We Love Local: Western Main Line
Nectar
1091 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn
610-725-9000 / TasteNectar.com
Executive Chef Patrick Feury had a storied career (Waldorf Astoria and Le Cirque in New York, Les Olivades in Paris, Le Borgata in Atlantic City) before joining Chef de Partie Kenny Huang and Pastry Chef Julie Waters at Nectar where, in beautiful high ceilings and low light, they oversee a brilliant Asian-inspired menu. The chicken curry dumplings and Vietnamese beef tenderloins starters are sublime. The specialty rolls are the next treat. Main courses such as rack of lamb, filet mignon, or wok lobster follow, with several lo meins and rices on the side. For dessert, the chocolate torte is truly special. No wonder Nectar is consistently ranked one of the best restaurants in the suburbs.
Appetites on Main
286 Main St., Exton
610-594-2030 / AppetitesOnMain.com
If you want a place to watch the game, choose Appetites on Main, with 18 TVs, 14 beers on tap and over 60 in bottles. You can cheer—or boo—your team as you chow down on wings, fries, potato skins, eggrolls, potstickers, sliders … virtually every kind of finger food you and other fans might want, and all in huge portions! If you’d like less excitement and gratuitous commentary, grab a table in the huge, pet-friendly patio. The doggie menu offers six options for your furry friend, from chopped beef to cut-up hot dogs. Night owls love the late closing time.
Bluefin
555 Wellington Sq., Exton
610-458-3234 / BluefinEagleview.com
(Locations in Bala Cynwyd and East Norriton)
This is the third restaurant—the others are in East Norriton and Bala Cynwyd—of owner Chef Yong Kim and his mentor Chef Niche San. All are dedicated to excellent Japanese cuisine, although Eagleview adds some specialty items to the classics. Of course the bluefin tuna, salmon, yellowtail, trout, and snapper are top notch. Crab, shrimp and shellfish also are first rate. But look for fish and other items not typically found on other sushi restaurants: sea robin, monkfish, sea urchin. Keep in mind, beer or wine is not on the menu: it’s BYOB.
Mama Wong
268 Eagleview Blvd., Exton
484-713-8888 / BestMamaWong.com
Song Li, CEO of an Exton-based medical company, wanted his employees to feel at home, so he founded Mama Wong’s and turned to Hongbin Luo, formerly executive chef at Han Dynasty, for inspiration. The menu draws on Sichuan and Cantonese dishes—chicken lo mein, stir-fried pork, sizzling beef—although Luo’s take on these dishes tastes so much better than versions you may know. Insiders tip: order in advance for the Peking duck. And a warning, especially to Westerners: some dishes are very hot! And others may not be for the timid: griddle pork intestines. Wonder if Craig LaBan ordered those during his visit …
Ron’s Original Bar & Grille
74 E. Uwchlan Ave., Exton
610-594-9900 / RonsOriginal.com
If there’s a restaurant we’d call home, it would be Ron’s. For over 30 years, Ron Inverso has treated us to pizzas, ovals, pasta, grilled sandwiches, piadini and hoagies¬—all fresh, all made from scratch, basically like mama used to make. First, pick from among 30 beers, 30 wines, mostly by the glass, plus about a dozen cocktails—perhaps honey pear bourbon? Then choose an app, maybe an order of Victoria’s (Secret) Fries. And then, a Caprese melt sandwich or eggplant piadini, or something more substantial like the chef special bourbon-infused, bone-in pork chop. Eat every last crumb because soon you’ll be back for more.
