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For the hundreds of guests who have found Catherine's in Unionville to be their new culinary sanctuary over the past year, their reasons go well beyond the Chilean sea bass or the roasted veal tenderloin that are just a small sampling of that which satisfies their palette for delicious food.

Entering the outside waiting area, fragrant with fresh herb gardens and wildflowers, and then the restaurant with its' soft lighting and cozy ambience, it is easy to see why those who have found Catherine's keep coming back. You don't enter just a restaurant here - you enter a place where you will be cared for and enjoy good food - lovingly kept by owners Marybeth Brown and her husband, executive chef Kevin McMunn.

"We treat our restaurant as if we're welcoming people into our home," Marybeth says. "We've made the effort to say, "This is Kevin and Marybeth's restaurant." And the result is that we're getting to know our guests as our friends."

Having relocated their former Catherine's from the old Jamison Dairy in West Chester about a year ago, Kevin and Marybeth have brought the fine food and ambiance with them to their new location, the site of the long-time Sestricia's General Store in the heart of historic Unionville. While the 50-seat intimacy of the restaurant is decorated with stained glass window sconces and hardwood floors and lit with candles on antique mantles, the hand-made menus at Catherine's are a showcase of diversity: cumin spiced salmon with cucumber salsa, blackened tuna steak with raspberry jalapeno coulis, and baby rack of lamb with a cherry demi glace are just a few of the many entrees that can be enjoyed with a bottle of wine brought from home or purchased on the 15-minute drive from Greenville and Hockessin. To begin the evening, guests can choose from a wide array of appetizers, including Kevin's signature wild mushroom soup with lump crabmeat, or a Caesar salad blended with spicy Chipolte peppers. To top off the meal, guests can choose from an assortment of freshly-made desserts, including cheeses from Michael Keith at Morning Glories in Oxford, PA, which compliment any after dinner wine.

At Catherine's, your server is also an assistant district attorney, or a school teacher or a former Broadway actor or a guidance counselor or an antiques dealer. Kevin and Marybeth believe that the success of a restaurant depends not only on the consistency of food and service, but in the consistency of faces as well. As a credit to the professionalism and positive environment of Catherine's, many of the wait staff have worked with and known Kevin and Marybeth for over a decade. "By having the same staff, you create a sense of continuity," Kevin says. "Many of our regular guests request particular servers, who they've gotten to know. This running conversation adds even more to the experience of being here."

Late in the afternoon, Tuesday through Saturday, Marybeth will light dozens of candles throughout the restaurant, which will soon illuminate another evening at Catherine's. "It's almost like being on stage," she says. "I love being in the restaurant business and I love the give-and-take rapport we have with our guests. Kevin and I are pleased and grateful to be a part of something so wonderful."

Framed on one wall of Catherine's, amidst the stylized low lighting, the antique cupboards and the delicious entrees server on table after table, is a photograph of Catherine Davis. For over 60 years, she was a waitress at Mitchell Fletcher's in Philadelphia, presiding over thousands of customers who came to Fletcher's for good food and to be welcomed as part of the Fletcher's family of diners. Now, years later, in a beautiful restaurant named after her, Catherine's dedication and memory lives on through her granddaughter Marybeth's dreams. From this photograph, she is still working today, making sure that every customer who enters Catherine's is treated like a member of the same family.

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We have discovered a rare gem in Chester County! Catherine's combines brilliantly conceived and executed food with a setting of unusual beauty. This BYOB restaurant offers plenty of parking and an entrance in the rear with a charming country garden leading into an exquisitely decorated dining room.

The proprietress, Marybeth, has done all decorating herself - with incredible results. The room is decorated with warm autumn tones with bronzy metal accents, candles everywhere, and handmade paper treatments in the windows. The atmosphere is peaceful and inviting.

A tapenade of plum tomatoes, olive oil, and basil was a welcome difference as an accompaniment to the warm crusty bread. It was so good I asked if I could have a jar to bring home. The menus are on a backing of handmade paper, fully integrated with the décor.

The first course included mushroom soup to die for: rich, creamy, full-flavored. There were a variety of salads: warm greens with pistachio crusted cheese, another beautifully designed dish topped with grilled asparagus. Our companion had blackened sea scallops - sweet, juicy flesh, perfectly done with a satisfying spicy "zing."

We were impressed with the cumin-spiced salmon entrée. The salmon was perfectly cooked, topped with a cucumber salsa and served with a green bean medley and leek-tomato risotto. The blend of flavors was well thought out, each aspect contributing to an amazing whole. Veal tenderloin came napped with an incredible sauce of brandy and raisins, and was served with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The other entrées we had, beef tenderloin and rack of lamb, were equally succulent.

By this point, the serene warm beauty of the room and the careful service had worked its wonders. Relaxed and very comfortable, conversation and laughter flowed at our table as we sampled an assortment of desserts. The bread pudding was the favorite for our party, though the tiramisu mousse bombe and the pecan pie had staunch proportions.

None of us wanted to leave; the beautiful space and masterfully created meals left us thoroughly satisfied. Go, eat, enjoy. Catherine's is open for dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday.