12 Best Restaurants in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

The exterior resembles a diner, but don't be mislead: this BYO restaurant—helmed by former Marsha Brown executive chef Caleb Lentchner—serves not only breakfast and a variety of sandwiches and salads, but also locally-inspired New American fare at dinner in a country-village setting. Ladies who lunch come for the harvest chicken and "big" apple salad, avocado toast, fish tacos, or the signature burger.

An eclectic dozen or so vendors, some of them outposts of area spots, fill this renovated brick-fronted food market with a rustic-industrial vibe and some seating (there's a beer garden in season). Grab a coffee at SkyRoast or sip wine from nearby Unionville Vineyards, or choose lunch options like a Pork Shack sandwich or a Little Radish salad. Keep in mind that vendors close at different hours, and all close by 7 or 8 pm.

Cozy rooms, including an enclosed front porch, beamed ceiling, white tablecloths, and windows all around, give a refined country vibe to this longtime river-view (across a road, though), BYOB Italian restaurant. Chef-owner Francisco Argueta breathes new life into old favorites like a thin-sliced, layered eggplant parmigiano; linguine al frutti di mare fra diavolo (spicy tomato sauce served over linguine and shellfish), and lasagna with a hint of smoked bacon—just keep in mind that portions can be large. Nightly specials lean to fish, and desserts are worthwhile if you have room. Dining time limits are in place based on the number of guests: 90 minutes for two people, for example, and two hours for four. 

If you come to this sweet D-town spot expecting familiar flavors, you'll be delightfully disappointed. Hip Honey is refreshingly different. The eating experience is all about sampling by way of a seasonally changing menu of small plates meant to be shared. "Black Velvet" oysters quiver beneath Guinness reduction and smoked steelhead roe. Kale salad benefits from puffed rice, five-spiced cashews, and shaved Asian pear. The appetizer-size portions might range from a $5 exotic olive plate to $32 foie-gras sliders. Order at least two plates per person and then see if you want more. Drinks include all-Pennsylvania beers, all-American wines, and all-unexpected specialty cocktails. Even the desserts can be hot and spicy.

Jules pizza combines the bounty from local farms and dairies with a killer thin crust. The menu comprises 28 interesting pizza varieties made with local organic ingredients plus a few seasonal additions. Meat #8 (buffalo chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, gorgonzola, chopped celery, arugula, and mozzarella) and veggie #1 (feta, kalamata olives, chopped tomato, red onion, romaine, and tomato sauce) reflect international inspiration, while veggie #4 (Brie, sliced pears, toasted almonds, and rosemary) must have sprung from the mind of founder John Ordway. The oblong pizzas are sold by the pie or the 3-inch-wide slice. Gluten-free crust is available.

A casual hangout in the heart of New Hope, Karla's has been open since 1978, offering American food from cheaper salads, burgers, and sandwiches to more expensive fare, with most dishes enlivened with interesting international ingredients. Dine on dishes like panko-crusted mac and cheese, sweet-potato-crusted fish of the day, and stuffed pork chops with prosciutto in cozy, well-worn rooms with an assemblage of mismatched tables and plants. Part indoors and part out, half restaurant and half bar, mostly shabby and somewhat chic, Karla's feels like a comfortable pair of jeans.

The colorful metal cactus standing guard over the sidewalk seating is a tip-off that the name of this place refers to Latin America. Run by the same folks who own the adjoining Lilly's Gourmet, Café America has the same casual feel, but this place also has a full bar. Sip some sangria or a pomegranate mojito while you choose from among the platos grandes (which translates as "big dishes"). Chimichurri steak, baby greens topped with blackened salmon and a lime cilantro vinaigrette, a Cuban pressed sandwich, chicken tamale, and tostones are some of the options.

From the whisk-shaped door handles to the colander lamps to the sandwiches named after cartoon characters, Lilly's is full of fun. This busy downtown counter-service lunch spot also serves inventive salads and soups, which you can eat in the small, lively dining room or take with you. Try the Mr. Magoo wrap (marinated veggies, black bean salad, fresh mozzarella, spinach, and chipotle spread) or the Aquaman sandwich (blackened salmon, cucumber ribbons, sliced tomato, goat cheese, and balsamic vinegarette on multigrain bread). Make sure you read the blackboards, which list the specials. Beer and wine are available, and in the morning you can get a light breakfast of muffins, bagels, and fresh fruit.

The excellent small-plate and other food options at this wine bar and restaurant pair superbly with the wide range of U.S. and international wines, beers, and whiskeys served in a modern-industrial but intimate space with a long bar, wooden tables, and tall windows facing a creek. Dishes like tuna tacos and a mushroom and goat cheese flatbread are perfect for sharing, and seasonal salads and sandwiches make it fun to build a meal for your drink or flight, though the costs can add up. The friendly, knowledgeable servers welcome questions about the drinks and food. All in all, the atmosphere at night can be both romantic and sophisticated, since the setting is slightly apart from New Hope's bustle; Nektar seems to be perched in the trees. There's some outdoor seating in summer.        

Chic and BYO, this well-regarded vegan restaurant known for fresh, sophisticated fare attracts plenty of nonvegetarians to its space off the Main Street scene in Union Square, a converted-warehouse-meets-new-construction complex. The menu is relatively short—an assortment of small plates and salads, and a handful of sandwiches and large-plate dinner options such as a cauliflower-cashew mac and Moroccan grilled mushroom skewers—but offers interesting dishes with complex global flavors, often made with ingredients from local farms. There's a short menu section for kids, too. 

In the same building as the Ghost Light Inn, this sophisticated 120-seat modern American restaurant helmed by Keith Bernstein has expansive Delaware River views from its indoor and outdoor seating, enhancing the relaxed charm of the sleek, high-ceilinged space with wood-topped tables, a fireplace, and a bar. It's a stunning setting for seasonal menus that use the best ingredients from local farms and artisan producers in dishes such as wild mushroom dumplings and roasted local chicken with white miso and sake glaze. The honey cheesecake mousse is one of a short list of indulgent desserts, and the wine list is well curated and intriguing.

Shiny vats are the tip-off to what's happening at this large, convivial, bi-level brewpub with industrial-looking beams and ductwork, which is a bit off the main drag by the New Hope Railroad station. The varied menu lists hearty small plates, salads, mains, and sandwiches, and the food skews a bit more sophisticated than at most such places, with vegetarian options and global touches like bao buns and a mushroom shawarma sandwich. Typically seven craft beers are on tap, with seasonal specials. There's often live music on weekend nights.