Where to eat near Villanova University
College towns are known for having good restaurants near by, why you may ask? When families visit their baby at college they want to treat them to a good meal, fans travel near and far for sporting events and are always hungry before or after the game, and alumni come back and eat at their favorite spots to relive the glory days. Villanova University in Philadelphia is surrounded by great places to eat from Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean, to classic American pubs. We’ve put together a list of restaurants with a range of cuisines for you to check out near VU.
Autograph Brasserie
503 W. Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 964-2588
Eating at Autograph Brasserie is quite the experience. Rather than eating at some restaurant in Philadelphia, you’ll feel as though you’re walking into a majestic eatery in the south of France. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the inside is so unique. The walls are covered with photos of impactful celebrities, there are instruments hanging from the ceiling, and even a tree coming out of the ground. There are several different seating areas throughout the restaurant and each one looks entirely different. They serve lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends so you can enjoy the atmosphere and wonderful dishes all times of the day! If you choose to dine here for dinner, you can start with the burrata or yellowfin tuna tartare. The you can move on to soup or salad, the lobster bisque never disappoints. Finally for the main course you can choose from dishes like the half roasted chicken, veal milanese, Chilean sea bass, and many other delicious options. Check out Autograph Brasserie for your next anniversary or birthday celebration!
Azie On Main
https://www.azieonmain.com/
789 E Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 527-5700
If you crave diversity when it comes to your meals, this restaurant will be right up your alley. They serve Asian fusion dishes with other influences from France, Italy, and beyond. Azie On Main has it all from Sunday brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour so you can stop in and enjoy something different any time. There are tons of sushi rolls to choose from, noodles and rice, poke bowls, appetizers and more served all day long. If you want more of a main dish, come in for dinner and try options like Scottish salmon teriyaki, sesame glazed chicken, wasabi soy ribeye, and many other delicious choices. If you join Azie for brunch, you’ll have options from different sushi rolls, an omelet station, yogurt parfaits, an assortment of pastries and more. The atmosphere here is modern, comfortable, and inviting so check out Azie On Main next time you’re craving some Asian fusion.
Founding Farmers
255 Main St Suite 180 King of Prussia, PA 19406
(484) 808-4008
This restaurant is know for having the freshest ingredients and making their menu items from scratch, whether that means churning their own ice cream, baking their own bread, or distilling their own booze. The set up is an interesting concept with their First Bake Cafe on the first floor. There, they serve all kinds of lattes and espressos, bagels, donuts, breakfast burritos, their fresh made breads, and plenty of other treats. Then they have their main dining area which is made up of several different rooms, each looking completely different and decorated very uniquely. At Founding Farmers, you will find so many different items on their menu from pierogies, soups and salads, and pizza to burgers, sandwiches, chicken dishes, and pasta. On the weekends they serve a buffet brunch, and you can’t forget about their extensive drink menu with options from their distillery. This is definitely cool spot to check out.
Plaza Azteca
153 S Gulph Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 265 -1173
Every town has that one classic Mexican restaurant you always go back to when you’re craving a hot, delicious meal, and this town is no different. Plaza Azteca is serving up all of those Mexican classics that you know and love from specialty tacos and enchiladas, to smokin’ fajitas and chimichangas. They have great portion sizes here and everything comes out hot and tasty. The restaurant really gives you the Aztec feel with ancient carvings on the walls and authentic looking decorations. If you come in for lunch, they have some deals that feel like a scam they’re so cheap. Birria tacos and enchiladas all for around 10 bucks! They even have vegetarian and gluten free options. Make sure to save some room for dessert like their churros or fried ice cream as well as some of their classic drinks like the skinny margarita or some yummy sangria.
LaScala’s Fire
789 E Lancasster Ave Villanova, PA 19085-1522
(484) 383-3339
LaScala’s Fire is situated in the heart of Villanova and is a fantastic addition to the beautiful university community. It offers a mix of American and Italian dishes, a full-service bar, decadent desserts for anyone who considers themselves a sweet tooth, and much more, so it is no surprise that it is quickly becoming a favorite spot for locals in the area. They have some delicious starters like truffle mac & cheese and arancini. For the main course, they have tons of wood fired pizza to choose from as well as paninis and stromboli. If you would rather go with a pasta dish, they have all the classics from rigatoni vodka and baked lasagna to seafood fra diavolo and veal piccata. For dessert, finish you meal off with zeppoles, a warm Italian donut that just melts in your mouth. They are the perfect way to end a rich meal. And no trip to an Italian restaurant is complete without a glass of cab sav or an espresso martini. Enjoy your dessert cocktail with some zeppoles or sip on a glass of wine throughout your meal.
White Dog Café
379 Lancaster Avenue Haverford, PA 19041
(610) 896-4556
White Dog Cafe is another one of those unique eateries that is such an experience to dine at. The dining room is comfortable and inviting and this is a great spot for lunch, dinner, brunch, and even happy hour. The chef changes the menu items month to month to ensure the freshest ingredients are being used and everything is in season. For lunch, they have some delicious sandwich options like the avocado BLT and the blackened mahi sandwich. They also have entree items like the spicy lamb bolognese, grilled meatloaf, and the buffalo turkey wedge. If you dine in for dinner, start off with their deviled eggs, topped with caviar and chives, yellowfin tuna tartare, or some butternut squash bisque. For the main course there are so many wonderful options from pan seared bronzino to the green meadow farm double cheddar burger. There are also some great drink options like the dirty dog and blood orange margarita. Oh, and yes, there are dog figures and paintings…everywhere.
The Goat’s Beard
https://www.thegoatsbeardphilly.com/
103 N Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA 19087
(484) 584-4979
This is such a great spot if you have family in town and want to take them to a laidback place with great food, or if you and your buddies just want to grab a burger and a brew. You can sit inside at the bar or at a table, or you can sit on their great outside patio if it’s nice out. To start your meal off, you have to try the TGB nuggets. The chicken is covered in sriracha lime and topped with herbs and blue cheese crumbles. Some other great options would be the cheesesteak egg rolls or the pulled pork tacos. For your meal, they have several Detroit style pizzas to choose from like the OG and buffalo chicken. Other delicious entrees include the seared salmon, turkey club, and steak mac & cheese. To end the meal off on a sweet note, try the brookie or their bourbon walnut bread pudding. The Goat’s Beard has tons of great drink and food options so grab some friends and check it out.
Estia Taverna
222 N Radnor Chester Rd, Wayne, PA 19087
(484) 581-7124
https://estiarestaurant.com/index.asp
Estia Taverna brings a little touch of Greece to Philadelphia with a menu full of delicious Mediterranean meals to choose from. This is a great spot for date night so throw on your heels and get ready to eat and drink the night away. For starters you can try their spanakopita, crab cakes, or choose three dips like tzatziki, hummus, and htipiti served with grilled pita bread. They also have a raw bar with choices like oysters and shrimp cocktail that you could order for your meal or to share among the table. From the land there are options like lamb shank, roasted chicken, and papoutsakia, which is roasted eggplants and tomato sauce with vegetables and grated feta. From the sea, try the mixed seafood orzo or the lobster linguini. Some of their cocktails include the midas touch and thyme in Santorini, along with their list of reds, whites, and beers both local and abroad. Join Estia Taverna for a classic Mediterranean meal.
City Works
220 Main St, King of Prussia, PA 19406
(484) 690- 4150
https://www.cityworksrestaurant.com/locations/kingofprussia/
This restaurant is a great place to be day or night. They have a huge bar facing a wall full of TV’s if you’re there to watch a game, and plenty of comfortable seating inside and outside the restaurant as well. There are tons of beers on tap from pale ales to sours, ciders, and more. Most people come for the beer selection but do not fret, they also have plenty of delicious cocktails, mules, wine and whiskey, you name it. Just because this place has a laid back, brewery feel, that does not mean they skimp on the food. They have bar bites like cheese curds and fried pickles if you just want to munch on something while you’re at the bar, but they have other starters as well like buffalo chicken dip, duck nachos, and smoked chicken wings. They have plenty of burger, taco, and sandwich options, and for the mains they offer dishes like salmon, pork chops, and rigatoni. Come on in and get ya a nice cold drink, some good eats, and enjoy the comfortable atmosphere at City Works.
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