Anyone who has driven by Marchwood along Route 100 recently has seen the transformation of the Exton Diner into Bistro 24 American Grille. The new sign and the awnings marked an updating to the look and feel of the diner, which has been a fixture at the busy intersection for years.
I have to confess. I’d never been inside the Exton Diner so no comparisons can be drawn, but Bistro 24 is a casual eatery which feels much like a diner. I was seated in a comfortable booth on a weekday afternoon as Boy George crooned “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” on the speakers. The mango walls are covered with framed prints of coliseums and sphinxes. Hip, funky accent lamps in bright primary colors hang over each booth.
When I asked the waitress what she recommended for lunch, she pointed out the burgers and some of her favorite sandwiches. The menu at Bistro 24 is quite large and offers a variety of choices so everyone should be able to find something to their liking.
Appetizers include standard fare such as mozzarella sticks, buffalo wings and chili nachos, but they also offer interesting choices such as stuffed grape leaves, coconut shrimp, and crab dip. In addition to a soup of the day, they have a three cheese french onion soup and a crock of homemade chili.
For an entree, diners can choose from a wide choice of salads, comfort foods, barbecue style, and fish. They offer a few Italian dishes such as Chicken Parmesan, and Mama’s Lasagna. On Friday, Saturday and Sundays, they offer Prime Rib, Kobe Beef, Chopped Steak, and Certified Angus New York Strip. Vegetarians can dine on Ethnic Israeli Falafel or a Greek Spinach Pie.
Bistro 24 has an excellent assortment of club sandwiches, classic sandwiches, wraps, pitas, and paninis. Their gourmet burgers are ½ pounders. Like a diner, breakfast can be ordered any time of the day.
After taking some time to review the menu, I chose not a burger but the Club House Griller – oven roasted turkey, smoked ham, melted swiss cheese, grilled tomato and applewood bacon on a grilled sourdough bread. This came with an order of french fries. The cheese was melted and gooey, the bacon was crisp. This proved to be an excellent comfort meal that I enjoyed while another classic 80’s hit, “Relax,” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood played throughout the bistro.
The name Bistro 24 indicates they keep diner hours, and they are indeed open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do not serve alcohol and they are not a BYOB. Senior Citizens take note: They offer a special menu – all entrees on the Senior Citizen menu include soup and salad bar, and a choice of potato or vegetable. Dessert is a choice of ice cream, pudding or jello.
The bright atmosphere, the wide choice of comfort foods and the classic 80’s tunes combine to make Bistro 24 an optimal place to stop in for a bite to eat, whether it’s for a casual business lunch with a partner, dinner with the family, or a late night stop with friends.
Find Bistro 24 American Grille is located at 100 Marchwood Road in Exton. You can them by phone at 610-280-9900. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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