Fans of breakfast, lunch and brunch now have a new place to get their fill of eggs, French toast, salads and sandwiches: Famous Toastery. Located in Main Street at Exton, Famous Toastery opened in early March in the former Freskada and Forage space.
Famous Toastery, owned by best friends Brian Burchill and Robert Maynard, debuted its first location in Huntersville, North Carolina, in 2005. The concept quickly grew to three locations and eventually evolved into a franchise in 2013. The owner of the Exton location is Chris Phillips, who has plenty of local restaurant experience. He currently also owns and operates Elevation Burger locations in Collegeville and Willow Grove.
What sets Famous Toastery apart from other morning and afternoon dining options? Maynard shared, “Famous Toastery is the antithesis of a greasy spoon. Everything is made fresh daily and nothing comes from a can. We don’t have any freezers, and all menu items are cooked to order. We like to think of Famous Toastery as a better breakfast concept.”
Local owner Chris Phillips echoes Maynard’s sentiments when asked why he wanted to bring Famous Toastery to the Exton area. “I heard about the concept and went to visit. I was impressed that the food is always made fresh and from scratch every day. We take the extra step to ensure that everything that comes out of the kitchen is high quality. Nothing comes out of a bag and we have no freezers or fryers. If Elevation Burger is in the ‘better burger’ category, then Famous Toastery is in the ‘better breakfast’ category.”
When asked why he chose Exton as a location, Phillips shared, “It’s all timing. We looked at several locations. This is in my backyard so it is nice to have a place close to home. Main Street is having a renaissance of sorts with Movie Tavern, World of Beer, Cycle Bar and Orangetheory all opening recently. It is a really good location, and we hope to connect with the community.”
Of course, it all comes down to the food. On a recent trip to Famous Toastery, I sampled a variety of menu items that exemplified the restaurant’s quest for freshly prepared dishes. Highlights included the Avocado Benny, Cali Benny, Strawberry Stuffed French Toast and California Salad.
The Avocado Benny is a split avocado baked with two eggs, topped with Pepperjack cheese and fresh pico de gallo and served with fresh fruit. This menu option is perfect for anyone who is watching their carbs.
The Cali Benny was similar, but slightly more indulgent. The two poached eggs were served on an English muffin with avocado and tomato and topped with a creamy Hollandaise sauce.
For those craving something a little bit sweet, the stuffed French toast from the griddle is the ideal option. Choices include raspberry, blueberry, peanut butter and banana or strawberry and cream cheese. The French toast was perfectly cooked, filled with creamy strawberry filling and topped with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar. The syrup accompanying the dish was served warm and added just the right amount of decadence to the dish.
For lunch, options include salads, melts, wraps, burgers and sandwiches. The California salad includes crisp greens, grilled chicken, fresh strawberries, oranges, avocado, goat cheese and walnuts and is served with freshly prepared raspberry dressing.
Famous Toastery’s beverages are also worthy of mention. The restaurant has a machine that freshly juices oranges to order. It was the best glass of OJ I have ever tasted! Famous Toastery is BYOB, so feel free to bring along some vodka or champagne to mix with the fresh squeezed orange juice. There is also a coffee bar serving coffee, lattes and espresso drinks.
Famous Toastery’s Southern roots are most apparent in its service. The motto is: “Where every server is your server.” When dining at Famous Toastery, you do not get a specific waiter; rather, the staff all walk around the dining room waiting to serve you as needed.
When the weather warms up, Famous Toastery will also have a large outdoor dining area.
Currently, Famous Toastery is open from 7 a.m.–3 p.m. and offers dine in, take out and catering services.
Maynard is proud of the Famous Toastery concept and is thrilled that Phillips has brought it to Pennsylvania. There is hope to open more franchises in the area over the next few years. The restaurant prides itself on the quality of the food served and the attention to detail by its cooks and waitstaff, but most of all, Famous Toastery is hoping to build a community.
He shared, “We get a lot of regulars and it is a cool way to build community and relationships. As a business owner and a worker, we are interested in the human factor—that is what drives our core brand. Nothing beats getting to know your customers and their families.”
He concludes, “You will experience a step above what you are used to at most breakfast and lunch places. Famous Toastery is a very different experience. We wanted to bring something new and exciting to the community, create jobs and offer a place that feels like home for our guests.”
If my experience dining there is any indication, then Famous Toastery will have a home in Exton for a very long time.
Find Famous Toastery at 120 Woodcutter St. in Exton; phone: (484) 387-5559.
- Photos: Michele Kornegay
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