Oakmont National Pub

31 Eagle Road, Havertown

We've driven by it countless times, each time saying that we need to stop in and check it out. But restaurants in the suburbs make us nervous. Most of them are mediocre and disappointing. Finally, we made the leap, and The Oakmont National Pub was a nice surprise.

We peaked inside to see an old bar full of character, but opted to sit outside on the covered patio. There were ceiling fans for air circulation and two TVs to catch the Phillies game. It was really nice to not be on the side of a busy street. For a Friday night after 6pm, we didn't have to wait for a table, but it did fill up soon thereafter.

The beer selection was above par. Aside from your basic domestics, there was Chimay, Guinness, Harp and a rotating Belgian and IPA. Chardonnay's were Kendall Jackson and YellowTail. Prices were very reasonable. $4.50 for a Franziskaner and $7.25 for wine. When you're used to city prices, these are cheap!

Menu selection was good with a wide range to choose from - bar food, salads, seafood, entrees, kids menu. There's definitely something for everyone. The girls had pasta with butter and chicken fingers with fries. Everything was good, but the fries were on the crispy side if you like that. Hubby had the ribs which were spicy and tender. He was happy, but wanted a bigger portion. I opted for the grilled chicken sandwich which was juicy, no frills. Ella declared, "I like this place!" We all agreed. For a family of 4 who had two cocktails each, no appetizers, the bill was just $59. We'll be going back.

Lourdas Greek Taverna

50 N. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr 610-520-0288

There are a number of restaurants near Ardmore that we keep putting on the backburner. We'd much rather head out in the city. But, it's a new year, so we thought we'd start crossing them off the To Do list.

Thankfully, I did not see the Lourdas Greek Taverna website beforehand because I would have crossed it off the list permanently. At the front door, we hesitated, noticing the brightness, lack of candles on the tables, age of diners - all my usual check points for good ambience were missing. But a friend recommended it and we were already there, so we pushed forth.

Aside from the waiter who was nearly void of personality and humor, and of course, the lack of ambience, the food was fresh and good tasting with the standard greek ingredients (olive oil, garlic, olives, feta).

We started with the Pikilia: dolmades, tzatziki, melitzanosalata, taramosalata, Feta cheese and Kalamata olives (12.95) and served with warm pita wedges. For two people, this was a lot of food. And if you're not up on your Greek, dolmades are delicate parcels made from grape leaves (also known as vine leaves) stuffed with long-grain rice, fresh herbs and seasonings. Tzatziki is a yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip. Although ours was more like a sauce--way too yogurty. Melitzanosalata is an eggplant dip (and I only know this because I looked up the word). If that's what we ate, it was sweet and our least favorite of the four. Taramosalata is a caviar spread. We enjoyed this one the most.

I opted for the pan-seared scallop special which came with wilted spinach and rice. Six huge scallops arrived nicely seared. Tasty, but again, too much food.

The whole fish special was a light fish similar to sea bass and seabream, forget the name, sorry. It was cooked perfectly, filleted tableside and included broccolini and roasted potatoes.
Everything was very good and with great sized portions for a very affordable price. In these economic times, in the burbs, this is a great option.

Cash only. BYOB.

What others say: here; here; and here.

Primavera Pizza Kitchen & Milkboy

Primavera Pizza Kitchen
7 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610.642.8000


Milkboy
2 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610.645.6259


There's a certain radius from your home where dining out doesn't seem like "dining out". I'm not sure what that radius is, but I've never been one to run to the nearest restaurant for a meal.

This may be the reason why we've been in our house for over a year and are now just getting around to trying Primavera Pizza Kitchen, a mere three blocks away. (It has nothing to do with the horrific website, although that's bound to scare plenty away.) Also, it's enormous. And enormous restaurants to me are synonymous with mediocre food. There's just too many plates moving through to pay attention to the details. JMO.

We didn't intend to go there. In fact, we hemmed and hawwed about going there. But, what the hell, we thought. We started at the MilkBoy for their BYOB night. (BTW, if you type in Milkboy.com, you'll get this great picture that goes no where.) Not so long ago, we saw Jeffrey Gaines and it was incredibly intimate. I mean, Jeffrey Gaines in a coffee house. Come on! I actually photographed the drummer with his own camera. The Milkboy Happy Hour is scheduled from 6 to 10 pm on Thursdays. We arrived, wine bottle in hand, to find just two occupied tables and the band barely set up ... at 7 pm! So, awkwardly, we sat. Long enough to have one glass of wine and high tail it outta there for dinner elsewhere. They were nice enough to refrigerate our wine until we returned later that night. Across the street to Primavera, we wandered.

Hesitantly, we walked in. The entire downstairs was full. Full with a lot of older diners. We almost left. But we didn't. And, yes, there is an upstairs. Don't go unless you're desperate.

The wine list was mediocre at best. A few names were recognizable, but 0f course, they were out of the Savignon Blanc, the only one that was up our alley. We went with our next, and only, choice that ended up being too sweet for our liking. This would prove to be a precursor of things to come. The beer selection was standard domestic (Read: Miller, etc.)

We asked about sharing the Insalata Mista salad and they happily obliged, even stating that the salad size was perfect for 2 people. It wasn't special, but the ingredients were fresh.

I had Agnolotti - pasta filled with chicken and cheese tossed with roasted peppers and rosemary in a tomato cream sauce, worth bringing home in a doggy bag, but didn't since we were headed back to Milkboy. The husband had the Pescatora - linguini with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce, which was great. FLAVOR! The shrimp, albeit small, were fresh. However, both the clams and mussels were bad.

All in all, it was an okay experience. But once again, it was an experience that demonstrated places like this exist and persist because there is no other option in the 'burbs.

Christopher's

108 North Wayne Ave., Wayne, (610) 687-6558

Bustling, hip Christopher's in Wayne is everything you would NOT expect from a family-friendly restaurant. For one, it doesn't look like a chain restaurant. It's actually furnished and decorated tastefully in a casual elegant style, and yet perfectly comfortable for kids. The staff is friendly and patient, and the menu offers a full range of grown-up American dishes.

On a recent Saturday evening, we stopped in and found every table occupied by families. A good sign, we thought. We only waited about 15 minutes. Crayons, coloring paper and bread arrived right away with the menus. The beer list included lots of local micro-brews and your standard domestics. All wines come by the glass, 1/2 carafe or bottle. The most expensive bottle being $45. Plus, some fun cocktails like P.I.N.K. martini and Blueberry Creamsicle.

We started with the Sesame Crusted Tuna ($18.50) with Thai ginger sauce, wasabi mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. I'm a sucker for mashed potatoes, and these had a nice, little kick. The tuna came rare as I asked, and it was yummy.

Husband had Barbecue Pulled Pork ($14.50) with grilled bread with garlic mashed potatoes and a side salad. Good, fresh, and you could actually taste the garlic. The kids didn't get too creative only having the pasta with butter ($4). But, if they wanted to, the options were there. And, chocolate cake was a winner.

Absolutely worth a visit. Without kids? Go a little later when they're all in bed.

A two-fer quickie: Maia and Tango

Edited to add: Closed

Maia is the new mega-restaurant/market/coffee shop by the Feury brothers that recently opened in Villanova. While I am completely turned off by the location - a corporate office setting next to the Blue Route - once you walk inside, you're transported to a food connoisseur's haven. Since we opted not to eat there because it was so loud and too bustling for our mood, I can give you a first impression of the atmosphere.

Immediately when you walk in you'll be overwhelmed. It's loud to begin with. Large bar to the left with tables for bistro dining. Prepared-foods market straight ahead to the right. They have a nice take out beer selection too. Upstairs is the fancy dining with an outside patio. My first thought was that it reminded me of an upscale cafeteria/food court. Don't get me wrong, it's really nice. There's just a heck of a lot going on.

Others say: Philly; The Brew Lounge;

Tango
We weren't up for the noisy dinner so we headed back towards home and stopped at Tango. We had lunch there a while ago and were really impressed with the menu and wine selection. But, we were a little let down. Average is how I'd describe the food. Maybe I'd go back though and give it another chance.

Others say: Citysearch; TripAdvisor

Fellini's Cafe

31 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610. 642.9009

You'd assume a restaurant that inevitably has a line out the door would have incredible food worth waiting for. You'd assume, and you'd be wrong. But, before I get into the food, let's get in the front door first. While they take reservations, by no means are they honored. If you don't want to wait, plan on showing up around 6pm, at the latest. We arrived at 6:30ish and had to wait about 10 minutes, which is tolerable, but the place was already jam packed. By 6:50, the crowd out front had reached no less than a dozen or so people, and it didn't disperse until around 8:30, just to let you know what you're in for if you haven't already been.

I can't comment much on the decor since we didn't even make it past the hostess station. We had a table for four tucked into a windowed nook in the front, away from the "wait area". We were happy.

Our server seemed new, and particularly slow. That was okay since we weren't in a rush, but now I understand why the line was so long. Our meal did not need to be over 2 hours long, but it was.

Now about that food. The menu is endless and overwhelming. I lost count around 85 items. I can't make a decision when there are that many options, plus Specials. Fortunately, there was a separate menu with 8 or so handmade pasta entrees. I stuck to that.

My Mozzerella Caprese was a mound of spring mix topped with thick mozzerella slices, roasted red peppers, onions and black olives drowning in balsamic vinaigrette. DROWNING. There was enough to share with three other people. My husband's salad was also piled high with romaine, tons of shaved parmesan, a slice or two of tomato and was, ironically, nearly void of dressing.

My entree was handmade tortellini with crabmeat, shrimp and peas in a cream blush sauce. This portion also could have been shared. While the tortellini were fresh, the sauce required salting and peppering, the shrimp had tails (annoying) and the crabmeat had shells (even more annoying). Not a meal I'd wait in line for. My father-in-law had the Veal Parmasan and was very happy with it.

Fellini's is another clear reminder that the most mediocre restaurants can be incredibly successful with a good location in a town like Ardmore that has so few options. The key features of Fellini's is that it is a BYO with inexpensive Italian food. To our knowledge they are the only choice in Ardmore.

Overall, the consensus was average. Would we return? Possibly, but only because it's in walking distance.

Read more here and here.

Chipotle

133 W. Lancaster Ave, Ardmore

Since moving out of the city and away from our favorite and regular La Lupe Friday night meal, we have been hankering for a Mexican restaurant to open here, ANY Mexican. Hello Chipotle. Beggers can't be choosers, I guess. We haven't eaten there yet, but on a whim, we tried yesterday when they were giving away free burritos at the Grand Opening. Let's just say, someone put the word out on every nearby college campus. Imagine "free food" being popular among college students. The line went around the corner. Maybe next week we'll give it a try.

J.R. Monaghan's Pub & Grill

34 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore 484-416-3547

We have been anxiously waiting for any smoke-free, family-friendly restaurant in walking distance to open, crossing our fingers it wouldn't be horribly cheesy with tasteless food, and finally we got J.R. Monaghan's Pub & Grill from the owner of Brownie's, a sports pub with plasmas visible from wherever you sit.

Apparently, every other family in a 5-mile radius was also waiting. It hasn't even been open a whole week and by 6:15 pm on a Friday it was jam packed with families. (So, if you're without children and aren't into that chaotic atmosphere, wait until after 8pm to go when all the kids are getting ready for bed.) A line out the door. Smoke-free, people. This is huge!

Since it has been open only a few days, our expectations we're low. They've got kinks to work out, after all. We arrived just in time to grab a table; booths were gone by this point. Did I mention it was only 6:15?! Our server was really friendly and helpful. Beers on tap were above average and included Hoegaarden and Yards.

They provide crayons and activity placemats for the kids. No kid-cups though, which was disappointing but we survived. The kids menu included all the standards, including fish and chips. But beware, it's not what you expect (if you're expecting fish sticks). It was really french fries and a breaded fillet of something. Fortunately, it was flavorful and the girls ate it. That's all that matters in my book. I had the Southwestern Salad with grilled chicken, black beans and jalapenos. It had a nice kick to it. Husband had the Roast Beef sandwich. It wasn't dry and better than the one he had recently at McCloskey's.

We also split the Triple Chocolate Mousse which was agreed by everyone delicious. Overall, we thought the food was better than expected, but not great. It has a chain restaurant vibe: bright, bad carpeting, generic furniture, standard menu. Nothing exciting. BUT IT'S SMOKE-FREE!

For a dinner out with the kids, it's perfect. To grab a beer and watch a game, we'll take it!

Ardmore Station Cafe

6 Station Road, Ardmore, 610.642.3889

Always packed when we go for a weekend brunch, but worth waiting for a table. The menu is extensive, however on our last visit, I noticed no waffles! Pancakes and French Toast come with just about any kind of topping you can think of, including stuffed with cream cheese. Think dessert for breakfast. They have healthy options too, but why do that? If they're serving La Colombe coffee (which they are), you can be sure they know a thing or two about quality food. Although the syrup comes in the plastic containers with the pull back tops, you can order pure maple syrup for $2. If you go with more than four people, you will be waiting extra long for a table - no reservations. Prices aren't dirt cheap, but definitely affordable. They also serve lunch, but I haven't tried that yet. I've read a few other reviews and they're all positive.

Siamese Princess

36 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, 610.896.2755

Based on how it looks from the outside, the Siamese Princess is not a restaurant you would normally walk into on a whim. A neon OPEN sign in the window is never a good sign. It has the potential to be intimate, but the small and narrow room is brightly lit, tables have vinyl coverings and black aluminum chairs. Fresh flowers on each table is a thoughtful touch, but the decor overall is pretty tacky and generally lacking warmth. Needless to say, we had pretty low expectations for the food. But, it was surprisingly good, and inexpensive (Prices range from $4.95 to $16.95, and 10% off if you pay with cash.)!

We started with the Tom Yun Goon soup- shrimp, lemongrass, mushrooms in a broth and spicy enough to make your mouth numb. The traditional chicken satay on skewers with peanut sauce did not disappoint. The three large chicken breasts could have been my whole meal. For entrees, we had Bold and Spicy Shrimp (Clearly, there's a theme here.), sauteed shrimp, lemongrass, basil, mushrooms and hot chili peppers. A few too many capers, but fresh vegetables were crisp. The sauce was just spicy enough. The Green Chicken Curry came with a side of white rice, had julienned vegetables and was also spicy, but they can dilute it for you. It could have had more chicken, but overall it was fresh and really good.

The staff of two were friendly. We didn't have to wait long at all for our food, but that could have been because it wasn't crowded, even for a Saturday night. People don't know what they're missing! I overheard the diners next to us, evidently frequent visitors, talking about sending friends there who also loved it.

This restaurant will be getting a return visit!

Margot

Edited to add: Closed

232 Woodbine Ave. Narberth, 610.660.0160

It was a Friday. I called three hours ahead to reserve a table and found our prime times to eat (between 8 and 8:30) were open. As a side note: although we've been in the "suburbs" seven months, we're still dining on city time. We were easily the last people to be seated. Out here, the restaurants clear out by 9:15. In the city: restaurants are just getting character.

I had heard from acquaintances that Margot was THE place to go for good food, intimate dining, and, bonus, it's a byob. I looked up the reviews and most were positive so it was clearly worth a visit. Much of what I read was true: the parking wasn't great with only on-street available, the dishes are basic but have a surprise ingredient. Narberth is a movie-cute town, but this restaurant isn't even close to the main drag. Aside from that, the food and service was good. Our server was friendly and honest about dishes.

Margot is a small room with unfittingly bright turquoise-greenish walls, some exposed brick, open kitchen. Votives on the white-clothed table, but lighting was still a tab brighter than I care for. Noise level wasn't horrible, but we sat next to a spirited group, if you know what I mean.

Husband had Margot's Bolognese with Rigatoni. I don't eat red meat, but it smelled really great and apparently didn't disappoint. I started with the Sweet Potato Pancakes with carmelized apples, chipotle and chive sour cream. There was a nice balance of sweetness and spice that worked well. I nearly ordered the Sea Bass special as my entree until I overheard the person at the next table complaining about it. He took one bite of his and never touched it again. I decided to try the Jumbo Lump Crabcake with Lemon Tarragon Nage, parsnip puree and baby bok choy. Definitely a winner.

Overall, it was good, but we wouldn't go running back.

Peace a Pizza, Ardmore

Review in a nutshell: Good for kids - there is a TV with a kid-friendly movie on; crayons and paper and a kid-size table (only 1). Pizza is pretty good although occasionally overcooked. There are a ton of pizza options, plus salads. You can order by the slice or whole pie. So far the only negative is that it does get that overcooked-pizza-crust smell that makes it a little hard to breathe, and it sticks to your clothes. Staff is friendly. Friday early evening gets busy, but they do deliver. When we had delivery it came sooner than they said, which is always nice.