4. Restaurants

Marsha Brown

15 S Main St, New Hope, PA, 18938
  • (215) 862-7044
  • Store is closed

Marsha Brown Menu

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  • Kevin M.

    My new wife and I have gone to New Hope every year for the past 3 years, and we've always wanted to try Marsha Brown's because it looks so amazing from the outside. When we returned for a short getaway right after our wedding, we figured it would be the perfect time to try it out. And we are so so happy that we did. First of all, the place looks absolutely amazing inside and out. Secondly, the meal wasn't just great... it may have quite possibly been the best meal I've ever eaten in my life... and I'm a bit of a food snob. Absolutely fantastic. And finally, the service was outstanding. If you have Jack as your waiter, you will have a great time. He's a pro in every way, and he's incredibly funny and friendly. Don't get me wrong, it won't be a cheap meal... but it's worth every single penny. And we've already decided that we will be returning each year to celebrate our anniversary. In fact, we've already started counting down the days. Go here. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Glen G.

    We dined at Marsha's on Valentines Day, so I will cut them a little slack for that (forgot to serve our side dishes). We found the decor to be quite interesting, but wanting to be a bit more complex. When you arrive upstairs in the main dining room, you feel overwhelmed by a sea of closely-spaced tables, that seem kind of sloppily organized. I think an additional change in levels, or perhaps making the pulpit area a step or two higher, might add more interest. And the lighting is a bit too uniform, lacking any drama. That said, the food was quite good. I ordered the vegetarian Jambalaya, which was quite flavorful with a nice range of textures. Appetizers were great, and our Asparagus with peach vinaigrette (which finally came) was also great. We split the Carrot cake for dessert, but found it to be a bit too dense to really enjoy fully. I would definitely keep an eye on Marsha Brown's, and come back again.

    (4)

  • Rev Dr David Albert F.

    No room for improvement in any area. Great atmosphere, great service, great food. Reasonable prices for what you get. A great meal.

    (4)

  • Allyson P.

    Delicious, awesome architecture and decor. Food VERY rich - not for the bland at heart!

    (4)

  • Andrew N.

    I was skeptical eating at Marsha Brown' ;s given some of the reviews, but it's apparently a love it or hate it restaurant. My review... Love it. My wife and I had a great anniversary dinner on a Saturday Night. We booked a reservation via Open Table (it works) and arrived early thinking we would have a drink at the bar, but they promptly seated us. The staff was very helpful and knowledgable of the menu. The restaurant is a combination Creole and Steakhouse located in an old church. The atmosphere is somewhat upscale and modern, but a little noisy due to the architecture. The entrees are pretty much just the protein so you need to order the side dishes you want, if any. We split the Hickory Smoked Bacon Slab as an appetizer. "It is what it is" says the menu, and it was awesome. We each had a salad, it was decent, but average. My wife had the seafood special and enjoyed it. It was well prepared and included "fiddleheads" (also awesome). I had the Jambalaya and it was just as good as others I had in New Orleans, so bonus points there. We split a family style side of Sweet Potato Casserole, that was so good we called it dessert. We had a bottle of wine and a glass of champagne and dinner ran about $200 including a generous tip. If you have an open mind, I highly recommend Marsha Brown's.

    (4)

  • Megan R.

    Have yet to go here for dinner, but I've heard so much about their carrot cake we had to stop in for dessert. When you walk upstairs for the first time, the atmosphere almost takes your breath away. Never seen a dining room like it, very pretty and spacious. Were seated right away, got some water, and our waiter (who reminded me of Cam from "Modern Family") gave us some dessert drink recommendations. My boyfriend and I both got a "church coffee" which was along the lines of a Bailey's type hot coffee drink. It was fantastic. I don't even care that it was pricey, it was so worth it. After a few sips of our tasty drink, it was cake time! Since we always like to get two different things so we can try each other's, I decided to try the chocolate cake (I forget what it was called exactly, triple chocolate perhaps?) and he ordered the famous carrot cake. Oh my goodness, both were delicious. Still slightly warm and gooey, and as a slight chocoholic I found myself sighing after every couple bites. Which was better? Honestly, I think it was a tie. If you're in the mood for something chocolate, you will not go wrong with my selection. But you have to try the carrot cake it's talked about for a reason. Our waiter was so friendly, which made the whole experience great even if it was a 15 minute dessert stop.

    (4)

  • Tricia G.

    What a beautiful restaurant that used to be a church! I had the jambalaya which was as tasty as it was artistically prepared. I would've liked a bit more rice w it and a bit LESS sausage believe it or not. The main level is where lunch is served and I thought it was very pretty but when we took a peek upstairs - I was blown away. There are lots of pix on here that show it so I won't add mine but WOW!!!!! Simply goregous!

    (5)

  • Gourmet G.

    This trendy eatery makes its home in a renovated 125-year-old stone church. The expansive dining room, situated in the former sanctuary, features a soaring ceiling, stained-glass windows, and other remnants of the building's former incarnation - upholstered church pews line perimeter walls as table seating, and a wooden railing still stands around the chancel, now an elevated dining area. Hurricane-style lamps echoing the jewel tones of the windows accent the linen-topped tables, and a floor-to-ceiling painting with Biblical overtones dominates the space where the altar once stood. Pardon the pun, but dining here is a near-religious experience. Marsha Brown has dug deep into her Louisiana roots and brought to her kitchen all the Cajun and Creole secrets passed down by previous generations of cooks, resulting in what is possibly the best New Orleans cuisine north of the Mason-Dixon line. For starters, petite blackened lamb chops were served with mango chutney, bayou snapper soup had a flavor as deep and rich as its chestnut brown tint, and the house salad, a blend of greens, carrot shreds, cherry tomatoes, and croutons - was enhanced by a creamy balsamic vinaigrette. Fried catfish, coated with panko bread crumbs, was free of any hint of oil, and a remoulade sauce was perfect for the mild fish. A broiled pork T-bone was topped with a delicious Jack Daniels-infused apple-raisin concassee. All agreed that the best entree was Eggplant Ophelia, a huge casserole crowded with eggplant, crabmeat, and shrimp brought to life with spicy seasonings. How fortunate that this was my selection, since I got to savor the bulk of it. Coconut amaretto cake, apple pot pie a la mode, and Granmere's Comfort Custard, with a sweetened cracker base, were fitting endings. Service was impeccable - almost reverential, if you will. In keeping with the prices - dinner for three, including tax, tip and nonalcoholic beverages, totaled $210 - the crowd tends to be older, well-dressed, and kid-free.

    (5)

  • Mark R.

    We have been to Marsha Brown's a couple of times previously, not for dinner but for lunch following the annual chile pepper plant expedition. The prior two occasions were good but this last time was poor. The lollipop lamb chops ($17) were six salty, overdone chops served with a commercially made mango chutney. The gumbo ($9) was riddled with garlic and the components were minced to the size of the rice so they were barely distinguishable to the pallet. The medium cooked, overly salted hamburger ($14) was well done. I think the grill person needs to be more focused on his work. The catfish po' boy ($12) was non-descript. Rounded cylinders of breaded fried catfish were served with chopped iceberg lettuce and a few slivers of pickle. There was almost no dressing. The bread, which was the highlight of the meal, was still tasty on the sandwich as it was when served prior to the meal. Dessert was also failed. The dry, 24K Carrot Cake ($7) and the Chocolate Sin Cake ($7) which urgently needed a confession by the pastry chef were both poor. The wine was expensive for inexpensive wine with a poor pour in a lovely, large, wine glass. The beer selection, no tap, was mundane. On the positive, wait staff was friendly, warm and accommodating. Unfortunately, Marsha's food was a complete letdown. For $125 not including the tip, there are many eateries that we could could have dined and enjoyed. However, It will never again be at Marsha Brown's.

    (1)

  • Jacquie A.

    We always enjoy a trip to Marsha Brown, the dining room being located upstairs in an old church makes it all the better. We have certain favorites, the crabmeat cocktail is delicious and we always enjoyed their celebration menu especially the pork chop with apple stuffing but sometimes it's not available. Our absolute hands-down favorite is Granmere's comfort custard, it is one of the best things I have ever eaten and we look forward to ending our meal with it each and every time we visit that restaurant

    (4)

  • Kristen C.

    I wish this was closer!!! The food was awesome, service was great. Dessert- OH MY. The overall atmosphere was relaxing. We went for lunch on our way to North Wales and had to stop in new hope to check all the antique shops. We were intrigued by the "crab cheese cake". Best thing I've ever eaten. I definitely recommend you check it out!!

    (5)

  • Andre S.

    We just ate here and were AGAIN disappointed in the service, and now were underwhelmed by the food. it took 65 mins to get our entree. It took a while to be seated even though we were on time for our reservation. And we LOVED the NYStrlp last month....it was pretty mediocre with gristle texture and was overcooked today. The salad, a fig and prosciutto spinach salad WAS delicious as was the green bean with bacon and bleu cheese side. Our chocolate mousse cheesecake dessert was also good. Although the regular wine list is okay albeit sparse, the wines by the glass include the likes of Ecco Domani....need I say more. It is tacky that a restaurant with this price point and the aspirations it has to be a gourmet heavy hitter could have such an appallingly bad wine by the glass list....

    (1)

  • Chris W.

    Bad form. Food is good. Over priced. The waiter dropped out entire meal and had us wait 30 minutes for it to be re made. Water came out of tea pot cold. Both of these issues were laughed off by our waiter. Nothing was complimentary on the bill. Lots of other places to go. Skip this place.

    (2)

  • John H.

    Probably one of the best 5 meals I've had over the last 5 years and I eat out way more than your average human. The scallops were perfect, our server Colleen was great, the vibe of the converted church was very cool, they don't need to bomb you with portions to overshadow any underachievement in the kitchen and they have Titos. Go and try it. I highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Bruno F.

    My first time in New Hope and decided to try Marsha Brown for restaurant week. They took an old church with stain glasses windows and turned into this cool restaurant. I really enjoyed the lobster and shrimp soup. I'm disappointed I ordered a cup instead of a bowl. There was real pieces of lobster and shrimp. The soup had a kick to it, just like the food from the south. I ordered a Deep fried Oyster Po Boy. The bread was soft, and the flavor was delicious, I am however disappointed by the quantity of the oysters. At one point I was taking a bite of bread and lettuce. The food took a little too long to come out. I understand if the food is being made from scratch. But, the time it took was a little too long for my taste. The people are very friendly and the bartenders were super cool. I would still rate this place 4 stars for the atmosphere, the people, and that soup. I will be back to try them again soon

    (4)

  • Jeffrey S.

    As a local it's great to have a restaurant that is consistently good and has an imaginative menu. My wife and I have been there twice and on our most recent visit we both had the eggplant ophellia which was done to perfection. The portions were generous and neither of us was able to finish ours after some clams & oysters for apps and we split a gumbo. We both took some home for lunch the following day. The service is friendly & efficient without being intrusive.

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    I am not a big one for writing reviews, but I just wanted to extend our sincere thanks to Tim the Chef and your entire staff at Marsha Brown's. I called your restaurant this past Friday night after looking on line for approximately 2 hours for anywhere within a 1-2 hour vicinity that has beef wellington on their menu due to my upcoming anniversary. After calling the restaurant Friday night and speaking to the person that answered the phone, they immediately put me on the phone with Tim their head Chef. Tim told me to give him a day or two notice and they would be more than happy to accommodate my wife's request for our wedding anniversary. We went their tonight and the service and food were amazing. We could not have had a better experience than we did tonight. From the moment we entered the restaurant through the course of our meal, the experience could not have been better. I travel a lot for work and have been at some of the best restaurants across the US, Marsha Brown's hands down has been one of the best overall experiences I have had. Thanks to you and your staff for making our anniversary a memorable one for years to come.

    (5)

  • Amy K.

    How is it possible that you don't give this 5 stars?.. This is the best New hope has to offer! I believe it is owned by Ruth Chris. The atmosphere is brilliant with chandeliers where there were candles at one time hanging down from the A-frame ceiling. The stained-glass windows are beautiful and it is a very different dining experience. My lone complaint is that they are stuck up. I understand that they take and prefer reservations, but on a night where we were walking the strip and just decided to stop in, why not treat us as privileged guests as opposed to treating us as if we were lucky to get a seat... and this was at 7:30 p.m. By the time we left, there was still not nearly full??? WTH? Anyway, the reason for the 5 stars was the food. My date got steak and loved it. I always get the Eggplant Ophelia... absolutely amazing(especially if you like Cajun style seafood casseroles...!!!) AMAZING #eggplantophelia Pricey, but well worth it.. oh and the server was also snotty, but again the food!!! We go often!!

    (5)

  • David D.

    I was disappointed with our meal. My wife was pregnant at the time so we were not drinking. The waiter rushed us through the meal.., they had us out in about 35 minutes. Will never go back...

    (2)

  • Hali R.

    Crab cheese cake was AMAZING. the lobster bisque soup was also really good. I love the decor and how it's in a church!

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    On the main street of New Hope along the Delaware river Marsha Brown's stands out at one as it is an old style gothic church converted into a bar and restaurant. In a town noted for many different places to eat, this stands out as consitently one of the best and my wife and I have eaten here many times. The menu seems to have only a few items but as you look at it, you realize this is a saving grace because they all look good and if there were more, you'd never decide. more importantly, when they arrive, they are as good as they promised. The main dinning room is the old an nave of the church with big vaulted ceilings and such and while some find it impressive I thought it a little much. but seating in the 'loft' where the organ once stood is very nice. even better is the bar where the service is good and the people watching fun.

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    Was here a few weeks back for the first time (just late on the review). Had a TREMENDOUS time. Started with an incredible waiter, Jack, and took off from there. Great raw bar appetizers, AMAZING entree, good sides, and good desserts. Ambiance was beautiful. The atmosphere was loud, but I actually enjoyed that...gives a nicer place a less stuffy atmosphere. Thanks again to Jack, wonderful experience!

    (5)

  • Jane F.

    This restaurant has gone down hill in terms of food quality. Everything i tried -steak, seafood, even the salad was awful: either too dry, chewy, or salad....covered in fried ONIONs...like COVERED like a blanked of fried onions...people get salad for fresh greens not fried junk smothering it.

    (1)

  • howie g.

    Had dinner there last night. Good food, good drinks in a really cool old church. Staff was attentive and food came out quick. Call outs, onion rings and the salmon.

    (4)

  • P B.

    Have visited a few times since my last post & sad to report nothing has changed, there is always something wrong with one of our meals every time. This is a steak house, they should know how to cook a steak.

    (2)

  • Edrian C.

    If you can avoid it, try not to eat here. We started running out of places to eat on a long weekend and thought it might be nice. We thought wrong. Overpriced, pretty sure they buy everything at Sam's club and dress it up as Cajun fare. Frozen shrimp, frozen burger patties. Prices are INSANELY inflated. This place is a Kitchen Nightmares episode waiting to happen!

    (2)

  • Jim C.

    Definitely one of our favorites, it's a 90 minute drive that I am very surprised my wife is willing to make. The kitchen puts out a consistently high quality product. I see all the complaints and they surprise me, there's always something that can go wrong and I'm sure at certain times people may not be attended to immediately. But the service the style in the all-around experience in my opinion is top notch. The "family-style" sides are reliably delectable but would certainly be for a very small family! Throwing one more sweet potato or 2 more spears of asparagas wouldn't desimate the profit margin, it's about the only thing I don't feel satisfied with as far as its value. It can also be a little cold in the winter, but you dress for it and the trade-off for the unique ambience is certainly worth it. The drinks are a better than average pour but would be nice if they would use the entire glass.

    (4)

  • Elliot J.

    We've been here often before but not for a while until last weekend. Unfortunately It looks like they are certainly missing a step now. Decor and service are still excellent, as were the drinks, but food was a miss (and that is why we were there after all). Fig & prociutto salad was ok, but the dressing much too sweet - especially with the sweet cured pork. My wife's pork chop was a beautiful cut and cooked well, but over salted. My swordfish special was ok, but very over sauced and overwhelmed (maybe hiding a thin cut on the fish?). Our friends both had the surf & turf which they liked but was a very small portion. Dessert was a bright point all of us enjoyed. With their excellent history and at these prices the meal was very disappointing - maybe why a friday evening was not full house. A couple of years ago this would be a 4 or 5.

    (3)

  • Trish K.

    Giving one star for ambiance only. Food was sub par with a hefty price tag. I ordered steamed clams which I had to send back because they were full of sand. Had the church salad which was drenched in a bottled taste balsamic dressing. The finishing touch was my lobster dinner which was close to $80 was served to me room temperature and dry and if it sat for about 30 minutes or longer before it was served. When I am paying premium prices for my food I do expect premium dishes. Will not be returning!

    (1)

  • Kristina A.

    Wow! This place is awesome! Food was incredibly flavorful! Service was excellent! Atmosphere was quaint and very unique! I live about 1.5 hours away....but I will most definitely be back! WONDERFUL gem of a place!!!

    (5)

  • Gordon R.

    This is a must. I can't wait to write a review after a recent visit. We went to celebrate graduation, and it was perfection. We were seated in the middle of the dining room and had "surf & turf" Steak and Lobster with red and white wine. One of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. Loved it.

    (5)

  • Don R.

    You know the saying "you get what you pay for"? Well at Marsha Browns, you get what you pay for!! Yes it's a bit on the pricey side but the food and service are OUTSTANDING!! One of the best meals I have ever had!

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    I've been wanting to come here for sometime, once I read about New Hope, Pa. A church turned into a Cajun/Creole restaurant.. Well, how much of an oxymoron is there here?... Love it! Was here for a weekend lunch with my guy and decided to stop once I saw the lunch menu. Ate at a booth near the bar. Televisions around the room with different sports playing. Ordered the Cesar salad with anchovies for us to split. I ordered the Eggplant Ophelia and he the Crabcake sandwich. Me: 1/2 Cesar salad with anchovies, Yummy. Plate cleaned, so clearly satisfied. Eggplant Ophelia, shrimp and crabmeat casserole was flavorful with the added eggplant on top was filling to the last drop. Large lumps of crabmeat and the shrimp textures fused together was a pleasurable chewing experience leading to: Closed eyes and a SMILE. Him: Crab cake sandwich. Very plump with large lumps of crab meat with little filler. Lightly grilled. Scrum-dilly-ious!! Home made potatoes chips were light, tasty and not overly seasoned or oily. "Good food" I was impresed with lunch and would like to return for dinner.

    (4)

  • Vince S.

    This is perhaps the first review that I'm rounding up( but only slightly) My reasons for this variance are twofold. First and foremost was my enjoyment of sharing this spot with a special dining companion. And second is the very unique decor of a repurposed church. Today was my second visit and first lunch. It needs to be said that coming for dinner is preferable due to seating area and selection. At lunch you have to eat in the bar, and while it is no slacker in the looks department, the upstairs dining room is where you will impress someone. The lunch choices are mostly sandwiches, salads and a couple smaller versions of dinner offerings. My guest choose Jambalaya, very flavorful and a good example of this NOLa staple. I liked that instead of chicken this one contained duck, but felt just a little more rice would have made it even better. My choice was a shrimp po boy. Good sandwich for Pa but might be lacking in the bayou. It consisted of very good bread, nicely fried smallish shrimp, and a minimum of lettuce, tomato and dressing. But it was served with a heaping pile of very good house made chips. The $15 cost may be more a function of the area than the ingredients. Service was very friendly, but not fine dining quality. On my previous dinner here that was not the case. But in many places lunch is not afforded the same details as dinner, today there was only one server for the whole area. If you are a fan of NOLa inspired cuisine coupled with very nice decor, this is a good choice for the immediate area(read downtown NH). If you are not completely opposed to eating before sunset, make it an early-ish meal to take advantage of the sunlight refracting through original stained glass windows. To be honest, today's lunch kind of makes me want to return soon for a full dinner. Oh when the saints, go marching in, oh when the saints go marching...(you get the idea) 3.89 Yelps

    (4)

  • Jessa R.

    My lunch at Marsha Brown's was perhaps the best dining experience I've ever had. Went here with my boyfriend after we were intrigued by the location (it's in an old church!) and we were not disappointed. My boyfriend is an extremely picky eater, so it's very hard for us to find places where there is food he can enjoy. It took some convincing for him to agree to come to Marsha Brown's in the first place, but I'm so glad we did! The atmosphere, as a previous reviewer said, is super unique. It's in an old church, but it feels very welcoming; not stuffy, and the way they've incorporated the architectural elements of the church into the overall layout of the restaurant is ingenious. We had Dan as our waiter and he was wonderful. Super upbeat and positive, very friendly, and extremely good at his job. When we were finishing up, I started to say "We're ready for the check" but before I could get the check part out, he said "the dessert menu?" which elicited a laugh from everyone. We were super happy to have been served by him. Now onto the most important part: the food. It was excellent. I had the gumbo and the crab cheesecake, as well as the vanilla custard, and my boyfriend had a burger and a chocolate lava cake. I also had the Key Lime Pie cocktail. The gumbo was seriously delicious. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it; it wasn't too spicy and the flavors were all very rich and blended extremely well. It was also unexpectedly filling. The crab cheesecake was also delicious, and never tasted too...crab-like? That is, it tasted the way it was supposed to taste, and as someone who's extremely particular about seafood, I was extremely pleased. The vanilla custard was heavenly, and I'm mad that I didn't get to finish it because I was so full from everything else I ate. The key lime pie cocktail was excellent. A little strong for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. My boyfriend loved both the burger and the chocolate lava cake, and agrees with the restaurant's claim that they are the "best burgers ever". There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about my experience Marsha Brown's. Everything was perfection, and I cannot wait to go back. I just hope we don't wind up spending $70 again, but even if we do, it is worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Dan W.

    First off the restaurant is beautiful and unique. My wife got the special of the day, king crab and I got scallops. The scallops were great but my wife's crab was absolutely cold, not warm not room temperature but right above frozen. The waiter was kind and agreed but when the crab legs came back they were over cooked and rubbery. I wouldn't say to avoid this place but for sure don't order the king crab.

    (3)

  • Amie A.

    Went with a group of people. We had reservations, thankfully, as I heard the valet guy out front suggest to some potential customers they might need them. They seated us at a large table near the entrance and greeted us quickly. We ordered drinks and appetizers. I tried the Crabmeat Cheesecake and sips if my husband's Lobster & Shrimp Bisque Soup. Both were awesome. Dinner for me was Eggplant Ophelia. Also amazing and wouldn't hesitate getting again. I skipped out on dessert because I was full but my friends ordered a bread pudding, some raisin-chocolate ice cream, and a molten lava chocolate cake. They all looked delish....when they eventually showed up. The waiter, who was full of humor, took the dessert order, had coffees delivered and promptly forgot our desserts. I think it's because we were one of the last tables and they were doing prep work for the next day. It's the only reason why this is a 4-star review, sadly, as we had a generally good experience there. We will be back again and I will update my review based on that experience. SIDE NOTE: While we waited outside, I noticed there were two valet guys who were putting keys in and taking them out from a portable box out front. Several times I thought to myself that neither was anywhere near that box, it's on a public sidewalk, and I could swipe a pile of keys, if I was a thief. Wouldn't be hard to find the cars. Just run around town clicking the clickers. I will never use the valet after seeing this.

    (4)

  • Trish-Landy G.

    We had a fantastic experience at Marsha Browns. The atmosphere is amazing. It is an old converted church with a lot of history and they did a great job maintaining some of the character of the building while turning into an elegant restaurant. The wait staff was extremely attentive- Paul was our waiter and made some fabulous recommendations. The food was excellent. We started with the bacon appetizer which is essentially pork belly on a plate. If you are a bacon lover this is for you. We also enjoyed the cat fish bites. For dinner we felt we needed to try items from Marsha's family recipes- so that included jambalaya (which had duck and andouille sausage- perfect amount of spice) and the crawfish étouffée which was also very well done. For dessert you must try the chocolate molten lava cake but one serving goes a long way. They were more than happy to honor our special requests from the bar (a martini isn't complete without blue cheese stuffed olives!).

    (5)

  • Tom M.

    Nice atmosphere, but not for someone with a disability, food lacked flavor, while crab cakes were full of crab meat with little filler they also had little flavor. Beet salad was small for the price and again had little flavor. The dessert, cinnamon bread pudding. Overall over priced for quality and quantity of food. While waiter was helpful and friendly, the attitude was we're wonderful and we know it. Far from a fact.

    (2)

  • Debbie S.

    If the experience once you crossed the threshold was even half as nice as its exterior, Marsha Brown's would be special. We stopped in for lunch after some shopping. The place was nearly deserted. We were seated promptly, placed our order and waited. And waited. Eventually our waiter came by apologetically, saying something about a computer problem, so we started all over. When the food finally arrived, it was quite good. My husband liked the eggplant Ophelia, even if the menu description wasn't exactly accurate. My chicken Caesar salad was just fine - but really, it's only a chicken Caesar. Nobody normal ever waxed poetic about such a simple meal. Lunch prices here were much more reasonable than the dinner menu, which borders on highway robbery. Bottom line - if you are in New Hope and feel like lunch (and you're not in a hurry) stop in.

    (3)

  • Robert K.

    I went on a food tour in New Orleans, their I had charred oysters, turtle soup and a red snapper I will never forget. When I close my eyes I can taste them. I will do the same with the crawfish risotto I ate at Marsha Browns. It was part of the Surf and Turf but was far and away the best part. The crab cakes were tasty and the filets were cooked perfect but that risotto was first class. I also tried a raw oyster special that took me back to NO as well. The restaurant is in an old church. Downstairs was modern and upstairs felt like a 1920's dinning hall. Marsha Brown's proved my theory wrong about the bigger the place, the worse the food. Highly recommended! And if your lucky enough to have Dan, the bearded funny man, as your waiter you are in for a great night.

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    I went on a Friday night with my wife, the atmosphere and the decor was nice and the food was average. Our table was ready on time, however once seated it took over 20 min to even be acknowledged by someone or get water. Over 10 people from the wait staff walked past and clearly made eye contact with us seeing our empty glasses along with menus on the table and no one including our waitress who passed a couple times said someone or I will be right with you. Once greeted by our waitress we were told of some specials in addition to the regular menu and the two of us decided to order specials. The waitress was polite but you could tell she had to many tables to manage as she was always bouncing around and somewhat forgetful and proved it to be true, "oh that's right you wanted another beer, I forgot I'll get it right now." I would be sure to ask the price of the specials because I was shocked to find out when our bill came one of the specials we order was $67. My biggest suggestion to the restaurant would be to put a person or two on the second floor to immediately greet guests once seated to take drink orders and fill there water glasses, once people have drinks the length of time till a waiter gets to them will be over looked.

    (3)

  • M T.

    Good food in a stunning location with attentive service.

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    We are long-time Bucks County residents and had our first dinner last night at Marsha Browns. I wish we would have went here sooner. Everything was first-rate. Food, service, ambience. Our servers-Jack and Daniel were a great team and made the experience even better. Fun, formal, relaxed, this place is everything at once. Awesome cajun/creole foods along with great steaks. Highly recomend.

    (5)

  • Geoff c.

    My office organized a holiday dinner at Marsha Browns, for which I had to plan and organize. The restaurant managers were very accommodating and helpful. They responded to phone calls and emails with questions and special requests. For large groups, you can set a fixed menu by selecting from a certain pool of menu items. Though the form says that you can only choose a certain number of items for your menu, (e.g., 1 appetizer or 4 entrees), they were very willing to let me add more than that to the menu. The food itself was fantastic. The lobster bisque was excellent and our servers even gave a few of us bowls to go after overhearing how much we liked them. Entrees were all well-received (I had surf and turf), and desserts were GINOURMOUS (but still delicious). Having a large party, we had the 3rd floor choir loft reserved to ourselves. It overlooks the main dining floor, which is in what used to be the main sanctuary of the church. It directly faces a massive painting on the front wall of the church. Pretty gorgeous setting overall. Parking can be difficult. Valet is available. Otherwise just drive around a few blocks to find street parking.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    Amazing every time. Favorite date night restaurant. Wish it was closer. Would go all the time. Jumbo limp crab cocktail and crab cheesecake are amazing service is always great!!

    (5)

  • Travis T.

    This place is impressive. If you're stopping by the area and have never been, you need to see the inside of this place. Me and my girlfriend were on a little vacation up here checking out the scenery and area, and my mom told me I had to stop in here. So we did and apparently my mom had called ahead of time and had covered dinner here for me and my girlfriend, and the servers knew about it. So we showed up, they had valet parking. Went inside and were seated quickly up on the second story in a beautifully decorated room. The servers were both gentlemen, one younger, and one older. They would crack jokes about each other and really made us feel at home. They were open to explaining menu items that I was unsure of, and made great recommendations for us. If there's one thing that I remember about this place (my visit was close to a year ago) was that their mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious, I'd go back just to eat them again. I had a steak, and the girl had a lobster, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the bottle of wine. It was such a good date. Couldn't be more happy with the service or the atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    Absolutely has a wonderful meal. Everything was spiced perfectly. I had crab ravioli and my wife had the jambalaya. We had amazing lamb chops for an appetizer which were wonderful. The wine was poured by high is the air which was cool. The restaurant is unique as it is an old church. Definitely recommend for a good date night.

    (5)

  • Lola M.

    Great ambiance, laid back atmosphere, fun menu, nice portion sizes. Had some lunch and shared a sandwich and a salad and feel satisfied. We are coming back for dinner to try some other dishes!

    (4)

  • John G.

    My girlfriend and I spent the weekend in the New Hope area, and met some friends for dinner. We decided that Marsha Brown's would be our destination. We've been to New Hope many times but have never had dinner here so we wanted to finally give it a try. I am SO glad we did!! Parking was a headache (what can you expect for a Saturday night, in New Hope, in the summer time) but we got there and was seated promptly by our "psychic" hostess (she knows who she is!). As most other reviews indicate, cheesecake as an appetizer (very rich but delicious...I had to stop myself from devouring it all). I ordered the crab-filled ravioli, and my girlfriend ordered a steak. the building used to be a church, and still retains some of the décor. It was a little noisy but, again, it was a busy night. Our server, Jack, made us feel right at home, explaining the history of the restaurant, and giving us a review of the menu. More on Jack later.. I'll sum up our dining experience with one word: stupendous! I had the crab Our friends ordered the salmon as well as the steak. The food was perfect and wonderful. May have been the best steak my girlfriend has ever eaten...cooked perfectly! The blue-cheese-and-bacon green beans were equally fantastic. My ravioli were great, and the portion size was perfect. We had a lovely bottle of white wine for a warm summer evening. For dessert, peach ice cream and the chocolate molten cake rounded out the night (I understand the cake was the best ever consumed!!). While the food was extraordinary, the service was equally exquisite. The staff was polite, attentive and professional. Leading the charge was Jack. Truly a master of his craft, he was everything a party could want in a server. He was charming and witty, yet smoothly professional and polite. He made us feel like we were the only table he was responsible for (which clearly wasn't the case...see previous statement about it being Saturday evening). Jack and his staff truly elevated our meal from "good" to "superb". As mentioned in other reviews, dinner at this restaurant is not cheap. However, if you want a truly wonderful dining experience and are wiling to splurge a little, I could not recommend MB highly enough!

    (5)

  • Beth B.

    Oh my... What an atmosphere upstairs. A gorgeous converted old church. Old work waiter service too. I took the suggestion of the other Yelp and got the egg plant Orphelia. It was a portion of a large custard cup but re standing plated in a shallow bowl and topped with two sliced cherry tomatoes for a pop of color. It definitely tasted better than it looked. My husband had salmon topped with shrimp and cheesy grits. He said it was delicious. For dessert and specialty coffees the selection was good looked great too but we were too full. We all thought that it was just the coolest looking place, it had the best atmosphere and it was some wonderful dining experience experience we recommend it highly.

    (4)

  • Gina D.

    My fiancé and I made a 9:00 reservation to come here on valentines day. We arrived around 8:30 and had just enough time for a drink at the bar before dinner. The bar had a cool feel. We ordered two dirty Martinis - the bartender had run out of martini glasses so he actually served us our drinks in snifters which was strange but it was a busy night so no worries. The hostess found us at the bar and escorted us upstairs for dinner. Lots of reviews about the gorgeous space - no need to elaborate. It was beautiful. We were seated at the most lovely table in the room. It was a loveseat with our table in front of us so that we were sitting next to each other looking out to the rest of the dining room. Jack, our waiter was fabulous. We enjoyed chatting with him throughout the night. Though he was clearly very busy, he was very attentive and always took the time to have a quick word with us when he passed by. He guided us to some dishes on the menu that he thought we would enjoy, and he was right on point. We wanted to stick with the creole cuisine here so we started with the crab cheesecake. Sounds weird but it was rich and decadent. Perfect start to our meal. For dinner, I had the eggplant Ophelia which was a little dry as if it was sitting out for a little while but the flavor was still there. He had the jambalaya which he enjoyed. Jack informed us that there is infact a marsha brown and she was the owner of a Ruth's Chris steakhouse so there are some incredible steaks and sides on the menu here. I would try that on our next trip back. Great place to come for a beautiful setting, great service and a cuisine you really can't find anywhere else in the area.

    (4)

  • Jim A.

    This visit was a mixed bag. The food and presentation was generally good. The service was off. There is a high ambiance and decorum, yet the bathrooms were messy. The prices vs. the experience didn't add up.

    (3)

  • Kristin D.

    Flavors were incredibly well developed. Basin street melange was the best mussel and clam dish I've ordered out. The crawfish risotto was decadent!!! Worth the money & highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Glenn S.

    Went here on a sunday night at 7:15. The place was about 25% full. On the way in Valet said it was slow tonight and the previous night(uh oh i thought- sunday i can maybe understand but not a saturday night pride parade day when the town is packed) but in we went. Got the filet mignon-$41. Asked for medium it came out rare. Ugh. Really rare not just borderline. So asked waitress to fix it which she did. Got it back it was perfect medium but after going back under the heat it made it a bit tough. Fail. Ok so my wife and daughter got the scallops. They were way overcooked. Rubbery and awful. Fail.The vegetables underneath were good though but all in all a letdown. Had the bacon slab appetizer. Very fatty and hard to eat. A heart attack type of food so be ready to get greasy. Would be better if it was rendered down more but just my opinion. Coconut shrimp were good. Had two sides- sweet potato casserole which is the best thing we had and the crawfish risotto which my daughter liked but its really rich so they could only handle a small amount before it became a little overwhelming. Good to share with people though. All food on menu is ala carte and things can get pricey fast.Total bill was $188.54 for 3 of us without dessert. I dont mind paying a lot for dinner but the food better be ON POINT WHEN IT LEAVES THE KITCHEN. Service was excellent but the head chef needs to take control of the dishes quality control. Maybe the sunday night second string was running the kitchen when we went. Who knows, but at these prices there should be perfect meals every night. Will i be back? No. Should you go? Sure if you like New Orleans style food and want to try it for yourself. Valet will park your car for $10 when you pull up to the front door.

    (3)

  • Erin B.

    The building is beautiful and the atmosphere was delightful. Our steaks were perfect and the Vegetarian Napoleon is so delicious! I have to take away a star for 2 reasons... the bacon app was so fatty that we couldn't even cut it & we had our 10 and 13 year old with us celebrating a birthday and they ordered a side of mac n cheese with their filet steaks. It was seriously Kraft mac n cheese. so gross, the kids wouldn't touch it. I asked our waiter and he confirmed it was boxed mac n cheese, not fresh. This place serves a filet with boxed prepared mac n cheese! really!! I was appalled. what could the cost difference we that a place as upscale as this would serve Kraft mac n cheese.

    (3)

  • Dom A.

    This is place is a higher than average price point. It's good that they display the menu at the front. The whole strip is hopping on a Saturday night. Parking can mean driving around a while. The waiter and staff were friendly and professional. The atmosphere was very nice and the crowd was very mixed. The building used to be an old church. The food took a while but not too bad for a busy night. We found the food to be good.

    (3)

  • Scott H.

    Been here a few times for dinner but this January trip was all about lunch. It was a warm day and navigating New Hope can be a big pain. That aside, we have an excellent visit. I was hoping for more entree's but was greeted with a menu filled with sandwiches. There probably were entrees on there, but the three us went with the po-boys. This is a New Orleans style place, located in a former church. Service was just OK. My previous visits for dinner had excellent service so I am assuming we had shift changes going on since it was late in the afternoon. All in all, it is the best place in town.

    (4)

  • Blue G.

    We were forgotten adult there yesterday. Sadly, didn't receive any service at their table after seated when we visited November 30th, at around 3p.m. waited at seat for quite while. End up we had to leave the restaurant without having order. Even when we are leaving no one talked to us or seemed realizing that something was wrong. I was very curious about the interior of the restaurant that was originally a church. Seemed cool idea to turn closed church to something open to public. finally when decided to give this pretty place a try, after looking at their menu I was pretty excited for what will enjoy there. It seemed rather formal place with nice oval bar in center and and gothic interior decollation that you could imagine from the history of the architecture. (on second floor that opens only for dinner, they even have beautiful stained-glass) It could happen to any restaurant that failing with overseeing entire place, we totally understood that a server could forget a table that he/she is responsible because of the busyness. It was too bad that no one of their staff realized us when they had time gathering and chatting with smile near the bar section. As well as no servers even looked at our eyes that were staring at them. In contrast to the visual and atmosphere of the restaurant, the front receptionist was very casual. I remember she said us like "Oh hai." which surprised me little. We waited with patient for sometime, but we did have no one came back to our table to ask our order. We had to try making eye contact to be noticed but didn't work. A group of customers next table of us was also waited to be served their order (they seemed already ordered while ago), their waiter came to their table and made apology for taking time, but he also didn't realize us sitting next to the group. (The customers at the group quickly noticed about lack of service at our table while they were also waited for their order to be served. I totally understand that it could happen, but the problem was the time we had to waste there for us because not everyone always come to restaurant when they have nothing else to do after even though coming with enough time to wait for service, and disappointed by the lack of their attention and realization of the all staffs who was there. We had enough time when we came in there to fully enjoy the meal plus waiting time, but unfortunately we did not have time to wait hours there to just for being forgotten and trying to order menu. It was my last day before going back to New York I had to catch my booked bus. Too bad but we couldn't try any of their menu, so there is no food reviews I can talk here for their food. Thankful to my friend's smart decision, we finally decided to leave without having meal their and find another place so we could finish our nice time with peaceful happy mood. The New Hope is amazing place, would love to come back again but do not know if I will try visiting this place again in the future. I would say no stars for The Marsha Brown's. The star is not for the restaurant but for the fortune to the church building that found another way to be loved. Should we have left tips?... :p nah

    (1)

  • Shannon C.

    STAY AWAY IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES!!! We went there for my husband's birthday and told the floor manager that my husband had a severe mushroom allergy. Three bites in his steak his chest started to tighten up, he started to have throat and tongue swelling and itching all over. I never ran out of a restaurant so fast in my life! One epi-pen (a device preloaded with medicine for severe allergic reactions), a ton of medicine, and three hours swelling and itching later, he finally made it out of the woods. When I called the restaurant to complain and tell them what happened, they merely said they took every precaution and made sure no mushrooms came in contact with his food. No acknowlegement that they did anything wrong! They brushed me off like I had no idea what I was talking about! They wouldn't even entertain they idea of apologizing to us let alone refunding us the cost of our dinner. Needless to say, we will never go back there and will make sure everyone knows what a horrible experience we had.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    We had dinner here last night with some friends and had a wonderful experience. Love the unique vibe of having a restaurant in an older church building. Service was pretty flawless, and the food was very good. Our favorites were the mussels, the jumbalaya, the crawfish étouffée, and the fresh lobster with crabmeat on top. Look forward to returning the next time we are in the area, and would definitely recommend to others if you want a taste of NOLA without having to get on a plane.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    I ate here about a year ago, and I still think about my meal - so I had to come review. I stopped here alone while traveling for work. The first thing that struck me was how friendly the wait staff was. My waiter stopped and talked to me a few times while taking my order. It was nice to have friendly banter with him. On to the food. I had the crab cheesecake. Order it! It was decadent and delicious, and this coming from someone that doesn't necessarily care for seafood (why'd I order it? Not sure. Glad I did though!). The flavor was outstanding and cheesy without being overwhelming. I would drive out of my way if I'm ever in the area again to eat it!

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    We chose this restaurant because of the raw bar... I'm a sucker for raw oysters. The coat check woman was extremely friendly, the place is gorgeous, the wait staff was spot on with wine recommendations to correspond with our meals... everything was just great! The food was amazing - from taste to presentation. It's a bit of a drive for me to get to New Hope, PA... but I fully intend on visiting again as soon as I can. I will recommend this place to anyone. Keep in mind that it is slightly "pricy" to some, because it's worth it!!!!!!

    (5)

  • S B.

    Food was excellent!!! My boyfriend and I made a reservation on Saturday evening and we were immediately seated on the second level. Service was great and food came out at the right timings for us to enjoy our appetizers, wine, entree and dessert. The meal was great... Appetizers: Ahi tuna sashimi and catfish, Entree:crab ravioli and crab cakes with sautéed spinach to share for the table. Now I'm a crab cake snob....these are the best crab cakes I've had outside of my home...and I make crab cakes!!! Excellent!!! As a New Yorker I have had many nice dinners at a variety of NYC restaurants, however I must say Marsha Brown's food and service can compete with the best!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Stopped by today for lunch. Not all that impressed. First off instead of being in the main dining room, we were seated in a small room near the bar. Four tables and not all that nice of a space. Service was OK but just a bit off. Could be a problem with staff training. Both our waiter and another food runner seemed awkward placing plates on the table - haven't seen that in a while. Food was good but not exceptional. The lobster and shrimp bisque was very tasty but was also chunky - sorry but that is not a bisque. The gumbo was nice enough - but they seemed to have omitted the rice. Also it was not just "Cajun spiced" it was rather high on the heat scale - good for me but most people might find it objectionable. The crab cake sandwich was nice enough. The shrimp po'boy was good as well. Probably the best po'boy that I have had up North. House made potato chips are good. Creole French fries have good flavor but could be more crisp. My staple dessert for Southern cuisine is pecan pie. So I am a bit particular. The pie here disappointed. It was plated nicely with a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a decorative swirl of chocolate. But I would never ever think of having pecan pie "Ala mode". The ice cream was gummy but tasted fine. The pie was made cheaply with pecan pieces instead of whole pecans. Coffee was not Louisiana style but regular coffee was fine. No beer on tap but I had a nice bottle of Abita amber. My wife had a Sam Adams. Maybe the main dining room at dinner is four stars.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    So... sigh. I wanted so much more from this place. Sounded cool but the decor was gaudy and overdone. Such a classic building with original detail a clean neutral decor would've done it best. The bar was fun, the drinks were good but it's when we got upstairs that things went bad. It was freezing up there, extremely drafty. I mentioned something to the maitre'd and he snidely remarked "well it's colder outside". Like really? Lie to me at least and make me feel like maybe you care and say "Oh let me see if there's anything we can do" then disappear. It was so cold up there I decided to order the gumbo and potato souffle. The gumbo was bland (shocking for a place that emphasizes a creole heritage). The potato souffle wasn't a souffle at all it was mashed potatoes in a dish and toasted in the broiler - despite its disappointing appearance it was delicious. I am someone who loves to order dessert even just to try something. I didn't even want to see the menu it was cold and I wanted to go somewhere warm... like the car. So disappointed. Telling me the owner owns a bunch of Ruth Chris' steakhouses further angers me since this place clearly was an afterthought. The bright side? I guess if I had to say something good... the water was refilled promptly... and our waiter was super nice and knowledgeable. Again, sigh. Avoid this place if it's cold outside and if you like flavorful meals.

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    The food is solid steakhouse and Creole fare of good quality, but perhaps not good enough to support the price. The interior of the old church was impressive, but the massive crowd of diners the place can accommodate detracts from the atmosphere. Similarly, because of its size, I imagine the place probably feels pretty vacant if it's anything less than full. The staff was attentive, but not very polished.

    (3)

  • Anthony W.

    I have been coming to Marsha Brown's for many years, have invited friends to join us at Restaurant Week each year and recommend to people regularly to visit. Last night, I had a most disappointing experience. It seemed that the staff really wasn't in the mood to be working. Food came out cold or somewhat warm and the presentation wasn't impressive. The dessert seemed to be thrown on the plate. Lastly, they provided rolls from Giant instead of the usual baked bread in their signature bag. Seemed like they weren't interested in Restaurant Week customers since those who ordered off the regular menu received the baked bread. Hopefully this review makes them recognize that any customer at any time is valuable and that my next visit will be most enjoyable.

    (2)

  • David L.

    Honestly I've tried this place a couple of times and have to say I won't go back. It's a beautiful restaurant and I think they mean well but their food is not good. Most of the food seems parcooked and often comes out cold. Way too expensive for so little quality

    (2)

  • Michelle C.

    Marsha Brown's was recommended by several Yelpers as a solid spot for lunch and I'm really glad we checked it out. As much as I wanted a burger, I opted for the chopped salad. I never imagined I'd crave a salad as much as I have since I finished it yesterday. The chopped salad contained asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, olives, bacon and blue cheese. It was all mixed together and formed into a mold of sorts. I ordered it with grilled shrimp and the dressing (ranch) on the side. I don't know what made that salad so delicious but all the ingredients together were awesome. And the dressing was absolutely perfect, though I hardly needed any since the salad itself was so flavorful. We sat at the bar since all tables were booked. The bartender was very friendly but he also had to take care of the nearby tables, so things like place settings and drink refills had to be requested. No big, though. We were taken care of and we really enjoyed ourselves. I will be making plans to return, and hopefully not too far into the future - I need that salad in my life!

    (4)

  • Michele G.

    Really good food and very attentive, professional service. We've been there twice, once with teens, once as a couple. Really enjoyed the ambiance. Steak was cooked perfectly. Sides are absolutely delicious!

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Great place!!! Absolutely amazing architecture! Hickory smoked bacon slab is insane! Just order 2!!!

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    We had our wedding at Marsha Browns on Oct 25. The preparation was easy and no pressure. Very professionally done. The choices were exceptional and tasty. The service was great. Everyone at the wedding had a wonderful time. Wendy was an outstanding planner and was on top of everything. We had a great day. Dana & Ron.

    (5)

  • Becki B.

    Luckily lightning didn't strike ;) The inside of the church/steakhouse is beautiful! We had a table near the front of the sanctuary, and had previously waited at the bar for the rest of our party for a bit. At the bar, my friend had a honey/whiskey something that nearly knocked her on her butt pretty early. I think that drink lasted her all the way through dinner. I had an orange martini of some sort, I think. It was delicious. I had planned what I was going to eat earlier in the week, and nothing strayed me from my original plan. I had a crab-cake appetizer, then the filet medallions, followed by creme brulee. It was all completely delicious. If I ever bring my husband to New Hope, I'll certainly have dinner at Marsha Brown on my agenda.

    (5)

  • Tom H.

    Some hits, Some misses My GF and I had dinner here on Saturday night. It was her first visit. I have dined here multiple times as I live in New Hope. Our starter course, Beet Salad, left both of us disappointed. The portion size was fine but it lacked taste. It was uninspired. Our entrees came out next. My sword fish special was very tasty. My GF's steak was overcooked and not the medium rare she asked for. We did not send it back but we would have if our server did not vanish. Our table was not marked when our entrees arrived and we had to ask 2 different people for silverware/steak knife. That took almost 5 minutes. Not acceptable.

    (3)

  • Robert M.

    Marsha Brown is our favorite place to eat in New Hope. The service is top notch as well as the food. Now if they would only stop overcooking their meat it would be perfect. My wife and I ate here on Sunday for our 18th anniversary. We had the lollipop lamb chops (overcooked) that were delicious along with their crab cakes which are among the best I've ever had. For our entrees I had the 3 1/2 lb. lobster stuffed with lump crab. Delicious! They take all the meat out of the shell for you which is great. My wife had the strip steak special. Overcooked again. Ordered medium rare and received medium well. Out waiter offered to get her another but it was so delicious we declined. For dessert my wife had the chocolate mousse cheesecake and it was delicious. I had the bread pudding that was definitely the best I've ever had anywhere! I had it in Barbados where it's their national dessert and this was better! Marsha Brown will always be our favorite place to eat in New Hope.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Went there for lunch on a Sunday, New Hope was crowded but there was not a wait for a table. We were seated and the waitress came up and took our order. My friend asked for Sangria which is not on the menu but the waitress said she would make it for her and it ended up tasting great. I ordered the Gumbo and it was good but seemed like like a shot of gumbo for $5 not a regular size cup. My shrimp po boy was awesome and so was the crab cheesecake. The restaurant is an old church and is very nice on the inside. The reason for the 3 stars was it took about an hour for the food to come out and they were not busy at all. I just wanted a quick bite to eat so we could walk around and shop. Another know would be only bottle beer. I will try it again to see if it was just a bad day for the kitchen since the food was good or are they always slow.

    (3)

  • Aggie Ruth V.

    A church converted into a restaurant with Nawlins style cuisine! The staff is very professional, cordial & personable. I can't tell you how many photos the Hostess obliged us with & so very friendly & patient. The food is impeccable. Simply scrumptious! I was upset with myself because I couldn't finish my entrée, I was so stuffed!!!

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Love the experience that is Marsha Browns! You should make a reservation because this place is a hot spot in New Hope every weekend. You walk into the former church doors and catch a glimpse of a large bar right ahead of you. Incredibly repurposed space with real character. Food is awesome and the martinis are even better. Will definitely be returning to this place!

    (5)

  • Marlyn V.

    Perfect for a date. If you want casual, stick to the downstairs, but if you want to get lucky, take them upstairs! The upstairs is uber romantic, artsy, high ceilings, perfect lighting, stained glass windows - kind of gorgeous. Now that you know where to sit...what to eat! My hubby ordered the Marsha Burger ($17) with seasoned fries which came out pipping hot, loaded with cheddar cheese, onions mushrooms and steak sauce. The taste was perfect, juicy and very filling. The fries I was not a fan of, mostly because I felt that they lacked seasoning for being Creole and an extra $2. I ordered the Andaluz Shrimp Po'boy ($15) in a French Baguette with Creole Chips. It was a decent sized sandwich. Really crispy shrimp and plenty of them! The baguette was a fresh, soft, some salad and good sauce in the sandwich. I preferred the Creole Chips, because they were super crunchy and really seasoned. Overall, I really enjoyed dining at Marsha Brown's, although I do think that $17 for a burger is a bit pricey. Especially when you can get an equally amazing burger at Mother's down the street for $10. I also think this is more of a winter/cold weather place considering that it's pretty dark and window-less inside, which is a big deal since the main allure of New Hope is the outside seating at most places.

    (4)

  • Roy A.

    Best part of the experience is the unique ambience as the restaurant is housed in what used to be a church. Also, excellent wine list and well stocked bar. Needs to shore up IPA beer selection as Dog Fish is the only option and bottle only. Need to appreciate Cajun to enjoy the cuisine. None of the sea food was fresh which is a gap. Cat fish moist with a nice spicy rub, but served with a rice, shrimp combination which tasted as if it had been frozen and thawed out. Not good. Crab cakes had a nice remoulade, however, because it had been frozen, did not reach potential. Service was spotty and inconsistent. Waited what seemed to be a lifetime for dessert. Lava chocolate cake tasted as if it came from a box. Slightly chemical taste.

    (2)

  • Rodd Y.

    Overpriced, sub-par, salty food served by inconsiderate wait staff. Granted it was Mother's Day and the town was unbelievably crowded but when you're paying those prices for food and drinks you would expect more courtesy and professionalism from the wait staff and management than what we got. Not to mention we had children under two who waited 2.5hrs for their chicken fingers. We spoke with the floor manager twice who did absolutely nothing to smooth over the fact that our entire meal, including appetizers, was unbelievably slow and our drink order wasn't complete. I feel the restaurant was under staffed and if it was, do your best to notify your patrons ahead of time of the issues. Don't let them sit there for hours unattended and wondering. And now the waiter. Obnoxious, rude, and clueless to his customers needs. I would say the forced gratuity allowed him to behave in this fashion as he was guaranteed 18%. Who brings a bottle of wine half way through the meal even though it was ordered before the food arrived? The same guy who brings an incomplete drink order on the first round. I will say this. Once I tracked down the GM on my own and explained the situation, the GM was aware of our tables food delay and wondered why we hadn't been served for such a long time. To our luck, the GM comped our meal, hence the one star. And I still left a tip although the GM told us not too. I will not be back to this establishment.

    (1)

  • Jeffrey S.

    Such a cool place with a nice intimate bar area, eclectic seating on the main floor and a cavernous dining room upstairs. Located in the heart of town in an old church, Marsh Brown's is certainly one of the coolest restaurants in New Hope. As I've been told countless times, I'm a creature of habit and generally order the Crab Cheesecake with is basically the offspring of a crab cake mating with a quiche and is decadently delicious. Screw the calories. Service is attentive and prompt despite them getting jam packed on weekends and quite busy during the week. This really is a must eat place if you're going to be in new Hope. An absolute favorite!

    (4)

  • A.L. P.

    What's happened to Marsha Brown's?! It's even painful to give his once elite dining spot three stars. Though they have remodeled and it's very appealing to the eye, the food is "eh" and quite over-priced. A NY strip steak was $40 and I mean just a steak! We ordered the lobster-shrimp bisque for starters and it was barely warm - though tasty. The crab cakes were just "OK" and the sweet potato mash arrived at the end of our main course. My tea came with a stained or dirty tea cup which was sent back. Not sure if we will be returning to this once favorite spot of ours. Disappointed.

    (3)

  • Stacy D.

    This is a definite must for anyone visiting New Hope! The atmosphere and building itself were so beautiful and unique. The best part, however, was definitely the food! The Lobster and Shrimp Bisque was the best I've ever had and the Eggplant Ophelia was to die for. The portions were also much bigger than I expected and left us stuffed! Not to mention, the price was so reasonable for such an excellent meal definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone.

    (5)

  • Monya V.

    I love this place so much that I don't even know where to begin this review. I have dined or had drinks here at least 25 times over the last five years. I have never had a less than perfect experience or less than perfect meal. Starting with the atmosphere, what can I say that has not been said before? The place is gorgeous, no really.... it is stunning. The old converted church is lovely in every possible way and exudes charm from every corner both inside & out. This is an elegant establishment and I just don't think we have enough of those in a world that is becoming ever more casual. Check in with the host, check your coat and hang out at the bar. They have a nice wine list that will surely have something for your enjoyment. The bartenders have been the same for years & will create some of the finest cocktails in New Hope - I recommend the classic Martini. The host will come get you when your table is ready and whisk you away to a romantic dining room on the second floor. Look around as you climb the stairs, there is a lot to see in this beautiful old church. The grand dining room is large, complete with stunning art and magnificently high ceilings. The tables for couples will be adorned with red rose petals. The food has always been exceptional, understand it is Southern cooking, Creole to be exact - lots of seafood, lots of classics such as jambalaya & gumbo. The fresh French baguette they bring over is always warm, flakey in the outside and delicate on the inside. The service has never been less than five stars. I always like a little banter with whomever is serving and my last experience here was no exception. Our server both entertained us with his quick wit and informed us about everything we considered on the menu. We both ordered the beet salad with spinach & goat cheese as our starter and as a vegetarian I got the Eggplant Napoleon as my meal. Creamy, buttery, fresh, flavorful with just the right spice to make an impression - delicious!!! Naturally dessert had to be ordered and I got the carrot cake, be warned - it is a very large piece and is served with a scoop of homemade ice cream. I couldn't finish the whole thing & I never leave dessert unfinished on my plate. As I said at the start, I have never had less than a five star experience at Marsha Brown's and will be back again in a few weeks.

    (5)

  • Steve L.

    Awesome food, great atmosphere, and the food is wonderful. Oysters and cocktails at the bar and then dinner and more cocktails upstairs. I always order steak and I am never disappointed.

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    I love repurposed churches and when I saw this one in New Hope, I knew I had to eat here. I sat myself at the bar. I have to say this was one of the most odd experiences I've ever had at a bar. The bartender was an older woman and her comments were very condescending. Everything she said was a sarcastic comment so I didn't think this visit was going to end well. She also paid little attention to people sitting at the bar. They do not have much of a selection of craft beer and no draft beer. They had Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada in bottles which are at least better craft beers so that's a plus. For an entree, I went a suggestion from another reviewer, the eggplant ophelia and it was amazing -- expensive, but amazing. Eggplant, shrimp, and crab in a butter sauce. The bread was good also. After dinner, the hostesses allowed me to take a look around the church and take some pictures. On the second floor is a large dining area with a mural that I still cannot figure out. The original stained glass still exists and there are religious status that still reside in the place. The bartender killed this experience for me. The food is what saved it. Still, I thought they were a little pricy and I doubt I will return when I am in New Hope again.

    (3)

  • Thea Z.

    What a gem! If you are in the area, do not miss dining here. I'll break it down but all you need to know is this is a MUST TRY! Atmosphere How much cooler can you get than dining in an old church. They have done a great job of preserving the sentiment of the ol gal, keeping the original sconces and kneeling pew on the top floor, and preserving the archways on the lower floor. Beautiful bar and tables on the ground floor if you wish to be more casual, and a strikingly beautiful dining room on the top floor. Oh and the aroma is enough to make you really hungry. Service One of my top experiences. Attentive but not suffocating. The manager came over twice, once to chat and once to check in. Our server was knowledgable and helpful when I couldnt decide what to get. Food Had the beet salad, cesear salad, oysters, gumbo, and scallops. All were prepared efficiently and were tasteful and presented very nicely. The flavors are unique and done very well. Oh and I had put in on our open table reservation that it was our anniversary and they were sweet enough to sprinkle rose petals on our table. They also had the staff come over and wish us a happy anniversary, which was very thoughtful.

    (5)

  • Amy c.

    Now I've been to Marsha Brown's many times usually for lunch on the weekends when my husband and I take a ride on the motorcycle. We live in Princeton so tend to stick closer to home, I decided that we are going to step out of the comfort circle and head down to New Hope for a nice dinner and what we got was so much more! Dan our very knowledgeable and polite waiter was more than happy to take care of us. We sat upstairs in my favorite part of the restaurant where the beautiful stain glass windows and huge mural are displayed in such opulence. It's such a huge space yet still cozy. Once a church, Marsha Brown transformed it into an eclectic eatery. The food ; OMG! nothing short of perfection! The Martinis were ice cold and served very quickly even though the house was full. And then we had the crab ravioli as an appetizer which was absolutely the best I've ever had and they make everything from scratch that day. The sauce was outstanding and with the fresh hot bread we mopped it up every drop. We both had the special Manhattan Strip with" au poivre sauce served on the side for dipping. Cooked perfectly we ordered the crawfish risotto and sweet potato casserole as sides and again home runs on each. We finished with that better than sex dessert, Chocolate Moose Cheesecake and I can't wait to go back!! Trust me here, you will not be disappointed EVER Marsha knows how to give you an unforgettable experience and worth the drive!

    (5)

  • Christin H.

    We met friends for dinner at Marsha Brown who we have not seen for quite some time, and were looking for restaurant were we would not be rushed. Our meal from start to finish was incredible, with a wonderful wait staff, who were attentive professional, friendly, and unpretentious. Our main waiter was very informed and helpful with menu selections, and the young man who served our water was so pleasant, asking if we enjoyed our time there after the meal. We all had different meals, and all of them were perfection. Marsha Brown has such a unique atmosphere! We were there just about three hours (having ordered appetizers, dinner and dessert), and would not hesitate to go back again. Wonderful experience, fabulous meal!

    (5)

  • J B.

    The management of this establishment care like no other. They expect the best and deliver the best. Thank you

    (5)

  • N H.

    We had 7:30 reservations with another couple. We live in New Hope and are fortunate enough to try many of the restaurants in the area. My husband and I are still raving this morning about our wonderful meal and atmosphere. It was very rainy last night the valet staff open my door and walked me in under his umbrella. Valet parking was $10.00. We sat at the bar and had a drink 1 very good martini and jack and coke = $21.00. We were seated up stairs - absolutely breath taken , great atmosphere and even though the room was full with everyone talking - we noticed how the noise was not annoying or disruptive to our conversation. We started out with one more drink each and a dozen of the salty oysters which were amazing. We then chose 2 apps for the 4 of us, the crab cheesecake and the bacon slab. - OMGGG!! The flavors were amazing - highly recommend!! For our entrees. Us girls both decided on the Ophelia's Eggplant and they were not stingy with the crab and shrimp at all- just scrumptious!! Her husband got the jambalaya and mine the Tornedo medallions - we then decided on the family style sides of seafood risotto ( Im personally not a risotto fan but this was also amazing) - definitely not your standard risotto. And the cream spinach. We all really enjoyed our meal. The flavors with each dish were just perfect and authentic - did I mention my friend is a Nu'awlin - inger, born and raised! We weren't sure what we liked the most because it was all so good. We didn't have room for dessert. Our waiter Sean was very personable and perfectly attentive. We asked him about the mural he had an impressive in depth knowledge and explanation of it as well as of the painter. It was evident that he enjoyed his job here at Marsha Browns - which, in my opinion says a lot about an establishment. The atmosphere was beautiful and the meal was perfect. Without the drinks the meal would have been about 120.00 a couple - that included the 20% tip ( the bar bill ran it up to 150.00 a couple). We would definitely go back and maybe just skip the drinks.

    (5)

  • Jess M.

    I loved this place for so many reasons. The staff was so nice and accommodating. The ambiance is so beautiful and so cool that it was an old church transformed into this big restaurant. The downstairs bar is also welcoming. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, and I can honestly say, it was the best I've ever had-- and I've had a lot of crab cakes!! My fiance got the crawfish étouffée and he said it was one of the best meals he's ever had. Will definitely be back here again!!!

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    Armed with a coupon and our savings, my boyfriend and I gussied up for a date night at Marsha Brown's. Even their caesar salad was wicked good. Whether it's surf or turf you're looking to try, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    I've eaten here 3 or 4 times and never had a bad experience. Food has always been good with plentiful portions. Never a problem with service either. Beautiful building. I don't understand the complaints about price. There is a menu posted outside with prices on it. Been to many "must go" restaurants in the Philadelphia area that charge more for a bite size morsel of fancy food and I have to park in an unsecured garage for 30 bucks.

    (5)

  • Helen E.

    My first trip ever to New Hope, and I came across Marsha Brown. My brother and I checked out the menu outside and we actually managed to agree that it was worth a go. It definitely helped that a nice (seemingly) local guy out taking a walk with his child stopped to tell us that the food was amazing. The building is stunningly beautiful (as is all of New Hope to be fair). We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. Our server, Dan, was incredibly personable and gave flawless recommendations- my brother and I each ordered what was suggested and were quite pleased. My brother, the foodie, even was impressed. I had the eggplant Ophelia and my brother the jambalaya. Yum! I ordered dessert as well, the pecan pie, and it was heavenly (I should mention at this point that I am southern- the standards for pecan pie are set sky high). Prices are a tad high, but this is a case where you get what you pay for. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience. Of course I also highly recommended Dan- he seems to really be able to adapt to the needs of his customer, and able to give the right suggestions.

    (5)

  • James B.

    Have driven by this restaurant plenty of times and always wanted to grab dinner there. It is an intriguing building in that it is inside a building that was previously a Methodist church. Finally had a chance to fine in for dinner and everything was great, especially the service.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Dined on: 09/28/2014 Marsha Browns in New Hope PA is the best Restaurant my family and I have ever been to. We have dinned at this place over the last few years and every time we have eaten here the Food, Service and Ambiance is out of this world. If your looking for an upscale restaurant in the heart of New Hope look no further. Marsha Browns New Hope surly delivers the finest food and service around. You won't get any better than this! Just Amazing.

    (5)

  • Rose L.

    Had a nice lunch - tried the eggplant dish and the crab cheesecake. Also tried the bisque as well. All were tasty. Took a sneak peak upstairs to see the beautiful vaulted ceilings & stain glass. Very nice.

    (3)

  • Ariana Z.

    Our innkeeper in New Hope recommended we go to Marsha Brown's if we wanted to see a beautiful restaurant. He said it was once a church that was converted into a restaurant and bar while still retaining its magnificent stained glass pieces. Immediately we were intrigued and decided to go in for lunch. My gf and I ordered a crab cake sandwich with their special fries and we were not disappointed. The burger was fresh and the sandwich did not over whelm the crab. The crab cake was thick and juicy and struck the perfect balance of crab and filler. The fries were incredible! They were probably dusted with old bay and some herbs but that definitely gave the fries new life and it was worth the extra cost.

    (5)

  • Barbara H.

    Went here on a Tuesday. Everything was great, service, attitude, atmosphere, etc. But, I can't say enough about the food! The Eggplant Ophelia was delicious ,especially with a delectable creole butter sauce. The crab cheesecake(with smoked Gouda) was also very good, rich and good. The menu was filled with interesting possibilities and we will. Certainly be back. Am recommending to family and friends. Read some of the reviews and was surprised at hostility of some people who think a restaurant is sitting someplace waiting just for them. If you go someplace on "restaurant week" it's going to be crowded, slower. Etc. If a restaurant looks like it's too busy, go somewhere else. If you're not taken to table in reasonable time, go to hostess and remind them politely. If your meal is not up to standards, by all means bring it too servers notice, politely. On of our group felt soda was untastey and it was replaced without charge. Don't jump immediately into indignant mode. Attitude is important on both sides for a civilized experience.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Marsha Browns is a popular Creole (New Orleans) restaurant on Main Street in New Hope, open for both lunch and dinner. Some plusses: * Cool venue. Fine dining seating is upstairs in the main dinning room which used to be the sanctuary of a 125 year old Methodist Church. You can get the same menu at the bar and in various small tables around it on the first floor. The place is always clean and well maintained. * Valet parking. * Serves dinner late! The kitchen is open to 11:00PM -- which is great as most of the other New Hope places shut down at 10:00PM (other options: John and Peter's kitchen is open until midnight). * Great raw bar and always fresh. Cherry stone clams @ $1.25 each, Jumbo shrimp $3.95 (ouch!) each. they have a nice multi-tiered seafood sampler -- $79 "serves 4", $115 "serves 6" which I recommend. * Their soups are great: Lobster and Shrimp bisque ($9) is terrific, a think brown broth with generous portions minced lobster and shrimp spiced lightly with cayenne pepper and sherry. * Their gumbo ($8, a bit spicier) is also great. Chicken, andouille sausage, rice. * Similar to the gumbo is an entire, the Jambalaya ($27). Adds duck, crabmeat, onions. Very tasty and I recommend. * Their chopped salad ($11) is decent. * Lobster Pot Pie ($32) kind of fun. * Live Maine Lobster ("market price" -- last time I checked was $28/pound) * Their steaks and chops are good (the owner, Marsha Brown, used to own a Ruth's Chris in Philadelphia for 15 years). Minuses (not many): * They have a full bar, but their beer selection is limited (other options: many other nearby New Hope places have great beer, Triumph -- a microbrewry, Nikolas, and the Landing come to mind). * A bit pricey, a bit more of a special occasion place. * Tends to be busy, especially when the rest of the town has tourists. Service can slow down then. - - This is an independent review. I have no relationship to this restaurant, nor to the best of my knowledge, know anyone who works there.

    (5)

  • Sharon K.

    Had a lovely dinner here a few weeks ago. The location is interesting, as many have mentioned - in a church. The bread came out warm - nice. We shared the mussels to start - the sauce was so good! Even when the mussels were done, I took some bread and sopped up that awesome sauce! I had a cup of gumbo - it was nice and spicy. For my main, I had the Eggplant Ophelia - a lot of people who reviewed seemed to rave about this - this wasn't my favorite - I felt the eggplant could have been cooked a little bit more and also more seasoned. Anyway, the dinner was great overall. I would definitely come back to try more of the menu. Next time - crab cheesecake. They were also very accommodating of our party - one of whom walked with a cane. They took us upstairs in the elevator and gave us a table close by. Anyway, all in a good experience. Would definitely return.

    (4)

  • Lexie S.

    Wanted to celebrate hubby's birthday on Monday, Marsha Browns was open, and we were excited. Appetizers: we split the catfish bites. They were good, more bread than fish; I've had alligator bites at another Creole Restaurant that were better. Salads: we both got the wedge- mine with blue cheese, hubby with balsamic. They were disappointing. However, I always compare my wedges to Ruth's Chris which probably is not very fair. Here, literally a hunk of lettuce with a small amount of dressing. Dinner: I got the Walleye special. It was good, but nothing to right home about. I prefer the Walleye at the Blue Point Grill in Princeton (go there, you'll love it). Hubby got the scallops-- those alone were worth the trip. If you're going here, get the Scallops! Atmosphere: it's a Church setting, which is unusual around here. Very pretty stained glass and an epic hunting scene at the "altar." Used to the church setting after living in Pitt-- we're pretty spoiled. Service: they were good. Kept on top of water glasses and wine refills. Summary: skip salad, get scallops. Enjoy atmosphere. Get ready to fork out some $$$ :)

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    It gets one star for the beautiful church that it once was, other than that... Blah. First our waiter offered us water which turned into a 9 dollar charge on our bill. The service was slow in spite of the dining room being mostly empty. When the food did come out, my wife's eggplant looked like wet cat food and my gumbo was overly spiced. I lived in New Orleans for 20 years and I'm 50 percent cajun so please believe me when I say, ignore the good reviews. The place is the death of cajun cuisine.

    (1)

  • Amber P.

    This is our first visit to New Hope and, of course, being Cajun, Marsha Brown sounded like a great idea! We each had a cup of Shrimp and Lobster Bisque that took me back home. I had an oyster po-boy which would have been one of the best I ever had if the baguette wouldn't have been hard (softer bread and it would have been perfect). My boyfriend had the Marsha Brown burger and loved it. I suggest anyone in the area to give this place a try, you definitely get what you pay for. The wait staff were extremely friendly and made us feel welcomed from the get-go.

    (4)

  • Jenn W.

    Upon stopping on main street earlier, we were going to eat at Peddlers Village, but our favorite spot has no closed, and a new place took its spot. There was a 1/2 hour wait with equally unimpressed menu, so we decided to go back to New Hope. We ended going here. The seated us right away, a nice Creole cuisine, so we ended getting the catfish Po-boy and for it being fried, very seasoned, lightly battered, very appetizing. We waited, took them longer then expected, but our waitress was very empathetic, and brought out our plates already split .I still couldn't finish my sandwich. But been years since been here, but I do like the aviance & we sat in booth near Raw bar, Mmmm-mmm Oysters, Return Factor- Yes..I will be back..

    (4)

  • Dave W.

    My wife and I have been going to New Hope since we were in high school and the place still has an attraction for us. Marsha Brown's wasn't there back in the 60s (yes, the 60s so now everyone can figure out how old they were) and I guess the church was still in business. They have converted the church and split it up into various rooms. We sat in the bar area, just past the raw bar and it was quite comfortable. Lunch consisted of jambalaya for me, which was spicy, piping hot and had excellent flavor and consistency. Could have used a little more rice, however. My wife had the prosciutto salad which she enjoyed as well. We asked for a side of their house made spicy Cajun chips and received a huge bowl at no cost. Unfortunately, they forgot to bring any bread to the table. Nice selection of wines by the glass and a meager selection of bottled beer. The dinner menu looked good so we'll have to get back there and try it sometime.

    (4)

  • Holly E.

    Whether I'm here for dinner or lunch the meal are delicious. I have never had an "ok" meal here, the food is amazing. The wait staff are friendly and professional and know the menu.You would also want to go just to see the beautiful interior.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    I loved the idea of walking into a beautiful restored church to have dinner. the whole idea was just magical to me especially since the day before when we came into make a reservation there was an actual wedding going on. so yea, 5 stars on ambiance . food was good, nothing to spectacular but tasty at that. my favorite part of the meal was the hot bread and carrot cake. I would recommend going here just for the ambiance alone.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Made reservations after having read the reviews here and the menu. Marsha's did not disappoint in any way! We arrived half hour early and sat at the bar while we waited. Great atmosphere and great cocktails! Upstairs dinning room was amazing....buzzing but not obnoxiously loud. Our servers Cosmo and Karan were great, attentive but not obtrusive. Food....amazing....had to order 3 appetizers since I could not decide. We were not rushed and had a leisurely, cocktail filled dinner. Would come back here in a heart beat. Amazing evening......Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Alexa G.

    In an area dominated by rustic country/ traditional American cuisine, Marsha Browns is truly a unique gem. Have dined here numerous times, most recently last evening for my birthday dinner, Marsha Browns has proven to be consistently good in the quality of their food and their service. I am giving it four stars because of a couple of little things which Ive explained in my review but nonetheless still a fantastic meal. We arrived a tad late for our reservations, but the hostess was quite polite and very accommodating. We were seated quickly and our drink orders were taken right away. The fresh bread that was brought to the table was good but it seemed a tad bit to chewy for me at least. My french martini seemed slightly more empty in comparison to the other diners at my table, not sure if they were brought up from the down stairs bar, but it was definitely short and god knows you don't deny a woman her booze on her birthday! Not the end of the world but still something worth noting. So onto the food. Our waiter was awesome and as every bit the professional that is expected of fine dinning establishments. He suggested that we try mameres crab cheesecake, it was to die for. It was full of crab and the right amount of bacon and cheese and balanced perfectly with a light flaky crust to compliment the creamy and airy texture of the dish. I could live off of this stuff. Salads were good, pretty standard. I liked that my beet salad wasn't overloaded with goat cheese. For dinner i ordered the Crawfish Etoufee which I kind of regretted later. I was torn between a few options but chose this because I had a craving for the etoufee I had had in New Orleans. This wasn't bad but it was nothing like what i expected it to be. It was more of a soupy stew over rice than the rich, thick and spicy crawfish "gravy" i had in New Orleans. It had tons of crawfish in it but it definitely needed a little kick as it was on the blander side. The other plates i tried were outstanding. The eggplant Ophelia, always a standard order when we eat here, was excellent. The other dish i tried, shrimp and salmon over creamy grits was bliss. The salmon had that nice crust on the outside and was cooked PERFECTLY and full of flavor. The grits were rich and creamy and the accompanying sauce just perfected the whole thing. Sides were asparagus, sauteed spinach and the always delicious sweet potato casserole which could probably pass for a dessert in itself. Overall, great meal and outstanding service. If you have not been here it is definitely worth the trip alone, doesn't hurt that New Hopes always a fun place to spend a Saturday night too. Great food, ambiance and service, three things that are seemingly becoming harder to find these days and one of the reasons that Marsha Browns is hands down my one of my favorites.

    (4)

  • Joni P.

    My husband and I had a lovely dinner at the bar there last night: oysters from the raw bar, a wedge salad w/ crumbled Bleu cheese and candied bacon, and a to-die-for eggplant-shrimp-crabmeat dish named Eggplant Ophelia. Service was outstanding; we had a warm welcome on arrival, three bartenders serving us, and assorted support staff bringing us our courses. They all worked together and made sure we'd want to return again and again.

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    Great food ... one of the best restaurants in the new hope area. the head chef came by to talk to our table .. that was a treat too.

    (4)

  • Mary Beth L.

    I have passed this restaurant multiple times when in New Hope but have never stopped in . So today was the day. We were seated in the bar area which is nice, but truly needs a makeover, the seating is awkward and the bar is really over-sized for the area. The food was well prepared and seasoned. The tuna Tartar with a roumalade sauce was fresh and clean and well balanced in flavors. I was actually surprised thinking the sauce would overpower the tuna. The hand cut potato chips were seasoned perfectly.. they were light and crisp without being greasy... The gumbo was also well seasoned and what you would expect. Over all the meal pretty much would you expect of this caliber restaurant . Service was attentive and did not rush you which was nice for a leisurely Saturday lunch. Nice wine list, but truly overpriced... a glass of Almos Melbac was 10 bucks. I would come back when the outside garden area is open..

    (3)

  • Karen J.

    Over priced. Food is average. Ambience is ok but a bit odd. Will not return.

    (2)

  • Jerome M.

    Great ambiance, great food, super dorky server. We loved it. Will be back again soon

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    I really can't say enough. We're DEFINITELY coming back. Beautiful, stunning setting...in an old Methodist church--I mean really--couldn't get much cooler. The lighting was warm and relaxing. The waitstaff was all very friendly. We got the codfish appetizer--yum! The mustard remoulade was great. I got the surf and turf as my entree and WOW. Just wow. The filet was tender and you could pull it apart with your fork and the crab cakes were AMAZING. The crawfish risotto was superb and cooked just right. We got the family style sides--bleu cheese and bacon encrusted green beans---yum, yum, YUM and sweet potato casserole...that could have been dessert--so delicious and unique in flavor. This place is also great because they have great valet service and the atmosphere is classy yet casual--I wore a cute sweater, yoga pants and ballet flats and no one looked at me funny--very nice and relaxed. If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would.

    (5)

  • J M K.

    Restaurant in a church....pretty cool. But...that's about it for the place. Marsha owns several Ruth Chris steak houses (yes, a chain restaurant) and this one falls right into that same chain restaurant mentality. So so service and so so food. I bet the steaks are good! (I never tried 'em...lol) Seafood wise though......this ain't cajun or creole...no way. If you've ever been down to NOLA, you'd know what I mean. I really wouldn't go back to this restaurant......

    (2)

  • Karen C.

    The food at Marsha Brown's was exceptional! Everything was cooked to perfection and presented well. I definitely recommend the Crawfish Risotto and Crab Cheesecake as appetizers. Both were very flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed the Eggplant Ophelia and Jambalaya as our main entrees, again, very flavorful and satisfying. I look forward to returning to try everything else on the menu! I'd recommend that you make reservations as it fills up quickly. The service was wonderful, very attentive and pleasant. Didn't hover but was there when needed. A little pricey, but well worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    Previously my favorite restaurant, service was so disorganized during a single meal (which I had brought someone to for a special occasion) that I will probably not return. It took about 5 minutes after our soup was served to get spoons, at which point my bisque had a film over it. With that being said the food tasted outstanding. The salmon and shrimp over grits couldn't be beat, and held PERFECTLY for leftovers (my favorite!) I have eaten here other times but the service was truly SO disorganized throughout the entire meal (waiters asking us the same questions multiple times, we also didn't know who our server was and clearly there was no communication between staff) that I probably wont chance it again. For the price paid, I feel consistent slip-ups throughout an entire meal is inexcusable. It killed ANY fancy vibe. In the future, I plan to write all reviews on food, it's the level of disorganization during this experience as to why I chose to factor in service for Marsha Brown's. I wish all other diners better luck and hope this was just the worst experience ever from what's normally a solid establishment.

    (2)

  • Christopher S.

    NOT A FAN. It took over 30 minutes to take our drink orders. Food is okay at best. Will not be back.

    (1)

  • Sarah Y.

    Dined here for lunch. Great atmosphere, including the music. Beautiful decor. My husband loved the jambalaya, and I thought the Eggplant Ophelia was quite good. The host and our server were very nice, and their service was a pleasure. The one thing that knocked a star off my review is that we were seated in a side room where the wine bottles were stored, and some staff entered and began inventorying the wine while we were eating. It really detracted from our dining experience. Also, I see other reviewers indicated that bread was served during their meals. We did not receive any. Not a big deal either way, but it may have been that they forgot it.

    (4)

  • Gene F.

    This was our best meal in New Hope. We had gumbo, eggplant Ophelia, and the tournedos. Bread pudding for desert. We enjoyed everything, though the noise level got a bit high after a while. The service was top-notch.

    (4)

  • Bil G.

    I want to start off by saying the service was great. However, the food was not so great. The Lobster shrimp bisque was grainy. The steak was over cooked and dry. I should have sent it back. I don't know about the rest of the menu but if you want a steak do not go here. Go to Philadelphia and go to Capital Grill or Butcher and Singer. It will cost about the same but will actually be worth it.

    (1)

  • Jessica L.

    Came here on Valentine's Day this year and it was just as good as I remembered. They do a great job of incorporating that New Orleans flavor and flare into their food. It's a beautiful setting and perfect for a nice night out.

    (4)

  • Dimitri K.

    went here with a party of 8, had a private room which was pretty cool. first off the waitress did a fair job. only reason i would say service wasn't up to snuff was that their were long gaps in between apps and entrees where we were all waiting around and another cocktail could have helped. Its an old church turned restaurant so the decor and ambiance is pretty good. going for that old Orleans feel. I'm all about the food and it sucked! we got plenty of apps and side dishes to start. looking at that menu and the prices they charge i thought i'd probably be getting something close to q-u-a-l-i-i-t-y. we didn't! you can charge whatever you want in New Hope, like most towns that are well off financially the donkeys know nothing about food and just want to get out. the whole town on a Saturday night was filled with middle aged people living it up. You see no young people mainly because most of them wouldn't drop $32 on a surf and turf like i did that sucked! Yes sir those heavenly crab cakes were god awful, my risotto looked like left over frozen pilaf rice ball. my two medallions were pathetically cooked and even more pathetic in flavor. Scallops weren't seared correctly. skip out on the sweet potato casserole that's you wont be able to take two bites on because of the abundance of brown sugar on top. ditto with the pine apple souffle. Stop serving these flimsy asparagus you can't properly blanch and are thinner than a No 2 pencil. out of everything on the menu that we had maybe the fries and twice baked potato were acceptable and worth paying for. They had a crab cheesecake that i'm still wondering wtf was the point of wasting time, energy, ingredients and money to make. Some of the people I was with new a manager there and got comped basically about 10% which seriously bumped this place up to 2 stars. Other than that this place will continue to be packed with with people who have never dined out properly and have the palates of a baboons ass. Skip this place its not helping anyone but the owners make money. nothing here is worth keeping alive

    (2)

  • Vanessa W.

    My friend and I stopped in here for lunch after passing by it a few times on previous trips. It's a neat place - in a refurbished church. Many of the old church elements are there including pews, lighting fixtures and stained glass windows. This is a Creole sort of restaurant and as others noted a limited menu. Prices, especially for New Hope, I thought were reasonable hovering around $15 for a sandwich. I got the crab cake sandwich which was more crab and very little filler. It was a real one made from scratch and it was delicious. My friend got the crab and lobster bisque which she only ate half of - guess it wasn't her thing. She enjoyed her hamburger though. We left agreeing we would be back.

    (4)

  • Catherine N.

    What a wonderful surprise! We went for lunch and had the Mamere crab cheesecake and a eggplant with shrimp and crab cake. Both were wonderful with complex favors and well worth the money. A real gem

    (5)

  • Jacob P.

    Great food. Expensive for the area. The shrimp and lobster bisque was best.

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    Just went back here with a group of friends. I'm sure on any given night, a restaurant can have an off night. Luckily for me, I still have not had that problem at Marsha Browns!! Another spectacualr meal that everyone in our party loved!! Crab Cheesecake appetizer......WOW!!! Delicious!! My surf and turf which consisted of filet medallions, crabcake and crawfish risotto was outstanding!! There is nothing like eating a piece of crabcake and actually tastig crab, not bread!!! We ordered a bunch of the ala carte sides. Onion rings and cajun dusted fries. The fries were crisp and flaovorful. The spices were not overpowering on them. Just right. As for the onion rings, they were so good, I wanted to take them home and perform a sexual act with them!!! Huge a delicious!! I don't remember the last time I had an onion ring that the onion didn't fall out of while I was eating it!! Didn't happen here!! Beautiful place, great food and good staff. While some of their dinner specials are priced beyond belief, the standard menu is not too pricey. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite spots!!

    (5)

  • Miss J.

    I sho' 'nuf believed that Marsha Brown's is a church-turned-restaurant - I heard angels singing when I took my first bite of crab cheesecake. I've never tasted something so heavenly before. Since Marsha is a N'awlins girl, we stuck to the Cajun/Creole side of the menu instead of the steaks. The crawfish etouffee was good with just the right level of spice, if not as creamy as I would've expected from an authentic dish. On the other hand, I'll preach from the pulpit how amazing the Bourbon Street sauteed catfish was. Dusted with Cajun spices, served on top of a bed of creamy, lightly spiced sauce, with a dollop of seafood rice in the middle. Ca c'est bon! It's a cloth napkin kind of place with no kids' entrees on the printed menu, but we took the kids (4 and 6) anyway. They enjoyed the coconut shrimp from the appetizer menu, and the chicken fingers from the three kid selections our waiter told us about. Other than our own waiter, the waitstaff was amazing with our kids - stopping by to joke with them on their way to other tables, stopping us on the way to the restroom to tell our kids how grown up they were acting. Cons: - Our waiter seemed a little socially awkward and was so distracted by someone's cell phone going off that he couldn't get through the list of specials. -It's a little on the pricey side. In a nutshell: Eating here is sinfully good.

    (4)

  • Mama O.

    Pretty nice atmosphere but if you're seated downstairs it's pretty crammed. *Limited menu. *NOT friendly service- kind of snooty. There's signs up everywhere about their votes for "Best Burger' yet there are none listed to order from the dinner menu. Upon entering we were told we were having "lunch" but then, once seated, they handed us the dinner menus- I suppose since it took so long to be seated the menu had changed to dinner. 2 adults + 2 kids who split their entree= over $200 with tip. BTW for my entree I only ate a salad. TOO much Money for a Unmemorable, Unfriendly meal. It served its purpose that day, but I won't be back. *I did mark that there is a full bar- but there is a very limited selection of beer. They didn't even have Corona-? Strange. Plus if there's more than 1 or 2 of you- good luck waiting at the bar- it is next to a service door, we were there when it wasn't very busy, yet, always seemed to be in the way.

    (2)

  • K M.

    Marsha Brown will call the police to ticket people parked at a public parking meter to "reserve" the space for their valet service. My meter still had over an hour left on it when I returned to my car to find a parking ticket on my car. They attempted to reserve the spot by placing a restraunt bag over the parking meter that still had remaining time left on it and then called the police to place a no parking bag over the meter and to give me a ticket. If they would like to use the space for their valet parking service, there should be a sign indicating what time that goes into effect, put up by the police, not by placing a restraunt bag over a public parking meter with time left on it.

    (1)

  • Jeff B.

    Everything about this restaurant was first rate. From the ambiance of the space, the service, the food and the wine list. My wife and I both ordered the 10 ounce New York strips, that our server said were worthy of being filet mignons based on how they tasted and the tenderness of the steak. He was right on the mark. Both steaks were cooked to perfection and were absolutely delicious. For an appetizer I ordered the Gumbo Yaya which had just the right amounts of spice , flavor and heat to be classified as world class Gumbo. The wine list had a broad array of selections from low to high price trophy wines, that were fairly priced, and well suited to the menu... We will definitely be back...

    (5)

  • Joven C.

    First time visitor to Lambertville, and we crossed the bridge into New Hope on the hunt for a dinner destination. Housed in an old church, Marsha Brown's was the first establishment that grabbed our attention. Reminded me of the old Limelight in NYC. We did not have a reservation, but thought we'd try our luck anyway. Wait for a table was quite long, so the host graciously suggested we try the bar as they offer the full menu. For starters, we couldn't decide between the baked oysters or raw, so we had both, followed by the wedge salad. For dinner, we had the salmon and lobster pot pie. The salmon was solid, but unspectacular. Lobster pot pie was hearty and a perfect meal for a chilly night. Although we didn't order it, the eggplant ophelia looked very good plated and I'm not ashamed to admit I was eyeballing this dish as the diner to my left dug in. Overall, it was a great dining experience for our first visit to Lambertville/New Hope and a nice way to wrap up a visit to this area's very cool shops and downtown. Only regret was we were not able sit in the main dining room and enjoy more of the decor. It's definitely advisable to make a reservation if you plan on going for dinner on weekends.

    (3)

  • Layla G.

    Insanely delicious food. Nice ambience for a large group, not sure for a romantic evening since the noise level is a little high, and the tables are a bit close together. Ahi tuna appetizer, crab cheese cake (yes you read that right....cheese as in smoked gouda) and regular crab cakes are to die for. Pecan pie for dessert-- excellent. I was there with 7 other people and was able to sample their orders as well. Everything tastes good, the above mentioned were the standouts. Great service. I highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Danan R.

    The dining room is absolutely gorgeous. The crawfish etouffee was pretty good and spicy, although I tend to prefer the creamier Cajun style (rather than Creole). The lobster pot pie was flavorful and had a buttery, flaky crust that was quite decadent. The jambalaya is very spicy so keep that in mind. Try the sweet potato casserole as a side or the cajun fries, if you like a spicy side. The creme brulee was nice and creamy, but not overly sweet. Service was very attentive and almost exemplary. Overall, the food is tasty but maybe not worth the relatively high price tag. For that, we could have gone to a good restaurant downtown. Plus, parking is a pain although they do offer valet for $10.

    (3)

  • JS A.

    Great atmosphere and awesome service. Chef even came out to see how everything was.

    (5)

  • Melanie Q.

    Amazingly delicious crab cheesecake!!

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Marsha Brown's appears to be a prettily covered book within the first ten minutes. Strolling through New Hope, I was so excited to eat at the place that has a massive fork and spoon hovering over the entrance. How could a place with such cool decor fail me? I went inside and was not expecting the grandiose feel. The restaurant is in an old church and it has a strange space/perception feel to it. The vaulted ceilings with sparse artwork and massive murals just threw me off a little. I was also not expecting a heavy seafood menu. It was delicious. We split some wonderful carpaccio (wish it had some capers on it), asparagus with an interesting ginger sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and, le piece de resistance: spinach, fig, bleu cheese salad. The dressing to lettuce ratio was PERFECT. Our server, Jack, was so effusive and lovely. He knows everything there is to know about Marsha Brown's and it is very evident that he loves what he does. It's hard to find individuals like this stateside. Overall, it was a lovely dining experience.

    (4)

  • Linda H.

    Had a wonderful lunch with my husband today at Marsha Browns!!!! The "Real gumbo Ya Ya" was delicious (my husband had that) and I asked our wonderful waiter "Russell" if I could have oysters even tho' it wasn't on the menu for lunch and he brought me a 1/2 dozen delicious oysters! Then my husband and I had the Eggplant Ophelia which at first looked like a small portion but turned out to be more than enough...it was wonderful...I loved the yummy creole butter sauce that accompanied it. But I think what made the entire lunch so special was our terrific waiter "Russell"...he was so attentive and professional...we will definitely return to Marsha Browns!!!!

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    The food was exceptional, the service was great, the ambiance is wonderful and it made for an unforgettable birthday dinner. It's pricey, but worth it for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Dave J.

    This old church converted into a creole Louisiana style restaurant is a must if you're in the area. Food and service are outstanding! (Strong wine list and knowledgable staff really enhances the experience) Parking on street can be tough, however valet for dinner time really helps!!!

    (4)

  • kristen i.

    My BF and I stopped in here for a potential dinner (which ended up only being drinks) on a Tuesday night. Maybe they don't send in their A-team for Tuesday nights, but the bartender was inattentive and seemed to be more interested in chatting with the servers than serving drinks. I ordered the pomegranate mimosa, which was very tasty and my BF got whiskey on the rocks. We walked upstairs to check out the main dining room, which was absolutely beautiful - probably even more so after dark with low lighting, but we were there around 6. The staff seemed distant and inattentive (with one server stating that he's "only there for one reason and one reason only") and didn't give me a case of the welcoming warm-fuzzies. This place is definitely worth a peek for the architecture alone, but we didn't feel like sticking around for anything more than 2 drinks. Perhaps the atmosphere gets a livelier on the weekends?

    (3)

  • Laura D.

    Food was good, nice ambiance. Awesome, walking in an old church. Everything we ordered had great flavor. Highly recommend the Surf and Turf.

    (4)

  • David A.

    Picture this - I'm working in Philadelphia for a day but staying in New York City so my client suggests "neutral ground" for dinner in New Hope, PA, "near New Jersey." Excuse me? Where? Go. I wish I had said yes faster. First of all, New Hope is a gorgeous and quaint town - exactly like Marsha Brown's, a restaurant built in a converted church, with stained glass windows (stunning with the sun shining through) and a towering frescoed wall. I had a tuna tartare appetizer which was excellent as was my main course of grilled vegetable napoleon. The wine list was a little sparse which surprised me since the restaurant had supposedly received an award from the Wine Spectator. Incidentally, the history behind this place is that Marsha Brown is a Louisiana native who grew up with Ruth Chris and, hence, owns a number of his steakhouses. She tried to open one in New Hope but when the town would not let her, she opened up a restaurant with her name on the door instead. I'm glad she did. (FYI - valet parking is $10. I recommend you take advantage because finding a spot is not easy.)

    (4)

  • To B.

    Beautiful restaurant, well maintained. Clean, restrooms. Made reservations for lunch and to discuss with a manager hosting a potential private event. When arrived we were seated downstairs in the bar area. When we asked about possibly being seated upstairs, we were told by the hostess that only parties of 6 or more are seated upstairs, ok fair enough. Except it was not true, later when got a tour of the upstairs for our potential private event we saw several parties less than 6 (3-4 people !!). The food was just ok at lunch, my chicken was dry and tasteless. Service was SLOW not the same caliber as dinner service. Had a great experience at dinner here many times before. Also, while the manager was professional and nice during our 30 minute meeting and tour she never got back to us (as she said she would) with information and details for hosting our event which now is booked elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Anthony W.

    Outstanding Best restaurant in the area Service top notch

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    so i don't get the hype or the price tag. seriously. first off, the upstairs dining room is probably one of the worst spaces ever. my husband said he felt like we were at a wedding (read: catering hall). the ceiling is high, the tables are crammed in there, and even our waiter (who was great) said to us and our table neighbors that he should treat us like one table. i went for new hope restaurant week to try out the place since normally the prices are so ridiculous that i wouldn't bother. the first course was a lobster cappuccino - lobster bisque in a little cup with creme fraise. it would have been good except it was cold. there was also some sort of oyster (pretty tasty) and a bignet (out of place on the plate). for my entree i went with the shrimp and grits since it's not normally on the menu. the shrimp was overcooked and the grits were undercooked. the flavor was nice, but i've had better up the river at black bass. my husband went for the brisket. terrible. he said it was like eating roast beef with a sweet red sauce and i agree. the chocolate creme brulee was nice for dessert. perfect portion. dinner is definitely not worth the price. if you must go, sit at the bar DOWNSTAIRS and get a couple appetizers. i, however, will be skipping the place all together.

    (2)

  • Chris G.

    Be prepared to have a great experience! This place isn't just about eating. The drinks are amazing and fun. The steaks are amazing. I recommend the Crispy Shrimp and Lamb chops app. Cowboy Rib eye steak blackened. The sides are family size and can be shared with the table. Its not a cheap night but worth every penny!!

    (5)

  • Brian Q.

    Went here on a Tuesday for lunch and sat at he bar. Very nice atmosphere, very nice service, and food was very good. I wasn't sure with all of the conflicting reviews what to expect, but this place beat expectations. The dining area upstairs looks beautiful.

    (5)

  • Sandi W.

    Not crazy about this place a little pricey the food is ok not great. Won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Kelly B.

    One of the most beautiful dining rooms I have ever seen! The service is great here along with the atmosphere. If you go here you MUST get the sweet potato casserole.

    (5)

  • Vicki Z.

    We ordered dinner $69 for 2. Food was good with very big portion, even bigger than portions at regular price in NYC. Lobster & Shrimp Bisque was so good. JumboYaYa is the same thing to entree Jambalaya. Entree is much bigger though. We also had an extra lamb chop. That's the dish why my bf wanted to come back. Filet is prime quality. Custard is must have. Good wine list. Worth every penny. 20 is too low. We would give 25.

    (5)

  • Zulay V.

    I'd give it 3.5 stars. The place is beeauuutiful, big open dining area with beautiful old church windows, great music, great setting and decor. The service was very friendly, and one of the chefs came out to greet everyone and talk to them. He was really friendly and wanted to make sure everyone's meal was delicious The bread they give you while you're waiting is GREAT. You can tell it's freshly baked, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The wine was very good too. We got the "Celebration Dinner" which is $69 for two people, each gets to choose their own starter, entree, and dessert: My shrimp & lobster bisque was delicious! I thought it was not going to be enough since the bowl was so small, but it's so rich and flavorful that you really get enough of it. Very good. My fiance's salad was good, nothing crazy, but good. My Eggplant Ophelia was amazing, lots of crab and shrimp rolled into the eggplant, and the sauce was wonderful. The flavors were layered nicely, and the smokey spiciness didn't hit you until after your first bite. My fiance got the jambalaya, which was also very good, really hearty and smokey. For dessert, we ordered the vanilla custard and chocolate cake. The vanilla custard was VERY GOOD, it was really tasty, not too sweet, and the meringue on top was very nice. The chocolate cake was good, very chocolaty but I feel that it was sort of a... "so what?" type of dessert. It was delicious, don't get me wrong, but it didn't have any "WOW" factor which I would have expected. With a New Orleans theme, they could definitely add a bourbon glaze or pecans or something to kick it up a notch. Regarding the food, that was my only negative critique... but it was still tasty and we finished everything. We really enjoyed our night and would definitely recommend eating here. The only issue is, and I find this with a lot of expensive-ish restaurants, is that it's so damn drafty!!! If it wasn't chilly, I think we would've enjoyed our meals even more.

    (3)

  • Michele R.

    My boyfriend and I stayed at a Bed & Breakfast on a sheep farm 2 Halloween's ago. This town is awesome! So much cool stuff to look at. We spent the day walking around in all of the shops. Such an eclectic area. Marsha Brown's is still my favorite restaurant of all time. I would be willing to drive the 2 hours from Long Island to show my family how great it is. The food is just amazing. I've never had anything better. I can't remember everything we had there because it was so long ago but it was awesome. If you are in the area, try Marsha Brown's!

    (5)

  • Stella H.

    My first visit to Marsha Brown's was several years ago, and it was with a large group. I was neither over or underwhelmed at the time. I recently visited again with a smaller group on a Sunday evening and it was spendid. This is a really cool place - an old church with much of the character and charm you would typically expect. Service here was excellent, from the drinks at the bar before dinner, as well as our server. The food was well-prepared and very tasty, as we couldn't help but try each other's dishes. The side dishes are large enough for 2-3 people to share and were also wonderful. Loved those oversized tasty onion rings. Yum. Parking in New Hope is a nightmare and I would recommend that if you go during primetime, that you bite the bullet and just pay to park in one of several parking lots in/around town. It beats paying the $20 ticket that I got because I overstayed my welcome at the parking meter.

    (4)

  • Neil R.

    I'm sorry, but I have to say, I was unimpressed with the "Cajun" food. Not that I'm any expert, but the Jambalaya did not have any flavor resemblance to any Cajun food I've had in the dozen or so times I've been to Louisiana. Instead, it tasted like it had too much cayanne pepper, which is always supposed to be used sparingly. (No-I'm not a chef, but I am a cook.) The mussels had a very similar flavor and were cooked to perfection, but again, too much cayenne. They were very quick to bring me something else, so I decided that I would be safe ordering something other than a cajun dish. Kind of disappointing when you go to a restaurant that portends itself as a cajun restuarant. The lobster was very good. The service and ambience was amazing.

    (3)

  • CP K.

    Have dined at Marsha Brown twice recently--once for lunch, once for dinner. While both meals were above average, I recommend it more for the former than latter. At dinner, my companion and I were seated in the beautiful upstairs dining room, which was the worship area in the building's former life as a church. Our server was friendly and warm, but seemed like he had more tables than he could handle. The restaurant was full and slightly too loud. My etouffee entree was tasty and well-seasoned, but my companion's eggplant entree and our shared appetizer (fried catfish) were both slightly bland. Despite the somewhat mixed bag on our first visit, we went back for lunch two weeks later. (New Hope prides itself on having over 80 restaurants, but only about ten of them are actually worth patronizing, and I'd say this is one of them). It was a much, much better experience. There appeared to be only one server working the entire bar area, making drinks as well as taking orders, but that didn't seem to encumber her at all from offering exemplary service. The lunch menu is more casual--mostly featuring burgers, po boys, and entree-sized salads. I had the oyster po boy, which rivaled any I've eaten in Louisiana--large with at least seven or eight fresh fried oysters. My companion had the entree chopped salad and loved it. The prices are better at lunch, and the seating at high tables in the bar area actually worked better for me than the upstairs dining room. While the dining room is lovely, as I previously said, the bar area is more intimate and relaxed. Overall, I recommend Marsha Brown, but I'd suggest stopping in for lunch and heading across the bridge to Lambertville for dinner.

    (4)

  • Olivia C.

    I blindly walked into Marsha Brown's for lunch based solely that it's housed inside an old church- I didn't even look at the menu! Although all the individual components of the décor don't necessarily work as a whole, they're all quirky or beautiful and they're interesting to look at. The bf really wanted crab on this trip so naturally he ordered the crab cake sandwich, which had large lumps of crab meat and was inside a sweet onion roll. I had the crab and smoked gouda cheese "cake" (more like a quiche). It tasted like it sounds- Delicious! Service was on the slow side, good thing we weren't on a time crunch. While leaving, I snapped some pictures and the hostess was nice enough to invite us upstairs to see the awesome dining room. Check it out!

    (4)

  • Erica S.

    Who is this woman, Marsha Brown? We don't know, but she is spoken of by her staff as if she is an institution. She is a mystery, that Marsha, and her food is DAMN good. I went into this experience a bit apprehensive, as my girlfriend lives in New Orleans, I spend a great deal of time there, and we are both well acquainted with New Orleans cuisine. She was hesitant to go, but I was dying to get a taste of NOLA food up here. Let me put it this way: we stopped in on a Saturday for lunch and before we left, had already made our reservation for Sunday dinner. First, the building. It's an old church. How does one even acquire an old church? We don't know, but Marsha did it. I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't sit in the big church part for lunch, as they only had the bar area and the downstairs tables open. But it didn't matter. We had a fantastic and attentive bartender with whom we BS'd the entire time. And the food! Oh, the food. I had a "New Orleans style Philly cheesesteak" and it was better than any cheesesteak or po'boy I've ever eaten. The bread was perfect, the roast beef delicious, and it was covered in provolone cheese and Louisiana hot sauce. It may sound weird, but together it created the perfect sandwich. The fries were seasoned with something akin to Tony Cachere's, or perhaps a variety of Tony's. My girlfriend ordered the gumbo and actually liked it! The roux was very pretty and dark, and it was delicious. (Drinks: I had a key lime martini and was drunk about halfway through). Dinner the following night: it was quiet because it was late on a Sunday. Our reservation was for 9pm, and we were apparently the only people being seated at that time. We were led to the grandiose church, and there were only a few other diners there, all finishing up. We spent the majority of our dinner as the only two diners in a vast, beautiful church, with the attentive service all to ourselves. It was awesome. We decided to split some appetizers, some sides, and a single entree. First up: crawfish risotto. So delicious and creamy that I was scraping droppings off the tablecloth, and I declared that crawfish always tastes delicious because I associate it with fun. Then, a bacon slab. Literally, a really huge slab of bacon plated on some delicious sauce. Next up: we split a porckchop on a delicious corncake with sweet potato straw-like things, sweet potato casserole (identical to Ruth's Chris), and creamed spinach. It was all so delicious. We had to take a majority of it home, and didn't have room for dessert. Our personable and delightful server informed us that our choices would make "a beautiful dinner," and he was right. We had our food boxed up, but when I went to eat it, THE PORK CHOP WAS MISSING. I was so mad about that pork chop. I still am. Where did my pork chop go? I guess I'll never know. Hmmph. I'll guess I'll have to be going back to Marsha's to get another.

    (5)

  • Flora T.

    Our family came here to celebrate a bday lunch. Everyone was happy with the food and service. It was worth the drive. We would come back again for sure.

    (4)

  • Rose C.

    The ambience of this place is unique. I consider myself a seasoned traveller and restaurant-goer and have never had a dining experience inside an old church. Very cool environment. Our waiters were very attentive and kind. I wish I could say the same about the other diners seated around us. I felt like I was being stared at throughout my entire meal and if the man next to me could, he would have eaten something off of my plate! I was disappointed with the meal overall. I had a Caesar salad starter which was less than average. I was served the stump of the romaine which was also brown. I then had the crab cakes appetizer as my meal. Delicious lumps of crab meat with very little filler, these cakes were more like crab meatballs! I would definitely eat them again. My friend and I ordered the Cajun fries to share and were disappointed. They were served room temperature at best and tasted stale. I ended my meal with the Creme brûlée which was another disappointment. The brûlée tasted great with a very smooth, creamy texture but it was served cold. The chef did come around to ask how our meal was which was appreciated. However I was disappointed with the food, especially considering I paid $50.00 for a starter salad, appetizer, and dessert. Not sure I will be returning.

    (2)

  • Jamie L.

    The night started with drinks at the bar..I had a couple of pomogranite mimosa's they were awesome. We were seated to dinner when we were ready. I had the crawfish etoufee which was just ok it was a bit soupy. I have never had this dish before so i am not sure how it should be served so it could of been on point, although it was like a soup to me it was quite tasty. My husband had the lobster bisque which was fabulous and the eggplant ophelia which was also great...very different but very good. The feel of the restaurant was great fancy yet comfortable. I would definitely go back there but next time i will try a steak!

    (4)

  • Sean R.

    Set inside an old church Marsha Browns has an interesting atmosphere. The interior is very spacious, with a New Orleans style, it is a bit dark and mysterious inside so it captures NOLA pretty well. They have a relaxed bar area with a huge bar, a few tables and a few TVs. There is also a more fancy dinning area, but I can't really comment on it since we ate at the bar. I only had lunch here and it was hit and miss.: The miss was on the oyster po boy, the sandwich was huge, but unfortunately, the oysters were covered in way to much breading, the bread was a bit hard, and it was topped with only shredded lettuce with a side of tartar sauce. I ate the first half and ended up just eating the oysters from the second half. The hit was on the crab cake sandwich, the roll it was on could have been a bit smaller but everything else with it was on point, I highly recommend trying it if you are stopping here for lunch. One of the better crab cakes I have ever had, large lumps of crab, and very little filler. The bar tender also suggested to order some oysters, but since we didn't even finish our meals, we had to pass. They do have an oyster menu though that i was very intrigued by, because you can order single oysters, and it tells you were they are from, a brief taste description, and the size of the oysters.

    (3)

  • Eric B.

    Great food in New Hope. Great tasting food with a kick. So many great choices on menu with wonderful bread and bean spread to start off meal. Fantastic service and ambiance.

    (5)

  • Elle M.

    I walked by twice and did not even realize that it was a restaurant. Once my friend pointed that out to me, I had to try it out! What an interesting way to use a former church. We went inside for lunch and were asked if we had a reservation....We said no, and were told that it was a 2 1/2 hour wait. WOW! I asked if we could eat at the bar, and the hostess said we were more than welcome to if seats were available. Lucky us, there were. Unlucky us....the seats were situated too close to the diners behind us, leaving barely any walking room for the servers and guests coming and going past us. Which every so often I would get bumped into. I ordered a cup of Real Gumbo Ya Ya and the Prosciutto Salad. The gumbo was superb! It took me to New Orleans. The right amount of consistency, spice, and heat. Every spoonful was delicious, and I wished I had ordered a bowl. The salad however, was just ok. When I received it, it looked like any other salad in presentation. When my neighbor received their Chopped Salad....the presentation was incredible. Hmmmm.... Moving back to my Prosciutto Salad...It had the prosciutto laying on the bottom of the salad, which is mentioned on the menu. But it was weird to eat through most of the salad without it, and then once I got to the bottom, there it was. Personally, I would have liked to have the prosciutto mixed in. All in all my dining experience was just ok.

    (3)

  • jm s.

    This was an A-Ok spot for lunch in downtown New Hope. The po-boys are nothing like authentics you'd find in New Orleans, but they were still yummy. Service was fine. I'd say this was overpriced for what we received, but I would go back for sure.

    (3)

  • Joe V.

    Everything was delicious. We had the lamb app very meaty and delicious. The crab cheesecake was also delicious very rich and creamy. The oysters were also delicious served alla carte which is nice so you can get however many you would like. The bread is also delicious. I had the jambalaya and my fiancé had salmon and shrimp. Both delicious. Service is fantastic and the dessert was great we had the bread pudding. Beautiful decor as it use to be a church.

    (5)

  • Barbra M.

    I have two reviews for this place, hence the 3 star rating. The first time I went to Marsha Browns was for lunch and ordered a meal that the bartender recommended. It was the worst meal I have ever had. My friend had a good meal. We decided to try it again on a Saturday night for dinner and couldn't have been happier. My meal, salmon and shrimp, was absolutely delicious and my friends meal, the veal was cooked to perfection. We sat upstairs in the church area and there were maybe 4 other couples. I wouldn't have liked the seating if it was more crowded, I don't like people sitting right next to me and being able to hear their conversation, which is what I think would have happened. The wait staff was very attentive.

    (3)

  • Andrea m g.

    I was brought here as a guest for a birthday celebration and must say I was glad I wasn't paying for the meal.....EXPENSIVE. Lovely surroundings with stained glass and excellent food is what you will get at Marsha Browns, but I have to say I have enjoyed Cajun and creole food that was every bit as good if not better at cheap hole in the walls.It is a special occasion restaurant unless you have an expense account fronting the meal.

    (4)

  • Amy H.

    I had high hopes for Marsha Brown's. I read such great reviews and it was my first venture into New Hope. Boy was I disappointed. For appetizers, we had the duck meatballs and the crispy shrimp. The meatballs were just OK. The crispy shrimp tasted like they stuck the shrimp inside a coconut macaroon. It came with a spicy sauce that I guess was going to balance the sweetness, but the sauce was sweet too. I tried the surf and turf as my entree. My two steak medallions looked nice, but tasted horrible. It was way too salty. Not only was it over salted, but there were extra-large salt crystals on top of the steaks. My lobster tail was slightly less salty. Only slightly. My boyfriend had scallops, lobster tail, and crawfish risotto. He said the scallops were OK, but his lobster was salty also. I tried his risotto. It was nothing special and I didn't see any crawfish. For some insane reason we decided to get dessert. We shared the cannoli. It was a chocolate ricotta filled cannoli. It sat on a brownie and was covered in chocolate sauce with some whipped cream on the side. I LOVE sugar, but this was too sweet even for me! I had a bite of the brownie and we ate the shell of the cannoli, but the chocolate ricotta filling was too sweet to eat. I wasn't impressed by the presentation of our food. Since my boyfriend and I both work in a restaurant, we know how food should look before it leaves the kitchen. The edges should be clean and the food should look appetizing and a nice presentation. At Marsha Brown's, our plate edges were messy and my entree plate was so hot it burned whatever dusting of spice they put on the side. Maybe I'm being too overcritical, but like I said, I work at a restaurant, so I know how plates should leave the kitchen. If I brought out a plate that looked like that, the chef would have my head! So, what did I like about Marsha Brown's? The atmosphere is lovely. Its beautifully decorated. On the second floor there is a huge painting. Its kind of a violent scene (men on horses stabbing lions) to be looking at while eating dinner. I'm hoping my next restaurant venture into New Hope will be a better one.

    (2)

  • Lucy M.

    Don't listen to the whiners and haters! Marsha's is one of our favorites -- excellent cocktails, yummy food (the world's best chopped salad, incredible raw bar, fantastic filet mignon and the sweet potato casserole is to die for!) and one of the best bars for grown-ups in the area. Whether you're there for date night and a big dinner or meeting friends in the bar for something more casual, you will have fun at Marsha Brown's.

    (5)

  • Mike D.

    The service in the bar area is weak at best. Food is good and I love the oysters, but with a half-full bar they need to be more attentive...ecspecially for the prices their charging....scan your customer's drinks once in a while to see if they need another one for cryin out loud! The person next to me gets served and the waitress does not even lean my way to check up on me... I gave it three stars just because of the food.

    (3)

  • Brett M.

    Based on the reviews I wasn't expecting too much, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is on the expensive side, but I disagree with the pretentious label. Our server was very communicative and knowledgeable in a very down-to-earth kind of way. As others have mentioned, the ambiance was great. The old church setting and stained glass windows juxtaposed a very violent, gory "lion hunt" painting on the wall. It was all very interesting. I did find the vaulted ceilings made for a loud room. The bar was big and very nice. On to it now... the food. Most of us stuck with the New Orleans fare. For starters, we had the Slab of Bacon (more like a fatty ham, but good) and gumbo (very good and spicy). Entrees: I had the Jambalaya and it was great. Spicy with plenty of shrimp and sausage. I also tried the Eggplant Ophelia and would highly recommend that (eggplant, shrimp, crabmeat casserole). Yum! Another person ordered the NY Strip which was good. Nothing earth-shattering though. Sides included sweet potato casserole which tasted as sweet as a dessert, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, and cream spinach. Drinks were good and strong. I would definitely go back!

    (4)

  • chris r.

    "you got really quiet after your first bite, chris." it was true. after seeing the sign outside that said "best burgers, ever." and going on a brief tirade about businesses that make exaggerated claims, my friend was still unsure whether or not i wanted to go inside. i did. after all, i haven't had the chance to eat in a restaurant that used to be a church. we sat at the high tables adjacent to the bar, and my friend was excited that her seat was a former pew. there were several burgers on the menu, and i asked our server which one he'd recommend. it was the louisiana burger. an angus burger with louisiana hot sauce, american cheese and fried onions. it doesn't sound great, right? that's what i thought, at least. but it was. that first bite made me forget every creatively named, overpriced burger i've tried in the five boroughs during this burger renaissance of the past few years. is it the best burger ever? i don't know, but it's the best one i've ever had. my friend had a bite and agreed, wishing she'd ordered the same thing. after venting in my last review about places that feel the need to tell you about where their ingredients are sourced from, i'm embarrassed to write that i wish i knew what farm or distributor marsha brown's gets their black angus meat from. it was extremely fresh, and had a kind of melt in your mouth quality. i hate that phrase, but there's no better way to describe it. marsha brown's also made me realize something that's pretty obvious which i've never considered - just how important the bun is. i liked the onion roll it was served on enough to ask our server about it, and i found out that it comes from a nearby artisanal bakery. i've already looked them up and will be ordering a bunch for the next cookout i have. they're that good. we were there for a very early lunch on a friday and we had the run of the place. our server was top notch and amiable. if he wasn't busy working, we'd have asked him to join us. and after my twenty questions about the buns, he kindly sent us home with two. the crab cake sandwich was also very good. it was a huge flintstones-sized slab of a crab cake, too. the lightly seasoned cajun fries were good enough to make ketchup unnecessary. i wasn't crazy about the gumbo, but i can't constructively criticize it since it's only the second time i've tried it. my friend and i agreed that it's probably good marsha brown's isn't closer to us. a person can only have so many hamburgers.

    (4)

  • Homer C.

    Adrian took care of us Saturday night at 8:15. His service and recommendations were excellent. I had two appetizers, the Mamere's crabmeat cheesecake and the lambchop lollipops. Both are very rich and delicious. I could have stopped after the crabmeat cheesecake. 4 good size lambchops with a very nice seasoning. Wife had the the crawfish etoufee appetizer which was big enough for an entree. Very good flavors. Adrian tried to talk my wife out of the tournedos. She should have listened to him. Very good meat though no flavor. The bread pudding was excellent. The beet salad was sub par and would not order it again. Other reviews on tripadvisor and other sites have mentioned poor or inconsistent service. I was paying close attention to this. We were in the main dining room which was mostly full. Our service was excellent. Other tables near us received prompt attention. I did not see or hear any problems. We will definitely come back to this restaurant and would recommend it

    (4)

  • Douglas D.

    With Valentine's Day approaching I called a couple of guy friends to see if they might be interested in taking our ladies out for a special dinner on the Saturday prior. My friend Steve agreed to join my wife and me so I asked him for a dining suggestion. He mentioned that he had not been to Marsha Brown's in quite some time so I phoned to secure reservations. They must have some great software reservation system because I received an email confirming our reservations almost immediately which included two follow-up reminder emails and an additional reminder call! I have also noticed that I am now on their email list notifying me of special dining events. I had dined at this establishment many years ago. All that I had remember that it was an old church that had been converted to a restaurant. Looking at the menu online I could see that they specialized in Cajun stile cooking and steaks. I also to a gander at the reviews on Yelp and seen that recent dining reviews had been favorable. Knowing that parking is terrible in New Hope I was happy to see that they offered valet parking for $10. Walking in we were promptly seated and handed menus by our server. We started with a round of cocktails while we looked over the menu and the specials for the evening. The cocktails arrived promptly which was good for I needed a drink. After all it was Saturday night! Our waiter gave us a few minutes to decide upon appetizers. We started with oysters and a slab of bacon (must be a Cajun thing). With one drink down I reviewed the room. Since it was once a church the room is very cavernous and loud. Up in front is a rather large wall painting indicating that it was no Catholic church. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves dressing up for their dates. After all I sure a lot of the patrons were like us celebrating Valentine's Day. Since this was a Cajun restaurant I decided to go with the Jambalaya. With a few glasses of wine and some good conversation I really did not notice what everyone else ordered for their entrees. Upon finishing our meal the waiter appeared and inquired about our meal. As it turns out Steve's wife had ordered the special Beef Wellington. As it turns out the pastry coating was undercooked (doughy) and the beef was raw with an ice cold center. She explained that she was trying to work her way through it but could not. Our waiter was very apologetic and offered to send it back. Losing her taste for the meal she no longer wanted it. And besides everyone else had finished so our waiter had taken her meal off the bill. After sharing a couple of deserts and coffee our waiter returned with the bill and reminded us that the Beef Wellington was taken off the bill and the deserts were also on him. So in our book he did us right!

    (3)

  • Danielle D.

    I went to Marsha Brown's last week for a special occasion birthday dinner. We were warned as soon as we walked in that there was a big party in the main dining room that was louder than they expected and we could not sit there which was a let down b/c that room is so pretty so we were seated in the choir loft. (for those that don't know this restaurant is in a converted church so murals and stained glass are intact) The choir loft was actually still to noisy for our romantic dinner so the staff was very gracious and moved us down to the 1st floor to a smaller side room. We ordered the gumbo and lollipop lamb chops for an appetizer, both were very yummy. For dinner i ordered the surf and turf which i highly reccomment. It is 2 filet medallions which are a good size, crawfish risotto and their famous crab cake. I also reccomend what my boyfriend got which was the Filet Mignon "oscar style" this was amazing! The creme brulee for dessert was good as well. The wine by the bottle is pricey so i would buy by the glass since they are big glasses filled half way. Pricey, but worth it and a great atmosphere for a romantic or special occassion dinner.

    (5)

  • Heather L M.

    Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, how I dislike thee. The space gets 10 stars (that's right, 10 out of 5 stars) because I have never seen such a cool spot for a restaurant. It's a renovated church. The dining area was once the sanctuary. Stained glass is still intact. But the price is off the chain. For a third of the cost, I can grill my own steak at home, thank you very much. And the whole environment is beyond pretentious. I do recommend stopping by just to see the space. Have a drink at the bar, which is on the first floor, and just poke your head upstairs.

    (3)

  • Glenn P.

    We save this one for special occasions without the kids. The atmosphere is terrific. The selection trends towards creole, but there are suitable selections for all palates. I have always enjoyed which ever entree I get. Definitely worth going.

    (4)

  • Janelle M.

    The theme is interesting - old church converted into a restaurant, unfortunately that's all I found to be interesting. I ordered the vegetarian item on the menu, the Vegetarian Napoleon and it was simply dreadful. I sent it back and the server suggested I try a vegetable stir-fry that wasn't on the menu, but that the chef would be happy to prepare for me. A very nice gesture, but it was unnecessary as the stir-fry was salty and subpar. He ordered the Jambalaya and seemed pleased. He had sorbet for dessert, while I increased the check needlessly with a cup of coffee that seemed to have been brewed without the necessary grinds. Expensive and disappointing, for sure.

    (2)

  • Alex M.

    Just went back over the 4th of July Holiday weekend 2009. Had the $69.00 special for 2 people. Service was fast and efficient and food was fantastic. Whats not to love..

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    We really wanted to like Marsha's, but we were disappointed with both the food and the service.

    (2)

  • sm T.

    Absolutely terrible service and food came to our table both lackluster and dry. We started with the shrimp cocktail which was good I will give them that. It was annoying to watch the server screw up the orders trying to figure out what food went to what table, sending our shrimp cocktail to the other side of the floor. Actual meals took forever and as mentioned came out lackluster and lukewarm. I had the surf and turf which came highly recommended on yelp. My medallions were overcooked and dry, the bernaise sauce had formed a skin, crab cake was soggy with a few specks of actual pieces of shell, wilted asparagus and luke warm risotto ( which did have good flavor). My husband's medium rare steak was also dry and more medium when he tore into it. I wonder how long our food just sat there in the kitchen window waiting for a server to pick up. Our actual waiter, Louis, barely took notice of us, stood around like an ass most of the time we were there when clearly we needed another glass of wine or were done with dining. Barely checked on us once when our food did come, my husband didnt even notice it when he came and argued with me on our way out that the waiter didn't even check up on us, thats how inattentive he was. Clearly he had no problems servicing the table next to us who were out on a special occasion and looking to drop a lot of money on their meal, not that we didn't mind you bc this place is pricey. Someone in another review said manhattan prices but worth the quality of food. Coming from manhattan and Brooklyn absolutely not. I have spent less money on far superior service and food in NYC. Also the table we were sat at was horrible. Right in the line of serving staff traffic. In the words of a few customers leaving as they passed by us "they might as well put tables out on the sidewalk/street". This place was an absolute sham, a disappointment, and the service and our server were abysmal.

    (1)

  • Matthew S.

    Went here for my one year anniversary with my girlfriend. It is very expensive so we picked a special occasion to splurge. Was impressed from the moment I walked in until I left. The waitress we had was second to none. She was very friendly, very cool, and extremely knowledgeable. We had a sampling of oysters from all around the world which were amazing. My soup was gumbo which was somewhat bland and the one thing I didn't love. My dinner was the best part. It was an eggplant dish with Ophelia crab meat and shrimp over a bisque type sauce. Can't even begin to explain how good it was. For dessert we both had the crème brulee which was very good. A couple side notes about the story behind the restaurant and the building because that alone is enough of a reason to visit this place. The owner (Marsha Brown) owns a couple Ruth's Chris Steakhouses and wanted to open one in New Hope. Unfortunately for her New Hope does not allow chain restaurants which I personally love about the town. Because of this she she opened what is now Marsha Brown's Restaurant and having eaten at both this place and Ruth's Chris I think we are better off with what we have. The story behind the building is also very cool. It is a renovated church and in renovating it they kept many of the original features it had. It adds a lot to the experience and really gives the restaurant a certain character.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!!! We had lunch here during a freak snow storm last Saturday, October 29. They were one of the few establishments with power as they have their own generator. Smart! Our servers (yes, plural as there were two) were very effecient and helpful considering the stress they must have been under. Their suggestions for beer selections and food were spot on. Please do not go to this place if you want a quick lunch. Take your time, savor, enjoy! For starters we both had the shrimp and lobster bisque. Great taste and texture. I had the Marsha burger and it was amazing. Cooked to perfection. Make sure to order the cajun fries for a bit extra charge...yummy. My husband had their crab cheesecake and it was OMG fantastic....We were so full but managed to find room for creme brulee which was very satisfiying. We loved the decor and the unpretentious hip vibe. They only serve lunch downstairs but it is worth a look to climb the stairs to see the colossial dining room.

    (5)

  • Jasmine K.

    Great atmosphere, great food, great service! I can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Joe O.

    Marsha Brown's steaks are the best. We keep going back since we love the New Orleans style rubs used, but you can have it your way too.

    (4)

  • Mehul V.

    Execellent food. Excellent atmosphere and great service.

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    Very poor service which impacted our food which I'm sure could have been much better. Our waiter was a ghost for most of our service. He clearly targeted 1 table in his section (a table of 2) that was ordering more off the menu (guy trying to impress girl?) My wife and i weren't ordering as much food but we were ordering more expensive entree's (surf and turf for her, ny strip for me) plus a side, an app, couple of glasses of wine. Our waiter never even stopped by after our entree's came out to make sure they were correct. They had obviously been sitting around too long. My medium rare ny strip had become medium and my wifes medium well had become well. Her bearnaise had formed a skin on it. After our plates were cleared we literally waited for 5-10 mins for our waiter to come ask us if we wanted any dessert. I would say he stopped by our table 5 times over the course of the meal. He stopped at that other table I mentioned at least 10 times. It was so over the top it was funny. If the food had come out better I would have given 2 stars but the total experience wasn't worth it.

    (1)

  • C B.

    The food here is excellent as we had a good bye dinner for a friend--however, it can be expensive. The beef wellington was astoundingly good. And the wait staff was incredibly nice.

    (5)

  • Kristin V.

    Yes, the old church was been renovated to absolute perfection. The dining room, murals and the downstairs bar are breathtaking. That is about where it ends. If you make a reservation, (advisable), request a table in a corner or along a side wall. If you sit in the center of the dining room, you need to shout to be heard. Awful. I requested a private, out of the way table for a special occasion, and the snotty host with an awful white suit and faux hawk put us in the center of the dining room at a table for 4 (there were two of us). We sat for at least 15 minutes and were about to leave when another hostess came to us, apologizing for the delay and moved us to a very nice table in the corner of where the altar would be. But you really go out to dinner for the food, right? Not here. Going to Marsha Browns is about the location and the name. Too pretentious. On to the food. The oysters were fresh, plump and tasty. (had them for dessert, too, with the outstanding creme brulee). The crabcake appetizer was excellent, nice lump crabmeat. We both had the mirliton for an entree (everything else comes with heavy butter & cream sauces & I wasn't in the mood for a steak - though I hear they are excellent). So, the mirliton wasn't exactly what the menu described. Described as a "delicate" layering of pork, shrimp & scallop on chayote, there was so much pork sausage that the shrimp and scallop were overwhelmed. And it is all mixed with rice (not mentioned on the menu) Not even close to "delicate". The chayote (kind of like a pear) that it was served upon was completely without taste. Really, substitute with a pear. The wine selection was very good and the waitress was fairly helpful in choosing a bottle. There are so many wonderful restaurants in Bucks County, and this one is totally overrated. If you want New Orlean's style food, go to N.O. for the real deal. I would not go back to Marsha Brown's except for cocktails and oysters at the bar.

    (3)

  • T D.

    We had our wedding here and they did a great job! Caleb was very accommodating and everyone commented that the food was amazing. It's a very unique location

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    We have been to Marsha Brown's many times and have never been disappointed. In a town where parking is at a premium, having a a valet service is key. The front desk is right when you walk in and there's always someone there to greet you and show you to your table or point you towards the bar. The upstairs dinning room is huge and very noisy but the decor is lovely. It's a very grown up, sophisticated atmosphere and very dimly lit. The downstairs, bar area is great, with a few tables and a huge bar. You can get the full menu in the bar area. The service in this restaurant is top notch, upstairs and downstairs. Professional waiters, professional bar tenders-they all do a great job. The food is excellent. My favorite is the chopped salad-the shredded lettuce adds a nice, crunchy texture to the blue cheese and asparagus taste. It's great. The crab cakes are excellent, the coconut shrimp are pretty basic but they come with a nice, spicy sauce. The NY strip steak was excellent, as good as you can get anywhere and the jambalaya-you can't go wrong with that at Marsha Brown's. All this greatness does not come cheap though and dinner for two, with drinks was $140+tip so I think it's a little too expensive to be an every day place. For those special occasions though, you can't beat it.

    (5)

  • marian g.

    Marsha Brown's is a converted church which has a very hip ambience's along with that ambiance comes high ceilings and pleasant music...The combination made for an unbearable sound level..Even the wait staff commented on how loud it was on this particular day. By the end of the meal, the restaurant seemed to be less noisy (of course there were fewer diners). I found all the food choices pleasant. The Lobster/Shrimp soup was flavorful, came in a very small cup and the chopped salad which was split was more than enough to feed 3 people. The starters all seems spot on: The Duck Meatballs were served w/ a wine sauce that made you wanting more, the crawfish rolls were crispy and done to perfection. For main courses the tornedos of beef served w/ a Bearnaise sauce was top quality beef, the jambalaya is fine, certainly not as good as coming from New Orleans, but had plenty of seafood and sausage. We also tried an eggplant casserole w/seafood...I would not choose that again. I found it dry and not particularly flavorful. We were so full, be walked and came back an hour later for carrot cake at the bar...yummy and so much quieter. I left w/ a headache but came back to quieter surroundings

    (3)

  • Melissa B.

    If you've read my review for Firefly in Manasquan, then you'll be super-pleased to know that what you're about to read will be the polar opposite. The Mister's mom's birthday came along, and we decided that a lovely day of shopping and exploring New Hope was the ticket... and a wonderful dinner with fabulous atmosphere would be the ideal way to close it out. The Mister and I had been to Marsha Brown's once before and had a good experience... but it had been years since that night. Nonetheless, the reviews seemed to be in line with what we remembered, and I knew that the place couldn't have gotten any less gorgeous, so we made a reservation for Saturday at 5:30pm (one of only two times available for our party of 6). Aside from this being a birthday celebration, there was the added pressure that this HAD to be good... we were still all stinging from the Firefly debacle. After having made the reservation via Yelp (how handy!) on Wednesday, I received a confirmation email. I called the restaurant the following day to inform them that it was a special occasion - I made sure the whole candle-in-the-dessert thing would happen, and also asked if we could be seated up in the choir loft. The young lady with whom I spoke made a note. I then received another confirmation email. I received a confirmation call on Friday. Boy, are they meticulous. Saturday came along, and we arrived a little ahead of our reservation. They were happy to seat us a little early, and we were given a really lovely table in the far corner, with a view of the entire place. I quietly asked the waitress about the note regarding the choir loft, and she immediately said she'd see what she could do, apologizing profusely. I told her not to worry about it - this table was great anyway. So far, so good! Our waiter's assistant came and introduced himself, offering water. Shortly after, the waiter emerged with menus and a wine list, offering up "menu additions" and that he would explain anything on the menu we needed. Bread came (delicious, crisp mini-baguettes... and that hummus they came with was delish), and then we ordered up. - 1 Hail Cesar Salad - 2 Chopped Salads (one with a few omissions) - 1 Mamere's Crab Cheesecake - 1 Crab Cakes - 1 Eggplant Ophelia - 2 Surf and Turf - 2 Roast Stuffed Chicken I'm not going to go dish by dish, but I will say that everything was excellent. The food was all fresh, tasty, and attractive... and EXACTLY as ordered (doneness of meats, salad omissions, etc.). Note that since salads, etc. were ordered, we opted not to order any sides (everything here is a la carte). This worked out, because we found the meals all to be hearty and plentiful, leaving *just* enough room for dessert. A couple of stand out items were the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake (this is a MUST ORDER appetizer... certainly share-able, but you won't want to!) and the Eggplant Ophelia (the sauce has a delicate spice that compliments the dish perfectly). We had also ordered a bottle of Malbec that I thought was one of the better Malbecs I've ever had - the Felino Vina Cobos. It's reasonably priced and very smooth - a red that even the white wine drinkers among us will love. Through the meal, the waitstaff was attentive, but never intrusive. I asked for a dessert recommendation, went with the Pecan Pie, and was VERY glad I did. The birthday lady got the 24K Carrot Cake (also great, and yes, with candle), and a chocolate mousse cheesecake was also ordered (good, but a HUGE portion and way rich... a good table-splitting sort of dessert, but overwhelming otherwise). All in all, the evening could not have gone any more successfully. Thank you, Marsha Brown's -- we will most definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Tony P.

    Best Steaks outside of Ruth's Chris! This is essentially a Ruth's with a Cajun theme! Amazeballz!

    (5)

  • Shawn M.

    First let me start with this: If you're going to Marsha Brown's save it for a special occasion unless you've got money to burn. It's pricey. As pricey as any you'd see in Manhattan. That being said... The food here is out of this world. I've been three times and each time came home stuffed and satisfied. There's a connection between Marsha Brown's and Ruth's Chris steakhouse, so maybe that's why it's so good. But the menu isn't huge, but there are good and very interesting options. And everything is packed with flavor. The apps are great, the meals are great and so are the desserts (well, I only had dessert once because I was too stuffed the other times). If you love tasty, well made meals, you'll love it for that alone. There's more, though. The service and atmosphere are second to none. If you go, make a reservation and ask to dine on the second floor. It's an old church and has an atmosphere you won't get anywhere else. Very unique. Want to impress a date, take him/her there. The wait staff I've experienced are amazing. Kind, polite, professional and the treat you like royalty. The only downside is the cost. For two people, a drink or two and an app and you're not getting out of there for under $100 and that would be on the cheap side. You could spend $200 easy for a couple but it's money well spent.

    (5)

  • Alie A.

    Ahi Tuna Chunk Tartar Burger?.. ..With Pinot Grigio?.. ..And Creole 30+ spice covered French fries? Yes, please. Good company? Just a personal +++ I'd suggest as well. Fantastic service, beautifully simple and straight-to-the-point menu with a well-put burger and salad selection for lunch and a rich and renowned cracked pepper lobster bisque that just can't be beat. What a New Hope gem. Too cold this time of year to dine outside, but I'll be back come spring. The dining patio with a street view is gorgeous. No worries, though. The indoor, dark wood bar is inviting as ever. Delicioso.

    (4)

  • Heather R.

    I made dinner reservations a month in advance for a special occasion. Upon arrival we were enthusiastically greeted by the friendly manager and a hostess. My reservation was remembered because she said congratulations and explained where the table was. The table was decorated with rose petals. We were seated directly in front of the mural with a view of the entire restaurant. Our waiter was extremely attentive and the food was fabulous. We ordered too much food. We had a bottle of Stag's Leap Cabernet, catfish nuggets, and lump crab cocktail. The bread they serve is out of this world. It is served in a paper bag sleeve and has the same taste and texture as local restaurants in NOLA serve. For entrees we ordered the lazy man's lobster and the Eggplant Ophelia with sides of collards and asparagus. For dessert, the bread pudding special of the evening and two glasses of 20 year old port. I was in heaven. We dined here on a Friday evening 9.27.13 7pm I believe. I still think about the meal. I really enjoyed the food, and was very impressed and satisfied that they remembered my note on the online reservation. That simple thing is SO often forgotten by other restaurants any place that pays attention to it wins big brownie points in my book. Thank you for a stellar evening Marsha Brown's. I cannot wait to come back. Kudos to our server for a job well done. I wish I could remember his name right now. He was an attractive guy. :)

    (5)

  • Rob V.

    I hope I just caught this place on a bad day. Everything about the exterior of this place led me to believe it would be a wonderful experience. Once we went through the front door this is what happened: - was greeted by a young woman that dressed and carried herself like someone that would be more fitted to work as a Target cashier. (no offense to Target, but you just expect a few grams of professionalism in a place that has $15 burgers on their menu) - it was lunch so she sat us at a table in the bar area, where we never had contact with anyone else that worked there again. - after about 20 minutes of starring at every server that walked by we left. We tried to get the attention of several people, but I had to leave because I was getting so upset that i knew I was about the make a scene. I figured why should I let this rude staff (most looked like 30 to 50 year old men from the same family tree) get me upset when I can just go somewhere else. It's not like there's a shortage of eateries in New Hope. I wish I could say they were just busy, but there's no excuse for someone not to come over and at least get our drink order. Plus there was plenty of waiters on staff and even a couple empty tables. There's no way that one of the numerous staff on the floor didn't notice us. I'm sure they all pretended not to notice us because of some internal issue of table assignments. Looking at some of the other reviews it seems like the food is stellar. Thanks Marsha Brown's for giving my beautiful companion and I so little attention that we'll never know how good the food is.

    (1)

  • Melissa G.

    Went here with family, had an amazing time. Started with the chopped salad, perfectly put together. For dinner had one of the best filet's I've ever cut with a knife. Sweet potatoes souffle was incredible. Tasted my mom's lobster, incredible. It was a beautiful night, I wish they had an outdoors. Service perfect.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Went there with my wife for our 25th anniversary on Monday and could not be happier. I ordered the 3 lb Lobster that was completely and meticulously taken out of the shell for easy dining. Great wine, food , atmosphere and service. Highly recommend

    (4)

  • C. Louis W.

    A very cool place w/a very cool vibe...a little on the pricey side, but the service was great, n the food was tasty...at least that night. It was our first experience.....looking forward to trying it again.

    (4)

  • J D.

    Had the pleasure of dining on a Sunday evening and was very pleased. The service was quick and friendly, food was perfect. Drinks were well made and our wait staff was attentive throughout the evening. I have also stopped in only for a drink at the bar downstairs. The atmosphere is not as friendly. The vibe is a tad uptight but still very appealing decor and atmosphere. I would definitely return for lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Kathy A.

    We were seated quickly, the food was excellent and the waiters were very attentive. The ambience of the Church that the restaurant is in is beautiful.

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    We have been wanting to visit ever since popping in to look at the menu (moreso to look at the beautiful building, stained glass windows, and take in the bar). Lunch was pretty delicious. I've been to New Orleans and I felt like I was back in this culturally-rich city once we were seated with menus in front of us, poring over the lunch entrees. We enjoyed the slow-roasted beef po'boy (perfectly garnished with cherry tomatoes & pickles) and the tuna tartare burger. I would say that when I return I'll ask for less remoulade, because the tuna was over-saturated with it. We had the Cajun fries - fresh, crispy, hot, well-seasoned. We sat in the parlor. I was in awe of the stained glass window that our table sat against. Overall, the wallpaper, drapes, colors, artwork, everything - very nicely decorated, and plenty to see. Live lobsters in the tank by the hostess stand. I also check out the restrooms when I go out to see how they're kept up and to check the overall feel of them. I liked the women's restroom, it was cozy and didn't stick out as a negative. Would definitely, without a doubt return for drinks, lunch, dinner, or whatever brought me in.

    (4)

  • Ed C.

    I feel sick. Not directly from the food, though my wife is a little queasy, but from the fact that I just paid close to $200 for a terrible meal. The main dining room is pretty cool when you first walk in, highlighted by the giant mural. A closer look shows some very dated and borderline tacky decor. However, this would be easy to look past if the food was even mediocre. I started with the lobster and shrimp bisque, which has gotten pretty good reviews on here. I'll say it was decent. It was very thick and quite filling - nothing to remember. My wife got three of the snow crab claws at $3.95 a pop. They are the size of the average pinky finger and tasteless. I ordered the scallops over pork bacon entree. The scallops were OK and the pork bacon was probably the highlight of the meal. It would be acceptable at a place charging half as much. The lowpoint was the Maine Lobster my wife ordered. First, the presentation. To quote her, "What was that? It looked like a massacre on my plate." They tried to make it easier to eat, which is always appreciated, but the tail was chopped in little pieces that looked like gross cauliflower. Again, something that could have been looked past if it was good. Sadly, not even close. Boring, bland, and really just kind of foul. I will say that the servers were very pleasant and after a bit of a slow start there was a good pace to the meal (it probably helped that there were only two other groups dining). I don't know how this place has four stars. I'm giving it one for the benefit of future New Hope visitors. Don't waste your money. We had a much better meal at Karla's for half the price. I agree with S.A. from Edison. For the first time in my life, Yelp, you have failed me miserably.

    (1)

  • Roman P.

    Used Open Table to book a reservation which is always nice. We started with some raw oysters. They were great and they do not have a minimum. My wife and I split their 16oz. NY Strip, which was amazing. The sauce it comes with is Winchester herb and it is a perfect compliment to this steak. Our side was twice baked potato, which was heavenly. For dessert we got a side called Anna Mae's Pineapple Soufflé with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.. Perfect ending!

    (5)

  • Jen D.

    I would like to start off by saying Marsha Brown's will always hold a special place in my heart. Last night my boyfriend and I got engaged while dining upstairs. I can't say enough from the beautiful design of the church, our awesome wait staff (especially JACK), the amazing food, and the great company of strangers that shared our special day with us. We were made to feel like royalty... complete strangers congratulating us, buying us drinks, and sharing their own special stories. They even let us leave our car overnight after our too many toasts and cheers (thanks to Mark in valet)... everyone from the hostesses to the bus boys were so nice and excited for us. Thank goodness we ordered before my fiancé popped the big question because I don't think I could have possibly made any decisions. We started with the crab cheesecake as well as the slab of bacon (of course we had to get the bacon). Then we split the surf and turf platter with steak medallions, crawfish risotto, and heavenly crab cakes. We also shared a side of the twice baked potato dish. Everything was delicious... needless to say we had lots of left overs! Obviously our night was magical but I have no doubt the next time we are in town our experience will be just as great! I would recommend Marsha Brown's to everyone I know traveling to New Hope... you won't be sorry! We are already booking our Bed and Breakfast for Christmas time and can't wait to go back! Thank you again to all the staff for making our night Magical. Jen and Chris

    (5)

  • Hector M.

    The gf and I decided to take a day trip to New Hope to walk around and do the typical couple things (feed ducks, look at overpriced antiques, and take pictures next to the Do Not Take Pictures sign at the costume shop). Anyway, after a day of walking around, we came across this quaint restaurant in an old church. We ordered oysters, Louisiana Burgers, and were pleasantly surprised. The Angus burger came with cheddar cheese, Louisiana hot sauce, crispy fried onions, and Cajun fries. The burger was so good, I didn't want it to end. Even though my mouth was literally on fire, I savored each bite (and was planning my next trip back).

    (4)

  • Jarad F.

    We were very pleased with the food, ambiance and service at Marsha Brown's. It has graduated from an overpriced tourist spot (which it seemed to be when we last ate there years ago), to a legitimate high end restaurant. We have had lunch and dinner there recently and were very happy both times. It's hard to get fresh Oysters around here, and they had a nice selection of fresh, tasty oysters. Very pleased.

    (4)

  • Monyca W.

    The most impressive thing about Marsha Brown's is the atmosphere. It is housed in a former church, with a large impressive mural and stained glass window. The food is really good. The oysters were sweet and fresh, the steak melted in my mouth, and the scallops were better than I've ever had before. Our server wasn't perfect, I got the sense he was nervous actually speaking to us. It also seemed that other tables got bread or something, but we never did, I think maybe because the waiter was too busy. Nervous or not, he was very knowledgeable about the oysters. I'd recommend Marsha Brown's for a special occasion dinner.

    (4)

  • Pasquale R.

    So many culinary choices, so little time. When you think New Hope, you don't think creole...right? That's Louisiana, not NH. Wrong. You should think creole when you are looking for a delectable meal. It's located in what seems to be an old church. Stain glass windows, wide open upper level that can get really loud and a huge mural on the far wall that takes up every single inch of it. It's quite an interesting piece of art work. So after being seated (we went early so thankfully there was no wait) we looked over the menu. A few things you will notice. 1. Their prices are bit high. 2. They have unique appetizers. So after several minutes of discussion we narrowed down our selections. For apps we decided on the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake (don't judge), hickory smoked bacon slabs and we split a chopped salad. Now I am going to throw this out there, the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake combined with the hickory smoked bacon was euphoric. The crab melted in your mouth and the smoked Gouda tart was a pleasant flavor to go along with it. The bacon...oh the bacon...fork and knife cutting bacon...tons of fat and crispy bacon...delicious beautiful bacon...(as you can tell it was great)... What I recommend is you combine the crab with the bacon (on your fork) and you will be in heaven. They also provide some table bread which tastes ok and was hot when it came to the table. The salad was a bit disappointing. Not sure if it was the dressing or the bacon single handily took over my taste buds. She enjoyed it though. For a main course I decided on the NY strip Creole style and she went with the Jambalaya. The steak was cooked to my specification (medium rare). The dry rub was a welcomed addition to the steak but I must say I could have done without the mushrooms and side of bleu cheese. I barely touched them. The steak was so flavorful. She even tried a couple of bites and was impressed. She liked her Jambalaya (chunks of duck, more crab, shrimp and sausage) as well. We both were so stuffed from the apps that we had to take it to go... So here is a recap: FOOD: 4.5 Stars *The apps are a must!* AMBIANCE: 4 Stars SERVICE: 4 Stars (our server seemed to zone out occasionally while speaking with us...quite entertaining I must say). PRICE: A bit on the higher side but with great food I am willing to pay more. ENJOY!

    (4)

  • David H.

    Want to try a cool New Orleans themed eatery in New Hope? Interested in what an old church looks like if it was to be converted into a restaurant? Try Marsha Browns. Unique creole dishes, friendly staff and a neat place to just sit and enjoy with a date.

    (3)

  • Marina G.

    To start off, the service was awful. When we ordered coffee, the milk glass had a line on it as if it were a used glass that sat in the fridge from the previous user. The mussels were cold, small, had no flavor, but were terribly spicy. The jambalaya was essentially like a bowl of mush with a mix of random flavors. The créme brûlée was not good either. Never coming back again, and apparently no one else does because the restaurant was completely empty on a Father's Day brunch.

    (1)

  • Ernest M.

    we had a lunch today at Marsha Brown. Very nice, interesting place. Looks like an old church that was converted to a restaurant. Still has some stained glass, though it looks like they did not keep too many of the other details. The lunch was group lunch, and pretty decent. there was a seafood soup for everyone that was tasty. and some nice bread served warm, in little paper bags. Service was courteous and efficient. The entree choice that I had was a jambalaya. I usually see jambalaya with nice chunks of seafood, chicken, pork, etc. this was a pretty chopped up jambalaya. Tasty, though. Dessert was a creme brulee. Made well enough, though not super exciting. Decent place for a lunch, maybe dinner, though not interesting enough for me to make a special or return trip.

    (4)

  • S A.

    Yelp you failed me... After trying to decide what place to hit up for restaurant week in new hope, we decided on marsha brown that had 4 starts on yelp. Not sure how this is possible but the food and the service was atrocius, Food: We did the restaurant week menu. The first course was a crab bignette, which was not even warm and very so so. There was also a lobster bisque which was very forgettable and the third thing i forget right now. Portions were very small and the course was very forgettable. The second course was the ceasar salad. It was one of the worst salads i have eaten at a restaurant, no dressing and the lettuce was stale (brownish at the ends). The third course the shrimp and grits was the only thing passably good. The fourth course was the dessert, the chocolate creme brulee. The bruleee was not bad but disappointingly there was NO crust. Cmon guys this is a creme brulee. Service: Very rushed, before my course was even over the server was there to take it away. I still have food on the plate and god forbid if you take a break they attmpted to take the plate away. All in all it was a very sad service. The food felt very mass produced and badly at that. I have always depended on yelp to find me my place to eat and now i am not so sure. Not sure if this was gamed but for the life of me I dont know how this place has 4 stars. Yelp you failed me...

    (1)

  • Lindsay S.

    Good Food, Crappy Service The food was good... quite good, actually... except for the Beet Salad -- waste of money for sure (very little goat cheese, difficult to eat, poor presentation). However, the mussels, raw bar, eggplant, soup, and dessert were all great. The service, however, was abominable. Our waiter, Adrien, was snippy at best and seemed annoyed at anything we asked for when he forgot it -- a forgotten cocktail, a forgotten salad, etc. Then a food runner practically hurled mashed potatoes onto one of us (moving too fast, in a rush) -- he didn't apologize, picked up the dish and left. These things happen, but the staff should be trained (especially when entrées cost $18-30) to at least apologize in these situations. All of a sudden our waiter was nicer and the manager offered to cover the dry cleaning bill and give us dessert for free, but at that point it was too late. The "experience" was tainted. If it weren't for the good food, I would have given two stars. As a side note, it was also a bit loud -- there was a group of women having a "private" party on the balcony and they conducted themselves as if they were at a strip joint (lots of hootin' and hollerin').

    (3)

  • Tiffany T.

    Wow wow wow. We went there for our 2 year anniversary and it was fantastic! I started with the beet salad, which was ok. I would skip it next time. It was more like a baby spinach salad with a beet or two, BUT.. what was soo delicious was my main course, the tournedos, med rare and I asked to have it Oscar style so it also had crab on it... Omg, melt in my mouth! If you're a meat fan, I highly recommend! If I could have it every day, I would. So for that meal, I give this 4 stars. I'm docking a star for the salad.

    (4)

  • dan w.

    so darn good. everything really fantastic. the restaurant is in an old church and has a very unique vibe

    (5)

  • Greg H.

    Let's start with the positive; the restaurant has a great look and vibe, the food is good, and the the service is very friendly (albeit a bit slow). Unfortunately, the quality of the food just doesn't live up to the descriptions on the menu or to the accompanying price tag. The cocoanut shrimp was OK, but a bit bland. The Caesar salad was good, but not $18 good. And my N.Y. strip steak was enjoyable, but I've had far superior steaks for $36. What you end up paying for is the location and the ambiance.

    (2)

  • Saara A.

    This place was good! I got sick later in the day but can't say for sure it was from this place. Bottom line it had good food but expensive!

    (4)

  • Noam B.

    lovely atmosphere, great food. the gentleman's ice tea is delicious. service is courteous and prompt.

    (5)

  • Alexis D.

    Fantastic experience! The staff were extremely pleasant and accomodating. Valet service available (which is a must in the busy little town of New Hope at night). The food was delicious and our waitress, Rebecca, was extremely pleasant and allowed us to linger after dessert without a bother. We are an appetizer kind of couple and enjoyed 3 apps and soup instead of entrees. We indulged in crab cheesecake (very rich with great crab flavor), crawfish risotto (awesome), and lamb lollipops (I was being totally impolite and eating them with my fingers makins sure to get every last morsel- they were addictive). The lobster shrimp bisque was full of chunks of lobster and shrimp, and we had to use the bread to wipe the bowl clean so as to not miss a drop. For dessert we had classic creme brulee and some after dinner drinks. The atmosphere was romantic and relaxing and the unique venue is a great conversation piece. Overall excellent experience. We eat often in Manhattan and are pretty picky and specific about food quality. At Marsha Brown's we were thrilled with the quality and flavor and the bill was a pleasant surprise as compared to high NYC prices for fine dining.

    (5)

  • Ron W.

    Great dinner on New Years Eve. Wife had best oysters ever. I stuck to tournedos of beef. Busy night, but great service.

    (4)

  • Eric A.

    Marsha Brown resides in a staunch neo-gothic stone ediface. Once a church. Now a bit of the French Quarter on the Delaware. A surreal experiece. The interior is grand and lively, contrasting with the cold, dark exterior facade. Warm, soulful Jazz is piped into the spacious dining room. From a culinary standpoint, Marsha Brown is not New Orleans-esque. It is New Orleans. Whether one feasts on the traditional Jambalaya and gumbo; or something a bit unconventional - all is perfection. An extensive wine list and a full bar compliments the feast. You will be guided through your experience by the most pleasant wait staff north of Lac Pontchartrain. Mother's Day is coming up. What a place to take your mother! Then again, you don't need an occasion for Marsha Brown. Marsha Brown provides the occasion.

    (5)

  • Jill J.

    Being generous with 1 star. To be brief, waited 50 minutes for the crab cheesecake. Probably would not have minded if it was good, but it was nothing but crab dip in the shape of a wedge. Did I mention it was cold in the middle? The side salad consisted mostly of onions, saturated in dressing. Did I mention they brought the wrong soup, and when we did get the correct soup, it was not hot. I wouldn't go back there if they were giving food away for free.

    (1)

  • Jess K.

    Delicious doesn't even begin to describe it. Hubs and I shared a shrimp/lobster bisque that was so good I wanted to bathe in it. The environment was gorgeous/service was friendly. My wine was delish, and it was just so lovely. Hubs had the Scallops/Pork Belly dish and loved it, I had the Shrimp/Crawfish/Eggplant dish which was amazing. We shared a pecan pie slice for dessert . It was so good, and such a lovely experience!!!

    (5)

  • Cinzia C.

    Service and food not up to our expectations! Based on our experience that day would not return. :(

    (2)

  • Ryan N.

    Amazing food, service and atmosphere. We will definitely be coming back. I recommend the French Quater Surf and Turf.

    (5)

  • V K.

    My husband and I made reservations for a Saturday night. The place was packed but we were sat quickly and on the alter! The building is absolutely gorgeous. Inside is decorated beautifully and they have maintained all of the features of the original church. Despite the crowds, our service was impeccable. Our server, Jack, was attentive and during our dinner, told us a lot of funny stories that made our dinner even more enjoyable. I had the caesar salad and lobster - both were fantastic. My husband had the bone-in steak that he said was cooked to perfection. We shared a side of sauteed spinach and ended the night splitting the bread pudding. The food was excellent and the service was even better. The bar looked really great too - although a little small for how crowded it was. We didn't hang out there since we were seated so quickly (and I'm 8 months pregnant) but it does look like a fun place to have a drink before dinner. I would highly recommend this place!! A tip: It was snowing when we arrived and parking in the area is very challenging. I wish I had known they have valet here! It's $10 and totally worth it on a weekend evening when it's nearly impossible to find parking in downtown New Hope.

    (5)

  • Brian T.

    Hmm. Well Marsha Browns was highly recommended, so I went with considerable expectations. The food is good, but not memorable. The atmosphere is interesting, but the scale of the space makes it feel a bit like a cafeteria. The decor is unfocused and needs direction. Huge missed opportunity. The bread is down-homey in a not-so-good way. But the wine - the wine is absolutely horrid, which is a deal breaker for me. They do have a good selection of oysters which were enjoyable. And their chorizo is actually really nice. The food does have some spiciness which is always fun. Service was friendly and very attentive.

    (2)

  • Steve M.

    I can't understand how Marsha Brown's has anything other than 5 stars here. I have been here half a dozen times now - twice for a company holiday party that i organized and other times with friends for dinner - and each time was fantastic. It is an old church and you absolutely know you are in a building that was once a church. Part of the dining room is behind an alter rail, frescoes and stained-glass are all around, and for private parties you can reserve the choir loft upstairs - it overlooks the restaurant below - you would think that the noise from below would make the upstairs unbearable but you truly didn't even notice it. Chef Caleb - a joy to work with for planning private parties - has also developed a wonderful menu. My favorites are the jamabalya - perfectly cooked and delightfully spicy, and the Eggplant Ophelia - a misnomer really - it is more of a shrimp and crab dish topped with a slice of eggplant in a lobster bisque sauce. It's the kind of meal that you finish and are immediately sad that it's gone. Sides are served family style - don't miss the sweet potato casserole with nuts and brown sugar. Some have commented that it is too sweet - there is no such thing! You will want to lick the dish. It is pricey - definitely not the place to go on a regular basis unless your money really does grow on trees - but for a special occasion there is no better place in town, and in a town with as many great restaurants as New Hope, that is high praise indeed.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    What a beautiful restaurant. We were seated upstairs in the dining area which was very beautiful. Wait staff very nice and attentive. For our appetizer we had the lettuce wedge. My wife had it with thousand island dressing and i had the blue cheese. The crumbled up bacon was great and the dressing were fantastic. For the main course we each had the filet mignon. We both ordered our steak medium. My wife's was cooked perfectly and mine was over done. The waiter asked if i wanted a new one but i decided to eat this one. I had mine Oscar style bernaise sauce and crab. Overall it was very good even though a little well done. We had the bayou fries which were very good. Would definetly recommend and we will go back again on our next visit.

    (4)

  • Cara T.

    My experience at Marsha Brown's is really two experiences rolled into one. About a month ago, I visited Marsha Brown's for a girlfriend's birthday. I was blown away by the ambiance and the setting inside of an old church. I found it really fitting to be eating a steak dinner in front of a giant mural of a lion eating it's prey. The gentlemen of the party order the bacon slab appetizer...just to say that they ordered a slab of bacon. It turned out to be everyone's favorite appetizer....don't knock it until you try it! I ordered a filet with a baked potato. Having been a long time fan of the area's Ruth Chris's and knowing that the owner of Marsha Brown's was the same restauranteur, I knew I was going to have a great meal....and I did! After a month of discussing my awesome meal at Marsha Brown's, the hubs and I headed up to New Hope during the week on a day he was playing hooky from work. I figured that lunch prices would help us to experience a delicious meal that we normally could not afford. We walked in and sadly found out that they do not seat in the church during lunch. We were seated down in a little room off of the bar area. I ordered the burger and hubs order jambalaya. Long story short, my burger was delicious (one of the best I've ever had!) and hubs jambalaya was less than fantastic. After he finished his soup, he asked the waiter for another drink and the waiter forgot...the entire time we were there. He was even reminded of the drink when he dropped off our food. After he picked up our credit card for payment, he apologized and asked him if he still wanted it...he said no. I kept saying, "dinner was so much better! I promise! We need to come back for dinner!" He said maybe. I tried to convince him of Marsha Brown's awesomeness but Ms. Brown did not help me out in that department. How many stars??? First meal...5....second meal 2...I'll settle with 4. I hope she will earn it the next time I'm there. Bottom line: great place for dinner...skip the lunch....unless you have lots of time, don't care about the service and order the delicious burger.

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    This place was ok. I had the crab cake and steak combo. The crab was delicious, but the steak needed work. Also the green beans taste like they are out of a can. Spg or butter would be nice. The restaurant is in an old church; the dining room is nice, but I felt crammed in it. It was so crowded our server could barley move without hitting the table next to us. Speaking of service, it was outstanding. Marsha happened to be there that night and she was being a great owner by touching tables. This was my 4th time dining there. I'd go back, but only for the seafood and service.

    (3)

  • Felix P.

    When Chef Caleb ran this joint, and now I am going back about a year, when I lived in New Hope and worked in Newtown (Felix's Caketeria), it was my favorite place....still to this day, I think of the chopped salad with the fried onions on top....delicious.....had a lot of memorable meals there and when I go back to visit, I will head over for a steak and salad......is it loud, yes, is it expensive, yes, but hello...it's a steakhouse.....the local crowd loves it, and so do I.

    (5)

  • Daphne W.

    Best dinning experience! My husband and I had a great date night that we went back two nights in a row! Oyster + Maine lobster + rib eye steak + pecan pie such a great meal! Most importantly our waiter Jack was super nice and funny, he just made the whole night even better!

    (5)

  • Bob J.

    Waited 1.5 hours for lunch on Saturday because of a wedding upstairs. Waitress was nice and tried to do a good job. The hostess was useless and could only make excuses. It would not have been that awful if it had just been me and my friend but my 10 yr old daughter was with us and she was hungry and bored out of her mind. The only cooked food was fries and the grilled shrimp on the salad everything else was from the raw bar. Food was decent and the general Manager Wendy took care of the bill and went above and beyond to make the best of a bad situation. I'll go back we have been going there for years. 1 star so people will take notice, generally I'll give MB 4.

    (1)

  • Hokie F.

    Freshest oysters, spicey jambalaya, and a savory lobsters pot pie made for a nice dinner out with my son. While dinner took longer than usual because the pot pie crust had to be redone, they handled appropriately. Cool space. Go!

    (4)

  • Colleen D.

    Marsha Brown's is located in a repurposed church with a lovely bar on the first floor and dinning on the second and third. They have a small elevator that made it possible for me to easily get to our table. Our party of 4 was seated along the to side wall to accommodate my request for a booth seat. The restaurant filled up within an hour on Saturday night. My husband and I ordered one of the evenings specials, Surf and Turf; (a dish I never order). It was sensational, seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection! The 4 of us shared mashed potato and spinach sides but would have been very satisfied with another mini loaf of their own crusty bread and just our entrees! The dessert menu needs more variety. My husband selected the chocolate cheesecake and sent it back, for the first time ever. He said it wasn't just a disappointment but he literally couldn't eat it; three small balls of chocolate cream cheese. Our guests shared a molten chocolate dessert and raved about theirs. Service was excellent and our waitress whisked away the one desert with no questions asked and offered a simple apology and another option. We all agreed that it is pricy, but above average quality and service for restaurants in New Hope.

    (4)

  • Abby W.

    This place serves a huge crowd on a summer weekend evening, when the weather is perfect. 2000+people in a night would not surprise me given how large the space is. The issues we had with the food were of the type that are not surprising in such a high-volume establishment, but I would say there were more hits than misses all told. We started with the crab cheesecake to share, oysters for him, and chopped salad for me. The table bread was a little strange in texture, its crumb was coarse and not terribly well-flavoured. It was, however, served warm and with ramekins of butter and room-temp refried beans. That was a bit odd but I actually liked them and found their seasoning to be a welcome addition to the party. Crab cheesecake came out first- it was an enormous slice of very rich, and quite tasty cheesy crab goodness. Th slice wasn't totally hot though, and had a bit of that colouring on the edges that things get when they've been sitting on a plate for too long. High volume. Is what it is I suppose. E loved his oysters and was particularly blown away by two of the four varieties available that night. Chopped salad was tasty and quite a large portion with a nice presentation. I wish the bleu cheese in it had been funkier, but it was very good. For entrees we both opted for the French Quarter surf and turf, so as to try both a crabcake and get some steak. Not a fan of the crawfish risotto at all, it was gummy and thick and nothing like a proper risotto. The crabcake was OK but again not hot and a bit aged around the edges. I didn't finish it. My filet medallions had been ordered rare and holy cow, were they rare. Barely seared on the outside. I was disappointed not to get that good hard crust from a nice sear. Luckily, I like my filet on the raw-as-possible side, so I ate it all. E's were medium rare as requested. Service was... odd. We had two servers for some reason and they were both a little on the strange side. Beverage selection was limited mostly to wine by the bottle with a small list by the glass and a very short cocktail list. They lean heavily toward the martini style and my gin and champagne cocktail was sickeningly sweet. Valet was a reasonable $10, but at the prices here I'd rather try some place new for our next trip to the area. Total including a cocktail and glass of wine was just over $130 or so.

    (3)

  • Food C.

    Overpriced and pretty average. Better steak at 1821 Steaks.

    (1)

  • Steven K.

    Ate lunch there a few weekends ago. It was ok. Four of us, three had burgers. I had the gumbo. Gumbo honestly tasted canned with maybe some added meats. Friends said burgers were good. Excellent fresh hot french bread and butter service. And you can't ignore the cool atmosphere"......old converted church. We sat upstairs....looks like a good place for a wedding reception.

    (3)

  • Sharon D.

    A bit of a long wait for food. Ordered two burgers, both med rare. One was almost still alive, the other so well done. No one came to check how we liked our food. Had to request check. They had cartoons playing on one tv, car race on another. Have dined here before, first time poor experience.

    (2)

  • Rcktmann L.

    I'll start this by saying I have eaten at everything from the back door kitchen to the five star. If you go here and expect traditional Creole or as most say Cajun you probably be disappointed. The best way to describe the food is Creole influenced so go with an open mind because it is definitely different. Expect the spices to be very bold. (Recommendations to the cook staff cut back on the amount of spice used you will have the same flavor and not have sensation of having your mouth dried out (slightly) because you went past max solubility.) The setting is also different and nicely done. The bar is stocked better than any I have seen in recent years and the bartenders are very knowledgable. The service is on the mark if you are there to be social and wanting take a step back from the rat pace of today's world that we all have been conditioned to expect. My compliments to our wait staff that knew enough to bring the few issues and the special event details to the manager who did the right things to make our experience a very enjoyable one. Thank you

    (4)

  • Nora B.

    Went to the restaurant but did not realize it was Restaurant Week in New Hope. The menu was limited, but we enjoyed a great meal. We had the pot stickers with shrimp and crab. The sauce was interesting - wish we could have figured out exactly what was in it. The pot stickers were tangy and had a carmelized finish. My husband had the jambalaya. The entree was very hot and kept the heat. It had an excellent flavor, not too spicy, but the right mix of meats and fish. I had the pork tenderloin with a bread and andouille stuffing. The meat was slightly overcooked for me, but the glaze helped. The meal came with a chocolate bread pudding. Not my favorite dessert, but this was very good. The after dinner chocolate raspberry martini was excellent. We will return for their regular menu. Service was very attentive.

    (4)

  • Michelle Q.

    At a family member's request, we went to Marsha Brown's for her birthday celebration. A friend who is local to New Hope had told me that Marsha Brown's was a place one took friends "to impress" so my expectations were high. Here is my pros/cons list: Pros: Portions were very generous for both entrees and sides. (This was unexpected.) Service was friendly & helpful, very good. Cons: Mediocre wines for high prices. (This is where they make their money.) Prices for entrees also a bit high. All of the dishes were very rich. Too rich Crawfish Etoufee did not compare favorably to crawfish eaten in Louisiana. Very limited options for vegetarians & vegans. Only one entree available (Eggplant Ophelia) and no option to have a special dish made. None! Desserts: Again, generous portions but dry carrot cake with ho hum icing. The decor: There's "eclectic" and bad design. This is bad design. Summary: Unfortunately, because the food was so very rich, neither I nor my husband slept well after this meal. I am glad we "experienced" Marsha Brown's as there is a lot of hype surrounding this restaurant and we have now satisfied our curiosity, but we will not be returning. There are too many better options in the area. In New Hope in particular, I would recommend Cafe' Blue Moose: Creative, fresh, and delicious food at very reasonable prices, friendly service, and a BYOB to boot!

    (2)

  • Mike C.

    Sine if the best food I have ever had. The restaurant is awesome. It is in an old church. Such a fun place to eat. Our server was friendly and made great recommendations. The meal was just amazing. Great tasting and cooked perfectly. New Orleans food at it's best.

    (5)

  • Valentino G.

    The decor is inviting and the building itself is entirely different from any restaurant I have been to. The food is somewhat overpriced, and the same anywhere else. The last time I went I had jambalaya and it was bland and had no flavor to it. My mom had the lobster, but she was upset causes there wasn't much meat. If there's anything I love from there it's their chopped salad, it is to die for its that good. Good restaurant, but they try to hard to be elegant and over price things. Good food, but I have had better.

    (3)

  • Damian O.

    One of the more interesting and lively restaurant in New Hope I suppose. I think they want you to have an experience eating there and you could if you want to. Kind of like going to one of Steven Starr places. I usually just want to eat really good food and have really good service. Anything else is icing. I'm not asking for much am I? Fortunately for them I can recall what I ate so that means I enjoyed my experience there. We almost didn't make it. We first stopped by Triumph but we ate there before so we actually asked the waitress there that we wanted to eat somewhere else and she was like "for sure!". She was a very reasonable and understanding waitress. I should have left her a tip just for being so nice. To make the long story short, it was raining and it was the closest place near our car so we went in there thinking it would rain all day. When we sat down it stopped raining so we decided to go eat where we really originally wanted to go haha. Anyways, we started off with some soup. Oh I can tell you their lobster bisque is so good. One of the better ones I've had and I wanted more to be honest. We moved on to the main course. I had the Church Burger which has bleu cheese. I don't what it is but I'm a sucker for bleu cheese on my burger. Cooked well, meat was juicy and not dry, bread was good, but the kicker was the roasted garlic. Their creole fires was a nice touch. I could tell they took their time in making the flavors work together. My wife had the crab cake I think. I know she loved it because she wanted to go back before she was done eating. Def. going back for more.

    (4)

  • Jim M.

    stopped in for brunch on Sunday. Menu was basically hamburgers. Waitress said they were amazing. They were about a 4 on a scale of 10. Fries were covered with Cajun spices and tons of salt. Basically inedible. They need to refresh the menu. Get a new chef and update the decor. We just sat downstairs so hard to say what the main dining room is like. This is basically a tourist trap where they don't want to pump any money into making it a first rate place

    (2)

  • Christine F.

    Took the hubby here for a special 50th Birthday dinner... loved the cozy "loveseat" side by side seating for two and loved the converted church- the ambience is very cool! Valet parking for $10.00 is appreciated since parking in New Hope is sometimes difficult. The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The food.... well...we were disappointed. We were expecting to be blown away and quite frankly my steak was dry and tasteless ( ordered the Surf and Turf- Medium). The hubby ordered the scallops and they were tasty. The pecan pie was not great - have had better in other places. For the price, we were expecting more from Marsha Brown's!

    (3)

  • Krysia K.

    The restaurant is in an old church, including the beautiful stained-glass windows and a huge mural on the wall. Greeted by the hostess, because we do not have reservations, we were guided to the bar. Large bar with a wide variety of wines, beers and spirits, imported and domestic. The background music, soft and pleasant. The service was acceptable, the food of New Orleans flavor was delicious and cooked to order. I had a Church burger - not bad, my husband ordered "Finger Lickin 'Slow Roast beef - very good. Probably again we will visit these restaurants.

    (3)

  • Tricia G.

    What a beautiful restaurant that used to be a church! I had the jambalaya which was as tasty as it was artistically prepared. I would've liked a bit more rice w it and a bit LESS sausage believe it or not. The main level is where lunch is served and I thought it was very pretty but when we took a peek upstairs - I was blown away. There are lots of pix on here that show it so I won't add mine but WOW!!!!! Simply goregous!

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    Just went back here with a group of friends. I'm sure on any given night, a restaurant can have an off night. Luckily for me, I still have not had that problem at Marsha Browns!! Another spectacualr meal that everyone in our party loved!! Crab Cheesecake appetizer......WOW!!! Delicious!! My surf and turf which consisted of filet medallions, crabcake and crawfish risotto was outstanding!! There is nothing like eating a piece of crabcake and actually tastig crab, not bread!!! We ordered a bunch of the ala carte sides. Onion rings and cajun dusted fries. The fries were crisp and flaovorful. The spices were not overpowering on them. Just right. As for the onion rings, they were so good, I wanted to take them home and perform a sexual act with them!!! Huge a delicious!! I don't remember the last time I had an onion ring that the onion didn't fall out of while I was eating it!! Didn't happen here!! Beautiful place, great food and good staff. While some of their dinner specials are priced beyond belief, the standard menu is not too pricey. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite spots!!

    (5)

  • Miss J.

    I sho' 'nuf believed that Marsha Brown's is a church-turned-restaurant - I heard angels singing when I took my first bite of crab cheesecake. I've never tasted something so heavenly before. Since Marsha is a N'awlins girl, we stuck to the Cajun/Creole side of the menu instead of the steaks. The crawfish etouffee was good with just the right level of spice, if not as creamy as I would've expected from an authentic dish. On the other hand, I'll preach from the pulpit how amazing the Bourbon Street sauteed catfish was. Dusted with Cajun spices, served on top of a bed of creamy, lightly spiced sauce, with a dollop of seafood rice in the middle. Ca c'est bon! It's a cloth napkin kind of place with no kids' entrees on the printed menu, but we took the kids (4 and 6) anyway. They enjoyed the coconut shrimp from the appetizer menu, and the chicken fingers from the three kid selections our waiter told us about. Other than our own waiter, the waitstaff was amazing with our kids - stopping by to joke with them on their way to other tables, stopping us on the way to the restroom to tell our kids how grown up they were acting. Cons: - Our waiter seemed a little socially awkward and was so distracted by someone's cell phone going off that he couldn't get through the list of specials. -It's a little on the pricey side. In a nutshell: Eating here is sinfully good.

    (4)

  • Mama O.

    Pretty nice atmosphere but if you're seated downstairs it's pretty crammed. *Limited menu. *NOT friendly service- kind of snooty. There's signs up everywhere about their votes for "Best Burger' yet there are none listed to order from the dinner menu. Upon entering we were told we were having "lunch" but then, once seated, they handed us the dinner menus- I suppose since it took so long to be seated the menu had changed to dinner. 2 adults + 2 kids who split their entree= over $200 with tip. BTW for my entree I only ate a salad. TOO much Money for a Unmemorable, Unfriendly meal. It served its purpose that day, but I won't be back. *I did mark that there is a full bar- but there is a very limited selection of beer. They didn't even have Corona-? Strange. Plus if there's more than 1 or 2 of you- good luck waiting at the bar- it is next to a service door, we were there when it wasn't very busy, yet, always seemed to be in the way.

    (2)

  • K M.

    Marsha Brown will call the police to ticket people parked at a public parking meter to "reserve" the space for their valet service. My meter still had over an hour left on it when I returned to my car to find a parking ticket on my car. They attempted to reserve the spot by placing a restraunt bag over the parking meter that still had remaining time left on it and then called the police to place a no parking bag over the meter and to give me a ticket. If they would like to use the space for their valet parking service, there should be a sign indicating what time that goes into effect, put up by the police, not by placing a restraunt bag over a public parking meter with time left on it.

    (1)

  • Jeff B.

    Everything about this restaurant was first rate. From the ambiance of the space, the service, the food and the wine list. My wife and I both ordered the 10 ounce New York strips, that our server said were worthy of being filet mignons based on how they tasted and the tenderness of the steak. He was right on the mark. Both steaks were cooked to perfection and were absolutely delicious. For an appetizer I ordered the Gumbo Yaya which had just the right amounts of spice , flavor and heat to be classified as world class Gumbo. The wine list had a broad array of selections from low to high price trophy wines, that were fairly priced, and well suited to the menu... We will definitely be back...

    (5)

  • Joven C.

    First time visitor to Lambertville, and we crossed the bridge into New Hope on the hunt for a dinner destination. Housed in an old church, Marsha Brown's was the first establishment that grabbed our attention. Reminded me of the old Limelight in NYC. We did not have a reservation, but thought we'd try our luck anyway. Wait for a table was quite long, so the host graciously suggested we try the bar as they offer the full menu. For starters, we couldn't decide between the baked oysters or raw, so we had both, followed by the wedge salad. For dinner, we had the salmon and lobster pot pie. The salmon was solid, but unspectacular. Lobster pot pie was hearty and a perfect meal for a chilly night. Although we didn't order it, the eggplant ophelia looked very good plated and I'm not ashamed to admit I was eyeballing this dish as the diner to my left dug in. Overall, it was a great dining experience for our first visit to Lambertville/New Hope and a nice way to wrap up a visit to this area's very cool shops and downtown. Only regret was we were not able sit in the main dining room and enjoy more of the decor. It's definitely advisable to make a reservation if you plan on going for dinner on weekends.

    (3)

  • Layla G.

    Insanely delicious food. Nice ambience for a large group, not sure for a romantic evening since the noise level is a little high, and the tables are a bit close together. Ahi tuna appetizer, crab cheese cake (yes you read that right....cheese as in smoked gouda) and regular crab cakes are to die for. Pecan pie for dessert-- excellent. I was there with 7 other people and was able to sample their orders as well. Everything tastes good, the above mentioned were the standouts. Great service. I highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Danan R.

    The dining room is absolutely gorgeous. The crawfish etouffee was pretty good and spicy, although I tend to prefer the creamier Cajun style (rather than Creole). The lobster pot pie was flavorful and had a buttery, flaky crust that was quite decadent. The jambalaya is very spicy so keep that in mind. Try the sweet potato casserole as a side or the cajun fries, if you like a spicy side. The creme brulee was nice and creamy, but not overly sweet. Service was very attentive and almost exemplary. Overall, the food is tasty but maybe not worth the relatively high price tag. For that, we could have gone to a good restaurant downtown. Plus, parking is a pain although they do offer valet for $10.

    (3)

  • JS A.

    Great atmosphere and awesome service. Chef even came out to see how everything was.

    (5)

  • Melanie Q.

    Amazingly delicious crab cheesecake!!

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Marsha Brown's appears to be a prettily covered book within the first ten minutes. Strolling through New Hope, I was so excited to eat at the place that has a massive fork and spoon hovering over the entrance. How could a place with such cool decor fail me? I went inside and was not expecting the grandiose feel. The restaurant is in an old church and it has a strange space/perception feel to it. The vaulted ceilings with sparse artwork and massive murals just threw me off a little. I was also not expecting a heavy seafood menu. It was delicious. We split some wonderful carpaccio (wish it had some capers on it), asparagus with an interesting ginger sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and, le piece de resistance: spinach, fig, bleu cheese salad. The dressing to lettuce ratio was PERFECT. Our server, Jack, was so effusive and lovely. He knows everything there is to know about Marsha Brown's and it is very evident that he loves what he does. It's hard to find individuals like this stateside. Overall, it was a lovely dining experience.

    (4)

  • Linda H.

    Had a wonderful lunch with my husband today at Marsha Browns!!!! The "Real gumbo Ya Ya" was delicious (my husband had that) and I asked our wonderful waiter "Russell" if I could have oysters even tho' it wasn't on the menu for lunch and he brought me a 1/2 dozen delicious oysters! Then my husband and I had the Eggplant Ophelia which at first looked like a small portion but turned out to be more than enough...it was wonderful...I loved the yummy creole butter sauce that accompanied it. But I think what made the entire lunch so special was our terrific waiter "Russell"...he was so attentive and professional...we will definitely return to Marsha Browns!!!!

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    The food was exceptional, the service was great, the ambiance is wonderful and it made for an unforgettable birthday dinner. It's pricey, but worth it for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Dave J.

    This old church converted into a creole Louisiana style restaurant is a must if you're in the area. Food and service are outstanding! (Strong wine list and knowledgable staff really enhances the experience) Parking on street can be tough, however valet for dinner time really helps!!!

    (4)

  • kristen i.

    My BF and I stopped in here for a potential dinner (which ended up only being drinks) on a Tuesday night. Maybe they don't send in their A-team for Tuesday nights, but the bartender was inattentive and seemed to be more interested in chatting with the servers than serving drinks. I ordered the pomegranate mimosa, which was very tasty and my BF got whiskey on the rocks. We walked upstairs to check out the main dining room, which was absolutely beautiful - probably even more so after dark with low lighting, but we were there around 6. The staff seemed distant and inattentive (with one server stating that he's "only there for one reason and one reason only") and didn't give me a case of the welcoming warm-fuzzies. This place is definitely worth a peek for the architecture alone, but we didn't feel like sticking around for anything more than 2 drinks. Perhaps the atmosphere gets a livelier on the weekends?

    (3)

  • Laura D.

    Food was good, nice ambiance. Awesome, walking in an old church. Everything we ordered had great flavor. Highly recommend the Surf and Turf.

    (4)

  • David A.

    Picture this - I'm working in Philadelphia for a day but staying in New York City so my client suggests "neutral ground" for dinner in New Hope, PA, "near New Jersey." Excuse me? Where? Go. I wish I had said yes faster. First of all, New Hope is a gorgeous and quaint town - exactly like Marsha Brown's, a restaurant built in a converted church, with stained glass windows (stunning with the sun shining through) and a towering frescoed wall. I had a tuna tartare appetizer which was excellent as was my main course of grilled vegetable napoleon. The wine list was a little sparse which surprised me since the restaurant had supposedly received an award from the Wine Spectator. Incidentally, the history behind this place is that Marsha Brown is a Louisiana native who grew up with Ruth Chris and, hence, owns a number of his steakhouses. She tried to open one in New Hope but when the town would not let her, she opened up a restaurant with her name on the door instead. I'm glad she did. (FYI - valet parking is $10. I recommend you take advantage because finding a spot is not easy.)

    (4)

  • To B.

    Beautiful restaurant, well maintained. Clean, restrooms. Made reservations for lunch and to discuss with a manager hosting a potential private event. When arrived we were seated downstairs in the bar area. When we asked about possibly being seated upstairs, we were told by the hostess that only parties of 6 or more are seated upstairs, ok fair enough. Except it was not true, later when got a tour of the upstairs for our potential private event we saw several parties less than 6 (3-4 people !!). The food was just ok at lunch, my chicken was dry and tasteless. Service was SLOW not the same caliber as dinner service. Had a great experience at dinner here many times before. Also, while the manager was professional and nice during our 30 minute meeting and tour she never got back to us (as she said she would) with information and details for hosting our event which now is booked elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Anthony W.

    Outstanding Best restaurant in the area Service top notch

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    so i don't get the hype or the price tag. seriously. first off, the upstairs dining room is probably one of the worst spaces ever. my husband said he felt like we were at a wedding (read: catering hall). the ceiling is high, the tables are crammed in there, and even our waiter (who was great) said to us and our table neighbors that he should treat us like one table. i went for new hope restaurant week to try out the place since normally the prices are so ridiculous that i wouldn't bother. the first course was a lobster cappuccino - lobster bisque in a little cup with creme fraise. it would have been good except it was cold. there was also some sort of oyster (pretty tasty) and a bignet (out of place on the plate). for my entree i went with the shrimp and grits since it's not normally on the menu. the shrimp was overcooked and the grits were undercooked. the flavor was nice, but i've had better up the river at black bass. my husband went for the brisket. terrible. he said it was like eating roast beef with a sweet red sauce and i agree. the chocolate creme brulee was nice for dessert. perfect portion. dinner is definitely not worth the price. if you must go, sit at the bar DOWNSTAIRS and get a couple appetizers. i, however, will be skipping the place all together.

    (2)

  • Chris G.

    Be prepared to have a great experience! This place isn't just about eating. The drinks are amazing and fun. The steaks are amazing. I recommend the Crispy Shrimp and Lamb chops app. Cowboy Rib eye steak blackened. The sides are family size and can be shared with the table. Its not a cheap night but worth every penny!!

    (5)

  • Brian Q.

    Went here on a Tuesday for lunch and sat at he bar. Very nice atmosphere, very nice service, and food was very good. I wasn't sure with all of the conflicting reviews what to expect, but this place beat expectations. The dining area upstairs looks beautiful.

    (5)

  • Sandi W.

    Not crazy about this place a little pricey the food is ok not great. Won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Kelly B.

    One of the most beautiful dining rooms I have ever seen! The service is great here along with the atmosphere. If you go here you MUST get the sweet potato casserole.

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    Came here on Valentine's Day this year and it was just as good as I remembered. They do a great job of incorporating that New Orleans flavor and flare into their food. It's a beautiful setting and perfect for a nice night out.

    (4)

  • Vicki Z.

    We ordered dinner $69 for 2. Food was good with very big portion, even bigger than portions at regular price in NYC. Lobster & Shrimp Bisque was so good. JumboYaYa is the same thing to entree Jambalaya. Entree is much bigger though. We also had an extra lamb chop. That's the dish why my bf wanted to come back. Filet is prime quality. Custard is must have. Good wine list. Worth every penny. 20 is too low. We would give 25.

    (5)

  • Zulay V.

    I'd give it 3.5 stars. The place is beeauuutiful, big open dining area with beautiful old church windows, great music, great setting and decor. The service was very friendly, and one of the chefs came out to greet everyone and talk to them. He was really friendly and wanted to make sure everyone's meal was delicious The bread they give you while you're waiting is GREAT. You can tell it's freshly baked, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The wine was very good too. We got the "Celebration Dinner" which is $69 for two people, each gets to choose their own starter, entree, and dessert: My shrimp & lobster bisque was delicious! I thought it was not going to be enough since the bowl was so small, but it's so rich and flavorful that you really get enough of it. Very good. My fiance's salad was good, nothing crazy, but good. My Eggplant Ophelia was amazing, lots of crab and shrimp rolled into the eggplant, and the sauce was wonderful. The flavors were layered nicely, and the smokey spiciness didn't hit you until after your first bite. My fiance got the jambalaya, which was also very good, really hearty and smokey. For dessert, we ordered the vanilla custard and chocolate cake. The vanilla custard was VERY GOOD, it was really tasty, not too sweet, and the meringue on top was very nice. The chocolate cake was good, very chocolaty but I feel that it was sort of a... "so what?" type of dessert. It was delicious, don't get me wrong, but it didn't have any "WOW" factor which I would have expected. With a New Orleans theme, they could definitely add a bourbon glaze or pecans or something to kick it up a notch. Regarding the food, that was my only negative critique... but it was still tasty and we finished everything. We really enjoyed our night and would definitely recommend eating here. The only issue is, and I find this with a lot of expensive-ish restaurants, is that it's so damn drafty!!! If it wasn't chilly, I think we would've enjoyed our meals even more.

    (3)

  • Michele R.

    My boyfriend and I stayed at a Bed & Breakfast on a sheep farm 2 Halloween's ago. This town is awesome! So much cool stuff to look at. We spent the day walking around in all of the shops. Such an eclectic area. Marsha Brown's is still my favorite restaurant of all time. I would be willing to drive the 2 hours from Long Island to show my family how great it is. The food is just amazing. I've never had anything better. I can't remember everything we had there because it was so long ago but it was awesome. If you are in the area, try Marsha Brown's!

    (5)

  • Stella H.

    My first visit to Marsha Brown's was several years ago, and it was with a large group. I was neither over or underwhelmed at the time. I recently visited again with a smaller group on a Sunday evening and it was spendid. This is a really cool place - an old church with much of the character and charm you would typically expect. Service here was excellent, from the drinks at the bar before dinner, as well as our server. The food was well-prepared and very tasty, as we couldn't help but try each other's dishes. The side dishes are large enough for 2-3 people to share and were also wonderful. Loved those oversized tasty onion rings. Yum. Parking in New Hope is a nightmare and I would recommend that if you go during primetime, that you bite the bullet and just pay to park in one of several parking lots in/around town. It beats paying the $20 ticket that I got because I overstayed my welcome at the parking meter.

    (4)

  • CP K.

    Have dined at Marsha Brown twice recently--once for lunch, once for dinner. While both meals were above average, I recommend it more for the former than latter. At dinner, my companion and I were seated in the beautiful upstairs dining room, which was the worship area in the building's former life as a church. Our server was friendly and warm, but seemed like he had more tables than he could handle. The restaurant was full and slightly too loud. My etouffee entree was tasty and well-seasoned, but my companion's eggplant entree and our shared appetizer (fried catfish) were both slightly bland. Despite the somewhat mixed bag on our first visit, we went back for lunch two weeks later. (New Hope prides itself on having over 80 restaurants, but only about ten of them are actually worth patronizing, and I'd say this is one of them). It was a much, much better experience. There appeared to be only one server working the entire bar area, making drinks as well as taking orders, but that didn't seem to encumber her at all from offering exemplary service. The lunch menu is more casual--mostly featuring burgers, po boys, and entree-sized salads. I had the oyster po boy, which rivaled any I've eaten in Louisiana--large with at least seven or eight fresh fried oysters. My companion had the entree chopped salad and loved it. The prices are better at lunch, and the seating at high tables in the bar area actually worked better for me than the upstairs dining room. While the dining room is lovely, as I previously said, the bar area is more intimate and relaxed. Overall, I recommend Marsha Brown, but I'd suggest stopping in for lunch and heading across the bridge to Lambertville for dinner.

    (4)

  • Olivia C.

    I blindly walked into Marsha Brown's for lunch based solely that it's housed inside an old church- I didn't even look at the menu! Although all the individual components of the décor don't necessarily work as a whole, they're all quirky or beautiful and they're interesting to look at. The bf really wanted crab on this trip so naturally he ordered the crab cake sandwich, which had large lumps of crab meat and was inside a sweet onion roll. I had the crab and smoked gouda cheese "cake" (more like a quiche). It tasted like it sounds- Delicious! Service was on the slow side, good thing we weren't on a time crunch. While leaving, I snapped some pictures and the hostess was nice enough to invite us upstairs to see the awesome dining room. Check it out!

    (4)

  • Brian T.

    Hmm. Well Marsha Browns was highly recommended, so I went with considerable expectations. The food is good, but not memorable. The atmosphere is interesting, but the scale of the space makes it feel a bit like a cafeteria. The decor is unfocused and needs direction. Huge missed opportunity. The bread is down-homey in a not-so-good way. But the wine - the wine is absolutely horrid, which is a deal breaker for me. They do have a good selection of oysters which were enjoyable. And their chorizo is actually really nice. The food does have some spiciness which is always fun. Service was friendly and very attentive.

    (2)

  • Erica S.

    Who is this woman, Marsha Brown? We don't know, but she is spoken of by her staff as if she is an institution. She is a mystery, that Marsha, and her food is DAMN good. I went into this experience a bit apprehensive, as my girlfriend lives in New Orleans, I spend a great deal of time there, and we are both well acquainted with New Orleans cuisine. She was hesitant to go, but I was dying to get a taste of NOLA food up here. Let me put it this way: we stopped in on a Saturday for lunch and before we left, had already made our reservation for Sunday dinner. First, the building. It's an old church. How does one even acquire an old church? We don't know, but Marsha did it. I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't sit in the big church part for lunch, as they only had the bar area and the downstairs tables open. But it didn't matter. We had a fantastic and attentive bartender with whom we BS'd the entire time. And the food! Oh, the food. I had a "New Orleans style Philly cheesesteak" and it was better than any cheesesteak or po'boy I've ever eaten. The bread was perfect, the roast beef delicious, and it was covered in provolone cheese and Louisiana hot sauce. It may sound weird, but together it created the perfect sandwich. The fries were seasoned with something akin to Tony Cachere's, or perhaps a variety of Tony's. My girlfriend ordered the gumbo and actually liked it! The roux was very pretty and dark, and it was delicious. (Drinks: I had a key lime martini and was drunk about halfway through). Dinner the following night: it was quiet because it was late on a Sunday. Our reservation was for 9pm, and we were apparently the only people being seated at that time. We were led to the grandiose church, and there were only a few other diners there, all finishing up. We spent the majority of our dinner as the only two diners in a vast, beautiful church, with the attentive service all to ourselves. It was awesome. We decided to split some appetizers, some sides, and a single entree. First up: crawfish risotto. So delicious and creamy that I was scraping droppings off the tablecloth, and I declared that crawfish always tastes delicious because I associate it with fun. Then, a bacon slab. Literally, a really huge slab of bacon plated on some delicious sauce. Next up: we split a porckchop on a delicious corncake with sweet potato straw-like things, sweet potato casserole (identical to Ruth's Chris), and creamed spinach. It was all so delicious. We had to take a majority of it home, and didn't have room for dessert. Our personable and delightful server informed us that our choices would make "a beautiful dinner," and he was right. We had our food boxed up, but when I went to eat it, THE PORK CHOP WAS MISSING. I was so mad about that pork chop. I still am. Where did my pork chop go? I guess I'll never know. Hmmph. I'll guess I'll have to be going back to Marsha's to get another.

    (5)

  • Flora T.

    Our family came here to celebrate a bday lunch. Everyone was happy with the food and service. It was worth the drive. We would come back again for sure.

    (4)

  • Rose C.

    The ambience of this place is unique. I consider myself a seasoned traveller and restaurant-goer and have never had a dining experience inside an old church. Very cool environment. Our waiters were very attentive and kind. I wish I could say the same about the other diners seated around us. I felt like I was being stared at throughout my entire meal and if the man next to me could, he would have eaten something off of my plate! I was disappointed with the meal overall. I had a Caesar salad starter which was less than average. I was served the stump of the romaine which was also brown. I then had the crab cakes appetizer as my meal. Delicious lumps of crab meat with very little filler, these cakes were more like crab meatballs! I would definitely eat them again. My friend and I ordered the Cajun fries to share and were disappointed. They were served room temperature at best and tasted stale. I ended my meal with the Creme brûlée which was another disappointment. The brûlée tasted great with a very smooth, creamy texture but it was served cold. The chef did come around to ask how our meal was which was appreciated. However I was disappointed with the food, especially considering I paid $50.00 for a starter salad, appetizer, and dessert. Not sure I will be returning.

    (2)

  • Jamie L.

    The night started with drinks at the bar..I had a couple of pomogranite mimosa's they were awesome. We were seated to dinner when we were ready. I had the crawfish etoufee which was just ok it was a bit soupy. I have never had this dish before so i am not sure how it should be served so it could of been on point, although it was like a soup to me it was quite tasty. My husband had the lobster bisque which was fabulous and the eggplant ophelia which was also great...very different but very good. The feel of the restaurant was great fancy yet comfortable. I would definitely go back there but next time i will try a steak!

    (4)

  • Sean R.

    Set inside an old church Marsha Browns has an interesting atmosphere. The interior is very spacious, with a New Orleans style, it is a bit dark and mysterious inside so it captures NOLA pretty well. They have a relaxed bar area with a huge bar, a few tables and a few TVs. There is also a more fancy dinning area, but I can't really comment on it since we ate at the bar. I only had lunch here and it was hit and miss.: The miss was on the oyster po boy, the sandwich was huge, but unfortunately, the oysters were covered in way to much breading, the bread was a bit hard, and it was topped with only shredded lettuce with a side of tartar sauce. I ate the first half and ended up just eating the oysters from the second half. The hit was on the crab cake sandwich, the roll it was on could have been a bit smaller but everything else with it was on point, I highly recommend trying it if you are stopping here for lunch. One of the better crab cakes I have ever had, large lumps of crab, and very little filler. The bar tender also suggested to order some oysters, but since we didn't even finish our meals, we had to pass. They do have an oyster menu though that i was very intrigued by, because you can order single oysters, and it tells you were they are from, a brief taste description, and the size of the oysters.

    (3)

  • Eric B.

    Great food in New Hope. Great tasting food with a kick. So many great choices on menu with wonderful bread and bean spread to start off meal. Fantastic service and ambiance.

    (5)

  • Elle M.

    I walked by twice and did not even realize that it was a restaurant. Once my friend pointed that out to me, I had to try it out! What an interesting way to use a former church. We went inside for lunch and were asked if we had a reservation....We said no, and were told that it was a 2 1/2 hour wait. WOW! I asked if we could eat at the bar, and the hostess said we were more than welcome to if seats were available. Lucky us, there were. Unlucky us....the seats were situated too close to the diners behind us, leaving barely any walking room for the servers and guests coming and going past us. Which every so often I would get bumped into. I ordered a cup of Real Gumbo Ya Ya and the Prosciutto Salad. The gumbo was superb! It took me to New Orleans. The right amount of consistency, spice, and heat. Every spoonful was delicious, and I wished I had ordered a bowl. The salad however, was just ok. When I received it, it looked like any other salad in presentation. When my neighbor received their Chopped Salad....the presentation was incredible. Hmmmm.... Moving back to my Prosciutto Salad...It had the prosciutto laying on the bottom of the salad, which is mentioned on the menu. But it was weird to eat through most of the salad without it, and then once I got to the bottom, there it was. Personally, I would have liked to have the prosciutto mixed in. All in all my dining experience was just ok.

    (3)

  • jm s.

    This was an A-Ok spot for lunch in downtown New Hope. The po-boys are nothing like authentics you'd find in New Orleans, but they were still yummy. Service was fine. I'd say this was overpriced for what we received, but I would go back for sure.

    (3)

  • Joe V.

    Everything was delicious. We had the lamb app very meaty and delicious. The crab cheesecake was also delicious very rich and creamy. The oysters were also delicious served alla carte which is nice so you can get however many you would like. The bread is also delicious. I had the jambalaya and my fiancé had salmon and shrimp. Both delicious. Service is fantastic and the dessert was great we had the bread pudding. Beautiful decor as it use to be a church.

    (5)

  • Barbra M.

    I have two reviews for this place, hence the 3 star rating. The first time I went to Marsha Browns was for lunch and ordered a meal that the bartender recommended. It was the worst meal I have ever had. My friend had a good meal. We decided to try it again on a Saturday night for dinner and couldn't have been happier. My meal, salmon and shrimp, was absolutely delicious and my friends meal, the veal was cooked to perfection. We sat upstairs in the church area and there were maybe 4 other couples. I wouldn't have liked the seating if it was more crowded, I don't like people sitting right next to me and being able to hear their conversation, which is what I think would have happened. The wait staff was very attentive.

    (3)

  • Andrea m g.

    I was brought here as a guest for a birthday celebration and must say I was glad I wasn't paying for the meal.....EXPENSIVE. Lovely surroundings with stained glass and excellent food is what you will get at Marsha Browns, but I have to say I have enjoyed Cajun and creole food that was every bit as good if not better at cheap hole in the walls.It is a special occasion restaurant unless you have an expense account fronting the meal.

    (4)

  • Amy H.

    I had high hopes for Marsha Brown's. I read such great reviews and it was my first venture into New Hope. Boy was I disappointed. For appetizers, we had the duck meatballs and the crispy shrimp. The meatballs were just OK. The crispy shrimp tasted like they stuck the shrimp inside a coconut macaroon. It came with a spicy sauce that I guess was going to balance the sweetness, but the sauce was sweet too. I tried the surf and turf as my entree. My two steak medallions looked nice, but tasted horrible. It was way too salty. Not only was it over salted, but there were extra-large salt crystals on top of the steaks. My lobster tail was slightly less salty. Only slightly. My boyfriend had scallops, lobster tail, and crawfish risotto. He said the scallops were OK, but his lobster was salty also. I tried his risotto. It was nothing special and I didn't see any crawfish. For some insane reason we decided to get dessert. We shared the cannoli. It was a chocolate ricotta filled cannoli. It sat on a brownie and was covered in chocolate sauce with some whipped cream on the side. I LOVE sugar, but this was too sweet even for me! I had a bite of the brownie and we ate the shell of the cannoli, but the chocolate ricotta filling was too sweet to eat. I wasn't impressed by the presentation of our food. Since my boyfriend and I both work in a restaurant, we know how food should look before it leaves the kitchen. The edges should be clean and the food should look appetizing and a nice presentation. At Marsha Brown's, our plate edges were messy and my entree plate was so hot it burned whatever dusting of spice they put on the side. Maybe I'm being too overcritical, but like I said, I work at a restaurant, so I know how plates should leave the kitchen. If I brought out a plate that looked like that, the chef would have my head! So, what did I like about Marsha Brown's? The atmosphere is lovely. Its beautifully decorated. On the second floor there is a huge painting. Its kind of a violent scene (men on horses stabbing lions) to be looking at while eating dinner. I'm hoping my next restaurant venture into New Hope will be a better one.

    (2)

  • Lucy M.

    Don't listen to the whiners and haters! Marsha's is one of our favorites -- excellent cocktails, yummy food (the world's best chopped salad, incredible raw bar, fantastic filet mignon and the sweet potato casserole is to die for!) and one of the best bars for grown-ups in the area. Whether you're there for date night and a big dinner or meeting friends in the bar for something more casual, you will have fun at Marsha Brown's.

    (5)

  • Mike D.

    The service in the bar area is weak at best. Food is good and I love the oysters, but with a half-full bar they need to be more attentive...ecspecially for the prices their charging....scan your customer's drinks once in a while to see if they need another one for cryin out loud! The person next to me gets served and the waitress does not even lean my way to check up on me... I gave it three stars just because of the food.

    (3)

  • Brett M.

    Based on the reviews I wasn't expecting too much, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is on the expensive side, but I disagree with the pretentious label. Our server was very communicative and knowledgeable in a very down-to-earth kind of way. As others have mentioned, the ambiance was great. The old church setting and stained glass windows juxtaposed a very violent, gory "lion hunt" painting on the wall. It was all very interesting. I did find the vaulted ceilings made for a loud room. The bar was big and very nice. On to it now... the food. Most of us stuck with the New Orleans fare. For starters, we had the Slab of Bacon (more like a fatty ham, but good) and gumbo (very good and spicy). Entrees: I had the Jambalaya and it was great. Spicy with plenty of shrimp and sausage. I also tried the Eggplant Ophelia and would highly recommend that (eggplant, shrimp, crabmeat casserole). Yum! Another person ordered the NY Strip which was good. Nothing earth-shattering though. Sides included sweet potato casserole which tasted as sweet as a dessert, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, and cream spinach. Drinks were good and strong. I would definitely go back!

    (4)

  • chris r.

    "you got really quiet after your first bite, chris." it was true. after seeing the sign outside that said "best burgers, ever." and going on a brief tirade about businesses that make exaggerated claims, my friend was still unsure whether or not i wanted to go inside. i did. after all, i haven't had the chance to eat in a restaurant that used to be a church. we sat at the high tables adjacent to the bar, and my friend was excited that her seat was a former pew. there were several burgers on the menu, and i asked our server which one he'd recommend. it was the louisiana burger. an angus burger with louisiana hot sauce, american cheese and fried onions. it doesn't sound great, right? that's what i thought, at least. but it was. that first bite made me forget every creatively named, overpriced burger i've tried in the five boroughs during this burger renaissance of the past few years. is it the best burger ever? i don't know, but it's the best one i've ever had. my friend had a bite and agreed, wishing she'd ordered the same thing. after venting in my last review about places that feel the need to tell you about where their ingredients are sourced from, i'm embarrassed to write that i wish i knew what farm or distributor marsha brown's gets their black angus meat from. it was extremely fresh, and had a kind of melt in your mouth quality. i hate that phrase, but there's no better way to describe it. marsha brown's also made me realize something that's pretty obvious which i've never considered - just how important the bun is. i liked the onion roll it was served on enough to ask our server about it, and i found out that it comes from a nearby artisanal bakery. i've already looked them up and will be ordering a bunch for the next cookout i have. they're that good. we were there for a very early lunch on a friday and we had the run of the place. our server was top notch and amiable. if he wasn't busy working, we'd have asked him to join us. and after my twenty questions about the buns, he kindly sent us home with two. the crab cake sandwich was also very good. it was a huge flintstones-sized slab of a crab cake, too. the lightly seasoned cajun fries were good enough to make ketchup unnecessary. i wasn't crazy about the gumbo, but i can't constructively criticize it since it's only the second time i've tried it. my friend and i agreed that it's probably good marsha brown's isn't closer to us. a person can only have so many hamburgers.

    (4)

  • Homer C.

    Adrian took care of us Saturday night at 8:15. His service and recommendations were excellent. I had two appetizers, the Mamere's crabmeat cheesecake and the lambchop lollipops. Both are very rich and delicious. I could have stopped after the crabmeat cheesecake. 4 good size lambchops with a very nice seasoning. Wife had the the crawfish etoufee appetizer which was big enough for an entree. Very good flavors. Adrian tried to talk my wife out of the tournedos. She should have listened to him. Very good meat though no flavor. The bread pudding was excellent. The beet salad was sub par and would not order it again. Other reviews on tripadvisor and other sites have mentioned poor or inconsistent service. I was paying close attention to this. We were in the main dining room which was mostly full. Our service was excellent. Other tables near us received prompt attention. I did not see or hear any problems. We will definitely come back to this restaurant and would recommend it

    (4)

  • Douglas D.

    With Valentine's Day approaching I called a couple of guy friends to see if they might be interested in taking our ladies out for a special dinner on the Saturday prior. My friend Steve agreed to join my wife and me so I asked him for a dining suggestion. He mentioned that he had not been to Marsha Brown's in quite some time so I phoned to secure reservations. They must have some great software reservation system because I received an email confirming our reservations almost immediately which included two follow-up reminder emails and an additional reminder call! I have also noticed that I am now on their email list notifying me of special dining events. I had dined at this establishment many years ago. All that I had remember that it was an old church that had been converted to a restaurant. Looking at the menu online I could see that they specialized in Cajun stile cooking and steaks. I also to a gander at the reviews on Yelp and seen that recent dining reviews had been favorable. Knowing that parking is terrible in New Hope I was happy to see that they offered valet parking for $10. Walking in we were promptly seated and handed menus by our server. We started with a round of cocktails while we looked over the menu and the specials for the evening. The cocktails arrived promptly which was good for I needed a drink. After all it was Saturday night! Our waiter gave us a few minutes to decide upon appetizers. We started with oysters and a slab of bacon (must be a Cajun thing). With one drink down I reviewed the room. Since it was once a church the room is very cavernous and loud. Up in front is a rather large wall painting indicating that it was no Catholic church. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves dressing up for their dates. After all I sure a lot of the patrons were like us celebrating Valentine's Day. Since this was a Cajun restaurant I decided to go with the Jambalaya. With a few glasses of wine and some good conversation I really did not notice what everyone else ordered for their entrees. Upon finishing our meal the waiter appeared and inquired about our meal. As it turns out Steve's wife had ordered the special Beef Wellington. As it turns out the pastry coating was undercooked (doughy) and the beef was raw with an ice cold center. She explained that she was trying to work her way through it but could not. Our waiter was very apologetic and offered to send it back. Losing her taste for the meal she no longer wanted it. And besides everyone else had finished so our waiter had taken her meal off the bill. After sharing a couple of deserts and coffee our waiter returned with the bill and reminded us that the Beef Wellington was taken off the bill and the deserts were also on him. So in our book he did us right!

    (3)

  • Danielle D.

    I went to Marsha Brown's last week for a special occasion birthday dinner. We were warned as soon as we walked in that there was a big party in the main dining room that was louder than they expected and we could not sit there which was a let down b/c that room is so pretty so we were seated in the choir loft. (for those that don't know this restaurant is in a converted church so murals and stained glass are intact) The choir loft was actually still to noisy for our romantic dinner so the staff was very gracious and moved us down to the 1st floor to a smaller side room. We ordered the gumbo and lollipop lamb chops for an appetizer, both were very yummy. For dinner i ordered the surf and turf which i highly reccomment. It is 2 filet medallions which are a good size, crawfish risotto and their famous crab cake. I also reccomend what my boyfriend got which was the Filet Mignon "oscar style" this was amazing! The creme brulee for dessert was good as well. The wine by the bottle is pricey so i would buy by the glass since they are big glasses filled half way. Pricey, but worth it and a great atmosphere for a romantic or special occassion dinner.

    (5)

  • Heather L M.

    Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, how I dislike thee. The space gets 10 stars (that's right, 10 out of 5 stars) because I have never seen such a cool spot for a restaurant. It's a renovated church. The dining area was once the sanctuary. Stained glass is still intact. But the price is off the chain. For a third of the cost, I can grill my own steak at home, thank you very much. And the whole environment is beyond pretentious. I do recommend stopping by just to see the space. Have a drink at the bar, which is on the first floor, and just poke your head upstairs.

    (3)

  • Glenn P.

    We save this one for special occasions without the kids. The atmosphere is terrific. The selection trends towards creole, but there are suitable selections for all palates. I have always enjoyed which ever entree I get. Definitely worth going.

    (4)

  • Janelle M.

    The theme is interesting - old church converted into a restaurant, unfortunately that's all I found to be interesting. I ordered the vegetarian item on the menu, the Vegetarian Napoleon and it was simply dreadful. I sent it back and the server suggested I try a vegetable stir-fry that wasn't on the menu, but that the chef would be happy to prepare for me. A very nice gesture, but it was unnecessary as the stir-fry was salty and subpar. He ordered the Jambalaya and seemed pleased. He had sorbet for dessert, while I increased the check needlessly with a cup of coffee that seemed to have been brewed without the necessary grinds. Expensive and disappointing, for sure.

    (2)

  • Alex M.

    Just went back over the 4th of July Holiday weekend 2009. Had the $69.00 special for 2 people. Service was fast and efficient and food was fantastic. Whats not to love..

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    We really wanted to like Marsha's, but we were disappointed with both the food and the service.

    (2)

  • sm T.

    Absolutely terrible service and food came to our table both lackluster and dry. We started with the shrimp cocktail which was good I will give them that. It was annoying to watch the server screw up the orders trying to figure out what food went to what table, sending our shrimp cocktail to the other side of the floor. Actual meals took forever and as mentioned came out lackluster and lukewarm. I had the surf and turf which came highly recommended on yelp. My medallions were overcooked and dry, the bernaise sauce had formed a skin, crab cake was soggy with a few specks of actual pieces of shell, wilted asparagus and luke warm risotto ( which did have good flavor). My husband's medium rare steak was also dry and more medium when he tore into it. I wonder how long our food just sat there in the kitchen window waiting for a server to pick up. Our actual waiter, Louis, barely took notice of us, stood around like an ass most of the time we were there when clearly we needed another glass of wine or were done with dining. Barely checked on us once when our food did come, my husband didnt even notice it when he came and argued with me on our way out that the waiter didn't even check up on us, thats how inattentive he was. Clearly he had no problems servicing the table next to us who were out on a special occasion and looking to drop a lot of money on their meal, not that we didn't mind you bc this place is pricey. Someone in another review said manhattan prices but worth the quality of food. Coming from manhattan and Brooklyn absolutely not. I have spent less money on far superior service and food in NYC. Also the table we were sat at was horrible. Right in the line of serving staff traffic. In the words of a few customers leaving as they passed by us "they might as well put tables out on the sidewalk/street". This place was an absolute sham, a disappointment, and the service and our server were abysmal.

    (1)

  • Matthew S.

    Went here for my one year anniversary with my girlfriend. It is very expensive so we picked a special occasion to splurge. Was impressed from the moment I walked in until I left. The waitress we had was second to none. She was very friendly, very cool, and extremely knowledgeable. We had a sampling of oysters from all around the world which were amazing. My soup was gumbo which was somewhat bland and the one thing I didn't love. My dinner was the best part. It was an eggplant dish with Ophelia crab meat and shrimp over a bisque type sauce. Can't even begin to explain how good it was. For dessert we both had the crème brulee which was very good. A couple side notes about the story behind the restaurant and the building because that alone is enough of a reason to visit this place. The owner (Marsha Brown) owns a couple Ruth's Chris Steakhouses and wanted to open one in New Hope. Unfortunately for her New Hope does not allow chain restaurants which I personally love about the town. Because of this she she opened what is now Marsha Brown's Restaurant and having eaten at both this place and Ruth's Chris I think we are better off with what we have. The story behind the building is also very cool. It is a renovated church and in renovating it they kept many of the original features it had. It adds a lot to the experience and really gives the restaurant a certain character.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!!! We had lunch here during a freak snow storm last Saturday, October 29. They were one of the few establishments with power as they have their own generator. Smart! Our servers (yes, plural as there were two) were very effecient and helpful considering the stress they must have been under. Their suggestions for beer selections and food were spot on. Please do not go to this place if you want a quick lunch. Take your time, savor, enjoy! For starters we both had the shrimp and lobster bisque. Great taste and texture. I had the Marsha burger and it was amazing. Cooked to perfection. Make sure to order the cajun fries for a bit extra charge...yummy. My husband had their crab cheesecake and it was OMG fantastic....We were so full but managed to find room for creme brulee which was very satisfiying. We loved the decor and the unpretentious hip vibe. They only serve lunch downstairs but it is worth a look to climb the stairs to see the colossial dining room.

    (5)

  • Jasmine K.

    Great atmosphere, great food, great service! I can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Joe O.

    Marsha Brown's steaks are the best. We keep going back since we love the New Orleans style rubs used, but you can have it your way too.

    (4)

  • Mehul V.

    Execellent food. Excellent atmosphere and great service.

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    Very poor service which impacted our food which I'm sure could have been much better. Our waiter was a ghost for most of our service. He clearly targeted 1 table in his section (a table of 2) that was ordering more off the menu (guy trying to impress girl?) My wife and i weren't ordering as much food but we were ordering more expensive entree's (surf and turf for her, ny strip for me) plus a side, an app, couple of glasses of wine. Our waiter never even stopped by after our entree's came out to make sure they were correct. They had obviously been sitting around too long. My medium rare ny strip had become medium and my wifes medium well had become well. Her bearnaise had formed a skin on it. After our plates were cleared we literally waited for 5-10 mins for our waiter to come ask us if we wanted any dessert. I would say he stopped by our table 5 times over the course of the meal. He stopped at that other table I mentioned at least 10 times. It was so over the top it was funny. If the food had come out better I would have given 2 stars but the total experience wasn't worth it.

    (1)

  • C B.

    The food here is excellent as we had a good bye dinner for a friend--however, it can be expensive. The beef wellington was astoundingly good. And the wait staff was incredibly nice.

    (5)

  • Kristin V.

    Yes, the old church was been renovated to absolute perfection. The dining room, murals and the downstairs bar are breathtaking. That is about where it ends. If you make a reservation, (advisable), request a table in a corner or along a side wall. If you sit in the center of the dining room, you need to shout to be heard. Awful. I requested a private, out of the way table for a special occasion, and the snotty host with an awful white suit and faux hawk put us in the center of the dining room at a table for 4 (there were two of us). We sat for at least 15 minutes and were about to leave when another hostess came to us, apologizing for the delay and moved us to a very nice table in the corner of where the altar would be. But you really go out to dinner for the food, right? Not here. Going to Marsha Browns is about the location and the name. Too pretentious. On to the food. The oysters were fresh, plump and tasty. (had them for dessert, too, with the outstanding creme brulee). The crabcake appetizer was excellent, nice lump crabmeat. We both had the mirliton for an entree (everything else comes with heavy butter & cream sauces & I wasn't in the mood for a steak - though I hear they are excellent). So, the mirliton wasn't exactly what the menu described. Described as a "delicate" layering of pork, shrimp & scallop on chayote, there was so much pork sausage that the shrimp and scallop were overwhelmed. And it is all mixed with rice (not mentioned on the menu) Not even close to "delicate". The chayote (kind of like a pear) that it was served upon was completely without taste. Really, substitute with a pear. The wine selection was very good and the waitress was fairly helpful in choosing a bottle. There are so many wonderful restaurants in Bucks County, and this one is totally overrated. If you want New Orlean's style food, go to N.O. for the real deal. I would not go back to Marsha Brown's except for cocktails and oysters at the bar.

    (3)

  • T D.

    We had our wedding here and they did a great job! Caleb was very accommodating and everyone commented that the food was amazing. It's a very unique location

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    We have been to Marsha Brown's many times and have never been disappointed. In a town where parking is at a premium, having a a valet service is key. The front desk is right when you walk in and there's always someone there to greet you and show you to your table or point you towards the bar. The upstairs dinning room is huge and very noisy but the decor is lovely. It's a very grown up, sophisticated atmosphere and very dimly lit. The downstairs, bar area is great, with a few tables and a huge bar. You can get the full menu in the bar area. The service in this restaurant is top notch, upstairs and downstairs. Professional waiters, professional bar tenders-they all do a great job. The food is excellent. My favorite is the chopped salad-the shredded lettuce adds a nice, crunchy texture to the blue cheese and asparagus taste. It's great. The crab cakes are excellent, the coconut shrimp are pretty basic but they come with a nice, spicy sauce. The NY strip steak was excellent, as good as you can get anywhere and the jambalaya-you can't go wrong with that at Marsha Brown's. All this greatness does not come cheap though and dinner for two, with drinks was $140+tip so I think it's a little too expensive to be an every day place. For those special occasions though, you can't beat it.

    (5)

  • marian g.

    Marsha Brown's is a converted church which has a very hip ambience's along with that ambiance comes high ceilings and pleasant music...The combination made for an unbearable sound level..Even the wait staff commented on how loud it was on this particular day. By the end of the meal, the restaurant seemed to be less noisy (of course there were fewer diners). I found all the food choices pleasant. The Lobster/Shrimp soup was flavorful, came in a very small cup and the chopped salad which was split was more than enough to feed 3 people. The starters all seems spot on: The Duck Meatballs were served w/ a wine sauce that made you wanting more, the crawfish rolls were crispy and done to perfection. For main courses the tornedos of beef served w/ a Bearnaise sauce was top quality beef, the jambalaya is fine, certainly not as good as coming from New Orleans, but had plenty of seafood and sausage. We also tried an eggplant casserole w/seafood...I would not choose that again. I found it dry and not particularly flavorful. We were so full, be walked and came back an hour later for carrot cake at the bar...yummy and so much quieter. I left w/ a headache but came back to quieter surroundings

    (3)

  • Kevin M.

    My new wife and I have gone to New Hope every year for the past 3 years, and we've always wanted to try Marsha Brown's because it looks so amazing from the outside. When we returned for a short getaway right after our wedding, we figured it would be the perfect time to try it out. And we are so so happy that we did. First of all, the place looks absolutely amazing inside and out. Secondly, the meal wasn't just great... it may have quite possibly been the best meal I've ever eaten in my life... and I'm a bit of a food snob. Absolutely fantastic. And finally, the service was outstanding. If you have Jack as your waiter, you will have a great time. He's a pro in every way, and he's incredibly funny and friendly. Don't get me wrong, it won't be a cheap meal... but it's worth every single penny. And we've already decided that we will be returning each year to celebrate our anniversary. In fact, we've already started counting down the days. Go here. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Glen G.

    We dined at Marsha's on Valentines Day, so I will cut them a little slack for that (forgot to serve our side dishes). We found the decor to be quite interesting, but wanting to be a bit more complex. When you arrive upstairs in the main dining room, you feel overwhelmed by a sea of closely-spaced tables, that seem kind of sloppily organized. I think an additional change in levels, or perhaps making the pulpit area a step or two higher, might add more interest. And the lighting is a bit too uniform, lacking any drama. That said, the food was quite good. I ordered the vegetarian Jambalaya, which was quite flavorful with a nice range of textures. Appetizers were great, and our Asparagus with peach vinaigrette (which finally came) was also great. We split the Carrot cake for dessert, but found it to be a bit too dense to really enjoy fully. I would definitely keep an eye on Marsha Brown's, and come back again.

    (4)

  • Rev Dr David Albert F.

    No room for improvement in any area. Great atmosphere, great service, great food. Reasonable prices for what you get. A great meal.

    (4)

  • Allyson P.

    Delicious, awesome architecture and decor. Food VERY rich - not for the bland at heart!

    (4)

  • Andrew N.

    I was skeptical eating at Marsha Brown' ;s given some of the reviews, but it's apparently a love it or hate it restaurant. My review... Love it. My wife and I had a great anniversary dinner on a Saturday Night. We booked a reservation via Open Table (it works) and arrived early thinking we would have a drink at the bar, but they promptly seated us. The staff was very helpful and knowledgable of the menu. The restaurant is a combination Creole and Steakhouse located in an old church. The atmosphere is somewhat upscale and modern, but a little noisy due to the architecture. The entrees are pretty much just the protein so you need to order the side dishes you want, if any. We split the Hickory Smoked Bacon Slab as an appetizer. "It is what it is" says the menu, and it was awesome. We each had a salad, it was decent, but average. My wife had the seafood special and enjoyed it. It was well prepared and included "fiddleheads" (also awesome). I had the Jambalaya and it was just as good as others I had in New Orleans, so bonus points there. We split a family style side of Sweet Potato Casserole, that was so good we called it dessert. We had a bottle of wine and a glass of champagne and dinner ran about $200 including a generous tip. If you have an open mind, I highly recommend Marsha Brown's.

    (4)

  • Megan R.

    Have yet to go here for dinner, but I've heard so much about their carrot cake we had to stop in for dessert. When you walk upstairs for the first time, the atmosphere almost takes your breath away. Never seen a dining room like it, very pretty and spacious. Were seated right away, got some water, and our waiter (who reminded me of Cam from "Modern Family") gave us some dessert drink recommendations. My boyfriend and I both got a "church coffee" which was along the lines of a Bailey's type hot coffee drink. It was fantastic. I don't even care that it was pricey, it was so worth it. After a few sips of our tasty drink, it was cake time! Since we always like to get two different things so we can try each other's, I decided to try the chocolate cake (I forget what it was called exactly, triple chocolate perhaps?) and he ordered the famous carrot cake. Oh my goodness, both were delicious. Still slightly warm and gooey, and as a slight chocoholic I found myself sighing after every couple bites. Which was better? Honestly, I think it was a tie. If you're in the mood for something chocolate, you will not go wrong with my selection. But you have to try the carrot cake it's talked about for a reason. Our waiter was so friendly, which made the whole experience great even if it was a 15 minute dessert stop.

    (4)

  • Gourmet G.

    This trendy eatery makes its home in a renovated 125-year-old stone church. The expansive dining room, situated in the former sanctuary, features a soaring ceiling, stained-glass windows, and other remnants of the building's former incarnation - upholstered church pews line perimeter walls as table seating, and a wooden railing still stands around the chancel, now an elevated dining area. Hurricane-style lamps echoing the jewel tones of the windows accent the linen-topped tables, and a floor-to-ceiling painting with Biblical overtones dominates the space where the altar once stood. Pardon the pun, but dining here is a near-religious experience. Marsha Brown has dug deep into her Louisiana roots and brought to her kitchen all the Cajun and Creole secrets passed down by previous generations of cooks, resulting in what is possibly the best New Orleans cuisine north of the Mason-Dixon line. For starters, petite blackened lamb chops were served with mango chutney, bayou snapper soup had a flavor as deep and rich as its chestnut brown tint, and the house salad, a blend of greens, carrot shreds, cherry tomatoes, and croutons - was enhanced by a creamy balsamic vinaigrette. Fried catfish, coated with panko bread crumbs, was free of any hint of oil, and a remoulade sauce was perfect for the mild fish. A broiled pork T-bone was topped with a delicious Jack Daniels-infused apple-raisin concassee. All agreed that the best entree was Eggplant Ophelia, a huge casserole crowded with eggplant, crabmeat, and shrimp brought to life with spicy seasonings. How fortunate that this was my selection, since I got to savor the bulk of it. Coconut amaretto cake, apple pot pie a la mode, and Granmere's Comfort Custard, with a sweetened cracker base, were fitting endings. Service was impeccable - almost reverential, if you will. In keeping with the prices - dinner for three, including tax, tip and nonalcoholic beverages, totaled $210 - the crowd tends to be older, well-dressed, and kid-free.

    (5)

  • Mark R.

    We have been to Marsha Brown's a couple of times previously, not for dinner but for lunch following the annual chile pepper plant expedition. The prior two occasions were good but this last time was poor. The lollipop lamb chops ($17) were six salty, overdone chops served with a commercially made mango chutney. The gumbo ($9) was riddled with garlic and the components were minced to the size of the rice so they were barely distinguishable to the pallet. The medium cooked, overly salted hamburger ($14) was well done. I think the grill person needs to be more focused on his work. The catfish po' boy ($12) was non-descript. Rounded cylinders of breaded fried catfish were served with chopped iceberg lettuce and a few slivers of pickle. There was almost no dressing. The bread, which was the highlight of the meal, was still tasty on the sandwich as it was when served prior to the meal. Dessert was also failed. The dry, 24K Carrot Cake ($7) and the Chocolate Sin Cake ($7) which urgently needed a confession by the pastry chef were both poor. The wine was expensive for inexpensive wine with a poor pour in a lovely, large, wine glass. The beer selection, no tap, was mundane. On the positive, wait staff was friendly, warm and accommodating. Unfortunately, Marsha's food was a complete letdown. For $125 not including the tip, there are many eateries that we could could have dined and enjoyed. However, It will never again be at Marsha Brown's.

    (1)

  • Michelle B.

    I've been wanting to come here for sometime, once I read about New Hope, Pa. A church turned into a Cajun/Creole restaurant.. Well, how much of an oxymoron is there here?... Love it! Was here for a weekend lunch with my guy and decided to stop once I saw the lunch menu. Ate at a booth near the bar. Televisions around the room with different sports playing. Ordered the Cesar salad with anchovies for us to split. I ordered the Eggplant Ophelia and he the Crabcake sandwich. Me: 1/2 Cesar salad with anchovies, Yummy. Plate cleaned, so clearly satisfied. Eggplant Ophelia, shrimp and crabmeat casserole was flavorful with the added eggplant on top was filling to the last drop. Large lumps of crabmeat and the shrimp textures fused together was a pleasurable chewing experience leading to: Closed eyes and a SMILE. Him: Crab cake sandwich. Very plump with large lumps of crab meat with little filler. Lightly grilled. Scrum-dilly-ious!! Home made potatoes chips were light, tasty and not overly seasoned or oily. "Good food" I was impresed with lunch and would like to return for dinner.

    (4)

  • Vince S.

    This is perhaps the first review that I'm rounding up( but only slightly) My reasons for this variance are twofold. First and foremost was my enjoyment of sharing this spot with a special dining companion. And second is the very unique decor of a repurposed church. Today was my second visit and first lunch. It needs to be said that coming for dinner is preferable due to seating area and selection. At lunch you have to eat in the bar, and while it is no slacker in the looks department, the upstairs dining room is where you will impress someone. The lunch choices are mostly sandwiches, salads and a couple smaller versions of dinner offerings. My guest choose Jambalaya, very flavorful and a good example of this NOLa staple. I liked that instead of chicken this one contained duck, but felt just a little more rice would have made it even better. My choice was a shrimp po boy. Good sandwich for Pa but might be lacking in the bayou. It consisted of very good bread, nicely fried smallish shrimp, and a minimum of lettuce, tomato and dressing. But it was served with a heaping pile of very good house made chips. The $15 cost may be more a function of the area than the ingredients. Service was very friendly, but not fine dining quality. On my previous dinner here that was not the case. But in many places lunch is not afforded the same details as dinner, today there was only one server for the whole area. If you are a fan of NOLa inspired cuisine coupled with very nice decor, this is a good choice for the immediate area(read downtown NH). If you are not completely opposed to eating before sunset, make it an early-ish meal to take advantage of the sunlight refracting through original stained glass windows. To be honest, today's lunch kind of makes me want to return soon for a full dinner. Oh when the saints, go marching in, oh when the saints go marching...(you get the idea) 3.89 Yelps

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    Oh my... What an atmosphere upstairs. A gorgeous converted old church. Old work waiter service too. I took the suggestion of the other Yelp and got the egg plant Orphelia. It was a portion of a large custard cup but re standing plated in a shallow bowl and topped with two sliced cherry tomatoes for a pop of color. It definitely tasted better than it looked. My husband had salmon topped with shrimp and cheesy grits. He said it was delicious. For dessert and specialty coffees the selection was good looked great too but we were too full. We all thought that it was just the coolest looking place, it had the best atmosphere and it was some wonderful dining experience experience we recommend it highly.

    (4)

  • Gina D.

    My fiancé and I made a 9:00 reservation to come here on valentines day. We arrived around 8:30 and had just enough time for a drink at the bar before dinner. The bar had a cool feel. We ordered two dirty Martinis - the bartender had run out of martini glasses so he actually served us our drinks in snifters which was strange but it was a busy night so no worries. The hostess found us at the bar and escorted us upstairs for dinner. Lots of reviews about the gorgeous space - no need to elaborate. It was beautiful. We were seated at the most lovely table in the room. It was a loveseat with our table in front of us so that we were sitting next to each other looking out to the rest of the dining room. Jack, our waiter was fabulous. We enjoyed chatting with him throughout the night. Though he was clearly very busy, he was very attentive and always took the time to have a quick word with us when he passed by. He guided us to some dishes on the menu that he thought we would enjoy, and he was right on point. We wanted to stick with the creole cuisine here so we started with the crab cheesecake. Sounds weird but it was rich and decadent. Perfect start to our meal. For dinner, I had the eggplant Ophelia which was a little dry as if it was sitting out for a little while but the flavor was still there. He had the jambalaya which he enjoyed. Jack informed us that there is infact a marsha brown and she was the owner of a Ruth's Chris steakhouse so there are some incredible steaks and sides on the menu here. I would try that on our next trip back. Great place to come for a beautiful setting, great service and a cuisine you really can't find anywhere else in the area.

    (4)

  • Jim A.

    This visit was a mixed bag. The food and presentation was generally good. The service was off. There is a high ambiance and decorum, yet the bathrooms were messy. The prices vs. the experience didn't add up.

    (3)

  • Kristin D.

    Flavors were incredibly well developed. Basin street melange was the best mussel and clam dish I've ordered out. The crawfish risotto was decadent!!! Worth the money & highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Becki B.

    Luckily lightning didn't strike ;) The inside of the church/steakhouse is beautiful! We had a table near the front of the sanctuary, and had previously waited at the bar for the rest of our party for a bit. At the bar, my friend had a honey/whiskey something that nearly knocked her on her butt pretty early. I think that drink lasted her all the way through dinner. I had an orange martini of some sort, I think. It was delicious. I had planned what I was going to eat earlier in the week, and nothing strayed me from my original plan. I had a crab-cake appetizer, then the filet medallions, followed by creme brulee. It was all completely delicious. If I ever bring my husband to New Hope, I'll certainly have dinner at Marsha Brown on my agenda.

    (5)

  • Tom H.

    Some hits, Some misses My GF and I had dinner here on Saturday night. It was her first visit. I have dined here multiple times as I live in New Hope. Our starter course, Beet Salad, left both of us disappointed. The portion size was fine but it lacked taste. It was uninspired. Our entrees came out next. My sword fish special was very tasty. My GF's steak was overcooked and not the medium rare she asked for. We did not send it back but we would have if our server did not vanish. Our table was not marked when our entrees arrived and we had to ask 2 different people for silverware/steak knife. That took almost 5 minutes. Not acceptable.

    (3)

  • Robert M.

    Marsha Brown is our favorite place to eat in New Hope. The service is top notch as well as the food. Now if they would only stop overcooking their meat it would be perfect. My wife and I ate here on Sunday for our 18th anniversary. We had the lollipop lamb chops (overcooked) that were delicious along with their crab cakes which are among the best I've ever had. For our entrees I had the 3 1/2 lb. lobster stuffed with lump crab. Delicious! They take all the meat out of the shell for you which is great. My wife had the strip steak special. Overcooked again. Ordered medium rare and received medium well. Out waiter offered to get her another but it was so delicious we declined. For dessert my wife had the chocolate mousse cheesecake and it was delicious. I had the bread pudding that was definitely the best I've ever had anywhere! I had it in Barbados where it's their national dessert and this was better! Marsha Brown will always be our favorite place to eat in New Hope.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Went there for lunch on a Sunday, New Hope was crowded but there was not a wait for a table. We were seated and the waitress came up and took our order. My friend asked for Sangria which is not on the menu but the waitress said she would make it for her and it ended up tasting great. I ordered the Gumbo and it was good but seemed like like a shot of gumbo for $5 not a regular size cup. My shrimp po boy was awesome and so was the crab cheesecake. The restaurant is an old church and is very nice on the inside. The reason for the 3 stars was it took about an hour for the food to come out and they were not busy at all. I just wanted a quick bite to eat so we could walk around and shop. Another know would be only bottle beer. I will try it again to see if it was just a bad day for the kitchen since the food was good or are they always slow.

    (3)

  • Marlyn V.

    Perfect for a date. If you want casual, stick to the downstairs, but if you want to get lucky, take them upstairs! The upstairs is uber romantic, artsy, high ceilings, perfect lighting, stained glass windows - kind of gorgeous. Now that you know where to sit...what to eat! My hubby ordered the Marsha Burger ($17) with seasoned fries which came out pipping hot, loaded with cheddar cheese, onions mushrooms and steak sauce. The taste was perfect, juicy and very filling. The fries I was not a fan of, mostly because I felt that they lacked seasoning for being Creole and an extra $2. I ordered the Andaluz Shrimp Po'boy ($15) in a French Baguette with Creole Chips. It was a decent sized sandwich. Really crispy shrimp and plenty of them! The baguette was a fresh, soft, some salad and good sauce in the sandwich. I preferred the Creole Chips, because they were super crunchy and really seasoned. Overall, I really enjoyed dining at Marsha Brown's, although I do think that $17 for a burger is a bit pricey. Especially when you can get an equally amazing burger at Mother's down the street for $10. I also think this is more of a winter/cold weather place considering that it's pretty dark and window-less inside, which is a big deal since the main allure of New Hope is the outside seating at most places.

    (4)

  • Roy A.

    Best part of the experience is the unique ambience as the restaurant is housed in what used to be a church. Also, excellent wine list and well stocked bar. Needs to shore up IPA beer selection as Dog Fish is the only option and bottle only. Need to appreciate Cajun to enjoy the cuisine. None of the sea food was fresh which is a gap. Cat fish moist with a nice spicy rub, but served with a rice, shrimp combination which tasted as if it had been frozen and thawed out. Not good. Crab cakes had a nice remoulade, however, because it had been frozen, did not reach potential. Service was spotty and inconsistent. Waited what seemed to be a lifetime for dessert. Lava chocolate cake tasted as if it came from a box. Slightly chemical taste.

    (2)

  • Rodd Y.

    Overpriced, sub-par, salty food served by inconsiderate wait staff. Granted it was Mother's Day and the town was unbelievably crowded but when you're paying those prices for food and drinks you would expect more courtesy and professionalism from the wait staff and management than what we got. Not to mention we had children under two who waited 2.5hrs for their chicken fingers. We spoke with the floor manager twice who did absolutely nothing to smooth over the fact that our entire meal, including appetizers, was unbelievably slow and our drink order wasn't complete. I feel the restaurant was under staffed and if it was, do your best to notify your patrons ahead of time of the issues. Don't let them sit there for hours unattended and wondering. And now the waiter. Obnoxious, rude, and clueless to his customers needs. I would say the forced gratuity allowed him to behave in this fashion as he was guaranteed 18%. Who brings a bottle of wine half way through the meal even though it was ordered before the food arrived? The same guy who brings an incomplete drink order on the first round. I will say this. Once I tracked down the GM on my own and explained the situation, the GM was aware of our tables food delay and wondered why we hadn't been served for such a long time. To our luck, the GM comped our meal, hence the one star. And I still left a tip although the GM told us not too. I will not be back to this establishment.

    (1)

  • Jeffrey S.

    Such a cool place with a nice intimate bar area, eclectic seating on the main floor and a cavernous dining room upstairs. Located in the heart of town in an old church, Marsh Brown's is certainly one of the coolest restaurants in New Hope. As I've been told countless times, I'm a creature of habit and generally order the Crab Cheesecake with is basically the offspring of a crab cake mating with a quiche and is decadently delicious. Screw the calories. Service is attentive and prompt despite them getting jam packed on weekends and quite busy during the week. This really is a must eat place if you're going to be in new Hope. An absolute favorite!

    (4)

  • Monya V.

    I love this place so much that I don't even know where to begin this review. I have dined or had drinks here at least 25 times over the last five years. I have never had a less than perfect experience or less than perfect meal. Starting with the atmosphere, what can I say that has not been said before? The place is gorgeous, no really.... it is stunning. The old converted church is lovely in every possible way and exudes charm from every corner both inside & out. This is an elegant establishment and I just don't think we have enough of those in a world that is becoming ever more casual. Check in with the host, check your coat and hang out at the bar. They have a nice wine list that will surely have something for your enjoyment. The bartenders have been the same for years & will create some of the finest cocktails in New Hope - I recommend the classic Martini. The host will come get you when your table is ready and whisk you away to a romantic dining room on the second floor. Look around as you climb the stairs, there is a lot to see in this beautiful old church. The grand dining room is large, complete with stunning art and magnificently high ceilings. The tables for couples will be adorned with red rose petals. The food has always been exceptional, understand it is Southern cooking, Creole to be exact - lots of seafood, lots of classics such as jambalaya & gumbo. The fresh French baguette they bring over is always warm, flakey in the outside and delicate on the inside. The service has never been less than five stars. I always like a little banter with whomever is serving and my last experience here was no exception. Our server both entertained us with his quick wit and informed us about everything we considered on the menu. We both ordered the beet salad with spinach & goat cheese as our starter and as a vegetarian I got the Eggplant Napoleon as my meal. Creamy, buttery, fresh, flavorful with just the right spice to make an impression - delicious!!! Naturally dessert had to be ordered and I got the carrot cake, be warned - it is a very large piece and is served with a scoop of homemade ice cream. I couldn't finish the whole thing & I never leave dessert unfinished on my plate. As I said at the start, I have never had less than a five star experience at Marsha Brown's and will be back again in a few weeks.

    (5)

  • Steve L.

    Awesome food, great atmosphere, and the food is wonderful. Oysters and cocktails at the bar and then dinner and more cocktails upstairs. I always order steak and I am never disappointed.

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    I love repurposed churches and when I saw this one in New Hope, I knew I had to eat here. I sat myself at the bar. I have to say this was one of the most odd experiences I've ever had at a bar. The bartender was an older woman and her comments were very condescending. Everything she said was a sarcastic comment so I didn't think this visit was going to end well. She also paid little attention to people sitting at the bar. They do not have much of a selection of craft beer and no draft beer. They had Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada in bottles which are at least better craft beers so that's a plus. For an entree, I went a suggestion from another reviewer, the eggplant ophelia and it was amazing -- expensive, but amazing. Eggplant, shrimp, and crab in a butter sauce. The bread was good also. After dinner, the hostesses allowed me to take a look around the church and take some pictures. On the second floor is a large dining area with a mural that I still cannot figure out. The original stained glass still exists and there are religious status that still reside in the place. The bartender killed this experience for me. The food is what saved it. Still, I thought they were a little pricy and I doubt I will return when I am in New Hope again.

    (3)

  • Thea Z.

    What a gem! If you are in the area, do not miss dining here. I'll break it down but all you need to know is this is a MUST TRY! Atmosphere How much cooler can you get than dining in an old church. They have done a great job of preserving the sentiment of the ol gal, keeping the original sconces and kneeling pew on the top floor, and preserving the archways on the lower floor. Beautiful bar and tables on the ground floor if you wish to be more casual, and a strikingly beautiful dining room on the top floor. Oh and the aroma is enough to make you really hungry. Service One of my top experiences. Attentive but not suffocating. The manager came over twice, once to chat and once to check in. Our server was knowledgable and helpful when I couldnt decide what to get. Food Had the beet salad, cesear salad, oysters, gumbo, and scallops. All were prepared efficiently and were tasteful and presented very nicely. The flavors are unique and done very well. Oh and I had put in on our open table reservation that it was our anniversary and they were sweet enough to sprinkle rose petals on our table. They also had the staff come over and wish us a happy anniversary, which was very thoughtful.

    (5)

  • A.L. P.

    What's happened to Marsha Brown's?! It's even painful to give his once elite dining spot three stars. Though they have remodeled and it's very appealing to the eye, the food is "eh" and quite over-priced. A NY strip steak was $40 and I mean just a steak! We ordered the lobster-shrimp bisque for starters and it was barely warm - though tasty. The crab cakes were just "OK" and the sweet potato mash arrived at the end of our main course. My tea came with a stained or dirty tea cup which was sent back. Not sure if we will be returning to this once favorite spot of ours. Disappointed.

    (3)

  • Stacy D.

    This is a definite must for anyone visiting New Hope! The atmosphere and building itself were so beautiful and unique. The best part, however, was definitely the food! The Lobster and Shrimp Bisque was the best I've ever had and the Eggplant Ophelia was to die for. The portions were also much bigger than I expected and left us stuffed! Not to mention, the price was so reasonable for such an excellent meal definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone.

    (5)

  • Aggie Ruth V.

    A church converted into a restaurant with Nawlins style cuisine! The staff is very professional, cordial & personable. I can't tell you how many photos the Hostess obliged us with & so very friendly & patient. The food is impeccable. Simply scrumptious! I was upset with myself because I couldn't finish my entrée, I was so stuffed!!!

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Love the experience that is Marsha Browns! You should make a reservation because this place is a hot spot in New Hope every weekend. You walk into the former church doors and catch a glimpse of a large bar right ahead of you. Incredibly repurposed space with real character. Food is awesome and the martinis are even better. Will definitely be returning to this place!

    (5)

  • Amy c.

    Now I've been to Marsha Brown's many times usually for lunch on the weekends when my husband and I take a ride on the motorcycle. We live in Princeton so tend to stick closer to home, I decided that we are going to step out of the comfort circle and head down to New Hope for a nice dinner and what we got was so much more! Dan our very knowledgeable and polite waiter was more than happy to take care of us. We sat upstairs in my favorite part of the restaurant where the beautiful stain glass windows and huge mural are displayed in such opulence. It's such a huge space yet still cozy. Once a church, Marsha Brown transformed it into an eclectic eatery. The food ; OMG! nothing short of perfection! The Martinis were ice cold and served very quickly even though the house was full. And then we had the crab ravioli as an appetizer which was absolutely the best I've ever had and they make everything from scratch that day. The sauce was outstanding and with the fresh hot bread we mopped it up every drop. We both had the special Manhattan Strip with" au poivre sauce served on the side for dipping. Cooked perfectly we ordered the crawfish risotto and sweet potato casserole as sides and again home runs on each. We finished with that better than sex dessert, Chocolate Moose Cheesecake and I can't wait to go back!! Trust me here, you will not be disappointed EVER Marsha knows how to give you an unforgettable experience and worth the drive!

    (5)

  • Christin H.

    We met friends for dinner at Marsha Brown who we have not seen for quite some time, and were looking for restaurant were we would not be rushed. Our meal from start to finish was incredible, with a wonderful wait staff, who were attentive professional, friendly, and unpretentious. Our main waiter was very informed and helpful with menu selections, and the young man who served our water was so pleasant, asking if we enjoyed our time there after the meal. We all had different meals, and all of them were perfection. Marsha Brown has such a unique atmosphere! We were there just about three hours (having ordered appetizers, dinner and dessert), and would not hesitate to go back again. Wonderful experience, fabulous meal!

    (5)

  • J B.

    The management of this establishment care like no other. They expect the best and deliver the best. Thank you

    (5)

  • N H.

    We had 7:30 reservations with another couple. We live in New Hope and are fortunate enough to try many of the restaurants in the area. My husband and I are still raving this morning about our wonderful meal and atmosphere. It was very rainy last night the valet staff open my door and walked me in under his umbrella. Valet parking was $10.00. We sat at the bar and had a drink 1 very good martini and jack and coke = $21.00. We were seated up stairs - absolutely breath taken , great atmosphere and even though the room was full with everyone talking - we noticed how the noise was not annoying or disruptive to our conversation. We started out with one more drink each and a dozen of the salty oysters which were amazing. We then chose 2 apps for the 4 of us, the crab cheesecake and the bacon slab. - OMGGG!! The flavors were amazing - highly recommend!! For our entrees. Us girls both decided on the Ophelia's Eggplant and they were not stingy with the crab and shrimp at all- just scrumptious!! Her husband got the jambalaya and mine the Tornedo medallions - we then decided on the family style sides of seafood risotto ( Im personally not a risotto fan but this was also amazing) - definitely not your standard risotto. And the cream spinach. We all really enjoyed our meal. The flavors with each dish were just perfect and authentic - did I mention my friend is a Nu'awlin - inger, born and raised! We weren't sure what we liked the most because it was all so good. We didn't have room for dessert. Our waiter Sean was very personable and perfectly attentive. We asked him about the mural he had an impressive in depth knowledge and explanation of it as well as of the painter. It was evident that he enjoyed his job here at Marsha Browns - which, in my opinion says a lot about an establishment. The atmosphere was beautiful and the meal was perfect. Without the drinks the meal would have been about 120.00 a couple - that included the 20% tip ( the bar bill ran it up to 150.00 a couple). We would definitely go back and maybe just skip the drinks.

    (5)

  • Jess M.

    I loved this place for so many reasons. The staff was so nice and accommodating. The ambiance is so beautiful and so cool that it was an old church transformed into this big restaurant. The downstairs bar is also welcoming. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, and I can honestly say, it was the best I've ever had-- and I've had a lot of crab cakes!! My fiance got the crawfish étouffée and he said it was one of the best meals he's ever had. Will definitely be back here again!!!

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    Armed with a coupon and our savings, my boyfriend and I gussied up for a date night at Marsha Brown's. Even their caesar salad was wicked good. Whether it's surf or turf you're looking to try, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    I've eaten here 3 or 4 times and never had a bad experience. Food has always been good with plentiful portions. Never a problem with service either. Beautiful building. I don't understand the complaints about price. There is a menu posted outside with prices on it. Been to many "must go" restaurants in the Philadelphia area that charge more for a bite size morsel of fancy food and I have to park in an unsecured garage for 30 bucks.

    (5)

  • Helen E.

    My first trip ever to New Hope, and I came across Marsha Brown. My brother and I checked out the menu outside and we actually managed to agree that it was worth a go. It definitely helped that a nice (seemingly) local guy out taking a walk with his child stopped to tell us that the food was amazing. The building is stunningly beautiful (as is all of New Hope to be fair). We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. Our server, Dan, was incredibly personable and gave flawless recommendations- my brother and I each ordered what was suggested and were quite pleased. My brother, the foodie, even was impressed. I had the eggplant Ophelia and my brother the jambalaya. Yum! I ordered dessert as well, the pecan pie, and it was heavenly (I should mention at this point that I am southern- the standards for pecan pie are set sky high). Prices are a tad high, but this is a case where you get what you pay for. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience. Of course I also highly recommended Dan- he seems to really be able to adapt to the needs of his customer, and able to give the right suggestions.

    (5)

  • James B.

    Have driven by this restaurant plenty of times and always wanted to grab dinner there. It is an intriguing building in that it is inside a building that was previously a Methodist church. Finally had a chance to fine in for dinner and everything was great, especially the service.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Dined on: 09/28/2014 Marsha Browns in New Hope PA is the best Restaurant my family and I have ever been to. We have dinned at this place over the last few years and every time we have eaten here the Food, Service and Ambiance is out of this world. If your looking for an upscale restaurant in the heart of New Hope look no further. Marsha Browns New Hope surly delivers the finest food and service around. You won't get any better than this! Just Amazing.

    (5)

  • Rose L.

    Had a nice lunch - tried the eggplant dish and the crab cheesecake. Also tried the bisque as well. All were tasty. Took a sneak peak upstairs to see the beautiful vaulted ceilings & stain glass. Very nice.

    (3)

  • Ariana Z.

    Our innkeeper in New Hope recommended we go to Marsha Brown's if we wanted to see a beautiful restaurant. He said it was once a church that was converted into a restaurant and bar while still retaining its magnificent stained glass pieces. Immediately we were intrigued and decided to go in for lunch. My gf and I ordered a crab cake sandwich with their special fries and we were not disappointed. The burger was fresh and the sandwich did not over whelm the crab. The crab cake was thick and juicy and struck the perfect balance of crab and filler. The fries were incredible! They were probably dusted with old bay and some herbs but that definitely gave the fries new life and it was worth the extra cost.

    (5)

  • Barbara H.

    Went here on a Tuesday. Everything was great, service, attitude, atmosphere, etc. But, I can't say enough about the food! The Eggplant Ophelia was delicious ,especially with a delectable creole butter sauce. The crab cheesecake(with smoked Gouda) was also very good, rich and good. The menu was filled with interesting possibilities and we will. Certainly be back. Am recommending to family and friends. Read some of the reviews and was surprised at hostility of some people who think a restaurant is sitting someplace waiting just for them. If you go someplace on "restaurant week" it's going to be crowded, slower. Etc. If a restaurant looks like it's too busy, go somewhere else. If you're not taken to table in reasonable time, go to hostess and remind them politely. If your meal is not up to standards, by all means bring it too servers notice, politely. On of our group felt soda was untastey and it was replaced without charge. Don't jump immediately into indignant mode. Attitude is important on both sides for a civilized experience.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Marsha Browns is a popular Creole (New Orleans) restaurant on Main Street in New Hope, open for both lunch and dinner. Some plusses: * Cool venue. Fine dining seating is upstairs in the main dinning room which used to be the sanctuary of a 125 year old Methodist Church. You can get the same menu at the bar and in various small tables around it on the first floor. The place is always clean and well maintained. * Valet parking. * Serves dinner late! The kitchen is open to 11:00PM -- which is great as most of the other New Hope places shut down at 10:00PM (other options: John and Peter's kitchen is open until midnight). * Great raw bar and always fresh. Cherry stone clams @ $1.25 each, Jumbo shrimp $3.95 (ouch!) each. they have a nice multi-tiered seafood sampler -- $79 "serves 4", $115 "serves 6" which I recommend. * Their soups are great: Lobster and Shrimp bisque ($9) is terrific, a think brown broth with generous portions minced lobster and shrimp spiced lightly with cayenne pepper and sherry. * Their gumbo ($8, a bit spicier) is also great. Chicken, andouille sausage, rice. * Similar to the gumbo is an entire, the Jambalaya ($27). Adds duck, crabmeat, onions. Very tasty and I recommend. * Their chopped salad ($11) is decent. * Lobster Pot Pie ($32) kind of fun. * Live Maine Lobster ("market price" -- last time I checked was $28/pound) * Their steaks and chops are good (the owner, Marsha Brown, used to own a Ruth's Chris in Philadelphia for 15 years). Minuses (not many): * They have a full bar, but their beer selection is limited (other options: many other nearby New Hope places have great beer, Triumph -- a microbrewry, Nikolas, and the Landing come to mind). * A bit pricey, a bit more of a special occasion place. * Tends to be busy, especially when the rest of the town has tourists. Service can slow down then. - - This is an independent review. I have no relationship to this restaurant, nor to the best of my knowledge, know anyone who works there.

    (5)

  • Sharon K.

    Had a lovely dinner here a few weeks ago. The location is interesting, as many have mentioned - in a church. The bread came out warm - nice. We shared the mussels to start - the sauce was so good! Even when the mussels were done, I took some bread and sopped up that awesome sauce! I had a cup of gumbo - it was nice and spicy. For my main, I had the Eggplant Ophelia - a lot of people who reviewed seemed to rave about this - this wasn't my favorite - I felt the eggplant could have been cooked a little bit more and also more seasoned. Anyway, the dinner was great overall. I would definitely come back to try more of the menu. Next time - crab cheesecake. They were also very accommodating of our party - one of whom walked with a cane. They took us upstairs in the elevator and gave us a table close by. Anyway, all in a good experience. Would definitely return.

    (4)

  • Lexie S.

    Wanted to celebrate hubby's birthday on Monday, Marsha Browns was open, and we were excited. Appetizers: we split the catfish bites. They were good, more bread than fish; I've had alligator bites at another Creole Restaurant that were better. Salads: we both got the wedge- mine with blue cheese, hubby with balsamic. They were disappointing. However, I always compare my wedges to Ruth's Chris which probably is not very fair. Here, literally a hunk of lettuce with a small amount of dressing. Dinner: I got the Walleye special. It was good, but nothing to right home about. I prefer the Walleye at the Blue Point Grill in Princeton (go there, you'll love it). Hubby got the scallops-- those alone were worth the trip. If you're going here, get the Scallops! Atmosphere: it's a Church setting, which is unusual around here. Very pretty stained glass and an epic hunting scene at the "altar." Used to the church setting after living in Pitt-- we're pretty spoiled. Service: they were good. Kept on top of water glasses and wine refills. Summary: skip salad, get scallops. Enjoy atmosphere. Get ready to fork out some $$$ :)

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    It gets one star for the beautiful church that it once was, other than that... Blah. First our waiter offered us water which turned into a 9 dollar charge on our bill. The service was slow in spite of the dining room being mostly empty. When the food did come out, my wife's eggplant looked like wet cat food and my gumbo was overly spiced. I lived in New Orleans for 20 years and I'm 50 percent cajun so please believe me when I say, ignore the good reviews. The place is the death of cajun cuisine.

    (1)

  • Amber P.

    This is our first visit to New Hope and, of course, being Cajun, Marsha Brown sounded like a great idea! We each had a cup of Shrimp and Lobster Bisque that took me back home. I had an oyster po-boy which would have been one of the best I ever had if the baguette wouldn't have been hard (softer bread and it would have been perfect). My boyfriend had the Marsha Brown burger and loved it. I suggest anyone in the area to give this place a try, you definitely get what you pay for. The wait staff were extremely friendly and made us feel welcomed from the get-go.

    (4)

  • Jacquie A.

    We always enjoy a trip to Marsha Brown, the dining room being located upstairs in an old church makes it all the better. We have certain favorites, the crabmeat cocktail is delicious and we always enjoyed their celebration menu especially the pork chop with apple stuffing but sometimes it's not available. Our absolute hands-down favorite is Granmere's comfort custard, it is one of the best things I have ever eaten and we look forward to ending our meal with it each and every time we visit that restaurant

    (4)

  • Kristen C.

    I wish this was closer!!! The food was awesome, service was great. Dessert- OH MY. The overall atmosphere was relaxing. We went for lunch on our way to North Wales and had to stop in new hope to check all the antique shops. We were intrigued by the "crab cheese cake". Best thing I've ever eaten. I definitely recommend you check it out!!

    (5)

  • Andre S.

    We just ate here and were AGAIN disappointed in the service, and now were underwhelmed by the food. it took 65 mins to get our entree. It took a while to be seated even though we were on time for our reservation. And we LOVED the NYStrlp last month....it was pretty mediocre with gristle texture and was overcooked today. The salad, a fig and prosciutto spinach salad WAS delicious as was the green bean with bacon and bleu cheese side. Our chocolate mousse cheesecake dessert was also good. Although the regular wine list is okay albeit sparse, the wines by the glass include the likes of Ecco Domani....need I say more. It is tacky that a restaurant with this price point and the aspirations it has to be a gourmet heavy hitter could have such an appallingly bad wine by the glass list....

    (1)

  • Chris W.

    Bad form. Food is good. Over priced. The waiter dropped out entire meal and had us wait 30 minutes for it to be re made. Water came out of tea pot cold. Both of these issues were laughed off by our waiter. Nothing was complimentary on the bill. Lots of other places to go. Skip this place.

    (2)

  • John H.

    Probably one of the best 5 meals I've had over the last 5 years and I eat out way more than your average human. The scallops were perfect, our server Colleen was great, the vibe of the converted church was very cool, they don't need to bomb you with portions to overshadow any underachievement in the kitchen and they have Titos. Go and try it. I highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Bruno F.

    My first time in New Hope and decided to try Marsha Brown for restaurant week. They took an old church with stain glasses windows and turned into this cool restaurant. I really enjoyed the lobster and shrimp soup. I'm disappointed I ordered a cup instead of a bowl. There was real pieces of lobster and shrimp. The soup had a kick to it, just like the food from the south. I ordered a Deep fried Oyster Po Boy. The bread was soft, and the flavor was delicious, I am however disappointed by the quantity of the oysters. At one point I was taking a bite of bread and lettuce. The food took a little too long to come out. I understand if the food is being made from scratch. But, the time it took was a little too long for my taste. The people are very friendly and the bartenders were super cool. I would still rate this place 4 stars for the atmosphere, the people, and that soup. I will be back to try them again soon

    (4)

  • Jeffrey S.

    As a local it's great to have a restaurant that is consistently good and has an imaginative menu. My wife and I have been there twice and on our most recent visit we both had the eggplant ophellia which was done to perfection. The portions were generous and neither of us was able to finish ours after some clams & oysters for apps and we split a gumbo. We both took some home for lunch the following day. The service is friendly & efficient without being intrusive.

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    I am not a big one for writing reviews, but I just wanted to extend our sincere thanks to Tim the Chef and your entire staff at Marsha Brown's. I called your restaurant this past Friday night after looking on line for approximately 2 hours for anywhere within a 1-2 hour vicinity that has beef wellington on their menu due to my upcoming anniversary. After calling the restaurant Friday night and speaking to the person that answered the phone, they immediately put me on the phone with Tim their head Chef. Tim told me to give him a day or two notice and they would be more than happy to accommodate my wife's request for our wedding anniversary. We went their tonight and the service and food were amazing. We could not have had a better experience than we did tonight. From the moment we entered the restaurant through the course of our meal, the experience could not have been better. I travel a lot for work and have been at some of the best restaurants across the US, Marsha Brown's hands down has been one of the best overall experiences I have had. Thanks to you and your staff for making our anniversary a memorable one for years to come.

    (5)

  • Amy K.

    How is it possible that you don't give this 5 stars?.. This is the best New hope has to offer! I believe it is owned by Ruth Chris. The atmosphere is brilliant with chandeliers where there were candles at one time hanging down from the A-frame ceiling. The stained-glass windows are beautiful and it is a very different dining experience. My lone complaint is that they are stuck up. I understand that they take and prefer reservations, but on a night where we were walking the strip and just decided to stop in, why not treat us as privileged guests as opposed to treating us as if we were lucky to get a seat... and this was at 7:30 p.m. By the time we left, there was still not nearly full??? WTH? Anyway, the reason for the 5 stars was the food. My date got steak and loved it. I always get the Eggplant Ophelia... absolutely amazing(especially if you like Cajun style seafood casseroles...!!!) AMAZING #eggplantophelia Pricey, but well worth it.. oh and the server was also snotty, but again the food!!! We go often!!

    (5)

  • David D.

    I was disappointed with our meal. My wife was pregnant at the time so we were not drinking. The waiter rushed us through the meal.., they had us out in about 35 minutes. Will never go back...

    (2)

  • Hali R.

    Crab cheese cake was AMAZING. the lobster bisque soup was also really good. I love the decor and how it's in a church!

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    On the main street of New Hope along the Delaware river Marsha Brown's stands out at one as it is an old style gothic church converted into a bar and restaurant. In a town noted for many different places to eat, this stands out as consitently one of the best and my wife and I have eaten here many times. The menu seems to have only a few items but as you look at it, you realize this is a saving grace because they all look good and if there were more, you'd never decide. more importantly, when they arrive, they are as good as they promised. The main dinning room is the old an nave of the church with big vaulted ceilings and such and while some find it impressive I thought it a little much. but seating in the 'loft' where the organ once stood is very nice. even better is the bar where the service is good and the people watching fun.

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    Was here a few weeks back for the first time (just late on the review). Had a TREMENDOUS time. Started with an incredible waiter, Jack, and took off from there. Great raw bar appetizers, AMAZING entree, good sides, and good desserts. Ambiance was beautiful. The atmosphere was loud, but I actually enjoyed that...gives a nicer place a less stuffy atmosphere. Thanks again to Jack, wonderful experience!

    (5)

  • Jane F.

    This restaurant has gone down hill in terms of food quality. Everything i tried -steak, seafood, even the salad was awful: either too dry, chewy, or salad....covered in fried ONIONs...like COVERED like a blanked of fried onions...people get salad for fresh greens not fried junk smothering it.

    (1)

  • howie g.

    Had dinner there last night. Good food, good drinks in a really cool old church. Staff was attentive and food came out quick. Call outs, onion rings and the salmon.

    (4)

  • P B.

    Have visited a few times since my last post & sad to report nothing has changed, there is always something wrong with one of our meals every time. This is a steak house, they should know how to cook a steak.

    (2)

  • Edrian C.

    If you can avoid it, try not to eat here. We started running out of places to eat on a long weekend and thought it might be nice. We thought wrong. Overpriced, pretty sure they buy everything at Sam's club and dress it up as Cajun fare. Frozen shrimp, frozen burger patties. Prices are INSANELY inflated. This place is a Kitchen Nightmares episode waiting to happen!

    (2)

  • Jim C.

    Definitely one of our favorites, it's a 90 minute drive that I am very surprised my wife is willing to make. The kitchen puts out a consistently high quality product. I see all the complaints and they surprise me, there's always something that can go wrong and I'm sure at certain times people may not be attended to immediately. But the service the style in the all-around experience in my opinion is top notch. The "family-style" sides are reliably delectable but would certainly be for a very small family! Throwing one more sweet potato or 2 more spears of asparagas wouldn't desimate the profit margin, it's about the only thing I don't feel satisfied with as far as its value. It can also be a little cold in the winter, but you dress for it and the trade-off for the unique ambience is certainly worth it. The drinks are a better than average pour but would be nice if they would use the entire glass.

    (4)

  • Elliot J.

    We've been here often before but not for a while until last weekend. Unfortunately It looks like they are certainly missing a step now. Decor and service are still excellent, as were the drinks, but food was a miss (and that is why we were there after all). Fig & prociutto salad was ok, but the dressing much too sweet - especially with the sweet cured pork. My wife's pork chop was a beautiful cut and cooked well, but over salted. My swordfish special was ok, but very over sauced and overwhelmed (maybe hiding a thin cut on the fish?). Our friends both had the surf & turf which they liked but was a very small portion. Dessert was a bright point all of us enjoyed. With their excellent history and at these prices the meal was very disappointing - maybe why a friday evening was not full house. A couple of years ago this would be a 4 or 5.

    (3)

  • Trish K.

    Giving one star for ambiance only. Food was sub par with a hefty price tag. I ordered steamed clams which I had to send back because they were full of sand. Had the church salad which was drenched in a bottled taste balsamic dressing. The finishing touch was my lobster dinner which was close to $80 was served to me room temperature and dry and if it sat for about 30 minutes or longer before it was served. When I am paying premium prices for my food I do expect premium dishes. Will not be returning!

    (1)

  • Kristina A.

    Wow! This place is awesome! Food was incredibly flavorful! Service was excellent! Atmosphere was quaint and very unique! I live about 1.5 hours away....but I will most definitely be back! WONDERFUL gem of a place!!!

    (5)

  • Gordon R.

    This is a must. I can't wait to write a review after a recent visit. We went to celebrate graduation, and it was perfection. We were seated in the middle of the dining room and had "surf & turf" Steak and Lobster with red and white wine. One of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. Loved it.

    (5)

  • Don R.

    You know the saying "you get what you pay for"? Well at Marsha Browns, you get what you pay for!! Yes it's a bit on the pricey side but the food and service are OUTSTANDING!! One of the best meals I have ever had!

    (5)

  • Jessa R.

    My lunch at Marsha Brown's was perhaps the best dining experience I've ever had. Went here with my boyfriend after we were intrigued by the location (it's in an old church!) and we were not disappointed. My boyfriend is an extremely picky eater, so it's very hard for us to find places where there is food he can enjoy. It took some convincing for him to agree to come to Marsha Brown's in the first place, but I'm so glad we did! The atmosphere, as a previous reviewer said, is super unique. It's in an old church, but it feels very welcoming; not stuffy, and the way they've incorporated the architectural elements of the church into the overall layout of the restaurant is ingenious. We had Dan as our waiter and he was wonderful. Super upbeat and positive, very friendly, and extremely good at his job. When we were finishing up, I started to say "We're ready for the check" but before I could get the check part out, he said "the dessert menu?" which elicited a laugh from everyone. We were super happy to have been served by him. Now onto the most important part: the food. It was excellent. I had the gumbo and the crab cheesecake, as well as the vanilla custard, and my boyfriend had a burger and a chocolate lava cake. I also had the Key Lime Pie cocktail. The gumbo was seriously delicious. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it; it wasn't too spicy and the flavors were all very rich and blended extremely well. It was also unexpectedly filling. The crab cheesecake was also delicious, and never tasted too...crab-like? That is, it tasted the way it was supposed to taste, and as someone who's extremely particular about seafood, I was extremely pleased. The vanilla custard was heavenly, and I'm mad that I didn't get to finish it because I was so full from everything else I ate. The key lime pie cocktail was excellent. A little strong for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. My boyfriend loved both the burger and the chocolate lava cake, and agrees with the restaurant's claim that they are the "best burgers ever". There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about my experience Marsha Brown's. Everything was perfection, and I cannot wait to go back. I just hope we don't wind up spending $70 again, but even if we do, it is worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Dan W.

    First off the restaurant is beautiful and unique. My wife got the special of the day, king crab and I got scallops. The scallops were great but my wife's crab was absolutely cold, not warm not room temperature but right above frozen. The waiter was kind and agreed but when the crab legs came back they were over cooked and rubbery. I wouldn't say to avoid this place but for sure don't order the king crab.

    (3)

  • Amie A.

    Went with a group of people. We had reservations, thankfully, as I heard the valet guy out front suggest to some potential customers they might need them. They seated us at a large table near the entrance and greeted us quickly. We ordered drinks and appetizers. I tried the Crabmeat Cheesecake and sips if my husband's Lobster & Shrimp Bisque Soup. Both were awesome. Dinner for me was Eggplant Ophelia. Also amazing and wouldn't hesitate getting again. I skipped out on dessert because I was full but my friends ordered a bread pudding, some raisin-chocolate ice cream, and a molten lava chocolate cake. They all looked delish....when they eventually showed up. The waiter, who was full of humor, took the dessert order, had coffees delivered and promptly forgot our desserts. I think it's because we were one of the last tables and they were doing prep work for the next day. It's the only reason why this is a 4-star review, sadly, as we had a generally good experience there. We will be back again and I will update my review based on that experience. SIDE NOTE: While we waited outside, I noticed there were two valet guys who were putting keys in and taking them out from a portable box out front. Several times I thought to myself that neither was anywhere near that box, it's on a public sidewalk, and I could swipe a pile of keys, if I was a thief. Wouldn't be hard to find the cars. Just run around town clicking the clickers. I will never use the valet after seeing this.

    (4)

  • Trish-Landy G.

    We had a fantastic experience at Marsha Browns. The atmosphere is amazing. It is an old converted church with a lot of history and they did a great job maintaining some of the character of the building while turning into an elegant restaurant. The wait staff was extremely attentive- Paul was our waiter and made some fabulous recommendations. The food was excellent. We started with the bacon appetizer which is essentially pork belly on a plate. If you are a bacon lover this is for you. We also enjoyed the cat fish bites. For dinner we felt we needed to try items from Marsha's family recipes- so that included jambalaya (which had duck and andouille sausage- perfect amount of spice) and the crawfish étouffée which was also very well done. For dessert you must try the chocolate molten lava cake but one serving goes a long way. They were more than happy to honor our special requests from the bar (a martini isn't complete without blue cheese stuffed olives!).

    (5)

  • Tom M.

    Nice atmosphere, but not for someone with a disability, food lacked flavor, while crab cakes were full of crab meat with little filler they also had little flavor. Beet salad was small for the price and again had little flavor. The dessert, cinnamon bread pudding. Overall over priced for quality and quantity of food. While waiter was helpful and friendly, the attitude was we're wonderful and we know it. Far from a fact.

    (2)

  • Debbie S.

    If the experience once you crossed the threshold was even half as nice as its exterior, Marsha Brown's would be special. We stopped in for lunch after some shopping. The place was nearly deserted. We were seated promptly, placed our order and waited. And waited. Eventually our waiter came by apologetically, saying something about a computer problem, so we started all over. When the food finally arrived, it was quite good. My husband liked the eggplant Ophelia, even if the menu description wasn't exactly accurate. My chicken Caesar salad was just fine - but really, it's only a chicken Caesar. Nobody normal ever waxed poetic about such a simple meal. Lunch prices here were much more reasonable than the dinner menu, which borders on highway robbery. Bottom line - if you are in New Hope and feel like lunch (and you're not in a hurry) stop in.

    (3)

  • Robert K.

    I went on a food tour in New Orleans, their I had charred oysters, turtle soup and a red snapper I will never forget. When I close my eyes I can taste them. I will do the same with the crawfish risotto I ate at Marsha Browns. It was part of the Surf and Turf but was far and away the best part. The crab cakes were tasty and the filets were cooked perfect but that risotto was first class. I also tried a raw oyster special that took me back to NO as well. The restaurant is in an old church. Downstairs was modern and upstairs felt like a 1920's dinning hall. Marsha Brown's proved my theory wrong about the bigger the place, the worse the food. Highly recommended! And if your lucky enough to have Dan, the bearded funny man, as your waiter you are in for a great night.

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    I went on a Friday night with my wife, the atmosphere and the decor was nice and the food was average. Our table was ready on time, however once seated it took over 20 min to even be acknowledged by someone or get water. Over 10 people from the wait staff walked past and clearly made eye contact with us seeing our empty glasses along with menus on the table and no one including our waitress who passed a couple times said someone or I will be right with you. Once greeted by our waitress we were told of some specials in addition to the regular menu and the two of us decided to order specials. The waitress was polite but you could tell she had to many tables to manage as she was always bouncing around and somewhat forgetful and proved it to be true, "oh that's right you wanted another beer, I forgot I'll get it right now." I would be sure to ask the price of the specials because I was shocked to find out when our bill came one of the specials we order was $67. My biggest suggestion to the restaurant would be to put a person or two on the second floor to immediately greet guests once seated to take drink orders and fill there water glasses, once people have drinks the length of time till a waiter gets to them will be over looked.

    (3)

  • M T.

    Good food in a stunning location with attentive service.

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    We are long-time Bucks County residents and had our first dinner last night at Marsha Browns. I wish we would have went here sooner. Everything was first-rate. Food, service, ambience. Our servers-Jack and Daniel were a great team and made the experience even better. Fun, formal, relaxed, this place is everything at once. Awesome cajun/creole foods along with great steaks. Highly recomend.

    (5)

  • Geoff c.

    My office organized a holiday dinner at Marsha Browns, for which I had to plan and organize. The restaurant managers were very accommodating and helpful. They responded to phone calls and emails with questions and special requests. For large groups, you can set a fixed menu by selecting from a certain pool of menu items. Though the form says that you can only choose a certain number of items for your menu, (e.g., 1 appetizer or 4 entrees), they were very willing to let me add more than that to the menu. The food itself was fantastic. The lobster bisque was excellent and our servers even gave a few of us bowls to go after overhearing how much we liked them. Entrees were all well-received (I had surf and turf), and desserts were GINOURMOUS (but still delicious). Having a large party, we had the 3rd floor choir loft reserved to ourselves. It overlooks the main dining floor, which is in what used to be the main sanctuary of the church. It directly faces a massive painting on the front wall of the church. Pretty gorgeous setting overall. Parking can be difficult. Valet is available. Otherwise just drive around a few blocks to find street parking.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    Amazing every time. Favorite date night restaurant. Wish it was closer. Would go all the time. Jumbo limp crab cocktail and crab cheesecake are amazing service is always great!!

    (5)

  • Travis T.

    This place is impressive. If you're stopping by the area and have never been, you need to see the inside of this place. Me and my girlfriend were on a little vacation up here checking out the scenery and area, and my mom told me I had to stop in here. So we did and apparently my mom had called ahead of time and had covered dinner here for me and my girlfriend, and the servers knew about it. So we showed up, they had valet parking. Went inside and were seated quickly up on the second story in a beautifully decorated room. The servers were both gentlemen, one younger, and one older. They would crack jokes about each other and really made us feel at home. They were open to explaining menu items that I was unsure of, and made great recommendations for us. If there's one thing that I remember about this place (my visit was close to a year ago) was that their mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious, I'd go back just to eat them again. I had a steak, and the girl had a lobster, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the bottle of wine. It was such a good date. Couldn't be more happy with the service or the atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    Absolutely has a wonderful meal. Everything was spiced perfectly. I had crab ravioli and my wife had the jambalaya. We had amazing lamb chops for an appetizer which were wonderful. The wine was poured by high is the air which was cool. The restaurant is unique as it is an old church. Definitely recommend for a good date night.

    (5)

  • Lola M.

    Great ambiance, laid back atmosphere, fun menu, nice portion sizes. Had some lunch and shared a sandwich and a salad and feel satisfied. We are coming back for dinner to try some other dishes!

    (4)

  • John G.

    My girlfriend and I spent the weekend in the New Hope area, and met some friends for dinner. We decided that Marsha Brown's would be our destination. We've been to New Hope many times but have never had dinner here so we wanted to finally give it a try. I am SO glad we did!! Parking was a headache (what can you expect for a Saturday night, in New Hope, in the summer time) but we got there and was seated promptly by our "psychic" hostess (she knows who she is!). As most other reviews indicate, cheesecake as an appetizer (very rich but delicious...I had to stop myself from devouring it all). I ordered the crab-filled ravioli, and my girlfriend ordered a steak. the building used to be a church, and still retains some of the décor. It was a little noisy but, again, it was a busy night. Our server, Jack, made us feel right at home, explaining the history of the restaurant, and giving us a review of the menu. More on Jack later.. I'll sum up our dining experience with one word: stupendous! I had the crab Our friends ordered the salmon as well as the steak. The food was perfect and wonderful. May have been the best steak my girlfriend has ever eaten...cooked perfectly! The blue-cheese-and-bacon green beans were equally fantastic. My ravioli were great, and the portion size was perfect. We had a lovely bottle of white wine for a warm summer evening. For dessert, peach ice cream and the chocolate molten cake rounded out the night (I understand the cake was the best ever consumed!!). While the food was extraordinary, the service was equally exquisite. The staff was polite, attentive and professional. Leading the charge was Jack. Truly a master of his craft, he was everything a party could want in a server. He was charming and witty, yet smoothly professional and polite. He made us feel like we were the only table he was responsible for (which clearly wasn't the case...see previous statement about it being Saturday evening). Jack and his staff truly elevated our meal from "good" to "superb". As mentioned in other reviews, dinner at this restaurant is not cheap. However, if you want a truly wonderful dining experience and are wiling to splurge a little, I could not recommend MB highly enough!

    (5)

  • Steven K.

    Ate lunch there a few weekends ago. It was ok. Four of us, three had burgers. I had the gumbo. Gumbo honestly tasted canned with maybe some added meats. Friends said burgers were good. Excellent fresh hot french bread and butter service. And you can't ignore the cool atmosphere"......old converted church. We sat upstairs....looks like a good place for a wedding reception.

    (3)

  • Sharon D.

    A bit of a long wait for food. Ordered two burgers, both med rare. One was almost still alive, the other so well done. No one came to check how we liked our food. Had to request check. They had cartoons playing on one tv, car race on another. Have dined here before, first time poor experience.

    (2)

  • Glenn S.

    Went here on a sunday night at 7:15. The place was about 25% full. On the way in Valet said it was slow tonight and the previous night(uh oh i thought- sunday i can maybe understand but not a saturday night pride parade day when the town is packed) but in we went. Got the filet mignon-$41. Asked for medium it came out rare. Ugh. Really rare not just borderline. So asked waitress to fix it which she did. Got it back it was perfect medium but after going back under the heat it made it a bit tough. Fail. Ok so my wife and daughter got the scallops. They were way overcooked. Rubbery and awful. Fail.The vegetables underneath were good though but all in all a letdown. Had the bacon slab appetizer. Very fatty and hard to eat. A heart attack type of food so be ready to get greasy. Would be better if it was rendered down more but just my opinion. Coconut shrimp were good. Had two sides- sweet potato casserole which is the best thing we had and the crawfish risotto which my daughter liked but its really rich so they could only handle a small amount before it became a little overwhelming. Good to share with people though. All food on menu is ala carte and things can get pricey fast.Total bill was $188.54 for 3 of us without dessert. I dont mind paying a lot for dinner but the food better be ON POINT WHEN IT LEAVES THE KITCHEN. Service was excellent but the head chef needs to take control of the dishes quality control. Maybe the sunday night second string was running the kitchen when we went. Who knows, but at these prices there should be perfect meals every night. Will i be back? No. Should you go? Sure if you like New Orleans style food and want to try it for yourself. Valet will park your car for $10 when you pull up to the front door.

    (3)

  • Erin B.

    The building is beautiful and the atmosphere was delightful. Our steaks were perfect and the Vegetarian Napoleon is so delicious! I have to take away a star for 2 reasons... the bacon app was so fatty that we couldn't even cut it & we had our 10 and 13 year old with us celebrating a birthday and they ordered a side of mac n cheese with their filet steaks. It was seriously Kraft mac n cheese. so gross, the kids wouldn't touch it. I asked our waiter and he confirmed it was boxed mac n cheese, not fresh. This place serves a filet with boxed prepared mac n cheese! really!! I was appalled. what could the cost difference we that a place as upscale as this would serve Kraft mac n cheese.

    (3)

  • Dom A.

    This is place is a higher than average price point. It's good that they display the menu at the front. The whole strip is hopping on a Saturday night. Parking can mean driving around a while. The waiter and staff were friendly and professional. The atmosphere was very nice and the crowd was very mixed. The building used to be an old church. The food took a while but not too bad for a busy night. We found the food to be good.

    (3)

  • Scott H.

    Been here a few times for dinner but this January trip was all about lunch. It was a warm day and navigating New Hope can be a big pain. That aside, we have an excellent visit. I was hoping for more entree's but was greeted with a menu filled with sandwiches. There probably were entrees on there, but the three us went with the po-boys. This is a New Orleans style place, located in a former church. Service was just OK. My previous visits for dinner had excellent service so I am assuming we had shift changes going on since it was late in the afternoon. All in all, it is the best place in town.

    (4)

  • Blue G.

    We were forgotten adult there yesterday. Sadly, didn't receive any service at their table after seated when we visited November 30th, at around 3p.m. waited at seat for quite while. End up we had to leave the restaurant without having order. Even when we are leaving no one talked to us or seemed realizing that something was wrong. I was very curious about the interior of the restaurant that was originally a church. Seemed cool idea to turn closed church to something open to public. finally when decided to give this pretty place a try, after looking at their menu I was pretty excited for what will enjoy there. It seemed rather formal place with nice oval bar in center and and gothic interior decollation that you could imagine from the history of the architecture. (on second floor that opens only for dinner, they even have beautiful stained-glass) It could happen to any restaurant that failing with overseeing entire place, we totally understood that a server could forget a table that he/she is responsible because of the busyness. It was too bad that no one of their staff realized us when they had time gathering and chatting with smile near the bar section. As well as no servers even looked at our eyes that were staring at them. In contrast to the visual and atmosphere of the restaurant, the front receptionist was very casual. I remember she said us like "Oh hai." which surprised me little. We waited with patient for sometime, but we did have no one came back to our table to ask our order. We had to try making eye contact to be noticed but didn't work. A group of customers next table of us was also waited to be served their order (they seemed already ordered while ago), their waiter came to their table and made apology for taking time, but he also didn't realize us sitting next to the group. (The customers at the group quickly noticed about lack of service at our table while they were also waited for their order to be served. I totally understand that it could happen, but the problem was the time we had to waste there for us because not everyone always come to restaurant when they have nothing else to do after even though coming with enough time to wait for service, and disappointed by the lack of their attention and realization of the all staffs who was there. We had enough time when we came in there to fully enjoy the meal plus waiting time, but unfortunately we did not have time to wait hours there to just for being forgotten and trying to order menu. It was my last day before going back to New York I had to catch my booked bus. Too bad but we couldn't try any of their menu, so there is no food reviews I can talk here for their food. Thankful to my friend's smart decision, we finally decided to leave without having meal their and find another place so we could finish our nice time with peaceful happy mood. The New Hope is amazing place, would love to come back again but do not know if I will try visiting this place again in the future. I would say no stars for The Marsha Brown's. The star is not for the restaurant but for the fortune to the church building that found another way to be loved. Should we have left tips?... :p nah

    (1)

  • Shannon C.

    STAY AWAY IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES!!! We went there for my husband's birthday and told the floor manager that my husband had a severe mushroom allergy. Three bites in his steak his chest started to tighten up, he started to have throat and tongue swelling and itching all over. I never ran out of a restaurant so fast in my life! One epi-pen (a device preloaded with medicine for severe allergic reactions), a ton of medicine, and three hours swelling and itching later, he finally made it out of the woods. When I called the restaurant to complain and tell them what happened, they merely said they took every precaution and made sure no mushrooms came in contact with his food. No acknowlegement that they did anything wrong! They brushed me off like I had no idea what I was talking about! They wouldn't even entertain they idea of apologizing to us let alone refunding us the cost of our dinner. Needless to say, we will never go back there and will make sure everyone knows what a horrible experience we had.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    We had dinner here last night with some friends and had a wonderful experience. Love the unique vibe of having a restaurant in an older church building. Service was pretty flawless, and the food was very good. Our favorites were the mussels, the jumbalaya, the crawfish étouffée, and the fresh lobster with crabmeat on top. Look forward to returning the next time we are in the area, and would definitely recommend to others if you want a taste of NOLA without having to get on a plane.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    I ate here about a year ago, and I still think about my meal - so I had to come review. I stopped here alone while traveling for work. The first thing that struck me was how friendly the wait staff was. My waiter stopped and talked to me a few times while taking my order. It was nice to have friendly banter with him. On to the food. I had the crab cheesecake. Order it! It was decadent and delicious, and this coming from someone that doesn't necessarily care for seafood (why'd I order it? Not sure. Glad I did though!). The flavor was outstanding and cheesy without being overwhelming. I would drive out of my way if I'm ever in the area again to eat it!

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    We chose this restaurant because of the raw bar... I'm a sucker for raw oysters. The coat check woman was extremely friendly, the place is gorgeous, the wait staff was spot on with wine recommendations to correspond with our meals... everything was just great! The food was amazing - from taste to presentation. It's a bit of a drive for me to get to New Hope, PA... but I fully intend on visiting again as soon as I can. I will recommend this place to anyone. Keep in mind that it is slightly "pricy" to some, because it's worth it!!!!!!

    (5)

  • S B.

    Food was excellent!!! My boyfriend and I made a reservation on Saturday evening and we were immediately seated on the second level. Service was great and food came out at the right timings for us to enjoy our appetizers, wine, entree and dessert. The meal was great... Appetizers: Ahi tuna sashimi and catfish, Entree:crab ravioli and crab cakes with sautéed spinach to share for the table. Now I'm a crab cake snob....these are the best crab cakes I've had outside of my home...and I make crab cakes!!! Excellent!!! As a New Yorker I have had many nice dinners at a variety of NYC restaurants, however I must say Marsha Brown's food and service can compete with the best!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Stopped by today for lunch. Not all that impressed. First off instead of being in the main dining room, we were seated in a small room near the bar. Four tables and not all that nice of a space. Service was OK but just a bit off. Could be a problem with staff training. Both our waiter and another food runner seemed awkward placing plates on the table - haven't seen that in a while. Food was good but not exceptional. The lobster and shrimp bisque was very tasty but was also chunky - sorry but that is not a bisque. The gumbo was nice enough - but they seemed to have omitted the rice. Also it was not just "Cajun spiced" it was rather high on the heat scale - good for me but most people might find it objectionable. The crab cake sandwich was nice enough. The shrimp po'boy was good as well. Probably the best po'boy that I have had up North. House made potato chips are good. Creole French fries have good flavor but could be more crisp. My staple dessert for Southern cuisine is pecan pie. So I am a bit particular. The pie here disappointed. It was plated nicely with a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a decorative swirl of chocolate. But I would never ever think of having pecan pie "Ala mode". The ice cream was gummy but tasted fine. The pie was made cheaply with pecan pieces instead of whole pecans. Coffee was not Louisiana style but regular coffee was fine. No beer on tap but I had a nice bottle of Abita amber. My wife had a Sam Adams. Maybe the main dining room at dinner is four stars.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    So... sigh. I wanted so much more from this place. Sounded cool but the decor was gaudy and overdone. Such a classic building with original detail a clean neutral decor would've done it best. The bar was fun, the drinks were good but it's when we got upstairs that things went bad. It was freezing up there, extremely drafty. I mentioned something to the maitre'd and he snidely remarked "well it's colder outside". Like really? Lie to me at least and make me feel like maybe you care and say "Oh let me see if there's anything we can do" then disappear. It was so cold up there I decided to order the gumbo and potato souffle. The gumbo was bland (shocking for a place that emphasizes a creole heritage). The potato souffle wasn't a souffle at all it was mashed potatoes in a dish and toasted in the broiler - despite its disappointing appearance it was delicious. I am someone who loves to order dessert even just to try something. I didn't even want to see the menu it was cold and I wanted to go somewhere warm... like the car. So disappointed. Telling me the owner owns a bunch of Ruth Chris' steakhouses further angers me since this place clearly was an afterthought. The bright side? I guess if I had to say something good... the water was refilled promptly... and our waiter was super nice and knowledgeable. Again, sigh. Avoid this place if it's cold outside and if you like flavorful meals.

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    The food is solid steakhouse and Creole fare of good quality, but perhaps not good enough to support the price. The interior of the old church was impressive, but the massive crowd of diners the place can accommodate detracts from the atmosphere. Similarly, because of its size, I imagine the place probably feels pretty vacant if it's anything less than full. The staff was attentive, but not very polished.

    (3)

  • Anthony W.

    I have been coming to Marsha Brown's for many years, have invited friends to join us at Restaurant Week each year and recommend to people regularly to visit. Last night, I had a most disappointing experience. It seemed that the staff really wasn't in the mood to be working. Food came out cold or somewhat warm and the presentation wasn't impressive. The dessert seemed to be thrown on the plate. Lastly, they provided rolls from Giant instead of the usual baked bread in their signature bag. Seemed like they weren't interested in Restaurant Week customers since those who ordered off the regular menu received the baked bread. Hopefully this review makes them recognize that any customer at any time is valuable and that my next visit will be most enjoyable.

    (2)

  • David L.

    Honestly I've tried this place a couple of times and have to say I won't go back. It's a beautiful restaurant and I think they mean well but their food is not good. Most of the food seems parcooked and often comes out cold. Way too expensive for so little quality

    (2)

  • Michelle C.

    Marsha Brown's was recommended by several Yelpers as a solid spot for lunch and I'm really glad we checked it out. As much as I wanted a burger, I opted for the chopped salad. I never imagined I'd crave a salad as much as I have since I finished it yesterday. The chopped salad contained asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, olives, bacon and blue cheese. It was all mixed together and formed into a mold of sorts. I ordered it with grilled shrimp and the dressing (ranch) on the side. I don't know what made that salad so delicious but all the ingredients together were awesome. And the dressing was absolutely perfect, though I hardly needed any since the salad itself was so flavorful. We sat at the bar since all tables were booked. The bartender was very friendly but he also had to take care of the nearby tables, so things like place settings and drink refills had to be requested. No big, though. We were taken care of and we really enjoyed ourselves. I will be making plans to return, and hopefully not too far into the future - I need that salad in my life!

    (4)

  • Michele G.

    Really good food and very attentive, professional service. We've been there twice, once with teens, once as a couple. Really enjoyed the ambiance. Steak was cooked perfectly. Sides are absolutely delicious!

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Great place!!! Absolutely amazing architecture! Hickory smoked bacon slab is insane! Just order 2!!!

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    We had our wedding at Marsha Browns on Oct 25. The preparation was easy and no pressure. Very professionally done. The choices were exceptional and tasty. The service was great. Everyone at the wedding had a wonderful time. Wendy was an outstanding planner and was on top of everything. We had a great day. Dana & Ron.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    I can't understand how Marsha Brown's has anything other than 5 stars here. I have been here half a dozen times now - twice for a company holiday party that i organized and other times with friends for dinner - and each time was fantastic. It is an old church and you absolutely know you are in a building that was once a church. Part of the dining room is behind an alter rail, frescoes and stained-glass are all around, and for private parties you can reserve the choir loft upstairs - it overlooks the restaurant below - you would think that the noise from below would make the upstairs unbearable but you truly didn't even notice it. Chef Caleb - a joy to work with for planning private parties - has also developed a wonderful menu. My favorites are the jamabalya - perfectly cooked and delightfully spicy, and the Eggplant Ophelia - a misnomer really - it is more of a shrimp and crab dish topped with a slice of eggplant in a lobster bisque sauce. It's the kind of meal that you finish and are immediately sad that it's gone. Sides are served family style - don't miss the sweet potato casserole with nuts and brown sugar. Some have commented that it is too sweet - there is no such thing! You will want to lick the dish. It is pricey - definitely not the place to go on a regular basis unless your money really does grow on trees - but for a special occasion there is no better place in town, and in a town with as many great restaurants as New Hope, that is high praise indeed.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    What a beautiful restaurant. We were seated upstairs in the dining area which was very beautiful. Wait staff very nice and attentive. For our appetizer we had the lettuce wedge. My wife had it with thousand island dressing and i had the blue cheese. The crumbled up bacon was great and the dressing were fantastic. For the main course we each had the filet mignon. We both ordered our steak medium. My wife's was cooked perfectly and mine was over done. The waiter asked if i wanted a new one but i decided to eat this one. I had mine Oscar style bernaise sauce and crab. Overall it was very good even though a little well done. We had the bayou fries which were very good. Would definetly recommend and we will go back again on our next visit.

    (4)

  • Bob J.

    Waited 1.5 hours for lunch on Saturday because of a wedding upstairs. Waitress was nice and tried to do a good job. The hostess was useless and could only make excuses. It would not have been that awful if it had just been me and my friend but my 10 yr old daughter was with us and she was hungry and bored out of her mind. The only cooked food was fries and the grilled shrimp on the salad everything else was from the raw bar. Food was decent and the general Manager Wendy took care of the bill and went above and beyond to make the best of a bad situation. I'll go back we have been going there for years. 1 star so people will take notice, generally I'll give MB 4.

    (1)

  • Hokie F.

    Freshest oysters, spicey jambalaya, and a savory lobsters pot pie made for a nice dinner out with my son. While dinner took longer than usual because the pot pie crust had to be redone, they handled appropriately. Cool space. Go!

    (4)

  • Cara T.

    My experience at Marsha Brown's is really two experiences rolled into one. About a month ago, I visited Marsha Brown's for a girlfriend's birthday. I was blown away by the ambiance and the setting inside of an old church. I found it really fitting to be eating a steak dinner in front of a giant mural of a lion eating it's prey. The gentlemen of the party order the bacon slab appetizer...just to say that they ordered a slab of bacon. It turned out to be everyone's favorite appetizer....don't knock it until you try it! I ordered a filet with a baked potato. Having been a long time fan of the area's Ruth Chris's and knowing that the owner of Marsha Brown's was the same restauranteur, I knew I was going to have a great meal....and I did! After a month of discussing my awesome meal at Marsha Brown's, the hubs and I headed up to New Hope during the week on a day he was playing hooky from work. I figured that lunch prices would help us to experience a delicious meal that we normally could not afford. We walked in and sadly found out that they do not seat in the church during lunch. We were seated down in a little room off of the bar area. I ordered the burger and hubs order jambalaya. Long story short, my burger was delicious (one of the best I've ever had!) and hubs jambalaya was less than fantastic. After he finished his soup, he asked the waiter for another drink and the waiter forgot...the entire time we were there. He was even reminded of the drink when he dropped off our food. After he picked up our credit card for payment, he apologized and asked him if he still wanted it...he said no. I kept saying, "dinner was so much better! I promise! We need to come back for dinner!" He said maybe. I tried to convince him of Marsha Brown's awesomeness but Ms. Brown did not help me out in that department. How many stars??? First meal...5....second meal 2...I'll settle with 4. I hope she will earn it the next time I'm there. Bottom line: great place for dinner...skip the lunch....unless you have lots of time, don't care about the service and order the delicious burger.

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    This place was ok. I had the crab cake and steak combo. The crab was delicious, but the steak needed work. Also the green beans taste like they are out of a can. Spg or butter would be nice. The restaurant is in an old church; the dining room is nice, but I felt crammed in it. It was so crowded our server could barley move without hitting the table next to us. Speaking of service, it was outstanding. Marsha happened to be there that night and she was being a great owner by touching tables. This was my 4th time dining there. I'd go back, but only for the seafood and service.

    (3)

  • Felix P.

    When Chef Caleb ran this joint, and now I am going back about a year, when I lived in New Hope and worked in Newtown (Felix's Caketeria), it was my favorite place....still to this day, I think of the chopped salad with the fried onions on top....delicious.....had a lot of memorable meals there and when I go back to visit, I will head over for a steak and salad......is it loud, yes, is it expensive, yes, but hello...it's a steakhouse.....the local crowd loves it, and so do I.

    (5)

  • Jenn W.

    Upon stopping on main street earlier, we were going to eat at Peddlers Village, but our favorite spot has no closed, and a new place took its spot. There was a 1/2 hour wait with equally unimpressed menu, so we decided to go back to New Hope. We ended going here. The seated us right away, a nice Creole cuisine, so we ended getting the catfish Po-boy and for it being fried, very seasoned, lightly battered, very appetizing. We waited, took them longer then expected, but our waitress was very empathetic, and brought out our plates already split .I still couldn't finish my sandwich. But been years since been here, but I do like the aviance & we sat in booth near Raw bar, Mmmm-mmm Oysters, Return Factor- Yes..I will be back..

    (4)

  • Dave W.

    My wife and I have been going to New Hope since we were in high school and the place still has an attraction for us. Marsha Brown's wasn't there back in the 60s (yes, the 60s so now everyone can figure out how old they were) and I guess the church was still in business. They have converted the church and split it up into various rooms. We sat in the bar area, just past the raw bar and it was quite comfortable. Lunch consisted of jambalaya for me, which was spicy, piping hot and had excellent flavor and consistency. Could have used a little more rice, however. My wife had the prosciutto salad which she enjoyed as well. We asked for a side of their house made spicy Cajun chips and received a huge bowl at no cost. Unfortunately, they forgot to bring any bread to the table. Nice selection of wines by the glass and a meager selection of bottled beer. The dinner menu looked good so we'll have to get back there and try it sometime.

    (4)

  • Holly E.

    Whether I'm here for dinner or lunch the meal are delicious. I have never had an "ok" meal here, the food is amazing. The wait staff are friendly and professional and know the menu.You would also want to go just to see the beautiful interior.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    I loved the idea of walking into a beautiful restored church to have dinner. the whole idea was just magical to me especially since the day before when we came into make a reservation there was an actual wedding going on. so yea, 5 stars on ambiance . food was good, nothing to spectacular but tasty at that. my favorite part of the meal was the hot bread and carrot cake. I would recommend going here just for the ambiance alone.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Made reservations after having read the reviews here and the menu. Marsha's did not disappoint in any way! We arrived half hour early and sat at the bar while we waited. Great atmosphere and great cocktails! Upstairs dinning room was amazing....buzzing but not obnoxiously loud. Our servers Cosmo and Karan were great, attentive but not obtrusive. Food....amazing....had to order 3 appetizers since I could not decide. We were not rushed and had a leisurely, cocktail filled dinner. Would come back here in a heart beat. Amazing evening......Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Daphne W.

    Best dinning experience! My husband and I had a great date night that we went back two nights in a row! Oyster + Maine lobster + rib eye steak + pecan pie such a great meal! Most importantly our waiter Jack was super nice and funny, he just made the whole night even better!

    (5)

  • Colleen D.

    Marsha Brown's is located in a repurposed church with a lovely bar on the first floor and dinning on the second and third. They have a small elevator that made it possible for me to easily get to our table. Our party of 4 was seated along the to side wall to accommodate my request for a booth seat. The restaurant filled up within an hour on Saturday night. My husband and I ordered one of the evenings specials, Surf and Turf; (a dish I never order). It was sensational, seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection! The 4 of us shared mashed potato and spinach sides but would have been very satisfied with another mini loaf of their own crusty bread and just our entrees! The dessert menu needs more variety. My husband selected the chocolate cheesecake and sent it back, for the first time ever. He said it wasn't just a disappointment but he literally couldn't eat it; three small balls of chocolate cream cheese. Our guests shared a molten chocolate dessert and raved about theirs. Service was excellent and our waitress whisked away the one desert with no questions asked and offered a simple apology and another option. We all agreed that it is pricy, but above average quality and service for restaurants in New Hope.

    (4)

  • Abby W.

    This place serves a huge crowd on a summer weekend evening, when the weather is perfect. 2000+people in a night would not surprise me given how large the space is. The issues we had with the food were of the type that are not surprising in such a high-volume establishment, but I would say there were more hits than misses all told. We started with the crab cheesecake to share, oysters for him, and chopped salad for me. The table bread was a little strange in texture, its crumb was coarse and not terribly well-flavoured. It was, however, served warm and with ramekins of butter and room-temp refried beans. That was a bit odd but I actually liked them and found their seasoning to be a welcome addition to the party. Crab cheesecake came out first- it was an enormous slice of very rich, and quite tasty cheesy crab goodness. Th slice wasn't totally hot though, and had a bit of that colouring on the edges that things get when they've been sitting on a plate for too long. High volume. Is what it is I suppose. E loved his oysters and was particularly blown away by two of the four varieties available that night. Chopped salad was tasty and quite a large portion with a nice presentation. I wish the bleu cheese in it had been funkier, but it was very good. For entrees we both opted for the French Quarter surf and turf, so as to try both a crabcake and get some steak. Not a fan of the crawfish risotto at all, it was gummy and thick and nothing like a proper risotto. The crabcake was OK but again not hot and a bit aged around the edges. I didn't finish it. My filet medallions had been ordered rare and holy cow, were they rare. Barely seared on the outside. I was disappointed not to get that good hard crust from a nice sear. Luckily, I like my filet on the raw-as-possible side, so I ate it all. E's were medium rare as requested. Service was... odd. We had two servers for some reason and they were both a little on the strange side. Beverage selection was limited mostly to wine by the bottle with a small list by the glass and a very short cocktail list. They lean heavily toward the martini style and my gin and champagne cocktail was sickeningly sweet. Valet was a reasonable $10, but at the prices here I'd rather try some place new for our next trip to the area. Total including a cocktail and glass of wine was just over $130 or so.

    (3)

  • Food C.

    Overpriced and pretty average. Better steak at 1821 Steaks.

    (1)

  • Rcktmann L.

    I'll start this by saying I have eaten at everything from the back door kitchen to the five star. If you go here and expect traditional Creole or as most say Cajun you probably be disappointed. The best way to describe the food is Creole influenced so go with an open mind because it is definitely different. Expect the spices to be very bold. (Recommendations to the cook staff cut back on the amount of spice used you will have the same flavor and not have sensation of having your mouth dried out (slightly) because you went past max solubility.) The setting is also different and nicely done. The bar is stocked better than any I have seen in recent years and the bartenders are very knowledgable. The service is on the mark if you are there to be social and wanting take a step back from the rat pace of today's world that we all have been conditioned to expect. My compliments to our wait staff that knew enough to bring the few issues and the special event details to the manager who did the right things to make our experience a very enjoyable one. Thank you

    (4)

  • Nora B.

    Went to the restaurant but did not realize it was Restaurant Week in New Hope. The menu was limited, but we enjoyed a great meal. We had the pot stickers with shrimp and crab. The sauce was interesting - wish we could have figured out exactly what was in it. The pot stickers were tangy and had a carmelized finish. My husband had the jambalaya. The entree was very hot and kept the heat. It had an excellent flavor, not too spicy, but the right mix of meats and fish. I had the pork tenderloin with a bread and andouille stuffing. The meat was slightly overcooked for me, but the glaze helped. The meal came with a chocolate bread pudding. Not my favorite dessert, but this was very good. The after dinner chocolate raspberry martini was excellent. We will return for their regular menu. Service was very attentive.

    (4)

  • Michelle Q.

    At a family member's request, we went to Marsha Brown's for her birthday celebration. A friend who is local to New Hope had told me that Marsha Brown's was a place one took friends "to impress" so my expectations were high. Here is my pros/cons list: Pros: Portions were very generous for both entrees and sides. (This was unexpected.) Service was friendly & helpful, very good. Cons: Mediocre wines for high prices. (This is where they make their money.) Prices for entrees also a bit high. All of the dishes were very rich. Too rich Crawfish Etoufee did not compare favorably to crawfish eaten in Louisiana. Very limited options for vegetarians & vegans. Only one entree available (Eggplant Ophelia) and no option to have a special dish made. None! Desserts: Again, generous portions but dry carrot cake with ho hum icing. The decor: There's "eclectic" and bad design. This is bad design. Summary: Unfortunately, because the food was so very rich, neither I nor my husband slept well after this meal. I am glad we "experienced" Marsha Brown's as there is a lot of hype surrounding this restaurant and we have now satisfied our curiosity, but we will not be returning. There are too many better options in the area. In New Hope in particular, I would recommend Cafe' Blue Moose: Creative, fresh, and delicious food at very reasonable prices, friendly service, and a BYOB to boot!

    (2)

  • Valentino G.

    The decor is inviting and the building itself is entirely different from any restaurant I have been to. The food is somewhat overpriced, and the same anywhere else. The last time I went I had jambalaya and it was bland and had no flavor to it. My mom had the lobster, but she was upset causes there wasn't much meat. If there's anything I love from there it's their chopped salad, it is to die for its that good. Good restaurant, but they try to hard to be elegant and over price things. Good food, but I have had better.

    (3)

  • Mike C.

    Sine if the best food I have ever had. The restaurant is awesome. It is in an old church. Such a fun place to eat. Our server was friendly and made great recommendations. The meal was just amazing. Great tasting and cooked perfectly. New Orleans food at it's best.

    (5)

  • Damian O.

    One of the more interesting and lively restaurant in New Hope I suppose. I think they want you to have an experience eating there and you could if you want to. Kind of like going to one of Steven Starr places. I usually just want to eat really good food and have really good service. Anything else is icing. I'm not asking for much am I? Fortunately for them I can recall what I ate so that means I enjoyed my experience there. We almost didn't make it. We first stopped by Triumph but we ate there before so we actually asked the waitress there that we wanted to eat somewhere else and she was like "for sure!". She was a very reasonable and understanding waitress. I should have left her a tip just for being so nice. To make the long story short, it was raining and it was the closest place near our car so we went in there thinking it would rain all day. When we sat down it stopped raining so we decided to go eat where we really originally wanted to go haha. Anyways, we started off with some soup. Oh I can tell you their lobster bisque is so good. One of the better ones I've had and I wanted more to be honest. We moved on to the main course. I had the Church Burger which has bleu cheese. I don't what it is but I'm a sucker for bleu cheese on my burger. Cooked well, meat was juicy and not dry, bread was good, but the kicker was the roasted garlic. Their creole fires was a nice touch. I could tell they took their time in making the flavors work together. My wife had the crab cake I think. I know she loved it because she wanted to go back before she was done eating. Def. going back for more.

    (4)

  • Jim M.

    stopped in for brunch on Sunday. Menu was basically hamburgers. Waitress said they were amazing. They were about a 4 on a scale of 10. Fries were covered with Cajun spices and tons of salt. Basically inedible. They need to refresh the menu. Get a new chef and update the decor. We just sat downstairs so hard to say what the main dining room is like. This is basically a tourist trap where they don't want to pump any money into making it a first rate place

    (2)

  • Christine F.

    Took the hubby here for a special 50th Birthday dinner... loved the cozy "loveseat" side by side seating for two and loved the converted church- the ambience is very cool! Valet parking for $10.00 is appreciated since parking in New Hope is sometimes difficult. The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The food.... well...we were disappointed. We were expecting to be blown away and quite frankly my steak was dry and tasteless ( ordered the Surf and Turf- Medium). The hubby ordered the scallops and they were tasty. The pecan pie was not great - have had better in other places. For the price, we were expecting more from Marsha Brown's!

    (3)

  • Krysia K.

    The restaurant is in an old church, including the beautiful stained-glass windows and a huge mural on the wall. Greeted by the hostess, because we do not have reservations, we were guided to the bar. Large bar with a wide variety of wines, beers and spirits, imported and domestic. The background music, soft and pleasant. The service was acceptable, the food of New Orleans flavor was delicious and cooked to order. I had a Church burger - not bad, my husband ordered "Finger Lickin 'Slow Roast beef - very good. Probably again we will visit these restaurants.

    (3)

  • Melissa B.

    If you've read my review for Firefly in Manasquan, then you'll be super-pleased to know that what you're about to read will be the polar opposite. The Mister's mom's birthday came along, and we decided that a lovely day of shopping and exploring New Hope was the ticket... and a wonderful dinner with fabulous atmosphere would be the ideal way to close it out. The Mister and I had been to Marsha Brown's once before and had a good experience... but it had been years since that night. Nonetheless, the reviews seemed to be in line with what we remembered, and I knew that the place couldn't have gotten any less gorgeous, so we made a reservation for Saturday at 5:30pm (one of only two times available for our party of 6). Aside from this being a birthday celebration, there was the added pressure that this HAD to be good... we were still all stinging from the Firefly debacle. After having made the reservation via Yelp (how handy!) on Wednesday, I received a confirmation email. I called the restaurant the following day to inform them that it was a special occasion - I made sure the whole candle-in-the-dessert thing would happen, and also asked if we could be seated up in the choir loft. The young lady with whom I spoke made a note. I then received another confirmation email. I received a confirmation call on Friday. Boy, are they meticulous. Saturday came along, and we arrived a little ahead of our reservation. They were happy to seat us a little early, and we were given a really lovely table in the far corner, with a view of the entire place. I quietly asked the waitress about the note regarding the choir loft, and she immediately said she'd see what she could do, apologizing profusely. I told her not to worry about it - this table was great anyway. So far, so good! Our waiter's assistant came and introduced himself, offering water. Shortly after, the waiter emerged with menus and a wine list, offering up "menu additions" and that he would explain anything on the menu we needed. Bread came (delicious, crisp mini-baguettes... and that hummus they came with was delish), and then we ordered up. - 1 Hail Cesar Salad - 2 Chopped Salads (one with a few omissions) - 1 Mamere's Crab Cheesecake - 1 Crab Cakes - 1 Eggplant Ophelia - 2 Surf and Turf - 2 Roast Stuffed Chicken I'm not going to go dish by dish, but I will say that everything was excellent. The food was all fresh, tasty, and attractive... and EXACTLY as ordered (doneness of meats, salad omissions, etc.). Note that since salads, etc. were ordered, we opted not to order any sides (everything here is a la carte). This worked out, because we found the meals all to be hearty and plentiful, leaving *just* enough room for dessert. A couple of stand out items were the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake (this is a MUST ORDER appetizer... certainly share-able, but you won't want to!) and the Eggplant Ophelia (the sauce has a delicate spice that compliments the dish perfectly). We had also ordered a bottle of Malbec that I thought was one of the better Malbecs I've ever had - the Felino Vina Cobos. It's reasonably priced and very smooth - a red that even the white wine drinkers among us will love. Through the meal, the waitstaff was attentive, but never intrusive. I asked for a dessert recommendation, went with the Pecan Pie, and was VERY glad I did. The birthday lady got the 24K Carrot Cake (also great, and yes, with candle), and a chocolate mousse cheesecake was also ordered (good, but a HUGE portion and way rich... a good table-splitting sort of dessert, but overwhelming otherwise). All in all, the evening could not have gone any more successfully. Thank you, Marsha Brown's -- we will most definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Tony P.

    Best Steaks outside of Ruth's Chris! This is essentially a Ruth's with a Cajun theme! Amazeballz!

    (5)

  • Shawn M.

    First let me start with this: If you're going to Marsha Brown's save it for a special occasion unless you've got money to burn. It's pricey. As pricey as any you'd see in Manhattan. That being said... The food here is out of this world. I've been three times and each time came home stuffed and satisfied. There's a connection between Marsha Brown's and Ruth's Chris steakhouse, so maybe that's why it's so good. But the menu isn't huge, but there are good and very interesting options. And everything is packed with flavor. The apps are great, the meals are great and so are the desserts (well, I only had dessert once because I was too stuffed the other times). If you love tasty, well made meals, you'll love it for that alone. There's more, though. The service and atmosphere are second to none. If you go, make a reservation and ask to dine on the second floor. It's an old church and has an atmosphere you won't get anywhere else. Very unique. Want to impress a date, take him/her there. The wait staff I've experienced are amazing. Kind, polite, professional and the treat you like royalty. The only downside is the cost. For two people, a drink or two and an app and you're not getting out of there for under $100 and that would be on the cheap side. You could spend $200 easy for a couple but it's money well spent.

    (5)

  • Alie A.

    Ahi Tuna Chunk Tartar Burger?.. ..With Pinot Grigio?.. ..And Creole 30+ spice covered French fries? Yes, please. Good company? Just a personal +++ I'd suggest as well. Fantastic service, beautifully simple and straight-to-the-point menu with a well-put burger and salad selection for lunch and a rich and renowned cracked pepper lobster bisque that just can't be beat. What a New Hope gem. Too cold this time of year to dine outside, but I'll be back come spring. The dining patio with a street view is gorgeous. No worries, though. The indoor, dark wood bar is inviting as ever. Delicioso.

    (4)

  • Heather R.

    I made dinner reservations a month in advance for a special occasion. Upon arrival we were enthusiastically greeted by the friendly manager and a hostess. My reservation was remembered because she said congratulations and explained where the table was. The table was decorated with rose petals. We were seated directly in front of the mural with a view of the entire restaurant. Our waiter was extremely attentive and the food was fabulous. We ordered too much food. We had a bottle of Stag's Leap Cabernet, catfish nuggets, and lump crab cocktail. The bread they serve is out of this world. It is served in a paper bag sleeve and has the same taste and texture as local restaurants in NOLA serve. For entrees we ordered the lazy man's lobster and the Eggplant Ophelia with sides of collards and asparagus. For dessert, the bread pudding special of the evening and two glasses of 20 year old port. I was in heaven. We dined here on a Friday evening 9.27.13 7pm I believe. I still think about the meal. I really enjoyed the food, and was very impressed and satisfied that they remembered my note on the online reservation. That simple thing is SO often forgotten by other restaurants any place that pays attention to it wins big brownie points in my book. Thank you for a stellar evening Marsha Brown's. I cannot wait to come back. Kudos to our server for a job well done. I wish I could remember his name right now. He was an attractive guy. :)

    (5)

  • Rob V.

    I hope I just caught this place on a bad day. Everything about the exterior of this place led me to believe it would be a wonderful experience. Once we went through the front door this is what happened: - was greeted by a young woman that dressed and carried herself like someone that would be more fitted to work as a Target cashier. (no offense to Target, but you just expect a few grams of professionalism in a place that has $15 burgers on their menu) - it was lunch so she sat us at a table in the bar area, where we never had contact with anyone else that worked there again. - after about 20 minutes of starring at every server that walked by we left. We tried to get the attention of several people, but I had to leave because I was getting so upset that i knew I was about the make a scene. I figured why should I let this rude staff (most looked like 30 to 50 year old men from the same family tree) get me upset when I can just go somewhere else. It's not like there's a shortage of eateries in New Hope. I wish I could say they were just busy, but there's no excuse for someone not to come over and at least get our drink order. Plus there was plenty of waiters on staff and even a couple empty tables. There's no way that one of the numerous staff on the floor didn't notice us. I'm sure they all pretended not to notice us because of some internal issue of table assignments. Looking at some of the other reviews it seems like the food is stellar. Thanks Marsha Brown's for giving my beautiful companion and I so little attention that we'll never know how good the food is.

    (1)

  • Melissa G.

    Went here with family, had an amazing time. Started with the chopped salad, perfectly put together. For dinner had one of the best filet's I've ever cut with a knife. Sweet potatoes souffle was incredible. Tasted my mom's lobster, incredible. It was a beautiful night, I wish they had an outdoors. Service perfect.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Went there with my wife for our 25th anniversary on Monday and could not be happier. I ordered the 3 lb Lobster that was completely and meticulously taken out of the shell for easy dining. Great wine, food , atmosphere and service. Highly recommend

    (4)

  • C. Louis W.

    A very cool place w/a very cool vibe...a little on the pricey side, but the service was great, n the food was tasty...at least that night. It was our first experience.....looking forward to trying it again.

    (4)

  • Hector M.

    The gf and I decided to take a day trip to New Hope to walk around and do the typical couple things (feed ducks, look at overpriced antiques, and take pictures next to the Do Not Take Pictures sign at the costume shop). Anyway, after a day of walking around, we came across this quaint restaurant in an old church. We ordered oysters, Louisiana Burgers, and were pleasantly surprised. The Angus burger came with cheddar cheese, Louisiana hot sauce, crispy fried onions, and Cajun fries. The burger was so good, I didn't want it to end. Even though my mouth was literally on fire, I savored each bite (and was planning my next trip back).

    (4)

  • Lauren W.

    We have been wanting to visit ever since popping in to look at the menu (moreso to look at the beautiful building, stained glass windows, and take in the bar). Lunch was pretty delicious. I've been to New Orleans and I felt like I was back in this culturally-rich city once we were seated with menus in front of us, poring over the lunch entrees. We enjoyed the slow-roasted beef po'boy (perfectly garnished with cherry tomatoes & pickles) and the tuna tartare burger. I would say that when I return I'll ask for less remoulade, because the tuna was over-saturated with it. We had the Cajun fries - fresh, crispy, hot, well-seasoned. We sat in the parlor. I was in awe of the stained glass window that our table sat against. Overall, the wallpaper, drapes, colors, artwork, everything - very nicely decorated, and plenty to see. Live lobsters in the tank by the hostess stand. I also check out the restrooms when I go out to see how they're kept up and to check the overall feel of them. I liked the women's restroom, it was cozy and didn't stick out as a negative. Would definitely, without a doubt return for drinks, lunch, dinner, or whatever brought me in.

    (4)

  • Ed C.

    I feel sick. Not directly from the food, though my wife is a little queasy, but from the fact that I just paid close to $200 for a terrible meal. The main dining room is pretty cool when you first walk in, highlighted by the giant mural. A closer look shows some very dated and borderline tacky decor. However, this would be easy to look past if the food was even mediocre. I started with the lobster and shrimp bisque, which has gotten pretty good reviews on here. I'll say it was decent. It was very thick and quite filling - nothing to remember. My wife got three of the snow crab claws at $3.95 a pop. They are the size of the average pinky finger and tasteless. I ordered the scallops over pork bacon entree. The scallops were OK and the pork bacon was probably the highlight of the meal. It would be acceptable at a place charging half as much. The lowpoint was the Maine Lobster my wife ordered. First, the presentation. To quote her, "What was that? It looked like a massacre on my plate." They tried to make it easier to eat, which is always appreciated, but the tail was chopped in little pieces that looked like gross cauliflower. Again, something that could have been looked past if it was good. Sadly, not even close. Boring, bland, and really just kind of foul. I will say that the servers were very pleasant and after a bit of a slow start there was a good pace to the meal (it probably helped that there were only two other groups dining). I don't know how this place has four stars. I'm giving it one for the benefit of future New Hope visitors. Don't waste your money. We had a much better meal at Karla's for half the price. I agree with S.A. from Edison. For the first time in my life, Yelp, you have failed me miserably.

    (1)

  • Roman P.

    Used Open Table to book a reservation which is always nice. We started with some raw oysters. They were great and they do not have a minimum. My wife and I split their 16oz. NY Strip, which was amazing. The sauce it comes with is Winchester herb and it is a perfect compliment to this steak. Our side was twice baked potato, which was heavenly. For dessert we got a side called Anna Mae's Pineapple Soufflé with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.. Perfect ending!

    (5)

  • Jen D.

    I would like to start off by saying Marsha Brown's will always hold a special place in my heart. Last night my boyfriend and I got engaged while dining upstairs. I can't say enough from the beautiful design of the church, our awesome wait staff (especially JACK), the amazing food, and the great company of strangers that shared our special day with us. We were made to feel like royalty... complete strangers congratulating us, buying us drinks, and sharing their own special stories. They even let us leave our car overnight after our too many toasts and cheers (thanks to Mark in valet)... everyone from the hostesses to the bus boys were so nice and excited for us. Thank goodness we ordered before my fiancé popped the big question because I don't think I could have possibly made any decisions. We started with the crab cheesecake as well as the slab of bacon (of course we had to get the bacon). Then we split the surf and turf platter with steak medallions, crawfish risotto, and heavenly crab cakes. We also shared a side of the twice baked potato dish. Everything was delicious... needless to say we had lots of left overs! Obviously our night was magical but I have no doubt the next time we are in town our experience will be just as great! I would recommend Marsha Brown's to everyone I know traveling to New Hope... you won't be sorry! We are already booking our Bed and Breakfast for Christmas time and can't wait to go back! Thank you again to all the staff for making our night Magical. Jen and Chris

    (5)

  • Jarad F.

    We were very pleased with the food, ambiance and service at Marsha Brown's. It has graduated from an overpriced tourist spot (which it seemed to be when we last ate there years ago), to a legitimate high end restaurant. We have had lunch and dinner there recently and were very happy both times. It's hard to get fresh Oysters around here, and they had a nice selection of fresh, tasty oysters. Very pleased.

    (4)

  • Monyca W.

    The most impressive thing about Marsha Brown's is the atmosphere. It is housed in a former church, with a large impressive mural and stained glass window. The food is really good. The oysters were sweet and fresh, the steak melted in my mouth, and the scallops were better than I've ever had before. Our server wasn't perfect, I got the sense he was nervous actually speaking to us. It also seemed that other tables got bread or something, but we never did, I think maybe because the waiter was too busy. Nervous or not, he was very knowledgeable about the oysters. I'd recommend Marsha Brown's for a special occasion dinner.

    (4)

  • Ernest M.

    we had a lunch today at Marsha Brown. Very nice, interesting place. Looks like an old church that was converted to a restaurant. Still has some stained glass, though it looks like they did not keep too many of the other details. The lunch was group lunch, and pretty decent. there was a seafood soup for everyone that was tasty. and some nice bread served warm, in little paper bags. Service was courteous and efficient. The entree choice that I had was a jambalaya. I usually see jambalaya with nice chunks of seafood, chicken, pork, etc. this was a pretty chopped up jambalaya. Tasty, though. Dessert was a creme brulee. Made well enough, though not super exciting. Decent place for a lunch, maybe dinner, though not interesting enough for me to make a special or return trip.

    (4)

  • Pasquale R.

    So many culinary choices, so little time. When you think New Hope, you don't think creole...right? That's Louisiana, not NH. Wrong. You should think creole when you are looking for a delectable meal. It's located in what seems to be an old church. Stain glass windows, wide open upper level that can get really loud and a huge mural on the far wall that takes up every single inch of it. It's quite an interesting piece of art work. So after being seated (we went early so thankfully there was no wait) we looked over the menu. A few things you will notice. 1. Their prices are bit high. 2. They have unique appetizers. So after several minutes of discussion we narrowed down our selections. For apps we decided on the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake (don't judge), hickory smoked bacon slabs and we split a chopped salad. Now I am going to throw this out there, the Mamere's Crab Cheesecake combined with the hickory smoked bacon was euphoric. The crab melted in your mouth and the smoked Gouda tart was a pleasant flavor to go along with it. The bacon...oh the bacon...fork and knife cutting bacon...tons of fat and crispy bacon...delicious beautiful bacon...(as you can tell it was great)... What I recommend is you combine the crab with the bacon (on your fork) and you will be in heaven. They also provide some table bread which tastes ok and was hot when it came to the table. The salad was a bit disappointing. Not sure if it was the dressing or the bacon single handily took over my taste buds. She enjoyed it though. For a main course I decided on the NY strip Creole style and she went with the Jambalaya. The steak was cooked to my specification (medium rare). The dry rub was a welcomed addition to the steak but I must say I could have done without the mushrooms and side of bleu cheese. I barely touched them. The steak was so flavorful. She even tried a couple of bites and was impressed. She liked her Jambalaya (chunks of duck, more crab, shrimp and sausage) as well. We both were so stuffed from the apps that we had to take it to go... So here is a recap: FOOD: 4.5 Stars *The apps are a must!* AMBIANCE: 4 Stars SERVICE: 4 Stars (our server seemed to zone out occasionally while speaking with us...quite entertaining I must say). PRICE: A bit on the higher side but with great food I am willing to pay more. ENJOY!

    (4)

  • David H.

    Want to try a cool New Orleans themed eatery in New Hope? Interested in what an old church looks like if it was to be converted into a restaurant? Try Marsha Browns. Unique creole dishes, friendly staff and a neat place to just sit and enjoy with a date.

    (3)

  • Marina G.

    To start off, the service was awful. When we ordered coffee, the milk glass had a line on it as if it were a used glass that sat in the fridge from the previous user. The mussels were cold, small, had no flavor, but were terribly spicy. The jambalaya was essentially like a bowl of mush with a mix of random flavors. The créme brûlée was not good either. Never coming back again, and apparently no one else does because the restaurant was completely empty on a Father's Day brunch.

    (1)

  • S A.

    Yelp you failed me... After trying to decide what place to hit up for restaurant week in new hope, we decided on marsha brown that had 4 starts on yelp. Not sure how this is possible but the food and the service was atrocius, Food: We did the restaurant week menu. The first course was a crab bignette, which was not even warm and very so so. There was also a lobster bisque which was very forgettable and the third thing i forget right now. Portions were very small and the course was very forgettable. The second course was the ceasar salad. It was one of the worst salads i have eaten at a restaurant, no dressing and the lettuce was stale (brownish at the ends). The third course the shrimp and grits was the only thing passably good. The fourth course was the dessert, the chocolate creme brulee. The bruleee was not bad but disappointingly there was NO crust. Cmon guys this is a creme brulee. Service: Very rushed, before my course was even over the server was there to take it away. I still have food on the plate and god forbid if you take a break they attmpted to take the plate away. All in all it was a very sad service. The food felt very mass produced and badly at that. I have always depended on yelp to find me my place to eat and now i am not so sure. Not sure if this was gamed but for the life of me I dont know how this place has 4 stars. Yelp you failed me...

    (1)

  • Lindsay S.

    Good Food, Crappy Service The food was good... quite good, actually... except for the Beet Salad -- waste of money for sure (very little goat cheese, difficult to eat, poor presentation). However, the mussels, raw bar, eggplant, soup, and dessert were all great. The service, however, was abominable. Our waiter, Adrien, was snippy at best and seemed annoyed at anything we asked for when he forgot it -- a forgotten cocktail, a forgotten salad, etc. Then a food runner practically hurled mashed potatoes onto one of us (moving too fast, in a rush) -- he didn't apologize, picked up the dish and left. These things happen, but the staff should be trained (especially when entrées cost $18-30) to at least apologize in these situations. All of a sudden our waiter was nicer and the manager offered to cover the dry cleaning bill and give us dessert for free, but at that point it was too late. The "experience" was tainted. If it weren't for the good food, I would have given two stars. As a side note, it was also a bit loud -- there was a group of women having a "private" party on the balcony and they conducted themselves as if they were at a strip joint (lots of hootin' and hollerin').

    (3)

  • J D.

    Had the pleasure of dining on a Sunday evening and was very pleased. The service was quick and friendly, food was perfect. Drinks were well made and our wait staff was attentive throughout the evening. I have also stopped in only for a drink at the bar downstairs. The atmosphere is not as friendly. The vibe is a tad uptight but still very appealing decor and atmosphere. I would definitely return for lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Kathy A.

    We were seated quickly, the food was excellent and the waiters were very attentive. The ambience of the Church that the restaurant is in is beautiful.

    (5)

  • Tiffany T.

    Wow wow wow. We went there for our 2 year anniversary and it was fantastic! I started with the beet salad, which was ok. I would skip it next time. It was more like a baby spinach salad with a beet or two, BUT.. what was soo delicious was my main course, the tournedos, med rare and I asked to have it Oscar style so it also had crab on it... Omg, melt in my mouth! If you're a meat fan, I highly recommend! If I could have it every day, I would. So for that meal, I give this 4 stars. I'm docking a star for the salad.

    (4)

  • dan w.

    so darn good. everything really fantastic. the restaurant is in an old church and has a very unique vibe

    (5)

  • Greg H.

    Let's start with the positive; the restaurant has a great look and vibe, the food is good, and the the service is very friendly (albeit a bit slow). Unfortunately, the quality of the food just doesn't live up to the descriptions on the menu or to the accompanying price tag. The cocoanut shrimp was OK, but a bit bland. The Caesar salad was good, but not $18 good. And my N.Y. strip steak was enjoyable, but I've had far superior steaks for $36. What you end up paying for is the location and the ambiance.

    (2)

  • Saara A.

    This place was good! I got sick later in the day but can't say for sure it was from this place. Bottom line it had good food but expensive!

    (4)

  • Noam B.

    lovely atmosphere, great food. the gentleman's ice tea is delicious. service is courteous and prompt.

    (5)

  • Alexis D.

    Fantastic experience! The staff were extremely pleasant and accomodating. Valet service available (which is a must in the busy little town of New Hope at night). The food was delicious and our waitress, Rebecca, was extremely pleasant and allowed us to linger after dessert without a bother. We are an appetizer kind of couple and enjoyed 3 apps and soup instead of entrees. We indulged in crab cheesecake (very rich with great crab flavor), crawfish risotto (awesome), and lamb lollipops (I was being totally impolite and eating them with my fingers makins sure to get every last morsel- they were addictive). The lobster shrimp bisque was full of chunks of lobster and shrimp, and we had to use the bread to wipe the bowl clean so as to not miss a drop. For dessert we had classic creme brulee and some after dinner drinks. The atmosphere was romantic and relaxing and the unique venue is a great conversation piece. Overall excellent experience. We eat often in Manhattan and are pretty picky and specific about food quality. At Marsha Brown's we were thrilled with the quality and flavor and the bill was a pleasant surprise as compared to high NYC prices for fine dining.

    (5)

  • Ron W.

    Great dinner on New Years Eve. Wife had best oysters ever. I stuck to tournedos of beef. Busy night, but great service.

    (4)

  • Eric A.

    Marsha Brown resides in a staunch neo-gothic stone ediface. Once a church. Now a bit of the French Quarter on the Delaware. A surreal experiece. The interior is grand and lively, contrasting with the cold, dark exterior facade. Warm, soulful Jazz is piped into the spacious dining room. From a culinary standpoint, Marsha Brown is not New Orleans-esque. It is New Orleans. Whether one feasts on the traditional Jambalaya and gumbo; or something a bit unconventional - all is perfection. An extensive wine list and a full bar compliments the feast. You will be guided through your experience by the most pleasant wait staff north of Lac Pontchartrain. Mother's Day is coming up. What a place to take your mother! Then again, you don't need an occasion for Marsha Brown. Marsha Brown provides the occasion.

    (5)

  • Jill J.

    Being generous with 1 star. To be brief, waited 50 minutes for the crab cheesecake. Probably would not have minded if it was good, but it was nothing but crab dip in the shape of a wedge. Did I mention it was cold in the middle? The side salad consisted mostly of onions, saturated in dressing. Did I mention they brought the wrong soup, and when we did get the correct soup, it was not hot. I wouldn't go back there if they were giving food away for free.

    (1)

  • Jess K.

    Delicious doesn't even begin to describe it. Hubs and I shared a shrimp/lobster bisque that was so good I wanted to bathe in it. The environment was gorgeous/service was friendly. My wine was delish, and it was just so lovely. Hubs had the Scallops/Pork Belly dish and loved it, I had the Shrimp/Crawfish/Eggplant dish which was amazing. We shared a pecan pie slice for dessert . It was so good, and such a lovely experience!!!

    (5)

  • Gene F.

    This was our best meal in New Hope. We had gumbo, eggplant Ophelia, and the tournedos. Bread pudding for desert. We enjoyed everything, though the noise level got a bit high after a while. The service was top-notch.

    (4)

  • Bil G.

    I want to start off by saying the service was great. However, the food was not so great. The Lobster shrimp bisque was grainy. The steak was over cooked and dry. I should have sent it back. I don't know about the rest of the menu but if you want a steak do not go here. Go to Philadelphia and go to Capital Grill or Butcher and Singer. It will cost about the same but will actually be worth it.

    (1)

  • V K.

    My husband and I made reservations for a Saturday night. The place was packed but we were sat quickly and on the alter! The building is absolutely gorgeous. Inside is decorated beautifully and they have maintained all of the features of the original church. Despite the crowds, our service was impeccable. Our server, Jack, was attentive and during our dinner, told us a lot of funny stories that made our dinner even more enjoyable. I had the caesar salad and lobster - both were fantastic. My husband had the bone-in steak that he said was cooked to perfection. We shared a side of sauteed spinach and ended the night splitting the bread pudding. The food was excellent and the service was even better. The bar looked really great too - although a little small for how crowded it was. We didn't hang out there since we were seated so quickly (and I'm 8 months pregnant) but it does look like a fun place to have a drink before dinner. I would highly recommend this place!! A tip: It was snowing when we arrived and parking in the area is very challenging. I wish I had known they have valet here! It's $10 and totally worth it on a weekend evening when it's nearly impossible to find parking in downtown New Hope.

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    The food at Marsha Brown's was exceptional! Everything was cooked to perfection and presented well. I definitely recommend the Crawfish Risotto and Crab Cheesecake as appetizers. Both were very flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed the Eggplant Ophelia and Jambalaya as our main entrees, again, very flavorful and satisfying. I look forward to returning to try everything else on the menu! I'd recommend that you make reservations as it fills up quickly. The service was wonderful, very attentive and pleasant. Didn't hover but was there when needed. A little pricey, but well worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Alexa G.

    In an area dominated by rustic country/ traditional American cuisine, Marsha Browns is truly a unique gem. Have dined here numerous times, most recently last evening for my birthday dinner, Marsha Browns has proven to be consistently good in the quality of their food and their service. I am giving it four stars because of a couple of little things which Ive explained in my review but nonetheless still a fantastic meal. We arrived a tad late for our reservations, but the hostess was quite polite and very accommodating. We were seated quickly and our drink orders were taken right away. The fresh bread that was brought to the table was good but it seemed a tad bit to chewy for me at least. My french martini seemed slightly more empty in comparison to the other diners at my table, not sure if they were brought up from the down stairs bar, but it was definitely short and god knows you don't deny a woman her booze on her birthday! Not the end of the world but still something worth noting. So onto the food. Our waiter was awesome and as every bit the professional that is expected of fine dinning establishments. He suggested that we try mameres crab cheesecake, it was to die for. It was full of crab and the right amount of bacon and cheese and balanced perfectly with a light flaky crust to compliment the creamy and airy texture of the dish. I could live off of this stuff. Salads were good, pretty standard. I liked that my beet salad wasn't overloaded with goat cheese. For dinner i ordered the Crawfish Etoufee which I kind of regretted later. I was torn between a few options but chose this because I had a craving for the etoufee I had had in New Orleans. This wasn't bad but it was nothing like what i expected it to be. It was more of a soupy stew over rice than the rich, thick and spicy crawfish "gravy" i had in New Orleans. It had tons of crawfish in it but it definitely needed a little kick as it was on the blander side. The other plates i tried were outstanding. The eggplant Ophelia, always a standard order when we eat here, was excellent. The other dish i tried, shrimp and salmon over creamy grits was bliss. The salmon had that nice crust on the outside and was cooked PERFECTLY and full of flavor. The grits were rich and creamy and the accompanying sauce just perfected the whole thing. Sides were asparagus, sauteed spinach and the always delicious sweet potato casserole which could probably pass for a dessert in itself. Overall, great meal and outstanding service. If you have not been here it is definitely worth the trip alone, doesn't hurt that New Hopes always a fun place to spend a Saturday night too. Great food, ambiance and service, three things that are seemingly becoming harder to find these days and one of the reasons that Marsha Browns is hands down my one of my favorites.

    (4)

  • Joni P.

    My husband and I had a lovely dinner at the bar there last night: oysters from the raw bar, a wedge salad w/ crumbled Bleu cheese and candied bacon, and a to-die-for eggplant-shrimp-crabmeat dish named Eggplant Ophelia. Service was outstanding; we had a warm welcome on arrival, three bartenders serving us, and assorted support staff bringing us our courses. They all worked together and made sure we'd want to return again and again.

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    Great food ... one of the best restaurants in the new hope area. the head chef came by to talk to our table .. that was a treat too.

    (4)

  • Mary Beth L.

    I have passed this restaurant multiple times when in New Hope but have never stopped in . So today was the day. We were seated in the bar area which is nice, but truly needs a makeover, the seating is awkward and the bar is really over-sized for the area. The food was well prepared and seasoned. The tuna Tartar with a roumalade sauce was fresh and clean and well balanced in flavors. I was actually surprised thinking the sauce would overpower the tuna. The hand cut potato chips were seasoned perfectly.. they were light and crisp without being greasy... The gumbo was also well seasoned and what you would expect. Over all the meal pretty much would you expect of this caliber restaurant . Service was attentive and did not rush you which was nice for a leisurely Saturday lunch. Nice wine list, but truly overpriced... a glass of Almos Melbac was 10 bucks. I would come back when the outside garden area is open..

    (3)

  • Karen J.

    Over priced. Food is average. Ambience is ok but a bit odd. Will not return.

    (2)

  • Jerome M.

    Great ambiance, great food, super dorky server. We loved it. Will be back again soon

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    I really can't say enough. We're DEFINITELY coming back. Beautiful, stunning setting...in an old Methodist church--I mean really--couldn't get much cooler. The lighting was warm and relaxing. The waitstaff was all very friendly. We got the codfish appetizer--yum! The mustard remoulade was great. I got the surf and turf as my entree and WOW. Just wow. The filet was tender and you could pull it apart with your fork and the crab cakes were AMAZING. The crawfish risotto was superb and cooked just right. We got the family style sides--bleu cheese and bacon encrusted green beans---yum, yum, YUM and sweet potato casserole...that could have been dessert--so delicious and unique in flavor. This place is also great because they have great valet service and the atmosphere is classy yet casual--I wore a cute sweater, yoga pants and ballet flats and no one looked at me funny--very nice and relaxed. If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would.

    (5)

  • J M K.

    Restaurant in a church....pretty cool. But...that's about it for the place. Marsha owns several Ruth Chris steak houses (yes, a chain restaurant) and this one falls right into that same chain restaurant mentality. So so service and so so food. I bet the steaks are good! (I never tried 'em...lol) Seafood wise though......this ain't cajun or creole...no way. If you've ever been down to NOLA, you'd know what I mean. I really wouldn't go back to this restaurant......

    (2)

  • Jennifer M.

    Previously my favorite restaurant, service was so disorganized during a single meal (which I had brought someone to for a special occasion) that I will probably not return. It took about 5 minutes after our soup was served to get spoons, at which point my bisque had a film over it. With that being said the food tasted outstanding. The salmon and shrimp over grits couldn't be beat, and held PERFECTLY for leftovers (my favorite!) I have eaten here other times but the service was truly SO disorganized throughout the entire meal (waiters asking us the same questions multiple times, we also didn't know who our server was and clearly there was no communication between staff) that I probably wont chance it again. For the price paid, I feel consistent slip-ups throughout an entire meal is inexcusable. It killed ANY fancy vibe. In the future, I plan to write all reviews on food, it's the level of disorganization during this experience as to why I chose to factor in service for Marsha Brown's. I wish all other diners better luck and hope this was just the worst experience ever from what's normally a solid establishment.

    (2)

  • Christopher S.

    NOT A FAN. It took over 30 minutes to take our drink orders. Food is okay at best. Will not be back.

    (1)

  • Sarah Y.

    Dined here for lunch. Great atmosphere, including the music. Beautiful decor. My husband loved the jambalaya, and I thought the Eggplant Ophelia was quite good. The host and our server were very nice, and their service was a pleasure. The one thing that knocked a star off my review is that we were seated in a side room where the wine bottles were stored, and some staff entered and began inventorying the wine while we were eating. It really detracted from our dining experience. Also, I see other reviewers indicated that bread was served during their meals. We did not receive any. Not a big deal either way, but it may have been that they forgot it.

    (4)

  • Cinzia C.

    Service and food not up to our expectations! Based on our experience that day would not return. :(

    (2)

  • Ryan N.

    Amazing food, service and atmosphere. We will definitely be coming back. I recommend the French Quater Surf and Turf.

    (5)

  • Neil R.

    I'm sorry, but I have to say, I was unimpressed with the "Cajun" food. Not that I'm any expert, but the Jambalaya did not have any flavor resemblance to any Cajun food I've had in the dozen or so times I've been to Louisiana. Instead, it tasted like it had too much cayanne pepper, which is always supposed to be used sparingly. (No-I'm not a chef, but I am a cook.) The mussels had a very similar flavor and were cooked to perfection, but again, too much cayenne. They were very quick to bring me something else, so I decided that I would be safe ordering something other than a cajun dish. Kind of disappointing when you go to a restaurant that portends itself as a cajun restuarant. The lobster was very good. The service and ambience was amazing.

    (3)

  • Dimitri K.

    went here with a party of 8, had a private room which was pretty cool. first off the waitress did a fair job. only reason i would say service wasn't up to snuff was that their were long gaps in between apps and entrees where we were all waiting around and another cocktail could have helped. Its an old church turned restaurant so the decor and ambiance is pretty good. going for that old Orleans feel. I'm all about the food and it sucked! we got plenty of apps and side dishes to start. looking at that menu and the prices they charge i thought i'd probably be getting something close to q-u-a-l-i-i-t-y. we didn't! you can charge whatever you want in New Hope, like most towns that are well off financially the donkeys know nothing about food and just want to get out. the whole town on a Saturday night was filled with middle aged people living it up. You see no young people mainly because most of them wouldn't drop $32 on a surf and turf like i did that sucked! Yes sir those heavenly crab cakes were god awful, my risotto looked like left over frozen pilaf rice ball. my two medallions were pathetically cooked and even more pathetic in flavor. Scallops weren't seared correctly. skip out on the sweet potato casserole that's you wont be able to take two bites on because of the abundance of brown sugar on top. ditto with the pine apple souffle. Stop serving these flimsy asparagus you can't properly blanch and are thinner than a No 2 pencil. out of everything on the menu that we had maybe the fries and twice baked potato were acceptable and worth paying for. They had a crab cheesecake that i'm still wondering wtf was the point of wasting time, energy, ingredients and money to make. Some of the people I was with new a manager there and got comped basically about 10% which seriously bumped this place up to 2 stars. Other than that this place will continue to be packed with with people who have never dined out properly and have the palates of a baboons ass. Skip this place its not helping anyone but the owners make money. nothing here is worth keeping alive

    (2)

  • Vanessa W.

    My friend and I stopped in here for lunch after passing by it a few times on previous trips. It's a neat place - in a refurbished church. Many of the old church elements are there including pews, lighting fixtures and stained glass windows. This is a Creole sort of restaurant and as others noted a limited menu. Prices, especially for New Hope, I thought were reasonable hovering around $15 for a sandwich. I got the crab cake sandwich which was more crab and very little filler. It was a real one made from scratch and it was delicious. My friend got the crab and lobster bisque which she only ate half of - guess it wasn't her thing. She enjoyed her hamburger though. We left agreeing we would be back.

    (4)

  • Catherine N.

    What a wonderful surprise! We went for lunch and had the Mamere crab cheesecake and a eggplant with shrimp and crab cake. Both were wonderful with complex favors and well worth the money. A real gem

    (5)

  • Jacob P.

    Great food. Expensive for the area. The shrimp and lobster bisque was best.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Marsha Brown

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