Gilmore’s Closes in West Chester

After almost 11 years, Peter Gilmore has decided to close his fancy French BYOB on Gay Street in West Chester. The former Le Bec Fin stalwart (with 22 years under Georges Perrier) made the decision last week, in the middle of service, and shut the doors after the last meal had been served on Sunday night. Both the Insider and West Chester Dish have talked with the chef, who has said that he wanted to go out at the top of his game, but we visited Gilmore’s last year, as it was struggling to maintain itself amid the competition in the ‘burbs, and felt that maybe the top of the game was already a little bit in the rearview.

We kind of forgot about this BYO Le Bec Fin-for-suburbanites, mostly because it’s a place custom-made for those who live so damn far outside of Philadelphia that a trip to the city for dinner can be painful–as we discovered on our own trip out of the city to visit Gilmore’s and experience its new menu (featuring small plates, for the first time in the restaurant’s history). There’s no doubt that chef/owner Peter Gilmore , a 22-year Le Bec vet, has it down. But really, it’s all just a little too old and stuffy, especially with the charcuterie-spectacular that is Avalon just down the road.

Say It Isn’t So: Gilmore’s Restaurant To Close After 11 Years [West Chester Dish]