Best of the Best in Phoenixville

Avlos

258 Bridge St.
610-455-4110 / AvlosGr.com

Thanks to sisters Nikoleta and Katerina Skartsila, you don’t need a passport to experience great Greek food in Chester County. They’ve brought their home village’s cuisine to Phoenixville. While crowds pour in for octopus and lamb, their chicken with chickpeas is also delicious, as is the beef with tomato and pasta with notes of cinnamon. Desserts conjure up an island vacation: honey-drenched baklava with Greek coffee, popular walnut cake or Ekmek Tsoureki (Easter bread slathered in whipped cream, vanilla custard and honey syrup). Dine in, eat outdoors or attend a Greek evening at the Colonial Theatre when Avlos’ food is paired with a film. A great addition to the community.

Paloma’s Restaurant & Market

101 Bridge St.
610-851-4513 / ILovePalomas.com

Phoenixville dining has changed dramatically over the past 25 years and now welcomes a broad array of options for the hungry. A recent notable addition with a modern European take, Paloma’s shows off a bit of sparkle from its site in the town’s oldest building, enriching the community with culture, cuisine and hospitality. Chef Chris Siropaides (Culinary Institute of America grad, Brasserie Perrier, Georges’) heads the kitchen that turns out impressive fare like filet mignon, striped bass and Stanley Tucci’s Spaghetti Alla Nerano. For your drink, try Fear and Loathing in Phoenixville. A new take on this old steel town.

Sedona Taphouse

131 Bridge St.
484-302-5714 / SedonaTaphouse.com

Every hour is Happy Hour with Sedona Taphouse’s Southwest cuisine. And there’s no better place to hang with your crowd. Its inventive menu includes canyon nachos, shrimp and grits with a jalapeño kick, burgers with chili glaze and pepper jack, mojitos, prickly pear margaritas and cactus lemonade. Explore a long list of craft beers and ales, or autumn’s ciders — pumpkin and traditional apple — on the patio with heaters to extend the season. If there’s no space left after the great food and libations, take home amaretto liqueur cake: locally made liqueur, chocolate and almonds. You’ll thank yourself later.

Great American Pub

148 Bridge St.
610-917-3333 / TheGreatAmericanPub.com

The party rocks at the Great American Pub on Bridge Street, sometimes spilling through the doors, past outdoor seating and beyond. The upbeat music matches the mood, drinks flow and the food — vegan, gluten-free and other options — is all festive. Large portions of brisket tacos, chicken and waffles, cheese fries, cheesesteak spring rolls and wings mean there’s plenty to share with friends. The Impossible quesadillas and burgers get great reviews, too. If your pup is part of your fun-loving crowd, she can join you at your outdoor private table. But maybe leave the kids with grandpa — this is a rollicking spot.

Bistro on Bridge

212 Bridge St.
610-935-7141 / BistroOnBridge.com

A rooftop beer garden with a VW beer bus, arcade games, tabletop shuffleboard, fireplace, huge wall murals, live music on weekends. and a sparkling bar. So many reasons to go to Bistro on Bridge and get together with friends. The menu has 24 beers with more on deck, plus an extensive list of bourbon, rye, scotch and whiskey. Or order a flight, but just don’t drive afterward. This fun spot has all kinds of apps and bar food — cheesesteak egg rolls, crispy ribs, eight flavors of wings, four of fries, bowls, salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers. Zach and Seth Hoffman have built a place that perfectly captures the feel of Phoenixville.

Steel City & Mont Clare Deli

Steel City: 203 Bridge St.
484-924-8425 / SteelCityBrews.com
Mont Clare Deli: 500 Bridge St., Mont Clare
610-935-8773 / MontClareDeli.com

It’s no wonder that Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery is the heart of Phoenixville, and the new Mont Clare Deli is becoming another community hub. Co-owners Laura Vernola and Ed Simpson, as well as staff, greet customers like family and continually add music, menu and market offerings to serve the community’s needs and tastes. At Steel City, grab flatbreads, Mexican street corn salad, vegan breakfast burritos and bowls, plus great cups of coffee, of course. At Mont Clare, find donuts, soups, salads and delicious, thick sandwiches including a fried PB&J. Pick up Steel City’s Phoenix Rising artisan beer at both. Cheers!