The sun wasn’t even up yet and already owner Laura Vernola was welcoming customers into the comforting warmth of Steel City Coffee House. Laura and her newlywed husband, Ed Simpson, are the new owners of this iconic corner coffeehouse. They’ve already been well received by the town, partly because their new menu items have been marked as incredibly delicious. This is the first establishment that the couple has opened together after successfully operating a boutique marketing firm together for the past three years.
Inside the warm space, with a fantastic Steel City mural on the wall by artist Paula Peters (Old City Chalk & Design), you can see why this place has become a perennial favorite for so many. The early morning brings in customers eagerly anticipating the new breakfast menu items and the much-needed coffee mojo and sustenance that only Steel City can provide. Clearly, Laura and Ed are aiming for a home-cooked feel with their homemade meals.
Breakfast bowls and flatbreads have usurped the usual cereal and muffins (although they are on offer, too). Begin with a poached egg, potato, avocado and asparagus breakfast bowl or an egg, cheese, green chile and potato breakfast bowl. The potatoes are smooth and filling, the avocado adds healthy creaminess and the asparagus lends a satisfying crunch. And don’t forget the New York-style fried egg sandwich with cheese, which is anything but ordinary.
The flatbreads—perfect as breakfast, lunch or dinner—take the usual flatbreads to a new level. Wild mushrooms, Manchego cheese and asparagus adorn the crispy flatbread for a tasty treat, and the lovely bacon, caramelized onion and Gruyere flatbread is outstanding. The chicken, caramelized onion and Gouda cheese flatbread and Greek flatbread with roasted red peppers, olives, hummus, feta cheese on a pita can transform breakfast or lunch from ordinary to amazing. The flavors all blend beautifully for a craft meal experience. Any of the flatbreads can also be made into a bowl for breakfast or lunch, which adds another delicious dimension.
Laura and Ed are also enjoying keeping the town flush with coffee and pastries—try the scones, cookies and homemade “Pop Tarts,” too!
Steel City prides itself on using local ingredients for its chilis, soups, flatbreads, nachos and bowls. Some items are vegan, dairy-free and/or gluten free as well.
In addition to the outstanding coffees served at Steel City, which use local vendor Hobo Ed’s coffee beans, Steel City now offers Baba’s Brew kombucha. Kombucha, which is a fermented tea drink thought to have helpful probiotic properties, is offered in many delicious flavors. Seasonal flavors include Grapeful (an organic Concord grape flavor), Asian Pear Ginger, Pumpkin Pie, Rosy Apple, Blueberry and more, all incredibly flavorful and made with triple-filtered water, tea, kombucha cultures and other delicious fresh ingredients such as elderflower, lemon, cinnamon, local fruits and spices. Growlers are available for purchase to take your drink to-go.
Steel City is a BYOB establishment, so don’t forget to bring along your favorite adult beverages. Friday and Saturday nights are the time to visit for dinner and live music. (Bonus: on show nights, present your ticket at Black Walnut Winery for 10% off a bottle of wine.) And don’t forget to keep New Year’s Eve free—Steel City has an amazing lineup coming to town!
Laura and Ed recently began a GoFundMe campaign to assist in the relaunch of their storied music scene with a larger, more updated stage and music system to make sure musical acts have the best sound possible, in addition to updating the flooring and plumbing.
“We both feel strongly about the positive impact music can play in people’s lives, and we have found a great amount of joy in nurturing young and aspiring musicians and artists,“ said Laura. “Being able to provide them with an outlet to be heard and to refine their craft gives us more satisfaction than anything else. We are excited and cannot wait to see what comes from this experience. Additionally, we have been blessed with the opportunity to meet and listen to some amazing bands and artists that we may not have ever had the opportunity to hear.”
Steel City is becoming known as the place for amazingly well-crafted cuisine plus delicious coffee (of course), but it also offers an Open Mic Night every Thursday. If you are part of the local business scene, this coffee house has all the attributes you need for a high-powered and successful meeting. Local artists and authors write masterpieces while imbibing Steel City’s mocha brews—shouldn’t you start that long-awaited first novel, too? We’ll save a table for you.
Find Steel City Coffee House at 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville; phone: (484) 924-8425.
- Photos: Jackie Botto
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