Walking in the front door of Liberty Union Bar & Grill in Phoenixville is like stepping into a friend’s house—warm, familiar, with good smells and happy people to greet you and show you to a seat as they urge you to enjoy your meal. Brunch on Sunday, weeknight dinners and afternoon lunch are all in the same vein, with good food, enthusiastic employees and the manager often coming out to say a personal hello.
Liberty Union owner Steven Schwenk comes from a long history in the restaurant business, notably as general manager of The Blarney Stone in West Chester. Owning his own restaurant is a dream come true for Steven, who’s very serious about great food and atmosphere.
Liberty Union’s Chester Springs location, opened in 2011, quickly built a loyal and hungry following. Now Schwenk has opened a second location in Phoenixville, off Route 113, in a charming building that feels like home, and is dishing up comfort-food favorites such as mac ‘n cheese, pasta, burgers and salads.
Liberty Union offers a new twist on traditional foods, with a different state’s cuisine featured each week. This week it’s Tennessee, with selections including the Elvis Burger, BBQ ribs and Jack Honey Sweet Tea.
Main entrees on the regular menu include Wisconsin mac ‘n cheese, Florida jerk chicken, New Mexico carne asada, South Carolina grits & shrimp, Maryland crab melt, Alaskan salmon … you get the picture. Each entrée, burger and salad is prepared fresh and brought out with a flourish.
A recent weekend brunch made fans out of the many who lined up at the Grand Buffet for omelets to order, Belgian waffles, pancakes, bacon and sausage, fresh seafood, mimosas and meats from the carving station. Everything on the buffet is kept fresh and is so well prepared that most diners went back for seconds.
Topping off the bountiful buffet is a build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar. Choices of vodkas and mixers mean there’s a rich breakfast drink treat for everyone’s taste—as long as you’re over 21. Even so, Liberty Union is decidedly kid-friendly, as the many families in attendance that day showed.
Big eaters, take note: Tuesday is all-you-can-eat crab legs with homemade slaw, fries and corn on the cob, and Wednesday offers all-you-can-eat BBQ night with pulled pork, BBQ chicken and ribs, coleslaw and fries.
The beer, wine and cocktail list is extensive too, with creative cocktails that are seasonal and fresh and beer and wines that take you on a journey as you enjoy them. Try the Philly Chocolate Covered Pretzel Shot, the New York Skinny Girl Cosmo or the Florida Key Lime Pie cocktails—each with a fun and innovative twist. Happy hour every Monday–Friday from 5–7 p.m. includes $4 craft beers, $5 wine by the glass and $6 flatbreads and wings.
Hungry? Thirsty? Take a seat for brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour and more at Liberty Union Bar & Grill, 519 Kimberton Rd., Phoenixville; phone: (484) 927-4244.
- Photos: Ed Williams
