New sign installed? Check. Renovations complete? Check. Health inspection passed? Check. Liquor Control Board inspection complete? Not just yet. This was the status of the new Two Stones Pub located at 843 E. Baltimore Pike in Kennett Square as of Tues., Oct. 29. But undeterred and with both a Certificate of Occupancy and a License to Serve Food in hand, owners Ben “Gumbo” Muse, Mike “Stigz” Stiglitz and Executive Chef Chris Meyer decided to test out their staff and appease the throng of salivating beer lovers who had been so patiently awaiting the opening of the new Two Stones location by holding a two-night soft opening/bottle share on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 featuring a full food menu complete with specials.
Attendees were encouraged to bring bottles to share and prizes were given out for the best bottle, as well as the oldest bottle. The event was a huge success as the Two Stones staff performed fabulously and attendees channeled their inner beer geek, bringing their finest bottles forth from the darkest corners of their cellars. Local Kennett Square beer enthusiast and organizer of the Kennett Brewfest Jeff Norman, won a prize for dusting off and sharing a 2003 V12 from Victory Brewing Co.
“It was a great event and a great time,” Norman shared, in regards to Two Stones’ pre-opening bottle share. “I had samples of 2004 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, 2007 Troegs Mad Elf, 2003 V12 and 1996 De Dolle Stille Nacht—which was awesome. And my burger was very tasty!”
The staff at Two Stones, many of whom transferred from either the Wilmington or the Newark location to help get the new Kennett location up and running, didn’t have much time to recover because the Liquor Control Board arrived early on Nov. 1 and licensed the new gastropub to serve alcohol. Co-owner Ben Muse shared the good news on the Two Stones Kennett Facebook page.
Little time was wasted and at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, Two Stones Pub in Kennett officially opened their doors for business. Local beer and food enthusiasts descended upon the pub with smiling faces and a thirst for excellent craft beer and delicious food, instantly packing the house. They took in the décor, comprised of countless breweriana, a smart use of sixtels that provide a slight industrial edge and nice hardwood that warms the atmosphere while ordering tasty craft and imported brews from the rotating list of twenty drafts or the bottle list boasting 75 offerings consisting of craft cans and vintage bottles.
The extensive food menu boasts soups, salads, tacos, “fry piles,” snacks, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, desserts and even a kids’ menu. Highlights include shredded duck confit tacos (served with blue cheese, drunken cherries, baby arugula, pine nuts and red onions), Hudson Valley charcuterie & cheese (duck breast, chef’s daily selection of meats, cheeses and accompaniments), beer-braised beef short rib (served with root vegetable puree, truffled brussels sprouts, natural mushroom jus and crispy fried shallots), baked rigatoni mac & cheese (herb-roasted chicken, Gorgonzola cream, Parma ham chip, slow-roasted tomatoes, Parmesan bread crumbs and fried basil leaves).
Alright, now pick your jaw up off of the floor and wipe the saliva away from your chin! Now is as good a time as any to head down to the new Two Stones Pub in Kennett and peruse the exciting menu for yourself. Or maybe you are more of a brunch lover? Two Stones will accommodate you as well. Brunch will be served every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. And don’t forget the fabulous drink deals at Two Stones! They will be offering $3 Troegs, Victory and Yards drafts and $5 red and white wines everyday from 4–6 p.m. and $5 bottles of Russian River Damnation all day, every day.
Two Stones Pub is located in the Shoppes at Longwood at 843 E. Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, (610) 444-3940.
Photographs credited to Two Stones Pub.
One Comment