The Orchard

This restaurant closed January 1 after selling gift certificates for Christmas gifts and booking reservations through Valentine’s Day. The Attorney General should investigate the business practices involved and prosecute as appropriate.

Nice place for PA dining, a few tweaks could really make a big difference here. This place is pricey for PA, so I guess they are catering to an older crowd? I think a splash of color, maybe some more upbeat music would be nice. Get rid of the dolies sp? on the amuse bouch… Service was average at best, server was friendly but nervous. Flavors were excellent for the most part. My only complaint was the portion size. Normally, I laugh at people that complain about this but these were really tiny servings. I felt like we got the tasting menu portions. My main point with regards to the portions would be the Foie Gras, for 20 bucks I expect more than the sliver I got. Really enjoyed the food but at this price point for this area it needs to be better.

If only The Orchard illuminated it’s exterior people might actually know its there. That’s Ok because once more people find out about it getting a reservation will be more difficult. The food here is nothing short of outstanding. The service was fine although some young faces had a little trouble prounouncing each dish. The plates were small enough to reflect the quality of each presentation and the lamb was the
best I ever tasted. Be sure to taste this flower when you have a chance.

Seriously, this is the best restaurant and dining experience outside of NYC. If this place was in NYC it would be packed and have a waiting list for 9 months. But given that Kennett Square isn’t the mecca for fine dining that this place is a diamond in the rough.
i’ve eaten here a number of times and haven’t had a bad experience or bad meal. Everything is top shelf and first class. The highly creative plated meals are tasty and beautiful.
My only complaint is the noise level in the main dining area can be loud with a full room. They should put some bafflers on the walls or something to deaden the sound.

This is a restaurant with creative and very well-​prepared food. In fact, based on the food alone I would give it 5-​stars. Every dish was delicious at our table of four. The chef came to our table to discuss the food — nice touch! We love BYOB’s and they handled the wine in a way that showed they knew what they were doing. The atmosphere was, however, a bit sterile. We went on a Wednesday evening and only 3 other tables were occupied. Needless to say, service that evening was good. For the food, this is one of the best restaurants in the area, and we are looking forward to our next visit. Not cheap, but the BYOB helped a lot. The wine glasses were very nice too. Loved the chef’s tasty samples between courses.

Wonderful food, a taste sensation in your mouth! What a great dinner. AMAZING!!! If you get an opportunity to dine here, take it. You will be happy you did.

I now have to say this is one of our favorite local restaurants. The first time we dined here must have been a fluke, we’ve gone back at least 8 times since and have not been disappointed once. The food is always spot on and the service is always impeccable.

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience at The Orchard for an anniversary. Went there on a Saturday night and was blown away by the food, service and ambience. All the other reviewers who are complaining about the austere interior must prefer TGI Fridays. There is nice artwork on the walls and a very pleasant modern– but not corporate– ambience. Our server Tara was fabulous, just the right amount of attention — kept our glasses full (it’s byob) and gave us the privacy you want for a romantic evening. Chef Gary greeted us at the end of the meal and you can tell he loves what he does.
The food was fabulous, contemporary american; weaving delicate and bold flavors across cuisines and appropriately portioned for a multi-​course meal. Amuse bouche abound! Mushroom soup is a must, our salads were excellent. The frissee with duck confit, apples and gorgonzola is straightforward but very well executed. They followed our salad course with a gratis sorbet of basil and grannysmith apple — wow what a flavor combo served at the perfect temp which is a challenge with sorbet. My entrée of fantastic scallops — recognized that great ingredients can showcase themseves, simple but delicious prep with great veg. She had the duck which was brined with star anise and brown sugar and delicious, served with a fabulous celeriac purée and a chocolate chili sauce that was right on the nose. Entrees was followed by amuse #3, mini rosemary gelato with olive oil cake. Then a great chocolate cake, followed by truffles and cookies. Wow. The meal reminded me of meals I’ve had at Relais restaurants for amuch more reasonable price (though it ain’t cheap).
Find a good bottle of wine or two and head here for a special occasion, you’re worth it and so is the meal!

I’ve gone here twice with groups of 5. Both meals are the best meals I’ve had in my life, and just about everyone else agrees.
Service is attentive and courteous, but never overbearing.
The food is incredible…
Atmosphere is good but the music is a little cheesy (lounge music, smooth jazz). I wish they’d just play classical; it would go perfectly with their environment and the crowd I’m sure they are trying to appeal to. Not too noisy. Small, cozy.
One of the meals started off with a taste of raw grouper, raw beef of some sort, and eggplant caviar. Delicious and tantalizing — toying with your taste buds. The other started with zucchini crème in a glass, which we were all raving about for weeks afterwards.
First courses included a caprisi salad tart, wild mushroom and goat cheese tart, and foie gras. Foie gras was incredible, mushroom tart was very good, but the Caprisi tart is the best of the bunch. In the middle of the meals we had red pepper sorbet and cucumber sorbet, both of which I’m still yearning for another taste of…
I’ve only had the filet as my entrée. The first time it was with mashed potatoes, teriyaki sauce, and leeks, and the second time it was with a red wine sauce, celery root purée and an asain green which I can’t remember… I much preferred the first order, but both were incredible.
For dessert, I ordered the chocolate tastings. It was different both times, and it was phenomenal. The tiramisu was the worst of the five selections both times, but that certainly does not mean it was bad. The chocolate drink always amazes me.
Overall, I wish I had more money so I could eat here all the time.
Also, don’t go on a holiday — My sister went on new year’s eve and it was a fixed menu for over $ 120 dollars per person — otherwise it’s usually about $ 75 — $ 85 per person.

Check out my recent review of the Orchard here —

(3.5) ~ Overall Food & Service
OUR MENU:
* Water (tap) = (4) very good… must be filtered
* Bread Rolls = (3.5) good
* Wild Mushroom Tart = (3.5) good
* Orchard Salad = (3.5) good
* Veal Tenderloin = (4) very good
* Black Sea Bass = (4) very good
* Apple Tart = (3.5) good
* Chocolate Tasting = (3.5) good
* Coffee = (3.5) good
* Mint Tea = (3.5) good
NOTES: Make Reservations & BYOB

We go to The Orchard for very special events. The food is terrific as is the atmosphere. Small portions and rather pricey for the amount of food, but quality is excellent, so highly recommended a couple times per year. Headed there for New Years Eve dinner… can’t wait

Sort of mixed feelings on this one. We went to the Orchard for a special occasion with friends. The food was good. The service was attentive. The atmosphere was, well… a little Pleasantville — circa 1962.
Growing up in California, there was a place near my hometown called the Nut Tree. We would sometimes stop there en route to some vacation destination, breaking for lunch in the restaurant that was part of a sort of mini-​amusement park. I remember at the time feeling the place was kind of sterile; dated and modern at the same time. Perhaps it had been cutting edge fine dining when it first opened, but the blade was getting a little dull.
We had a similar impression at the Orchard. Someone else mentioned the windowless white wall, and indeed, it was just a bit claustrophobic, but aesthetically and in ambiance. And the place is pricey — even for a foodie place!
In all fairness, it’s been a while since we were there (but I’m eager to get our review up on our BYOB list!) and I don’t remember exactly what we had for dinner, (filet and fish perhaps) except that the portions were not particularly large (we don’t have a problem with that) and the presentation was what you’d expect for a foodie restaurant. I recall the wait staff being a tad stuffy, but all said, it met our two favorite criteria — really good food and BYOB.
We need to go back and try it again, and I suspect we will soon. But with so many interesting BYOs in the area, we have yet to find the compunction to find our way back. I’ll keep reading the Unilocal reviews, hoping for a burst of inspiration that says «get over the windowless thing and focus on all the money you’re saving on wine.» It goes on the list — just not quite at the TOP of OUR list!

So yes, My husband and I went to The Orchard, but I will say this, don’t think you will be paying olive garden Prices. FOIE GRAS was kind of fatty my husband said that next time he will have the pouched apple salad like I had… Other than that, it was very yummy and the samples in between were delightful! THe Apple Tart, The best I have ever had! :) Have you ever had Pickled watermelon? Its delicious!

We ate there last night and the food was fabulous, beautifully presented, elegantly timed with amuse bouches and extra treats at the end. The wine service (this is a byo) was impeccable — they even recork the unused wine. The chocolate sampler was amazing and the sa=mall scale made it perfect– 3 of us shared the dessert. This is the most elegant place I have been since Le Bec Fin!

We visited this restaurant twice. And both times left a bit disappointed.
First time we found few wilted leaves in salad and the taste of it was just OK. The main courses were good but could be better if they wouldn’t skip on sides.
Second time both of our main courses were huge disappointments. The sea bass was quite questionable in it’s identity and had couple of bones in it, the Duck breast was very chewy and too raw, and both of them were way over salted. And again very little amount of sides were in the dishes.
Both times the desserts were underwhelming and the only good part of the dinners were yummy amuses, appetizers and very professional service.
I don’t know if we are going to return, but if somebody wants to taste it for themselves, why not?

One of the very best on food and service. I intend to go ofter. It is NYC level fine dining in Kennett and affordable

Absolutely top notch. The food, wait staff and atmosphere cannot be beat by anyplace within 25 miles. I hate to write a positive review if this restaurant for fear that it will become too crowded to get in. Everything is fresh, and prepared to perfection, and the presentation is out of this world. BYOB, so bring your own, and you will not be disappointed.

Orchard was a great experience… although they were somewhat busy the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, they still managed to provide excellent service levels… noticed the Chef/​Owner out in the serving area speaking with one table… it looked like he would make his way around the room, but did not… overall fairly expensive for the BYO — Salad, Entrée, Coffee and Desert was around $ 170 (with Tip) for two… overall it was an excellent dining experience suitable for a special Valentine’s Dinner…

Wow! There is no review of The Orchard yet?!? This place rocks!
This is classic French inspired American fine dining. The entrees are absolutely fabulous, inventive, delicious, delicate. I could go on. Fois gras season is my favorite time to come here, the duck dishes are the best around — but feel free to try anything on the menu that appeals to you.
The dining room is small, comfortable and elegant. Just a quaint building on Orchard Street near Kennett.
It is BYOB, which is an easy excuse for me to break out the expensive wine from the cellar — this is another reason why this gets top marks in my book.