the food ands service is always exceptional. the menu is a great and hard to choose a dinner .

We just had our family at La Sponda this evening for a birthday celebration. The service was great considering the restaurant was packed. The servers even cut our birthday cake into slices for us. The whole experience was enjoyable for our family. read more

We were a little underwhelmed after reading such great reviews. Service was pretty aggressive. Our server was nice enough but very short. She often stopped by our table and left before we could make a request/ask anything. The table bread was actually my favorite part. The sauce/dipping oil was SO good. We ordered bruschetta which ended up being too much bread. The seafood risotto was pretty standard. I was happy with the amount of seafood but the flavors weren't anything special. My wine was good and my mom liked her old fashioned. She ordered a chocolate martini that was not drinkable. The chocolate mouse cake was SOOOOO good. The affogato was pretty bad. Idk why the ice cream was so hard? Idk I wouldn't come running back here. However the prices were lower than you might guess. read more

La Sponda - Seafood risotto - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

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Dining at La Sponda is a crap shoot. Here's why. Food is a 4-star. Cook staff is good with both the presentation and taste of the food. That's what brought us back. Unfortunately that's where it ends. Service is a 1-star. There seemed to be a language disconnect with the server. An overall near-zero experience. Our server was attentive to other tables seated after us who received their desserts before our entrees. Not one table check-in before, during or after the meal. Had to actually get up out of the seat to make sure the drink order was understood and it was right because the server did not seem to understand. Maybe that put the server off. We also flagged down other servers for assistance during the meal and even for ordering dessert. It took a long time to take payment for our bill. We almost got up to pay at the bar. Thus the crap shoot gamble at La Sponda. Atmosphere a 2.5 star. Loud atmosphere with a heavy metal music rotation. Good music, just not for this dinner atmosphere. Overall a 2.5-star on the strength of the food. We will not be back. Spending the money I did, even though the food is good at La Sponda, I don't want to risk a bad service experience again there. Not worth it for us but might not matter for others. Nevertheless - Caveat Emptor. read more

Local, came here for happy hour. Ambiance: Classic, comfortable, clean, not too bright. Seating: Sat at the bar. Tables and outside seating is also available. Service: Friendly, good service. Crowd: Older. Drinks: Good cocktails, wine, limited beer selection. Food: Good, perfect calamari, my go-to here (most places overcook it). Restrooms: Clean. Parking: Plenty of parking. Value: OK ("Things are tough all over." - C&C) This is my favorite place in Downingtown to meet friends at the bar for a drink and apps. I miss having Tom behind the bar, he made the best Old Fashioned, can read the room - one of the top bartenders in my book! I'll be back. read more

Saw this restaurant listed as one of the 4 good Italian restaurants off the beaten path. Besides the Italian cuisine, the fact that it is on the banks of the Brandywine River was the attraction. I like dining close to water. When I arrived, I drove past the restaurant because I did not know where it was located. I turned around at the municipal building and drove around to the main entrance which is behind the building and not on East Lancaster Avenue. We were there for lunch so there was plenty of parking. Given the large number of tables that they have, I can imagine that the parking lot can get crowded when the restaurant is full. The interior is large with lots of tables inside and outside. Outside there are tables on a patio overlooking the river. The building appears to be a converted mill. We ordered the Caesar Salad, Basa Francesce, Seafood Fettucine, and Chocolate Mousse Cake. The Caesar Salad was delicious. The dressing had a hint of anchovy flavor. The Basa Francesce was a light fish washed in butter with a lemon butter sauce. The fettucine was not as flavorful as I expected. The Seafood Fettucine by contrast was extremely tasty. The Chocolate Mousse Cake was rich and delightful. I expect us to be back again. read more

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Service and food were great. I ordered the special fish of the day which was the grouper on a bit of mushroom risotto. Very tasty grouper cook just right nice and hot as well. Cocktail which was the NegroniI was fabulous. Unfortunately , for me the chair I was on was uncomfortable and pinched me in my back, better seating would be appreciated. Overall great dinner recommend. read more

La Sponda - Cream burlee which was delicious..wish the chocolate was on the glaze not the plate - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Everything Our go to when in Downingtown! It checks all the boxes for great dining! Settings, food quality and service! read more

We had a reservation for 7, got there at 6:50 and were seated. We ordered quickly, three entrees, and nothing difficult. 30 minutes passed and the manager came over and asked "how is everything?". We explained everything was nothing yet. He went to the kitchen and came back and said he saw our order on the line, ready to be served. So why didn't he bring it with him if it was ready? Then the waitress came back who we hadn't seen in 30 minutes. She said she didn't know what the problem was in the kitchen. But our food would be out soon. That's odd... The manager just told us it was ready and he saw it on the line. Unless that was a lie? 45 minutes passed. I went to the person who looked to be in charge. She was shocked when I told her how long we had waited and went to the kitchen and the manager.b she assured me it would be right out. A few more minutes passed and we got up and left. If they can't be honest about what's happening or what has happened to your face, you can't trust them with anything else. The waitress and manager were completely absent. Thet should have been on top of getting the order out as soon as they were alerted to what happened. read more

I ordered the braised short rib and it wasn't very tender... kinda tough actually. And my server took and really long time to grab our check after we put the card out. I wanted to love this place but it wasn't my favorite read more

La Sponda - Braised short rib - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

We stopped in here for a late lunch and were hoping for a 4+ star dining experience. That did not happen. My dining partner ordered the bolognese and was very happy with that. I ordered the wild mushroom papperdelle. There was no evidence of wild mushroom in this dish. The papperdelle ate plain. The mushroom "ragu" was sliced button mushrooms that were barely sautéed in a watery/ milky broth (not creamy) as if they did not cook the water out of the mushrooms. The Parmesan was added on top at the table to both dishes. Was there a hint of truffle? Maybe in some truffle oil-maybe. The dish was grossly underseasoned. Not a dish I would reorder. I also ordered the octopus appetizer salad. The octopus was seasoned with harissa (not quite Italian but ok). Unfortunately it was slightly overcooked leaving it chewy. The greens were well-dressed arugula. Again not a dish I would reorder. Our waiter was doing double duty in the kitchen while the bus girl was bussing the table so fast she took our flatware before we could pack up our leftovers while tossing the dessert menus on the table. Just did not get a welcoming vibe and would not return. read more

We had a fabulous dinner the other night. Julian and his staff are gracious hosts. The atmosphere here is cozy and inviting. The food is outstanding as well. From the apps to the desserts, to the end of meal lemoncello, we enjoyed it all. We will be going back often. A gem of a place in Downingtown. read more

La Sponda - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Great food by the creek! This is a must go see at least once . Downingtown is a pretty Place so come down for a Night read more

We came in on a Wednesday at 6:30 with a baby stroller. We had no reservation. The staff was very welcoming and it was absolutely no problem. We got a table near the back that had plenty of space for the stroller so we didn't have to worry about getting a booster for a six month old baby and we weren't in anyone's way. We told the waiter we would be needing quick service since we had the baby with us and he was wonderful. The food was incredible too. I had the gnocchi house made gnocchi rapini which had chili flake - I asked him if it was spicy and he said no, it's just a nice flavoring. He was so right. DELISH!! My companion had the butternut squash agnolotti - scrumptious!! As promised, svc was quick and just in time as baby began to fuss! Highly recommend this place! read more

La Sponda - Gnocchi rapini - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Always a go to spot!! Even when they are busy and you don't possibly think they can fit you in... they ALWAYS DO! the host is amazing! All the workers are great and the food is great excellent!! read more

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What's not to love about this place? Food, service and venue are all great. We have never had a bad meal here. They normally have really good specials too! read more

Growing up in NYC and now living in northern NJ, one gets pretty spoiled by the large number of great Italian restaurants. Traveling to Downingtown to visit my stepson, my wife and I were so happy to find La Sponda in this awesome town! The decor (we're guessing it was once an old mill), and the food was fantastic. We started with glasses of wine and the bruschetta appetizer. Made with mascarpone and a delicious tomato jam on top, it was one of the best I've had. The entrees didn't disappoint either. My wife had the Basa Francaise and my stepson and I both had Nana's Castellane. Nana sure knew how to cook because this dish with pasta, meatballs, sausage, and pork, was amazing! We finished off the meal with coffee and slices of the Lemon and Chocolate cakes. The extra calories were well worth it! Our service was attentive, but never rushed. Parking was easy in back. Prices very reasonable. This restaurant which opened in 2021 (a tough time for new places to open), is doing it right! read more

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We live close by and haven't been since it's been La Sponda. Went there today with family for an early Mother's Day lunch. What a great experience! Our server was great and attentive, the food was really good! We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, chicken with crab, veal saltimbocca, pasta with shrimp and crab, pasta with meatballs (the person who ordered didn't care for the meatballs but is very particular), baked salmon, and chicken parm dinner. Only issue I would address is that some of the parties food came out at least 5 minutes before the others (about 1/2 the party) which made it awkward. Otherwise, a great experience and all want to return! read more

Start with the good. Pasta dish my husband had was very good and was cannoli. Food arrived piping hot via food runners, not waiter. Bad-Service, Caesar salad. Fish entee was ok, but the pasta that accompanied it was bland. read more

Amazing food. Great wine selection and bar offerings. Quick courteous service. Old paper mill gives a rustic ambiance. My husband has seafood risotto and I had the rib eye special. Highly recommend. Indoor or out door seating available. read more

Perfect evening to eat outside, our meals & service were great...however music playing outside was not a good dinner hour selection of music & much too loud. Our meals were delicious & our server (Ali-i think) was wonderful answering our questions & offering her suggestions. Would definitely return & request her ;) read more

This was our 3rd visit and it all begins well when we see Rose's smiling face when we walk in the door. The food was great. The service was amazing. We can't wait to go back. read more

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I wanted to like it, I really did, but maybe this building is cursed because I've lost track of the number of restaurants that have been here over the years. It's a shame because it's a really beautiful location. I had made a reservation for 1PM but after arriving I couldn't even get anyone's attention for 5 or 6 minutes, during which time two other groups of diners came in after me and looked equally annoyed about the lack of someone at the front desk. The guy I flagged down seemed irritated that I had walked into the restaurant to find someone, and he just waived me at a table. Another member of the staff brought me some bread and oil to start and I ordered a bottle of sparkling water. That water took nearly 10 minutes to come out. For a starter I ordered the Caesar Salad, which again, took a really long time to show up. It was good though. Very heavy on the cheese, so if that's your thing, you'll be happy. It was also pretty inexpensive for the size. The entree is where it really nosedived though. I ordered the Short Rib Ravioli and unfortunately it wasn't any good. The veal demi glace was so strong it completely covered up the flavor of anything else on the plate, making the whole thing very one-note. Also, unlike the salad, this one wasn't a great value either and if it had tasted better I'd have probably been annoyed that there weren't another two on the plate. read more

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This place used to be much better. I would say the food is just average now. Pasta is way overcooked. Mixed drinks are average. Nothing special on the dessert menu. read more

We were in Downingtown for another sports practice and decided to celebrate our Anniversary. The outdoor dining had a lovely view of the creek. Our waiter never missed a beat, very attentive and friendly. We started with the beef carpaccio. It had a lovely mix of arugla, fennel, pickled onions & shaved cheese on top of it. It gave it a great balance to the beef. We especially loved the fennel in it. As our entrees we got the pork cheeks radiatori & seafood risotto. I loved the pork cheeks, the pasta was unique and helped to soak up the creme sauce. Yummy. My hubby liked the seafood risotto but wasn't blown away. Would we come back? Yes, we would love to try other dishes. A great date night. read more

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Great food and atmosphere. Always a pleasant experience. Servers are attentive and above average. Prices are good. A rated.

Came here for a lunch date and enjoyed perfectly prepared seafood, risotto, and salmon over rice. Risotto can sometimes be tricky, as it's easy to over or undercook. However, my dish was served on-point and was incredibly flavorful. My wife's salmon was seasoned to perfection. The outside dining area it's very enjoyable and an offers a sense of seclusion, despite being off a busy street. It was very easy to sit back with a refreshing glass of white wine and take a perfect fall day. Service was prompt and attentive, and very friendly. Easily one of my favorite dining options in Downingtown. read more

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Great service and piping hot food. Literally steaming and oh so good! Definitely recommend.

Food and service excellent, friendly staff, gorgeous building with warm, friendly ambience.

There are not many restaurants out there for which I would drive out of my way. This is one. On my way home from a girls week in PA, I drove an hour out of my way, to have lunch at LaSponda. I had told my sister in law how good it was. Now, she knows. As we ate our lunch, overlooking the river, we planned to go back. We enjoyed the short rib egg rolls, and entrees of chicken Parmesan and the carbonara. Above the excellence of those dishes, was the cream of zucchini soup. It was herbaceous and delicious. I can't say enough about how good the food is, what brings me back, is the superior service that compliments the flavors of that food. Well Done!!! read more

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Food was good according to my parents but the restaurant/mgr didn't do anything special for their anniversary. I told them and nothing. Kinda disappointed with that part read more

Been coming here since 2022. Always very delicious. One of our favorite local restaurants. Friendly servers & bartenders. Ambience is always wonderful in either room or outside. read more

Second time here, and this time we brought friends to celebrate a birthday! Service was awesome for it being so busy. I'm glad to see the business doing so well. Food was absolutely delicious. The gnocchi is wonderful and it tastes so fresh. Definitely try it if you haven't yet :) read more

La Sponda - Chocolate mousse cake - Italian Near Me - Downingtown, Pennsylvania

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The deboning of the Branzino was great. We were pleased with our service but the veal dishes had slightly tough veal. Not fork tender like Pomodoro's. It appeared as if the veal saltimbuca had set for a bit. The Branzino was out of this world. Having it deboned at the table was fabulous. read more

Service was ok, there wasn't a host up front so kinda had to wander around until we got someone's attention that we wanted a seat. Rustic decor. Food was absolutely insane. So decadent and delicious! Every bite was delectable. read more

This is an old stone building. Decorated in an Industrial theme. Yet not cold. Nice. The food was very good. Our group of 5 each had different dishes that each person very much enjoyed. Our server was another story. Not very friendly and did not pay appropriate attention to us. Our requests were meet with an attitude that was not helpful. read more

Food was good but heavy on the salt. Server was good but they seemed short staffed. No one was working the front desk. Ambiance is nice but chairs are horribly uncomfortable. read more

Very very surprised on how tasty this meal at la sponda was. This restaurant is located in the heart of downingtown 50 min from Philly. We were skeptical to make a reservation on 31st of December but I am so glad we did. The vegetarian dishes were exceptional and our friends really loved the mussels and the meat entrees. The deserts were pretty and tasted lovely. Special mention to the perfectly made cocktails as well! I highly recommend this restaurant. Park hassle free without the busy downtown hustle and bustle and enjoy a very relaxing dinner/lunch. read more

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Well well well, so after three failed ventures in this space, finally the spell is broken. While I initially had little hope for La Sponda, and I haven't ever tried it largely for that reason, tonight I ventured into virgin territory, and was pleasantly surprised. My companion had the Seafood Risotto and refused to share, although I did nab a taste. The scallops and shrimp were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The risotto was flavored with a seafood theme including lump crabmeat. Excellent, and as evidenced by the tables that had this entree on it, a very popular item. My entree was Nana's Castellane which is a unique wide cut pasta in a red meat sauce accompanied by two meatballs, chunks of sweet Italian sausage, and guancale topped off with a dollop of ricotta. The pasta were perfectly cooked (even for this al dente avoider). The meats were excellent and the sauce was tasty enough. Our shared appetizer, the Roasted Beets were lackluster and I'm still not certain there were actually roasted. The accompanying greens were however spectacular and the highlight of this disappointing dish. Dessert, Chocolate Mousse and a Cannoli, were to go so I'll report back on those. The service was excellent but not overbearing. It's not overly noisy, and parking is convenient for downtown Downingtown. All in all a very good first encounter with some authentic Italian fare in a pleasant atmosphere and all very reasonably priced. Highly recommended. read more

Been there twice. Not enough. Need to go more. Food was outstanding! I had Pappardelle with mushrooms. Best Italian dish in Chester County. Carpaccio also very good. Very diverse, desirable menu. Prices are very fair all around. Ambience just fine. Wine reasonable. They are now No. 1 on my Downingtown "go to" dinner spot. Well done! Pass the word... read more