I’m a huge fan of Chef John Brandt-Lee’s Avalon in West Chester. His gnocchi are some of the best I’ve had, and the care he puts into each ingredient and dish is how every chef should approach food. And now, Avalon has a sister BYO in Downingtown, where Jasper restaurant was short-lived. I’ve been looking forward to Avalon Pasta Bistro ever since I first heard about it, and dinner reservations are available beginning July 14.
What can you expect? A fantastic menu that focuses on homemade pasta, flatbreads, salads, an exceptional cheese selection, and a 15-item antipasti platter. Brandt-Lee even offers four-, five- and six-item “tasting flights,” where the entire table picks dishes from each section of the menu, sampling a little bit of everything. Complimentary Victory brews and sangria are also offered.
There’s a 700-square-foot outdoor patio and working fireplace. The second floor boasts a private dining room (opening this fall), two large tables for 10 people apiece, and a tableside pasta-cooking station. Lunch service will start in the near future.
5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Cash only. 78 Lancaster Ave., Downingtown; (610) 873-4200, pastabistro.com.
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