Witherspoon Grill

The service and food is excellent! I’ve been a few times and it pleases the vegetarians and the steak lovers on my team. I highly recommend.

We went for New Year’s dinner and we’re lucky to have gotten high top seating considering that everywhere was full and we hadn’t made reservations. I ordered the lobster special and I was slurping the jus, it was so good. Our waitress was trying a bit too hard; but, overall she kept a good pace and was friendly. They even had a live piano player. It was our first time since we’re new to the area, and it didn’t disappoint.

I’ve had dinner here a couple of times and I’m never disappointed. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Their oysters are so fresh and delicious, calamari is to die for. I usually always go for a nice steak selection for dinner, they are SO good. And the drinks are phenomenal!

Maybe because we were in Princeton the Witherspoon is considered the place to be. I just don’t foresee returning any time soon. The service was okay, but the food is over priced and nothing special. For the money you can do far better.
Tough, chewy calamari to start, a Delmonico steak that took forever and initially served cold, plus three attempts at a hot side of thin fries, regular fries and then mashed potatoes just wasn’t impressive to me. The steak once corrected was acceptable and cooked to a medium rare, properly. The mashed potatoes had an off taste of nutmeg which was really strange. My friend enjoyed her crab cakes but later complained about stomach pains. Who knows maybe just a coincidence.
I will say that the atmosphere was really nice and lively so if I’m ever to return I’ll do the bar and order a burger which it seems a majority of the other patrons were doing.

This was a wonderful place the ambiance is just right and it feels warm and cozy. The food we had was incredible and the drinks were perfect too. Lovely evening had by all.

I have had dinner a few times at the Witherspoon Grille and have not had a bad meal, yet. This is my parents’ favorite restaurant in town and they enjoy coming here for special occasions.
Upon arriving, we had a couple of rounds of drinks at the bar while we waited for a table. The dining area is small, so it is difficult to sit down right away (usually we are in store for an hour wait). I was only able to get a reservation for 8:30pm… the place fills up quick!
Once we sat down for dinner, my family found the food very well prepared. I had braised short ribs that were flavorful, juicy, and tender. The waitress was very polite and accommodating throughout the meal. I was able to substitute the Yukon mashed potatoes for some vegetables (sauteed mushrooms). While for many people, this may not seem like a big deal, it is always a sticking point for me if a restaurant prohibits or charges extra for such a request.
My wife and parents had the filet mignon and commented on numerous occasions that it was prepared properly and succulent. The food was served timely and we did not have to wait long after we ordered (always a plus).
While I passed on dessert, the wife went for crème brûlée and thought it was excellent.
I only have two sticking points with WG. First, the tight quarters with a small dining room makes the wait for a table longer and somewhat cramped. The other was the $ 361 dinner and $ 70 bar tab. This place isn’t cheap, so I need to be «wowed» in order to justify giving a place five stars at that price. The food and service were exceptional and I do recommend this restaurant… if it wasn’t so cramped and the wait wasn’t so long, this place would get the five stars.

Okay four stars for the happy hour menu but a solid three for the main restaurant. Ordered the lamb lollipops and a glass of wine from the happy hour menu and it was great. Moved to the main restaurant and our waiter was fantastic. Ordered the cheese special followed by the char and the delmonico specials. The specials came highly recommended but to us were just ok and super salty (although the provided lemon cut through the salt). The side of Brussels Sprouts were awesome

I’ve been here a few times for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and am pretty sure my parents swing by virtually every week. Princeton really needed a good steakhouse and Witherspoon Grill filled the void. The service is excellent and, while the restaurant seems to always be packed, relatively speedy. I highly recommend the short ribs at dinner, though my husband is especially partial to what he calls the shame bowl (short ribs, fries, eggs over easy, etc. in a bowl) at brunch.

Just cam in for lunch at WS Grille. Started with a perfectly poured Stella Artois. The beer met all the requirements; super cold and a perfectly poured head on the pour into a proper glass.
Followed up by the Oyster sampler. Fantastic Virginia Salts!
Had the BLT from r lunch– that is one that I highly recommend.
But none of this would had made a difference had it not been for the spectacular service we received.
As.a business owner I under stand that consistency is the name of the game to get your customers to return. Witherspoon delivers it 100% of the time.

Good steak, decent sides and ok service made Witherspoon a pleasant dining experience in the downtown Princeton area. We came craving a carnivorous experience and were happy with the range of steak options on the menu.
I got the filet mignon which came out pretty perfectly medium rare and our table shared the brussel sprouts, the creamed spinach and the mac and cheese. I found the brussels to be a bit salty but did enjoy the mac and cheese. Weirdly the creamed spinach was almost not creamy enough — it felt more like I was eating cooked spinach with cheese on top instead of the gooey creamed spinach I had in my mind. The serving sizes here are very generous, especially of the entrees and sides, so if you’re going with a few friends you can definitely count on sharing. It seemed like those in my party who did not get steak was less thrilled with their entrees than we were — they had large portions but weren’t as flavorful.
Ambiance wise it is very dim lighting but there are a lot of business patrons during the week so it was a weird vibe — loud yet sort of «romantic» in décor and lighting.
I would not recommend the cocktails — they are incredibly strong and the flavor profiles have not been my preference. Stick to traditional beer or wine.
The waitstaff can be a little hit and miss — sometimes they are very attentive and helpful but other times service can be incredibly slow, and water refills and simple requests seem to take an overly long amount of time.

Came here for a friend’s birthday — prices aren’t cheap, but given that this is Princeton, they’re not disproportionately expensive either.
Lighting at dinner is dim — there’s definitely a ‘romantic’ feel to the place. Service was prompt, if a bit overbearing; there’s obviously a focus on up-​selling here — the waitress seemed shocked that we weren’t ordering wine with our meal.
Still, the sirloin was excellent — cooked to order (if a bit rarer than requested), generously portioned, and wonderfully seasoned. The accompanying fries were great too; cut thin, sparingly salted, and perfectly crispy. Witherspoon Grill isn’t the place for avant-​garde cuisine, but if you want the staples, done well, it’s worth a visit.
Excited to return and try the bar — which seems to be uniformly praised by everyone who’s visited.

We have been going here for a few years now. It’s where we always end up eating whenever we are in Princeton. The atmosphere is very casual and the staff is very friendly.
Even though it’s in a «yuppy» area, you don’t feel like you don’t belong. They treat every one the same.
As for the food, the brunch is very good. You might have to wait if you don’t get there early. But the table turn around time is pretty fast.
Lunch is good also. But I get the dinner entrees every time. So you can say the dinner menu is good.
The only reason I didn’t give them the 5 stars is the seating. I suggest if you can, to get a table by the hostess area. I have eaten next to the bar and I have seen heavier people not look comfortable while they eat. As for me, I can fit but the barrage of food I get can’t fit on the table.

I’ve been to Witherspoon Grill a few times and have never been disappointed. A few highlights have been their steak salad which was incredible, and the seafood tower appetizer. On one occasion, it began downpouring mid meal. Our server as well as a few others quickly transported us and our meals inside. I barely noticed that there was a disruption at all. Another time, I went for a small company holiday dinner. Our server was very kind and made suggestions that would satisfy the whole group.
Witherspoon Grill is among several great restaurants in Princeton and should not be missed!

Yet another five-​star experience at this notable Princeton eatery. Might I suggest coming for dinner and/​or drinks on Tuesday night, when they have live jazz to accompany your meal?
Showed up with a work colleague on a weeknight, and the place was still fairly busy, despite this being the height of vacation season. Nonetheless, we were seated immediately, and our server was the consummate professional from start to finish. He was there the minute we needed him, but not hovering or overly chatty. Thank you, Kennedy!
On this occasion, I happened to be dining with my boss, who loves Princeton, but I of course wanted to be sure things went well. And go well they did… from the excellent cocktails (Blood Orange Martini? Oh yeah.) and wine, to the perfectly prepared Caesar salad (w/​o croutons, as I ordered) and the Calamari. My boss, who dines out quite a lot announced that this was the best Calamari dish he ever had (and he grew up on the coast of Maine). Things only got better as our entrees arrived. I stand by my earlier review in saying that the menu standard here of pan roasted salmon with potatoes & asparagus is the best salmon dish I have had on the East Coast. Period. I’ve had it here at least three times and every time it seems better than I remember. If you love salmon, please try this. My dining companion had the trout, which he announced was incredible.
The ambiance in here at dusk, with the cool pendant lighting, live jazz, and comfy AC could not have been better for a mid-​summer dinner. While you can drop some serious coin here if you drink heavily order with wild abandon, you can also get a very delicious meal, expertly prepared & served, with a top-​notch cocktail and (not skimpy) glass of wine for a very reasonable price, especially considering the high quality. I have eaten at some tragically hip eateries in NYC with big reputations and big prices, but never had a meal there any better than this.

Pricey but really good food! Love their lobster risotto! Portions are small but lobster taste so fresh and risotto is perfect too — not too soggy or heavy!
Also their steak tartare is one of the best I’ve had. Very well seasoned and pickles that are included in the dish serve as a very good palate cleanser!
Also had their seafood tower and filet mignon but thought those were just ok given the price.

Service was very attentive and extremely friendly. The ambience was amazing with candle lit tabletops and comfy booths.
I ordered gazpacho which was delicious. The veggies were diced perfectly and so much flavor. My taste buds were singing «aaaahhhh». I couldn’t wait for dinner.
I ordered a Malbec with the special –my stuffed chicken wrapped in bacon with artichoke salad.
The chicken was a thigh and leg big enough to share.
My first bite was as good as my last bite. I enjoyed it so much I truly forgot to take a picture. I was just concentrating all the flavors .
I have been looking for authentic food tired of the chain restaurants with all the same menus. Kuddos to the Witherspoon Grill !! You made my night.

Came here on a Monday evening and surprised to see the restaurants pretty fully. Did not have to wait at this place.
Our waiter Maurice was attentive and knowledgable.
Tried the cheese plate and had the Argentinian Malbec. Was good. Tried the pear martini– very strong although not bad but not my favorite. Had the scallop entrée which was good and tried my dining partner’s sesame tuna which was good as well.
Side note — My dining partner didn’t like the booth seats — he wished it had «more slouch» lol

So on a beautiful day. i decided to check out Witherspoon Grill located in beautiful downtown Princeton NJ.
The place was a fancy upscale restaurant charging 14 per drink and 35 for a small piece of steak. Okay I can deal.
The waitress was very unfriendly and seemed upset when all I wanted was a salad. I was not being cheap… i just finished my Green Monster juice and I didn’t want to ruin my healthy high by scarfing down a burger…
I ordered an apple martini and my girl friend order the burger special with fries. as much as she paid for the burger she was charged extra for onions and mushrooms! Seriously this place is already expensive.hmmph.penny pinching on adding toppings was a bit absurd to me! Her fries were hard and over cooked to the point the fries tasted like potato chips. She tased like something she could have purchased from anywhere else and paid less.
The martini was pretty good, but I could tell that it was not top shelf in any way. the Caesar salad was good even though it was like three bite fulls and the salad was done. To add to my dismay. the salad was 9 bucks!
When the check came I laughed cause my bottom shelf martini was $ 14 and the salad was $ 9 totaling $ 23 bucks and my girlfriend whom had meat was $ 18! WTF. I guess.that’s life.
This place only receives two stars because the ambiance and that I did not try the meat.
This establishment quite frankly appears to over charge it’s patrons for small, mediocre portions and very questionable prices. I am used to better steak houses than this that are not as expensive and better quality and portions. (So I observed from the diners next to us, ordering the expensive, small steak and receiving stellar service)

Nothing exciting to say about this place.
Service was on the slow side. Location was good. The meat in my sirloin salad was overcooked. I didn’t love any of it. My glass of wine was reasonably priced but for a 25 dollar salad I was definitely hoping for more. I would not recommend this place as a must try in Princeton but if you want to have a decent meal and sit outside go for it. I probably won’t be returning.

We parked at the parking garage behind this restaurant. It was cold this past Friday night and stumbled upon this restaurant, more like it was first restaurant we saw walking from garage. It was crowded and decided to try here. We got so lucky finding a two-​top bar table and sat right in.
This place is not a college-​age place. A more older crowd, which was perfect for us! It was a little loud, so you do have to talk in a raised voice. They have a decent wine by glass selection for my friend and I got a nice prepared pear martini.
The complimentary bread with its room temperature butter was a great way to start our meal. We both ordered the steak salads and was overall quite pleased with our entrees.
Our server was friendly and had no complaints at all with the service or food. Good solid choice when dining in Princeton.