New Steakhouse 9 Prime Serves Glamour … And Great Food
by Victoria Rose
9 Prime just opened in downtown West Chester, and while every restaurant needs a bit of time to get its sea legs, one thing is already clear. 9 Prime is all about good food, good drinks and good people.
9 Prime revived the old First National Bank building, a beautiful neoclassical building which opened in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War. 9 Prime embraces its history with themed drinks like the Bank Run, a delicious co*cktail topped with a burnt sage leaf. Dining rooms are set within vaults with safety deposit boxes still lining the walls.
Owners John O’Connell and Charlie Walsh teamed up with Fabio Viviani, the celebrity chef known to many from seasons 5 and 8 of Top Chef, when he earned the title “Fan Favorite.” That may seem like an unlikely trio, but they share a passion for creating a unique, elevated dining experience.
When asked why he is opening a restaurant in West Chester, Viviani answered quickly. “I own and operate restaurants in big cities, like LA, Chicago, and New York,” he said. “But I like neighborhood communities where I can match neighborhood hospitality with downtown service.”
The food is definitely pricey (expect $50-100 per person), with prime cuts, homemade pasta, seafood towers, and dishes prepared tableside. The spiced arancini was a highlight, made with forbidden rice and stuffed with gooey cheese. General manager Jerome James suggests trying the dry-aged meats, noting that “everything is cured onsite, and the chef has put a lot of effort into the food and the team creating it.” Staff members raved about the pork chops as well as the burger with truffle fries, which sounds like the perfect bar food.
Service is what sets 9 Prime apart from the crowded West Chester restaurant scene. Walsh noted that the restaurant offers “true white-glove service.” While other establishments focus on turning tables, 9 Prime plans for long, lingering dinners, where patrons are treated with personal attention from the servers, managers, sommelier, and bartenders.
Private dining areas are tucked throughout the restaurant, which creates a cozy feel even though the restaurant can serve hundreds at a time. Guests enter through the main entrance, which features a soaring ceiling with cascading chandeliers and central, marble-topped bar. Cozy, shell-shaped booths enhance the Art Deco vibe, which continues in unique touches in each room.
9 Prime’s stylish grandeur comes with a dress code. Men are requested to wear collared shirts, sweaters and slacks. For women, “co*cktail attire, elegant tops, skirts or dress pants” are requested.
Jerome James has obvious pride in the establishment. With 25 years of experience in the dining industry, he has been working since August to perfect every detail. “Putting it all together was a process . . . just the glassware took three months,” said James. What does he love most about the restaurant? “The team,” he said. “You can see the efforts of everyone in this building, from the front to the back of the house.” That shows in the atmosphere, where every individual truly seem excited to be a part of the experience.
9 Prime’s private dining rooms are ready to host everything from parties to business meetings. Tech equipment is ready to plug-and-play, and each event receives personal service from dedicated servers and bartenders. There will also be a speakeasy, Johnnie O’s, hidden in the lower level of the building, which will offer an exclusive co*cktail experience. It is expected to open in March, though membership information is available now.
John O’Brien, executive director of the West Chester Business Improvement District, is excited about what 9 Prime brings to the downtown area. “This is a destination for West Chester. It attracts folks from not only the local area but also south Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, farther away in Pennsylvania,” he said. “This restaurant is a new level of sophistication for this town.”
For more information, visit 9 Prime.
Unless otherwise noted, photos are via 9 Prime.
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