Chops

My husband and I were visiting in the area and were very hungry. This restaurant happened to be exactly where we were so we just decided to give it a try. We walked in and noticed that there were absolutely no other customers. My husband even asked if they were open because it was so empty. We were seated and the waiter was nice enough but seemed nervous. The atmosphere was gorgeous. It was very art deco and my husband even said it reminded him of being in an Ayn Rand novel. It would have been nice of there were other customers. Anyway, we ordered the sushi for an appetizer and it was pretty good. It was a little weird to have that on the menu in a chop house. My husband got the French onion soup which he said was pretty good. I got an arugula salad that was mediocre at best. I have had better salads at Texas roadhouse if that means anything. For our entrée my husband got the 10oz steak and I got the roasted chicken with thyme. When our food came the steak was charred on the outside and almost raw inDside even though he ordered it medium rare. It had almost no flavor and my husband had to use A1 which he never does. My chicken was decent but there was no spice or flavor. Spice would have saved it as it is not that difficult to make a good roasted chicken. Also there was very little thyme. I should also mention that my husband ordered a Jameson and ginger ale from the bar that had almost no Jameson. They also charged me for my diet coke and the refill which I thought was weird for such a nice place. All in all it was not worth it and I felt sorry for the wait staff because they were just standing around. I could have gotten better food at a chain restaurant which I hate to say because I hate chains…

OUT OF BUSINESS. Thanks for the call that never came telling me that my dinner for 14 people needed to be moved because you went under!

So I was trying to call here to get some information and someone named Karen answered their phone and had rather poor manners and was not very helpful. So I casually went in one day to check it out and the inside is really nice, however outside you would totally miss it cause it doesn’t look like anything. When I arrived I wasn’t greeted or anything… needless to say based on the phone call and very short visit, I didn’t eat here and took my dinner somewhere else.
I understand their slightly low rating if phone manners are any indication!

This is one of those reviews that longs for minus stars.
While the majority of reviews I skimmed before writing this are about food, my friend and I didn’t even see a bar menu so I cannot comment.
It was maybe 5p — 5:30p and we decided to try Chops for a drink and possibly a bar nosh. Both of us had visited the site when it was something else (which name escapes me). Of course, the place is huge and it was totally empty except for 2 small groups of folks at the bar. Other than those 2 clumps of folks, even the bar was empty. And there we sat. And sat. And sat. Until I said, I’m out of here. Let’s go to Cooperage.
Not once did the bartender even look at us, send us a «be with you in a mo» nod. Throw a menu down the bar. Nothing. Perhaps my friend and I walked through a secret door and into a parallel universe where we were invisible. Who knows.
One thing my friend and I do know, Chops will never see us again.
DD@Phila

This is the restaurant that finally convinced me to join Unilocal.Location: We were walking and had tickets for the play at Walnut Street Theater that evening, so this restaurant was chosen due to proximity and the fact that they had lamb on the menu. Seating: I am of average height, yet the benches on the left side are far too low for comfort (I actually asked to push the table out and bring over a chair). All the ½ booths are like that — the gentlemen on our left barely had his chest above the table height. Food: they «just ran out» of lamb. The conversation at the table to our right though convinced me otherwise. My bad that I didn’t see the wedge salad didn’t come with bacon (it was only lettuce & tomato). Really lacked that flavor. No lamb, so we both got beef filet medallions, or something like that. My wife didn’t complain that hers were charred BLACK (burnt) because she felt that because she ordered it well-​done, some restaurants take issue with that and burn it; however mine were to be cooked rare. Evidently, to this steak house, that means charred BLACK (burnt) on the bottom side, whereas the top side never saw a grille. None of the other sides are worth mention at all. Due to the play, we really couldn’t go elsewhere once we saw just how bad it was. To be fair, they did comp my steak. Still, it wasn’t worth the price.

I was under impressed with chops. My steak ordered medium rare came out blue, the au gratin potatoes week chunky potatoes in milk basically, the chopped salad was indelible, it was more tomato and onion put in a food processor. The espresso was horrible, and gritty. The cream brûlée was good though! The service was incredibly slow, I can’t see how this place is still open.

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. I’m not sure why this place gets the bad rap on Unilocal.I went in on a Monday night, and yes it was dead, but it’s a very nice restaurant, the bar looks great, and the service was excellent. Could they have pulled it off if it was busy? I can’t say, but the steak I had was very flavorful and cooked exactly the way I requested it. Add to that a wedge and potato and it was a great meal that paired nicely with the service they were providing. Is it the best steak I’ve ever had, no, but it was as good as any steakhouse I’ve been to in Philly or other locations. Give this place a try, it’s got great atmosphere and good food to match.

My co-​workers and I go here for lunch sometimes. Usually it’s fairly good, but I had a bad experience during my visit this week. I got the goat cheese gnocchi special as my entrée. It was a generous portion of rock hard flour balls, with pretty good mushrooms, chewy pieces of short ribs, swimming in a lot of watery orange broth. I kept forgetting that it was supposed to be «goat cheese» gnocchi because there was no trace of it in the flavor. I don’t think I would have bothered writing a review about this meal, except I ended up getting sick later that night. I called the restaurant to let them know there could be something wrong with that batch. They basically acted like I was making the whole thing up. I think I’ll speak up next we talk about where to go for lunch.
Just went again as a group and the food was again very disappointing. Basil tomato soup was overly creamy and not much basil or tomato, chicken cutlet with arugula was dry and bland, and cheesecake was disgusting. Maybe they get grocery store cheesecake and let it sit around for a few weeks, then serve it to whatever idiot orders it.

Use to be great for happy hour, but the last time I was there, it appears as though they’re now skimping on the filet in their ‘filet sliders’, and have effectively ruined the one great appetizer on the bar menu.
Still great for lunch if you’re in the mood for a great Kobe burger. We live nearby and wanted to go someplace close for dinner, however, the food was average, and like other reviewers, we found the service to be lacking. At this price point, I’ve come to expect more from a steakhouse. When the Capital Grill can replicate great service and great steak just about anywhere, I wonder why Chops has such a hard time getting it right. I hope they read these reviews so they can make some positive changes. And please bring back the proper filet sliders.

A giant, empty room with a ridiculously high ceiling that some how seems to be under furnished. Nothing cozy or beautiful about the place.
Our waiter, Tyler, was great but he didn’t seem to be getting much help from the front end, the bar or the kitchen.
Two of us arrived at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening and were promptly seated in the mostly empty dining room. The hostess forgot to leave us with menus and after studying the wine list for 5 minutes, my girl got up, walked to the front of the house and grabbed us two menus. This suddenly garnered a lot of attention from the apologetic wait staff.
Girlfriend ordered a glass of white wine and I ordered a dirty martini. The wine arrived in about 30 seconds, the martini arrived about 9 minutes later :-(The martini was big and quite nice and we enjoyed our drinks over a plate of fried calamari that was also fine.
For entrees, I went with a 10 oz. N.Y. Strip with 2 sides. My girl ordered the salmon entrée, asked for it to be prepared medium rare and was promptly informed that the the restaurant only prepares the salmon one way, «cooked through.» Really? My steak was fine but just fine. It came with sides of brussel sprouts, delicious, and hash browns, dry, bland and tasteless. My girl found her salmon, you guessed it, dry and overly cooked. Stevie Wonder could have seen that one coming.
We skipped dessert, took care of the check and our waiter and walked out feeling so-​so about the place. In a city of great restaurants and great steak houses, so-​so just doesn’t cut it. I can see no reason to go back to Chops and I can’t see the place being there that much longer anyway.

This place is bad, bad bad!
Went in today and ordered the chopped salad and crab cake — the salad came out looking like salsa it was so destroyed by somone in the kitchen I almost couldn’t even tell it was a salad! The crab cake was 90% filler and deep fried to within an inch of it’s life!
The other 3 at my table ordered burgers which weren’t done properly and the meat tasted as if it had been frozen and recently defrosted in the microwave. I’d give this place no more than 6 months before it is out of business.

Let’s say here that I really want to like Chops. I live nearby and we don’t have too many good restaurants in the immediate area. I went to Chops last summer. Against my better advice (as well as my neighbors) I decided to give it another try. Really, I shouldn’t have…
The atmosphere here is quite nice, for that I give it the one star. Last summer, the service was so poor I almost walked out. The server brought my side dishes AFTER I finished my main course and at the same time the check came. Unbelievable. The service this time was better, however, the food quality was not. I had a top cut of meat, and once again, the outside was charred and the inside was raw. The meat was of poor quality and it was tasteless. When I mentioned this to my server, she offered to bring A1 Steak sauce. A good cut of meat should never require A1 to give it flavor, sorry. The side dishes were loaded with salt, just like last time.
For almost a $ 100 meal with the tip, I am sure I could have done better at Capital Grill or Union Trust. Chops is pricey, but I don’t mind that provided I have a nice meal. I won’t go back for a third try. I agree, I miss Oceanaire!

I want oceanaire back.
I’ve been here twice. Once for dinner and once for drinks at the bar.
Food:
I’m not sure how to describe their food. I got a fillet Mignon and it was cooked correctly, it had a char on the outside which I wouldn’t haven’t minded if the inside was juicy. It was the driest piece of meat I have ever eaten and I couldn’t understand why. The only thing I could think of was that it was previously frozen, that would be the only thing that would make sense. It’s important to note that the sides are family style. I got an order of the onion straws with my steak and there was no way I could even make a dent in the amount that I received. The second time I went back for drinks one night and had their calamari and cheese plate. The calamari was so chewy and had no taste. I’m actually pretty convinced that the calamari was also previously frozen. It really needed some rock salt or something to bring out the flavor.
Service:
The servers wear the strangest outfits at this place. It makes me feel like I am in a meat locker or about to go to the dentist. The two younger bartenders: one is very inexperienced (he didn’t know how to make a long island iced tea), the other one has a huge attitude and wasn’t friendly at all, had he been I might have gotten another drink.
Ambiance:
The place is beautiful. High ceilings, nice bathroom and a huge bar. The place is usually empty so it tends to be somewhat quiet.

The complimentary valet is wrong FYI as per their website. I’m not sure what I was really expecting. I’ve read the Unilocal reviews and I’ve looked into the menu, but the goat cheese gnocchi with short ribs just seemed irresistible on the restaurant week menu. So I gathered a few people to come check it out. Most reviews said the steaks were delicious and cooked perfectly and being a steakhouse I feel like it should. However, when I got my black and blue strip steak (it’s like a pittsburgh rare, sear on each side for about 20 seconds) there was a layer of carbon on both sides. It was so unfortunate because their steaks were tasteless (they put A1 sauce on the table!!!) and mine was bitter from being burnt. If they’re trying to claim themselves as a steakhouse, they should act like one.
This place only gained an extra star from me because the lobster risotto and the goat cheese gnocchi with beef short ribs were actually good. The gnocchi had just enough goat cheese in it. The calamari was just a-​ok, nothing worth mentioning. All the other sides were also plain including the truffle mashed potatoes.
Overall, it’s very disappointing for a steakhouse. Also, I’m not sure if it’s because we look like a bunch of kids or we were suppose to be there for restaurant week (some of us ordered off menu), but our waiter didn’t seem to happy with us. He would rush through our orders and tell us what to do. I’m sorry, I’m here to try to enjoy my meal. Is that too much to ask?

It is important to note that this place is one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. Pure art deco, endless ceilings, massive wide open space. Awesome place for a party, for sure.
Went for lunch. Menu presentation was weak. Absolutely no descriptions of items. Not a problem for a steak, but what about ‘Cajun Meatloaf’. That said, I ordered the meatloaf. First, I had french onion soup. No big deal. It sure as hell ain’t Parc. Back to the meatloaf. I’m not sure what made this cajun. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t remarkable. In fact, nothing anyone else ordered seemed particularly remarkable either.
Service was great, and that is a plus. Attentive but not overbearing. All staff were extremely polite. I’ll say this, I might not be running back to eat, but I’ll definitely stop in for a drink after work.

I work super close to here, so naturally my office often frequents this place. One day I was super hungry and craving french onion soup and fondly remember a dine-​in experience I had there with my boss the month before.
The french onion soup came to our table in a large crock accompanied by a basket loaded with bread. I assumed I would get the same quality/​quantity if I ordered take-​out, but I was wrong.
This $ 7 soup came in a little to-​go container about the equivalent of a small Wawa’s mac & cheese, without any bread, but a plastic soup spoon.
I was left feeling cheated, broke, and still hungry. I would have been better off if I just walked the extra two blocks to Wawa and spent $ 7 on their FAMILY sized mac & cheese.
Oh well, lesson learned.

This is a fish out of water story.
So I’m en route to El Fuego for some ‘ritos when the signage outside Chops catches my roommate’s eye. The exchange goes something like this:
«I wonder if that place is any good.»
«I dunno, but it’s probably pretty fancy.»
«Nah dude, check it, $ 6 burgers!»
«Hell, alright, let’s go.»
So we enter, the both of us dressed for dinner at a low-​rent burrito spot; t-​shirts, shorts, baseball caps. As we cross the threshold of the second set of doors, it’s quickly become apparent my initial instinct of «fancy» is about seven shades of understatement. This place is opulent! Before we’re able to realize just what we’ve gotten ourselves into, the greeter (in appropriate suit & tie) approaches and has the same deer-​in-​headlights look in his eye that I’m sure the both of us maintained. I’m waiting for a line about dress codes and a quick escort to the door we’d just walked through, but was instead welcomed and simply asked, «Two?»
Not one to shy away from an awkward social situation for the sake of a decent story, we follow the gentleman to our table located a few feet away. We’re seated and finally have a moment to take in just how posh this joint really is. It felt like we had just sat down to dinner in an opera house – incredibly high ceiling, gigantic mural against the far wall, flowing curtains to cover the multi-​story windows. I at least have the insight to take off my hat. My roommate does the same.
Moments later we’re approached by our waitress, Kanika, and are offered our choice of bottled or ice water. With a glance at our matted hair and my college football t-​shirt, there’s a subtle moment between the three of us and mutual recognition that we don’t really belong there. Far from giving us any grief, I detect a slight smile creep onto our server’s face and a good-​humored acceptance of the situation.
Resigned to fully experiencing Chops, we don’t even bother looking for any $ 6 burgers (though I suspect we may have just missed that lunch special and were now considered dinner guests). I order a steak, my dining companion, the veal. A few of the other reviews here have commented on over/​under cooked meat, I’ll say that Kanika came by our table about 15 minutes after we had put in our order to reassure me that due to the size of my steak, they were making extra sure that it was cooked as ordered – medium.
When she returns to our table with our food, I’m faced with what can only be described as an XXL concussion grenade looking slab of meat. This thing is massive. And curiously rotund. I can also say, quite delicious! My roommate enjoys his veal. You know that you’re underdressed for an establishment when the team of not one but two people who come by to refold the napkin your company has tossed aside while heading to the restroom are both dressed far nicer than you. All of the desserts shown to us looked incredible but we were both far too stuffed to attempt such a feat.
We are presented with the bill, wished a good evening, and asked to come back. Dinner didn’t go at all as planned but we had an unexpectedly humorous time and some tasty food. I’ll be sure to at least wear pants next time.

The $ 6 burger was yummy, but that’s all I have that’s nice to say.
The service is strange. Entirely too many inexperienced, nervous people mulling about with no idea what they are doing. I think our server asked us 3 times if he wanted to take away the bread from our table. Did he want us to leave? We had plenty of space. Plates went flying and broke on the floor. Clearly they are hoping people will order their $ 14 turkey wrap instead. Not for now.

Chops has a freakin awesome lunch special! $ 6 kobe beef burger WITH delicious fries on the side.
I posted pictures here:

So it’s a rough start here at Chops. Two weeks open, and I’m hoping the curse of the Oceanaire isn’t contagious.
My guest and I arrived at 4pm. As we went to enter, the waiter sweeping up outside informed us they didn’t open until 5pm. We headed over to Union Trust for a cocktail to pass the hour.
Back at 5pm, we went in and had a seat at the new bar. Noticing several diners that had obviously finished meals, we asked the bartender about the opening time. She advised us that they open at 11:30am! Two weeks open and your wait staff doesn’t know the hours? To add insult to injury, the dude who told us that they were closed was a lounge waiter, so he HAD to see the people hanging at the bar. Maybe we just weren’t the right type of folks in his eyes.
Annoyance with the hours aside, we looked over the menu, which included an additional sushi selection tonight. Surprising as Fat Salmon and another sushi bar are across the street on the same block. I ordered the crispy cucumber roll and the kobe beef roll.
The bar staff was pleasant and energetic. Frankly, if not for their attentive service, this would be a two star review even taking into account this place just opened. We were served a small trivet of roasted sesame seeds, wasabi peas, and fresh popcorn while we waited.
The crunchy cucumber roll was nice, but the primary taste it left in my mouth was Hellman’s extra heavy mayonnaise. The kobe beef roll was smothered in cheese and any lightness of sushi was simply lost. Imagine a cheese steak with rice. We left the last portion of it on the plate.
Moving on, I ordered the clams casino. Again with the cheese fetish. The small clams had apparently been seasoned and had tiny flakes of onion and pepper, maybe bacon, but all I could taste was the hammer of cheese. The bartender brought over some lovely thick sliced rye bread to encourage the sopping of sauce, but the sauce was so infused with the cheese that it was frankly unappealing.
As a last ditch, I ordered the kobe carpaccio. I can’t tell you how much I disliked this dish. It was the absolute worst dish of the evening, even beyond the kobe sushi mentioned earlier. First, the carpaccio was buried under a heavily dressed roasted red pepper and greens salad, which was caged in (surprise!) Cheese! (Seriously — look at the pic!) I scraped off the salad to get to the carpaccio, but it was bland, and sliced so thin when trying to pick it up it simply turned to mush. This dish should have had the salad on the bottom, carpaccio on top, and salt and pepper. Or bill it as a roasted red pepper salad with carpaccio. Bleah. No stars, and I sent it back.
The hostess quizzed me about why, and removed it from my check, the owner, who was wandering about arranging chairs, never even welcomed us or approached us about the returned item.
So why if it was this bad did I give it three stars? The steak. My guest ordered the 8oz fillet. It was perfectly cooked, juicy, and tasty. In the end, this is a steak joint, and it was good.
Sadly, still no espresso machine behind the bar, so after dinner espresso took literally ten minutes to appear. The owner was apparently a sommelier, so the wine list is promising, but no sake to accompany the sushi. With plenty of empty fridge space, this would be a smart addition. Four draught beers were offered tonight, and a nice selection of bottled beer was on hand.
Desserts were billed as made on the premises, excepting the award winning cheesecake which was made fresh and brought in. I’ll review these in more detail next visit, as I want to go back and try the ribeye.
The place still looks great, and the staff is attentive and pleasant. Hopefully the ‘accessory’ food will come around to match the quality of the steaks.