The next time you find yourself looking for something to do with friends over the weekend, check out the Main Line’s newest restaurant, The Paddock at Devon, where you can enjoy a high-quality meal while listening to some local cover bands or singing along with live karaoke.
The Paddock, located at 629 West Lancaster Ave, across from the Acme and K-Mart, opened on Nov. 21 in the building formerly occupied by John Harvard’s.
With numerous and respected competitors on the Main Line, The Paddock has a lot to live up to if it hopes to become a new area hot spot. So far, they have been doing so and more.
I recently went to the Paddock with three friends to try out the menu and watch some Sunday evening karaoke. When we got to the restaurant at 7:30 p.m., there were people everywhere within the beautifully decorated restaurant, which had a classy, yet very casual, atmosphere.
Before our food came out, we were given a plate with pita bread and homemade humus. The humus had a very smooth texture and enough of a garlic taste to give it a kick without being overpowering.
Since none of us were overly hungry, we ordered some light portion meals from the large menu. Two of my friends ordered appetizers – Cheese Steak Spring Rolls and Crab and Cheese Fondue – both of which they thoroughly enjoyed.
My other friend got a half Chicken Caesar Wrap with a cup of Navy Bean and Ham soup. When she finished, she said it was the best wrap she had ever eaten, with the perfect amount of Caesar dressing mixed with the marinated chicken.
I had a Chopped Italian Hoagie Salad, made up of Italian meats and aged cheeses. The plate was much larger than I had expected, but very tasty for anyone who enjoys a hearty salad.
After finishing our meals, we turned immediately to the dessert menu, picking out three of the treats to share – Waffle and Ice Cream, Brownie Sundae and the non-alcoholic Lemon Meringue Martini. The desserts looked beautiful when they were brought out decorated with raspberries, and tasted even better. The brownie was warm with lots of fudge, while the waffle was crisped to perfection. The Lemon Meringue Martini was a refreshing mixture that resembled a pudding or yogurt, served in a martini glass.
When we received our bill for the evening, we were shocked that it was only $55, proving that the Paddock is great for a college student’s budget.
For those looking to up the ante, the menu also featured classic entrees such as filet mignon, chicken parmesan, baby back ribs and pasta dishes, ranging in price from $12 to $21. In addition, Sunday evenings are prime rib night, offering a 16-ounce cut, potato, vegetable, salad and beverage for less than $20.
After we finished eating, we were all excited to hear some karaoke. A segment of the restaurant near the full service bar was cleared and a huge karaoke station was set up, including red, green and blue flashing lights. Unfortunately, the restaurant emptied out before the entertainment began.
We only stayed for 30 minutes of karaoke, but during that time not a single person, other than the DJ, sang. The lack of interest was probably a combination of the karaoke being on Sunday evenings and the fact that most people in the area do not know about it.
The Paddock hopes to have more college students come to karaoke, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and compete against their peers from other schools.
Overall, the Paddock is an exciting and high-quality restaurant that is ideal for either a big group going out to celebrate or for a couple on a date. The menu features a little bit of everything and the wait staff is friendly and accommodating.
The only thing that could use some improvement is the karoke crowd.