Malvern Buttery: The cafe, 'turned around'
Patrons at this new shop in Malvern see and buy whatever the bake shop and kitchen staffs have set out on a table.
John Rhoads, an entrepreneur with a background in finance, was intrigued with a particular idea for a cafe he saw in Europe: Comfy seating, open kitchen but no set menu.
Basically, patrons choose whatever the bake shop and kitchen staffs have set out on a table: breads, sandwiches, soups - whatever is in season or appropriate for the time of day.
"What you see is what you get," says Rhoads, who just opened Malvern Buttery in downtown Malvern (233 E. King St., 610-296-2534). He is working with his wife, Silenia, after developing the concept with consultant Ed Doherty.
Rhoads calls it "the cafe, turned around."
Malvern Buttery has three components: specialty coffee drinks (Counter Culture Coffee), retail breads (baguettes, croissants and the like), and the eatery. If you popped in over the weekend, among the lunchtime choices were a pulled chicken sandwich and quinoa burger.
Seating, which accommodates about 70 people, includes five communal tables, some smaller tables, couches, and chairs.
Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.