Phantom Gourmet: Butch's Uptown In Haverhill

Juicy prime rib served on its own or stuffed into a sandwich. Overloaded seafood served fresh from the water. Giant chunks of bread pudding baked that day. It's all at Butch's Uptown.

At this Haverill restaurant, Butch Petrou, his enthusiastic wife Paula, son Chris and daughters Beth and Samantha have created a warm, welcoming space serving some of the dishes Butch has been perfecting for decades.

"He's been doing it for – gosh, over 50 years," said Samantha. "It's just what he loves to do, and he's passionate about it, and he knows his stuff and he's great at it."

"The kids thought I was having too much fun, so they made me come back to work and I love it," state Butch.

Through years of cooking throughout the area, Butch has gained quite a reputation.

"People have come in and they just love his cooking," said Samantha. "They know if they come to Butch's they're going to get that same cooking they did 20 years ago. Always consistent. Always good and extra yummy."

While they serve everything from wings to snack on while you belly up to the bar, and big plates of perfectly charred meats to munch on in their comfortable dining room, the must-order menu item has to be Uncle Guido's Cutlet Dinner.

"My father had an Uncle Guido and he wanted to pay tribute to him. So the Guido's cutlet is a nice pork tenderloin that we pound nice and thin and then we flash fry it in the fryolator. People love it," explained Samantha.

Served over spaghetti and loaded up with Butch's slow cooked marinara, this simple yet satisfying dish goes down easy.

"It's a piece of cake to cook and it's a piece of cake to eat. It's awesome," declared Paula.

At Butch's, the seafood is always fresh, served in dishes like the Crab Cakes over a bed of creamy lobster bisque, and enormous Fruitti di Mare, overloaded with scallops, calamari, mussels and shrimp. If you want all of that seafood goodness fried, order the Fritto Mixto.

"It's fried seafood and fried vegetables. It has a nice dipping sauce that compliments it very well," Samantha said.

"It's very big. We say it serves 2-3. It can actually serve 6-8," Beth added.

Nothing beats Butch's Baked Haddock topped with buttery cracker crumbs.

"Honestly, I don't use the word perfect, but when people come here they say this is the best piece of fish I've ever had," shared Beth. "It's always the same. It's always fantastic. It's cooked perfectly. The portion is right. The price is right and it is fresh no matter what."

"Customers have actually said to my father, 'You have mastered the baked haddock,'" bragged Samantha.

No matter what day of the week it is, you can always get yourself a slice of Butch's Prime Rib.

"We were originally going to only have it on the weekends, but because people liked it so much, we knew we had to put it on the menu daily. It's ready after four o'clock. People will wait and come right in at 4 and get it," explained Samantha.

While most restaurants serve a King cut, at Butch's, they call the massive 32-ounce cut of meat the "Butch Cut".

"When people see the Butch cut come out to their table, they're like, 'Oh my gosh. I didn't know it was going to be this big!" said Samantha.

For some more beef that will blow you away, Paula says the French Dip is fantastic.

"It is one of the most popular sandwiches here. It is loaded with French Dip. It is so juicy, it drips down your mouth. You can't wait to have another piece. Another bite. It's glorious. It's fantastic tasting."

Paula is also pretty enthusiastic about Butch's Bread Pudding which is made each and every day.

"Oh the bread pudding. That really is an old-fashioned treat. Some people really love it, and we give them a big, big slice and they take another piece home for tomorrow."

It seems like this family will do almost anything for its customers, and diners feel it from the moment they walk in.

"We are all so different in our own way that if you bring a little bit of each of us into the equation, you get this nice place where you have great food that my father cooks, my mom comes in and will be your hostess and my sister who manages well. My brother will greet the people and it's just each one of us brings a different value to the business," explained Samantha.

And you'll certainly eat like you're part of the family when you eat here.

You can find Butch's Uptown at 63 Locke Street in Haverhill.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.