Getaway Guide To Country Inn And Tavern Dining
Beyond city and suburban bustle and crawl, there's a world of dining that sparks an image of travel by horseback with wayside stops for filling meals and a refreshing pint. Country inns and taverns, though far apart, still exist. Menus have been updated but retain tradition. The bars are dark mahogany. Rustic dining rooms and patios echo with reminders of 18th and 19th century travelers. While still early in the day-trip season Mary and I have discovered 2 that are new to us and 1 to which we returned after a long absence. So here they are along with several continuing favorites. All have earned repeat visits. -- Jay Lloyd
PINEVILLE TAVERN
Route 413
Pineville, PA 18946
www.pinevilletavern.com/
As we drove along route 413 while heading for Washington's Crossing, the Pineville Tavern looked like a sleepy stop that might have jars of pickled pig's feet behind a well worn bar. But it was the only stop for miles. So on the way back, we pulled in. At lunch time a large hidden parking lot was filling up fast, the lunch crowd was growing on the patio and the menu with an Italian tilt was riveting - so many choices, so little time. They even offered half-portions of pasta dishes, something you see in Italy, but rarely here. Behind the 18th century facade is a rustic dining room and a bar that feels like it came with the early Bucks County settlers. The day was sunny, so we picked the patio. Back to the food. It was a tough choice, but I'm a sucker for pasta and clams in a spicy red sauce - half-portion and loaded with whole clams - eight bucks. It was memorable and we'll be back the next time our travels include a Delaware River ramble.
SCHULTHESIS CARRIAGE HOUSE
745 Gravel Pike
Palm, PA 18041
www.schultheiscarriagehouse.com/index.html
The Carriage House is encased in yet another roadside gem that traces its history to the mid-18th century pioneers that extended Billy Penn's settlements between Philadelphia and Reading. Today the Carriage House on route 29 near the Montgomery and Berks County border is operated as a welcoming destination for German/Austrian fare with a nod to Italy and an old world selection of beers. An outdoor Biergarten has been newly opened, just in time for summer with its own menu, music and happy hours. That's where we parked for lunch.
Dill dusted pickle slices were starters accompanied by a tapped Spaten Lager. For me potato latkes topped with cream cheese filled smoked salmon. Mary opted for mushroom strudel. Then there was the colorful button popping dessert selection. Enough satisfying comfy food for a week.
BAY PONY INN
508 Old Skippack Rd
Lederach, PA 19450
www.bayponyinnpa.com/
We'd been away from the Bay Pony Inn for too long. Right off route 113 at the Village of Lederach, the 19th century Inn had been a long time favorite when traveling from suburbs to rural Montgomery County. It's close enough to make it a way stop for visits to Spring Mountain, the nearby Lederach Golf Course or the Philadelphia Folk Festival. There have been some menu changes that reflect the European and Bermuda experiences of veteran restaurant hosts Eduard and Florence Knechtl. Look for the savory cioppino, made rich with the sweet meat of a lobster tail. Steaks and seafood are the basic building blocks for a menu of familiar and well prepared fare. There's live music on weekends and a bar that encourages lively conversation any night.
THE WHIP TAVERN
1383 N. Chatham Rd.
Coatesville, PA 19320
thewhiptavern.com/
There's no doubt you're smack in the middle of hunt country as curious horses gaze over post-and-rail fences at visitors heading for the Whip Tavern. Patrons in riding garb park at the rustic bar or perch a high top tables on a busy patio to tip a nose into the foam of a British beer while nibbling Scotch eggs. It's a place as English as you'll find in these former colonies and decorated totally in homage to the horse. From quail to rabbit and rarebit, the menu is a mirror of the English countryside in a rural American setting. It's all washed down by one of the best selections of British brews and barside conversation that revolves largely around local open spaces, horses and hounds.
YELLOW HOUSE HOTEL
6743 Boyertown Pike,
Douglassville, PA 19518
www.yellowhousehotel.com/
Ribs, racks and quacks are all on the generous menu that meanders between old world and new at this one-time Berks County stagecoach stop. The hitching post is still here, but travelers in the Oley Valley south of Boyertown find the parking lot more useful. The Yellow House Hotel saw light at the turn of the 18th to 19th centuries and is still offering rooms with period furnishings for a quiet country stay. Five rooms accommodate guests for $70 to $85 a night. If you really want to get the feel of early American life, tour the nearby Daniel Boone homestead before heading to Yellow House for a leisurely dinner and lively bar conversation. Avoid the drive home by spending the night over the carriage tracks of 19th century coaches.
A drive beyond the familiar suburban tracts can open a world of discovery into a lifestyle that offers a view of our historic past.
Enjoy.
