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Vickers’ Rose Collins//photo by tessa marie images
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Bruschetta: Restaurant Alba
Five seasonal selections put the focus on local, farm-fresh produce, meat, cheese and honey. Each substantial slice of grilled bread makes a hearty appetizer for one. Try all five for just $17, and call it a meal.
7 W. King St., Malvern, (610) 644-4009, www.restaurantalba.com.
Classic Cocktails: Vickers
This former stop on the Underground Railroad houses an impressive drink selection perfect for traditionalists who expect a properly prepared drink. Enjoy an Old Fashioned, a Rose Collins, a Sidecar or a Gibson in the gorgeously appointed bar area. Or imbibe alfresco in Vickers’ outdoor garden.
192 E. Welsh Pool Road, Exton, (610) 363-7998, www.vickersrestaurant.com.
Crêpes: Duling-Kurtz House
Take a midday break and linger over a relaxed lunch in one of Duling-Kurtz’s quaint period dining rooms tastefully adorned with Early American antiques. Delicate crêpes packed with savory lobster and lump crabmeat—a menu staple for decades—are topped with a not-too-rich lobster-Brie sauce.
146 S. Whitford Road, Exton, (610) 524-1830, www.dulingkurtz.com.
Food Mash-Up: Red Star Craft House
The Far East meets Philly with Red Star’s cheesesteak dumplings, a plate of doughy, beefy bites artfully drizzled with an inventive sriracha-ketchup, wasabi-aioli sesame sauce. Quell the heat with one of the 30-plus rotating beers on tap.
146 Exton Square Mall, Exton, (610) 524-5893, redstarcrafthouse.com.
Fra Diavolo: Limoncello Chester Springs
A heaping bowl of linguine serves as the base for generous portions of sautéed shrimp and lump crabmeat swimming in a just-spicy-enough marinara. The Mingrino family’s gracious hospitality adds a homey touch to the bustling dining room.
499 E. Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs, (610) 524-3112, www.limoncellocs.com.
Vintage Beer List: The Flying Pig Saloon
Go for the beer, not for any glamor. Old school to the core, the Pig offers a solid menu enhanced by a well-priced, top-notch draft list, hard-to-find vintage-cellared beers and rare bottle-conditioned ales.
121 E. King St., Malvern, (610) 578-9208.
