Best of the Best: Kennett Square & Chadds Ford

Morning: Hank’s Place

1625 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford
201 Birch St., Kennett Square
610-448-9988 / HanksPlaceChaddsFord.com

With roots as a 1950s hamburger stand, Hank’s became the gathering place for artists and characters known and unknown for decades. Tragically, Hurricane Ida devastated the Chadds Ford landmark lauded by the Washington Post and loved by the community. So, the eatery moved to Kennett Square, keeping art on the walls, fresh eggs on plates and blooms around the building. Today, the rebuilt restaurant has stilts at its Creek Road home. Grab a seat. Get smoked salmon omelets with cream cheese, red onion and capers or Hank’s Breakfast Sub with eggs, cheeses and meats including Lancaster ham — all favorites. Go for weekday business meetings or Saturday Belgian waffles with friends. Order up!

Brunch: Mendenhall Inn

323 Kennett Pk., Mendenhall
610-388-1181 / MendenhallInn.com

Mendenhall Inn’s meandering land and history involve notables: William Penn’s daughter, former President Richard Nixon’s ancestors, Mendenhall family members who used the land for a railroad and the Underground Railroad, Pierre du Pont and others. While all probably ate there, only after the barn became a restaurant around 1968 and the 70-room inn was added in the 1990s did it earn its reputation for divine Sunday brunch. Start with Champagne or mimosas. Continue with scrumptious food stations — chilled seafood, lobster bisque, antipasto, prime rib and custom omelets. Finish with a trip to the dessert buffet, where chocolate mousse and chocolate-dipped strawberries await. Or end with grand pizzazz — Bananas Foster flambé.

Noon: Giordano’s

633 E. Cypress St., Kennett Square
610-444-5733 / GiordanoKSQ.com

For over four decades, Giordano’s had been a family-owned and -operated hub of casual dining, helmed by the namesake family until 2022. When the Jamestown Hospitality Group bought the restaurant, they also got the traditional recipes and staff — think your favorites, plus more. For the kids, it’s chicken fingers, macaroni & cheese, hot dogs and the like. Meanwhile adult palates can enjoy a wide array of options, from the beloved classic Italian faves, plus new choices. From cheesesteak egg rolls, ahi tuna or Buffalo chicken dip to specialty sandwiches, such as turkey Reuben, crab cake or eggplant parm. Save room for dessert and the cheesecake.

Night: The Gables at Chadds Ford

423 Baltimore Pk., Chadds Ford
610-388-7700 / TheGablesAtChaddsFord.com

In 1997, this Chadds Ford restaurant was first named The Gables, but it had been a local dining spot since the 1980s. In 2011, Ann and Dan Kolenick purchased it and have since received many awards, including for desserts, like first place in the 2015 Kennett Square Chocolate Lovers Festival for the chocolate banana cake that’s still on the menu. They’ve announced new menus coming soon, but we hope they’ll continue the favorites, like the local artisanal cheese board with truffle honey, marinated figs and candied walnuts, fried green tomatoes, roasted artichokes, crispy calamari, fettucine with local mushrooms, shrimp & grits and Kennett Square chicken. Also a popular spot for brunch and weddings.

Happy Hour: Chadds Ford Tavern

1400 Baltimore Pk., Chadds Ford
484-800-4084 / TheCFTavern.com

In 1736, John Chad established what would become Chadds Ford Tavern, and the legacy of hospitality continues. Nearly three centuries later, Philip and Kate Ferro purchased the tavern (along with several others in the area). Today, the tavern serves a popular Happy Hour, 4 to 6 p.m., seven days a week — Martini Mondays, Wing Wednesdays and the like. Beer, wine and cocktails are half off, and clams and oysters are a buck a shuck. For $8 enjoy French onion soup, pommes frites or a tavern wedge. For $13, there’s prime rib egg rolls, bacon shrimp, tavern wings or short rib fries. Stay for dinner and dessert. Chef Ferro recommends his bread puddings.

Don’t Miss: Talula’s Table

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

We’ve been writing and bragging about Talula’s Table since it opened in 2007 as a bakery and gourmet grocery store with a killer cheese case. Owner Aimee Olexy soon started serving hyper-seasonal tasting dinners worth the one-year wait for reservations at the Farm Table for up to 12 guests, then added the Nook Table in the kitchen for up to 8 ($125+, BYOB). She also expanded into Philadelphia with Talula’s Garden, The Love (with Starr Restaurants), but that’s another story. Saveur and Condé Nast Traveler wrote about the local gem we can visit for morning scones, lunch muffuletta sandwiches, everything-but-the-turkey takeout and so much more when we don’t have a dinner reservation there