Our 1906 at Longwood Gardens restaurant overview begins on a snowy February afternoon.
A brief drive from The Inn at Whitewing Farm took us alongside quiet nation roads lined with winter surroundings earlier than we arrived at Longwood’s distinctive entrance, the place well-marked indicators guided us in.
Eating at 1906 offers you entry to the breathtaking indoor gardens above at Longwood | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Named for the 12 months Pierre S. du Pont bought the Kennett Sq. property, this gorgeous restaurant reopened in fall 2024 as a part of the $250 million Longwood Reimagined undertaking.
Situated inside Longwood Gardens’ Conservatory District, 1906 provides a singular eating expertise the place company can get pleasure from seasonal delicacies and discover the plush, climate-controlled gardens above. With entry to this vibrant indoor oasis irrespective of the climate, the setting alone makes it a super winter eating vacation spot.
A brief winter stroll from Longwood Gardens Customer Heart to 1906 | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
💡 Earlier than you arrive, right here’s a useful tip: Reaching 1906 requires a five-minute stroll by the outside gardens. Sure, which may appear daunting on a chilly winter day, however don’t let it deter you. The stroll truly enhances the expertise, immersing you within the serene great thing about the grounds earlier than your meal. The workers on the guests middle gives you a Longwood Gardens map and let you know precisely easy methods to get there.
Simply costume appropriately. And, don’t fear about cumbersome winter gear as soon as inside. The restaurant’s wonderful coat verify will retailer the whole lot from hats, gloves, and umbrellas. They’ll even maintain onto your leftovers whilst you discover the gardens.
After our go to, it’s clear—1906 is not only assembly expectations; it’s exceeding them.
The Setting: The place Winter Meets Heat
The principle eating room at 1906 overlooking winter gardens | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Moving into 1906 seems like discovering a secret greenhouse that’s been reworked into a sublime eating room. The designers have achieved one thing outstanding right here – an area that feels particular occasion-worthy, but genuinely comfy.
Flooring-to-ceiling home windows body the snow-covered Most important Fountain Backyard. Above, vaulted ceilings with their basket weave lattice create an ethereal ambiance that by some means nonetheless feels intimate. Customized tables, crafted from fallen Longwood timber, add character and historical past to the room. Even on the grayest winter day, the house glows with pure mild and heat from amber coloured wall sconces.
The 1906 bar and lounge showcases illuminated botanical shows | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
With its dramatic archway and illuminated cabinets, the bar and lounge space instantly captivates, highlighting a powerful assortment of spirits. Comfy seating invitations you to settle in for a pre-lunch cocktail, in opposition to a wall of show circumstances housing botanical curiosities below cloches – a intelligent nod to The Conservatory setting that provides to the room’s subtle attraction.
Signature arched home windows at 1906 overlooking snow-covered gardens | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Our desk provided an expansive view of the winter gardens, and we rapidly understood why the restaurant has almost doubled its seating capability to 240 on this new house. Regardless of its measurement, purposeful design parts and well-spaced tables allow you to maintain a dialog comfortably – a element we notably appreciated throughout our meal.
A Backyard-Impressed Cocktail Program
The Frosted Violet cocktail at 1906 | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Talking of cocktails, the 1906 beverage menu is one thing particular. We tried the Frosted Violet, a vibrant, gradient-purple creation that matched the orchids blooming within the gardens. The mixture of mezcal, reposado tequila, pineapple, and crème de violette created layers of taste as complicated because the drink’s look. It arrived on a crisp, linen-like serviette emblazoned with “1906” – considered one of many elevated touches that have been quickly to comply with.
There’s additionally a menu of non-alcoholic mocktails, with inventive elixirs that incorporate garden-fresh substances.
A Menu Blooming with Taste
A chef choosing recent herbs from the indoor develop cupboards at 1906 | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Govt Chef George Murkowicz has created a menu that artfully divides into three classes: Flora, Fauna, and Funga – the latter, a considerate nod to Kennett Sq.’s mushroom heritage.
What makes the menu really particular is its connection to Longwood’s gardens. Via the eating room, we might see the brand new Decorative Kitchen Backyard the place many substances are grown. However this isn’t only for present. Twice weekly, the culinary and horticulture groups meet to debate what’s rising and prepared for harvest. We even watched a chef fastidiously choosing herbs and edible flowers from indoor develop cupboards close to the kitchen – a stage of care that confirmed up on each plate.
The Meals: Paintings on a Plate
The Flower Salad that includes edible flowers and honey French dressing | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
From the Flora menu, we began with the Flower Salad – a dish that introduced springtime to our winter desk. Crisp combined greens have been adorned with edible flowers (vibrant yellow and purple violas), creating a good looking backyard on the plate. Sunflower sprouts offered a nutty base, whereas bee pollen and honey vinegar added delicate sweetness. Every forkful combined shades of purple and gold with brilliant inexperienced leaves and no two bites have been fairly the identical.
Mushroom pâté with crispy enoki mushrooms and recent herbs | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
The Funga choices showcased Kennett Sq.’s heritage brilliantly. A inventive mushroom pâté arrived trying deceptively conventional however providing a pleasant shock – it was as wealthy and creamy as any basic liver model, however with deep umami notes from the mushrooms. Crispy enoki mushrooms topped the highest, offering a pleasant crunch that made every chew extra satisfying than the final. The nice and cozy brioche on the facet, formed like a mushroom, was a enjoyable solution to get pleasure from this revolutionary unfold.
Tarte Flambée with caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, and recent goat cheese | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
The Tarte Flambée arrived as our second mushroom exploration – a skinny, crackling crust layered with caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, and pancetta, completed with dollops of recent goat cheese and brilliant herbs. Served on a country wood board, it struck that ultimate stability between refined method and basic consolation meals.
Atlantic Halibut with miso beurre blanc sauce | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Transferring onto Fauna/Ocean, the kitchen’s experience shined notably brilliant with the Atlantic Halibut. A beneficiant portion of fish arrived superbly seared. Buttery and flaky, it virtually melted on the fork. The miso beurre blanc sauce added velvety richness and the intense pops of trout roe with recent radish offered fantastic texture and bursts of taste.
Handmade trofie Bolognese pasta with backyard recent herbs and goat cheese | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Lastly, from Fauna/Pasture, the handmade trofie Bolognese was completely addictive. The pasta itself strikes that ultimate stability of tenderness and chew that solely comes from cautious hand rolling.
The sauce, a harmonious mix of lamb, veal, and pork, coated every pasta twist completely. Crumbles of recent goat cheese melted into the nice and cozy pasta, including tangy complexity, as recent herbs brightened every chew. It’s the form of dish that has you planning your return go to earlier than you’ve even completed your plate. Even after penning this, I wish to return proper now.
Dessert: A Candy Finale
The ‘Banana’ dessert at 1906 | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
Dessert at 1906 is pure theater. The “Banana” dessert arrived as a mysterious caramel-colored sphere that reworked as heat dulcey sauce was poured over it, melting away the shell to disclose banana cake and low ice cream inside.
Caramelia – A whimsical mushroom-shaped dessert pays homage to Kennett Sq. | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
However the true star was the Caramelia – a whimsical mushroom-shaped creation that pays homage to Kennett Sq.’s fungi heritage. Wealthy chocolate mousse, accented with espresso caramel is about on a “forest ground” of cocoa soil and adorned with edible flowers. Our server then sliced it in half to disclose layers of mousse and cake inside. Caramelia managed to be each playful and complicated, proving that even dessert might inform a narrative about its setting.
Past the Plate: Particulars That Delight
What elevates 1906 from wonderful to distinctive is the eye to element. Our server’s recommendations have been spot-on and she or he even shared attention-grabbing info about each the meals and the gardens all through our meal. Once we couldn’t end our plates, she offered a numbered verify ticket – like a coat verify for leftovers – so we might discover the gardens with out carrying takeout luggage.
Even the restaurant’s sustainability efforts add to the expertise. The house is heated and cooled by an revolutionary geothermal system, and the kitchen maintains a complete composting program. Any unused produce from the backyard goes to an area meals pantry. It’s the form of community-minded effort that makes you be ok with selecting to dine right here.
Timing Your Go to to Longwood Gardens
A colonnade in The Conservatory at Longwood Gardens with vibrant seasonal plantings | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
💡 One essential piece of recommendation: Plan your timing fastidiously. 1906 serves lunch and dinner and is closed on Tuesdays. The gardens shut at 5 PM, so that you’ll wish to take into consideration whether or not you favor to discover earlier than or after your meal. We arrived for our 1:00 PM lunch reservation, loved a splendidly unhurried meal, however that left us solely about 90 minutes to discover The Conservatory afterward. Whereas that was sufficient time to absorb the fast environment, we might have simply spent longer, and we remorse not arriving earlier.
A brand new possibility value contemplating is “1906 Nights” – particular night eating experiences that embody backyard admission. These reservations offer you entry to the brand new Longwood Reimagined areas throughout dinner hours, although be aware that different areas of the gardens gained’t be accessible.
Suggestions for Visiting 1906 within the Winter
A winter view of the outside gardens throughout our stroll to 1906 | Photograph: Higher Dwelling
To brighten gray winter afternoons, there’s no higher treatment than lunch in 1906, adopted by a wander by Longwood’s conservatories. Simply keep in mind to decorate for that five-minute stroll – belief us, you’ll be glad you probably did.
In the event you’re touring from out of city or enthusiastic about a staycation. See the place to remain and discover round Longwood Gardens.
Important Particulars
- Make reservations by Tock, particularly for dinner service
- The restaurant is open Wednesday by Monday for lunch (11 AM – 3:30 PM)
- Particular dinner hours can be found on choose evenings by March
- Costume is backyard informal, so come comfy for exploring
- Permit time earlier than and after your meal to benefit from the gardens
- Take into account timing your go to to catch the fountain exhibits throughout hotter months
Pricing
Sure, 1906 could also be a splurge. Count on to pay $35-40 for primary programs, with the five-course tasting menu at $90. However the high quality of meals, service, shows, and setting undoubtedly justify the fee. The complete expertise delivers.
The Ultimate Phrase
The Conservatory’s primary corridor with hanging baskets of tropical flowers
Whereas any meal in 1906 can be particular, there’s one thing magical about eating right here in winter.
The distinction between the snowy panorama outdoors and the nice and cozy, plant-filled house inside creates an environment you gained’t discover anyplace else. Certain, you’ll want backyard admission to dine right here (until you’re reserving a type of particular night reservations), however contemplate that a part of the expertise. 1906 isn’t only a meal, it’s an escape right into a world the place winter blues don’t exist.
On a chilly winter day, there may not be a greater retreat for heat, magnificence, and distinctive delicacies. It’s simply what you’d hope for from a vacation spot restaurant at Longwood Gardens, and precisely the tremendous eating expertise that these nice gardens deserve.
1906 is situated within the decrease stage of The Conservatory district inside Longwood Gardens. Along with a reservation, admission to the Gardens is required. Make a reservation for 1906.
Additional Studying Round Pennsylvania
