Probably the most exciting, if not the most ambitious, restaurant to hit Philadelphia’s suburbs in recent years, the Bercy is a glamorous French-style brasserie set inside Ardmore’s centrally-located 100-year old former Haverford Trust. After several delays, co-owners Justin Weathers and chef Joe Monnich, who also run Lansdale’s Stove and Tap and Exton’s Al Pastor, debuted their newest concept this spring.
The increasingly prolific duo, who met while working together at restauranteur Stephen Starr’s famed Rittenhouse Square brasserie, Parc, have taken a page from their mentor’s playbook by giving the Main Line an approachable eatery with a range of exciting dining possibilities, all without duplicating Starr’s concept.
Related: Ardmore’s the Bercy Lives up to the Hype
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The Bercy’s menu paves a flavorful swath across numerous palates. It can be a family-friendly neighborhood boite, an adult-oriented night out for couples or small groups, or even a special occasion destination, all within the jaw-dropping confines of a luxurious two-story venue.
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The first floor’s captivating, 40-seat horseshoe-shaped bar and adjoining lounge are punctuated with stylish paintings of fashionable, brush stroked coquettes gazing alluringly from their frames. Across the sweeping mezzanine a panoply of colors, from teal banquettes to candy colored light fixtures, lend a sexy panache. Overhead, pleated stark white light shades are suspended from the 20-foot ceiling.
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Like Parc, the Bercy features classic French brasserie fare: fromage and charcuterie, a raw bar, steak tartare, steak frites, lobster thermador, and wood-fired chicken and duck. As of now, breads come from Le Bus Bakery, but Monnich assures he’ll have an in-house baking program in place in the coming weeks.
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Pastry chef Adrienne Davison, another Starr veteran, masterfully whips-up sweet tempters like strawberry rhubarb tarte tatin and vanilla bean-soaked profiteroles with chocolate ice cream. Sommelier Steven Gullo, previously of King of Prussia’s Mistral, runs the beverage service. Look for French-forward wines by the bottle and carafe, and a clever array of cocktails.
7 Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, (610) 589-0500.
