Ridley Park has benefitted greatly from its enormously popular city-style restaurant, Rosemary.

It’s given the borough both a financial boost and civic pride in a community that’s already been on the rise, writes restaurant and food critic Craig LaBan in his Rosemary review for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Yet tiny Ridley Park hasn’t lost its quaint touches. Outside the restaurant on Hinckley Avenue, diners still need to put quarters in parking meters.

Rosemary’s prepared for that. Owner Phillip Breen is happy to make change for restaurant patrons.

“We just quartered all the meters on the block at the top of hour,” Breen said.

The restaurant’s building, the former Burgundy Lounge pool hall, underwent a $2 million renovation that also includes sidewalk seating, stylish cocktails, and high-profile chef Elijah Milligan to complete the high-class American bistro experience.

Ridley Park’s was already benefitting from a popular breakfast-lunch café, the BrickHause, and a Euro-style bakery called Ardour.

In fact, the moist pistachio cake from Ardour’s is a highlight on Rosemary’s menu, though the restaurant now has its own pastry chef.

Rosemary’s is a welcome change in a part of Delaware County that, outside Media, has had few options for fine dining.

Follow Craig LaBan’s deep dive Rosemary review in The Philadelphia Inquirer.