Sitting alone, admiring the artwork of a local, but soon-to-be-known painter, I spotted my waitress making her approach. Like an apex predator in high grass, she deftly cut though a gaggle of patrons, my Sauvignon Blanc held aloft, to arrive at my high top table with a wink and a smile. The Tap Room gets crowded, no doubt, but I never see the pressure on the faces of the staff. They always make you feel as if you got there, "just in time." Food is off the hook. (The first time I ordered the shrimp & grits I wept.). Nice beer selection. Cool decor. And right across the street from the Downingtown train station! Give it a go, but get there early. read more

Wait, this place looks like Brooklyn, and I mean that in the nicest way. During my weekend trip to Downington, my friends took me to Station Taproom, telling me in advance that I'd probably feel a Brooklyn vibe to this place. Whether it was the art or all the people in skinny jeans and thick-rimmed glasses (both of which I was also wearing), I immediately felt the low-key, chill atmosphere as soon as we were seated. Nothing on the menu stood out for me with the exception of the truffle fries, which we ordered for the whole table to share. However, once the waitress listed the day's specials, my heart was set on the Surf and Turf Burger, a glorious creation compiled of a juicy beef patty topped with a generous portion of crab imperial. I did not regret my decision. The burger was well seasoned and the crab imperial on top was packed with crab cheesy goodness. The truffle fries were also a big hit, especially the crunchy pieces in the bottom of the bowl. One thing that didn't resemble Brooklyn? The prices. Thank goodness. read more

Station Taproom - The Surf and Turf Burger - Beef Meets Crab Imperial. GLORIOUS. - Gastropubs Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Love this spot in Downingtown! Parking is a bit of a pain and it is on the small side but let me tell you it is worth the hassle. If you can put your name down on the waiting list (don't worry, there will be one if you're coming in on a Thurs, Fri, Sat) and go next door to Bottleroom an enjoy a one of the many awesome beers on tap or a local cider... my wife and I are in love with Dressler Estate, made in Downingtown! If you are lucky enough to just grab a seat in the taproom check out their diverse menu but don't get your heart set because often times their specials are a game changer and they don't break the bank! One example of this was the PB&J burger; it was astounding despite being slightly under-cooked for my taste. The PB was good but what made it was the raspberry jam, sweet but not too sweet with a slightly tart finish... holy cow was it ever delicious. The fires that come with can be ordered regular, old bay or poutine. Any option is fantastic! I've been here no less than 7 times and the couple we were dining with goes about 3 times a month, no one has ever been disappointed. Beer selection here is great, plenty of taps with a wide array of beer styles. You can do a lot worse than Station Taproom in Downingtown. read more

If you are in Downingtown and you aren't making it a point to visit this amazing place with its wonderful staff and incredible food, you are doing yourself a disservice. read more

Had a late lunch right shortly after they opened on a Friday 8/27 around 3:30. I must say, the diversity of the type of food on their menu is why we go there. Every app we had - the Ratatouille flat bread, spinach dip toast and Brussel sprouts was knocked out of the park. The bahn mi sandwich with pork belly I had couldn't have been cooked any more perfect. My father in law, who had just been in Nashville the week prior, said the hot chicken sandwich he had was better than any of the ones he had last week! Cocktail selection was on point too. Great options for a hot summer day. My only thing is their beer selection on the lighter, less hoppy side could have been larger. Yes, The selection of hoppier and IPAs was good. read more

I have been here a handful of times and have always had a great experience and wonderful service while dining at the tables in this establishment. My server is always an adorable girl with curly hair and she is amazing. However this evening I decided to sit at the bar for a solo dinner and I was absolutely disappointed. The bartender, a female with long blonde hair (I unfortunately didn't catch her name and didn't care enough to stick around to ask for such information), provided service that was absolutely disappointing. While I was waiting to be acknowledged she was busy chatting with someone who appeared to be a "regular" and continued in flowery conversation while I sat there. She passed by me multiple times before offering to take my drink order, didn't offer a menu, and did not ask if I cared for a refill even when I blatantly pushed my glass towards her end of the bar. She did however converse with other guests with familiarity and gusto. I came prepared to treat myself to a lovely dinner date for one and left so disappointed. I kept hoping it would get better but the bar service just fell flat. As a member of the service industry I always give people the benefit of the doubt but in this instance that was impossible. The bartender was on her phone while I was waiting for her to run my check, she and another coworker were badmouthing the establishment and other coworkers in front of me. I witnessed her offer the specials to the other guests and treat them like royalty while I noshed on a less than desirable mahi mahi taco. I really wanted to have a good time and came in ready to do so but it appears that if you're not a regular you won't be paid attention to... read more

Had brunch today. I had the frittata with chorizo, grilled onions and peppers and goat cheese with fried potatoes and a piece of sausage. Maggie the Benedict special with dried tomatoes arugula and prosciutto on an English muffin. We were each very pleased the eggs on the Benedict were poached correctly and the arugula gave a nice contrast to the richness of the dish. The chorizo on mine was spicy and the goat cheese clearly fresh. The potatoes cooked in duck fat were excellent. Service prompt and friendly. Really very nicely done. read more

Station Taproom - Frittata - Gastropubs Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

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Went for Sunday brunch at station taproom with a friend after hearing such good things about it! If my review was based solely on their food, I'd give this place a five! The four star review is purely based on our experience trying to get a table. Station taproom serves an amazing brunch, but oddly doesn't open until ten am. When they open, they tend to have a line out the door and it's a free for all to find a table once inside. My friend and I arrived at 11 to avoid this situation but stumbled into an awkward scenario where there is no hostess, no space to wait, and seemingly little organization to the wait list. We eventually decided to sit and eat at the bar because we honestly couldn't tell if we were even in line for a table. Once seated at the bar, our experience was great! The server was friendly despite the busy restaurant. The menu was creative and had interesting, innovative brunch items. We had the stuffed French toast which was absolutely out of this world and the bbq Benedict which was also delicious. I loved that the French toast came with a variety of fresh fruit and the egg dish came with crispy home fries. Overall, this is definitely a local joint where I think knowing the culture makes a difference. Despite our initial confusion, we loved the food and service and will likely return! read more

Just do it! This place always knocks it outside of the park ! Great beer and great food!

This place is great for beers and food. Small but quaint. I go there after or before a school event as there is always something for everyone. read more

Great place to go eat especially before Covid... Takeout... Wasn't super impressed. Whether it's the way their packaging it or it just doesn't travel well I'm not sure. That being said I do keep supporting because we should but I am definitely looking forward to getting back in there and eating in person as things come right out of the kitchen. read more

First time here. Just moved back to Chester county. Delicious seafood stew and wings. Great sandwiches and choices of salad or fries on side. Awesome service. Broad local beer menu and handmade cocktails. Will be back. read more

I had heard good things about this place and was looking forward to checking it out. I ordered some items to bring home to the family, among them, two orders of fish and chips. The order was in a paper bag that was stapled shut. After all the good things I heard about Station Taproom I thought surely everything would be fine, right? WRONG! Upon getting home I opened the fish and chips only to discover overdone fish batter and chips that looked like they were overcooked in dirty oil, then overcooked in dirty oil again. I've head of refried beans, but refried chips? Initially I honestly thought the wrong item had accidentally been put in the boxes, but upon further inspection I discovered that these burnt little sticks were apparently at one time in their life, a potato. For $42 spent on lunch, I would have expected better. Where is Gordon Ramsay when you need him? I was told while I was there that the English chef who had been there for 9 years had legged it about a month ago. What a shame I just missed him. The Yanks can't cook fish and chips properly. Good 'eavens, guv'nor, I'm taking my patronage to Beale's Plaice. Toodle pip! read more

Station Taproom - Chargrilled fish and chips - Gastropubs Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Get the burger! The taproom is in such a cool little corner of Downingtown, I never mind getting their takeout.

Food is on point and reasonably priced. The size of the place leaves very little elbow room and it fills up quickly, so be aware there are MAJOR wait times for a table. Great selection of beer, lots of local choices are available. Parking is a challenge but there is a lot across the street that you can find a spot in, most of the time. read more

Food, service, and drinks are always amazing. One of our favorite places to bring friends! It's a small area, and it does get really really loud, so if you don't like loud places take out may be your best option! But try the food, it's worth it!!! read more

This place is our absolute favorite. Great food and great people! Curated wines to choose from and a great rotation of craft beers and cocktails. I always manage to find a new favorite "go to" meal. read more

This is the spot. Menu is always great but I always get something on the specials list to throw me out of my comfort zone. I have never had the same thing twice whether it be beer, wine, or food, in the thousands of visits I've had. Great food, great service, great bartenders, great place. Recommend the Shrimp and Grits, it'll knock your socks off. read more

Food and drafts are fantastic. Only negatives are it's a tiny place and parking can be a hassle.

Station is a great "local" place. The tap selection emcompasses a good selection. What isn't represented on tap can be found in bottles. There's always something on Cask as well (Last night was Victory's Headwater). What I truly appreciate is that there are drinkable beers on tap. While barleywines and Double IPA's grace their draft board, so do ~5% Pales and Stouts. Station also serves liquor and wine by the glass. I've eaten the Curry and the Buffalo shrimp. Both were good sized and taste fantastic. There is a relatively small staff that caters to different personalities pretty well. I've found them to be freindly and relatively chatty each time I've been there. After a few visits, the staff recognizes me and acknowledges my entrance. The owner comes up, shakes my hand, and chats for a few minutes. All in all, this 40 minute drive has been worth it the 4 or 5 times I've gone. read more

Station Taproom - DFH 90 - Chocolate Stout Mousse - Tripel Karmeliet - Gastropubs Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Great local spot with a bar atmosphere and a few tables. Decent selection of beer and some nice looking contrails as well, it wasn't super busy when I came in so the service was quick. The vegan cheesesteak was pretty good, I also had the side of broccoli which I really liked. Definitely worth stopping in here! read more

At first glance it was very comfortable and an inviting ambience. My first concern was that they did not have lemonade so I went with the cranberry juice. To my surprise it was very delightful (I don't usually like cranberry juice) but with added lemons it seemed like a light cranberry lemonade. I had the small plate BBQ wings (which were lovely), fish n chips and my father had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Everything tastes perfect. Fries were cooked to perfection and very unique taste. Will definitely be recommending this place to my friends and family. Thank you for the lovely experience. read more

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Came here for lunch while visiting the area. Restaurant/Taproom is clean inside and out. Staff is super friendly and knows the menus well. Multiple tap offerings, including craft beer. Meal was served promptly and was delicious. I had the (huge) chicken breast pannini, a friend the PB&J Burger, awesome! It's not a large place but we came at the right time and had no wait. I'm told there are times you'll stand outside waiting to get in. Some might find this place a little pricey. I'll be back next time I'm in the area. read more

Good service good rotating list of beers on tap. Good stuff :) Yelp wants me to add twenty three more words (or was it characters?) for some reason even though I like to think brevity is the soul of wit. read more

Wonderful food and meeting place with my friends! Service and atmosphere superb! Highly recommend

We had Matt as our server for dinner and he was fantastic! Gave us great dinner and drink recommendations! We usually visit for breakfast but after this visit we may be back more often for dinner! Delicious food, great date night spot, and good service! All around great place :) read more

Awesome word-of-mouth local business. If you're looking for cozy place with an excellent menu this is a great choice. We have enjoyed everything we have tried over the past four years. From the fried green tomatoes to the burger to some vegan dishes...yum! Cool little spot! read more

When we gutted our kitchen we must have ate 10-15 times in 6 weeks. We have been patrons since the first year it opened. Very good food and a good beer selection. read more

Great local place to have a casual meal and a cold beer. Love the menu (Mac & Cheese, Truffle Fries, Thai Curry, etc.). Parking is a challenge, but well worth the effort! read more

Really great place in an unexpected area. Great drinks and food. Wife and I have been on several dates at thai place. Their beer selection is great and home made sangrias are good too - peach and vodka sangria was yum. Chicken wings are surprisingly good. Burger was excellent. Thai curry was surprisingly good too. Great place to go with friends or on date. read more

Lost my mind over how crazy f*cking good the food was ..no joke and I had the Free Will blood and guts to drink...also insane ! First time there and absolutely heading back ..great energy,good food and good beer! If you haven't been to this small spot in downingtown...GO! read more

Great beer choices and a friendly knowledgeable bartender who smiled often, knew the menu very well and checked on us frequently. Wish it was closer to my home. Will definitely return. Food was excellent- not your typical bar food by a long shot. read more

I was visiting semi-nearby Longwood Gardens with four others and decided to try this place for dinner because of all the positive reviews. I was not disappointed. Yelp really works! Upon entering, we were immediately greeted and asked if we wanted any drinks. While they don't take reservations, we only had to wait 10 minutes for a table that could accommodate us. Service was so personable and prompt throughout the meal. I started with a "small plate" of Fried Artichoke Hearts which came with a lemon-garlic aoli. So good! Then I had a Pulled Pork sandwich with my choice of sauce (North Carolina or Cumin BBQ), cole slaw, and hand cut fries. I chose Cumin BBQ for the sandwich and it was super delicious. I inhaled it! The pork really seemed to be pulled by hand and was very tender and tasty with just a hint of spice. The cole slaw was well-balanced and on the crisper, dryer side which I personally appreciate. I sampled my friend's Thai Red Curry (vegetables over basmati rice and served with homemade naan and your choice of protein- this time, tofu). Slightly peanutty, smokey, deep flavors- yummy! We were all full, but to finish, we shared a Cheese Plate (from their "Small Plates" part of the menu) which was served with honey on the comb, fig jam, what seemed to be Asian pear slices, and small bread slices. That evening, we chose a bleu cheese, raw cow milk cheese, and the earthy, tangy, and grassy Birchrun Hills Fat Cat which was my favorite. Mmmmmm. Station Taproom has pub food elevated beyond your wildest dreams! read more

My only regret from our evening at the Station Taproom was that we didn't order the truffle fries. Because I've seen them referred to as legal crack. Now, I've never tried crack...but a legal version of it, in the form of french fries with black truffle infused sea salt? Seems like a no-brainer, right? Yeah, my bad. Oh, and Wifey S. regrets that she didn't order the Shrimp & Grits. Because she tried mine, aka legal crack. But other than that, all was good. What we did order was the spicy chicken dip, and it was solid. Not legal crack, though. Now, I have to add the caveat that I asked for the sriracha on the side so that Kiddies S. could partake, and it's entirely possible that the standard inclusion of said sriracha could have helped move the dish into legal crack territory (hell, sriracha practically qualifies on it's own). As such, this possibility will have to be delved into at a later date... Now, what could be classified as such was the shrimp & grits. I'm not usually a grits guy, but the grits in this case were actually a fried cheddar grit cake. Hells yeah. The entire dish was on point. Daughter S. kept asking for bites, and after the first I started having to barter for bites of her taproom burger. An acceptable deal for both sides. Wifey S. had opted for the special burger of the night, which was a black and blue burger...not bad, but a little light on the blue cheese and caramelized onions while a little heavy on the black. A burger like that is all about proportions, and they, unfortunately, were not totally on point. Son S. opted for steak tacos, and while the flavors were good, IMO, steak in a taco should be more carne asada or fajita style, which is to say chopped (former) or fairly thinly sliced (latter) and done to point where it's got just the right chew for a taco, as opposed to a medium rareness where you've got to work on it a bit more. The bottom line here, though, is that most adults would probably have been happy with them, whereas they maybe weren't geared toward 9-year-old Son S. Bygones. Oh, and the beer was really good. I would actually expect a wider selection of tap beers at a place with taproom in its name, but the important thing is that the selection they did have was good. And you can peruse it online prior, do a little research and go in there knowing what you want. We went for De Struise Pannepeut, a Belgian quad, and Allagash White. Both yum. I didn't love paying $8 for ten ounces of the De Struise, but hey, whaddaya gonna do?!? I really wanted to try the flight of whiskey someone said they offer, but we had a movie to get to and I was already starting to fade (I got a good nap during the movie). Two other things I'll touch on...first, service was great. Waitress was cute, happy, helpful and attentive. Pretty much all you could ask for. The other is that you should be prepared for some volume in this place. It's a bit tight in there, and it gets LOUD. We had a table next to one of the front windows that mitigated for some of that...but just don't go expecting to have a quiet, intimate dinner. Hey, I say if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...just throw back a few, order the shrimp & grits, and make some of your own noise! read more

I sure didn't expect such a tiny town to have such a kickass bar. Station Taproom is aptly named, because it's across the street from the train. However, it's a little ways away from the main drag, so you can't exactly walk to the rest of the strip. The ambiance inside has clean lines and warm colors that evoke candlelight without being dingy. I love that this place sources its food from the local farms, creameries, and (of course) breweries. Victory! The quality of the food is top notch and artsy. For instance, I got a French take on grilled cheese by getting a sandwich with Brie and fig jam. It was so yummy! And the prices are pretty normal for a gastropub, so you aren't paying any extra for the local food than you would for regular food in a city bar. Tap list is impressively local and varied; the bartenders are knowledgeable, friendly, and slide you samples when you just aren't sure. I found a new Sly Fox favorite when I went for lunch a few days ago. Definitely give this place a try! read more

Sit in the front window and watch the trains go by -- there are not too many places you can do that. What an advantage to live in a town with passenger rail service. This small, comfortable, minimalist-decor beer pub on the main drag is known for really good microbrews, but it has decent wines by the glass too. Even late on a Tuesday night, there was no room at the bar. It's clearly a good quality non-divey locals place. They consider themselves a gastropub. The menu is animal-heavy, but the truffle oil fries were delicious, and I did taste the truffle flavor. :-) We saw a Thai curry dish that includes tofu as a protein choice, nice touch. The green salad has roasted beets, which you don't see very often, and vegans can also get the edamame beans. We were only there for a nightcap (isn't that a funny term?) but would give more of the food a try next time. There is a cheese menu. If I ever saw an artisan vegan cheese on a such a menu, and yes there is such a thing, I would faint. Maybe in my next life. Very friendly and professional service with good beer advice: I told her I liked floral and piney flavors, and she had two samples for me in a flash. And oh my, what a nice little collection of whiskies: bourbon, single malts, and Irish. The wines are thoughtfully chosen as well. Interesting local art hangs on the walls. The adjacent parking lot is tight, but at least there is one. read more

The Station Taproom was recommended by our neighbors who are 30-40 years our juniors. Imagine Septuagenarians visiting a singles bar during happy hour on a Friday night, and you'll get a good picture of our first visit. We vowed to return at a better time - Hold the Earlybird Special gaffs! Return we did for a late lunch on a Thursday afternoon; it was late because the Taproom doesn't open until 3pm, We ordered the Prince Edward Island mussels served with baguette and a tomato onion fennel sauce. It was excellent. Them we ordered the Taproom hamburger, medium rare and topped with bacon and cheddar cheese my wife had a shrimp and grits dish. Both were superb. The hamburger was the best I have ever had anywhere, and my wife licked plate of shrimp and grits and sauce clean. The station Taproom has an excellent selection of craft beer. I had a Mission IPA that was the perfect compliment for the hamburger, and my wife enjoyed a white sangria. Top off the excellent food with a pleasant and attentive waitress, and the result is a perfect dining experience. read more

Great new place in Downingtown! Food was great. Rehab of the building is awesome. Fantastic waitstaff. Very reasonable food prices fill in a niche for D'town where there tends to be extremes (ex. McDonalds vs Firecreek). Great place for stepping off the train to get dinner after a long day at work or trip home on SEPTA :). Location is also great for people watching if you sit by the windows. We had curry mussels (spicy!), the olive sampler, the egg rolls, and a burger as well as chocolate mouse for dessert. All were great as were the two beers my husband had. Like the one other reviewer said not a Coors or Bud lite to be found! Overall great experience! read more

Awesome food, good beer, excellent specials. Seating fills up fast for dinner, get there early or swing by Bottle Room while you wait!

The Station Taproom is one of my favorite places in town. The beer selection is large, the food is wonderful and flavorful, the staff is very friendly and well informed, and the atmosphere is spot on Durring my last visit (one of countless visits) I ordered the chorizo quesadilla, Alagash White, and shared an order of fries. It was all spectacular. My only recommendation to the chef would be to possibly use roughly chopped red chorizo instead of ground. It came of as slightly gritty. Having said that, everything else that I've ever ordered there has come out amazingly. Tip: if you're not familiar with craft beers, tell your waiter or waitress what beers you typically enjoy and they will recommend one for you. Every recommendation they have given me so far has been great. read more