Nestled atop a hill on the outskirts of West Chester, a secret gem of Chester County awaits you. Bordley House Grille, on the grounds of the Broad Run Golfer’s Club, offers not only scenic views and cozy atmosphere, but delicious fare and creative cocktails. The star behind the bar is Katrina Schmidt, Bordley House Grille’s Food and Beverage Manager.
Katrina was raised in Chester County and was educated at The Culinary Institute of America. She has always had an affinity for using fresh local ingredients in her cooking and decided that it was high time to create a cocktail menu that incorporated the same philosophy. After tasting one too many cocktails that used artificial sweeteners and flavorings, she was inspired to create seasonal drinks that utilize the best that the garden has to offer.
Katrina likes to play with flavor combinations and colors to invent something new and different. She infuses many of the liquors in house with interesting ingredients rather than relying on bottled, mass produced syrups for flavor. Currently on the cocktail menu are two stand-out drinks.
The Ruby ($8): Katrina house infuses vodka with fresh beets and ginger overnight. The result is an earthy, yet slightly sweet beet flavor with an undertone of spice from the ginger. It is nicely balanced with juices of lime and lemon. Named for the dark red ruby color achieved during infusion, this is, by far, the most interesting cocktail I have ever tasted.
Pineapple-Jalapeño Margarita ($8): Katrina starts with tequila and adds in fresh pineapple and jalapeños. It takes at least 3 days to infuse the desired flavor into the tequila making this clearly a labor of love. The tequila picks up both the sweetness of the pineapple and the spiciness of the jalapeños creating a dichotomy of tastes. Watching Katrina make this special cocktail is like watching an artist creating a masterpiece. She rims the glass with fresh pineapple and twists the glass in coarse salt. She adds in the infused tequila, a splash of Triple Sec and a twist of lime. She tastes the whole time as she is creating to ensure that the perfect balance of flavor is achieved. I’m not usually a cocktail girl, but this one had me sold.
The cocktail menu at The Bordley House Grille changes with the season and the offerings of the garden. They have Happy Hour on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:30 p.m. featuring discounts on not only the cocktails, but also wine, draft and bottled beer. Speaking of beer, the Bordley has quite the selection of craft bottles and has six taps, four of which are dedicated to local craft breweries such as Yards, Victory, Troegs and Stoudts.
Do yourself a favor and seek out this quaint and inviting restaurant. And ask for Katrina behind the bar. She makes some amazing drinks!
Bordley House Grille is located at 1520 Tattersall Way in West Chester. They are reachable by phone at (610) 738-4412. Find them on Facebook too!
