The Refectory

We had a wonderful brunch at The Refectory! The place is beautifully decorated, elegant, and has a great vibe. Our server, Bre, made the experience even better, she was incredibly attentive, thoughtful, and paid close attention to every detail. We were a group of four celebrating a friend’s birthday, and thanks to Bre and the warm atmosphere, we had such a great time. The food was absolutely delicious, well-prepared, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. Service was fast, and everything came out just right. This spot is perfect for brunch, and I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Came here during a college visit. Awesome food and service. Definitely recommend the mushroom flatbread and the rock shrimp tacos. The mushroom risotto is delicious, but nor the traditional cheese heavy preparation. It has more veggies. Liked it. The fries were delicious too. Fancy for a college restaurant, great when parents are visiting.

Tried a new place today for Sunday brunch. The Refectory in Villanova. We really liked everything. Great looking restaurant with some great food. Started with shrimp cocktail. Lots of shrimp cocktail is just boiled shrimp, but these had been cooked in various herbs to add some interesting flavors. The Nova Fries were also unique with brisket, cheese, and pickled onions. Yummy. My chicken and waffles was also great with crispy, moist chicken. Finally the ricotta donuts were the right size with good sides (blueberries and chocolate) with classic flavor! Highly recommend the Refectory!

We had a small retirement luncheon in a lovely private room. Our waiter was so attentive, the food was tasty as usual, & the location with easy parking was perfect. Many of us dined at Refectory Nova since its opening & truly rate it as one of the best, if not the Best of the Main Line. We savored every second of our special celebration there - thanks to Kelsey's efforts & arrangements.

I first went there for a lunch meeting, where I ordered a turkey BLT sandwich. Although it was $20, it was well worth the price, as the sandwich was great and filling. Despite the lunchtime rush, the service was still prompt and attentive, making the overall dining experience enjoyable. It’s definitely a great place for work lunches because it doesn’t get loud or distracting, allowing for productive conversations. The cozy atmosphere and quality food make it a top choice for future meetings or casual dining experiences. The friendly staff and efficient service contribute significantly to this establishment's overall dining value. I visited again for dinner, and once again, the service was consistent, and the food was quite good. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a satisfying dining experience of great value. I enjoyed the steak, crab cakes, deviled eggs, and Nova fries, which were cooked to a tee and tasted great. I even tried a Caprese salad despite not liking tomatoes, and to my surprise, it was actually quite good. The drinks were good as well, they had a kick to them. The atmosphere was pleasant as well. We were seated in a separate room in the back, which was ideal for our large group. It allowed us to socialize without being a nuisance to other diners. The restaurant is also aesthetically pleasing. I will say I had low expectations for this restaurant because it is attached to a school, which led me to assume the food would be mediocre. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the dishes and attentive service. Don’t let the location fool you; this restaurant is genuinely good! The menu offers a variety of options, and the presentation of the dishes was great, too.

The restaurant is so cute and cozy! We had a large party who sat in the large booth. The service was great and the food came out quickly. Will definitely be back.

A friend and I decided to come here on a Thursday night. We got a table fairly easily, although the place seemed to fill up as we ate, so I would recommend a reservation. I had the calamari and the mushroom ravioli. The calamari pieces were large although the portion was smaller than some others I’ve had at other places for the same price. The mushroom ravioli was quite good, although I would have preferred more ravioli itself in the dish. It was overall a nice dining experience. The restaurant isn’t frigid like most places, and the lighting gives a nice a relaxing feel.

What a wonderful experience from atmosphere to food. Started with the strawberry nonalcoholic drink, which was pretty great. Bread on the table is excellent and then I had the Branzino. Perfectly cooked and not overdone with sauce and flavoring which allowed the taste of the dish to shine through. Our waitress (she identified herself as Polish) was also a standout.

I first went there for a lunch meeting, where I ordered a turkey BLT sandwich. Although it was $20, it was well worth the price, as the sandwich was great and filling. Despite the lunchtime rush, the service was still prompt and attentive, making the overall dining experience enjoyable. It's definitely a great place for work lunches because it doesn't get loud or distracting, allowing for productive conversations. The cozy atmosphere and quality food make it a top choice for future meetings or casual dining experiences. The friendly staff and efficient service contribute significantly to this establishment's overall value of dining. I visited again for dinner, and once again, the service was consistent, and the food was quite good. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a satisfying dining experience of great value. I enjoyed the steak, crab cakes, deviled eggs, and Nova fries, which were cooked to a tee and tasted great. I even tried a Caprese salad despite not liking tomatoes, and to my surprise, it was actually quite good. The drinks were good as well, they had a kick to them. The atmosphere was pleasant as well. We were seated in a separate room in the back, which was ideal for our large group. It allowed us to socialize without being a nuisance to other diners. The restaurant is also aesthetically pleasing. I will say I had low expectations for this restaurant because it is attached to a school, which led me to assume the food would be mediocre. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the dishes and attentive service. Don't let the location fool you; this restaurant is genuinely good! The menu offers a variety of options, and the presentation of the dishes was great, too.

An odd experience for Valentine's Day, perhaps I should've sat at the bar or done some research. My martini was served in a julep glass, the lobster on my risotto was rubbery and there was barely any fruit in my tart. Everything felt a little off. But my server asked, "Isn't it wonderful?" Or "how are enjoying that delicious treat?" She was clearly a fan of the mediocre food. Other staff were quick to fill my water glass or bring me coffee. I'll give them another try as friends have enjoyed their meal there. Is it a training restaurant for students? That was what it felt like.

I've been here a number of times over the last year for lunch meetings and was there again this past Thursday. The decor of the restaurant definitely gives you a feel of being in an upscale, refined yet casual and relaxed place. Also, it is a pretty spacious restaurant that can accommodate table parties of 2 or 10 seemingly very easily. The staff are always very professional, courteous and friendly. The food is always on point. Great portion sizes, filling, tasty and made at the right temperature. This time I tried the Mahi Tacos with the Strawberry Fields cocktail, but I've had a few other dishes before like the Green Salad with salmon and the Salmon BLT&A with no bacon. I don't think there's a menu item anyone could go wrong with. If you are on/near Villanova's campus, highly recommend them. I definitely will keep coming back.

The Refectory is a great place to enjoy an upscale lunch/dinner (or brunch on weekends!) while visiting the Villanova campus. The menu boasts several types of cuisine, from seafood to pasta dishes. I originally booked my 7/13 reservation on OpenTable for 3 people, but it was easy to change it to 4 once we arrived at the restaurant. We sat in a booth near the back of the dining room, surrounded by charming accents that really elevated the restaurant's aesthetic. The only thing I didn't love about the restaurant was the dim lighting--I understand it was for ambiance, but it made it hard to read the menu and was really more annoying than quirky. The Refectory is known for their signature cocktails, and after asking the waiter which was the best one, I tried the strawberry spritzer. It tasted like a strawberry candy, and it was even better when I added lemon juice. I totally recommend this drink to anyone who enjoys sweet, fruity cocktails. The 4 of us split the bread basket for an appetizer, which came with homemade focaccia, pretzel buns, and something that looked like Texas Toast. I really liked the focaccia, especially with the homemade garlic butter. I did not enjoy the pretzel bread, however, probably because I didn't like the sesame seeds on top. For dinner, I had the Nova Cravers, which were 3 hamburger sliders and a side of fries. I ordered them medium rare but they were a tad overcooked. My sister ordered the buffalo chicken nachos off the Summer Spritzers menu, and the plate was so large it definitely could have been shared amongst our whole table of 4. My mom wanted the Master Class Burger with no mustard, but when it was delivered to our table, it had mustard on it. Luckily, our waiter brought it back and had it fixed in no time. Her burger came with a side of Nova Fries, which were topped with smoked brisket and cheese. My aunt loved her rigatoni with vodka sauce, but she did say it was spicier than normal vodka sauce. We ended the night with an order of ricotta donuts, and they were a lot better than I expected. The crispy outside perfectly complimented the fluffy inside, and the chocolate and blueberry dipping sauces added another level of flavor. My mom was also treated to free ice cream because it was her birthday. Overall, I really enjoyed the Refectory, and I would recommend it to anyone craving quality food while visiting the Villanova campus.

Tucked into Villanova's campus, right off 476, Refectory is your place for a beautiful brunch, lunch or dinner. The ambiance is IT and very well put together. They have booths, tables, and a HUGE bar that I hear have a dope HH. What we snagged: -Mussels with Coconut Curry. (One of the best mussels dishes I've had. Mussels were huge and the sauce was flavorful) -Bronzino (Good, with the orzo. Little over cooked, but fine since the Mrs. is pregnant) -Scallops with Spoetzl (Amazing flavor, wish I had 1-2 more scallops) Overall, we'll be back. This joint is perfect for a quick brunch or even a beautiful anniversary dinner. Our waitress was stellar. She was bartending and serving at the same time!

Decent dinner menu for a night out, lunch menu caters more towards students. Brussels sprouts appetizer is excellent, a must-try. Villanova vibe if you're going for that. Service was awesome.

We had a private family event in the Friar Room. Everything from the planning through the actual event was excellent. They were in tune to our needs and everything went off flawlessly. I would strongly recommend them if you are planning a private event.

Fantastic meal with fine dining appeal in a more casual, but elegant setting. Surface was excellent, knowledgeable and attentive. Location right on Villanova campus can't be beat if you're visiting the college. it's a fantastic idea to have such a good restaurant right on campus Certainly will be back when I'm in the area.

Food was great. Crab omelette was 7/10 Home fries potatoes were delicious very unique taste. Buttermilk pancake was delicious Focaccia is served instead of your regular toast with the eggs your way plate . Service was okay nothing special. Bar tender had to service our table due to the waitress being who knows where. Slow/ dead Saturday at noon. Ambiance was great

Very nice meal and excellent service. Location was easy. The public parking lot next door was really easy to access and they validate. Took a current Villanova student to dinner while we were visiting to tour campus the next day. All of us got something different. Started with apps and cocktails and cocktails. The Buffalo cauliflower was good and gluten free. MMy tuna entree was good and their pastas were good too.

Villanova students are certainly lucky to have a restaurant of this quality right on their campus! The Refectory toes the line between a modern and cozy atmosphere with comfy booths surrounded by books but a high energy vibe. Their brunch menu, while a little overwhelming with all of the choices, has something for everyone. The salmon flatbread was perfect for sharing (comes with four pieces), and the chicken & waffles was delicious (the chicken was still juicy but also crispy, and I would definitely recommend adding a poached egg on top). The brunch cocktails are also great, whether you go individual (as I did, last picture) or for bottomless mimosas (definitely try the hibiscus lemonade flavor). I definitely would like to come back to try their happy hour/dinner menu at some point! Food: A- Drinks: A Atmosphere: A- Service: B+

I have driven past the restaurant so many times and finally decided to give it a shot! Walked in the restaurant, I was greeted by the relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge. Steak salad was delicious with fresh ingredients and good plating style. The dressing is slightly too oily for my preference but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I would recommend the place if you are in the area.

Went here for apps and drinks on Friday night. Never felt so ripped off! The special menu had a ravioli dish which was priced at 25.00 . We received Three (yes 3 total) ravioli. There is no way to justify this! Two drinks and 3 appetizers (crab cakes, mussels and three ravioli) was 100.00!!! Wow!!! Be ready to be ripped off for mediocre food!!! Shame on you!!

Unique Campus location. Delicious homemade food. Started with the bread basket. Came with a ramekin of butter and an additional one with garlic/oil. Shared Brussels that had thick bacon chunks. My main was pasta puttanesca which had mini shrimp and a few steamed clams. The sauce was slightly spicy yet incredibly delicious. Pasta home made, al dente. No room for dessert. I'll recommend and be back!

The food itself was delicious for lunch, albeit a tad pricey. There are several gluten free items (thankfully indicated on the menu) and the risotto was flavorful and of a great ratio of mushrooms and vegetables to rice. My 8 yr old son enjoyed chicken tenders from the kids menu and we helped with most of the fries. Server was busy, perhaps understaffed and a tad forgetful, but very polite. Ambiance is classy, modern and clean.

I spent a day at Villanova last month and got to have dinner with my very nice hosts at The Refectory, an attractive, upscale on-campus restaurant. I'm guessing this is the go-to spot to take university guests and visiting family members (while we were there, my hosts ran into a colleague dining with family from out of town). It must be jam packed whenever there are lots of parents around. We were a large party, and we were seated in a comfortable booth in the spacious dining room. Service was great. I enjoyed a couple cocktails with my dinner. The Permanent Vacation was sweet and pleasantly tropical, with tequila, mezcal, passionfruit, pineapple, lime, and a li hing mui rim. The Boulevardier of Broken Dreams was a balanced, boozy drink with bonded bourbon, strawberry Campari, aperitivo rosso, and salt. The food was also quite good. We ordered a few things to share, and I liked all of them. The truffled deviled eggs were excellent, supple and delicious, finished with black truffle, espelette, and sea salt. The buffalo cauliflower was addictive, flavored like wings, with house hot sauce and buttermilk ranch. The mahi tacos could not be called tacos in the outside world, but they were tasty in their own right, with a plantain crust, cabbage, and chipotle mayo. I ordered the seared Hokkaido scallops for my entree and this was a winning dish. The scallops were cooked firm and creamy, and they came with balsamic bacon jus, English pea, and a bright green pea tendril sauce. I'm not planning to graduate from Villanova anytime soon, but if I were, I'd call months in advance to secure a table at The Refectory. This is quite a restaurant to have right on campus. I'm grateful to the English department for the lovely dinner.

This hidden gem is by far my favorite restaurant by ambiance alone. I love the styling of the place and it's got a real surprise element, almost like a secret bar, since it's an upscale restaurant inside of castle-like Villanova building. The food has that quality of being comforting but unique. The corn and truffle flat bread was unbelievable. Their bacon wrapped dates were the first item I've ever tasted where I enjoyed blue cheese (since they used it as a subtle component of the manchego sauce). Their desert menu is incredible and much larger than I would expect. Their pastry chef is clearly talented. I'd recommend the rice pudding ice cream bar which tastes like horchata. But the crown achievement is their drink menu. If that wasn't good enough, they also are extremely kind and accommodating. They recently had my wife and I for our anniversary. Jill (FoH manager) helped me to surprise my wife with a special drink which Proteus made beautifully. Our waitress was so kind and attentive too. And on a previous visit, the bartended James shared with us insight into what made our drinks so special. At a time when ingredients are hard to source and the pandemic has made patience hard to find as well, it's amazing how excellent the service and food is at The Refectory. Oh and on the times I bring my toddler to brunch, they make her feel welcome too. They do everything: upscale to family friendly all while making us feel special. A++

I've been here a few times for lunch and dinner. Pros: big portions, good service, clean dining..bathroom ok. Cons: pricey but so is everything else that's comparable in quality I will keep returning but not as often due to prices.

Had a very good dinner here (especially for the suburbs)! Will definitely be back! We had the carrots, Brussel sprouts, calamari, and scallops. Service was great and my limoncello cocktail was refreshing. We also enjoyed the berry cobbler and espresso cake.

Stopped here for lunch today with a group of friends. We were seated quickly, even without a reservation. Our server was delightful and very knowledgeable about the menu, including a chipotle mayonnaise that was not listed with its sandwich. I had the salmon BLT&A, which was delicious and came with a side salad and the house vinaigrette. My only complaint is that their espresso was awful- it tasted like twice-boiled regular drip coffee and cost $6.50. I will definitely return here, but just won't order an espresso.

No better food at any price. Great burgers and Nuvo American foods. Drinks and desserts are amazing too.

The Refectory was a great way to celebrate a birthday on a gloomy rainy day outside. Inside the ambience was warm and the servers were super friendly. They even comped our corkage fee since we didn't order dessert. Just a great way to celebrate a birthday. Food was delicious! Yummy food, reasonably priced and great service. Steak, mahi mahi, tuna, branzino pictured. #bergerknowsbest BRANZINO FILET butternut squash, celery root, brown butter, red chimichurri KOBE NY STRIP* onion soubise, royal trumpet, cippolini, bordelaise BONE-IN SHORTRIB* BLACKENED MAHI MAHI papaya salad, jalapeño emulsion, coconut curry GRILLED YELLOWFIN TUNA* brown butter spaetzle, leeks, pepita togarashi

I'm a student at Nova and I waited too long to try the Refectory. I loved my spicy rigatoni and the cosmic brownie I had for dessert. The staff is so friendly and the decor inside is amazing. It didn't even feel like I was on campus. Loved my visit here!

We like their pancakes. But I ordered orange juice and they charged me $6.50 for a glass of store-bought, average quality orange juice. It wasn't even fresh-squeezed. Buying a full carton of OJ would have been cheaper -- even at Whole Foods! The markup shocked me and should shock you too! Otherwise, we have found their food prices reasonable and the value good.

I rarely have given a bad review on Yelp. I have been to the Refectory three times in the last year. The first time (Jan 2023) for brunch the food was good except my poached eggs were very undercooked white runny egg whites. The second time for dinner (August 2023) the food was terrible - burger was over cooked and had some sauce on it, fries also came with a bizarre sauce that was not explained on the menu. The third time (September 2023) for brunch - my toast was burned, my scrambled eggs tasted like institutional eggs made from a mix, and my husband's over easy eggs were raw and we sent them back only to have his plate reappear without the toast (also burnt) originally on it, and a hash brown ordered for the table once again came with a bizarre sauce covering them that is not mentioned on the menu and was not on the hash brown when I had it in January (we sent it back). The waitstaff is kind and it is a beautiful room, but the quality of the food is just terrible - some of this might be improved if the menu wasn't so unclear. If something is smothered in some type of sauce, explain that on the menu. Eggs should never have clear whites and be undercooked - I don't even understand how this could leave the kitchen, or how burnt toast could leave the kitchen. Everything seems to be undercooked or overcooked. Too many not well explained sauces - they should be optional or on the side always. We have given The Refectory a few tries but I think sadly that we won't be back.

Discovered our new favorite brunch place in an unlikely spot: on campus at Villanova U. Loved everything about this place: varied brunch menu (such as flatbreads , egg dishes, shrimp and grits, and sandwiches), ample servings, reasonable prices (most under $15), cozy booths, and first-class service (shout out to Hannah!). Heads up for disabled guests: Parking is in the garage across the street ($2 for two hours) and there's no easy drop-off option near the restaurant entrance.

Very welcoming restaurant in Villanova University. We had the Cajun Calamari and White Wine Mussels for appetizers and the Sticky Baby Back Ribs for the main entree. Portions were adequate and delicious. So convenient for students & parents visiting Villanova. Highly recommend

Although situated on a college campus , it is not a college cafeteria at all what some people might think . The interior is done nicely with the wood paneling and the over all feel is of traditional classic restaurant . We have been here a couple of times and always have had good experience. We went with a couple of kids and a friend and ordered Cajun Calamari and side of fries for appetizer. The calamari is extremely flavorful and has that bite to it that people who like spices would love . In addition we ordered the permanent vacation cocktail which was nicely done . The kids ordered flat bread which was what it is supposed to be , a plain cheese flatbread . For the main course we ordered Ramp Pesto Pasta which had a refreshing taste with a good mix of crunchy veggies . I personally am a fan of pesto sauce on everything so I am sort of biased . The other dish was Rock Shrimp Puttanesca which had olives and shrimps which gave it a deep flavor which last with the taste bud even after you are done with it . People who like olives will love it. . The third entre was the dry aged craver ( sliders) which was nicely done and I was told is a crowd favorite . The service was excellent and they were very helpful with the allergies that one of the kids had in our party . Will definitely come again . Over all a good experience as always .

I've been to The Refectory for lunch several times and for a retirement party. The food was so good and the service was fast and friendly every time. The ambience is comfortable with a business-like look to it. Overall, it's a great addition to the Villanova campus that locals and out-of-towners would enjoy.

Service was awesome, Madison was great. I've driven by this place a million times and never knew it was there. Great ambiance. Easy parking in the garage once you figure it out.

Went tonight, on a recommendation from friends who live on the main line. This place I would not recommend!! It was very pricey and the food meh. I sensed they think they're special because they are on Villanova's campus, but they do not deliver. If I lived in the neighborhood or visiting Villanova U, lots of other options. I will say the bar is inviting and friendly. But for a Wednesday night, granted it was August, it was dead. Enough said.

ALL DRAFT BEERS ARE $10-$12 !! Regular Price Sliders-3-2oz ARE $20.00 Regular Price You've got to be kidding!

For such a pricey place, the experience was, at best, meh. Some of the food was great (the fresh pea soup). Others were a huge disappointment ("crispy garlicky potatoes that were neither crispy nor garlicky but came with a terrific spicy dipping sauce). Most of it was just expensive, like the $11(?) bread plate that had bread I could've gotten at the local megamart. The real issue was service. There were plenty of staff milling about, but nobody appeared assigned to our table. So things were brought out by different people and placed before the wrong diner. Some of the special adjustments (eg "hot peppers on the side instead of mixed into the dish" became mild and two requests for the pepper flakes went unanswered). My favorite was a supervisor asking how everything was as a server was putting plates on the table. I'm willing to give anything a try, but we won't be returning.

Last week was my first time trying the Refectory and it was quite disappointing. First up, the portion/price ratio is whack. Whoever does inventory must be budgeting the kitchen. Spent 21 dollars for rigatoni alla vodka hoping to at least get a full bowl instead we got exactly 20 noodles (a portion of the bowl wasn't even covered in food). That's charging close to a dollar per noodle. Next we spent 17 dollars on the spicy pepperoni flatbread... basically half of a personal pizza covered in grease. In fact so much grease that the cheese dissolved halfway through dinner. The appetizers were ok but could've been the saltiest we've ever had, the tater tots were like eating rock salt. I would've left my feedback but our waiter was also the bartender so we didn't get the best service here either.

Nice ambiance, food is good too, flatbreads are really amazing, my husband and I both loved what we ordered. Restaurant looks pretty both outside and inside, not crowed, quiet and private, highly recommend

I recently went to the Refectory for a dinner date & was pleasantly surprised by my service. Eric, was phenomenal- with her menu expertise and recommendations. I tried the Lobster roll with old bay fries... perfect for the season and so fresh! For dessert, I had the Chocolate Peanut Butter cake. It was so decadent. I couldn't have picked a better dessert if I tried. The ambiance of the Refectory is perfect. Whether you want to relax & unwind after work, meet with colleagues or have a girls night out... it has a great atmosphere that is calm, yet fun!

Came for a Saturday morning birthday brunch with my 85 year old father, his lady friend, my wife and sister, BIL and nieces and a NIL. All enjoyed their time. Only negative comment was the Nephew-in-law telling my wife her brisket was better (it is) but it was still good. I had a Villamuffin with sausage and egg and cheese and it was tasty, small, and the egg was in a rectangular block which was a bit off putting. The drinks flowed and were delicious though the service from the bar was a bit long. All n all great food, young spot with upscale college kids and parking right across the street.

Villanova is my home away from home. It was nice to be back to the alma mater for dinner with some family and friends. This was my first time in this new area on campus and it did not disappoint. Training my brain that I in a giant building complex that used to just be a parking lot was the only difficult part of the night. The interior is designed perfectly and I loved all the decor and the layout of the bars and tables for dinner. It seems like the perfect classy spot for professors to visit after work or during the day for a nice lunch. I cannot really see myself enjoying it if there was a bunch of college students in there but it was over break that I was there so the crowd was minimal. Food was very well done and exceeded all my expectations but no shock there because Villanova has always been spot on when it comes to food! They don't just excel at Basketball ! Definitely stop in if you're driving down the main line, parking was east and right behind the complex or across the street!

Such a cute spot, with lots of seating and bar in the middle. We came for a baby shower and they had some great food. Oysters, charcuterie, and passed hors d'oeuvres like lamb chops, shrimp salad, sliders, shrimp cocktail, and more. My fave was the fried crab cake balls. The staff were very attentive and the cocktails were pretty good. I liked the frozen drink hotel nacional. A great place to have a party or just come with your friends.

The Refectory began serving lunch on Wednesday. I made reservations for today to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was our first time since the pandemic and the new ownership took over. The lunch menu had many dishes that I wanted to try. Without discussing it, I ordered the brisket dip which my husband said he was going to order, too. There's a choice of fries or salad. We both had fries. It was DELICIOUS!! The sesame seed long bun was the perfect vehicle for the tender brisket. The fries were thin and salty in the best way. We both really enjoyed our meals. The portion size was perfect. Zack was our server. He was very friendly and attentive. Parking is in the lot across the street on the corner of Ithan and Lancaster. They do have Coke products. I'm looking forward to many more delicious meals at The Refectory.

Fantastic food and drinks with a free minor issues. Service is good too: Chris the bartender is super knowledgeable and guarantees a great experience. Yelp doesn't make this clear, but this is ON the Villanova campus. Go on a Monday or Tuesday, and avoid Nova game days and parents weekend unless you want to scream over the din. Fair warning that portions are HUGE. Food Recs: - Spicy Vodka Rigatoni - Absolutely delightful. Ordered this twice in a row because I couldn't stop thinking about it. I added pulled chicken, which I totally recommend. - Roasted Chicken - Great chicken, but the artichokes were bizarre. They had cut the whole thing (leaves included) into 1-2" chunks, which made it impossible to eat most of it without just popping it in your mouth and spitting out the remaining fibrous mass. - Royal Trumpet Mushrooms - I'm usually iffy on mushrooms, but these were great! Delicate but flavorful, great start to the meal. - Haselnut Fudge Round - classic flavor combo, very heavy. Split it. We had a bad experience with the Steak Tartare Flatbread; the crust was so hard that it was basically inedible. Had to scrape the toppings off and eat them separately. Overall, I recommend you check it out! This has quickly become an unexpected favorite spot on the Main Line.

I highly recommend the Refectory! Unbelievably helpful and cordial waitstaff. The flavors were great and the serving sizes were appropriate. Their menu is flexible and can be tailored to food allergies. Excellent atmosphere for some casual dining and some after work drinks. I'll definitely check this place out again the next time I'm in the area.

Dined here for happy hour tonight, 11/20. Service was inadequate, sat at the bar with plenty of staff in front of us, they couldn't be bothered to check on how we were doing or refill our waters. They all seemed to focus more on making the drinks than assuring the satisfaction of their guests. I have been here once before on a quiet afternoon in September, you can tell the difference, tonight they were just all over the place. The cheese flatbread, is just over cooked, the cheese was too crispy. As for the pepperoni flatbread that was undercooked. Not to mention we were overcharged, no one picked up on it until we mentioned it. Really inconsistent. The atmosphere of the Restaurant is very beautiful and sophisticated especially for a University. But I seriously would expect better service wise, sad to say I definitely won't be coming back. It's not worth it.

My friend and her boyfriend invited us here for drinks on a Friday night. My husband said he wished they had asked us while school was still on winter break so it wouldn't be as crowded. The place is new and just opened. It was crowded as we expected but it was an older crowd there really no college kids at all so I guess it didn't matter that we went when school was in session. I thought we were just getting drinks so we ate dinner before we came here. We ordered a couple of drinks and got a standing table by the bar. I got a drink with bourbon and banana in it. The bartender warned me that it was very sweet but I said it was ok. It wasn't really too sweet for me but I don't know if I liked the flavor combinations. My stomach kinda felt a little weird after drinking it too. Our friends come and decide they want a table and they were getting food so we said ok. Just wanted to get away from the crowd so that worked. We said we could get like an appetizer or dessert or something small since we already ate dinner. Somehow they talked us into all sharing a bunch of small plates which I wasn't sure if we were hungry enough for but ok. I would have skipped dinner if I had known this. But everything was very good. They recommended getting the baked Brie bites, they were delicious! It was toasted baguette bread with Brie cheese and a truffle honey sauce. The crab cake was also very good too. Big chunks of crab with good flavor and little filler, that's how I like them. We also got some mozzarella prosciutto which was also tasty. Our friends ordered a flatbread also but we didn't try any we were a stuffed. They said it was good but some pieces looked a little too burnt. Definitely wanted to try the butter cake. We were disappointed they were out of the Nutella ice cream that was supposed to go with it, but we got it with vanilla. It was kind of like a lava cake but without the lava center. They only give you a little amount of ice cream with it my friend asked for more especially cause the cake was a little dry. They brought out more but only one small portion for his cake, not enough for both of us. We split it and tried to make it work though. I had a glass of wine as my second drink. Ended up getting sick later I don't know if it was something I ate or a bad combination of the bourbon and wine or what. Not blaming the restaurant as it could have been something i ate earlier in the day too but I did feel weird after that bourbon drink. If we go back I'll have to be cautious of what I order.

Had an amazing girls dinner (including my ten month old!) with great dishes from the For The Table section of the menu. Family friendly, easy to park, very nice staff. The food and cocktails were delicious and the pastry for dessert was amazing! The new GM Gina checked in on us several times and had wonderful recommendations. Dietary restrictions: They asked if there were any allergies, which I appreciated.

I've eaten here before and was satisfied in all respects. Here comes the big However. However I recently took my family including 4 adults and 3 children for lunch on Saturday around 11:45. Other than an order of French fries we didn't get our food until 12:45. We had ordered salad and sandwiches. The kids ordered spaghetti with marinara and parmesan cheese from the kids menu. My salad with fried chicken was very small with a decent fried chicken filet. Not worth the price. The rest of the adult lunches were adequate but not memorable. I tried the kids spaghetti and it could best be described as pasta with watery tomato soup. To me it was inedible. Service was minimal and we had to grab a bottle to refill our own water glasses. During our extended wait the server did not check with us or give an update. One of the "staff" members was wearing a pair of sagging black jeans which looked dirty but may have been a style element a dingy white shirt partially tucked in and a black tie hanging midway down his shirt. I thought that he might be a dishwasher until I saw him behind the reception desk greeting a customer. The restaurant is beautiful and well laid out. Maybe it was because it was Villanova spring break that they were short staffed but I was very disappointed all around. Perhaps it was just a bad day but no one seemed to care. I'll give it another try but not too soon.

Have been here a number of times. Drinks generally very good along with service. The pasta dish (vodka rigatoni) was sent back. Jarred sauce may be better? Ramen special was OK. Menu is all over the map. Just another mediocre main line restaurant.

I initially had quite a positive experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, after I left a review raving about this place, I had learned that I had left my credit card behind. After five attempts of attempting to contact the restaurant with no successful communication on day 8, I was able to finally reach someone who confirmed that they were not able to find or locate my credit card. That same evening my card was charged for $50 at a gas station right down the street from the restaurant. Clearly if you leave your card behind at this restaurant it will get stolen and it will get used, I don't see how this was even possible if they were responsible with my card and cleaned up properly after I mistakenly left it instead it was obviously taken by someone and used. Now I had to cancel my credit card, notified 10 other businesses of my new credit card number for all of the reoccurring charges that I had set up, wow what a mess. Lesson learned, don't ever leave your credit card behind at this restaurant or it will cost you hours and hours of work.

YUM is all I have to say. We came here on a Sunday for brunch and the parking across the street was free. We had the bottomless mimosas, shrimp toast, watermelon salad, salmon flatbread and pancakes. I don't know which one was my favorite because with every bite, my eyes grew bigger! The restaurant, service and food were all amazing and I can't wait to go back!