Restaurant: The Cheese Company Address: 217 Haverford Ave., Narberth, PA 19072 Rating: (out of 5 stars): ★★★★Style: Gourmet food and cheese shopFood: Numerous imported and hard to find delicacies in addition to artisanal cheeses, meats and breads.Atmosphere: Intimate marketParking: Metered street parkingService: Friendly and accommodatingPrice Range: Items come in all pricesUnique Feature: This place also has gourmet coffee beans, newspapers and freshly baked bread.   Famed culinarian and food writer Jean Brillat-Savarin is alleged to have said that “a meal without cheese is like a beautiful …

I grew up eating slices of Italian Delite pizza and though I've lived all over the country, there will always be a place in my heart for Italian Delite. Through the years, while Italian Delite has changed owners, the recipes have remained intact and the pizza is still one of the best slices around. Todd Rash did not grow up in the pizza business like the previous owners. He was looking to make a change in his life. He was working at the Art Institute in Philadelphia in the admissions department when he heard of the opportunity to take over Italian Delite. Rash was trained thoroughly by the …

Looking for a good restaurant to go to this weekend?   Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch brought you the details of Tony Roni’s Thursday. If the tomato pie is good enough for the late, great Harry Kalas, it should be good enough for you. Chef/Owner Tony Altomare didn’t begin in the industry but he’s more than made up for lost time. This go-getter now has 7 locations of his eponymous eatery. Click here for the Meet the Chef/Owner.   If that restaurant isn’t to your liking, check out other area restaurants that Patch reviewed this week:   Marrone’s Pizzeria 2744 E County Line Road Ardmore, PA 19003 …

We know how tough it can be to eat out with little ones. Patch wants to help you know before you walk in the door if Tony Roni's is a good place to eat with your children.   Restaurant: Tony Roni's   Is there a kids’ menu? Yes, it includes pizza, chicken fingers and penne, ravioli or spaghetti with marinara sauce served with a box of raisins, your choice of french fries or carrot sticks and a fountain drink.   Are there healthy options on the kids’ meal? Pasta with marinara sauce or a slice of pizza with raisins and carrots is a pretty healthy kids lunch.   How does the restaurant deal with …

Looking for a good restaurant to go to this weekend? Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch brought you the details of Aperto BYOB Thursday. The old Gemelli space has a new chef, owner and entirely new menu. You will not be disappointed. Try the fabulous salmon tartare with tzatziki or the veal cheeks. It’s not exactly summer fare but they are so tender and delicious it’s worth it. Click here for the review.   If that restaurant isn’t to your liking, check out other area restaurants that Patch reviewed this week:   Primo Hoagies 157 Lancaster Avenue Ardmore, PA 19003 Try the “suprimo” and the marinated …

Looking for a good restaurant to go to this weekend?   Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch brought you the details of The Greeks Thursday. A great Greek salad, wonderful hospitality and a somewhat limited outdoor dining area are what stick out from my last visit here. Stop in for a quick lunch or a late night beer. Click here for the review.    If that restaurant isn’t to your liking, check out other area restaurants that Patch reviewed this week:   Original Eagle Pizza 2343 Haverford Avenue Ardmore, PA 19003 A great supreme pizza and delicious grilled chicken souvlaki are highly recommended at this …

The Greeks on Haverford Avenue is a mainstay of the Narberth night scene and I have been there a bunch of times for a late-night beer or to catch up with a friend. Since I would be writing a restaurant review, I decided to stop in for lunch and see what the menu was all about. I met up with a girlfriend for a long overdue catch-up session and we sat outside on what can only be described as a perfect afternoon. Even though it was before noon, I couldn't resist the allure of the Magic Hat #9, so I ordered that. Instead of a bottle it was poured into a plastic cup because they have had one too …

Looking for a good restaurant to go to this weekend? Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch brought you the details of Homemade Sandwich Shop Thursday. A lifelong restaurant vet opens up a business with her husband and son serving up the same food that has delighted her own family and houseguests for decades. The ingredients are always fresh and local and the recipes from the heart. Click here for the Meet the Owner/Chef.   If that restaurant isn’t to your liking, check out other area restaurants that Patch reviewed this week:   Panera Bread 278 East Lancaster Avenue Wynnewood, PA 19096 A national chain …

Cooking school is fun but expensive. You spend hours playing with your food and have access to all kinds of professional equipment. You get one-day lessons on techniques that will take much longer to master. Make no mistake, you are not a chef when you graduate from cooking school. You are the onion-peeler, the oyster-shucker, the sweeper, the dishwasher, etc. No one is going to ask you your opinion on the best way to make a sauce or anything else because no matter how high your marks were in cooking school, you really don't know anything. Working in restaurants is how I truly learned to cook…

Suzanne Ryan, owner of Buy the Dozen, considers herself more of a chef than a baker but that doesn't stop her from rolling up her sleeves and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. She is energetic, hilarious and loves her kids. She looks much younger than her years, which I believe is due to her get-up-and-go nature. She's not satisfied just sitting around and reading magazines—like the goods at the bake shop, she also built her house from scratch. Name: Suzanne Ryan Age: 51 Hometown: Drexl Hill Home now: Chadds Ford, PA, down the street from Andrew Wyeth Years in industry: Ten. I used…

Looking for a good restaurant to go to this weekend? Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch brought you the details of McShea’s Thursday. A killer burger is just the beginning at this great tavern and restaurant. Stop in for a cold beer, great food and even some seasonal offerings. Yay soft shell crabs!  Click here for the review. If that restaurant isn’t to your liking, check out other area restaurants that Patch reviewed this week:   Thai Pepper-Mikado Restaurants 64 East Lancaster Avenue Ardmore, PA 19003 A taste of Siam or sashimi and sushi await at this dual dining destination. The fish is fresh, …

I have been to McShea's numerous times. A good friend and foodie snob took me there for my first visit and we have gone countless times since. The concept is simple—it's an Irish pub and restaurant—but the execution is where this place differs from others. The food is good here. I do not need to modify that with "good for a bar", it's actually just plain good. The menu features the typical pub fare including a delicious burger and fries, mozzarella sticks, cheese fries, chicken fingers, etc. but the atypical menu items are when the kitchen shines.  The Black Angus pub burger is large and …

Al Dar means "the house" in Lebanese and it's no surprise that a restaurant is named this way. While Lebanese may not be a language that many of us are familiar with, I'm sure most of us have been to or driven by a "casa", "maison", "house of" or other such named restaurant. Restaurants are named "house", "home" or "homestyle" because the owners want you to envision an evening with home-cooked food just like your mother made (or you wish your mother made). Al Dar Bistro offers up Lebanese as well as other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean delights. I went in for lunch and ordered aggressively…

Moms know how tough it can be to eat out with little ones. Patch wants to help you know before you walk in the door if Mel's International is a good place to eat with your children.   Restaurant: Mel's International   Is there a kids’ menu? Not officially, but off the menu there are kid favorites like chicken fingers, grilled cheese and pasta.   Are there healthy options on the kids’ meal? The pasta is probably your best bet.   How does the restaurant deal with food allergies? Alert your server and they will be as accommodating as they can be.   Is the restaurant so quiet that any childish …

I don't know if you've heard or not, but I am an ADHD diner. When I go out to eat with friends and family my mind goes into a tailspin trying to figure out what to order without looking like a pig. It works out best when I go out to eat with a large group of people and we agree to a "family style" meal so that I can try all the things that I want to. Manny's Place is perfect for me because I can order whatever I want but don't necessarily have to eat it all in one sitting. You can peek inside Manny's through the huge windows. The spot is clean but the seating area is limited. You walk inside …

Practically a dyed-in-the-wool cook, Chef Jerry Petrus of Great American Pub is still cooking strong despite advice to get out of the kitchen. Read below to find out more. Name: Jerry Petrus Age: 33 Years in the Industry: 16 First Kitchen Job: Prep cook at the American Bistro in Morton Earliest Cooking Memory: Being told not to be a chef by one of the waiters when I was 16. Advice for Home Cooks: Do what you want. Favorite Thing to Cook: Anything—BBQ, seafood... Favorite Local Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse in Royersford with my little girls Favorite Restaurant in the World: Roaring Fork in …

Like many chefs and owners, Ted Pappas grew up in the restaurant industry. Read below to find out more about this diligent restaurant vet who still finds time to hit the gym and stay in shape. Name: Ted Pappas Age: 54 Years in the Industry: 43 First Kitchen Job: As a dishwasher at my father's restaurant, Pete's, in Center City. Earliest Cooking Memory: Making hoagies with my father in the kitchen when I was about 8. Advice for Home Cooks: Call Sun Valley and order. Favorite Thing to Cook: Buffalo chicken pizza Favorite Local Restaurant: Estia at 15th and Sansom Favorite Restaurant in the …

Ginza Japanese restaurant does not have a big obnoxious sign or flashing lights letting you know that it's there. In fact I'm sure you have driven by it without even seeing it, which is a shame. One of my old chefs once told me that I needed to dine at more Japanese restaurants to gain a better understanding of how wonderful simple, well prepared food can be. He had opened a restaurant in Japan and had the chance to go to some of the nation's top restaurants. He said the best and most memorable thing he ate was a bowl of dashi (Japanese soup stock) with a single clam in the broth. The dashi …

This week, we spoke to the proprietors of Ryan Christopher's BYOB: chef/owner Mike Klaumenzer, pastry chef/owner Phyllis Klaumenzer and pastry chef Kim Seeger, their daughter. (Seeger's son is the Ryan Christopher of the restaurant's name.) Ages: MK: 51 PK: 63 KS: 40 Years in the industry: MK:37 PK: 40 KS: 23 Earliest cooking memory: MK: When I was 5, cooking eggs for myself in my grandma's kitchen.  PK: Making chrusciki (Polish angel cookies) with my grandmother KS: Working at Dunkin' Donuts, filling doughnuts when I was 15. First restaurant job:  MK: Dishwasher in St. Petersburg, FL  PK: …

Moms know how tough it can be to eat out with little ones. Patch wants to help you know before you walk in the door if Ryan Christopher's BYOB is a good place to eat with your children.   Restaurant: Ryan Christopher's BYOB   Is there a kids’ menu? Yes   Are there healthy options on the kids’ meal? Pasta and tomato sauce is a fairly healthy option for kids as are the numerous salads and the turkey burger on the regular menu.    How does the restaurant deal with food allergies? Alert your server and they will be as accommodating as possible. This restaurant is particularly adept at dealing …