December 2025 Food News in the Brandywine Valley

Better Doughboy

Warm, buttery, made-from-scratch biscuits are coming to the former Mae’s West Chester spot. Watch for The Biscuit Lady’s early 2026 opening featuring a rotating menu of 15+ biscuit varieties (savory and sweet), plus holy biscuits (deep-fried biscuit dough with toppings, think donuts), nine breakfast and lunch sammies, La Colombe espresso, lattes, hot and cold brew coffee. Made with love and lots of butter. 39 W. Gay St., West Chester. VisitTheBiscuitLady.com

No Password Required

An underground speakeasy on the Main Line? It’s about time! Hidden beneath the new-ish Vietnamese restaurant Maison Lotus (former Margaret Kuo’s), through an unmarked door, find Jade Rabbit, a low-lit, low-key cocktail bar with eight bar seats plus 18 at tables, where cocktails are the focus. Order a la carte, five-course food and cocktail pairing ($145) or three-course cocktail progression ($65). Currently open Thursday and Friday nights. 175 Lancaster Ave., Wayne. Maison-Lotus.com/JadeRabbit

Find Food

That’s the name of a new tab on the Chester County Food Bank’s website, because 55% of food insecure households in Chester County are ineligible for government food assistance. Now add the impact of recent program cuts, including SNAP, on our neighbors. Consider helping out now by making tax-deductible donations of cash or food, hosting a food drive, volunteering, giving a tribute holiday gift — rather than another trinket — or participating in other programs. ChesterCountyFoodBank.org

Mother

The new taco+ place (replacing Estrealla Tacos) in Downingtown announced itself: Tacos. Margs. Beer. Mother is here. Sample elevated tacos (confit duck carnitas, beef cheek barbacoa), empanadas (smoked pumpkin), starters (paella bites), guacs (hot spiced maple bacon), mains (chorizo sloppy joe, quesabirria). Local beers, including from upstairs neighbor East Branch Brewing, cocktails, wine (some local, too). Open Tuesday–Thursday at 3 p.m., weekends at noon. 202 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. MotherTaco.com

More Buttery

In addition to three new locations (Ardmore, Malvern Station, Bryn Mawr coming soon), The Buttery flagship on Malvern’s King Street has been redesigned and refreshed, reviving its role as a gathering space. Now boasting 62 indoor seats (up from 18), plus more outdoor seating and extended hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), The Buttery also expanded its menu to include pizza, tartines, more sandwiches and bowls. Stop in for treats like eggplant focaccia, lemongrass rice bowl or seasonal panzanella. 233 E. King St, Malvern. MalvernButtery.com