Hauntingly Good Eats at Broad Axe Tavern

You want old and historic? The Broad Axe Tavern is it.

The Broad Axe Tavern/Inn/Hotel dates back to 1681. And most unusual, a part of the structure is the original stone building of the Broad Axe Tavern, still standing today, 330 years later.

You want haunted? It’s got that, too.

The tavern is old enough to have a legendary ghost, said to be the daughter of one of the early owners, Rachel, who fled from several inebriated men who were taunting her into the first-floor bathroom, never to be seen again. Sightings of her in the third-floor window have been reported by drivers waiting for the light to change at the Butler and Skippack pikes intersection.

More importantly… you want good food?

Well, my Lovely Dining Companion (LDC), two friends and I very much enjoyed our dinner there.

In 2001, the Broad Axe had a fire, which closed its doors; it lay dormant for close to eight years. After thorough renovations inside and out, it was reopened by friendly, quietly efficient managing partner Matthew Doman and his three partners. It looked refreshed and ready to resume its popularity as a reliably good inn/pub/restaurant.

But the early word-of-mouth was that it was dreadfully noisy. The buzz I heard was that the partners took pains to correct this problem.

I am not sure what was done, but I can say that in the largest of the three dining areas, the main dining room, the most brightly lit room with a stone fireplace and open pass-through window to the kitchen, in which we were seated, the ambiance was pleasant, and the noise level was not bad.

Most memorable and wonderful was the Mussels a la Mariniere appetizer ($10), ironically ordered as an afterthought. The fresh, succulent Prince Edward Island beauties, steamed in a good balance of white wine, garlic, lemon peel and butter, were superb, served with leeks and crusty bread.

This was but one on an enticing list of “Tastes and Bites” that includes deviled eggs with smoked salmon, chicken quesadillas, duck potstickers, calamari and oysters.

From the soups and salads category, the Mid-Atlantic seafood chowder ($6) was a delicious tangy cross between a cream-rich New England-style and tomato broth-based Manhattan, well-stocked with clams, salmon and potatoes.  A classic Cobb salad ($12) was shared, but could have been enjoyed as an entree for one.

Keeping things light, we went with an order of the BBQ Black Angus Sliders ($8 for three, or $14 for six). The mini-sized burgers are griddle-cooked to medium-well, and served on slider buns with melted cheddar, sautéed onion, Kansas-style barbecue sauce and house-cut fries. The plate of three sliders, with good fries, was more than enough for me.

My LDC went surf instead of turf and had a Chesapeake Bay Crab Cake Sandwich ($12), which also came with fries. It was nested in a toasted Brioche bun with lettuce and tomato, and a spread of tartar sauce. (The menu said “remoulade,” but it was tartar sauce.) It was a quality crab cake: lump crabmeat, tastily seasoned, low breading.

Our friends ordered two more substantial dishes from the “Large Plates” listing, which includes steaks, short ribs and fish. Hoisin sauce-glazed salmon ($19) and sauteed tenderloin tips ($15), both shown in the photo set, were tasteful and satisfying.

The bar offers an inspired cocktail menu at a reasonable $7 to $10 each, and a great list of bottled beers featuring many Belgian beers. My LDC loved her glass of the day’s special chardonnay, and I enjoyed my bottle of Negra Modelo. A Bloody Mary with Absolut ($7) and a cosmopolitan ($8), both well made, were enjoyed at the outset by our tablemates.

At our meal's end, I was very pleased with the cappuccino ($4) the bar delivered.

I did miss the old screened porch dining room—now gone, which was always a delight, especially at twilight.

To contact Mitch Davis, email MdavisMainCourse@aol.com.

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Overall rating: mmm 1/2  (out of 5 m’s)

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The Main Course at Broad Axe Tavern:

Location: 901 W. Butler Pike, Ambler

Phone: 215-643-6300

Website:  www.broadaxetavern.com

Cuisine: American

Hours: Lunch and dinner daily (opens at 11 a.m.)

Prices: Appetizers, soups and salads, $6 to $19; pastas, $12 to $21; burgers and sandwiches, $8 to $14; large plates, $13 to $32

Ambiance: Refurbished, historic stone-walled pub/restaurant. Lively, can be noisy.

Reservations: Yes

Credit cards: Yes

Alcoholic beverages:  Full-service bar