Business Profile
The Porch at the Lamb Tavern: Historic Dining Made Modern Written by Craig Whitney The Porch at the Lamb Tavern has been a staple of our community for nearly 300 years and continues to adapt and improve with people around it. The current partners of The Porch have made modern renovations in style and service to this historic restaurant. It is clear from the moment someone walks in that each person working at The Porch, from the server to the head chef to the owners, have a passion for service. The current ownership began in 1999, when Steve Graham purchased the location with a vision to the future. John Whalin has been a partner for over 30 years and continued with Steve. After their third partner, unfortunately, passed away two years later, Pete Crisanti joined as the third partner in 2001. With Steve’s dynamic vision for the future of the restaurant and John’s decades of experience with the history of the restaurant, The Lamb Tavern was set for an aggressive, but appropriate, step into the modern age of the service industry. Pete brought the important element of control and administration to the project as major renovations began. The three partners have a rich combined history in our community. In addition to John Whalin’s experience working at The Lamb Tavern for so many years, Pete Crisanti has run businesses in this area for just as long. Pete’s father owned a meat market here for years, and after working for his father for years, Pete opened a beer distributor and operated that business for 20 years. By the time Pete was approached by Steve in 2001, Pete had a very proud working history with his community.
The Porch at the Lamb Tavern
“I have never left this town in my three careers,” Pete said with pride. Pete was friends with Steve Graham long before 2001, and when he was approached about the idea of partner-ownership of The Lamb Tavern, Pete was eager to try something new that was still in his hometown. Steve had a vision for The Lamb Tavern and was very excited to make it a reality. With Pete’s help and John’s experience, The Lamb Tavern would soon become The Porch at the Lamb Tavern. The Lamb Tavern was an exclusive fine dining establishment before renovations. The waiters wore tuxedoes, the menu consisted of items like prime rib and lobster and only an
Comfortable spaces for family & friends
exclusive number of people could afford to eat there. Steve wanted to get away from this mindset and create a more inclusive environment that the entire community could be a part of. An old newspaper paper reproduction of a photograph of the historic Lamb Tavern, shows people posing on the covered porch of the three-story building. The Lamb was first licensed in 1808, and was known as the Three Tuns. Its name was changed to The Lamb in 1835. Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Free Library. 14
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
December 2018
The Lamb Tavern became The Porch at the Lamb Tavern, an inclusive and inviting atmosphere while still retaining a sense of sophistication a cut above casual dining. “With some time and vision, we made a 300-year old building more contemporary, more of a country club atmosphere,” Pete explained.
