Villa Vito Ristorante
26 W. Bridge Street
New Hope, PA
215-862-9936
NHY Overall Rating: 7 of 10
Food: American, Italian
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
Price: $$. Reasonable.
Ambiance: Italian family feel, like Momma's parlor
Comments: Villa Vito is a great New Hope favorite. I can best describe this restaurant as a family-run, comforting, homey establishment. The Favoroso family is welcoming and ready to please. Don't be afraid to ask them how the family is, and they will do the same. Remember, this is a family type of place so don't be offended if they treat you like cousin Angelo (who never calls) for a minute. Be sure to be vocal about what you need and they can help you out.
They have 3 dining areas. A bistro type downstairs, a cozy parlor room upstairs, complete with family photographs and a large outdoor patio with garden which is very romantic in the evening.
They are well suited towards kids and also are very reasonably priced. That is probably another reason Villa Vito is always on our list. They claim the "best caeser salad" in town and in my opinion, they are right. Their menu is also comprised of homemade Italian favorites as well as gourmet pizza. Their bread is fresh so if you are in the mood just for a good steak sandwich you will enjoy it. Their also serve alcohol with a variety of different drink specialties as well as wine & beer.
As far as the service, on almost all occasions, we been served quickly and very pleasantly. I have heard stories from a couple of people that have unfortunately not had the greatest service while visiting. We have had such 1 occasion where we were left a bit stranded but in my mind, the proportion of good versus bad service is still much on the positive side.
We order take-out quite frequently well as they are one of the few that deliver and we are never disappointed by their pizza or salad. When they have made a mistake with our order, they are good to make it up returning with the correct stuff and maybe throwing in a dessert.
Also, here is a secret for those that don't know. They have a tiny parking lot for Villa Vitos, right next to it, alongside the canal. If you are lucky and you give it a shot, you might get a spot there and avoid looking along the street.
To read other reviews, see here.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
When visiting New Hope with...
Just to squeeze in here some helpful recommendations on places to go based on who you are visiting with, here is my 2 cents...
Best places to go when:
Visiting New Hope with a group of friends
Fran's - A place right on Main street that won't break your budget. They have a nice mix of food but they are on the less pricey side. They are known for catering to bikers but on a typical Friday or Saturday night, there is a wide mix of folks. One drawback is that Fran's is mostly outside place, so if it is a cold day it is not a good choice as there is not a lot of seating inside (and it is quite smoky).
Triumph - Great parking and nice atmosphere. If you are meeting up with a lot of people, Triumph is in a great locale and you can park right there (no finding a meter and walking 1/2 mile). They also are spacious, have indoor and outdoor seating and can usually accommodate a large # of friends. Only drawback is their menu does not the largest selection.
Logan Inn - A little more pricey and on the sophisticated side but the food is yummy so if you are meeting with another couple or two that don't mind shelling out a few bucks, the Logan Inn is a great spot. Plus, they have parking right there and you get a 2 hour limit free in the lot. Also to shave off some cost (only if you are going on a weekday), they may have a coupon on restaurant.com so check there first.
Visiting New Hope with significant other and/or kids
El Taco Loco - Now this is strictly Mexican food but the atmosphere is very casual and the food is cheap. Kids can make some noise in here and not upset the stuffy people. The place is small but every time we have been there we always get a seat. The owner is also a very nice guy.
Giuseppi's - This is off of the main drag on Route 202 but this is an ideal family restaurant. They are geared towards families. They have a very good menu for kids and are very reasonable. They also have alcohol for parents who still want to celebrate the evening.
Triumph - There are no jungle gyms here but bringing kids is in fashion. They are pretty good about seating the families in one room and the couples who want quiet in another. It wouldn't be my first choice if you have a toddler age child but you can be asked to be seated where there is a view of the train and ask to have a quick server. I think it is fair to ask this when being seated in a restaurant with kids. Again, though menu is somewhat limited and a little bit pricey.
Visiting with a loved one/or trying to impress:
Karla's - see previous post/review
Wildflowers - see previous post/review
*Esca - A very romantic cozy place. Just be sure to give a call first to be sure they do no have any large (and noisy) parties that night. We made the mistake once showing up for a nice romantic dinner and were sat right next to a 50th birthday party. The love talk was slightly difficult to hear over the noise.
*Update: Esca has closed and is now re-open as Tuscany on the Towpath- no review of this new restaurant as of yet.
Visiting with someone who wants to splurge:
Marsha Browns - Right on the Main street and offering valet parking. Make a reservation and be ready to enjoy steak, sushi, or whatever in this old, renovated church. A unique atmosphere with high end service. Also, may have a coupon on restaurant.com to use for weekday only.
The Landing - An old time favorite of mine. They are awesome when it is nice enough to sit on the outside patio. They back up directly to the river so the view is great. I have eaten here at least 5 times and never had a bad meal or bad service.
Tastebuds - They are only open for dinner and their menu speaks for itself.
Best places to go when:
Visiting New Hope with a group of friends
Fran's - A place right on Main street that won't break your budget. They have a nice mix of food but they are on the less pricey side. They are known for catering to bikers but on a typical Friday or Saturday night, there is a wide mix of folks. One drawback is that Fran's is mostly outside place, so if it is a cold day it is not a good choice as there is not a lot of seating inside (and it is quite smoky).
Triumph - Great parking and nice atmosphere. If you are meeting up with a lot of people, Triumph is in a great locale and you can park right there (no finding a meter and walking 1/2 mile). They also are spacious, have indoor and outdoor seating and can usually accommodate a large # of friends. Only drawback is their menu does not the largest selection.
Logan Inn - A little more pricey and on the sophisticated side but the food is yummy so if you are meeting with another couple or two that don't mind shelling out a few bucks, the Logan Inn is a great spot. Plus, they have parking right there and you get a 2 hour limit free in the lot. Also to shave off some cost (only if you are going on a weekday), they may have a coupon on restaurant.com so check there first.
Visiting New Hope with significant other and/or kids
El Taco Loco - Now this is strictly Mexican food but the atmosphere is very casual and the food is cheap. Kids can make some noise in here and not upset the stuffy people. The place is small but every time we have been there we always get a seat. The owner is also a very nice guy.
Giuseppi's - This is off of the main drag on Route 202 but this is an ideal family restaurant. They are geared towards families. They have a very good menu for kids and are very reasonable. They also have alcohol for parents who still want to celebrate the evening.
Triumph - There are no jungle gyms here but bringing kids is in fashion. They are pretty good about seating the families in one room and the couples who want quiet in another. It wouldn't be my first choice if you have a toddler age child but you can be asked to be seated where there is a view of the train and ask to have a quick server. I think it is fair to ask this when being seated in a restaurant with kids. Again, though menu is somewhat limited and a little bit pricey.
Visiting with a loved one/or trying to impress:
Karla's - see previous post/review
Wildflowers - see previous post/review
*Esca - A very romantic cozy place. Just be sure to give a call first to be sure they do no have any large (and noisy) parties that night. We made the mistake once showing up for a nice romantic dinner and were sat right next to a 50th birthday party. The love talk was slightly difficult to hear over the noise.
*Update: Esca has closed and is now re-open as Tuscany on the Towpath- no review of this new restaurant as of yet.
Visiting with someone who wants to splurge:
Marsha Browns - Right on the Main street and offering valet parking. Make a reservation and be ready to enjoy steak, sushi, or whatever in this old, renovated church. A unique atmosphere with high end service. Also, may have a coupon on restaurant.com to use for weekday only.
The Landing - An old time favorite of mine. They are awesome when it is nice enough to sit on the outside patio. They back up directly to the river so the view is great. I have eaten here at least 5 times and never had a bad meal or bad service.
Tastebuds - They are only open for dinner and their menu speaks for itself.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Havana: Everyone knows this place.
Havana
105 S. Main Street
New Hope, PA
215-862-9897
www.havananewhope.com
NHY Overall Rating: 6 of 10
Food: Variety of American, Carribean, European and Latin America
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
Price: $$. A little pricey for the portions. A burger will start you at $12 and that doesn't even include fries. Dinner entrees will run you from $15-22 (even just a salad entree is starting around $15).
Ambiance: Artsy. Comfortable. Nicely decorated.
Comments: Almost everyone who visits New Hope is somehow introduced to this place. They have been around a long time and have renovated quite a bit to become a larger more dominating restaurant/bar/club. Although I have visited more to drink out on the very large and scenic outdoor patio (complete with colorful lights and heating lamps), we have also eaten here quite a bit and to say the least, the food is pretty average. For first time visitors to New Hope this would not be my recommendation as the service and food is definitely not consistent.
As far as brining the kiddies, I think Havana is pretty accommodating to that during the day; not so much at night as the bar atmosphere really takes over.
I have had their Apple Pecan Chicken Salad ($15) which I would say with confidence was good. I have also tried their Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas ($14) which were horrible and I am not sure how you can even mess that up. The Black Bean Nachos ($12) were good but basically I could have eaten the whole dish myself; the portion said "large" but only if you are a midget.
For dinner, they have items such as Lump Crabcake-Cajun Remoulade ($22), Pan Sautéed Tilapia ($16) and Tequila-Lime Duck Breast ($18). They have an array of pasta dishes as well. If you are in the mood for a sandwich you can find on their menu items such as Chicken-Spinach and Asiago Panini ($14) and BBQ Brisket Sandwich ($14).
Although the name implies a taste of Cuba, you will not find much of this here. In general, the food is satisfactory and the service depends on the day. They probably have a higher turnover therefore the training and level of experience is not consistent. My biggest complaint overall, being a local, is that I feel this places does not have the cozy New Hope flavor and also is a bit over-priced, especially for drinks.
To touch on the bar and entertainment side of Havana for a second I would have to say that they do have the market when it comes to this. Other than John and Peters, Havana is really the only other places that has bands and other types of entertainment. During the week they have karoke night (Mondays), which is basically a handful of local types that support each other through their addictions to sing (and make a fool of themselves).
They also have Kinky Quizzo on Wednesdays which is really fun if you can make it out with a group. I believe they have an open mic night as well. Their bands on Thursday through Saturday are usually a mix of cover bands that play rock and pop, those that play jazz, blues and then those of what I would say falls into a whole other category. This is usually the night I turn around and go to John and Peters. It is best to find a night when they have drink specials since drinking there could cost you an arm and leg. Don't try to impress to quickly buying a big round unless you have a big bank account that won't shrinking just a tad. They have a nice selection although some beers you can only get at the outdoor bar (the good ones). Service has been fair at the bar. Again, it really depends on how busy they are and as you go into the later part of the night (about 10-1pm) you are likely to wait a few minutes unless you have a cutebutt smile.
Update: Their onion rings are the bomb!
105 S. Main Street
New Hope, PA
215-862-9897
www.havananewhope.com
NHY Overall Rating: 6 of 10
Food: Variety of American, Carribean, European and Latin America
Serves: Lunch and Dinner
Price: $$. A little pricey for the portions. A burger will start you at $12 and that doesn't even include fries. Dinner entrees will run you from $15-22 (even just a salad entree is starting around $15).
Ambiance: Artsy. Comfortable. Nicely decorated.
Comments: Almost everyone who visits New Hope is somehow introduced to this place. They have been around a long time and have renovated quite a bit to become a larger more dominating restaurant/bar/club. Although I have visited more to drink out on the very large and scenic outdoor patio (complete with colorful lights and heating lamps), we have also eaten here quite a bit and to say the least, the food is pretty average. For first time visitors to New Hope this would not be my recommendation as the service and food is definitely not consistent.
As far as brining the kiddies, I think Havana is pretty accommodating to that during the day; not so much at night as the bar atmosphere really takes over.
I have had their Apple Pecan Chicken Salad ($15) which I would say with confidence was good. I have also tried their Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas ($14) which were horrible and I am not sure how you can even mess that up. The Black Bean Nachos ($12) were good but basically I could have eaten the whole dish myself; the portion said "large" but only if you are a midget.
For dinner, they have items such as Lump Crabcake-Cajun Remoulade ($22), Pan Sautéed Tilapia ($16) and Tequila-Lime Duck Breast ($18). They have an array of pasta dishes as well. If you are in the mood for a sandwich you can find on their menu items such as Chicken-Spinach and Asiago Panini ($14) and BBQ Brisket Sandwich ($14).
Although the name implies a taste of Cuba, you will not find much of this here. In general, the food is satisfactory and the service depends on the day. They probably have a higher turnover therefore the training and level of experience is not consistent. My biggest complaint overall, being a local, is that I feel this places does not have the cozy New Hope flavor and also is a bit over-priced, especially for drinks.
To touch on the bar and entertainment side of Havana for a second I would have to say that they do have the market when it comes to this. Other than John and Peters, Havana is really the only other places that has bands and other types of entertainment. During the week they have karoke night (Mondays), which is basically a handful of local types that support each other through their addictions to sing (and make a fool of themselves).
They also have Kinky Quizzo on Wednesdays which is really fun if you can make it out with a group. I believe they have an open mic night as well. Their bands on Thursday through Saturday are usually a mix of cover bands that play rock and pop, those that play jazz, blues and then those of what I would say falls into a whole other category. This is usually the night I turn around and go to John and Peters. It is best to find a night when they have drink specials since drinking there could cost you an arm and leg. Don't try to impress to quickly buying a big round unless you have a big bank account that won't shrinking just a tad. They have a nice selection although some beers you can only get at the outdoor bar (the good ones). Service has been fair at the bar. Again, it really depends on how busy they are and as you go into the later part of the night (about 10-1pm) you are likely to wait a few minutes unless you have a cute
Update: Their onion rings are the bomb!
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