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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Avenue of the Arts SouthDon't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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Very good food.
Ambiance is stellar.
Best Wedge salad I have ever eaten.
Tried to duplicate it at home, didn't work.
It was as if Homer Simpson was guest starring on Mad Men, but here I was, enjoying lunch at Butcher and Singer.
I think, if I hadn't been with a regular B&S pro, Id have been turned aside quicker than a Giants fan at the Linc.- I kid, i kid,- they were an extremely friendly and accommodating group, from busboy to manager. Our server was as efficient and competent as she was adorable. It was a treat to be regarded so warmly.
The decor was like being on a movie set for some fabulous movie directed by Orson Welles. Lots of marble and wood, with a charming mural of dogs, that would have been at home on both Al Bundy or Don Drapers wall.
Im something of a burger connoisseur, and I can say with inflated authority, that B&S serves up one of the best burgers in Philly. I had heard that there was a burger special, and at under $10 , I thought it was a good deal...until I was told that the special is over and it used to be $5. That is as unreal as I can imagine for a place of its stature, who could easily charge $20 for that gem.
The fries were just OK. I prefer them larger, but with a burger so intense, I consider them an above average garnish.
We needed a little sweet to offset the large smack of savory, so we settled on a slice of chocolate cake. Its hard to impress a baker, even a bad one, but this was a pretty decadent slab of dessert. It only took a few bites to satisfy and it was equally as good leftover ( *cough* 45min after I got home)
I wonder if Ill ever get the chance to go back. Based on the quality, and the relatively cheap prices, I think its a given. I think my usual lunches of the drive-thru variety just got their walking papers. This place is Homer Simpson approved!
Lulu generously took me out to dinner here so we could celebrate being fabulous and unemployed. The gorgeous, dark, retro space made it the perfect place to speculate about this season of Mad Men as well.
The service was nearly perfect. The fact that Lulu knew many of the staff members made for a warm, friendly experience. Alina was a wonderful server- she made great recommendations, made sure we did not feel rushed and went out of her way to accommodate our sharing of dishes.
To start, we had the fried oysters and shrimp cocktail. The shrimp were divine, perfectly sweet and fresh. I loved the extra horseradish on top of the cocktail sauce, the extra heat and beautiful presentation made it stand out among the many versions of this dish I have eaten in my lifetime. The oysters were also amazing, the flavors of the sauce and the roe really enhanced their sea essence. I'm usually more of a fresh oyster girl, so these were a revelation for me.
We also split a salad of tomato and vidalia onion, which had a creamy dressing and a generous dose of blue cheese. I could have eaten this everyday for the rest of my life, but then again I'm a vidalia addict.
For the main portion of our meal, we both had the petit filet mignon. I cannot tell you how perfect this meat was. Besides being tender and beautifully medium-rare, the sear added so much to the flavor of the beef. Our side dishes included creamed spinach, which was tasty, but a bit salty for me. I knew it would happen eventually. Steven Starr, I'm going to beat you with your salt lick. We also had the stuffed hashbrown, which I really enjoyed. It reminded me a bit of a spanish tortilla, but creamier.
For dessert, we opted for the chocolate cake and baked alaska. While the cake with its boozified cherries was delicious, the baked alaska was unbelievable. It is one of those dishes that I've always wanted to try, but I'm too timid to make it at home and it is rarely offered at restaurants anymore. The ice cream wasn't overwhelmingly flavored, which was great because I'm weird about banana flavored things. The toasty meringue made it one of the best things I've ever eaten. Seriously.
For drinks, my tom collins was divine and the sidecar was dangerous.
Love. It.
Went here in the summer for their lunch special.
Definately felt a "Mad Men" vibe, and there was a mix of ladies who lunch, business suits and office workers all there to enjoy the new resurrection of Striped Bass.
When I heard that the $5.95 burger deal was ending, I decided it was time to give Butcher & Singer a new appraisal. I left with a much better impression but I still don't love it. The burger, Old Fashioned and carrot cake (with fantastic glazed walnuts) were all as good as they could be without being exceptional.
This is a decent steakhouse; the bartender's got a white jacket with coattails and it just makes you… Read more »
Boo-hoo. The $5.95 lunch burger deal is over, but it was fun while it lasted, huh? Even though B&S raised the price to $9.95, it's still a good lunch deal, folks. The waiters have a little less atty-tude now that the price is jacked back up and it's back to b'ness as usual for them (and their hefty tips on the wings of hefty prices!). It's not the best burger I've ever had in my life, but it's really delicious and well worth the $9.95, when you consider it comes with the toppings and fries. I've paid more for a tuna salad sandwich in a much less gorgeous restaurant.
Never been to B&S for dinner - hubby and I are considering this for our anniversary dinner. We'll see. I've done the lunch thing at B&S several times - I've even ordered something other than the burger. The petite filet is pure heaven, in taste, texture and done perfectly. The size is just right for lunch, and if you order a size dish, you'll feel more than satisfied, but not stuffed to the point where you need a nap before returning to work. Most excellent martinis too!
A throwback steakhouse. This is my wife's favorite steakhouse and one of my favorites, too. The French onion soup is phenomenal - rich, but not overloaded with cheese. I've had the filet, New York strip, and steak Diane, and each was juicy, tender, flavorful, and cooked as requested. The stuffed hash browns is the signature side and I highly recommend it. The wine list has a few reasonably priced bottles that are a step up from the Kendall Jacksons you can buy for $14.99 at the wine shop, so you can order a bottle without breaking the bank or sacrificing quality. The service is fine, although you might get better treatment if you have grey hair on your head. No thanks, I'll take the service as is.
Wow.
Wow.
This is a Mad Men dream. If you are a fan of the show, you will know what I am talking about. It is totally a 60's supper club...somewhere Don Draper would go for lunch with a big client. The interior of the restaurant is just gorgeous. Old, dark wood, etc. Beautiful chandeliers. Just doesn't get any more charming.
THE FOOD ...outstanding. I had ...
Appetizer -shared Fried Oysters (too pricey for what you got, but delicious)
Entree - Filet Oscar with the Stuffed Hash Brown Potatoes. Both were superb, but I swear I could have eaten the entire side of stuffed potatoes on my own. They were just delicious. We also had the broccoli and green beans almondine. Terrific.
The Baked Alaska was perfect as was the cocktail. This was a Butcher and Singer special called a "French 75". Hennessey Cognac, Cointreau, simple syrup, on the rocks, topped with champagne. Really really good.
This is not a cheap dinner out. Save it for a special occasion. Highly recommend!
My girlfriend took me here for my birthday and what a birthday! I absolutely loved this place. We dressed up, which is recommended here because it's like going back in time to a MadMen episode. The food was excellent. Get the New York strip. My girlfriend had the Halibut which was not fishy and cooked perfectly. For dessert the Baked Alaska is phenominal! The stuffed hash browns and the green beans are excellent sides. Dress up and pretend that Don Draper is sitting at the table next to you and enjoy!
A five star review for a Starr Restaurant from me? Why yes, in fact. I was pleasantly surprised by Butcher and Singer in every way. We had a big group - maybe 30 some odd - for a 90th birthday party. The staff was attentive and amazingly adaptable to the crowd. One at my table, for instance, had a gluten allergy - instead of having us order a "dumbed down" version of the sides we wanted (served family style) they brought out a gluten-free version of the sides for him. Very classy.
I had the New York Strip - excellently prepared - with sides of mushrooms and onions, creamed spinach, pealed asparagus, "Singer Fries" and stuffed hashbrowns. Loved everything, but wish I had eaten more of the fries (which were not really french fries as much as fried potatoes with onions) and less of the hash browns... but I'd still be happy ordering either next time I go.
Didn't get to see a drink menu - but Killer Martini.
Can't say enough about the staff - and looking forward to giving the place a whirl with a smaller group.
I'm finally out of my burger and martini coma.
I think the servers are a bit underwhelmed by everyone going there and getting burgers for lunch. That said, my server was very chill--though he did skip the script for me because he knew i was there for the burger
The burger was very good. The seasoning was perfect for me. The cheddar and onion toppings weren't boring to me. They were lightly done so you can taste the deliciousness of the burger.
I also had a side of creamed spinach which was fucking delightful. The martini I had with my lunch was pretty delicious too.
Oh my goodness.
That $6 burger is worth every penny but it's kind of like cigarettes in that although the initial cost is low, the price of a quadruple bypass is quite high.
Still, it's about the same level of guilty satisfaction as a pack of Camel Lights.
I'd recommend getting the salad instead of the fries unless you want a heart attack before you leave the premises.
As our waiter expounded on the difference between the wedge salad and the butcher salad he noticed the vacant stare in our eyes and said:
"You're here for the burger, right?"
Although it was noon and this fact was true, I'm fairly certain that no matter what, the difference between the two salads on their meat-laden menu would not thrill me. Furthermore, despite the fact that my coworkers and I are all under 30 and have a healthy, youthful glow about us, I don't like to be profiled as a cheapskate. Finish your speech, that's what we're paying you for!
We all went on to order the $6 butcher burger as planned. I complimented it with a $12 beer. The burger was cooked to a textbook medium and was pretty tasty. It didn't really have a "wow" factor for me though (besides the price). Maybe english cheddar and onions are just too boring toppings. Also, upon returning to the office and digesting, I discovered I was dying of thirst. The burger must have been pretty heavily salted, which I guess I realized as I was eating it, but it became more apparent as I drank glass after glass of water later on.
Bottom line: this burger doesn't hold a candle to the $16 Rouge burger. It is, however, way cheap.
Still, if you only have one day left to live and $16, spring for the Rouge burger.
If you have one day left to live and $6, steal a sawbuck from somebody and go to Rouge.
If it's any other day of your life, you might want to consider the B&S burger, it's a great deal and pretty tasty. Just not life-changing and not enough to make me want to go back when they raise the price.
What a wonderful way to spend my birthday! The steak was cooked to perfection, the indulgent sides were fantastic.... the service was the best! Really beautiful atmosphere, too.
Only 4 stars because though I felt that though the prices of the steaks was fair, the side dishes were quite overpriced. Delicious! But if they were to drop the price 2 dollars it would be easier to swallow. Pun intended.
I have to preface this review in that I have only dined at Butcher & Singer at lunch (5x) and only with the $5.95 Burger and Fries deal.
The deal permits me to live my Mad Men fantasy at lunch.
The burger is fantastic and the fries are very good.
As long as Stephen Starr wants to feed me on the cheap, I will take full advantage.
Great service. The servers seem to have adjusted themselves to the special b/c I did not sense any attitude from any of the servers when ordering the burger.
Oh, the oysters are pretty good as well.
You swirled my Ciroc martini elegantly in its shaker, indulging me as five blue cheese olives (which you stuffed and skewered) brushed the lip of my glass and soaked in the sweet libation. Your formal waistcoat and jacket enhanced the quiet, classy mood, avoiding cliches as effortlessly as the decor, with its textured wallpaper, low lighting, heavy curtains, and white tablecloths. Later, your sidecar moved surreptitiously into my realm, its citrine flavors both seductive and clean. When I had to leave you, I was breathless and thrilled.
Good, friendly service and amazing decor, Butcher and Singer has great steaks too that are cooked really well. I really enjoy their crab cocktail and oysters that come with great dipping sauces, but for a crab cocktail that they probably buy and just plop on a bed of lettuce and served chilled it is a little overpriced (but also expected for a steakhouse so not too huge of a complaint there).
Unfortunately, Butcher and Singer is a mixed bag. While their service is good and their steak and cocktail and dipping sauces are delicious, some of the other menu items are not. For instance, their Singer fries which they charge a whopping $9 for are deep fried potatoes that are completely un-special and actually made me feel cheated for ordering. The last time I went, the dish I ordered came with fries and I asked to replace the fries with the Singer fries at a surcharge that I would be willing to pay, but they wouldn't do it. I had to order a whole separate order. Kind of sham if you ask me, since I now have fries on my plate that will essentially be wasted - but no matter - at least I got to compare the regular fries to the extremely disappointing Singer fries.
Now the burger. Voted as one of Philadelphia's best burgers, Butcher an Singer is now running a special where their $27 (or so) burger is now only just under $6 at lunch. Of course, as you can guess, people are coming in droves and just ordering burger after burger for lunch. It might as well be a burger factory there at lunch time (in a good way). While the burger is juicy and cooked to perfection, the actual meat is under-seasoned and underwhelming. I've had many a better burger in Philly and was frankly disappointed by all the hype. Still, at just under $6 for a burger that's normally almost $30 it's hard to complain too much. My advice? Come to Butcher and Singer for drinks and steaks and some seafood, but be prepared to pay the price (as you would at most upscale steakhouses). Skip the burger, skip the horrible fries, and grab drink instead.
3.5 stars..
Today I joined the Bargain Burger club. $6 for a 10oz burger with cheddar, onions and Russian dressing and a huge pile of fries... I know why the place was so packed. Our server greeted us and said it's Burger Bonanza here, and he was right. Every table in sight had burgers on it.
The burger was good, but very salty. The onions were perfectly cooked, and it actually came out the way I ordered it (med rare) unlike most places. Fries were also tasty, but all in all way too much food for me. I ordered the onion soup to start and it was good, but it did have that greasy layer on top which was a bit off putting.
$51 bill for two burgers, one soup, one wedge salad, one beer and an iced tea.. not much of a bargain after all but I'd recommend going just to have the experience. It's a great space and the service was good, and I can now say I've done it.
Forgive the short review, but I just had a burger at this place and I need to crawl up under my desk and take a nap Costanza-style.
Nothing bad to say about this place. Big and strong ambiance -- nice leather booths let you know it's time to get down to some serious business. The burger was excellent - thick and juicy. The 1000 island dressing at the bottom was a...
sorry i started nodding off.
It was a pleasant surprise. The fixings were even stellar - crisp lettuce, juice tomatoes and pickle-ly pickles. The fries were not too greasy and the Hoegaarden was a great compliment.
Now get out of here and go try this place for lunch and turn my office light out when you leave.
One of the best meals I ever had, hands down. The service is great, the place looks incredible, and they have Baked Alaska!
Nothing is cooler than Baked Alaska.
This place is CLASS. Old world, deal makers can be imagined sitting next to you as you dine on food made to perfection. Try the Swordfish.. buttery delicious... and the stuffed Hashbrowns.. Will be world famous!!
Have only been here for lunch, so expect the corporate lunch crowd to be all over this one.
Food's tremendous, service is even better. Look forward to getting dinner here soon.
The decor is old-school Philly, which is by itself a reason to go have a drink by the bar after work.
Fate has been unsuccessful in its attempts to thwart my lunch time joy by having a man who bore an eerie resemblance to Captain Kangaroo express an interest in me yesterday. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the AMAZING burger (laced with what could only be crack) was far more captivating than he or anyone could ever be.
There is a reason I eat alone here for lunch. I love the food and service so much that I don't want to hear anyone rattle on. The Hollywood Regency decor is so lovely, waitstaff is stellar (I'm looking at you,Alina) and the tunes are perfect. I should have been around in the early 1960's. When I find myself pining for the aesthetics of that era, this is where I go. I'm downright selfish about it. This is MY place! MY fried oysters! MY insanely delicious filet mignon (rare). And finally, MY baked alaska. Ok...that's usually my supper here. I tend towards the filet salad for lunch. But the point is, I love it here and while I haven't any qualms with someone taking me for dinner, lunch time is all mine. After all, in the words of Jean-Paul Sartre, "Hell is other people."
The burger special was a steal.
I wanted to dislike Butcher & Singer. Truly wanted to hate it. Maybe because working in restaurants I know that steak houses have it relatively easy; no real imagination is necessary in the execution of the food, service, or cocktails. The hardest part is simply getting the details right (meat cooked correctly, drinks mixed well, service attentive but not annoying). And this place does it all very well.
Maybe it was because I did not have to pay (thanks Mom and Dad!) but I loved it. I felt like I had walked into an episode of Mad Men. As each perfectly made Martini went down my gullet, I wished Roger and Don were with me.
The Porterhouse was perfect--amazing crust and char on the outside, tender and pink on the inside. The salads (as classic and banal as Caesar and Wedge) were well dressed. I could actually taste the anchovy in the Caesar.
And finally, the wine by the bottle list is incredibly reasonable and included an unbelievable selection of choices under $100. I spotted some quality and inexpensive labels. Very surprising.
Headed over to butcher&singer for the steak deal. The service was top notch and the place looked great. Although they warned me that the steak deal for 18 was not choice meat, it was still very delicious. Def. a great value.
As for the dessert, the Baked Alaskan is the way to go. Amazing presentation and such an interesting eat. Has a warm outside, banana ice cream inside. You don't want to miss out on this!
I am sure i would give 5 stars if I grabbed one of their 60 dollar steaks......
you will enjoy.
After hitting a favorite dive for dinner, my friend and I decided to visit the opposite end of the spectrum by having a grown-up drink at B&S. I was happy to see that the restaurant remained similar in appearance to its former self, Striped Bass, but at the same time managed to come off even classier.
We sat at the elegant leather bar and people-watched as we sipped our perfectly made martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives. It wasn't long before we were chatted up by some friendly (and prominent) Philly men. If you are the kind of woman who likes a little sugar with your daddy, Butcher and Singer is most definitely the place for you. I'm more of a Sweet'N Low girl myself, but it's always nice to have an intelligent conversation with someone new and interesting!
I'm going with four stars for my bar experience, but I hope to bump up to five when I return for dinner.
Delicious steaks, martinis and that stuffed hash brown is my version of heaven.
ok this is officially my new fav place in Philly. Last weekend my night consisted of scotch at Mahogany and dinner at Butcher - perfect night.
The interior is amazing, the food unreal and atmosphere is perfect.
This might be my new second home.
You know what the best sort of steak dinner is? A free one, and I would advise you find your sugar daddy before venturing to B&S for dinner.
The food and service for our meal were perfect. In fact, they were better than perfect. The salad sang, the oysters danced, and the server could read minds. Lamb chops were so tender they practically melted. A heap of creamed spinach beckoned suggestively, like a sexy green pin-up.
As with other Stephen Starr joints, they really gouge you on the drink prices. $13 for a 4-ounce absolut martini is highway robbery, but the lighting is so flattering and the leather banquettes are purring to your backside, so you let it go.
Recommended for those with money, who appreciate on-point service and dry-aged cow.
Stephen Starr strikes gold, again. I've been to Butcher & Singer twice; once right before Christmas with a large group of people celebrating a board of directors holiday dinner and once in mid-January with a friend just having a night out.
On both occasions the service and quality of food was fantastic. The bar was crowded, but I didn't feel as though I had to do jumping jacks in order to get the bartenders attention. The Grey Goose Gimlets that I was drinking were mixed to perfection. The raw bar appetizer, particularly the jumbo lump crabmeat and shrimp cocktail were to die for. I had the Rib Eye steak both times as my entree and it was grilled and prepared (medium) to perfection.
For those of you who don't think your reviews make a difference, listen to this...
I returned to B&S after Christmas with my family who was visiting from California. We had a dozen oysters (yum), then I ordered a caesar salad and the surf and turf, which is a Maine lobster tail and petite filet. I noticed that the caesar wasn't swimming in dressing this time, and holy sh*t the steak was incredible--not charred too much on the outside, with great flavor. Oh, and the lobster tail was great too, although you could did pretty much anything in molten butter and I'll like it. When the waiter asked afterwords how everything was, I leveled with him and told him the minor problems I had encountered the first time around, and how great things were this time...that's when he fessed up. He had read my review and noticed my name on the reservation list that night! We really are changing lives here people!
Update: unreal steak house, atmosphere, service, and food alike.
It is refreshing to see a Starr endeavor succeed without a clear-cut theme. I admit, I am a fan of… Read more »
Okay, let me preface this. 2 points:
1) I have not yet been to Barclay Prime
2) Butcher and Singer is NOT Peter Lugar's.
That being said, for my 28th birthday, my wife and I, along with my brother and his wife, went there for dinner on Saturday. Upon first entering, i felt as though i stepped into an old film- kind of expecting to see Ava Gardner and Sinatra sipping on Martini's at the bar. Obviously, people, i am not retarded and i know that even in his greatness, Stephen Starr had no access to the flux capacitor(at least as far as I know)
After being seated by our period dressed hostess(unless she was just a weird theater girl who always dresses like that), we were seated in quite possibly the most comfortable seats in any restaurant I've been in.
TAKE THAT, SHITTY BAR STOOLS AT ALMA DE CUBA!!!
We started with some cocktails and ordered some appetizers. We order a 1/2 doz oysters and the lump crab cocktail. Both were excellent, the crab was awesome (though I've always contested that if you fuck that up, then you sir, are worse than Hitler) and the oysters were equally as decadent. I was surprised at the knowledge that our server had about them- he described in depth where exactly they were harvested from. I don't really know a whole lot about them, but i ask questions sometimes to make myself look smarter. God, did that backfire. I felt like a hayseed jackass.
For the main course, we ordered a porterhouse for three that was cooked rare and my brothers wife ordered the fillet that was cooked medium. As far as sides, we ordered the spinach, mushrooms and onions, and the stuffed hash brown. First of all the sides were excellent. The hash brown was in a word, sensual in its context. If i could eat that for breakfast at my local diner every morning i would die a cheesy, potatoey mess. The spinach was also excellent(again, if you screw that up, worse than Hitler. Listen close to that, "the palm"). The mushrooms were very good, an exotic mix, however the onions seemed a little bland. Small complaint, i know, but I've gotta say something bad.
And now for the steaks. I didn't taste the fillet, so i can't comment on that. However, the dry aged porterhouse was borderline orgasmic. Perfect char on the outside-perfect, tender, rare center. Much to the chagrin of my wife, I found myself picking up the bone and ripping the meat off of it with my teeth.
Note to self: Order rib eye next time; avoid spousal embarrassment
There was a dessert, the fudge cake, which was good. But by that point I was already sold. I recommend this place to anyone who loves a good steak dinner and cool ambiance.
Now my obsession with all things "Mad Men" related has come full circle. I felt like Don and Betty Draper were going to slide into the large, leather booth right next to us at any moment (at which time I would have had to politely excuse myself while I ignored whatever conversation was going on so I could drool over the foxiest man ever to play an ad exec). The place was hoppin' on a recent Tuesday night, which was sort of surprising, given the whole craptastic economy thing...but I digress. Valet parking was a complete fail, from the fact that it took 15 minutes to get someone to come out and get the car to the 20 minutes we spent waiting to get our car back. Not sure if that's the fault of the restaurant, though, so I'm willing to cut them a break.
The room itself (the former Striped Bass, which I never had the pleasure of dining at) was lovely; soaring ceilings, ginormous chandeliers, opulent decor and dim lighting - and then there is the mural of ritzy dogs livin' it up at the bar. Cute? Yes. Strange? Absolutely.
Regardless of what I thought of the canine rendering, though, the service was outstanding from the very beginning. Our waiter, Gabriel, gave us detailed explanations for every menu item we asked about, and never disappeared for long. I loved that he stuck nearby in case we needed anything.
And the food...mmmmm...I highly recommend you try the crab cake appetizer, as it's one of the best I've ever had (the boy got the Butcher Salad, aka "Hoagie in a bowl" and gobbled that baby up). We both had the New York Strip and gasped out loud at the large cut that we were presented with. It was enough meat to feed a small village! I don't know how they did it, but easily it was the most wonderful steak ever created by man. Buttery and juicy inside, slightly crisp and salty outside, it was perfect in every way.
But my real foodgasm moment came when I cut into the baked hashbrowns. Good God, are these a gift from above or what? Diced potatoes, Vidalia onions and sour cream? I would go back for those alone. And I finally had Baked Alaska for dessert. Words cannot describe how crazy good it was. It's now my new favorite dessert.
I had pretty much resigned myself to not ever being on the Starr bandwagon, but after my dinner here I am singing a different tune. Mr. Starr, you have finally done it. Now I'm a believer.
Five of my girlfriends and I went to Butcher & Singer the other night as our Christmas present to each other. We were extremely impressed with the whole experience, especially after a questionable time at Parc.
The service was excellent - I don't remember our waitress's name, but she had a mohawk, so she's hard to miss. She was attentive, but not overbearing, and answered all of our questions knowledgeably.
I started with the tomato and Roquefort salad, which was delicious! Other girls had the east coast oysters, Caesar salad, and onion soup, all of which were very good. For dinner I had the filet, which was cooked to perfection, and the stuffed hash browns which were the highlight of the whole meal. We shared the baked Alaska for dessert which was great as well.
Overall, I would definitely go back, despite the pricey menu.
No amount of preparation could have readied me for the experience of dinner at Butcher & Singer. My boyfriend and I joined our best friends here to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime celebration - my 30th birthday! (Although perhaps next year, we'll celebrate me being 30 yet again!) From the moment we walked in the door and were quickly shown our booth, to the moment we walked out the door, we were fully satisfied.
After reading several reviews and visiting the website, I was feeling very retro and donned a Marilyn-Monroe inspired frock to the festivities! The four of us started our dinner off by sharing the fried oyster and shrimp cocktail appetizers. I was quite frankly frightened by the idea of eating oyster, but after trying this lovely fried treat topped with caviar, I was a fan!
Our waitress, Elizabeth, was attentive and very sweet. She even attempted to warn us about the portion size. I don't know if we didn't believe her or what, but when our food started coming out (it took 3 servers to deliver everything to our table), we were in shock! The amount of food we ordered literally covered the entire table, without an inch to spare. The good news was that we all ordered something different, and got a good cross-section of the menu. I ordered the Delmonico with mashed potatoes and caesar salad, my boyfriend ordered the dry-aged porterhouse with stuffed hash browns and creamed spinach, and our best friends ordered the halibut and roasted chicken. In spite of the mass of food on our table, we only ate perhaps a third of the food in front of us (which served for a lovely $50 lunch of leftovers for all of us the next day). All of the food was prepared to our liking and presented beautifully.
We did opt for dessert, as we are dessert people. But we learned our lesson this time, and each couple ordered a dessert to share, instead of individual portions. My boyfriend and I had the cheesecake, which was the highlight of my meal, topped with a caramel sugar "cookie" (for lack of a better term). Our friends had the baked alaska, and were nice enough to let us taste that as well - divine!
The evening was topped off when unbeknownst to me, my boyfriend told the waitress it was my birthday and they brought out a plate with "Happy Birthday" written on it and a shortbread cookie and a candle. What a way to ring in a new decade by celebrating in a restaurant styled for decades past.
Ok Mr. Star, you got me. I have been to most of your restaurants and while they are always good, I've always felt they were trying too hard. Butcher and Singer gets it so right without looking like it trying. Its the first post of the Star empire that is thematic with out becoming theme restaurant.
Dinner was excellent - simple, flavorful and had just a enough surprises.
I started with the Butcher Chop Salad, which was what I now call a hogie in bowl, then on to the main course. New York strip. YUM, perfectly bloody inside and chard on the outside. The chef wasn't shy about serving it up au natural, no fat was trimmed from this cut. Desserts were decidedly old school, don't miss your chance to get a Baked Alaska.
But the highlight for my was the hash brown. Its like nothing you've tasted, its like the best baked potato out there with all the fixings, coated in crispy shredded potatoes. Do not miss this. I would go back and just order it.
I spent a while wondering what was happening inside Butcher and Singer. I'd been a longtime fan of Striped Bass and was curious about how that space could be improved. It has been. In spades.
We've eaten lunch twice at Butcher and Singer this past week. We tried a large set of the menu, and what I can say is, "Wow."
First, Butcher and Singer is set up like a throwback classy restaurant like from the 40s. But it's not that Capital Grille stuffiness or pretentiousness, it's the Brown Derby for Philly. The waitstaff is dressed in bow ties and long aprons. There are really comfy leather banquettes that hold 5 or 6 easily. Their leather armchairs are just as good. Oh...the food.
Yes, the food. Look, have the filet mignon. We've had five of us there twice, and we all agreed that the filet is the best filet ever. It's seared and finished in butter. (I'm drooling about it right now.) The Delmonico was great -- thick and tangy. We had the burger -- a real monster made from dry-aged beef (who ever had that before) that's worth the money. We've had the whole trout, which was broiled in a lemon sauce and accented with capers. The lobster BLT was tangy and tasty. Same goes for the prime rib sandwich. We have to get there for dinner soon...I really want to try the steak Diane.
Oh...the desserts are outstanding, too. Best cheesecake -- the real kind -- ever. It's light and really well done. The carrot cake is sweet and gorgeous. And the Baked Alaska -- wow. Just wow.
I know I didn't describe all the food like a foodie...I'm going to add another review after I've eaten there 10 times. But I would say that Butcher and Singer is a really great addition to the Philly restaurant scene.
One other thing -- Gina, the General Manager, is also outstanding. She's really enthusiastic about the restaurant and what its intent is. It's a joy walking into a place where the GM is out among the patrons and clearly loves her job and the place. Many points for that -- it tells me that place is really going to be a huge success.
Nobody enjoys a good steak like I do... unfortunately, this was not one.
Still a beautiful space, and with very good service, B&S is hyped as a retro steakhouse and certainly the menu reflects this, with a nod to yesteryear when a side dish could be comprised of equal parts shredded potatoes, sour cream, butter and salt. Let's face it, it's gonna taste good, even if I did feel the need to scan the room for my doctor before digging in.
Just as unhealthy (and salty) was the Creamed Spinach - think Boston Market's version - with maybe a pinch of Tarragon? Not bad, but clearly nothing special.
As for the main event, one of our party ordered the Porterhouse ($42 I believe) and we opted to share the Porterhouse for Two, at $73. We received exactly the same steak, the only difference being that ours had been pre-cut into many little pieces... perhaps to make it appear larger?! Retro theme is one thing, but I haven't needed my mommy to cut my meat for many years now, thanks.
While tasty (grilled meat crusted in salt, of course it's tasty), I have never been served a Porterhouse that was as surrounded by grisle... and frankly for $73 I would have expected better.
As for those tasty - if not very clever - side dishes, their prices were very much not retro, mostly in the $9 - $12 range, nothing unusual these days but in serving sizes for one, possibly two patrons at the most, absolutely not for the 'whole table' [of four] that our waiter had suggested.
While not a bad meal, this is very much not a special meal. Perhaps we are old-fashioned, but I still expect a special meal when spending more than $100 a head.
The restaurant will be a huge success for many years, as it has 'Starr' status, but if you are a true old-school carnivore, you might want to give up a bit of the ambience here and opt instead for Fogo de Chao instead, at half the price.
Butcher and Singer is absolutely adorable and charming. From the waiters old-school tuxedo style uniforms, to the eclectic decor. The Food was fantastic. My boyfriend had one of the steaks and mashed potatoes and I had the Butcher salad and asparagus (which were laughably huge! My boy said it best- "Did the Jolly Green Giant grow those or what?) and we shared a piece of the chocolate layer cake which was delicious. The decor is charming and so much fun. Make sure you peek at the signs on the bathroom-they're definitely different! Actually the only thing I was disappointed with was the actual bathrooms. If you've read some of my other reviews, you know I have a weird obsession with really nice bathrooms and this one was simply...boringly average. I think I expected more from how much fun the rest of the restaurant was. But everything was great. very nice place and would definitely return.
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Neighborhood: Market East
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Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Market East
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: French
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: American (New)
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