Barclay Prime
237 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Fax: 215-732-7564
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Profile
#17 on the 2009 Philly Mag 50
#16 on the 2008 Philly Mag 50
The sedate Barclay comes alive with Stephen Starr’s sexy update of steakhouse stereotypes. The dining room whispers “library,” with its high ceilings and shelved walls lined with books, but the mod furniture and dance music belie the serene appearance, creating a mellow but hip dining atmosphere. There are Starr-style gimmicks—the much-hyped $100 cheesesteak; the presentation of an array of steak knives for the diner’s choosing—but the steaks are serious. The kitchen has sourced some of the best meats available for Barclay Prime. Featured on the menu is the luscious Gachot and Gachot rib eye (from the butchers who supply Peter Luger in New York), which can be paired with sauces like the fragrant rosemary balsamic, but doesn’t require any flavor boost. Start with the snappy shrimp cocktail or the classic oysters Rockefeller, and don’t pass up sides of huge asparagus, and caramelized shallots with tender roasted potatoes.
Featured In
Best of Philly 2010: Burger Splurge
They come in a cheeky pair, wrapped in paper and served simply with cheddar, mustard, onions and pickles, but that’s where -Bar...
Best of Philly 2009: Bar Food
In this age of the gastropub, you’re more likely to find tomato lager soup or lobster BLTs on the menu at your local bar. That&...
Best of Philly 2008: Steakhouse
The imposing doors and dim entryway add to the exclusive vibe of Barclay Prime, the corner Rittenhouse steakhouse that feels novel no...
Best of Philly 2006 Meat Dish
The prime rib offered as an occasional special at Barclay Prime has a sensuously silky texture, quite a contrast from the dense beefi...
Best of Philly 2005 Appetizer
KOBE SLIDERS AT BARCLAY PRIME The dry-aged rib eye deserves its plaudits, but for our money (and yours), this pair of petite pat...
Best of Philly 2005 New Restaurant (Overall)
Eating big beef, creamed spinach, and whipped potatoes with black truffle butter feels positively groovy at Stephen Starr's mod steak...
User Reviews (5) :
Review
Been there twice for dinner and was one of the better steak houses in this city. I guess you can order something other than steak, but why would you. Very tender meat, done exactly the way it was ordered on both occasions and the staff does really try to make sure you're pleased. Wonderful desserts if you have room.
Posted by Charles: Apr. April 20th, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Review
Whoever selected Barclay Prime as Philly's top steakhouse entry should be publicly caned. It is pretentious and the service we had could most charitably be described as mediocre.
For great steaks and consistently excellent service, The Capital Grille is head and shoulders above every place else
Posted by Dr. John: May. May 6th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Review
My son and daughter-in-law invited me to this BD celebration. I read the posted reviews and was pleased that we had a 6 p.m. reservation to avoid the noise. Our waiter, Jason, was knowledgeable and answered questions whenever asked. I ordered the double-cut lamb chops rare. I was a trifle surprised that they were quite raw inside w/a nice crust. I don't mind raw and the chops were super-size. For the size of the meat portions the prices are fine. Compare the quality and it is affordable. My chops would have been sufficient for sharing.
Posted by Doroty: Apr. April 11th, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Review
What I can't understand is why, with a real winner with Barclay Prime, did Starr bother with Butcher & Singer which is merely mediocre, albeit in a in a lovely space?
Posted by Jane: Mar. March 3rd, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Review
I think this is the best steakhouse in the city. I am a former employee so i may be a little biased but after three years away i went back and found that the quality had stayed consistent if not gotten better. I like the Capital Grill also but in my opinion Barclay is the best in the city.
Posted by John: Feb. February 1st, 2009 at 2:51 PM