Casual, relaxing, fun and friendly. The Stoop Tap & Kitchen, located inside the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, welcomes you in and provides a comfortable, inviting space for co-workers, friends and weary travelers to kick back and have a few laughs—and a beer or two—after a long day.
I recently stopped by to meet up with The Stoop’s chef Brian Chandler and manager Bonnie Hall, two restaurant professionals with decades of food-focused experience. In their hands, The Stoop has made a transformation from Arthur’s, the more formal restaurant that previously occupied the space, to the pub-style Stoop. Chef Brian, a Chester County native who’s been working in kitchens since the young age of 12, told me that the change will allow the restaurant not just to grow to meet the more laid-back desires of today’s diners but also to promote local brands and products to a broader audience.
Need a few reasons to hang out at The Stoop Tap & Kitchen? We’ve got ‘em!
Apps and Happy Hour
The robust appetizer menu includes all of your pub-fare favorites: nachos, wings, breaded mozzarella sticks and beer-battered onion rings, to name a few. A dish that caught my eye? Stoop Sliders, three mini burgers topped with chipotle sauce, onion straws, aged white cheddar and BBQ sauce, served on grilled pretzel rolls. Note: Rolls are sourced from New Jersey’s famed Liscio’s Bakery, so you know they’re amazing. During Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from 5–7 p.m., all appetizers are $2 off. (Take $1 off all drinks during that time, too!)
Local Love
Speaking of drinks, The Stoop prides itself on a wide selection of local brews, with 12 craft beers always on tap in addition to more traditional beers in bottles. Sixtels of micro-brews are switched out seasonally, meaning that new brews are available all the time. Currently on tap is a mix of local favorites including Dogfish Head, Victory, Yards, Sly Fox, Flying Fish and Tröegs, but the staff is always meeting with brewery reps to try new beers, so you never know what you might find on tap. Can’t pick just one brew? The Stoop’s beer flight is a great option, with four 3-ounce pours for just $6. The Stoop also features a fully stocked bar with a diverse selection of wine and spirits.
One Word: Burgers
Burgers are the number-one seller at The Stoop, and it’s easy to see why. Meaty menu selections begin with an 8-ounce certified Angus patty and then load on the toppings for big flavors. Bonnie’s favorite, shown above, is the not-for-the-faint-of-heart 4-Alarm Burger, topped with fried jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion. Brian’s? The BBQ Bacon Pretzel Burger, stacked with applewood bacon, onion straws, BBQ sauce, aged white cheddar, lettuce and tomato and served on a grilled pretzel roll. He recommends you wash it down with a glass of Victory’s Headwaters Pale Ale. We give that suggestion a thumbs up!
Hearty Dinners
Hungry? The Stoop’s entree offerings will satisfy the heartiest of appetites, and at reasonable prices too. The 12-ounce grilled hand-cut ribeye with onion straws, served with a garden salad, your choice of two sides and dinner rolls, is just $21. The 8-ounce pork ribeye dinner and 8-ounce Cajun-grilled New York strip dinners—also with salad, rolls and two sides—are $17. Other dinners include slow-cooked baby back ribs, shrimp pasta, pan-seared crab cakes, and char-grilled chicken. Chef’s specials each night are based on kitchen inspiration and incorporate local ingredients as often as possible.
Bonnie and Brian told me that thus far the feedback from diners has been great, with more locals returning to the restaurant than ever before for their share of fresh, from-scratch fare. Looking forward, The Stoop has big plans for renovations that will include new TVs and chairs, live Wednesday entertainment starting in the spring and expansion to the pool area and cabana in the warmer months.
Hours of operation at The Stoop are from 4–10 p.m., 7 days a week. To get the lowdown on daily specials, promotions and fun events, follow The Stoop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Stoop Tap & Kitchen is located inside the Wyndham Garden Exton Hotel at 815 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton; phone: (610) 363-1100.
Photo of Brian Chandler and Bonnie Hall credited to Michele Kornegay; all other photos by The Stoop.
