Twenty One Pips allows patrons to eat, dine and play

Eat, dine and play seems to be the slogan for a new concept on the Main Line. 

Twenty One Pips Game Room and Kitchen opened last week in Ardmore, and what this venue hopes to bring to the area is a sense of high-spirited fun with food, drinks and board games on the menu. 

The new space comes from owners of the Thirsty Dice, which opened as Philadelphia’s first board game café in 2018. And just like their City of Brotherly Love counterpart, patrons will get the full board game experience while there, but this time paired with locally sourced sharable menu items and a curated beverage selection. 

The name refers to the number of dots, which are called pips, on a six-sided die. And it also gives a precursor to the most unique pull of the establishment—the library of 600 games available to play. As a release states, similar to Thirsty Dice, full-time gametenders will be on hand to help guests explore options based on themes and interests, ranging from picks like Catan, Blank Slate, or Dixit – and of course, the entire catalog of nostalgic classics like Guess Who, Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee and Jenga. Library passes ($5 for two hours) grants access to all games.

“We are excited to join the Main Line community and help guests explore how easy and enjoyable it can be to connect while playing games and sharing a great meal. Twenty One Pips is a neighborhood spot to meet friends after work, enjoy cocktails, or entertain your family while sipping on a great glass of wine and nibbling on locally sourced cheese and charcuterie – what could be better?” asks Matt Hendricks, owner of Twenty One Pips in a statement.

But there’s no dice being rolled on the menus. While there, guests can try out delectable boards spanning a selection of artisanal cheeses, house-made crudité and spreads, a variety of flatbreads (think Margherita and Kennet Square mushroom), or a selection of small plates. The latter category spans hand cut Chesapeake fries with crab, cheddar, Old Bay remoulade and scallions ($13); caulilini (baby cauliflower) made with bagna càuda, Calabrian chili oil and asiago ($13); and crunchy cheddar curds with herb breading and marinara ($10).

There’s also some bigger fixtures such as a burger, a smoked and roasted half Cornish chicken, their “Main Line Mac n Cheese,” and a citrus arugula salad. For kiddos, the ‘Pips-Squeak’ Menu spans a burger with fries, chicken tenders, grilled chicken with veggies and more. 

To finish things on a sweet note, there are different options to choose from including an espresso semifreddo made with a signature blend of Herman’s Coffee Co. espresso and dark chocolate ganache ($9), or a cast iron brookie ($10) which can be made á la mode with Bassetts vanilla (+$2). 

The drinks on the other hand play into the spirited atmosphere, with inspiration from some classic games such as the Professor Plum (made with gin, lemon, butterfly pea tea syrup, plum sake, and elderflower tonic, $12), Game Changer (made with cucumber-infused tequila, mezcal, jalapeño agave, orange liqueur, lime, and bitters, $13) or Carrie the Team (made with citron vodka, cranberry liqueur, mandarin orange liqueur and lime ,$14). An extensive selection of wine, whiskey and local craft beer selections are also available for those who oblige, or a variety of mocktails are there for those who don’t.

Twenty One Pips Game Board and Kitchen opened July 22, with current hours spanning Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to regular operating hours, grab-and-go coffee and pastries are also be available Monday to Friday from 7 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.   

To learn more information about Twenty One Pips, 24 Cricket Ave, Ardmore, visit twentyonepips.com