confidential and that the Donohue name will not continue with any future tenant.

The interior of Donohue’s has remained largely unchanged since its establishment in 1950, preserving features like the checkerboard floor and a distinctive blue-glass engraving behind the bar. The menu reflects a bygone era with selections including Boston scrod, Maryland turkey, and Hawaiian ham steaks. While the restaurant billed itself as a steakhouse, longtime patrons often saw it more as a classic neighborhood bar and gathering place rather than a destination strictly for steak.

Donohue’s heritage traces back to Martin Donohue, an Irish immigrant from County Galway, who originally opened multiple family-run restaurants in the city. Donohue’s on Lexington Avenue remains the last of these. Maureen Donohue-Peters grew up in the business, starting as a waitress and eventually learning the intricacies of bartending, bookkeeping, and maintenance from her father. She credits her culinary education and experience in the family business for her ability to keep the restaurant running efficiently over the decades.

The establishment’s clientele has ranged from neighborhood regulars to notable figures including former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, journalists Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and Matt Lauer, as well as writers such as Gay Talese and Tennessee Williams. The restaurant has fostered a sense of community where patrons form connections, with staff quickly learning customers’ names and preferred drinks.

In recent years, Donohue-Peters resisted modernizing trends common in other venues. Reservations at Donohue’s were only accepted in person or by phone, as attempts to introduce online booking were abandoned. Cash payments remained favored, and the restaurant retained equipment like the original 76-year-old wall phone and handwritten checks on the well-worn cork rail behind the bar.

Donohue-Peters cited the city’s increasing noise and safety concerns as primary reasons for closing, rather than rising rent costs. The landlord reportedly offered to reduce rent to encourage her to stay, but she declined. She plans to spend more time at her home in Hampton Bays on Long Island, where she opened a second Donohue’s location last year in Westhampton Beach.

Looking ahead, the future of the Lexington Avenue space remains uncertain. Prospective lessees face challenges such as high operating costs and competition from well-funded restaurateurs. One Brooklyn owner who considered applying withdrew, noting that the financials might not support a similar operation.

Donohue-Peters said she may sell bar fixtures and memorabilia to the incoming operators if she approves of them, but she won’t be involved in selecting the successor. Otherwise, she intends to relocate the restaurant’s artifacts, including a photograph of her father pouring a cocktail the week the restaurant opened.

As Donohue’s concludes its long run, the closure will be marked quietly, without a formal farewell event. Donohue-Peters plans to spend the final night in routine fashion before reflecting privately on the legacy she and her family leave behind.