New Family Restaurant And Bar Coming To The Heart Of Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Plans for a new family restaurant and bar in the heart of Doylestown Borough took a significant step forward on Monday.

The Doylestown Borough Council voted unanimously to approve the inter-municipal transfer of a restaurant liquor license from a restaurant and pub in Bristol to 50 North Main Street in Doylestown Borough.

Michael and Joy Grafenstine of Huntington Valley are planning to open a higher-end, family-oriented restaurant serving creative American fare at the former site of the Waters Edge Winery and Bistro.

The Grafenstine’s - the owners of Roberts Block Restaurant in Glenside and Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant in Abington - have entered into a lease agreement with Worth & Worth for the 5,300 square foot space.

“They intend to operate this location similar to Roberts Block. It may be a little more high-end,” liquor license attorney Ed McHugh told the council. “There will be some physical improvements done to the interior of the premises,” including enlarging the bar from 12 to about 20 seats and adding high top tables to the bar area.

McHugh said the new restaurant will seat about 120 patrons - about the same as the former winery - in a comfortable dining atmosphere.

“It will be a full-service restaurant with alcoholic beverages served as a complement to the meal,” he said.

The primary focus of the new establishment will be on the culinary side of the operation, with food sales making up 65 percent of the operation and alcohol sales amounting to 35 percent, said McHugh.

The menu will feature creative American fare, including New York strip, Filet Mignon, bone-in pork chop, duck breast, French onion chicken, Cajun shrimp, chicken pot pie, crab cakes, grilled salmon, fish and chips, ribs and wild mushroom risotto.

According to McHugh, the hours of operation will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to p.m. on Sunday. They will be closed on Tuesday.

The restaurant will employ between 25 and 30 employees, both part-time and full-time, said McHugh, noting that employees serving alcohol will be RAMP trained.

McHugh said the restaurant will also be RAMP-certified. RAMP is an acronym for Responsible Alcohol Management Program, which is offered through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The program is mandatory for managers and owners.

The Montgomery County restaurateurs said they are hoping to open in May or June of this year.