I enjoyed Alex Bartlett’s article on Chestnut Hill eateries but have to point out that he missed mentioning maybe the most long lived and popular restaurant ever seen in the area.
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I enjoyed Alex Bartlett’s article on Chestnut Hill eateries but have to point out that he missed mentioning maybe the most long lived and popular restaurant ever seen in the area.
21 West, owned and managed by Mary Fretz, was located on the flagstone courtyard adjacent to was the our local Wawa, and later became Chestnut Hill Bank.
That was the only “white tablecloth” restaurant in Chestnut Hill and was known as the gathering place for local “Hillers” over a space of at least 25 years. It was casual elegance and the only game in town for anything close to fine dining in the 60s and 70s.
The food was strictly old school American steakhouse cuisine, probably accompanied by a martini, but the service was excellent and Mary Fretz a charming and welcoming owner.
21 West was a classic, and should not be overlooked when reviewing the culinary heritage of Chestnut Hill.
Tim Greenwood
