Food & Drink in King of Prussia

Ruby's Diner has dedicated more than 25 years to dishing up mouthwatering menus of all-American grilled goodies, served in an old-fashioned atmosphere replete with a highly trained staff and lightning-fast service. Fix fangs into a third of a pound of all-natural USDA Choice beef from grass-fed, hormone-free cows with the hickory burger, bursting with thick-cut hickory-smoked bacon, steak-cut onion rings, melted cheddar, and tangy barbecue sauce ($9.99). A refillable bounty of Ruby's famous fries accompanies all burgers and sandwiches and boasts zero trans-fats, and those willing to dish out an extra dollar and an exaggerated pronunciation of the word "spicy" can opt to spicy up frisky frites with garlic, Cajun, and parmesan-blue spices.

Draped in white cloth and navy blue napkins that match the surrounding chairs, the square tables in Stirling's Restaurant at Crowne Plaza Valley Forge support plates topped with heaps of casual steak-house fare concocted by executive chef Mark Spaulding. Attentive wait staff escort dinnertime plates of crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms or filet mignon and bison burgers from the kitchen to the hotel's lobby level dining quarters. Earlier in the day, omelets and waffles arrive made to order at breakfast buffets, and lunch buffets appease palates with chef-carved slices of pork, beef, or turkey and chef Mark's pasta creation of the day. All the while, the restaurant's lounge accommodates feasters with bar bites and televisions broadcasting the latest sports. For overnight guests, chef Mark whips up dishes of breakfast and casual dining fare for room service delivered by carrier pigeons that double as cooing wake-up calls.

A lengthy lineup of traditional game-day fare and a sports atmosphere captivate fans at Fox and Hound - Bailey's, where the kitchen remains open as late as its neighboring fully stocked bar. Chefs cook until the wee hours of the morning and always until the bar closes, baking Bavarian pretzel starters, crafting towers of onion rings, and preparing hand-battered chicken tenders that are cooked until they are golden brown. They blend their own seasonings to sprinkle over grilled-to-order burgers, and draw from a diverse roster of cheeses and toppings to crown their wood-oven-inspired flatbreads.

While manning the bars, bartenders tap into a stash of libations, such as UV Whipped vodka and Patron Silver tequila, to mix their specialty cocktails. To further foster a sporting ambiance, high-definition TVs glow with sports games and custom music-video playlists, and guests partake in pastimes of ump bashing, billiards, or competitive people watching.

Chef John Talbot delivers mouthwatering fare from the land and the sea to rest on Creed's elegant white tablecloths. Yellowfin tuna drizzled with ponzu sauce ($29) and chimichurri-topped New Zealand king salmon ($28) headline a list of fresh charcoal-grilled fish. Manager and sommelier Josef Plattner is often on hand to offer suggestions for which wine to pair with a New York strip steak ($38) or to mingle with a mustard-herb-crusted rack of lamb ($36). Though the menu favors meat, there are also a number of tasty vegetarian options, including the house-made vegetarian ravioli, stuffed with crimini mushrooms and ricotta cheese, served with fried spinach and a gazpacho coulis ($18). With its soft cream-hued walls and tasteful décor, Creed's is an ideal location for romantic get-togethers or business meetings with bands of ravenous highwaymen.

In 1957, while in the twilight of their careers as Baltimore Colts in the burgeoning NFL, Alan Ameche and Captain Gino Marchetti opened up the first Gino's with their pal, Louis C. Fischer. In the mid-1960s, Tom Romano joined the company and eventually rose to the position of chief operating officer. Through the years, the crew helped innovate the restaurant industry, especially with the Gino's Giant burger in 1966, whose triple-decker design arguably went on to inspire the multipatty burgers of other national fast-food chains. Ahead of their time, the team later cobranded with Kentucky Fried Chicken to bolster their menu and widen their appeal to the public before Gino's was acquired by the Roy Rogers brand in 1982, leaving many nostalgic for one of the fast-food industry's originals. It wasn't until 2009, when Tom called up Gino to pose the idea of bringing Gino's back, that fans of the eatery could begin to quell their well-documented nostalgia in anticipation of enjoying Gino’s special recipes once again. Today, the menu boasts off-the-grill burgers, more than 100 flavors of real ice-cream shakes, and the return of the Gino's Giant, slathered in a secret sauce that was kept secret all these years by hiding it inside a modern-day football.

Following Baja Fresh’s ethos set in 1990 as a healthy take on fast food, never-frozen meats sizzle atop the grill before they're tucked into made-to-order tacos and burritos. Grilled corn and flour tortillas embrace fish, carnitas, chicken, and steak, and smoky queso fundido sidles onto nachos and into burritos. Between bites, chips scoop up salsa made from farm-fresh produce rather than poured out of a can or fabricated in a space-age replicator. A complimentary salsa bar ensures no mouthful goes unspiced, and guests can scoop up their favorites as they await their dine-in, takeout, or catering orders.