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Amani's BYOB
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
105 E Lancaster AveDowningtown, PA 19335
(484) 237-8256
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Amani's BYOB
Review Highlights
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"an open kitchen allows for patrons to watch the cooks work..." In 4 reviews -
"I had the Long Island duck breast, for which I was offered..." In 3 reviews -
"Their offerings were creative and well put together." In 3 reviews
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15 reviews in English
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Review from Jana S.
Blackwood, NJ
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely amazing! The Thai Mussels were to die for, along with the escargot. Soup to nuts everything was top notch. Can't wait to come back!
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Review from Paul H.
2/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had a very good meal at Amani. In fact, it was headed for a five star grand slam in the appetizer phase, with a great cheese plate, a simple - but nice atmosphere, a cheery and helpful server, and a nicely varied menu.
The deal breaker? I had the scallops, and C had the prime rib. Both were very good - neither was awe inspiring. (And I know awe inspiring scallops when I taste them.) Similarly, the chicken spring rolls were a near religious experience, and the chocolate creme brulee was... good.
So in short, a very solid four stars for this charming little eatery. It's about the same distance (though much more scenic) for us to drive there or downtown Philly, and I don't quite put Amani on par with our best meals in the city. Then again, I didn't pay $30 for the privilege of parking my car.
A great addition to our BYOB list. I suspect we'll be back. -
Review from Matthew B.
Lionville, PA
Updated - 1/2/2012
The short version? Amani's continues to prove itself as an "A" player in the chester County BYOB scence. The long version follows.
We made reservations for the 8pm seating New Years Eve as a foursome. Amani's put together a very nice menu (prix-fix), a tad on the pricey side but given past experience we decided it would likely be worth it. While execution of the various dishes was not perfect across the board, but it was, overall, a superb effort. We had decided in advance that we'd create our own "chef tasting" by ordering different items from each of the three courses and sharing them.
First- the food:
Paired with some truly great wines (a 05 Montrachet, 07 white graves, 01 barbaresco, and a 97 coach insignia cab) the meal was a real treat. wonderfully fresh warm bread and olive oil to start - that usually speaks volumes about whats to come. A minor sour note (literally): the Cesar salad had too much vinegar - but i loved the "white" anchovies. The Lobster bisque was tasty, but chicken/chorizo soup was the best of the "soup/salad" course.
Appetizers: the pairing of tuna tarter and yellow beets was enjoyable for some, not as much for others. Duck/brie spring roll outstanding; mushroom risotto "balls" very tasty; escargot in pastry was classic.
The main courses? Generous and well prepared: fillet of beef with brussel sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes was spot on; pork chop with Roquefort demiglace rocked; crab "cannolis" were to die for; stuffed lobster tail (crab imperial) was a huge hit.
The weak link in the dessert course was a coconut pie, the highlight a chocolate ganache; the cheesecake and bread pudding were both very good (but not great). The complimentary homemade limonchelo and champagne put a nice punctuation on the evening.
Ambiance? Amani's has obviously amassed a large and loyal following. They were packed all evening, with the 10:30 seating line out the door. Not overly loud, but a good social vibe going on that provides a bit of "downtown" feel here in the burbs. Service was excellent - just the right touch of hovering. We enjoyed the evening, the food , the wine and the company. Based on the conversation around us, I'd say others felt the same.
Amani's continues to be a shining star amongst the sea of BYOB's that litter our suburban landscape. If you're looking for a quality dining experience and appreciate the flexibility a BYOB lends, you'll want to keep them on that "A" list.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2009 First to Review
Amani's is the newest addion to the local BYOB scene. It replaced Fioravanti's, which i liked… Read more »
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Review from Carol S.
Millersville, PA
5/12/2012
We won't go back. The chicken was fantastic, the steak was dry, the desserts were good...then the hostess asked us to leave! Someone was waiting for an outside table.
Paul S. -
Review from Adam M.
Aurora, IL
8/27/2011
This place was absolutely fantastic. Their offerings were creative and well put together. We started with their selection of cheeses, which was made up of two goats cheese and one cows milk - the accompaniments were perfect: honey comb, ancho jelly, and balsamic marinated fresh figs.
My wife had the pecan crusted tilapia - which I had teased her about as being the token "old person" selection. I was forced to eat my words - it was perfectly cooked, with toasted pecans on the outside finished with a cinnamon peach salsa.
I had the Long Island duck breast, for which I was offered a choice in temperature. I asked for medium rare and got medium rare. Everything from the mushrooms to the potatoes to the goats cheese butter complemented each other for a spectacular effect.
For desert, my wife had the chocolate creme brule, which was very well done and a fairly large portion. I had the blueberry bread pudding with white chocolate and vanilla ice cream which was every bit as good as it sounds.
The staff was very attentive, and the open kitchen concept was a nice change. The chef came out to serve our appetizer and provide us with more information on the different cheeses, and gave us a hearty thank you on the way out.
The menu changes often based on availability of ingredients, but given our experience there tonight, I wouldn't hesitate to try anything they had on offer. The prices were great considering the quality of the food, although at first glance they may seem a bit steep. Plan on spending a good couple hours and a hundred bucks (including tip) for a special occasion for two and enjoy every minute of it. -
Review from Ray R.
Downingtown, PA
Updated - 9/22/2011
I had previously mentioned that the tables are a bit tight. I don't seem to find this anymore, so I'm led to believe that the situation was corrected.
My wife and I go here at least once per season (as the menus change) and have never been disappointed!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2009
The theme here is the fresh seasonal menu. The barnside wall with picket fence and fresh flowers… Read more »
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Review from Alex C.
West Chester, PA
11/8/2010
Just an absolutely fabulous, non-pretentious BOYB in the Chester. Great for a quick weekday meal or a any type of celebration. The menu is not too long, which makes me always feel like the food is fresh since they're not trying to stock too many things.
Atmosphere is country-ish with an open kitchen so you can see your food being cooked! Although it's a BOYB they offer 12-15 different drink-mixes, of which you of course have to bring your own liquor. They switch them up, as well as the menu, seasonally.
Food-wise the starters and salads are all great, with the highlight being any salad with beats! If you love beats you get a ton of it! I'm always a fish-guy when we go here and the salmon is great. Right now they also have a tilapia that has a bourbon drizzle over it that's outrageous.
Service is always great as well, they are very kid friendly, and it does get fairly loud when the place fills up, so don't be afraid to bring your little ones.
All in all it's simply a refreshing BOYB, feels more like it belongs in West Chester, although we're very happy it's closer for us in Downingtown! -
Review from Rob R.
2/7/2010
The interior has this country meets culinary kind of feel. The white fences that line the wall are matched by the "open" kitchen that really allows the wonderful smells to breathe throughout the restaurant.
Having lived in the city, I've seen my fair share of BYOBs but it isn't often you find one that accepts credit cards or mixers to match your alcoholic drink of choice. It's the little things that make this place a true 5-star.
Started with the pumpkin risotto cake, a unique dish whose taste was matched only by the presentation. The GF and I both raved about our dishes.
Highly recommended for a nice date night. -
Review from Miranda O.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2009
What a pleasure to discover such a lovely restaurant in Downingtown! We went for lunch and were thoroughly delighted. The big winner? The absolutely delicious plate of Hummus with fried pita bread. So yummy! Why doesn't everyone lightly fry their pita bread? So simple yet so satisfying.
The rest of the meal was also fantastic and so wonderful to finally have a restaurant that cooks seasonal dishes. The only reason that I am giving the restaurant 4 stars is because I felt the music was a bit too loud. A small complaint and I know I am being nit picky. It's a pet peeve.
When I return to the area, I will look forward to my meal here. I would highly recommend this surefire hit to other patrons. -
Review from Andrew W.
Philadelphia, PA
12/3/2009
Thank you for bringing a touch of Haute to Downingtown.
The menu is tremendously ambitious for being at 'the other end of RT 113'. Now Downingtown has the best brewery and best Restaurant.
Nice. -
Review from Dick D.
Downingtown, PA
1/14/2011
What a delight to have a restaurant of this quality so close to home. The food is exquisite, plated artistically, and served excellently. We dined there at lunchtime and for dinner and found the quality of cuisine, creative and tasty, and the service consistently good.
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Review from Bill J.
Bristol, PA
1/10/2011
great place for either a cozy meal for two or a group night out. excellent service and organic, locally harvested food (for the most part) are going to bring me back to this place.
all the veggies and meats are from the area and are free-range or organic. the exception being seafood, highly doubt their are squid farms in chester county.
the wait staff was very courteous and non-obtrusive to our conversations.
an open kitchen allows for patrons to watch the cooks work, which is always a plus in my book.
it is byob, but they do have tasty mixers for sale, and they keep your beer cold while you dine. -
Review from Annette M.
Downingtown, PA
10/14/2010
My sister and I had dinner here tonight and we were really looking forward to it, as we had heard such good things. We were really disappointed. We both had the tasting menu 5 courses for $45.00. We both had the lobster bisque to start and it was good. Our waiter forgot the amuse bouche and brought it with our appetizers, he should have left it in the kitchen. I had the yellow fin tuna as my appetizer, it looked like it was 2 days old, it had a grey pallor and the soy sauce was so incredibly salty and the wasabi was so strong it just did not work well at all. My sister had the escargot, and she said they were good. Next came salad I had the beet salad with goat cheese it was okay, nothing memorable. My sister had the field greens with candied walnuts, apples and cheese, she said it was predictable. For the entree course I ordered a duo of ravioli that was awful, at least a third of it was sautéed red peppers, I can't even remember what the ravioli was filled with and it was topped with over cooked salmon, and it was all sitting in some cream sauce. It did not work at all!!
My sister had the lobster shepard's pie. She ate about four bites and had enough. The lobster was so over cooked it was rubber. We were so disappointed we couldn't wait to leave. We took dessert to go because we had paid for it, ate it when we got home and itwas nothing to write home about. Maybe it was just a bad night for the chef, but I feel when your the new kid in town, you always want to be proving yourself and putting out your best effort. I hope this wasn't their best. -
Review from Charles R.
Conshohocken, PA
10/3/2010
Have to agree with most of the reviews, this is a very good BYO.
Couple minor complaints. 1 the timing between courses was a little off. Took a while for the entree's to arrive after the app's. 2, ,my duck was luke warm when it arrived. They were packed, so not sure if the waitress was a little behind getting the orders to the table when they were hot or there was another issue.
Outside of that everything was very good. Pork and garlic pot stickers were light and flavorful, and the Italian green salad had a nice dressing and was quite generous.
Lobster Pot Pie had chunks of lobster and was very good. My duck was smoked on premisis and outside of the temperature it was very good.
Split a dessert which was excellent. Profiteroles stuffed with pumpkin ice cream, warm caramel sauce on the side and fresh whipped cream on top. I normally don't eat dessert, but glad I ordered this, it was great.
Cappucino's came out piping hot, in large cups with great foam.
All in all, I would absolutely go back again.
They take credit cards, and plenty of free parking on the street or behind the restaurant. -
Review from Alex H.
Exton, PA
1/30/2011
Fantastic food, fantastic service, fantastic experience. We even brought our 13 month old little guy and they couldn't have been more accommodating. Five stars!
