(617) 542-2255

161 Berkeley St (At Stuart St, Back Bay)
Boston, MA 02116 42.349 -71.0717

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Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Back Bay East, Bay Village

GRILL23.COM

Years in business

Established in 1983

Hours:

Mon-Thurs 5:30-10:30pm

Fri-Sat 5:30-11pm

Sun 5:30-10pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.07.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Travelers Check, Gift Certificate, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Private Rooms, Date Spot, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, People Watching, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Chowder, Steakhouse, New American, Seafood

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Grill 23

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

Regardless of the Dow Jones' fortunes, the city's power crowd won't ever quit filling Grill 23's cavernous dining room. They come to feast on award-winning steaks, and to enjoy selections from an acclaimed, luxurious wine list. With high ceilings and lots of mahogany and polished brass, patrons are guaranteed a classic steakhouse atmosphere. The chophouse's selection of dry-aged Brandt steaks--served a la carte--is what keeps the crowds coming back for more, but foodies are appeased by imaginative starters like yellowtail sashimi or mustardy deviled eggs. Sumptuous sides (try the addictive…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Patrons looking to carry on a conversation should consider requesting a table in the small, quiet seating area upstairs.
Know Before You Go:
Strict vegetarians will have a tough time finding viable menu options, but non-red meat eaters can choose from several acclaimed seafood dishes (try a hefty swordfish steak).
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Finally, a restaurant that offers Classic American fare with the scene and atmosphere of a fabulous dinner party.”
  2. “But the atmosphere and service are also excellent, and after all, you'd be happy if they served you this steak in a shed.”
  3. “It was a perfect place for group dining, the atmosphere is cozy and the food is great.”
  4. “I'll still give 4 stars for the lux but relaxed, bubbly atmosphere and good service but the iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing was only that, no more, and the steak Diane was good beef but not filet and the sauce was a thin jus with only a distant ”
  5. “Having eaten at several steak houses before, including the chains (Ruth's, Morton's, Capital Grille, etc.), I find that Grill 23 is refreshingly unique and quintessentially Bostonian at its best: the atmosphere is elegant but masculine and subdued, the fo”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “appetizer was great, best crab cake, fantastic service, nice wine list, main course, too much salt, disappointing, husband had the halibut and was way to salty he said.”
  2. “To end the night the waiter having know it was my birthday brought out a giant slice of chocolate cake that was delicious.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “very good restaurant - professional and timely service, nice size pour on wine-by-the-glass, decent steak, tasty side dishes.”
  2. “There is an impressive wine list and some interesting cocktails to choose from.”
  3. “And don't forget to order a bottle of wine; Amerone Tuscany Region.”
  4. “It started from the moment we sat down, our waiter was extremely personable and knowledgeable about the wine list and made a wonderful recommendation.”
  5. “They have two dining rooms; downstairs is noisey and upstairs is more clubby with a nice intimate bar.”
  6. “Grill 23 holds a special place for some of the best steaks and wine.”
  7. “Excellent bar, great room.”
  8. “Great wine selection and professional servers.”
  9. “Having eaten at several steak houses before, including the chains (Ruth's, Morton's, Capital Grille, etc.), I find that Grill 23 is refreshingly unique and quintessentially Bostonian at its best: the atmosphere is elegant but masculine and subdued, the fo”
  10. “It got 2 stars because the blue cheese mashed were awesome and the wine list is tops - they even had a wine from a not so well known vineyard we visited in New Zealand so that salvaged the meal for me.”
  11. “appetizer was great, best crab cake, fantastic service, nice wine list, main course, too much salt, disappointing, husband had the halibut and was way to salty he said.”
  12. “Delicious side dishes and had a nice bottle of wine too.”
  13. “The portions are huge, wine selection is fantastic and they are ve.”
  14. “They offer the best selections of wine and their cuts are excellent!”
food quality
91.18000030517578% positive
  1. “The meat is very good and the appetizers are quite niece too.”
  2. “Having eaten at several steak houses before, including the chains (Ruth's, Morton's, Capital Grille, etc.), I find that Grill 23 is refreshingly unique and quintessentially Bostonian at its best: the atmosphere is elegant but masculine and subdued, the fo”
  3. “It's also the best steak in the city.”
  4. “Best steak in the US, by FAR”
  5. “NY strip and all loved the staks which had a tasty, crusty char to them.”
  6. “The quality of the food was subpar and unsanitary.”
  7. “It is probably the best steak I have ever had.”
  8. “Ok, so the steak was pretty good, but have had better at Abe & Louie's.”
  9. “Creative dishes and amazng sides, served a la carte, will have you licking the plate.”
  10. “It is difficult to find a great steak if have had steak in Texas, Kansas, and Japan.”
  11. “Delicious side dishes and had a nice bottle of wine too.”
  12. “very good restaurant - professional and timely service, nice size pour on wine-by-the-glass, decent steak, tasty side dishes.”
  13. “Grill 23 holds a special place for some of the best steaks and wine.”
  14. “But the atmosphere and service are also excellent, and after all, you'd be happy if they served you this steak in a shed.”
  15. “To end the night the waiter having know it was my birthday brought out a giant slice of chocolate cake that was delicious.”
  16. “Cooked to perfection, it was paired with carmelized onions that complemented well with the delicious garlic mash potatos.”
  17. “If you don't like steak, try the yellow-tail entree.”
  18. “If you love a good steak or great seafood, you can NOT have a bad meal here.”
  19. “Mine was a skirt steak that left an unpleasant burnt taste in my mouth.”
  20. “not bad food, good servic”
  21. “We all enjoyed different steaks - I had a bone-in Delmonico which was flavorful, juicy and hearty.”
  22. “Dry aged steak remains the best in the city.”
  23. “It got 2 stars because the blue cheese mashed were awesome and the wine list is tops - they even had a wine from a not so well known vineyard we visited in New Zealand so that salvaged the meal for me.”
  24. “like I said not a steak person, but everyone who had steak agreed they liked the previous months dinner at Abe and Louies far better!”
  25. “I'll still give 4 stars for the lux but relaxed, bubbly atmosphere and good service but the iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing was only that, no more, and the steak Diane was good beef but not filet and the sauce was a thin jus with only a distant ”
  26. “It was a perfect place for group dining, the atmosphere is cozy and the food is great.”
  27. “appetizer was great, best crab cake, fantastic service, nice wine list, main course, too much salt, disappointing, husband had the halibut and was way to salty he said.”
  28. “The hash browns and onion rings were good.”
  29. “My boyfriend loves steak and we have been to several of the other steakhouses in town, so for his birthday we decided to try something new.”
  30. “On our first visit, our server was attentive, great personality, and very apologetic about the undercooked steak and rushed it back to cook longer.”
  31. “Fantastic service, ok food”
  32. “The steak is excellent and you actually get almost generous proportions of what you order.”
  33. “guess the lowdown is only order the a la carte steaks and don't expect anything else on the menu, including appetizers and sides, to be imaginative or even particularly good.”
  34. “Great service, decent steak”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The portions are huge, wine selection is fantastic and they are ve.”
  2. “Great wine selection and professional servers.”
  3. “guess the lowdown is only order the a la carte steaks and don't expect anything else on the menu, including appetizers and sides, to be imaginative or even particularly good.”
  4. “They offer the best selections of wine and their cuts are excellent!”
overall
87.5% positive
  1. “don't know who the people are that write good reviewws for this place, but they probably have never been to any other restaurant to make a comparison.”
  2. “Grill 23 is a great restaurant for a special occasion or a guys/girls night out.”
  3. “This is a great place for a large group, a business lunch or dinner, or even pre-theatre.”
  4. “Don't be offended by the prices (all good steakhouses are expensive), and give the place a chance because it will grow on you like a full-bodied Napa Valley cabernet.”
service
92.11000442504883% positive
  1. “Great service, decent steak”
  2. “I'll still give 4 stars for the lux but relaxed, bubbly atmosphere and good service but the iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing was only that, no more, and the steak Diane was good beef but not filet and the sauce was a thin jus with only a distant ”
  3. “But the atmosphere and service are also excellent, and after all, you'd be happy if they served you this steak in a shed.”
  4. “However, the bartenders are excellent.”
  5. “Service is attentive, but not obtrusive.”
  6. “Fantastic service, ok food”
  7. “The only negative is the management can be snooty and some host/reservation people have a terrible attitude.”
  8. “don't know who the people are that write good reviewws for this place, but they probably have never been to any other restaurant to make a comparison.”
  9. “appetizer was great, best crab cake, fantastic service, nice wine list, main course, too much salt, disappointing, husband had the halibut and was way to salty he said.”
  10. “It started from the moment we sat down, our waiter was extremely personable and knowledgeable about the wine list and made a wonderful recommendation.”
  11. “The service was attentive, which is a must given how much you are paying for this place.”
  12. “The service was wonderful as expected.”
  13. “Having eaten at several steak houses before, including the chains (Ruth's, Morton's, Capital Grille, etc.), I find that Grill 23 is refreshingly unique and quintessentially Bostonian at its best: the atmosphere is elegant but masculine and subdued, the fo”
  14. “To end the night the waiter having know it was my birthday brought out a giant slice of chocolate cake that was delicious.”
  15. “On our first visit, our server was attentive, great personality, and very apologetic about the undercooked steak and rushed it back to cook longer.”
  16. “Great wine selection and professional servers.”
  17. “Service is the best in the city, unlike every other steakhouse in town the waiters know what they're talking about.”
  18. “felt that my waiter was prompt and his service to our table was decent enough.”
  19. “very good restaurant - professional and timely service, nice size pour on wine-by-the-glass, decent steak, tasty side dishes.”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “Having eaten at several steak houses before, including the chains (Ruth's, Morton's, Capital Grille, etc.), I find that Grill 23 is refreshingly unique and quintessentially Bostonian at its best: the atmosphere is elegant but masculine and subdued, the fo”
  2. “not the worst restaurant, just not worth this type of money.”
  3. “The steak is excellent and you actually get almost generous proportions of what you order.”
  4. “It is an expensive restaurant and very much worth it!”
  5. “The portions are huge, wine selection is fantastic and they are ve.”
  6. “Don't be offended by the prices (all good steakhouses are expensive), and give the place a chance because it will grow on you like a full-bodied Napa Valley cabernet.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

12/06/10

Not so great

by JSAF at Citysearch

Took my daughter and 4 of her friends for her 24th Birthday. My daughter arrived ahead of us and she was told that the reservation was for 5 people, although I had called and changed to 7 earlier in the week. They were quick to adapt and that worked out fine.Decor was festive with a Holiday feeling. When we were seated , we were placed next to a wait station. Since we had waited a while, I didn't request another table, however was continuosly bumped as waiters made their way through and I listened to their discussions. It was so noisy, we could hardly hear the waiter for meal and wine recommendations and visa versa. I ordered NY Strip, medium rare, came out more close to well, with a fair amount of gristle. Two of the guests ordered the risotto, which was mushy and overcooked. On the positive side, our waiter was pleasant, although his only function was to take and order and serve the meal. No extra attention. Not a place to recommend to friends.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/05/10

Perfect Dining Experience

by BUCOM27 at Citysearch

I was taken to Grille 23 for my birthday and the dining experience truly made the night special. It started from the moment we sat down, our waiter was extremely personable and knowledgeable about the wine list and made a wonderful recommendation. We received our appetizers and were never rushed to order the main course but left to enjoy what we had infront of us. My main course was a Kobe steak that was cooked to perfection. To end the night the waiter having know it was my birthday brought out a giant slice of chocolate cake that was delicious. This wasn't my first experience at Grille 23 and was nothing less than what i have come to expect from them.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/11/09

Simply one of the best steakhouses

by hotelman21 at Citysearch

The steak I had was one of the best I have ever had. Cooked to perfection, it was paired with carmelized onions that complemented well with the delicious garlic mash potatos. The service was wonderful as expected. I will return!

  • Pros: Steak, location
  • Cons: busy, make reservations
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/06/09

Unsanitary food. Appearance only goes so far.

by deidresanch at Citysearch

I have always been a fan of steak, being originally from the south, so of course I had to try Grill 23. Upon hearing good reviews about Grill 23, I decided to make reservations online for my recent graduation dinner on May 1, 2009. My party’s first impressions were positive. We had no trouble waiting for our table, and the décor was ambient and beautiful with wood paneling. I felt that my waiter was prompt and his service to our table was decent enough.

When my party received our food we were initially impressed by the taste and presentation. However, our impressions abruptly went sour when one person in our party spotted something CRAWLING on her mashed potatoes. She immediately called one of the waiter’s attention. The waiter took her plate away without an explanation or apology. We waited approximately 5-10 minutes before my friend contacted ANOTHER waiter and asked, “what are the restaurant’s procedures regarding a mishap in your food?” The staff appeared to be negligent and unconcerned. When the manager finally arrived for what we thought would be a sympathetic apology, he stated that he could only replace her order. My friend stated, “I have lost my appetite and would rather not have another plate.” She then respectfully asked for a refund and the manager refused to give us any other options. He said, “I can only replace your order, but since you ate half of it, I can give you half of your order to go.” I have previously dined at a fast food joint where the manager refunded an order with no problem, regardless of the amount of the food consumed or other variables. Not only was the manager not prompt about this serious matter, but he was unprofessional and had some nerve.

Overall, Grill 23 lacks in professional management, and promptness about a serious manner. The quality of the food was subpar and unsanitary. This is an occurrence one would expect at a fast food joint or chain restaurant, but not at a restaurant that has been deemed “Best of Boston.” I would highly recommend that you dine somewhere else – perhaps try another steak house in Boston such as Abe and Louie’s.

  • Pros: Friendly waiter, nice decor
  • Cons: Unprofessional management, unsanitary food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/18/08

Great Meat, Average Sides

by TheReviewa at Citysearch

Grill 23 is a great restaurant for a special occasion or a guys/girls night out. The meat is very good and the appetizers are quite niece too. If you don't like steak, try the yellow-tail entree. This Sushi-grade dish is a fantastic alternative to red meat. There is an impressive wine list and some interesting cocktails to choose from. Or, if you want to keep it simple there are plenty of beers for about $5. All together this is a nice alternative to S&W or Davios if you are looking for a new steak house. However, on balance, we prefer Davios.

  • Pros: Entrees and apps are great
  • Cons: Sides are nothing to write about.

The Details on Grill 23

Place Categories:

  • best good steak
  • fantastic service
  • best steakhouse
  • big place
  • favorite restaurant
  • flavorful bonein delmonico
  • great server
  • always loved grill
  • fantastic ok food
  • really good intimate bar
  • tasteful artwork
  • excellent atmosphere
  • really nice great seafood
  • extremely professional waiters
  • order main course
  • professional management
  • creative side dishes
  • outstanding dining experience
  • nice bottle
  • subpar quality
  • just disappointing crabs
  • not bad meal
  • loved ny strip
  • good onion rings
  • unpleasant taste

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