Restaurant veteran Anthony DePaul announces the grand opening of DePaul's Table: Modern Italian Steakhouse this Thursday, May 6th at 7E. Lancaster Avenue. DePaul, formerly from The Chophouse, Marc Forgione’s American Cut Steakhouse and Borgata, will bring a pedigree of industry insight and knowledge to this exciting new concept. DePaul aims to bring back the long lost artform of the Maitre D’ with elevated customer service and extra attention to detail. While the pandemic may have changed the state of dining for months and maybe years to come, DePaul and team looks to bring back all the things we have missed this last year about an exceptional dining experience. In the kitchen, DePaul has tapped New Jersey-native Executive Chef Jose Galicia (The Chophouse). Chef will showcase Italian flavors, the finest cuts of steak, big chops, fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, big salads, savory flatbreads and fresh made desserts. For the beverage program, look for handcrafted cocktails, a curated wine selection, and selections of domestic, import and local beers with a rotating seasonal tap. DePaul's opens just in time for Mother's Day Weekend and Ardmore Restaurant Week. For Mother's Day, look for a special fixed price brunch. For Ardmore Restaurant Week, look for the new restaurant to host Ardmore Restaurant Week Happy Hour with drink and appetizer specials. DePaul's launches with indoor, outdoor, happy hour, bar service, take-out cocktails to go, catering and private events. Opening hours will be dinner service Sunday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm and Monday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 9:30pm, with take-out Sunday to Monday, 5:00pm to 8:00pm. For more information, visit www.depaulstable.com, call 610-589-0500 and follow @depaulstable on social media.

"I am so thrilled to announce the grand opening this week for DePaul's Table in Ardmore," said DePaul. “I want DePaul’s Table to reflect the values that I’ve come to love and adore from my 20+ years’ experience in restaurants: there is nothing more important to me than top notch service, the freshness of ingredients, and a dedication to our food and drink offerings. Ardmore is a community filled with diverse tastes, wants, and needs. I look forward to encompassing myself in the local neighborhood while adding to the numerous contributions that Ardmore continues to maintain as it grows and expands its restaurant offerings.”

DePaul’s Table takes over the former historic home of Haverford Trust Bank dating back to the early 1900s. The prominent location sits majestically overlooking the intersection of Station Road and Lancaster Avenue. After a grand rehab, The Bercy occupied the space until renovations took place for DePaul's grand opening.

Inside, look for 190 seats total between the dining rooms and the bar. The 40-seat and 46-foot long bar features an extended raw bar that will feature displays of fresh oysters, shrimp cocktails, and as well as several flatbreads that will come right from the wood fired oven. Look for a mix of two and four tops, plus banquets. Three spaces are available for private dining and parties. Outside, look for up to 20 seats on Lancaster Avenue and along Station Road.

For vision, DePaul (formerly from The Borgata, The Chophouse and Marc Forgione’s American Cut Steakhouse) brings a pedigree of industry insight and knowledge to this exciting new concept. DePaul aims to bring back the long lost artform of the Maitre D’ with elevated customer service and extra attention to detail. While the pandemic may have changed the state of dining for months and maybe years to come, DePaul and team looks to bring back all the things we have missed this last year about an exceptional dining experience. Look for a brighter, lighter and fresher take on Center City classic steakhouses. DePaul looks to capture the nostalgic charm of yesteryear and adapt it to today's modern social lifestyle. In the kitchen, DePaul has tapped New Jersey-native Executive Chef Jose Galicia (The Chophouse).

FROM THE KITCHEN

Reflected in its carefully crafted menu by Galicia, DePaul's Table puts a premium on locally sourced and curated ingredients. Using the finest cuts of Dry Aged Pat La Freida meats, fresh seafood, and vegetables, and the restaurant will offer incomparable dishes that showcase Italian inspired flavours. The premium, 30-pound cuts of beef arrive from Pat La Ffreida where they are dry aged, in-house for 28 days. At La Freida the meat is kept between 37° and 39° F, with humidity control at 78 to 82 percent. An air circulation system, with additional fans, help to remove moisture from the meat while it's dry-aging. Around the 21st day, the meat starts to developstarts develop that special flavor dry aging is known for -- the edges get darker, and the outside gets dryer. The fat surrounds the whole meat, so when you remove it from the dry-aging room, the meat inside stays nice and juicy, and the outside gets that dried factor.

At the beginning of each day, steak portions are cut. There's no seasoning involved in the dry-aging process, and only some coarsecourse salt is used when the steaks are being prepared. When steaks are ordered, the meat is removed from the cooler and placed in a high-intensity broiler at 1600° F. The result: luxurious, meltingly tender and juicy steak, served sizzling hot with a perfectly caramelized crust!

On the more casual side of the menu for a lighter meal or repeat customers looking to make DePaul’s Table their home away from home, look for big salads with proteins, crab cake sandwich, DePaul’s Table Burger, flatbreads, pastas, and more. DePaul’s Table will offer a kids menu with pasta, chicken fingers, and other family friendly selections for your little ones.

FROM THE BAR

DePaul’s Table celebrates the safe and socially distanced return of bar service in the state of Pennsylvania! Look for full bar service, happy hour and, down the road, late night service. For the beverage program look for handcrafted cocktails, a curated wine selection, and selections of domestic, import and local beers with a rotating seasonal tap.

For cocktails, the classics will always be the backbone of DePaul’s Table. Look for bartenders to elevate that classic cocktail through small twists with a focus on superior products, glassware, training and execution. Don’t miss the whiskey-based classic, Cedar Planked Smoked Old Fashioned, which honors the spirit of the old school steakhouse with smoke and a giant round cube done table side.

DePaul’s Table will offer social hour for locals, neighbors and visitors to enjoy one, two or three times a week with food and drink specials. Running daily, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, look for Filet Tips, Flatbreads, Oysters Rockefeller, Salmon Nachos and more, starting at $5 and up. For beverages, look for domestic, craft and imported beer specials, wine specials and featured social hour cocktails.

VIBES AND LAYOUT

For decor, DePaul's showcases the talents of Interior Designer Dominika Chanc of Partum Interiors. Chanc brought a subtle flavor of Italy through a refresh of the booths, table décor, signage and modern art - all while accenting the space's existing architectural and decorative assets. The space's stunning heights, tall ceilings, large windows and grand architecture were paired with comfortable and warm tones on the first level in the bar and dining room. The entrance vestibule and gathering place were givenwe given a make-over, and guests will find stunning new wood floors on the first level immediately when entering. The bar was visually opened up and given a decor revamp. For layout, the new colors, decor and interior design touches were all created to work in tandem with socially distanced dining layouts. While some things have been updated and changed, the best table in the house to see and be seen is still on the second level mezzanine overlooking the bar and main dining room.

DePaul said, "The dramatic multi-level space is so grand and versatile - making it perfect for a power lunch, grand brunch, after-work cocktail, high-stakes business dinner, family celebration or romantic date night on the town. It also offers banquets and intimate spaces that are familiar and comfortable for neighbors and locals that want a new regular place to call ‘a home away from home’ one, two or three days a week."

For private events, DePaul's offers five indoor unique spaces, including semi-private event space at the main bar, bar dining area, main dining room, upstairs mezzanine - and a completely private event space on the second level. DePaul's is the perfect spot for rehearsal dinners, showers, special occasions, micro weddings and much more. For private event inquiries, please contact Anthony Depaul directly at Anthony.depaul@depaulstable.com, 610-589-0500.

THE NAME

For the name, family is everything to DePaul. He said, "DePaul’s Table represents family, friends, guests, great food, well-made drinks and good times. Personally, for me and my wife, Tina whom we are the proud parents of four sons (Anthony, Dante, Roman and Franco) and everything happens at the ‘Table.’ In a world of hustle and bustle and both working full time jobs we always find time to sit down and talk/catch up on everything around the table. We talk about school, sports, reminisce all over a nice meal and some drinks. Some of the best times and memories happen around the table at my home. I want DePaul’s table to be a place where our guests can feel at home and share their own memories and experiences together. I wanted to create a place I would be proud of and that I could see my own family enjoying.”

He added, “Professionally, DePaul’s Table is significant because each guest that walks through the doors will be treated as if they are guests at my table in my home. There is nothing more satisfying than walking through a busy dining room and seeing guests enjoying themselves around the table. Where I think I elevate the experience is through developing relationships with my guests. I want to know their favorite dishes, wines, table preferences, birthdays, kids' names. I want them to not only have my cell phone number but to use it to let me create the perfect experience for them. I want guests to know if it's a busy weekend night they can text me. I will take care of them. That's the culture I will create at DePaul’s Table.”

JOB CREATION

For job creation, DePaul’s Table will launch with an estimated 30-35 PT positions and 8-10 FT positions. Once up and running, with the addition of expanded hours, lunch and brunch, look for up to 30-40 PT positions and 12-15 FT positions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Grand opening services for DePaul's includes indoor and outdoor dining, bar service, social hour, take-out, cocktails to go, special events, private events and catering. Down the road, look for an expansion of hours, lunch service, brunch service and a late night menu.

Opening hours for dinner service are Sunday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm and Monday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 9:30pm, with take-out Sunday to Monday, 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Social hour will preview during Ardmore Restaurant Week. Every day between May 6 and 16, look for discounted and featured food and drink daily from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. For more information, visit www.depaulstable.com, call 610-589-0500 and follow @depaulstable on social media.

PARTNERS

DePaul's Table is a partnership with suburban dining specialists Justin Weathers and Chef Joe Monnich of Stove & Co. Restaurant Group - who recently opened Stove and Tap West Chester. Stove & Co. Restaurant Group's collection of restaurants includes: Stove and Tap Lansdale, Stove and Tap Malvern, Stove and Tap West Chester, Al Pastor, Revival Pizza Pub (coming soon) and a yet-to-be-announced project coming to West Chester this summer. Look for other projects to be announced and debut this year - stay tuned.

NEIGHBORHOOD

DePaul's joins the red hot Best of Philly award-winning restaurant and nightlife scene that has seen major recent openings during the pandemic from Lola's Garden, Blue Pearl Cafe, Sophie's BBQ and Autana. At 10,000 square feet and 190 seats, DePaul's is Downtown Ardmore's largest restaurant - and it is situated as the crown jewel at the very epicenter of the Lancaster Avenue restaurant row directly in the middle of Bam Bam Kitchen, Ripplewood, Hunan, Delice et Chocolat, Marokko, Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft, Jack McShea’s and Buena Vista Mexican. Ardmore Initiative will soon announce several more grand openings in coming months - stay tuned for big things coming to Ardmore besides DePaul's big steaks, chops and salads.

DePaul said, “Downtown Ardmore has seen such an amazing dining revival over the last few years. There is such an amazing community and I wanted to be a part of that energy. The timing couldn’t have worked out better as I want to meet and partner with my neighboring restaurants and the Ardmore Initiative. I want to have all hands on deck to help revitalize the Main Line restaurant scene after the shut-down and economic challenges of the last year. I also see this as an opportunity to bring something to Ardmore that doesn’t currently exist. DePaul’s Table aims to continue to elevate and raise up the burgeoning restaurant scene, and I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of great things to come here.”

ABOUT ANTHONY DEPAUL

Anthony DePaul is driven by the art of hospitality and treating guests as if they are in his own dining room at home with his family. DePaul, 41, grew up in Cherry Hill in a working middle class family. Hard work and determination was taught at a very young age and that if you set your mind to something, anything can be accomplished.

DePaul graduated from Widener University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Fresh out of college, he started managing the restaurant for popular South Jersey country club Scotland Run. After spending a few years there, he was called with an opportunity to be on the opening team at The Borgata Casino and Hotel. He joined The Borgata team and spent the next few years working his way through the ranks and worked his way up to being The Borgata Nightlife General Manager.

At that point in his life, he was married and he and his wife had their first child and the nightlife style was just not conducive to raising a family. He was then offered a job as the Beverage Manager with Steven Starr at the Pier in Atlantic city at the Continental. He credits that opportunity by Starr as where he really learned how to run a restaurant from every aspect. After a few years, he was offered a GM opportunity for Lascalas in Philadelphia. After spending a few years there, he got a call to run a high-end steakhouse for Iron Chef Marc Forgione with LDV Hospitality at the Revel Casino. Upon the Revel closing after 4 years, he was offered a job that would be his home for many years at The Chophouse. After spending just about 7 years with the PJW Restaurant Group, the opportunity of a lifetime was presented as his one shot at opening his very own restaurant in Ardmore. He said, "I am making my dream happen and it is an amazing feeling. I am so thankful and honored to be able to do what I love and serve so many people in an all new way."

DePaul is married to wife Tina, and together they have four sons Anthony, Dante, Roman and Franco. They reside in Williamstown, NJ together. The DePaul family looks forward to getting to know their new neighbors, friends and patrons in Downtown Ardmore.

FACTS AT A GLANCE:

DePaul's Table: Modern Italian Steakhouse
7 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
www.depaulstable.com
610-589-0500
@depaulstable

Dinner - Sunday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm, Monday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 9:30pm
Take-out - Sunday to Monday, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Catering - 48 hours notice requested
Social Hour - Sunday to Monday, 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Bar

As the world reopens, DePaul’s Table will reduce table capacity as it looks ahead to summer to ensure diners feel comfortable and safe. Watch for more updates on this with the opening press announcement.