The Refectory

4.6

1031 Reviews

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

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2 people

10 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 40 times today

Lively
Neighbourhood gem
Good for special occasions

The Refectory is a stunning New American restaurant located on Lancaster Avenue in Villanova. The menu features modern and upscale interpretations of American comfort classics such as homemade pastas, wood-fired flatbreads, a raw bar, craft cocktails and specialty homemade desserts. Our kitchen's philosophy is to keep it simple and straightforward, with a lot of thought and technique put behind each dish and ingredient.

The Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We validate parking in the I-1 garage across the street. For parties of 9 or more guests, please contact the restaurant directly by calling (610) 519-5786 or by emailing info@refectorynova.com. Please call or email with any questions and we will return your message.

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Oyster Bar
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–15:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 15:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 15:00–23:00 Happy Hour Daily 16:00–18:00
Phone number
(610) 519-5786
Website
http://www.refectorynova.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Biff Gottehrer, Michael Murray
Private party facilities
We offer several private and semi-private dining and event options. The private President's Dining Room accommodates up to 14 guests for a seated function, while semi-private areas of our dining room can be set up for guests ranging from 25-80. Inquire for restaurant buyouts. Contact our Event Director, Devin Simpson at devin@refectorynova.com

Location
862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
Area
Villanova
Cross Street
Ithan Ave
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
PARKING GARAGE INFORMATION: Parking is only available across the street from The Refectory at the Villanova I-1 Parking Garage located on South Ithan Avenue. There are no timing restrictions for vehicles parked at the I-1 Parking Garage for guests dining at The Refectory. The rates are as follows: the 1st hour is free, two hours is $2, and up to four hours is $5. Currently, we do not validate parking. Upon entry, pull a ticket and park on any of the first 3 floors. A pay machine accepting cash and credit is located by the Main Pedestrian Entrance/Exit on Floor 2. The exit lanes only accept credit cards and do not accept cash. To get to the Refectory from the Parking Garage from Floor 2, use the pedestrian walkway across Ithan Avenue. The Refectory is located in The Commons, the stone mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Ithan & Lancaster Avenue. Look for restaurant signage and call us at 610-519-5786 if you have any issues
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

Dry-Aged Cravers*US$20.00
(3 2oz. burger patties) american, onion, special sauce, house slider buns
Salmon BLT&AUS$19.00
alfalfa sprouts, smoked tomato, dijonnaise, focaccia
Grilled Chicken SandwichUS$17.00
ciabatta, honey mustard, kunik, smoked tomato, arugula
House Turkey SandwichUS$18.00
cranberry walnut sourdough, LTO, cheddar, dukes mayo, bacon
Fried Chicken SandwichUS$16.00
sesame seed bun, pickles, romaine, pickled cabbage, comeback sauce
Beets on WeckUS$15.00
caraway bun, horseradish aioli, beet jus

Soups & Salads

add chicken $5, add shrimp $8, add salmon $10, add filet mignon $10

Mushroom SoupUS$15.00
shallot, yukon gold potato, oat milk
Fried Chicken Cobb SaladUS$18.00
fried chicken, iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled egg, avocado, bacon, bleu cheese, ranch dressing
Caesar SaladUS$15.00
baby gem, croutons, dill, cured yolk
Green Salad***US$15.00
avocado, radish, cucumber, green goddess
Winter SaladUS$15.00
spring mix, craisin, bleu cheese, beets, pear, balsamic, spicy walnuts
Citrus SaladUS$17.00
endive, blood orange, grapefruit, pomegranate vinaigrette, granola

Shareables

Brussels Sprouts***US$15.00
bacon lardon, apple, balsamic mustard
Mahi Tacos**US$16.00
plantain crust, avocado, cabbage, chipotle mayo
Rock Shrimp TacosUS$18.00
sweet chili sauce, avocado, cilantro
Buffalo Cauliflower***US$16.00
house hot sauce, buttermilk ranch
Oysters*US$18.00
1/2 dozen, mignonette
Shrimp CocktailUS$16.00
cocktail sauce, fresh lemon
FriesUS$6.00
tomato & vinegar emulsion
Nova FriesUS$11.00
brisket, house wiz, pickled red onion

What 1,031 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Western Suburbs
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Refectory offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food," "attentive service," and a "beautiful atmosphere." Guests enjoy a "creative menu," highlighting dishes like branzino and salmon. While some find the noise level high, the "consistent quality" and "friendly staff" make it a "highly recommended" spot for any occasion.

1,199 Reviews

K
Kristen
VIP
Philadelphia
173 reviews
5.0
173 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our bartender and waitress Madison was a joy. Our dinner choices were fantastic and the drinks she made were incredible. She made the best espresso martini ever. This is my new favorite place. Please bring back the deviled eggs
The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
Hi Kristen, We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic dining experience at The Refectory! It's wonderful to know that our bartender, Madison, made a lasting impression on you. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us! Thank you for choosing us and for your wonderful review. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Management Team
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S
Stephen
VIP
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great collegiate environment with excellent food. Additionally, the menu included options to cover our vegan and our gluten free friends, which are two very big checkboxes for us. We will be back.
The RefectoryResponded 4 days ago
Hi Stephen, Thank you for your kind words and for choosing The Refectory. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our environment and food. We aim to cater to a diverse range of dietary needs and we're glad that our menu accommodated your needs. Your feedback is invaluable and we're delighted to know that we could make your dining experience great. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best regards, The Management Team
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m
michael
VIP
Washington DC
27 reviews
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 1
The service was very slow. There was a giant party that created a lot of noise! The Citrus Winter salad did not have some of the the ingredients listed on the menu such as granola. I asked the waiter if the salad has cheese in it because I can’t eat most dairy products and he assured me that there is no cheese in this salad. It had chunks of soft cheese in it!! Luckily I was able to remove them in time. It did have mostly bitter endive and very little of the rest. The Salmon that was listed on under “Large Plates” came indeed on a large plate but otherwise the serving was very small. The desert was very good.
The RefectoryResponded 6 days ago
Thanks for the feedback, Michael. We're sorry to hear about the service during your visit and the issues you encountered. We strive to provide a comfortable environment for all our guests, and we apologize if we fell short. We also appreciate your feedback about our menu items and will certainly look into these concerns. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide a better experience. Best, The Management Team
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SH
ScottH
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great ambiance and welcoming environment. Food was delicious and service was very good. Prices were reasonable. We will be going back.
The RefectoryResponded 6 days ago
Hey Scott, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the ambiance and service at The Refectory. It's wonderful to know that our food and prices met your expectations. We're always striving to provide an exceptional dining experience for our guests, so your feedback is greatly appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Management Team
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K
Kelly
New York City
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
You wouldn't think a restaurant on Villanova's campus is the best brunch spot on the Main Line...but it is! Delicious food (lots of options), strong service and a gorgeous almost art-deco room. Every time we go there its great. We forgot to check if there was a Villanova Bball game today (there was!) but we were still able to find parking easily and the game was at noon so everyone cleared out just as we were sitting for our 11:30am reservations...probably wouldn't want to be there at 10:30am (unless you wanted to join the fun looking pregame happening at the bar!) but afterwards was perfect bunch atmosphere.
The RefectoryResponded on 2 March 2025
Hello Kelly, Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience at The Refectory. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food, service, and ambiance. It's always our goal to provide a great brunch spot on the Main Line, and we're glad to know we hit the mark for you! We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another memorable brunch. Best Regards, The Management Team
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S
Shannon
VIP
Philadelphia
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful space, stellar service, & delicious food.
The RefectoryResponded 6 days ago
Hey Shannon, Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the space, service, and food at The Refectory. We always strive to provide a memorable experience for our guests, and it's wonderful to know we succeeded. We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, The Management Team
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our first visit and we loved it. Great ambiance and delicious food and great service
The RefectoryResponded on 2 March 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your first visit to The Refectory and found our ambiance and food to your liking. It's always a pleasure to know that our efforts to provide a memorable dining experience are appreciated. We're also glad to know that our service met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Management Team
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OT
OpenTable Diner
VIP
New York City
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 27 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ambience, food and service were all excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
The RefectoryResponded on 28 February 2025
Thanks for the feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had a wonderful time at The Refectory. It's fantastic to know that our ambience, food, and service met your expectations. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Is this helpful?
K
Kristin
VIP
Philadelphia
82 reviews
3.0
82 reviews
Dined on 23 February 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
First time, nice bar, liked the menu. Spicy tuna taartare wasn’t great but okay. I’d return for apps and a big salad. Happy to see it’s busy. Good addition to the neighborhood.
The RefectoryResponded on 26 February 2025
Hello Kristin, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at The Refectory. We're sorry to hear that the tuna tartare didn't meet your expectations. Your feedback is important to us and we'll definitely take it into consideration. We're glad to hear that you're enjoying the busy atmosphere and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best regards, The Management Team
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D
DEBORAH
Philadelphia
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on 23 February 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The Refectory is a beautiful dining spot. The food and service were very good. I would definitely return. The only less than ideal factor was the noise. It's rather boisterous.
The RefectoryResponded on 26 February 2025
Hey Deborah, Thanks a lot for your kind words about The Refectory! We're thrilled you enjoyed our food and service. We're sorry about the noise, we aim to create a lively atmosphere for our guests. We appreciate your feedback and will certainly take it into consideration. We're looking forward to your return visit! Best, The Management Team
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FAQs

The Refectory is rated 4.6 stars by 1031 OpenTable diners.

The Refectory does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

10 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 40 times today

862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Ithan Ave
Area
Villanova
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–15:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 15:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 15:00–23:00 Happy Hour Daily 16:00–18:00
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Oyster Bar
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
PARKING GARAGE INFORMATION: Parking is only available across the street from The Refectory at the Villanova I-1 Parking Garage located on South Ithan Avenue. There are no timing restrictions for vehicles parked at the I-1 Parking Garage for guests dining at The Refectory. The rates are as follows: the 1st hour is free, two hours is $2, and up to four hours is $5. Currently, we do not validate parking. Upon entry, pull a ticket and park on any of the first 3 floors. A pay machine accepting cash and credit is located by the Main Pedestrian Entrance/Exit on Floor 2. The exit lanes only accept credit cards and do not accept cash. To get to the Refectory from the Parking Garage from Floor 2, use the pedestrian walkway across Ithan Avenue. The Refectory is located in The Commons, the stone mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Ithan & Lancaster Avenue. Look for restaurant signage and call us at 610-519-5786 if you have any issues
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Biff Gottehrer, Michael Murray
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.refectorynova.com/
Phone number
(610) 519-5786
Private party facilities
We offer several private and semi-private dining and event options. The private President's Dining Room accommodates up to 14 guests for a seated function, while semi-private areas of our dining room can be set up for guests ranging from 25-80. Inquire for restaurant buyouts. Contact our Event Director, Devin Simpson at devin@refectorynova.com

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

The Refectory

Make a booking

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

Branzino Filet

Salmon BLT&A

Roasted Salmon

Wood-Grilled Flatbreads

CheeseUS$12.00

Spicy PepperoniUS$14.00

BrisketUS$15.00

Wild MushroomUS$15.00

Pasta

Spicy Vodka RigatoniUS$21.00

Short Rib StroganoffUS$21.00

Handhelds

Dry-Aged Cravers*US$20.00

Salmon BLT&AUS$19.00

Grilled Chicken SandwichUS$17.00

House Turkey SandwichUS$18.00

Fried Chicken SandwichUS$16.00

Beets on WeckUS$15.00

Soups & Salads

Mushroom SoupUS$15.00

Fried Chicken Cobb SaladUS$18.00

Caesar SaladUS$15.00

Green Salad***US$15.00

Winter SaladUS$15.00

Citrus SaladUS$17.00

Shareables

Brussels Sprouts***US$15.00

Mahi Tacos**US$16.00

Rock Shrimp TacosUS$18.00

Buffalo Cauliflower***US$16.00

Oysters*US$18.00

Shrimp CocktailUS$16.00

FriesUS$6.00

Nova FriesUS$11.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Refectory restaurant rated?

Does The Refectory offer gift cards?

Is The Refectory currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card