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FeedFirst-Class Eats
What (and where) Main Liners are eating right now.
Photos by Steve Legato Published January 25, 2010 at 10:37 AM
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Often, it’s the little things that matter most. And when it comes to good eating, we all have our tried-and-true, on-the-fly classics to get us through our daily and weekly routines. We asked around, surveying Main Liners (via online ballot and otherwise) on their favorites. Real food for real people. That’s something we can all take a bite out of.
For the 411 on local pizza delivery, see page 4. For our 2010 culinary calendar, check out page 5.
Burgers: Elevation Burger, Five Guys Burgers and Fries
If “good fast food” sounds like an oxymoron, Five Guys is on a mission to convince you otherwise with its two-hands-required, “fresh, never frozen” burger. The free toppings selection is unbeatable (the sautéed mushrooms don’t come from a can), the fries are always crispy, and the Cajun seasoning is positively addicting. 
For a lighter bite, try the “little” burgers. And, as any Five Guys fan will tell you, the regular fries are plenty for two. Vegetarians will get a rise out of Elevation Burger’s savory, pleasantly textured patty chock-full of veggie bits and grains, tucked into a pillow-soft potato roll (pictured). Regulars swear by the caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and balsamic mustard. And don’t skip the shoestring fries. Various locations, fiveguys.com; 50 E. Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, (610) 645-7704, elevationburger.com.
Celebrate the Eggplant: Upper Crust, Yangming, Bertucci’s
Really hungry? Try the eggplant hoagie at Upper Crust in Newtown Square—never breaded, and cooked to a pleasantly squishy tenderness that pairs perfectly with the mozzarella cheese, tangy tomato sauce and soft Italian roll. If it’s Asian flavor you’re after, Yangming offers huge chunks of tender Japanese eggplant tossed with edamame, soft tofu and a zesty Thai basil sauce. And pizza lovers swear by Bertucci’s roasted eggplant pie with caramelized onions and roasted garlic—or add whatever you like. 3711 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, (610) 356-2104, uppercrustpizzashop.com; 1051 Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr, yangmingrestaurant.com, (610) 527-3200; 761 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, (610) 519-1940, bertuccis.com.
Locally Made Find: Highland Farm Cheese
Cheese maker and dairy farmer Martha Pisano specializes in fresh and aged artisan sheep’s milk products. (She also raises milk-fed veal.) Her Highland Farm offers brebis (a sheep’s- milk version of goat cheese), Camembert, aged Pecorino Romano, Manchego and Gouda, and more. The products are sold at area farmers’ markets and served at a handful of local restaurants, including Savona, Talula’s Table, Restaurant Alba and Gilmore’s. 151 Doe Run Road, Coatesville, (610) 384-7118.
Wrap It Up: La Locanda II Go
If you crave an authentic Italian hoagie, but not the bloat you feel after downing one, try the slimmer versions at La Locanda II Go. The “La Locanda” is packed with prosciutto, sopressata and Genoa salamis, sharp Provolone, and sweet and hot peppers. The “Capone” is equally satisfying, loaded with pepperoni, Provolone, cappicola and Genoa. Non-meat types love the “Verdura,” “Fresh Mozzarella” and "Godfather,” with ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, fresh basil, sharp Provolone and broccoli rabe. All varieties come swaddled in your choice of a sun-dried tomato, wheat, white or spinach wrap—and for just $6.25. 5003 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, (610) 325-5200.
Unsung Regional Fave: Luigi & Giovanni’s Pork Sandwich
Pick a Saturday, skip breakfast and head over to Luigi & Giovanni’s Newtown Square Specialty Market, where its staff will be waiting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the meat runs out) with a freshly roasted porchetta. The meat is cooked overnight—skin on—in a brick-oven rotisserie and seasoned with fresh herbs. The next day, it’s pulled into juicy shreds, tossed in a light gravy, layered with sharp Provolone and house-made roasted red peppers, and sandwiched between a crusty, sesame-studded semolina roll. They’ve been perfecting this Route 3 version of the Philly classic since the 1960s—and it tastes that way. 3601 Chapel Road, Newtown Square; (610) 353-4014, luigiandgiovannicaterers.com.
Fried Chicken: Soulfed Café
Tucked inside American Legion Leon Spencer Reid Post 547, this unassuming hot spot for authentic Southern-style fare is the Main Line’s best-kept secret. The bulk of the business is takeout, but feel free to step inside and enjoy the juiciest, crispiest chicken around, plus candied yams, smoky collard greens and baked mac-and-cheese made with nine different cheeses. For $2, they’ll deliver anywhere on the Main Line. 233 Simpson Road, Ardmore; (610) 649-3999, soulfedcafe.com.
