Newtown Restaurant Owner Details Plans For New French Bistro

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The owners of a popular Newtown restaurant have announced plans to open a French bistro later this year at Lower Makefield’s Prickett Preserve.

La Grange, a casual countryside French brasserie, will open inside a restored barn at the heart of the mixed-use commercial and residential development now under construction on Stony Hill Road next to the new Wegman’s.

The bistro is the newest concept from the owners of La Stalla Restaurant, a family-style Italian restaurant located inside the historic Lovett Barn in Newtown Township.

“La Stalla is to Italian what La Grange will be to French - a fun, but very cool stylish take on French casual dining,” said Mark Masso, whose family has owned and operated La Stalla for the past two decades.

Masso is partnering with his father, Vincent Masso, and Michael Geonotti on the new restaurant project, which will bring French casual to Bucks.

“This won’t just be a special occasion place. We’re not looking to be like a fine-dining French restaurant would be. We want it to be something for the community that everyone can enjoy every day,” said Masso.

The bistro will be located inside of a restored barn, which was part of the original Prickett Farm.

Inside the barn, patrons will experience a cozy atmosphere enhanced by a large fireplace and the structure’s beautifully exposed historic stonework. A glass addition is planned adding a touch of modern to the rustic atmosphere.

“It’s going to have a very French countryside appeal,” said Masso.

The space will feature indoor and outdoor dining, several bars, a full wine and beer list, live music and a raw bar with oysters, clams on the half-shell, cold lobster and more.

“It’s going to be an exciting new feel in town and in Bucks County,” said Masso. “If you want to have a high-end experience, it can lend itself to that. If you want something more family-oriented and causal for a random weeknight, it has that as well. That’s kind of been our niche at La Stalla. That has kept us successful and kept people happy.”

The lunch and dinner menu will offer everything from escargot and mushroom tarts to steak frites, trout almandine, and roasted chicken to burgers and salads while weekend brunch will feature omelets, French toast, Croque Monsieur, Croque Madame, and more.

Of course, homemade French breads, cheeses, and wines will be a big part of the offerings, said Masso.

Lunch will be served Monday to Friday with dinner service seven days a week with brunch served on Saturday and Sunday.

While Bucks County has experienced fine French dining in the past with restaurants like Jean Pierre’s and Rouget, La Grange will be something Bucks County has not seen.

“It’s going to be an exciting new feel in Bucks County,” said Masso. “I don’t believe anything like this has been done before in the Bucks County area. We’re not trying to be fine-dining French. We’re going for that countryside French casual feel,” he said.

“We’re going to do our best to open by late summer or early fall,” said Masso.

The new restaurant is part of the Prickett Preserve development, which is anchored by a Wegman’s grocery store, 200 apartments and clubhouse, a bank, a drugstore, restaurant and other uses including CVS, Chase Bank, Duck Donuts, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, PJs Pancakes and Tropical Smoothie.