Audrey Claire Restaurant Cafe

Doesn't Recommend

afrederi

Joined 5 years ago

Audrey Claire - politically and socially incorrect. We tried to go to Audrey Claire on a weeknight with my mother, who happens to be disabled. She would have been able to step up the one step into the restaurant and walk the couple of steps to the open table that was there. However, as we attempted to help her into the restaurant, we were met at the door by a server who immediately insisted that if we did not have a reservation then we could not eat there. I was surprised to learn that they take reservations, especially since in the past when we have attempted to make reservations, we were told that they do NOT take reservations. Perhaps they have changed their policy. However, what made the whole interaction worse is that the server could not have been more condescending to us. She talked to us as if we were mentally disabled rather than physically disabled, speaking to us loudly and unusually slow. I was giving Audrey Claire a second chance (I had a terrible meal there several months ago) however, after that treatment, I don't think they deserve a second chance. I recommend that management talk to the staff about how they interact with disabled customers.

Doesn't Recommend

bas30

Joined 5 years ago

Don't bring a good bottle of wine here. The juice glasses used for wine may be hip, but you can't tell the difference between an $8 bottle and an $80 drinking out of them (can't smell the wine and the thick juice cup lip splashes the wine too far back in the throat--try drinking wine out of a shot glass and you'll have the right impression).

Ok, so clearly I have a problem with the stemware. The truth is many BYOs in the city use cheap stemware with low likelihood of breaking during dishwashing. After all, they aren't making money off the wine.

My real problem with dinner was that the food was thrown on the table so fast I was still trying to finish my appetizer as they were taking it away to put the main down. One of my colleagues commented afterwards that it was like eating at Applebees--efficient, but very rushed.

Finally, this is also not the restaurant to come to if you need a receipt. They really have no desire to provide for one (they use the one they write up to give you the bill to do there own accounting and won't rewrite it so that you can have a copy). So if you are dining for work--go somewhere else. This place won't satisfy your employer or the IRS with it's cash only, no receipt policy.

I'm being generous here with my two stars. There are great BYOs in the city, as such I don't need to eat at this one again.

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LovesFood1029

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing food. Great service.. Went to Audrey Claire for the first time tonight after multiple people had recommended it and I thought it was absolutely fabulous. We ordered the lamb and the grilled tuna -- both were delicious. They were cooked perfectly and the Mediterranean accents (couscous, yogurt, etc.) added a wonderful flavor to the meal. There was no wait (on a Sunday night) and the service was excellent. I would say that the only negative is that it is cash only. But, I definitely plan to go back!

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Mediterranean-touched B.Y.O.B. goes heavy on the unique seafood creations, minimal decor and wins with quaint modernism.. In Short
This is the less-is-more bistro of a more-is-more neighborhood. Dishes here match the decor: classic seafood and meats with singular flourishes. Start with pear, Gorgonzola and walnut flat bread--a visually plain, but pleasantly savory combination of sweet, sharp and rich. Mussels--best in a lightly spicy garlic and chorizo broth--are fit for two. Hearty entrees include roasted half-chicken updated with tangy, sweet pomegranate molasses or tender, garlic-crusted rack of lamb. (Photo courtesy K.Ciappa)

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phillycmc

Joined 9 years ago

Very Good. This was a good experience all around. First off, the host was terrific and the waiter was very helpful too. While the place was packed both were pleasant, nice, attentive and honest. The food too was very well done. The octopus appetizer came atop salad, which was a surprise. I was just expecting some grilled octopus in a vinagrette. The two fish entrees - tuna and rock fish - were well done. The seasoning could have been a bit more zesty, the fish was of good quality and well prepared. They both came atop Israeli couscous and excellent haricot verts. I would recommend sitting at the bar if an option, because it's quieter than other tables in the very loud restaurant, and watching the cooks turned out to be entertaining and informative. I'm looking forward to returning.

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katielevy

Joined 5 years ago

Best Mussels in Philly!. Two weeks ago was my first trip to Audrey Claire and I firmly believe it is one restaurant in Philadelphia that absolutely cannot be missed. Mussels are among my favorite foods, and the mussels at Audrey Claire were the best I have every had. Definitely the best BYO I've been to as well. It's small and popular, with good reason, so be sure to get there early, or be prepared to wait. Don't miss this restaurant!

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bw22

Joined 6 years ago

BEST BYO experience so far.... Dinner at Audrey Claire's was an awesome experience. Everything you expect in a restaurant exceeded our expectations - great service and amazing food. The interior is strikingly minimal and bare, but I now realize that's because all attention is paid to the food. The Branzino I had was cooked to perfection, it was the best fish I've ever tasted. I look forward to many repeated visits.

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esynergy

Joined 7 years ago

overall good experience. I went to Audrey Claire on Saturday (7/14) evening with 4 of my girlfriends. We arrived around 8:30 p.m., and had to wait for about a 1/2 hour for a table. The hostess was kind enough to open a bottle of our wine, so we could have a drink while we waited outside on a bench. We ordered the tomato/buffalo mozz. and pear/gorgonzola flatbreads as appetizers - they were great! The baby arugula salad was the perfect dinner for a warm summer night - I especially liked the warm goat cheese. My friends ordered the shrimp, caesar salad, and pasta w/ mushrooms - they were all happy with their meals, as well. We really liked the little wine glasses - it reminded me of Europe. Service was great - our waitor was really friendly and didn't mind that we took our time with dinner (and multiple bottles of wine).

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violet_8791

Joined 6 years ago

enjoyable..... Had dinner at Audrey Claire on a Sunday, it was not that crowded and my date was already seated when I arrived, so I cannot comment on any wait or seating issues. We began with the pear and gorgonzola flatbread which I believe was also topped with toasted pine nuts. This sounded like a great combination to me and it really lived up to my expectations, it was also huge. We also had the grilled octopus salad with feta and red onions that was a really tasty dish. I had the lamb with cous cous which I found to be really delicious and proceeded to devour. My companion had the risotto with wild boar sausage. I found this to be a tasty and very interesting dish. We finished with the warm chocolate cake which I was not blown away by, but it was fairly light and very good. Overall, I really enjoyed the food. I must agree with some other viewers that the tiny wine glasses were annoying (even after I tried to imagine myself in a small town in the French countryside) they were just too small and awkward to hold. We sat near the door which might have been an issue in the winter but on this night it was fairly warm out. I also read another viewer complain about sitting near the kitchen where it was loud, well I think the whole place was loud, in fact the acoustics stink and you really kind of have to lean across the table to make conversation, so while the setting is nice and intimate, quiet, it is not. I envision this place being a bit annoying on the weekends, but I would definitely go back during the week or on a Sunday, I found the food to be pretty solid and enjoyable!

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amusebuche

Joined 6 years ago

Fine.. The food was very fresh and tasty but it didn't low me away. I was especially disappointed with the crab cake on cornbbread. It was dry and uninspired. The wait was way too long for final result.