Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne
126 N. Wayne Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
610-293-0119
Under same management and located “next door” to Wayne mainstay Teresa’s Cafe. (Actually, they share an entrance.)
Overview: As any diner familiar with the Wayne restaurant scene has come to expect from Teresa’s Cafe, Teresa’s Next Door (now known as TND) offers simple, creative and well-executed fare in a comfortable (and smoke-free!) environment. Oh, and it’s also the best beer bar in the area.
Food: Belgian-themed fare can be enjoyed via a plethora of mouth-watering appetizers, salads and small plates, a nice selection of sandwiches (including a rabbit sausage baguette), or more formal dinner entrees. We couldn’t resist the trio of fried cheeses, which turned out to be a nice gourmet take on mozzarella sticks. The hand cut frites, served along side traditional Belgian aoli are brilliant; don’t miss them. We skipped the multiple mussel options and opted for the steak frites (simple but very well cooked) and a very interesting seared arctic char dish, served with grilled leeks on a bed of scrumptious stoemp (mashed potatoes with onions, leeks and spices), all covered in a creamy mustard sauce. (The plate was cleaned.)
Beer/Wine: We love TJ’s and The Flying Pig, but TND has set a new standard for beer service and selection. The draft selection is absurd, featuring a wide variety of domestic and import craft and/or specialty beers that will rotate regularly, all with appropriate glassware. (Another way to look at it: Hoegarten and Chimay are the “mainstream” beers on the draft list.) There are also hundreds of bottles (from countries from the US to Belgium to Malta) available and an extensive, reasonably priced wine selection. Wow.
Service: As with Teresa’s, warm, friendly and capable service was provided.
Ambiance: TND is a long, thin room with an incredible bar alongside the left side (the display of glasses is a sight to be seen). The right side is lined mostly with 2-4 person booths but also with some smaller tables (similar to the cafe) along th side. There isn’t a ton of room in the center, so when things get busy, expect it to be a little cramped and quite noisy.
Value: Here’s the thing: the only downside to TND is the fact that it is no longer a dirt cheap night out like the cafe next door. The food is aptly priced, and a person could easily fill up on food for less than $20, but the beer and wine will bring the overall cost up quite a bit (especially if you, like us, can’t resist trying several different varieties). Still, a visit to TND won’t break the bank.
Details:
# of times visited: 1
Cards: Yes
Bar: Full
Reservations: No
July 9th, 2007 at 8:52 am
[…] Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne [Main Line Restaurant Guide] Read More:Beer, Belgian, Main Line, Reviewed, Teresas Next Door […]
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Simply the best addition to Wayne night life! Great atmosphere, unsurpassed beer selection, delicious and unique fare, fabulous service.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
A great new addition and long awaited as it was under construction so long but you can see the efforts have paid off - it’s very attractive. But, the slate floors and surfaces make it a deafening dining experience - even at half capacity it’s hard to hear others at the table. Hard to argue for carpet over the beautiful floor but sound absorbers are sorely needed (and wouldn’t hurt in the original Teresa’s Cafe, either). That said, great food and service, Andy and team continue to do a great job.
August 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Went there last weekend. Very, very good. Had the mussels and frites. No need to drive into the city to go to Monk’s anymore.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
i went to Teresa’s next door with my friends for lunch the other day. all three of us ordered saladbecause we are not big meat eaters and none of us liked them. the service was good and all but i wouldnt go back.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:10 pm
On a design scale, a “10″. On a food scale, a “10″. On a service scale, a “10″. The muscles rock! The salads rock! And for those of us that can not stand the oafish behavior of football fans…..the new Sunday afternoon/evening meal joint(and BEER joint).
September 4th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Lets talk BEER. Teresa’s N.D. is part of my beer triad on the Main Line(TJ’s Everyday and Flying Pig included). If great beer is your thing this place is not to be missed. The selection is top notch. They lean heavy on the belgian side but come through with a good variety of micros and hard to find, out of area beers. On my last visit they were pouring Pliny the Younger (tough find in PA) and Rust Belt from Sprague Farm Brew Works. The bottle selection is extensive enough to keep any beer geek wanting to order another. The bartenders were fairly knowledgable about their taps and service was 1st rate eventhough it was a busy night. As for the food, I have only had the mussels. They were full of flavor, not fishy and very fresh. Lastly, I was happy to see it is non smoking. You can smell and taste your food and beer, no burning eyes and you don’t smell like an ashtray when you leave. If your love to explore beer this place is a must stop.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Outstanding beer selection adding to the murderer’s row of western Main Line (TJ’s, Flying Pig and Drafting Room) beer establishments. There simply is no excuse to order your Bud’s and “Lager’s” anymore. Some of the best beer in the world is here (and a lot of it is actually brewed in PA). TND has a very nice interior with no TV’s and a long bar. Style is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright to me in materials (think PA Bluestone). My only two complaints are that is can be very loud on the weekends, I assume due to the room configuration and the fact that every surface in the place is a ‘hard’ surface; secondly the service and food is somewhat uneven. When it’s good, it’s great, but I have had some less than stellar servers and an occasional miss on the menu. That being said they seem to be growing into the place well and I imagine TND will be here for years to come.
..and now they even have brunch
September 26th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
The taquitos were excellent. The kitchen staff appears to be mostly Mexicon so I’m not surprised…finally a restaurant (albeit a bit unlikely since it’s billed as a
Belgian beer hall) that serves great Mexican food! Recommended highly and the 26 beers on tap are off the hook.
September 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I’ve enjoyed both brunch and dinner at TND. Please visit McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail for full details of each:
- Sunday Brunch at Teresa’s Next Door
- Teresa’s Next Door Revisited.
September 29th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Had dinner last night. The bratwurst sandwich was outstanding. I don’t think it a regualr menu item. Beer was great as always. Had the Sierra Nevada Anniversary and Weyerbacher Slam Dunk. Great service from Gina too!
October 13th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Have tried to go here 4 times. Always a minimum of 45 minute wait for two people, even when there are multiple empty tables in clear view. Hostess staff of three girls(!!!) need to get it together. Shades of John Harvard: too many hostesses who don’t have a clue how to seat people for maximum revenue.
October 20th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Beer selection was great. Food was good…but the hostess situation is horrible. When I checked in with the hostesses to see how much longer I was told they they had just given away our table. The girls told me there is a 3 call rule, once they call your cell phone 3 times then they give away your table. NO ONE EVER ASKED ME FOR A PHONE NUMBER!!! Who were they calling 3 times? They did not have an answer. We were sitting at the bar in plain sight the entire time. They were not apologetic at all.
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 am
Don’t go here!!! I want it all for myself. Seriously, if you are looking for good beer, 24 taps, and great food you can’t pass up TND. The service was excellent, the Rodenbach Grand Cru on tap was outstanding and the food was delicious. Go to TND!!!
October 30th, 2007 at 6:12 am
What a great addition to downtown Wayne…the mussels have always been fresh, tender & meaty in the 4x I’ve ordered them — “drunken” is probably my favorite version here. The frites are how they should be — nice and crispy & always served promptly so they arrive nice & hot. The beer list is outrageous & the bartenders are knowledgable without coming off like cocky beer snobs.
Design/decor is attractive but as mentioned before, the place can be super loud (even at less than full capacity)
November 6th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Has anyone griping about the wait on a Friday or Saturday (a common phenomenon to encounter on a weekend night when going out) considered trying TND Sunday thru Thursday? I have been several times and have never had to wait for a table.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Dodged the crowds spilling onto the sidewalk waiting for tables for the past several months and decided to take the plunge this past Saturday. The hostess offered a 45 minute wait so we made our way to the bar and found 2 seats together, nice start! Asked the bartender to describe a specific beer on tap and got hit with the attitude, “What do you want me to say!” Uh oh, so much for friendly neighborhood spot. The we tried ordering food and my wife wanted to substitute a veggie for the potatoes, “That isn’t allowed.” It took a discussion with the manager to finally get ‘approval’ for the substitution. Huh? Nice evening, they could try to loosen up and be friendly…nice that the staff at the Pub and Christopher’s know us by name and is always friendly….keeps us coming back. TND could go from hot to cold pretty quickly, like their neighbor the Wooden Iron unless they fix the attitude.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
NICE place and GREAT beer (and wine). Wayne definitely needs a place like this. Interior is very Soho, very chic. Beautiful bar, perfect lighting and wonderful atmosphere. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:35 am
If you love beer, this is the place to go. I used to be able to walk to The Flying Pig and hated to have to move. I hate to say it, but this place is better. I can walk to TND. No smoke and the food is excellent. The Drunkin Mussels are the best, hamburger is good (the Pig’s is better), cheese trio is great. Have not tried it yet but there is an amazing cheese selection on the back of the menu. The beer focus and selection is amazing. Do not miss the Mahrs Brau. It is as good as in Bamburg. The beer is supplied by my favorite beer store, the beer yard. The noise is bad, but if you love beer you will overlook it!
December 16th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I must admit, I am a regular. However, they surprised me the other night, as usually their food is good, but most likely wood not be described as haute-cuisine (I go for the beer mostly). I ordered one of the specials consisting of seared ahi, caviar in a balsamic reduction, and pan-fried goose liver. Now, the portions weren’t huge but at any other restaurant that could be a 30-40 dollar entree. It was $15!! And it was terrific.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Was surprised a little on Saturday. Was going to just order something off the menu. However, I went with the BBQ Short rib with frites and jalapeno slaw with texas toast. It was fantastic! Washed it down with Victory Hop Wallop. Service was very good too.
January 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Took my husband there for our anniversary. He’s a huge fan of a great beer selection so he was thrilled. The food was good but we especially loved the mussels and the variety of cheese platters. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about beer - what we might like, how the different beers are made - obviously loved what he was doing so it was fun to ask him for recommendations. My only complaint (like many others) was with the hostesses - they were rude, especially for a quiet Tuesday night where there wasn’t a big crowd.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
My wife and I tried to take her parents there for dinner last Saturday after seeing a movie. My wife and I have had many wonderful meals there. It was early afternoon, around 4:30PM. My in-laws wanted to sit at a booth, have a drink and check out the menu before we committed to eating there. The hostess and waistress were very rude and unaccomodating. Apparently the tables are for people who are ordering food, regardless if the place is busy or not. We ended up eating dinner there but they weren’t willing to give my in-laws 5 minutes to decide. Very rude staff and I probably won’t eat there again.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I love a great beer selection, so I was able to talk my wife and another couple into checking this place out. My first selection of beer was turned down and so was my second. I had to settle for a Duvel which is fine. I then tried to go to the bathroom and I felt like Barry Sanders trying to cut and weave through people to get there. The bathrooms are quite unique though. The food was average, the noise level is way too high. Just a bunch of people yelling it seemed like. If you want to go to a bar and have a good meal with a great beer(in stock) then try TJ’s in Paoli. I’ve never had a bad experience in anyway, but I can say that I probably won’t go back to Theresa’s Next Door
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
TND is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. My only regret is that I’ve never tried anything but the mussels. They are so delicious, I haven’t ventured beyond the 4 types of mussels on the menu. No need to. As for beer…well lets just say TND is what I picture my local bar in heaven to be like.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Went there the Friday before Valentine’s Day and it was great! Terrific beer selection and a great menu. My husband had a steak special and I had the steak frites, which was delicious. Not too pricey, although it can be if you order a couple expensive beers.
We had a 45 minute wait and walked around Wayne while we waited. The hostess called my cell phone right on time and we headed over to the restaurant and were seated promptly.
My only complaint is the noise level… the restaurant could definitely use more soft surfaces to absorb all the chatter.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
To be quite honest, I didn’t think this place was anything to write home about. They have a great drink selection and somewhat enteraining menu (who doesn’t serve short ribs these days), but for what Teresa’s is - a somewhat played up watering hole with some brick on the wall (its main line, not nyc) and a mediocre layout (railroad style?)the media and neighborhood have all gotten a little too excited. I felt that the bartenders were rude and not in the least bit welcoming. One would think that if they wanted their bar/pub to succeed, they would employ some decent staff. As far as the beer selection goes… fantastic.. five stars - BUT… who really wants to be served by rude people. Lets face it, this place isn’t fooling anyone, its an independently owned establishment that has the feel and welcome of a chain. Management needs to handle the bar staff or it could go on what the famed eatery blog Eater.com calls deathwatchhhh (a term used to catagorize establishments that they think will close in the near future for one reason or another).
I can’t see this place being open for more than another year - not without a new bar staff.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I have been to Theresa’s several times since it has been open. I am super laid back and don’t mind too much attitude, but I am finally over the service at Theresa’s. They are rude and don’t seem to care. It will be interesting to see if they will be able to keep it up…I will be at Monk’s eating better food.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:23 am
I was there recently for a happy hour with some co-workers but may only return in a much smaller group. After we took up too many stools at the bar, we asked if we could move to a table. 3 different employees needed to be consulted before we were given the OK to move two tables together to accomodate our group. After more of our friends joined us, they would not allow us to get another table. We had to squeeze more chairs around the tables we had. Some people had to stand because there was not enough room for us, although there were empty tables near by. I work at a restaurant so I understand that it’s not the greatest when a large group of people are only drinking, but we ordered appetizers. We probably would have stayed for dinner if we weren’t basically asked to leave. I found the service at Freehouse down the street much more friendly.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I have really tried to like this place. But every time I go I vow I will not go back. I have had the food numerous times and it is mediocre at best. The beer prices and serving sizes are insulting. I ordered a 16oz pint of one of the hand pump beers and it was about 3/4 full. Since most of the volume of a pint glass is at the top the advertised 16oz beer turned out to be about 10oz. That is simply wrong. It’s unfortunate, the place had potential but it really lacks character and substance.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
TND needs a freakin’ website. Come on guys, get on it already! I’d like to know what’s currently on tap before I drive all the way out there…
It’s 2008, get with it.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:14 am
A pub without TVs. What a concept.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
As a San Franciscan, I visited Teresa’s “Next Door” with a local and was WOW’d by the excellent service we got from Andy, the wonderful selection of beers and wines and the emnu (mussels were great!). This is a jewel that the people of Wayne should covet and keep in business!
Congratualtions, Teresa!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:18 am
As a San Franciscan, I visited Teresa’s “Next Door” with a local and was WOW’d by the excellent service we got from Andy, the wonderful selection of beers and wines and the emnu (mussels were great!). This is a jewel that the people of Wayne should covet and keep in business!
Congratualtions, Teresa!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Went here for breakfast. Waitress was attentive and pretty good. They gave us each a sticky bun before our meal which seemed like it was fresh out of the oven and very delicious. I had the french toast and it was very good. I think overall it deserves 4 out of 5 stars. The only thing is the menu could use some work.