4 out of 5 stars

Happy to finally have a chance for a date night since having baby Wolfie, I arranged for some friends to meet Glen and I out at Fosters American Grille. It’s located right in Cameron Village and seemed a great place to meet up with some buddies and eat well, but not too pretentiously. I have a problem with pretension as I generally have pretty uncomplicated (but demanding) tastes.

Reviews online have varied wildly but of late Fosters has gotten some acclaim from the peanut gallery. Rumor on the grapevine is that management has changed and some original staff has been hired back which has revitalized the food and service. I have to agree!

Fosters has a broad menu so I knew everyone would be able to find something they’d enjoy and I was right. It spans salads, grilled pizza, pasta, and a selection of traditional entrees. (Menu here.) We started with a few appetizers, taking advantage of the $5 for any appetizer special that happens from 4-7pm daily. The crab dip was splendid, served with toasted flat bread. The lettuce wraps were just ok, consisting of a hoisin sauce over chicken, water chestnuts and little fried noodles. Friends also appeared to enjoy the crab cakes served over a corn succotash.

The entrees really wowed us, all served with fluffy mashed potatoes that were clearly homemade with care and lightly sauteed vegetables that were tender and not oily. I really enjoyed my short rib entree which was fall-apart tender and rich, “simmered overnight in red wine, tomatoes and garlic,” according to the menu. Hubs had the 6 ounce filet, which was perfect, and D had the rack of ribs which he enjoyed. Our lady friend was in love with her Chicken Rockefeller, a spinach and bacon stuffed chicken breast.

Apologies for the low-light iPhone pics.

Chicken Rockefeller

Short Rib

Ribs (I think half rack?)

Filet

We fully enjoyed most everything we ordered and I look forward to returning. I also wish I had left room to try dessert. The atmosphere here is lovely whether you sit downstairs in the dining room or bar area, or upstairs where you’ll be outside and have a view of activity on Cameron Village streets below. I hear it turns into quite the late-night spot and they seem to have music and dancing many nights. But don’t underestimate what a delicious meal you can get at reasonable prices. Sandwiches from $8 and entrees from $14.

A wonderful surprise for me was the check-in special on Four Square!  We got 20% off the food!

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5 out of 5 stars

I had a chip on my shoulder about Crabtree Tavern because I have been so often disappointed by “upscale” taverns, including the Oxford. But it turned out to be a perfect lunch outing for the family, seated on the patio with our new baby. It has a suprisingly green view, considering that this restaurant is situated between two hotels and the parking garage of Crabtree Mall. It has the benefit of being slightly up the hill and nestled amongst trees.

I ordered the Guinness Chili , which was fantastic.. you could taste the Guinness for sure in the ground beef as well as other spices and the black beans. Also a house side salad on the side for an extra $2, with fresh cherry tomatoes, baby greens, red onion and fresh parmesan.

Hubs had the Californian turkey burger, which was moist and flavorful. I didn’t even realize it was a turkey burger until he told me later. The burger came on grilled fresh-baked wheat bread with avocado, feta, salsa and cilantro aoli.

Ellen had one of the grilled chicken breast sandwiches, which she raved about due to the seasoning on the chicken breast and the smoky flavor imparted by the wood grill. She got some sweet potato fries on the side, which are always fun.

The service was a little slow, but we couldn’t complain for two reasons – 1) we were the only ones on the patio and 2) the menu asks that you be patient as all items are made to order. At least we were warned in advance. Baby Devin enjoyed his time out on the patio with us and we can’t wait to go back and sample more of the food at the Crabtree Tavern.

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Update, 7C’s has now closed

4 out of 5 stars

In the place of Bear Rock Cafe there is a new cafe tucked behind the Arby’s called 7C’s. Despite the really undescriptive name, 7C’s has a great selection of sandwiches and salads in the comfy atmosphere you’d expect from a place that used to be a Bear Rock. I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with my choice of a potato salad side and Glen had a cobb salad. His salad was very fresh with tender chicken, egg and bacon and he enjoyed it. My sandwich was tasty and the potato salad was like a loaded potato salad, with some hard boiled egg, cheese and bacon in it. We liked our food and also the free watermelon they surprised us with at the end of the meal.

Stop by here if you’re in the area car hunting or shopping, I think you’ll like the food and the personal touch. They have burgers and hot and cold sandwiches, plus salads and soups. They make their own bread daily.
7C’s Cafe

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4 out of 5 stars

My mother and I were starving by the time we were heading towards downtown and I remembered that Flying Biscuit was on the way to the SPCA. We stopped in in the early afternoon and didn’t have to wait for a table. The menu had been calling out to me, but what to order? Something with the fried green tomatoes? Well I needed to try the biscuits for sure.

I ordered the country eggs benedict, a poached egg with country sausage patty on a biscuit with country gravy. It was heavenly. Mom ordered whole wheat french toast, which came with creme anglais and raspberry sauce drizzled on top. The sauces on top reminded me of the two types of doughnut filling, raspberry and boston cream. It was hard to stop eating. The bacon was thick and crisp, the sausage was tender and the gravy had just the right touch of sausagey flavor.

The service was good and the food was good, there’s not much more to say. With breakfast available all day, why not give the biscuits and cran-apple butter a try?

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3 out of 5 stars

The Rockford is located up a flight of wooden stairs across Glenwood from the Hibernian. It could be difficult to find if you didn’t know what you were looking for. It has no sign, only the number of the address, 320, above the food. A crowd of 5 of us stopped in and luckily were able to get a table within 20 minutes or so. The place tends to get crowded, as the bar is small and there is not much room to occupy as you wait for a table. The fact that it’s so cramped may account for the reason why I noticed the sub-par inspection score on the wall (90.5) and the fact that one of the cooks was wearing a backwards trucker cap. While I know most cooks where I dine don’t dress up for the occasion, thinking about other 90 scores I’ve read about put me on edge before we even sat down.

This weekend had been a rainy one, but what was interesting about the Rockford is it also happened to be raining near our table! A ceiling leak not too far from the table was taken care of by putting a bin on the floor to catch the drips. By the looks of the ceiling, it was not a new leak, there was quite a black spot above us! Still, ambiance was cozy with lovely watercolor paintings on the walls and a nice street views.

Of the selection of sandwiches I ordered the cannellini bean sandwich, made with a bean paste with a garlicy flavor, along with havarti cheese, tomato and spinach. I quite enjoyed my sandwich but not my choice of seasonal side, a clumpy and bland couscous. Hubby got a mushroom sandwich, which was ok, and others ordered an angus sandwich with brie (tasted like a cheesesteak, they said) and a mozzarella sandwich with pesto (tasty, using fresh mozzarella but also a bit bland). The boys liked the mashed potato sides. Glen’s side dish of edamame salad was tasty, with mustard seeds, red onion and a light sauce. Our appetizers were just ok – a red pepper hummus everyone enjoyed and goat cheese, both served with pita triangles. I was hoping the goat cheese would be slightly more adorned or blended with herbs or even fried. It was just a hunk of goat cheese with a little red and black pepper sprinkled on.

I felt like something was missing here, other than basic building maintenance. Yes food prices were entirely reasonable, but food was a bit bland and disappointing. I’d probably go back – other options at this end of Glenwood are limited. Plus the night ended on a high note with some tasty fresh ground coffee in a diner-style mug that fit nicely in my hand.

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4 out of 5 stars

I always do my research before I go somewhere and Hayes is no exception. There have been some horror stories about bad service here (mostly due to a strong-minded owner/waitstaff) but I didn’t experience any problems. Perhaps part of the reason is because I knew in advance the rules of engagement – extras cost extra, no splitting checks, no trying to come in for dessert when they close in 20 minutes, and don’t send anything back. Luckily those things didn’t particularly apply. Glen and I stopped in for an Anniversary dinner, and after wandering past the front door and the other side door semi-confusedly, we found the entrance. Greeted by a quirky 40′s interior (and matching black-clad noir employees), we were ushered to our table for two with a single rose.

Our bread basket was filled with red pepper flecked cornbread, dill biscuits, and sourdough. My favorite was the moist cornbread, it was cheesy and just a bit sweet. My bountiful chicken pot pie was enough for three filling meals and was even better the next day- flaky pie pastry with creamy mashed potatoes and tender chicken, plus peas, carrots and celery. Hubby’s filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with an amazing red wine mushroom sauce and crisp green beans.

For dessert I chose a head-sized slice of coconut cake which lived up to its promise. Moist and coconutty, but more dense than Village Deli’s also excellent cake. I’d love to try some of the other many cake options! Bountiful sized plates help soften the blow of the prices in these difficult times. Our total came to about $66 for the two of us.

Hayes Barton filled up pretty quickly and by the time we left it was mostly full. A friendly group of locals seem to enjoy coming here to socialize at the bar. It would be a great place to bring a date or some friends to celebrate a birthday, listening to some big band music. I can’t wait to go back and try another dessert.

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
(919) 856-8551

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3 out of 5 stars
Nudy’s is a favorite of my Mom and my sister, so they arranged to bring me here rather than my stand-by favorite King Street Grille when I recently visited town. I normally require that they bring me to King Street and they are sick of this! King Street has one of the best Eggs Benedict I’ve had in my life! But on to Nudy’s. Nudy’s has about 4 locations and this Exton one seems to be newer than those in the Main Line (and perhaps less polished?). Main line locations have an excellent reputation for quality breakfasts.

I decided to stick with something on the “Specialties” portion of the menu since usually that nets pretty good results – a restaurant should be pretty good at preparing one of their specialties. However I was dissappointed in my order of Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise was extremely bland, normally what you’ll find in a sauce that comes from a powder or a can, not a light tangy sauce I was hoping for. The potato hash was relatively flavorless – crisp on top but dry and mush on the inside. Mom ordered a delicious banana waffle with wet nuts on top (mapley walnuts) which she graciously gave me bites of. My sister had a tasty (albiet standard) bagel, egg, cheese and bacon sandwich which she also lovingly shared bites of. We asked the waitress to bring me a short stack of gingerbread pancakes because I wasn’t happy with my dish. She apologized that I didn’t like it but didn’t offer to take it off of the bill. The gingerbread pancakes were tasty, light and fluffy with just the right hint of spice. Incidentally a short stack of pancakes is not a great deal, at what I remember $4.50 or $5+ for two pancakes.

I recommend that when you come here you stick to the sweet items like pancakes and waffles. Service was just ok, with some coffee cups remaining empty, but the hostess was kind enough not to charge us for the benedict when Mom went to pay. Mom did happen to mention that her daughter is a food reviewer. Finally I get a perk!

Nudy’s Cafe
(610) 524-1508

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3 out of 5 stars

Country Deli is one of many home style diners in PA – local residents are lucky to have so many breakfast choices. You’ll be lucky if you can find it, tucked back off 352 away from the road a little. Tiny inside, and slightly cramped, the dining room has wooden tables and chairs, a view of a nice mural along the back wall, and a collection of vintage cookie jars on shelves all around. The breakfast menu is balanced, and while some items are weekend-only options like cream chipped beef, pancake specials and eggs benedict, the menu is affordable so if you want to create your own “combo” you can.
I had some french toast with a side of sausage, but also snacked on my Mom’s scrapple because I was too nervous to order it for myself. It was tasty, like a mushy version of corned beef. My french toast was tasty and the service here was quick and efficient. You also won’t go wrong if you try one of the baked goods sitting in the case by the register. We tried a coffee cake laced with some lemon filling. Give this place a try for a filling and tasty meal at a great price.

Next door is the seed and feed store inside an old barn, where you can find deals on bird seed and pet food of all kinds.

Country Deli
(610) 558-3354

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2 out of 5 stars

Despite the new lower priced menu, the Mint still costs a mint. But does the dining experience pay pay off? I suggested my friends meet at the Mint to celebrate a 30th birthday after some recent buzz on Newraleigh.com that the prices had been reduced and new investors were involved.

We started out our evening in the upstairs bar, which is decorated in what I would describe as an 80′s Vegas / cruise ship motif. I think whoever designed this restaurant decided that “the Mint” means lots of bling and gold everywhere so they decided to incorporate as much of that as possible. Carpeting occurs in a repeating flourish pattern, just like Vegas, and at the back of the bar lies a hideous geode-looking wine bottle holder, which could be the hideout of a pocket-sized Superman. It’s even lit from underneath and changes colors. The music is also a miss, a combination of house and trance – more fitting if the Mint were a club than an upscale restaurant.

The eXchange (the bar’s rebranded monicker) features a tasty-looking selection of expensive drinks. I ordered one, which I forget the name of – something referring to jewels which was a white grape juice and vodka drink. Tasty but not cheap, at I think $8. My bottom shelf screwdriver was $8 also. So I would not recommend starting an evening out here. The drink menu also featured a martini containing Absinthe. I thought Absinthe was illegal in the US but the bartender assured me it is now legal. The catch is that only Absinthes without the wormwood-dervied thujone are legal.

Once we were seated, things looked promising. We were doted on by many servers, as the restaurant was not very full at 8pm on Saturday night. We got an amuse bouche of a slice of cheese with more grated cheese and some chocolate on the edge, then a selection of bread. Cornbread with jalapenos (spicy but delicious), and black pepper biscuits which you could slather with honey butter, herb butter, or raspberry jam. All but one of us ordered the 3 course meal, it seemed to be the best deal.

Calamari was very lightly breaded with a parmesan breading and was perfectly tender, served with a sweet chili sauce on the side. The shrimp and grits got raves, and was the starter recommended by the waitress (always a good thing to ask). I started with the truffle macaroni and cheese, which turned out to be rotini covered with an extremely thin sauce (which pooled in the bottom of the plate) with just a hint of cheese and no detectable hint of truffle.

For the entrees, filet mignon was ordered by most. Our picky tablemate was able to get his done au poivre without too much hassle. The crowd seemed satisfied with their mignon, which came with a smidgeon of pureed parsnips. I ordered the seared tuna hastily after my first choice not available. The pork loin was apparently on last night’s version of the menu, which had just changed. The old version is still on the website. My tuna was cooked properly but was bland. It came with some slightly sweet coconut rice and a drizzle of gingery sauce, plus two tiny steamed baby bok choy. Wendy again scored with her choice of scallops, they were gigantic and cooked to the perfect consistency, soft and springy. My husband ordered the NY strip, not able to really take advantage of the 3 course option because of dietary restrictions and Mint’s inflexibility with substitutions on the 3 course menu. His NY strip was the same size as our companions’ filets. Tiny, I’d guess about 4-5 ounces. When you order a NY strip, aren’t you supposed to get the whole steak, especially when you are ordering a “large plate”? Incidentally, all the dishes served at The Mint come on very LARGE plates. I am guessing about 14″ x 14″. Which forces you to stare at your food, swimming lonely in a sea of white porcelain and think “this is it? this is all there is?!” My husband also ordered a side of roasted tomato slices, which came out about 10 minutes after all of our meals made it to the table. They were good but the equivalent of one half of a tomato. He was hungry an hour after we left the restaurant.

Before dessert we got a lovely bonus – tiny ice cream cones with sprinkles and ice cream that tasted like cake icing. Adorable!

Dessert itself was interesting because the portions were large, about the same size as our entrees. Pumpkin creme brulee was a success, also the small warm chocolate cakes which were made to order. My hazelnut carrot cake was ok, like most of my dishes I did not finish it. I love carrot cake and hazelnuts but didn’t taste much of one or the other in the cake.

At the end of our meal, it was time for the birthday boy to open his presents. One from us and one mystery present -we had no idea who it was from but the waitstaff assured us it was for him, saying, “Yes, open it Brian.” He opened it and was amazed at the thoughtful gift of an expensive remote controlled airplane. We all giggled and nudged each other at the cleverness of his wife’s prank (surely he’d catch on that it was from her soon?). But it turned out the gift was not for him, it was for a guest at another table! We were alternately filled with shock, glee and dismay! How could they possibly make that mistake? It turned out fine, the other recipient had his item unveiled from under a tablecloth and got to hear the story of how his gift was misdirected. I’m not sure if I was the giver if I would be as understanding.

I think this has been my most long-winded review to date. Apologies for that. I have mixed feelings about the Mint. Food was prepared to the perfect doneness and consistency and displayed artfully. But in the end- portions, flavor and ambiance were lacking and prices were very wallet un-friendly.

The Mint

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