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The Refectory, Villanova, PA

The Refectory

4.6
4.6
977 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 28 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Neighborhood gem
The Refectory is a stunning New American restaurant located on Lancaster Avenue in Villanova. The menu features modern and upscale interpretations of American comfort classics such as homemade pastas, wood-fired flatbreads, a raw bar, craft cocktails and specialty homemade desserts. Our kitchen's philosophy is to keep it simple and straightforward, with a lot of thought and technique put behind each dish and ingredient.

The Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We validate parking in the I-1 garage across the street. For parties of 9 or more guests, please contact the restaurant directly by calling (610) 519-5786 or by emailing info@refectorynova.com. Please call or email with any questions and we will return your message.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Oyster Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (610) 519-5786
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Biff Gottehrer, Michael Murray
  • Private party facilities
    We offer several private and semi-private dining and event options. The private President's Dining Room accommodates up to 14 guests for a seated function, while semi-private areas of our dining room can be set up for guests ranging from 25-80. Inquire for restaurant buyouts. Contact our Event Director, Devin Simpson at devin@refectorynova.com
  • Neighborhood
    Villanova
  • Cross street
    Ithan Ave
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    PARKING GARAGE INFORMATION: Parking is only available across the street from The Refectory at the Villanova I-1 Parking Garage located on South Ithan Avenue. There are no timing restrictions for vehicles parked at the I-1 Parking Garage for guests dining at The Refectory. The rates are as follows: the 1st hour is free, two hours is $2, and up to four hours is $5. Currently, we do not validate parking. Upon entry, pull a ticket and park on any of the first 3 floors. A pay machine accepting cash and credit is located by the Main Pedestrian Entrance/Exit on Floor 2. The exit lanes only accept credit cards and do not accept cash. To get to the Refectory from the Parking Garage from Floor 2, use the pedestrian walkway across Ithan Avenue. The Refectory is located in The Commons, the stone mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Ithan & Lancaster Avenue. Look for restaurant signage and call us at 610-519-5786 if you have any issues
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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What 977 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Western Suburbs

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Refectory at Villanova offers "amazing food" and "exceptional service," making it a top choice for celebrations and casual dining alike. Guests praise the "beautiful decor" and "lively atmosphere," although it can get noisy during peak hours. With standout dishes like cheesesteak egg rolls and buffalo cauliflower, this campus gem is a must-visit.

1,145 Reviews
  1. bob

    VIP

    Atlantic City

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    we had a great time and a great meal. the place was full and it is a great place to eat before a Nova game

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  2. Frank and Patti

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant was at about 1/2 capacity, not overly busy, but the staff was rushed to clear our table. I felt like we needed to get in and get out. The food was good, and the venue is lovely. It's a great place for parents to take their student attending the local college for a meal.
    The RefectoryResponded today
    Thanks for visiting us at The Refectory. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our food and found our venue to be lovely. We apologize if the pace of service seemed rushed. We're always working to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience for all our guests. Your feedback is valuable to us and we'll certainly use it to improve. We hope to welcome you and your student back for another meal soon!

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  3. Edwin

    Philadelphia

    14 reviews

    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We’ve been to Happy Hours and they are always on point. A bit disappointed with a sit down dinner for six this time. Tables service was slow and seemingly untrained. They took app plates and flatware before we were finished (food was on the plates). Brought entrees we had no flatware. We literally had our flatware replaced five times with just a bread basket, entrees, and dessert (note to servers: always bring extra dessert spoons for those who didn’t order dessert to share or sample others). Food was just okay. Short rib while tender, lacked any depth of flavor, chicken parm was just okay. REALLY miss the hash brown app, so we opted for the garlic potato dish which didn’t come close. Cocktails and Mocktails were good. The ambience is nice and holidays festive.
    The RefectoryResponded 4 days ago
    Hello Edwin, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at The Refectory. We're sorry to hear that your dinner experience didn't meet your expectations. We appreciate your feedback regarding the service and food. We're always looking to improve and your input helps us do just that. We're also sorry to hear that the food didn't meet your expectations, we strive to provide a great dining experience. We hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best wishes, The Management Team

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  4. bernadette

    VIP

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were seated as requested at a quiet Our server Kevin was excellent., giving us sufficient time to catch up on our news and enjoy starters, entrees and dessert⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    The RefectoryResponded today
    Hey, thanks for the fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time at The Refectory, from the service to the food. We're especially glad to know that you found the environment quiet and comfortable. It's always our goal to provide an enjoyable dining experience for our guests. We appreciate your support and look forward to your next visit. Cheers! - The Management Team

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  5. Jeff

    Philadelphia

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Tasty food that was well prepared. Service was also great.
    The RefectoryResponded 4 days ago
    We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tasty food and found it well prepared. It's great to know that our service met your expectations as well. We're always working to provide the best experience for our guests at The Refectory. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again soon.

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  6. YumDeeDum

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service was good. Would have given five stars except the service was very slow. Our friendly server didn’t have time for us.
    The RefectoryResponded 6 days ago
    Thanks for the review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the food and service at The Refectory. We apologize for the slow service you experienced during your visit. We strive to provide efficient service and your feedback helps us improve. We're glad that you'd give us another chance to provide a better experience. We look forward to serving you again soon!

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  7. Stacy

    VIP

    Richmond

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Wonderful food and drinks… we were seated very close to our reservation time which was nice considering they were very busy… the atmosphere was lovely but it was quite noisy… the service, while very friendly was inconsistent and very delayed… 3:00 reservations and we didn’t leave till close to 6… one+ hour before apps arrived and 30 minutes wait after dinner was complete to get someone to provide our check… the food was amazing and the price is on par for the quality… we will chalk up the slow and at times absent service with the busy season and will try it again in a few months!
    The RefectoryResponded 4 days ago
    Thanks for visiting us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and drinks. We apologize for the inconsistency in our service and the delay you experienced. We understand how this could be frustrating and we're working on improving these aspects. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in a few months. We appreciate your patience. We look forward to welcoming you back to The Refectory soon!

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  8. Carolyn

    Atlantic City

    13 reviews

    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Dinner was good, but really small portions for the price. My son ordered filet and received 4 individual slices of meat. Another pasta entree was maybe a spoonful or two and didn’t fill the entire bowl. Overflow from the bar caused people with drinks to stand next to our table while we were eating and they were just hanging out drinking. All in all, better restaurants around campus for dinner.
    The RefectoryResponded on December 7, 2024
    Hello MCGtable, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your dinner at The Refectory, but we're sorry to hear that our portions didn't meet your expectations. We strive to provide a high-quality dining experience and your comments will certainly help us to improve. We understand your concern about the seating arrangement and we'll certainly look into this. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide a more satisfying experience. Best regards, The Management Team

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  9. GEORGE

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    247 reviews

    4.0

    247 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Cocktails, Beer and Food very good. Kevin, our waiter was also very good. Be prepared for a loud dining experience though. Lots of screaming babies on a Saturday Night.
    The RefectoryResponded on December 3, 2024
    Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the cocktails, beer, and food, as well as Kevin’s service. We do understand that our Saturday nights can get a bit lively, and we appreciate your patience with the noise. We hope to see you again soon for another great experience, perhaps during a quieter time! Thanks again for the feedback!

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  10. Scott

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant is a surprising little gem! We didn’t even realize it was on Villanova’s campus until we got close. Amazing atmosphere and friendly people that work there. Beautiful campus. The food was fantastic!! Highly recommend.
    The RefectoryResponded on December 3, 2024
    Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're so glad you found us and enjoyed your experience. It’s great to hear you appreciated both the atmosphere and the food—we’re proud to be a hidden gem on Villanova’s beautiful campus. We truly appreciate your recommendation and can’t wait to welcome you back for another fantastic meal!

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FAQs

The Refectory is rated 4.6 stars by 977 OpenTable diners.

The Refectory does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 28 times today
Google Map for The Refectory

862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Ithan Ave
  • Neighborhood
    Villanova
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Oyster Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    PARKING GARAGE INFORMATION: Parking is only available across the street from The Refectory at the Villanova I-1 Parking Garage located on South Ithan Avenue. There are no timing restrictions for vehicles parked at the I-1 Parking Garage for guests dining at The Refectory. The rates are as follows: the 1st hour is free, two hours is $2, and up to four hours is $5. Currently, we do not validate parking. Upon entry, pull a ticket and park on any of the first 3 floors. A pay machine accepting cash and credit is located by the Main Pedestrian Entrance/Exit on Floor 2. The exit lanes only accept credit cards and do not accept cash. To get to the Refectory from the Parking Garage from Floor 2, use the pedestrian walkway across Ithan Avenue. The Refectory is located in The Commons, the stone mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Ithan & Lancaster Avenue. Look for restaurant signage and call us at 610-519-5786 if you have any issues
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Biff Gottehrer, Michael Murray
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (610) 519-5786
  • Private party facilities
    We offer several private and semi-private dining and event options. The private President's Dining Room accommodates up to 14 guests for a seated function, while semi-private areas of our dining room can be set up for guests ranging from 25-80. Inquire for restaurant buyouts. Contact our Event Director, Devin Simpson at devin@refectorynova.com
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

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