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Brandywine Valley Dining Guide
Whatever your taste in dining, be it elegant and formal or country casual, you can find it here served with a generous helping of Brandywine Valley hospitality. Enjoy our seafood, local specialties, ethnic and regional cuisine prepared by talented chefs who call the area home. Be sure to call for reservations and tell them you found them on TheBrandywine.com.
Restaurant Directories
CLICK BELOW FOR RESTAURANTS LISTINGS BY TOWN, TYPE & CUISINE |
On the Restaurant Scene REVIEWS, IMPRESSIONS, COMMENTS, COMPLAINTS Comments? hello@thebrandywine.com
At the top of the page you may have noticed a new advertiser... the VIP Card. It's a great way to save money at Chester County restaurants and shops. It's even a good thing for visitors since you can buy a one month VIP Card. And on top of that VIP Card has discounted their card by $5 for our site users. Click here for more details. It's a great offer.
veryone in my family loves seafood so I chose Doc Magrogan's, 117 E. Gay Street in West Chester for a celebratory dinner on the occasion of my son's new job in NYC. First impressions were good. The place has a friendly pubby clubby feel to it and there was a warm buzz coming from the Saturday bar crowd. The place was packed... a good sign. The wait staff was informative, attentive and friendly and the decor was definitely "Oyster House".
Our appetizers: Oysters Rockefeller, Old Bay Peel 'n Eat Shrimp and a selection of oysters on the half shell were excellent. The shucker actually shucked two of the oysters tableside pointing out the Montauk, Katama Bay and St. Simon varieties. Entrees: two Bouillabaisse ($26+) and a combo of grilled salmon, large scallops and shrimp ($21.99). Everyone enjoyed. And the desserts were downright decadent. They have a good selection of micro brews and wine to compliment anything on the menu. Suffice it to say, we will be going back to Doc's. Fresh seafood is not abundantly available in the valley, especially in such a welcoming environment where they don't rush you even on a crowded Saturday night. And there was even valet parking. Reservations are definitely recommended.
Our Rating: 4 stars
We finally made it over to The Orchard in Kennett Square, PA (610.388.1100). The restaurant is not easy to spot from the road and may well be unknown to many in the area, but not those who know good food or should I say fine cuisine. Some have called The Orchard the best BYOB in the area, but that doesn't do it justice. It is simply the best restaurant in the area without qualification. The food is exquisite; we experienced their PAELLA-STYLE LOBSTER RISOTTO grilled lobster tail over a saffron infused risotto studded with lobster, stewed tomatoes, clams and mussels for our entrees and for starters; SAUTÉED HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS over a Fig, onion and garlic chutney with an aged balsamic gastrique and DUCK CONFIT SPRING ROLLS shiitake mushrooms and goat cheese served with an aged balsamic reduction and Asian duck sauce. I could go into raptures over the desserts, but no need. You will be delighted. Service is polished, yet unpretentious, and the atmosphere effortlessly hip and sophisticated. Only 35 seats so reservations are a must.
Our Rating: 5 stars
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Local Specialties
The classic crab cake made from Chesapeake Bay Blue crabs can be found all over the Brandywine Valley in the summer. Another local favorite is the classic white mushroom. Kennett Square area growers also produce the more exotic shiitake, portobella, crimini and oyster mushrooms. Many of the area restaurants make mushroom soups made with the local product. |
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The Whip Tavern in Coatesville, PA (610.383.0600) serves classic British pub fare as well as American nosh, as they put it, in a delightfully authentic pub atmosphere. An innkeeper friend of ours told us about this place and took us there for a treat of a meal. Good thing, we would have never found it on our own. Click to their website for directions.
We sampled their smoked fish plate for an appetizer and then their bangers and mash and filet mignon... both excellent... accompanied by a hard cider on tap. Enjoy! Our Rating: 4 stars
If you're in the mood for fine dining, but don't feel like dressing, Newton's on State Street in Kennett Square (610 925-5055) is your kind of place. We ate in the bar which offers a great view of State Street, and the same beautifully prepared dishes, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere as the adjacent dining room. We started our dining experience with Lemontinis ($7.25) right off Newton's Martini menu followed by bacon wrapped scallops ($8.50) and lobster stuffed mushrooms ($7.95) as appetizers; both were excellent. Our entrees - Lobster cakes ($21.95) and Crab Encrusted North Atlantic Salmon ($17.95) were also excellent and were served promptly. For dessert we shared a Key Lime Tart with coffee.
Our Rating: 4 stars
Out of Towners
Al and Susy Marchioni of Beaufort, SC visited the Brandywine in July and shared their dining experiences with us... Catherine's What a great place. Funky location & decor. Fine menu, with food to match. Great service, with the BYOB option a plus. Worth a special trip. Four stars. The Gables Great place. Wonderful, romantic setting in the stone-walled courtyard. Terrific food (monkfish the best I've ever had), and well served. Good drinks and a great way to spend a summer evening "al fresco" with someone special. Pace One Restaurant We dined here on July 7 at the recommendation ("our favorite restaurant") of an upscale B&B in Chadds Ford. Simply awful. Mediocre food (a quick-defrosted swordfish steak), ridiculous prices ($52 for a mini surf & turf), and poor service. Seated in the hallway between the kitchen and bathrooms though the restaurant was empty (our first clue), then a "P/O'd" response from our server when we offered a coupon supplied by our hotelier (even though we tipped on the "gross" bill). A rip-off. Period. By far the worst meal (regardless of price) on our last two-week Northeastern journey.
We can't say enough good things about Catherine's in Unionville (610 347-2227). This charming, romantic BYOB transplanted from West Chester lived up to its reputation and then some. The interior was a surprise, with its romantic lighting complete with hurricane lights on the floor and small round table with white table cloths. We started our dinner with Wild Mushroom Soup with lump crabmeat ($7.95), Caesar Salad blended with spicy Chipotle peppers ($6.95) and Lobster & Fennel Crepe Shitake mushroom & brandy cream ($8.95). All were fabulous as were our entrées; Sea Scallops coconut curry sauce ($20.95), Blackened Tuna Steak raspberry jalapeno coulis ($22.95), and Filet Mignon Portabella mushroom with a wonderful Madeira cream and topped with Spanish Blue cheese ($25.95). Dessert!!!! They change, but we sampled the Ginger Peach sour cream torte, Tiramisu Bomb, yellow cake topped with tiramisu cream encrusted in semi-sweet chocolate; and flourless chocolate fudge with raspberry mousse toped with semi-sweet chocolate. Again... fabulous.
Our Rating: 4 stars
We stopped into Harry's Seafood Grill (302.777.1500) in the Wilmington Riverfront Market for lunch on Tuesday. The interior is Brandywine Brewing Company, now defunct, meets Deep Blue. The space is open... high ceilings, exposed ductwork, wood, brick, tile and glass. The bar will be spectacular in the spring and summer with a view of the river. We had their New England Lobster Roll ($14.95) and Crabcake Sandwich ($14.95) along with a spicey Bloody Mary and a Pilsner draft beer. Everything was well presented and the service was excellent. The menu changes daily and the wine list goes on. We left mildly impressed. The food was good, but a bit pricey. Should do a great business with the lunch crowd from the offices nearby.
Our Rating: 4 stars
The recently expanded Jasmine, Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar (302.479.5618) in the Crown Plaza in Talleyville. It's right next to a Subway, but it's really in another universe. They serve Japanese and Chinese cuisine in a calm, Zen-like atmosphere... everything from Miso soup to Chilean Sea-Bass Moromiso and Pad Thai noodles with Shrimp.
After sour apple martinis, we ordered their Special Tornado rolls (lobster tempura, lettuce with 3 kinds of caviar, Japanese spicy mayo, eel sauce) and Spider rolls (soft shell crab in tempura style with lettuce, avacado, chive and sweet sauce) for appetizers. Both were delicate, flavorful and beautifully plated. For owr entrees, we had Baked Stuffed Shrimp with Crabmeat in Honey Wasabi Sauce with squash puree (fabulous) and a dish you can get in most Chinese restaurants... General Tso's Chicken. Jasmine prepares it in a Mandarin Sweet Orange Sauce. It was a whole different experience, light, crispy and served with peppers and green beans instead of broccoli. When he learned we were from TheBrandywine.com, Henry, our waiter, insisted that we sample their special Samba Roll (rice, salmon, jalapeno, mozzerella, mint leaf with spicy mayo). It too was wonderful, but too much of a good thing. We had to take some home with us which we didn't mind a bit. :-)
Our Rating: 4 stars
| BRANDYWINE VALLEY CLASSICS |
 | Subs & Cheesesteaks
Philadelphia claims to have the best cheesesteaks, but don't say that around here. And when it comes to italian and turkey subs, forgetaboutit! You can find the best around at Capriotti's and Casapulla's.
Casapulla's North Steak & Sub Shop
2702 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 302.477.0221
Capriotti's
16 New Garden Sq. Shopping Cntr.,
Kennett Square PA.
610-444-4475
607 E. Market St., West Chester PA.
610-719-0270
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 | Celebrity Kitchens
Independence Mall, Suite 33 | 1601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE | 302.427.2665Hands-on cooking school and dining experience. Delaware's own live "FoodTV" blends cooking entertainment, classes and gourmet dining into a fun and congenial affair. Demonstrations - seating 24. Hands on classes - limited to 12 people. Check the calendar for chefs, cuisine and dates. Complimentary wines served with dinner events.
More Information |
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