Welcome to The Bancroft
The Bancroft, located in Burlington, MA, is a must-visit upscale steakhouse and cocktail bar. With a trendy and classy atmosphere, it offers a wide range of New American cuisine with a focus on high-quality steaks and seafood. The food presentation and flavors are exceptional, making every dish feel like a special treat. The attentive service and intimate dining space create a memorable experience for any occasion. From tasty appetizers like crab cakes to mouthwatering entrees like bone-in filet, The Bancroft delivers superbly crafted dishes that will leave you wanting more. It's a top choice for those seeking a sophisticated and delicious dining experience.
- 15 Third Ave Burlington, MA 0180315 Third Ave Burlington, MA 01803 Hotline: (781) 221-2100
Nestled in the heart of Burlington, Massachusetts, The Bancroft emerges as a shining beacon in the realm of New American dining and steakhouses. Located at 15 Third Ave, Burlington, MA 01803, this establishment brilliantly marries a sophisticated atmosphere with a menu that's rich in flavor and innovation. From the moment you walk through its doors, you're enveloped by the inviting, clubby ambiance that sets the tone for an extraordinary dining experience.
The Bancroft isn't just a restaurant; it's a culinary destination where every detail is meticulously curated. The menu boasts an array of steaks that are incredibly high in quality, whether you choose the tantalizing Tomahawk steak for two or the decadent 28-day prime aged rib-eye. Each dish, prepared to perfection, showcases the chefs' emphasis on freshness and exquisite taste. One bite into the tender tomahawk reveals a delightful interplay of smoky char and juicy interior, a triumph of cooking technique that leaves diners desiring more.
The seafood offerings also take center stage, with customer favorites like the Lobster Ravioli and shrimp cocktail making appearances. Diners consistently rave about the freshness of the fish—especially the massive jumbo shrimp, perfectly paired with a zesty cocktail sauce that celebrates the right amount of horseradish. It’s clear that The Bancroft doesn’t shy away from elevating classic dishes with their unique flair.
But it’s not just the food that captivates; the cocktail program at The Bancroft enhances the dining experience significantly. Guests can sip on expertly crafted cocktails such as the Gatekeeper or indulge in the refreshing Peach Rosé Sangria. Each cocktail has been thoughtfully designed to complement the flavors of the menu, ensuring that every sip enhances rather than distracts from the culinary journey.
As we turn our attention to dessert, the salted caramel crème brûlée stands out as a must-try. Served in a shallow dish that maximizes the toasted sugar crust, every spoonful feels decadent yet accessible. Many have echoed sentiments that it may be the best crème brûlée they’ve ever had, making it the perfect capstone to a beautiful meal. For those who favor a lighter finish, the house-made ice cream provides a delightful alternative.
The Bancroft goes beyond food; it’s about creating an experience. The attentive service, led by knowledgeable staff, ensures that every guest feels valued, while the vast dining area manages to maintain an intimate atmosphere that encourages lingering conversations over cocktails or dinner. Additionally, the lounge area is a comfortable space for friends to gather, whether for a casual drink or to celebrate a special occasion.
In summary, The Bancroft is not just another steakhouse; it is a must-visit destination that encapsulates the essence of modern American dining. With its commitment to quality, tailored service, and a remarkable culinary experience, it’s a place where you can enjoy a lavish meal or simply unwind at the bar with a cocktail that invites you back for more. Whether for a celebratory dinner, a casual catch-up over drinks, or an intimate business lunch, this restaurant certainly leaves a lasting impression.
For reservations or inquiries, contact them at (781) 221-2100. Get ready to indulge in a dining escape you won’t soon forget.

Came here August 2024 to celebrate an anniversary. We were deciding between this and The Capital Grille. Bancroft won out on presentation, menu offerings, atmosphere, and service. Every item has that little extra flair that makes it feel like a special night out and the waitstaff was very friendly and chatty. I like that Bancroft feels like a place where you can go all out or just meet friends at the bar for a well made cocktail. We ordered: - Lobster Ravioli starter. very tasty, especially with a little extra bread to mop up the sauce. Tbh, if I went back I might order the shrimp cocktail instead though for a little more zip. - Peach Rose Sangria and The Gatekeeper cocktail. The Sangria was fine, but the Gatekeeper was definitely the better order. Very smooth and balanced cocktail. I kept stealing sips. I would come back just to have this drink again. - Tomahawk steak for 2. This thing is so impressive! Ours was a tiny bit overcooked (maybe we spent too long enjoying our app), but still super tender inside with woodsy salty char on the outside. We ordered medium, but next time might do medium rare. Slices at the ends were well done. - Asparagus. I was initially disappointed with how thick the stalks were, but there was no stringiness to them at all. That's on me for ordering out of season. - bag of rosemary fries. Fries were very good but the rosemary flavor was faint. next time I would spring for the truffle oil. - salted caramel creme brulee. We were full to bursting by the time we got to dessert, but wanted to sit a few minutes longer. So glad we did because the creme brulee was heavenly. Maybe the best I've ever had. It's served in a shallow dish for maximum toasted sugar crust to creme ratio. Husband got ice cream which was fine. The brulee was the definite star and big enough for 2.

One of my favorite steakhouses in MA. When I want to get of the city this is my go to spot. Very high quality steak for the price Great seafood and food appetizers. Can't go wrong here. Service is attentive and decent enough. The vibe is great too huge dining area that still managers to feel intimate. I highly recommend making the trek out here.

We came again and tried more dishes on the menu. The quality of food and service continued to impress us. We had a reservation for Friday evening and were seated immediately. The server was friendly and helpful. The food was fresh, tasty, and with good presentation. We would strongly recommend this place, although it is on the higher end price wise.

Excellent lounge area with comfy seats (great place to people watch) and food was incredible. We split the beet salad, crab cakes, and the bone-in filet (complete with polenta and mushrooms for sides). Aesthetically pleasing on top of everything else.

This is a must try restaurant! The Bancroft is a fantastic experience for an upscale restaurant where you just want to be pampered. My culinary avengers team and I booked a reservation for an intimate birthday celebration. I loved the vibe of the place when we walked in. It is dark and clubby. A very intimate feeling space even though it is large and airy. You feel like you are in an old school country club here. The chairs are really comfortable, which is great when you are about to enjoy a delicious meal. Note to all: wear your comfy eating pants when you dine here. You will thank me later. Our server was named Parker. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and was attentive to our needs, putting up with our crazy ordering and food sensitivities. He was able to help us navigate ordering not just one meal, but several to make almost everything gluten and dairy free so we could share plates. Parker, thank you for putting up with us! He brought Parker House rolls in a cast iron pan to the table with butter on the side. I was good and did not ask for a second pan. For my GF ad DF friend he brought out a few pieces of toast and some olive oil with herbs for dipping. She was so happy and our gluten and dairy filled rolls were delicious! We started with cocktails. A peach-rosé sangria for me (dry rosé, Ketel One peach and orange blossom botanical, elderflower, apricot and orange liqueur, citrus). A Moscow mule for my newly legal friend (her first time getting carded!). I love the sangria. It was sweet, but not too and just really refreshing. She really liked her cocktail, but just wished it was a bit sweeter. Next up: Apps. Birthday girl loves steak tartare so we ordered that. The menu description is hand cut prime steak tartare with pickled shallots and violet mustard. I am not usually a steak tartare fan, but this converted me. It was so good. it was served with gluten and dairy free toast. Yum! Also served with the TINIEST cornichons that I have ever seen. We ordered a shrimp cocktail (iced tiger shrimp cocktail red + green cocktail sauce) to share. It was five GIANT shrimp that were fantastic and fresh. I loved all the horseradish in the cocktail sauce. So many places don't provide cocktail sauce with the right horseradish to ketchup ratio. Tablemates shared a baby romaine Caesar salad with white anchovies, Treviso cheese, a jammy egg and a very thinly sliced giant crouton. And now for dinner. I got the New York sirloin, mid rare with a horseradish and cracked black pepper cream sauce. Absolutely incredible. Perfectly cooked, tender and tasty. One friend got the 12 ounce filet mignon with a side of the smoked salt. This thing was the size of a grapefruit. It was served rare, as ordered. I got a taste and it was very tender, like eating butter. The texture was amazing but I always find filet mignon to not be flavorful. My other two table mates both ordered 28-day prime aged rib eye, one with a side of the garlic parsley butter. But of course, that's not all. We ordered a bag o' fries (with rosemary and house made ketchup) for the table. Thin cut fries that were perfectly crispy, hot from the fryer with rosemary and salt. We also ordered side of the roasted fingerling potatoes with garlic confit. The creamed leaf spinach topped with a fried local farm egg was delicious and just as good as leftovers the next day! To be healthy we also ordered the grilled asparagus. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we brought in a cake, but I must go back to try the coffee crème brulée with hazelnut shortbread and Frangelico Chantilly cream. We were thrilled with our experience at The Bancroft and will definitely be back for a business lunch or other birthday dinners!

Fantastic experience here!!! Lovely ambiance, a bit dark and special occasion feeling. The Parker House rolls are amazing. I had the wedge salad and the Lobster and Smoked Haddock Stew on two separate occasions and it was delicious both times. The service here is exemplary! Parker rocked it on our last visit - super attentive and beyond knowledgeable of the intricacies of the menu. Finished up with a totally yummy Lime Ice Cream and Raspberry Coulis sundae. Super good. This was just an overall positive experience from start to finish. Very enjoyable. Our friends enjoyed their meals as well. We weren't rushed out at the end of the meal which was very appreciated.

The food was excellent and well crafted. Service was adequate, but that is not the expectation for this tier of steakhouse. The service was slow and not attentive. A table seated after us received their entrees before us. Service was sluggish and not acceptable. The review teeters on 3 vs 4 stars given the price point. The food was exceptional and better created than other local steak houses. Starting with the burrata and prosciutto that was exceptional. Canadian oysters that were exceptional. Crab cakes were loaded with crab meat and beautifully presented - top tier. The tomahawk was perfectly cooked and presented. The sides are distinguishing for the Bancroft.

Thrilled with Bancroft in Burlington, Mass! A steakhouse that wins with its fish options--fantastic oysters, great fried clams, and irresistible fries in a bag (we had two orders!). The city-chic ambiance, dramatic space, farm-fresh offerings, and a huge craft cocktail bar make it a standout. The octopus carpaccio was a delightful surprise. Overall, a great dining experience!

They start you off with nice and warm sweet rolls with salt sprinkled on top - I thought they were really good. We got the seafood platter for two and clam chowder to start. The platter was pretty good, not my favorite. Same with the chowder, it was really plain and surprisingly had no flavor. It just tasted like a cream soup with a hint of clam, but mostly potato. For entrees we got the ribeye and salmon, with mushrooms, asparagus, and fingerling potatoes as sides. I want to start off by saying the steak was sooooooo good. The flavor and how it was cooked was perfect. And my favorite side was the mushrooms. We only did the single serving but it was huge still. Now onto the meh choices which was the salmon. I wanted to be healthy and got the salmon - much regret. The flavor wasn't there, I was pretty disappointed. And the fingerling potatoes had no flavor either, it was barely a hint of rosemary. And the asparagus was fine, some parts were really hard, but it's fine. If you go here, just get the steak and mushrooms, you won't be disappointed!