A quarter century after it first opened its doors, Birchrunville Store Cafe continues to maintain the fabulous reputation that can still make it challenging to get a table, writes Ed Williams for Main Line Today.

This unassumingly unique BYOB has 38 seats inside and 16 on the front and back porches. It maintains a Wednesday-Saturday schedule, but having a reservation is a must.

“One of the best rewards I could ask for is that 98 percent of diners book their next reservation immediately after a meal,” said owner Francis Pascal. “I have a great group of locals who keep returning for more.”

Pascal came from France to the United States in 1989 as sous chef at the Monte Carlo Living Room in Philadelphia. Two years later he opened Tartufo in Bala Cynwyd. When the opportunity to purchase the Birchrunville spot arose, he immediately snapped it up.

He transformed the space but ensured to keep it comfortably rustic.

Some of the local favorites on the menu include a vibrant beet risotto with grilled octopus, a lobster bisque with port wine and saffron, and a Berkshire pork tomahawk rack.

Read more about Birchrunville Store Cafe’s success over the years in Main Line Today.

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