Best of the Best: Kennett Square & Chadds Ford

Morning: Talula’s Table

102 W. State St., Kennett Square
610-444-8255 / TalulasTable.com

Breakfast and brunch are a foodie’s fantasy at charming Talula’s. Select decadent cinnamon buns or spinach and feta puff pastry that’s as appetizing to see as it is to eat. Their frittatas are healthy, scrumptious starts to the day. Get creative with brunch with fig dip and crackers, artisanal cheeses or farm salad that includes egg and bacon along with other delectable morsels. Grab an outdoor table under the awning in warm months or seat at the cozy nook table inside anytime. Whatever you choose, with a steady stream of customers coming into the cheery market, people-watching is great over a rich cup of coffee.

Noon: Hank’s Place

1625 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford
610-332-0400 / HanksPlaceChaddsFord.com

When a line’s at the door, there’s something worth waiting for. That’s Hank’s Place, newly reopened on stilts in Chadds Ford after the 2021 flood. An icon since its hamburger stand and artists’ gathering days, it’s where locals take great guests for great cooking — scratch comfort food. The sunny space with a beamed vaulted ceiling and art is a fresh setting for four-cheese penne pasta, classic corned beef specials or anytime breakfasts of eggs Benedict with cream chipped beef on a biscuit. The wait on the ramp is just long enough to enjoy longtime friends or make new ones.

Night: La Verona

114 E. State St., Kennett Square
610-444-2244 / LaVeronaPA.com

When the whole family is in town, La Verona is the place for lovely ambiance, attentive service and plentiful options for wonderful Italian food. The inviting feeling begins the minute the doors with beveled glass windows open. Every cousin can order their favorite pasta — tricolor with seafood, the best gnocchi around or ravioli with lobster or spinach and mushrooms. There’s also a gorgeous roasted half duck for Uncle George and gluten-free options for Grandma, including their special mushroom soup. Perfect for anniversary celebrations or cozy gatherings, fireplace light is reflected in your glasses, ready for a toast.

Night: Portabellos of Kennett Square

108 E. State St., Kennett Square
610-925-4984 / PortabellosOfKennettSquare.com

Under starry skies, walk past the twinkling lights on State Street and enter Portabellos, where the cuisine, atmosphere and hospitality shine. Chef Hulbert’s and Sandra Morris’s changing menu is a tribute to local mushrooms plus other delicious offerings. Savor delectable dishes of starter mushroom en cocotte and entrees of portabello ravioli, egg noodles with white mushrooms and stroganoff with truffle sour cream. Options for cocktails, mocktails and premium wine are abundant. The experience completes any day, whether after work or adventures at Longwood Gardens or local horse country.

Happy Hour: The Creamery of Kennett Square

401 Birch St., Kennett Square
484-732-7040 / KennettCreamery.com

Looking for summertime hibiscus margaritas at picnic tables or wintertime craft beers under indoor sparkling lights? Stop for Happy Hours at the Creamery. The former milk plant includes a bar for cocktails, local wines, large selection of beers — some you may have never sampled — and loads of fun. Changing snacks and yummy food options to pair with drinks are as varied as the community: quesadillas, Bavarian pretzels and pasta, to name a few. Double-check the online calendar for days and times before friends — including your four-pawed bestie (Fido is welcome, too!) — pile into the car.

Gem: 1906 at Longwood Gardens

1001 Longwood Rd., Kennett Square
610-388-1000 / LongwoodGardens.org/Dine/1906

Longwood’s 1906 restaurant is its canvas for cuisine, bringing the same talent and artistry to the plate as it brings to its gardens. Unveiled in autumn 2024, the space and menu are creatively designed and beautifully articulated. The seasonally changing menu (with attention to sustainability) features local ingredients, including flowers and ornamental delights. Bundled for winter, enter after a stroll among the trees to warm up with hearty soup in a china bowl. Dress to the nines to celebrate with special cocktails, mocktails and dinner while watching fountain shows through the arched windows. Order dessert — a culinary tribute to horticulture.