Firecreek Restaurant is a culinary and architectural delight located at 20 E. Lancaster Ave, Downingtown. It is nestled along the Brandywine River in a 200-year-old refurbished paper mill.
Just before you enter their beautiful stone building, diners are greeted by the “host,” a large bear sculpture made out of 300,000 nails created by friends of the owner. The restaurant has old refined charm with a contemporary flair. The spacious dining room has the original concrete and brick walls, steel tresses, wheels, cranks, pulleys, and wooden slats are from the paper mill. There is also private dining room, which is often used for parties and monthly wine dinners. Firecreek made Zagat’s “Decor Tops” list and they were not the only ones impressed by it. By this summer, there will be a replica of Firecreek and Doghouse Burgers (it’s gourmet burger partner restaurant next door) at Voorhees Town Center in Voorhees, NJ.
Firecreek serves American cuisine with a twist and everything is cooked over an open fire. Their culinary team is lead by renowned chefs: Carlo deMarco who was dubbed “Chef to Watch” by Esquire and John Mebane studied at Johnson and Wales. Their menu is not static and they are unveiling a new menu by the end of the month. Customers and staff rave about their calamari; grilled New York Strip Steak with Yukon potatoes; juicy bacon cheeseburgers, root beer pulled pork sandwich, and their apple-cider donut bread pudding.
When the weather finally warms up, diners can enjoy brunch with a drink in hand, while admiring the river on one of Firecreek’s outdoor patios. In 2009, it was named “Best of Philly: Outdoor dining, burbs” by Philadelphia Magazine. Brunch is from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., is not just your typical breakfast buffet. What goes perfectly with crepes, omelets, salads, cocktails, eggs Benedict and other delightful entrees? Live jazz every Sunday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.!
Their stunning Al Fresco bar has six beers on tap and they try to feature limited release beers. Their creative martini list is constantly evolving, but the elemental martinis- EARTH (espresso vodka chocolate liqueur, Kahlua), FIRE (Cuervo silver, triple sec cranberry, lime juice), WATER (Bacardi razz, fresh watermelon puree), and AIR (Absolut pear, lemonade, sour mix) are always in demand. Calling Firecreek’s wine collection large is an understatement, their wine room contains over 600 bottles of wine from North and South America. With $4 martinis, $4 seasonal drafts, $4 select glasses of wine, and a half priced bar menu, everyone is happy from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Sundays are BYOB with no corkage fee and bottles of wine under $100 are half off on Monday evenings. Every Wednesday, they offer a chef tasting with a special menu and different bi-weekly theme (around the world starting in March). This four-course prix fixe meal is $35 per person, and $50 per person with the wine pairings. There is live jazz from 6-9 pm on Thursday nights. From Sundays to Thursdays (from 5-6:30 p.m.), customers can savor a three-course prix fixe menu for $30, which also can be found on the Zagat “Best Buys: Prix Fixe Dinner.”
Firecreek has many loyal customers, many of whom often travel far distances a few times a month just to dine there. Lisa MacNell and her husband come to Firecreek a few times a month. “We have been here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. They pay attention to standards and we were thrilled when they opened. In Downingtown, we have some places to eat. This is dining and the others are just food,” said MacNell.
Firecreek supports local community organizations and often sponsor events like a holiday party for Downingtown Area School District teachers. To learn more, check out their website or find them on facebook. Philly Style named Firecreek “one of the best new spots the burbs have seen in some time.” After you take in the stunning ambiance, savor a bite of delicious fare, and sip on some wine, you will certainly agree.
