Fran's Pub: All around good eats and drinks

Fran's Pub
116 S Main St
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-5539
http://www.franspub.com

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: American
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: Very reasonable
Ambiance: Nice airy outdoor area, large patio, inside and outside bar. Inside bar has pool tables and is now non-smoking!

Comments: Great place for eats and drinks! For New Hope, it is one of the few more affordable food stops. But don't let the price fool you, the food is high quality. Definitely no ordinary bar food. The portions also are just right. We tried out Mexican night on Wednesday and were very impressed. I have also been there for lunch several times and had a scrumptious salad and pizza. Their menu is mostly burgers, chicken, salads, and munchies. I love their chicken fingers and fries! You just can't go wrong at Fran's. They have a great beer selection too!

This place is also very kid-friendly on the outdoor patio or their semi-indoor patio area. The kids menu is also pleasing and there is no worries about noise level which is a welcome relief when searching for dining spots in New Hope with kids.

Note: This place is hot spot for bikers on the weekend. Also, there is some parking in the rear of the restaurant (if you get lucky).

New local dating website

There is a new local website out there for all you singles.

It is called NewHopeDating.org. Go check it out and let us know what you find...

Check out these videos about Bucks County

http://www.gwforpresident.com/

Funny!

The Landing: Dropped their customer service

The Landing
22 N Main St
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-5711
http://www.landingrestaurant.com/

NHY Rating: 8 of 10 (restaurant only); 5 of 10 (bar)
Food: American
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: Pricey
Ambiance: Small, yet contemporary on inside; outside is larger with nice patio area, overlooks Delaware

Comments: The restaurant of The Landing has a nice selection of foods, a bit pricey though...I was stuck with the thought several times that this food is a bit ordinary and not exactly worth my $28. I still wouldn't discount it though, the view is lovely and for the most part, the service is good. If you have to it toss around and desire an outdoor setting, the Landing is for you.

I also do not recommend The Landing if you have kids, the place is just too "restrictive." They are also minimalist when it comes to bathrooms. I have no idea what their capacity is but I would think with the indoor and outdoor, somewhere around 70. They have 2 private restrooms. That's it, just 2 individual restrooms.

As far as the bar area, I am completely disappointed. I am not sure who they have working there but the overall customer service and accommodation was entirely lacking. I went with a large group of women for a night out and we were completely soured by the staff not allowing us to move to a table that would fit us...thus, they lost a couple hundred dollars that night.

If you can't let us sit somewhere comfortable together, we don't want to be there. Way to go Landing. You really treat your patrons well. We almost felt like we were "sorry to have bothered you." Ridiculous too because it was a slow night. There were tons of tables right next to us but for some unGodly reason, we were not "allowed" to sit there.

Their bar tables fit no more than 4, so we were standing around in walkways amidst tons cobwebs radiating from their uncleanly bar area. Several of our pricey drinks were also made incorrectly and no justification from the bartender was made. I would NOT recommend anyone to visit The Landing just for a few drinks. Your scenery might be great but not worth the lack of customer service. As that is the case, next time we'll take our thermoses full of correctly made cosmos and relax on a nice bench next to the river for free.

To read other reviews that mention The Landing, click here. (Someone mentioned Pompous--not a bad descriptor I feel after THAT bar experience).

Triumph: Maybe a little over-stating

Triumph Brewery
400 Union Square Dr
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-8300
http://www.triumphbrewing.com

NHY Rating: 6.5 of 10 (restaurant only); 8 of 10 (bar)
Food: American
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: Reasonable
Ambiance: Simple, contemporary, brewery style, large, nice and open

Comments: Triumph is a great place for a large group. They have adequate space and easy parking. It is a pay-lot, but very reasonable and I believe only goes up til 9pm if you are there for an evening bar-hop. They usually have a nice variety of beers.

As for food and service though, it is pretty much a mixed bag. It really depends on the night. We have probably been there at least 15 times because it is one of the few more child-friendly places, only because it is loud and has ample space, so you don't feel like you are on top of the other tables like most New Hope restaurants. They do have the benefit of a nice view of the New Hope train during the day if you want to ask for upstairs seating to keep the kids somewhat entertained.

The biggest beef I have with Triumph is their very limited menu. I don't know how many times I have turned over the menu thinking, where is the rest? Is this really it; a choice of 7 meals? Their food is usually good though and I say "usually" because I noted that it is really all about the chef on duty that night. I have ordered the same meal (which they took off the menu sadly) about 4 times and each time it would come out tasting somewhat differently. For those Triumph people, that would be the Chipolte Pasta dish. It was scrumptious, yet gone from said menu. The other thing they had at one time which was yummy was a spicy ceasar salad. Again, good, but varied according to who made it. I think Triumph in New Hope (versus the Princeton location) has such a good potential, especially amongst us locals, but they really need to promote a better menu. The service is mostly good. I think out of the 15 times, our service was fair or less than only about 2-3 times. That is a nice score in my book.

The best reason to visit Triumph would be to hang with a nice group of friends either at their bar, which now they have just included a pool table area, or outside on their patio. It is a nice open area and a great meeting spot.

To read other reviews that mention Triumph, click here.

The Spotted Hog: Saying good-bye

Looks like the Spotted Hog is closed for renovations. Sounds like they are changing it up to be a little more modern. The restaurant was nearly 20 years old and most definitely could use a new look.

The plans are to reopen in the fall. It will be called Sweet Lorraine's Cafe & Bar (named after the soon to be chef Lorraine Platman). Their daily menu will include homemade soups, pastas, seafood and vegetarian entrees inspired by ethnic flavors.

The furnishings of the Spotted Hog will be auctioned July 10 at the Alderfer Auction Co. in Hatfield. For more on the auction, call 215-393-3200.

John and Peters: Don't pass up a chance

John and Peter's Place
96 South Main St.
New Hope, PA 18938
215-862-5981
http://www.johnandpeters.com/

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: American
Serves: salads, sandwiches and appetizers
Price: Very reasonable
Ambiance: Inside is a bit small, a little dingy (smell from too many floods) but it really is a hometown quaint little place; with the feel of a hippie bar. They have a great outdoor patio and bar. Don't let the crazy color building scare you though, it is really a unique place.

Comments: John and Peters is one of my all time favorite stops when taking a trip down Main street. They are known for hosting lots of great musicians. I have stopped in several times where they also just had local bands and it was worth the listen. I love John and Peters mostly because they are reasonable with their drink cost and they have the best nachos. If you are taking a trip downtown, make it a pit stop for a quick drink or two. It is worth the experience.

By the way, there are a few times that I passed up old John and Peters because it is small on the inside and if it looked crowded, I knew there was a lot of smoking...but guess what? The smoking ban in PA was approved; to take into effect sometime in August. Now, I will most definitely not pass up John and Peters on my way around town.

Villagio: Italian at its best

Villagio Restaurant
Penn's Purchase Shopping Center (next to Coach outlet)
Lahaska, PA

215-794-2777

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: Italian, BYO
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: Reasonable
Ambiance: Tuscan decor, open type of kitchen, modern

Comments: One of the nicest Italian restaurants I have been to in awhile. This was actually my second visit; the first being for lunch. The service was impeccable and the food was simply delicious.

The bread was homemade and definitely set the tone for what was to come. They also provided a small dish of olives and peppers which was also a nice touch. We ordered calmari and that was simply done to perfection. Their menu has a wide array of dishes, pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, eggplant. The prices were also just right. I couldn't get enough of my pasta dish or the fish and pasta of that of my husband.

This place is indeed kid friendly. I actually found it quite loud in there. Still, it wouldn't be my first choice for dining with the kids at Peddler's Village but I wouldn't stray away from it if you were interested. The room was large enough so they could sit families in a different area than those, say who were looking for a romantic spot.

To read other reviews that mention Villagio, click here and here.

The Raven is closed

The owners of The Raven, Rand Skolnich and Terrence Meck, have decided to officially close their doors. The restaurant/bar/pool/motel was put up for sale or lease back in April.

As of Sunday, May 11th, the Raven closed until new ownership takes over. Rand and Terrence are focusing their energies on their newer property, Nevermore Hotel (formally the New Hope Inn and Cosmopolitan Club).

Get more on this story here.

Another one bites the dust

The dust has not nearly even settled on the spot where the Cartwheel once stood and now it looks like The Raven is now up for sale.

Per the Bucks County Courier Times article, "the owners Skolnich and Meck said “unfortunate life circumstances” prompted the “difficult decision to step away” from the business they bought four years ago.

I wonder what those unfortunate life circumstances were...

The article also said, "Should a buyer or leasee not come forward within the next two months, the e-mail said they will close The Raven by early summer."

That is most certainly going to change the town quite a bit as The Raven has an enormous number of visitors, especially on the weekends. The Raven has been a popular bar and restaurant in the gay and lesbian community since 1979.

Another one bites the dust.

Peddler's Village: Giggleberry Fair

Peddler's Village boasts a lot of wonderful unique shops and restaurants. When you are coming with the kids though, browsing through shop after shop might not be the most fun for them. My recommendation is to check out Giggleberry Fair. It is located in the back of Peddler's Village and is a big indoor play place. Mind you though, I have not always had the greatest experience there but all in all, I still think it is worth a try.

They have a carousel, arcade type games, a room called Giggleberry Mountain which is basically a big room where kids can climb through rope mazes and play with soft foam balls. I would really only recommend Giggleberry Mountain for kids 5+. My four year old basically got stuck in the maze that was pretty high up and there is nothing like being a full grown adult trying to navigate through those rope things to get your child. Another thing is, you may want to ask to peek inside first before purchasing entry to it because I have been there a couple times when it looked like there was a pound of dust in there. I am not sure how often they clean but if you have a child with allergies, that dust will surely get to them. Just take a peek behind the rope thingies on the side. By the way, if you go on a Wednesday or Thursday, they are running a promotion where it is free from 4-6pm.

The other area they have for play for the smaller kids is called Discovery Land. This is really a great place for kids 1-7. Again, peek in to be sure it is clean as unfortunately I have been there when the water in the fishy play area looked like a swamp. I am sure it is difficult to keep toys from being moved around but the water should be cleaned at least daily. I have also had to ask them to put a safety plug in the socket in that room.

As for eating there, again, you are taking your chances. Remember, it is all food totally geared to kids so expect hot dogs, chicken fingers and pizza. No healthy choices here. I think at one time they offered a salad bar but it appears they have stopped doing that. My only food recommendation of all the food choices would be the chicken fingers, the pizza and hot dog was horrible. The chicken fingers actually seemed worth the price. Note that they do not offer kid cups for juice, etc. so if you are not ordering a soda be sure to pack a sippy cup if your child needs one. All the juice and milk they sell comes in bottles (not juice boxes). I say either eat before going or take the kids to Subway or Villa Galleria which is on the other side of Peddlers.

Old Best Western now Harlans - The Nevermore

The New Hope Best Western is now called Harlans ~ The NeverMore. It was purchased by the same two guys who also own The Raven which is a local hoppin' gay bar/restaurant/hotel down the street. Obviously, ever since the Cartwheel burned down, patrons have utilized The Raven more often. Per their press release back in February, they say the hotel will continue to rent rooms during the construction. Hopefully they will bring the place up a bit as it had been looking shabby for a few years.

Their restaurant, called Plate and the cabaret also are open, with shortened hours.

Harlans - The Nevermore is at 6426 Lower York Rd., New Hope. For tickets or more information, call 215-862-5225 or visit www.harlanscabaret.com.

The reviews in the past have not good folks so to be on the safe side until you hear more you may want to stick to one of the nicer Bed and Breakfasts if you are staying in town. As for the restaurant and cabaret, we'll keep you posted as we are playing our first trip there soon.

The Cartwheel Bar and Restaurant

Residents of New Hope are now insanely happy because yesterday they finally, and I mean finally began demolition of the Cartwheel.

The Cartwheel was a fun little bar off Rt 202 that catered mostly to the gay crowd. It was destroyed by a fire back on April 12, 2005. Yes, that was 3 years ago. Sadly it has been an eyesore just sitting there damaged with broken fences surrounding it.

I am sure everyone is looking forward to what will be rebuilt there. I am not sure if the Cartwheel will be returning, although I believe the property was resold. Let's all just be thankful they are taking measures to make it look nicer!

Ota-Ya: Good for the Sushi

Ota-Ya Restaurant
21 Ferry St.
Lambertville, NJ 08530
(609) 397-9228
http://www.ota-ya.com/

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: Japanese
Serves: dinner only
Price: reasonable
Ambiance: nothing fancy, kind of plain, a little tight.

Comments: Quite simply, it's all about the sushi. I will only give you one reason to visit Ota-Ya...GREAT sushi. That's it. There is nothing else to it folks. The place is BYOB, the wait staff is so-so. It is a popular joint, always crowded, you MUST have reservations but the food is what is bringing em. We had a wide variety of their rolls with our dinner guests, spider roll, spicy tuna, incredible roll, mango roll, shrimp and asparagus roll, along with wasabi shumai, and salad. It was all good. Fresh, neatly prepared, just all around good stuff. My only complaints would be the close quarters. I would have preferred my sushi place to be open and airy with green plants everywhere...okay, so I am being a bit picky, but it would have been nice. It was a little claustrophobic and a little hot, aside from that, we were happy campers.

To read other reviews, click here.

Marsha Browns: Singing Praise for Great Food

Marsha Brown's Restaurant
15 South Main St.
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-7044
www.marshabrownrestaurant.com

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: American, highlighting New Orleans creole and southern dishes
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: expensive
Ambiance: upscale, unique, classy, beautiful decor within old church

Comments: Marsha Browns is a great place for a nice dinner. It is located within an old church and it really is a divine place to eat. They also have a raw bar if you have a taste for oysters and such. We tried their specialty appetizer of the night which was a crab and lobster dip in a cream sauce with a crusty topping. It could have been a little thicker but the taste was delicious. We also chose the Caesar salad which was perfect. For our meals, we chose the Pan Seared Scallops and Lobster Tail, the 10 ounce filet and onion rings. The food was out of this world. Everything was done to perfection. As avid steak eaters who have seen the inside of some of New York's finest, we were completely wow'd by the quality of the steak. Shortly after our meal was presented, the chef even came out to ask about the food. I highly regard a restaurant that will do this. I know there are times when they cannot do this but since it was a week night, it was greatly appreciated.

The staff appear very experienced in fine dining. The atmosphere is truly cool. This is a wonderful place for a business meeting or a romantic dinner. Sorry, the kids would not appreciate its' beauty and there are certainly no kids meals so I definitely put this on the not kid-friendly list and only for good reason.

Their desserts looked just as yummy even though we did not try one. This is our 3rd visit to Marsha's and I believe previously we tried the Fudge bottom pie. No complaints here.

My only quirk I had with Marsha's is that you check the bill carefully. The last two times I was there we were charged for an extra little something. When you bill gets beyond the $100 mark, it is easier for a charge to be hidden in there. There was only 2 of us though so very easy to keep track of our order. It could have been a very honest mistake but like I said, this was the second time.

Special note: Marsha Brown's offers valet parking on the weekends. If you can make it in during the week, be sure to take advantage of their $25 gift certificate on Restaurant.com that you can purchase for $10 or less.

To read other reviews about Marsha Brown's, click here and here.

Giuseppi's: Great place for the family

Giuseppi's Pizza
473 Lower York Rd.
New Hope, PA
(215) 862-1740

NHY Rating: 6 of 10
Food: Italian
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: reasonable
Ambiance: Family-friendly, clean, large, basic restaurant

Comments: Giuseppi's is a great choice for a family dinner in New Hope. The prices are very reasonable. No need to constantly shush your little ones. here. This is also a great choice for those on a budget. If you are in the area, and don't want to be paying for a $15-20 meal then Giuseppi's is a good option.

The food menu is quite large. They certainly have more than just pizza and steak sandwiches. I would recommend being careful what you order though, remembering though no matter how fancy the dish sounds, they are still really pizzeria-quality. I usually stick to the old favorites such as pizza, hoagies, calmari, chicken fingers rather than the Salmon Giuseppi. They do not have a bar but they do serve beer and wine.

The service has always been fair. Many times they have seemed a bit understaffed but I can't say that we've had any real terrible experience that would cause us not to go back.

Also during the nicer weather, they have a great sized gazebo outside. They also offer a good place for hosting a party. In addition to the gazebo, they also have a nice large separate room inside.

Special note: This restaurant is not on main drag of New Hope but located off of Rt 202 near the Logan Square shopping center.

Update: Porterhouse Brewpub=poor service

Porterhouse Brewpub Restaurant
5775 Lower York Road
Lahaska, PA
215-794-9373
http://www.porterhousepub.com/index.html

NHY Rating: 1 of 10 (for bar only); 5 of 10 for restaurant
Food: American
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: A little pricey. The bar menu alone starts with sandwiches and salads from $9-$15. Dining room menu from $20-32.
Ambiance: Downstairs had a nice brewpub feel. The room is open, comfortable and large. The upstairs is a more formal dining area with great views. The whole restaurant is smoke free.

Comments: Unfortunately another visit to this place lowers it score even further. I reviewed it back on 11/29/07 as well. I am lowering the score due to their obvious lack of customer service. Their wait staff has absolutely no "sense of urgency" and seem to walk around as if lost in a dreamland. I am basing this review not only on my new experience there but also that of a friend who was there a week ago and herself waited almost a half hour for a simple appetizer. When she asked about her food, not only was she NOT given an apology for their slow service but instead a look of disregard. I'm sorry folks, but that is just horrendous. Restaurants are a service industry and it's not like they are in short supply.

The other night some of my friends planned a gathering there and again, the bar staff worked like slugs. To make things even worse, 45 minutes before the bar was close began the process of cold shouldering the customers right out the door. It was 10:15 pm folks on a Saturday night. In my book, they need to change their name because brewpub they are not. They can consider themselves a glorified restaurant that tries to appear as though they cater to beer drinkers but I would say they cut that achievement short by not only not creating their own beer on site but also by not providing adequate bar service.

Fu Li: Superb Chinese/Japanese Restaurant

Fu Li Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
24-25 Logan Square Shopping Center
New Hope, PA
(215) 862-3018

NHY Rating: 8 of 10
Food: Chinese & Japanese
Serves: lunch and dinner
Price: Very reasonable
Ambiance: Oriental, classy, clean, simple.

Comments: Fu Li is a diamond in the ruff. If you are looking for some authentic, quality Chinese or Japanese food, this is the place. It also will not break your wallet. You get a lot for your $$ here and the selection of the menu is quite extensive.

The food is always, and I mean always freshly prepared, hot and of good quality. This is no fast food Chinese restaurant. We visit probably once a month and get take-out weekly. The dishes that I have enjoyed that are most delicious are their steak teriayki, shrimp tempora, spicy tuna roll, veggie rolls, specialty maki and many others. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site but their menu is quite extensive.

The service there is fair. We have occasionally had to wait for service but I would consider them more leisurely in their presence than lacking total customer service.

This place is indeed kid friendly. The kids will love to stare at the very large fish tank when you come in.

Special note: This restaurant is not on main drag of New Hope but located off of Rt 202 in the Logan Square shopping center in the very front so you will have no parking issues.

To read other reviews that mention Fu Li, click here.