Amani’s BYOB

Fantastic! If you are a foodie, or just love delicious food, you must go to this non-​descript, corner slice of heaven in downtown Downingtown. Love that they are locally sourced and seasonal with their menu and will accommodate dietary needs/​restrictions.
My meal companions and I went for brunch on Saturday. We made a reservation but it wasn’t crowded so not sure that’s a «must do». I would imagine on a Sunday you need to. The outside of the restaurant is nothing spectacular but once you are inside, the hardwood floors, open kitchen and beautifully set tables make you feel like you are somewhere special.
I wasn’t on my game as much as I usually like to be and therefore don’t have pictures of the TO DIE FOR grilled oysters or the HOUSE SMOKED salmon appetizers we started with. Succulent and tender are the words that first come to mind when describing both dishes. When you order the smoked salmon, don’t expect to get thin slices like you would on a bagel. 3 generously thick pieces of house smoked (yes, HOUSE smoked!) salmon with varying accoutrements adorn the plate and just got better with every bite. The grilled oysters were topped with spinach, panko crumbs, crimini mushrooms and an aged cheese that is making my mouth water just thinking about them. We shared them this time — next time (and there will be a next time) I’m ordering my own!
For our next course, I had the Belgian waffle topped with roasted apples and a vanilla cream. It was delicious. Hardy but not heavy. Waffle wasn’t just made with white flour but I’m not sure it was whole wheat either. Whatever it was gave it a nice density without it being heavy or the flavor overbearing. My sister-​in-​law had the brioche stuffed French toast. Much more filling than my waffle, but again, excellent. The creamy filling was a bit tart and balanced out the sweetness of the syrup and bread nicely. My daughter had the jumbo lump crab and baked eggs. LOTS of crab on this dish. Presentation was great and the eggs were cooked to perfection.
We rounded out the meal with the warm, carmel apple pie a la mode and the lemon pudding cake. The apple pie was AMAZING. Light, flaky crust with a great combination of sweet and tart apples topped with delicious, local vanilla ice cream. The lemon pudding cake was underwhelming compared to the rest of the meal because the cranberry compote on top overpowered any lemon flavor. Good, but wouldn’t order again.
The only reason I didn’t give Amani’s 5 stars was because of the lemon pudding cake and the service wasn’t very good (our waiter was absent a lot). I struggled with this rating though because everything else was divine. 4.5 if I could.

This is one of my favorite places to dine. I love everything I’ve ordered on this menu they have the best burger for lunch and amazing desserts

My son and daughter in laws favorite spot. The food is amazing and so is the staff. Very small and byob helps keep prices down. Still a bit pricey, but worth it

4.5 — On our way back from visiting Longwood Gardens, my boyfriend took me to Amani’s for dinner the Monday before Christmas (2015). Located in the heart of Downingtown, this BYOB is a small, cozy space with an attentive wait staff and creative menu. Our waiter was attentive, thoughtful and made us feel very welcome. From my research, I found the chef, Jonathan Amann, has won the «Best Chef in Chester County» for the past three years. The menu uses seasonally available local ingredients to create unique, flavorful dishes. My boyfriend is great at choosing wines, so the restaurant’s BYOB status made for a wonderfully paired dinner following a G&T which he brought the fixins for to make there.
To start, we ordered the grilled lamb ribs with a pear bourbon molasses glaze, sweet potato hash, & pear slaw and the baby arugula salad with a cranberry vinaigrette, pickled apples, cheddar curd & cinnamon chipotle dusted lavash shards to share. The lamb ribs were fall-​of-​the-​bone, perfectly tender and flavorful. I’m not usually a rib person but these were exceptional. The late fall/​winter themed salad had an extra tang and touch of sweetness from the cranberry and the lavash chards were an interesting, tasty addition. As for entrees, we both went with specials being highlighted that night. My boyfriend ordered the bone-​in pork chop special which featured an Allagash Black glaze and I went with the pan-​seared salmon with Kung Pao sauce, Chinese 5 spice carrots and scallion rice. The salmon was cooked just right to match my taste and the sauce. This dish, light but tasteful, was a great way to go.
After our entrees were cleared, we ordered the lemon pudding cake with cranberry compote, and whipped cream to share. The cake is served in a round ramekin with the cranberry compote piled on top so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any yellow (the lemon) when you’re served it. The dessert was tasty however the tartness of the lemon and the cranberry could have used something to balance it out. I also ordered a cappucino to end the meal.
Overall, there is no question that I’d be open to returning here some day and I’ve already recommended it to family & friends in the area.

(3.75) ~ Good Overall Food & Service. Limited Seating, so make Reservations:)
FOOD:
**Braised Beef Cheeks = (4) very good… my fav:)
* Mushroom & Onion Soup w. Gouda Crostini = (3.75) Good
* Blueberry Cheesecake = (3.75) Good
* Lamb Porterhouse = (3.5) good
DRINKS:
**Housemade Limoncello (complimentary shot) = (4.25) Very good… my fav:)
* Water (tap) = (3.75) Good
* Coffee = (3.5) good

Small and cozy space, attentive wait staff and peaceful quiet. $ 120 for a tasty meal, very well and carefully cooked and plated. Local ingredients kicked up some notches. Best dinner in Downingtown.

What a great boutique BYOB!!! Fresh tasting food — all of it! The Grilled Oysters are worth the visit!

I had dinner there with my wife tonight and this is a really good little restaurant. In addition to great food and service, my waiter Bob new the menu and specials without having to refer to a cheat sheet. His recommendations were spot on. The rolls were warm with oil and seasonings. We had oysters (delicious) and my wife had seafood while I had short ribs. I also had calamari. Everything was prepared extremely well and with just a little surprise from the same fare at other restaurants. My waiter also treated us to some complementary limoncello. This is a great place do dine casually, maybe a little noisy, but definitely worth checking out. Highly recommended

The BEST restaurant in Downingtown/​West Chester (Period). My wife and I were there two weeks ago and we are still talking about the meal.
I had the beef cheeks and she had a very enjoyable salmon.
The service staff is on point. The price is beyond reasonable. The décor is the only thing I feel they should change. They are not a cute little country farm to table anymore. They are a serious high end comparable to anything in philly restaurant.

I took my mother, father, and girlfriend here for a pre-​mothers day. I wanted somewhere that sourced locally where possible, was rated highly, and had a fun and creative menu-​which was what I found here.
The restaurant accepts reservations and I suggest you make them. When making the reservation, ask to be outside if possible. While the inside is fine, it can be quite loud, between the kitchen, the music, and the people.
The food was all quite good. Our entrees were lamb with Brussel sprouts, a New York Strip, duck, and beef ribs. For appetizers, we had chicken wraps, oysters, a soup, and octopus. And for dessert, banana bread pudding and crème brûlée. All good portions, not too much nor too little.
Complimentary limoncello, made in house, is served at the conclusion of the meal.
Small rolls are complimentary at the start of the meal, and served with oil.
When I went to the restaurant, the groups there seemed to be mixed primarily between elderly groups, couples in 40s, and groups of women in there 30s. It may change based on the day of the week though
The staff were incredibly nice.

Wife and I were visiting the area from California and were very happy with our dinner at Amani’s. I’ll give it 4 stars for the food and friendly service. The ambiance is lacking, but maybe they’ll improve that over time.
I had the cashew encrusted salmon and wife had the seared yellow fin tuna. I ordered my food to match the white burgundy that we brought. The salmon was very good but the tuna was amazing.
We will be back.

This is by far favorite place for brunch. I go here a lot with girlfriends and do our «boozie brunch». Ask for Rick, he’s amazing. Bring as much champagne as possible! Cheese plates are always awesome, and everything is so reasonable when going for brunch.

What a wonderful find. We came to a meeting in this area & looked for a quick good meal. What fabulous find– food ~ fresh and very good-​service– came in and had 30 min to eat a gourmet dinner. Perfect service in every aspect

As a foodie, I can’t believe I am just now getting around to writing a Unilocal review for this restaurant. My family, fiancé and I eat here so regularly that it’s no surprise when owners Janine and John stop by to chat about our meal, or their precious children. (By the way, if you really want to get on Chef John’s good side, bring him some good old fashioned Knob Creek.) They have welcomed us from the beginning. Suffice it to say, I may be biased by now, but it’s only because this place has stolen my heart and my tummy.
Amani’s BYOB, located in the heart of Downingtown, has a huge heart itself. From the décor, which changes seasonally and keeps the restaurant fresh and homey, to the knowledgeable and friendly wait staff, this restaurant hits every mark.
We’ve had birthday dinners here, valentine’s day dinner, my engagement party and we will evitably be having our rehearsal dinner here (which I am going to talk to Janine about tonight). We love this place.
Some people frown on the BYOB status, but what could be better than your favorite wine chilled or uncorked at no fee, or your favorite cocktails mixed up for you as they have a selection you can pair your liquor with. BYOB is where it’s at in my mind and Amani’s is always willing to oblige your apéritif requests. (Remember the Knob Creek!)
Always make a reservation. Always. The place is small and fills up quick! And why?
John’s food is amazing. Always a seasonal menu. Always additions to the already beautiful menu. Always blows my mind. American farm to table done impeccably. Out of the 20+ times we have eaten here, I can safely say I have never had a bad meal.
I have one favorite from every season, but for Summer it’s by far this Jamaican style conch soup with a coconut milk base. Lots if veggies, big chunks of conch and other seafood. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy and downright super flavorful. And by the way, who else is doing things with conch in Chester County? No one I know.
John puts his heart into his food, which is what makes the couple so friendly, and why we return so often. I hope nothing but great things for this restaurant always, and this wonderful family.

Celebrated Father’s Day at Amani’s BYOB in Downingtown. I have mixed feelings about the place–
The Good
1. Fresh-​squeezed orange juice for mimosas– delicious!
2. Awesome menu– a lot of different options, which all looked delicious.
3. The breadbasket and homemade rhubarb jam were perfect.
4. Service was really attentive up front, but slacked a little as the restaurant became more crowded. Took a while to get our check, weren’t asked if we’d like another mimosa, etc.
5. I highly recommend the mushroom and onion soup, and the pork belly eggs benedict.
6. Extremely reasonably priced for how high the quality of food was!
The Bad
1. Really loud, once the restaurant filled up.
2. Servers need to enunciate, due to the volume. Most of my part had to ask for everything to be repeated.
3.The salmon and eggs were both overcooked.
4. Most of our Prosecco went unconsumed, as we had a round, and then the server stopped refilling.
All in all, a really solid restaurant for brunch. I’d say there’s room for improvement on some aspects!

This is the restaurant that inspired me to join Unilocal.It is a unique, fresh n local experience every time. The chefs take pride in their creations, and every bite we’ve had has richly satisfied. We love bringing a bottle and having savory dinners but have been equally delighted to nosh on sweet Easter brunch delights. I just had to share since they’ve always taken such good care of us. Sensational!

A friend was visiting me from Australia and we were looking for a place that served really good food. The reviews for Amani’s convinced us to try this one out, and I have to say that we were not disappointed one tiny bit. My friend has eaten all over the world and so she knows tasty food when she tries it. I, however, have not had the opportunity to try higher cuisine than simple family fare very often in my 68 years. I must say that I was delighted by the quality and taste of the food I experienced here.
It started with a tasting of an avacado and bacon treat that I am not knowledgeable enough to describe, but I will say that the single complimentary bite was heavenly. It melted in my mouth. I next had a vidalia onion and mushroom soup that was truly the best onion soup I’ve ever tasted. The broth was full-​bodied and rich with just the right amount of seasoning. My entrée was a short rib (actually 2 large pieces) with chipotle grits and grilled carrots. The carrots were the best I’ve ever had and the grits surprised me with how tasty they were, because I’m not usually fond of spicy food. The rib meat was so tender it simply fell apart with my fork alone, but it was full bodied in flavor and delicious.
My companion and I hesitated getting dessert based on how generous our portions were with our meal and how full we were, but gave in to the idea of a light refreshing sorbet. We chose to share a Mixed Berry Sorbet which came with 3 generous scoops along with two halves of a perfect strawberry. The Sorbet was full of flavor and absolutely delicious. We may have been stuffed when we left, but it was worth every bite.
Mustn’t fail to mention our attentive and thoughtful waiter. He made us feel very welcome and is an asset to the restaurant. Overall, there is no question that I will return any time there is a special occasion and I want to give a friend or relative a real treat. Two thumbs high up for this establishment.

We chose Amani for Christmas Eve dinner because it was a close-​to-​home BYO with good reviews. We had a 9:00 reservation, a couple bottles of Cakebread Cab, and a lot of Christmas spirit .
What we got was a rushed-​through dinner (we were not the last table), a surly inattentive waiter (Bob), mediocre food prep, and a generally disappointing meal.
Food: NY strip ordered med rare came out barely pink. Duck was under seasoned and skin not crisp (actually had to request salt be brought to the table). Barley risotto was flavorless.
Service: Three examples– waiter poured wine for 3 of us. When I mentioned my son (age 25) also was having wine, Bob ignored the comment and did not pour. We asked for the rack of lamb leftover be boxed to go but it was dumped. We ordered two courses — the second was brought out immediately after our entrees were cleared, and our entrees were cleared less than an hour after we sat down.
In general, Amani was fair at best. Maybe an off night due to the holiday. But if you are not willing to try your best on the holiday, then spend your Christmas Eve at home.

This was our first visit to Amani’s and I will definitely be back. I went with my husband and my son. The food would best be described as fresh, colorful and flavorful. I loved the open kitchen concept, but would love to have elevated seats to be able to view the chef’s plates.
We arrived and had to drive around a bit to find a parking spot, we were given the option to sit outside or inside. it is a nice patio, even if it is located in a small spot on the side street with strings of lights overhead, but for my first experience I wanted to dine indoors. The décor is great, fresh roses on the tables, wonderful smells coming from the kitchen, including some rattling noises from glassware and plates, but that wasn’t bothersome in the least. The noise level got a bit loud the longer we were there, and the wine started flowing I guess. The one wall of the dining room needs some minor updating, but otherwise, good. It could be a really hip spot with a little «tweeking» from an interior designer.
Now on to the food, I ordered a cauliflower and cucumber gazpacho, my husband ordered a seafood chowder, and my son ordered the spinach salad with fried egg on top. We enjoyed them all, very fresh and flavorful. Our next course was the beet salad, roasted oysters. And baby back lamb ribs served with a chunky fresh apple «slaw», which was the special app of the night. Again, all very good,
The main course came next and we had the chicken breast, crab cakes, and the fish special of the evening, halibut with vegetables. My husband enjoyed his very moist and tender chicken, my crab cakes we’re very lumpy with whole back fin crabmeat and a nice risotto on the side with squash. Very good! My son had the halibut and it was served with a nice vegetable medly with some wonderful fresh veggies, including whole mild chili peppers, etc. in a broth over rice.
Even though the dessert menu was clearly staring at me on the table for the entire meal, we opted to skip the dessert and coffee, but it was so tempting. Next time…
I would highly recommend Amani’s BYOB for a fantastic dinner. Kuddos to Chef Amani!

Ambiance — 4 Stars: Outdoor and indoor seating is nice, the outside area is along one of the more busy roads in Downingtown, and there’s not much «scenery». They have it set up nicely, however. Inside is classy, a bit tight. Comfy and warm feeling inside, seasonally they change the décor which is nice.
Service — 4 Stars: Some of the servers do not seem super confident, spilling drinks or stumbling through the specials. Other than this, they are pretty good — making sure your water and wine is topped off, bringing items out and removing them on time.
Food — 4 Stars: Pretty solid food. Certainly not the best food I’ve ever had, but the prices and selection are quite nice. Menu changes seasonally, so you probably won’t eat the same thing twice. The meals are all very fresh, crisp vegetables. The chef certainly has a «flavor», and I do feel as if most of the dishes have a similar taste and feel to them. Not much variety in flavor profiles, which is the main reason I can only rate the food as a 4.
Plating — 4.5 Stars: Very well presented plates. Usually includes a flower or fresh herbs/​vegetables on top of the dish to make the plate a very nice presentation. Nothing super creative, so only 4.5 stars.
Cost — 4 Stars: I do think it is a bit expensive. Meal for two usually reaches triple digits, even though it’s BYO. The quality of food is mostly justified for the cost, however I do think reducing the prices of some of the appetizers & desserts could be justified.
Overall Amani BYOB is a very good choice for a special occasion, or even a night where you’re interested in spending a bit more money for good food. A solid 4 Stars.