By Lydia Terrill, Esq.

There is no question that the Farm and the Fisherman Tavern prides itself on serving fresh, local, seasonal foods. This was clear from the moment we sat down, when our server brought us the menus and immediately took care to highlight the restaurant’s farm-to-table approach, explaining that the menu changes every six months to take full advantage of what is available and in-season.

Our server also took special care to point out the local flavors of the drink menu, which focuses on draft selections from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware breweries, and wine from smaller producers throughout the country.

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Our dining experience at the Farm and the Fisherman, located at 575 Horsham Rd, Horsham, PA 19044, was excellent from beginning to end. I was impressed with the service before I even arrived at the restaurant; at the last minute a friend wanted to join our party, and Open Table told me that there were no more three-person reservations available. I called the restaurant in a minor panic, but the kind individual who took my call assured me that my last-minute reservation change could be accommodated. The stellar service continued when we walked in the door and were greeted warmly by the hostesses, and throughout the meal with our very attentive and knowledgeable server.

The restaurant is in an unexpected location: a suburban strip mall with a hoagie shop and a dry cleaner, but don’t be fooled; the food is as good as any center-city dining experience I’ve had. This is not surprising given that the original location of the Farm and the Fisherman was on Pine Street, where it was a 2012 James Beard semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant” in America.

The restaurant is divided into a bar area and a restaurant area, both of which were full on a Saturday night. There was a cheery ambiance, and both of my dining companions commented on the excellent music selection that was being piped in through the restaurant’s speakers.

Even considering the phenomenal service and wonderful ambiance, the food certainly took center stage.  The cheese plate and charcuterie plate both came with creative and interesting accompaniments that ensured that no two bites were the same. The burgers were also delicious, due in large part to the quality of the meat. The Farm and the Fisherman does not have a freezer in the restaurant, so you can be sure that all products are as fresh as possible. One of my dining companions commented that the Tavern Burger tasted like “a gourmet Big Mac.”

The high point of the meal, however, was the dessert. I ordered something called a “gooey butter cake,” which was like eating a dish full of warm cake batter with ice cream drizzled over it. The “caramel sundae for two” was equally delicious, but alas, it was enormous, and we were not able to finish it, despite our best efforts.

It is clear that The Farm and the Fisherman Tavern has put a great deal of effort into every aspect of their restaurant, from the service, to the ambiance, to the creative and interesting menu. The Horsham community is lucky to have a true gem in the area, and for those of you who do not live in Horsham, I would strongly recommend making the trip.  A special thanks to Joel Bernbaum for the recommendation!

This review, courtesy of the Montgomery Bar Association, was first published in Sidebar Magazine.

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