This is my go-to spot every time I'm in PA. I usually order the steak and crab cake and honestly, the crab cake never misses. It's packed with crab and comes with an amazing sauce. My favorite, though, is the spicy crab marinara pasta. It's super flavorful and really stands out. They also offer some Asian-inspired dishes like spicy wontons and tuna tartare, which I love getting as appetizers.They sometimes have a rotating specials menu too. I tried the coconut rice with sweet chili shrimp and fried eggplants with special sauce once and it was so yummy. Definitely a hidden gem I'd highly recommend! read more

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I had dinner here with friends while visiting from New England. At first, we werent sure if it was open, even after making a reservation, because the sidewalk area was cluttered with stacked with tables and chairs in a haphazard way. The vibe inside was comfortable with brick walls and bright colors. Too bad the front doors were not open to create a 'come on in!' vibe. The service was pleasant and the food was good. We shared a calamari plate and my fish tacos were tasty. My friends enjoyed their pasta, soup, and salad dishes. There is a bar area (it is BYOB - bring your own wine or buy something at the next door brew pub to bring in) by the kitchen which would make a fine 'chef's table' experience but a person was taking up most of the area with all kinds of personal items. Not sure why (a family member?) was hanging out in the front of house area like that. The ambience could use a lot more charm and the curbside appeal could be so delightful with container gardens out front - a missed opportunity to stand out from all the other restaurants there. It wasn't super crowded on a Saturday night like many of the other spots. read more

Black Lab Bistro - New American Near Me - Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

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Decent brunch spot, outside gets a little windy sometimes so it's better to sit inside. If you want to sit inside make sure you get a reservation on the weekend because it gets busy. Food takes some time to come out, so make sure to account for the wait. read more

My wife and I were here for dinner on a Friday evening this fall (2023) and left the restaurant really pleased with our overall experience that explains this 5-star rating. In our view, the food was extremely good for prices that were reasonable by contrast. Sure I would like it if two jumbo lump crab cakes did not cost me $32 but given the price of crab cakes even at a grocery store, the price seems fair given the overheads any restaurant has. Our dinner consisted of two appetizers - the Maine lobster bisque and calamari - and two entrees - the jumbo lump crab cakes and a branzino filet (which was one of the two specials of the day). Each of the items was very well executed and portion sizes were generous. We didn't finish all of the lobster bisque and even then, we left completely full with no room for dessert at the end. Our total bill was $86 and with a tip, it came to $100. The restaurant is a BYOB which makes the place more affordable than other comparable restaurants. We brought a bottle of white wine with us and because we did not have time to refrigerate it at home, our server added some ice to the bucket holding our wine. That was a nice gesture. In general, the service was good, without being overbearing. There were no real downsides but one thing I might note is that the chairs weren't super comfortable. Personally I like sitting in booths but there are none here. The only other thing worth a mention is that being located right on Bridge St. and somewhat far from the nearest municipal parking lot, parking can be tricky at times. Fortunately, we found parking a few feet away from the entrance to the restaurant and I could even see our car from the table where we were seated. Overall, we had an excellent experience and this a place that we will add to our list of date-night favorites. read more

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We had a reservation at 6:15, arrived a few minutes early and were seated right away. The server was friendly and helpful. Our wine was opened promptly. I ordered the lobster bisque and it was rich and flavorful with 4 chunks of lobster (there's never enough lobster meat for me). My dining partner go spicy tuna tartar and said it was delicious. We both got the branzino special with butternut risotto and asparagus. Everything was hot and cooked perfectly. We shared tiramisu which was a perfect blend of flavors. I haven't been there in many years but will be back soon. read more

My boyfriend and I ate dinner here tonight (Thanksgiving). We had reservations, so we were seated quickly. The service was perfect. Fast and friendly. The ambiance was ok. It's a small bistro with tables and chairs. The tables are close, so you don't have a lot of privacy. Everything was clean and well kept. The lighting was decent-not too dark, not too bright. Just right. We had 2 apps-calamari and pork wontons. Both were lukewarm, but tasted great. If they were served hot, they would have been phenomenal. Our meals were crab cakes and the filet tips stir fry. Both were served hot. The crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had. The asparagus was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. The mashed potatoes and remoulade were also very good. My boyfriend enjoyed the stir fry. I tried a piece of the filet and it was delicious. If I had had room for dessert, I would have gone for the cinnamon bun ice cream sandwich. They should get some bread pudding on that menu. All of the portions were very generous for the price. Would I go back? Maybe, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list of places to try again. read more

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First, I will say that the service and the appetizer was very good, which is why I gave it two stars. Otherwise it would have only received one. My friend and I shared the calamari appetizer which was excellent. For entree's I had the (almost 40.00) ribeye and she ordered the chicken piccata. If you look at the attached photo of my steak then no other explanation is really necessary, it was pathetic. Full of fat, no more than a quarter inch thick and tasted and looked like it was boiled. I barely ate it. The piccata was paper (literally) thin chicken that was over cooked to the point of cardboard and it had about as much flavor. We both left very disappointed and agree we will never go back. The place is VERY noisy but again if the food had been good that really wouldn't have mattered. I wish I could remember the servers name because she was very good. read more

Black Lab Bistro - New American Near Me - Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

They were happy to accommodate a large rowdy crew of 13. The duck is always my favorite entree. They always cook the duck perfectly and the currant merlot sauce is a wonderful compliment to the duck. My friend ordered the sea bass tacos. She thought it was a little too fishy for her liking. The service was a little slow but good company and BYOBing it helped pass the time. Always a great place for a special occasion. read more

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I write long reviews which I hope indicates my thoughts are genuine and I'm not just a friend trying to help a friend's business. ****************************************************************** My wife and I had dinner here on a Wednesday night. The crowd was small. I ordered the pork and vegetable wontons (6 wontons) in sesame chili sauce as my appetizer. They were very good and left a light, back-of-the-mouth burn. Enough to enjoy but not enough to overwhelm. I sopped up the leftover sauce with my bread. My wife ordered an arugula salad with walnuts, feta cheese and bacon topped with a light vinaigrette. The salads ingredients were mixed together in good proportions so no one ingredients dominated. The vinaigrette was light and slightly tart and was a perfect accompaniment. Dinners were Shrimp and Grits for me and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes for her. The shrimp and grits were topped with a flavorful Creole sauce which I also sopped up with my bread. I would have liked the grits to have been creamier. They were a little "gritty". I know that sounds like an oxymoron considering their name but I feel a creamier version would have wider appeal. The grits needed additional Parmesan. Had it not been for the menu I would not have known it was used. Still, a very good dish that I feel comfortable recommending. My wife is a crab cake aficionado. There was plenty of crab in hers and the crab flavor definitely came through. They were served on a bed of mashed potatoes that would have benefited from additional seasoning; maybe some Old Bay in keeping with the seafood theme? I recognize, though, that it's easier to be a Monday-Morning-Chef than to be a real one. The only part of the meal that was weak was the sesame-topped bread. It was okay for sopping up sauces but had little flavor of its own. I don't know if they bought it or made it but in either case I know they can do better. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was what one would expect in a bistro, simple and unpretentious. The Black Lab Bistro is a good place to have a quiet dinner together or with friends. read more

We are frequent visitors of Black Lab. The food is Always great and the staff are always top notch. Black Lab Bistro will continue to be on our rotation of restaurants. read more

Add this Phoenixville BYOB to ur must try restaurant list...the food, service, atmosphere, table setting were fabulous! We loved the filet, stir fry and all the appetizers were delicious...calamari, wontons, flatbread, Brussel sprouts.. our new go to restaurant read more

We went to the Colonial Theatre to see Star Trek II, This place is just across the street. The service was a little bit slow but everybody was polite and professional. I got the ribeye steak which was very good, my husband got a lemon caper chicken dish. I would definitely come back again. I did expect the place to be a little bit more upscale for the prices. But I think because of Covid they had to be a little bit more casual. Overall it was a really good experience I would give it four stars read more

Black Lab Bistro - Ribeye steak - New American Near Me - Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Enjoyable restaurant for dinner: the food was fabulous! The atmosphere very relaxing - we went around 5:15 PM so it wasn't full at that time, but filling up by time we left read more

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The food is decent. Smaller portions than you might expect. Decently priced. The staff is very kind and I believe it is family owned. It may take awhile to get the food but I think it's worth a stop. read more

If you like eating eggs shells in your eggs go here. Nothing like biting down on a western omelet and hearing a loud hard crunch at 9 am on Saturday then spitting your omelet out on the plate and seeing egg shells in your omelet. Don't go here thier cooks obviously are not good at cooking and God only knows what else is in thier food. These people can't even make an omelet. Go to the coffee cup in Downingtown pa. Trust me it's worth the drive. Or Hanks cafe in Chadsford Pa. Seems like down town Phoenixville has issues with cooking food. I don't know where they get their cooks but I don't recommend any of the restaurants downtown. Plenty of great diners and other restaurants in Chester County. I don't recommend Phoenixville restaurants or diners. I have had multiple issues with establishments with undercooked food , and just lousy food in general. Stay clear away from Phoenixville, they not only have horrible food the town itself has a lot of homeless wondering around and drug activity and crime. read more

Came her for dinner and it was good but the portions were small. It's BYOB which was great so we brought 2 bottles of red for the 4 of us. Everything tasted good but I wish the portions were bigger. I got the braised short rib and as you can see by the picture, it was 4 small slices. That dish does not look $27. I could have eaten 2 portions of it. My gf got the shrimp and grits which she liked. Our server was nice and the atmosphere was nice but they need to up their portion sizes. read more

Black Lab Bistro - Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs - New American Near Me - Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

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Lunch was fantastic but true to local legend (the Blob enveloped the nearby Capitol Theater in the 1958 sci-fi classic) shapeless extraterrestrials were lurking in my Lobster Bisque. Our appetizers were terrific as were the entrees but the soup was lukewarm and lumped with thickening agents that made it uncharacteristically tasteless and gelatinous. This is always the unspoken truth of Sunday Brunch where the wary diner should be vigilant for offerings that have seen better days, like last Thursday. If I am back in the area a return visit to the Black Lab is not out of the question but I will certainly be on the lookout for visitors from another planet in my soup. read more

Selected this spot because of the good reviews and proximity to the Colonial Theater- as a lot of patrons had from the chatter overheard that evening. Like a true bistro there is a decent amount of chatter and activity, but the low wooden sidewalls effectively mute a lot of the sound, giving you the feel without too much noise. The food was outstanding. I had a perfectly done duck breast with mashed potatoes and arugula. Don't scoff at the potatoes, they are easy to get wrong. These were creamy and light. My wife went for the grilled seafood which was nicely done. Even the crab imperial was tasty even though still out of season for Chesapeake bay crabs. This is a BYOB spot, so splurge on the wine. The food is fantastic and you will be glad you did. read more

Old standby doesn't disappoint. Been frequenting this establishment for years and always a great experience from a food , service and ambiance standpoint. From a value standpoint it surpasses most given its BYOB status. Menu is varied - but hasn't changed much over the years. Staff makes you comfortable and welcome. read more

We went there on the spur of the moment and enjoyed our meals very much. BYOB...be prepared!

Another great restaurant in Phoenixville! My husband and I stopped here for brunch and we had a great meal. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The staff were warm, welcome, and very accommodating. We had our infant daughter there and they were so sweet to her. I had the lobster bisque and it was de-light-ful! We also had Lump Crab Meat, Scallion, Tillamook Cheddar omelette, steak and eggs dish, and the zucchini bread. It was all so good. Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection. We will definitely come back and try their dinner menu. read more

One of the best brunch spots in Phoenixville. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was great, the zucchini bread was even better. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Black Lab Bistro - Tomato,mozzarella, and arugula omelette - New American Near Me - Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Dinner for 4 on 1.20.24. Food overall was very good. Service is also very good but it did take a bit long to receive the main course. The Brussel Sprout appetizer was excellent. My chicken piccata entre was good but the chicken was a bit dry. The broccoli was cooked just the way I like it, not overcooked. Our main complaint is the noise level. It was so loud that I had a hard time hearing the person across the table. This restaurant is nicely decorated and it is not a sports bar and there are no TV's so the ambiance has the potential to be great, but not sure why folks at other tables were literally shouting like they were at an Eagles game. The bare brick walls don't help either. Maybe it was just a bad night, but my wife and I would probably not go there again if we wanted to have a relaxing dinner and conversation with another couple. read more

After trying carry out from Black Lab Bistro we dined in for the first time this weekend. From top to bottom our dining experience was great. Service was phenomenal. I had the Caesar salad to start and crab cake entree. My husband had lobster bisque, calamari and crab marinara. We had carrot cake for dessert. They also have espresso which scored major points with my husband, lol. read more

We went for the brunch and were pleasantly surprised at the creative menu and extremely reasonable prices. Very, very good and service was great! Two can eat and be completely stuffed for under $40 easily. read more

Ok, so I know Phoenixville has SO MANY RESTAURANTS to try, and because of that, this little gem can be easy to miss. Look, in simple terms: BYOB, upscale menu, not far from parking, good food, slightly older demographic. More details? Ok, well the service was fantastic. Honestly, we forgot it was a BYO, but no worries, it's a two minute walk from the foodery, so that problem was quickly rectified. Food came out quickly, and while I wasn't huge on the options that night, the menu does rotate, so that's nice. So many places in Phoenixville go under because people get bored of the menu, so it's nice when the menu gets refreshed now and then. Seating can be a little tight, but such is the case with so many top spots in the city, so it is what it is. It's also located at the slightly quieter end of bridge street, so it's more usually quite as crazy. The food was decent, though the pasta was a little bland and the cake a little dry. Honestly though, it wasn't a big problem, and the spring rolls and shrimp and grits were on point. So hey, if you haven't tried this place yet, you probably should...might find someplace new and keep going back. read more

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I just can't help myself. I'm not one to give reviews often but today brunch was absolutely amazing. The lobster bisque was arguably the best I've ever had. The crab cakes Benedict were a treat for the taste buds!! The service was prompt but never rushed. Delightful! Thank you!! read more

We have always had an excellent experience here. Love the food and the service! The zucchini bread is to die for!!!

Black Lab Bistro does indeed have delicious crab cakes. And it is a BYO. But the positives end there... the daily special of a Thai bowl was terrible! The onion soup was bland, French fries not served hot. Other options aplenty in Phoenixville so go elsewhere. read more

Great lunch spot. Good sandwiches and salads. A must if new to the up and coming Phoenixville scene!

Awesome BYOB in Phoenixville. Highly recommend the pork wontons appetizer and the short ribs entree! Absolutely delicious. Their dessert menu sounded amazing & unique but I didn't try it as we had birthday cake back at the house. But can't wait to come back and try the dessert too! read more

I met a friend there for dinner and we had a great experience! I absolutely love the cozy space. The food was so good. I had the boneless short ribs and my dinner date had the crab pasta. Both dishes were really enjoyed! I will definitely be visiting here again. read more

This place is great. The food was delicious and very well packed and presented. It is your best option in phoenixvile. It blows Iron Hill away. Scallops entree with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Spicy shrimp and grits made our night. Check it out. read more

Black Lab Bistro's food tastes like hospital food. We were very excited to eat here as we just moved to town and its been on our list of places to try. We got the short rib and the fettuccine Alfredo. Both were almost inedible. Service was great tho and their bread and baked goods were decent. read more

We came in for Thanksgiving dinner. It was great to see that there were other things then just Thanksgiving food since we had kids! The food is wonderful! We had the lobster bisque, the won ton appetizer, the crab cakes, the fisherman platter and some burgers! Everything was perfect! Topped it off with tiramisu! Very nice people!! Highly recommend!! read more

Had dinner outside before an event at the Colonial. Service was excellent as always. The crab cake and duck entrees were both very good. Total bill was very reasonable for salads, entrees and a shared dessert $75. read more

Excellent food, and a huge menu to choose from! I love going here and trying new things. One of my favorite places to dine in the area. Staff is very friendly and accommodating too. read more

I don't understand why Black Lab has such a low rating on yelp. The food here is amazing.... my favorite food in Phoenixville....HANDS DOWN!! read more

We had dinner outside there last night. I had the duck and scallops. Best duck I ever had. Service was great as well.

Perhaps it's because I don't live around these parts, but I was thoroughly unimpressed with the Black Lab. This was one of the worst dinners I've had in a while, and after my second meal at this restaurant, I have no desire to come back. Perhaps this place was happening in Phoenixville in 2009, but it has definitely lost any charm that previous reviews ascribe to it. If you like well-executed and thoughtful cuisine, don't bother trying this place. The menu is, in a word, ambitious. The dishes attempt to span several genres and cuisines, and they fall short. Black Lab, you need to pick a niche and stick with it. The menu attempts to do New American bistro, French meat/sauce prep, Spanish tapas, and some "misc Asian" but doesn't quite succeed with any of them. E.g. scallop shu mai sounds incredibly gluey, and calling every sauce a demi-glace doesn't make it French. We've had a selection of dishes here, and some have been less disappointing than others. The octopus with andouille sausage and chickpeas is in a smoked paprika and vinegar sauce that manages to lack any complexity, and the octopus is in slices that taste like Chinese fish cake. Tuna tartare is awful... I've had better tuna/rice combos in supermarket sushi. I did feel fairly positively about the calamari in crispy Chinese five-spice batter but the mango aioli (or whatever it purported to be) was a huge misstep. I think the calamari is the only dish on the menu I can reasonably recommend, but ask for sauce on the side. A dining companion had the lobster bisque and remarked it was notable for its lack of lobster and gluey consistency. The duck breast with scallops was okay, but the sauce was overly sweet. I ordered the rosemary-dijon crusted lamb chops with potato cake, asparagus, and the ubiquitous demi-glace. Lamb is supposed to be tender. This was chewy, lacked any of the claimed herb-mustard flavor, and was not really aided by the sauce. The potato cake was savory, and they didn't mess up the asparagus. The steak frites: essentially inedible, with meat like "airplane food," as my dining companion described it. The frites were fine and very heavily seasoned with 2-4 dithiapentane... but I like the fake taste of "truffle" oil, so these seemed fine to me. Generally, all the sauces are pretty seasoned but still lacking in real flavor. To add insult to all this gastronomic injury, the food is incredibly overpriced. It is nice that they're BYOB, and the service is much warmer and attentive now than in the past. Ambiance is also fine -- I can't really say anything bad about the setup, though it doesn't seem conducive to an intimate date. Seating can be tight in some areas. The art prints on the wall didn't offend me and the layout is basically okay. I gather, from the reviews, that there are better restaurants on this block. If you have any kind of discerning palate, seriously, do not come here. You can find better food at the Cheesecake Factory or Red Lobster. read more