August has arrived, neighbor, which means it’s time to squeeze every last drop out of summer! Cool off with a pint at a new Paoli pub, a cone on the ice cream trail and other chill Main Line spots…
• Paoli Gets Neighborhood Pub
The old Great American Pub in Paoli is now home to Main Line Tavern, a casual eatery serving classic American fare, like burgers, steaks and salads. Restaurateurs Philip and Kate Ferro of Chadds Ford Tavern and Coatsville’s Kings Tavern, along with two investors, spent $1.2 million to purchase the space, plus an additional $1.2 million in renovations (the original building was in baaaaad shape). The Ferro’s also bought the adjacent lot (formerly home to a car wash) to accommodate more parking.
With its dark wood, Windsor chairs and historic photos adorning the walls, Main Line Tavern exudes a cozy, traditional vibe. The menu caters to many palates and occasions, from family dinners to date nights, and Kate Ferro has curated an impressive selection of cocktails, wine and beer.
While Paoli is home to a thriving shopping center, the town has never been known for its restaurant scene. The Ferro’s hope their newest venture will satisfy the area’s need for a neighborhood pub and hangout spot.
Main Line Tavern is located at 516 East King Road in Paoli. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
• Here’s the Scoop!
Just in time for your August road trip, “Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail” spans 41 creameries across Pennsylvania eager to satisfy your sweet tooth, including three in Chester County!
Participating creameries are not only ready to scoop your favorite flavors, but also to give glimpses of their unique processes and behind-the-scenes ops. To sweeten the deal, register on the Ice Cream Trail web site to track creameries visited and earn rewards. Visit at least five creameries and get a commemorative stainless steel ice cream scoop; ten visits will earn you a “Scooped” t-shirt.
Prefer to stay local? Participating Chester County creameries include Baily’s Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm, Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs and Kennett Square’s Hangry Bear Creamery.
• A New Page in Ardmore
Stay cool while perusing some diverse voices and viewpoints at the Main Line’s newest independent bookstore, Mavey Books. The store is run by reading enthusiast and mother of eight (yes, eight!) Nadia Alawa of Wynnewood with help from her 23-year-old twin daughters Silla and Deema, who oversee social media and branding. (“Mavey” is the name of the family’s very curious puppy.)
The shop’s inventory runs the gamut, from bestsellers and mysteries to children’s books and self-published works by local authors. Alawa, who homeschooled all her children, sources the books.
Mavey Books even hosts a Quiet Books Club, where fellow introverts bring a book of their choice (or purchase one onsite!) and read in silence—no chit-chat required. Regular Fiction and Non-Fiction Book Clubs are offered as well with no RSVP needed—just show up ready to listen and discuss!
Mavey Books is located at 8 Cricket Avenue in Ardmore. Hours vary daily; check the Website for details.
• Longwood Named World’s Prettiest Flower Garden
Company coming? Dazzle ‘em with a visit to the World’s Prettiest Flower Garden. Titan Travel just bestowed the uber-impressive honors on Longwood Gardens, which edged out horticultural hot spots from Tokyo to New Zealand to snag the top spot. Rankings were based several factors, including online reviews, social media and search volume. Longwood Gardens currently has a five-star review rating on Tripadvisor (“beautiful” is a common descriptor) and over 310,00 tags and mentions on social media.
Shinjuku Gyo-en National Garden in Tokyo came in a close second.
• Now Brewing in Phoenixville…
Twelve78 has gone brick and mortar! Steve and Kara Rogacki of Phoenixville have opened a 5,000-square-foot taproom for their popular microbrew. The space features three large garage doors to let the outside in, creating a Biergarten atmosphere in the heart of Phoenixville.
The Rogacki’s started selling to-go cans of Twelve78 in November 2023 and quickly built a cult following. Eventually, they were able to secure space in their hometown. The taproom menu includes a wheat beer, pale ale, several lagers and hard seltzers. Flights are available, along with four-packs to go.
While there’s no kitchen, food trucks are onsite three nights a week, including every Tuesday for Trivia Night. A weekly Bingo night is in the works.
Twelve78 is located at 35 Bridge Street in Phoenixville. Hours vary daily; check the Website for details.
• Fiore Rosso Closes for Revamp
Bryn Mawr’s Fiore Rosso certainly gets an “A” for effort…after several menu and pricing tweaks last spring failed to reverse a slump in reservations, the restaurant closed its doors in July for a month-long revamp. Everything will change, from the décor to the menu to the head chef. There’s also rumors of a new name?
Known for her dazzling interiors at Autograph Brasserie, Rosalie and several White Dog Cafés, Barbara Balongue of Balongue Design in Wayne will spearhead the restaurant’s physical transformation, while Fearless Restaurants alum Gina Alfano will take over as general manager. Marie Lavizzo-Mourey will serve as head chef.
Lavizzo-Mourey came to prominence while competing in a high school culinary competition, where she caught the attention of celebrity chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav, who promptly offered her a job. (Solomonov later paid for Lavizzo-Mourey to attend Walnut Hill College/The Restaurant School in Philadelphia.) This will be Lavizzo-Mourey’s first stint as an executive chef.
The new menu will feature more reasonably priced options available in different portion sizes with an emphasis on traditional Italian dishes.
The restaurant is scheduled to reopen in mid-August. Check the Website for details.
Got a scoop for In The Loop? E-mail kate@mainlineneighbors.com
