April restaurant tidbits

Flowers aren’t the only thing popping up right now. There is so much going on with some of your favorite local restaurants. Here are the highlights.

Nina’s Waffles and Sweets, the tasty sweet shop in New Hope, opened a new store in Doylestown this week. My friend, Larry, said the cherry clafoutis was wonderful, reminiscent of what his aunt in Paris used to make. It turns out that Marianne, Nina’s pastry chef, used to be the pastry chef at Le Bec Fin. Their Doylestown store hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturdays 11 am to 11 pm and Sundays 11 am to 9 pm.

Speaking of sweets, oWowcow Creamery has officially opened its newest retail location, oWowcow Canal Creamery, in Lambertville at 237 North Union Street (near Big Bear Foods and Rojo’s Roastery). It’s a beautiful space and, as usual, it is stocked with delicious ice cream, made from locally sourced ingredients.

The Raven in New Hope is undergoing a month-long renovation. They closed the dining room this past Monday, April 14 and plan to re-open mid-May with new menus, a new concept and a new chef. The bar will continue to serve lunch and dinner. See their Facebook page for updates.

The long wait is over. Oishi, the popular Asian restaurant in Newtown, has moved to the Village at Newtown Shopping Center (McCaffrey’s). Well known for its great Thai, Korean and Japanese food, the new space is elegant and chic, all in dark wood with modern accents. It is 50 per cent larger than their previous location across the road, with more seating and restrooms. (Read more in this article in the Bucks County Courier Times.) Watch for a new restaurant to open in the previous space, a modern Korean eatery and noodle bar called KO.

You’ve now got two new places to go for Sunday brunch. The Stockton Inn will debut their Sunday Brunch this Sunday, April 20. The menu looks fabulous. Here are a couple of the entrées to whet your appetite: Bella Luna Flatbread with Pancetta, Roasted Garlic, Potatoes, and Caramelized Shallots, topped with Fried Egg; Lemon Ricotta Pancakes; Fried Chicken and Waffles; as well as traditional dishes like French Toast, Sausage Gravy and Biscuit, and Eggs Benedict. See the full menu here. Prices are a la carte.

The Indian Rock Inn in beautiful, scenic Upper Black Eddy launched their Sunday Brunch at the beginning of April. Enjoy a Meat Lover’s Quiche, with ham, bacon and sausage; the Jekyll Island Pot Pie, a seafood combo with bourbon cream sauce in puff pastry crust; Savanna Eggs Benedict, poached eggs with crab cake; a Savory Bread Pudding, with sausage, onions and peppers in a brioche bread pudding and more. A Bloody Mary or Mimosa is $2 with any brunch item. For more information and to make reservations, see their website.