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Autograph Brasserie in Wayne Celebrates Those Who Left Their Signature on American Culture and Cuisine

Story by Jill Beckel, photos by Cassie Hepler

If you’re looking for a relaxing night out and an elegant meal you won’t soon forget, Autograph Brasserie is your answer. Their wonderful dishes and cocktails are inspired by France, Spain, Italy and America. The restaurant provides engaging, celebrity photo covered decor with stellar food and a creative cocktail menu coupled with an extensive curated wine and spirits list.

Autograph is a modern American brasserie that celebrates those individuals from past and present, who left their signature on popular American culture. Located at 503 W. Lancaster Avenue in Wayne, PA, it first opened in May 2016. Vintage vinyl and signed celebrity photos cover the walls of this classy eatery serving a diverse menu.

The friendly Executive Chef Ralph Fernandez stopped by our table to say hello and tell us about the evening’s specials. General Manager Christian Leo took care of us as well and insisted we try a tasty toast (we chose the goat cheese/butternut squash option) and spoiled us with some foie gras and a tasty pesto pasta dish. There were so many choices that we hardly knew where to start. We chose an impressive seafood appetizer, the burrata which was unique and delicious, the filet mignon and the veal Milanese chop. All of their beef comes directly from the Midwest. For sides, we had to try the mac ‘n cheese (ahhh-mazing!), charred cauliflower, pureed sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and hericot verts (French for green beans). A magnificent French rose champagne, the “One 75” cocktail and “All Cider and No Talk” cocktail helped us wash it all down.

There is so much to look at while you dine. In keeping with the “autograph” theme, the lounge walls are lined by more than 550 album covers from the 1950’s to the ’80’s. Each album cover represents the musician’s artistic autograph. There are also nearly 500 more autographed photos throughout the restaurant lining the walls and the bathrooms of celebrities from the past and present. Each area of the dining areas in the restaurant has a name. There is the lounge area (where the bar is located) called the Boulevard which includes the cozy booths nestled along the walls and the beautiful Sycamore Room (named for the signature Sycamore tree in the center of the room) where you’ll see the walls adorned with gold butterflies. Lastly, the Club Room is comfortable and enveloping with over-sized chairs and rich fabrics that highlight the large fireplace at the back of the room.

Make sure you leave some room for dessert! The sundae in a jar was simply amazing and took me to peanut buttery chocolate ice cream dream land. You’ll love their selection of dessert wines, coffee and dessert cocktails too.

Open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and private parties, you’ll love visiting Autograph Brasserie any time of day! Be sure to try their Happy Hour menu after work complete with small plates, wine and cocktails. We left very happy with our bellies bursting and promising to try out their brunch soon. It truly lived up to its motto as being, “A modern American Brasserie that celebrates those individuals from past and present who left their signature on popular American culture and cuisine.”

Autograph Brasserie looked beautiful lit up on a Friday night.
The friendly Executive Chef Ralph Fernandez stopped by to say hello and tell us about the evening’s specials.
A delicious cocktail called “One 75” featured Pimm’s No. 1, lemon, agave, and Ca’Furlan moscato. A sparkling Veuve Clicquot rose champagne (France 2008) really hit the spot as well.
So many tasty toast options to choose from! You don’t want to skip this course.
These light and airy rolls were absolute perfection.
Morticia Addams AKA Angelica Huston was the star of our table for the night.
The other woman who graced us with her presence for the evening. Each table featured a different actor, singer or celebrity.
Foie gras amuse bouche, compliments of Chef Christian.
A special pesto pasta course with pine nuts, courtesy of the chef.
An exquisite seafood presentation with king crab, jumbo shrimp, oysters and of course lobster.
This light burrata dish showcased Serano ham, aged balsamic, pepitas and petite greens – yum! The shaved ham really brought out the fresh, creamy flavors.
This Laura Chenel Goat Cheese Toast was my favorite appetizer – goat cheese, butternut squash and green apples.
Garganelli Nero – shrimp, lump crab meat, Spanish octopus, pine nuts, Italian parsley and saffron shellfish emulsion with squid ink pasta was somehow so light and sweet.
“All Cider And No Talk” was made with Revivalist Solstice gin, Bitter Truth Allspice Dram, spiced brown sugar, orange and apple cider. The perfect winter cocktail!
So many autographed photos to check out in the bathroom.
These sides were AMAZING. The baked mac ‘n cheese was made with truffle brioche and smoked gouda and was the best we ever tasted. The sweet potato puree was smooth and creamy with pecan, cranberries and apples.
The veal Milanese chop was cooked to perfection with a panko crust, burrata, baby arugula, aged balsamic and basil.
Charred cauliflower anyone? Cauliflower with cilantro cashew pesto, jalapeno, and queso blanco made for a slight kick.
Brussels sprouts never tasted better with almonds, bacon, brown butter, caramelized onions, and citrus vinaigrette. Hericot verts were smothered in shallot butter, caramelized onions and citrus vinaigrette.
This center cut filet mignon from Omaha, Nebraska was an entree masterpiece. Autograph’s steaks come from the finest ranches in the Midwest.
Leave room for dessert! Warm Valrhona chocolate peanut butter fondant cake came with a side of 
Tahitian vanilla ice cream and English Devonshire cream hit the spot.
The warm peanut butter filling oozed out of the cake magnificently.
I think this is what heaven tastes like in a jar…the amazing sundae featured dulce de leche ice cream, chocolate and blondie brownies, peanut butter cookie, gelato, milk chocolate pretzel bark, candied peanuts and creme chantilly. And yes, I finished the whole thing!