The Raven has undergone several reincarnations in recent years, including a near death experience a few years back but thankfully it survived. The days when the Raven was part of the New Hope gay trinity of the Raven, the Prelude and the Cartwheel are long gone but it remains a good destination for day trips from NYC or Philly. And of course their infamous drinks have kept the local DWI legal eagles fully employed for decades.
Review Source:Knowing that the owner manager that I had the confrontation with was gone from the Raven, I returned several times for both drinks and dinner. I have to say that I really enjoyed it and the hostility from management seems to have gone away with the former owner. The dining experience was good and the people warm and friendly.
Review Source:I came here with low expectations. After having a bad experience during a twink-fest in mid-summer, I decided to return with my partner on a "normal" night during winter. I was pleasantly surprised! The service was excellent, the prices were incredibly cheap, and the drinks were generous! The crowd was much better than I experienced previously and I had a really good time. I'll definitely be back again! I'd consider dinner there if they had some vegan options on the menu.
Review Source:Had a very enjoyable brunch on Saturday. The specialty dishes on the bottom of the menu were quite good. Our server was very friendly and competent. The only odd thing was upon arrival at 1130, we were told we'd be seated but would need to vacate the table by one for a reservation. We agreed, but ended up finishing and leaving, unhurried, by 130 with vacant tables on both sides of our party and no one waiting. I felt the hostess was a bit rude and unnecessarily brusque
Review Source:Six of us stopped in for dinner and drinks last night and we had a great time. The bartenders mix a strong cocktail and no one was complaining about it! Â
We were treated warmly by a friendly staff and we  were made to feel comfortable immediately.
Dinner was very good too  We ordered a lot of food. From the pate to the chicken cordon bleu-everything was tasty.  The restaurant itself is very large yet cozy at the same time  The open pit fireplace adds to the romantic and mellow ambiance.
You have got to be kidding...
I truly think all of these good reviews were written by employees or their friends.
This place is the worst of the worst!
You can meet more sophisticated men by going to a bowling alley.
If  you are looking for a 60 year old guido in a mesh shirt and True Religion jeans, than this is your place!
As a gay man, I am embarassed by this establishment...
My husband and I stopped into The Raven for some "after dinner" cocktails and some dancing this past weekend. The bar is adorable; old fashioned wood and very nice atmosphere overall. Cute dance music playing, friendly bartenders and the drinks were delicious. We would love to come back and try their restaurant sometime. We would definitely come back to The Raven for cocktails and some partying as well.
Review Source:OK we've lived in New Hope for just over a year now and just decided to try THE preeminent gay establishment of our rivertown metropolis this Thursday evening. Â Sat down at the bar and ordered a couple drinks. Let me say that Tony at the bar has THE BEST pour of any bartender in New Hope and it's environs that we have ever experienced (and we've been to them all). A couple drinks at The Raven is 4 drinks at any other bar in New Hope. Â Got some bar food. It was good. Â The wings are a little more deep fried than the traditional fare, and the rest is basic bar food...not great but quite serviceable. Â Next time we'll try the dining room. Â The real draw is the people-watchinig. Â As far as the clientele...there is absolutely no doubt you're in a gay bar. It's kinda flaming...which is cool. It's all about the company you keep at the bar. Â We were sore thumbs....even if my wife and I were not together at the bar...individually our personas would scream out "STRAIGHT NEW HOPEANS...Gotta be home by 10 so the kids can get a good night's sleep for their soccer game". Â Never felt anything but 100% welcome and we met some great people. Â I want to go back.
Review Source:This was by far the best meal I have had in New Hope and I highly recommend it! Â We had an excellent server and were happily surprised by the beautiful and comfortable decor. Â Our food was wonderful too :). Â Reasonably priced, lovely atmosphere, delicious food - I will be back each time I visit New Hope!
Review Source:The Raven is really sort of the gay resort of New Hope and for all practical purposes the only gay bar in what most think to be a gay town, which might have been true at one time but isn't now. The food and service are good and the general décor as well as cleanliness of the place is outstanding.
For the most part, it is a gay tourist hang catering to the more affluent older gays, lesbians and particularly gay couples However, for dinning the crowd is a pleasant mix of straights and gays all enjoying themselves as well as the company and conversation with each other.
Besides having an elegant dinning area, The Raven two very well appointed bar, motel like rooms and an outdoor pool.
If you are a couple looking for a nice get away weekend, The Raven has a lot to offer as does the general ambiance of the town of New Hope with its many unique shops and charming streets.
THE RAVEN IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO IN NEW HOPE!!!
I came to New Hope to visit a friend last weekend and experienced the Raven for the first, but not the last, time. I was so amazed at how great the food and service was. We had dinner and drinks in the main restaurant and then scurried into the bar/lounge to dance and sing (yes, they had a pianist and singing!)
The next morning we came back for brunch and of course I was amazed at how awesome it was!
I love how friendly the people are here and I ended up making some really nice acquaintances. I cannot wait to come back to visit New Hope and meet up with the people I met. The Raven will surely be a first stop!
Note: Â The Raven is a bar, restaurant and hotel all in one. Â I decided to review the restaurant and bar in here and decided to split The Raven Hotel review as a separate category as it is very difficult to put both in the same one. Â We had very different experiences. Â After reading the restaurant review, do not forget to visit the hotel review so you can get an overall experience of our experience at The Raven.
After reading a few articles online about this place and getting great recommendations from our friends, we decided to give it a try. Â When you walk in, the place has a great ambiance. Â Oak wood furniture with large windows face the fenced-in, well-lit garden, which is open for outside dining when weather permitting. Â
We were seated by the window and also looking into the free standing fireplace in the middle of the room which gave it a nice warm feeling to the already great atmosphere. Â The host/waiter that sat us was very friendly. Â He was the one who also took care and served us through the night.
We started with the Argentinian Malbec. Â With a large portion in a nice tall glass the wine was delicious. Â As an appetizer I order the Tuna Flat Bread ($13) which is yellow tuna tartar with fresh cream in a toasted flat bread. Â My partner ordered the Mediterranean Calamari ($12) with spicy 'diavolo' on the side... and it was very 'diavolo'!!! Â Spicy and yummy, the sauce was super fantastic. Â The calamari could have been cooked a little bit longer but it was still good and eatable.
The super friendly, funny and chatty waiter kept coming to check on us all throughout dinner with funny and witty comments who kept us laughing through the entire night. Â Even the busboy who kept our water glasses filled to the top, table clean and clear was very friendly, taking the waiter's lead and taking the time to talk to us as well through dinner.
For the main course, I ordered the Roasted Duck ($27) with roasted bliss red potatoes, seasonal vegetables and natural currant jus. Â My partner ordered the Filet au Poivre ($31) which is an 8oz filet mignon topped with Courvoiseir peppercorn cream sauce, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Â Presentation was fantastic.
All I have to say is, as the kids saying now a days, O.M.G.! Â The food was fantastic! Â The duck, which is an easy meat to overcook, was tender, moist and delicious. Â The filet mignon was even better. Â The peppercorn sauce was fantastic and the meat literally disintegrated in my mouth. Â I was full but the food was so good, I had to keep eating until the plate was clean.
We looked at the dessert menu. Â It look super delicious but we were just too full to even share one. Â The bathroom is ok... not as clean as I expected because it is shared with the bar patrons (read below).
After dinner, we headed to the very popular "The Raven's Bar", which was very crowded with super loud music. Â There is one pool table at the end with people waiting in line to play and a separate dance floor playing music videos and plenty of people dancing around and smoking. Â The dance floor is an additional section built between the pool and the bar. Â The walls are "garage-door" style walls, which are opened in the summer and when weather permitting, to create a inside-outside feel and atmosphere.
But we found a mini-oasis in the Oak Room, which is a separated bar within the bar, with separate doors that blocked the bar music. Â Inside The Oak Room there was a fantastic piano player who played movies and Broadway show tunes non-stop. Â The crowd sang to the amazing music. We had one more drink and went back to our room. Â A nice way to end the evening. Â
By the way, we also came the next day to the bar for a quick snack and drink which was the same quality of service as the restaurant, with great bartender service and staff. Â By the way, the price of drinks is super cheap! Â We paid less than $10 for our drinks... we could not believe it! Â The Oak Room that night did not have the piano player but did have karaoke which was quite entertaining.
The Final Verdict:
Restaurant Ambiance/Decor: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Staff Service/Friendliness : 5.0 out of 5.0
Seating Arrangement/Layout: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Seating Comfort: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Food Quality/Flavor: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Food Price Value: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Wine/Alcohol Selection: 5.0 out of 5.0
Wine/Alcohol Quality/Taste: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Wine/Alcohol Price Value: Â 5.0 out of 5.0
Bathrooms Cleanliness: Â 4.0 out of 5.0
Overall Price Value: Â 4.5 out of 5.0
Final Score: Â 53.5 out of 55 Â (97 out of 100% or A+ grade)
Final Comment: Amazing food, excellent service, great ambiance and a place we would go back to when in town for dinner. Â The bar is one of the most popular in town with a crowd that kept getting bigger throughout the night. Â Good drinks, dance music and The Oak Room makes it a great place for people of all ages and musical tastes. Â Forget the hotel part and do not stay here (read my "The Raven Hotel" review).
The Raven is an exceptional dining experience. The food, the wine, the service is always outstanding. In 20 years of coming to the Raven I was only disappointed in my meal 1 time.
For an appetizer I would reccommend the Pate' Maison it's just to die for.
My favorite Entree is the Filet Mignon but I have many others.
A hidden jewel in New Hopes Crown for visitors, I am sure it is a staple among the locals.
A bit pricey but well worth it.
mediocre food that is priced way too high.
ordered coffee with the meal, the coffee arrived cold. The server said he'd make a fresh pot, but it was equally bad, and lukewarm, not cold. WT?
overpriced drinks. 4 dollars for a water, Â 8 dollars for a small glass of cheap-o wine. um...no thanks.
on the plus side, friendly staff and the crowd is usually friendly.
I would take extra caution before using the pool at the Raven. I acquired an ear infection from swimming there. I also addressed the issue with management and I have not heard from them either. It's unfortunate, since it was one of my favorite places to hang out with friends during the summer.
Review Source:Went here Valentine's weekend and had a blast! My partner and I split an appetizer and entree and our server had the kitchen split the entree onto 2 plates for us. Food was good and we sat next to the fire which was cozy. After dinner we went and sang some show tunes in the adjoining bar! So much fun! Will definitely go back!
Review Source:Comfortable decor and comfortable atmosphere generally.
Friendly, welcoming. Â Excellent service.
The food is good, but it is certainly overpriced. Â My salad could have been improved. Â I thought my entree was very tasty and creative--a Cajun style catfish and shrimp over pasta dish. Â $28 is too much for a pasta dish, esp when the mostly pasta is topped with two small chunks of catfish and three little shrimp. Â I would give the place a 4 star rating had the prices been more in line with food quality and portions. Â If I lived in New Hope, I'm certain I'd return.
The Raven is open again!!
Russell Eiffert plays Piano Bar in the Oak Room on Thursdays 5PM to 9PM & Saturdays from 8 PM to Midnight. He is a genius & knows zillions of Show Tunes & Standards. You will usually find an amicable group singing along with him. It's usually a Gay crowd but all are welcomed. Michael Ferreri plays on Fridays. Â Â Â Â Â
There is also a pool & large screen-enclosed outdoor patio for smoking. More at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theravennewhope.com%2Fnightlife.html&s=11988a4c603a8949f702b835df93b6a5a9985d9cc35177d84f73dddc8d10b178" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.theravennewho…</a>
When the Cartwheel burned down a few years ago, it left the Raven as pretty much the only gay establishment in New Hope, a town well-known for its gay community. Â The Raven is a mix of several offerings including a bar, a fabulous restaurant, an outside bar area with pool in the summer months, and accommodations.
I went to the bar once with friends but my other visits have been only to the restaurant. Â The restaurant is warm, darkly lit, and overlooks a fabulous garden. Â I have heard from others that they tend to give poor service to straights, but I have never had that problem. Â Service has always been excellent.
On my most recent visit, I had the salmon filet with a horseradish, mashed potato crust over a bed of zucchini and summer squash "spaghetti." Â The food was fresh and light, perfect for a warm day, though the potatoes could have had a bit more horseradish. Â For dessert, I had the homemade key lime pie, which was to die for. Â I would have licked the plate if that was socially acceptable. Â I don't remember what I ate on other visits (it's been a couple of years), but the food has always been excellent. Â
I've never been for the pool parties, since that's not really my scene, but I hear it's quite the party spot in the summer months (think cabana boys in Speedos).
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UPDATE AS OF 5/8/08 - If it hasn't already, the Raven will be closing very soon. Â It is currently on the market.
Part of a gay mini-resort that includes standard motel-style accommodations, an always busy 'Cheers'-like bar where Norm and Cliff are arm-in-arm, the crowded Oak Room with its weekend piano sing-alongs, and a pool area populated by glistening buff bods in Speedos, the restaurant actually comes as a bit of a surprise, sedately tucked away from the general chaos reigning everywhere else on the premises. Birds of both queer and straight feathers flock here to enjoy Continental and American cuisine in a dining room featuring walls of glass overlooking a beautifully landscaped garden. In the evening, both lights and voices are low, making this a popular draw for couples celebrating their first month of dating bliss. There's nothing overly spectacular about the menu, but what it offers - grilled fish, filet mignon au poivre, stuffed pork chops, pasta, and the like - is well prepared and nicely presented. Service ranges from down-to-earth friendly to pompously pretentious, amusing in light of the fact that while the place is upscale compared to most other spots in town, this is after all New Hope, not the Upper East Side in Manhattan.
Review Source:
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