I have been coming here for YEARS. Birthdays, parents visiting, 62 oz axe handle ribeye steak craving nights, or just when I needed a dinner spot I knew 100% I was gonna enjoy and it has never faltered. I have always had a love affair with the wine list here. I could browse for hours and geek out about wine, I have ordered 60 dollar georgia wine a 130 dollar Priorat, a 100 dollar natural bordeaux, and 200 dollar + Barolos and I have never ever been disappointed, the wines are incredible all accross the board. Pro tip: Get the Half Bottle of Vilmart Champagne to start, it is absolutely life changing and a perfect non expensive start to the evening. It is buttery, zippy with fresh acidity and so much brioche that you would think this is a french bakery. Being used to come here and waiting for up to two hours to get into St. Anselm it was a nice change that they started taking reservations through resy. They have opened this amazing garden in the back which is so charming and very brooklyn-esque. It just keeps getting better in spite of everything that has happened this year. The food is sensational, it is plentiful and rich, perfectly well seasoned and the meat is always cooked to perfection. Menu hardly ever changes and I wouldnt want it any other way. Kudos to the staff who has always been super knowledgeable on wine and food. I have been guilty of hogging some of the waiters to bounce ideas on wines and it ends up taking so much of their time! But they are always incredibly patient and just as excited about wine which makes me trust them even more! You all deserve an award for staying so upbeat during these tough times and I know how hard it can be to stay positive after dealing with certain people. A true gem of williamsburg. read more

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This is a very good steak house with excellent service and quality, and an amazing ambience. Their wine list is incredible. I went with my family and we got a dozen oysters, the 68oz ribeye to share, with 2 sides - the lemon broccoli and the trout potato salad. The ribeye was delicious. The potato salad was great. The broccoli is okay. Overall I would put this place in my fancy steakhouse rotation, but I would still say Prime Rib in Maryland Live is still my favorite, this second! read more

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Sooooo we came here for my sisters birthday! It was a party of 8. 2 kids included. We had a reservation that we didn't have to wait too long for. We sat down and was greeted by our waiter who was very warm with us. He brought the menus and offered us drinks. I ordered the Ginger Ale Spicy. It was so good! Just the right amount of spice. When the food was ordered. My sister (the birthday girl) ordered a Butchers Steak medium well. It melted in your mouth. I ordered the Monster Prawns, Half Dozen Clams, and Pan Fried Mash Potatoes. The other orders were the Steak Salmon, Fingerling Potatoes and Roasted Peppers. Everything was absolutely delicious. The Pan Fried Mash Potatoes were my favorite! It was made with truffle oil and was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely recommend and will be back for another round read more

St. Anselm - Ginger Ale Spicy - New American Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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By and far the favorite spot we went to in NYC. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. The prices are very affordable given the level of food that was provided. Our group split everything from the steaks, to the salads, to the dessert and appetizers. Not disappointed at any corner. They have a great selection of wine to boot. If you are looking for an incredible spot for date night or group eating then this is a must. read more

Delicious! Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a hearty and cozy night out

Ok so someone left their credit card at a local bar in Williamsburg and I've offered to drive my son over to retrieve it, before someone has a field day. We decide we're hungry and my son suggests this place We meet Cliff who has worked here for a while and we talk bs about ethnic DNA results. He gets us a nice table and we order drinks. Brooklyn Pilsner and Long Island City Project. I ask for a nice glass of good red wine. Dolcetto is recommended and I agre We've decided to do the extravagant Piedmontese ribeye for the two us. It's woefully decadent I know but we both haven't been to Williamsburg for so long...and deserve it. HA! Our waiter says the steak will take a good 45 minutes so we order burrata with marinated butternut squash and bacon dressing. WOW My son gets the house grilled Romain with cucumber radishes apples etc The steak comes and We ask Sam to slice it up We start and my son in ecstasy, says it's the best steak ever! The pan fried mashed potatoes are delicious. As is the long sautéed green beans. Folks this place is very very special 5 STARS My friend Elsa when she found out we came here was ticked off that we didn't call her cause she's only ten minutes away! Next time I promise read more

We had the butcher's steak, which was undercooked. We ordered it medium rare. The steak really had no char to speak of and the rare meat was very chewy. We ordered a side of au Poivre sauce just in case and received what I believe was maybe two tablespoons worth. For sides we ordered the pan fried made potatoes, which we were expecting to be spectacular considering the $15 price point but honestly it's nothing special flavor wise. Just mashed potatoes with a crust. The best thing we had were the scallions in olive oil and lemon. Nothing you could not make at home but it was very good. The service was also pretty forgettable. Not once did the server ask us how things were. And we sat there for what had to be twenty minutes with nothing on the table. When we asked about the status of our food we were told that "their process" was to let the steaks rest. Nothing like being talked down to when you're hungry and don't even have a side on the table to hold you over. read more

Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.0/5.0 Value 3.0/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Sad, missed the tomahawk on the visit. Food otherwise was pretty good. To be fair, I've heard pretty amazing things. I think this place just barely lived up. Need to reflect if I'm making a trip back just to do the ax handle. read more

Easily the best steak I've had in Williamsburg. The giant ribeye to share takes an hour to cook but that's ok because you're hanging with your friends outside in the back, drinking beers and grubbing down some bacon, some iceberg salad, and whatever other starters look good. This is also one of the best places to go during the covid shutdown. They have plenty of picnic table seating out back and 7 or 8 of the tables are covered so even though there was a large thunderstorm going on above us we were totally dry. The cream spinach, Yukon gold potatoes, and mashed potatoes are definitely worth getting as sides too. read more

Really good ambiance and service. Steak was overly seasoned and drenched in oil. Otherwise, this would've been 5 stars.

My friends first went to St. Anslem almost a year ago and told me it was home to the best steak and potatoes they'd ever eaten. I finally stopped by and I must say -- they were exactly right. The hanger steak was incredible, the truffle mashed potatoes were perfection, the fingerling potatoes were tasty, the whole chicken was well marinated (and it really was the whole chicken, head and all), and the chocolate + caramel mousse was kickass. On top of all of that, they have excellent service and recommendations. St Anslem is perfect spot for a celebratory dinner or a swanky date night. read more

Favorite Brooklyn restaurant. The apps are divine, the steak is way better than Peter Luger and don't skip on dessert!

Very good. Great atmosphere. Sat outside, which was probably a mistake on the first coldish night of the fall - and right in-line with the speaker. Now that I am done being a crank, I really enjoyed the Caesar, grilled artichokes, butcher's steak, steak au poivre - though I liked it even more when combined with the fingerling potatoes and creamed spinach side. The porterhouse pork chop was delicious, as well. Service was very good. Finished off the evening with a shared petite ice cream sundae - it's all about the nibs. read more

Came here over the weekend for my fiancés birthday! We ordered the 57oz axe handle ribeye, cooked medium. For the sides we tried the spinach gratin and pan fried mashed potatoes. The steak was SOLID and I'm not normally a steak lover. It was juicy, perfectly seasoned. We devoured the entire thing down to the bone. The spinach gratin and potatoes were also very flavorful and perfectly complemented the meat. Be sure to reserve ahead because space is limited and reservations fill quickly. I would definitely recommend this place for a special occasion. read more

St. Anselm - Piedmontese Axe Handle Rib Eye, Spinach Gratin, Pan - fried Mashed Potatoes - New American Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Delicious! Everything we had was so flavorful! The staff was amazingly friendly and knowledgeable with menu items . The atmosphere was also nice. I love the feel of a rustic old fashion steakhouse charm! read more

There's little need to beat around the bush - St. Anselm is one of the best steakhouses in the city. Because of that reason, there is a high likelihood you will have to wait to be seated at prime dinnertime. Thankfully, there are a number of drinking establishments nearby where you can set up until the fateful text message arrives. The ideal plan of attack here is to bring a number of friends so you can split everything. This obviously goes for the meats, but also for the very good starters and sides here as well. The thick cut bacon, figs and bacon, and scallops were winners in the starters department. As for sides, the fried mashed potatoes are the optimal side for the steak party ahead. I would also put in a good word for the fingerling potatoes and halloumi. Meat-wise, I say order to your heart's content. There is no meat they do not do well here. As part of a party of eight I had the luxury of enjoying the butcher's steak (hanger), lamb saddle, and of course the axe handle ribeye. All three were done perfectly, both in terms of cook and seasoning. It is meals like these that convince me that I could never go full vegetarian, not without cheat meals like this. When you ask someone to imagine a New York steakhouse, the picture they come up with will look little like St. Anselm - perhaps it should. read more

Went to St. Anselm a couple weeks back for a friend's birthday and had an excellent time start to finish. First and foremost, they don't serve liquor or spirits so the drink menu is wine, beer and soft drinks. Their cider and Abita root beer were my choices drinks wise and they were crisp and delicious - highly recommend. Food wise we ordered several apps and sides: their specialty salad for the night, grilled halloumi, artichoke hearts, mixed peppers, thick cut bacon and fingerling potatoes. Each bite was delicious, absolutely no complaints there. The salad had great texture, the artichokes were topped with a fantastic aioli, the mixed peppers had a perfect char to them, the potatoes were nice charred and coated with a nice aioli and the bacon was a little on the fatty side but delicious nonetheless. For my main, I opted for the NY Strip Steak which was cooked to the perfect medium rare and the peppercorn sauce was the ideal compliment. Definitely will be back! read more

St. Anselm - New American Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Best meal in a long time. Wonderful butcher steak, soft, tender, taste so flavorful, vegetable platter delicious and perfect to share as a side. The pan fried mash was great as well. Also do not skip dessert - wonderful to top off a meal- you cannot go wrong. I personally loved the basque cheesecake. Also the wine menu is terrific. I had the house white and it was crisp, clean and perfect- very refreshing. Atmosphere and service extremely warm and welcoming and just a feel good environment. We will definitely be back soon. Cannot wait. read more

St. Anselm is a Brooklyn steakhouse disguised as a casual New American restaurant. You know the vibe-- open kitchen, exposed brick, low lighting. It feels like a cozy vestige of Williamsburg circa 2010, down to its weathered wooden bar and no-reservations policy. We came around 6 pm on a Friday night a few months back and were quoted an hour wait, which stretched a bit past that. There are several bars in the surrounding blocks to kill time at. We sat at the counter on the bar side, rather than the cooking side, so we missed out on the action, but it's also more temperate away from the grill. For starters, we had grilled clams in a pleasant broth as well as fabulous grilled artichokes, good down to the stem. Though this is putatively a steakhouse, you can really trust them with seafood and vegetables. The butcher's steak deserves the hype-- I paid under $30 for a sizeable, slightly irregularly shaped cut. What it lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up in taste. Though I'm usually a filet mignon gal and prioritize tenderness above all else, I really enjoyed the drier, though still juicy, texture and the deep flavor they were able to get out of the thick char and generous seasoning. Definitely on the chewy side, but you'll enjoy letting it linger. My boyfriend had some other cut, maybe the sirloin, and though it was satisfying, we enjoyed the butcher's steak more (even though it was cheaper!). Good service. Pacing relatively quick-- probably in and out within an hour. Strong wine program, including good glass and the carafe options. They have the mandatory exploration into natural wines, though they draw on more established domestic producers like Scholium Project, Channing Daughters, and Donkey and Goat for their draught wine, instead of having the most obscure possible. Worth checking out for steak lovers looking for a change of scenery. Been meaning to make it back for a Brooklyn date night. read more

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Truly one of the best spots in Brooklyn. Food is perfect every time, big dishes that are delicious and never miss. Service is spectacular as every person on their staff makes you feel like you're a regular. The restaurant is the perfect place to dress up or show up in a tshirt. Great indoor, bar and outdoor seating. Favorite place to go when you're craving a steak. read more

This might be the angriest 3 star review I have or will ever leave. I arrived at 6:43 and was told there would be an hour wait. That's not a problem, as it was a busy night and this establishment is tiny, with what looks like a capacity of 25-30 customers. I was put on the wait list and contacted exactly 1 hour later when my table was ready. We were seated at 7:43 and promptly ordered water to quench our thirst from the hot July heat. The water was not iced and hardly even chilled. Hard to imagine an American restaurant that does not serve ice water. Our order was simple - 3 steaks, an order of mashed potatoes, and an order of scallops. The scallops and mashed potatoes arrived within 15-25 minutes. Not a problem. But the steak. The steak that the hipsters have dubbed the best steak in NYC. We waited one hour for. We did not receive the steaks until 8:40. There is not denying that the steak is great. There is not denying that the steak is amazing for its price. Best steak in NYC? Far from it. It was a bit overly salted. Not to sound bourgeoisie, but perhaps the hipsters that dub this the best steak in NYC can not afford more expensive steak. The steak is worthy of a high 4 out of five stars. Why does this warrant a 3 star? The service and atmosphere are pathetic. The restaurant was cooled by a mediocre wall-unit AC meant for a room a third of the size and probably a quarter of the amount of people. To add to the heat, the light bulbs looked to be of the non-CFL variety, likely a cause of the extra heat within the restaurant. Adding to the ambiance and the dreaded heat of the restaurant were tealight candles (which I, admittedly as a bad customer, blew out to try and cool down the area). There was an open kitchen, which I generally love, but with the heat of summer and the poor cooling system in place, I despised with the heat of a thousand suns (or just one open kitchen). The waiter hardly spoke to us. Within the hour that we waited for our steak, he did not check in on us once. A good restaurant would have the waiter reach out to the customers if there is a long wait. "Sorry for the wait, the food will be out shortly" is all was necessary. Not once did the waiter provide updates on the food that we waited for. I was livid and debated whether or not to skip leaving a tip, since he did not do anything. I saw him cheerily chatting up with the staff. If you have time to chat with your fellow staff, you have time to talk to your customers and apologize for the long wait. I should not have to ask you how much longer for our food. The restaurant genuinely serves an amazing, well-priced steak. But the service makes me never want to return here again. read more

The Portlandia spirit is alive and well in this Williamsburg establishment. If you would like to eat amongst a parody of Brooklyn hipsters with a staff with attitude for overpriced stuff, then this is the place. We all liked the dive bar ambiance but off put the laid back viBe was not carried out. read more

Like others, Saint Anselm had been on our "list" for quite some time. But now through the misery and magic of covid, we were able to get their excellent cuisine delivered. The steak is wonderful... absolutely wonderful. We've had it twice and really enjoyed it twice. I would definitely give them 5-stars and eat their meat every day except for the little-bitty issue of price (they're pricey and their portions are small). Other than that, great covid option. read more

Perfectly prepared proportional steaks. Services is great and the waiters are always friendly. The cooks are always ready to answer any questions you have and the desserts are always a great sweet treat. The restaurant looks great and the bathrooms are very nice. I would definitely recommend coming to Saint Anselm. read more

I'm very disappointed in myself for not visiting this amazing restaurant sooner. The food, the decor, the service! All very impressive. A few suggestions: Try their orange wine if they have it! The scallops and prawns were divine The hangar steak was perfectly cooked and also delicious My friend and I basically ordered a ridiculous amount of food because we couldn't get over how good everything on the menu sounded. There was not one thing we didn't enjoy. read more

Good thing my son and girlfriend take us to amazing places in Brooklyn. They put their name on a waiting list at 5PM and we were seated by 7:30. Open kitchen with exposed brick- very Williamsburg in atmosphere-gritty and not fussy. Excellent steak which was well seasoned and prepared perfectly. Believe it or not we were not the oldest patrons in the restaurant although the crowd tended to be on the younger side. Lipitor on the way out might be a good option for everyone. read more

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One of the best Hipster-Steakhouses around. The conceit of the place is that everything that shows up is made on the grill. The draw, of course, is the steak, the usual selection, and also an ax-handle in all it's glory (if you're there wi/ a bunch of people, the ax-handle is the way to go!) The sides range from excellent (mashed potatoes, whatever the special is) to "meh" (spinach, fingerling potatoes). The starters, however, are usually good - you can't go wrong with any of them. That said, be careful, you don't want to fill up on them! An extensive wine list is well maintained, and the (friendly) staff is more than happy to walk you through them. All in all, beats the pants off of Peter Lugers nearby... read more

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Excellent food, Service our waitress was really good and attentive. Ambiance casual and kool! read more

I really enjoyed my steak and girlfriend loved her fish. The staff was friendly and we were quickly seated at the Chef table and able to see all the food prep taking place. The location is dimly lite and nice music going on the background that you were able to enjoy conversations. read more

We were quoted a 90min wait for a party of 2 on a Friday night around 10pm. Fortunately I was texted about 20min later (while we were figuring out where else to eat) saying that the table was ready. Ordered the NY strip steak, as well as a Lamb chop. NY strip steak was a bit on the pricey side, although it was cooked to a perfect medium rare. My only complaint was that it was a bit too salty. I don't typically put sauce on steaks, but it came with a side of sauce that complimented it pretty well. The lamb chop was fairly good. Pretty much in line with other places. read more

We went there on a Thursday evening- really pretty backyard with a great wine selection. The food was very savory didn't take too many bites before I was full. We had the shishito peppers Octopus Grilled sardines- not my fav Steak - really good with the creamed spinach- amazing The toffee cake was the best part of all. If you are in Brooklyn and looking for a spot - worth it to check out. read more

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Williamsburg steak house with a fun staff and cool back patio. Everything here is rustic as can be from the wet aged steak (apparently that's a thing now) to the sardines and salad. You'll walk away full but honestly the appetizers were the main stars here...everything else was just a ok if not a touch too chewy for a steak for my liking. I do kinda feel there's better spots...but of you crave large cuts of meat this is a good landing spot. read more

Steaks were cooked quickly and well. I think the butchers steak and creamed spinach were the best items on the menu.

I got the massive bone-in axe handle steak, and... it was cooked as well as the meat could be cooked. It wasn't quite tenderized and flavorful as a dry-aged steak could be, and I felt like I had to gnaw a fair amount to macerate my bites into swallowable globules. The steak also took an incredibly long time to get out. We had ordered the salmon collar special, and the server asked "Do you want that as an appetizer?" I want to say it was half an hour after we were done with the salmon that our steak came out. They probably don't have their appetizer/entree timing down pat. I also ordered the grilled fennel as a side. I like the idea of fennel and hazelnuts, but it was so oily, and not quite the refreshing side vegetable dish I was hoping for. All three dishes were doused in butter and incredibly greasy, so you might want to take an antacid prophylactically. I would recommend the pot de creme with salted caramel if you wanted a sweet finish. I liked the crunchy sea salt flakes and the generous portion of fresh whipped cream. read more

St. Anselm - Piedmontese Axe Handle Rib Eye - New American Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My boyfriend and I arrived at 4:45 PM on a Saturday night and were the first in line, but 15 minutes later there were at least 30 people behind us. I was happy our food didn't come out until 6:00 PM, which made for dinner at a normal hour. The food was delicious and I'm glad I made it, but I'm not in a rush to go back and definitely wouldn't wait hours to get in. read more

St. Anselm - Trout, spinach gratin, Pan - fried Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower - New American Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Okay, be warned, not cheap, and the portion sizes are more European than American. The server will provide good guidance. That being said, the food was fucking delicious. Everything was a work of art, and the flame cooked meats really shone through. The sides were better than any of the "major" steak houses in the city. The lamb shoulder was tasty, moist, well cooked and fatty and crisp. Just well done. Worth the money. Will go back. read more

If you are looking for a great steak dinner without paying the typical steakhouse prices, look no further. My boyfriend's wallet, my boyfriend and myself left St. Anselm on Saturday night extremely satisfied! I will get the only con out of the way here - they do not take reservations. The space is small so expect to wait 1 -2 hours on a Saturday night. Luckily there are several bars within a block so there is no shortage of places to go while you wait. Other than the wait, which I was expecting, everything was fantastic. Another thing to note - they server beer and wine only. There is a very good selection of wines though. For an appetizer, we ordered the Burrata & Marinated Tomato - this is an absolute must. For side dishes we ordered the squash special which came with more cheese. It was equally as amazing as the burrata + you can never have too much cheese. We also ordered the grilled scallion side dish and for our entrees, we both had the Butchers Steak, medium rare, with sides of chimichurri. The chimichurri was not needed because the steak alone was so good on its own. They do not give you bread here, thank God, because that would have put me over the edge. Instead, I left here completely satisfied without feeling like I needed to go into an immediate coma. Bottom line: eat here. read more

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Great steak special for the money. Great service and unique side dishes. Parking not bad on weekdays and very close to trains. I have been there 4 times in last few months and consistently excellent. read more

This steakhouse is more than a steakhouse. The butcher's steak is what everyone talks about and it is very good, especially for value, which St. Anselm's offers throughout its menu. The London chop lamb offered by the ounce is superior in my opinion. I have ordered it each time I visited and will return for it again and again. The menu changes, but the whole free range chicken, if offered again, is very good, particularly if one is accustomed to true free range meat and poultry or if one appreciates and likes a gamey taste. If you see the salmon steak offered, order it and ask yourself if you have ever had grilled salmon on par...I can think of only one place as good or better, but you gotta go to Fort Worth, Texas, believe it or not, to get it. Salmon is the sleeper here. The brined pork chop is also very good, but the salmon and London chop lamb are the stars here for me. The spinach gratin and pan fried mashed potatoes are excellent as is the fennel. Don't sleep on the sides. The chefs are paying attention to the sides and so should you. The open kitchen is confidence inspiring and you will be pleased. Service is great when I have visited and the music is really good. It's not a stuffy place and you can let your hair down, even groove with the music and not feel out of place. I give this four stars for a steakhouse and five for a non steakhouse, so four and a half. Come and enjoy one of the top quality restaurants and highest quality of any genre in all the boroughs. read more

Let me start off by saying I really like this place. I love Williamsburg and I love the vibe of this space. But it has simply gotten just too expensive and too hyped for what it is. I'm exhausted with hearing that their steak is he best in NYC or better than Luger's or Wolfgang's. The people who say this are the reason the review system is flawed; there are no requirements to write a review and every review is weighted the same. The last time I ate here the steak was tough, which is a cardinal sin in my opinion for a steakhouse. That probably means the end for our relationship unfortunately. If I'm gonna spend this much on steak it's going to be Wolfgang's and hopefully all the casuals will continue disagreeing so I can get a reservation. read more