More 'Best of the Best'
A second helping of the best dishes and delights found in the Philadelphia suburbs
by Bill Donahue

In the August issue of Suburban Life, we introduced our 2011 Best of the Best list, a collection of the top restaurants, shops, services and other treasures found in the Philadelphia suburbs. Here's part two of our top choices in the Food and Drink category.
 
SALADS
The sharp tang of goat cheese can improve just about any dish, especially when it’s served warm over a cool bed of greens. At Arpeggio, a festive BYOB in Springhouse with an unexpectedly thorough menu, choose between the warm goat cheese salad and the grilled veggie salad for lighter but no less remarkable fare. Even if goat cheese isn’t your thing, you’ve got a good dozen salads to choose from here, including one spiked with pucks of house-made falafel. 542 Springhouse Village Center/909 Sumneytown Pike, Spring House, 215-646-5055, ArpeggioBYOB.com
 
ETHNIC CUISINE

Indian food is one of the fastest-growing fine-dining trends across the country, and lucky for us, we have a star performer in Doylestown: a delightfully upscale yet comfortable BYOB called Cross Culture Fine Indian Cuisine. Fresh, flavorful dishes give vegetarians and carnivores alike many reasons to celebrate. Although beef is strictly off-limits at many Indian restaurants, Cross Culture has added a number of beef dishes to the menu. No matter your palate’s desire, it’s hard to choose a bad thing here, though be sure to supplement any dish with a healthy order of the chewy yet crispy garlic naan. 62 W. State Street, Doylestown, 215-489-9101, CrossCultureIndianCuisine.net

 

DESSERTS 

Berwyn-based Nectar Restaurant is certainly one of the most visually appealing restaurants in the Philadelphia suburbs, and it also has some of the most memorable cuisine. These inspired Chinese dishes make a habit of shining brightly, perhaps nowhere more so than on the menu of house-made desserts—the crème brulee or fresh mini doughnuts (shown), for starters—paired perfectly with an after-dinner coffee, tea or, if the mood strikes, martini. 1091 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn, 610-725-9000, TasteNectar.com

 

SUMMERTIME FARE

There are few things in life better than finding a reward at the end of a long journey. With that sentiment in mind, after working up a sweat riding the towpath on either side of the Delaware River or hitting the asphalt along the snaking span of River Road, head to the intersection of Route 32 and 263, just down the road from Peddler’s Village and across the river from Stockton, N.J. There you’ll find Dilly’s Corner, an unassuming roadside restaurant that’s churning out some of the region’s best milkshakes, curly fries and burgers (beef or black bean). On a perfect summer day—we still have more than a few of those left—you’ll find that plenty of other people have the same idea. Intersection of Rtes. 32 and 263, New Hope, 215-862-5333