The Best of the Best - County Lines Magazine
The Best of the Best - County Lines Magazine
The Best of the Best - County Lines Magazine
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Flickerwood Wine Tasting Room<br />
116 W. State St., Kennett Square<br />
610-444-8341 / flickerwood.com<br />
This Kane, PA-based, family-built<br />
and operated winery (daughter Julie designs<br />
<strong>the</strong> labels) opened a tasting room<br />
in <strong>the</strong> heart <strong>of</strong> Kennett. Ron Zampogna<br />
brings his 30+ years <strong>of</strong> wine-making<br />
and <strong>of</strong>fers up 21 varieties to sample:<br />
Chardonnay Gold, Cayuga Kiss, Rose<br />
Bud Red. Try <strong>the</strong>m during a First Friday<br />
stroll. Open Wednesday to Sunday.<br />
BEST BAR FOR OVER 30s<br />
333 Belrose<br />
333 Belrose Ln., Radnor<br />
610-293-1000 / 333belrose.com<br />
This lively, stylish mainstay on <strong>the</strong><br />
Main Line provides a bar scene that<br />
continues to please. With a sophisticated<br />
crowd from surrounding corporate<br />
centers and beyond, happy-hour<br />
drink prices, half-priced bar menu<br />
(Mon-Wed), a drink list sporting three<br />
types <strong>of</strong> Cosmos and five martinis (including<br />
<strong>the</strong> healthy choice, pomegranate,<br />
and a Flirtini) and a sometimes guitarist/vocalist<br />
with a repertoire from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Rolling Stones to Elvis, <strong>the</strong>re’s<br />
much to enjoy. Not <strong>the</strong> least is<br />
chef/owner Carlo DeMarco’s consistently<br />
well-executed contemporary<br />
American fare that brings sparkle to an<br />
outstanding bar menu, which includes<br />
Yangming<br />
42<br />
Crispy Salt and Pepper Calamari,<br />
Chardonnay Steamed<br />
Mussels, 3 Little Pigs (BBQ<br />
Pork Sliders), Roasted Portobello<br />
Mushroom Quesadilla,<br />
and Petite Java Pork, mashed<br />
yams, mango salsa and maple<br />
jus. You’ll be lured back to experience<br />
<strong>the</strong> full menu in <strong>the</strong><br />
dining rooms!<br />
BEST BAR FOR UNDER 30s<br />
Ryan’s Pub<br />
124 W. Gay St., West Chester<br />
610-344-3934 / ryans-pub.com<br />
<strong>The</strong>y may not shout your<br />
name when you enter, but this<br />
bustling, friendly spot in <strong>the</strong><br />
heart <strong>of</strong> West Chester has all<br />
<strong>the</strong> makings <strong>of</strong> a great neighborhood<br />
hangout, where <strong>the</strong><br />
college crowd rubs elbows<br />
with locals on two floors with seven<br />
large-screen TVs. <strong>The</strong>re’s <strong>the</strong> great pub<br />
food you’d expect (and surprises like<br />
twin Kobe sliders), extensive sandwich<br />
menu (with treats like mile-high corned<br />
beef and lobster rolls), lots <strong>of</strong> salads (try<br />
Cobb Taco Bowl) plus upscale entrées<br />
(tuna, scallops, sirloin), kids menu, and<br />
specials — all reasonably priced. Oh,<br />
and <strong>the</strong>re’s plenty <strong>of</strong> beer and wine.<br />
BEST MICROBREWERY<br />
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant<br />
3 W. Gay St., West Chester / 610-738-9600<br />
30 E. State St., Media / 610-627-9000<br />
710 S. Madison St., Wilmington / 302-472-2739<br />
103 E. Bridge St., Phoenixville / 610-983-9333<br />
781 Harrisburg Pk., Lancaster / 717-291-9800<br />
Newark / North Wales / ironhillbrewery.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> pursuit <strong>of</strong> happiness led to <strong>the</strong><br />
creation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first Iron Hill in 1994,<br />
and continued growth attests to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
success in providing full flavored beers<br />
and creative New American food. Even<br />
if you’re not a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Mug<br />
Club, you’ll be impressed by <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
changing list <strong>of</strong> lagers, ales and porters,<br />
all freshly brewed on site at each location<br />
and featuring gold medal winners<br />
at <strong>the</strong> recent Great American Beer Festival<br />
(Roggenbier, Vienna Red Lager,<br />
Saison Lambic de Hill). Can’t decide?<br />
Let well-trained servers direct a tasting<br />
<strong>of</strong> 8 brews. Try <strong>the</strong> Brewhouse Fa-<br />
vorites, Black Pepper Crusted Ahi<br />
Tuna, Jambalaya, or special meatloaf.<br />
Great range and overall excellence<br />
explain why industry experts<br />
have showered Iron Hill with<br />
awards.<br />
BEST BEER SELECTION<br />
Teresa’s Next Door<br />
126 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne / 610-293-0119<br />
Teresa’s Next Door (next door to<br />
Teresa’s Café) continues to get raves<br />
for its astonishing selections <strong>of</strong> beers<br />
on tap (20+) and in bottles (200).<br />
Pair this with a simple, creative and<br />
well-executed menu for a great addition<br />
to Wayne’s restaurant row.<br />
<strong>The</strong> uninitiated need not fear because<br />
knowledgeable servers help<br />
you select from <strong>the</strong> blackboard list<br />
<strong>of</strong> beers on tap and book-length bottle<br />
menu. Or put your faith in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
hands and discover delights like<br />
Pliny <strong>the</strong> Elder or Russian River<br />
Damnation, maybe served in one <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> 60 special beer glasses that show<br />
serious attention to all things beer.<br />
Menu selections complement beer<br />
sipping, with mussels (dirty,<br />
provencial or drunken), steak frites<br />
and Mexican dishes. With beer dinners<br />
and special events, TND is a<br />
beer Mecca.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r Favorite<br />
Quotations<br />
37 E. State St., Media / 610-627-2515<br />
<strong>The</strong> outside doesn’t do this neighborhood<br />
favorite justice. It’s <strong>the</strong> careful attention<br />
to bringing an unusual selection<br />
<strong>of</strong> beers paired with great food<br />
(especially <strong>the</strong> strong sea food <strong>of</strong>ferings)<br />
that keeps <strong>the</strong> faithful returning.<br />
If you’re lucky, owner Mike will sit<br />
and talk beer with you. It’s <strong>the</strong> kind <strong>of</strong><br />
place that has Bells and Oberon on tap,<br />
and you hear folks comparing IPAs (India<br />
Pale Ales, to <strong>the</strong> non-beer geeks).<br />
BEST NEW AMERICAN<br />
Moro<br />
1307 N. Scott St., Wilmington<br />
302-777-1800 / mororestaurant.net<br />
Foodies love exploring <strong>the</strong> manysplendored<br />
tastes at this two-story<br />
MOST POPULAR DISHES<br />
Here are dishes that diners love most.<br />
Baby-Back Ribs, Yellow House Hotel<br />
(Douglassville)<br />
BT Burger, Brandywine Prime Seafood &<br />
Chops (Chadds Ford)<br />
Capellini Adriatico, Allegria (Exton)<br />
Crab Nachos, Half Moon Restaurant &<br />
Saloon (Kennett Square)<br />
8-oz. Filet Mignon, Mile High Steak &<br />
Seafood (Glen Mills)<br />
Fresh Maine Lobster Cakes, Green Hills<br />
Inn (Reading)<br />
Java Pork Tenderloin, 333 Belrose Bar &<br />
Grill (Radnor)<br />
Pan-Seared Giant Diver Scallops, Olde<br />
Greenfield Inn (Lancaster)<br />
Pan-Seared Wild Striped Bass, Nectar<br />
(Berwyn)<br />
Petite Filet Mignon, Stockyard Inn<br />
(Lancaster)<br />
Seared Ostrich Tenderloin, Duling-Kurtz<br />
House (Exton)<br />
Shrimp Lejon Gourmet Pizza, Iron Hill<br />
Brewery (Media)<br />
Whole Adriatic Sea Branzino, Gibraltar<br />
(Lancaster)<br />
Wu Tu Tangerine Beef, Auspicious<br />
Chinese Restaurant (Ardmore)<br />
~ Jaclyn McErlane<br />
43<br />
restaurant, where chef/owner Michael<br />
DiBianca plays with his food. He takes<br />
<strong>the</strong> freshest ingredients and transforms<br />
<strong>the</strong>m into inspired, innovative creations.<br />
His popular “studies” — featuring<br />
one food, like tuna or chocolate (!),<br />
prepared three ways — are exciting<br />
field trips for adventurous palates. Two<br />
samples from <strong>the</strong> regular menu:<br />
Planked Roasted Maple-Glazed Salmon<br />
with whipped sweet potatoes, grilled<br />
pineapple-macadamia vinaigrette and<br />
Braised Beef Short Ribs with white<br />
bean purée, grilled asparagus and<br />
roasted quince-oregano natural jus. Sophisticated<br />
wine list with 900 labels,<br />
great cheese plates and signature cocktails.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Blood Orange Cosmopolitan<br />
salutes <strong>the</strong> name “Moro,” Italian for <strong>the</strong><br />
fruit, according to DiBianca. Bravo!