Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Western Suburbs
  5. Villanova
The Refectory, Villanova, PA

The Refectory

4.6
4.6
981 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a booking

2 people
20:30
Booked 38 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
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
  • Website
    http://www.refectorynova.com/
  • 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
  • Location
    862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options
Gift card

Gift card

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

Send a gift card

Menu

Dessert

  • Ricotta DoughnutsUS$11.00

    seasonal jam, nutella

    • Peanut Butter CakeUS$11.00

      housemade rocky road ice cream, peanut butter ganache, chocolate sauce

      • Cosmic Deep Dish BrownieUS$11.00

        fudge, chocolate chip candy

        • Bread PuddingUS$11.00

          housemade rum raisin ice cream, fig & red wine reduction

          • Autumn TartUS$17.00

            Apple, pear, housemade cream cheese ice cream, salted caramel bourbon sauce

            • Black Forest Chocolate TartUS$11.00

              cherry mousse, cherry puree, chocolate ganache

              • TiramisuUS$11.00

                a traditional favorite!

                Amaro

                • AvernaUS$15.00

                  • BraulioUS$15.00

                    • CardamaroUS$13.00

                      • Contratto FernetUS$11.00

                        • CynarUS$10.00

                          • Fernet BrancaUS$12.00

                            • Lazzaroni AmaroUS$12.00

                              • Meletti AmaroUS$11.00

                                • MontenegroUS$14.00

                                  • NoninoUS$21.00

                                    • Santa MariaUS$11.00

                                      • SfumatoUS$10.00

                                        • UnderbergUS$7.00

                                          Port

                                          • Quinta RubyUS$9.00

                                            • Quinta TawnyUS$9.00

                                              • Quinta WhiteUS$9.00

                                                Sherry

                                                • El Maestro Sierra PXUS$19.00

                                                  • El Maestro FinoUS$17.00

                                                    • Aurora AmontilladoUS$13.00

                                                      • Aurora ManzanillaUS$15.00

                                                        • Aurora OlorosoUS$15.00

                                                          Brandy

                                                          • Ansac CognacUS$10.00

                                                            • Chte. de Pellehaut ArmangacUS$15.00

                                                              • Gilles Brisson Cognac VSUS$13.00

                                                                • Gilles Brisson Cognac VSOPUS$20.00

                                                                  • Gilles Brisson Cognac XOUS$47.00

                                                                    • Laird's Bonded Apple BrandyUS$12.00

                                                                      • Resurgent Apple BrandyUS$18.00

                                                                        • Sibona Madeira GrappaUS$10.00

                                                                          Other Tasty Treats

                                                                          • DisaronnoUS$10.00

                                                                            • FrangelicoUS$12.00

                                                                              • Five Farms Irish CreamUS$11.00

                                                                                • Meletti ChocolateUS$10.00

                                                                                  • Meletti LimoncelloUS$10.00

                                                                                    • Pineau des CharentesUS$14.00

                                                                                      • SambucaUS$12.00

                                                                                        Backyard Beans Coffee

                                                                                        • DripUS$6.00

                                                                                          • EspressoUS$7.00

                                                                                            • CappuccinoUS$7.00

                                                                                              • LatteUS$7.00

                                                                                                Organic Hot Tea

                                                                                                $6

                                                                                                • English Breakfast

                                                                                                  • Decaf Earl Grey

                                                                                                    • Green

                                                                                                      • African Nectar

                                                                                                        • Mint

                                                                                                          • Chamomile

                                                                                                            Last updated: 27 October 2023

                                                                                                            What 981 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

                                                                                                            Noise • Moderate

                                                                                                            Diners' Choice Awards

                                                                                                            • 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.

                                                                                                            1,149 Reviews

                                                                                                            1. Richard

                                                                                                              Greater Boston

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              5.0

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              Dined on 21 December 2024

                                                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                              Always excellent food and great service in a cozy, comfortable setting

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            2. Bonnie

                                                                                                              New York City

                                                                                                              13 reviews

                                                                                                              4.0

                                                                                                              13 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 18 December 2024

                                                                                                              1. Overall 4
                                                                                                              2. Food 4
                                                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                              Potato and Leek soup was excellent. A little noisy though. Hard to have a conversation
                                                                                                              The RefectoryResponded on 19 December 2024
                                                                                                              Thanks for the review, Bonnie! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our potato and leek soup. We appreciate your feedback about the noise level and will look into how we can make your next visit even more enjoyable. We look forward to serving you again soon!

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            3. bob

                                                                                                              VIP

                                                                                                              Atlantic City

                                                                                                              22 reviews

                                                                                                              5.0

                                                                                                              22 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 17 December 2024

                                                                                                              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
                                                                                                              The RefectoryResponded on 19 December 2024
                                                                                                              Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time and meal at The Refectory. We're delighted that you enjoyed the ambiance and food before a game. Your kind words mean a lot to us. We look forward to serving you again soon. Best regards, The Management Team

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            4. Debbie

                                                                                                              New York City

                                                                                                              2 reviews

                                                                                                              5.0

                                                                                                              2 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 17 December 2024

                                                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                              Excellent atmosphere and food. We had an excellent time before a Villanova game.
                                                                                                              The RefectoryResponded on 19 December 2024
                                                                                                              Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an excellent time before a Villanova game at The Refectory. It's great to know that you enjoyed our atmosphere and food. We strive to provide an exceptional dining experience for all our guests and your feedback is a testament to that. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, The Management Team

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            5. Dorothy

                                                                                                              Philadelphia

                                                                                                              2 reviews

                                                                                                              4.0

                                                                                                              2 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 17 December 2024

                                                                                                              1. Overall 4
                                                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                                                              3. Service 3
                                                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                              So nice inside but waited 45 minutes for someone to help us - good long for a mid day lunch

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            6. Frank and Patti

                                                                                                              Philadelphia

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              3.0

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              Dined on 16 December 2024

                                                                                                              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 on 18 December 2024
                                                                                                              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!

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            7. Edwin

                                                                                                              Philadelphia

                                                                                                              14 reviews

                                                                                                              3.0

                                                                                                              14 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                                                                              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 on 14 December 2024
                                                                                                              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

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            8. bernadette

                                                                                                              VIP

                                                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              5.0

                                                                                                              1 review

                                                                                                              Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                                                                              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 on 18 December 2024
                                                                                                              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

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            9. Jeff

                                                                                                              Philadelphia

                                                                                                              10 reviews

                                                                                                              5.0

                                                                                                              10 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                                                              4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                              Tasty food that was well prepared. Service was also great.
                                                                                                              The RefectoryResponded on 14 December 2024
                                                                                                              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.

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            10. YumDeeDum

                                                                                                              Philadelphia

                                                                                                              4 reviews

                                                                                                              4.0

                                                                                                              4 reviews

                                                                                                              Dined on 11 December 2024

                                                                                                              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 on 12 December 2024
                                                                                                              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!

                                                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                                                            FAQs

                                                                                                            The Refectory is rated 4.6 stars by 981 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 booking

                                                                                                            2 people
                                                                                                            20:30
                                                                                                            Booked 38 times today
                                                                                                            Google Map for The Refectory

                                                                                                            862 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

                                                                                                            Dining areas

                                                                                                            Additional information

                                                                                                            • Cross Street
                                                                                                              Ithan Ave
                                                                                                            • Area
                                                                                                              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
                                                                                                              Gluten-free Options
                                                                                                            • Website
                                                                                                              http://www.refectorynova.com/
                                                                                                            • 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.

                                                                                                            Send a gift card
                                                                                                            Discover
                                                                                                            OpenTable
                                                                                                            • About Us
                                                                                                            • Blog
                                                                                                            • Careers
                                                                                                            More
                                                                                                            Our sites
                                                                                                            Businesses
                                                                                                            • Delight more diners
                                                                                                            • Restaurant Blog
                                                                                                            Join us on
                                                                                                            • Privacy policy
                                                                                                            • Terms of Use
                                                                                                            • Impressum
                                                                                                            • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
                                                                                                            • Cookie Preferences
                                                                                                            Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
                                                                                                            OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
                                                                                                            Booking Logo
                                                                                                            Priceline Logo
                                                                                                            KAYAK Logo
                                                                                                            Agoda Logo
                                                                                                            OpenTable Logo