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Butcher and Singer
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Restaurants Steakhouses Canadian (Traditional), Steakhouses [Edit]
1500 Walnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19102
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 732-4444
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 1:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
236 reviews for Butcher and Singer
Review Highlights
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"For dessert the Baked Alaska is phenominal." In 40 reviews -
"Plus stuffed hash browns and green beans." In 22 reviews -
"They clearly outshone the potatoes and creamed spinach." In 23 reviews
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236 reviews in English
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Review from Sanford G.
Merchantville, NJ
Updated - 4/26/2012
Last Friday, April 20th was my first visit in almost one year. (See last year's review.) Unsurprisingly, I thought the high standards in the Steven Starr, high-end food and restaurant experience still remain. The maitre'd, manager and server I met were courteous and great listeners. Also the pricey medium-rare New York Strip, French Onion Soup and the Apple Crumb Cake were tasty. Well worth the price.
If you plan to eat steak, I highly recommend that you ask the waiter for their tasty homemade steak sauce. It's not A-1, but this original recipe is slightly sweet and tangy.
I'll definitely come back to celebrate for another "important" lunch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/28/2011
Quite pricey, yet a very classy establishment to enjoy a nice juicy cut steak. Highly recommended… Read more »
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Review from Kevin W.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2012
I decided that this would be the first upscale restaurant on my Philly burger tour so I made a lunch reservation and came in.As it usually is with these places the service was exceptional and everyone was really nice and the place was mixed with both well dressed and casually dressed people here's the breakdown
Bun-- the bun was good and nicely toasted
Meat--very high quality but not seasonEd
Toppings--the fancy cheese and gourmet onions were adequate
good but not outstanding -
Review from Paul B.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here for lunch, but still feel like I can judge the quality of the steak house based on what we ate.
For lunchtime, they offer a $10.95 burger with cheddar, grilled onions, and thick cut pickles is quite the steal. It comes out tender and very juicy. Definitely a top 10 burger in Philadelphia if you are willing to dress up for lunchtime to get one.
Also tried the rib eye steak sandwich, which was also good and came with onions and light horseradish on there. The sesame seeded bread was a nice touch, and very soft.
The two came out already cut in half, and split between our plates. A very nice touch indeed. If the steaks are anything like the burger was, cannot wait to come back. -
Review from christina j.
Ramsey, NJ
5/20/2012
My gal pal & I stopped for a drink & a bite on Saturday evening. We found 2 seats at the bar and ordered a sampling of appetizers and drinks. Food was delicious and drinks refreshing. We had steak tartare(yum), crab cake, tuna sashimi & fried calamari. Great spot, love the interior and feel of the place. Will most certainly be back. Worth the $$
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Review from Chappy A.
Harleysville, PA
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Porterhouse for 2 was remarkable.. somewhat unorthodox Brussels sprouts. Sides were enough for 2 and balanced the meal. Excellent wine selection, friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Great place to be scene and enjoy the best of Center City. -
Review from Tina C.
Arlington, VA
4/12/2012
Talk about DELICIOUS! What a perfect place. Have been here a few times and have always been happy. Drinks are great, service is great, so is the inital greeting at the host stand.
The first time I came i had the crab cocktail and the wedge salad. My god was that amazing! They perfected the wedge salad to where It was jsut so perfect combination of bacon, tomatos and the blue cheese dressing was not overpowering jsut perfect. Crab cocktail, full of crabmeat and delicious!
Second time I was here I got the filet and my friend got the swordfish. WOW. both were right on point! So much flavor to the steak and the swordfish was seasoned so perfectly. MY GOD. My mouth is watering now. Even the mashed potatos were just the perfect combiantion of smooth, and creamy. DELICIOUS. worst part of the meal was when it was over! It was so sad. They have some talented chefs back there! could not have been happier with anything there. I cannot wait till I go with my fiancee! ;-) -
Review from Joanna H.
Philadelphia, PA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
WOW. Butcher and Singer is my favorite steak restaurant in Philly now. I got a filet mignon and it was cooked exactly how I asked and wanted it to be. The sides we got were the asparagus and stuffed hash browns. We got the hash browns because our waitress recommended it and good thing we got it! I wasn't sure what exactly this would be or how it would taste but it was reallyyyyyyy good. It was slightly greasy for me but all hash browns are greasy so I won't complain:) It seemed like more potatoes stuffed inside potatoes but the right amount of saltiness and mushy texture went well with my best steak. If I ever steak again, I am coming here!
The vibe of the restaurant works well to go with families, friends, gf/bf, business and everything. Def recommend ! -
Review from Mary S.
4/18/2012
I've been here for happy hour and restaurant week. This steakhouse is top-notch. The decor is straight out of the 20's era with dark wood, leather couches, dim lights.
It's a great place to grab a drink near the bar and relax with friends in any of the lounge couches. Dinner here is also incredible. I've ordered the steak with mashed potatoes and to-die-for baked Alaska (yumm!). Another Starr restaurant that knows what they're doing! -
Review from Gordon T.
New Milford, NJ
5/12/2012
Expectations well received! This high end steak house has all the makings for one of the best steak houses in philly. They are close. Very good steak, seafood and service with an excellent dinning room decor. My porter house was not cooked correctly and my crab cake did not come out with the rest of the appetizers. That resulted in a manager coming out to check on me every couple of minutes and we were comped on sides and dessert. At the end of the night, an excellent dinner with great ambiance.
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Review from Jennifir A.
Telford, PA
4/9/2012 4 photos
The food was good except the salmon very bland and just make sure if you take any food home, make sure they put it in the bag. The sides also are very large- family
Style. I gave it three stars more or less for the service. Our waitress wasn't informative of the menu. It was another waiter from the next table who noticed we weren't being waited on who told my husband and I the history Of the building and great recommendations. -
Review from Jonathan S.
4/7/2012
If you're into your steak - and in Philadelphia - this is the place.
I was taken here by relatives and the entire dining experience was top-notch, making it a great place to take a date or to celebrate a great occasion - but not for the budget conscious.
From the minute you step into the door, you are taken back to the 1920's with dim lights, high ceilings, black and white tiled floors, red booths and soft jazz. It is an amazing setting and the service is just as good. You won't feel like you're not being looked after here.
Food gets better. Would recommend the Porterhouse Steak (Signature) as well as the hash browns which are amazing.
Excellent food isn't hard to find in Philadelphia - but great experiences are and Butcher and Singer has some great old fashioned top-notch service. This pips Le Bec Fin for service, size and ambience with similarly awesome food. -
Review from Meredith B.
Philadelphia, PA
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've only been to B&S for the lunch deal - so keep that in mind while reading the review.
Butcher & Singer has the ideal lunch deal in town for anyone. Business lunch, lunch with friends, family in town - it doesn't matter. Great historic atmosphere with excellent service. Quiet and spaceous. This may be my go to nice but reasonable lunch spot.
The $10 burger and fries deals take other local upscale burger joint for a good run.
Yea this a one of the Star locations. Don't forget this *was* the beloved Stripped Bass. This also was the old time Butcher and Singer location where the ticker ran around the crown modeling of the location. Interested in history? Lunch covo lacking? Ask your server for the history - its an interesting story and it buy you time to think of things to talk about or even helps building off the restaurants history. -
Review from Natalie B.
Philadelphia, PA
3/19/2012 3 photos
I am in love with this place! My friends and I came here for restaurant week, and it was definitely worth it. The waiting area was cozy while we waited for our last friend to park. He was about 20 minutes late, but they didn't mind.
We got a bottle of red wine along with dinner. For the appetizer, I ordered a mozzarella with Italian meat. I was expecting something like prosciutto, but it was disappointing... I'd liken it to plain ham from the deli. My friends were happy with their butternut squash soup and beet salad, though. We all had the filet mignon for our entree and everyone was wowed. All conversation stopped because we were too busy eating! It was definitely one of the best steaks I've ever had.
For dessert, I ordered chocolate bread pudding and tasted my friend's blood orange sherbet. Both for phenomenal as well.
The food was amazing, the servers and hosts were super friendly, and I really like the atmosphere. This is definitely the best place I've been to fr restaurant week and is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! -
Review from Yashar Y.
Newark, NJ
3/6/2012
So how good is this place? well im willing to pay 50 dollars in gas to drive there from NYC (and we have some good steakhouses here), spend another 200 on hotel cause I know im not going anywhere except the bed after im done with this place. Seriously good meat, with very good sides. And the seats were cozy and all in all, it made for a very romantic dinner.
service was very good, and i cant tell u how good the Filet and the Bone in Rib Eye were.
Highly recommend this place to anyone in philly! -
Review from Holly O.
4/15/2012
I am hesitant about steakhouses because I really believe I can make a pretty darn good steak myself for much less. So I wasnt so sure about this choice given how incredibly expensive it is. The prices were seriously ridiculous...but we came knowing that, ready to go all out and prepared to be wowed.
We started off with apps. Wedge salad which they do with a Russian dressing. Not sure why they have to switch up a classic. The MIL ordered it with the Russian, I asked for the blue cheese dressing. I came here for classic steakhouse fare after all. The salads were ok. Nothing too special or wow factor about them, though it was definitely fresh and crunchy. I would have liked more bacon crumbles. My hubster got the crab cake which was FAB, super stuffed with crab and hardly any filling. The FIL ordered a onion soup which he said was great. I tasted the crunchy melty cheese on top and it had great flavor.
On to our mains...we split the aged porterhouse for 2. We ordered it med rare and I must say it came out perfect color...though the inside was more cool then warm by the time it got to us...neither of us wanted to complain because it tasted great and we were too busy devouring it. We even gnawed on the bone. It.was.so.good. The FIL ordered the lamb chops which were HUGE and delicious. We all tasted them and were blown away. He said it was like eating lamb butter, so rich and soft at the same time. Good job B&S! The MIL ordered the baked halibut which I was hesitant about. In my opinion you don't come to a steakhouse and order fish. But who am I to order for her? She said she liked it but she also asked for lemon and puts lots of salt on it so I don't know if it was really all that good. we ordered the stuffed hashbrowns, mushrooms and onions and creamed spinach for sides. The hashbrowns didn't wow me as I thought they would. Wish we'd gotten the mashed or fries. The spinach was nice as well as the mushrooms, except the latter was a little over salted for my taste.
To end the decadence we ordered the baked Alaska and choc cake. Both were excellent and I especially liked the caramel brittle that came with the choc cake and ice cream.
The service was efficient, though our server took quite a while to come back to our table after explaining the menus to take our order. But I must say our water and wine glasses never went empty...or even close to empty! They were all unobtrusive and yet attentive at the same time. We hardly noticed them in the good sort of way. This was most impressive.
I cannot give it a five because of the salad, hashbrowns and the fish. I get that fish is not their thing but I guess I feel like don't have it n your menu if your not gonna do it justice. If I could I'd probably go with a 4 1/2 star . Great meal overall if you can and want to break the bank! -
Review from Julia L.
Swedesboro, NJ
5/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Good for a special occasion. Lighting is pretty dim but I understand that is the overall effect/ambiance they're going for. Would not say that it is the BEST steak I have ever had but would rate it as better than average. They have big portions. We started with the fried calamari, then got the wedge salads (just okay, I've had better at lower-end restaurants), both my husband and I ordered the 12 oz filet. They were both cooked very well (I ordered Med, husband ordered Med-Rare), and we ordered the stuffed hash browns and green beans amandine. I wasn't able to finish given the appetizer and salad I had as a precursor. I could have done without the appetizer. I didn't realize how big the portions were going to be. I rated this 3 stars because while the steak was good and the sides were good, they weren't great and I wasn't overly impressed but I wasn't dissatisfied either. We have been to Barclay Prime and I would rate that the best steak experience I have ever had. However, you can't always afford a $400 dinner.
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Review from Tom D.
2/8/2012
We decided to take my mom to Butcher and Singer for her birthday after she, my wife and sister saw a show on Broad St.
We had a reservation and we're immediately seated. The interior of Butcher and Singer is high end and on par with the other Top Steakhouses in the City.
As we started to review the menu we noticed something that we hadn't seen on the website earlier, Porterhouse for 1, 2 or 3. (It is there if you open the .pdf version of the menu). Considering that, along with me, my dad and future brother-in-law made up 3/4 of my party at Peter Luger's, we quickly decided to let the girl's fend for themselves and order the Porterhouse for 3, medium rare.
The steak came out out perfectly cooked and tasted incredible. The meat so flavorful and tender, we completely devoured it. We even picked at the bones, much to the dismay of Amy and the Moo waiting for their doggy bags.
For sides we ordered the mashed potatoes and their Signature Stuffed Hashbrown. The mashed potatoes were very good and I'd definitely recommend them. The Stuffed Hashbrown is heavily recommended in other reviews on Yelp and I had very high hopes for it. Unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to the hype.
For the rating I'm conflicted. I'm bouncing back and forth between a 4 and a 5, a 4.5 star rating just sounds right. However since Yelp won't let me do it ... I'm going with 5 stars. It wasn't Peter Luger's, but we had the conversation and made the comparison so that's why I'm rounding up.
I'd definitely recommend Butcher and Singer for a Steak in Center City.Listed in: Steaks
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Review from Christine B.
Philadelphia, PA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Solid restaurant week spot. Every year I get together with my oldest friend, Lindsey G. from Philadelphia, her mom, and my mom for a girl's night out. Due to my yelp prowess it's my job to pick the restaurant and make the reservation. Butcher and Singer seemed like a good pick because of it's central location, and red meat options. We are all steak eaters. None of us had been to Butcher and Singer before, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
I went with the fresh mozzarella with eggplant for my appetizer. The mozzarella was very fresh, and pleasantly salty, with some acid cutting though the creaminess creating a very well balanced dish. For my entree I had to do the filet. I really only get this when it's offered at RW, and it was perfectly cooked to medium rare, and very well seasoned. The mashed potatoes were creamy, but not overly rich. For dessert I had the chocolate bread pudding. Bread pudding is a favorite dessert of mine, and this one was only okay. It needed to be warmer and more chocolatey. The bananas on top were a nice touch though.
Service was good. The waitress returned several times to ask how things were, and to refill drinks. I went with the $8 cabernet that was on special. It was very fruity for a cab, but still went well with the meal. The interior is very dark, and we were seated on what seemed like living room chairs. Very comfortable, but kind of low to the table. It was also a little on the loud side. The ceiling is very pretty. I wasn't sure how I felt about dog murals at restaurants, but the dogs here are dressed so nicely, and look so dapper, that I have to give it two thumbs up. Second favorite decor item was the steer head in the center of the room. It signals to me that this is a place to order steak. Winning. -
Review from Joyce L.
A good friend and I were here for dinner during Restaurant Week. Overall, a great experience.
Here are the highlights:
1) Monday night dinner reservation was honored. We were seated promptly.
2) Waitress was friendly. Gave us ample time to decide on drinks (we went with the $8 wine pairing off the RW menu)
3) Really enjoyed the bread (which is hard to say for a lot of restaurants) Perfect amount of crunch on the outside and soft on the inside.
4) 8 oz filet mignon was impressive. This is where I put pretty much all my stars for this rating. I haven't been to a steak house in a while; this blew me away. Nice char on the outside and juicy medium rare pink on the inside. Well seasoned. I asked for the steak sauce (which is not A1!) but it would have been fine to eat it without the sauce.
I posted a pic of my RW three course meal. bon appetite!
Also, there is a parking validation for RW! -
Review from Abby I.
2/4/2012
I came here for Restaurant Week and was not impressed. First off upon arrival, I was not offered coat check. The booths are small and my father had his large Eagles winter jacket so I am surprised. I really only point this out because at some point in the night I thought I saw 2 stuffed animals walking through the restaurant but closer observation, it was 2 ladies with fluffy fur coats. They must not have been offered coat check either.
With a party of 3, we each sampled a different appetizer, entree and dessert. Nothing was spectacular, not even the filet mignon. The creamed spinach was too salty. The filet mignon ordered medium well came out medium rare. Service was spotty. Wine never came out until we were half finished with our entrees and that was after I had reminded the waiter. His response was that they were still making it at the bar. Hmmm...making wine. Funny.
I was very excited to try this restaurant and I'm glad I did get the chance to but returning again?...I don't think so -
Review from Ettya F.
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My dearest Stephen Starr,
I am writing to inform you that although you have successfully managed to empty out my alligator skinned pocketbook, and while my finest pearls are now in disarray, my love for your creations has not lessened.
No, dearest, I am afraid that I have succumbed to your sensuous steakhouse environment in the worst of ways. I have given myself so entirely to your succulent steak tartare, which lit up my plate as the red harvest moon casts its glow on the autumn fields.
Your fried oysters induced nerve titillations mimicking peristalsis throughout my body. Crispy, fresh, and smooth, I've yet to experience another such dish. And the roe, those delicate red dots be-speckling the shellfish? A wonder in presentation and texture that architects and aspiring chefs could appreciate alike.
That stuffed hash brown would have made my old Jewish grandmother quiver - never before has a latke been disguised so gracefully and in such a large portion so as to dupe even the most staunch of WASPS into enjoying its delights.
The Baked Alaska gave me reason to smile - for even though at the end of this meal, I am in as much ruin as after the crash of '29, I cannot frown. A witty dessert for the daring - for those who love vintage music so much that they are inspired to purchase a gramophone after dining at Butcher and Singer - the Baked Alaska presented a paragon meringue (crispy on the outside, creamy, frothy and smooth on the inside) encompassing soft ice cream resting on a spongy cake.
Sincerest regards (and truest regrets that it will be yet another 80 years before my oil stock so rises again that I would be allowed to dine at Butcher and Singer again),
Ettya F.Listed in: FYI: How to Make Some Fall in…, FtA: Egocentrism
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Review from Ben W.
Philadelphia, PA
2/5/2012
I went here last week for Restaurant Week. We were lucky to get a reservation, although it was at 9PM. Upon entering, it took a while for my eyes to get adjusted to the dim lighting, but the vibe was so fancy and upscale, more so than other Starr restaurants. We were offered coat check and seated in a nice roundabout booth. We were hungry and ready for meat!
We each ordered pretty much everything off the menu. I got the beet salad, filet mingon, and bread pudding. The salad was pretty tasty and I loved the varying textures. Also, the cheese was so stinky, which I love in salad. Although the beets were supposed to be the feature of it, I felt like they were a little underrepresented.
The filet was delicious and cooked exactly the way I love steak (red/pink on the inside) and it was so tender, easily sliced. The steak was lightly seasoned and had an overall savory taste. It was paired with the creamed spinach, which although the portion was very (emphasis on very) small, it was a good compliment to the meaty steak and it was very creamy.
Lastly, the bread pudding outshone everything else. It was still warm when served which is a plus. It was so creamy on the inside and was topped with some fresh fruit and these delicious mini chocolate covered wafer balls. Surprisingly delicious crunch!
Overall a pretty good dining experience. The only thing I was only really surprised by the bread pudding. The salad and steak was good, but nothing exciting. And DEFINITELY not worth normal prices, especially the portions.
Pros: atmosphere, variety, dessert
Cons: prices, slow service, portions
Dishes to try: Bread pudding, blueberry cheesecake
Dishes to skip: Beet salad -
Review from Stacey K.
Brick, NJ
3/1/2012
If you're ready to spend a lot of money for a phenomenal steak, you absolutely cannot go wrong at Butcher and Singer. The ambiance is retro classy. I half expected to see Don Draper and his girlfriend in the corner booth.
COCKTAILS
Creative (egg whites?) and tasty(rosemary!!), but not boozy enough for the money. Stick with wine.
STEAKS
I had the Delmonico and my hubs had the NY Strip. Both were perfectly prepared and cooked to the right temp.
SIDES
We had the creamed spinach and the hash brown. The creamed spinach was creamed spinach. The hash brown was a delicious pan fried cake of shredded potato, onion, sour cream and (I think) cheese. It was really, REALLY delicious, but next time, I'd stick with a more traditional baked or mashed potato for my traditional steak dinner.
SERVICE
Bright and cheerful without being snooty or intrusive.
All together, another great meal at one of Master Starr's restaurants! -
Review from Meg S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/3/2012
I dined here last Restaurant Week but am just now updating my profile, so I apologize in advance for the delay.
First of all, Butcher and Singer set the standard for how not to treat a group during restaurant week. From reservation time to getting our coats, our entire meal was ~40 minutes, which is insanely fast for a 3-course meal. The moment one person finished their meal, someone was over to take the plate and drop the next course off. I don't know if we just had a particularly bad server or not, but we just got the vibe that we were "not wanted" as RW patrons. So, it was hard to savor and enjoy the experience as we were rushed throughout...
The food was good not great, nothing really sticks out. The steak, to be honest, was a bit overcooked for me and the other people in our group. Again, this was a Tuesday night, but I was surprised that it wasn't top-notch. -
Review from Brian C.
2/5/2012
I came here for lunch because I've heard so much about the burger at Butcher and Singer. That's what I got. Unfortunately, they only offer the burger at lunch on weekdays, but if you happen to be able to go, try it out.
It's a very solid burger with cheddar and fried onions in it. It's quite heavy and large, but sometimes that's exactly what you want from a burger. It is a little bit on the salty side though.
The ambience in the restaurant is beautiful. It's the lobby of a grand old bank, and the vault of the bank still stands in the center of the restaurant. If Stephen Starr knows how to do one thing right, it's the ambience.
I look forward to trying out their dinner sometime. -
Review from Monica L.
2/4/2012 2 photos
A couple of friends and I came here on a Friday for the Restaurant Week pre-fixe lunch menu and most of us left with stuffed, somewhat satisfied bellies.
For my appetizer, I ordered the Butternut Squash Soup, which was as smooth and butternut-squashy as butternut squash gets! A couple of my friends ordered the same thing and commented that the soup was a bit too salty for their tastes. The consensus: Satisfying but not too impressive.
For the main course, I got the Seared Tuna and Nicoise Salad. The tuna was soft and tender, and the salad so perfectly flavored that I will sing nothing but praise for the dish! The others seemed happy with their giant Butcher Burgers.
Finally, I finished my meal with the Chocolate Bread Pudding, which was small and tasted just 'okay.' The cheesecakes with blueberries that the others ordered looked more appealing.
The place was well-lit and classy. Overall, Butcher and Singer fits your typical image of a fancy steakhouse, with slightly better-than-standard food and average service. -
Review from Sera A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2012
Our concierge at the Sofitel hotel recommended this place for us.
We had a great dinner here. The food was really good.
The aged meat was very tender and tasty. We also ordered the cream spinach to go with our meal.
For desert we had the Alaska, it was insanely good!!! -
Review from Gautam T.
Philadelphia, PA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here during restaurant week to try their famous steak that everyone raves about. After examining my 8 oz medium rare filet I carved a piece from the side and took a bite. Yes is was absolutely delicious! it was grilled to perfection, the outside was crisp with a smoky and peppery flavor and the meat was tender and juicy. I am highly tempted to go back and try a dry aged porterhouse.
Now why do I give this 4/5 stars? because I have yet to eat at barclay prime, and this wasnt the best steak I;ve ever had. Its a damn good steak that will leave you happy for sure.
This a a really good deal for restaurant week. -
Review from Tim M.
New Holland, PA
2/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent meal...just a bit overpriced for me!
Dry aged Porterhouse had great flavor, hash browns and green beans are a must for sides...and Baked Alaska...even coffee tasted great! No complaints with food at all...just a little bit on the pricey side. -
Review from MaryKate M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/28/2012
bangin meat, yo. Just kidding. But not really. I loved the silky as* mashed potatoes, too. Restaurant week again? Yes, please.
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Review from Barry S.
Narberth, PA
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to love this place but alas it was just as my 3 Stars says A-OK. The 3 stars is not a comparison to most restaurants it is more of a comparison to more expensive places like B & S. When you spend $40+ for a steak you expect perfection and my Porterhouse just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong it was good but it wasn't perfect. The seasoning was "OK" and the meat was "Pretty Good" but amazing it was not. It was cooked well I just think it was under seasoned for my taste and the meat was just a tad bland.
Another not bad just not great thing was the appetizer. We ordered friend calamari and we got some of that but also a lot of fried pepper and onions. I am sure this is some kind of traditional thing and I may not have minded but for $14 maybe a little more calamari and a little less plate filler. I must say though the calamari was really good just wanted more of it.
The baked potatoes were massive so that was a plus and the staff was nice as well. I will probably go back to see if I just caught the steaks on an off night (Wednesday?) Worth going if you want a nice place for a nice dinner. -
Review from Brad P.
11/23/2011
If I want a part of a dead cow to be heated up and served to me, I want it to be prepared at Butcher and Singer. While some species of animal develop keen senses or other defense mechanisms to keep themselves alive, the cow has developed delicious meat, insuring that humans will always make their survival a priority. Butcher & Singer is added proof to this theory that I just made up right now.
Their 8 oz. filet mignon is excellent. There were much fewer frills here than you'd expect at a Starr joint. Medium rare is ACTUALLY medium rare. The middle is not warm at all and the cut is virtually devoid of fatty chunks. Their Brussels sprouts(with bacon) are fantastic. They clearly outshone the potatoes and creamed spinach. Even the before-dinner bread is great.
I've also got to give props to the baked Alaska, a surprisingly original dessert. -
Review from Robert H.
12/12/2011
What a cool restaurant. Really loved the decor and the vibe this place has. Really cool high, open ceilings with 2 huge chandeliers that hang above the main dining area.
I originally had reservations at Osteria but we missed them due to my late arrival to Philly. I called around and every place was booked until about 930 or 10pm. We walked by Butcher and Singer, and since ive heard of it before, felt like trying to get a seating anyways. Sure enough we were about to get a 9pm reservation... but i think we were lucky as the place was jam packed. Since it was about 1 hour early and B and S bar was too packed to get a drink, we walked to another lounge for cocktails. Came back at 9pm for a great dinner.
Had the wedge salad, which was very good but different. Im used to Blue Cheese dressing where this had a kind of creamy thousand island-like dressing (still very good). For entree had the 12oz filet with onions and mushrooms as a side dish. By far one of the best mushroom side dishes ive had.
Overall id say this place ranks above places like Ruth Chris, Mortons, and Flemings. Its right on par with Mastros with everything except the filet and dessert. The 12oz filet was very good, but mastros is still a notch or 2 better....and without butter cake you cant compete!
I highly recommend B and S for a great steak night dinner. -
Review from Alyssa G.
Philadelphia, PA
2/6/2012
Went for restaurant week and was worried the food and portions would only be ok, but I am happy to say it was amazing. The food was wonderful and staff was extremely friendly. The portions for restaurant week were amazing that I almost did not finish everything. It was a great deal for a wonderful upscale restaurant. The instead is decorated in a unique Steven Starr style. I highly recommend this place.
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Review from Thomas J.
Alexandria, VA
1/24/2012
Each year, my wife and I try to find a nice restaurant to go out to in whatever city we're spending a birthday or anniversary in. For my birthday, this year, we were in Philadelphia so we at at Butcher and Singer.
We started out with appetizers of a half-dozen blue point oysters and an order of steak tartare. With these oysters, the cocktail sauce was a bit overpowering, but the red wine sauce really brought out and complimented the flavor of the oysters. The steak tartare had a nice edge to it, though they probably used less horseradish in it and less assertive capers than we use when making tartare at home.
Four our main courses, Donna got the 8oz. filet mignon and I got their seared delmonico steak. We split an order of the Singer fries, mushrooms & onions and brussels sprouts.
The steaks were surprisingly flavorful - we eat mostly bison and have found that "regular" beef tends not to be as strongly-flavored. Wherever this steak was sourced from, the combination of the basic meat and how they age it gave it a nice flavor and texture. Note to those who don't like their meats on the raw side: Butcher and Singer prepares err to the cool side (we like our steaks blue-rare, so this was ideal for us).
The brussels sprouts were prepared with bacon and shallots. Competently prepared, but a bit more bitter than when we prepare them at home. Dunno if its a difference in sourcing or in how they're prepared. They were decent, but I'd not go out of my way for them.
The mushrooms and onions were a nice, buttery preparation of a mixture of three or four types of mushrooms and fried onions.
The Singer fries are basically thick-chipped potatoes garnished with garlic, salt and parsley. They were quite tasty but there were also rather a lot of them
We couldn't decide what wine we wanted with our meal, so, we gave our server a target price range and the types of wines we tend to enjoy. He helped us pick a nice, complimentary red wine in the upper third of that target range. He didn't try to up-sell us and displayed a good knowledge of the wines on their list (and they have a fairly decent list ranging from about $40/bottle to several $100s/bottle).
We finished our meal with a nice chocolate layer cake. We were actually mostly full by the time it came out, so probably didn't appreciate it as much as had we been ravenous, but it was still *quite* good.
Between the two of us, our meal came to right around $350. It was well worth the money spent. Food was solid and the service was speedy without getting the feeling of being hovered over or rushed. We would gladly return if circumstances allowed. -
Review from Mimi S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/25/2012
Waiter was really nice. Service was great. Food was excellent (fried shrimp, burger, baked alaska). Pricey but a nice atmosphere!
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Review from Christopher S.
Trenton, NJ
1/11/2012
Yeah this place is good......one of the best.
I found my way to Butcher and Singer a week before Christmas after reading all the great reviews. We were almost 45 min late and it was not a problem, in fact, we were seated immediately. The atmosphere is laid back and trendy with almost a 20's feel to it.
FOOD: Oysters were fresh and fantastic. We split a B&S salad which was a take on a spring salad, but with lots of additions. Both had the fillet and was easily the best steak I've had in years. That's comparing it to Ruth's Chris, Sparks, The Palm, Flemings and a multitude of others. Sides were creamed spinach and a fantastic stuffed hash brown. Dessert was OK, nothing special.
WINE: The wine list was decent with alot of good choices for a steakhouse. Prices were quite high being approximately 3x retail wine shop prices.
SERVICE: Attentive but not at all overbearing. Perfect.
We would absolutely return. -
Review from HIlary W.
Philadelphia, PA
10/9/2011
You're a man. You like meat. You understand the importance of a well marbled cut of meat and anything above medium is just offensive to you. Butcher and Singer will appeal to your inner Mad Men fantasies minus Don Draper's shady past.
The dining room is dimly lit from the massive brass chandelier hanging from the impossibly high ceilings. There is a bar to the right of the entrance lined with candles and a small but impressive liquor selection. The dining room is lined with rows of tufted banquettes on two floors with tables and very comfortable chairs well spaced in between. A giant gold bullhead is mounted on a focal wall in the back of the dining room pulling together the traditional elegant steakhouse concept.
It's a bold statement but you can't go wrong with anything you order here but I will share some personal favorites. The wedge salad is one of the best I have ever eaten. The shrimp cocktail is enormous and fresh. Oh, if you like French Onion soup get it here, but break the top and give it a few minutes to release some steam. Your tongue will thank you for it.
Obviously it's all about the steak here. The filet is a very good safe bet but I would recommend the Delmonico. The Butcher Delmonico done medium rare is one of the finest steaks I would dare to say in the Mid-Atlantic. Sides are served separately so you will have to order them if you wanted something to go along with the meat. The hash brown is enormous and easy to share but do not skip on the Brussels sprouts. Your mom would blush for have ever served them any way other than Butcher prepares them. If you don't think you like them think again.
If you somehow have room for dessert go for the Baked Alaska. It's a rare dessert to find these days only due to how much goes into the production. It's a fun balance of warm and cold with varying flavors and textures. I have sampled all of the desserts over the years I have dined here and can confidently say they're worth saving room for.
Go to Butcher with clients you want to impress, to treat yourself for being an awesome person, to prove to your parents you're a grown up, to ask your lady friend a life changing question, the list goes on. Enjoy the impeccable customer service and a meal that makes you feel like you're a bigshot on Madison Ave in the 50's.Listed in: "Mad Men"-esque Spots
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Review from Michelle C.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 9/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
You cannot go wrong with Restaurant Week lunch at Butcher & Singer. I returned once again for the three course meal during week 2 of RW, and everything from the greeting at the front door to the water glasses that were constantly being refilled was great. I enjoyed a mozzarella and tomato salad with chopped pistachios and olive tapenade followed by a cobb salad with a generious portion of juicy sliced chicken alongside.
I was somehow able to turn down the dessert course, although the spiced pear sorbet was sweetly calling my name. I can't believe I've never been for dinner but it's something I continue to look forward to!Listed in: Get Dolled Up!, The Burger List, Mad Men Worthy, Stephen Starr Restaurants, Restaurant Week
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/25/2010
Restaurant Week lunch at Butcher & Singer is pretty awesome. For a mere $20, even those with the… Read more »
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Review from Michael F.
Philadelphia, PA
9/28/2011
I was asked to arrange a dinner for our site leadership team and selected Butcher and Singer to host. I have no regrets and received strong positive reviews from all 15 of the guests (myself included).
I started with oysters, I mean hey its on the company, right? They were fresh and sizable. We moved on to the Butcher Salad, which saw everyone clean their plate! I followed with a perfectly cooked Delmonico as we shared mushrooms, onions, and asparagus around the table. I made sure to save room for a dessert sampling which capped off the night. While I am sure it is much easier for me to rate them higher since I didn't have to pay the bill, everything was top notch and worth a visit!
How could the night be topped off? By seeing Mayor Nutter enjoying his meal for the evening at B&S as well!Listed in: A STARR is Born
