Off the well-trod paths of Lancaster Avenue and downtown Wayne, tucked inside a handsome new hotel on King of Prussia Road, Merrick’s Tavern would be easy to miss.
That would be a shame.
Because what you’ll find there is increasingly rare: relaxed, refined dining in a room where the seats are soft and the din isn’t deafening.
Merrick’s is the signature restaurant and bar at The Brandywine on the Main Line, the region’s newest hotel. Named for owner Brandywine Realty Trust and operating under Marriott’s upscale Tribute Portfolio collection, the 120-room, five-story hotel was beset by winter construction delays and scrambled to open in mid-May – just in time for Villanova’s graduation. (The hotel had been fully booked that weekend.)
The restaurant sits just beyond a sprawling lobby that may be The Brandywine’s biggest wow. Soaring ceilings, oversized fireplaces, inviting seating areas, and thoughtfully curated nods to the Main Line’s storied grand estates and railroad history make the space feel more like a private club than a corporate hotel.
Interior designers Restoration Hardware and Bergmeyer drew inspiration from the nostalgic experience of vintage train travel to country estates along the Main Line.
A plush watering hole designed for travelers and locals alike, Merrick’s Tavern (below) takes its name from Samuel Vaughan Merrick, the first president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Front and center is an elegant bar and lounge pouring spirit-forward cocktails from PA distillers, local craft beers and American wines. Grab an oversized stool at the bar, gather round a convivial high-top table, or sink into a sofa or easy chair.
Just outside the bar’s floor-to-ceiling windows, a freshly furnished patio expands the social scene in warm weather. (The outdoor couches, tables and planters only arrived last weekend.)
The dining room is clothed in vintage toile wallpaper and seats 64 but alfresco dining should be available any day now.
Merrick’s menu leans into approachable American fare sourced from local farms and purveyors. For now, it’s intentionally streamlined, though Assistant Food & Beverage Director Erin Labar says offerings will expand over time.
Everything we sampled arrived precisely prepared and artfully plated, from the Arctic Char Pastrami ($20) and Spring Pea Soup ($13) starters to the Black Bass ($38) and Grilled Prime Flat Iron ($42) entrées.
We’re eyeing the Roasted Lancaster Chicken ($33) and Heritage Pork Coppa Steak ($37) for our next visit.
A nice plus: portions are generous and include veggies so you may not have to spring for sides.
According to our server, the biggest seller so far – no surprise – is “The Burger” with onion fig jam, cheddar, oyster mushrooms and sea-salt fries, well-priced at $23.
Leading the kitchen is Executive Chef Michael Davies who honed his craft at acclaimed Philly spots Memphis Taproom, Cheu Fishtown and Pumpkin. An Art Institute of Philadelphia grad, Davies brings city-caliber cred to the burbs’ newest dining destination.
But The Brandywine’s ambitions extend far beyond hotel guests.
To draw locals to its doors, the property plans to host high-profile chef collaborations for pop-up dinners, art shows and book signings, says Labar, who also directs the hotel’s programming and events.
As polished as it is, Merrick’s may soon be upstaged by what may become the hotel’s crown jewel: Pomelo Rooftop Terrace.
Perched five stories above Radnor, the expansive indoor-outdoor destination will feature apothecary-driven cocktails, coastal-inspired fare, weekend brunch and treetop views.
A rendering of the Pomelo Rooftop Lounge at The Brandywine.
Open year-round, Pomelo’s is expected to host everything from themed music nights to weddings and private events.
Still under construction, Pomelo will be the central Main Line’s largest rooftop venue when it debuts later this month..
In the meantime, Merrick’s Tavern offers two good reasons to visit The Brandywine now: a refined, easy-going vibe and food worth savoring.
Merrick’s Tavern at The Brandywine on the Main Line hotel, 169 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily beginning at 7 a.m. The bar opens at 2 p.m. with bar bites available from 4 p.m. Reserve via OpenTable.
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