Comments on: Iron Hill Brewery, West Chester http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html Finally, a restaurant guide for Philadelphia's Main Line and suburbs Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:57:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jen http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-45034 Jen Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:18:24 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-45034 My husband and I eat here very frequently and we absolutely love it. I'm not sure why some of the other posts have commented that their food is below par, as I've been very pleased with almost everything I've ordered--with two exceptions: the cheese plate (seemed like I only got about 5 squares of cheese and crackers .... totally not worth the price and disappointing) and the shrimp linguine entree (just tasted strongly fishy). Other than that their food is fantastic! We live for the nachos and my husband loves the cheese steak egg rolls. The hummus plate, carrot soup, the roma tomato and goat cheese pizza, and mesclun salad are a few of my favorites. Iron Hill has it all, at least for us: a slightly up-scale yet cozy atmosphere, servers who remember us and who provide timely service, food that satisfies a hard-core meat-eater AND a vegetarian, and good beer. By the way, you can't really criticize a BREWERY for only offering beer that they BREW. The customer should be aware of that upon making the decision to dine there ... it's kind of the whole point. My husband and I eat here very frequently and we absolutely love it. I’m not sure why some of the other posts have commented that their food is below par, as I’ve been very pleased with almost everything I’ve ordered–with two exceptions: the cheese plate (seemed like I only got about 5 squares of cheese and crackers …. totally not worth the price and disappointing) and the shrimp linguine entree (just tasted strongly fishy). Other than that their food is fantastic! We live for the nachos and my husband loves the cheese steak egg rolls. The hummus plate, carrot soup, the roma tomato and goat cheese pizza, and mesclun salad are a few of my favorites. Iron Hill has it all, at least for us: a slightly up-scale yet cozy atmosphere, servers who remember us and who provide timely service, food that satisfies a hard-core meat-eater AND a vegetarian, and good beer. By the way, you can’t really criticize a BREWERY for only offering beer that they BREW. The customer should be aware of that upon making the decision to dine there … it’s kind of the whole point.

]]> By: Joey M. http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-11840 Joey M. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:01:54 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-11840 The parking is not good and will not get any better. The beer selection is limited to their own selection which is OK at best. The food is simply dreadful and their limited menu needs to be updated. They have been surpassed by every new restaurant in town who strives to be fresh and new. Eating outside on the busiest street corner in town is not appealing at all. The appetizers are mundane and trivial much like you would find at the big chains like TGIFriday's and Applebees. The main courses are brutal with no selection, nothing different - unless you consider a platter with cheese and sausages to be "exciting". The taste and preparation of the dishes is often sloppy and haphazard. Unless they make some serious changes, starting with the removal of their gregourious head chef, with whom run ins with customers have taken place in the restaurant, the place will most likely be bought out by a national chain and one day become a Chili's or Ruby Tuesday, which, at this point would be a welcome change. The parking is not good and will not get any better. The beer selection is limited to their own selection which is OK at best. The food is simply dreadful and their limited menu needs to be updated. They have been surpassed by every new restaurant in town who strives to be fresh and new. Eating outside on the busiest street corner in town is not appealing at all. The appetizers are mundane and trivial much like you would find at the big chains like TGIFriday’s and Applebees. The main courses are brutal with no selection, nothing different – unless you consider a platter with cheese and sausages to be “exciting”. The taste and preparation of the dishes is often sloppy and haphazard. Unless they make some serious changes, starting with the removal of their gregourious head chef, with whom run ins with customers have taken place in the restaurant, the place will most likely be bought out by a national chain and one day become a Chili’s or Ruby Tuesday, which, at this point would be a welcome change.

]]> By: Chris http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-8712 Chris Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:30:44 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-8712 Iron Hill is a good place to have drinks with friends, but the food is another story. I am not a person to bash a restaurant based on one lousy meal, but 4 or 5 is another story. They do cajun food about as well as McDonald's does seafood. They attempt to have an original and exotic menu, however they forgot to give the food any flavor. Their pizzas are horrendous as well. So if you are going out for drinks, it's worth your time; if you are looking for something to eat and don't feel like cooking, you might just want to order out instead! Iron Hill is a good place to have drinks with friends, but the food is another story. I am not a person to bash a restaurant based on one lousy meal, but 4 or 5 is another story. They do cajun food about as well as McDonald’s does seafood. They attempt to have an original and exotic menu, however they forgot to give the food any flavor. Their pizzas are horrendous as well. So if you are going out for drinks, it’s worth your time; if you are looking for something to eat and don’t feel like cooking, you might just want to order out instead!

]]> By: Spadea http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-8708 Spadea Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:13:36 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-8708 The beer there is good for a Brew Pub but Victory Brewing is much better. The food there is and has always been lousy bordering on boring, mundane and tasteless. The food main course dishes have never been exciting, the appetizers have been edible. Recently, within the last year, the food has gotten considerably worse, in my opinion and with all of the new restaurants opening up in town, they now have serious competition. I would recommend a beer but heading elsewhere for a much better dinner at the same price. Smoke free is a plus but almost every place in West Chester has gone smoke free as well. The beer there is good for a Brew Pub but Victory Brewing is much better. The food there is and has always been lousy bordering on boring, mundane and tasteless. The food main course dishes have never been exciting, the appetizers have been edible. Recently, within the last year, the food has gotten considerably worse, in my opinion and with all of the new restaurants opening up in town, they now have serious competition. I would recommend a beer but heading elsewhere for a much better dinner at the same price. Smoke free is a plus but almost every place in West Chester has gone smoke free as well.

]]> By: John S http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-8699 John S Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:43:17 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-8699 Had lunch there a few months back, the food was so-so and the service was too. My order was fine, but others in my group were disappointed. Took way too long to get our food and was a bit pricey for the lackluster meals and service. Had lunch there a few months back, the food was so-so and the service was too. My order was fine, but others in my group were disappointed. Took way too long to get our food and was a bit pricey for the lackluster meals and service.

]]> By: Anita http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-7369 Anita Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:37:01 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-7369 I love this place and get a little extra pep in my step when we arrive. Their appetizers are delicious especially their bruschetta and their entrees are also delicious. I love their pan seared sea scallops and shrimp with leeks and tomato fricassee. It will make you get up and do a jig. The atmosphere is very nice too. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the dining room. A nice bonus is that they'll validate your parking for you if you park in the garage across from the YMCA -- I really do appreciate that. There's only one thing that I wish they would improve upon and it's their desserts. Don't get me wrong...they're good but I just wish they would offer a plain chocolate cake. No peanut butter center, no cremy filling -- just a rich dark chocolate cake -- similar to the one that Magrogan's offers. If they do that we'll be cutomers for life. I love this place and get a little extra pep in my step when we arrive. Their appetizers are delicious especially their bruschetta and their entrees are also delicious. I love their pan seared sea scallops and shrimp with leeks and tomato fricassee. It will make you get up and do a jig.

The atmosphere is very nice too. There doesn’t seem to be a bad seat in the dining room. A nice bonus is that they’ll validate your parking for you if you park in the garage across from the YMCA — I really do appreciate that.

There’s only one thing that I wish they would improve upon and it’s their desserts. Don’t get me wrong…they’re good but I just wish they would offer a plain chocolate cake. No peanut butter center, no cremy filling — just a rich dark chocolate cake — similar to the one that Magrogan’s offers. If they do that we’ll be cutomers for life.

]]> By: Spesh http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-6012 Spesh Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:57:21 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-6012 A lot of hardcore beer geeks will turn their backs to chain brewpubs. Is it because they make mediocre beer? Is it because they use the same cookie cutter theme at every location? Maybe the food is uninspired and boring. Well, I can tell you, none of these reasons apply to Iron Hill. I even balk at calling them a chain of brewpubs because the recipe for success that Iron Hill uses is as far from a chain that you will get. Each well chosen location has its own charm and decor, the brewers get to create their own portfolio of brews and be totally independent. The food here is top notch, and the chefs, like the brewers, get to show off their own talents and be creative, and not conform to the same old thing, day after day. I think the thing that impresses me most about Iron Hill (aside from their beer) is how they choose their locations. Each one just feels right, and they seem to just fit right in with the community and take on that hometown vibe. Each of their brewpubs are doing very well, with the latest one set to open soon in Lancaster. A lot of hardcore beer geeks will turn their backs to chain brewpubs. Is it because they make mediocre beer? Is it because they use the same cookie cutter theme at every location? Maybe the food is uninspired and boring. Well, I can tell you, none of these reasons apply to Iron Hill. I even balk at calling them a chain of brewpubs because the recipe for success that Iron Hill uses is as far from a chain that you will get. Each well chosen location has its own charm and decor, the brewers get to create their own portfolio of brews and be totally independent. The food here is top notch, and the chefs, like the brewers, get to show off their own talents and be creative, and not conform to the same old thing, day after day.

I think the thing that impresses me most about Iron Hill (aside from their beer) is how they choose their locations. Each one just feels right, and they seem to just fit right in with the community and take on that hometown vibe. Each of their brewpubs are doing very well, with the latest one set to open soon in Lancaster.

]]> By: Brian http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-2269 Brian Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:45:49 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-2269 I agree with Balan that the beer at Victory is far better. But the ambiance at Victory is like eating at an industrial brewery. Sly Fox also has much better beer but not the ambiance. Iron Hill has far better beer than McKenzies however. Love that it is smoke free. The monthly dinner is fun. For twenty bucks you get two courses each paired with a beer. It's better some months than others but generally good. I have found the food at the Phoenixville location to be better than West Chester. I ordered the same monthly dinner at both locations once and it was far better in Phoenixville. I don't have any other direct comparisons but the food in Phoenixville has always been excellent. I agree with Balan that the beer at Victory is far better. But the ambiance at Victory is like eating at an industrial brewery. Sly Fox also has much better beer but not the ambiance. Iron Hill has far better beer than McKenzies however. Love that it is smoke free. The monthly dinner is fun. For twenty bucks you get two courses each paired with a beer. It’s better some months than others but generally good. I have found the food at the Phoenixville location to be better than West Chester. I ordered the same monthly dinner at both locations once and it was far better in Phoenixville. I don’t have any other direct comparisons but the food in Phoenixville has always been excellent.

]]> By: Steph http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-1794 Steph Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:38:24 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-1794 The food is pretty humble... but it's smoke free which makes it a great place for drinks. It's good to come home at night without smelling like an ashtray. The food is pretty humble… but it’s smoke free which makes it a great place for drinks. It’s good to come home at night without smelling like an ashtray.

]]> By: Directories Blog » Blog Archive » F2Q Qwest Resporg http://mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html#comment-1706 Directories Blog » Blog Archive » F2Q Qwest Resporg Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:16:23 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/iron-hill-brewery-west-chester.html#comment-1706 [...] Iron Hill Brewery, West Chester — Main Line Restaurant Guide There are other Iron Hill locations in Media, PA, Newark, DE, Phoenixville, PA, Wilmington, PA and … Blush Restaurant & Bar, Bryn Mawr; Café Fresko, Bryn Mawr; Christopher’s, Wayne; Coyote Crossing, West … http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html [...] [...] Iron Hill Brewery, West Chester — Main Line Restaurant Guide There are other Iron Hill locations in Media, PA, Newark, DE, Phoenixville, PA, Wilmington, PA and … Blush Restaurant & Bar, Bryn Mawr; Café Fresko, Bryn Mawr; Christopher’s, Wayne; Coyote Crossing, West … http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest/ironhill.html [...]

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