Editor's note: This is the Dining Duo's final regular dining review. After eating our way through many of the dining venues in East Whiteland, Willistown and Malvern over the past year, we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. We can’t help but notice the variety of cuisines represented—Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, Italian, French and good, old American barbecue. We also have to comment on the friendliness of the servers and owners who welcomed us graciously and were happy to tell us about their food. On the barbecue front, Jimmy’s BBQ is the real deal, with …

From the sidewalk, Julie Anne’s Place looked like any other well-kept twin, except for the sign hanging on the porch and the menu board propped by the door. The homey feeling continued with a gracious welcome by one of the servers as we entered. We were looking up the staircase along the mauve and cream colored walls when she motioned to the list of daily specials posted by the bottom. She brought menus to the blond wood table with dark wood chairs that we chose. It was already set with paper place mats and utensils wrapped in paper napkins. She took our drink order and quickly returned with …

Parts of Route 30 in East Whiteland can seem almost small-town quaint, as evidenced by the lighted sign and unassuming front of Jack’s Pizza & Pasta in Frazer. Always curious as to what food experience lies ahead, we entered by the front counter and glanced up at the lit menu sign overhead. The friendly man behind the counter asked if we’ve been there before, then suggested we take paper menus to make it easier to order. We sat down in a booth with a green laminate table and faux wood seat. Some people waited for their takeout orders at the red naugahyde and silver stools along a bar in the …

Teikoku is a bit of an island in southern Willistown. The Japanese and Thai restaurant and bar is the only dining establishment—the only building, even—along a very green stretch of West Chester Pike near the Edgmont border. We entered past the brown leather chairs and tables arranged for leisurely conversation to find two young greeters at the front desk. We asked to sit at the sushi bar with the intention of trying some Japanese appetizers then exploring the Thai side of the menu for entrées. Our plans changed when we saw that a sushi chef who had worked at a center city Japanese restaurant…

A lively group at the bar was enjoying Happy Hour on the night of our mid-week visit to the Redhound Grille in the former Big Easy space. A greeter, who we later learned was a co-owner, allowed us to choose between the main and smaller side dining areas. We asked to sit in the smaller room where less of the noise from the bar drifted in. She filled our water goblets and told us that our server would be right with us. We asked our bubbly server if we could hear about the Happy Hour specials, but she explained that they were only available in the bar area. Since we were already seated at a dark…

One of the easiest conversation starters for a food lover is to ask someone where they go for pizza. Our area is flush with local shops, each with its own style and special features. Some people choose the closest place or one that delivers. We like to explore our options and often are pleasantly surprised by what we find behind often small, unassuming fronts. We entered Slice It Up Pizza through the small take out area and headed to the dining room done in hunter green carpeting with homey, old-fashioned framed ads hung on white stucco walls. Since there were no menus at the tables, we asked…

Restaurant: Slice It Up Pizza Is there a kid’s menu? Yes.  Are there healthy options on the kid’s menu? Of the three options, the Mini Pizza is probably healthier than the Grilled Cheese & Fries or Chicken Fingers & Fries. How does the restaurant deal with food allergies? Questions are welcomed. Informing the server about allergies when ordering lets them help in choosing appropriate items or substitutions. Are high chairs available? Yes. Is there a diaper changing station? No.  Are there public restrooms? Yes. There are two single-sex rooms.  How difficult is it to maneuver a stroller …

We weren’t sure what to expect from the new sub shop in the Lincoln Court Shopping Center called Firehouse Subs, but decided to stop in for a takeout meal. A hearty, ”Welcome to the firehouse!” greeted us as we entered. The friendly server behind the counter was patient as we asked about different items and “Combos.” Since we planned to enjoy the subs several hours later while watching the Phillies game, we asked that the hoagies be made with cold fillings rather than steaming the meats and cheese “to enhance their flavor.” We admit that we may have missed out on the full experience, but …

Although hidden from traffic in a back corner of the Lincoln Court Shopping Center, Rosalita’s is no wallflower. We were struck by the sign in front with a woman in a sombrero smiling over her bared shoulder and the classic rock music playing inside and outside at rather high volume. We decided that the proof was in the pudding—or flan—and went inside to check out the food. A board above the front counter where we placed our order served as the menu. We chose to create our own items by selecting "Comidas" of burritos, tacos or quesadillas, adding different “Proteinas” including Grilled …

When we arrived at Royal India, we attempted to enter through a door under a prominent canopy bearing the restaurant and banquet hall's name. Through the windows, we could see a spacious banquet facility. Finding the door locked, we followed a path under an arbor on the side of the building and were greeted at another door. The dining room was much darker than the brightly lit front hall, with a mix of chandeliers and smaller artistic glass lamps. Mauve walls were decorated with colorful Indian scenes on black velvet. Tables were set with maroon and white linen tablecloths, napkins and paper …

Exploring the menu at SaSa Japanese & Chinese Restaurant in one sitting is a bit like taking a guided tour of Europe in five days. You're bound to miss things, so choose your experiences carefully. The Japanese part includes a small sushi bar with various rolls, but a limited fish selection. Tempura ($11 - $20) and Teriyaki ($11 - $21) are also offered. Chinese food seems to be the focus, with all the standard dishes present—Egg Roll ($1.25), Peking Duck ($16.95), General Tso's Chicken ($10.95), Chow Mein ($8) and Lo Mein ($8). A few Thai dishes made with Red Curry ($11.95 - $15.95) or Lemon …

The name of the King Street Grille is a bit confusing to those of us who aren't familiar with the original restaurant that opened in 1989 on King Street in Malvern. It has since moved to a strip of shops on Route 30 in Frazer, between Margaret Kuo’s Mandarin and an adult video and gift shop. The family-friendly breakfast and lunch spot offers more than what one expects from a “grille,” including Cheese Blintzes ($9.69), Smoked Salmon Benedict ($11.99) and a Korean “Celebration” Soup Bowl ($9.49). We were greeted by a server passing by the front counter as we entered the dining area. She …

As we entered Hibachi King, a recently opened restaurant on Lancaster Avenue, we were, admittedly, a bit disappointed at the seating options. The clean, modern dining area inside, with six dark tables, grey tile floors and grey-brown walls, was as far as diners were allowed into the restaurant. A friendly server stood behind a small counter with red printed curtains that hung halfway down. We asked if there were tables in the kitchen area, which was still visible, where we could sit by the hibachi, since we were expecting dinner and a show. Although we could see cooks at work, she said that …

We were pleasantly surprised to find a bright, modern interior in shades of sage and beige behind the doors of Seasons Pizza. We noticed diners at tables with a number placard on them and seated ourselves at an open table by the flat-screen television. The tan and brown resin table was set with utensils wrapped in white paper napkins, but no menus. We inquired at the counter about the ordering process and were told to place our order there and it would be brought out to us. A friendly gentleman handed us large paper menus, and we returned to our table to make our decision. We placed our order…

The Frazer Diner in East Whiteland pays homage to the iconic American diner. The metal building was built in 1935 and moved to its current location in 1957, but it looks sparklingly new. The interior has 16 red naugahyde padded stools lining the counter and six tables with padded metal chairs. A checkerboard tile floor of red, black and grey continues the theme. We were fortunate to sit at an end table along the rounded wooden back. A door that is no longer used and large square windows made it seem like a train car. Paper placemats with local advertising and a knife and fork were set at the …

We like to think of ourselves as knowledgeable and current on a number of food-related topics, including sources for high quality ingredients to cook at home. Imagine our surprise—and embarrassment—when we recently “discovered” the cut-to-order butcher shop stocked with prime meats and wild game run by John Worrell and his family for 47 years in a strip of shops in downtown Malvern. The senior member of the friendly trio of gentlemen behind the meat counter displaying prime beef, veal, lamb, pork, and Bell and Evans poultry asked if he could help us. We knew that we wanted a Porterhouse steak…

It’s hard to categorize Restaurant Alba. There are Italian influences in the pasta and wine list reflecting its namesake town in Northern Italy. The chef has been using local ingredients since opening in 2005—well before the recent farm-to-table movement gained popularity. A hint of smoke from the wood burning grill can be detected upon opening the front door to the candlelit, white-tablecloth restaurant. These elements blend wonderfully to make this spot on King Street a delightful destination for serious food lovers. A greeter seated us at an ivory banquette on the rear wall, next to a …

We wandered in to The Flying Pig Saloon on a warm summer mid-week evening and found a few people inside the dark bar. We chose a faux wood table away from the bar by a window facing King Street that was outlined with a string of multicolor lights. A descriptive listing of beers on tap was posted on several blackboards. Paper menus of wines by the glass ($6 - $8) and bottles of beer were held in a plastic frame on the table. A friendly server stopped by within a few minutes to give us menus and to take our drink order. The descriptions of ginger beer, chocolate stout and peach wheat sounded …

Behind an unassuming storefront in a small strip of shops on Lancaster Avenue lies a hidden treasure for those who appreciate fine French pastry. The shop was done in bright pink and yellow striped walls—immaculately clean and upscale like a Parisian patisserie, yet welcoming with stools and a silver metal table for relaxing over a Cappuccino ($2.25 - $2.95). A friendly man asked what we might like today. We mentioned that it was our first visit to the shop and asked about the goodies in the display cases that looked so perfect we thought they were purely props. He told us that all of the …

The historic General Warren Inne has a reputation for fine dining and attentive service, but not for inexpensive meals. We were delighted to see prix fixe options for diners willing to eat early on Monday through Thursday evenings posted on their website, and also on their bound menus. From 5 to 6 p.m., three courses with a reasonable selection of items from their regular menu are offered for $28. Dining at 6 p.m. or later increases the cost to $33. A bottle of wine from a limited list of “house wine” can be added to two prix fixe meals for an additional $26. We informed our friendly, …