Autograph Brasserie: Brunch

Regular readers know I'm a fan of Autograph Brasserie in Wayne, PA. As one of the Fearless Restaurants, expect creative decor and local ingredients on top of well-executed dishes. Before a recent KoP shopping trip, the GF and I decided to stop by Autograph to try their brunch. 

Bread Service

We started off with a few mocktails. The GF enjoyed the Peaches & Tea - light, with the honey and lime balancing out any bitterness from the tea. I loved my Off the Daisy Chain - lemonade, pear, and honey amped up with the kick of cayenne and a bit of effervescence from soda water.  Bread service came in the form of foccacia - lightly seasoned with salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Perfect little bite for our first starter ...

Lobster Bisque 

Lobster bisque was rich, decadent, and creamy-dreamy. Close-your-eyes comforting, there were plenty of chunks of lobster and an enjoyable hit of acid from some tomato.  Glad we saved some of the foccacia which made for the perfect dippers. Brunch allows for no judgement, right?

Breakfast BLT [$15]
Fried egg, avocado spread, applewood smoked bacon, tomato, chipotle aioli 

For her main, the GF opted for the breakfast BLT. Buttered toast housed plenty of smoky, crisp bacon, fresh tomato, and crisp lettuce. The heft of the fried egg and avocado brought each bite over the top. As a side, she decided to go with the house-made chips - nicely fried and lightly seasoned. 

Open Face Crab Melt [$18]
Super lump crabmeat, beefsteak tomatoes, gruyere, grilled sourdough

I appreciated that the sourdough was nicely toasted, allowing for a juxtaposition in texture, especially with the creamy gruyere and the sweet crab meat. The tomato allowed for a subtle acidity that broke through the richness of each bite. I went with the side of fries which are just the way I like them. Crisp, but with a bit of chew upon mastication. And seasoned to boot! 

Chicken Fried Bacon [$8]
Honey, thyme, hot sauce

Bacon lovers unite at Autograph. Wait for it. Chicken. Fried. Bacon. How could you say no? Thick-cut pieces of bacon are deftly fried. Both the bacon and batter are crisp, but yield to a satisfying chew. On top of the execution, the combination of honey, thyme, and hot sauce really makes each bite. Get this! 

Autograph Signature Sundae [$12]
Dule de Leche & Vanilla ice cream, chocolate brownie, peanut butter cookie, milk chocolate pretzel bark, salted peanuts

There's nothing wrong with ending brunch on a sweet note. And there's nothing sweeter than Autograph's signature sundae. It boasts two scoops of rich dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream. Pair a bit with some chocolate brownie, peanut butter cookie, or a sweet-and-salty chocolate pretzel bark. Or do what I did and get a bit of each, along with some of the whipped cream and chopped peanuts. 

So if you're coming from the city to shop at King of Prussia, don't relegate yourself to the confines of the mall. Head over to nearby Autograph. In addition to the great food, it's located in the East Village Shops area, which has plenty of cute boutiques if you're looking for the perfect after-meal stroll.  

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Autograph Brasserie and the Fearless Restaurant Group for hosting us. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Autograph Brasserie
503 W. Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 964-2588
www.autographbrasserie.com

Autograph Brasserie Review

I typically find myself bound to Center City dining. But when I heard of the great things coming out of Autograph Brasserie's kitchen, how could I not stop by Wayne, PA? Upon the vaunted foundation of esteemed Georges Perrier's Le Mas Perrier, Autograph is the next offering from restaurateur Marty Grims, known especially for White Dog Cafe and the Moshulu. 

Since opening earlier this year, Autograph has been come a Main Line hotpspot. While it's easy to simply say that it fulfills suburbia's need for Center City tastes, Autograph delivers more than that. To the left of the foyer, feel free to indulge in specialty cocktails at the gorgeous bar, complete with a custom trumpet chandelier from Portugal. Head right through the boulevard of private booths and you can dine intimately in the "Sycamore Tree" room. Gold petal lights flicker amongst the leaves as you enjoy house-made pastas and the ever-popular toasts. Make way to the backroom bar, which evokes a "Mad Men"-esque backsplash. This leads to a more formal Club Room, where 40-day dry aged steaks can satiate captains of industry or carnivorous connoisseurs alike. All the while, your head will spin at the multitude of autographed celebrity photos adorning the walls. 

Smoking Sazerac [$13]
Rittenhouse Rye, Peychaud's, caramelized sugar, Vieux Carre absinthe, smoke

No surprise here - I started off my meal with a whiskey-based drink. The smoking sazerac was right up my alley. Table side service highlights the interplay between the cocktail's elements. With the backbone of the smoke, the caramelized sugar and subtle sweetness of the burnt anise and absinthe worked well to balance the Rittenhouse Rye and bitters. Smooth and enjoyable.

Bread Service

Meals start off with house-made gougeres - airy cheese puffs with hints of gruyere. These were also some of the largest gougeres I've seen! 

Charred Spanish Octopus [$16]
Calabrian chili oil, preserved lemon, parsley, smoked pimenton aioli, crispy potatoes 

The octopus is tender as can be, with a light char on the exterior. Served with crispy potatoes for some heartiness and preserved lemon for some acidity, the real star for me was the smoked pimenton aioli, which had kick from the paprika. 

Short Rib & Horseradish Toast [$14]
Farm-house aged white cheddar 

There are a variety of toasts on the menu and I'd recommend getting at least one to share. The short rib and horseradish offers a richly savory route, with hearty short rib accented by caramelized onion, all balanced by aged white cheddar and bite from the horseradish. 

Foie Gras Torchon 
Brioche crouton, spiced cranberries, butternut squash bisque

The kitchen sent out an off-menu dish that was a standout. A deconstructed version of classic foie gras torchon was plated with buttered brioche croutons and spiced cranberries. Channeling fall flavors, butternut squash bisque was poured tableside to envelop the dish in a sweetness that offset the richness of the foie. I enjoyed the tartness of the cranberries coming through on the finish. 

Rainbow Trout [$28]
Horseradish creme fraiche, beets, hazelnuts, citrus herb salad

Seafood lovers can rejoice as fish is expertly cooked. Trout came with crisped skin, atop a bed of greens and horseradish creme fraiche. Along with a light citrus herb salad with beets, hazelnuts offered texture. 

Dry-Aged Angus Ribeye [$52]
14 oz, Greeley, Colorado

Autograph's beef is high-quality and my recommendation would be the 40-day dry-aged Colorado ribeye. With a well-seasoned crust, the steak cut like filet. The subtle funk you'd expect from the aging was cut by the rich bordelaise sauce and the acidity of accompanying sun-dried tomatoes. Deliciously decadent. 

Charred Cauliflower [$8]
Cilantro cashew pesto, jalapeno, queso blanco 

If you're looking for a lighter side to accompany your main, do try the charred cauliflower. It came out smoky and dressed with an herbaceous pesto, offering a salty hit from the queso and some kick from the jalapeno. 

Mac & Cheese [$8]
Truffle brioche, smoked gouda 

If you're like me and prefer rich on rich, the mac would not lead you astray. Once you get through the beautifully buttered panko crust, the truffle essence of the mac n cheese emanated an earthy umami. The cavatappi noodles were perfectly al dente and absolutely coated in a creamy gouda sauce. 

Warm Valrhona Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondant Cake [$10]
Tahitian vanilla ice cream, English Devonshire cream 

Autograph's got a variety of options to satiate the sweet tooth within. I went with the chocolate peanut butter cake, which was moist and revealed a gooey peanut butter chocolate center. Paired with the sweet vanilla bean ice cream, this was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. 

So if you live in the Main Line area, I'd make it a point to head over to Autograph and become a regular. And for those of us living in the city, the case is certainly being made for suburban living, without losing any of the tastes we've grown accustomed to. 

FTC Disclaimer: This meal was organized by Fearless Restaurants. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Autograph Brasserie
503 W. Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 964-2588
www.autographbrasserie.com