The Gables at Chadds Ford is showcasing an excellent 2-course lunch menu for only $15 during Spring Main Line Restaurant Week!

The highly anticipated Spring Main Line Restaurant Week, Philly’s largest suburban dining event, returns Monday, April 23rd through Sunday, April 29th. Participating restaurants across the Main Line and Philadelphia’s western suburbs will offer special, prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. And, our wonderful online reservation partner OpenTable is back. Check out our list of participating OpenTable restaurants…14 and growing!

Lunch is New This Spring!

New this Spring—several of our restaurants are rocking lunch specials for an amazing $25 and under! Due to the valuable feedback each season from the thousands of foodies who dine out during Main Line Restaurant Week, along with requests from our successful restaurants, we are rolling out incredible lunch values this Spring. All the restaurants listed below are offering lunch for $25 and under! And, keep checking back on MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for additional lunch participants.

Alfredo’s BYO
Glenmorgan Bar & Grill
Gullifty’s Pizza Bar and Grille
Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar
Legal Sea Foods
Paramour
Redhound Grille
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
The Capital Grille — King of Prussia
The Classic Diner
The Gables at Chadds Ford
Totaro’s Restaurant

Make Your Reservations Today!

Many of our restaurants already have limited availability so be sure to make your reservations this week for Spring Main Line Restaurant Week 2012.

Click here to make your lunch and dinner reservations for Main Line Restaurant Week!

Dig In and Win: Email Us Your Dining Photos!

Dig In and Win-take photos of your experience at a Main Line Restaurant Week participant and you can win $50 and $100 gift cards!

Dig In and Win is your chance to share your dining experiences with local foodies and earn a chance to win a gift certificate to one of our fantastic participating restaurants as your reward!

To Enter

Just dine out starting NOW at a Main Line Restaurant Week participating restaurant, take a pix of your meal, and email us directly the image at dine@aroundmainline.com between now and Monday, April 30th. Gift certificates will be awarded to the best entries.

Be Social with Main Line Restaurant Week

Join Main Line Restaurant Week on Facebook

Follow Main Line Restaurant Week on Twitter

Wednesday Night Whinos, founded by AroundMainLine.com, is the Philadelphia region’s most popular ladies social and networking club!

Wednesday Night Whinos, AroundMainLine.com’s popular ladies social club, will gather for a casual and very chic get together in the bar area on Wednesday, February 22nd at Rosemont’s popular Gullifty’s restaurant. How fun!

Pizzapalooza

The theme for the evening will be ‘Pizzapalooza.’ All Whinos will be treated to complimentary, yummy brick-oven pizza thanks to Gullifty’s—so most definitely come with your appetite ladies! A cash bar will be available as well.

Whinos Attire

As with all Whinos, business casual attire is highly recommended as we gather to meet and network with the region’s top businesswomen and great gals. RSVP is not required—we always welcome walk-ins to Whinos—but it does greatly help us to plan accordingly with our fun friends at Gullifty’s.

Wednesday Night Whinos is open to all local women 21 and over, there are no membership fees or obligation. It is free to attend always! Our philosophy is ‘The more Whinos, the merrier!’

Click here to RSVP to Wednesday Night Whinos’s Pizzapalooza at Gullifty’s on Facebook! Or, kindly send us an email to let us know you will be attending: rsvp@aroundmainline.com

Be Social with Wednesday Night Whinos

Join the popular Whinos Facebook page
Follow Whinos on Twitter @WedNightWhinos

About Gullifty’s

Gullifty’s is located at 1149 Rosemont Avenue in Rosemont, PA. Visit gulliftys.com or call 610-525-1581.

The Pub at Wegmans is part of Main Line Restaurant Week for the first time with both Collegeville and Malvern restaurants offering $20 dinner menus!

Main Line Restaurant Week, Philly’s largest suburban dining event, returns with dozens of the region’s top restaurants across the Main Line and western suburbs participating. Main Line Restaurant Week, celebrating its first anniversary, is being sponsored by Main Line Health and welcomes OpenTable back as its reservation partner.

Founded by AroundMainLine.com CEO Sarah Lockard in 2010, Main Line Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, September 26th and runs through Sunday, October 2nd. “I am thrilled to be celebrating our first anniversary with Main Line Restaurant Week. The response from the community over the past year has been exceptional and our amazing participating restaurants have embraced it 150%. When we launched last fall, the feedback we immediately heard was ‘Why didn’t someone think of this before?’ And we took that opportunity and really ran with it. Since then, our social media audiences have championed for us to keep the ball rolling and grow this event. Last fall was such an outstanding success we decided to make Main Line Restaurant Week a biannual event-our run this past spring was also very encouraging. Now, here we are with a year under our belt and another phenomenal group of restaurants and chefs to honor,” enthused Lockard.

Participating restaurants across the Main Line and Philadelphia’s western suburbs will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Menus will feature discounted, three-course dinners (e.g. appetizer, entrée and dessert) priced at $20, $30, or $40 per person.

Sponsored by Main Line Health

This Fall, Main Line Restaurant Week has welcomed a corporate sponsor—Main Line Health. “Main Line Health is a phenomenal, community-based health system and we are extremely proud to have their support of Restaurant Week. As a company, the community is everything to us and what makes us tick and having MLH with us is a true honor,” said Lockard.

Gluten-Free Menus

Silverspoon Café in Wayne offers several gluten-free options on their exciting, 3-course $30 Main Line Restaurant Week menu. Pictured here is their gluten-free entree: Crispy Salmon – potato and leek soubise, roasted tomato basil compote

New this fall for foodies is a focus on gluten-free menus and a fun promotion called ‘Dig In and Win.’ “We listen very closely to the valuable feedback of our Facebook fans and Twitter followers as we continue to evolve Main Line Restaurant Week and requests for gluten-free options were at the top of that list. With a nutrition background, I am cognizant of the importance of catering to celiacs and those with dietary restrictions who want to dine out and still enjoy phenomenal, gourmet cuisine. Many of our restaurants are offering several gluten-free options with their dinner menus or the opportunity to adjust those options for gluten-free customers. Silverspoon Cafe in Wayne, one of our exciting new restaurants, has a huge focus on gluten-free cuisine on a regular basis and their Main Line Restaurant Week menu reflects that,” explained Lockard.

‘Dig In and Win’

In addition, Dig In and Win is a new concept that rewards Main Line Restaurant Week fans and participating restaurants in a fun, interactive manner. Local foodies are encouraged to take a picture of their dining experiences at local restaurants who are listed on MainLineRestaurantWeek.com, upload a photo and caption to MainLineRestaurantWeek’s Facebook page and earn a chance to win a gift certificate to a participating Main Line Restaurant Week restaurant as their reward.

“We are so thankful to our restaurants who have embraced Main Line Restaurant Week and recognized the phenomenal exposure it offers them—so I’m constantly looking for additional ways to celebrate this group of chefs and restaurateurs. Our restaurants are the crème de la crème of the suburban dining scene and our amazing Facebook and Twitter fans are equal participants in this success. So, Dig In and Win brings them both together in an interactive fashion. Our fans have already started uploading photos and experiences on our Facebook page. For our restaurants, this is an awesome value that we are placing them on an permanent, prestigious radar of where to dine on the Main Line and around the western suburbs—not only during Restaurant Week-but throughout the year. As we evolve we are letting the community know that these are the best restaurants the burbs have to offer-bar none,” said Lockard.

Visit MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for a complete list of restaurants and menus participating this week!

Come be social with Main Line Restaurant Week!
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow Main Line Restaurant Week on Twitter

White Dog Wayne is resourcing its local farms for fresh, seasonal items to include in its exciting Mondays Without Meat menu options.

Beginning Monday, July 11th, AroundMainLine.com’s Mondays Without Meat encourages vegetarian options at local restaurants around the Main Line. Eight restaurants are participating and will be offering diner specials each of the four Mondays—through August 1st—focusing on new or prix fixe vegetarian appetizers and entrees.

It’s the perfect time of year to embrace the seasonal fruits and vegetables that our chefs across the region can resource. In addition, we are highlighting restaurants that have a special vested interest in their vegetarian customers.

We encourage you to make reservations for Mondays Without Meat this week. The full list of restaurants is below with many offering menu details. In addition, we will be updating AroundMainLine.com’s Facebook page as we receive restaurant information.

Follow Mondays Without Meat on Twitter: @MondaysWOMeat

A very sincere thanks to our fantastic participants and we hope you enjoy the inaugural Mondays Without Meat.

Bon Appetit!
Sarah Lockard
AroundMainLine.com Publisher

Eight Participating Restaurants for Mondays Without Meat

Alfredo BYO, Berwyn
Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, West Chester
Gullifty’s, Rosemont
Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar, Glen Mills
Khajuraho India BYO, Ardmore
Red Hound Grille, Paoli
Saffron Indian Kitchen, Bala Cynwyd
White Dog Wayne

Mondays Without Meat Sample Menus

Restaurants may be offering additional or different options depending on the popularity of dishes. Sample menus are subject to availability.

Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar, Glen Mills

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Appetizer
Roasted Garlic, White Truffle Panko, Asiago Cream & Toasted Pita

Truffled Caprese Salad
Heirloom Tomatoes, House Made Mozzarella, White Truffle & Ricotta Cream

Pear and Blue Cheese Flatbread
Seasonal Pears, Birch Run Hills Farm Bleu Cheese, Baby Arugula & Fig Glaze

Tofu Stir Fry
Baby Bok Choy, Carrots, Pineapple, Yellow Peppers & Snow Peas

Choice of Dessert

Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, West Chester

Cashew Encrusted Tilapia
Served with Jamaican Rum Butter Sauce and Mango Salsa

Thai Chili Glazed Tuna
Served with a Wakame Seaweed Salad and a Wasabi Sauce

Doc’s Salmon
Served over Sweet Potato and Crab Meat Hash with BBQ Burre Blanc

Saffron Indian Kitchen, Bala Cynwyd

Vegetarian prix fixe special:
$14.00 per person for 3 courses

Appetizer

Bekaneri Kabob-a crisp golden fried kabob made from grated vegetables and spices

Entree (choice of one)

Chana Saag-served with grilled tandoori vegetables and saffron rice

Navratan Korma-A blend of mix vegetables cooked in a creamy cashew sauce, served with grilled tandoori vegetables and saffron rice

Dessert (choice of one)

Naan or Whole Wheat Roti.

White Dog Wayne

Appetizers

Summer Fruit Salad—baby arugula, local berries, watermelon, feta cheese, marcona almonds, aged balsamic vinaigrette

DiBruno Brothers Burrata—heirloom tomatoes, torn croutons, basil pesto

Entrees

Vegetable Enchiladas—branch creek farm zucchini blossoms, fresh tomatillo puree, avocado, micro cilantro

Wood Grilled Tofu—red pepper coulis, eggplant caponata, olive tapanade

Alfredo BYO, Berwyn

(Additional vegetarian options will also be available during Mondays Without Meat)

Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare served with avocado

Olive Board, marinated mix & bagna cauda

Smoked Eggplant Braciole, filled with fresh house made ricotta, San Marzano salsa verde

Seasonal Homemade Gelato, daily selection

Khajuraho India BYO, Ardmore

Vegetarian prix fixe special:
$15.95 per person for 2 courses (appetizer and entree)
$17.95 per person for 3 courses (appetizer, entree and dessert)

Customers can choose from the current vegetarian menu options, plus the following:

Eggplant Spread (appetizer)

Pakora Curry (entree)

Redhound Grille, Paoli

July 11th

Mediterranean Plate
Homemade Hummus with grilled Pita Bread served with Olive Medley and Roasted Red Peppers

Falafel Sandwich
Falafel served on grilled Pita Bread with Hummus and fresh Bean Sprouts

July 18th

Arugula Salad
Herbed Goat Cheese Croquette, toasted Almonds and a Raspberry Vinagrette

Vegetarian Moussaka
Layers of Grilled Eggplant with fresh Tomato Basil Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese

July 25th

Chilled Melon Soup

Fresh Tomato Mozzarella Flatbread Pizza with fresh Basil

August 1st

Grilled Watermelon
Topped with wilted Mixed Greens, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Reduction

Potato Gnocchi
Baby Spinach, Roasted Butternut Squash, Exotic Mushrooms and a Mushroom Broth

Gullifty’s, Rosemont

Grilled Summer Vegetables (Vegan)
Served over short grain brown rice with a balsamic reduction

Baked Brie
Peach sauce, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil

Basil Pesto Pizza
Roasted red peppers

Fettucine Alfredo
Portobello mushrooms, red onion and fresh blueberries

Main Line Restaurant Week is Philadelphia’s largest suburban dining event!

It was most certainly a week of culinary delights to remember! 38 restaurants participated in the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week, organized by AroundMainLine.com. This incredible celebration of the region’s finest chefs proved to be the most successful restaurant event to date in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Main Line Restaurant Week, which offered fixed price dinner menus for the entire week of September 27th through October 3rd, brought tens of thousands of locals out to support the western suburbs’ tastiest restaurants. “I’m so proud to have worked closely with so many of the area’s best restaurants. There has never been a dining event of this magnitude in the suburbs and I felt our area was long overdue. Many restaurants are reporting they had record weeks or were sold out several of the nights, so I know we have a good thing going here. I am thrilled everything turned out so well!” enthused Main Line Restaurant Week founder Sarah Lockard.

Main Line Restaurant Week’s official reservation partner, OpenTable, “was absolutely instrumental in the success of Main Line Restaurant Week. They are a wonderful event partner lending their marketing support and visibility to the participating OpenTable member restaurants. The Delaware Valley and Main Line have a strong dining culture and OpenTable allowed us to get in front of these diners to let them know Main Line Restaurant Week is here to stay,” said Lockard.

Plans for Main Line Restaurant Week Spring 2011 are underway!

Plans for Main Line Restaurant Week Spring 2011 are underway. “We’re looking forward to welcoming even more restaurants in 2011. I feel like this is one of those cases of ‘If you organize it, they will come.’”

Words from excited Main Line Restaurant Week Fans:

“Main Line Restaurant Week is an excellent idea. Dinner @ Legal Seafood was tremendous.” —Ed

“Thanks again to the Main Line Restaurant Week organizers and participating businesses. It’s certainly nice to have these community events.” —Joan

“I took my friend to Verdad last night for MLRW……..absolutely PHENOMENAL…..!” —Lauren

“Main Line Restaurant Week is a great idea. George’s was fabulous!” —Sue Thomulka

“Main Line Restaurant week was a great idea, It show cased some great restaurants with great deals.” —Katrin

Saffron Indian Kitchen, a popular BYOB with locations in both Bala Cynywd and Ambler, has received a tremendous response for reservations for Main Line Restaurant Week starting September 27th.

It is the Philadelphia suburb’s largest dining event ever—Main Line Restaurant Week! Created and organized by AroundMainLine.com, a week of culinary delights awaits thousands of foodies across the western suburbs starting tomorrow night, September 27th and running through October 3rd, 2010.

I have been a huge fan of the Main Line and western suburb dining scene having grown up here. And, we have some of the best chefs in the region and the most successful restaurants right in our own backyard. To me, it was due time to bring Main Line Restaurant Week to life this fall. When I announced the launch in early May, the immediate and enthusiastic response from our 2,200 AroundMainLine.com Facebook fans proved that we were on our way to a very successful event.

Here’s how it works. Our restaurants offer a prix fixe, three course dinner menu for one of the four tiers: dinner for $15, $20, $30 or $40. In addition, starting Monday night September 27th, we will kick off the first of eight special events that are a part of Main Line Restaurant Week with a ‘Monday Night Meetup’ at The Desmond in Malvern!

Main Line Restaurant Week, as you will notice with our website and list of 38 participating restaurants, is open to all surrounding towns who wanted to be a part of this inaugural event. Two of Manayunk’s top restaurants are participating—MangoMoon and Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar—as well as two restaurants from the Northern Liberties’ neighborhood who saw the value of marketing to a broad suburban and city audience—Sonata BYOB and PYT Burger.

Chef Nicholas Farina’s Verdad is one of the Main Line’s hottest restaurants.

You will see some of the Main Line’s most popular dining spots on our list—as well as some new faces including A Taste of Britain. Located in Eagle Village Shops, the successful British tea shop is launching dinner for the very first time during Main Line Restaurant Week with a gorgeous new outdoor patio to boot!

In addition, Main Line Restaurant Week is an official OpenTable event. OpenTable is the world’s most successful online reservation website and has offered us tremendous marketing support for our 22 OpenTable restaurants who are participating.

So, if you have not made your reservations for Main Line Restaurant Week—DO NOT WAIT! Click here to view our list of participating restaurants and their menus and prices.

Thank you all for your awesome support of Main Line Restaurant Week!

Bon Appetit!
Sarah Lockard
Creator and Organizer, Main Line Restaurant Week

Main Line Restaurant Week Fans Speak Out!

Eight special events are on the agenda during the seven days of restaurant week, including Mussels Mania at Exton’s top restaurant: Brickside Grille, Saturday October 2nd from 12 to 4pm.

“Thanks for this website and the amazing job you guys are doing planning Main Line Restaurant Week!” —Sherri

“We can’t wait for Main Line Restaurant Week!!” —Nicole

“What a great way to bring the community together—we need more of this!” —Laura

“Great Idea…just what we need along the Main Line…the opportunity to introduce our great restaurants to our great family of residents & friends. Bravo!” —Al

“Woo hoo! Can’t wait for Restaurant Week!” —Andrea

Main Line Restaurant Week’s Eight Special Events

Monday, Sept. 27th: Monday Night Meetup: Desmond Hotel in Malvern, 6-8pm

Tuesday, Sept. 28th: Benefit Party for the PSPCA at PYT, starting at 6pm.

Weds., Sept. 29th: Weds. Night Whinos at Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar, 6-8:30pm

Thurs., Sept. 30th: AroundMainLine.com’s 2nd Birthday Bash at Gullifty’s, 5-9pm

Friday, October 1st: Celebrate with Sarah at georges’ in Wayne, 5-7pm

Sat., October 2nd: Mussels Mania at Brickside Grille in Exton, Noon to 4pm
Du Jour After Dark!, 8pm to Midnight.

Sunday, October 3rd: Pigksin Party Fun Finale at Flanigan’s Boathouse in Wayne, 4pm-7pm.

Main Line Restaurant Week Grand Prize Giveaway

The Grand Prize giveaway for the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week is a luxurious spa getaway at Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon valued over $1,000!

Click here to comment on MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for a chance to win! The contest runs Monday, September 27th through Sunday, October 3rd, 2010.

Main Line Restaurant Week Sponsors

BEN-FM

Secrets Limousine

Courtney Apple Photography

Belle Vie Photography

Mille Fleurs, Floral Design

OpenTable

Vance Bell, Web Design

Two Paperdolls

Main Line Restaurant Week’s 38 Participating Regional Restaurants

• A La Maison bistro
• A Taste of Britain
• alfredo byo
• Amani’s BYOB
• Azie On Main
• Bistro on the Brandywine
• Blackfish Restaurant
• Brandywine Prime Seafood and Chops at Chadds Ford Inn
• Brickside Grille
• Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar
• Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House
• Du Jour
• Flanigan’s Boathouse – Conshohocken
• Flanigan’s Boathouse – Wayne
• Generations Restaurant
• georges’ Restaurant
• Great American Pub – Narberth
• Gullifty’s Pizza Bar and Grille
• Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar
• Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar
• Legal Sea Foods
• MangoMoon
• Morton’s The Steakhouse
• Nectar
• PYT
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Saffron Indian Kitchen – Ambler
• Saffron Indian Kitchen – Bala Cynwyd
• Sonata Restaurant BYOB
• Styer’s Garden Cafe at Terrain
• Sullivan’s Steakhouse
• Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen
• The Grille at Chesterbrook
• The Hunt Room at The Desmond Hotel
• The Paddock at Devon
• Uno Chicago Grill
• Verdad Restaurant and Tequila Bar
• Yangming

Main Line Restaurant Week starts Monday, September 27th and runs through Sunday, October 3rd, 2010. Visit MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for full details and menus.

Nectar’s beautiful outdoor deck overlooks an Asian garden.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Ardmore

Plate
www.platerestaurant.com
Ever since Reese (Witherspoon) decided to dine frequently at Plate last summer while filming her movie with Paul Rudd, Plate has enjoyed a very sweet flurry of activity. For those wishing a meal outdoors, Plate offers a full-service outdoor dining area that seats 75. Their chic cedar pergola and café tables and chairs allow diners to savor a good meal while basking in the beautiful weather. Afterwards, take in all the great shopping Suburban Square (Lilly Pulitzer, Blue Mercury, and Ann Taylor) has to offer.

Berwyn

Nectar
www.tastenectar.com
Chef Patrick Feury’s fantastic menu is enough reason to experience one of the Main Line’s most popular restaurants. Add to that a back patio-that is in high demand-with a serene Asian garden and you are good to go.

Tango’s outdoor deck is located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Bryn Mawr

Tango
www.tastetango.com
Tango’s menu offers contemporary American cuisine in a comfortable setting, located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr. A large wrap-around patio comfortably seats guests under a shaded canopy or along a fun and fabulous Cantina Bar. Visit Tango’s happening deck bar for happy hours, for a bite to eat or dine out under the stars. Main Liners can watch the trains roll by as others are wading their way home from their hectic day.

Chesapeake City, Maryland

The Bayard House
www.bayardhouse.com
If you are looking for a bit of a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Main Line, hop in your car and head to Cecil County, Maryland. A little over an hour from Wayne, Chesapeake City’s Bayard House Restaurant offers romantic dining along the C&D Canal. Enjoy lunch or dinner on their front lawn with spectacular views of a serene waterfront. The Tournedos Baltimore will not disappoint.

Chesapeake City’s charm includes outdoor dining on the C&D canal at The Bayard House.
Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

Downingtown

Firecreek Restaurant
www.firecreek-restaurant.com
Firecreek Restaurant and Bar is located on the bank of the Brandywine River in the center of Downingtown, PA. Firecreek offers an expansive outdoor dining area, all with panoramic views of the Brandywine. The Historic Paper Mill structure is a paradigm of vernacular architecture. Firecreek Restaurant preserves the building’s historical integrity and pairs it with modern decor, to create an exciting and eclectic dining destination.

Gulph Mills

Bar Savona
www.barsavona.com
Last summer, Savona Restaurant reinvented its upscale, popular dining experience into Bar Savona ($30 and under) in what has turned out to be a terrific business decision in an unknown economy. Part of the introduction of the more casual menu was the sexy outdoor patio-which is hopping seven nights a week with some of the Main Line’s most beautiful people-and biggest movers and shakers. If you want to dine outside to be ‘seen’, Bar Savona is your place.

Malvern

McKenzie’s Brew Pub
www.mckenziebrewhouse.com
With locales in Malvern and Chadds Ford, McKenzie’s offers fantastic beer and two outdoor patios. The Chadds Ford locale, on Route 202 and just five minutes north of the Delaware state line, just opened their new outdoor deck this summer.

Media

Dining Under the Stars
www.visitmediapa.com
Media boasts a warm weather outdoor dining event well known and loved called Dining Under the Stars: ‘Stroll, Shop, Dine!” Every Wednesday night now through mid-September from 5pm to 10pm, State Street in Media, PA is closed to traffic to provide ample space for outdoor dining at Margaret Kuo’s, Azie on Main, Sligo’s on State and more. Don’t forget to grab your honey’s hand once dinner is wrapped up and shop Media’s fantastic retail scene. Live entertainment rounds off the experience!

Plymouth Meeting

Redstone Grill
www.redstonegrill.com
Right off 476, Redstone American Grill is one of the burbs’ hottest up and coming al fresco dining destinations. Main Liners are flocking to their outdoor patio year round thanks to a fire pit that will make you think you are closer to a Rocky Mountain High than a major suburban roadway.

Radnor

Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen
www.susannafoos.com
Foo’s two outdoor patios are serene and simple-and are ideal for a business party or rehearsal dinner. Chic torches offer the perfect touch when the sun goes down and the party heats up. Foo’s main patio seats about 60. An adjacent patio which connects with a private room (good for about 75) seats another 40.

Gullifty’s Gaarden
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

333 Belrose
www.333Belrose.com
Available for private parties, Belrose’s elegant outdoor patio is ideal for baby and wedding showers, intimate family functions, rehearsal dinners and more. Chef Carlo DeMarco is considered one of the Main Line’s top chefs-and his seasonal cuisine never disappoints. Plus, it’s a hop, skip and jump from the Blue Route.

Rosemont

Gullifty’s
www.gulliftys.com
Gullifty’s Gaarden is one of the Main Line’s premier outside dining experiences. The Gaarden opened in July of 2004 and is truly a unique experience-with a fully functioning, self contained outside kitchen and bar. The menu is exclusive to outside customers and everything is prepared in an open kitchen behind the bar. The Gaarden seats 90 people and prices range from $8 to $22. This season Gullifty’s Gaarden, in cooperation with Lancaster fresh farms has introduced grass fed, pasture raised and grazed, and 100% organic beef burgers.

Wayne

Christopher’s
www.christophersaneighborhoodplace.com
Molly Todd and chef Chris Todd have a good thing going with Christopher’s right on restaurant row in the heart of downtown Wayne. Come spring and through the first week of October, Wayne restaurants open their sidewalks to their patrons-and Christopher’s is one of the great places to grab a bite al fresco. With six rotating draft beers and a friendly staff, almost any night there’s a good reason to choose Chris’s.

Great American Pub
www.greatamericanpub.com
Rare is a sunny afternoon or evening along the Main Line’s top dining scene (Wayne) that GAP’s outdoor seating area is not completely packed. Main Line singles, moms, shop owners and more make this the place to network and ‘be seen’ seven days a week. Thanks to a new fountain and growing greenery, diners experience a fun, more private ambience with just North Wayne Avenue traffic only a few feet away.

“I am really surprised about how cool the beer scene is in the ‘burbs, it blows me away,” enthused Tom Peters, co-founder of Philly Beer Week. Pictured: Bartender Steve Keenan of The Oakmont Pub, Havertown

On this morning of the eve of what has become America’s largest beer festival, there is a feeling of the calm before the storm. A storm that entails a tsunami of suds that is steering its way to the Philadelphia and Main Line region. Philly Beer Week 2009, in only its second year, is just shy of 700 individual events spread throughout its ten day gargantuan celebration of the region’s, the nation’s and the world’s best beer. PBW 2009 will kickoff with an amazing celebration at The Comcast Center lobby and Winter Garden tonight—and be followed by a flurry of fun for anyone and everyone who loves lager. From food and beer pairings, to a 5k Sunday run, beer brunches and lunches, lumberjack contests, a refined ‘Meet the Brewer’ cocktail party at The Four Seasons’ Swann Lounge and more, PBW offers something for everyone. With almost 70 events a day to choose from, it’s a most dizzying selection for any beer lover near or far.

Where did this smorgasbord of suds suddenly arise from? The three founding fathers of Philly Beer Week, who are now heralded for their ingenious idea across the city of Brotherly Love, are Tom Peters, owner of Philly’s Monk’s Café which is considered one of the greatest Belgian taverns in the country, Don Russell (best known as Daily News columnist Joe Sixpack) and Bruce Nichols, President of the Penn Museum Catering Company. In 2007, the three compatriots had just finished a very successful annual beer weekend with internationally-renowned beer aficionado Michael Jackson at the Penn Museum. The trio took note that a city-wide event called The Book and The Cook, an annual foodie festival and fair, had seen waning interest.

Philly Beer Week will bring a nation of beer lovers, and international industry experts, together to toast a love of lagers. Main Liners can experience America’s biggest beer festival right in their own backyard as dozens of events are planned in the suburban region.

Jackson, known in the industry as The Beer Hunter and now deceased, had presided over the beer dinner and weekend organized by Nichols for seventeen years. With a strong following of beer enthusiasts (who had participated in the Jackson event) established and a beer-drinking city primed for a new, exciting annual celebration, the three friends saw a window of opportunity. Thus, the inauguaral Philly Beer Week 2008 drew over 15,000 participants and boasted no less than 100 events over the 10-day city-wide celebration.

One of the area’s of greatest expansion, besides a beer gut or ‘Milwaukee tumor’ as they call them south of the Mason Dixon line, is the increased participation from the Main Line and suburban bars. “This year the suburbs have really stepped up! It’s amazing how many people are participating and the range of events totally blows me away. It’s now not just a city event. The surrounding region is fully participating and I could not be more pleased,” said Tom Peters. “Some of the restaurants, like Wayne’s Teresa’s Next Door, participated in our inaugural event last year. And, I think many of them thought it was more Center City centric. But Teresa’s, TJ’s Everyday (Paoli) and Capone’s (in Norristown) sold out every single one of their events in ’08 so that’s when we (and our participating restaurants) realized it was going to evolve into a more regional event the second time around,” explained Peters.

Philly Beer Week cofounders Don Russell (far right) and Tom Peters (second from right) with the staff of Gullifty’s in Rosemont. AroundMainLine.com is hosting one of the eight PBW events at the restaurant: Beer and Pizza Bites Night Thursday March 12th from 7-9pm.

Matt Guyer, of Wayne’s popular beer distributor The Beer Yard, echoed Peters’ sentiments. “It is amazing how big this has gotten in just one year. Last year, it was bigger than they thought it would be and this year it is just going to be insane! Hopefully, PBW ‘09 will get people to try new places and their old favorites. A big goal of Beer Week is to bring people in town—it’s a nice opportunity to bring friends into Philly or to visit in the burbs and show them around. I think it will get people to try new places and go back to their favorite neighborhood haunts,” said Guyer.

With a seamless and sensationally successful first event in ’08, this fall at the fifth annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver (which boasted 46,000 attendees), Philly Beer Week was all the buzz. “When we got out to Denver, it had really sunk in. People were talking and asking us how we did it the first time around,” Nichols said. The Denver festival is a weekend event confined to the Denver Convention Center and it’s the biggest judged beer festival in the world. Russell explained that the concept behind Philly Beer Week was to capture the culture of a region– from the city to the suburbs and everywhere in between. “What made PBW so unique (the first time around) is that it celebrated the tavern culture in Philadelphia and the suburbs. For the first time, people were realizing just how many places you can go in the city and just outside Philly to get a beer. I wrote a book about this last year (Joe Sixpack’s Philly Beer Guide: A Reporter’s Notes on the Best Beer-Drinking City in America , Camino, 2007), and I managed to put together a list of over 400 locations in this area that lend themselves to a sensational bar scene. Philadelphia is Belgium USA, we have world-class Belgian bars here right in the city—bars that would be right at home in Brugge or Antwerp or Brussels,” enthused Russell.

Teresa’s Next Door in Wayne is one of the great spots Main Liners can party responsibly with Septa’s Sip Safely campaign, a new initiative with PBW 2009. If Teresa patrons show their Septa tickets, they will qualify for special discounts during the ten day celebration. Pictured here third from left and in orange: Suzanne Woods (beerlass.com) with her In Pursuit of Ale Club.

PBW 2009 promises to bring tens of thousands to the city and surrounding region within the next ten days. As for Main Liners and suburbanites, with the new campaign SEPTA Sips Safely, many can stay right in their neighborhoods and travel safely along the R5 to have a fulfilling and fun Philly Beer Week in the burbs. Gullifty’s in Rosemont is hosting eight PBW events and has creatively taken the idea of March Madness and developed a ‘Beer Menu Madness’ where patrons get to vote on their favorite beer (via their pocketbook) and the best selling brews advance to the next round or bracket. “I do think you can spend a week looking at all the events trying to decide where to go! Teresa’s Next Door and The Flying Pig are doing great events and many others. I think the SEPTA sips safely pass not only is a good, responsibility promotion for the suburbs, but it will also encourage those in Center City to hop on the train and check out what the suburbs have to offer. And, there is plenty going on in and around the Main Line region. I am really surprised about how cool the beer scene is in the burbs, it blows me away,” said Peters.

While a few local restaurants participated last year, that number has skyrocketed as younger chefs have become intrigued with beer and food pairings, Nichols explained. And, now that PBW has a cult following and a vested interest in becoming known as a regional event, the suburbs are an integral part of a successful second run. “The breweries know they have a strong following in the suburbs and its awesome branding for them to be at a local corner bar with the brewery owner themselves meeting and greeting patrons who love their beer. That’s got a great, positive feel for everyone. And, there are seven other cities across America trying to duplicate what we have going on here. So, as they say, ‘imitation is the best form of flattery,’” said Russell. As for a nation, and now a founding city, psyched about a booming beer culture…Peters offered his take. “The beer world is so different than the wine world. There is a great camaraderie in this industry and a lack of competition. If any brewery has a problem, another brewer will pitch in and help out without asking for anything in return, I think that is why there is a communal friendship in this industry. And, its one reason why this culture thrives. When the river rises, we all go up with it!”

Philly Beer Week Highlights for Main Line and Philadelphia Suburban Restaurants (listed in alphabetical order)

Boathouse Restaurant, Conshohocken & Wayne

Conshohocken location, Saturday March 7th 1pm-5pm
Victory Brewing Company’s Conshohocken Mini-Bar Crawl
Bring your friends to one of Conshy’s great neighborhood bars for an afternoon mini-crawl as Wild Devil will be flowing all day long.

Conshohocken location, Friday March 13th 5pm-7pm
Sierra Nevada Happy Hour
Featuring Sierra’s Imperial Smoked Porter, ESB, and Pale Ale—plus word on the street something even fresher may be served. Can someone say Stout Cask?

Wayne location, Monday March 9th 7:30pm
Meet The Brewery Rep, Anchor Steam
Former Phillies announcer Andy Musser brings in his Anchor Steam Small Batch to hook up at the Boathouse’s newest locale in downtown Wayne! Musser is the man if you have anything baseball (or beer) related to chat about.

Capone’s, Norristown

Sunday, March 8th 10:30 am
Meet the Brewer for Brunch: Patrick Rue of The Bruery
Start your first Sunday of PBW 2009 off right with one of the newest Belgian-style American brewers, Patrick Rue. Rue will have on hand some of his finest craft creations.

Saturday, March 14th 11:00 am
Meet the Brewer: Rob Tod of Allagash
Come meet Rob Tod at Capone’s as you head down the homestretch of your best Beer Week excursions. Tod will be featuring many of his award-winning beers on draft, including lots of Belgian-styles and some aged beers soured with Brettanomyces yeast.

Flying Pig Saloon, Malvern

Wednesday, March 11th 7-9pm
Meet the Brewery Owner: Bruce Pia of Erie Brewing Company
AroundMainLine.com is sponsoring the great Erie Brewing Company, makers of some of Pennsylvania’s best craft beers, as Bruce Pia and Erie Sales Manager Jim Hicks hang at ‘The Pig.’ Attendees will have a chance to spin a prize wheel and walk away with free Erie t-shirts and six-packs of some of their finest brews.

General Lafayette Inn, Lafayette Hill

Monday, March 9th, 7pm
General Lafayette Inn/Green Flash Beer Dinner $69 per person
Enjoy a six-course beer dinner with Brewmasters Chris Leonard of General Lafayette Inn and Chuck Silva of Green Flash in a clash of coasts and brewing styles. A six-course comfort food cuisine will be served. Silva and Leonard are old acquaintances as Silva served as Leonard’s apprentice at a San Diego brewpub. Both are graduates of The American Brewers Guild, located outside of Sacramento.

Gullifty’s Pizza Grille & Bar, Rosemont

Monday, March 9th
Meet the Brewers
7-9pm, Weyerbacher : With 27 beers, and counting, Weyerbacher Brewery (Easton, PA) has poured their passion into their beers. Come out and let them stoke (or incite) your passions!
9-11pm, Victory: We’ll hear from one of the multiple-award-winning Victory’s representatives and have an opportunity to find out why they have experienced so many victories in the beer world. Wednesday,

Wednesday, March 11th 7pm
Meet and Greet With Joe Sixpack
Meet the real Joe Sixpack, Daily News columnist, beer author and aficionado Don Russell who will be on hand to chat it up with Gullifty’s great patrons and beer lovers. Enjoy a few of Russell’s favorite hops and take home an autographed book with you!

Thursday, March 12th 7pm
AroundMainLine.com Beer And Pizza Bites Night
AroundMainLine.com will host a great night of complimentary brick-oven pizza appetizers paired with Gullifty’s great selection of craft brews—at one of the Main Line’s staple neighborhood restaurants.

Oakmont National Pub, Havertown

Friday, March 6th 7pm
Cheese, Chocolates & Craft Beer
Enjoy complimentary Cabot cheeses and chocolates served with Sam Adams Double Bock on draft at The Oakmont and tastings of Imperial White and Stout with free glassware!

Saturday, March 7th 7pm
All Aboard At The Oakmont!
AroundMainLine.com is hosting a highly anticipated Saturday night event at the Oakmont, as Erie Brewing Company brings their award-winning Scottish Ale, Railbender Ale to Havertown. The party and giveaways start at 7pm sharp tomorrow night followed by fantastic live music and great food and company—all at The Oakmont!

Phoenixville Bar Crawl

Saturday, March 14th 1pm-5pm
Details Courtesy of MainStreetPhoenixville.com

Main Street Phoenixville has gathered their restaurants and bars together for a one-day Pub Crawl/Meet the Brewer event to be held on Saturday, March 14th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will give beer-lovers a chance to both sample the latest and greatest brews and meet their creators, all while getting a taste for Phoenixville’s beer scene. Among the brewers participating in the day’s events will be famed Guinness brew master Fergal Murray as well as Weyerbacher’s Chris Lampe, Flying Fish’s Drew Perry and Southampton’s Spencer Niebuhr.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (130 E. Bridge Street): “HEAVY MEDALS.”Throughout the day, Iron Hill will offer all six of their 2008 Great American Beer Festival medal winning brews. Come by and taste the beers and meet the brewers who created them.

Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery (519 Kimberton Road): “Meet the Brewer,” with Sly Fox Brewmaster Brian O’Reilly and Standard Tap owner and former brewer William Reed. The pair will be featuring their collaboration beer-Standard Ale, a 5.6% cask-conditioned brew.

Columbia Bar & Grille (148 E. Bridge Street): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Lancaster Brewing Company’s, Bill Moore.

101 Bridge ( 101 Bridge Street ): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Stoudt’s Brewing Company.

Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant (195 Bridge Street): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Guinness and Victory. Pay as you go with Guinness brew master Fergal Murray – 1 p.m-3 p.m. and Victory Brewing Company’s, Bill Covaleski 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Pickering Creek Inn (37 Bridge Street): “Meet the Brewer,” with Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Chris Lampe. The Inn’s event will also feature Southampton Brewery’s Spencer Neibuhr.

PJ Ryan’s (231 Bridge Street): “Meet the Brewer,” with Flying Fish Brewing Company’s Drew Perry. Troegs Brewing Company will also be featured.

Epicurean Restaurant & Bar (902 Kimberton Road): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Yard’s Brewing Company and Dogfish Head Brewery.

Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne

Friday, March 6th 7pm
Meet the Brewer Curt Cameron of Thomas Hooker
A keg of 2007 Old Marley Barleywine has been hiding in Teresa’s cellars for just this event! Thomas Hooker Liberator and Imperial Porter on draft as well for all to enjoy.

Saturday, March 7th Noon
Basement Blowout!
Teresa’s is bringing up some of their favorite cellared gems to share with the lucky crowd who can get in—starting at noon sharp. Many rare, vintage beers will be on hand to purchase and treasure.

Tuesday, March 10th 12:30pm
Luncheon with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery
Enjoy a five-course lunch paired with some of Sam’s most sought-after, strange and off-the-wall beers. Expect this event to sell out!

Friday, March 13th 7pm
Second Annual Chimay Night with Bobo
Another night with Bobo, the best personality in the business! Enjoy all three Chimay beers paired with some of Philadelphia’s most fantastic Belgian cuisine.

TJ Drinkery’s, Paoli

Monday, March 9th 7pm-9pm
Meet the Brewers Night-Suburbs

This is the night that PBW and the suburban bar owners deemed “Meet the Brewers Night – Suburbs”. TJ’s is hosting the brewer from Brewery Ommegang out of New York. (Ommegang is under the same corporate umbrella as D’Achouffe and Duvel.) TJ’s will be featuring some fantastic D’Achouffe products as well as the premiere of Duvel Green on draft–Duvel Green is the single fermented version of the popular Duvel “original.”

Grab your friends and celebrate safely with SEPTA’s affordable and responsible Philly Beer Week promotion. Pictured: The beer lovers from In Pursuit of Ale (www.beerlass.com)

Beer will be flowing and the ’burbs and city bars will be bustling as the highly anticipated second annual Philly Beer Week 2009 kicks off Friday, March 6th. And this year, nearing close to 500 events across the region, PBW ’09 is going to the rails—the SEPTA rails! PBW has announced an exciting collaboration with SEPTA entitled: Sip Safely with SEPTA. The Sip Safely campaign offers an unlimited, all-day, bus-trolley-rail pass for $9.00, and is valid any one day during the ten-day beer week celebration March 6th through March 15th. This pass is to encourage PBW participants to travel safely, rather than driving from event to event.

The second annual Philly Beer Week runs March 6th through March 15th. Want to know where to grab a cold one in the 'burbs and downtown? Stay tuned to AML for a complete PBW breakdown of the hottest events…coming soon!

Matt Guyer, owner of Wayne’s popular beer distributor The Beer Yard, Main Line brew aficionado and good friend of AML, acknowledged the importance of this initiative. “The Sip Safely Campaign is just awesome! To me, it’s one of the greatest things that could have evolved from the first event. I think that it will actually bring a lot of people out from Philly. So for nine dollars, you can head out and stop at Gullifty’s in Rosemont, then Teresa’s and Boathouse on Restaurant Row in Wayne, and easily hop on the R5 headed west to TJ’s Drinkery and The Flying Pig all in one pass. And, even if you live in Berwyn, it’s a good reason to have fun in your neighborhood safely. It is a smart idea that will reacquaint people with SEPTA and I am sure SEPTA will be happy with that,” said Guyer. The pass is valid for unlimited rides, all day long, until the end of service, and will feature a festive, specially designed PBW 2009 logo to signify SEPTA’s partnership with Philly Beer Week and their unified commitment to the safety of participants.

Tom Peters, owner of Monk’s Café and co-founder of Philly Beer Week, said the campaign is a great way to encourage more participants across the region. “I do think you can spend a week looking at all the events trying to decide where to go! And now this year, once you have made that decision, you can affordably hop on the train and go! When I look at the Main Line and what is happening for PBW, Teresa’s Next Door and The Flying Pig are doing great events. I think the SEPTA Sips Safely pass not only is a good, responsible promotion for the suburbs, but it will also encourage those in Center City to hop on the train and check out what the suburbs have to offer. And, there is plenty going on in and around the Main Line–I am really surprised about how cool the beer scene is becoming in the burbs, it blows me away. And, Philly Beer Week will certainly showcase that with the help of SEPTA in a fun, safe way,” said Peters.

The Flying Pig Saloon on King Street in Malvern will be offering discounts during Philly Week for patrons who present their Septa tickets.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Sip Safely with Septa passes are not valid on Regional Rail Trains arriving in Center City before 9:30 AM and are not valid for travel to or from stations in the State of New Jersey. Philly Beer Week 2009 (www.phillybeerweek.org) is the second annual celebration of Philadelphia’s dynamic and diverse brewing culture. More than 10,000 attendees are expected to attend the over 400 events, tastings, tours and educational seminars on all things beer and brewing. National and international brewing celebrities will attend, as well, bringing with them their incredible depth of knowledge and of course, kegs and casks of their esteemed lagers and ales.

For a complete list of sales locations, or to purchase a pass online, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and click on travel.

For SEPTA travel information, please visit www.septa.org or call 215.580.7800.

Need assistance planning your Philly Beer Week schedule in the ‘burbs, city and surrounding region? For a comprehensive listing of the most highly anticipated events, stay tuned to AroundMainLine.com’s own PBW 2009 preview. Next week we will offer you a comprehensive look at whats to come, where to go and whose pouring at the best bars around town. We’ve consulted with the experts to identify the coolest spots in the Main Line region and in the city. And, we will be helping to guide the thousands of beer lovers visiting the area to the best Philadelphia Beer Week 2009 has to offer. Beer lovers…stay tuned!