Petterino's: User Reviews
A place that bills itself as THE place to eat before the theater and does not provide parking is committing a gross misrepresentation. Had the meal not otherwise been splendid, this would have been a complaint letter.
So perhaps our 4PM dinner time was a little early. But we were a party of 6 and our show started at 7 so we believe it common courtesey to plan ahead and not rush the staff at every turn. Imagine our surprise when we pulled up and – nothing. No valet eager to drive away our vehicle. Judging by the number of people queued up for the same I don’t think we were alone in our expectations or incredulity. When taking a dinner reservation for 4PM the staff ought to let the party know that there would not be a valet and to make alternate plans. Normally driving is cheaper than round-trip cab fare but not in the theater district. Thanks for wasting $30.
But on to the meal itself.
How many ways are there to ruin Calamari? Pretty much none. Like sex and pizza, even when calamari is bad it’s still pretty good. So how did it come to pass that Petterino’s made their calamari appetizer so good that all others tasted ruined in comparison? Also good was the fried asparagus, the garlic potatoes, soups and of course, the entrées of salmon and steak. Indeed, it has been a long while since I ordered a steak rare and actually got it that way. Yes, I know the risks, no I don’t care. Not to mention, most meat is irradiated anyway so all the stuff your parents taught you is more nostalgia than reality. When I order rare, I mean it. And here, rare was delivered. It was excellent.
It’s a shame that the most memorable part of the meal has to compete with the most memorable irritation of the evening. They really should get a valet.
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Booked pre-Mary Poppins Easter brunch here weeks ago due to the promise of a special event - and very kid-friendly (Easter bunny, Bunny pancakes, etc). Restaurant was not ready for guests at time of reso, needed more time for set up. Service was uninformed/unaware and menu didn't reflect web site's specific offerings. My four year old's pancakes took 50 minutes to come, another member of my party never got the right item after 60 minutes. Manager comped the bill, but the whole experience was quite disastrous. Perhaps dinner runs more smoothly. I wouldn't tout the brunch.
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I don't understand some of the very negative reviews I've read on this site - we had an EXCELLENT experience at Petterino's. After nearly cancelling our reservation due to these reviews, we kept it because of the restaurant's convenient proximity to the theater and valet that included show parking. Our server was a tad overzealous, but I'd take that over being ignored any day. My food, along with my three guests' food, was great. The flank steak was a bit tough, but that's the only complaint. Petterino's shining star is its service. We showed up early for our reservation, but were seated imediately, they stored our leftovers for us for pickup after our show, and were extremely attentive. After the show, our car was waiting in front of the restaurant, and our leftovers were at the bar under my name. It worked out beautifully. I can't imagine an easier pre-theater dinner spot - the quality of the food was the cherry on top. Getting Lettuce frequent diner points was another happy bonus.
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I took my boyfriend to Petterino's for his birhtday dinner and our reservation was at 7:30 on a friday night. It was very busy and we arrived about twenty mins early. The hostess was very nice and we actually got in fifteen mins before our reservation. The food was very good, however the portion were a little smaller than expected. The only thing we really did not enjoy was that we were seated at a two person table that was very close to other tables. It was sort of distracting to be so close to other customers we could actually hear other persons converstaions.. So i recommend making a reservation for a booth. Otherwise this resturant was very good and the service was great.
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Overall, I would say the food was average (at best), but Petterino's definitely charged for something better. I feel like I could have gotten the same quality at Applebee's. Nothing my girlfriend and I ate wowed us. Quite the opposite, I wanted to send most of it back (and I am not a food snob at all). My girlfriend and I went before a show. Next time I'll go elsewhere and spend $10 to cab it to the theatre. I will not be back.
Coconut shrimp starter: Average. Nothing special. I could have made it at home.
Iceberg wedge salad: Again, average and nothing special.
Me: Prime Rib with a twice baked potato. Someone forgot to tell the chef that you cook a prime rib slowly over a number of hours. Mine was overdone on the outside and almost raw on the inside. The waiter's solution was to toss it back on the grill for a few minutes. Also, there was a gigantic slab of fat in the middle of it. It was medium grade meat completely mis-cooked. My twice baked potato was dry and bland. My girlfriend makes better.
Girlfriend: Skirt steak with french fries. The skirt steak was overcooked and bland. The key to skirt steak is a tasty marinade and Petterino's missed the boat. The french fries came out cold.
I would suggest Catch 35 before a show or cross the river to Bin 36. It's worth the extra 5 minute walk to avoid this place.
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I really like Petterino's. Matter of fact it is the only place I go to when attending a place at the Goodman Theatre or anywhere else in that area. They cater to big groups or small ones too. There service and food exceeded my expectations and were very good. Definitely recommend the steaks.
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We decided on Petterinos for dinner before taking our kids (8 and 12 yrs) to see Wicked, and had a great meal. Everything we ordered was outstanding, and we chose a variety of items from the menu (whitefish special, beef, pasta, salads). Where else can you order Steak Diane, done properly? Was a great start to a wonderful evening. Note:The place fills up quickly, so plan ahead with a reservation.
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Just "okay" place that promises to be more. Plenty of diners - the place was packed, but the food is just so-so, nothing bad, certainly nothing exceptional. Add to this a grunt by the valet - no "Welcome to Petterino's..." by the hostess - very minimal mention & no explanation of the day's specials - no suggestions of sides, etc. (all is ala carte) - what else is there to say? Only plus: $14 will valet your car for dinner AND a the show you're seeing.
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A total tourist trap in the heart of the theater district. The appetizers (Liver Pate and Crab Cake) were good, but the main course was almost disgusting. I had the herb crusted whitefish with mashed potatoes. Both the potatoes and the fish had a months supply of salt on them that made them practically inedible. Won't be returning.
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The brunch was very good. Only a few items to choose from but they were prepared very well. The Eggs Benedict was fantastic and the ricotta pancakes with lemon curd was wonderful. Hopefully they will continue serving bruch - there were only a handful of customers on Sunday morning.
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Review Summary
The following scores represent the average rating submitted by 60 users:
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