St. Anselm

Who Should Book St. Anselm

St. Anselm is the right call if you want serious wood-fired meat without the formality of a Manhattan dining room — and you want to book tonight rather than six weeks from now. Located on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, this is a neighbourhood steakhouse that earns its reputation on execution rather than spectacle. If you're a food-focused traveller who tracks down the real thing rather than the celebrated thing, this belongs on your list for Brooklyn.

The Counter Experience

The bar seats at St. Anselm are worth requesting specifically. Counter seating at a grill-focused kitchen puts you close to the action in a way that a corner table doesn't — you're watching timing and temperature decisions made in real time, which matters when the whole menu is built around fire and smoke. For solo diners or pairs who care about craft, the counter gives you the most direct read on what the kitchen is doing. For groups of four or more, a table works fine, but you lose some of that proximity to process.

What to Expect

St. Anselm's reputation in Williamsburg is built on accessible price points relative to the quality of what arrives on the plate, this is not a $200-per-head experience. The room is casual, the crowd skews local, and the format is a la carte. That combination makes it a good fit for explorers who want depth of flavour over ceremony. Compared to the $$$$ tier of New York dining represented by Le Bernardin or Per Se, St. Anselm operates in a different register entirely, lower price, less polish, but arguably more honest cooking for what it is.

Practical Details

Reservations: Easy, booking window is short; same-week tables are typically available, which is rare for a Brooklyn spot with this level of word-of-mouth. Dress: Casual, no expectations beyond clean and comfortable. Getting there: Williamsburg is direct from Manhattan; the L train to Metropolitan Avenue stops close. Budget: Mid-range for New York; well below the $$$$ tier. Leading for: Pairs and small groups who prioritise flavour over formality, and solo counter diners with a serious interest in live-fire cooking.

For broader context on where St. Anselm fits in New York's dining scene, see our full New York City restaurants guide. If you're planning a full trip, our New York City hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest. For live-fire benchmarks elsewhere in the US, Lazy Bear in San Francisco and Smyth in Chicago are useful reference points for what serious fire-focused kitchens look like at different price tiers.