With its country cottage charm, a welcoming atmosphere and an exceptional kitchen staff serving delicious fare seven days a week, Kimberton’s Station Bistro is definitely one of those “If I had a restaurant of my own, it would be this kind of place” places.
Instead, Nancy and Craig Miller beat you to it. Since October, 2007 they have operated this quaint 56-seat restaurant while conveniently filling several niches within the historic village – a cheery morning spot for hearty breakfast or a cup of something hot; a casual eatery at lunch, and an equally unassuming yet nicely refined bistro at dinnertime.
This place is really adorable. Handsome blue granite floors, rustic red brick walls, high windows, hand-hewn wooden ceiling beams and a working fireplace all lend an amicable and colonial atmosphere in the heart of idyllic, circa-18th century Kimberton. Local artist Irma Shapiro’s ethereal paintings provide colorfully dreamy hues. It’s the kind of place where the light is good during the day, and at night the interior exudes a warming golden glow.
Breakfast is typical in a good way. All the usual suspects are in play: French toast, pancakes, omelets, eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros and tempting breakfast burritos.
Lunch and dinner share the same menu at the Station Bistro. There are several expected offerings such as salad, soups, pastas, burgers and sandwiches. Diners will also find quite a few offbeat tempters – a tender tilapia sandwich gets a Cajun twist when blackened, steak gorgonzola Alfredo with penne pasta drizzled with balsamic glaze pairs perfectly with a hearty BYOB of red wine. And then there are the treasures from the smoker…
Craig and Nancy met while working for Darden Restaurants. Craig spent sixteen years with the company, Nancy spent six. Now, in his new independent gig, Craig is a wunderkind with wood chips, water and fire. He smokes all of the bistro’s sausage, turkey and their baby back ribs.
About those ribs. Offered full or half-rack, all-natural and containing no nitrates, those succulent beauties are by far the best in-house BBQ served this side of the Schuylkill River.
Nancy and Craig are also proud of their new menu additions which include tasty flatbreads, steamed clams, baked (nitrate-free) sausage and cheese ravioli topped with homemade marinara and provolone, yummy marinated tilapia fish tacos, and also, their Cioppino – a veritable ocean floor of sweet mussels, clams, shrimp and fish in a deep & savory broth (pictured, to left).
As if working seven days and hosting private parties on Sundays weren’t enough, the Miller’s hold a variety of festive events throughout the year. Coming up: Their annual craw fish boil (the last Sunday before Memorial Day), a crab boil on July 18th, and their always well-attended lobster bake in August. Book in advance!
Whatever the time of day or occasion, the Station Bistro is certainly the quintessentially cute cafe you’d like to run if you had a place of your own and the where-with-all to do it. Let Nancy and Craig do all the work though. They know how to operate their restaurant, and all those insane long hours have only served to make this Kimberton charmer a worthwhile destination for dreaming wannabe’s in our region.
Find The Station Bistro at 1300 Hares Hill Road in Kimberton, or online at stationbistro.com. The restaurant is reachable by phone at 610-933-1147. Hours of operation are as follows: Open for breakfast Monday – Saturday, from 8am to 11am; and Sunday, from 8am to 1pm. The lunch/dinner bistro menu is served 11am–9pm, Monday – Saturday.
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