A Grey Stone Welcome
The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits in Newtown provides an upscale yet approachable experience that truly offers something for everyone.
Since openings its doors in 2018, The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits has been filling an exclusive niche in Newtown. Guests describe it as an elevated yet approachable place where history meets modernity, where they can enjoy upscale casual dining in a vibrant atmosphere, paired with the attentive service of a fine-dining restaurant.
The Grey Stone is widely regarded as a local landmark. The historic building began life as a stone farmhouse dating back to the 1800s, and it was formerly occupied by Lavender Hall. Owner Brandon Smith went to great pains to redesign the building’s interior in a way that modernized the look and feel while maintaining its historic charm.
“This was very much a passion project for me,” says Smith, a native of Washington Crossing. “I felt an obligation to make the restaurant special because of the sentimental value attached to what was here before. A lot of people got married here when it was Lavender Hall. So many people had positive experiences on this property, and it’s still memorable in the community because of that.”
Chef Anthony Depasquale created The Grey Stone’s menu of seasonally inspired fare, which may be best described as “eclectic American.” The lineup includes steaks, seafood, and other upscale entrées, as well as gourmet sandwiches, salads, and inventive appetizers, with as much as 95 percent of the food prepared from scratch. In addition to Depasquale, who is a Southampton native, the culinary team includes Richboro resident Sue McGargle, a skilled pastry chef who crafts The Grey Stone’s seasonal dessert menu, as well as the elegant custom cakes for private celebrations.
The Grey Stone has earned praise for its robust cocktail program, which includes more than two-dozen craft beers on tap, a selection of artisanal cocktails, and an extensive wine list, as well as homemade sangria. Of course, these cocktails play a starring role in The Grey Stone’s popular happy hour. Offered Tuesday through Friday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the happy hour includes $5 glasses of house wine, $2 discounts on craft beers, $10 specialty cocktails, and $5 mixed drinks, as well as generous food specials.
Patrons come to The Grey Stone not only for the food and drinks, but also for the atmosphere. The main dining room seats up to 100 people, while the bar and lounge area accommodates up to 60. In addition, The Grey Stone has three private rooms reserved for weddings, parties, and other special events: the Lion’s Den, which seats up to 80; the Brick Room, located just off the bar, which accommodates 40; and the Romance Room, an intimate gathering space for 20.
While The Grey Stone is an appealing destination all year long, it’s particularly cozy in the winter months, thanks in part to a trio of natural-gas fireplace inserts—one in the Lion’s Den, one in the Romance Room, and one in the bar and lounge. In kinder weather, The Grey Stone opens another popular attraction: its outdoor patio. From late spring through early autumn, this scenic space has seating for 150, including a number of covered cabanas, and its own dedicated bar. Fire pits lend warmth and ambiance to the patio when the air turns crisp.
From the festive happy hour to the Sunday brunch to the live entertainment on weekend nights, The Grey Stone aims to appeal to every guest who steps through the door. It’s also centrally located on Route 532—the main artery linking Newtown and Washington Crossing—right down the road from the Village at Newtown Shopping Center and a short drive from neighborhoods in Richboro and Yardley.
“We want all of our guests to feel at home,” Smith says. “We offer valet parking on weekends and for events, and in the near future, we’re looking to do some special events, like wine dinners and beer dinners. We also do off-premise catering, including holiday takeout trays. We truly try to offer something for everyone.”
The Grey Stone Fine Food and Spirits
552 Washington Crossing Road
Newtown, Pa.
(267) 759-6752
greystonefinefood.com
Photograph by Nina Lea Photography
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, November 2019.
