Best of the Best: More on the Main Line

Morning: Nudy’s Café

14 locations
NudysCafes.com

Mornings are a little sunnier because of Nudy’s. With locations all over the county, a favorite is the one in a charming old home in Wayne. There are plenty of traditional breakfast choices, including a kitchen’s worth of mouth-watering cake and bread French toast. Grab an egg and cheese sandwich and excellent cup of coffee while waiting for the train to pull in at Strafford. Or score a seat at an umbrella table on the patio to treat yourself and a friend to a leisurely stack of pancakes — even a gluten-free option dusted with confectioners’ sugar — or Ahi Florentine Benedict.

Noon: Dixie Picnic

215 Lancaster Ave., Malvern
484-320-8024 / DixiePicnic.com

Started as a seasonal restaurant in Ocean City in 2006, Dixie Picnic moved to its current year-round location in the Lincoln Court Shopping Center in Malvern in 2009 and fans of homemade comfort food celebrated. The beloved box lunch menu was inspired by picnics with owner Tracey Deschaine’s Southern relatives. Imagine a perfect lunch with a sandwich featuring fresh meat roasted in house on homemade bread, a small side dish, an unexpected deviled egg, plus a signature dessert of an upcake — an upside-down cupcake frosted on the top and all around the sides. Pride and care are in every bite.

Night: Nectar

1091 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn
610-725-9000 / TasteNectar.com

The late Patrick Feury began Nectar with the purpose of melding French and Asian cuisines. Celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, this stylish space with the big Buddha tapestry has been a culinary success story and place to mark special occasions without going into the city. Using the freshest, sustainable meats, seafood, poultry and produce, Executive Chef Kenny Huang now leads the culinary team. The restaurant serves about a dozen sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls. Its main courses include such choices as moo shu pork as well as rack of lamb, complemented with lo mein and rice. Desserts range from New York cheesecake to wonton cannoli and yuzu sorbet. Plus there’s an outstanding bar menu: “The list is long. But distinguished.”

Night: Trattoria San Nicola

4 Manor Rd., Paoli
610-695-8990 / SanNicola.net

Named for the patron saint of Bari, Italy, where Chef Vito Giannandrea was born and grew up, San Nicola is a longtime favorite for old-world Italian classics — in fact, years ago they held Opera Dinners there. Starting his first restaurant in 1995 and moving to the current location in 2004, Chef Giannandrea has served up authentic Italian dishes, now amidst gorgeous hand-painted murals in a villa-like setting. So many choices! Start with a cold or hot antipasti or insalata choices. Follow with ravioli, lasagna, tortellini and cannelloni from the pasta menu. Grilled salmon, shrimp, scallops or sautéed veal or chicken, for pesci or carne … But save room for dolci — doppia mousse is a major fave.

Happy Hour: Roache & O’Brien

560 Lancaster Ave., Haverford
610-527-6308 / @RoacheAndOBrien

Roache and O’Brien has been around for 92 years, earning a reputation as a welcoming dive bar, complete with a dartboard, jukebox and super-friendly bartenders. Sadly, Franny O’Brien, who ran the place for half a century, died in 2022. But the bar found a new owner, Dan Clark, who operates a string of restaurants in Bryn Mawr (new Carina Sorella), Philadelphia and New Jersey. Roache & O’Brien had a loyal following, especially for its burgers, and Clark is building on that — adding a few new features, like wings and larger TVs — without disturbing the longtime clients. So far, he’s been successful. See if you agree.

Happy Hour: The Berwyn Tavern

625 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn
610-889-9352 / BerwynTavern.net

Shoot pool, play bingo or Quizzo, listen to music or watch the game on a huge screen — you go to the Berwyn Tavern to relax. It serves outstanding onion soup, smokes its own meats and makes its own fresh salads and soups.
Onion rings, pot stickers, pierogies, Southwest egg rolls to start. Next, five kinds of fries, six salads, cheesesteaks, burgers, grilled chicken and a host of specialty sandwiches, including fried chicken, barbecue pork and French dip. Happy Hour and specials every day. Lounge on the deck, weather permitting. It’s by no means an ordinary bar.

Don’t Miss: Hymie’s Deli

342 Montgomery Ave., Merion
610-668-3354 / Hymies.com

No less than Mashed.com, representing 25 million monthly food-loving readers, proclaimed “the tasty and massive Reubens at Hymie’s are some of the best in the business” in its recent national review. But we already knew that. For 60+ years Hymie’s has been satisfying uber-demanding Main Liners with New York-style deli delights and comfort food, besting Murray’s Deli less than 500 feet away, across the street. Seating almost 100, this institution has all your deli-licious favorites — from chopped liver to knishes to cheesecake plus a major pickle bar. Head there when your soul needs chicken soup