Main Line Restaurant Guide

Chinnar Indian Cuisine, Berwyn

mld — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:52:33 +0000

Chinnar Indian in Berwyn serves up tasty, hearty Northern Indian fare in a comfortable atmosphere. The menu offers a wide variety of choices: soups, tandoori grilled meats, chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetable curries, and rice-based biryanis. Just about everything is excellent, mainly fueled by a wonderful balance of assorted spices.

I’m a sucker for the decadent, curry-based dishes such as the zesty chicken tikka masala, the creamy chicken, lamb or vegetable (navratan) korma, or the classic chicken curry. The sauces are always spicy and delicious — so good, in fact, that my true moment of epiphany during each Chinnar meal is when the dregs of the creamy, pungent sauce can be swirled all together with some plain jasmine rice, and slurped up in all manner of messy glory!

Tandoori Chicken, the classic dish marinated in yogurt and spices then broiled in the tandoor to a golden red, is a mixed bag. The leg was wonderfully tender and succulently seasoned, but the breast meat — though also well seasoned — was dry. Once mixed with some extra curry sauce from another dish, however, it was quite reasonable. One of the few disappointing dishes we’ve tried is the seekh kabob (ground lamb seasoned with herbs and spices grilled on skewers), which was a bit rubbery and not really enough food for adequate sharing.

The meat dishes don’t typically have many vegetables with them, so we always try to order at least one veggie entree. The aforementioned navratan korma is a perfect balance of sweet, creamy and tender, but all that cream may cancel out the benefit of the vegetables. Along those same lines, lasooni gobhi is an appetizer of pan-fried cauliflower that is both crunchy and tangy, if a tad heavy. Chana masala, spiced chickpeas cooked with tomato, is an aromatic treat. One can only eat so many chickpeas, but we used the leftovers to create some Indian-spiced hummus the next day. (Fusion!)

A Chinnar meal isn’t complete without a few orders of their house-made breads. Whole-wheat roti is a favorite: oily and chewy yet pillowy soft, best dipped in one of those fragrant curry sauces.

We prefer Chinnar to go (hopefully remembering to print the website coupon), but the interior is clean and elegantly casual. For lunch, a buffet is available for $8.95.

Chinnar Indian Cuisine
416 West Swedesford Road
Berwyn, PA 19312-1164
(610) 251-2526
http://www.chinnarindian.com

Alfredo to Replace San Nicola in Berwyn

mld — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:01:05 +0000

The Trattoria San Nicola space on Lancaster in Berwyn (they closed in April, supposedly due to an “expired lease”) will be filled soon by Alfredo, a BYOB from the same people who bring you Alfredo’s in Newtown Square.

For those of you who love San Nicola, the Paoli location is still going strong.

Ashys Burger & Fries Joins Paoli Opening Craze

mld — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:54:17 +0000

We previously reported that Jake’s Frozen Custard will be serving up the self-proclaimed “best burgers in Paoli”… but did they include the soon to Ashys Burger & Fries in that evaluation?

Located in the former Cold Stone Creamery location within the Paoli Shopping Center (who knew they closed? I guess we were too busy waiting in line at Handel’s), the folks behind Ashys are the latest to jump on the “burger joint” craze that swept Philly proper last summer.

If you have any more details, please share.

Martini’s Italian Market to Open in Paoli

mld — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:42:50 +0000

A sign for Martini’s Italian Market – Specialty Food & Gifts has gone up in the space that formerly held First Class Travel Goods (between Testa Jewelers and Snappy Auctions) in the Paoli Village Shops.

Pattye Benson reports that the owner of Martini’s is the son of the owners of the old Martini’s Restaurant that was on Lancaster Ave. in Devon for many years.

Feel free to post more info if you have any.

Jake’s Frozen Custard Coming to Paoli

mld — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:11:56 +0000

First Whirled Peace brought frozen yogurt, now Jake’s is bringing a new concoction known as “Wisconsin-Style Frozen Custard” to the center of Paoli (in the building just east of Saxby’s on 30).

We don’t know what this custard is, but according to Jake’s, “Once you’ve tried genuine Wisconsin Style Frozen Custard, it is difficult to go back to regular ice cream, almost impossible to soft serve.”

In addition to frozen custard, Jake’s will serve “hot off the grill Brats, Deep Fried Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Curds and the Best Burgers in Paoli.” (According to them at least!)

There’s plenty more info at Jake’s website. (Special Kudos to the people behind Jake’s for having a website launched and functioning when they put their sign up!)

PB and U Coming to Wayne

mld — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:36:46 +0000

PB and U peanut butter creations is coming soon to Wayne, in the location of the old Stern’s costume shop, on E Lancaster by Margaret Kuo’s.

Sounds like a take on NYC’s Peanut Butter & Co., where you have all kinds of crazy sandwich creations or you can invent your own. Surely they’ll have something inspired by Elvis!

More info at their website.

Floret in Radnor Closed

mld — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:52:59 +0000

********

Floret has closed as of July 1, 2010.

********

Floret Restaurant and Lounge will be opening in February 2010 at 175 King of Prussia Rd. in Radnor, replacing current tenants Pond and Bistro Cassis. This restaurant is a partnership between Scott Morrison (Nectar, etc.), Chef Dan Kremin (Barclay Prime, Buddakan) and the current Pond ownership.

The menu will be based on regional European cuisine prepared with locally sourced American ingredients. Says Kremin, “I cook with the freshest, local ingredients that have been prepared in a simple, approachable and familiar way, so that our guests will want to visit and dine with us frequently without spending a lot.”

Floret’s 90-seat lounge will offer hors d’oeuvres and small plates along with a selection of original burgers and salads to pair with specialty drinks, craft beers and wines. The 150-seat restaurant will feature steak frites, fish pommes soufflé and numerous other market and seasonal additions such as a house cassoulet, Amish raised chicken coq au vin, braised lamb shanks, chicken liver crostini, lasagna al forno and vegetarian shepherd’s pie.

The name “Floret” is inspired in part by the 1986 movie, Jean De Florette, which was filmed in Provençe. This classic French film starred Gerard Depardieu and Yves Montand, (born Ivo Livi) in Mansummano Terme near Florence, Italy.

Floret will honor all Pond party contracts as well as gift certificates sold under the Pond/Cassis name.

Floret | 175 King of Prussia Road | Radnor, PA | 610-293-9411| floretrestaurant.com (coming soon)

White Dog Wayne to Open in Late August?

mld — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:26:27 +0000

This posting appeared on craigslist Saturday 6/19:

“Award winning White Dog Cafe is seeking experienced managers for a new restaurant serving fresh, local, sustainable and organic cuisine opening late August in Wayne, PA. Previous manager experience is required.”

They are also looking for Front of House employees.

Thanks to thedogatemyhomework for the tip!

Genuardi’s Cornbread

mld — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:14:17 +0000

I know this site is supposed to be about gourmet food, and supporting unique, independent businesses, but I don’t care. I freaking love Genuardi’s cornbread.

When Safeway bought our little upscale grocery chain in 2000, it inspired panic in those of us who had grown to love the independent grocer — and though the big chain promised us that things wouldn’t be changing, everything changed. The produce, the bakery, the deli — it all went downhill. In many places, ACME is now the superior store, which would have been a shocking comment 10 years ago.

Despite all this, a little piece of cornbread provides solace. Sometimes, after a tough day, I invent a reason to stop off at the market, just so I can grab a single piece ($0.35-0.50) of corny goodness. It’s sweet and crumbly, and insanely moist. It’s the moistness most of all that makes it so amazing, and really brings out the rustic corn flavors. I’ve eaten many versions of homemade cornbread, and tried it at barbecue joints all over, but have yet to find another cornbread that perfectly balances flavor and texture like this one.

Those that prefer the less-sweet, southern-style cornbread will surely dislike this particular version; Genuardi’s does actually offer both varieties (the nothern/sweet is a more uniform yellow, while the southern is darker on top and whiter underneath), but the latter is rather dry and flavorless.

Grappa Cafe Coming to Paoli

mld — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:36:05 +0000

It appears that a new BYOB restaurant called Grappa Cafe will soon be replacing the former Fellini Cafe in the center of Paoli. Construction has started inside.

Funny that a BYOB is called Grappa Cafe and has wine on the banner.

If anyone has more info, please share it.