Red Star Craft House, located on the ground floor of Exton Square Mall, is quickly approaching its second anniversary. The American gastropub with a global flair has consistently delivered a menu of crowd-pleasing plates that are not your typical mall fare. Add in a solid list of 100+ craft beers in bottles or on tap, and you can never go wrong stopping in for a bite to eat or a pint.
Matt Andrews recently came on board at Red Star as the new executive chef. Matt is no stranger to working in the kitchen at one of restaurateur Dave Magrogan’s eateries. He started his culinary career as a line cook at Kildare’s in West Chester (under new ownership since 2015) and as a sous chef at the now closed West Chester Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House. He made the leap to Red Star Craft House in October and has been slowly adding new and improved items to the menu. When he took the reins of the kitchen, Andrews kept many well-loved menu items, like the street tacos and wood-fired pizzas, and added several seasonal plates into the mix.
The Magrogan Group’s Harvest Seasonal Grill offers an under 500 calorie seasonally changing, local farm-to-table menu, and Andrews looked to Red Star’s sister restaurant for some inspiration in creating the Fall Food & Brew Fest additions. Curious about the new additions that have made their way onto Red Star’s seasonal menu? We’ve got the scoop on several of these must-try dishes!
Pear & Bleu Flatbread
Chef Andrews shares that this is the very first flatbread that has been on the menu at Red Star. It is perfect as a shareable plate for an appetizer or as an individual meal. The crisp flatbread is topped with pears, micro arugula and aged bleu cheese and drizzled with a fig glaze. Each bite delivers a medley of flavors.
Butternut Squash Soup
This soup made with local honey and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds is thick, yet smooth and creamy with a hint of sweetness from the honey. The crunch of the pumpkin seeds adds texture, making this an all-around winner.
Harvest Turkey Sliders
Want a taste of Thanksgiving before Turkey Day? Ground turkey topped with baby Swiss, cranberry-orange mostarda and an apple brussels sprout slaw is an updated take on the big meal—all in a few delicious bites.
Autumn Moon Chicken
Perfectly cooked chicken breast with crispy skin and a juicy interior, this beautiful plate showcases the kitchen’s new talent. Hit with an apple cider-rosemary glaze and served with brussels sprouts, grilled apples and roasted fingerling potatoes, this dish truly highlights the seasonal tastes of fall.
Don’t Forget Dessert
Red Star Craft House’s sweet endings have always followed Harvest Seasonal Grill’s lead with desserts served in small glasses—you never have to feel guilty finishing your meal with one. The fall menu includes a mini caramel apple crunch and mini campfire s’mores, both just $4. The campfire s’mores is filled with rich chocolate mousse and graham cracker crumbs, topped with brûléed marshmallow. It’s the perfect finish to a satisfying meal.
Beer, Cocktails & More
Of course, if dining at Red Star, you have to check out the beer. New bar and service manager Stephen Shinn, formerly of West Chester’s Roots Cafe and Sprout Music Collective, has brought in a tap list of fall favorites and probably a few brews that you haven’t yet tried. Some of the standout seasonal beers making appearances include locals like Free Will Scarecrow, Victory Fest and Tröegs Hop Knife Harvest Ale. Also rotating through the list are distinctive beers like Stone Woot Stout, Ballast Point Pumpkin Down Scottish Ale and Great Lakes Edmond Fitzgerald Porter.
Not a beer fan? Fear not—several ciders, seasonal cocktails and an extensive wine list are available, too. We highly recommend the Weeping Maple made with Knob Creek Smoked Maple Whiskey, dried fig, Angostura bitters and smoked sea salt.
The Fall Food & Brew Fest menu will be available through Black Friday.
Find Red Star Craft House at 146 Exton Square Mall in Exton; phone: (610) 524-5893. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
- Exterior photo: Ed Williams
- Flatbread, sliders & cocktail photos: Red Star Craft House
- Chicken photo: Ronna Dewey
