Business & Tech

Main Line Enjoys Surge of New Restaurants

Diners in search of novelty have plenty of options.

Main Line foodies have plenty of reasons to stay home from the beach this summer. This season, a handful of restaurants have moved, or are moving into, new digs in Lower Merion Township and the surrounding area. 

In early June, Canby's on Cricket, a BYOB in Ardmore, got the party started when it opened on June 12 to coincide with the U.S. Open. Owner Bart Brownell, a former pharmaceutical employee, said he prides Canby's on the diversity and accessibility of its menu. 

"I don't want it to be fine dining, but I want it to be a step above your normal Friday's fare," the chef told Patch.

Down Lancaster Avenue, Fraschetta has been wowing customers since it opened its 816 W. Lancaster Avenue doors on June 28. The owners of the Bryn Mawr eatery, Gianluca Demontis and Rosemarie Tran, are the proprietors of popular Philadelphia BYOB Melograno and told the Main Line Media News last month that they hope to bring a similar dining experience to the Main Line.

“You can still feel it’s part of the family with Melagrano. It’s a combination of the first and second restaurants,” Tran explained.

In late August, Fraschetta will be getting a new neighbor in Bryn Mawr, as restauranteur Ben Thomas is opening Restaurant Cerise. The bistro will serve four course meals with a French, Spanish and the Mediterranean influence but, according to Thomas, won't be "overly formal." The soft opening of the 1011 W. Lancaster Avenue bistro is slated for August 20.

Ardmore will also be getting a pair of new eateries in the coming months too, as JPM Catering founder Jennifer McCafferty is opening The Tasting Room—a 20-seat, 8 Lancaster Avenue cafe—in September, and popular Manayunk restaurant Laxmi's Indian Grille is expanding to Ardmore Plaza before the summer's out. 

With the abundance of new options, it'll be easy to take an age old bit of advice: This summer, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Just eat out.


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