Gastropub– there’s a word you don’t hear much anymore. In the early oughts they were popping up all over the place and the word became worn and weary. Still, if one had to develop a definition for gastropub it might be something like, “independently owned, small-scale restaurants with an extreme focus on food, drink and experience quality.”
You probably don’t hear the word used as much in 2019 because it’s a difficult task to pull off… consistently offering the highest quality gourmet food creations, curating the absolute best craft beer, spirits and creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, while staying ahead of trends, is a tall order but one local brand continues to kill that definition of gastropub.
Craft Ale House, in between Royersford and Limerick, entered the market early and has maintained quality in all areas–building a loyal following of fans who appreciate their extreme dedication to quality. Owners Gary and Melissa Fry were so committed to the gastropub ethos that they opened a second, separate but equally excellent, offering in Douglassville called Fork & Ale and both spots deserve all of the attention they can get.
www.craftalehouse.com
708 W Ridge Pike
Royersford, PA
www.forkandle.com
1281 E Main Street
Douglassville, PA
MUST TRYS
Craft Ale House:
Buttermilk Tenders – A plentiful plate of more delicious buttermilk marinated crispy fried chicken than you can eat in one sitting. Tossed in house-made Harrissa chili, Bourbon BBQ or Honey Chipotle sauces, at just $10 this is one of the best deals in all of PA!
Fork & Ale:
Chicken Empanadas – Roasted & pulled chicken, goat cheese, flaky pastry dough topped with house-made lime crema and spring onion salsa verde… light and refreshing on the patio overlooking the Schuylkill River Trail. Another steal for $10.
