The Raven

New owners. Many changes. The pros– wait staff is amazing. Fun and friendly. Always attentive.
The cons– changed menu back to a limited main dish selection and no more small plates. So unless you are looking for the big meal, try another place to eat and come for the bar and piano room.
I hope this place stays open for years to come as it provides a place for the LGBT community, but some restaurant changes would enhance the experience.

Was looking to stay over night last minute
The hotel a half mile down the street was much more reasonable. Called The Raven to see if they could work with pricing. Was told multiple times the owner was «unavailable» when we finally got him we were told the price was «not negotiable“which we could have been told originally. Do yourself a favor. Stay at the Roadway Inn down the street. Much more customer friendly.

I used to go here years ago, and it was alright then even if it was very cliquey. Now the bar is extremely cliquey, has way too many drag queens and Transsexuals, and very few bisexual or gay men go there unlike what it was like in the past. I only go there when I’m either really bored, or when friends of mine want to go.
The bartenders and bar staff are friendly, provide excellent service, and the bartenders make excellent mixed drinks. But the owners/​management of this bar/​hotel are not nice people, treat their guests/​patrons very poorly, and turn many people off from the hotel/​restaurant, and bar.
I gave this 2 stars since it’s the only LGBT bar in New Hope; but there are better bars in Philadelphia in the city, and New Hope does need an alternative LGBT bar to this one.

My partner and I decided to spend New Years Eve 2015 with an old friend at the Raven (and staying at The Lodge across the street) of which was a bad idea from the start. My partner and I checked in to The Lodge (via the Raven, who owns the Lodge) around 2:50 pm on 12/​31/​2015. Room was ok… except for the disgustingly stained carpet and no blinds or window treatments in the bathroom. Called the Raven to ask if someone could put a blind up in the bathroom or something to at least, cover the window) and was told that someone would be right over. Half hour later… nothing and we needed to shower before dinner at 8 pm. Called back around 7 pm only to be told that they are busy and would get someone over when they could. So, no showering for us before dinner (and this was the highlight of the evening with the raven). Went to dinner at 8 pm and will never go there again for a meal. $ 95. a head and not including a drink, ok​.fine​.it is a holiday but the meal just sucked. They told us they would be back with water and bread and never brought us bread. They brought out a shared appetizer of… get ready for this…3 shrimp (one each), three small pieces of roast beef rolled up, three small endive leaves with cheese and a piece of orange and 3 small pieces of bread with a smear of pâté. My partner ordered the «rack of lamb» which turned out to be 4 thinly sliced lamb pops on a scoop of potato and salad for his second course, my friend ordered the lobster tails and lobster bisque and I ordered the «crispy duck» and lobster bisque. The cook who prepared the lobster bisque needs a lesson in making a rue. Bisque was almost a brown in color (which meant he cooked the rue too long), flavorless and had not a piece of lobster in it. Frankly… disgusting. My partner was ok with his lamb though this was not a rack of lamb but pieces of lamb attached to the bone, my friend liked his lobster. I was upset because the «crispy» duck was a soggy mess. The cook never bothered to sear the skin, so it was thick, soggy and flavorless. Meat was tough and almost gray in color. I told the waiter that the soup was frankly… disgusting…the skin on the duck is soggy and soft because it was not prepared correctly. Manager came over and I told him the same thing. He took my meal off the bill but did not address the fact that the waiter just dropped our check off… did not ask if we wanted dessert (that was part of the menu) and what was exactly their issue. He eventually took care of the bill but did not want us to stay for the evening at the bar (again.which was part of the room rental). I explained to him that we do not live in the area, traveled to spend NYE and my birthday at the raven and the experience was awful so we eventually got what we needed to attend the after party in the lounge. On a personal observation… Restaurants (or so called restaurants) like the raven are managed by greedy individuals. They over book their tables and quality goes out the window. While we have eaten at the raven and enjoyed ourselves, last nights service, food quality and customer service was just below what you would have gotten at a poorly run diner. I hope those responsible for last nights issues read this and realize that a poorly run establishment can really cause a negative experience for your paying customers.
UPDATE ½/​16 Wrote an email to the manager of the raven with no reponse. Says a lot about how they care about their guests. Proving that greed and being thoughtless proves financially successful.

If you’re looking for a low key bar with an upbeat atmosphere this is the spot for you! The food is delicious and you can’t beat the entertainment. Liz, the piano player on Monday night is unbelievably talented and passionate. We had a wonderful server, T.J. He was quick, witty, and an absolute joy.

They’ve polished this look of this sleepy town gay bar. Very nice. Service was wonderful! Drinks were a little overpriced. The vibe is a drag queen/​grandpa haven at The Raven! However I’d be curious to see it on a weekend night. Crowd is friendly and pleasant except it is a little bisexual, closet cased… Though I have to remind myself that I was in the land of Mountain Men! «I don’t know how to quit you.» Nice time was had and I will return. Good vibes.

One of the best gay owned restaurants in New Hope. You can always count on a cast of interesting characters during dinner with great food and charming staff. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate after dinner drinks at cozy comfortable couch.

Took my mom out for lunch here on Sunday, May 3. We were seated inside near large windows that looked out onto the patio. There were several groups of people eating outdoors; it’s a nice spot for al fresco. I ordered the kale salad with salmon on the side. It was fresh, delicious, had sweet currents in it and slivers of almonds and sharp parmigiani cheese. The fish was cooked perfectly. Mom had a crabcake sandwich and a side of pretty pearl couscous, with a lovely, refreshing pineapple-​basil sorbet for dessert. Coffee with some whipped cream and amaretto did the trick for me. Our waiter was friendly and efficient, too. We will return here again.

I’d give zero stars but that’s not an option. If your a gay man, don’t waste a night out. Nothing but transsexuals and straight women hang there now. It’s not a gay bar anymore. On a Saturday you’d be lucky if there’s 10 percent of gay men there. Scott and his little Twinkie killed this place. For gays anyway. If you have a vagina then this is the place to go. Pathetic!

Amazing! DELISH! Fantastic! Everything, from the wait staff to the wine was top notch… and beautiful ambience to boot! When in town again, this is a must!

Awesome food, friendly, attentive, good looking bartenders… fun crowd, great music, easy parking, you can’t go wrong here. The GM’s name is «Billy» and we thing he is just marvellous !

Lovely Restaurant! The staff was attentive and courteous. We sat in the outdoor section in the back and it was a beautiful and romantic ambience with the decorative lights and music they played.
Food was very good too, all in all, a night well spent!

A few of us were on a Memorial Weekend road trip out to PA and this was one spot we planned a stop in. We arrived early evening in the sleepy town of New Hope, just across the Delaware River and found the hotel to be situated about 1 mile out of town (we found the distance from New Hope not to be problem as there is plenty to entertain you at the hotel !!)
The Raven complex is split over two sites intersected by a busy main road. The main complex has some hotel rooms, together with the restaurant, Bars and a pool. We stayed on the other side of the road in the affliated ‘New Hope Lodge’ complex which is a motel style complex of rooms in a quiet secluded wooded setting which has its own bar ‘The Cub Room’ steps away for a quiter time of it compared to the liveliness that can be found at the busy Bar in the Raven complex. The rooms are basic but very comfortable and clean so no complaints whatsoever.
Its the only LGBT oriented entertainment for miles around and so you can imagine that despite its unassuming location it gets very busy here on the weekend with lots of entertainment going into the early hours. After an excellent dinner in the newly renovated and classy Poe Restaurant (I will review separately) it was on to drinks in the adjoining and stately Piano bar. And if singing at the Piano isnt your thing there are another couple of bars and spaces on site that offer different music and vibes. Desplite location, do expect manhattan prices for drinks!
We found nothing open early here in the complex, however if you are an early riser and want coffee and munchies, there is a WaWa store only a 5 minute walk away that fits the bill.
All in all its a great place to spend a night or two, with plenty to occupy your day in New Hope and surrounding areas.

This is the local gay spot for great food, drinks and socializing. Of course, this is not exclusively gay. Yet, it remains a popular venue for those who are.
While the restaurant is closed for a few more weeks, the bar is serving up great food from the kitchen and of course, drinks!
Love the bartenders here. Always friendly and the life of the party.

Had a late dinner in the Oak Room on a Saturday. We thought we had stepped into a private party when we opened the door to a dozen men crowded around a piano player singing their hearts out! Show tunes and such aren’t my thing, but it was a real slice of life kind of moment. Nice friendly helpful bartender. Good arugula salad with veggies (add shrimp) and a good Caesar salad and a jazzed-​up fried calamari plate. It gets loud here, but it’s really not intended specifically for dining at 10pm – it’s more for the party and entertainment at that hour. But it did the trick. Staff at the hotel overall are very kind and open. Nice vibe.

Eat here regularly for the Wednesday night Supper Club, sometimes on other evenings.
Dinners Wednesday nights are the best deal in New Hope… among the best anywhere. $ 21.95 3-​course prix fixe with excellent dishes. Staff is friendly, wine is reasonably priced (I’m told the drinks are awesome, but I only drink wine), and Dwayne Dunlevy’s entertainment is worth the price of admission by itself.
Even on other nights, food is excellent and reasonably priced for the quality of the meal (but no entertainment).

This place has been a staple forever, and is always a fun stop when we are in town. As they say the bar has folks from 20 somethings to 80 somethings! and a mix of people as well. There always seems to be a lot of straight women here who come for the dancing.
There is a bar scene, complete with a pool table, though the local pool sharks, as cute as they are seem to have control over it, but it is fun to watch them. A separate piano bar, a dance floor and a nice outdoor area, so plenty of places hang out and watch the crowd.
It has always been a fun place. The restaurant has always been good, we have not stayed in the hotel side.
Parking is always a bit tight, especially on a Friday or Saturday night, but you can always squeeze in someplace.

The food here is awful awful awful.
The Raven pool is fun in summer, but unfortunately the gay scene in New Hope is aging. Most nights you wish you’d gone to Philly.

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!
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 pâté 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.

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.