The Saint Austere
“i loved all the food here, particularly the broccoli rabe and creamy polenta.”
“Surprisingly large portions for a great price, the roasted Brussels sprouts came in at a close second to the incredible creamy polenta.”
“Anchovies, parmigiano, and boiled eggs complemented each other brilliantly to produce a masterpiece.”
The Saint Austere
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Good wine selection. Amaaaazing prosciutto. Like the best prosciutto I've ever had in my life, including time spent in Spain! I love the vibe in there, the decor was so nice. Love that chandelier! It's an awesome date spot. The butternut squash dish was amazing. I wasn't a big fan of the cheese we ordered but I'll be back for more prosciutto for sure!
Really great little spot. Came here in a Thursday night with my team of 7. Easy RSVP on open table one hour before.
First thing we notice: the lack of noise…we were actually able to enjoy the laid-back hip-hop and hear each other speak. An NYC restaurant where you don't have to yell to keep the convo going? Unheard of!
The food was excellent. Get the polenta board, it's delicious. Octopus was tender and accompanied by flavorful cherry tomatoes and potatoes. Special Brussel sprout salad was also very good.
The service tho….really cool reaction to my allergy. They made me my own polenta dish with mushrooms since the tomato sauce on some of the accompaniments came from a can. I felt special!
Will definitely come back next time I'm in east willy.
Came here for dinner with a friend on a Sunday evening. We were warmly greeted and chose to sit at the bar. I got the creamy polenta and friend got the polenta board which we both devoured because it was so surprisingly delicious. I actually had a stomachache so I couldn't eat much, but the polenta was easy on my stomach and I had no trouble finishing it. It was smooth and creamy just as advertised, and the spicy sausage gave the perfect kick.
We also got the tiramisu for dessert and it was unlike any other tiramisu I've had before. The iced espresso chunks at the top were a unique touch to the typical dessert, which came in a good portion as well, definitely enough for two to share.
Oh and the complimentary popcorn! I didn't have any but it was nice to see they were to quick to refill the little tray whenever it was empty. The staff were all very friendly, thoroughly introduced the dish they brought over and always asked if we had any questions. The place was dark and intimate, good spot for dates and also casual dinner with a friend.
Well well well! If it isn't my favorite creamy polenta joint. Yep! I'm back for my self mandated q4mo review.
Fell in love with Saint Austere at first bite, truly madly deeply in love with their creamy polenta with spicy sausage ragu. Not spicy at all but very creamy polenta. Did I say I'm in love with it yet? Yes. Yes. I. Am.
Ok. Enough of that.
Happy hour at Saint Austere is quite great. $1 oysters, they have more than just blue point like most happy hour oysters are, may have to check with them for that day. Cocktails are pretty tasty and their 2 for 1 wine deals is a steal.
Always go for their specials for that day. Seriously can't go wrong.
Service on point and very friendly. Go do it.
Came in with my wife the other day; the place makes for a casual date spot, or for just hanging out with a few friends. The staff was friendly and they knew their menu inside and out; we just pretty much chose what they recommended:
GRILLED OCTOPUS~ Octopus was fresh, grilling added smokiness, potatoes and tomatoes gave an earthy depth component to it, and the capers added some salty to the dish. It looks simple on paper, but it was done really really well.
POLENTA BOARD~ I had never had something like a "polenta board" before (though I do like polenta), and so I just decided to try it simply out of curiosity. Really was something else yo. Came on a charcuterie-style board, the polenta was spread around and on top were just these delightful pickings on top~ mushrooms, spicy sausage, braised cipollini onions (especially loved those onions, they were perfectly cooked through and juicy), meatballs with a ragu. Everything on it was delicious, we were just scraping every bit off the board. Judging from the other reviews, this seems to be a very popular item on the menu, and for good reason.
Also had oysters since they were $1 each during happy hour. I forget what kind of oyster they had that day, but they were really fresh and delicious, as oysters oh so are.
Came here for a late dinner on a Friday night and was able to snag two seats at the bar. The atmosphere is very nice, dimly lit, and hipster-chic. Great date night spot. The bartenders were very attentive and friendly. Between the two behind the bar, we were never left needing a thing. We started off with a few cocktails, the vodka and the sazerac- both delicious! We started with the broc rabe which was very tasty. The bitterness was perfectly matched with the boiled egg, dressing, and breadcrumbs. Definitely a favorite. I has the grilled octopus and mushroom crostino as my main dish. The octopus was the standout between the two. A very hearty portion of grilled fish, paired perfecting with fingerling potatoes and a delicious sauce. The crostino was just OK. The dish was a bit bland but still satisfying. I wished that it had a more flavorful cheese, maybe a goat. My fiance got the spaghetti which was out of this world! One of the best sauces I have had. The seafood was super fresh too. We finished the meal with the tiramisu which was excellent and a good portion. Overall is was a great dinner, definitely recommend it!
I went here with a few friends and had the best time. From the amazing drinks to the top notch and engaging service and even down to the uninvited interloper that hit on my friend in front of his boyfriend…yeah…it didn't get ugly because my friends are in love…but it could have. But it was a fantastic night!!!
Phenomenal happy hour!! $1 oysters and two-for-one drinks! I walked by this place everyday for like 2 years; however, I never went in. I'm so glad that I finally did. They also had a decent cheese selections and other snacks to round out oyster night. The service was almost too nice, but aw gee, I think I can forgive that. I won't keep walking by this place any longer!