byob doesn't hurt. it was a gorgegous evening in philly and my pals recommended this spot as i was in town for work. we shared the mussels, octopus, pork chop and salmon. all fine dishes. the mussels and octopus were considered "small" plates but plenty for all three of us. tis cash only but there's an atm in the market across the street. pork is perfect for three as there is triplet of rack goodness.
(4)
Alex F.
I've been to Audrey Claire plenty of times and whenever I have friends come to visit and they want to go out somewhere that's BYOB, has a fairly diverse menu, and a great area nearby to walk around before and after, this and Twenty Manning is where I recommend. The food's great, the service is usually great, and despite the appearance of being very crowded (which at a place like this is a good thing), they always seem to be able to get us in fairly quickly. I like that when you sit at the tables you're very close in proximity to your stranger-neighbors, however some people might not like this at all. If you're looking for a quiet spot, this is not it.
(4)
Lauren H.
One of my favorite BYOBs in Philadelphia. The outdoor seating is lovely, and inside, though it's a small space and I was with a group of five people on a Friday night, I never felt cramped or like we were invading others' dinner conversations. The Mediterranean style menu is divine, divided into two sections - "smaller dishes" and "larger dishes". The smaller dishes are perfect for sharing - I recommend the grilled artichokes, the gorgonzola/baby pear grilled flatbread, and the various Mediterranean spreads, of which you can choose three out of five choices. The larger dishes are seasonal, but if the grilled halibut or the roasted chicken with pomengranate molasses are available, I'd give my highest recommendation to those two. They were cooked to perfection. The wait staff was attentive, courteous and polite. We got there fairly early on a Friday night, and by the time we left, around 8:30, there was a line out the door. Take note: They DO NOT take reservations and they are CASH ONLY. Make sure you stop at an ATM beforehand.
(5)
Lily C.
I love Audrey Claire. It is one of my go-to restos in Philly. BYO, don't forget (bc I always do)! I love the tzatziki spread and the beet salad. Also the flat breads (I prefer the pear & gorgonzola one) are tasty. For mains, I like the paperadelle. Oh yeah, and the brussel sprouts are tasty w/ lots of parmesan cheese, delish.
(4)
Kaitlin D.
Went for a bachelorette party with a HUGE group - we were there pretty early for a Saturday night dinner (6 pm) so we were seated much more easily than expected. Did the prix-fixe menu, which had more than enough options to accomodate the picky eaters in our group. Brussel sprouts were very good, as were the other first courses around me (flat bread, hummus spread, grilled romaine). I had the sole which was delicious. The bread pudding for dessert was to die for, I'd go back just for that. All in all - a great meal, but perhaps a little heavy on the portion sizes. The server was very accomodating and knowledgeable.
(5)
Tanja S.
Dining with a friend here one evening solidified my love for Philadelphia. audrey claire is, simply put, wonderful. The atmosphere, staff, and each dish that came out was perfect. The granny smiths sitting on each white-cloth tables were simple but set the whole mood. It is a BYOB which is fantastic but cash-only (the reason for 4 stars-who carries cash anymore??). We ordered 3 appetizers, an entree and a dessert and each was absolutely delicious. The portions were just right-not so little that you are each grabbing for the last bits, but not so much where you go into a food coma trying to finish your plate. The seared holoumi cheese was divine. The risotto was perfectly cooked and not overly creamy-just flavorful. The seared brussell sprouts with shaved parmesan had just the right texture and amount of cheese. Our tile fish was bursting with flavor and perfectly moist without being mushy. The chocolate volcano cake was the perfect end to all the delicious flavors. Although not a very extensive menu, it was almost impossible to narrow down our choices since everything (literally, every. single. item) sounded amazing. I will absolutely be going back here to try the rest of the menu!
(4)
C K.
minimalist decor, sterile feeling for restaurant, OK service, overpriced food, would not go back.
(2)
Kathryn M.
Great atmosphere and great food. I heard mixed reviews about this place for a long time but always wanted to visit. I have to say I was not disappointed.
(4)
Alex M.
All 3 stars are for the atmosphere, its just a fun spot to eat. bring lots of wine because the food is average on the best of nights. the service is below average. my favorite audrey claire moment? when my waitress tried to make creme brulee in front of us (since the kitchen is wide open) and was completely terrified of the torch. the result? a creme brulee that had no crust. i mean, caaamaaan. my recommendation? walk down to melograno!
(3)
Brendan O.
i live right around the corner - and love having this place so close. Most of the waiters here are awesome and i love the casual feel. The food is good for the price point and if they added some sort of noise dimmers I would give this place a 5.
(4)
R C.
I love their appetizers. Could easily eat a whole meal of them.
(5)
Irene S.
Audrey Claire is not like being in Philly at all. It's like a charming little bite out of the countryside and when the weather is obliging, these grand cafe windows swing wide open inviting cool breezes to carry on their playful dance inside. For tables spaced inches apart, fresh air is a welcome guest at dinner. What Audrey Claire lacks in providing an intimate setting for private conversations (that is, unless your idea of such is in the literal sense like sitting hip-to-hip or maybe on the lap of the stranger beside you) more than makes up in its success in fostering warm collectivity. For reasonably sized groups and parties, this is a sprightly venue even the urban paisano can appreciate. The idea at this BYOB is family-style -- exchanging forkfuls, sharing echoes, laughter, ideas, stories -- and you'll fare best with the chalkboard specials, grilled octopus insalate, chops and the flavorful pappardelle (a personal favorite). CASH ONLY.
(3)
Hayley G.
I'm pretty torn about Audrey Claire. It's a fun, trendy atmosphere and I've had some great meals here. But I've also had some thoroughly "meh" dinners here that didn't merit the price tag by any stretch of the imagination. And it always has a long wait.
(3)
Manda M.
It's a shame the service is so hit or miss here, because otherwise it could be a fantastic restaurant. As others have noted, our waitress was rude and unhelpful, acting as if she were annoyed that we were there. She listed the specials, asked if we had any questions, and left before we could ask her. When we asked if they happened to have any proper wine glasses (the ones they have are the size of a double shot glass) she curtly said "No" and walked away. When I asked for a recommendation between the duck and the chicken, she said "Chicken" then took my menu and walked away before I could confirm if that was what I wanted. The food was delicious but I felt very unwelcome and it made the whole night less enjoyable. I shouldn't have to worry about whether I'm annoying my waitress.
(2)
Claire C.
I do not understand the hype about this restaurant. I've been here twice and both times was disappointed, after trying about five different entrees. Food is too simple and lacking flavor or style. Roasted chicken, grilled salmon, and pappardelle with mushroom were all underwhelming. Pasta was so unflavorful I had to add a lot of black pepper and cheese. Salmon was okay, just simple if you like that, but definitely something I could make better at home. Appetizer seared brussel sprouts was also bland. All in all, I've been to much betterbyobs in the area, and this one was definitely not worth how much we paid.
(2)
Radhika M.
I can't give Audrey Claire any stars because we were never given a table. I live in this neighborhood and was excited to celebrate a special day with friends. We were told we would have to wait 30 minutes for a table, which was perfectly fine. We came back after 40 minutes when we never received a call from them and they said we would be seated shortly. While we waited another 15 minutes, 3 parties were seated before us and all three had clearly walked in without a reservation. We left after the third table was given to someone else. By that time it was too late to get dinner at any other neighboring restaurants. The only thing I can assume is some type of discrimination. I tried to think if I said something rude or came across as disrespectful, but I definitely was not! These are tough economic times for everyone and the decision to go out and celebrate is not a light one. Sadly, I will never go back there or to any other restaurants owned by them (Twenty Manning) again. I refuse to give any money to a business who is discriminatory and practices rude behavior.
(1)
Kathy L.
The watermelon feta salad with jalapenos is absolutely the most delicious salad on earth. I could go to Audrey Claire, just order this dish (maybe 2 or 3) and be absolutely content. I've been here a few times and have only been unhappy with one dish, the gazpacho. Otherwise, the flat breads, grilled artichokes, shrimp sweet potato salad, grilled fish, ribeye, etc. etc. were wonderful. I would have taken one star off for the service we had last night. It was painful listening to the waitress trying to recall the specials menu. She poured water all over the place when she tried to refill our glasses. Took forever to get our order in and actually came back to double check if she had written it down correctly (and she didn't). We waited forever for our entrees, with no apologies or remorse. It was a late dinner after 9pm. Her only redeeming quality was that she was unorganized enough not to charge us for dessert and coffee. Felt slightly guilty but entitled.
(5)
Lynn C.
I personally liked the stark decor - it was simple, but the atmosphere was still cozy and warm. The food was great - small plates, with a lot of vegetarian options - great for sharing. The waiters were very friendly and competent. Make sure you BYOB if you wanna drink, and be prepared to talk loudly.
(4)
Kim P.
I can't actually review the food here because we NEVER got seated. My two friends and I arrived on Saturday night around 8pm. We were told there was an hour to hour and fifteen minute wait. Ok, fine. We gave the host our name and cell number and went across the street to 20 Manning for a drink. After an hour and a half we went back over to check (and make sure he had the right number) and the host said we were "up next as soon as a few tables leave". We waited another 20 minutes and then gave up. We went across the street to 20 Manning and ended up eating there. Guess what....we never got a phone call telling us our table was ready. And I paid $17 for three chewy, overdone ricotta ravioli at 20 Manning. My advice to you...avoid this place on the weekends (they don't take reservations then) unless you plan on eating really late or early or giving up and going someplace else. Very disappointing.
(1)
Ashley H.
I loved that it was a BYOB. Went there with coworkers and the waiter was fun and truly took care of us. We were seated early and enjoyed a great assortment of apps and entrees. Very aromatic, very enjoyable
(4)
Emily C.
Very cute BYOB with good food and service. I've been twice and really like artichoke appetizer, and lamb and duck entrees. The grilled octopus salad and mussels were also good.
(4)
Sean W.
I've been going here for years, and keep coming back again and again. I highly recommend sticking with a full tasting of the appetizers. They're always the best selections on the menu, and perfect to share with a few friends or a date. Go during the warmer months, when all the windows are open. It's the perfect atmosphere. I always thought that the menu needed more frequent revisions, but all-in-all it's good.
(3)
P H.
We had a wonderful dinner here. We were lucky to get here early for a table since the restaurant quickly filled up and there was a crowd waiting to get in. In spite of the waiting crowd, we were not rushed at all. The service was great and very helpful in making suggestions and in pouring the beers we got at the market across the street. We really liked the BYOB aspect and saved us a bit of cash since the restaurant is cash only. That was the only downside to the whole evening but at least we had read about it ahead of time on their website and were prepared with sufficient cash. The variety of hummus available was quite good and we thoroughly enjoyed them all. We shared appetizers and entrees with no problem. The sole was incredible and was our favorite dish. The char was also quite good. We would certainly go there again if we lived in Philly! But go early to get a table or be prepared to wait!
(5)
matthew l.
Rarely is minimalist done so well and so, well, minimal. From the long bench tables to the simple southern Italian stemless wine glasses, this Rittenhouse Square stalwart knows what its about and serves very good food at reasonable prices. And proves that a simple bowl of apples or a single sunflower can set an aesthetic high mark as effectively as much more expensive bric a brac. Very shibui!
(4)
Anne R.
I went there for the first time with a friend last night. We made reservations and we're seated promptly. My friend got the salmon (she raved about the couscous) and I got the arugula salad (excellent) and the pear flatbread (ok). It was unfortunately incredibly loud so we were shouting at each other and we weren't even in the middle of another group of patrons. Unfortunately, what was a pleasant evening was ruined when the waitress (who did apologize) asked us to leave minutes after paying our bill when we had already put on our coats and were just minutes away from finishing our conversation. Making us feel very awkward and putting a sour note onto the end of our evening. So three stars not four.
(2)
Deborah D.
This is one of my favorite places to eat, but tonight it was so loud that it literally made me nauseous and unable to eat. There was a birthday party and they were having fun and everything but the noise was deafening. It completely spoiled my meal, my time with my husband and the night in general. I really feel the wait staff should have, kindly, suggested that the noisy table turn down the volume in consideration to the other patrons. Love it usually. Totally sucked tonight.
(1)
Maunik P.
Best BYO in town hands down. Food is prepared with attention. Great date spot, a definite panty-dropper...
(5)
Lindsay T.
FYI - They do not take reservations!
(3)
RESPECT MY A.
eh. it's just ok. the food is consumer friendly... that's about the best i can put it. i've been twice and i didn't find the food to be as fresh as everyone raves. it's an alright spot for the NOVICE foodie or penn students with their carlo rossi, i'll pass. service stunk on my first visit, second time around was a little bit better (none the less snooty). i have no desire to return.
(2)
Courtney J.
Since I'm new to Philadelphia, I'm always asking for restaurant recommendations and Audrey Claire always comes up as a favorite. So we tried it on a Thursday night (we were able to get reservations the day of, but they don't do reservations on the weekends) and it was still pretty packed. We sat outside only because the weather was perfect (not too hot, not too cold). Sometimes when you sit outdoors the servers forget about you, but not so with AC. This was some of the nicest service I've had since moving here. Overall, the food was pretty good, but not great. I would go back again for the pear, blue cheese and pinenut flatbread pizza. My husband had their butterfish special and it truly was buttery and delectable. Chloe in Old City seems similar to me, but I actually prefer Chloe. I had the grilled caesar salad at both places and the one at Chloe was pretty damn good, worthy of another visit. But I digress...AC had great atmosphere and service, but I'm still looking for my ultimate favorite in Philly.
(4)
liz l.
i love the atmosphere here, especially in the summer. bring a bottle of wine, enjoy tasty food, people watch. great!
(3)
Cate W.
I just experienced Audrey Claire for the first time this week- which happened to be restaurant week. The restaurant is chic, but small, so when we arrived for our 9:30 reservation all of the tables were still full! The host asked us if we minded going across the street to 20 Manning for a drink, and they would call for us in about 20 minutes. We ended up waiting for an hour. The food was a mixture of really great and not that great. The starters were excellent. As there were six of us, we got to try a variety of plates and all were super tasty. My main course was good, except that the pork was over cooked. And unfortunately the panna cotta I had for dessert was the consistency and flavor of berry yogurt. The staff was ok, some were very friendly and others were a bit short. I am chalking up all of the negative aspects of the night to it being a VERY busy night during restaurant week- plus it was the end of the night for the staff. I would definitely go back to Audrey Claire as the atmosphere was great and the potential for the food is fantastic.
(4)
kristen k.
I have to say that Audrey Claire is one of my favorites. We love to sit at the counter(where there is never a wait) and have a casual and simple dinner. Go across the street to 20 Manning for a quick cocktail if you are waiting for a table (their sister rest.) and they will call you. My mouth is watering at the thought of the gorgonzola and bosc pear flatbread with sunflower seeds(I would actually cry if they removed this from the menu), the mussels full of tomatoey, garlic sauce, and I suspect butter, to dip your bread into. We love their small plates, as it's great to sample a bit of everything. The grilled caesar tasted of gas unfortunately, but they have great items off the grill and the parpadelle with mushrooms was fantastic. If you are one of the three people in this world who like brussel sprouts--try them! Your mother would be proud. This is a simple restaurant without heavy overpowering sauces; the fare and atmosphere is full of freshness, and fun. The service is great, unpretentious, but they do get busy. Bring your favorite bottle, and enjoy!!
(5)
Keith R.
Cute BYOB right off of Rittenhouse square. It's usually pretty crowded and for good reason, the Mediterranean inspired cuisine is original and delicious. The menu is seasonal using meats and vegetables that the chef thinks are most fresh during that particular season. The menu is divided into 4 parts: flat breads, antipasta, small dishes, and large dishes. The flat breads typically have some cheese and vegetables. They seem to be a big hit, but weren't my thing because I only like simple cheese (yes, all cheese lovers can cringe). The small dishes provide a nice variety and include some salads. I had the PEI mussels which were perfectly cooked and a generous portion. The large dishes are mostly meats/poultry/fish though I think there was a vegetarian one. Most come with a starch of some sort. I had chicken with pomegranite molasses which was amazing. Pefectly cooked. The salmon and lamb my friends had were excellent as well. Desserts must rotate pretty often because they are written on a chalk board nearby. We split blackberry-apple bread pudding which was outstanding. I pretty much wanted to try all of them. IIRC there was also pumpkin pie, vanilla risotto pudding, and a pot de creme. Definitely worth checking out and very reasonably priced. The only downside for me besides not loving the pita breads was that they don't take credit cards.
(5)
Aria S.
This place is so good!! They unfortunately don't take reservations but fortunately Friday at 730ish i got a table for 2 immediately. Otherwise he said it's usually a 45min wait. My friend and I ordered 3 small plates and a side of the Brussels sprouts. The server said it would be on the lighter side but I was stuffed and we had food left on the table. The risotto was creamy and so simple but somehow so effing good. The haloumi was also tasty but salty (that's just the cheese though) but it was good. The pita was also amazing - get the tahini!!! It's creamy not liquidy like normal. Skip the avocado hummus it was whatevs. The Brussels sprouts didn't impress like cray or anything but good veggie to have. Can't wait to go back! Yum.
(5)
CD L.
Charming, pretty little restaurant. Loved the outdoor seating on a warm May evening. Excellent service. Food came promptly. Tempting menu. Very good pear & gorgonzola flat bread. Execution slightly off for other dishes. Grilled octopus was tough with little flavor. Perfectly cooked spring pea risotto lacked depth of flavor. Arugula salad with warm figs and berries, very good except for some yellow leaves. Overall terrific experience, but attention to small food details and fine tuning seasoning will make it a keeper.
(3)
Hannah M.
This place is going downhill. I like the simple ambiance and plain decor, but the food is not the best and I didn't love the staff. Our group of 7 was made to wait 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. Also, it's so small and SO loud.
(2)
Marie W.
Happy to say that I had a solid 4 star experience at Audrey Claire - although I feel like it should be a salon or a boutique with that name. Anyway, went w/ 2 friends on a late summer evening. Glad I sat outside because the noise inside was overwhelming. The server was prompt, attentive and helpful. The small plates were well executed & delicious. The stand out for me was a flatbread special with Gorgonzola, figs, honey and sunflower seeds. Only my dignity held me back from ordering another on them spot. Also had heirloom tomatoes, arugula salad, and risotto. The only thing that could have been better was the octopus small plate. I found the little guys rubbery to tough, with a not in a good way fishy aftertaste. I love octopus when it's done right, but this didn't compare to the rest of the meal. Overall a sweet way to spend a summer evening w/ friends.
(4)
Brandon D.
Appetizer: The artichoke dish was great; whatever marinade was used I'd like to use myself. Over and over and over. Entree: One of the best sole dishes I've ever had- crust was just thick enough and perfectly salty from the capers. Super efficient kitchen here. Service was friendly and prompt-- an absolutely excellent experience.
(5)
Jacqueline O.
Constantly delicious. One of the best meals you will find in this city and my sisters favorite Restaurant. When it is warm outside there is outdoor seating. . . Just know it is a byob that only takes cash. Also you should call ahead for a reservation, there is not a lot of seating and it fills up quickly .
(5)
Tagli B.
Haven't been to this neighborhood BYOB in a few years but it was so worth the return. We showed up on a summer Thursday with no reservation at 6:00 pm. They were so nice- offered us a table inside but said they had a 7:30 reservation. Offered us a table outside with no time issue. We opted outside as it was nice night. Glad we did as it was so loud inside later in the night. The place was completely packed by 7 with people waiting. Our waiter was so patient as we talked and enjoyed the evening. We finally ordered the flatbread special with figs and Gorgonzola. Great. We had the grilled baby Caesar which was as good as we remembered and the grilled octopus salad. I had the crab and avocado small plate and the sweet pea risotto. Also had the fish special which was excellent. It was all so good and such a nice evening. Will plan to go back.
(4)
Raghu H.
Perfect for a date night! But, beware- cash only! The haloumi was creative and the risotto was refreshing while maintaining its comfort food status. Definitely lived up to the hype.
(4)
Kelly K.
I always have a great dining experience here. I think the seafood options are your best bet. I have the pear and gorgonzola flat breat for an appetizer ever time I go - it's lite and has a really nice mix of flavors. I've had the beets and grilled octopus (smaller dishes) - both were good, but didn't stand out. For the bigger dishes, I've tried the tuna and pork chop that were both exceptional. It's also BYOB so that's a plus! The only negative is that it is really small and loud inside so I prefer to sit outside as long as the weather is nice. You can make reservations on the weekdays which is a nice option since there is always a long wait on the weekends.
(4)
Mimmi M.
Went here with my husband a saturday evening, we arrived around 5 pm, then it was empty but the restaurant became full very fast. We tried: - Antipasti for two :( The flavors did not get together, there was no common thread. Just a lot of hot vegetables on a plate, boring. Avoid it! - Short Rib Flatbread :I Nice, didn´t taste so much but ok. Like a smaller pizza, perfect to share if you are 4 persons. - Seared halloumi w/ candied dates and sesame fig compote :) This was the best we ate, very good combination of salt and sweet, crunchy and soft. 4 pieces of cheese, perfect to share for 2 persons. - Grilled octopus w/ feta, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon over green :) This was more like salad, sadly the feta cheese was the only taste we could taste, but it was fresh and big, almost like a main dish. - Grilled tiger shrimp and roasted sweet potatoes w/ baby arugula :) The shrimps was good and perfect cooked, the sweet potato pure was also nice. 4 shrimps, good to share for 2 persons. The menu was a bit variable, some dishes were amazing while others were less good. But if you find the good ones, this place is perfect! It feels like a European restaurant which I like a lot. And the staff was very friendly, we will definitely come back!
(4)
Christine N.
Remember - it's BYOB. Audrey Claire is an excellent place to host a large party. I have been to three dinners here where our party was 20+ people. One of the dinners was a 30-person party and they were kind enough to accommodate us. Their three-course meal pricing is also very reasonable. Standouts: - All the mediterranean spreads - Mussels - Rack of lamb
(4)
David S.
I'm glad we called for reservations, even though we arrived before 6 on a Thursday night. We had the hummus/smoked salmon flatbread (quite tasty), the tuna (I was AMAZED by the beets) and chicken, and warm chocolate cake for dessert. Service was fine -- friendly and well-paced.
(4)
Sam B.
It's a nice neighborhood restaurant. Small and quaint, I would call it a good date spot. BYOB, which is never a bad thing. Price is a little steep but it's a good place, interesting dishes to explore.
(4)
Lili W.
I really hate to give this a 3-star rating. I've been to Audrey Claire many times and had one bad experience -- so I'm really directing this review towards management. I couldn't find contact information on Audrey Claire's website so I'm sharing my thoughts here. I came here for my boyfriends birthday dinner with his family -- 5 people total. It happened to be restaurant week when we came and our waitress was rude. I asked her what the popular dishes were and she rolled her eyes and said "obviously it depends on what you like". My boyfriends father asked about her tattoo because he thought it was interesting and she just annoyingly said "it's a gear". At the end, she charged us a 20% gratuity on top of our bill. From my understanding, this was only the rule when 6+ people are at a table and we had 5. I would've paid 20% tip, but I still think the waitress should've been friendly enough to provide us with a pleasant dining experience. Although the food was good per usual, I felt sour about the treatment. The poor service unfortunately overshadowed the good food and dinner with company I don't see too often.
(3)
Victoria L.
We came here for Restaurant Week, which was perfect weather to sit outside. For appetizer, I ordered the Mediterranean spread with hummus, a tuna white bean dip, and tzatziki. I'm not a fan of tuna at all but it wasn't all that bad. For entree, the waiter recommended the lemon sole with cous cous. Not disappointed but nothing special, though it had lots of Mediterranean flavors. My friend got the spicy penne arrabiata with large tiger shrimp that was tasty and the shrimp were pretty significantly sized and cooked well. My other friend got maple brine pork chop with wild boar bacon...the sweet and savory flavors of that dish are amazing, mmm. The desserts were all pretty standard: creme brulee, chocolate lava cake, and bread pudding. Like most Restaurant Week desserts, they're nothing special. A great BYO in the city. I'd definitely like to come back and order off their full menu, which has a lot more variety.
LOUD - don't come here if you want to talk. Think family style tables with "coz"y seating, and not a lot of seats either. BYOB - yeah! Had dinner in a Sunday night and the place was packed, seating for our reservation was delayed 10 minutes, (glad we were already late) but no big deal. Did I mention this place is loud? Shared a Gorgonzola, pear and sunflower seed flatbread, WOW - packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. I had the rack of lamb entree and it was very nice, but cooked more med-well than the med-rare I ordered. Red bliss mashed, asparagus and the mint favored "sour cream" (what was that) were very nice. Rest of the family had the two chicken dishes and were happy. The pomegranate molasses was a bit too sweet, but a nice change of pace. Service was attentive without being overwhelming. Not a big fan of cash only places, but we knew this coming in so no issue there. Overall, family rating is 4 star. Noise being the biggest factor holding back from a 5.
(4)
CJ G.
5 stars for the food, service, attentive staff, wait time, ambiance and decor. Had the butternut squash soup, salmon and lamb.
(5)
Jeff H.
I really wanted to like this place. The food is creative and they mesh flavors well. We ordered their special for the evening (a NY Strip steak), lamb, and the grilled octopus. The octopus is great, but it's more of a salad which was unexpected. Maybe I just read it wrong? The steak may have been the worse steak I've ever had. Tough, fatty, and utterly bland. Looking back I shouldn't have ordered steak at this place but if it's on the menu it should be cooked well. My wife's lamb was bland but she did not complain. All the sides were fine. I will try this place again, just stay away from the red meat.
(2)
Jordan P.
Living in Center City during the rain is an ideal situation to be in when you're trying to go out for a nice dinner with a gal pal. The restaurants are emptier, the service is more attentive, and the warmth inside of a cozy spot like Audrey Claire is palpable relative to the chilly drizzle outside. Seasonally, the green apples on the tables have been replaced with tiny pumpkins. Speaking of pumpkin, it played a solid role on the menu, featuring in a pumpkin hummus and roasted pumpkin salad. My buddy and I started the night off with the pear and gorgonzola flatbread, a go-to first course for us. We also both ordered our salads (her - grilled caesar, and a roasted pumpkin, parsnip, and shaved locatelli for me). While we waited, we enjoyed our bread with a side of olive oil. Over the course of the evening, we enjoyed two "baskets" (read: loaf pans) of the bread, the first being INCREDIBLY delicious and the second tasting faintly like a grocery store baguette... That didn't stop us from gabbing and giggling over tiny tumblers of our BYOBs of choice (Malbec for my buddy and German beer for this chick). The flatbread was crispy, salty, and sweet (as it always is). A perfect starter. Perfect timing, right as we finished our flatbread, our salads were brought over to our table. Delicious, fresh ground pepper finished it up nicely. Every bite was delicious, and their to-go containers felt very secure when I couldn't quite finish my salad. Oddly enough, though, one major standout from the night to me was the oasis of the bathroom. Truly a stellar restroom experience, when that door shut, the din of the fairly loud restaurant was brought down to almost a whisper. Whatever potpourri or spray they're using in there, I want to bottle and use at home all the time. The soap was a nice quality, the decorator did a bang up job in there, and it almost made me want to spend more time in the bathroom than in the restaurant itself. Luckily, the promise of a creme brulee lured me out of the restroom and back to my table for a decadent dessert. Cash only, reservations accepted Sunday through Thursday but come the weekends, you're on your own. The prices, IMHO, aren't outrageous, and the service is grade-A.
best amtipasti ever: eggplant, artichoke, aparagus, olives, mushrooms, & peppers. mmm-mmm. always clean and simple, always delicious and perfectly portioned. plus everyone is super nice. major points in my book for having a completely nut-free menu; as a diner that persistently carries an epi pen in case of nut consumption- thank you!!
(4)
jennifer c.
This is one of best Restaurant Week experiences! I went there last week for the first time and it also did happen to be Restaurant Week. I was really impressed by the choices; unlike other restaurants Audrey Claire does not limit their choices during Restaurant Week because they typically have a prix fixe menu. The portions are HUGE- I actually left with a container of leftovers of all three of my courses.
(5)
Sara P.
If I knew how to do it, AC would get Zero Stars from me. Last week I had a number of clients and vendors here for a work related project and tried to think of a nice place to take them for dinner. We had read a number of good things about Audrey Claire, so I checked Yelp, then called AC for details. I learned that it is a cash only business and BYOB so I had to herd the guests, go buy wine, and stop at the ATM. That was ok but not the easiest thing to do at the end of a long work day. If it was a good meal, as I had anticipated, it might have been worth it. Eek! Methinksnot. When we stepped inside we discovered it was so loud the waiter could not hear our pleas to "please let us out of here." Using hand signals, we were able to manage to get moved to outside seats where we thought we finally arrived at a nice meal. We had to have several small metal tables pushed together to accommodate our group. We referred to some guests who were at a small table on the lower side of the sidewalk as being at the "kids table." We were greeted nicely by Max and Christine our server. We thought the menu looked good, especially for those of us who love vegetables and wanted to eat the smaller sized dishes. I guess my one star can be attributed to the fact that AC let us have most dishes without the cheese, making them healthy vegetable meals. The food was ok, not spectacular, but I was happy that beets, squashes and brussel sprouts were prominently displayed. After we ate, we discovered that AC does not give you receipts for your meal. The check didn't even look like a real check; you could not tell how the addition was actually done. I asked our server for a receipt. I explained that it was a business dinner and I need a receipt to get reimbursed. I had just spent several hundred dollars for small plates of veggies, traipsed through center city to find wine to bring with me, and won't get reimbursed for for the meal? Are you kidding AC? Why wouldn't you give a receipt? I can only conclude that AC doesn't want my business. So, I won't be back. PS: I am writing this update to clarify what I wrote about AC. The service was terrific and the food was good. Like I mentioned above, the vegetable variety was great, and Max and Christine nicely greeted us and accommodated our requests to be moved outside, sit together, and order small plates for a group of five. The restaurant however is not designed for large (five people) work-related groups. It was too loud (perhaps that is a sign of its success?), the tables were not large enough to sit us away from the noise easily; it is cash only making it difficult (at least for this card-carrying girl) to spend a lot of money; and the lack of a receipt makes it impossible for someone (at least everywhere I have ever worked) to get reimbursed. So, this might be a nice place for someone else. It was not a nice place for me to entertain out of town guests for dinner.
(1)
Rebert M.
Very nice experience here. Food was good, service was great, ambiance and location very nice. I will go again.
(4)
Lilly S.
Beautifully presented food and very tasty. Three of us for under $100 (cash only), but we were very hungry and tried lots and lots from the menu....Yummy and yes, i will go again when in Philly :)
I'll preface this by saying that this rating reflects a mixture of food and service. Really, if we averaged it, it'd be probably be a 2.5 (4 for food, 1 for service). We arrived at the restaurant a bit on the early side (~6:15pm) on a Friday night so we could put our names in. Not an issue as the restaurant wasn't completely full yet. They wouldn't seat us until the full party was here (I get it), but ended up seating a party of 6 who came a bit after. us and another party of 3. Strange move considering some of the party of 6 promptly half disappeared (to get cash/booze/who knows). Food - overall, very tasty and well-done. We ordered: brussel sprouts (yum, but mutant sized sprouts), portobello mushroom (cooked just right), grilled baby artichokes (very tender but a bit aggressive with the lemon), octopus salad (fabulous), mussels (again, mutant sized, but really yummy), and a smattering of other entrees and desserts. Overall, good pricing and value for delicious, fresh food. Service - We had a bit of a snafu with our check so PLEASE MAKE SURE TO COUNT AND DOUBLE COUNT YOUR BILLS! Given it's a cash only place, it's pretty easy to miscount for both the consumer and restaurant. Our bill ended up being ~$168 so we threw in $200 to include tip and told them not to give us any change. Not sure if it was because we were lingering and finishing coffees or what, but an awkward time later (i.e. not immediately after they took away the $$), the waiter returned with $22 in change. Mmm, where's our additional $10, buddy? After confirming with ourselves that we in fact did put in $200 (which was counted meticulously by our very sober and very asian friend), we brought it up with the manager (Or host?). The waiter ran over quickly to let us know that we only put in $190 and that was the correct change. Who knows what happened there but chalk it up to what happens what you have a cash only business. Obviously a disappointing end to an otherwise great meal.
(3)
Katie P.
I've been wanting to try AC for about 5 years now-- never had the opportunity and then I moved, but now I'm back in Philly I felt it was time to finally get here! We ordered 3 items -Octopus salad with feta: awesome! Light, crisp, flavorful and the octopus was cooked to perfection -Penne arrabiata with tiger shrimp: again, awesome! Perfectly spicy, shrimp were large and extremely fresh. -Seared Ahi Tuna with cous cous and string beans: Everything about this dish just failed. I can see how it COULD have tasted good, but unfortunately there must have been an error in the execution. The Tuna was cold & soggy, the cous cous was so overcooked it tasted like baby food, and the string beans tasted like dirt... It honestly tasted like that kitchen cooked it too fast, and then attempted to nuke it in the microwave to heat it up, but it just turned to mush instead. I want to like you AC, I will come back to see if this was just a mishap, and I will review you again... but in the meantime I could only muster up a 3 star.
(3)
Anne C.
I came to this restaurant having high expectations based on the positive reviews I read online. The entire experience was pretty disappointing. First off, the restaurant was freezing. Most people in the restaurant were wearing their winter jackets still. My guess is when it is warmer out the place is perfectly comfortable, but it was below 20 outside that day and the room was definitely struggling to heat up. We decided to order the antipasti plate and the pear flat bread. The flat bread was the highlight of the night. The antipasti plate was a huge disappointment. It was boring and basically just a plate of slightly cooked, poorly marinated and under-seasoned vegetables. I opted to get the sole for my entree, and again I got a plate of very bland fish and sides. The green beans were actually under cooked and had no flavor other than a bit of olive oil brushed on. The fish was dry, and the tabouli salad side dish was decent but nothing special. And everything was just kind of put on the plate with no care of presentation. When I go out for a nice, high end meal, it is typical that not only the food tastes good, but the plating is very beautiful as well. My friends ordered the tuna and the pork chop and they seemed pleased, so perhaps I didn't order the "right thing." But at the same time, in my opinion, a good restaurant doesn't have a wrong thing to order, everything should taste great. For the record, I am someone who is a huge foodie and I have eaten at some top rated restaurants. I understand that my expectations can be a little high at times, yet this restaurant seems to be considered one of the more "foodie" option on Philly that is also at an affordable price (I'm a grad student so this is key). I get that Philly isn't as much a food destination as some other cities, however, I know I am not the only one in this city who is a foodie and appreciates amazing food, so to those people I would say this: this restaurant probably would not last in cities like NYC, Chicago, or other "foodie" cities. Lastly, if you want a better greek/Mediterranean food experience for the same price, visit Effie's on pine street.
(2)
Jenny P.
Made reservations at 7 but due to traffic, my boyfriend and I showed up 20 minutes late. The hostess was very friendly about it and seated us right away. Overall, I had a great experience! Ambiance: Very cute, homey feel to the restaurant. The place is a bit small and looked pretty crammed on the inside. Luckily, we got the last outdoor table on a beautiful night. Service: Our server seemed a bit bored. She was not personable and we saw her about 2-3 times throughout our time there. She wasnt even the one to bring out our food or clear our plates! It's a bad thing when you can't even remember your server's name (or maybe she didn't even introduce herself). Food: Great! But not amazing. First, they handed us some bread with olive oil to dip in. Bread was hard so it wasn't the best I've had. Then, Charlie and I ordered the Mediterranean spread trio (spicy hummus, avocado hummus, and sun-dried tomato and basil) to share. The pop of colors from the different hummus made the presentation very nice! The pita bread was warm and fluffy while crispy on some of the edges, just the way I prefer them. The hummus were AMAZING. I almost wanted to take them home for later. Highly recommend this small dish. Moving on to the entreès, Charlie got the penne arrabiata with grilled tiger shrimp and I had the potato crusted ahi tuna with crispy green beans and a side of couscous. The pasta was a bit bland for me but the sauce was out of this world! It had a kick of spicy-ness that wasn't too overwhelming. For the ahi tuna, the fish was the star of the dish. I liked it but everything was just on the bland side that I found myself dumping tons of salt onto my food. I wish the fish had more of the aioli sauce on it. Overall, my boyfriend and I had a great time there, we liked the food and the atmosphere was nice. I just don't see myself going there again just because there are so many other restaurants around AC to try!
(4)
Jessica D.
My husband and I went last night. The ambiance and service was great. We sat inside by a window. I have been there about two years ago but for some reason last night didn't hold up to my great memory. We ordered meditarraen olives and beet salad to start. The beet salad was a little bland and I felt it could have been dressed with something. It was fresh but was just literally beets and oranges. It did have a small drizzle of black truffle emulsion. .. but that tasted like nothing. For entrees I order the small plate of grilled octopus over greens. .. it was good. There could have been more octopus. My husband ordered tiger shrimp with a pineapple jicama slaw. Again... it was just very bland. Needs some salt and pepper or some finishing oil. It was a nice dinner.. but left me a little dissspointed.
(4)
Nick D.
I've been to Audrey Claire a few times. The food is good, but nothing you can't get elsewhere, and that's really about the only thing it has going for it. Tonight the food took FOREVER to come out. That's fine, things happen. However being asked by the host to LEAVE because "they need the table" 15 minutes after getting the check is vile service. I've lived in Philadelphia for a number of years and go out in the Rittenhouse area often, but NEVER have I had such an experience. The ironic part about the whole thing was that right before we were asked to leave, they filled our water glasses. I won't be back here. If you're in the area and looking for roughly similar fare, do Twenty Manning Grill, their sister restaurant. If you're looking for a solid BYO, go for La Viola. Both of these places have exceptional food and service.
(1)
Cristina L.
I absolutely love eating here-- the cozy atmosphere, the attentive waitstaff, and, of course, the BYO policy. My boyfriend and I shared a very special anniversary dinner here, and also a wonderful evening when his parents came into town for the weekend. The food is always absolutely delightful, and I have tried nearly every fish on the menu (the shallot crusted lemon sole is to DIE for!), all of which are very tasty. Their desserts are always extremely enjoyable, too. yelp.com/biz_photos/audr… The service is impeccable. Period. This place is always one of the busiest in Philadelphia, and yet the servers always find time to come around to ask about the quality of the food or to offer any suggestions. In fact, last time we were there, the table next to us was extremely loud and quite obnoxious. The servers of Audrey Claire attempted to compensate for this by offering our four-person table three free desserts, all of which were fantastic (and not just because they were free). As my boyfriend says: "Anybody who goes there is going to be happy. They deserve five stars." And so five stars they will get! Thank you Audrey Claire for enhancing some of the most special experiences I've had these past few months.
(5)
Julia L.
Joe and I started off with the braised short rib, portobello, melted fontina cheese and truffle oil on grilled flatbread for our appetizer. This was sooooo good! Oh my gosh! I love anything with cheese and truffle oil but this flatbread was particularly delicious! Especially the juicy braised short rib. I was impressed that the bread was crispy with all the juices from the toppings (I recently made pizza at home and my crust came out soggy). Joe's main entree was the zuppa di pesce which is an Italian fish stew. I loved how much seafood was in this dish. Joe ate a ton and then packed the rest for dinner the next night. The saffron broth was very warming and home-y. Joe's friend had the special of the day, braised fish. This smelled so good. The wafting scent was tantalizing, it had that rich salty scent of the ocean. Joe's friend devoured his dish and said he found it very enjoyable. Joe's friend's wife ordered the shrimp over heirloom tomatoes with black truffle vinegrette. It looked too beautiful to eat, I got the maple brine pork chop with wild boar bacon, candied dates and gorgonzola granny smith apple butter. This dish was amazing! The pork chop was juicy and packed full of flavor. The gorgonzola-apple butter was inspiring! I love gorgonzola and apple but have never thought to combine the two. Overall, our meal was great and it was BYO so we got to enjoy our own bottles of wine at the table.
(5)
Cynthia X.
Love the atmosphere here! Reservations taken for indoor seating and walk-in table available for outdoor dining. The simplistic decor lends to a very relaxed and refreshing feel. The food is fresh and fantastic. Me and 2 girl friends ordered, to share: Braised short rib, portobello, melted fontina cheese, truffle oil: Probably my favorite - distinct truffle flavor and tender short rib pieces. 2 lbs prince edward island mussels: Steamed in a tomato based sauce, which is slightly spicy. The mussels were extremely fresh (with no closed shells!) and you really get a lot. I'm still a bigger fan of cream based sauces for steamed mussels, and the spicy kick did catch me by surprise. Maple brine pork chop w/ wild boar bacon, candied dates and gorgonzola-granny smith apple butter: Served with asparagus and mashed potatoes, this was also a hefty dish. The seasoning was great, but my only beef is that the meat was unevenly cooked - the sides were noticeably tough and over cooked. One interesting thing to note is that audrey claire does not serve ice cream for dessert. Why? Because the restaurant has no freezer. All the ingredients are guaranteed fresh. No freezer needed. Recommendations recommended, but it seems that walk-in wait times are also not long (10-15 minutes, if even, on a Thursday night).
(4)
Lora R.
I hadn't been to Audrey Claire in ages despite living down the block, and I refuse to make that mistake again. The food here is to die for and it is an absolute neighborhood gem. They only take reservations M-Th, but we were able to make one no problem. The restaurant is BYO and cash only. We started with the antipasti platter for two and the octopus. As an appetizer, the platter should probably be called the antipasti for four: four of us shared two and had a lot of food left over. The platter included beets, artichoke, mushrooms, olives, brussels sprouts, mozzerella, and tomatoes. We also ordered the octopus small plate as an appetizer, which is presented as octopus over a delicious salad. As our main course, most of us ordered the mussels, even though they are listed as a "small plate." Having over-ordered in the appetizers department, the mussels portion seemed enormous, and none of us managed to finish despite how delicious they were. All of the food tastes fresh and bursts with flavor. The menu has plenty of options, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
(5)
Tina L.
It's a polished byob with outdoor seating and granny smith apple decor - it's a package of cuteness really. I had the ahi tuna, which was surprisingly just the right portion even though the fatass in me definitely called shots for dessert. Solid meal. HOWEVER (yeah, it's that part), first of all, the host was pretty snooty to us from the start. As a former hostess, I don't think this is something to be overlooked since you are in fact the first form of interaction with the customer. Look buddy, don't appreciate the pretentious air and your judgmental eyes when I'm trying to get my foodie on. Secondly, I wasn't feelin the bread. Just had to put that out there. Third, I don't understand the lack of actual wine glasses. I mean, at least there's the ice bucket and no corkage fee (yay!) but their glasses just made me feel like I was throwing back XL shots of wine. It was weird. All in all, a 3.5 would be more deserving but I'm not itching to come back.
(3)
Matt F.
I've been here before and went back again last night--the food was very good, as usual. Two people got the zuppa di pesce, a seafood stew. Some places skimp on the seafood; this was not one of them (and for a very reasonable price, too). Huge bowls loaded with a whole variety of seafood, and plenty of broth for dipping with bread left over. Other things we ordered were the octopus salad, Brussels sprouts, and duck entree--also both tasty. Only two negatives to comment on. First, while the Brussels sprouts were delicious, as they've been every time I've gone, it seemed like the portion size had been reduced (it's been a while since I last went, but even if not, the portion was still quite small). There were about 10 halves, and while they were huge Brussels sprouts, I'd still expect a bit more. It's not like they're expensive in any way. Second, it was fairly loud. We were there around 7-8p on a Thursday. You could still hear across the table, but even being a small place, it was quite noisy. They were also playing music, not loudly, but seemed a bit odd, considering. One last positive: we hadn't made a reservation and called around 6:30. There was a group coming in at 8, so they said we had to be finished before then, but I thought it was noteworthy that they were willing to squeeze us in. Last thing to note: they only take cash, so make sure to bring some. Overall: highly recommended.
(4)
Dave P.
My experience here on Wednesday finally pushed me to sign up for yelp. Terrible! Got to the restaurant and was greeted by a relatively rude hostess. Sat at a table with a skinny waiter with a buzz cut. He was sooo rude the entire night. My father and I ordered pork chops and they were both hammered. We complained to the waiter and he very abruptly grabbed them from our settings. No apology. No visit from a manager. Food was really mediocre at best. I had a pumpkin salad that was good. I had the chicken to replace the pork chop that was uninspired and served with boring mash potatoes and green beans. The crazy noise level and uninspired food wouldn't have bothered me so much if the service wasn't so bad. I think we left a 10% tip but it should have been left. WILL NEVER RETURN!
(1)
Andrea T.
Always a pleasure. Food is so consistent and wonderful! Love the servers! We tend to always get the Haloumi and Brussel Sprouts. Haloumi in itself is always good, but add the fig compote and mint...it's so friggin good. The brussel sprouts are cooked to my idea of perfection. A little above al dente, still crunchy yet not raw. Generally we get a bunch of small plates and share, but last night Sole was on the menu and I adore sole. What do I adore more than sole? Sole with shallots and capers. It was delicious. Served with a smattering of haricot verts and some israeli couscous. A perfect light dinner!
(5)
Joelle B.
This was delicious! About two weeks ago I got a bottle and headed to audrey's on a Sunday evening. From start to finish, including service, this restaurant was amazing. The food was perfectly prepared and the waiter was attentive and informative. I cannot wait to go back! I attempted to duplicate the fried haloumi with dates at home and while yummy, a poor substitute for the restaurant's appetizer....we ordered pumpkin risotto, fish special, haloumi, short rib flatbread and octopus salad...yummy!
(5)
Matt D.
I will say that the main reason I am giving this one star is because I was too cold the entire meal to even try and enjoy my food, company or ambiance.The food at least looked good. We had the misfortune of sitting at table nearest the entrance which normally would not be an issue except for the fact that it was 20 degrees out and the door was being opened every 20 seconds. If getting blasted by arctic air every other forkful was not bad enough then you had to deal with the people waiting to be seated standing right over your table. It got to the point that I found myself just watching the door and hoping it would not open. Had I not been so preoccupied with the door, I may have been able to give more thought and attention to my food, although I do recall that within 5 minutes of being served my dinner was lukewarm at best. When we were originally seated we mentioned the cold to our server she offered to turn up a space heater to maximum heat. This seemed to for work for 5 minutes until it tripped a circuit breaker. That was quickly the end of our warmth. After mentioning the cold to the server again, the only thing she was able to tell me is that restaurant was well aware of how cold it can be near the door as this was not the first time they were told. The server and later another employee also said that the issue has been brought up to the owner/management before. For reasons not mentioned, it appears management does not feel that it is necessary to do anything about this issue. This is unfortunate because otherwise it would have been a great meal. However, I can say after experiencing that and knowing that this is a known issue that has been allowed to persist I will not be going back. On the bright side I can at least say I have eaten dinner inside with a coat and gloves on. If you do venture out to Audrey Claire don't forget your scarf and mittens!
(1)
Dennis L.
NO RSVPS on Fridays and Saturdays, luckily the wait was only maybe 20 minutes for me and they call you when they're ready. It's a small sea green spot without much visible markings to indicate the location except for some barely visible white wording on the front door w/ the restaurants name. The food wasn't too bad. I ordered the grilled octopus and didn't really read the menu well. What I got was a salad. I was expecting just grilled octopus, but it was a great salad. Probably one of the best salad's I've ever had (and split), but I wouldn't pay $11 for a salad. I also ordered the chicken w/ the pomegranate molasses. The plate came out so ugly/boring with green beans, mashed potatoes and a thigh of chicken. The chicken was cooked perfectly, super moist, but could've used some marinade. The skin was crispy and the molasses was amazing, but the thick cut of thigh was just juicy flavorless chicken. They should ladle some sauce along the side to dip it in. All in all, it was a pretty good experience. Could've used more sauce.
(4)
Scott H.
Solid. So solid. I love this place and remember it years after leaving Philadelphia. It is one of the cutest and most inviting restaurants in Philly. I adore the people that work there, the atmosphere, the open kitchen, the decor, the FOOD!, the Bring Your Own Wine policy, and the general awesomeness. I make sure I stop here on all visits to the city of brotherly love.
(4)
Sumera K.
I had heard some positive things about this place, so we decided to come here for a birthday celebration for my younger brother. Initially, things seemed to be going well. Since we knew they didn't take reservations, we had one of my brothers arrive 30 minutes in advance to put our names in. We were seated inside once our entire party arrived. Initially, I was taken aback by how incredibly loud it was in this restaurant and how tiny the font on the menus was...haha. I'm not an old head and certainly do not have poor sight, but seriously...could they print the measly paper menu in a bolder font. FOOD: we ordered the portebello mushroom and basil/pesto, tuna and hummus/avocado to start. For entrees we had the salmon, duck, tiger shrimp and tuna. I should have known the food would be disappointing from the initial bland pita slivers and dish of olive oil upon being seated. The apps were blah, the entrees were blah as well. Nothing interesting or out of the ordinary. Aesthetically, it looked great, but after a bite or two...the appearance was all that I can say anything positive about. SERVICE: My younger (high school aged) brother ordered the duck and wanted it medium-well...and the server was adamant that he opt to get it rare-medium. once it came out, it was practically cold and he wasn't able to eat it. So, I asked a different server to take it back, he assured us they would send out another in "7 minutes"...We waited for 20 minutes and I followed up twice about what was taking so long because the place was not busy at this point...it had practically cleared out..This is the point where I was faced with a lot of sarcastic attitude from the staff... "well it came out on time the first time you ordered right?" the worker said to me...and I replied with "yes, but it was too rare for his liking and we were told SEVEN minutes...and it's been 20...we came here to celebrate my brother's birthday and this is not how we expected the night to turn out"... in response the worker sarcastically quipped and walked away. Another worker came by 5 minutes later to assure us the duck was coming. At this point the remainder of our party had already finished our entire meals and the duck still HAD NOT COME OUT....how awful. Overall, I had high hopes for this place, but the BLAND food and AWFUL service turned me off. Big whoop, they have a batch of sunflowers in the windowsill and a low key bland atmosphere. Save your moolah and go somewhere with actual delightful flavors and impeccable service.
(1)
E B.
This place is great but way too small. My friends and I met up for dinner. We were told they didn't take reservations and waited with several other groups outside in the freezing cold for 2 hours (no exaggeration , it was literally 2 hours) for a table. I would've left but my friends insisted on eating here. All of the food was excellent. I had the lamb. This place is Byob. Would I return here ? Yes if there were no wait or they took reservations. Otherwise , no ! There are too many great dining options in this city to wait 2 hours for a table. If our wait was a reasonable amount of time I would've definitely given this place 5 stars.
(3)
Sheri H.
I have loved Audrey Claire for years but am simply too impatient to go as frequently as I'd like. (Due to the well described lines on weekend nights.) Their staff is always friendly and seems to remember their "regulars" even if I'm only there every few months during cold weather, then constantly in the summer. I love sitting outdoors rather than in the somewhat cramped quarters inside. (Beware of flimsy patio furniture on uneven sidewalks, though, we took a spill.) I die for their antipasti for two which I order for me, myself, and I. Great salads, soups (oy, their gazpacho!) and alternating menu items. My mom devours the pita and spreads so rapidly, they are obviously good and impossible to share, apparently.
(4)
Gautam T.
The build-up to coming to this place was unreal, I tried on a weekly basis for about 2 months to get a reservation at a decent hour but failed every time. I was like WTF do they put cocaine in thier food? I finally got a reservation and now the excitement was at the apex. So we had apps, entrees, desert and it was A-OK just an average 3 star restaurant in my opinion. The ingredients were all amazing and fresh, however I feel like the flavours could have been a lot more complex. For example. I ordered the lamb shank; the lamb was perfect cooked amazingly but didn't come together because the spice mix and flavour blend was missing. Thats why I have to give this place 3 stars.
(3)
Kellz H.
Worth the wait! We had reservations for 8pm on a Monday night for my birthday and the table we were waiting for had lingering ladies. The manager/host assured us we would be well taken care of. And that we were! Service was outstanding and attentive, food was prompt and exquisite, and I will absolutely be back! Thank you to the entire staff who made my birthday extra special.
(5)
Marissa S.
I just visited Audrey Claire for the first time last night and had suuch a great time. Granted, it is currently restaurant week so the price was great and the amount of food was right on par for the price (ie: regular sized portions woo!!) Highlight of the meal for me was definitely the appetizers and desserts although the entree was still quite good. Appetizers: Smoked Houlini is/was AMAZING. It was perfectly sweet with the drizzled honey but also salty. We also had the tiger prawns and those were also very tasty. with both appetizers, I hoped they would be bigger since they were so good but alas and appetizer is an appetizer. Entree: Pork chop with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were sooooo good. They're the very starchy kind of mashed potatoes that keep to the potatoey taste. Yet there was still a good amount of butter and salt in there. Asparagus wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either... Only small issue i had with this dish was the pork chop. It was a little dry for my liking but the flavor was all there. Nicely seasoned. Dessert: Banana bread pudding was DELICIOUS. I dont particularly like bread pudding but this was soooo good. It was served with fresh whipped cream I think and a toffee/ caramel sauce. mmmmm. We also had the chocolate cake which is served warm with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. Both desserts you can't really go wrong with. Overall, i really liked the food and the atmosphere. Definitely coming back.
(4)
Tina F.
I had a great time there. Its BYOB, it's a small charming place. The food is great.
(5)
Andy B.
Mixed feelings about our 3rd time at Audrey Claire. We stayed away for a while due to subpar food, but gave it another shot on our anniversary. My wife is a vegetarian, I am the opposite. She enjoyed the arugula salad and pea risotto, nothing special with either, pea risotto needed seasoning. I had the short rib flat bread first, it was great, great flavors, very nice portion size. Then the pork chop happened, stay away at all costs...very bland, very dry, not good at all. I would guess the reason for this is it sat out as we took our time with our first course, which to me, is inexcusable. They were not slammed, there was no rush to turn the tables, very disappointing. General feeling to me is that the wait staff cares a lot more about the customers than the kitchen. I would have gone 3.5 stars if I could have because of the staff. Excellent excellent service start to finish, the host was friendly and personable, and our waitress Christina was outstanding. Funny, personable, made you feel special, just great all around. She offered me a replacement course, but I passed (the comped the pork chop), the short rib was enough. Right off the bat Christina told us,we had no option but to order all of our food at once, we usually like to put in appetizers, take our time, enjoy our wine, and then put in entrees, but their policy is all at once. Christina realized we wanted to take our time though, and let us sit and enjoy the bread and some wine before we put in the order. And also let us sit and enjoy the rest of our wine after we paid our check. It is loud inside, but it adds to the vibe, despite a second time being disappointed with the food, we would definitely go back if we could sit in Christina's section again. Disappointing food, but great time overall. Also, the price range is tough with this...the average would be around 35 per person probably, but that falls into 31-60...
(3)
Jenny J.
ZUPPA DE PESCE! If you are a seafood lover, this is the one thing to get there. Quite honestly, I wasn't too crazy about their small plates with all the grilled veggies, but the Zuppa de Pesce is seriously one of a kind. A large bowl of seafood (fish, shrimp, mussels, clams) stew that will satisfy any seafood lover. My boyfriend and I would come here and just order one Zuppa per person because it is super filling and I don't know where else I could get such seafood satisfaction. Wish this place took reservations at all times, but sadly they don't because it is seriously that popular. Great place for date night or girls night out, BYOB, cash only, and lovely ambiance.
(4)
Juliana K.
The food is fantastic. Well executed. It's a great little neighborhood corner restaurant to sit outside (if you can get a table outside). BYO and cash-only! The Bosc and Gorgonzola flatbread us wonderful. Sweet and crisp, but don't let it sit too long as it can get a bit soggy. The brussel sprouts were simple and delicious. I liked the subtle flavor. Octopus salad was very well balanced. Octopus was tender and cooked well. Mussels were juicy. I loves the broth- had a lil spice to it. Bronzino special was moist and fresh. The whole dish was had a lot of tiny bones do it wasn't the easiest to eat, but that is expected. Perfectly cooked with a well paired chickpea salad. Point list were--- Overall service pretty average and if I am to be honest...while Audrey Claire's execution is excellent, I've had the same flavors or combinations elsewhere.
(4)
Julie N.
Please let me preface this review by saying that I was first introduced to Audrey Claire from their DIVINE flan at the Philly Feastival a couple of weeks ago. We spontaneously decided to go out for dinner on a Friday night, and chose AC. Mind you, they do not take reservations on Fridays or Saturdays (and are cash only). Our wait was about 15-20 mins for a table around 7:30pm. (Not too bad.) Thankfully we were seated near the window in the back -- it offered a little bit of extra space with the window ledge and some privacy. The restaurant is very cozy, but also very loud. Bread with olive oil - I wished the bread was warm, but that's personal preference. We started with the antipasti for two, which offered a little bit of everything: - seared brussel sprouts w/ shaved parmesan - bloody beets and sunkist orange w/ black truffle vinaigrette - grilled portobello mushrooms - grilled baby artichokes - roasted asparagus w/ feta - mediterranean olives w/ wild pickled cucumbers - heirloom tomato and marinated mozzarella w/ crispy pancetta lardons I enjoyed a little bit of everything, but in hindsight, it may have been a little pricey for what it is. Next we had the Grilled Octopus w/ Feta. Both hubs and I did not read the description fully... particularly the section where it said it was "over greens." We were expecting a plate of *only* grilled octopus, and were surprised with a salad with some pieces of grilled octopus in it. While it was good, it wasn't exactly what we had expected. Our fault for not inquiring with the server. For entrees, he had the Hudson Valley Duck Breast w/ Date and Granny Smith Coulis, and I had one of the specials of the evening: Grilled Branzino (whole fish with head on) with Haricot Vert and Couscous. The Granny Smith Coulis paired very nicely with the duck -- I think it made that dish. I really enjoyed the Branzino - it was perfectly grilled, moist and tender. After dinner, our server proceeded to tell us about the desserts of the night... and flan WAS NOT on the menu. We honestly came to AC craving flan for dessert. We settled for creme brulee. It was OK - warm in some places, and cooler in others. I wasn't all that crazy about it. Overall, the food was good. The service was decent considering how busy they were on a Friday night. Our server checked on us a few times and the meal was well-paced. The one thing that was tough to deal with was the noise. When we left Audrey Claire, I was still shouting because that's how I had to talk all night throughout dinner.
This place is so mediocre. I don't understand the rave reviews. The hot entree that I ordered was cold. Nothing was special. This place is overrated.
(2)
Nolan W.
I felt the need to write a review, as my boyfriend and I have attempted to get seated at this restaurant 3 times, and each time we've gone somewhere else because of the ridiculous wait time. Tonight we finally got seated. The starters were good-- Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and watermelon with arugula. All good but not great. We waited for the entrees for 1 hour, and they were not worth the wait. My salmon was only fair, and my boyfriend's pasta was cold and, honestly, looked like something I could've made at home. We were also given the wrong check at the end of the meal. After sitting for 2.5 hours, we decided to skip dessert. This place is definitely not all it's cracked up to be. We will never go back.
Went here for dinner after having just grabbed a burger from Shake Shack. Don't ask why but I was feeling hungry and my tummy was yearning for more yummy (Ok I tried a bit hard there). But seriously, having a somewhat full stomach gave me the ability to try Audrey Claire's food without the bias of being famished and just wanting to eat anything in sight. First, I must say that I love the ambiance of the place. It's nice to be able to sit outside right on the busy corner of 20th and Spruce. The staff is always nice and attentive and does a good job of taking care of the people I'm with when I'm there. The food itself is pretty good as well. I'm never really disappointed, but at the same time some of there items are a little basic. By that I mean that they're straightforward. I do like the Chicken Milanese and their Grilled Salmon, but even then most things are basic dishes (a meat and a grain and a vegetable) and they look that way. I'm not opposed to that but I think it's something worth noting. I personally think the style of food fits the atmosphere of the place, though. The desserts aren't really to die for here either so if that's something you plan to check out then note that. But with it being a BYO and a nice place in Center City I think it's worth going to every now and then.
(4)
Marie S.
My friend and I had dinner at Audrey Claire on a Wednesday night last week. We arrived at about 6:00 pm and had no problem getting seated without a reservation. The restaurant was simply decorated with green apples and sunflowers. Just like the decor, the food was unassuming but not boring. I ordered the "crispy shallot crusted lemon sole with crispy sage and caper butter" and it was exactly that. The dish came with couscous and green beans that weren't flavourly complex but worked well with the fish. Nothing about my meal was out of the ordinary, but that's okay because it was well executed. One downfall to Audrey Claire is that, due to its small size, it gets very loud. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a romantic date or anniversary dinner.
(4)
Peter S.
More like 3.5 for this cash-only byob. Once I reset my expectations, I did have a nice time and found good value here. The seared tuna was excellent, which seems to be a feat. The short rib was delicious, although I've never had a bad short rib anywhere. The service was attentive yet aloof all in one. I'll return but observe these don'ts: 1.Don't bother going on weekends when they don't take reservations- not worth it. 2.Don't bring a fine wine- they use juice glasses and the atmosphere doesn't befit it. 3.Don't order order the flatbreads- these are "home ec"-ishly topped flour tortillas. 4.Don't expect much from dessert- the bread pudding had potential but disappointed
(3)
mike b.
I'm rarely inclined to write reviews but this restaurant is total amateur hour. In a half full restaurant our food took literally 1.5 hours to come out. About an hour in I asked the waiter how we were doing. He responded "with what?". If I wasn't there for a birthday party I would have walked out. The restaurant is an open space so we could see the waiters all gathered in the back boozing. At first they were drinking wine, then I saw them go across the street and pick up a six pack. Food was OK.
(2)
Alison L.
I've now been to Audrey Claire three times, and on each visit the food has been more and more disappointing. It's always jam-packed, but I don't really get the appeal other than its cute ambiance. On our last visit, we got the appetizer sampler, which was just fine. A bunch of under-seasoned vegetables and some olives should not cost $17. I've also had fish two times here. Once, it was so drenched in butter and oil I couldn't even taste it, and the second time it was so dry and overcooked that I didn't want to finish. The risotto served alongside it was also undercooked to the point of being crunchy. The only thing I loved and ordered all three times I went was the seared Haloumi. It's possibly worth a visit on its own. As others have mentioned, the service here is bizarre as well. You have to order all your dishes at once, and the servers are for the most part unfriendly. There's no hostess so the last time we went, we waited at the door for almost 10 minutes before anyone approached us to put our name on a list. All in all, I'd say this one is a pass.
(2)
Atul G.
We were easily able to get a reservation on a beautiful weekday night. The interior is simple and elegant and very comfortable. We ordered the antipasti sampler - delicious, fresh and really tasty. The grilled caesar was really tasty, but we thought the OCTOPUS was just stunning- tender, flavorful over a crisp salad. This alone would have been sufficient for a light meal with a glass of wine. We shared the fish special of the night which was cooked perfectly (perfectly crispy skin and juicy on the inside). Would absolutely come back and bring out-of-towners!
(4)
Janet L.
This restaurant is so adorable, however, the dishes just did not live up to my expectations. In addition, had I not checked Yelp, I would have never noticed that they only accept CASH. My company ordered the duck. It wasn't very well seasoned, cooked a little too tough. I ordered a special of the day (a grilled fish) and it was also lacking in seasoning/taste/flavor. However, the staff is friendly and it is a quaint little restaurant with nice interiors.
(2)
Mandrita D.
We went there to celebrate a friend's birthday, group of 7. We tried the $35 tasting menu. We had brussel sprouts, the octopus salad, pita with different dips, artichoke and entrees. Other than the brussel sprouts, which was great, everything was ok. The octopus while great had overwhelming amount of feta and onions. I had the salmon entree which was very low on seasoning, as was the papardelle. My friends who had the sole felt the same way. For dessert, the molten chocolate cake was very good. The rice pudding was exceedingly sweet with a ton of cinnamon. Also, they are cash only, which was an added inconvenience. I don't plan on going back
(3)
Ari S.
Perfection. Service, Food, and the fact that I can see my food being made. All amazing. It was mine and my girlfriend's first anniversary. I came in at 4:30 to drop off some flowers and a vase to have on the table when we arrived to surprise her. I was ready to start adding in the flower food and ask the host to put water in, and he told me he would take care of everything. Not only did they have them there, but the host arranged them beautifully. Great start to the night. The waiter brought out an ice bucket for our wine that we brought to keep it cool. We ordered all plates to share. First came out the Bosc Pear and Gorgonzola flatbread. All the ingredients went so well together. After removing the empty flatbread plate, the waiter brought the antipasti for 2. What could be wrong with lightly grilled or sauteed veggies? So many, so good. After that, we were brought the best parts of the meal... the hallumi and leek and portobella tart. Lastly, we ordered dessert. The waiter brought out the creme brule, which was awesome. Then surprised us with a complimentary bread pudding with a candle in it for our anniversary. All-in-all, this was a great dining experience and I will go back many times over.
(5)
Kacey B.
Sooo I'm not really about "yelping", (I work in the industry so I've grown to despise all of the Craig LaBain wanna be's) but this place deserves a praise ten fold so GO HERE if you want great food and over the top service. I went here last year for my birthday and my waitress made the night so memorable for me that we decided not to come back until my birthday again this year to keep it special. Maxx is freaking awesome I'd say request him as your server, but really everyone is so friendly there you can't really go wrong. Ugh that ribeye man, I can't even think about breakfast right now. And that short rib flatbread, that truffle, mmmm... This place won my heart last year and was nothing short of amazing this time around too. The combination of the food and service just makes it an easy 5 stars. Seriously just go.
(5)
Reade S.
This place was fantastic! The waiters and waitresses were super nice and the food was incredible. The only downside to the restaurant though was that I had the Seabass special and the portion size was small. I do recommend the artichokes which were seasoned with some lemon I think and they were unbelievable. It was reasonably priced too! Highly recommend!
(5)
A B.
Creative, but simple, fresh tasty food. The cuisine is French-ish, creative American, with a touch of Mediterranean. I got the wild-caught salmon with lentils and crisp green beans, preserved lemon. my friend got the penne, simple and straightforward with some flavor and spice. It is an intimate dining experience. You are dining with the entire restaurant. It is very loud but romantic in a way. I would dress nicer for this place, but that is always my philosophy. There's always the person with jeans and sneakers on to validate the lazy or the too-busy.
(4)
Charlene L.
Clean flavors and fair prices, this is what comes to mind when trying out Audrey Claire. Came here while in town for business and heard about this place as it's fairly new. I was impressed with the menu and decided to take a chance. Walked in with no reservations and was able to be seated. However, it was a bit of squeeze and super busy (Sunday, 6pm). First thing that I noticed was that it was super loud in there.. super hard to hear anything, and that's not just because I'm a granny... Things that were ordered: -Seared brussel sprouts with shaved parmesan: Really delicious, but then again I'm an easy sell when it comes to brussel sprouts. Not overly crispy, almost a pan roasted.. nice flavors, but nothing new that I haven't seen when it comes to this common preparation. -2lbs of Prince Edward Island mussels: Mussels are mussels! Super common typically done in a white wine and garlic. But this was surprisingly different! More of a sun-dried tomato broth, but full flavor. Would have been great if bread was served, as there was so much liquid in the bowl! Also, a huge serving! -Crispy shallot crusted lemon sole with crispy sage and caper butter: Loved the texture of this crispy shallow crust and the perfectly cooked sole. However, I was really looking forward to more of a lemon/citrus flavor but didn't taste that. Also, it was served with long green beans (perfectly cooked but tons of butter) and cous cous. Good components of this dish, but again, nothing note worthy.. Tasted a bit heavy, especially for a fish dish, due to the flavors of too much butter. I was super disappointed that they were out of the grilled octopus, as that was the first dish that really caught my eye. Overall, a solid restaurant for fresh flavors without complicating the dish. Would I be back? Well, for sure it's tasty, but nothing I would crave for as there is nothing that really stands out.
(3)
A B.
Pros, it's an intimate setting to share with friends, as well as getting a peek into their open kitchen. Cons, it is rather noisy and the food, while all were presented well, not all were seasoned equally so.
(3)
Joe K.
Great byo! The Caesar salad is the best I've ever had. The only draw back may be that it can get a bit loud, however I've been there 10+ times and never had a bad experience. One of the best values in philly.
(5)
Amanda C.
Just left an absolutely incredible dinner at Audrey Claire! It was my friends birthday and they took care of us from the moment we driver until the moment we left. On top of the service the food was fantastic as well. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)
Ed C.
Boar Sausage, the Lamb and two Barramundi fish specials. All four of us thought the food was excellent. Bread pudding fantastic for dessert. Great wait staff. BYOB allowed us to spend our money where it mattered. 4 thumbs up!
(4)
Paige B.
Our party of two dropped by for dinner on a weekday night in August sans reservation. We were greeted by a friendly male server and promptly seated outside. Flatbread with Braised Short Rib, Portobello, Melted Fontina Cheese, & Truffle Oil - 3.5 out of 5 Sort of like a small pizza, the flatbread dough was thin and shaped into a round. It was more like a thin cracker. The edges were completely cooked through and crispy. I liked the use of the Fontina cheese, it was more flavorful than a mozzarella but less intense than a Pecorino. It gave a nice salty twang to the dish and it helped highlight the soft sweetness of the short ribs. Still, this dish fell short somehow; it needed some acid or some drizzled reduction on top for it to taste complete. Bloody Beets and Sunkist Orange with Black Truffle Vinaigrette - 2 out of 5 This dish, ordered as an appetizer, arrived in a small bowl. The beets, cut into small blocks, were paired with two equally chilled orange heart sections on top. Flavor-wise, we both did not taste the truffle at all. These beets tasted boiled, as opposed to roasted (or a combination of the two), and therefore they did not have the caramelized sugar and earthy taste that an oven imparts. Overall, this dish was bland as there was zero seasoning. Taste aside, the textures were nice. Seared Brussels Sprouts with Shaved Parmesan - 3 out of 5 There were about three large halved Brussels Sprouts that were seared and a little crispy. They were tossed in olive oil and topped with shaved Parmagiano Reggiano. These were kind of undercooked and kind of bland. I liked the idea of Parmesan, but the slabs of cheese were too thick and large to really incorporate with the sprouts. In summary, the presentation was too rustic; everything had to be cut a lot and mixed together. Like the beets, these could have been exponentially better with salt and pepper. Marinated Mozzarella Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes, Israeli Basil, & Pancetta Lardons - 3 out of 5 I appreciated the simplicity of the three 1/4-in. thick rounds of mozzarella, tossed in olive oil, and topped with large sections of a tomato. One of the most important things in a fresh tomato is the texture. [Gritty, foamy tomato meat results from refrigeration.] These tomatoes tasted refrigerated, and as a result the flavor dulled significantly. The mozzarella was average. Pancetta lardons, little salty brilliant bits, were sprinkled on the plate. Grilled Octopus with Feta, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, & Lemon, over Greens - 4 out of 5 I'll preface this review by stating that I'm not a fan of octopus. However, I always retry food I don't like again and again to hopefully acquire a taste for it. That said, this was my favorite dish. The octopus was grilled to perfection. It was tender and lightly charred. I also loved the mild feta dressing on the salad. Service - Hit or miss. Our main server, a young woman with brown hair, seemed unenthusiastic. She didn't greet us and there weren't any pleasantries with her service. There was a food runner/server assistant, a super cool and friendly guy with short (or no?) hair who kept an eye on us. He really did end up taking care of us well and we tipped him commensurate to our appreciation.
We loved the artichokes, as well as the gorgonzola and pear flatbread! The watermelon, jalepeno, feta salad was delicious as well. Seared brussel sprouts were okay but did not wow us as much as the other dishes. Great food but price points seemed slightly high. Definitely recommend for tapas style with all their delicous antipasti and small plates!
(5)
Ivy C.
My coworkers and I were so excited to try this place out because the reviews looked good and we were starving. 1. We were told it would be 5 minutes to get a table after being ignored for 10 minutes. There were 3 two-tops and 1 four-top tables open. Then, we waited for 40 minutes, not 5 to be re-acknowledged. After being re-acknowledged, we were seated after 10 minutes. 2. I swear we were skipped twice as they do not take names for a waiting list. This one group of 5 said they came 1 hour prior to us but didn't give a name and as soon as they arrived back, they were sat immediately. They were friends with the host. Where was the waiting list???? 3. After sitting, we were then told cash only. Why the hell wouldn't you disclaim that when greeting is for a table first? Or at least have a sign? We were so upset and disappointed in their service and attitude. 4. It's BYOB. I wish I could speak on their food but if their food is anything like their service and host, I bet it's awful. Unfortunately, I wanted to give this place no stars but you have to at least give one even though they are unworthy of one. Advice for the host working 8/13: Firstly, greet your customers and tell them you'll be right with them. Don't ignore people no matter how busy you are. Secondly, let your customers know it's cash only. Lastly, make and take a name for the waiting list.
(1)
Steve D.
Sunday evening this place is mobbed. But the yelp reviews were good and all these customers can't be wrong. So we ventured in. We opted for 4 apps and no entrees. - flatbread w/ smoked salmon, spicy humus topped w field greens and drizzled w balsamic. This was nice, fresh and tasty, salmon could've been distributed a bit better or maybe a little more added, humus was flavorful but not at all spicy - Brussels sprouts w shaved Pecorino Romano, if u like them, u will really enjoy this dish, we did. - Grilled octopus chopped salad w feta. Great salad, octopus cooked just right, could've used a bit more octopus. - 2lbs of mussels in red broth. Mussels were a little small but this dish was so tasty, the waiter brought us extra bread for dipping. We really enjoyed them. For dessert we shared the banana bread pudding topped w whipped cream and drizzled w caramel. Dried cranberries,brown sugar and cinnamon filled this bowl of heaven. Overall this place was a bit loud and crowded, other than that 5 stars.
(4)
Kelly W.
Yes, this restaurant is tiny. No, they do not take reservations on the weekends and you can wait awhile. Definitely don't go here with a group on Saturday unless you are waiting outside when they open at 5. That being said- this is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia at the moment and everything about it speaks to me. I've been here for restaurant week twice and about 4 times besides that and I've never been disappointed. My favorites: - Short Rib Flatbread: Cracker crust holds up to the richness of the short ribs - Grilled Baby Artichokes: Best artichokes I've ever had, I could eat these lucious bulbs from heaven every day of my life. - Antipasti for two is the perfect appetizer if you can't decide! - Mussels: Just enough spice and the broth is fantastic! Huge amount of mussels too! - Ahi Tuna: Cooked perfectly and delicious! Cash only and BYOB :)
(5)
Gretchen E.
Divine. This cash-only BYO has it all: elegant ambiance, courteous servers, plentiful servings. Even the green apples on each table are delicious. Perfect location in quaint Southwest Rittenhouse, across the street from Food & Friends which hosts an ample selection of bottled beer if that is your preferred libation. For wine & spirits, there are stores on 19th/Chestnut and 25th/South. Recently, we brought a bottle of gin and mixed it with Pellegrino and lemon. I'm dying to try the octopus salad - which I've seen on my walks through the alfresco diners - but they ran out of it upon my most recent visit. My next go-to is the steamed mussels, which come in a very large bowl with a light and flavorful broth, and a large mesclun salad. The zuppa de pesce is also a must. My table mates enjoyed their feta-encrusted rack of lamb, and the roasted chicken breast. Both well-seasoned and juicy. Optimal for a date, girls' night, or dinner with parents. They take reservations - so call ahead because the wait to seat can be long.
(5)
Allison L.
I love this place! Cute atmosphere and good food. We all shared a bunch of plates and everything was good.
(5)
Danielle B.
After walking by Audrey Claire and jealously staring at the dishes it's diners were eatting, I finally decided to come here for dinner. The wait can really be hit or miss as they do not take reservations. Being a byob, I naturally gravitate towards loving the atmosphere and fresh ingredients that they use. I wish they offered the use f traditional wine glasses as the smaller ones they used were not particularly good to swirl the wine and open it up I did not pack an Aerator with me We started with the smoked salmon flatbread which was a disappointment. We had about 1 salmon piece on the whole flat bread and it was basically a salad. The dressing they used was nice and light but I cannot recommend this dish. Moving on to the entree round is where the restaurant received it's stars. My husband got the Australian Sea bass special. This was amazing the Sea bass was crisp yet still light and flaky. The risotto was perfectly creamy and cooked to perfection. I ordered the black truffle potato encrusted tuna which was served with the freshest and crispest free beans I have ever had! Though I did not prefer the glass choice and the flatbread the entrees were superb an fresh!
(4)
Minh C.
I had high expectations for Audrey Claire - high enough that I was willing to try it even though it is a cash only joint (why when some of its other establishments take credit??). Earlier in the day I had stuffed myself silly at Sabrina's and so we didn't end up ordering as much as we otherwise would. We started off with the antipasti for two, which had a bit of everything - seared brussel sprouts with shaved parm, grilled portabellow mushrooms, grilled baby artichokes, roasted asparagus with feta, olives, beets, and more. This was a great dish, and the grilled baby artichokes were the stars for us. We also split the seared haloumi with candied dates and sesame fig compote, and the jumbo crab with granny smith apple terrine and avocado. It may just be me, but the haloumi had an aftertaste that tasted very much like goat cheese. As I'm not a fan of goat cheese, I was not a fan of the seared haloumi. The jumbo crab, on the other hand, was very light and refreshing. The apple mixed in it offered a nice sweet balance to the crab. The star deductions are for less than stellar service and for the lack of credit card acceptance. It took quite a bit of effort for us to get the attention of our waiter. The place isn't large so even if it's packed, it should not be difficult for customers to get a hold of their waiters. There was a strange moment when we asked the waiter for tap water in a cup (because their standard is lemon water in a cup). Instead of bringing back tap water, our waiter brought back the same lemon water in a mug. Wolfgang Tango Foxtrot?
(3)
Jussi L.
Took my girlfriend here on a last-minute date. We both had the Penne Arrabbiata, one with shrimp and one without. The food was quite good, bonus points for making a dish that is supposed to be a bit spicy taste so. The ability to bring a bottle is also always nice. However, for a Sunday night it was quite noisy and the waiting staff was a little unfriendly at times. Overall, a slightly above mediocre experience, I would go again but only if someone else specifically wanted to eat there.
(4)
Tura C.
We have fallen in love with Philly and some it's amazing restaurants! We had dinner at Audrey Claire last night and it was outstanding. The octopus salad was simply prepared, but delicious. My husband had the penne with shrimp and couldn't finish it all. Not because it wasn't tasty, but just too much. I had the fish stew. Talk about a generous serving!!! I took 2/3rds of it home and shared with hubby for lunch! While the decorating is minimal ( they could use some art on the walls), the place is cozy ( but a tad loud when busy) and I loved the huge windows and friendly staff. It's BYOB too!
(4)
Alea G.
Under normal circumstances I would give this restaurant a great review. We use to come here all the time and loved it for years. Tonight, they ran out of mussels before 9 PM on a Saturday night. There's a small plate of mussels & an large dish, the Zuppa de Pesce which is a combination of clams, mussels and fish for $21. When I asked the waiter if they replaced the mussels he said that it was just more fish a and clams and for that price seems like a waste. It's a shame that a previous local favorite has lowered its standards on food and service.
(2)
Dana L.
Very disappointing dinner experience. My husband and I have walked by this place so many times and have seen many people waiting to get in. We've always been interested in it and couldn't wait for the right opportunity. Sadly, the question I have now is why would there be a line to get in? There is no atmosphere to this place - the simplicity is probably on purpose, but we found it uninspiring. The noise level is beyond! We struggled to hear one another as the place was full. The bad experience went on from there. What's up with those goofy wine glasses?? Ok - you want to be a BYOB place - fine, but at least provide nice stemware. The mini-jelly glasses are a real joke! Our waiter was unattentive, appeared bored, and had an arrogant way about him. Food? Hmmm - I would call it above average but nothing to write home about. Based on other yelp reviews, the only reason to go back to this place might be the appetizers. We had the beets, and they were very plain - nothing special. We also had the grilled octopus salad - fresh, but again, nothing special. My husband had the sole which was good. I had the lamb. It was ok - no show stopper. To cap it all off, there was a less than delightful city sewer smell that was coming in through the big front window....yuck. Probably won't go back.
(1)
Kendrah R.
SUMMARY I cannot remember the last time I had such a bland and boring meal. The waitstaff was indifferent on the verge of rude. I have no idea why this place is always packed, and am shocked that it is the same owners as 20 Manning Grill across the street, which I really like. 1. What we ordered We had the beets, olives, artichokes, pappardelle, chicken milainese. The grilled artichokes tasted fresh out of a can and heated in a microwave, the olives were just weird and covered in pickles I could have gotten from any deli counter, the oranges on the beets were utterly flavorless and covered in pith, the papardelle was so dry and had absolutely no sauce or flavor. I should have asked for a side of olive oil. The chicken was a huge nothing and made me wish I were at L'Angolo. 2. Sad, sad dessert menu How can a restaurant no serve a single fruit dessert in the middle of summer? Chocolate cake, creme brulee, rice pudding. This is berry and stone fruit season and not hint of summer on the dessert menu. What is wrong with these people? CONCLUSION There was just such an absence of flavor to everything. I love a restaurant that doesn't use fancy ingredients, lets the produce stand on its own, with just a tad bit of something like lemon or salt to bring out the flavors. But this was just a big old nothing. I don't know how you can make produce taste so bad in the height of summer? We will not be returning.
(2)
Emma W.
Terrible food!!! - BYOB without proper wine glasses?! Should I BYOGlass?! (-1) - bread: cold an hard (-1) - main dish: "tiger shrimp"?! It is small shrimp for me! Let me know if you have whale shrimp available next time as it would be my "tiger shrimp" (-2) - mussels: big portion, little flavor, 1/3 of them are not fresh... (-2) Total (-6)!
(1)
Winston A.
Audrey Claire is among my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I've been a regular for years. Perhaps it is the simplest of Audrey Claire's luxuries that I find the wisest: fresh air. The large swinging windows are almost always open and overhead fans whisk a breeze throughout the dining area. Whenever I enter the restaurant, I feel as if I had previously been suffocating and I was simply too numb to notice; however, I can finally breathe again once at Audrey Claire. Of course, the food is delicious--it's fresh, never over-prepared, and tasty. This is the sort of eatery that caters neither to the perverse glut that many American chefs disguise as "comfort food" nor to the palate of overwrought "health food" enthusiasts. Instead, Audrey Claire offers a cuisine of healthful, balanced nourishment that is responsive to the flavors my body truly craves: olive oil, pear, goat cheese, olives, tomato, mussels, yogurt, pork, aioli, chocolate. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Go, it's a Philadelphia classic--and bring a bottle of wine as it's BYOB.
(5)
Ashley S.
My best friend and I are pretty much wannabe foodies. We often try to venture out to somewhere new when we have our little dinner dates, but as sporadic as they are, it becomes very difficult to find reservations/an open table at a decent restaurant. Luckily, we were able to snag a table on a recent Sunday night at Audrey Claire. We met a little past 6:30 and got a cute two-top table next to the window. The restaurant itself is pretty small and the tables are very close together, but it somehow adds a very homey/comfy ambiance. Our server was very delightful. He was helpful and attentive without bombarding us every 5 minutes, which I really loved. For starters, we had a sampling of mediterranean spreads. The 3 we chose were; pumpkin hummus, sun-dried tomato and basil, and spicy -- all served with warm pita. They were all so fresh and amazing, but my favorite was definitely the pumpkin! Since I have also taken a recent liking to brussel sprouts, we shared the seared brussel sprouts with shaved parmesan. All I can say is that they were cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with our entrees! For our main course, I was torn between the pork chop and the lamb. After consulting our server, I went with the lamb, and my best friend went with the pork chop. First, my entree -- 3 generously sized feta and garlic crusted baby racks of lamb, served with fresh mint labne (think sour cream, but BETTER) and mashed mashed potatoes. I had NO complaints. I thought it was weird that our server didn't inquire about the temp I wanted on the lamb, but it came out perfect! The pork chop was just as good, but I think I still would favor my choice. Couldn't leave without dessert! We had the banana bread pudding, which I would highly recommend. Comes out warm with whipped cream on top! Mmmmm! Great dining experience overall and now I understand why the wait at this place is often over two hours for dinner! I will be back and hopefully SOON! ..Oh and I left out the best part. It's BYOB! We had a bottle of champagne, but I was a bit jealous of the family behind us who brought an entire bottle of tequila and were making table side margaritas! I don't think you can go wrong with this excellent menu, but the only two things I would keep in mind when planning to venture here for dinner is that they take cash ONLY (there is an ATM across the street if you forget!) and remember that they only take reservations Sunday through Thursday, if you come on the weekend..BEST OF LUCK!
(4)
Wesley C.
Wow. But not in a good way. Our dinner started and ended well, but the main courses in the middle were just too bland. For starters we ordered the roasted beet and pumpkin w/ warm goat cheese & roasted leek and portobello tart with chèvre goat cheese and polenta crust. Both were well balanced and creamy with the goat cheese, and the polenta crust gave a nice crunch and base to the tart. I got their special for the evening, a ribeye steak, and I'd have to say that it was one of the most bland steaks I've ever had. My wife got their duck breast and it too lacked depth of flavor. Dessert was a bread pudding that was pretty good, but again, why the starters and dessert were better than the MAIN course baffles me. And for the price that this meal cost, I'd say this is a low value establishment. Maybe you pay for the ambience and the company you choose to eat with, but next time, I think I'm going to look at alternatives in the area - because there are a lot!
(2)
Elaine M.
Went to Audrey Claire for restaurant week. This restaurant is extremely small and the tables are VERY close together. You are practically sitting WITH the table next to you. We each ordered a different first and second course so we could all try a variety of items. In order from favorite to least; first course: seared haloumi, grilled tiger shrimp and bosc pear and gorgonzola flatbread. The haloumi fig compote could have been a dessert it was so sweet. The arugula and sweet potato with the shrimp was delectable. Everything about the flat bread was spot on. For second courses we had the shallot crusted lemon sole, pappardelle w/portobello mushrooms, potato crusted ahi tuna. Both of the fish dishes were cooked extremely well. the pasta with mushrooms had a wonderful earthy flavor and was a rather large portion for restaurant week. the dessert was a sampler of three different items. the bread pudding was ok, the chocolate was delicious as always, and the third (I have no idea what it was) but it was amazing! Our server was pretty on top of things, except they brought our second course out before our first course had been entirely cleared from the table. That was annoying, since everything we had was pretty large portions, it would have been nice to have a 10-15 minute break in-between.
(4)
Matty G.
I was first introduced to Audrey Claire by visiting the sister restaurant Twenty Manning down the street. A quainter, smaller version of the sister restaurant... Audrey Claire focuses more on the food aspect and less on the ambiance. The kitchen is close to the dining room, so you can smell everything. A group of about 10 of us shared about 20 dishes. The one dish (a side dish) that stood out to me were the Brussels Sprouts. Baked/Pan fried Brussels sprouts with a balsamic reduction and shaved Parmesan. YUM! This is the only way I cook Brussels Sprouts now.
(5)
Edward W.
Standouts: Good service + Byob + Cash only, BOOOOO. Summary: Went here with two friends and ordered the braised short ribs. Meat was tender although the accompanying sauce was I believe vegetable based and lacked the richness spare ribs need. The bed of creamed polenta matched the over all dish well. Deserts were executed well, though nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary.
(3)
Nataly N.
This restaurant is very cozy. A perfect spot for a romantic date in a semi-casual atmosphere. It got crowded very quickly, but there is enough space between tables to sit without rubbing elbows with your dining neighbor. Our appetizers and salad were okay - nothing really stood out. The pork chops were delicious - perhaps the best pork chops I've had since the beginning of time. And I don't even like pork. After hearing an overview of the specials, we also decided to try the branzino, which came with a side of pearl pasta and green beans. I don't know what they did to this dish, but everything tasted like its soul was sucked out of it. There's a big difference between fish that is tender and fish that has been zombified. Everything on the dish crumbled upon contact - even more so than baby food... except baby food has more flavor. For dessert, I shouldn't have picked the banana bread pudding. I'm no pastry chef, but I made better bread pudding on my first try. Maybe their other desserts taste better. For the price range, it's really hard to give my experience here more than 3 stars. Service points could have favorably tipped the scale, but I don't think our server tried to offer the best service he could give.
So, this place has been here forever, ownership has brought us the wonderful 20 Manning and Cook. I went here this Saturday, not knowing it was restaurant week, that was my first mistake. I should've left when I learned this, but I gave them a shot. Bad mistake. The dining room crowd resembled the Penn student cafeteria. So, I understand the servers crappy attitude, because they were probably getting stiffed all night. I'm a mature looking guy, some say distinguished looking. My wife looks considerably younger(good husband brownie points). So, we definitely should've been a sight for sore eyes for our server. Instead, a rumpled, grouchy, balding and sour young man, only identified as "L" on the hand written check,( they only accept cash), showed up like his girlfriend just broke up with him and his cat died. Horrible personality and demeanor. He should NOT be in hospitality!!!! He let us sit there for over 15 minutes before opening our wine and another 15 minutes before taking our order. We pleased and thanked him to death and he just became more unprofessional and rude. If I wasn't with my wife I would've definitely had told him what a rude jackass he is. We finished our meals and sat with dirty dishes for another 10 minutes. Hey L have you ever heard of pre-bussing? He wrapped my wife's leftovers but left a dirty plate in front of me, so I placed it on the unbussed table next to me, as a not so subtle hint for L to do his job. Now, fully exasperated, I asked a delightful young female server if there's was a manager on duty. It was obvious there was not a manager present. She told me they "self-manage"!!!! Holy Crap!!!! A cash business with no management present!!! No wonder it sucks so hard!!! How much do you think the staff steals from the owners?
Wonderful, cozy restaurant for lovers, young and old. Small delicious portion, well presented. Highly recommended. Would go back, again and again.
(4)
Johan W.
Wow... As is "wow that was so disappointing." Hadn't been to this rittenhouse mainstay for a couple of years and the entire experience was severely disappointing. We had the octopus to start. Octopus was well cooked but non chalantly thrown on some iceberg lettuce and some tomatoes with some vinaigrette. My girlfriend had the duck. It was dry and flavorless. The whole dish was pretty much flavorless except for the overpowering lentils. I had the pork chop. It was gigantic but overcooked. Potatoes and asparagus fine. If this place would have opened now, it would fail given the many superior choices these days. Ambiance is crap, sitting on my neighbors Lapp essentially. wait staff ok, but he failed to tell is about any specials. Didn't realize there were any until we overheard another waiter. We waited across the street at 20 manning for the table, which I don't have a problem with, but the staff there was so ... Indifferent. Both places exude indifference on all fronts. Had pretty good memories of this place from 8 years back, but this place is not worth the wait or the money.
(2)
Aubrey W.
This place is amazing! definitely more about the food than the service, but even then our service was great. We had the shrimp, salmon and the chicken for our entrees and loved them all. I would HIGHLY suggest the corn for an appetizer-SO. GOOD. byob and only take cash! definitely a fun and delicious place to try!!
(5)
Randi N.
This cozy and chic cafe is a great find in the Rittenhouse area! My girlfriends and I went on Friday night and we barely had to wait. We loved that it was BYO and the atmosphere was all good vibes. Our waitress was awesome and so sweet! I order the Chicken Milanese and it was fresh and delicious. The chicken was crispy to perfection and garnished with bright arugula and sweet grape tomatoes on top! I did not want it to end! We ordered a decadent chocolate cake for dessert and it was excellent! The waitress even put the dessert on the house! Awesome service and even better quality food.
(5)
Jessica S.
I've been to Audrey Claire before for small plates and flatbreads and thought it was delicious, so I was pretty pumped to dine here again for my friend's birthday. There was a group of 10 of us and we were able to score Sunday night reservations at 8pm. It was the first night of the August restaurant week.. Now I usually am a big fan of RW, but I tend to be cautious about where I go, since sometimes the menu is limited and the portions are smaller. The menu for Audrey Claire looked pretty good, since they offered lots of options for appetizers and dinner and an assortment of desserts for the table. The place is small and cute with some outdoor seating. It's BYOB (plus) and cash only (minus). We were seated after a few minutes and our wine was opened and placed in buckets. We were brought out crusty bread with olive oil to start the meal. I decided on the seared haloumi with sesame fig compote. The haloumi was a tad salty, but overall very flavorful and delicious. The candied dates provided a nice balance between sweet and savory and I was plotting how to avoid sharing with my husband since we decided we would split our appetizers! He got the arugula salad with goat cheese, lentils, berries, and figs. The salad was okay.. Nothing very special. The goat cheese was good but not very abundant. The rest of the salad was pretty lackluster and I didn't care for the texture of these particular figs. I also tried my friends Brussels sprouts, which I thought were pretty good but not the best I've ever had. Onto the main course: I was excited to try the pappardelle, as it's my favorite kind of pasta and it sounded so good with mushrooms, arugula, sunflower seeds, and shaved cheese. I got this and my husband got the ahi tuna which we planned to split. The pappardelle was pretty terrible. It had absolutely no flavor except for oil and the blandness of the dish made it pretty unappetizing. I'm confused why it's hard to put salt/pepper/any kind of seasoning at all on a pasta dish. I was pretty surprised at how bad it was and also very sad! The tuna was also not that great. Again, the crust on the tuna was bland and it was probably the first time in my life where I left pieces of ahi tuna on my plate. Main course fail!!! The desserts were a nice variety and they brought them out for everyone to share. I am not a huge dessert person but the molten lava cake was delicious. Service was decent throughout the night. Moral of the story: only come here for appetizers and dessert. Skip the main meal. Won't be back again for RW but would come back for small plates and a redemption..
(3)
Krystal H.
This charming little open air spot is adorable. We had great service! We went for restaurant week and it was really nice. Huge bouquets of fresh sunflowers in the windowsills made for a warm welcome. I wasn't a fan of the caesar, but then, grilled lettuce...it's a big wedge that you have to use a steak knife to chop yourself. The haloumi was great, the sprouts were delicious. The blackberries used as garnish and in some of the salads were fresh and ripe, not too sour. The shrimp looked beautiful and everyone who tried them said they were cooked well. Same goes for the pork chop and salmon. For dessert (there were 5 of us) they just brought us a sampling. While we all tried everything, none of us wanted the rice pudding or the panna cotta. It would have been nice if they let you choose. I'd love to go back again when it's not restaurant week. Super cute date spot! note: BYO, cash only. (there's an ATM across the street inside the beer/grocery store; has a $1 fee)
(4)
Amanda M.
Thanks to Pope Francis' impending visit, restaurant week was moved from its standard September dates to August. Anyone who's read my reviews knows I'm a big fan of RW, so I wasn't going to let the date change stand in my way. A friend and I settled pretty quickly on Audrey Claire, as the menu looked amazing (lots of choices!) and we'd both heard good things. The night started off great - the restaurant was mostly empty when we arrived, and so we were able to pick a table by the window. The waiter was attentive, opening the wine we brought and bringing over ice right away (although he didn't offer to pour, which I thought was odd). We were served warm crusty bread with delicious dipping oil, and were given plenty of time to make our decisions about what to order. I went with the fried haloumi to start, followed by the pappardelle pasta with portobellos (how's that for a tongue twister?) Unfortunately, the starters stole the show - my haloumi was amazing, and my friend's brussel sprouts were delicious too. The papardelle was mostly disappointing, heavily oiled and not particularly impressive at all. Sometime during our meal they turned off the air conditioning (remember, this is August), and a couple very large groups filed into the restaurant. Consequently, the place got VERY hot - so much so that I was pretty anxious to leave. Of course, we had to stay for dessert, which ending up being not worth it. We were served a tray of rice pudding and chocolate melting cake to share - neither really interested me, so we booked it out of there fairly shortly after. I don't think I'd come back for a full meal, though the starters are worth a trip if you're in the area. I'd rather pick a few of those to share than spend a lot of $$ on an unimpressive entree.
(3)
Katie L.
We've been in a small plates mood lately, and since many of my fellow Yelpers complained about the blandess of entrees at Audrey Claire, we opted for the "snack as many things as you can" option. We started with the antipasti for two, per my fellow Yelper's recommendations since everything looked pretty good, although a "little" of everything was definitely true. Would have loved more of the artichokes and the mushrooms, for sure. The beets and the tomatoes were just kind of middle-of-the-road. For the smaller dishes we went with all of your great tips and tried the seared haloumi (pretty darn excellent), jumbo crab (too much apples, too little crab), grilled octopus (because yes, more please) and baby arugula salad with figs (tasty, but a little too simple.) So overall it was hit or miss. If someone wanted me to join them at Audrey Claire, I would definitely not say no (BYOB, hello), but I don't feel the need to go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Emma D.
I really wanted to like Audrey Claire, and I've been a few times now. Honestly, I'm always underwhelmed. I think the best things on the menu are the vegetable plates. Service is always sub-par, the other diners are generally snotty and the food just never lives up to the hype.The quality of the kitchen is super variable, I've noticed it and a waitress even said she only recommends a certain dish when a certain chef is working. There are so many amazing BYOs in Philly that I think I'm done giving this one a shot.
(2)
Sylvia K.
The menu for this place looked really good, so I picked this place to have dinner with a friend. We ordered the roasted brussels sprouts, the short rib flatbread, and the pappardelle. The bruseels sprouts were really good and cooked perfectly. The short rib flatbread came with braised short rib, portobello, and truffle oil. This one was all right. The pappardelle (which is my favorite pasta noodle) came with portobello mushrooms, arugula, sunflower seeds, and shaved locatelli cheese. This pasta dish was also good, but it was a tad bland - it could've used a little more flavor, though I'm not sure what. The service was really great - our attentive server came by a few times to check on us and to refill our waters. The interior is really simple - there's nothing on the walls, but there were beautiful bouquets of tulips. It kind of felt like we were in someone's home eating dinner (with many other guests) and you could also kind of see into the kitchen. The place is not huge, and the tables are set up really close to each other. This place is cash only, so make sure you bring some ahead of time. They also take check, which is kind of weird, but I guess if you carry a checkbook around, that's also an option for you. The place is also BYOB, which is awesome. I saw lots of parties bring in their own bottles of wine. My friend and I didn't partake, but I did notice when leaving the restaurant later, that there was a store selling alcohol across the street! Convenient!
(4)
Yuan H.
I was cautious about going here at first because of the reviews on bad service, but maybe I went on a good day. Service was good, not spectacular. The hostess seemed overwhelmed and the restaurant clearly needs to hire more staff. But, the most important part if this place is the food. We went for restaurant week and pretty much everything was delicious. The Tiger Shrimp appetizer was kind of bland, but the Brussel sprouts with Parmesan was delicious. My favorite dishes were the lemon sole and pork ribs. The mashed potatoes with the pork ribs was devine and the sole was juicy and soft. Dessert was wonderful as well. My only complaint is that it was very loud in the restaurant. I had to shout and lean in to speak to my dining partner. Otherwise, I had a very pleasant experience and would go there again.
This is a wonderful little BYOB that I always highly recommend. Its great for a larger meal or a few bites if you're not too hungry. Its on the expensive side for a go-to kind of place, but its easily on the top of my list every time I'm trying to figure out where to go. I also think it would make any palate happy. The atmosphere is warm and very open, its best in the summer when the windows are open and lots of people are dining outside. I really like to sit at the chef's table too! The service is always friendly and the food is paced well, even though they are always super busy. It is definitely a smaller restaurant so make sure to make reservations. As a big fan of tasting a lot of options when I dine out Audrey Claire really works for me. I have not tried any of the larger dishes because every time I go my dining partner(s) and I opt to order lots of the smaller items so we can all share. I love the simplicity of the food, while being just perfectly done and having some choices that are a little out there. You really can't go wrong ordering anything. Get the full antipasta for 2, it seems simple but its delicious. The flat breads are all delicious and pretty large, the braised short rib is the best. The grilled octopus is my favorite menu item, so perfectly done with so many levels of flavor, and some of the best feta ever. If you're looking for a nice night out, with great fresh food that will make everyone happy come here.
(5)
Katie G.
Service was good, outdoor seating nice. Inside smelled a little antiseptic but overall I would say it was a good experience. The food was good, I would recommend the starters, veggies were good.
SO disappointed with my experience last night. The service was the absolute worst I've ever had in Philly. It was almost comical the way that our server would turn his back and walk away when I was in mid sentence. There was NO chance of asking questions about the menu or even getting him to open our bottle of champagne. I could go on and on, but probably the worst part was that he forgot to put a candle in the dessert for my friends birthday :( . I walked over to let him know he forgot, and when I turned around my boyfriend saw him dramatically roll is his eyes at me. Not a good look, Audrey Claire. The food was nothing special which would have been fine, but we felt so unwelcome due to the awful service and sloppy management that I will definitely never be back. I'll warn anyone I can not to bother with this place!
(1)
Shelly P.
Had diner last night in this fantastic restaurant. The food is delicious and fresh. The menu had so many amazing options. We shared three delicious starters and each person ordered their own main dish. The chicken was amazing and delicious. The shrimp was fresh and yummy. The desserts were also fabulous. The banana bread pudding and the chocolate cake were excellent. The only draw back was it's BYOG so you have to bring your own wine however you can purchase alcoholic beverages across the street. But service was not the best.
I just moved from San Francisco and this was my first spot in Philly. It was 9:00pm on a Sunday and they seated us immediately at the bar, which I highly recommend if you want to see all the action happening. The service was great; everyone who works there is super friendly. We ordered the pear gorgonzola flatbread (delicious), arugula salad (great for summer!) and the seared haloumi - very tasty. I'd also recommend the watermelon feta salad, which we got a little sample of. It's a perfect spot for a date with friends, parents or your significant other. Its casual and the atmosphere is fun. Definitely one of my favorites in Philly so far.
(5)
Alyssa R.
Love this byob!! Only downfall if no reservations on weekends and it can be a long wait. You can grab a drink at 20 manning while waiting though. Outdoor and indoor seating. Cash only!! The staff is always pleasant. The food is always on point. I highly recommend it. Great date spot. Only thing I was a bit disappointed with is on time the mussels were amazing! I kept thinking about them and when I went back they were in a spicer more watered down sauce. Hoping it was a fluke. The flatbreads are always great and I love the octopus salad.
(4)
Chrissy Z.
Good food, hard to get in on weekends. Good date spot but more than two people difficult to seat.
(4)
Nazee Z.
Went here for restaurant week last year and it was delicious! I got the seared haloumi cheese as my appetizer, which was rich and sweet at the same time. The figs complimented the savory of the cheese into a perfectly done dish. The cheese was either baked or fried for that perfect crunch. For my dinner I got the chicken with the pomegranate sauce and was again impressed by the sweet and savory compliments. Very well done, juicy, and flavorful chicken. Also, gotta love that this place is a BYOB! Will probably be coming back here for this years restaurant week :)
(5)
Cat N.
My second trip to Audrey Claire was last week during restaurant week, and I have to say that I was disappointed - although I attribute a lot of the flaws to it *being* restaurant week. First, we showed up with no reservations (as they typically don't take them), only to be told that they were almost booked, but could fit us in as long as we left in an hour. We agreed and were seated. We started chatting and after about 10 minutes our waiter came by to take our order. When we said we hadn't even looked at the menus yet he told us rather sharply that we had "better get moving." Having said that, he was perfectly sweet and attentive the rest of the night and gave us a little leeway on the hour. The food, however, was really just so-so. I had the arugula salad with lentils, goat cheese, berries, and figs. It was fine. A TON of arugula and not much of the rest of the ingredients. Could easily have made a comparable salad at home. The "grilled" Scottish salmon with lemon and herbs was extremely disappointing... it was so charred that all I really tasted was that (although the inside was cooked well). No lemon, no herbs. Served over sad green beans (which my dining partner also received) and a little unimaginative couscous. The dessert sampler was actually a highlight, we did a good job of clearing the plate. But all in all, not worth $35, and I will not be back during restaurant week.
(3)
Hanna L.
My first with Audrey Claire was almost three years ago. I thought it was the most charming restaurant in philly. They always have beautiful, fresh flowers. Though the place is small, I found it exciting (feeling like anybody who knew about anything in philly would be here). I remember having their pork chops with bacon bits and falling in love. Now, I went back to Audrey Claire couple days ago with two girlfriends because it's restaurant week. I got the same maple pork chops as my entree. However, the taste and experience were totally different from three years ago. The meat was huge and dry. It was also too loud for me to have a conversation with my friends. I mostly had to yell things repeatedly for my friends to hear me. The waiters were nice, but I was disappointed overall. Not sure I would go back considering they don't take reservations, the 20-min wait, and their cash only policy.
(3)
Amy P.
Small and cozy restaurant. and BYOB!!! yay!!! (Oh but cash only) There is a liquor store right in front of the restaurant so you can pick a bottle up from there. For me, i didn't know so I had to explore to find a liquor store. ;( I've heard good things about this restaurant and YES.. the food met my expectations. The mussel we ordered for an appetizer was really good. I ordered salmon for my plate which just so-so but my friend's porkchop was AMAZING! I don't like meat so much but it is cooked just right. Very very delicious! :) I'm gonna be back soon to this restaurant. My foodie friend from ny loved this restaurant too.
(4)
Christina G.
We all really enjoyed our meals. There were 4 of us and we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday with no wait time. However, by the time we left, it was a full house and they don't take reservations on weekends. Keep that in mind!
(5)
Jared J.
Audrey Claire is a pretty plain Jane. Walking the block on a cold Philly night a BYO was calling. A pregame have you. We entered around five to a somewhat sparsely populated restaurant. The decor on the inside is plain, and you get a fine look into the kitchen. It's pretty intimate, and I enjoyed the look of the bathroom. Although a negative on a cold night, if you are seated by the door, you will not only be welcomed to a chilling atmosphere but also cold food. After our order went in the restaurant got packed. For one I would like to add that our server was out in left field. You could see him texting on his phone and chatting up other servers. By that means the service blew. We nearly had to beg him to bring out our food and check. If it weren't for the attentive host I would probably give this place two stars. So I decided to ordered the seared Brussel sprouts and Grilled Octopus. The Brussels were recommended by many yelpers, however, the chef instead of searing them burnt the oil in the pan, and the Brussels, thus leaving a somewhat foul taste. For the octopus, the serving was generous and tasted good, but mislabeled on the menu. Once furiously cold, due to the door opening and closing, lost most of its yummy taste. Finally, if you are into plating, don't be surprised here. The food is just thrown on a plate. Would I ever come back here? No.... this place is very basic, but I also can't say to avoid it.
(3)
Lindsay D.
I had dinner here 2 years ago and it was fantastic! I've made 2 additional attempts to go back and each one worse then prior. Attempt #1 we had reservations on a week night for 8pm. We waited in the doorway in fridged weather and the host told us it would just be a few minutes. We stood there for 15 minutes with no additional attention, no updates on a table and eventually just left. Attempt #2 was a gorgeous Saturday night. It was 9pm and I knew they set up outdoor seating. After observing 4 vacant tables outside and 3 inside we stood in the doorway for 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. The restaurant phone rang, the host looked at me and picked up the phone. He took the call outside and left us standing in the doorway. He came back over and simply said "Yes?" I said "Dinner. 2 people. Outside please. " He left us to go get his clipboard and stepped outside. He said "Unfortunately I have nothing available." In total disbelief I said "Are you sure, there are ample vacant tables." His reply was "Super sure. There's a wait list." There were no patrons waiting, there was a total of 7 vacant tables and yet he made ZERO effort to accommodate us. No restaurant is worth that kind of behavior. Get over yourself and learn how to talk to people.
(1)
Grace H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! Cute, quaint, and BYO! I've been taken on 2 dates here, and each time I've loved it more. The parmesan brussel sprouts are one of my staples, as is the zuppa de pesce. The bowl it comes in is huge and piping hot and perfect for sharing! The braised short rib and portobello flatbread is super rich and savory (also a must) and the service is quick and waitstaff friendly. Great window or outdoor seating, depending on the season, and really simple, homey, delicious food.
(5)
Virginie N.
Great food and atmosphere. The pappardelle is great, same with the roasted cauliflower and hummus plate. The restaurant's interior is super cute, and they have a nice outdoor seating section.
(4)
Brittany R.
Went on a Friday night for date night. Was thrilled to get a table right away outside. However, I think they had too many customers that they could handle. We arrived at about 7:30, ordered 15 minutes later and didn't receive our appetizer until 8:25. We had the antipasto which was an excellent choice delicious. But I was so hungry because of that wait that after I ate my portion I was almost full and we still had 2 more courses. Next we had the octopus. It was delicious and large however there wasn't a very generous portion of octopus on the salad. We definitely had less than some of the other dishes that were walked by us. For my entree which I could barely eat I had the salmon. The salmon was good I like that it had this crispy crust around it. I wasn't thrilled with the sides (Cous Cous and string beans). I wound up taking most of it home. All in all delicious, fresh, healthy food but slow and lacking service.
(3)
Ancy T.
This place is definitely delicious and had some fantastic items on their menu including the mussels (the broth was just EVERYTHING). I like that it is small and attempts the cozy feel, but I was having trouble being cozy as it was CRAMMED. I felt like I was sitting on top of the tables on either side of me and it was just really difficult to get comfortable. BYOB is the way to go and that's the best part because it's usually the drinks that really weigh a dinner check down. I had a great time here but it only gets 4 stars because I felt like I was eating dinner with everyone as opposed to just being there with my bf. Too crammed.. maybe take out some tables?
(4)
Vidushi B.
I finally came here for the first time on a Sunday night. Overall, had a good experience, but I wouldn't say it was outstanding, and didn't quite live up to the amazing things I've heard. Whenever my boyfriend and I go out to dinner, I think we order too much food. This was the case again. To start, we got the Antipasti for Two. It was really big, and is the equivalent of at least two, maybe even three, usual appetizers. It was good to try everything, but it was a little overwhelming for me. The best parts were the brussels sprouts, asparagus, and beets. We decided to get 3 smaller dishes, and one big dish. This was too much for us to eat. For the small dishes, we got the Butternut Squash Risotto, the Grilled Octopus, and the Grilled Tiger Shrimp, and the Papperdelle big dish: - Risotto: I really liked this, as I have never tasted risotto cooked with squash or anything of the sort. However, the flavor gets repetitive in your mouth, so definitely plan on sharing. - Octopus: I only had a bite of this, so I can't say much - but it's more of a salad. - Tiger Shrimp: I love shrimp, so I might be biased, but I really liked them. They are served on top of sweet potato so it was delicious. - Pappardelle: I love Pappardelle, probably my favorite pasta. I liked how the pasta was light, but that also meant it was a little bland. Could have used some more spice/flavor, in my opinion. The ambiance is intimate, and there isn't much to say besides that it has an open kitchen. It can get really crowded/cramped. The service was pretty good also, however they are cash only so beware of that. It is really nice that it is BYOB though, so you can come here on a date but bring your own choice of wine!
(4)
Mary Kate R.
My boyfriend and I came here for his birthday dinner and we were not disappointed! Everything we ordered came out wonderfully. We both agreed that we would come back for the pork chop alone...it was incredible and the apple chutney it was served with was crave worthy! The mussels appetizer is very large and filling. We loved that it was a BYO and we sat inside near the open windows...definitely a pleasant touch. One star knocked off because the tomato and mozzarella appetizer left me unimpressed, mainly because the tomato had a grainy texture to it. Also, we were rubbing elbows with people on both sides of us, so not the most private setting for a birthday dinner! Overall, a wonderful experience with great service and delicious food. I would come back!
(4)
Spurti R.
Service was subpar, food came out cold and most of all every dish was terribly under seasoned.
(2)
Robert S.
Had dinner with three friends at 6. Nice ambience, was still mostly empty. Service: needs a top to bottom and bottom up culture change. BYOB but don't have wine glasses (offered large shot glasses instead). Waiters are uniformed in raggedy old undershirts, start their recitation of specials when they're still two tables away and when you're mid-sentence, decline taking appetizer orders before entrees, and offer dessert only after you've paid the bill. Sloppy, careless, at times borderline rude. There were two guys serving us and both were the same. My pork chop was way overcooked and rubbery, the seared tuna tasted like steamed tofu, and the chioppino was served by the gallon.
(1)
Yona G.
Pretty interesting place. Went there on a Tuesday night with a friend. We tried different things but what I enjoyed the most was the duck. Delicious!! Must try! One thing that I thought was funny is the fact that their wine glasses are so small, I guess because of the space they have they have to minimize as much as they can the space on their tables. We asked for "regular" wine glasses though.
This is a great little place, it's BYOB and the food & service were great! We weren't able to get a reservation because they book up so fast, so we did have to wait a while for the table but we didn't mind too much. I had a grilled flatbread with pear & gorgonzola and it was very tasty. I also got the arugula salad with candied figs & goat cheese, excellent. I did try one of my friends grilled artichokes which I also loved. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, it's great for a romantic mean or a night out with friends.
(4)
Carol H.
A cozy spot, I'm a fan of the food and the minimal decor. Had the antipasti for two and it was so filling, we could've stopped there! Highly recommend the salted beets and pumpkin. Their brisket just melted in your mouth. I will definitely be returning.
(4)
Kristen M.
I took my roommate to a very belated birthday dinner here on a Tuesday night. She had been once before and raved about it. She's a healthy-minded eater, a lot of nuts, fruits, yogurt, vegetables. I myself am a real meat and potatoes and donuts kind of gal. Knowing that this was a sibling of Twenty Manning (bison burger hey!), of which I am fond of, I thought I'd be OK. We walked in around 6:30 to a somewhat empty restaurant, with no reservations. Seated immediately no problem. Can't imagine what is like when it's crowded, the tables are very close to one another. Our bottle of wine was opened for us and our waters filled. When we were having trouble deciding what to order, I asked if we could put in our apps then waiter come back to take our order for the entree. Nope, not allowed, no partial orders. OK, weird, restaurant is practically empty. We asked for a few more minutes to plan our attack, we started with the the pear and Gorgonzola flat bread and grilled brussel sprouts as an appetizer. I had the butternut squash risotto as my entree. Roommate had the pumpkin salad as her entree. Everything was good, but nothing to rave about. I left still feeling hungry. Perhaps we just didn't order the correct things. I figured out the place was cash only after we sat down, so I counted the money I had in my wallet and hoped for the best. The meal was very affordable and the BYOB factor helps, but I still don't quite understand why people rave about this place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sharlene C.
byob doesn't hurt. it was a gorgegous evening in philly and my pals recommended this spot as i was in town for work. we shared the mussels, octopus, pork chop and salmon. all fine dishes. the mussels and octopus were considered "small" plates but plenty for all three of us. tis cash only but there's an atm in the market across the street. pork is perfect for three as there is triplet of rack goodness.
(4)Alex F.
I've been to Audrey Claire plenty of times and whenever I have friends come to visit and they want to go out somewhere that's BYOB, has a fairly diverse menu, and a great area nearby to walk around before and after, this and Twenty Manning is where I recommend. The food's great, the service is usually great, and despite the appearance of being very crowded (which at a place like this is a good thing), they always seem to be able to get us in fairly quickly. I like that when you sit at the tables you're very close in proximity to your stranger-neighbors, however some people might not like this at all. If you're looking for a quiet spot, this is not it.
(4)Lauren H.
One of my favorite BYOBs in Philadelphia. The outdoor seating is lovely, and inside, though it's a small space and I was with a group of five people on a Friday night, I never felt cramped or like we were invading others' dinner conversations. The Mediterranean style menu is divine, divided into two sections - "smaller dishes" and "larger dishes". The smaller dishes are perfect for sharing - I recommend the grilled artichokes, the gorgonzola/baby pear grilled flatbread, and the various Mediterranean spreads, of which you can choose three out of five choices. The larger dishes are seasonal, but if the grilled halibut or the roasted chicken with pomengranate molasses are available, I'd give my highest recommendation to those two. They were cooked to perfection. The wait staff was attentive, courteous and polite. We got there fairly early on a Friday night, and by the time we left, around 8:30, there was a line out the door. Take note: They DO NOT take reservations and they are CASH ONLY. Make sure you stop at an ATM beforehand.
(5)Lily C.
I love Audrey Claire. It is one of my go-to restos in Philly. BYO, don't forget (bc I always do)! I love the tzatziki spread and the beet salad. Also the flat breads (I prefer the pear & gorgonzola one) are tasty. For mains, I like the paperadelle. Oh yeah, and the brussel sprouts are tasty w/ lots of parmesan cheese, delish.
(4)Kaitlin D.
Went for a bachelorette party with a HUGE group - we were there pretty early for a Saturday night dinner (6 pm) so we were seated much more easily than expected. Did the prix-fixe menu, which had more than enough options to accomodate the picky eaters in our group. Brussel sprouts were very good, as were the other first courses around me (flat bread, hummus spread, grilled romaine). I had the sole which was delicious. The bread pudding for dessert was to die for, I'd go back just for that. All in all - a great meal, but perhaps a little heavy on the portion sizes. The server was very accomodating and knowledgeable.
(5)Tanja S.
Dining with a friend here one evening solidified my love for Philadelphia. audrey claire is, simply put, wonderful. The atmosphere, staff, and each dish that came out was perfect. The granny smiths sitting on each white-cloth tables were simple but set the whole mood. It is a BYOB which is fantastic but cash-only (the reason for 4 stars-who carries cash anymore??). We ordered 3 appetizers, an entree and a dessert and each was absolutely delicious. The portions were just right-not so little that you are each grabbing for the last bits, but not so much where you go into a food coma trying to finish your plate. The seared holoumi cheese was divine. The risotto was perfectly cooked and not overly creamy-just flavorful. The seared brussell sprouts with shaved parmesan had just the right texture and amount of cheese. Our tile fish was bursting with flavor and perfectly moist without being mushy. The chocolate volcano cake was the perfect end to all the delicious flavors. Although not a very extensive menu, it was almost impossible to narrow down our choices since everything (literally, every. single. item) sounded amazing. I will absolutely be going back here to try the rest of the menu!
(4)C K.
minimalist decor, sterile feeling for restaurant, OK service, overpriced food, would not go back.
(2)Kathryn M.
Great atmosphere and great food. I heard mixed reviews about this place for a long time but always wanted to visit. I have to say I was not disappointed.
(4)Alex M.
All 3 stars are for the atmosphere, its just a fun spot to eat. bring lots of wine because the food is average on the best of nights. the service is below average. my favorite audrey claire moment? when my waitress tried to make creme brulee in front of us (since the kitchen is wide open) and was completely terrified of the torch. the result? a creme brulee that had no crust. i mean, caaamaaan. my recommendation? walk down to melograno!
(3)Brendan O.
i live right around the corner - and love having this place so close. Most of the waiters here are awesome and i love the casual feel. The food is good for the price point and if they added some sort of noise dimmers I would give this place a 5.
(4)R C.
I love their appetizers. Could easily eat a whole meal of them.
(5)Irene S.
Audrey Claire is not like being in Philly at all. It's like a charming little bite out of the countryside and when the weather is obliging, these grand cafe windows swing wide open inviting cool breezes to carry on their playful dance inside. For tables spaced inches apart, fresh air is a welcome guest at dinner. What Audrey Claire lacks in providing an intimate setting for private conversations (that is, unless your idea of such is in the literal sense like sitting hip-to-hip or maybe on the lap of the stranger beside you) more than makes up in its success in fostering warm collectivity. For reasonably sized groups and parties, this is a sprightly venue even the urban paisano can appreciate. The idea at this BYOB is family-style -- exchanging forkfuls, sharing echoes, laughter, ideas, stories -- and you'll fare best with the chalkboard specials, grilled octopus insalate, chops and the flavorful pappardelle (a personal favorite). CASH ONLY.
(3)Hayley G.
I'm pretty torn about Audrey Claire. It's a fun, trendy atmosphere and I've had some great meals here. But I've also had some thoroughly "meh" dinners here that didn't merit the price tag by any stretch of the imagination. And it always has a long wait.
(3)Manda M.
It's a shame the service is so hit or miss here, because otherwise it could be a fantastic restaurant. As others have noted, our waitress was rude and unhelpful, acting as if she were annoyed that we were there. She listed the specials, asked if we had any questions, and left before we could ask her. When we asked if they happened to have any proper wine glasses (the ones they have are the size of a double shot glass) she curtly said "No" and walked away. When I asked for a recommendation between the duck and the chicken, she said "Chicken" then took my menu and walked away before I could confirm if that was what I wanted. The food was delicious but I felt very unwelcome and it made the whole night less enjoyable. I shouldn't have to worry about whether I'm annoying my waitress.
(2)Claire C.
I do not understand the hype about this restaurant. I've been here twice and both times was disappointed, after trying about five different entrees. Food is too simple and lacking flavor or style. Roasted chicken, grilled salmon, and pappardelle with mushroom were all underwhelming. Pasta was so unflavorful I had to add a lot of black pepper and cheese. Salmon was okay, just simple if you like that, but definitely something I could make better at home. Appetizer seared brussel sprouts was also bland. All in all, I've been to much betterbyobs in the area, and this one was definitely not worth how much we paid.
(2)Radhika M.
I can't give Audrey Claire any stars because we were never given a table. I live in this neighborhood and was excited to celebrate a special day with friends. We were told we would have to wait 30 minutes for a table, which was perfectly fine. We came back after 40 minutes when we never received a call from them and they said we would be seated shortly. While we waited another 15 minutes, 3 parties were seated before us and all three had clearly walked in without a reservation. We left after the third table was given to someone else. By that time it was too late to get dinner at any other neighboring restaurants. The only thing I can assume is some type of discrimination. I tried to think if I said something rude or came across as disrespectful, but I definitely was not! These are tough economic times for everyone and the decision to go out and celebrate is not a light one. Sadly, I will never go back there or to any other restaurants owned by them (Twenty Manning) again. I refuse to give any money to a business who is discriminatory and practices rude behavior.
(1)Kathy L.
The watermelon feta salad with jalapenos is absolutely the most delicious salad on earth. I could go to Audrey Claire, just order this dish (maybe 2 or 3) and be absolutely content. I've been here a few times and have only been unhappy with one dish, the gazpacho. Otherwise, the flat breads, grilled artichokes, shrimp sweet potato salad, grilled fish, ribeye, etc. etc. were wonderful. I would have taken one star off for the service we had last night. It was painful listening to the waitress trying to recall the specials menu. She poured water all over the place when she tried to refill our glasses. Took forever to get our order in and actually came back to double check if she had written it down correctly (and she didn't). We waited forever for our entrees, with no apologies or remorse. It was a late dinner after 9pm. Her only redeeming quality was that she was unorganized enough not to charge us for dessert and coffee. Felt slightly guilty but entitled.
(5)Lynn C.
I personally liked the stark decor - it was simple, but the atmosphere was still cozy and warm. The food was great - small plates, with a lot of vegetarian options - great for sharing. The waiters were very friendly and competent. Make sure you BYOB if you wanna drink, and be prepared to talk loudly.
(4)Kim P.
I can't actually review the food here because we NEVER got seated. My two friends and I arrived on Saturday night around 8pm. We were told there was an hour to hour and fifteen minute wait. Ok, fine. We gave the host our name and cell number and went across the street to 20 Manning for a drink. After an hour and a half we went back over to check (and make sure he had the right number) and the host said we were "up next as soon as a few tables leave". We waited another 20 minutes and then gave up. We went across the street to 20 Manning and ended up eating there. Guess what....we never got a phone call telling us our table was ready. And I paid $17 for three chewy, overdone ricotta ravioli at 20 Manning. My advice to you...avoid this place on the weekends (they don't take reservations then) unless you plan on eating really late or early or giving up and going someplace else. Very disappointing.
(1)Ashley H.
I loved that it was a BYOB. Went there with coworkers and the waiter was fun and truly took care of us. We were seated early and enjoyed a great assortment of apps and entrees. Very aromatic, very enjoyable
(4)Emily C.
Very cute BYOB with good food and service. I've been twice and really like artichoke appetizer, and lamb and duck entrees. The grilled octopus salad and mussels were also good.
(4)Sean W.
I've been going here for years, and keep coming back again and again. I highly recommend sticking with a full tasting of the appetizers. They're always the best selections on the menu, and perfect to share with a few friends or a date. Go during the warmer months, when all the windows are open. It's the perfect atmosphere. I always thought that the menu needed more frequent revisions, but all-in-all it's good.
(3)P H.
We had a wonderful dinner here. We were lucky to get here early for a table since the restaurant quickly filled up and there was a crowd waiting to get in. In spite of the waiting crowd, we were not rushed at all. The service was great and very helpful in making suggestions and in pouring the beers we got at the market across the street. We really liked the BYOB aspect and saved us a bit of cash since the restaurant is cash only. That was the only downside to the whole evening but at least we had read about it ahead of time on their website and were prepared with sufficient cash. The variety of hummus available was quite good and we thoroughly enjoyed them all. We shared appetizers and entrees with no problem. The sole was incredible and was our favorite dish. The char was also quite good. We would certainly go there again if we lived in Philly! But go early to get a table or be prepared to wait!
(5)matthew l.
Rarely is minimalist done so well and so, well, minimal. From the long bench tables to the simple southern Italian stemless wine glasses, this Rittenhouse Square stalwart knows what its about and serves very good food at reasonable prices. And proves that a simple bowl of apples or a single sunflower can set an aesthetic high mark as effectively as much more expensive bric a brac. Very shibui!
(4)Anne R.
I went there for the first time with a friend last night. We made reservations and we're seated promptly. My friend got the salmon (she raved about the couscous) and I got the arugula salad (excellent) and the pear flatbread (ok). It was unfortunately incredibly loud so we were shouting at each other and we weren't even in the middle of another group of patrons. Unfortunately, what was a pleasant evening was ruined when the waitress (who did apologize) asked us to leave minutes after paying our bill when we had already put on our coats and were just minutes away from finishing our conversation. Making us feel very awkward and putting a sour note onto the end of our evening. So three stars not four.
(2)Deborah D.
This is one of my favorite places to eat, but tonight it was so loud that it literally made me nauseous and unable to eat. There was a birthday party and they were having fun and everything but the noise was deafening. It completely spoiled my meal, my time with my husband and the night in general. I really feel the wait staff should have, kindly, suggested that the noisy table turn down the volume in consideration to the other patrons. Love it usually. Totally sucked tonight.
(1)Maunik P.
Best BYO in town hands down. Food is prepared with attention. Great date spot, a definite panty-dropper...
(5)Lindsay T.
FYI - They do not take reservations!
(3)RESPECT MY A.
eh. it's just ok. the food is consumer friendly... that's about the best i can put it. i've been twice and i didn't find the food to be as fresh as everyone raves. it's an alright spot for the NOVICE foodie or penn students with their carlo rossi, i'll pass. service stunk on my first visit, second time around was a little bit better (none the less snooty). i have no desire to return.
(2)Courtney J.
Since I'm new to Philadelphia, I'm always asking for restaurant recommendations and Audrey Claire always comes up as a favorite. So we tried it on a Thursday night (we were able to get reservations the day of, but they don't do reservations on the weekends) and it was still pretty packed. We sat outside only because the weather was perfect (not too hot, not too cold). Sometimes when you sit outdoors the servers forget about you, but not so with AC. This was some of the nicest service I've had since moving here. Overall, the food was pretty good, but not great. I would go back again for the pear, blue cheese and pinenut flatbread pizza. My husband had their butterfish special and it truly was buttery and delectable. Chloe in Old City seems similar to me, but I actually prefer Chloe. I had the grilled caesar salad at both places and the one at Chloe was pretty damn good, worthy of another visit. But I digress...AC had great atmosphere and service, but I'm still looking for my ultimate favorite in Philly.
(4)liz l.
i love the atmosphere here, especially in the summer. bring a bottle of wine, enjoy tasty food, people watch. great!
(3)Cate W.
I just experienced Audrey Claire for the first time this week- which happened to be restaurant week. The restaurant is chic, but small, so when we arrived for our 9:30 reservation all of the tables were still full! The host asked us if we minded going across the street to 20 Manning for a drink, and they would call for us in about 20 minutes. We ended up waiting for an hour. The food was a mixture of really great and not that great. The starters were excellent. As there were six of us, we got to try a variety of plates and all were super tasty. My main course was good, except that the pork was over cooked. And unfortunately the panna cotta I had for dessert was the consistency and flavor of berry yogurt. The staff was ok, some were very friendly and others were a bit short. I am chalking up all of the negative aspects of the night to it being a VERY busy night during restaurant week- plus it was the end of the night for the staff. I would definitely go back to Audrey Claire as the atmosphere was great and the potential for the food is fantastic.
(4)kristen k.
I have to say that Audrey Claire is one of my favorites. We love to sit at the counter(where there is never a wait) and have a casual and simple dinner. Go across the street to 20 Manning for a quick cocktail if you are waiting for a table (their sister rest.) and they will call you. My mouth is watering at the thought of the gorgonzola and bosc pear flatbread with sunflower seeds(I would actually cry if they removed this from the menu), the mussels full of tomatoey, garlic sauce, and I suspect butter, to dip your bread into. We love their small plates, as it's great to sample a bit of everything. The grilled caesar tasted of gas unfortunately, but they have great items off the grill and the parpadelle with mushrooms was fantastic. If you are one of the three people in this world who like brussel sprouts--try them! Your mother would be proud. This is a simple restaurant without heavy overpowering sauces; the fare and atmosphere is full of freshness, and fun. The service is great, unpretentious, but they do get busy. Bring your favorite bottle, and enjoy!!
(5)Keith R.
Cute BYOB right off of Rittenhouse square. It's usually pretty crowded and for good reason, the Mediterranean inspired cuisine is original and delicious. The menu is seasonal using meats and vegetables that the chef thinks are most fresh during that particular season. The menu is divided into 4 parts: flat breads, antipasta, small dishes, and large dishes. The flat breads typically have some cheese and vegetables. They seem to be a big hit, but weren't my thing because I only like simple cheese (yes, all cheese lovers can cringe). The small dishes provide a nice variety and include some salads. I had the PEI mussels which were perfectly cooked and a generous portion. The large dishes are mostly meats/poultry/fish though I think there was a vegetarian one. Most come with a starch of some sort. I had chicken with pomegranite molasses which was amazing. Pefectly cooked. The salmon and lamb my friends had were excellent as well. Desserts must rotate pretty often because they are written on a chalk board nearby. We split blackberry-apple bread pudding which was outstanding. I pretty much wanted to try all of them. IIRC there was also pumpkin pie, vanilla risotto pudding, and a pot de creme. Definitely worth checking out and very reasonably priced. The only downside for me besides not loving the pita breads was that they don't take credit cards.
(5)Aria S.
This place is so good!! They unfortunately don't take reservations but fortunately Friday at 730ish i got a table for 2 immediately. Otherwise he said it's usually a 45min wait. My friend and I ordered 3 small plates and a side of the Brussels sprouts. The server said it would be on the lighter side but I was stuffed and we had food left on the table. The risotto was creamy and so simple but somehow so effing good. The haloumi was also tasty but salty (that's just the cheese though) but it was good. The pita was also amazing - get the tahini!!! It's creamy not liquidy like normal. Skip the avocado hummus it was whatevs. The Brussels sprouts didn't impress like cray or anything but good veggie to have. Can't wait to go back! Yum.
(5)CD L.
Charming, pretty little restaurant. Loved the outdoor seating on a warm May evening. Excellent service. Food came promptly. Tempting menu. Very good pear & gorgonzola flat bread. Execution slightly off for other dishes. Grilled octopus was tough with little flavor. Perfectly cooked spring pea risotto lacked depth of flavor. Arugula salad with warm figs and berries, very good except for some yellow leaves. Overall terrific experience, but attention to small food details and fine tuning seasoning will make it a keeper.
(3)Hannah M.
This place is going downhill. I like the simple ambiance and plain decor, but the food is not the best and I didn't love the staff. Our group of 7 was made to wait 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. Also, it's so small and SO loud.
(2)Marie W.
Happy to say that I had a solid 4 star experience at Audrey Claire - although I feel like it should be a salon or a boutique with that name. Anyway, went w/ 2 friends on a late summer evening. Glad I sat outside because the noise inside was overwhelming. The server was prompt, attentive and helpful. The small plates were well executed & delicious. The stand out for me was a flatbread special with Gorgonzola, figs, honey and sunflower seeds. Only my dignity held me back from ordering another on them spot. Also had heirloom tomatoes, arugula salad, and risotto. The only thing that could have been better was the octopus small plate. I found the little guys rubbery to tough, with a not in a good way fishy aftertaste. I love octopus when it's done right, but this didn't compare to the rest of the meal. Overall a sweet way to spend a summer evening w/ friends.
(4)Brandon D.
Appetizer: The artichoke dish was great; whatever marinade was used I'd like to use myself. Over and over and over. Entree: One of the best sole dishes I've ever had- crust was just thick enough and perfectly salty from the capers. Super efficient kitchen here. Service was friendly and prompt-- an absolutely excellent experience.
(5)Jacqueline O.
Constantly delicious. One of the best meals you will find in this city and my sisters favorite Restaurant. When it is warm outside there is outdoor seating. . . Just know it is a byob that only takes cash. Also you should call ahead for a reservation, there is not a lot of seating and it fills up quickly .
(5)Tagli B.
Haven't been to this neighborhood BYOB in a few years but it was so worth the return. We showed up on a summer Thursday with no reservation at 6:00 pm. They were so nice- offered us a table inside but said they had a 7:30 reservation. Offered us a table outside with no time issue. We opted outside as it was nice night. Glad we did as it was so loud inside later in the night. The place was completely packed by 7 with people waiting. Our waiter was so patient as we talked and enjoyed the evening. We finally ordered the flatbread special with figs and Gorgonzola. Great. We had the grilled baby Caesar which was as good as we remembered and the grilled octopus salad. I had the crab and avocado small plate and the sweet pea risotto. Also had the fish special which was excellent. It was all so good and such a nice evening. Will plan to go back.
(4)Raghu H.
Perfect for a date night! But, beware- cash only! The haloumi was creative and the risotto was refreshing while maintaining its comfort food status. Definitely lived up to the hype.
(4)Kelly K.
I always have a great dining experience here. I think the seafood options are your best bet. I have the pear and gorgonzola flat breat for an appetizer ever time I go - it's lite and has a really nice mix of flavors. I've had the beets and grilled octopus (smaller dishes) - both were good, but didn't stand out. For the bigger dishes, I've tried the tuna and pork chop that were both exceptional. It's also BYOB so that's a plus! The only negative is that it is really small and loud inside so I prefer to sit outside as long as the weather is nice. You can make reservations on the weekdays which is a nice option since there is always a long wait on the weekends.
(4)Mimmi M.
Went here with my husband a saturday evening, we arrived around 5 pm, then it was empty but the restaurant became full very fast. We tried: - Antipasti for two :( The flavors did not get together, there was no common thread. Just a lot of hot vegetables on a plate, boring. Avoid it! - Short Rib Flatbread :I Nice, didn´t taste so much but ok. Like a smaller pizza, perfect to share if you are 4 persons. - Seared halloumi w/ candied dates and sesame fig compote :) This was the best we ate, very good combination of salt and sweet, crunchy and soft. 4 pieces of cheese, perfect to share for 2 persons. - Grilled octopus w/ feta, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon over green :) This was more like salad, sadly the feta cheese was the only taste we could taste, but it was fresh and big, almost like a main dish. - Grilled tiger shrimp and roasted sweet potatoes w/ baby arugula :) The shrimps was good and perfect cooked, the sweet potato pure was also nice. 4 shrimps, good to share for 2 persons. The menu was a bit variable, some dishes were amazing while others were less good. But if you find the good ones, this place is perfect! It feels like a European restaurant which I like a lot. And the staff was very friendly, we will definitely come back!
(4)Christine N.
Remember - it's BYOB. Audrey Claire is an excellent place to host a large party. I have been to three dinners here where our party was 20+ people. One of the dinners was a 30-person party and they were kind enough to accommodate us. Their three-course meal pricing is also very reasonable. Standouts: - All the mediterranean spreads - Mussels - Rack of lamb
(4)David S.
I'm glad we called for reservations, even though we arrived before 6 on a Thursday night. We had the hummus/smoked salmon flatbread (quite tasty), the tuna (I was AMAZED by the beets) and chicken, and warm chocolate cake for dessert. Service was fine -- friendly and well-paced.
(4)Sam B.
It's a nice neighborhood restaurant. Small and quaint, I would call it a good date spot. BYOB, which is never a bad thing. Price is a little steep but it's a good place, interesting dishes to explore.
(4)Lili W.
I really hate to give this a 3-star rating. I've been to Audrey Claire many times and had one bad experience -- so I'm really directing this review towards management. I couldn't find contact information on Audrey Claire's website so I'm sharing my thoughts here. I came here for my boyfriends birthday dinner with his family -- 5 people total. It happened to be restaurant week when we came and our waitress was rude. I asked her what the popular dishes were and she rolled her eyes and said "obviously it depends on what you like". My boyfriends father asked about her tattoo because he thought it was interesting and she just annoyingly said "it's a gear". At the end, she charged us a 20% gratuity on top of our bill. From my understanding, this was only the rule when 6+ people are at a table and we had 5. I would've paid 20% tip, but I still think the waitress should've been friendly enough to provide us with a pleasant dining experience. Although the food was good per usual, I felt sour about the treatment. The poor service unfortunately overshadowed the good food and dinner with company I don't see too often.
(3)Victoria L.
We came here for Restaurant Week, which was perfect weather to sit outside. For appetizer, I ordered the Mediterranean spread with hummus, a tuna white bean dip, and tzatziki. I'm not a fan of tuna at all but it wasn't all that bad. For entree, the waiter recommended the lemon sole with cous cous. Not disappointed but nothing special, though it had lots of Mediterranean flavors. My friend got the spicy penne arrabiata with large tiger shrimp that was tasty and the shrimp were pretty significantly sized and cooked well. My other friend got maple brine pork chop with wild boar bacon...the sweet and savory flavors of that dish are amazing, mmm. The desserts were all pretty standard: creme brulee, chocolate lava cake, and bread pudding. Like most Restaurant Week desserts, they're nothing special. A great BYO in the city. I'd definitely like to come back and order off their full menu, which has a lot more variety.
(4)Melanie L.
Giving Audrey Claire a 2 for a few reasons: the staff was extremely unfriendly, the host took 10 minutes to greet us at the door, the servers were constantly rolling their eyes at the fact we were standing by the door and the food was simply moderate. We got the Brussels sprouts, which were good, but standard sautéed Brussels sprouts, and the pork chop, which was tough and watery. The wait was 1.5 hours but you an sit at a the high top bar right away. Presentation of the food and atmosphere of the place were great but other than that everything fell far short of expectation. Probably wouldn't come running back, but it is BYOB Which is nice.
(2)Paul P.
LOUD - don't come here if you want to talk. Think family style tables with "coz"y seating, and not a lot of seats either. BYOB - yeah! Had dinner in a Sunday night and the place was packed, seating for our reservation was delayed 10 minutes, (glad we were already late) but no big deal. Did I mention this place is loud? Shared a Gorgonzola, pear and sunflower seed flatbread, WOW - packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. I had the rack of lamb entree and it was very nice, but cooked more med-well than the med-rare I ordered. Red bliss mashed, asparagus and the mint favored "sour cream" (what was that) were very nice. Rest of the family had the two chicken dishes and were happy. The pomegranate molasses was a bit too sweet, but a nice change of pace. Service was attentive without being overwhelming. Not a big fan of cash only places, but we knew this coming in so no issue there. Overall, family rating is 4 star. Noise being the biggest factor holding back from a 5.
(4)CJ G.
5 stars for the food, service, attentive staff, wait time, ambiance and decor. Had the butternut squash soup, salmon and lamb.
(5)Jeff H.
I really wanted to like this place. The food is creative and they mesh flavors well. We ordered their special for the evening (a NY Strip steak), lamb, and the grilled octopus. The octopus is great, but it's more of a salad which was unexpected. Maybe I just read it wrong? The steak may have been the worse steak I've ever had. Tough, fatty, and utterly bland. Looking back I shouldn't have ordered steak at this place but if it's on the menu it should be cooked well. My wife's lamb was bland but she did not complain. All the sides were fine. I will try this place again, just stay away from the red meat.
(2)Jordan P.
Living in Center City during the rain is an ideal situation to be in when you're trying to go out for a nice dinner with a gal pal. The restaurants are emptier, the service is more attentive, and the warmth inside of a cozy spot like Audrey Claire is palpable relative to the chilly drizzle outside. Seasonally, the green apples on the tables have been replaced with tiny pumpkins. Speaking of pumpkin, it played a solid role on the menu, featuring in a pumpkin hummus and roasted pumpkin salad. My buddy and I started the night off with the pear and gorgonzola flatbread, a go-to first course for us. We also both ordered our salads (her - grilled caesar, and a roasted pumpkin, parsnip, and shaved locatelli for me). While we waited, we enjoyed our bread with a side of olive oil. Over the course of the evening, we enjoyed two "baskets" (read: loaf pans) of the bread, the first being INCREDIBLY delicious and the second tasting faintly like a grocery store baguette... That didn't stop us from gabbing and giggling over tiny tumblers of our BYOBs of choice (Malbec for my buddy and German beer for this chick). The flatbread was crispy, salty, and sweet (as it always is). A perfect starter. Perfect timing, right as we finished our flatbread, our salads were brought over to our table. Delicious, fresh ground pepper finished it up nicely. Every bite was delicious, and their to-go containers felt very secure when I couldn't quite finish my salad. Oddly enough, though, one major standout from the night to me was the oasis of the bathroom. Truly a stellar restroom experience, when that door shut, the din of the fairly loud restaurant was brought down to almost a whisper. Whatever potpourri or spray they're using in there, I want to bottle and use at home all the time. The soap was a nice quality, the decorator did a bang up job in there, and it almost made me want to spend more time in the bathroom than in the restaurant itself. Luckily, the promise of a creme brulee lured me out of the restroom and back to my table for a decadent dessert. Cash only, reservations accepted Sunday through Thursday but come the weekends, you're on your own. The prices, IMHO, aren't outrageous, and the service is grade-A.
(5)Sinéad O.
best amtipasti ever: eggplant, artichoke, aparagus, olives, mushrooms, & peppers. mmm-mmm. always clean and simple, always delicious and perfectly portioned. plus everyone is super nice. major points in my book for having a completely nut-free menu; as a diner that persistently carries an epi pen in case of nut consumption- thank you!!
(4)jennifer c.
This is one of best Restaurant Week experiences! I went there last week for the first time and it also did happen to be Restaurant Week. I was really impressed by the choices; unlike other restaurants Audrey Claire does not limit their choices during Restaurant Week because they typically have a prix fixe menu. The portions are HUGE- I actually left with a container of leftovers of all three of my courses.
(5)Sara P.
If I knew how to do it, AC would get Zero Stars from me. Last week I had a number of clients and vendors here for a work related project and tried to think of a nice place to take them for dinner. We had read a number of good things about Audrey Claire, so I checked Yelp, then called AC for details. I learned that it is a cash only business and BYOB so I had to herd the guests, go buy wine, and stop at the ATM. That was ok but not the easiest thing to do at the end of a long work day. If it was a good meal, as I had anticipated, it might have been worth it. Eek! Methinksnot. When we stepped inside we discovered it was so loud the waiter could not hear our pleas to "please let us out of here." Using hand signals, we were able to manage to get moved to outside seats where we thought we finally arrived at a nice meal. We had to have several small metal tables pushed together to accommodate our group. We referred to some guests who were at a small table on the lower side of the sidewalk as being at the "kids table." We were greeted nicely by Max and Christine our server. We thought the menu looked good, especially for those of us who love vegetables and wanted to eat the smaller sized dishes. I guess my one star can be attributed to the fact that AC let us have most dishes without the cheese, making them healthy vegetable meals. The food was ok, not spectacular, but I was happy that beets, squashes and brussel sprouts were prominently displayed. After we ate, we discovered that AC does not give you receipts for your meal. The check didn't even look like a real check; you could not tell how the addition was actually done. I asked our server for a receipt. I explained that it was a business dinner and I need a receipt to get reimbursed. I had just spent several hundred dollars for small plates of veggies, traipsed through center city to find wine to bring with me, and won't get reimbursed for for the meal? Are you kidding AC? Why wouldn't you give a receipt? I can only conclude that AC doesn't want my business. So, I won't be back. PS: I am writing this update to clarify what I wrote about AC. The service was terrific and the food was good. Like I mentioned above, the vegetable variety was great, and Max and Christine nicely greeted us and accommodated our requests to be moved outside, sit together, and order small plates for a group of five. The restaurant however is not designed for large (five people) work-related groups. It was too loud (perhaps that is a sign of its success?), the tables were not large enough to sit us away from the noise easily; it is cash only making it difficult (at least for this card-carrying girl) to spend a lot of money; and the lack of a receipt makes it impossible for someone (at least everywhere I have ever worked) to get reimbursed. So, this might be a nice place for someone else. It was not a nice place for me to entertain out of town guests for dinner.
(1)Rebert M.
Very nice experience here. Food was good, service was great, ambiance and location very nice. I will go again.
(4)Lilly S.
Beautifully presented food and very tasty. Three of us for under $100 (cash only), but we were very hungry and tried lots and lots from the menu....Yummy and yes, i will go again when in Philly :)
(4)Roopa S.
One of my favorite new restaurants in Philadelpha, and I'd go back in a heartbeat. That's the overall gist of my review, but here are more details: Came here for dinner with a group of 4 others for restaurant week. The place was completely packed (7:00 PM reservation) but it was small and charming. Not too much decor but still had a sophisticated, clean type of look which I appreciated. FIRST COURSE: +bosc pear and gorgonzola w/ toasted sunflower seeds: This was one of my favorites of the night, and one of the best flatbreads I've tasted to date. The fruit with the slightly pungent cheese and crispy, light flatbread was so amazing. And that, with the slight crunch from the sunflower seeds... +seared brussel sprouts w/ shaved parmesan: I'm a huge fan of brussels sprouts, and there was something about the way this dish was prepared that made it extra special; perhaps it was the searing that gave it a potent taste. The flavors were overpowering, but so delicious. And the parmesan shavings to top it all off were perfect! +seared haloumi w/ candied dates and sesame fig compote: This was my favorite of the night. I am newly obsessed with haloumi, and fig-related foods. The sweetness mixed with the fried texture of the haloumi made for an interesting and unique flavor that I'm now craving as I write about it. +baby arugula salad w/ candied figs, fresh berries, french lentils and warm goat cheese: This was tasty, but not anything amazing. I'm not a huge salad fan and don't really see much of a differentiation factor between salads, but this one was done well. I would have loved more goat cheese and more figs (there were only about 3) in the salad, but nonetheless it was still tasty. Just nothing out of the ordinary. +mediterranean spreads: spicy hummus, tzatziki, white bean-tuna: I'm vegetarian, so I can only speak about the hummus and tzatziki. I liked this dish, but again it was nothing special. The pita breads this dish came with were tasty and toasted, slightly crispy but also soft in the middle. The portion size is fairly large for this dish, which I liked. MAIN COURSE: +pappardelle w/portobello mushrooms, sautéed arugula, toasted sunflower seeds and shaved locatelli: This was one of the best restaurant pasta dishes I've had. Again, with this kind of thing, I'm often let down by the vegetarian pasta options at restaurants just because I feel like I could create a similar dish at home, for half the cost. This one was special, and everyone at my table agreed. The noodles were buttery, the mushrooms were cooked perfectly and seasoned so well, the sunflower seeds added some crunch, and the cheese was melty over the noodles. The portion size was great too. DESSERT: The dessert "sampler" came with the following for the table: +chocolate lava cake: Impeccably done. Moist and decadent, perfectly chocolately but not too sweet, and soft and oozey in the middle. So hard to accomplish, but Audrey Claire did it so well. +panna cotta: Personally, not a huge fan of panna cotta, but everyone at my table loved it (and some claimed it was their favorite of the dessert sampler). +cinnamon apple bread pudding: Loved this! My first time trying bread pudding, and this was deliciously warm and chewy until it kind of melted in your mouth with the cinnamon and sweet fruit flavor. +rice pudding: Not a fan of rice pudding, but people at my table liked this one. It wasn't raved about though. +creme brûlée: Again, not a creme brûlée fan but this one was presented beautifully and the people at my table liked it. There was a hard, sugary coating and a light, fluffy custard beneath. RANDOM MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS: -They don't take reservations on Fridays and Saturdays, which could be kind of a bummer -It is cash only! -Service isn't all that great (waiters and waitresses don't seem to be happy to be working there, but maybe it was just an off day) -We got there around 10 minutes past our reservation time (traffic was horrible and we called to let them know that we would be running late because of that, and we got attitude on the phone) -The place is tiny and it is usually packed, which means it can be harder to hear the conversations at your table That being said, the food is absolutely amazing and it is all worth it and you will absolutely regret it if you do not visit this place. As one of my new favorite spots for Philly, I will absolutely swoon over the place to all of my friends!
(5)Melody D.
I'll preface this by saying that this rating reflects a mixture of food and service. Really, if we averaged it, it'd be probably be a 2.5 (4 for food, 1 for service). We arrived at the restaurant a bit on the early side (~6:15pm) on a Friday night so we could put our names in. Not an issue as the restaurant wasn't completely full yet. They wouldn't seat us until the full party was here (I get it), but ended up seating a party of 6 who came a bit after. us and another party of 3. Strange move considering some of the party of 6 promptly half disappeared (to get cash/booze/who knows). Food - overall, very tasty and well-done. We ordered: brussel sprouts (yum, but mutant sized sprouts), portobello mushroom (cooked just right), grilled baby artichokes (very tender but a bit aggressive with the lemon), octopus salad (fabulous), mussels (again, mutant sized, but really yummy), and a smattering of other entrees and desserts. Overall, good pricing and value for delicious, fresh food. Service - We had a bit of a snafu with our check so PLEASE MAKE SURE TO COUNT AND DOUBLE COUNT YOUR BILLS! Given it's a cash only place, it's pretty easy to miscount for both the consumer and restaurant. Our bill ended up being ~$168 so we threw in $200 to include tip and told them not to give us any change. Not sure if it was because we were lingering and finishing coffees or what, but an awkward time later (i.e. not immediately after they took away the $$), the waiter returned with $22 in change. Mmm, where's our additional $10, buddy? After confirming with ourselves that we in fact did put in $200 (which was counted meticulously by our very sober and very asian friend), we brought it up with the manager (Or host?). The waiter ran over quickly to let us know that we only put in $190 and that was the correct change. Who knows what happened there but chalk it up to what happens what you have a cash only business. Obviously a disappointing end to an otherwise great meal.
(3)Katie P.
I've been wanting to try AC for about 5 years now-- never had the opportunity and then I moved, but now I'm back in Philly I felt it was time to finally get here! We ordered 3 items -Octopus salad with feta: awesome! Light, crisp, flavorful and the octopus was cooked to perfection -Penne arrabiata with tiger shrimp: again, awesome! Perfectly spicy, shrimp were large and extremely fresh. -Seared Ahi Tuna with cous cous and string beans: Everything about this dish just failed. I can see how it COULD have tasted good, but unfortunately there must have been an error in the execution. The Tuna was cold & soggy, the cous cous was so overcooked it tasted like baby food, and the string beans tasted like dirt... It honestly tasted like that kitchen cooked it too fast, and then attempted to nuke it in the microwave to heat it up, but it just turned to mush instead. I want to like you AC, I will come back to see if this was just a mishap, and I will review you again... but in the meantime I could only muster up a 3 star.
(3)Anne C.
I came to this restaurant having high expectations based on the positive reviews I read online. The entire experience was pretty disappointing. First off, the restaurant was freezing. Most people in the restaurant were wearing their winter jackets still. My guess is when it is warmer out the place is perfectly comfortable, but it was below 20 outside that day and the room was definitely struggling to heat up. We decided to order the antipasti plate and the pear flat bread. The flat bread was the highlight of the night. The antipasti plate was a huge disappointment. It was boring and basically just a plate of slightly cooked, poorly marinated and under-seasoned vegetables. I opted to get the sole for my entree, and again I got a plate of very bland fish and sides. The green beans were actually under cooked and had no flavor other than a bit of olive oil brushed on. The fish was dry, and the tabouli salad side dish was decent but nothing special. And everything was just kind of put on the plate with no care of presentation. When I go out for a nice, high end meal, it is typical that not only the food tastes good, but the plating is very beautiful as well. My friends ordered the tuna and the pork chop and they seemed pleased, so perhaps I didn't order the "right thing." But at the same time, in my opinion, a good restaurant doesn't have a wrong thing to order, everything should taste great. For the record, I am someone who is a huge foodie and I have eaten at some top rated restaurants. I understand that my expectations can be a little high at times, yet this restaurant seems to be considered one of the more "foodie" option on Philly that is also at an affordable price (I'm a grad student so this is key). I get that Philly isn't as much a food destination as some other cities, however, I know I am not the only one in this city who is a foodie and appreciates amazing food, so to those people I would say this: this restaurant probably would not last in cities like NYC, Chicago, or other "foodie" cities. Lastly, if you want a better greek/Mediterranean food experience for the same price, visit Effie's on pine street.
(2)Jenny P.
Made reservations at 7 but due to traffic, my boyfriend and I showed up 20 minutes late. The hostess was very friendly about it and seated us right away. Overall, I had a great experience! Ambiance: Very cute, homey feel to the restaurant. The place is a bit small and looked pretty crammed on the inside. Luckily, we got the last outdoor table on a beautiful night. Service: Our server seemed a bit bored. She was not personable and we saw her about 2-3 times throughout our time there. She wasnt even the one to bring out our food or clear our plates! It's a bad thing when you can't even remember your server's name (or maybe she didn't even introduce herself). Food: Great! But not amazing. First, they handed us some bread with olive oil to dip in. Bread was hard so it wasn't the best I've had. Then, Charlie and I ordered the Mediterranean spread trio (spicy hummus, avocado hummus, and sun-dried tomato and basil) to share. The pop of colors from the different hummus made the presentation very nice! The pita bread was warm and fluffy while crispy on some of the edges, just the way I prefer them. The hummus were AMAZING. I almost wanted to take them home for later. Highly recommend this small dish. Moving on to the entreès, Charlie got the penne arrabiata with grilled tiger shrimp and I had the potato crusted ahi tuna with crispy green beans and a side of couscous. The pasta was a bit bland for me but the sauce was out of this world! It had a kick of spicy-ness that wasn't too overwhelming. For the ahi tuna, the fish was the star of the dish. I liked it but everything was just on the bland side that I found myself dumping tons of salt onto my food. I wish the fish had more of the aioli sauce on it. Overall, my boyfriend and I had a great time there, we liked the food and the atmosphere was nice. I just don't see myself going there again just because there are so many other restaurants around AC to try!
(4)Jessica D.
My husband and I went last night. The ambiance and service was great. We sat inside by a window. I have been there about two years ago but for some reason last night didn't hold up to my great memory. We ordered meditarraen olives and beet salad to start. The beet salad was a little bland and I felt it could have been dressed with something. It was fresh but was just literally beets and oranges. It did have a small drizzle of black truffle emulsion. .. but that tasted like nothing. For entrees I order the small plate of grilled octopus over greens. .. it was good. There could have been more octopus. My husband ordered tiger shrimp with a pineapple jicama slaw. Again... it was just very bland. Needs some salt and pepper or some finishing oil. It was a nice dinner.. but left me a little dissspointed.
(4)Nick D.
I've been to Audrey Claire a few times. The food is good, but nothing you can't get elsewhere, and that's really about the only thing it has going for it. Tonight the food took FOREVER to come out. That's fine, things happen. However being asked by the host to LEAVE because "they need the table" 15 minutes after getting the check is vile service. I've lived in Philadelphia for a number of years and go out in the Rittenhouse area often, but NEVER have I had such an experience. The ironic part about the whole thing was that right before we were asked to leave, they filled our water glasses. I won't be back here. If you're in the area and looking for roughly similar fare, do Twenty Manning Grill, their sister restaurant. If you're looking for a solid BYO, go for La Viola. Both of these places have exceptional food and service.
(1)Cristina L.
I absolutely love eating here-- the cozy atmosphere, the attentive waitstaff, and, of course, the BYO policy. My boyfriend and I shared a very special anniversary dinner here, and also a wonderful evening when his parents came into town for the weekend. The food is always absolutely delightful, and I have tried nearly every fish on the menu (the shallot crusted lemon sole is to DIE for!), all of which are very tasty. Their desserts are always extremely enjoyable, too. yelp.com/biz_photos/audr… The service is impeccable. Period. This place is always one of the busiest in Philadelphia, and yet the servers always find time to come around to ask about the quality of the food or to offer any suggestions. In fact, last time we were there, the table next to us was extremely loud and quite obnoxious. The servers of Audrey Claire attempted to compensate for this by offering our four-person table three free desserts, all of which were fantastic (and not just because they were free). As my boyfriend says: "Anybody who goes there is going to be happy. They deserve five stars." And so five stars they will get! Thank you Audrey Claire for enhancing some of the most special experiences I've had these past few months.
(5)Julia L.
Joe and I started off with the braised short rib, portobello, melted fontina cheese and truffle oil on grilled flatbread for our appetizer. This was sooooo good! Oh my gosh! I love anything with cheese and truffle oil but this flatbread was particularly delicious! Especially the juicy braised short rib. I was impressed that the bread was crispy with all the juices from the toppings (I recently made pizza at home and my crust came out soggy). Joe's main entree was the zuppa di pesce which is an Italian fish stew. I loved how much seafood was in this dish. Joe ate a ton and then packed the rest for dinner the next night. The saffron broth was very warming and home-y. Joe's friend had the special of the day, braised fish. This smelled so good. The wafting scent was tantalizing, it had that rich salty scent of the ocean. Joe's friend devoured his dish and said he found it very enjoyable. Joe's friend's wife ordered the shrimp over heirloom tomatoes with black truffle vinegrette. It looked too beautiful to eat, I got the maple brine pork chop with wild boar bacon, candied dates and gorgonzola granny smith apple butter. This dish was amazing! The pork chop was juicy and packed full of flavor. The gorgonzola-apple butter was inspiring! I love gorgonzola and apple but have never thought to combine the two. Overall, our meal was great and it was BYO so we got to enjoy our own bottles of wine at the table.
(5)Cynthia X.
Love the atmosphere here! Reservations taken for indoor seating and walk-in table available for outdoor dining. The simplistic decor lends to a very relaxed and refreshing feel. The food is fresh and fantastic. Me and 2 girl friends ordered, to share: Braised short rib, portobello, melted fontina cheese, truffle oil: Probably my favorite - distinct truffle flavor and tender short rib pieces. 2 lbs prince edward island mussels: Steamed in a tomato based sauce, which is slightly spicy. The mussels were extremely fresh (with no closed shells!) and you really get a lot. I'm still a bigger fan of cream based sauces for steamed mussels, and the spicy kick did catch me by surprise. Maple brine pork chop w/ wild boar bacon, candied dates and gorgonzola-granny smith apple butter: Served with asparagus and mashed potatoes, this was also a hefty dish. The seasoning was great, but my only beef is that the meat was unevenly cooked - the sides were noticeably tough and over cooked. One interesting thing to note is that audrey claire does not serve ice cream for dessert. Why? Because the restaurant has no freezer. All the ingredients are guaranteed fresh. No freezer needed. Recommendations recommended, but it seems that walk-in wait times are also not long (10-15 minutes, if even, on a Thursday night).
(4)Lora R.
I hadn't been to Audrey Claire in ages despite living down the block, and I refuse to make that mistake again. The food here is to die for and it is an absolute neighborhood gem. They only take reservations M-Th, but we were able to make one no problem. The restaurant is BYO and cash only. We started with the antipasti platter for two and the octopus. As an appetizer, the platter should probably be called the antipasti for four: four of us shared two and had a lot of food left over. The platter included beets, artichoke, mushrooms, olives, brussels sprouts, mozzerella, and tomatoes. We also ordered the octopus small plate as an appetizer, which is presented as octopus over a delicious salad. As our main course, most of us ordered the mussels, even though they are listed as a "small plate." Having over-ordered in the appetizers department, the mussels portion seemed enormous, and none of us managed to finish despite how delicious they were. All of the food tastes fresh and bursts with flavor. The menu has plenty of options, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
(5)Tina L.
It's a polished byob with outdoor seating and granny smith apple decor - it's a package of cuteness really. I had the ahi tuna, which was surprisingly just the right portion even though the fatass in me definitely called shots for dessert. Solid meal. HOWEVER (yeah, it's that part), first of all, the host was pretty snooty to us from the start. As a former hostess, I don't think this is something to be overlooked since you are in fact the first form of interaction with the customer. Look buddy, don't appreciate the pretentious air and your judgmental eyes when I'm trying to get my foodie on. Secondly, I wasn't feelin the bread. Just had to put that out there. Third, I don't understand the lack of actual wine glasses. I mean, at least there's the ice bucket and no corkage fee (yay!) but their glasses just made me feel like I was throwing back XL shots of wine. It was weird. All in all, a 3.5 would be more deserving but I'm not itching to come back.
(3)Matt F.
I've been here before and went back again last night--the food was very good, as usual. Two people got the zuppa di pesce, a seafood stew. Some places skimp on the seafood; this was not one of them (and for a very reasonable price, too). Huge bowls loaded with a whole variety of seafood, and plenty of broth for dipping with bread left over. Other things we ordered were the octopus salad, Brussels sprouts, and duck entree--also both tasty. Only two negatives to comment on. First, while the Brussels sprouts were delicious, as they've been every time I've gone, it seemed like the portion size had been reduced (it's been a while since I last went, but even if not, the portion was still quite small). There were about 10 halves, and while they were huge Brussels sprouts, I'd still expect a bit more. It's not like they're expensive in any way. Second, it was fairly loud. We were there around 7-8p on a Thursday. You could still hear across the table, but even being a small place, it was quite noisy. They were also playing music, not loudly, but seemed a bit odd, considering. One last positive: we hadn't made a reservation and called around 6:30. There was a group coming in at 8, so they said we had to be finished before then, but I thought it was noteworthy that they were willing to squeeze us in. Last thing to note: they only take cash, so make sure to bring some. Overall: highly recommended.
(4)Dave P.
My experience here on Wednesday finally pushed me to sign up for yelp. Terrible! Got to the restaurant and was greeted by a relatively rude hostess. Sat at a table with a skinny waiter with a buzz cut. He was sooo rude the entire night. My father and I ordered pork chops and they were both hammered. We complained to the waiter and he very abruptly grabbed them from our settings. No apology. No visit from a manager. Food was really mediocre at best. I had a pumpkin salad that was good. I had the chicken to replace the pork chop that was uninspired and served with boring mash potatoes and green beans. The crazy noise level and uninspired food wouldn't have bothered me so much if the service wasn't so bad. I think we left a 10% tip but it should have been left. WILL NEVER RETURN!
(1)Andrea T.
Always a pleasure. Food is so consistent and wonderful! Love the servers! We tend to always get the Haloumi and Brussel Sprouts. Haloumi in itself is always good, but add the fig compote and mint...it's so friggin good. The brussel sprouts are cooked to my idea of perfection. A little above al dente, still crunchy yet not raw. Generally we get a bunch of small plates and share, but last night Sole was on the menu and I adore sole. What do I adore more than sole? Sole with shallots and capers. It was delicious. Served with a smattering of haricot verts and some israeli couscous. A perfect light dinner!
(5)Joelle B.
This was delicious! About two weeks ago I got a bottle and headed to audrey's on a Sunday evening. From start to finish, including service, this restaurant was amazing. The food was perfectly prepared and the waiter was attentive and informative. I cannot wait to go back! I attempted to duplicate the fried haloumi with dates at home and while yummy, a poor substitute for the restaurant's appetizer....we ordered pumpkin risotto, fish special, haloumi, short rib flatbread and octopus salad...yummy!
(5)Matt D.
I will say that the main reason I am giving this one star is because I was too cold the entire meal to even try and enjoy my food, company or ambiance.The food at least looked good. We had the misfortune of sitting at table nearest the entrance which normally would not be an issue except for the fact that it was 20 degrees out and the door was being opened every 20 seconds. If getting blasted by arctic air every other forkful was not bad enough then you had to deal with the people waiting to be seated standing right over your table. It got to the point that I found myself just watching the door and hoping it would not open. Had I not been so preoccupied with the door, I may have been able to give more thought and attention to my food, although I do recall that within 5 minutes of being served my dinner was lukewarm at best. When we were originally seated we mentioned the cold to our server she offered to turn up a space heater to maximum heat. This seemed to for work for 5 minutes until it tripped a circuit breaker. That was quickly the end of our warmth. After mentioning the cold to the server again, the only thing she was able to tell me is that restaurant was well aware of how cold it can be near the door as this was not the first time they were told. The server and later another employee also said that the issue has been brought up to the owner/management before. For reasons not mentioned, it appears management does not feel that it is necessary to do anything about this issue. This is unfortunate because otherwise it would have been a great meal. However, I can say after experiencing that and knowing that this is a known issue that has been allowed to persist I will not be going back. On the bright side I can at least say I have eaten dinner inside with a coat and gloves on. If you do venture out to Audrey Claire don't forget your scarf and mittens!
(1)Dennis L.
NO RSVPS on Fridays and Saturdays, luckily the wait was only maybe 20 minutes for me and they call you when they're ready. It's a small sea green spot without much visible markings to indicate the location except for some barely visible white wording on the front door w/ the restaurants name. The food wasn't too bad. I ordered the grilled octopus and didn't really read the menu well. What I got was a salad. I was expecting just grilled octopus, but it was a great salad. Probably one of the best salad's I've ever had (and split), but I wouldn't pay $11 for a salad. I also ordered the chicken w/ the pomegranate molasses. The plate came out so ugly/boring with green beans, mashed potatoes and a thigh of chicken. The chicken was cooked perfectly, super moist, but could've used some marinade. The skin was crispy and the molasses was amazing, but the thick cut of thigh was just juicy flavorless chicken. They should ladle some sauce along the side to dip it in. All in all, it was a pretty good experience. Could've used more sauce.
(4)Scott H.
Solid. So solid. I love this place and remember it years after leaving Philadelphia. It is one of the cutest and most inviting restaurants in Philly. I adore the people that work there, the atmosphere, the open kitchen, the decor, the FOOD!, the Bring Your Own Wine policy, and the general awesomeness. I make sure I stop here on all visits to the city of brotherly love.
(4)Sumera K.
I had heard some positive things about this place, so we decided to come here for a birthday celebration for my younger brother. Initially, things seemed to be going well. Since we knew they didn't take reservations, we had one of my brothers arrive 30 minutes in advance to put our names in. We were seated inside once our entire party arrived. Initially, I was taken aback by how incredibly loud it was in this restaurant and how tiny the font on the menus was...haha. I'm not an old head and certainly do not have poor sight, but seriously...could they print the measly paper menu in a bolder font. FOOD: we ordered the portebello mushroom and basil/pesto, tuna and hummus/avocado to start. For entrees we had the salmon, duck, tiger shrimp and tuna. I should have known the food would be disappointing from the initial bland pita slivers and dish of olive oil upon being seated. The apps were blah, the entrees were blah as well. Nothing interesting or out of the ordinary. Aesthetically, it looked great, but after a bite or two...the appearance was all that I can say anything positive about. SERVICE: My younger (high school aged) brother ordered the duck and wanted it medium-well...and the server was adamant that he opt to get it rare-medium. once it came out, it was practically cold and he wasn't able to eat it. So, I asked a different server to take it back, he assured us they would send out another in "7 minutes"...We waited for 20 minutes and I followed up twice about what was taking so long because the place was not busy at this point...it had practically cleared out..This is the point where I was faced with a lot of sarcastic attitude from the staff... "well it came out on time the first time you ordered right?" the worker said to me...and I replied with "yes, but it was too rare for his liking and we were told SEVEN minutes...and it's been 20...we came here to celebrate my brother's birthday and this is not how we expected the night to turn out"... in response the worker sarcastically quipped and walked away. Another worker came by 5 minutes later to assure us the duck was coming. At this point the remainder of our party had already finished our entire meals and the duck still HAD NOT COME OUT....how awful. Overall, I had high hopes for this place, but the BLAND food and AWFUL service turned me off. Big whoop, they have a batch of sunflowers in the windowsill and a low key bland atmosphere. Save your moolah and go somewhere with actual delightful flavors and impeccable service.
(1)E B.
This place is great but way too small. My friends and I met up for dinner. We were told they didn't take reservations and waited with several other groups outside in the freezing cold for 2 hours (no exaggeration , it was literally 2 hours) for a table. I would've left but my friends insisted on eating here. All of the food was excellent. I had the lamb. This place is Byob. Would I return here ? Yes if there were no wait or they took reservations. Otherwise , no ! There are too many great dining options in this city to wait 2 hours for a table. If our wait was a reasonable amount of time I would've definitely given this place 5 stars.
(3)Sheri H.
I have loved Audrey Claire for years but am simply too impatient to go as frequently as I'd like. (Due to the well described lines on weekend nights.) Their staff is always friendly and seems to remember their "regulars" even if I'm only there every few months during cold weather, then constantly in the summer. I love sitting outdoors rather than in the somewhat cramped quarters inside. (Beware of flimsy patio furniture on uneven sidewalks, though, we took a spill.) I die for their antipasti for two which I order for me, myself, and I. Great salads, soups (oy, their gazpacho!) and alternating menu items. My mom devours the pita and spreads so rapidly, they are obviously good and impossible to share, apparently.
(4)Gautam T.
The build-up to coming to this place was unreal, I tried on a weekly basis for about 2 months to get a reservation at a decent hour but failed every time. I was like WTF do they put cocaine in thier food? I finally got a reservation and now the excitement was at the apex. So we had apps, entrees, desert and it was A-OK just an average 3 star restaurant in my opinion. The ingredients were all amazing and fresh, however I feel like the flavours could have been a lot more complex. For example. I ordered the lamb shank; the lamb was perfect cooked amazingly but didn't come together because the spice mix and flavour blend was missing. Thats why I have to give this place 3 stars.
(3)Kellz H.
Worth the wait! We had reservations for 8pm on a Monday night for my birthday and the table we were waiting for had lingering ladies. The manager/host assured us we would be well taken care of. And that we were! Service was outstanding and attentive, food was prompt and exquisite, and I will absolutely be back! Thank you to the entire staff who made my birthday extra special.
(5)Marissa S.
I just visited Audrey Claire for the first time last night and had suuch a great time. Granted, it is currently restaurant week so the price was great and the amount of food was right on par for the price (ie: regular sized portions woo!!) Highlight of the meal for me was definitely the appetizers and desserts although the entree was still quite good. Appetizers: Smoked Houlini is/was AMAZING. It was perfectly sweet with the drizzled honey but also salty. We also had the tiger prawns and those were also very tasty. with both appetizers, I hoped they would be bigger since they were so good but alas and appetizer is an appetizer. Entree: Pork chop with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were sooooo good. They're the very starchy kind of mashed potatoes that keep to the potatoey taste. Yet there was still a good amount of butter and salt in there. Asparagus wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either... Only small issue i had with this dish was the pork chop. It was a little dry for my liking but the flavor was all there. Nicely seasoned. Dessert: Banana bread pudding was DELICIOUS. I dont particularly like bread pudding but this was soooo good. It was served with fresh whipped cream I think and a toffee/ caramel sauce. mmmmm. We also had the chocolate cake which is served warm with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. Both desserts you can't really go wrong with. Overall, i really liked the food and the atmosphere. Definitely coming back.
(4)Tina F.
I had a great time there. Its BYOB, it's a small charming place. The food is great.
(5)Andy B.
Mixed feelings about our 3rd time at Audrey Claire. We stayed away for a while due to subpar food, but gave it another shot on our anniversary. My wife is a vegetarian, I am the opposite. She enjoyed the arugula salad and pea risotto, nothing special with either, pea risotto needed seasoning. I had the short rib flat bread first, it was great, great flavors, very nice portion size. Then the pork chop happened, stay away at all costs...very bland, very dry, not good at all. I would guess the reason for this is it sat out as we took our time with our first course, which to me, is inexcusable. They were not slammed, there was no rush to turn the tables, very disappointing. General feeling to me is that the wait staff cares a lot more about the customers than the kitchen. I would have gone 3.5 stars if I could have because of the staff. Excellent excellent service start to finish, the host was friendly and personable, and our waitress Christina was outstanding. Funny, personable, made you feel special, just great all around. She offered me a replacement course, but I passed (the comped the pork chop), the short rib was enough. Right off the bat Christina told us,we had no option but to order all of our food at once, we usually like to put in appetizers, take our time, enjoy our wine, and then put in entrees, but their policy is all at once. Christina realized we wanted to take our time though, and let us sit and enjoy the bread and some wine before we put in the order. And also let us sit and enjoy the rest of our wine after we paid our check. It is loud inside, but it adds to the vibe, despite a second time being disappointed with the food, we would definitely go back if we could sit in Christina's section again. Disappointing food, but great time overall. Also, the price range is tough with this...the average would be around 35 per person probably, but that falls into 31-60...
(3)Jenny J.
ZUPPA DE PESCE! If you are a seafood lover, this is the one thing to get there. Quite honestly, I wasn't too crazy about their small plates with all the grilled veggies, but the Zuppa de Pesce is seriously one of a kind. A large bowl of seafood (fish, shrimp, mussels, clams) stew that will satisfy any seafood lover. My boyfriend and I would come here and just order one Zuppa per person because it is super filling and I don't know where else I could get such seafood satisfaction. Wish this place took reservations at all times, but sadly they don't because it is seriously that popular. Great place for date night or girls night out, BYOB, cash only, and lovely ambiance.
(4)Juliana K.
The food is fantastic. Well executed. It's a great little neighborhood corner restaurant to sit outside (if you can get a table outside). BYO and cash-only! The Bosc and Gorgonzola flatbread us wonderful. Sweet and crisp, but don't let it sit too long as it can get a bit soggy. The brussel sprouts were simple and delicious. I liked the subtle flavor. Octopus salad was very well balanced. Octopus was tender and cooked well. Mussels were juicy. I loves the broth- had a lil spice to it. Bronzino special was moist and fresh. The whole dish was had a lot of tiny bones do it wasn't the easiest to eat, but that is expected. Perfectly cooked with a well paired chickpea salad. Point list were--- Overall service pretty average and if I am to be honest...while Audrey Claire's execution is excellent, I've had the same flavors or combinations elsewhere.
(4)Julie N.
Please let me preface this review by saying that I was first introduced to Audrey Claire from their DIVINE flan at the Philly Feastival a couple of weeks ago. We spontaneously decided to go out for dinner on a Friday night, and chose AC. Mind you, they do not take reservations on Fridays or Saturdays (and are cash only). Our wait was about 15-20 mins for a table around 7:30pm. (Not too bad.) Thankfully we were seated near the window in the back -- it offered a little bit of extra space with the window ledge and some privacy. The restaurant is very cozy, but also very loud. Bread with olive oil - I wished the bread was warm, but that's personal preference. We started with the antipasti for two, which offered a little bit of everything: - seared brussel sprouts w/ shaved parmesan - bloody beets and sunkist orange w/ black truffle vinaigrette - grilled portobello mushrooms - grilled baby artichokes - roasted asparagus w/ feta - mediterranean olives w/ wild pickled cucumbers - heirloom tomato and marinated mozzarella w/ crispy pancetta lardons I enjoyed a little bit of everything, but in hindsight, it may have been a little pricey for what it is. Next we had the Grilled Octopus w/ Feta. Both hubs and I did not read the description fully... particularly the section where it said it was "over greens." We were expecting a plate of *only* grilled octopus, and were surprised with a salad with some pieces of grilled octopus in it. While it was good, it wasn't exactly what we had expected. Our fault for not inquiring with the server. For entrees, he had the Hudson Valley Duck Breast w/ Date and Granny Smith Coulis, and I had one of the specials of the evening: Grilled Branzino (whole fish with head on) with Haricot Vert and Couscous. The Granny Smith Coulis paired very nicely with the duck -- I think it made that dish. I really enjoyed the Branzino - it was perfectly grilled, moist and tender. After dinner, our server proceeded to tell us about the desserts of the night... and flan WAS NOT on the menu. We honestly came to AC craving flan for dessert. We settled for creme brulee. It was OK - warm in some places, and cooler in others. I wasn't all that crazy about it. Overall, the food was good. The service was decent considering how busy they were on a Friday night. Our server checked on us a few times and the meal was well-paced. The one thing that was tough to deal with was the noise. When we left Audrey Claire, I was still shouting because that's how I had to talk all night throughout dinner.
(4)Carrie B.
My husband and I went on a Saturday night- the wait was an hour, so we went across the street for a few beers and they called us when our table was ready. The staff was super friendly and nice the entire night. We brought a bottle of wine and drank out of the cutest little jars. The décor is so simple, but the atmosphere is happy and the food is good. I gotta ask- can we get some warmth going in that bread? Maybe it was because it was a cold night, but I would have loved a little warmth in my (delicious) bread! We had pear and gorgonzola flat bread to start and a bowl of the butternut squash soup- very happy about those choices. For the main course, we couldn't resist the specials. I had the Asian salmon and my husband had the wild boar. Both were fantastic, and the boar was the richest treat you can imagine. You couldn't eat it over and over again, but it was very special.
(4)M N.
This place is so mediocre. I don't understand the rave reviews. The hot entree that I ordered was cold. Nothing was special. This place is overrated.
(2)Nolan W.
I felt the need to write a review, as my boyfriend and I have attempted to get seated at this restaurant 3 times, and each time we've gone somewhere else because of the ridiculous wait time. Tonight we finally got seated. The starters were good-- Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and watermelon with arugula. All good but not great. We waited for the entrees for 1 hour, and they were not worth the wait. My salmon was only fair, and my boyfriend's pasta was cold and, honestly, looked like something I could've made at home. We were also given the wrong check at the end of the meal. After sitting for 2.5 hours, we decided to skip dessert. This place is definitely not all it's cracked up to be. We will never go back.
(1)Majlinda K.
The food in this place is pretty good, so grab only ONE friend and go, if you have more than two people dining here (or a group) things could get tricky. So we came here on a Friday night, we had a big group (about 7 people) and we were able to get a table right away. The restaurant is a cash only BYOB and no cork fees, my kind of BYOB!. As soon as we set down we were notified that large groups HAVE to order from the pre fixe menu of $35 for three courses or $45 for a few more options, frankly it was one extra entrée choice and one extra appetizer. Since there was barely a difference between the two so we went with the $35 option. The way the pre fixe worked is you get family style appetizers and dessert and everyone has to pick an entrée from the menu. I thought it was a little outrageous we could not select an entrée we wanted we were just stuck with the pre fixe options. So we could not have certain entrees like the pork chops (which looked delicious). We were all going to order entrees and appetizers to begin with but restricting the menu because you are a large group is a bit silly. At least the food was pretty good! We started off with the baby arugula salad w/ candied figs, fresh berries; french lentils and warm goat cheese. The salad was light and refreshing. Then we moved on to the next appetizer which was antipasti, they only served one for the entire table of 7 people. I guess they ran out of food? The waiter ended up giving us a portion of the risotto instead which wasn't bad. For my main I got the Scottish salmon which was fresh and cooked to perfection.
(3)Justyn W.
Went here for dinner after having just grabbed a burger from Shake Shack. Don't ask why but I was feeling hungry and my tummy was yearning for more yummy (Ok I tried a bit hard there). But seriously, having a somewhat full stomach gave me the ability to try Audrey Claire's food without the bias of being famished and just wanting to eat anything in sight. First, I must say that I love the ambiance of the place. It's nice to be able to sit outside right on the busy corner of 20th and Spruce. The staff is always nice and attentive and does a good job of taking care of the people I'm with when I'm there. The food itself is pretty good as well. I'm never really disappointed, but at the same time some of there items are a little basic. By that I mean that they're straightforward. I do like the Chicken Milanese and their Grilled Salmon, but even then most things are basic dishes (a meat and a grain and a vegetable) and they look that way. I'm not opposed to that but I think it's something worth noting. I personally think the style of food fits the atmosphere of the place, though. The desserts aren't really to die for here either so if that's something you plan to check out then note that. But with it being a BYO and a nice place in Center City I think it's worth going to every now and then.
(4)Marie S.
My friend and I had dinner at Audrey Claire on a Wednesday night last week. We arrived at about 6:00 pm and had no problem getting seated without a reservation. The restaurant was simply decorated with green apples and sunflowers. Just like the decor, the food was unassuming but not boring. I ordered the "crispy shallot crusted lemon sole with crispy sage and caper butter" and it was exactly that. The dish came with couscous and green beans that weren't flavourly complex but worked well with the fish. Nothing about my meal was out of the ordinary, but that's okay because it was well executed. One downfall to Audrey Claire is that, due to its small size, it gets very loud. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a romantic date or anniversary dinner.
(4)Peter S.
More like 3.5 for this cash-only byob. Once I reset my expectations, I did have a nice time and found good value here. The seared tuna was excellent, which seems to be a feat. The short rib was delicious, although I've never had a bad short rib anywhere. The service was attentive yet aloof all in one. I'll return but observe these don'ts: 1.Don't bother going on weekends when they don't take reservations- not worth it. 2.Don't bring a fine wine- they use juice glasses and the atmosphere doesn't befit it. 3.Don't order order the flatbreads- these are "home ec"-ishly topped flour tortillas. 4.Don't expect much from dessert- the bread pudding had potential but disappointed
(3)mike b.
I'm rarely inclined to write reviews but this restaurant is total amateur hour. In a half full restaurant our food took literally 1.5 hours to come out. About an hour in I asked the waiter how we were doing. He responded "with what?". If I wasn't there for a birthday party I would have walked out. The restaurant is an open space so we could see the waiters all gathered in the back boozing. At first they were drinking wine, then I saw them go across the street and pick up a six pack. Food was OK.
(2)Alison L.
I've now been to Audrey Claire three times, and on each visit the food has been more and more disappointing. It's always jam-packed, but I don't really get the appeal other than its cute ambiance. On our last visit, we got the appetizer sampler, which was just fine. A bunch of under-seasoned vegetables and some olives should not cost $17. I've also had fish two times here. Once, it was so drenched in butter and oil I couldn't even taste it, and the second time it was so dry and overcooked that I didn't want to finish. The risotto served alongside it was also undercooked to the point of being crunchy. The only thing I loved and ordered all three times I went was the seared Haloumi. It's possibly worth a visit on its own. As others have mentioned, the service here is bizarre as well. You have to order all your dishes at once, and the servers are for the most part unfriendly. There's no hostess so the last time we went, we waited at the door for almost 10 minutes before anyone approached us to put our name on a list. All in all, I'd say this one is a pass.
(2)Atul G.
We were easily able to get a reservation on a beautiful weekday night. The interior is simple and elegant and very comfortable. We ordered the antipasti sampler - delicious, fresh and really tasty. The grilled caesar was really tasty, but we thought the OCTOPUS was just stunning- tender, flavorful over a crisp salad. This alone would have been sufficient for a light meal with a glass of wine. We shared the fish special of the night which was cooked perfectly (perfectly crispy skin and juicy on the inside). Would absolutely come back and bring out-of-towners!
(4)Janet L.
This restaurant is so adorable, however, the dishes just did not live up to my expectations. In addition, had I not checked Yelp, I would have never noticed that they only accept CASH. My company ordered the duck. It wasn't very well seasoned, cooked a little too tough. I ordered a special of the day (a grilled fish) and it was also lacking in seasoning/taste/flavor. However, the staff is friendly and it is a quaint little restaurant with nice interiors.
(2)Mandrita D.
We went there to celebrate a friend's birthday, group of 7. We tried the $35 tasting menu. We had brussel sprouts, the octopus salad, pita with different dips, artichoke and entrees. Other than the brussel sprouts, which was great, everything was ok. The octopus while great had overwhelming amount of feta and onions. I had the salmon entree which was very low on seasoning, as was the papardelle. My friends who had the sole felt the same way. For dessert, the molten chocolate cake was very good. The rice pudding was exceedingly sweet with a ton of cinnamon. Also, they are cash only, which was an added inconvenience. I don't plan on going back
(3)Ari S.
Perfection. Service, Food, and the fact that I can see my food being made. All amazing. It was mine and my girlfriend's first anniversary. I came in at 4:30 to drop off some flowers and a vase to have on the table when we arrived to surprise her. I was ready to start adding in the flower food and ask the host to put water in, and he told me he would take care of everything. Not only did they have them there, but the host arranged them beautifully. Great start to the night. The waiter brought out an ice bucket for our wine that we brought to keep it cool. We ordered all plates to share. First came out the Bosc Pear and Gorgonzola flatbread. All the ingredients went so well together. After removing the empty flatbread plate, the waiter brought the antipasti for 2. What could be wrong with lightly grilled or sauteed veggies? So many, so good. After that, we were brought the best parts of the meal... the hallumi and leek and portobella tart. Lastly, we ordered dessert. The waiter brought out the creme brule, which was awesome. Then surprised us with a complimentary bread pudding with a candle in it for our anniversary. All-in-all, this was a great dining experience and I will go back many times over.
(5)Kacey B.
Sooo I'm not really about "yelping", (I work in the industry so I've grown to despise all of the Craig LaBain wanna be's) but this place deserves a praise ten fold so GO HERE if you want great food and over the top service. I went here last year for my birthday and my waitress made the night so memorable for me that we decided not to come back until my birthday again this year to keep it special. Maxx is freaking awesome I'd say request him as your server, but really everyone is so friendly there you can't really go wrong. Ugh that ribeye man, I can't even think about breakfast right now. And that short rib flatbread, that truffle, mmmm... This place won my heart last year and was nothing short of amazing this time around too. The combination of the food and service just makes it an easy 5 stars. Seriously just go.
(5)Reade S.
This place was fantastic! The waiters and waitresses were super nice and the food was incredible. The only downside to the restaurant though was that I had the Seabass special and the portion size was small. I do recommend the artichokes which were seasoned with some lemon I think and they were unbelievable. It was reasonably priced too! Highly recommend!
(5)A B.
Creative, but simple, fresh tasty food. The cuisine is French-ish, creative American, with a touch of Mediterranean. I got the wild-caught salmon with lentils and crisp green beans, preserved lemon. my friend got the penne, simple and straightforward with some flavor and spice. It is an intimate dining experience. You are dining with the entire restaurant. It is very loud but romantic in a way. I would dress nicer for this place, but that is always my philosophy. There's always the person with jeans and sneakers on to validate the lazy or the too-busy.
(4)Charlene L.
Clean flavors and fair prices, this is what comes to mind when trying out Audrey Claire. Came here while in town for business and heard about this place as it's fairly new. I was impressed with the menu and decided to take a chance. Walked in with no reservations and was able to be seated. However, it was a bit of squeeze and super busy (Sunday, 6pm). First thing that I noticed was that it was super loud in there.. super hard to hear anything, and that's not just because I'm a granny... Things that were ordered: -Seared brussel sprouts with shaved parmesan: Really delicious, but then again I'm an easy sell when it comes to brussel sprouts. Not overly crispy, almost a pan roasted.. nice flavors, but nothing new that I haven't seen when it comes to this common preparation. -2lbs of Prince Edward Island mussels: Mussels are mussels! Super common typically done in a white wine and garlic. But this was surprisingly different! More of a sun-dried tomato broth, but full flavor. Would have been great if bread was served, as there was so much liquid in the bowl! Also, a huge serving! -Crispy shallot crusted lemon sole with crispy sage and caper butter: Loved the texture of this crispy shallow crust and the perfectly cooked sole. However, I was really looking forward to more of a lemon/citrus flavor but didn't taste that. Also, it was served with long green beans (perfectly cooked but tons of butter) and cous cous. Good components of this dish, but again, nothing note worthy.. Tasted a bit heavy, especially for a fish dish, due to the flavors of too much butter. I was super disappointed that they were out of the grilled octopus, as that was the first dish that really caught my eye. Overall, a solid restaurant for fresh flavors without complicating the dish. Would I be back? Well, for sure it's tasty, but nothing I would crave for as there is nothing that really stands out.
(3)A B.
Pros, it's an intimate setting to share with friends, as well as getting a peek into their open kitchen. Cons, it is rather noisy and the food, while all were presented well, not all were seasoned equally so.
(3)Joe K.
Great byo! The Caesar salad is the best I've ever had. The only draw back may be that it can get a bit loud, however I've been there 10+ times and never had a bad experience. One of the best values in philly.
(5)Amanda C.
Just left an absolutely incredible dinner at Audrey Claire! It was my friends birthday and they took care of us from the moment we driver until the moment we left. On top of the service the food was fantastic as well. I will definitely be back!!!
(5)Ed C.
Boar Sausage, the Lamb and two Barramundi fish specials. All four of us thought the food was excellent. Bread pudding fantastic for dessert. Great wait staff. BYOB allowed us to spend our money where it mattered. 4 thumbs up!
(4)Paige B.
Our party of two dropped by for dinner on a weekday night in August sans reservation. We were greeted by a friendly male server and promptly seated outside. Flatbread with Braised Short Rib, Portobello, Melted Fontina Cheese, & Truffle Oil - 3.5 out of 5 Sort of like a small pizza, the flatbread dough was thin and shaped into a round. It was more like a thin cracker. The edges were completely cooked through and crispy. I liked the use of the Fontina cheese, it was more flavorful than a mozzarella but less intense than a Pecorino. It gave a nice salty twang to the dish and it helped highlight the soft sweetness of the short ribs. Still, this dish fell short somehow; it needed some acid or some drizzled reduction on top for it to taste complete. Bloody Beets and Sunkist Orange with Black Truffle Vinaigrette - 2 out of 5 This dish, ordered as an appetizer, arrived in a small bowl. The beets, cut into small blocks, were paired with two equally chilled orange heart sections on top. Flavor-wise, we both did not taste the truffle at all. These beets tasted boiled, as opposed to roasted (or a combination of the two), and therefore they did not have the caramelized sugar and earthy taste that an oven imparts. Overall, this dish was bland as there was zero seasoning. Taste aside, the textures were nice. Seared Brussels Sprouts with Shaved Parmesan - 3 out of 5 There were about three large halved Brussels Sprouts that were seared and a little crispy. They were tossed in olive oil and topped with shaved Parmagiano Reggiano. These were kind of undercooked and kind of bland. I liked the idea of Parmesan, but the slabs of cheese were too thick and large to really incorporate with the sprouts. In summary, the presentation was too rustic; everything had to be cut a lot and mixed together. Like the beets, these could have been exponentially better with salt and pepper. Marinated Mozzarella Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes, Israeli Basil, & Pancetta Lardons - 3 out of 5 I appreciated the simplicity of the three 1/4-in. thick rounds of mozzarella, tossed in olive oil, and topped with large sections of a tomato. One of the most important things in a fresh tomato is the texture. [Gritty, foamy tomato meat results from refrigeration.] These tomatoes tasted refrigerated, and as a result the flavor dulled significantly. The mozzarella was average. Pancetta lardons, little salty brilliant bits, were sprinkled on the plate. Grilled Octopus with Feta, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, & Lemon, over Greens - 4 out of 5 I'll preface this review by stating that I'm not a fan of octopus. However, I always retry food I don't like again and again to hopefully acquire a taste for it. That said, this was my favorite dish. The octopus was grilled to perfection. It was tender and lightly charred. I also loved the mild feta dressing on the salad. Service - Hit or miss. Our main server, a young woman with brown hair, seemed unenthusiastic. She didn't greet us and there weren't any pleasantries with her service. There was a food runner/server assistant, a super cool and friendly guy with short (or no?) hair who kept an eye on us. He really did end up taking care of us well and we tipped him commensurate to our appreciation.
(3)Jenny L.
Second time here. Called in for a reservation at the chef's bar and was seated instantly while others were standing for regular seating. There's a beer market across the street; nearest wine is btwn 20&21 on market. Ordered the shallot crusted lemon sole ($21) and the penne pasta with tiger shrimp ($22). The pasta was whatever, I prefer the pappardelle over it. But the shrimp in it wAs big. The lemon sole though was AMAZING. the crust was perfect and the fish was so tender and soft. The flavor was great too. Would highly recommend it. Also added a creme brûlée ($6$ at the end of dinner. It was bad. The top was freshly torched (saw the waiter do it since we sat at the chef bar) but the bottom of it was cold. Wouldn't recommend
(4)Rory B.
We loved the artichokes, as well as the gorgonzola and pear flatbread! The watermelon, jalepeno, feta salad was delicious as well. Seared brussel sprouts were okay but did not wow us as much as the other dishes. Great food but price points seemed slightly high. Definitely recommend for tapas style with all their delicous antipasti and small plates!
(5)Ivy C.
My coworkers and I were so excited to try this place out because the reviews looked good and we were starving. 1. We were told it would be 5 minutes to get a table after being ignored for 10 minutes. There were 3 two-tops and 1 four-top tables open. Then, we waited for 40 minutes, not 5 to be re-acknowledged. After being re-acknowledged, we were seated after 10 minutes. 2. I swear we were skipped twice as they do not take names for a waiting list. This one group of 5 said they came 1 hour prior to us but didn't give a name and as soon as they arrived back, they were sat immediately. They were friends with the host. Where was the waiting list???? 3. After sitting, we were then told cash only. Why the hell wouldn't you disclaim that when greeting is for a table first? Or at least have a sign? We were so upset and disappointed in their service and attitude. 4. It's BYOB. I wish I could speak on their food but if their food is anything like their service and host, I bet it's awful. Unfortunately, I wanted to give this place no stars but you have to at least give one even though they are unworthy of one. Advice for the host working 8/13: Firstly, greet your customers and tell them you'll be right with them. Don't ignore people no matter how busy you are. Secondly, let your customers know it's cash only. Lastly, make and take a name for the waiting list.
(1)Steve D.
Sunday evening this place is mobbed. But the yelp reviews were good and all these customers can't be wrong. So we ventured in. We opted for 4 apps and no entrees. - flatbread w/ smoked salmon, spicy humus topped w field greens and drizzled w balsamic. This was nice, fresh and tasty, salmon could've been distributed a bit better or maybe a little more added, humus was flavorful but not at all spicy - Brussels sprouts w shaved Pecorino Romano, if u like them, u will really enjoy this dish, we did. - Grilled octopus chopped salad w feta. Great salad, octopus cooked just right, could've used a bit more octopus. - 2lbs of mussels in red broth. Mussels were a little small but this dish was so tasty, the waiter brought us extra bread for dipping. We really enjoyed them. For dessert we shared the banana bread pudding topped w whipped cream and drizzled w caramel. Dried cranberries,brown sugar and cinnamon filled this bowl of heaven. Overall this place was a bit loud and crowded, other than that 5 stars.
(4)Kelly W.
Yes, this restaurant is tiny. No, they do not take reservations on the weekends and you can wait awhile. Definitely don't go here with a group on Saturday unless you are waiting outside when they open at 5. That being said- this is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia at the moment and everything about it speaks to me. I've been here for restaurant week twice and about 4 times besides that and I've never been disappointed. My favorites: - Short Rib Flatbread: Cracker crust holds up to the richness of the short ribs - Grilled Baby Artichokes: Best artichokes I've ever had, I could eat these lucious bulbs from heaven every day of my life. - Antipasti for two is the perfect appetizer if you can't decide! - Mussels: Just enough spice and the broth is fantastic! Huge amount of mussels too! - Ahi Tuna: Cooked perfectly and delicious! Cash only and BYOB :)
(5)Gretchen E.
Divine. This cash-only BYO has it all: elegant ambiance, courteous servers, plentiful servings. Even the green apples on each table are delicious. Perfect location in quaint Southwest Rittenhouse, across the street from Food & Friends which hosts an ample selection of bottled beer if that is your preferred libation. For wine & spirits, there are stores on 19th/Chestnut and 25th/South. Recently, we brought a bottle of gin and mixed it with Pellegrino and lemon. I'm dying to try the octopus salad - which I've seen on my walks through the alfresco diners - but they ran out of it upon my most recent visit. My next go-to is the steamed mussels, which come in a very large bowl with a light and flavorful broth, and a large mesclun salad. The zuppa de pesce is also a must. My table mates enjoyed their feta-encrusted rack of lamb, and the roasted chicken breast. Both well-seasoned and juicy. Optimal for a date, girls' night, or dinner with parents. They take reservations - so call ahead because the wait to seat can be long.
(5)Allison L.
I love this place! Cute atmosphere and good food. We all shared a bunch of plates and everything was good.
(5)Danielle B.
After walking by Audrey Claire and jealously staring at the dishes it's diners were eatting, I finally decided to come here for dinner. The wait can really be hit or miss as they do not take reservations. Being a byob, I naturally gravitate towards loving the atmosphere and fresh ingredients that they use. I wish they offered the use f traditional wine glasses as the smaller ones they used were not particularly good to swirl the wine and open it up I did not pack an Aerator with me We started with the smoked salmon flatbread which was a disappointment. We had about 1 salmon piece on the whole flat bread and it was basically a salad. The dressing they used was nice and light but I cannot recommend this dish. Moving on to the entree round is where the restaurant received it's stars. My husband got the Australian Sea bass special. This was amazing the Sea bass was crisp yet still light and flaky. The risotto was perfectly creamy and cooked to perfection. I ordered the black truffle potato encrusted tuna which was served with the freshest and crispest free beans I have ever had! Though I did not prefer the glass choice and the flatbread the entrees were superb an fresh!
(4)Minh C.
I had high expectations for Audrey Claire - high enough that I was willing to try it even though it is a cash only joint (why when some of its other establishments take credit??). Earlier in the day I had stuffed myself silly at Sabrina's and so we didn't end up ordering as much as we otherwise would. We started off with the antipasti for two, which had a bit of everything - seared brussel sprouts with shaved parm, grilled portabellow mushrooms, grilled baby artichokes, roasted asparagus with feta, olives, beets, and more. This was a great dish, and the grilled baby artichokes were the stars for us. We also split the seared haloumi with candied dates and sesame fig compote, and the jumbo crab with granny smith apple terrine and avocado. It may just be me, but the haloumi had an aftertaste that tasted very much like goat cheese. As I'm not a fan of goat cheese, I was not a fan of the seared haloumi. The jumbo crab, on the other hand, was very light and refreshing. The apple mixed in it offered a nice sweet balance to the crab. The star deductions are for less than stellar service and for the lack of credit card acceptance. It took quite a bit of effort for us to get the attention of our waiter. The place isn't large so even if it's packed, it should not be difficult for customers to get a hold of their waiters. There was a strange moment when we asked the waiter for tap water in a cup (because their standard is lemon water in a cup). Instead of bringing back tap water, our waiter brought back the same lemon water in a mug. Wolfgang Tango Foxtrot?
(3)Jussi L.
Took my girlfriend here on a last-minute date. We both had the Penne Arrabbiata, one with shrimp and one without. The food was quite good, bonus points for making a dish that is supposed to be a bit spicy taste so. The ability to bring a bottle is also always nice. However, for a Sunday night it was quite noisy and the waiting staff was a little unfriendly at times. Overall, a slightly above mediocre experience, I would go again but only if someone else specifically wanted to eat there.
(4)Tura C.
We have fallen in love with Philly and some it's amazing restaurants! We had dinner at Audrey Claire last night and it was outstanding. The octopus salad was simply prepared, but delicious. My husband had the penne with shrimp and couldn't finish it all. Not because it wasn't tasty, but just too much. I had the fish stew. Talk about a generous serving!!! I took 2/3rds of it home and shared with hubby for lunch! While the decorating is minimal ( they could use some art on the walls), the place is cozy ( but a tad loud when busy) and I loved the huge windows and friendly staff. It's BYOB too!
(4)Alea G.
Under normal circumstances I would give this restaurant a great review. We use to come here all the time and loved it for years. Tonight, they ran out of mussels before 9 PM on a Saturday night. There's a small plate of mussels & an large dish, the Zuppa de Pesce which is a combination of clams, mussels and fish for $21. When I asked the waiter if they replaced the mussels he said that it was just more fish a and clams and for that price seems like a waste. It's a shame that a previous local favorite has lowered its standards on food and service.
(2)Dana L.
Very disappointing dinner experience. My husband and I have walked by this place so many times and have seen many people waiting to get in. We've always been interested in it and couldn't wait for the right opportunity. Sadly, the question I have now is why would there be a line to get in? There is no atmosphere to this place - the simplicity is probably on purpose, but we found it uninspiring. The noise level is beyond! We struggled to hear one another as the place was full. The bad experience went on from there. What's up with those goofy wine glasses?? Ok - you want to be a BYOB place - fine, but at least provide nice stemware. The mini-jelly glasses are a real joke! Our waiter was unattentive, appeared bored, and had an arrogant way about him. Food? Hmmm - I would call it above average but nothing to write home about. Based on other yelp reviews, the only reason to go back to this place might be the appetizers. We had the beets, and they were very plain - nothing special. We also had the grilled octopus salad - fresh, but again, nothing special. My husband had the sole which was good. I had the lamb. It was ok - no show stopper. To cap it all off, there was a less than delightful city sewer smell that was coming in through the big front window....yuck. Probably won't go back.
(1)Kendrah R.
SUMMARY I cannot remember the last time I had such a bland and boring meal. The waitstaff was indifferent on the verge of rude. I have no idea why this place is always packed, and am shocked that it is the same owners as 20 Manning Grill across the street, which I really like. 1. What we ordered We had the beets, olives, artichokes, pappardelle, chicken milainese. The grilled artichokes tasted fresh out of a can and heated in a microwave, the olives were just weird and covered in pickles I could have gotten from any deli counter, the oranges on the beets were utterly flavorless and covered in pith, the papardelle was so dry and had absolutely no sauce or flavor. I should have asked for a side of olive oil. The chicken was a huge nothing and made me wish I were at L'Angolo. 2. Sad, sad dessert menu How can a restaurant no serve a single fruit dessert in the middle of summer? Chocolate cake, creme brulee, rice pudding. This is berry and stone fruit season and not hint of summer on the dessert menu. What is wrong with these people? CONCLUSION There was just such an absence of flavor to everything. I love a restaurant that doesn't use fancy ingredients, lets the produce stand on its own, with just a tad bit of something like lemon or salt to bring out the flavors. But this was just a big old nothing. I don't know how you can make produce taste so bad in the height of summer? We will not be returning.
(2)Emma W.
Terrible food!!! - BYOB without proper wine glasses?! Should I BYOGlass?! (-1) - bread: cold an hard (-1) - main dish: "tiger shrimp"?! It is small shrimp for me! Let me know if you have whale shrimp available next time as it would be my "tiger shrimp" (-2) - mussels: big portion, little flavor, 1/3 of them are not fresh... (-2) Total (-6)!
(1)Winston A.
Audrey Claire is among my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I've been a regular for years. Perhaps it is the simplest of Audrey Claire's luxuries that I find the wisest: fresh air. The large swinging windows are almost always open and overhead fans whisk a breeze throughout the dining area. Whenever I enter the restaurant, I feel as if I had previously been suffocating and I was simply too numb to notice; however, I can finally breathe again once at Audrey Claire. Of course, the food is delicious--it's fresh, never over-prepared, and tasty. This is the sort of eatery that caters neither to the perverse glut that many American chefs disguise as "comfort food" nor to the palate of overwrought "health food" enthusiasts. Instead, Audrey Claire offers a cuisine of healthful, balanced nourishment that is responsive to the flavors my body truly craves: olive oil, pear, goat cheese, olives, tomato, mussels, yogurt, pork, aioli, chocolate. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Go, it's a Philadelphia classic--and bring a bottle of wine as it's BYOB.
(5)Ashley S.
My best friend and I are pretty much wannabe foodies. We often try to venture out to somewhere new when we have our little dinner dates, but as sporadic as they are, it becomes very difficult to find reservations/an open table at a decent restaurant. Luckily, we were able to snag a table on a recent Sunday night at Audrey Claire. We met a little past 6:30 and got a cute two-top table next to the window. The restaurant itself is pretty small and the tables are very close together, but it somehow adds a very homey/comfy ambiance. Our server was very delightful. He was helpful and attentive without bombarding us every 5 minutes, which I really loved. For starters, we had a sampling of mediterranean spreads. The 3 we chose were; pumpkin hummus, sun-dried tomato and basil, and spicy -- all served with warm pita. They were all so fresh and amazing, but my favorite was definitely the pumpkin! Since I have also taken a recent liking to brussel sprouts, we shared the seared brussel sprouts with shaved parmesan. All I can say is that they were cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with our entrees! For our main course, I was torn between the pork chop and the lamb. After consulting our server, I went with the lamb, and my best friend went with the pork chop. First, my entree -- 3 generously sized feta and garlic crusted baby racks of lamb, served with fresh mint labne (think sour cream, but BETTER) and mashed mashed potatoes. I had NO complaints. I thought it was weird that our server didn't inquire about the temp I wanted on the lamb, but it came out perfect! The pork chop was just as good, but I think I still would favor my choice. Couldn't leave without dessert! We had the banana bread pudding, which I would highly recommend. Comes out warm with whipped cream on top! Mmmmm! Great dining experience overall and now I understand why the wait at this place is often over two hours for dinner! I will be back and hopefully SOON! ..Oh and I left out the best part. It's BYOB! We had a bottle of champagne, but I was a bit jealous of the family behind us who brought an entire bottle of tequila and were making table side margaritas! I don't think you can go wrong with this excellent menu, but the only two things I would keep in mind when planning to venture here for dinner is that they take cash ONLY (there is an ATM across the street if you forget!) and remember that they only take reservations Sunday through Thursday, if you come on the weekend..BEST OF LUCK!
(4)Wesley C.
Wow. But not in a good way. Our dinner started and ended well, but the main courses in the middle were just too bland. For starters we ordered the roasted beet and pumpkin w/ warm goat cheese & roasted leek and portobello tart with chèvre goat cheese and polenta crust. Both were well balanced and creamy with the goat cheese, and the polenta crust gave a nice crunch and base to the tart. I got their special for the evening, a ribeye steak, and I'd have to say that it was one of the most bland steaks I've ever had. My wife got their duck breast and it too lacked depth of flavor. Dessert was a bread pudding that was pretty good, but again, why the starters and dessert were better than the MAIN course baffles me. And for the price that this meal cost, I'd say this is a low value establishment. Maybe you pay for the ambience and the company you choose to eat with, but next time, I think I'm going to look at alternatives in the area - because there are a lot!
(2)Elaine M.
Went to Audrey Claire for restaurant week. This restaurant is extremely small and the tables are VERY close together. You are practically sitting WITH the table next to you. We each ordered a different first and second course so we could all try a variety of items. In order from favorite to least; first course: seared haloumi, grilled tiger shrimp and bosc pear and gorgonzola flatbread. The haloumi fig compote could have been a dessert it was so sweet. The arugula and sweet potato with the shrimp was delectable. Everything about the flat bread was spot on. For second courses we had the shallot crusted lemon sole, pappardelle w/portobello mushrooms, potato crusted ahi tuna. Both of the fish dishes were cooked extremely well. the pasta with mushrooms had a wonderful earthy flavor and was a rather large portion for restaurant week. the dessert was a sampler of three different items. the bread pudding was ok, the chocolate was delicious as always, and the third (I have no idea what it was) but it was amazing! Our server was pretty on top of things, except they brought our second course out before our first course had been entirely cleared from the table. That was annoying, since everything we had was pretty large portions, it would have been nice to have a 10-15 minute break in-between.
(4)Matty G.
I was first introduced to Audrey Claire by visiting the sister restaurant Twenty Manning down the street. A quainter, smaller version of the sister restaurant... Audrey Claire focuses more on the food aspect and less on the ambiance. The kitchen is close to the dining room, so you can smell everything. A group of about 10 of us shared about 20 dishes. The one dish (a side dish) that stood out to me were the Brussels Sprouts. Baked/Pan fried Brussels sprouts with a balsamic reduction and shaved Parmesan. YUM! This is the only way I cook Brussels Sprouts now.
(5)Edward W.
Standouts: Good service + Byob + Cash only, BOOOOO. Summary: Went here with two friends and ordered the braised short ribs. Meat was tender although the accompanying sauce was I believe vegetable based and lacked the richness spare ribs need. The bed of creamed polenta matched the over all dish well. Deserts were executed well, though nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary.
(3)Nataly N.
This restaurant is very cozy. A perfect spot for a romantic date in a semi-casual atmosphere. It got crowded very quickly, but there is enough space between tables to sit without rubbing elbows with your dining neighbor. Our appetizers and salad were okay - nothing really stood out. The pork chops were delicious - perhaps the best pork chops I've had since the beginning of time. And I don't even like pork. After hearing an overview of the specials, we also decided to try the branzino, which came with a side of pearl pasta and green beans. I don't know what they did to this dish, but everything tasted like its soul was sucked out of it. There's a big difference between fish that is tender and fish that has been zombified. Everything on the dish crumbled upon contact - even more so than baby food... except baby food has more flavor. For dessert, I shouldn't have picked the banana bread pudding. I'm no pastry chef, but I made better bread pudding on my first try. Maybe their other desserts taste better. For the price range, it's really hard to give my experience here more than 3 stars. Service points could have favorably tipped the scale, but I don't think our server tried to offer the best service he could give.
(3)Ben W.
Came here the other night for restaurant week when our original plans fell through and we wanted somewhere that was accommodating to vegetarians. Luckily, Audrey Claire had a spot open, so we grabbed a bottle of wine and headed out the door. While I had heard a lot about Audrey Claire, this was the first time I had ever been inside. The interior was very simple, but I think the simplicity did wonders in this case. The lighting was bright, but not harsh. The walls were a nice off-white and a great backdrop to the simple wooden tables. The tall vase of fresh tulips by the window was also a nice touch. We were seated promptly upon arrival and given our menus. After we were told the specials, we corked our bottle and got right down to business. I was very impressed with menu selection as well as details of each of the items on the menu. While it was clear that each selection had a core element to it, the accompanying descriptions made each one sound irresistible. I ended up going with the brussel spouts and pork loin. The brussel sprouts were very very tasty. While simple, they were cooked through but still retained their crunch. It wasn't too oily (which I was afraid of) and the shaved parmesan added a nice milky, sharp finish. My friends got the flatbread, which was incredible (and huge!) and the salad. The cheese and fruit on both those dishes really brought the flavors together. The main course is where we ran into some problems. The presentation of the pork loin was beautiful, but the meat itself was so tough and way overcooked. Even with the steak knife, it was hard to cut through and hard to chew. I attempted to suck it up and continue eating, but even my friends were noticing it was bothering me, so I ended up asking for another pork loin. Our server obliged, but there was definitely a little bit of tension in his tone. However, another server came over with a bowl of potato bacon bisque to bide the time, which I very much appreciated, especially since it took about 20 minutes for the second loin to come. And unfortunately, the disappointment continued. This time, the loin was severely undercooked. While it was cooked on the edges, the center and regions near the bone were still translucent and looked very much raw. Concerned, I flagged the server again, who told me that it was cooked medium and safe to eat. Again, it was in a tone that made me feel a little uncomfortable and as if he were talking down to me. I'm not very experienced when it comes to cooking with pork, but I knew in the back of my mind I probably shouldn't eat it. However, after being reassured by our server again, I cut around the raw parts and tried to enjoy what little meat I had. The accompanying mashed potatoes were great though. The asparagus were nothing special. For dessert, I decided to stick with traditional creme brûlée and I wasn't disappointed. The creme was creamy and not too sweet and the layer of caramelized sugar on top was just the right thickness. However, as I was cracking the sugar on top, the server stopped by and mentioned that I'm supposed to eat the sugar with the creme, noting that it looked like I had never seen creme brûlée before. This really left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt as if he thought I was an amateur and didn't appreciate good food because I had sent the pork back for being overcooked (which it most definitely was). We were also being rushed out the door because the second pork loin pushed our entire meal back. We quickly paid our check and dashed out the door. The food had a great start and a great end, but unfortunately, the main course failed to impress twice. Also, the continuous, to a point, rude, service really made my experience slightly unpleasant. I really want to come back because all my friends rave about Audrey Claire all the time. If I do, I'll just stick with vegetarian dishes and hope for the best. Pros: beautiful simple interior, wide ranging menu, lots of vegetarian options, simple, innovative flavors Cons: pleasantness and speediness of service, food prep Dishes to try: brussel sprouts, flatbread, ahi tuna, creme brûlée Dishes to skip: pork loin
(2)Rick V.
So, this place has been here forever, ownership has brought us the wonderful 20 Manning and Cook. I went here this Saturday, not knowing it was restaurant week, that was my first mistake. I should've left when I learned this, but I gave them a shot. Bad mistake. The dining room crowd resembled the Penn student cafeteria. So, I understand the servers crappy attitude, because they were probably getting stiffed all night. I'm a mature looking guy, some say distinguished looking. My wife looks considerably younger(good husband brownie points). So, we definitely should've been a sight for sore eyes for our server. Instead, a rumpled, grouchy, balding and sour young man, only identified as "L" on the hand written check,( they only accept cash), showed up like his girlfriend just broke up with him and his cat died. Horrible personality and demeanor. He should NOT be in hospitality!!!! He let us sit there for over 15 minutes before opening our wine and another 15 minutes before taking our order. We pleased and thanked him to death and he just became more unprofessional and rude. If I wasn't with my wife I would've definitely had told him what a rude jackass he is. We finished our meals and sat with dirty dishes for another 10 minutes. Hey L have you ever heard of pre-bussing? He wrapped my wife's leftovers but left a dirty plate in front of me, so I placed it on the unbussed table next to me, as a not so subtle hint for L to do his job. Now, fully exasperated, I asked a delightful young female server if there's was a manager on duty. It was obvious there was not a manager present. She told me they "self-manage"!!!! Holy Crap!!!! A cash business with no management present!!! No wonder it sucks so hard!!! How much do you think the staff steals from the owners?
(1)Yun W.
The restaurant is rather small and cramped, but the simple, flavorful food definitely makes up for it. Came here with a large group and we tried the prix fixe menu for group dining and sampled a lot of items. Out of the appetizers, the prince edward island mussels were by far my favorite. The olives, flatbread, and hummus were also quite good although more typical. The baby arugula salad with figs, berries, lentils, and warm goat cheese was a unique combination, and I thought the figs went especially well with the salad. For my main dish, I ordered the potato crusted ahi tuna with crispy beets and black truffle vinaigrette. The tuna was amazing and came with sides of lentils and green beans. We shared an assortment of desserts including chocolate cake, creme brûlée, and banana pudding. Definitely a dinner to remember.
(4)Michael M.
Wonderful, cozy restaurant for lovers, young and old. Small delicious portion, well presented. Highly recommended. Would go back, again and again.
(4)Johan W.
Wow... As is "wow that was so disappointing." Hadn't been to this rittenhouse mainstay for a couple of years and the entire experience was severely disappointing. We had the octopus to start. Octopus was well cooked but non chalantly thrown on some iceberg lettuce and some tomatoes with some vinaigrette. My girlfriend had the duck. It was dry and flavorless. The whole dish was pretty much flavorless except for the overpowering lentils. I had the pork chop. It was gigantic but overcooked. Potatoes and asparagus fine. If this place would have opened now, it would fail given the many superior choices these days. Ambiance is crap, sitting on my neighbors Lapp essentially. wait staff ok, but he failed to tell is about any specials. Didn't realize there were any until we overheard another waiter. We waited across the street at 20 manning for the table, which I don't have a problem with, but the staff there was so ... Indifferent. Both places exude indifference on all fronts. Had pretty good memories of this place from 8 years back, but this place is not worth the wait or the money.
(2)Aubrey W.
This place is amazing! definitely more about the food than the service, but even then our service was great. We had the shrimp, salmon and the chicken for our entrees and loved them all. I would HIGHLY suggest the corn for an appetizer-SO. GOOD. byob and only take cash! definitely a fun and delicious place to try!!
(5)Randi N.
This cozy and chic cafe is a great find in the Rittenhouse area! My girlfriends and I went on Friday night and we barely had to wait. We loved that it was BYO and the atmosphere was all good vibes. Our waitress was awesome and so sweet! I order the Chicken Milanese and it was fresh and delicious. The chicken was crispy to perfection and garnished with bright arugula and sweet grape tomatoes on top! I did not want it to end! We ordered a decadent chocolate cake for dessert and it was excellent! The waitress even put the dessert on the house! Awesome service and even better quality food.
(5)Jessica S.
I've been to Audrey Claire before for small plates and flatbreads and thought it was delicious, so I was pretty pumped to dine here again for my friend's birthday. There was a group of 10 of us and we were able to score Sunday night reservations at 8pm. It was the first night of the August restaurant week.. Now I usually am a big fan of RW, but I tend to be cautious about where I go, since sometimes the menu is limited and the portions are smaller. The menu for Audrey Claire looked pretty good, since they offered lots of options for appetizers and dinner and an assortment of desserts for the table. The place is small and cute with some outdoor seating. It's BYOB (plus) and cash only (minus). We were seated after a few minutes and our wine was opened and placed in buckets. We were brought out crusty bread with olive oil to start the meal. I decided on the seared haloumi with sesame fig compote. The haloumi was a tad salty, but overall very flavorful and delicious. The candied dates provided a nice balance between sweet and savory and I was plotting how to avoid sharing with my husband since we decided we would split our appetizers! He got the arugula salad with goat cheese, lentils, berries, and figs. The salad was okay.. Nothing very special. The goat cheese was good but not very abundant. The rest of the salad was pretty lackluster and I didn't care for the texture of these particular figs. I also tried my friends Brussels sprouts, which I thought were pretty good but not the best I've ever had. Onto the main course: I was excited to try the pappardelle, as it's my favorite kind of pasta and it sounded so good with mushrooms, arugula, sunflower seeds, and shaved cheese. I got this and my husband got the ahi tuna which we planned to split. The pappardelle was pretty terrible. It had absolutely no flavor except for oil and the blandness of the dish made it pretty unappetizing. I'm confused why it's hard to put salt/pepper/any kind of seasoning at all on a pasta dish. I was pretty surprised at how bad it was and also very sad! The tuna was also not that great. Again, the crust on the tuna was bland and it was probably the first time in my life where I left pieces of ahi tuna on my plate. Main course fail!!! The desserts were a nice variety and they brought them out for everyone to share. I am not a huge dessert person but the molten lava cake was delicious. Service was decent throughout the night. Moral of the story: only come here for appetizers and dessert. Skip the main meal. Won't be back again for RW but would come back for small plates and a redemption..
(3)Krystal H.
This charming little open air spot is adorable. We had great service! We went for restaurant week and it was really nice. Huge bouquets of fresh sunflowers in the windowsills made for a warm welcome. I wasn't a fan of the caesar, but then, grilled lettuce...it's a big wedge that you have to use a steak knife to chop yourself. The haloumi was great, the sprouts were delicious. The blackberries used as garnish and in some of the salads were fresh and ripe, not too sour. The shrimp looked beautiful and everyone who tried them said they were cooked well. Same goes for the pork chop and salmon. For dessert (there were 5 of us) they just brought us a sampling. While we all tried everything, none of us wanted the rice pudding or the panna cotta. It would have been nice if they let you choose. I'd love to go back again when it's not restaurant week. Super cute date spot! note: BYO, cash only. (there's an ATM across the street inside the beer/grocery store; has a $1 fee)
(4)Amanda M.
Thanks to Pope Francis' impending visit, restaurant week was moved from its standard September dates to August. Anyone who's read my reviews knows I'm a big fan of RW, so I wasn't going to let the date change stand in my way. A friend and I settled pretty quickly on Audrey Claire, as the menu looked amazing (lots of choices!) and we'd both heard good things. The night started off great - the restaurant was mostly empty when we arrived, and so we were able to pick a table by the window. The waiter was attentive, opening the wine we brought and bringing over ice right away (although he didn't offer to pour, which I thought was odd). We were served warm crusty bread with delicious dipping oil, and were given plenty of time to make our decisions about what to order. I went with the fried haloumi to start, followed by the pappardelle pasta with portobellos (how's that for a tongue twister?) Unfortunately, the starters stole the show - my haloumi was amazing, and my friend's brussel sprouts were delicious too. The papardelle was mostly disappointing, heavily oiled and not particularly impressive at all. Sometime during our meal they turned off the air conditioning (remember, this is August), and a couple very large groups filed into the restaurant. Consequently, the place got VERY hot - so much so that I was pretty anxious to leave. Of course, we had to stay for dessert, which ending up being not worth it. We were served a tray of rice pudding and chocolate melting cake to share - neither really interested me, so we booked it out of there fairly shortly after. I don't think I'd come back for a full meal, though the starters are worth a trip if you're in the area. I'd rather pick a few of those to share than spend a lot of $$ on an unimpressive entree.
(3)Katie L.
We've been in a small plates mood lately, and since many of my fellow Yelpers complained about the blandess of entrees at Audrey Claire, we opted for the "snack as many things as you can" option. We started with the antipasti for two, per my fellow Yelper's recommendations since everything looked pretty good, although a "little" of everything was definitely true. Would have loved more of the artichokes and the mushrooms, for sure. The beets and the tomatoes were just kind of middle-of-the-road. For the smaller dishes we went with all of your great tips and tried the seared haloumi (pretty darn excellent), jumbo crab (too much apples, too little crab), grilled octopus (because yes, more please) and baby arugula salad with figs (tasty, but a little too simple.) So overall it was hit or miss. If someone wanted me to join them at Audrey Claire, I would definitely not say no (BYOB, hello), but I don't feel the need to go out of my way to go back.
(3)Emma D.
I really wanted to like Audrey Claire, and I've been a few times now. Honestly, I'm always underwhelmed. I think the best things on the menu are the vegetable plates. Service is always sub-par, the other diners are generally snotty and the food just never lives up to the hype.The quality of the kitchen is super variable, I've noticed it and a waitress even said she only recommends a certain dish when a certain chef is working. There are so many amazing BYOs in Philly that I think I'm done giving this one a shot.
(2)Sylvia K.
The menu for this place looked really good, so I picked this place to have dinner with a friend. We ordered the roasted brussels sprouts, the short rib flatbread, and the pappardelle. The bruseels sprouts were really good and cooked perfectly. The short rib flatbread came with braised short rib, portobello, and truffle oil. This one was all right. The pappardelle (which is my favorite pasta noodle) came with portobello mushrooms, arugula, sunflower seeds, and shaved locatelli cheese. This pasta dish was also good, but it was a tad bland - it could've used a little more flavor, though I'm not sure what. The service was really great - our attentive server came by a few times to check on us and to refill our waters. The interior is really simple - there's nothing on the walls, but there were beautiful bouquets of tulips. It kind of felt like we were in someone's home eating dinner (with many other guests) and you could also kind of see into the kitchen. The place is not huge, and the tables are set up really close to each other. This place is cash only, so make sure you bring some ahead of time. They also take check, which is kind of weird, but I guess if you carry a checkbook around, that's also an option for you. The place is also BYOB, which is awesome. I saw lots of parties bring in their own bottles of wine. My friend and I didn't partake, but I did notice when leaving the restaurant later, that there was a store selling alcohol across the street! Convenient!
(4)Yuan H.
I was cautious about going here at first because of the reviews on bad service, but maybe I went on a good day. Service was good, not spectacular. The hostess seemed overwhelmed and the restaurant clearly needs to hire more staff. But, the most important part if this place is the food. We went for restaurant week and pretty much everything was delicious. The Tiger Shrimp appetizer was kind of bland, but the Brussel sprouts with Parmesan was delicious. My favorite dishes were the lemon sole and pork ribs. The mashed potatoes with the pork ribs was devine and the sole was juicy and soft. Dessert was wonderful as well. My only complaint is that it was very loud in the restaurant. I had to shout and lean in to speak to my dining partner. Otherwise, I had a very pleasant experience and would go there again.
(4)Caragh C.
We came here on a Sat night and got a table right away (no reservations on the weekend). For the appetizer, I got the pear flatbread, which was amazing. For the entree I got the porkchop. The porkchop was well cooked and was delicious. The mashed potatoes that came with it, were like crack, they were that good. By the time the dessert came, we couldn't eat anymore, but the creme brûlée and chocolate lave cake were also good. The service was great, everyone was very friendly. The atmosphere is very quaint and intimate its good for date night or groups. It's BYOB and CASH ONLY. So be prepared, there was an ATM across the street. I will definitely becoming back here again.
(4)Jessica B.
This is a wonderful little BYOB that I always highly recommend. Its great for a larger meal or a few bites if you're not too hungry. Its on the expensive side for a go-to kind of place, but its easily on the top of my list every time I'm trying to figure out where to go. I also think it would make any palate happy. The atmosphere is warm and very open, its best in the summer when the windows are open and lots of people are dining outside. I really like to sit at the chef's table too! The service is always friendly and the food is paced well, even though they are always super busy. It is definitely a smaller restaurant so make sure to make reservations. As a big fan of tasting a lot of options when I dine out Audrey Claire really works for me. I have not tried any of the larger dishes because every time I go my dining partner(s) and I opt to order lots of the smaller items so we can all share. I love the simplicity of the food, while being just perfectly done and having some choices that are a little out there. You really can't go wrong ordering anything. Get the full antipasta for 2, it seems simple but its delicious. The flat breads are all delicious and pretty large, the braised short rib is the best. The grilled octopus is my favorite menu item, so perfectly done with so many levels of flavor, and some of the best feta ever. If you're looking for a nice night out, with great fresh food that will make everyone happy come here.
(5)Katie G.
Service was good, outdoor seating nice. Inside smelled a little antiseptic but overall I would say it was a good experience. The food was good, I would recommend the starters, veggies were good.
(3)Rachael E.
Great service, food and outside seating. I loved the quality of the food: flatbread, salad , and fish dish. Cream Brûlée was one of the best I have ever had. This place deserves high rating!
(5)S H.
SO disappointed with my experience last night. The service was the absolute worst I've ever had in Philly. It was almost comical the way that our server would turn his back and walk away when I was in mid sentence. There was NO chance of asking questions about the menu or even getting him to open our bottle of champagne. I could go on and on, but probably the worst part was that he forgot to put a candle in the dessert for my friends birthday :( . I walked over to let him know he forgot, and when I turned around my boyfriend saw him dramatically roll is his eyes at me. Not a good look, Audrey Claire. The food was nothing special which would have been fine, but we felt so unwelcome due to the awful service and sloppy management that I will definitely never be back. I'll warn anyone I can not to bother with this place!
(1)Shelly P.
Had diner last night in this fantastic restaurant. The food is delicious and fresh. The menu had so many amazing options. We shared three delicious starters and each person ordered their own main dish. The chicken was amazing and delicious. The shrimp was fresh and yummy. The desserts were also fabulous. The banana bread pudding and the chocolate cake were excellent. The only draw back was it's BYOG so you have to bring your own wine however you can purchase alcoholic beverages across the street. But service was not the best.
(4)Kate F.
This cash-only BYOB not only has an extensive and delicious menu, but also has a charming atmosphere and amiable staff. The pear and gorgonzola flatbread was good, but nothing that I would willingly order again - I would probably steal one slice if someone else were to order it, though. I loved the antipasti, which included brussels sprouts, portobello mushrooms, baby artichokes, asparagus, olives, beets, pumpkin, and marinated mozzarella - the perfect HEALTHY spread. I eventually hope to try the salmon entrée or beet and pumpkin salad. I am absolutely obsessed with the restaurant's ambiance. I sat outside, so I was able to admire the lovely neighborhood, as well as the countless dog-walkers passing by. Our server was great too - we sat at our table for quite a while and he didn't try to rush us by any means, unlike the majority of restaurants I have been to.
(4)Rachel M.
I just moved from San Francisco and this was my first spot in Philly. It was 9:00pm on a Sunday and they seated us immediately at the bar, which I highly recommend if you want to see all the action happening. The service was great; everyone who works there is super friendly. We ordered the pear gorgonzola flatbread (delicious), arugula salad (great for summer!) and the seared haloumi - very tasty. I'd also recommend the watermelon feta salad, which we got a little sample of. It's a perfect spot for a date with friends, parents or your significant other. Its casual and the atmosphere is fun. Definitely one of my favorites in Philly so far.
(5)Alyssa R.
Love this byob!! Only downfall if no reservations on weekends and it can be a long wait. You can grab a drink at 20 manning while waiting though. Outdoor and indoor seating. Cash only!! The staff is always pleasant. The food is always on point. I highly recommend it. Great date spot. Only thing I was a bit disappointed with is on time the mussels were amazing! I kept thinking about them and when I went back they were in a spicer more watered down sauce. Hoping it was a fluke. The flatbreads are always great and I love the octopus salad.
(4)Chrissy Z.
Good food, hard to get in on weekends. Good date spot but more than two people difficult to seat.
(4)Nazee Z.
Went here for restaurant week last year and it was delicious! I got the seared haloumi cheese as my appetizer, which was rich and sweet at the same time. The figs complimented the savory of the cheese into a perfectly done dish. The cheese was either baked or fried for that perfect crunch. For my dinner I got the chicken with the pomegranate sauce and was again impressed by the sweet and savory compliments. Very well done, juicy, and flavorful chicken. Also, gotta love that this place is a BYOB! Will probably be coming back here for this years restaurant week :)
(5)Cat N.
My second trip to Audrey Claire was last week during restaurant week, and I have to say that I was disappointed - although I attribute a lot of the flaws to it *being* restaurant week. First, we showed up with no reservations (as they typically don't take them), only to be told that they were almost booked, but could fit us in as long as we left in an hour. We agreed and were seated. We started chatting and after about 10 minutes our waiter came by to take our order. When we said we hadn't even looked at the menus yet he told us rather sharply that we had "better get moving." Having said that, he was perfectly sweet and attentive the rest of the night and gave us a little leeway on the hour. The food, however, was really just so-so. I had the arugula salad with lentils, goat cheese, berries, and figs. It was fine. A TON of arugula and not much of the rest of the ingredients. Could easily have made a comparable salad at home. The "grilled" Scottish salmon with lemon and herbs was extremely disappointing... it was so charred that all I really tasted was that (although the inside was cooked well). No lemon, no herbs. Served over sad green beans (which my dining partner also received) and a little unimaginative couscous. The dessert sampler was actually a highlight, we did a good job of clearing the plate. But all in all, not worth $35, and I will not be back during restaurant week.
(3)Hanna L.
My first with Audrey Claire was almost three years ago. I thought it was the most charming restaurant in philly. They always have beautiful, fresh flowers. Though the place is small, I found it exciting (feeling like anybody who knew about anything in philly would be here). I remember having their pork chops with bacon bits and falling in love. Now, I went back to Audrey Claire couple days ago with two girlfriends because it's restaurant week. I got the same maple pork chops as my entree. However, the taste and experience were totally different from three years ago. The meat was huge and dry. It was also too loud for me to have a conversation with my friends. I mostly had to yell things repeatedly for my friends to hear me. The waiters were nice, but I was disappointed overall. Not sure I would go back considering they don't take reservations, the 20-min wait, and their cash only policy.
(3)Amy P.
Small and cozy restaurant. and BYOB!!! yay!!! (Oh but cash only) There is a liquor store right in front of the restaurant so you can pick a bottle up from there. For me, i didn't know so I had to explore to find a liquor store. ;( I've heard good things about this restaurant and YES.. the food met my expectations. The mussel we ordered for an appetizer was really good. I ordered salmon for my plate which just so-so but my friend's porkchop was AMAZING! I don't like meat so much but it is cooked just right. Very very delicious! :) I'm gonna be back soon to this restaurant. My foodie friend from ny loved this restaurant too.
(4)Christina G.
We all really enjoyed our meals. There were 4 of us and we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday with no wait time. However, by the time we left, it was a full house and they don't take reservations on weekends. Keep that in mind!
(5)Jared J.
Audrey Claire is a pretty plain Jane. Walking the block on a cold Philly night a BYO was calling. A pregame have you. We entered around five to a somewhat sparsely populated restaurant. The decor on the inside is plain, and you get a fine look into the kitchen. It's pretty intimate, and I enjoyed the look of the bathroom. Although a negative on a cold night, if you are seated by the door, you will not only be welcomed to a chilling atmosphere but also cold food. After our order went in the restaurant got packed. For one I would like to add that our server was out in left field. You could see him texting on his phone and chatting up other servers. By that means the service blew. We nearly had to beg him to bring out our food and check. If it weren't for the attentive host I would probably give this place two stars. So I decided to ordered the seared Brussel sprouts and Grilled Octopus. The Brussels were recommended by many yelpers, however, the chef instead of searing them burnt the oil in the pan, and the Brussels, thus leaving a somewhat foul taste. For the octopus, the serving was generous and tasted good, but mislabeled on the menu. Once furiously cold, due to the door opening and closing, lost most of its yummy taste. Finally, if you are into plating, don't be surprised here. The food is just thrown on a plate. Would I ever come back here? No.... this place is very basic, but I also can't say to avoid it.
(3)Lindsay D.
I had dinner here 2 years ago and it was fantastic! I've made 2 additional attempts to go back and each one worse then prior. Attempt #1 we had reservations on a week night for 8pm. We waited in the doorway in fridged weather and the host told us it would just be a few minutes. We stood there for 15 minutes with no additional attention, no updates on a table and eventually just left. Attempt #2 was a gorgeous Saturday night. It was 9pm and I knew they set up outdoor seating. After observing 4 vacant tables outside and 3 inside we stood in the doorway for 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. The restaurant phone rang, the host looked at me and picked up the phone. He took the call outside and left us standing in the doorway. He came back over and simply said "Yes?" I said "Dinner. 2 people. Outside please. " He left us to go get his clipboard and stepped outside. He said "Unfortunately I have nothing available." In total disbelief I said "Are you sure, there are ample vacant tables." His reply was "Super sure. There's a wait list." There were no patrons waiting, there was a total of 7 vacant tables and yet he made ZERO effort to accommodate us. No restaurant is worth that kind of behavior. Get over yourself and learn how to talk to people.
(1)Grace H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! Cute, quaint, and BYO! I've been taken on 2 dates here, and each time I've loved it more. The parmesan brussel sprouts are one of my staples, as is the zuppa de pesce. The bowl it comes in is huge and piping hot and perfect for sharing! The braised short rib and portobello flatbread is super rich and savory (also a must) and the service is quick and waitstaff friendly. Great window or outdoor seating, depending on the season, and really simple, homey, delicious food.
(5)Virginie N.
Great food and atmosphere. The pappardelle is great, same with the roasted cauliflower and hummus plate. The restaurant's interior is super cute, and they have a nice outdoor seating section.
(4)Brittany R.
Went on a Friday night for date night. Was thrilled to get a table right away outside. However, I think they had too many customers that they could handle. We arrived at about 7:30, ordered 15 minutes later and didn't receive our appetizer until 8:25. We had the antipasto which was an excellent choice delicious. But I was so hungry because of that wait that after I ate my portion I was almost full and we still had 2 more courses. Next we had the octopus. It was delicious and large however there wasn't a very generous portion of octopus on the salad. We definitely had less than some of the other dishes that were walked by us. For my entree which I could barely eat I had the salmon. The salmon was good I like that it had this crispy crust around it. I wasn't thrilled with the sides (Cous Cous and string beans). I wound up taking most of it home. All in all delicious, fresh, healthy food but slow and lacking service.
(3)Ancy T.
This place is definitely delicious and had some fantastic items on their menu including the mussels (the broth was just EVERYTHING). I like that it is small and attempts the cozy feel, but I was having trouble being cozy as it was CRAMMED. I felt like I was sitting on top of the tables on either side of me and it was just really difficult to get comfortable. BYOB is the way to go and that's the best part because it's usually the drinks that really weigh a dinner check down. I had a great time here but it only gets 4 stars because I felt like I was eating dinner with everyone as opposed to just being there with my bf. Too crammed.. maybe take out some tables?
(4)Vidushi B.
I finally came here for the first time on a Sunday night. Overall, had a good experience, but I wouldn't say it was outstanding, and didn't quite live up to the amazing things I've heard. Whenever my boyfriend and I go out to dinner, I think we order too much food. This was the case again. To start, we got the Antipasti for Two. It was really big, and is the equivalent of at least two, maybe even three, usual appetizers. It was good to try everything, but it was a little overwhelming for me. The best parts were the brussels sprouts, asparagus, and beets. We decided to get 3 smaller dishes, and one big dish. This was too much for us to eat. For the small dishes, we got the Butternut Squash Risotto, the Grilled Octopus, and the Grilled Tiger Shrimp, and the Papperdelle big dish: - Risotto: I really liked this, as I have never tasted risotto cooked with squash or anything of the sort. However, the flavor gets repetitive in your mouth, so definitely plan on sharing. - Octopus: I only had a bite of this, so I can't say much - but it's more of a salad. - Tiger Shrimp: I love shrimp, so I might be biased, but I really liked them. They are served on top of sweet potato so it was delicious. - Pappardelle: I love Pappardelle, probably my favorite pasta. I liked how the pasta was light, but that also meant it was a little bland. Could have used some more spice/flavor, in my opinion. The ambiance is intimate, and there isn't much to say besides that it has an open kitchen. It can get really crowded/cramped. The service was pretty good also, however they are cash only so beware of that. It is really nice that it is BYOB though, so you can come here on a date but bring your own choice of wine!
(4)Mary Kate R.
My boyfriend and I came here for his birthday dinner and we were not disappointed! Everything we ordered came out wonderfully. We both agreed that we would come back for the pork chop alone...it was incredible and the apple chutney it was served with was crave worthy! The mussels appetizer is very large and filling. We loved that it was a BYO and we sat inside near the open windows...definitely a pleasant touch. One star knocked off because the tomato and mozzarella appetizer left me unimpressed, mainly because the tomato had a grainy texture to it. Also, we were rubbing elbows with people on both sides of us, so not the most private setting for a birthday dinner! Overall, a wonderful experience with great service and delicious food. I would come back!
(4)Spurti R.
Service was subpar, food came out cold and most of all every dish was terribly under seasoned.
(2)Robert S.
Had dinner with three friends at 6. Nice ambience, was still mostly empty. Service: needs a top to bottom and bottom up culture change. BYOB but don't have wine glasses (offered large shot glasses instead). Waiters are uniformed in raggedy old undershirts, start their recitation of specials when they're still two tables away and when you're mid-sentence, decline taking appetizer orders before entrees, and offer dessert only after you've paid the bill. Sloppy, careless, at times borderline rude. There were two guys serving us and both were the same. My pork chop was way overcooked and rubbery, the seared tuna tasted like steamed tofu, and the chioppino was served by the gallon.
(1)Yona G.
Pretty interesting place. Went there on a Tuesday night with a friend. We tried different things but what I enjoyed the most was the duck. Delicious!! Must try! One thing that I thought was funny is the fact that their wine glasses are so small, I guess because of the space they have they have to minimize as much as they can the space on their tables. We asked for "regular" wine glasses though.
(4)Joanna L.
Another absolutely unreal dinner. Highlights: Pear Gorgonzola flatbread Grilled Haloumi Portobello and leek tart with polenta Grilled octopus salad Brussels sprouts *seared barramundi fish with mushroom risotto with asparagus and balsamic reduction Creme brûlée Bread pudding Delicious.
(5)Nicole M.
This is a great little place, it's BYOB and the food & service were great! We weren't able to get a reservation because they book up so fast, so we did have to wait a while for the table but we didn't mind too much. I had a grilled flatbread with pear & gorgonzola and it was very tasty. I also got the arugula salad with candied figs & goat cheese, excellent. I did try one of my friends grilled artichokes which I also loved. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, it's great for a romantic mean or a night out with friends.
(4)Carol H.
A cozy spot, I'm a fan of the food and the minimal decor. Had the antipasti for two and it was so filling, we could've stopped there! Highly recommend the salted beets and pumpkin. Their brisket just melted in your mouth. I will definitely be returning.
(4)Kristen M.
I took my roommate to a very belated birthday dinner here on a Tuesday night. She had been once before and raved about it. She's a healthy-minded eater, a lot of nuts, fruits, yogurt, vegetables. I myself am a real meat and potatoes and donuts kind of gal. Knowing that this was a sibling of Twenty Manning (bison burger hey!), of which I am fond of, I thought I'd be OK. We walked in around 6:30 to a somewhat empty restaurant, with no reservations. Seated immediately no problem. Can't imagine what is like when it's crowded, the tables are very close to one another. Our bottle of wine was opened for us and our waters filled. When we were having trouble deciding what to order, I asked if we could put in our apps then waiter come back to take our order for the entree. Nope, not allowed, no partial orders. OK, weird, restaurant is practically empty. We asked for a few more minutes to plan our attack, we started with the the pear and Gorgonzola flat bread and grilled brussel sprouts as an appetizer. I had the butternut squash risotto as my entree. Roommate had the pumpkin salad as her entree. Everything was good, but nothing to rave about. I left still feeling hungry. Perhaps we just didn't order the correct things. I figured out the place was cash only after we sat down, so I counted the money I had in my wallet and hoped for the best. The meal was very affordable and the BYOB factor helps, but I still don't quite understand why people rave about this place.
(3)Tom C.
Pretty awesome experience. We went there with a local, who loves it there. It was evidently 'restaurant week' in Philly while we were there so not sure what the menu is typically like. For this particular week it was a prix fixe menu, I think there were 5 appetizer selections and 5 or 6 entrees. Appetizers: grilled shrimp were incredible. Perfectly cooked, savory sauce to spice them up little. Fresh pear and gorgonzola flatbread with sunflower seeds was wonderful, bread was light, a great combination of flavors and textures. (I confess I can't remember the 3rd, but it was good!) Entrees: I had the pork chop which was a generous double chop, roasted to perfection. Topped with a light, complimentary sauce, sautéed asparagus on the side. Portabella mushroom pasta dish was lovely, plenty of mushrooms on a bed of wide flat noodles, buttery sauce. Seared Ahi Tuna was perfectly done also, a light breading, nice and hot on the outside, cool and wonderful inside. Desserts: evidently as part of the prix fixe menu, the restaurant decides what to serve you for dessert. We got a 'lava' cake, wonderfully chocolaty and dense, superb cinnamon rice pudding and a fabulous creme brûlée. Above and beyond delicious! (we actually got a 4th dessert, a small portion of a light, cleansing something with some fresh blackberries). Service was good, attentive and friendly. Again, not being a Philadelphia-ite, I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber doesn't really have a bar or wine list--it's BYOB. Also, it's cash only, which is fairly prominent on the information for the restaurant, but I didn't pick it out and was unaware of the policy until I pulled out my credit card! We sat outside, the weather was perfect for it. The inside seemed a little cramped and definitely loud. Overall, a great accomplishment, my hat's off to Audrey Claire (and my fork is ready to return!).
(5)