Italian Steakhouse Opens In The Heart Of Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Donatelli's has opened for business inside the historic Brick Hotel, bringing an authentic Italian steakhouse experience to downtown Newtown.

The 200-seat restaurant, boasting panoramic views of the heart of Newtown from its glass-enclosed porch, is the newest addition to the Newtown restaurant scene with a menu brimming with Italian fare.

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"From perfectly prepared steaks and fresh-caught seafood to house-made pastas and thoughtfully crafted cocktails, every detail is designed to bring people together around great food," reads its website.

The new restaurant is the vision of veteran restaurateur Habib Troudi, who opened the restaurant last weekend on the main floor of the historic Brick Hotel at State Street and Washington Avenue.

Habib comes to Newtown with more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He also operates two restaurants in nearby Blue Bell - Panache Wood Fire Grill, featuring Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, prime steaks, and seafood, and Ristorante Castello, serving northern Italian cuisine.

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Owner Habib Troudi, right, with executive chef Taras Zhemelko. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

A peek inside. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Originally from Tunisia, North Africa, Habib began his career working in a French restaurant before moving to the United States at the age of 20, honing his skills in Miami and the Philadelphia region before opening his own establishments in Blue Bell, including Ristorante Castello 23 years ago and Panache, 12 years ago.

The new steakhouse is high-end, yet family-friendly and comfortable, offering top-quality steak and seafood, but also more casual dishes like chicken and veal entrees, soups, salads, freshly made pasta, and burgers with fresh-cut fries.

At Donetelli's, patrons will choose from a lunch and dinner menu that celebrates the best of the modern Italian steakhouse, said Habib.

Its menu features prime steaks and chops, poultry and veal, fresh seafood, house-made pasta and seasonal favorites, legendary Petroassian caviar, and raw bar and ocean credo, with each dish "crafted with care" and designed to be shared, savored, and remembered.

At the heart of its menu are its steak and seafood offerings. All of its steaks come from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors and are among the top three percent of premium USDA Prime and dry-aged cuts.

"The steak speaks for itself," said Habib. "When you put your name on the line, you have to do it right. I've been doing this my whole life. We chose a high-end steakhouse that's above any franchise name."

Habib has spent the last several months completely renovating the space from floor to ceiling, "giving it a good vibe and new energy," including a brand new kitchen, all-new restrooms, and elevated dining rooms. "This building needed a lot of help," he said.

"We're excited to be in Newtown," said Habib, who was looking for a place to open in the Newtown area when the Brick Hotel space became available.

The steakhouse replaces Rocco's, which closed abruptly last fall following a dispute with the building's landlord.

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner service. Reservations can be made through OpenTable or through its website by clicking here. The bar will be open every day without reservations.

(Jeff Werner/Patch)