Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Western Suburbs

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Western Suburbs? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Joseph Ambler Inn

4.7

4.7 (2459)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

North Wales

About the restaurant

Tucked away on 12 acres of lawns & gardens, the Joseph Ambler Inn is the ideal setting for a truly memorable dining experience. Contemporary American cuisine, featuring a wide variety of casual and traditional menu offerings. The Dining room is located in the renovated stone barn & features hardwood floors, exposed stone walls, & farmstyle ambiance. Tables in the JPub are on a first come first served basis. Terrace dining is also available in the warmer months.

Top review

DinaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We were celebrating a birthday and we were seated in a small private room, which was perfect for our party. Our waitress Tina was awesome. She gave great recommendations and was very attentive. Her assistant Finn also did a great job.

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Popular dish

Grilled 8 Ounce Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Petite Filet Mignon Duet

Popular dish

Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass

Cedar Hollow Inn Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (1272)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Malvern

About the restaurant

The Cedar Hollow Inn has been a local favorite for over 18 years. The building, which was built in the mid 1800's, lends an old-fashioned charm to an unpretentious atmosphere.

Chef Stephen Guiseppe of the Culinary Institute of America adds personal flair and imagination to a delectable menu of American Continental dishes. The daily Chef's Specials are creative and unpredictable, energetically inspired an hour or so before the menu is finalized.

Indulge yourself, family and friends to a casual fine dining experience in any of the three dining rooms, including an enclosed sun porch and a large bar area. Tucked away in the middle of everywhere, the Cedar Hollow offers an experience that keeps you coming back.

Top review

Norma

Dined 3 days ago

We were seated at a lovely table on the sunny front "porch". The shrimp with wild rice and avocado salsa was delicious as was the crabcake sandwich, the scallop salad and the bison sliders. Our waitress, Nanci, was very efficient and served us well. We have thoroughly enjoyed eating at the Cedar Hollow Inn Restaurant over the years and always find it to be a super spot. We've never had a bad meal. Kudos to the management!

Blue Bell Inn

4.7

4.7 (4687)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Blue Bell

About the restaurant

The redesigned rustic-meets-modern ambiance compliments the Contemporary American menu which features premium cuts of meat, ocean-fresh seafood and signature raw bar. Seasonal outdoor dining on the flagstone patio is available upon request.
In 2013, Blue Bell Inn underwent extensive renovations for over a year. Various historical aspects were enhanced through thoughtful restoration and new materials such as solid white oak and porcelain tile floors were introduced to create a stunning architectural mélange spanning three centuries.

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Shirley

Dined 2 days ago

My dinner did not disappoint! The calamari was delicious, my pork chop was exactly what I had expected and have come to expect from the bluebell Inn! My dinner was capped off with a decaf espresso martini – it was wonderful! Dare, I say, that we also had the best waitress? She was great.

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White Dog Cafe - Wayne

4.6

4.6 (7676)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Wayne

About the restaurant

The White Dog Cafe is known for it's unusual blend of award winning contemporary American cuisine, civic engagement and environmental sustainability. We only use the finest ingredients from farms that practice sustainable farming methods and all of our seafood comes from sustainable sources, while our wine list includes quality varietals from american vineyards.

Top review

Dined 6 days ago

Always good. The mushroom soup is delicious. Service was excellent. We sat near the windows which was pleasant.

Autograph Brasserie

4.7

4.7 (4106)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wayne

About the restaurant

A modern American brasserie that celebrates those individuals, who left their signature on popular culture. Our contemporary American menu is inspired by the flavors and classic dishes we have come to love using the best ingredients available. Autograph Brasserie serves the finest steaks, fresh seafood and hand-made pastas complemented with an impressive wine and specialty cocktail list. We welcome you to experience the inspiration of these individuals and cuisines.

Outdoor Patio is Open!

Father's Day - June 16 Sunday
Serving Dinner Menu All Day featuring Brunch Specials from 10-2PM

Top review

IanVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We had another wonderful dinner at Autograph Brassiere. We introduced our neighbors to this restaurant- it was their first time here and they were taken back with how beautiful the club room looked especially the onyx bar. We enjoyed our shrimp cocktail and salad appetizers. The trout, steak and pasta entrées were extremely delicious. But your famous sundae for dessert made everyone drool over it- it was so yummy and was the perfect fix for our sweet tooth. Rhylee our server was very personable and super attentive throughout our dinner. She described the various entrées perfectly which helped narrow down our selections. Our neighbors even commented on how nice & courteous Leo the bus boy was. Thanks again to everyone for making it another fun evening for all four of us !

The Refectory

4.6

4.6 (979)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Villanova

About the restaurant

The Refectory is a stunning New American restaurant located on Lancaster Avenue in Villanova. The menu features modern and upscale interpretations of American comfort classics such as homemade pastas, wood-fired flatbreads, a raw bar, craft cocktails and specialty homemade desserts. Our kitchen's philosophy is to keep it simple and straightforward, with a lot of thought and technique put behind each dish and ingredient.

The Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We validate parking in the I-1 garage across the street. For parties of 9 or more guests, please contact the restaurant directly by calling (610) 519-5786 or by emailing info@refectorynova.com. Please call or email with any questions and we will return your message.

Top review

bobVIP

Dined 5 days ago

we had a great time and a great meal. the place was full and it is a great place to eat before a Nova game

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4.5

4.5 (2049)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Wayne

About the restaurant

Since 1746, the building that houses this tavern has played a part in the establishment of our nation; first as a respite for stagecoach travelers expanding westward and later as a covert rendezvous point for George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, and other leaders of the American revolution. It is believed that during the infamous winter of 1777–1778 at Valley Forge, a major figure in the Continental Army, master military mind Friedrich Von Steuben, designated the tavern as a secret black powder munitions stash for Continental Army couriers. All the while, the tavern continued to provide food, shelter and cheer to the hungry, weary soldiers fighting for their independence. Today, we honor our historic tavern’s tradition with a mission to raise the spirits of our guests. We invite you to experience the small and large plates, craft beers and revolutionary hospitality that is Black Powder Tavern.

Top review

JackieVIP

Dined on Dec 9, 2024

We felt like having a light meal and BP hit the nail on the head. I had the super delicious BBQ chicken wings with a small salad, my partner had the soup of the day, Tomato Bisque which he loved and also had a small salad. Everything was excellent. Our server, Max, was most accommodating. We can always count on the Black Powder Tavern for a great meal!l

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Popular dish

Cajun Macaroni & Cheese

Experience

Excellent Happy Hour at BPT!

The Jockey Tavern

4.5

4.5 (32)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Malvern

About the restaurant

Located near the heart of horse country in Malvern, The Jockey Tavern combines equestrian charm with warm tavern hospitality. A full makeover of the former McKenzie Brew House, this family-owned gastropub offers scratch-made comfort foods, signature cocktails inspired by the Triple Crown, and an extensive bourbon selection.

Featuring three fireplaces, elegant dining rooms, and private event spaces, The Jockey Tavern provides a stylish yet cozy atmosphere. Guests love the seafood bar, hearty mains like the Tomahawk Pork Chop, and crowd-favorites like the Martinique Salad. Don’t miss Jockey Hour, with half-priced drinks and Buck-a-Shuck oysters, or the Sunday Roast.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, with lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch options. Come experience Malvern’s newest dining destination!

Top review

beccaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We had a work holiday lunch here and loved it. It’s so nice inside, clean, great for a gathering. Our server was nice but very slow, waited a long time between visits, missed a few things. Overall a great experience.

White Dog Cafe-Haverford

4.6

4.6 (3873)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Havertown

About the restaurant

White Dog Cafe has been engaging its local community with award-winning contemporary American cuisine, since 1983 in Philadelphia and since 2010 in Wayne. Known for creative menus, using the highest quality farm-fresh ingredients and humanely raised meats and poultry, our menus change weekly to capture the best local, seasonal and sustainable grown foods available. Our inspiring menus are complimented with an all American wine list, local craft beers and seasonal specialty cocktails and refreshing mocktails served with warm hospitality.

Top review

Shane

Dined 2 days ago

It’s like having a terrific home-cooked meal at your very classiest friend’s home. Always a pleasure.

Not Your Average Joe's Glen Mills

4.6

4.6 (2249)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Glen Mills

About the restaurant

Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar offers a menu inspired by American cuisine. Its menu is stylish, contemporary and includes fresh oysters, gourmet pizzas, rice bowls and a variety of burgers. During a daily Happy Hour at Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar, diners can also enjoy both drink and appetizer specials.

Along with an array of beers, its menu includes wines and a wide selection of specialty cocktails. You'll further enjoy a casual and pub-like experience at Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar. Its décor includes an open kitchen, bench seating and a separate bar area with mounted flat screen televisions all around for watching sporting events.

Not Your Average Joe's Glen Mills is conveniently located in Glen Eagle Square, just off Wilmington Pike. We offer dine in and carry options, and are just around the corner from the Concord Point Apartments, Whole Foods Glen Mills, Concordville Subaru and Nissan, and Brandywine Racquet Club.

Top review

JeanetteVIP

Dined 7 days ago

The service was good, I request my eggs to be not brown, but they came brown, they did fix it but it took a really long time.

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