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The Refectory, Villanova, PA

The Refectory

4.6
4.6
1018 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 47 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Neighborhood gem
The Refectory is a stunning New American 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 Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We validate parking in the I-1 garage across the street. 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.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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 Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (610) 519-5786
  • 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
  • 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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What 1,018 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
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Western Suburbs

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Refectory offers a delightful dining experience with its "fantastic ambience" and an expansive menu where "everything sounds good." Known for its "amazing" service and cozy setting, it's perfect for any occasion. Their gluten-free options and seasonal dishes are a hit. "Highly recommend" for a visit!
1,186 Reviews
  1. Eileen

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, food was yummy but a bit pricey. Easy to make a reservation & seated promptly
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Thanks for the feedback, Eileen! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and service at The Refectory. We understand your concern about the pricing and are always looking for ways to improve our guests' experiences. We hope to see you again soon, maybe for another yummy meal!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Bob

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had only been to their for drinks before a game. Pleasantly surprised how good the food was.
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Thanks for visiting us, Bob! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at The Refectory. It's fantastic to know that our food was a pleasant surprise for you. We always strive to provide top-notch service and it's great to know we hit the mark during your visit. We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable experience. Best wishes, The Management Team

    Is this helpful?

  3. Seth

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot right on Villanova’s campus. Food is always good, service is always impeccable. Free / validated parking is a bonus.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Willa

    VIP

    Richmond

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious brunch with friendly, prompt service. We had a group of 13 accommodated in a private room which was a lovely way to visit.
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Thanks for visiting us, Willa! We're thrilled to hear that you and your group had a lovely time at The Refectory. It's great to know that our brunch was to your liking and that our private room was a comfortable choice for your group. We always strive to make every visit a memorable one for our guests. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Management Team

    Is this helpful?

  5. StephanieR

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice vibe and good food.
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Hello StephanieR, Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave us a review. We appreciate your feedback on the value and will strive to continually improve. We hope to welcome you back soon. Best regards, The Management Team

    Is this helpful?

  6. John

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    22 reviews

    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The only downside was that the two hostesses were somewhat unfriendly. However, the food was excellent, the service was attentive, and the venue had a lovely ambiance.
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Hello John, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our food and found the ambiance of The Refectory to be lovely. We're sorry if you felt the service was not as friendly. We strive to provide a welcoming and attentive environment for all our guests. Your comments are valuable to us and will be taken into consideration as we continue to improve. We hope to see you again soon for another excellent dining experience. Best regards, The Management Team

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Angelica

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome dinner! Food was delicious and service and ambiance was even better. A hidden gem on Villanova’s campus! \\// alum love!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Ann

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Gianna was awesome and patient with our group that didn't arrive on time. Amazing selling on chicken parm and incredible kind.
    The RefectoryResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your group had a great experience at The Refectory. We strive to provide the best service possible and your kind words truly mean a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, The Management Team

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jessica

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I’m really disappointed with our recent experience. My best friend and I used to love coming here, but the constant menu changes have been frustrating, and the current options just don’t measure up. It’s hard to understand why some of the best items were removed and replaced with mediocre ones. Unfortunately, I think today was our last visit to the Refectory.
    The RefectoryResponded on February 5, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Jessica. We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at The Refectory. We understand that it can be frustrating to constantly change our menu and we're sorry that these changes were not to your liking, we do change the menu seasonally. We're committed to providing the best experience for our guests and we're sorry that we fell short this time. We appreciate your past patronage and hope that you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best, The Management Team

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Alberto

    Las Vegas

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great local eatery, good vibes. Good food selection. Would recommend!
    The RefectoryResponded on February 4, 2025
    We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Refectory. It's wonderful to know that our food and atmosphere added to your positive experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Refectory is rated 4.6 stars by 1018 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.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 47 times today
Google Map for The Refectory

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 Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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
  • 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
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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