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    Oyster House

    4.3 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    OYSTER HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Oyster House

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    Reviews With Photos

    Maryland Crabcake
    Mike C.

    This place is FIRE!!! Best oysters I ever had, and they came with a lot of oyster liquor (natural juice that oysters produce, a mix of seawater from their habitat and their own internal fluids such as hemolymph (the invertebrate equivalent of blood) and cellular fluids). The oyster liquor makes it so the oyster remains fresh btw as well which is obviously uber important. We had oysters from Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut and all of the ones we chose you could taste the unique differences from one to the next. Crab cakes were on point; the vegetables were next level with the side of asparagus coming with roe on top of it. New England soup was actually light and not heavy like most creamy NE soups which I appreciated as it made me have room for the rest of the meal. We also indulged in some Butterscotch Pudding which in my view had three distinct flavors. The very top tasted similar to sweet creme Brule, the actual pudding was creamy and delish and there was a garnish of whipped cream I believe on top. All items surpassed my expectations and we will definitely be repeat customers. Highly Recommend. As always people SYOY!!!!

    Clam chowder
    Thomas k.

    Service was a little slow today. Usually pretty good. I like sitting at the bar at happy hour. Great service and drinks. There is always a good background noise as the restaurant is typically busy. But not too loud so your party can still have a great conversation. Enjoyed the lunch today especially the fish and chips. The clam chowder is a must. And they have the best fries.

    If you want flawless service, ask for Jess! My husband and I hold dining experiences to a very high standard, and as first-timers to the oyster bar, we weren't entirely sure what to expect. Jess completely elevated our night. She was wonderfully funny, charmingly complimentary, and laser-focused on every detail. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive and precisely delivered, making us feel completely taken care of.On her brilliant recommendation, I ordered the grilled oysters and the mussels, and I was absolutely blown away. Everything was incredibly fresh, perfectly seasoned, and executed beautifully.Jess is truly one of the sweetest, most genuinely hospitable servers I have ever encountered. She completely exceeded our expectations and is the definitive reason we are already planning our next visit!

    Wellfleet oysters.
    Janez S.

    Absolutely one of the best oyster experiences I've had. I ordered the Wellfleet oysters, and they were some of the best oysters I've ever tasted. They were fresh, & flavorful. My server was incredibly friendly, attentive, and helpful in guiding me through the menu and making recommendations. She suggested the Mermaid martini I believe it's called, that ended up being excellent and paired perfectly with the oysters. Great food, great service, and an overall wonderful experience. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back.

    Drink
    Dionna J.

    Perfect spot for lunch before heading to The Academy of Music. A building and bustling crowd on a Saturday afternoon. The food and drinks were excellent. The standout being the grilled octopus ramen. It's listed as a starter but don't fret, "it's hearty but not huge" per my server. This just might be the best thing I've had here! I also had the lobster roll which never disappoints (devoured it before I had the chance to take a pic). The chocolate pecan pie was not needed, but very delicious.

    Happy hour: New England Clam Chowder & Shrimp sliders
    Jody S.

    We checked out Oyster house during one of our happy hour Fridays and we were very fond! Especially knowing that this is a top rated happy hour location as well as my preference always being seafood, the seafood options are certainly there! Since this was one of our later happy hours, we arrived ~4:30 and we weren't seated at the bar until 5 as it is a popular spot. The vibe was very New England and felt like home. We ordered appetizers, I had the clam chowder and shrimp sliders. I enjoyed my dish and had the desire to try other items on the menu but my stomach was full. They had decent wine selections as well.

    The bar
    Ashley V.

    This place serves some of the best oysters--freshly shucked right in front of you! Food: I came here during happy hour, and it was absolutely worth it. The oysters were fresh, affordable, and delicious. The oysters here tasted way better than the ones I ate in New Orleans. The mussels were also excellent--tender and flavorful. I ordered a lobster roll outside of the happy hour menu, and while they were generous with the lobster, the dish felt a bit dry and overpowered by too much sriracha, which masked the natural flavor of the lobster. Drinks: I ordered a Sazerac, and it was perfectly balanced. I really appreciate a well-crafted whiskey cocktail, and this one hit the mark. Atmosphere: The space was lively, nicely decorated, and very clean--perfect for a casual night out. Service: Excellent and attentive. The staff were friendly and checked in just the right amount. Overall: I had a great time here and highly recommend stopping by during happy hour if you can. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Philly.

    Trent O.

    We stopped by at 5:30 for a 6:00pm reservation. We were told we were too early, and would need to wait for a spot at the Oyster Bar as we had reserved. No problem. We went over to the bar, and the bartender made eyes with us and gestured to a corner spot on the bar where a couple was settling up to leave. We jumped in their seats and he whipped up some great cocktails and handed us the happy hour menu. (Weekdays 4pm-6pm) we ordered 10 of the raspberry point oysters ($2ea during happy hour!) and the crab deviled eggs. Both were awesome and the appreciated the happy hour deal. We actually spent the rest of our evening at the bar because the folks we were around at the bar and bartender were super engaging in conversation and we enjoyed talking to him while trying the cocktails. We went on to order the lobster roll and fries and crab cake entree, both were awesome. Will definitely be back but we really appreciated the experience and hospitality that the bartender in particular provided. I think his name is was Giovani.

    Butterscotch pudding
    Diana P.

    This place is phenomenal! We tried 3 kinds of oysters: Sweet Amalia (Cape May, NJ); Mystic (CT); and Rough Water (RI) and they were all so fresh and perfectly chilled. Outstanding! We also had the crabcakes served with the most delicious green beans and porcini mushrooms topped with parmesan & a side of asparagus. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch pudding, which was thick and creamy. Every single thing was top notch. Our server was fantastic, so helpful and knowledgeable about Gluten Free items. She put a note on our ticket and also double checked with the kitchen to confirm everything I ordered was GF. I cannot wait to go back and try additional items.

    Fisherman's Stew
    Joseph S.

    I had just returned from a two week vacation driving down the Pacific Coast. Starting in San Francisco, I went to several seafood restaurants for one item - Cioppino (Fisherman's Stew). Starting with Scoma's, I had it 5 times during those 2 weeks. I happened to read an article about the Oyster House here in Philly. It's tucked away on Sansom St. between 15th and 16th streets. The article highlighted the Fisherman's Stew and the lobster rolls. I was ready for the Stew!! It came nice and hot, which is a strong requirement for me - as it stayed hot until the last spoonful. It was excellent! A great stew starts with the broth - this was so flavorful and rich, with just a little spice! I had to remind myself I was in PA not CA! The stew had calamari, so tender - little shrimps which stood out for their flavor and texture - a delicate white fish and mussels. I was so surprised to find such a great stew here in Philly! The Oyster House will be seeing me regularly - next time, I'll try the lobster rolls! I also wanted to mention I sat at the bar and a very lovely lady gave me a brief history of the restaurant, which made the visit even more enjoyable!

    Oysters and clams. Happy hour blackberry oysters, a couple Irish point oysters (not pictures, delicious!) and a couple clams.
    Linda H.

    LOVED it! I love oysters. I love a good happy hour and they had both. They were very busy with a great deal of fun energy from everyone eating, shucking, and serving. I sat by myself at a bar stool with a view of the 5 people shucking oysters and clams non-stop. Oysters were fresh and sweet and would love to go back with friends or by myself, again!

    Fries, prawns, octopus
    Gerald N.

    Came on a weekend night with a reservation and the restaurant was packed. Service was friendly and timely. Good menu with plenty of options for seafood and some meat. 1. Oysters - A good selection of oysters even up to AK. Average priced. 2. Calamari - Small pieces, good quality with good crisp. 3. Octopus - Wasabi sauce so if you don't like wasabi, don't get this. Good quality octopus nonetheless 4. Fries - A bit flimsy but good aoili sauce 5. Prawns - Sizable pieces which were a bit salty but good. Overall a good seafood restaurant to try at least once! Staple in the area.

    Roasted oysters
    Kamille H.

    The best oyster bar in the city. If you're lucky you can snag happy hour seats at the bar. The oyster shuckers are knowledgeable and skilled. The oyster plates used as decor are a nice touch.

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    2 months ago

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    Sam M.

    Thanks for the lovely review. We hope to see you soon.

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    11 months ago

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    Sam M.

    Hi Ashley, We very much appreciate your visit and your lovely review.

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    2 months ago

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    Sam M.

    Thanks for the review, Cliff.

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    Sam M.

    Thanks for the 5-star review, Taurin.

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    7 months ago

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    Hi Bina, We love being your new favorite restaurant!! See you soon.

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    Page 1 of 44

    Oyster House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Oyster House

    Do you have to have a reservation if your dining solo?

    Hi Emily, You don't need a reservation but we always recommend making a reservation if you know when you'd like to join us.

    Is the Oyster House open on Christmas Eve and what are the hours?

    Oyster House will be closed on December 24th and 25 for the Christmas holiday. We will reopen on Thursday 12/26. We hope to see you then.

    Is it open on Thanksgiving?

    Is there any Covid type rules?

    Does oyster house still have the partnership with baysave where the used shells are put back into the Delaware for repopulation vs throwing them out?

    You'd have to call to ask them I'm sure they're giving back to the community & respecting the environment.

    If I sit at the oyster bar, and add tip on the bill, does that tip go to the shucker? Or do I need to tip them in cash?

    There are cash tip jars on the bar just for the shuckers. When you tip on the receipt, usually it is for your waitress/waiters.

    How is the snapper soup?

    Outstanding. One of the best items on the menu.

    What dishes would the public recommend at Oyster's House?

    If you go for happy hour (from 8-10 pm), i suggest oysters, new england clam chowder, and lobster rolls (half off i think)

    Are there any buck a shuck specials?

    Yes. During happy hour! Weekdays from 5pm to 7pm. But get there 4:30. You'll probably still have to wait as this place is packed!! Might want to get a table while you wait and munch on something. I want to say on Saturdays it's from 9pm til 11pm… 

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    Luke's Lobster Rittenhouse

    4.3(1.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi•Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square
    •$$

    My friend an I stopped in here trying to pass time while exploring Philadelphia…read more The cashier was great. He was so helpful with my questions. Oddly I wanted a lobster roll with out the roll but still went with the soup anyway. But, he said he could do that. The soup was pretty good. We do not get a lobster roll when we visited. But, The soup hit the spot. The bathroom was so cute. It had a a nautical theme. This place really made me think of coastal Maine. Pricing was on point for lobster. No complaints. There are a few tables and a window bar like seat option that faces the street. The offer Maine sodas to drink.

    Solid rolls! I had the seafood trio to taste them all. Initially I ordered on their website…read moredirectly. After driving around for 20 minutes to find parking I called and they had not received my order. Uber Eats or Door Dash must be the preferred. Or call! Anywho, Uber Eats delivered. It was cold. I don't believe the other lobsters rolls I had were cold. These were and still good. Maybe they are warm if you pick up ‍ They give ample portions and the butter is on the side. Three ramekins! One for each roll. I only needed one for all three. Note to self: always ask for butter on side. The shrimp roll was packed. Thankful because the baby shrimp were baby. The lobster roll was about 1 claws worth. It was the crab that shocked me. Overflowing with crab meat. Everything was fresh. The bread was soft and buttered. I didn't taste much 'seasoning' it was well 'flavored' and covered in oregano (?) I would return. It's a cute little spot that is in the basement of a building. I didn't go in, I know the area well. Next to Sofitel. Hard to find parking

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    Luke's Lobster Rittenhouse - 6oz. Lobster Roll

    6oz. Lobster Roll

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    Wilder - Bucatini Cacio E Pepe

    Wilder

    4.4(484 reviews)
    0.4 mi•Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center

    Such an eclectic, whimsical, romantic atmosphere--you immediately feel like you've stepped into…read moresomewhere special. Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. You could tell she genuinely wanted to connect with every guest and make sure they had a great experience. We started with the roasted oysters, and they were easily the best roasted oysters I've had in a very long time--if not the best ever. For pizza, we went with our waitress's recommendation and ordered the corn and jalapeño pizza. Definitely not a combination I ever would have thought to put together, but whoever came up with it--thank you! The homemade crust was perfectly crispy, and the combination of flavors was incredible. Sweet, savory, a little heat--it was a total flavor bomb in the best possible way. Such a fun atmosphere, wonderful service, and food that surprised us in all the right ways. We'll definitely remember this one!

    Food Quality & Taste- 3.5/5 The food was good. Standouts?…read moreThe Butternut Squash Soup! The Butternut Fried Chicken Sandwich was a little spicier than I anticipated. It was also a nice portion size, particularly since it was a lunch special. -Mantra Meldoy- 3/5 -Butternut Squash Bisque- 4/5 -Butternut Fried Chicken- 3/5 Service- 4/5 The service was great! Very quick and attentive. I appreciate a server who is anticipatory. My water glass was never empty. Atmosphere- 5/5 Wilder is beautiful inside. There's an upstairs and downstairs, and each section of the restaurant gives a different vibe. There's even a small outside seating area, if the weather is nice. Value- 4/5 Some prices are a little expensive, but the lunch special pricing is a steal. Generally, I think it's a strong value and would recommend the restaurant. Opportunities for Learning- 4/5 I went during Black History Month, and they had BHM drink and food specials. It was very creative. Also, how the restaurant got its name is also kind of cool! It's inspired by Gene Wilder. There are a few things to learn here, and I definitely left a little smarter.

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    Wilder - Private dining room

    Private dining room

    Wilder - Mussels and frites

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    Alpen Rose

    Alpen Rose

    4.4(379 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Avenue of the Arts South
    •$$$$

    Loved this place!! A hidden gem, definitely great place for a date night--gives off a speakeasy…read morevibe, and you have to ring the doorbell, they will answer the door and ask for your reservation before they let you in! Inside is beautiful, dimly lit--a cozy and intimate setting. Service was excellent and the food was delicious! Bone Marrow Toast was the bomb--the beef cheek addition to the marrow dish was amazing!! Omg! Both the Bone-In NY Strip and Bone-In Ribeye were perfection, both steaks were well flavored and meat was tender. Creamed Spinach and Pomme Purée were good. We tried the Seasonal Pie which had brown butter crumble with vanilla ice cream. The restaurant (and bar seating) is small so make sure you have reservations, highly recommend this place!

    The pretentiousness vibe of the place does not outweigh the need for unique flavors and offerings…read more I am not a vibe person that likes to see and be seen however; this place fit my vibe exactly. Elegant, upscale, and cleanly efficient; this would not be the worst steakhouse in the city by far. For a cookie cutter menu steakhouse with pretty seasonless food and simple desserts; I think it meets my standard by far for the minimum in steakhouse dining with snarky service. I would return for the duck even though it's not smoked; it's expertly prepared. I would not come for a holiday; my friend expressed it a birthday and the staff did not celebrate the occasion in any way

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    Alpen Rose - Inside

    Inside

    Alpen Rose - Smoked Bacon

    Smoked Bacon

    Alpen Rose - Inside

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    Inside

    Loch Bar - Philly

    Loch Bar - Philly

    4.2(238 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Avenue of the Arts South, Washington Square West
    •$$$

    Loch Bar was a very appreciated and beautiful stop before attending the Jill Scott concert. Would…read morelove to come back for their happy hour when I visit Philly again. The design and style of the inside is beautiful! Bright & clean and centrally located. Our server was spectacular. So friendly but not overly if that makes sense. My absolute favorite bites were the shrimp scampi...10/10. Please get! & the oysters, both raw & roasted did not disappoint at all. Can skip the lettuce wraps honestly! We only grabbed one cocktail but based on the flavor and booze-iness...yes and yes. Loch bar will see me again!

    The service is always friendly. I find that the food is reasonably priced for the location and a…read moregood quality. The restaurant is nicely, decorated crisp, clean lines, simplistic, giving an upscale retro diner vibe. I often go for an early dinner with my cousin who always orders the burger and he loves it. often I ordered the fried potato wedges with caviar. The caviar is just commercial American style. However, the dipping sauce has a nice horseradish, sour cream chive blend is absolutely delicious. I have locations. I have enjoyed the oysters and they have a very extensive bar. The only downside is when you walk in they givegiving the appearance you have to have a reservation to all of these empty seats? The host looks around aimlessly then they see you. 45 minutes later there are still many open tables?! What I return? ABSOLUTELY!

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    Loch Bar - Philly - Inside

    Inside

    Loch Bar - Philly - Cream of Crab Soup

    Cream of Crab Soup

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    Estia

    Estia

    4.1(955 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Avenue of the Arts South, Rittenhouse Square
    •$$$

    My family has been eating here after the Sunday ballet and it's always fabulous!…read more We had dinner again in the Wine Room. We used to have Mila as our server. Sunday we had Ellis. He was just as amazing as Mila! He was so accommodating and friendly. My food was a little delayed and he more than made up for it! Food, as always, was delicious. We always start with the Estia chips. I tried the grilled shrimp and WOW! So good. The soft shell crab was a big hit too. And my lamb was so good. The Meli cocktail was amazing. My new fav! Thanks again and we can't wait til next time with Ellis!

    To start I have always loved Estia. I love their other restaurant Almyra as well. As a family we…read morehave been coming here for parties and hosting dinners and events in the main area or in various private rooms downstairs for over 15 years. Last night we hosted a dinner of 10 people in the small wine room in the basement. It's a very cute room. It's perfect for a small group. Unfortunately that's where the perfect ends. Our server seem nice enough in the beginning, but couldn't really get it together to be around to make sure that we had what we needed, there was no one there to check on us to handle the timing for drinks, appetizers, etc. When we arrived, the room was an icebox. It was freezing, which was easy to fix as the settings were in the room. The table was dressed with the regular things, but the hummus was in two tiny dishes that had obviously been sitting there for a while and were crusted on top and bread that was cold, no pita nothing cooked. That was one of our table dishes that we ordered as well as taramosalata, calamari and spanakopita. The taramosalata we had ordered as an additional item on a $65 per person set menu with options for your entrée. Unfortunately, it was very bland not the way it used to be when it came. It also did not come with pita which we had to ask for and both the hummus and taramosalata came in teeny tiny dishes, almost the size is what you'd put your soy sauce in at a sushi restaurant. There were four of those tiny dishes (2 of each item) for a table of 10. The next to come was the calamari and the spanakopita. Honestly, I've had better versions of this frozen from Costco than we were served last night. The calamari was not fresh and not homemade, there were no tentacles nothing but rings. It was also cold by the time we got it and par baked. The spanakopita were teeny, tiny triangles, smaller than what you'd even get at Costco and folded so many times in the dough that they were not flaky and honestly horrible. Nobody ate them. Next to come were the salads. That was probably the best course of the night. The take on a Caesar salad with dill was very good so was the tomato traditional Greek salad with feta. It would be nice though if they broke up the feta as there was only three large pieces of feta in there, and if anyone took one, then when you passed things down, the other people did not get any. Seeing as this was all served family style you would think they might have thought of that. Next was the main courses the options were a chicken dish, a fish dish, a lamb dish and a pasta dish. Honestly, the fish dish looked the best of all the dishes, but by the time the food got to us, everything was no longer hot. Five people ordered lamb dishe which was almost inedible. It was shredded meat from a lamb shank that was served in a tiny circular way like it had been molded into a dish and then turned over with some sort of strange sauce underneath it that supposedly was pasta. It was so small it might as well have been something that you would've gotten as an appetizer. Ironically, it was so bad that you didn't want to eat it and everyone left it on their plate. Personally, mine had shards of bone in it, which made my first bite extremely unpleasant and sadly my second bite did too, so I just pushed the it aside and did not continue eating. There was no option for dessert. They just brought down some sort of honey cake that unfortunately they didn't ask if anyone had allergies or anything which a lot of of us do so only a few could eat it, one person ended up taking the majority of the cake home with them. All of this went unnoticed by our server who was rude to the majority of our party. As mentioned before we normally love this restaurant but last night was not a good experience at all. It was extremely disappointing to be treated so cavalierly and as if our party was a downstairs was an afterthought.

    Photos
    Estia - One of the main dining room

    One of the main dining room

    Estia
    Estia

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    Butcher and Singer - Crème Brûlée

    Butcher and Singer

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi•Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square
    •$$$$

    A few days before the birth of our first child, one of my oldest friends came down from Brooklyn…read morefor what we understood would be my final properly indulgent night before parenthood. We have known each other since we were five, lived together in New York for six years, and stayed close through marriages, children, and jobs that occasionally made us question our sanity. He has seen me at my absolute best and worst, and he was also the person who helped me get fit and regain some discipline while we worked in finance and used excess to numb the misery of those jobs. Choosing Butcher & Singer gave the evening exactly the ceremonial weight it deserved. Steakhouses take on different meanings as you move through life. In your early twenties, an expense account dinner feels like the dream: free drinks and an extravagant meal while you are broke, eating ramen, and sitting at the bottom of the professional food chain. By your early thirties, after enough wining and dining in Midtown Manhattan, the ritual can feel exhausted, and another steakhouse dinner holds little appeal. In your early forties, with young children and fewer unstructured nights, catching up with a lifelong best friend over a great steak feels incredibly meaningful, partly because neither the dinner nor the friendship needs to become a weekly habit. That contrast was especially fitting because my friend is remarkably health-conscious and frugal despite being tremendously successful. He seldom strays from his disciplined diet, while I have historically been much more willing to wander toward fries, dessert, and whatever reckless topping appears on the menu. A traditional steakhouse lets both people leave satisfied: one can order a lean steak and vegetables, while the other can treat the table as permission to suspend judgment for two hours. We shared the same celebratory dinner, but our plates still reflected exactly who each of us had always been. Inside, Butcher & Singer delivers the classic steakhouse fantasy with extraordinary conviction. The soaring ceiling, monumental columns, and amber lighting give the dining room a glamorous scale, while the dark wood, painted murals, and small shaded lamps keep all that grandeur from becoming severe. This is where Stephen Starr's judgment becomes especially apparent, because both Butcher & Singer and nearby Barclay Prime depend on concepts that could age badly: one could become stuffy and antiquated, while the other could become glossy and artificial. Instead, Butcher & Singer still feels transportive, Barclay Prime remains contemporary and cool, and each succeeds because the design, service, and atmosphere are executed with total confidence. Our meal included what I believe was a Caesar salad, filet mignon, asparagus, fries, and a rich chocolate fudge cake. I added a blue cheese garnish to my steak, a completely unnecessary flourish that became the crown jewel on an already excellent piece of meat, while my friend kept his side of the table considerably cleaner. Parc creates a useful third point in Starr's small Rittenhouse constellation: its bar steak and burger offer a more casual form of red meat, somewhere between an ordinary dinner and the full ceremony of Butcher & Singer or Barclay Prime. I appreciate both, but a burger leaves me feeling heavier, while a properly cooked lean steak can feel filling and indulgent without ruining the rest of the night. Only one detail could have improved our experience. We sat at a small table near the host stand and the clock, which was comfortable and entirely reasonable for a table for two, but it left us slightly outside the dramatic center of the room. This was no one's fault, merely the kind of learned preference that comes from seeing the full room afterward and knowing where I would request to sit on a future visit. I hope to return when the budget allows, settle farther inside among the leather booths, glowing lamps, and sweep of the murals, and once again let Butcher & Singer make a rare night with an old friend feel worthy of savoring.

    This place is stunning on the inside and I absolutely love the lore of all the movies that have…read morebeen filmed inside and the various businesses that the building housed before the restaurant. With that, the food was good and it didn't feel just like your typical steakhouse and I attribute that to the service and how wonderful the staff was. We ordered the oysters, onion soup, delmanico steak, porter house, and the fillet. The table shared the hash brown which was absolutely delicious and by far one of the best items I've had at a steakhouse potato wise. We also ordered the asparagus and the seasonal corn dish. For dessert we had peanut butter tart, cheesecake, and ice cream. Over all this was a great experience and I would definitely come back.

    Photos
    Butcher and Singer - Main dining area from our table.

    Main dining area from our table.

    Butcher and Singer - Oysters

    Oysters

    Butcher and Singer - Front entrance from our table.

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    Front entrance from our table.

    Oyster House - seafood - Updated September 2026

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