Best of the Best: Steaks Are Happening
9 Prime
9 N. High St., West Chester
9PrimeWestChester.com
Opening on South High Street in the old bank building, 9 Prime is the highly anticipated new venture from celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani. The expansive 400-seat restaurant is described as a “modern Italian steakhouse” and will include multiple bars across several floors, year-round outdoor dining, a below-ground speakeasy and dining inside the original bank vault. Instagram photos have been tempting and teasing diners with steaks, sides and cocktails for soooo long. The opening is currently scheduled for early 2024.
30 Prime Seafood & Chophouse
12 E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville
It may be early, but here’s a heads-up on another upscale restaurant planned in Coatesville, this one in the 5,400-square-foot former National Bank building after renovations are completed in 2024. Helmed by Chef Phil Ferro (YouTube’s Million Dollar Chef, also of Coatesville’s Kings Tavern and Steel City Brewing, plus Chadds Ford Tavern), the concept is classic steakhouse, like Philly’s Del Frisco’s and The Capital Grille, inside the soaring space with 42-foot ceilings. More plans for the lower level, for event space and weekday business buffet. Start salivating.
Joey Chops
5245 Lancaster Ave., Malvern
484-450-8890 / JoeyChops.com
An early entrant into the expanding steak-scape, Joey Chops started as a Stove & Tap location (by the same folks as Admore’s DePaul’s Steakhouse). The concept is an elevated, yet approachable modern American steakhouse for special meals beyond the multitude of casual eateries. Wood-fired prime cuts, hand-cut steaks (6-oz. Queen’s cut filet to a tomahawk ribeye ($190)), plus all the usuals, including wagyu and extensive seafood items (seafood tower to salmon Wellington). Plenty of steakhouse faves: escargot, oysters Rockefeller, baked, whipped and fried potatoes. Look for specialty cocktails, big wines and craft beer from the bar, plus prime rib Sundays ($35), Happy Hour and a decadent cheesecake cart.
Steaks West Chester
698 E. Market St., West Chester
484-373-5500 / @SteaksWestChester
Fans of Speer Madanat’s uber-popular Pizza West Chester (20k Insta followers) could not believe their luck when the man opened a cheesesteak mecca (former Peter Clark’s spot). And this time with regular hours (11 to 9, except Monday), phone orders (call early, but still not online), credit cards! Think ribeye steak, Cooper sharp cheese, rough-cut onions on a custom 12-inch crusty seeded Baguette Magique roll (from the Andiario folks), plus Buffalo and chicken cheesesteaks, fries, wings, with more to come. Sold out signs appear too often. And Speer still helms the pizza place.
Farm Boy BBQ
625 N. Morehall Rd., Ste. 100, Malvern
484-568-4403 / FarmBoyBBQ.com
Now in a permanent location on Morehall Road — no longer by the Sunoco Station — Farm Boy Fresh serves up premium meats cooked low and slow in authentic central Texas style. Chef Paul Marshall cooks short ribs, brisket, pork ribs, chicken and more, but Saturday is Steak Night with 12-oz. certified Angus ribeyes cooked over an open fire ($39). Come for the meat (sold by the pound, Wednesday through Saturday), plates, sandwiches, homemade sides (collards, corn bread) and desserts. Some say it’s “where BBQ brisket is like a religious experience.”