Meet The Burlington Chophouse Putting A Twist On Traditional Steakhouse Classics

Serving succulent cuts of all-natural beef and local seafood, CHOPPS American Bar & Grill redefines traditional chophouse. Its warm and unpretentious setting offers comfort, style and small, casual service.

The Burlington-based restaurant is a favored go-to for residents and hotel guests alike, with a bustling bar scene that invites diners to enjoy live entertainment with a glass of wine or a carefully crafted cocktail.

Patch: Tell us about the Chopps American Bar and Grill beginnings.

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: CHOPPS American Bar & Grill opened in 2014 and has since served as a hub for the Burlington Community. We designed the restaurant to have an open feel, so guests can meet up with colleagues for a working lunch at the media pods, enjoy cocktails by the fireside or enjoy dinner and live music in the expansive dining room. Our menu celebrates the flavors of seasonality in New England, with a modern twist on American chophouse classics.

Patch: What is the importance of community to CHOPPS?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: The community plays a large role in our mission at CHOPPS. Each spring, we host our annual CHOPPS Champions event, which celebrates local heroes in the community across all sectors. Burlington is a thriving hub for innovation and business and filled with a talented and passionate community that we’re thrilled to be a part of.

Patch: When are CHOPPS’ busiest times of the year?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: Last summer, we debuted a brand new Terrace@CHOPPS, which now allows guests to enjoy alfresco dining during the warm weather. It was great to welcome the community and visitors to enjoy the treetop views and folks really enjoyed it. At CHOPPS, we create menu items that are inspired by the season. In the cold weather months, you can enjoy a hearty steak (always antibiotic and hormone-free) with comfort food dishes to keep you warm and fresh seafood and seasonal dishes featuring local produce in the summertime. We offer menu items and specials that showcase the best New England produce year-round.

Patch: Tell us about the CHOPPS staff and backgrounds.

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: Executive Chef Steve Zimei brings over 20 years of experience to the CHOPPS team. Chef Zimei introduces new flavors to rejuvenate the American chophouse, leveraging relationships with local farmers to offer guests a unique farm-to-table experience where quality and sustainability remain a top priority. Chef Zimei works closely with CHOPPS Consulting Chef Daniel Bruce to create menus that celebrate the season, while offering timeless classics that guests can enjoy year-round.

Our talented Beverage team, led by Kevin Kelly, are constantly mixing up new cocktails and surprising guests with new flavor combinations. We also work closely with local breweries, and offer exclusively Massachusetts-based beers on tap.

Patch: How does CHOPPS stand out from other steakhouses?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: We’re a modern American chophouse that focuses on quality beef and creative twists on steakhouse classics. All of our beef at CHOPPS is antibiotic and hormone-free, fed a vegetarian diet and raised humanely on sustainable farms. We partner with great local purveyors, including River Rock Farms in Brimfield, Mass. and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine to always offer the freshest and best quality beef. We also have a variety of small plates, burgers and pizzas, too, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Patch: Describe how the culture of Massachusetts comes into play for CHOPPS.

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: When you think of Massachusetts, you think of two things: fresh seafood and sports – and we’ve got plenty of both at CHOPPS! Chef Zimei works closely with local fisherman to offer fresh-caught specials. When it comes to classic Massachusetts dishes, our lobster roll is once of the best and freshest around! We always have the game on in the bar area, too, so you can cheer on your New England sports teams in the bar and Great Room.

Patch: What are some of CHOPPS’ proudest moments?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: Our annual CHOPPS Champions event is something that we’re really proud to bring to the community. We get hundreds of nominations each year to honor the great charity work, community service and innovate leaders that are paving the way for the future of Burlington. It’s always a great night to celebrate those accomplishments and for us to give back to the community and the charity and non-profit organizations that our CHOPPS Champions are passionate about.

Patch: CHOPPS offers more than food; it serves up live entertainment on a regular basis. Tell us about some of the musicians, past or present, who’ve played at Chopps.

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: Live entertainment is a big part of what we do at CHOPPS. We have live music five nights a week, where guests can enjoy some of the best artists in the Boston area. We offer a variety of genres and styles at CHOPPS, so you might catch crooner Jay Psarsos one evening, then hear a mix of pop, rock and country from Natalie Joly the next. We also feature top area DJs (including resident DJ Chris Roxx) on Friday and Saturday evenings. We have live music Tuesday through Saturday. You can view the schedule online.

Patch: What is the outlook for the future of CHOPPS? What's next?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: We’re thrilled to have Chef Steve Zimei at the helm of the kitchen to introduce some new flavors and creative dishes that we think our guests are going to enjoy! We’ll always have those go-to classics and steaks that make CHOPPS such a great destination for lunch and dinner in Burlington, but we’re excited to offer some new menu items that will take the menu to the next level. Stay tuned!

Patch: How can Patch readers get in contact with you or learn more about CHOPPS American Bar and Grill?

CHOPPS American Bar & Grill: Visit us online or follow along on Facebook or on Instagram via @ChoppsAmericanBarandGrill. For reservations, call (781) 221-6643.

Photo credit: CHOPPS American Bar & Grill