The Refectory

4.6

550 Reviews

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

The Refectory is a stunning 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 goal is to let each ingredient shine.

The Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. 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.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 24, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 54 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Oyster Bar
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Mon, Sun 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
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
Neighborhood
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

Cheese$11.00
cheddar, grana padano, marinara
Spicy Pepperoni$13.00
oregano, hot honey
Duck Confit$18.00
sweet potato puree, goat cheese, pomegranate
Brisket$14.00
sweet onion purée, smoked cheddar, bleu cheese, horseradish
Wild Mushroom$15.00
sweet onion purée, truffle, egg yolk
Broccoli Rabe & Ricotta$15.00
carmelized onion, red chimichurri
Tuna Pizza*$19.00
sashimi, flour tortilla, jalapeño aioli, serrano

For the Table

House-Made Bread Basket$11.00
parker house rolls, focaccia, multigrain
Big Mac Steak Tartare$17.00
special sauce, parmesan, sesame seed, egg yolk, fries
Baked Cheese$19.00
kunik, black garlic mustard, pesto, honey comb, foccacia
Cajun Calamari$15.00
blackening spice, lemon, green chile aioli, shishito
Pickled Beets$15.00
housemade ricotta, tapenade, multigrain toast
Mussels$19.00
choice of: coconut curry, arrabiata, or white wine garlic

Shareables

Mahi Tacos$15.00
plantain crust, cabbage, chipotle mayo
Crispy Sunchokes$14.00
green chili aioli, red chimichurri, fried sage
Brussels Sprouts$14.00
bacon lardon, apple, balsamic mustard
Grilled Shrimp Toast$15.00
ricotta, multigrain, avocado, beurre blanc
Truffled Deviled Eggs$9.00
black truffle, espelette, sea salt
Nova Fries$9.00
brisket, house whiz, pickled onion
Charred Cabbage$13.00
sweet potato puree, scallion, pomegranate, crispy shallots
Buffalo Cauliflower$15.00
house hot sauce, buttermilk ranch
Spaghetti Squash$17.00
cauliflower walnut bolognese, sage, aged balsamic
Mini Crab Cakes$16.00
chipotle mayo, scallion, lemon
Hash Brown*$11.00
hollandaise, chive
Bacon Wrapped Dates$15.00
bleu cheese, manchego, spinach crema

Soup & Salads

Broccoli Cheddar Soup$11.00
cabot cheddar, crouton, broccoli
Wedge Salad$15.00
smoked tomato, crispy bacon, pickled red onion, radish, blue cheese
Green Salad$14.00
avocado, radish, cucumber, green goddess dressing
Caesar Salad$13.00
baby gem, focaccia croutons, dill, cured yolk
Broccoli & Sweet Potato$15.00
cilantro, lime, roasted pepita vinaigrette
Harvest Salad$15.00
mixed greens, beets, goat cheese, pomegranate, dates, shallot, balsamic mustard viniagrette

From the Land

Nova Cravers*$18.00
(3 2oz. burger patties) cooper sharp, special sauce, house slider buns
Truffled Chicken Pot Pie$25.00
puff pastry, creme fraiche, sage, black truffle
Niman Ranch Grassfed Ribeye*$57.00
(12oz.) frites, mixed greens, hollandaise
Berkshire Pork Chop$28.00
black garlic mustard, broccoli, cabbage, onion purée
New Zealand Lamb$34.00
spiced cous cous, cucumber yogurt

Pasta & Grain

Spicy Vodka Rigatoni$18.00
calabrian chili, vodka
Spaghetti & Meatballs$21.00
marinara, parmesan, oregano
Potato Gnocchi*$27.00
brown butter cacio e pepe, soft egg, mushroom, black truffle
Porcini Risotto$25.00
wild mixed mushrooms, cippolini onion, english pea, aged balsamic
Shrimp Scampi$23.00
bucatini, garlic, calabrian chili, pickled lemon
Bucatini$27.00
duck ragu, sweet potato, broccoli rabe, manchego

From the Sea

Atlantic Salmon$27.00
creamy farrotto, pea, fava, lemon
Blackened Mahi Mahi$25.00
papaya salad, jalapeño emulsion, coconut curry, pistachio
Grilled Yellowfin Tuna*$29.00
sesame crust, bok choy, pepita salad, spaghetti squash
Grouper Roll$27.00
choice of blackened or tempura fried, jalapeño aioli, red cabbage, sesame seed roll
Branzino Filet$27.00
sweet potato, sunchoke, date, beet nage

Master Class Burger

Master Class Burger$25.00
Kunik cheese, bacon, brandied caramelized onions, green peppercorn tapenade, smoked tomato, dijonaise. Served with nova fries

What 550 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

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Western Suburbs
Contemporary American

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JP
JoeP
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall2food2service2ambience2
My wife and I stopped in for a quick midweek dinner. My wife ordered the burger sliders, I ordered their signature burger. The food was at best average and given the prices…I would have a hard time going back or recommending. There is way better value at many places 1 mile west in Wayne or 1 mile east in Bryn Mawr.
s
sjcr
Philadelphia
38 reviews
vip
3.0
38 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall3food3service1ambience3
The kitchen is soooo SLOW. It shouldn't take 90 minutes for brunch for two.
HE
HeleneE
Philadelphia
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love everything about The Refrectory. The food, the selection, the ambiance and the lively crowd.
DR
DanR
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, table spilt a bunch of apps (mussels, crab cakes, bread basket, nova fries); all were very good, crab cakes were a favorite. Wine/drink list is good, everyone’s entrees were good as well. It was lively, but not super loud. Had a casual, upscale vibe - everyone dressed well, but not super stuffy (tried my best at explaining that).
RA
RicA
Philadelphia
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food.. so many fun things to try.. ate a bunch of stuff for the table and then light on the mains... great cocktails too.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food4service2ambience5
Nice waiter very friendly but he was also bartender- sat for quite a while after hostess seated us - Sliders were good but ordered a couple things that just didn’t like - pesto flat bread had so much pesto covering it thickly
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
the vegan menu was delicious. we loved the spaghetti squash :)
ME
MsERS
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious drinks and food. Our server, Eric and his trainee, were amazing. The bartenders are on point with their craft and skills. This is not a place for children so be advised. The ricotta doughnuts with the blueberry jam will make you slap your momma!
K
Kouhei2023
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 15, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Overall nice lunch/dinner spot on Main Line. Restaurant ambiance is very nice, fun energy, the service was excellent and food was very good (though not excellent). Definitely good for social lunch, happy hour or dinner.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great gluten free options! Fun atmosphere, great service, delicious food!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I had never heard of it until I found on Open Table. It was amazing drinks and food.
The RefectoryResponded on March 9, 2023We are so glad you found us! Look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Cheers.
h
hw123
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
only thing better than the food was the service!!! great experience..Thank you!!
The RefectoryResponded on March 9, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
BA
BarbaraA
Philadelphia
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My tuna with spaghetti squash was delicious!! Brussels sprouts appetizer was enough for the table. Cosmos we’re made perfectly🍸
The RefectoryResponded on March 9, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
s
suzannef
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The ambiance was great. Taylor was a wonderful waitress and the food was amazing. I had the branzino filet and a harvest salad.
The RefectoryResponded on March 9, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
TC
TrishC
Philadelphia
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on March 3, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Love this restaurant big found the portions of the scallops entree to be a bit small. Great otherwise!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 3, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Loved the food and cocktails. Didn’t appreciate that parking is not validated as the restaurant is on the campus.
The RefectoryResponded on March 9, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. Though we are on-campus, we are a separate business from the University. Unfortunately the University does not currently validate for our customers BUT we are happy to report that we are in talks with the school to bring this service back. The validation system had been abused by the prior operators of the restaurant who are no longer in business. Thankfully, it costs a few dollars at most and we do have this information posted on our website, so we try to give our customers as much of a heads up about it as we can. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
JJ
JJWW
Philadelphia
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Wonderful food and the staff were great! Cocktails and food were delicious, I will definitely be going back to try more items on the menu! It was difficult to figure out how to get in if coming from the parking garage across the street since it is in the bottom of a dorm building.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. We understand that we're a bit hard to find but we like to say we are a hidden gem :) Cheers and be well!
P
Peetie
Philadelphia
44 reviews
vip
4.0
44 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
A neighborhood gem, the Refectory is ideal for Sunday dinner...creative dishes cooked to perfection and attentive staff, set in an elegant yet understated facility.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
JA
JillA
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
I have hearing issues and my request to be seated in a quieter part of the restaurant was promptly accommodated. Much appreciated. I was also impressed that the first question asked by the server was about allergies, since I have severe ones. The quiche was delicious - as was the tasty side salad. I will be copying the way the cukes were sliced! Looking forward to returning to the Refectory.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. We are always happy to accommodate our guest's requests. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
E
Edrich3
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Felt like portions sizes were a little smaller than their rivals like Ripplewood. Great food though.
The RefectoryResponded on February 27, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
HV
HectorV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Pricey but very good in general. I would certainly visit again.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
M
Mike
Philadelphia
77 reviews
vip
5.0
77 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for lunch. Great service and the food and cocktails were really good.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
k
kimberlyf
Philadelphia
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful drinks, food and service! Will definitely be back.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
LF
LaFleur
Philadelphia
244 reviews
vip
5.0
244 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Refectory has all the great food from Ripplewood (Ardmore) but with a very nice spacious restaurant atmosphere and superb service. Don’t sleep on the Brussels sprouts. And the Tuna Pizza is a nice homage to the Morimoto classic.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. The Tuna Pizza is a staff favorite. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
AB
AndreaB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and atmosphere on Villanova's campus! Highly recommend.
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Pre-game dining. The UConn fans were rather noisy! (Just kidding, so were the ‘Nova fans).
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience5
Very salty food Average menu with typical buzzword dishes ( burrata, mahimmahi tacos) Good bread Very expensive for chain restaurant quality
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello, The ownership team at The Refectory recently received your review and we are sorry to hear your experience was subpar. We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review and would appreciate any further feedback you can share. We are a team of committed, caring individuals who are always looking to learn and grow. We will be sure to pass along your comments to the kitchen. We do hope you will try us out again in the future. With Warmth, The Refectory Team
LI
LoriI
Philadelphia
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Refectory was superb! We went on a fairly busy Friday night at prime dining time. Our server was EXCELLENT. I believe his name was Kyle. He had a tremendous knowledge of the menu & he was very detailed and attentive. He even made sure it was okay with us before he offered our daughter a refill on her Shirley Temple! I don't usually write reviews, but Kyle truly went above and beyond. The food was also quite delicious & came out efficiently. The drinks were strong and very good. This restaurant was extremely well-run from the front of the house to the back of the house & everything in between. We truly appreciated the job our server did. What a great way to end our busy week. We will definitely be back!! It almost felt like the good days of restaurant dining in 2019 before the pandemic. They made it worthwhile to park in a parking garage (in the suburbs?!?). ;)
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. And we will be sure to pass along your very kind words to Kyle! Cheers and be well!
ST
SusanT
Philadelphia
33 reviews
vip
5.0
33 reviews
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a great experience Good delicious Chris and james great mixologists !
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
BB
BonnieB
New York Area
10 reviews
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
The crab cake bites were good but the chipotle sauce too spicy Staff were not very attentive, albeit one indicated it was their first week
The RefectoryResponded on March 3, 2023Hello, The ownership team at The Refectory recently received your review and we are sorry to hear your experience was subpar. We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review and would appreciate any further feedback you can share. We are a team of committed, caring individuals who are always looking to learn and grow. We hope you will visit us again in the near future! The Refectory Team
MA
MARIANNET
New Mexico
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
the waiter would not let two couples have separate checks!!! so we ended up having to haggle with friends who drink and those who don't.. never have had this happen before...
The RefectoryResponded on March 4, 2023Hi there, thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback here. We are a bit confused, because we allow check splitting for any party. Our only limit is that we can not split a check more than six ways. We addressed your review and concern at our staff-wide meeting yesterday, and no one is quite sure what happened in this particular case- there must have been a miscommunication between your party and our staff. We apologize for the inconvenience but we assure you that check-splitting is a standard practice at our establishment. Thanks, and we hope to see you hack again soon.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
1.0
1 review
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall1food3service1ambience4
Service was so slow. Waitress never came back after we ordered. Entrées never refreshed our drinks and then we were told wait waitress left in the middle. They offered us free donuts to compensate no one ever ordered. Any entrées because waitress never took our order
The RefectoryResponded on February 15, 2023Hello, The ownership team at The Refectory recently received your review and we are sorry to hear your experience was subpar. We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review and would appreciate any further feedback you can share. We are a team of committed, caring individuals who are always looking to learn and grow. If you can send your contact information, we'd like to enter you to win a $50 gift card so that you can try us out again in the future and give us the chance to win you back. With Warmth, The Refectory Team
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this restaurant! Love the decor, arrangement of table and seating, the wait staff is fabulous and the food is delicious.
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
w
williamo
Philadelphia
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Outstanding service and really great team at the bar! Enjoy everything ‘Nova!
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
K
Kentucky
San Francisco
103 reviews
vip
5.0
103 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
We tried the Refectory on a cold Saturday night in early February. The energy in this Villanova focused place was good; students at the bar, lot of families but also couples enjoying the warm and welcoming atmosphere. Our server (Hannah) was friendly and attentive. Menu was eclectic and we tried three appetizers (Figs with bacon, cheddar broccoli soup and mussels) and a spring mix salad. Everything was excellent except the overdressed salad. Wine list was strong and we were offered tasting of ones we were curious about. This is a very nice place that should work for many.
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
s
sandy
Philadelphia
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
This is a wonderful restaurant. Excellent food, imaginative, fresh, attractively presented and delicious. The restaurant makes good use of its academic setting with clever use of space and comfortable seating. Wait staff are attentive without being intrusive and no one asked how my food was tasting!! Badly needs better signage, hard to locate. Noise level is painful. At least turn off the background accompaniment! Eager to return!!
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great location, Great service. The only negative is a brunch menu
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Thank you for telling us about your recent experience at The Refectory. It seems like we have some things to improve on in regards to our brunch menu, and we thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are a team of caring individuals who are always looking to learn and grow. Please let us know if there's anything in particular that we can improve upon. Thanks again for your review, and we hope you'll take the time to try us out again in the future. Cheers!
DC
DanielleC
New England
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Great restaurant! Really good spot for a date night. We enjoyed the mussels with coconut curry broth and homemade focaccia. We both had pasta for our entree and shared the ricotta doughnuts for dessert.
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
ST
SusanT
Philadelphia
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on February 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and victuals at the bar with our server and mixologist Chris !!!
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!
KW
KateW
Poconos
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful first experience! Delicious food, attentive service and an atmosphere full of energy.
The RefectoryResponded on February 8, 2023Hello! We are so glad to hear your recent experience at The Refectory was great. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback. We look forward to hosting you again in the very near future. Cheers and be well!

FAQs

The Refectory is rated 4.6 stars by 550 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.

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Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 24, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 54 times today

862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Ithan Ave
Neighborhood
Villanova
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Mon, Sun 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
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

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The Refectory

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Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

Brussels Sprouts

Nova Fries

Mussels

Raw Bar

Seafood Tower

Oysters*$18.00

Shrimp Cocktail$17.00

Market Crudo*$13.00

Spicy Tuna*$16.00

Wood-Grilled Flatbreads

Cheese$11.00

Spicy Pepperoni$13.00

Duck Confit$18.00

Brisket$14.00

Wild Mushroom$15.00

Broccoli Rabe & Ricotta$15.00

Tuna Pizza*$19.00

For the Table

House-Made Bread Basket$11.00

Big Mac Steak Tartare$17.00

Baked Cheese$19.00

Cajun Calamari$15.00

Pickled Beets$15.00

Mussels$19.00

Shareables

Mahi Tacos$15.00

Crispy Sunchokes$14.00

Brussels Sprouts$14.00

Grilled Shrimp Toast$15.00

Truffled Deviled Eggs$9.00

Nova Fries$9.00

Charred Cabbage$13.00

Buffalo Cauliflower$15.00

Spaghetti Squash$17.00

Mini Crab Cakes$16.00

Hash Brown*$11.00

Bacon Wrapped Dates$15.00

Soup & Salads

Broccoli Cheddar Soup$11.00

Wedge Salad$15.00

Green Salad$14.00

Caesar Salad$13.00

Broccoli & Sweet Potato$15.00

Harvest Salad$15.00

From the Land

Nova Cravers*$18.00

Truffled Chicken Pot Pie$25.00

Niman Ranch Grassfed Ribeye*$57.00

Berkshire Pork Chop$28.00

New Zealand Lamb$34.00

Pasta & Grain

Spicy Vodka Rigatoni$18.00

Spaghetti & Meatballs$21.00

Potato Gnocchi*$27.00

Porcini Risotto$25.00

Shrimp Scampi$23.00

Bucatini$27.00

From the Sea

Atlantic Salmon$27.00

Blackened Mahi Mahi$25.00

Grilled Yellowfin Tuna*$29.00

Grouper Roll$27.00

Branzino Filet$27.00

Master Class Burger

Master Class Burger$25.00

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