The Gables At Chadds Ford
423 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA, 19317
The Gables At Chadds Ford Menu
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Address :
423 Baltimore Pike
Chadds Ford, PA, 19317 - Phone (610) 388-7700
- Website https://www.thegablesatchaddsford.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Michelle B.
I took my mom to Longwood Gardens and I googled from there and this was the first place that came up that was nearby. Excellent choice. Small and quaint. There was a wedding ceremony and reception happening, but we didn't feel intrusive. We started out with the Tabouleh Couscous. Delish! Mom had the filet and I had the lamb. Both dishes were absolutely fantastic and I was very impressed that I didn't have to ask for a modification to be dairy free. Many of their entrees were. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly.
(4)Antheia P.
We frequented the Gables for years, for special occasions and for the ambiance of the fireplace in the winter - and the outdoor courtyard on a warm summer night. The Gables is a historic landmark and the recent paint selection and is not in the traditional theme of the historic philadelphia era, which many of the original structures in the area aim to maintain. The original Brandywine paint selection should have been in the traditional Historic Philadelphia Selection by Benjamin More or one of the others probably would have been more attractive. The menu has changed numerous times, since the new owners purchased the restaurant. Every time we go, there is a new menu. We were there this week (another new menu) and we were completely taken aback by the $35.00 price for a small portion of the Chilean Sea Bass. The newest menu is very expensive and comparable to the that of a fine dining restaurant. It is too high for what you don't get. Now the food is always good, the ambiance great, the servers kind and courteous -but every time we go, it seems like the cost increases. it's not worth the cost and if the menu stays the same, we won't be going back.
(2)Cody M.
Excellent food, great prices considering the food and area. Very happy with the fish and chips, turkey madame, and the steak was every bit of 16 oz. Attentive service and staff knowledgeable with regard to ingredients and food allergies. Would have been five stars, except my daughter's salad contained dressing (re: allergies).
(4)Larry G.
My wife and I had eaten at Portobello (fantastic)in Kennett Sqaurte on our last visit to Longwood Gardens and thought we wouldtry something ddifferent after reading reviews of a tour of the Brandywine Valley in the NY Times. The setting was very niceand we ate outdoors - but it soone becamse obvious there was only one waitress for the whole restaurant - this on a beautiful Fall Saturday and the start of the MUM festival at Longwood - sure to attract many for lunch. And it did - soon there were a number fo tables of people eating dinner rolls and nothing else. One group had been waiting for 25 minutes for someone to even take their order. We did get waited on and my wifeordered hot tea and I ordered Ice tea. The hot tea came and I waited and waited fro mine, seeing that the waitress was overworked - I was being patient. Finally I had to go into the restaurant to get it. My mushroom soup later arrived - a broth with a variety of mushrooms but for $8? Skip it - mine looked NOTHING like the picture!!! My wife's salmon sliders were bony but nicely done and served on mini croissants. All in all - an eh... experience. Ok food and lousy services - the owners should be ashamed understaffing anf overworking their wait staff. Will not be returning ever. Portobello - coming again!
(2)Joy B.
This was my first time here. I was here Friday night for a rehearsal dinner and Saturday for a wedding. Now quick story my friend who held her wedding here had to go through more drama with a reception venue anyone should go through. So if you are holding an event here keep a close eye on the details and organization skills. Anyway Friday I had the gables signature salad it wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing. It need nuts to compliment the fruit and sweet dressing. The cod special came with broccoli rab which was delicious and a mushroom Risotto yummmm . The cod was well cooked but it Lacked seasoning. Saturday wedding dinner was very good. Ceasar salad good with homemade croutons. Steak yuuuuuuummmmmm so tender. The food can be improve and organization needs to be improved but I would return.
(3)Kelly B.
We live very close to The Gables and had not frequented after it changed hands several years ago. Recent visits have changed that for me. I now frequent with family, friends and work associates. The atmosphere is relaxing...and can be downright cozy in this winter cold. I love that they recognize me and remember my "usual" ....friendly and great service! If you went a year ago and haven't been back, do so! The new menu has a great variety. I've never been disappointed with the fish special. If you like your steak rare to medium rare, perfect spot. I've yet to have an over cooked filet. They've renovated the entrance and outdoor space, not to be missed when you can dine al fresco.
(4)Eric E.
I came here with my girlfriend and her family. First off, ambiance was great. Second, it was restaurant week and I got the special 4 course meal for the occasion. Mushroom soup: great Stuffed pepper thing: tasty but literally gave me one small pepper Steak: great but small portion again (waiter warned us of small portion but way too small portion for special 4 course meal) Toffee ice cream - good The bad: the rest of my table hated everything but we all agreed chili was awesome . They had the lobster pot pie. Octopus was crazy... Basically still alive ; don't get it unless u want to chew for 90% of the night . Place was packed and service was insanely slow . Our waiter was nice guy though. All in all, probably not worth the price but whatev floats ur boat. Probably depends what u get .
(3)Nicole M.
I was torn between 2 or 3 stars. I went with 2 because I feel the experience far out weighed to food. My friend and I went to the gables for brunch. It was a little after 12:30 and there were about 6 other tables. The bar was empty and I didn't notice a bar tender. There was a private party upstairs. We were seated quickly and a bus boy came right over with water and bread. That was the last of prompt service for our meal. We waited 40 minutes for our French Toast and Salmon Benedict. The server never explained what was taking so long, she only apologized for the wait when she brought the food. We asked for the check as soon as we were served. The food was very good even though there was Spinach mixed w the French toast. From what I observed there is both front of the house and kitchen issues that made this experience suck.
(2)Douglas S.
Wow...now here's a proprietor who takes their trade seriously...clearly they saw the need for adjustments and acted. To make the point, they contacted past customers and offered a gift certificate to entice a return. And boy, are we glad we did...the appetizer was superb...crab and cheese stuffed peppers. For dinner, I had the pasta special and my date the short rib...awesome. The dinner was enhanced with a fine bottle of Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon. The topper, first rate service from Philippe, who made our evening a delight. Thank you for a first rate dining experience...the only sad note...when word gets out, getting a reservation may be a challenge.
(4)Mike K.
My wife and I have been wanting to try The Gables for some time, and had the opportunity last night. I must say that we were very disappointed. Our server, Michael was not very friendly and throughout much of the night could not be found. When asked questions about the menu, he was unsure. Specifically, my wife asked how many scallops come with the entree and his reply was "I'm not sure, I haven't seen any come out of the kitchen tonight". We ordered appetizers, mussels and charred octopus, both were very good and a cheese plate. The cheese plate never came out after the apps. When some time passed, we asked Michael about it and he said, "Oh yeah, it's ready now". He returned to the table to drop it off with no plates and then retuned a minute or two later with our entrees. At this point, we just asked him to remove the cheese plate since there was no room at our table. I ordered the 8oz filet ($37) and my wife had the tuna ($32) and sides of whipped potatoes and grilled asparagus. Since Michael never brought a steak knife out, I was using my butter knife to cut my filet. When we tryed the potatoes and asparagus, both were ice cold. I went to the host stand to speak with the manager, and ended up talking to Ann, the owner. She was nice and apologized and said she would remove a few things from our bill, which was not my intention, but appreciated. She came to our table and made sure new meals were brought out, which were mediocre and we thanked her. Michael forgot the asparagus the second time, but we didn't say anything. To cap the night off, Michael presented us with the dessert menu and the check at the same time. Not really sure what that meant! After Ann removed some of the items from the bill, our night cost around $240 for dinner and the babysitter. I dine out regularly for business and truly say that The Gables is not worth it. If you are going to charge fine dining prices, your customer service and attention to detail needs to be on par. We will not be going back to The Gables again, nor would I recommend it to friends or family! Mike K West Chester
(2)Justin G.
Excellent and friendly service. The poutine at lunch time is amazing... I have come back here many times just for that. I typically dine at the bar during the winter and on their lovely back patio during the temperate seasons. Well worth a visit.
(5)Tatyana M.
It was our second time here. The first was a disaster, but the owner contacted me and was very nice to invite us again and even offered a gift certificate. Not wanting any "special treatment" we didn't contact him back, but being in the area we've decided to give it another chance. This time the experience was much better. We were pleased with everything, except of their messing up our 1000 points reservation and giving us "no show" mark. We think though we'll be back in spite of it.
(4)Joe D.
While the food was good (but a bit pricey) we will never go back. Tables are very close together and the noise level was unbearable. We had a difficult time having a normal conversation without shouting.
(2)Andrea C.
I have been here twice now and both times I have enjoyed their outdoor seating but found the food just a little lacking for the price. We started with the cheese plate both times and both times it has been the best part of our meal. Between the two visits someone in our party has had a filet twice and both times it was overcooked for how we ordered it. The twice baked sweet potatoes are more like a mash that's overcooked and overwhelmingly smoky. This time we ordered a pork dish that offered pork cooked in two different styles--neither were anything amazing that stood out for the price. The ourdoor seating area is nice, but it is on a busy road so be prepared to have the constant buzz of traffic in the background as your enjoy your meal. Service has been fair as well- the first time our waitress seemed a little uninterested in helping us and the second time our main entrees were brought out before we were even halfway through with our cheese plate. Little touches like this were missing throughout both of our meals.
(3)Nicole M.
Update to the Gables! We went to the Gables for brunch on Father's Day. I booked the reservation a week before and was told that the brunch was going to be a buffet for $27/per person. We arrived at the restaurant and were seated and given menus. I looked around to see where the buffet table was and, to my surprise, I did not see one. I asked the waitress (who seemed to not know how to smile) and she said that they did a buffet brunch for Mother's Day but did not have one for Father's Day. She later sent the manager over to our table. The manager was nice but I feel like she did not know how to handle this situation. I just wanted her to be informed that I was misguided on what was going to be served for breakfast. As for the food, myself and two others ordered the soup of the day which was a chilled avocado soup with corn and tomatoes served in a large bowl. We all enjoyed and finished the soup. I wish that was all the I ordered though because I was so full when our main entrees came. I ordered the Lobster Hash special. Others at our table had the Corned Beef Hash, Crab Chesapeake, and an Omelet. The Lobster Hash was really good except for the fact that my poached egg was pretty much raw. I did not want to complain any more than I did about not having a buffet brunch so I just dealt with it. The Omelet and Corned Beef Hash seemed to be good. I was surprised at how small the crab cakes were on the Crab Chesapeake but the people who ordered it seemed to really enjoy it. This visit pretty much ruined my previous experiences at the Gables based on a Customer Service level. I expected much more for a restaurant as established as The Gables.
(2)Elizabeth W.
After a fun afternoon of antique shopping my bestie and I stopped in here for lunch! The inside looks as it it belongs in Greenwhich Village in NYC! It is so cute! We decided to sit outside since it was so nice! Our server greeted us promptly and took our order. She also brought us fresh baked rolls and some sweet butter. For lunch I ordered a Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwhich on a Croissant and a side salad. The sandwhich was amazing! There was so much chicken salad that I had to take some of it off. The side salad was all yummy! It had some zesty citrus dressing on it that paired nicely with the sandwhich. I would def. recomend this to people! The food was great and the service was too!
(4)Hadley H.
I'm visiting from out of town for the 4th and was looking for a solid option for a large group with local specialities. Read about The Gables in Out & About magazine and decided to give it a try! Love the atmosphere--truly exceptional back patio area. Also, the buttermilk chicken is a MUST.
(5)Harriett T.
Poorly managed. This affects everything from the food to the service to the dining atmosphere.
(1)Artie F.
This restaurant did everything wrong. We were there for a pre-planned small party and they were just too disorganized to manage it. When, after some stressful interactions we finally were seated, the food took too long to arrive and straggled out so we had to sit watching our food cool until all were served. The menu was uninspired. The food was not very good. The mushroom soup tasted like a bouillon cube with some old, tough mushrooms tossed in. The carrot soup was flavorless. Overall a fairly poor experience.
(2)Gretchen G.
We stopped by for brunch because of its convenient location to the Brandywine River Museum, Chadsford Winery etc. There was a bridal shower happening which I expect they do a lot of, good setting for it. Cute outdoor area. Big points for ambiance. We sat in the bar because the dining room was a little dark. The ambiance in the bar was quite nice. Apparently they are changing their menu; the server explained several changes. The mojito was a little lackluster but there were plenty of other options. The gables salad was really nice and they were kind enough to split it for us to share. The Philly hash wasn't entirely as described ( meat not thinly sliced at all) and fairly fatty but great flavor. Great ambiance but everything else fell a little short.
(3)Lala M.
What a wonderful place... Perfect combination of a high end but comfortable dining experience. We had the brunch and my husband ordered off the menu... Both good and I find priced right for the quality-- love seeing the owner behind the bar!
(5)Greg G.
I visited The Gables once -- a Sunday afternoon at about 2:00. We didn't intend to stop for brunch; we were seeking food of any temporal description. I had the "Baltimore Pike" Bacon Kobe Beef Cheese Burger. The burger came with cheddar cheese and thick-cut bacon. It was supposed to also come with black truffle mayo, but due to my extreme hatred of mayo, I had them leave it off. I ordered the burger medium-rare, but it came more medium-well. It was still juicy so I didn't complain. I suspect it wasn't actual Kobe beef (it was $18), but probably US-raised Wagyu. No matter, the beef was good quality with nice texture (due to the somewhat courser than average grind) and good "beef" flavor. The bacon was also good -- smokey and thick enough so you know you're eating something, but not too thick that you think it's ham. I thought it was a little strange that the burger came with no additional toppings (lettuce, onions, etc.). In fairness, nothing was listed on the menu. I suppose I could have asked for raw onions (I love onions), but I decided to be satisfied eating the simple, meat and cheese burger. The burger came with "bistro fries". They were about medium width fries (a la boardwalk style) and were nicely fried. The Gables has a nice atmosphere. It's in a converted old house with a largish bar area in front, a comfortable dining room, and an inviting patio out back. We were a party of five and there was maybe 3 or 4 other occupied tables. Our server was cordial and professional, but service was a bit slow.
(3)Chantal G.
Went for Mother's Day brunch with the whole family. We were literally the first ones there, and they were a little bit disorganized and not ready to go until about half hour after our seating, but they were busting their asses to get it together. The outside seating was beautiful, the staff attentive for a buffet. The crab cakes were exceptional (and I'm a crab cake snob), and most of the rest of the food was good. Only thing that surprised us was the check that included a 20 percent tip. I know peoples opinions on how much to tip at a buffet vary wildly, but if they are going to put in an automatic 20, at least tell us that on the menu or somewhere...
(4)C'Anne W.
The canapés that The Gables graciously donated to the UHS Art Gala were so good that we decided to try the restaurant again. Our last experience over a year ago was lackluster, at best. For Sunday brunch, we were pleasantly surprised! Huge burger cooked as requested (medium rare) and crispy, fluffy fries (served hot!) Shrimp and Grits were cheesy and delicious with flavorful shrimp and a tasty addition of mushrooms. Total with iced tea $35. The Gablles is back on the go-to list.
(4)Amanda G.
My overall rating for this joint is 3.5 stars. Went there recently for dinner and I have to say that the ambiance of this place is definitely more like 4 stars. I'd give it 4.5 stars if there wasn't paper on top of the table cloths. Anyway, it's super cozy, has an outdoor area that'd be great to sit in during the warmer months, and there's a fireplace in the dining room. As for the food - I started with the mushroom soup, and it was *nothing* like I thought it'd be. I thought it'd be a cream-based soup, as are most mushroom soups, but it was a dark brown broth with a variety of mushrooms in it. It was OK, but there were two things I didn't like about it. 1. some of the mushrooms were a little too tough for my taste, and 2. the menu said the soup came with cheese, but there was literally one shred of cheese in my bowl. So, that was disappointing. If I go back I'll definitely get the Gables Salad instead - which looked delicious. Apples, pears, candied walnuts, balsamic, etc. For our appetizer we shared the crab brûlée, which was actually my favorite part of the entire meal. It was basically crab and cream cheese with a browned cheese top served with warm pita bread. I was a little thrown off by the pita bread, as I thought a more appropriate pairing would be an Italian bread or something along those lines, but it was still quite delicious. For my meal I got the red snapper with cauliflower, mushrooms, and potatoes. Believe it or not my favorite part of the dish was the cauliflower and potatoes! The fish did have crispy skin, which I typically love, but I felt there could have been more flavor infused. As for the service - Our waitress was very nice and friendly, but I felt that this was a very slow meal. It took about two hours for us to eat, and it seemed there were long breaks between each course. It was totally fine considering we were in no rush, but if you've got somewhere to be after dinner make your reservation early! Overall we had a good, solid meal.
(3)Cathy K.
Went last night with friends. Service was great, setting was perfect. Had seating outside which was beautiful. Piano player inside. Lamb cooked perfectly and friends loved their salmon, scallops and braised short ribs. Prices not unreasonable for quality. Cocktail a bit weak. Definitely will be back soon.
(4)Jenny B.
Just had lunch at The Gables. The corn and crab gazpacho was delicious. While the crab cake sandwich and lobster sliders weren't bad they weren't fabulous either. Too much onion and not a great spice combo in the lobster slider. Blueberry cobbler with lemon sorbet was very good. The atmosphere was Chester County's finest stacked stone charm but outside was inundated with mating blue hornets. We had to move. Kind of a bummer.
(3)Karen P.
We've frequented the restaurant for a number of years for special events - birthdays, holidays, etc. I've always thought of The Gables as a great location for a wedding location. My neighbor's daughter is planning a wedding and I recommended The Gables as a great location both for food, space and ambiance. We just learned recently that The Gables had changed hands. So to test out the new owners, we went to dinner on Monday (2/13/12) night with our neighbors. Bloody Mary's - great spice, but watered down. Just a lemon slice and olive floating, no Old Bay, but tons of ice. Crab dip - very runny, wet pita slices to mop up the runny dip. Table bread - small slices were stale. Crab cakes - plenty of crab, but no flavor. Had to ask for tabasco for some giddily up. Sweet potato fries - limp, obviously from a frozen bag that was microwaved. Cale - not bad, but not what I expect on a dinner plate. Venison - didn't try it, but my friend said she had to take the pepper sauce off and the meat was less that satisfactory. I wanted the same great meal I've enjoyed in the past. This was mediocre. The Gables has been crossed off the list as a possible wedding reception.
(2)George M.
Had dinner at the Gables Saturday evening January 7. First, I need to say that the noise level in the restaurant is really LOUD. This was due not just to the wood floors and ceiling but really the amount of people they packed in the room. The tables were so close to each other that the installed wood privacy panels to the support posts so you didn't feel like you were sitting right next to another diner! The waitstaff constantly snaked their way between tables to deliver the meals. It was amusing to see everyone cupping their ears to hear each other. The rest of the evening was disappointing. My wife had a bloody mary and the drink mix was too diluted. The drink was a few shades darker than pink. I had the mushroom soup which was served in a large plate but a rather skimpy portion. No kidding, it was about half an inch deep. Some of the mushroom pieces were tough and there was a small dollop of cheese floating nearby. My wife had the caesar salad and my son had the crab brulee, decent but nothing special. For dinner we had the shrimp and grits, venison steaks (more like medallions) and grilled flat bread. We all sampled each others entrees and I considered them good; not great, just good. Our server was friendly and accommodating but service was quite slow.There is a large window looking into the kitchen and it was clearly apparent that the it was too small to handle the amount of guests in the room. We ordered coffee and a slice of pumpkin cheese cake. The coffee came right away and the cheese cake came 7 minutes later. All in all, not a place to come back to.
(2)Dave S.
Fair. Food was good for a buffet. The turkey and the sausage & cranberry stuffing were particularly good. It took more than 10 minutes until after we were seated for someone to acknowledge us and that person wasn't even our waiter. Very long time to wait for drink orders and a buffet. The restaurant was very noisy. Probably won't return.
(2)Vicki C.
While the atmosphere is nice, the food is disappointing. $34 bought a dry piece of halibut and what seemed like dehydrated super salty mushrooms on the side. Salads to start were soggy. A shame given its charming setting.
(2)Monica S.
I've been going to the Gables for years and the ambiance is unbeatable. But since the change of ownership, I've been increasingly disappointed. Their social media touts season drink specials, yet you arrive and the bartender doesn't know anything about them, or how to make cocktails in general. The bar menu, which we really enjoyed with flatbread pizzas, is gone. Fried green tomatoes are one of my all-time faves. I've gone here for them twice now only to find squishy red tomatoes inside. Doesn't matter how good the seasoning and crust is if the inside is mush. Friend's wine glass came with tons of someone else's lipstick on it as did the replacement glass. Server brought out courses at wrong time for some at our table. Disappointing. Will probably go back and hold out hope that things will improve. Mushroom soup delish and great wine selection.
(2)Donna G.
Here for early dinner before a play at Delaware theatre on a Wednesday night. Only a few people there but did get quite a few more people before we left at 7. Waitress was very nice and attentive. The young man at the desk when we went in was very uninterested. A smile and a welcome would have made us more comfortable. The mushroom soup was a large bowl with a lot of varieties. Flavorful! My rockfish with crispy skin was wonderful. Rissoto and asparagus with some shrimp pieces were creamy and delicious! My friend had the parpadelle (sp?) with sauce and said the flavors were spot on. She didn't offer me a taste but I didnt share either! Great wine by the glass selections. Avg $10. But generous. Very nice decor and cozy in the dining room. Bar was cold. All in all very good meal I would definitely go back!
(4)Chris B.
I've passed this place a hundred times. I remember it back when it was the Country Kettle, and even before that as a store. I however hadn't eaten there since the 80s and decided to satisfy my curiosity with the wife on Valentines Day and made a reservation. I later checked Yelp and found a lot of reviews which then had me worried. We decided to make the best of it and were delightfully surprised. As described, the ambiance is excellent. Our waiter was attentive. $10 corking fee for our own bottle of wine. But if you look at how expensive the typical wine list is this was fine with us. I admit I took a screw cap bottle. It was easier to take what was left at the end of the night. Our dinner was excellent. I had the Short Ribs while the wife had the Fillet Mignon. Both were perfect. Our bread was even good with a honey butter I believe. Also had the Grilled Romaine Salad. It had just the right amount of dressing. A nice surprise. I may have to try grilling some salad of my own when the weather permits. Perhaps they were all just on their game for Valentines Day or perhaps things have just improved since a lot of these reviews? Either way I can't wait to try them out again. The only thing I think they need to improve on was parking. They had a nice girl doing valet parking. I'm not sure, but maybe they do this for special occasions or all the time. Either way the poor girl needed some help. She had 3 cars lined up to park while we were waiting just to get ours back. In the time we waited (in the cold) we could've gotten our own car and been gone. I tipped her more out of mercy than for the valet "service". But hey, nothing was stolen out of my car.
(5)Mick C.
Update- the owner contacted me and sent me a gift card to try their establishments again. This visit was a much better experience and the food was enjoyable. Have been here a couple times and have enjoyed the food for the most part. The problem I had was the noise level in the restaurant. You can barely hold a conversation with the company you are with. The last time I was there the service was not so great. The waitress was not very friendly. We had finished our meal and instead of asking if we wanted dessert or coffee, she quitely slipped the check onto our table without our knowledge. I thought this was a little strange. So... we decided to go to the bar and order dessert there with coffee. We figured she obviously didn't want to be bothered, and she lost the tip money on the dessert. There are other places in Chadds Ford that I think have a better atmosphere and even better food for the price.
(3)Karen P.
The bar area of this restaurant is our go-to place in the Brandywine when we aren't organized enough to make a reservation at Gilmore's. And when wine tasting is involved, one should never be wedded to the clock... We love sitting at the bar. There are both tables and barstools. The full menu is available and the service is fast. The bar tenders are happy to let you sample one of the many wines on the list until you find the one that is just right to compliment your meal. My husband is also cutting back on his cholesterol these days, and they were incredibly accommodating in tweaking the salmon dish to meet his dietary restrictions. As for me, I shamelessly gobbled down the salty bar snacks, but that's a whole other review in and of itself...!
(3)Richard S.
Mother's Day Brunch...very pedestrian. Inner room, even on bright day, was gloomy. Somehow the room doesn't utilize its historic setting...it's just dull. Outside tables seem very nice, though. But don't think it's worth the mediocre food.
(2)Roberta B.
This is a great place to get away for a nice meal in a beautiful setting. I can see why people have their big events here. The ambiance is very nice, the presentation of the food is excellent, and the food itself is really good. It's a classy restaurant on one side, a fun bar on the other, a beautiful banquet hall upstairs. Great for any event.
(5)Christopher H.
First time server, very slow with drinks and food. Filet was hamburger meat, 3 of our 7 meals we refused. Way too pricey for the quality.
(2)John M.
Excellent mussels, great crab cakes and a nice relaxing patio with a waterfall trickling down. Yuengling as well.
(4)Anne M.
I've heard about this place before- not as in "omg you have to go here it's so awesome" but more like a "we go here in the winter for a bite to eat and sit at the bar and it's snuggly and cozy and just wonderful and quiet and understated." I have to conur. IMHO, this place never gets mentioned with the "big boys" like Sovana, Eclipse Bistro, or Deep Blue but ranks right up there. Restaurant.com was offering a $75 gift certificate for $25 (a coupon code for 80% made it a mere $6), so we had an excuse to go. We made a reservation for 4 at 7pm, and the dining room was buzzing with good cheer and a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. We took advantage of the BYO- I was told on the phone that there would be an $8 corkage fee, and we were charged $7. Starters- calimari (so nice to eat calimari that isn't fried), chicken corn chowder (good, nothing spectacular), and we got a lighter main dish (the duck pot pie) for the table to share. The pot pie was delicious- meaty, warm, dense, and rich. Dinners were two filets (entree portion was 8oz, the smaller was 4oz) which was cooked as requested to a medium rare overtop mashed potatoes, carrots, and a demi glace, salmon (again, the entree portion) over wasabi spinach risotto, and venison, which was so delicious and tender. For dessert- a chocolate chip peanut butter bread pudding, a brown butter shortbread, and a chocolate cake. All delicious, simple, and not over-fussed. The restaurant, with it's warm, inviting bar and cozy dining room with the fireplace, was relaxing and wonderful. Even after the $75 came off, our check was $200 including tip. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Nick S.
Had a great meal. From start to finish the menu was was right up our alley. We requested a seat near the fireplace and was accommodated. Service was also excellent.
(5)shaun b.
I hate to say it, but Gables is off the list. Been there 2 times in the last six months. And both times were quite underwhelming. Food and service have really taken a turn for the sub-par. In addition to the poor service, like we were doing our waiter a favor by sitting in his section, they over cooked my venison "steaks" (more like patties). Then when I informed the waiter never apologized and asked me if I wanted a new one. No, I just prefer to pay for food not cooked to my liking. Come time for the bill, you think they'd comp a drink or something...nope! OFF THE LIST.
(2)Eileen R.
Really disappointed in our recent Christmas Eve dinner, the 16th year in a row. New owners apparently don't have it together: mediocre, over-priced food; terrible service (the waiter knew nothing about the dishes); extremely loud music (even on Christmas Eve !!), and we waited an hour to get our entrees. Time for a change.
(2)Steve S.
Newly open for brunch. Perfect spot to visit after a trip to the Brandywine River Museum. Sat on the back porch - a vine covered oasis. Amazing chicken salad and pita sandwich and hamburger. A perfect, relaxing place for lunch after the museum.
(5)susan p.
Mushroom soup is fabulous, crab cakes just okay, hubby's prime rib was cooked to perfection, and the peach raspberry crisp was delectable! Service was friendly and prompt. I shall return!
(4)Eug S.
This suburban restaurant is good. The staff is good at what they do, from the workhorse maiter d', to the bus boy who barely looks older than my 10 year old nephew, to the server who was always checking in at the right time. The place had a trio on guitar and piano the night we were there. It has a larger bar that has windows with a view into the kitchen. The crowd was 30-somethings and up. Don't be surprised to see bottles of wine on the menu in the range of $150-200, but the wines by the glass are reasonable ($8-$10) with a good selection of varieties beyond your tired chardonnay, cabernet savignon, and merlot. The food selections are varied as well, and even though I don't eat beef or pork I had trouble deciding between several excellent sounding entrees.
(4)Susie C.
Initially, I thought the restaurant was very nice and romantic. It's BYO in the dining room, but not in the bar. I ordered the 4 oz lamb chop and my boyfriend ordered the 8 oz filet. I chose to have mine cooked medium and so did my bf. When his filet came out, it was pink in the middle, but when I looked at my lamb chop it was red, as if it hadn't been cooked. I ate some of it because we were both starving, but then I noticed that the meat was red on the bigger chop and decided to send it back. The waiter reheated it and of course, the smaller chop was cooked a little bit better, so I ate that, but the bigger chop was still red in the middle. We complained, but was told that "Since I had eaten most of the chop, that they could only comp the dessert." By that time, I was turned off and didn't care about having any dessert. Service was attentive other than that. If I went back, I would definitely not order the lamb chops.
(2)Eric S.
Some of the best meals I have had enjoyed have been at the Gables. My parents have been going for ~10 years. Ownership has changed hands several times since then, but what has been consistent is a dedication towards trying to do the best thing for the customer. We have had meals come out totally wrong, but we have had some of the best sinners in years here. Give them a chance and help them build the next generation of the Gables. There are lots of restaurants around. None nearly as interesting or personal as the Gables. When I think of the holidays, as a son living far apart from family. The Gables is what I think of as good times with family.
(4)Le S.
Lovely meal, wonderful ambience, service needs work. Saturday night in July, place is not full, but had to wait 20 minutes at the table before I stood up to retrieve some wait staff. Food - calamari and Brussels sprout appetizers were very very good. Entres included blackened salmon, scallops, and shrimp and grits. All met with positive review Service - we waited 20 minutes before I got up to find some kind of available staff. And it's not like it was busy, or understaffed. Just lame service. After dinner, the dessert menu (and there were some great items on the menu!) just sat in our laps until we finally got up to leave. Summary: great food, great ambience, expect cafeteria-style service ( ie, none) The bottom line is that the food is commensurate with the price; the service is not.
(3)Inka O.
I've eaten lunch at The Gables on a weekly basis with friends for the past few years, ever since the new owners, Ann and Dan Kolenick, took over. The service is uniformly excellent. The menu is tasty and reasonably priced, the wine is very good, and they offer a wide variety of tasty desserts. The building entrance was substantially renovated in an attractive way in 2015. During the spring, summer, and fall months, I always eat lunch outside in their garden area - and I still enjoy the same excellent service as inside! Recently my wife gave me a birthday party for 65 people at The Gables in their upstairs banquet area which worked out without a hitch. The pre-planning support was well organized and professional. Every detail was covered, and our guests raved about the hors d'oeuvres, the good bar, the tasty dinner, and, of course, the excellent service. My wife and I were also very pleased with the reasonable price that was quoted! I've eaten many pleasant lunches (and dinners) at The Gables over the years with great enjoyment. My friends and I all agree, it's a great place! The staff and the owners are clearly interested in pleasing their customers, and they certainly succeed!
(5)Christina V.
What a wonderful place! I came here a few weeks back right before heading to Longwood Gardens. I'm reviewing based only on the food and the ambiance- not the service (which was entirely too slow- perhaps our waiter was a bit distracted with other tables?). The food was spectacular. Our party of four started with the charred octopus which was served over salad, and the brussels sprouts. Both were nice portions and easy to share between the four of us. For my entree, I got the scallops dish which was a special of the evening- it was incredible. Other members of the group got salmon and short ribs. I didn't try the salmon but I got to taste the short ribs which were rich and filling. The portions were nicely sized and the ambiance of the restaurant can go either way. Totally romantic or a casual more upscale dinner. I liked that this place used fresh ingredients and I loved the rustic and sophisticated elements of the restaurant. Bonuses: nice wine list pianist at the front door not a bad seat in the house cozy atmosphere outdoor seating (not open when I went but attractive space) seasonal menu
(4)Sarah S.
We enjoyed lunch outside after a trip to the Brandywine River Museum. It was such a gorgeous spot and the food was awesome. We all got some sort of Mushroom dish, the soup was a rich broth with tons of mushrooms. I also got the grilled salmon slider on a croissant with some sort of carrot slaw. It was the best sandwich I've had even if I had to eat it with a fork. Highly recommend this place. I was hoping for a flavored tea but there wasn't many drink options.
(4)Maureen C.
We just left the gables and while lunch was very good our server Mindy was a bit nonchalant. We were there to celebrate our daughters graduation from college and my sister sent us a bottle of wine to be delivered to the table . It never happened .... We had to mention it to the waitress and she said she took the call.... Unbelievable. The food was good but service was very slow . The atmosphere is great. Something different. If service was better the place would be a 4 star. The restaurant needs training for its servers. Just an update when I first wrote the review I heard from the owners apologizing and offering a gift card for the inconvenience. Well 3 months later and never heard back from them. Customer service at its finest!
(1)Lauren S.
The Gables at Chadds Ford exceeded all our expectations for our August 1, 2015 wedding. From the moment we inquired about the venue through the reception itself, we couldn't have been more pleased. Rick, the General Manager, worked with us from day one to create the wedding of our dreams and stayed within our allotted budget. His assistants, Kelly and Thomas, were extremely accommodating and the day-of wait staff were attentive to our needs, as well. The appetizers and dinner entrée (filet and crab cake duet plate) were "out of this world!" Many of our guests remarked it was the best wedding food they had ever tasted. Cakes by Kim also did an awesome job with the mini desserts and cake. We greatly appreciated use of the bridal suite prior to our on-site ceremony and the venue itself was just breathtaking...very simplistic but elegant. Although we can only give five stars for a job well done, we would gladly give a 10 if we could. We are so glad we chose The Gables for our special day.
(5)Heather K.
We went for dinner last night for our anniversary after a personal recommendation from a colleague. The food was satisfactory. We started with the cheese plate which was wonderful. I had the mushroom soup- disappointed after the reviews here, but still good. We both had the filet, which was acceptable. The service was excellent, and our server, Phillip, was a pleasure and made the experience somewhat enjoyable. The reason I can't give more stars was the atmosphere. We went for a romantic evening for our anniversary. The restaurant is also a wedding venue, and is right upstairs with only a curtain for separation. While we were trying to enjoy dinner, we had to ensure the wedding announcements, the cheering, the noise, and music. We could not hear the piano player in the restaurant at all over the cheering and the awful mix of music from upstairs (jailhouse rock at a wedding? Why?). It wasn't slight- it was obnoxious and intrusive. While this might be a lovely dinner otherwise, I cannot recommend it for a romantic evening out. This was a rare special night for us- one of the few where we've had a babysitter. The evening cost us just over $300 between dinner, a bottle of wine and the babysitter. We opted not to stay for dessert due to the noise, and ended up stopping for pie and coffee at Bob Evans. Sadly- that was the highlight of dining experience for the evening.
(2)J B.
Decided to go out at the last minute and wanted some cozy outdoor seating. The Gables fit the bill and did deliver on the outdoor seating. The complimentary valet was a nice touch. We were glad we weren't sitting inside because the wedding upstairs was thundering. Loved that the restrooms were called necessity rooms. Plus one star for ambience. Service was fine, I guess. Waitress was super stressed and rarely appeared. She was attentive if brusk when she was around. The sweet potato hash we got as a starter was tasty (and al dente) but needed salt. The filet was perfectly cooked, but the sauce was ridic smoky and the side potatoes were boring. Asparagus was roasted nicely and the bacon was crisp (unlike the prosciutto in the sweet potato hash). The bass and scallops were perfectly cooked, but the bass had little flavor. My s.o. said the scallops were fishy but I disagreed. The sauce and lettuce were excellent. The polenta was perfectly cooked but again, flavorless. Wine selection was good. Viognier paired well with the fish. I recommend the Penns Woods merlot (done a lot of tastings in this area and their merlot is one of the few I like). The desserts were 10 out of 5 stars, but only begged the question why wasn't the rest of dinner so good? Lemon tart had a magnificently chewy, but not soggy, sweet, but not too sweet, light golden brown crust and a meringue hanging in balance between tart and sweet, with just enough lemon flavor to avoid conflict with the strawberries. Perfect consistency and stuff peaks---the sugared lead of mint raised the dish to a new level. The creme brûlée was twice the size you'd expect and its caramelized sugar crust definitely had a satisfying crack. The strawberry on top definitely got macerated in some sugar. The cookie on top was delicious and chewy. No coffee or dessert wine with this one. Overall a satisfactory night with nice ambience, but one we are unlikely to repeat.
(3)Mike L.
Expensive. Poor service. So disappointing. Waited 15 minutes for a server who apologized profusely. Waiter served a beer that had more foam than beer then gave a weak excuse when asked to top off. Food was just ok for the price. Wish the experience was better because it is a nice venue but the quality just isn't there.
(1)Abby G.
I took my mom to The Gables after I said yes to the dress! We went for lunch on a Saturday and I was so impressed with how cute the restaurant was! We both ordered the Blood Orange Jalapeño Margaritas and they were so yummy!! I could've had about 5 of them hehe. I got the salmon sliders and my mom got the crab cake sandwich. We both loved our meals! And the salad dressing is a white balsamic which is delish as well. Our waitress was also a doll so our entire experience was great! I already told my fiancé I want to go back there before the holidays!
(5)