I died and went to heaven

I died and went to heaven.  No – that’s not why you haven’t heard from me in a while (although I do thank all of the well-wishers who thought my absence meant I must be sick!).

I died and went to heaven because I had the absolute best appetizer I have ever had.  Ever.  And it was the Brisket Flatbread at the new Stove & Tap in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  Made with cheddar, parmesan, blue cheese, pickled red onion, horseradish cream, this appetizer was not just good.  Not just great.  It was mouth-wateringly awesome.

Lindsey, Ken David and Erin
at the Stove & Tap

And pretty much summed up our visit to the Stove and Tap on St. Patrick’s Day.  Now I’m going to tell you, I’m not usually a big fan of going to a new restaurant when it first opens.  Because of growing pains.  The service is usually spotty because people are still learning their jobs.  The food can be spotty because the kitchen is still finding its rhythm.  The whole experience can be, well, spotty.

Not at the Stove & Tap!  Less than a week after opening, and on a boisterous St. Patrick’s Day, this restaurant was running like a well-oiled machine.  Like it’s been here for a long, long time.

And I hope it is here for a long, long time, because it’s a place I will go back to again and again.  Not just because it’s in Lansdale.  Because it’s fantastic.

It was dinner night out with friends Erin and Lindsey.  An added bonus – good friend David was visiting from California.  While we were waiting for our table, one of my favorite moments happened.  David had to go to the restroom, and upon his return to the lobby, and smiling gentleman turned to him and nicely asked, “Hi! How was your visit?”  Momentarily confused, we thought some random guy was asking David how his trip to the men’s room went.  How odd!  No.  It was one of the managers thinking David was leaving after his dinner, and inquiring about his dining experience.  But I now think restaurant staff everywhere should ask patrons about their bathroom experiences.  Because caring.

When we were seated, we started with drinks.  It was St. Patrick’s Day after all.  The Stove & Tap has a nice selection of local beers on tap, including Lansdale Lager from Round Guys Brewery across the street.  Lindsey had a Lansdale Mule – the inventive rift on a Moscow Mule, made with Lansdale Vodka from the nearby Boardroom Spirits.  These Stove & Tap people are doing a great job of not just making this a restaurant, but a Lansdale restaurant.

The place was packed!

I had a Wood Street Side Car.  Why?  A) I had never had one.  B) I think my grandmother used to drink them in the 1920s.  C) It sounded good.

The drink personified what the Stove & Tap is so good at.  They take something you’ve heard of.  And elevate it.  And make it special.  And delicious.  That Sidecar was pretty amazing.  And I now look at my grandmother in a whole new light.  You go, Grandma!

The wings were too good.  They got eaten too fast
to be pictured.  The wood dishes are nice, though!

I already told you we started with the Brisket Flatbread.  We also had the wings.  And what wings they were.  A generous portion of perfectly cooked wings.  Perfectly seasoned.  They used fresh sage.  Sage!  These are not your everyday wings.  These are really, really good chicken perfection.

The menu is inventive.  At first blush, there are a lot of sandwiches, salads, pasta and main dishes that you’ve all heard of.  Hamburgers.  Mac and cheese.   Fried chicken.  Chicken pot pie.  But in every case, your old favorite is elevated to be something special.  Something that transcends what your idea of the dish was.

I had the hamburger.  But it was not just a hamburger.  You can get that anywhere.  It was a handmade, double patty that was just the right size.  Beautifully assembled with bibb lettuce and pickled onions.  And a sauce that set everything off well, and made it onto so much more than just a burger.  I also got to try Erin’s Po Boy sandwich.  Catfish, not an easy fish to cook, was fried perfectly.  Served with avocado and chipotle mayo on a roll that had just the right consistency.  Another winner.

Ken and David both had the Tap Smoked Cheesesteak.  I’m just going to have to take their words that they loved it.  Loved it so much there was no sharing.  I’ll just have to try it myself sometime.

There was a plate of deviled eggs at some point as well.  Because Lindsey loves deviled eggs.  Not my go to dish, but what the hey – I’ll try one.  And it was good!  Spiced with perhaps Old Bay and curry and topped with a long hot, they truly did have the devil in them. 

Great decor.  The lights are
especially interesting.

Equally as good as the food was the service.  Not an easy thing to do at a restaurant that has just opened.  Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and a nice guy.  From Souderton.  After spending six years in Colorado.  But he likes being home with his family – his brother has eight kids, and he likes being an uncle.  I really appreciate a waiter who, while insanely busy with multiple tables, will take the time to nicely answer our inane questions.  Perhaps if I didn’t have a couple of drinks, I would remember his name.  I think it was Dan.  Ask for Dan.  If you get Dan, ask about his brother with eight kids.  If you get a blank stare, our waiter's name was NOT Dan.

Equally attentive was owner Justin Weathers.  He knows how to work a room!  Super nice guy who obviously knows how to run a restaurant.  Thank you, Justin, for coming to Lansdale!

The restaurant itself is a welcoming space of wood and light colors.  Inventive light fixtures all over.  Really cool, steam-punkish things.

Ken and the bear.

And there is a bear.  In the front window.  Somewhat random, but really endearing.  And from what I hear, the bear is getting to be quite the Instagram hit.  I could really see that becoming a thing.  "Meet me at the bear."  And everyone will know that means the Stove & Tap in Lansdale.

We saw a lot of people we knew last night – friends and neighbors.  But we also saw lots and lots of people we didn’t know.  Many who seemed to have come from outside of Lansdale.

Many who seemed to have come from outside of Lansdale.  That is worth repeating.  You can go to a restaurant anywhere.  But you can only go to a restaurant like the Stove & Tap here in Lansdale. 

Lansdale Shopping Score:  1

So the recap:

ONE opportunity to shop/eat in Lansdale met.

Let’s see what today brings!