The Club Bistro in Pike Creek

Gulf shrimp atop roasted corn and scallion polenta. (Credit: Jessica Bratton)

For this particular diner, like many of you out there, partaking in a meal at a golf course or hotel is usually more a matter of circumstance than arrangement. If you're golfing or staying at a hotel, you simply eat what's available for the sake of convenience.

Last week, however, our foursome skipped the round of 18 at Three Little Bakers Country Club and instead headed right for their newest culinary incarnation, called The Club Bistro, a wide open, 180-seat dining spot overlooking the picturesque 9th green.

Most Pike Creek residents are familiar with the golf course, as well as the family-run dinner theater, which first opened for performances in 1972. After pulling the curtain in 2007, a Kennett Square group purchased the property and surrounding buildings.

What remains is the old clubhouse, which encompasses The Club Pub (formerly Duffer's Den) downstairs and The Club Bistro (formerly Portofino's) upstairs, which we found goes way beyond the typical golf course grub.

We first ordered a few cocktails from the bar, which begins its happy hour every evening at 4 p.m., and features 1/2 price appetizers and $1 pints of Miller Lite and Yuengling drafts. After grabbing an espresso martini ($7), we headed across the dining room to our table.

Subtle shades of beige and tan cover the echoey dining room, which Manager Denise Vivolo ensured us was being addressed in the form of an acoustically sound ceiling. We were in the mood to chat, and so paid it no mind.

After looking over the one-page menu we started with a couple of appetizers, giant day boat scallops ($12.95), wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, and the stuffed portabella ($10.95), filled with creamy crab imperial.

The scallops did justice to the word "giant," and who doesn't like something wrapped in bacon? The applewood gave off a sweet and smoky flavor, while the lemon infused truffle oil provided a slight bite.

The local fungus had a truly strong mushroom flavor, unlike some caps you might find that lack earthy flavor. The lump crabmeat within was served with three sweet additions: a grilled red onion topping, crispy polenta and a syrupy balsamic reduction.

As for the entrée portion, there wasn't a bad plate in the bunch. My choice was the crispy duck breast ($22), which came with easily 10 pieces of medium-rare medallions swimming in a teriyaki-infused orange marmalade and a crispy potato cake that offered texture.

Across the table sat the shrimp entrée ($16.95), with large gulf shrimp perched atop a roasted corn and scallion polenta that hummed with saffron, caramelized leeks and a tomato-basil scampi sauce.

To my right was the stuffed chicken ($12.95) that emanated with the scents of its artichoke, caper and roasted red pepper stuffing, and was again accompanied by polenta (which made a fan out of this one-time polenta hater).

The last entrée to hit the table was the petite medallion sandwich ($10.95), which was weighed down with grilled medallions of filet on an English muffin-style roll. The lighter bread option was a perfect match for the mass of meat, and was layered with melted brie, mushroom duxelle and olive tapenade.

Luckily, we saved room for dessert, and went with the strawberry shortcake ($7.95), which came with an ever-so-soft biscuit, balsamic marinated strawberries and whipped cream. The meal left us completely satiated and thoroughly impressed from start to finish.

Down to the Club Pub: If you're looking for something more casual, keep in mind the The Club Pub downstairs is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. They feature a full menu that includes standard appetizers like chicken skewers and nachos, and plenty of sandwiches and entrées.

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