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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse SquareMon-Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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fantastic food. fantastic atmosphere (especially in the summer months). ac deserves a solid four stars.
yes, the food isn't earth shatteringly novel. however, everything is made with the utmost care and attention. the ingredients are perfect. to boot, the prices are reasonable. (which is much more than what one can say about sister restaurant twenty manning.)
ac is a great place to eat and be merry (easy to do so bc it's byob!)
This place was one of the first restaurants in Philadelphia I've been to. When we come here, we get a lot of appetizers to share with everyone. It turned out pretty well so far. The whole place is pretty small and I would recommend anyone come here during a cool, summer evening where you can sit outside, enjoy the weather, and people-watch.
P.S. Cash-only thing is annoying.
Wow, we really had a good night at Audrey Claire. We came here to celebrate our anniversary ,which also happened to be during restaurant week. The decor itself minimalistic with plain white walls, and jars full of bright lemons, but somehow it works to create a clean look. Perhaps it's the huge open windows with Rittenhouse sidewalk traffic that creates the perfect ambience.
There were plenty of choices on the restaurant week menu, and all the options I had were superb. I had the flatbread with pears, gorgonzola cheese, and pine nuts to start, which was HUGE and sooo incredible. For my main course, I had, the mashed potatoe encrusted Tuna, and for dessert I had the warm chocolate cake.
The service was great, and we were not rushed at all (which happens a lot during restaurant week). We will definately be back to Audrey Claire again, and this will be one of our new favorite restaurants to bring all out of town guests, as it's sure to impress!
My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary. We had a blast! We shared the mussels as an appetizer...what a deal! For $10 you get a giant bowl of mussels in a delicious tomato broth, which was SOO good I tried to slurp up every last drop and I barely had room for my entree, which was the rack of lamb. My boyfriend got the duck. The lamb had a kind of breading that was too rich for me, and I would probably go for the fish next time. But the meat was very high-quality. BYOB. The one drawback is that the seating can get very crowded, so it is hard to try to have an intimate dinner when you are practically bumping elbows with the person at the next table. But that didn't bother us too much!
This is part one of my four part restaurant week/birthday celebration. Delicious.
Last night I had the pleasure of dining out with Rachel and the Kolodzieys for my birthday. Rachel picked Audrey Claire; we had to postpone my first choice because the reservations didn't work out. I hadn't heard a single thing about this spot before last night, and I'm really surprised about that.
The restaurant menu was the only thing offered, which I really appreciate. I've been to spots that offer a paltry restaurant week menu that seems weak next to the regular menu. There were about eight options for each the first and second courses. Because there were so many good choices, we all split the first course. I shared the flatbread and brussel sprouts. I'm not sure how brussel sprouts got a bad rap, because I think anyone who would have tried some of mine from last night would agree that they're delicious. The flatbread was topped with sliced bosc pear, gorgonzola, and sunflower seeds. This was also excellent. Perfectly cook, thin, crispy flatbread.
I was floored by the second course. I ordered potato crushed ahi tuna topped with crispy beet shavings. While the potato crust didn't provide a whole lot of flavor, the tuna was perfectly cooked. Seriously, seared on the outside, pink on the inside, and warm throughout. From my experience, most places can't pull off seared tuna to my satisfaction. Audrey Claire made me flip over a dish I generally don't love. A+. Rachel had sole with lemon and capers. I tried this, and this was also great; it had a better crust than my tuna. John went with a pork loin that he enjoyed, and Alli also had the tuna.
There were about six choices for dessert. Three of us opted for the warm chocolate lava cake, while Alli went with cinnamon raison rice pudding. The cake was served with fresh strawberries and house made whipped cream; it was a perfect way to end the meal. I'm not a rice pudding guy, so I can't comment on it.
This was a great pick for restaurant week, I'd highly recommend it. I took a look at the regular menu, and the prices aren't outrageous otherwise. The portion sizes were perfect; I've found this can be another disappointing "trick" pulled by restaurants during the promotional week. Each course was the perfect size and I was satisfied at the end of the meal.
Last night was probably the nicest day of the year, and we decided to eat outside. Audrey Claire has a nice indoor dining area with an open kitchen, although I've heard complaints that it can get quite loud inside. The service here is on par with what you'd expect from fine dining. I noticed several time our server checking our plates from down the sidewalk; he knew just when to clear the plates and put in the other orders. This was the best service I've had in quite some time.
Bottom Line: This spot is great. It's a perfect nice-but-not-too-expensive spot. It's a BYOB, which always wins points in my book. At the very least, consider this spot for a future restaurant week pick.
I'm all for BYOBs with good food, but Audrey Claire didn't really impress on me any novel cuisine. Perhaps it was the entrees I ordered, who knows. Don't get me wrong, my food was great, but I didn't feel it garnered all the hooplah it's supposed to. My portabello mushrooms as an appetizer were great and no flavor too overpowering. The papardelle with mushrooms (it was a mushroom kinda day for me) was a little bland for my palate but enjoyable. I'm no expert on creme brulee, but the one I ordered was just a tad too burnt for my likes.
My experience was 5 star though. Having dinner with fellow Yelpers Sue G., Lexi T., and Dave F. was a great way to ease back into the grind of the work week on a Sunday night. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. To be seated on the sidewalk in Rittenhouse Square was also a wonderful way to ease me back into dining in Philly after being away for a couple of months. A good dining experience for the summer; perhaps I'll return to give Audrey Claire another chance.
NB: Cash only BYOB. This was also indeed a goof[y] dining experience as well as my previous typo had read in the sense that any time with Dave F. is a goofy time ;) Yea that was a pretty drab review, chill out people, I'm just getting back into the swing of things :-P
When someone thinks of brussels sprouts most think of a smelly and icky tasting vegetable. Not me! Like all vegetables I love them. Their appetizer special was seared brussel sprouts with shaved Parmesan cheese. Fantastic!
The other appetizer was pita with hummus, sun dried tomatoes and Tzatziki sauce.
I was less adventurous with my meal Chicken Milanese - it was good - it was a great leftover, but I wished I tried something else after having those delicious appetizers.
The other main entree was the Marlin. My first marlin It was great! How I wished I ordered the marlin.
I go here relatively frequently with friends and have tried a bunch of different things on the menu. On my most recent visit, I had a new salad with arugula, warmed goat cheese, fresh figs, and berries. The berry of the day was blue and the salad was excellent. We also ordered (as we always do) a side of the roasted brussel sprouts, with garlic and parmesan. They are lovely, and my favorite ever brussel sprouts. I agree with several of the reviews that say the mains aren't up to the appetizers--I had a steak special and it was only fair. The lemon sole with shallots and sage is very good, though, and definitely recommended.
Some other good apps are the mussels and the haloumi.
A big drawback, as a side note, is the noise here.
I've been coming to this place forever...it is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. Everytime I have someone from out of town, I bring them here. It's great food and BYOB. All the dishes are reasonably priced. The only downside is they only take CASH.
I usually go the "tapas" route and get all small plates since their main dishes aren't the greatest (that's why I didn't give it 5 stars). The mussels are usually great when they are in season otherwise they tend to be on the smaller, chewy side. My favorite dish has to be the octopus salad. I never had octopus until here. They grill the octopus and then throw it over a bed of fresh greens and some feta cheese and it's the best! I like the flat breads: smoked salmon & garganzola cheese or the grilled beef are very good. For dessert, I love the lava cake with raspberry topping. The dessert menu changes so I don't think they serve this every night.
Audrey rotates their menu between the seasons so what you might love in the summer suddenly disappears when the fall rolls around. The place is open for dinner only and it usually gets packed on Thurs-Sat and they don't take reservations on those nights. They do take reservation from Sunday through Wednesdays I think.
Enjoy. I hope you love it as much as I do.
This is your standard, basic Philly BYOB.
Corner property with huge windows, uber airy, clean, minimal decor, open kitchen, etc. As far as BYOBs go, this place has been here since 1996, which is like an eternity in dog years for restaurant survival. Obviously, this mainstay is doing something right.
Location. Location. Location. Who doesn't want to be seen eating and drinking here? Right at the corner of 20th and Spruce, it's gorgeous there - immediately, even if you aren't, you definitely feel like you're an 'in-the-know' young upwardly-mobile professional.
In the six years I've lived here, I go to Audrey Claire a couple times a year. The food is consistently good - rarely bad. Portions are generous. The flatbreads are always huge (order to share!) and the smaller dishes are usually pretty tasty. The main dishes are what always fall a little short for me. They've always seemed to be missing a certain... something. I can quite put my finger (or my hoity-toity palate) on it.
Like other reviews have said, indoor dining room is super loud and tight and outdoor dining is just right. Service is decent, bland if not a little disinterested.
Will this place blow you out of the water and keep you coming back for more? No.
Though this isn't my first pick for BYOBs, it's a good option for a small group of good friends (be ready to wait if it's a weekend) or quick dinner à deux during the week.
Oh and it's still Cash only. boo.
I had already had dinner, but Sara was hungries. We walked by the outside dinners oggling their mussels and such. We did a 360 and went in. Now we know why those smart peeps were sweltering in the heat rather than sitting inside. Its loud in that joint. However, all was ok...our server was gorgeous. Like Eric from TrueBlood hot. Hot hot hot
He overheard me accidentally say to Sara,"Well if you marry Eric from TrueBlood you need to learn Sweden". He had beautiful teeth and hair. I want to have babies with him
Onto the food. I had some pretty fingerlicking good brussel sprouts. So good Sara sopped up the jus with bread out of the bowl the brussels came in. Next time I make brussels at home I am so shaving some parmesan over them!
Next she had the sole, which I think was to delicate to be covered in fried shallots, but it was still tasty. I'm not a big fan of israeli couscous, but Audrey is. Weirdness.
I had he mussels. They were divine. So good I had to keep myself from picking up the bowl and drinking the broth. Which had these wondrous fresh tomatoes in it.
I wanted dessert, but also wanted to walk home. So we passed it.
Dinner was twenty something for us which is pretty decent!
I'll echo what others have said about the location. This is a prime spot. The food was great. We started with the pear and gorgonzola flat bread - delish! I'm a big cheese fan and this had just the right ratio of gorgonzola to pear. For dinner I had the maple brined pork chop. It was good, although I'd say not as yummy as the flat bread.
My only complaints are small: The wait staff was a bit slow. However, it was a busy Friday night so that is to be expected. And, the sound level was quite high (why do restaurants design with all hard surfaces?), making it hard to hear my dinner mates. This is definitely a place I'd go again!
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but Audrey Claire beat Twenty Manning in my book. I visited both this month.
Audrey was crowded for a Tuesday night but we had a reservation and were seated immediately. I can imagine a weekend (no reservations taken) would get very busy. For a small place, I felt like there was plenty of room between tables and wasn't too packed in.
The 4 of us started off with the spicy hummus and salmon flat bread. It was a very unique dish with hummus smeared all over a large, toasted flat bread with salmon and lettuce piled on top. Quite delicious. We also shared the Mediterranean Spread which was delicious but a small portion.
The pork chop for dinner was good, but not great. I thought I'd like the wild boar bacon more. I ate every bite though. My wife had the penne with shrimp was delicious and the portion was rather big, so we had it for dinner last night as leftovers.
One big drawback was how loud it was. Our group of 4 spent the night yelling at each other.
Overall, nice sized portions and reasonably priced compared to Twenty Manning. Two apps shared between four and 4 entrees came to $31 per person. Also, the fact it's a BYOB is great - compared to the $10 drinks next door. We'll be back for sure.
I can't actually review the food here because we NEVER got seated. My two friends and I arrived on Saturday night around 8pm. We were told there was an hour to hour and fifteen minute wait. Ok, fine. We gave the host our name and cell number and went across the street to 20 Manning for a drink. After an hour and a half we went back over to check (and make sure he had the right number) and the host said we were "up next as soon as a few tables leave". We waited another 20 minutes and then gave up. We went across the street to 20 Manning and ended up eating there. Guess what....we never got a phone call telling us our table was ready. And I paid $17 for three chewy, overdone ricotta ravioli at 20 Manning. My advice to you...avoid this place on the weekends (they don't take reservations then) unless you plan on eating really late or early or giving up and going someplace else. Very disappointing.
The most mediocre of mediocre Philadelphia BYOBs. It's an institution, sure, but it's not exactly writing the book on excellent food.
What you order is hit or miss depending upon the day (yes, the same entree will drastically vary depending upon the mood of the cooks) and service ranges from fantastic to catatonic depending upon the server.
You'll leave satisfied, and you'll leave rather "meh" on the place, but if you're seeking inspirational cuisine or a fantastic meal look elsewhere.
Having been here twice, I have to agree with other reviewers that the main reason Audrey Claire survives is its location. You can't argue that it's pretty much perfectly situated as a cutesy BYO. And cute it is - they really do a good job of cultivating that atmosphere. Don't get me wrong - the food is very tasty, and I've had a great time whenever I've been.
That said, it's pretty telling that I had a better time the first time I went to Audrey Claire - when my meal was paid for. The prices on their menu are pretty up there given what's on there, and overall, not a lot of the dishes work well with each other, which is tough because the menu is designed for you to throw together a bunch of different things.
I'll probably be back, if someone else is picking up the bill.
I went there for the first time with a friend last night. We made reservations and we're seated promptly. My friend got the salmon (she raved about the couscous) and I got the arugula salad (excellent) and the pear flatbread (ok). It was unfortunately incredibly loud so we were shouting at each other and we weren't even in the middle of another group of patrons. Unfortunately, what was a pleasant evening was ruined when the waitress (who did apologize) asked us to leave minutes after paying our bill when we had already put on our coats and were just minutes away from finishing our conversation. Making us feel very awkward and putting a sour note onto the end of our evening. So three stars not four.
It's a well known fact that I am notoriously picky. And the 4 stars Im giving Audrey Claire is not because I love the food so much. The menu and I have a pretty rocky relationship. It wants me to like it but the things it's offering are just a little too weird for my taste buds. However, I have had really good food here, even if it wasn't the most exciting thing on the menu. The 4 stars is for the service and attractiveness of the waiters. Here's the story: My best friend's family lives around the corner from AC and they are Sunday night regulars so I've been here on multiple occasions. One visit, a waiter (who wasn't even serving our table) noticed that I was the only one not indulging in any appetizers and he brought me over a bowl of Mushroom soup hoping that even the pickiest of eaters would try and like it. I tried my friends, but only because he was cute. I then passed the soup over to my friend's dad and just waited for my pasta dish to come out.
But seriously, how attentive and nice is that?! A complimentary bowl of soup (and the food is not cheap here)? Where else in the city would that happen??
Also it's BYO which is always nice.
Shocked that I had never been here before. Just moved to the city but have visited many times. Seems new despite its age. It has a timeless quality to it. Perfect neighborhood BYOB. People who complain it is too small or that the wine glasses are only silly juice glasses should be ignored. It is a cozy, intimate space. Get over it. Revel in it. It will not kill you to touch a stranger's elbow, eavesdrop on their conversation or peak at their food.
My server was cute, so I forgave him for assuming I did not know what Arctic Char was. Portions were large and prices fair I thought for a BYOB. Lovely flatbread with goat cheese, fresh berries, and pumpkin seeds. Enormous and soul satisfying mussels. Over cooked, but still moist Potato wrapped Tuna. Super comforting apple glazed Pork Chop. Simple and enjoyable Bread Pudding.
Minimalism done right.
I came here with my Mom and friend on a Thursday night. Was nicely crowded with people, but not overwhelming. Food was good, but not overwhelming - I had a gorgonzola and blackberry flat bread which was nice. I think my mom had salmon and my friend had steak. The kitchen is an open-style so you can see the chefs preparing food which is kind of nice. It is what I expected of a Rittenhouse BYOB - airy, light green atmosphere, waitstaff in white, and simple somewhat creative new American food.
It was good to take my Mom to - nothing too adventurous or romantic or filled with loud younger crowd. Im in no rush to head back, but if someone told me they really really wanted to go or they were having their bday dinner there, Id go and wouldnt be upset.
I've been to Audrey Claire plenty of times and whenever I have friends come to visit and they want to go out somewhere that's BYOB, has a fairly diverse menu, and a great area nearby to walk around before and after, this and Twenty Manning is where I recommend. The food's great, the service is usually great, and despite the appearance of being very crowded (which at a place like this is a good thing), they always seem to be able to get us in fairly quickly. I like that when you sit at the tables you're very close in proximity to your stranger-neighbors, however some people might not like this at all. If you're looking for a quiet spot, this is not it.
Pros:
Good food with a nice rotating menu (artichoke bisque with truffle oil is GREAT), BYO, cute host (he's straight - we asked), and about a block from my house. The food is cheaper than Twenty Manning and Snackbar and the decor is simple but elegant in a somewhat French provencal way.
Cons:
Too small! We got lucky in that we didn't have to wait but as more and more people showed up, the host kept moving our table first one way then another way in order to accommodate more guests. Not that I mind moving but it's a tad annoying in the middle of your meal.
Cash only - VERY annoying and just plain stupid in this day and age - yes they save on credit card fees but too many people go around these days with ONLY plastic in their wallets.
My wife will tell you it is 5 star. I was constantly annoyed with our 2-top table sandwiched between two others. We were seated in the middle...then moved to the 1st previously-occupied table to the left. The next guests to sit down move to the next empty table to the right. They apologized for making us feel like we smelled, but we assured them we didn't want to share conversation either...all in the most non-awkward way possible. I agree with everyone it is sooo loud. I was looking for cosy & romantic not the "freshly moved out of the apartment feel." There were 3 babies there that night. Maybe I need to sit outdoors next time.
The food was great but not distinctive. Pretty standard fare. My steak was a bit gristly, so I'll stick to Barklay Prime for the meat. My wife loved the fish. I'd recommend it if you want to go somewhere that is hip. That was certainly not what I wanted when I went there (by recommendation). Sorry for the debbie-downer here.
Audrey Claire is a great neighborhood BYOB, and sister restaurant to the classier Twenty Manning down the block. The wait on weeknights/weekends is usually pretty decent, around a 1/2 hour. (Leave your number and get a drink at the bar at Twenty Manning, they'll call you when ready)
Some menu options are delicious standby's -- the grilled octopus and flatbreads for example. Other entrees can be a bit hit or miss. Although menu items don't always indicate it, Audrey Claire skews more Mediterranean, with olive, israeli couscous and other briney flavors throughout.
Sitting at the outside tables during the summer is a definite highlight!
I imagine Audrey Claire doesn't need another good review...just like it doesn't need color or wall-hangings in its space to make it feel homey. But I'm going to rate it anyway...because even the most steadfast need a boost every once in a while.
I think I go here about once a year. Their food is delicious...I'm usually never disappointed. The last time, I had their mussels (of which I'm a connoisseur). I believe they hail from Prince Edward Island, or somewhere in Northern Canada...don't quote me on this. Regardless, they were ample and tender (I feel weird saying that...oh well) and the sauce was basic but good.
As others have mentioned, the acoustics are kind of crappy. It IS hard to hear others at your table when the place is full. I think it's the ol' "talk-louder-because-others-are-talking-loudly" concept...and then everyone is yelling. When the noise-level is at the endearing/quaint level, the place could probably be a backdrop to a movie...about food...which are my favorite (i.e. "Big Night").
Lastly, I grade the waitstaff. I believe they're knowledgable and friendly...not TOO friendly, which I like. I've seen one of the current waitstaff rise through the ranks there. He was a host before and now a competent waiter. That really warms my heart.
Since I live in the neighborhood, I've been to Audrey Claire at least 7 times. I always flip-flop between which neighborhood BYO I like more: Audrey Claire or Melograno? I've always had a great meal at both places, but I have been to Audrey Claire more times so I guess Audrey Claire takes the cake.
My favorite dishes at Audrey Claire are the pork chop and the ostrich (when they have it.) I have heard that they sometimes have lamb meatballs that are supposed to be heavenly. Sadly, I have never been there when they have had it on the menu. They do seafood really well, apparently. I had a friend order some sort of crab stuffed fish and he kept making an 'O' face and rolling his eyes into the back of his head. Scary.
The grilled pear and gorgonzola flatbread is really good. I could probably just eat two of those for a meal (two because I'm a fatty and they are that tasty.)
The server with the shaved head and the blue eyes has always been a real stand out. He's one of the best servers I've had, period. Audrey Claire is lucky to have him there. (If he's still there, I haven't been there in a month.)
Audrey Claire, you have never let me down. Please stay open forever.
this place is one my favorite places to eat in philadelphia... granted the location on a nice day has alot to do w/ it. The food is pretty good too, I would avoid the pork and steak not that they are bad but they are not great however their fish is tops (skate, red snapper or whatever the special is for the day). There hummus and other spreads for their flat bread are pretty amazing. As a self proclaim carnivore I have to say their grilled vegetable appetizers is fantastic. I usually do not particularly care for asparagus or brussel sprouts but apparently ma dukes just did not make them right. I hear the lamb is very good too but have yet to try. overall decent byob w/ a simple and clean decor that is priced reasonable.
Largely unremarkable, the only difference between Audrey Claire and 20 Manning is the full bar in the latter.
I just went to Audrey Claire for the first time, on New Year's Eve. We enjoyed a $50 prix fixe menu with 6ish choices for the first course, and the same for the second course. For dessert, there were 4ish choices.
I thoroughly enjoyed my pumpkin bisque garnished with cardamom. A gentle, delicate taste-I practically licked my bowl clean.
For my main course, I decided to be adventurous and go for the ostrich, which came with green beans and a gratin of some sort (I don't remember). I should have asked for the ostrich to be medium instead of medium rare (waiter's suggestion), but I didn't. It was okay, but I can check ostrich off the list of "must tries" and not order again. The gratin was okay, but didn't love it.
For dessert, I went with the warm chocolate cake. It came garnished with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and sliced berries. It was petit, and the perfect size!! Warm and oozy, it was delish.
The restaurant is in a great location, corner spot in a very boutiquey neighborhood, but if I didn't have the address I don't know that I would have noticed it straight away. There didn't seem to be a storefront sign.
Important tips: cash only, and BYOB.
This place, which is the sister restaurant to 20 Manning, is a cute BYOB with good food. I usually eat the tuna, but have also enjoyed lamb or salmon here. It's a great place to bring a date. Larger groups will have diificulty with seating. Bring beer or wine. Come early to avoid the wait.
I ate at Audrey Claire last night with my daughter - on a March evening so rare and warm that we could enjoy our meal at a sidewalk table.
That was a good thing because the decibel level indoors exceeded that of a 1972 Led Zepplin concert from which my ears have yet to recover. Given a choice, the only reason to eat indoors would be that you don't care what your dining companions are saying. Given the conversations we overheard outdoors, that could be distinct possibility. Or, you might consider listening to your iPod while eating.
But enough grousing. We had wonderful food. My daughter ate a great bowl of pappardelle with grilled arugula and portobello mushrooms. Fortunately, she's not a big eater so I got to finish it off. I enjoyed two appetizers - a warm salted beet and yam salad, with goat cheese. The sweetness of the vegies, accented by the salt, was remarkable. I also had a portobello mushroom "tart" - layered polenta, ricotta, mushroom, goat cheese and grilled leeks. Fabulous, and I don't use the word lightly.
Attentive service set off an unexpected al fresco dinner. And I could hear every word my daughter spoke.
I love their appetizers. Could easily eat a whole meal of them.
Audrey Claire is weird.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it - but it was only "meh".
The homey wood-tabled decor was nice - but the acoustics were awful. So loud.
The white-aproned staff was kinda snotty - especially when we asked alot of questions - which we always do.
The food was just OK. The standout being a plate of whole grilled artichokes that we had for an appetizer - but for the 7-8 bucks - I coulda done that myself.
The food is very elemental here - simplistic. Not Horrible (in fact a 3 or even 4 stars for food) but as a total dining experience? I probably won't be back.
And its a BYO. So bring something -
- you'll need it.
Oh - and bring cash - no credit cards.
Whatever.
Our family went here on Dec. 23, and it was packed! So much so that they couldn't honor our 8pm reservation right away, so they sent us to their sister restaurant a block away to have drinks and then Paul (our waiter) came to get us 15 minutes later. The food is straightforward and amazing. I had the maple brined porkchop - it was moist and delicious! The gorgonzola grannysmith apple butter on top was not overpowering, adding the perfect accompniament to the dish of sweet/tart. It's a very loud room, expecially when their full, but the waiter Paul was very accomodating and professional.
I would love to go back and try the famous rack of lamb. The fact that's it's BYOB is even better - dinner for 4 was $114!
Stick to the small plates/appetizers. I've have more luck eating these here. The entrees I have had have always fallen short a little. For instance, this evening I had their fig/goat cheese salad, the grilled haloumi and the brussel sprouts - they were all delightful.
This place was really nice. I went here for dinner on Saturday with a couple friends. We shared a big bowl of mussels which came in a tasty tomato broth. For our entrees, I had a roasted chicken with pomegranate molasses, which was amazing. It came with mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken was really good by itself but it's just wonderful with the sauce. I tried my friends' tuna and pasta dishes, both of which were good.
I wish I knew that they didn't accepts credit cards and that it was BYOB, but other than that i didn't have any complaints.
We sat outside so I don't know what the inside looks like and didn't experience the loudness other critics have mentioned. But the waitresses are very nice (and cute!) :o)
I'm constantly torn when people ask my opinion of Audrey Claire. While I love their ambiance and the intimacy of the room itself (the white walls/wood furniture is a look I try to emulate in my home), it can get so unbearably noisy sometimes that it's hard to engage with your fellow diners. Putting that aside, the food is delicious, the tiny wine glasses go with the cute vibe (they're literally small water glasses), and it does really feel like a lovely Rittenhouse-area rowhouse dining room.
I have a special place in my heart for one-roomed Philly BYOBs, and I think AC really gets it.... that Center City folk want to enjoy the area and their friendly, intellectual neighborhoods but can't comfortably commit to the awful NYC-like development happening to some bars and restaurants around Walnut & Chestnut.
Food-wise, almost everything is sharable and they actually serve enough food on each *small plate* that it doesn't warrant the stigma of a tapas plate. Lots of good veggie options too, which certainly eased my transition into vegetarian life over the past year.
Overall I'd say: Don't plan to come here with your partner/date/potential lover and have a substantive life-changing conversation....come to AC with a group to share a comfortable evening. It was equally enjoyable to come here with my family as it was a group of artsy female friends from out of town. As long as everyone already knows each other, they won't be offended by your zoning out from all the noise and constant tiny-wine-glass-refills (don't even bother trying to keep count).
We went for a casual Sunday evening meal yesterday (I thin I said in my last review that we wouldnt' be back but we were starving and in the hood). My meal was actually delicious, I had the papardelle.
Still getting three stars --- they were out of an entree and we found out when my husband ordered it. The dish he ordered was okay but a little overseasoned.
We finally made it last Friday night for dinner. The decor is typical BYOB with bare walls, open… Read more »
Absolutely lovely! Audrey Claire is fine cuisine in an unfussy homey setting, something it pulls off without being forced. I love everything from the generous window spaces to the kitchen action visible from the dining area. Our server was friendly, bright, and helpful.
I had the pan roasted baramundi + israeli couscous + haricots verts on a caper and red pepper reduction. I loved it and finished every bite!
One of my friends had the pork chop, and the other had the eggplant ravioli in brown butter. I tried both dishes and they were amazing. We all feared the pork chops would be dry inside when we saw how thick they were, but I don't think I've ever tasted such tender juicy ones. The eggplant ravioli was not cooked in the usual ho-hum way, rather they sear it the brown butter.
My only regret is that I didn't save any room for dessert. *tear* I made up for it by visiting the cupcake place across the street and taking an almond one home. Yay!
I remember being in town shortly after Audrey Claire opened this charming corner bistro and essentially jumpstarted the whole BYOB boom in Philly. Some great food memories from that virgin meal: the roast chicken w/ pomegranate molasses and some amazing mussels. It was terribly noisy back then as it is still today, but the quality of the cooking more than made up for it.
Not so much the case now... have been there twice in the past year and both times was completely underwhelmed with the poor service, over- or undercooked entrees, and food that's nothing to write home about. Too bad...I really wanted to root for this one, but food's just not up to snuff for the buzz
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