IMO, Arthur's in Hoboken is a small step above Tad's Steaks in the city, or a Sizzler or Ponderosa for those familiar with those chains. Except the meat is better at Ponderosa or Sizzler.
I love steak, would gladly join in a roadtrip to any area steakhouse, but Arthur's does not belong in the same discussion thread as Lugers, Ben Benson, Morton, Sparks, Ruth Chris, Keen's, Smith & Wollensky, etc. I'll go there if we're deciding that we're essentially going to a place that happens to serve easily affordable steak, not "one of the greats"
Even Outback has better meat cuts than Arthur's.
As far as I can tell, the "allure" of Arthur's is that it *is* steak, and it is about the same price as going to any typical fast food on an ounce for ounce basis. You get to tell a date you're taking her to a "great" steakhouse. But unless your date is impressed by hot dog stands, your date won't be impressed by Arthur's.
The strong possibility exists that there is ongoing confusion. There are and have been two well known steak oriented places in Hoboken - Arthur's, which was cheap and easy to find on Washington, and Frankie & Johnnie's, which is expensive, good, and a bit more out of the way on Garden & 14th. Probably lots of discussions occured with someone saying "what's that great steakhouse in Hoboken?" meaning F&J, and somebody interjected the better known Arthur's resulting in "yeah, that's it". F&J and Arthur's are not in the same league.
To put my opinion in context: I've eaten at Arthur's in Hoboken no less than five times, spread out over about 5 years. I haven't gone in the last 6 months but don't think anything has changed. I've eaten at each of the above named steakhouses many times.
Price to quality to general appeal ratios, Keen's in midtown is probably the winner for those that categorically block any of the multi-location places.