Plate, Ardmore PA

Plate Restaurant is tucked away in the heart of Ardmore's Suburban Square. With a dark wood interior and several rooms for dining, the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. If only the food were as nice.

On a recent Sunday, my brunchmates and I settled in for what we hoped would be an amazing meal. Thankfully we were in no rush, because while the place had maybe 4 other tables filled with people, it took almost an hour before our meals were served.



While we were waiting, our delightful sever brought us a basket of pastries to munch on. They ranged from delicious to not-worth-the-carbs  (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo but it was a random mix of mini cinnamon buns, chocolate chip scones, muffins and more).

House Smoked Salmon Omelet

 Deciding to try something a little different, I ordered the House Smoked Salmon Omelet ($12.95). It came with toast, hash browns, and cantaloupe. Sadly I found salmon and eggs to be a pretty terrible combination, not only while dining but a few hours later with heartburn as well.  The cantaloupe was delicious but the hash browns were a bit dry and unseasoned. I had requested no toast, but it came with some anyway.

Make Your Own Omelet

 One brunchmate tried the Make Your Own Omelet ($9.95 for 3 choices, $1.50 for each additional). He asked if he could add bacon to his omelet and was told "yes, for an upcharge" but something clearly was lost in translation because his bacon arrived on the side.

Egg White Omelet

Another brunchmate had the Egg White Omelet ($11.95), served with grilled veggies and a baby greens salad. I think the grilled veggies were inside the omelet, but I did not see the baby greens salad. It was "fine," but not better than what you could probably make at home.





While it may appear that omelets alone are the problem, another brunchmate tried the Orange Chicken Salad Sandwich ($10.95), served with red grapes, seasoned aioli, baby mache greens on a toasted brioche Le Bus roll.  It looked very pretty and the grapes were a nice addition, but the chicken salad was dry and lacked any hint of orange flavor. The bun was so small that only half the salad fit on it, and I gave my brunchmate my bread for the rest of it.  The chips, which took up most the plate, were oily and lacked flavor and the coleslaw was basic at best.

Orange Chicken Salad Sandwich

While the atmosphere was nice, the location delightful, and the service pleasant, unfortunately the kitchen at Plate will not have me rushing back anytime soon.  

If you go:

• 105 Coulter Avenue  Ardmore, PA 19003
• Phone: (610) 642-5900
• They accept credit cards. 
• Sunday Only Brunch
• Plate Restaurant

401 Diner, Conshohocken PA

Olympic Pride at the 401 Diner

 

It's been a long time since I last visited the 401 Diner in  Conshohocken. 

Last time I was there the staff was rude, the seats were sticky, and the food was sub-par. No surprise, it closed not long after.





But the 401 is back and better than ever. In fact, it is unrecognizable.  The sticky plastic booths have been replaced by wooden ones. Harsh florescent lights are now beautiful glass lamps over each table. And the staff who called you "hon" while spilling drinks on your friends have been replaced by one of the nicest and most thoughtful servers ever. 


And the menu. Well, let's just say that it's a foodies' version of your typical diner fare.

Veggie Burger

On a recent visit, I had a Veggie Burger ($10). While a little messy to eat, the burger was delicious in its own right and did not need to try and pretend to be fake meat. It consisted of quinoa and black beans along with a nice mix of veggies and just the right amount of herbs. It comes with a side salad or fries. I ordered mine on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.





The burger pairs nicely with the super delicious Truffle Frites ($7), which are coated with a generous and tasty mix of parmesan, herbs and truffle oil.

Truffle Frites

Hummus Platter

My brunchmate tried the Hummus and Feta ($8), which was fine but the hummus lacked the typical punch of garlic. In fact, we couldn't taste any garlic at all.

Southwestern Egg Rolls

The Southwestern Egg Rolls ($8), filled with black beans, corn, pepper jack cheese, chopped peppers and onions, were good but needed more cheese.

Chocolate Milkshake

The chocolate milkshake (ordered off the menu) had a good chocolate-to-milk ratio, but its consistency was closer to chocolate milk than a true milkshake.













One thing that the 401 has plenty of is charm. From the beautiful realistic looking wooden roses at each table (and available to purchase by the dozen at the counter), to the amazing service, you cannot go wrong.









Our server even labeled the leftover boxes for us so that we knew what was inside and when it was from! Now that's a first.

If you go:

• 401 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428
• Phone: (484) 351-8029
• They accept credit cards.
• 401 Diner Website

Oasis Living Cuisine, Frazer PA (Part I)

In a classic case of "you can't tell a book by its cover," Oasis Living Cuisine is located in an older looking stretch of shops across from an empty field in Frazer, PA. Its neon 'open' sign and plastic seating does not scream "healthy brunch here," but it is in fact a mecca for raw foodies.




Oasis Living Cuisine offers a selection of raw pizzas, shakes, salads, desserts, organic juices and both raw & traditional wraps. Additionally they have a small shop of raw items that are difficult to find elsewhere (including indulgent raw chocolate truffles!).

On a recent visit I tried the Stuffed Avocado, with carrots, Brazil nut pate, and cashew sauce ($5.75).



A subtle hint of spice, creamy nut sauce, and perfectly ripe avocados make for a delicious mix of flavor and texture.


My brunchmate ordered a traditional Cheddar Avocado Wrap, with cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and hummus spread on your choice of wrap (including a gluten-free option) and choice of chips or carrot sticks ($7.50). The wrap was quite tasty, and nicely complemented by the crunch of chips, but unfortunately it lacked avocado in one half.



On another visit, I tried the Avocado Flax Wrap ($7.50), which is very similar to the traditional wrap except for the cheese & wrap itself. The flax wrap has a chewy texture to it, with an intense "flaxy" flavor.




While its a bit of an acquired taste, it is a welcome option for creating wraps for both raw food and gluten-free diners alike. Oasis Living Cuisine also sells the wraps to go in their shop.





The Chocolate Banana Shake is made with nutmilk, raw cocoa powder, banana, and agave ($5.75). The shake has a good consistency with a strong banana flavor and an understated touch of chocolate.



In my next post I will explore the shop at Oasis Living Cuisine as well as their raw chocolates. Stay Tuned!

If you go:

• 134 Lancaster Ave, Frazer, PA 19355
• Phone: (610) 647-9797
• They accept credit cards
• Open Mon-Sat
  
• Oasis Living Cuisine

Cafette, Philadelphia PA

Tucked away in the heart of Chestnut Hill you will find the tiny dining gem: Cafette. On what otherwise looks like a residential street, you are not extremely likely to happen upon Cafette accidentally. But it's a treasure to seek out, close enough to reach by train, bus or car. It is an ideal brunch spot on a day when you plan to explore the shops along Chestnut Hill's Germantown Ave.


It was much too cold and snowy to sit outside this past weekend, but in nicer weather Cafette offers a patio for bunching. Inside is perfectly cozy and the front room we sat in had nice acoustics even when it got a little crowded. Although, where I sat got a little too cozy--some consumable items I had in a bag hanging off my chair melted from the heat of the floor heater!



I ordered the Apple and Candied Walnut Salad, served with greens, bleu cheese, dried cranberries and lemon citronette ($9). The greens were fresh and the lemon citronette was tart without becoming acidic. The bleu cheese was incredibly strong, lingering for hours. I remembered why I'm not always a big fan of bleu cheese, but that said, it was clearly a high quality bleu.


My brunchmate tried the Homemade Flapjacks, "double-stack served with your choice of blueberry, bananas Foster or peach cobbler toppings and Vermont maple syrup"($9). The peach cobbler was a good choice, as that alone would make for a delicious brunch! The peaches were nicely accented by a cinnamon-maple flavor.



The flapjacks were light & airy, just a bit thicker than a crepe, without turning tough. They had a delicate hint of lemon to them. And, something I always love, the toppings are served on the side so you can choose how much to add.




My brunchmate tried the fresh squeezed orange juice (of the not-so-pulpy variety)and I tried a Sipp Ginger Blossom soda, "spicy ginger and tart lime infused with vanilla." Both fine; nothing overly outstanding about either beverage.




For dessert, I ordered a chocolate chip cookie. Topped with chocolate shavings it was quite pretty to look at. If they had served it warm, it would have melted my heart. But it was still delicious at room temperature. If it was not a Famous 4th Street Cookie, it may as well have been since it was basically identical in taste and texture.



A delightful place to brunch in the winter, but from the looks of it I think Cafette probably hits their real stride in warmer weather. But anytime of year it is worth stepping off the main drag of Chestnut Hill to brunch at Cafette.


If you go:

• 8136 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19118
• Phone: (215) 242-4220
• They accept credit cards.
• Cafette

STYER’S GARDEN CAFÉ

With spring officially in the air, there could not be a better time to venture to Styer’s Garden Café. About 30 minutes west of Philadelphia, Styer’s is certainly worth the trip. The café is hidden inside a beautiful greenhouse in the middle of the Terrain Garden Center. If you are at all a gardener, there are plenty of tempting plants, terrariums, gardening accessories, and more to look at before or after dining.

The greenhouse was a perfect temperature the day we visited, but I wonder even with all the windows open what it would be like on a hot summer day. The décor feels like you entered a farmhouse auction: chairs, table, and utensils are a unique mashup of old and new.

For a distinctive beginning to the each meal, Styer’s serves their bread baked in a garden pot---delicious, fresh and piping hot it is a toss-up as to which is better: the bread or the butter it is served with.

We started off with the Artisanal Cheese plate ($18). Served with quince, pear, and cranberry preserves, honeycomb, and crostinis.

The cheeses were a nice mix of super sharp, funky, and mild and we quite enjoyed discovering which flavor combinations worked best together. The fantastic honeycomb, pickled onions & peppers, and intense mustard were all uniquely delicious in the right combinations. The plate also came with “fresh fruit,” but alas this simply meant a bowl of grapes.

Our 2^nd course was brought out almost immediately after the 1^st, creating quite a bit of shuffling to fit everything onto the table.

I had the Quinoa cakes served with harissa yogurt, arugula and pickled vegetable salad ($7). (Visible at the bottom edge of the cheese photo). While I am not sure quite what I was expecting, it was not the strong curried flavor these cakes delivered. Not straddling any middle ground, you will either love or hate these cakes filled with bites of quinoa in each one. They were exceedingly memorable, which I cannot say for the mac & local cheese ($6).

A bland mixture of cheese, topped with breadcrumbs, with surprise mushrooms at the bottom, this mac sank to the pit of my stomach like the titanic.

One brunchmate ordered the salmon frittata ($11), served with greens.

Another brunchmate ordered the pancetta sandwich served with grilled asparagus ($13)

For dessert we split the raspberry chocolate cake, which was intensely rich dark chocolate with a very subtle hint of raspberry flavor.

While the main dishes were fine, Styer’s strength really is in the simplistic: the bread, the cheese, and their beverages were great—their spiced chai was particularly good. For an afternoon tea in a beautiful setting, you cannot go wrong with Styer’s Garden Café.

If you go:

• 914 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA 19342
• Phone: (610) 459-2400
• They accept credit cards.
• Garden Cafe @ Styer's

Cafe Chocolate of Lititz, Lititz PA

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of brunching at the Café Chocolate in Lititz, Pa.

About an hour and a half outside of Philly, Lititz makes for a great day in the country. The town itself is quaint, with delightfully kitschy shops galore.
Lititz is home to Wilbur’s Chocolate Factory and Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. It’s well worth the drive on a beautiful day.

Despite it’s name, the Café Chocolate offers a full menu of other delights, with lots of vegetarian-friendly options. I am tempted to order the Mulligatawny Soup (with organic quinoa & veggies) but the day is just a tad too warm. Instead I opt for the House Salad.



Super fresh mixed baby greens, perfectly ripe grapefruit slices, artichoke hearts, and crushed walnuts, served with a perfectly tart chocolate raspberry balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is a not a bad deal for $3.95.






I also order a Chocolate Strawberry Lush ($4.95). Clearly the drink to order, about 4 or 5 locals stop in and order it to go while I am enjoying my meal. Similar to a frozen hot chocolate, this drink combines cocoa, strawberries and ice.




Café Chocolate also offers some fantastic looking desserts. I can’t help but order a slice of the Key Lime Tart, which comes in an organic chocolate cookie crust, and beautifully plated with dark chocolate sauce. Not too sweet, not too sour, this tart is delicious but extremely rich.



Totally full, I relax for a bit in my comfortable sofa-chair and take a look around. There is a shelf full of books to read, if you want to settle in for awhile. There is also a soda-fountain style bar, where a couple has just adorably ordered one drink to share. As I leave, I notice they also have a patio area if you want to eat outside. As well as a shelf full of cute little gift items.

Next time I’m here I am going to have to try the Breakfast Panini – toasted peanut butter & banana panini with dark chocolate ($5.95). Or perhaps some Sunshine Crepes – filled with fresh strawberries, kiwi, pineapples, grapes, bananas, with pure local maple syrup & dark chocolate, dollops of organic fresh whipped cream ($9.95).
Or maybe I’ll go savory with a Portabella Mushroom Burger – Meatless burger served on a wheat bolillo roll, with vine ripened tomato, Vermont cheddar cheese, and jalapeño mayonnaise ($7.95).

Oh yeah, they also sell some super good chocolates too…


If you go:

• 40 East Main Street
  Lititz, PA 17543-1947
  
• Phone: (717) 626-0123
• They accept credit cards.
• Cafe Chocolate of Lititz

Nudy's Luncheonette, Wayne, PA

About 40minutes outside of Philadelphia, Nudy's Luncheonette is small enough to drive past without noticing at first. Hidden behind Whole Foods Market, and almost passing as a residential home, only those who slow down will discover that Nudy's offers a full menu of brunch favorites in a delightfully cozy setting.

Their sweet options include a wide selection of pancakes and french toasts ranging from the everyday to more exciting flavors: banana walnut, peaches and cream, almondine, and gingerbread.

They have a number of savory selections (a few with steak I think)--but nothing that looked exciting to this vegetarian. Nudy's menu also includes a few unexciting salad options, most including chicken. They do list their salad dressings on the menu though, so props on that.

I ordered the ricotta crepe with fresh fruit and whipped cream. My brunch-mate ordered a poached egg (quite good) and the thick-bread french toast.

The presentation of the meals was very pretty to look at: each plate was covered with a gentle coating of powdered sugar and a fresh orange slice.

While my berries were a bit on the wrinkled side of fresh, I can't really complain for late November. The crepe was sweet but not overpowering. Since the maple syrup looked like it might be the fake stuff I opted to simply stick with the whip cream, which worked out better than I expected.

On a Sunday afternoon every table was taken in the small luncheonette, but service was quite attentive.

Overall I would say that Nudy's is a good choice if you're looking for that "home cooked" style brunch with a wide selection of pancakes.


If you go:

• 292 E Conestoga Rd, Wayne, PA 19087-2519
• Phone: (610) 687-1345
• They accept credit cards.