Photo by Ed Williams
A classic Asian kitchen continues to wow Main Line diners; plus, local brewery news throughout the Philadelphia suburbs.
As I headed through Wayne during a recent noon rush hour, an open parking spot beckoned. I was craving comfort, and Margaret Kuo’s Wayne location was happy to oblige, offering a superb lunchtime selection of sushi rolls, ramen, dim sum and more. I opted for the Imperial Shrimp with wonton soup, its buttery broth loaded with chopped scallions and tender pork-stuffed pillows. It was so remarkable, I got a quart to go. My ample main course stacked four large, lightly crisped shrimp covered in a tangy sauce over shredded carrots, pea pods and shitake mushrooms.
Any meal feels special in the delightfully old-school Dragons Lair dining room, with its comfortable padded seats, white linen tablecloths and Asian-themed décor. But it’s the consistently excellent food that’s the real draw here—and Margaret Kuo hasn’t lost a step after all these years.
175 E Lancaster Ave, Wayne, (610) 688-7200
BEER NEWS: Artillery Brewing owner Mike Loveless is expanding to Drexel Hill this fall. Currently running as a pop-up tent, the Arsenal is set to inhabit a 4,200-square-foot former bank (vault included) at 4221 Fern Blvd. The new location will have a full kitchen, an outdoor beer garden and a 12-tap bar. All the beer will still be brewed at the West Chester headquarters. … The historic 18th-century Exton property that once housed the beleaguered Ship Inn now belongs to VK Brewing. Look for a late-2022 opening, pending renovations to accommodate on-site brewing. … And keep an (Irish) eye out for Dublin Brewing in Downingtown. Irish-born owner Brenden Fitzgerald is building out the place himself, and he’s looking forward to a serious St. Patrick’s Day blowout in March of next year.
Related: A Zero-Proof Bar and Fully Vegan Restaurant Comes to Manayunk
