I met a friend at The Saloon on a Wednesday evening. There were not a lot of customers there, but that could be typical of a mid-week suburban situation. We ordered a bottle of wine which was very nice and the server had a very good attitude as well. I asked if the oysters on the half shell were fresh and was assured that they were. They were very disappointing. Being that the cost was $13 for 6 I expected fresh oysters. These were not. There was no brine and they did not taste great. We also ordered the clams casino which I heard was good a this place. It was good! However, they had an arugula and tomato salad on the dish. This could have been a great accompaniment. Instead it lacked dressing and seasoning and was very tasteless and disappointing. All the cook had to do was taste it and pay a tiny bit of attention instead of simply putting it on the plate! Finally, we had the anti-pesto plate. This was decent but way too salty. They did bring out some grilled bread but the amount of salt on the anti-pesto wiped out the palate. The cook/chef needs to pay attention. There is too much competition within a very close range and unless this place does something to improve the food I will not be back.
(1)
Denise W.
My family and I have eaten at the Saloon several times over the past few years. We tend to eat late and the last few times we have eaten in the bar area. Lately, each time we have eaten in the bar area we have had the same waiter. This particular waiter has never acknowledgesd that we have been there before and he has never cracked a smile. This last visit was the last time we will eat at this restaurant. My glass of wine took forever to serve (there were approximately 20 people in total at the bar and the tables in the bar area). The soup we ordered (some sort of tomato) was served luke warm, not a full bowl and with a film like pudding on the top. When the waiter finally returned and asked what was wrong with the soup we explained and although he offered to reheat it, our dinner was going to be served very soon and we declined the offer. Our food finally was served and the two italian dinners were hot, but the hamburger and fries we ordered was again luke warm. The salad I ordered was made with below par lettuce (lettuce they serve on a hamburger) and grilled salmon that was in two pieces. The tomatoes were hardly red and the cucumbers were soft. I explained my dissatisfaction with the salad and the waiter (although he offered to make it right) was less than enthusiastic to address my complaints. I had mentioned that I have had the salad in the past and he asked me why I ordered it again. I asked to speak to the manager and he told me the owner was there that night and I said I would like to speak to the owner. The waiter returned and much to our surprise he suggested that I not speak to the owner as it may cause too much controversy! We eat in many Newtown restaurants and I can not think of a waiter or owner/manager that would treat their customers as we were treated at the Saloon. So much for thinking of yourself as a customer at this restaurant. Can you imagine that an owner would not make themselves available to a customer?
(1)
Stephanie G.
Very nice ambiance and location. Great service, too. We celebrated my SIL's birthday here. The accommodated our large group by reserving a table on a Saturday evening. The drinks were good. I tried a crab stuffed portobello, that was absolutely fantastic,and the bruschetta, which as good, for appetizers. For dinner I had the Gorgonzola Chicken. It was very, very very salty. I would not have that meal again, but I would try something else. Came with a side of whipped potatoes which were plentiful and good. I heard no complaints from the rest of the party.
(3)
Eric D.
I've eaten here many times and it is always great. The Orange Salad is always perfect and a great twist to a simple mixed greens salad. The traditional Italian dishes are always good and plenty enough that you can usually take some home. I prefer the veal parmigiana personally which comes with 3 breaded veal cutlets that are cooked to perfection. Their sauce is also a little sweet which is different than many other places.
(4)
Betty V.
The food is always great here. We are having the calamari as an appetizer. Our daughter is having linguine with white clam sauce and she lives it. I am having chicken piccata and my husband is having the sirloin steak. Jerry is our waiter tonight and he is very attentive.
(4)
Constance I.
Two people in our party threw up several hours after eating the tilapia.
(1)
DJ M.
The Saloon is a very simple name which leads one to think of the old west, a stage coach is nestled on the covered front porch where rocking chairs are scattered for those with weary feet. Turns out, there was never meant to be a Calamity Jane, nor Jesse James as this exact spot is the only area where a Civil War battle was fought in all of Buck's County and the building dates back to 1836, how cool is that cowboys? The Saloon is rightfully named when you first walk in and your eyes rivet off to the right where a massive and gorgeous old polished wooden bar extends the length of the room. The bar stools were pretty well filled in and they have a separate bar menu, which I'm sure lures in the locals for a cold beer or drink after a hard days work and to feast on some delicious grub, be it a burger or a steaming hot bowl of tender mussels. If you choose not to sit in the bar, the open waiting area is adorned with cushioned booths and tables, again, a very relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. You are quickly transformed into the twenty first century while approaching and walking through the dining rooms, with wildly colorful bright burnt orange walls, modern paintings and dim lighting, silhouetted by flickering candle light bouncing off the tables onto the walls and black shadow box dividers scaled perfectly in tiers with more flickering candlelight. Forgetting all about the stagecoach and rocking chairs and honestly the saloon that greeted us once entering, I was not the least bit surprised that our server Donna was nothing like what I would expect Calamity Jane to be. Donna was ultra professional, while also being extremely friendly and so on spot like she was being judged for her performance. Michael ordered a coke, packed with ice, as always, I ordered a dirty martini straight up. Twas one of the best dirty martinis that I have ever had, was definitely the largest dirty martini that I ever had, I walked out of there singing! By the way, we are booth folks when they are available and behind the main dining room and still open enough to be nosy, they do have quite a few booths which afford much comfort and privacy for heaven only knows what reason. Down to the vittles, we shared the clams casino, they were good, the clams were tender, but no wow factor with remembering them as some of the best we have had, no bacon, did not notice peppers, nor onions, okay, but could really be licked up a few notches. After we had already ordered I witnessed a huge bowl of mussels going out which called my name, the trail of garlic and spices wafted in my face, so I will remember these for our next visit. Michael had the chicken Marsala, might I add, the very best chicken Marsala that I have ever tasted! The chicken breasts were very small, unbreaded and so moist and tender, they literally melted in your mouth, the mushrooms were cut into quarters and were barely caramelized, so tender and there had to have been a good ten ounces of mushrooms, all swimming along with the chicken in the most delicious marsala wine sauce which was laced with plenty of freshly sauteed garlic, I think this is where I started singing! I had, what else, the chicken parmesan, which was two huge breasts pounded and breaded perfectly, once again, cut easily with a fork and melted in my mouth! We both had options of either roasted potatoes or penne pasta, I chose the penne with garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil and hubs had the penne with a marinara sauce. Michael always finishes his dish and did, but could have eaten quite a bit more. Rationing wise, I had twice the amount of chicken that he had and when they portioned out the penne, I got two thirds of it, while he got the remaining third. The food was exceptionally well prepared, the ambiance and service was exceptional, their menu is very diverse, I just have to lay of the chicken parm, but I love it so. Next time, we'll saddle up the horses and while they are being watered, we'll dive into some mussels and a good hearty chop. So good, just go! 4.5 stars!
(4)
Orly M.
So surprised the interior of the place is so modern compared to the rustic outside. It's huge inside too. Got the marsala sauce over chicken pasta and was pretty good. Service is ok. Menu, service and ambience wasn't intriguing enough to come back. Place I would go if my first choice was crowded.
(3)
Tim O.
Not bad...we ate here after receiving a gift card at christmas..calamari appetizer was very good..clams casino was kinda small...entrees were good and portions ample...Tiramisu dessert was not good...poor presentation and bland flavor...Overall food was good..not sure I'd go out of my way for it though
(3)
Karl D.
Went to the Saloon for dinner after receiving a gift card, and we will definitely be back. Food was excellent, service was top notch and the ambiance was perfect for a nice date night dinner. The only reason I can't give them 5 stars is that they did not offer the wine list when we were first seated. We started off with a cocktail, and I had to ask for the wine list. It took a while to get the bottle out... so we were starting the main course by the time the wine was uncorked... minor complaint. Calamari appetizer was perfectly cooked, and all the food was top notch. The dining room is not what I expected from the name or the outside of the building - cozy and relatively quiet even though it was a busy and full Friday night. Tables are spaced so you feel like you have some privacy. While it was not inexpensive, I left feeling like the overall experience was exceptional and worth every penny.
(4)
Bob R.
Very poor meal. Wine glass was filled a quarter of the way. The mussels were bland, the burger was charred and the salmon salad smelled fishy. Very disappointed. On top of that it was $120 for four people with two small kids.
(1)
Jelyn F.
I've order lunch take-out from the Saloon many times, and I'm always pleased with the results. The crispy buffalo chicken wrap is fantastic. I did sit down to have dinner once. I wasn't very impressed with their dinner menu (or prices). It was relatively expensive for the quality of food.
(3)
Joseph S.
If I could give a zero star rating I would!!! The establishment is dark and dreary and the owner is nothing short of rude! Plus the cost for the food you get is outrageous save your money and go to a restaurant where you will get taken good care of and feel comfortable spending that much money
(1)
Gerald S.
The Saloon is housed in one of the most historic buildings in Newtown Township, although the interior has been so well redesigned that you would never know it once you get passed the old buggy out on the side porch. Rest assured that you are dining where travelers and locals have chowed down for more than 200 years. Yes. The food is much fresher than that. I stop in occasionally for lunch or a late evening refresher with friends. The bar is where I accomplish both. As a former tender, I enjoy the tight confines of the long narrow room and excellent old bar. Yesterday, I came in for a late lunch and sat at a high top along the wall. A couple of old dudes sat at the bar chatting up the bartendress, so I basically had the room to myself. I ordered their 10 oz. Saloon Burger with American, Red Onion, Lettuce on a Roll; Medium please. It came out slightly beyond the midpoint, but still quite good. The grill marks were pronounced, as was the taste of the hot steel. The accompanying Fries were crisp, with a mix of those small overdone pieces that I love to crunch. My attempt to reduce calories has me eating only half the roll, so the larger than usual burger was more than enough for a satisfying lunch. The price points on most dishes offered in the afternoon are between $8 and $12, with their burger coming in at $9. Really a nice spot for a quiet lunch, and a good night spot for a drink and conversation. In good weather, the deck outside awaits.
(4)
Steven B.
Id say it's the best place to eat in Newtown ..... And there are plenty of very good places to eat in Newtown. The espresso martini is simply the best I've ever tasted . The food is always delicious with special attention to the mussels fre' Diablo. Friendly staff and exceptional wait staff always make The Saloon a treat.
(4)
Christy G.
Nice ambience and good service. Calamari was excellent. Large selection of wines and we were very satisfied with what we ordered. The sauce on the clams and linguine was watery and not very flavorful. Roasted portobello stuffed with crabmeat was good. Some entrees seemed very highly priced for standard dishes though. Overall a good meal.
(4)
Cristy B.
The real short version: If you want Italian and you're in Newtown, you can find better easily. If you want to eat outdoors, you can find better spots. It seems like people either really like the place or they don't really have a feeling about it. I ate here once and have never really wanted to go back. I was underwhelmed by the entire experience. Nothing standing out as terrible, nothing great. "Hey, want to go to The Saloon for dinner?" "Meh, if you want to." That sums it up.
(2)
Sam T.
Best French onion soup in the area. The salads are very good also.
(4)
Denise P.
We came here for the first time tonight. The atmosphere here is beautiful, and you also have the option to sit outside. We sat outside, our server Adam, was amazing. He was friendly, and didn't miss a beat. If he is any example of the other staff, I would say the service is phenomenal. The food was also incredible. I had the chicken scarpalini, my boyfriend had the rigatoni in vodka sauce, and our friend had the chicken parm. The food came out quickly, and was presented well. I would highly recommend this restaurant to other people.
(5)
Doug R.
What does it say when you visit four (4) bar/restaurants in the same town throughout the course of one (1) day, and the one that gets a review posted is the one that impressed the least?! Perhaps the old adage is true, it takes umpteen positive customer experiences to offset a single irked customer! Nothing particularly BAD here, but as others have pointed out, "over-priced" food and drink, none of which is anything to write home about. However! The real reason to prompt this review and strike away another star - backing up the otherwise subjective term, "over-priced" : Several of the SAME EXACT beverages were as much as TWICE the price here vs. the SAME EXACT (did I already use the already redundant terminology "SAME EXACT"???) beverages at the other equal-if-not-better places just up the street. $14 for something that was $6 around the corner, etc etc. The ambiance doesn't justify it and one must accept the existence of competition if one is to survive let alone thrive. Surely I'm not this place's "target demographic" I suppose, but honestly the only real target demographic here is that of the Sucker. Or those who thrive off of manifesting to others how much they are able to pay for something, which is actually a very real thing called Veblenesque behavior, I have recently learned. Companies build their entire business around it. That said, the bread & olive oil were excellent
(2)
Mason R.
We walked into this place and I thought to myself...wow. This is somewhere to be seen. I felt like I needed to brag about my wine cellar on my speed boat. The bread was really good, served with an olive oil mix, also good. I thought we were in for a winner. I ordered the olivia with tilapia. My mother ordered a shrimp Cesar and mussels in "not sure" sauce. The shrimp were over cooked. Salad was mediocre at best. The mussels came Out with "extra crispy" sausage. The sauce was a weird orange color. It tasted awful. The mussels themselves were fine. My dish came Out and it looked like progresso, septic, and Tyler Durden got together for a gang bang. Mostly I was shocked. I took one bite and was not interested. The server was a sweet heart otherwise this is a 1 star.
(2)
Abigail L.
We had driven by this place so many times that we decided it was time for a try. The ambiance is not exactly what I expected, given how rustic it looks outside. The waiting area looks semi-hip, with low couches, lots of candles, etc. - definitely not a match with that stagecoach outside. Enter the main dining room and you see a very generic setting with lots of beige and red. We were greeted by a server who was clearly not excited to be there; yet she was responsive and helpful. The menu itself is extremely "Newtown generic"; I swear there are about a dozen of these types of places around. We were there for lunch and there were salads, sandwiches, pasta and some other main courses. It was salad for both of us. My blackened scallop salad over mixed greens actually came over romaine (maybe they stirred the lettuce, thereby mixing it?). There were a paltry 3 scallops, and quite a lot of dressing. Still, it tasted okay. Hubby liked the cobb, but didn't rave about it. We asked for and received a basket of warm bread that came with some herbed olive oil for dipping. I don't see any reason to come back to this place, but I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it either. It does have a liquor license, which is a plus.
(3)
Kim H.
This is one of those places that you definitely shouldn't judge by it's cover...outside, it looks like a "saloon"--they even have a wheel barrel (is that how you spell it?) outside the door. Inside, it's super modern, warm, and romantic! The food was DELISH and prices were pretty reasonable! Service was a little...questionable...but other than that, 2 thumbs up.
(4)
Samantha M.
Despite enjoying this place, it's been a while since I have been here! But I went back with my family on Christmas eve - and we were lucky enough to get a last minute reservation. We sat at a table in back of the bar area, but it was not bad, and we had a wonderful server - Ron! He was so funny and made the dinner rather enjoyable. Despite the portion sizes of pasta and appetizers being smaller (not sure why this is the case because the price is the same), my meal was out of this world and I can't wait to go back and get it again, and try to replicate it at home! I really wanted fish, and they let you choose a fish and get it done in a chicken/veal style. SO I got salmon done in buttered tomato sauce with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella with a side of these amazing roasted potatoes! It was a great value, and I was so satisfied with the meal! I immediately signed up to hopefully get a birthday voucher to come back soon!
(4)
Jeanne S.
This is soooo much better under new management. The place is very trendy dispite the exerior. The menu is great.
(4)
Will C.
Great diner food at 5 star restaurant prices. It feels like the place is trying too hard to be something its not. Identity crisis...... Food, price, building, decor, and name does not make sense together. Would go back if someone else suggested the venue, but probably would not suggest it to others.
(2)
Aaron D.
Excellent food and an even more interesting atmosphere. From the outside, it looks kind of like an old run down place, but looks are deceiving. The inside is very modern and well decorated. Kind of dimly lit, but that's the price you pay for a fancier restaurant. Would definitely eat there again.
(4)
Mary V.
I have frequented this place several times for many years. I know some of the staff by name. I even convinced my Gujarati vegetarian friend to sit at the bar and eat a salad! Always friendly always good food . This Friday not knowing that we could not sit outside for dinner unless we had reservations. We were given a menu, wine and bread. We were served by a pleasant staff and were enjoying our wine. Suddenly a man by the name of Dean appeared and ordered us to leave the table because it was reserved. We were not asked we were told! We apologized and stated we did not see it was reserved. He then stated we were not supposed to enter from the deck but the main entranceway. 5 minutes later he appeared and ordered the waitstaff to take our bread off the table. ( we had not even got our check). We paid our bill and left the staff a tip. I was encouraged by the staff and other clients to write this review. He is apparently abusive to the staff as well. The person I was with is a local businessman in Newtown. He takes clients out often. He will not do it again until this horrible person is gone
(3)
Georgianna G.
Love, love, love their food!!!! I had the blue cheese and walnut salad to start, absolutely amazing. I had the porcini linguine as my meal. I have never tasted something so flavorful and delicious!!!!! Their portions are very large for their price. We were a group of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meal! I had the sangria which was great! It is beautiful inside. Many candles lit gave it a warm feeling inside. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!!!!
(5)
Suni A.
Enjoyed the meal but take heed: 1 - If you get a salad, split it with somebody. The salads are HUGE! It was enough for a meal. If you ask for the salad to take home, they bring it to you immediately instead of keeping it cold in the refrigerator. So there it sits in room temperature while you're eating your meal. So don't take it home. 2 - If you get dessert and you like chocolate, get the chocolate kiss. Get the kiss, take one bite and take the rest home. You'll never finish the entire thing in one sitting. I was so full from the wonderful salad (and bread) that I was unable to enjoy the entree. Now that we are armed with the knowledge of how to eat here, when we return we will eat properly.
(3)
Aimee K.
This was dinner for my husbands birthday and it was just the two of us. We were seated immediately and our server was at our table within 2 minutes to take our beverage order and tells us about the specials. The fresh warm bread with olive oil for dipping was excellent. The Muscles fra Diavlo was our appetizer and it was huge. We were very surprised to see almost 2 dozen muscles in a wonderful tomato broth with lots of garlic. My husband had the Crab Cakes with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Again, the portion was very large with 2 giant lump crab meat cakes lightly coated on the outside with breadcrumbs. The asparagus was perfectly grilled and tender and he was given a mountain of mashed potatoes. I had the Tilapia Francaise with crab meat, artichokes and sundried tomatoes on top. Delicious! Our server gladly extra grilled veggies instead of wild rice. The veggies were a delicious sauteed combination of yellow and green zucchini, red peppers and red onion. Our dinner was perfect and so much food we could only manage coffee at the end of the meal. Our server was fantastic! He was there when we needed him yet left us alone long enough for us to talk and enjoy our meal. We will definitely be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
M G.
I met a friend at The Saloon on a Wednesday evening. There were not a lot of customers there, but that could be typical of a mid-week suburban situation. We ordered a bottle of wine which was very nice and the server had a very good attitude as well. I asked if the oysters on the half shell were fresh and was assured that they were. They were very disappointing. Being that the cost was $13 for 6 I expected fresh oysters. These were not. There was no brine and they did not taste great. We also ordered the clams casino which I heard was good a this place. It was good! However, they had an arugula and tomato salad on the dish. This could have been a great accompaniment. Instead it lacked dressing and seasoning and was very tasteless and disappointing. All the cook had to do was taste it and pay a tiny bit of attention instead of simply putting it on the plate! Finally, we had the anti-pesto plate. This was decent but way too salty. They did bring out some grilled bread but the amount of salt on the anti-pesto wiped out the palate. The cook/chef needs to pay attention. There is too much competition within a very close range and unless this place does something to improve the food I will not be back.
(1)Denise W.
My family and I have eaten at the Saloon several times over the past few years. We tend to eat late and the last few times we have eaten in the bar area. Lately, each time we have eaten in the bar area we have had the same waiter. This particular waiter has never acknowledgesd that we have been there before and he has never cracked a smile. This last visit was the last time we will eat at this restaurant. My glass of wine took forever to serve (there were approximately 20 people in total at the bar and the tables in the bar area). The soup we ordered (some sort of tomato) was served luke warm, not a full bowl and with a film like pudding on the top. When the waiter finally returned and asked what was wrong with the soup we explained and although he offered to reheat it, our dinner was going to be served very soon and we declined the offer. Our food finally was served and the two italian dinners were hot, but the hamburger and fries we ordered was again luke warm. The salad I ordered was made with below par lettuce (lettuce they serve on a hamburger) and grilled salmon that was in two pieces. The tomatoes were hardly red and the cucumbers were soft. I explained my dissatisfaction with the salad and the waiter (although he offered to make it right) was less than enthusiastic to address my complaints. I had mentioned that I have had the salad in the past and he asked me why I ordered it again. I asked to speak to the manager and he told me the owner was there that night and I said I would like to speak to the owner. The waiter returned and much to our surprise he suggested that I not speak to the owner as it may cause too much controversy! We eat in many Newtown restaurants and I can not think of a waiter or owner/manager that would treat their customers as we were treated at the Saloon. So much for thinking of yourself as a customer at this restaurant. Can you imagine that an owner would not make themselves available to a customer?
(1)Stephanie G.
Very nice ambiance and location. Great service, too. We celebrated my SIL's birthday here. The accommodated our large group by reserving a table on a Saturday evening. The drinks were good. I tried a crab stuffed portobello, that was absolutely fantastic,and the bruschetta, which as good, for appetizers. For dinner I had the Gorgonzola Chicken. It was very, very very salty. I would not have that meal again, but I would try something else. Came with a side of whipped potatoes which were plentiful and good. I heard no complaints from the rest of the party.
(3)Eric D.
I've eaten here many times and it is always great. The Orange Salad is always perfect and a great twist to a simple mixed greens salad. The traditional Italian dishes are always good and plenty enough that you can usually take some home. I prefer the veal parmigiana personally which comes with 3 breaded veal cutlets that are cooked to perfection. Their sauce is also a little sweet which is different than many other places.
(4)Betty V.
The food is always great here. We are having the calamari as an appetizer. Our daughter is having linguine with white clam sauce and she lives it. I am having chicken piccata and my husband is having the sirloin steak. Jerry is our waiter tonight and he is very attentive.
(4)Constance I.
Two people in our party threw up several hours after eating the tilapia.
(1)DJ M.
The Saloon is a very simple name which leads one to think of the old west, a stage coach is nestled on the covered front porch where rocking chairs are scattered for those with weary feet. Turns out, there was never meant to be a Calamity Jane, nor Jesse James as this exact spot is the only area where a Civil War battle was fought in all of Buck's County and the building dates back to 1836, how cool is that cowboys? The Saloon is rightfully named when you first walk in and your eyes rivet off to the right where a massive and gorgeous old polished wooden bar extends the length of the room. The bar stools were pretty well filled in and they have a separate bar menu, which I'm sure lures in the locals for a cold beer or drink after a hard days work and to feast on some delicious grub, be it a burger or a steaming hot bowl of tender mussels. If you choose not to sit in the bar, the open waiting area is adorned with cushioned booths and tables, again, a very relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. You are quickly transformed into the twenty first century while approaching and walking through the dining rooms, with wildly colorful bright burnt orange walls, modern paintings and dim lighting, silhouetted by flickering candle light bouncing off the tables onto the walls and black shadow box dividers scaled perfectly in tiers with more flickering candlelight. Forgetting all about the stagecoach and rocking chairs and honestly the saloon that greeted us once entering, I was not the least bit surprised that our server Donna was nothing like what I would expect Calamity Jane to be. Donna was ultra professional, while also being extremely friendly and so on spot like she was being judged for her performance. Michael ordered a coke, packed with ice, as always, I ordered a dirty martini straight up. Twas one of the best dirty martinis that I have ever had, was definitely the largest dirty martini that I ever had, I walked out of there singing! By the way, we are booth folks when they are available and behind the main dining room and still open enough to be nosy, they do have quite a few booths which afford much comfort and privacy for heaven only knows what reason. Down to the vittles, we shared the clams casino, they were good, the clams were tender, but no wow factor with remembering them as some of the best we have had, no bacon, did not notice peppers, nor onions, okay, but could really be licked up a few notches. After we had already ordered I witnessed a huge bowl of mussels going out which called my name, the trail of garlic and spices wafted in my face, so I will remember these for our next visit. Michael had the chicken Marsala, might I add, the very best chicken Marsala that I have ever tasted! The chicken breasts were very small, unbreaded and so moist and tender, they literally melted in your mouth, the mushrooms were cut into quarters and were barely caramelized, so tender and there had to have been a good ten ounces of mushrooms, all swimming along with the chicken in the most delicious marsala wine sauce which was laced with plenty of freshly sauteed garlic, I think this is where I started singing! I had, what else, the chicken parmesan, which was two huge breasts pounded and breaded perfectly, once again, cut easily with a fork and melted in my mouth! We both had options of either roasted potatoes or penne pasta, I chose the penne with garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil and hubs had the penne with a marinara sauce. Michael always finishes his dish and did, but could have eaten quite a bit more. Rationing wise, I had twice the amount of chicken that he had and when they portioned out the penne, I got two thirds of it, while he got the remaining third. The food was exceptionally well prepared, the ambiance and service was exceptional, their menu is very diverse, I just have to lay of the chicken parm, but I love it so. Next time, we'll saddle up the horses and while they are being watered, we'll dive into some mussels and a good hearty chop. So good, just go! 4.5 stars!
(4)Orly M.
So surprised the interior of the place is so modern compared to the rustic outside. It's huge inside too. Got the marsala sauce over chicken pasta and was pretty good. Service is ok. Menu, service and ambience wasn't intriguing enough to come back. Place I would go if my first choice was crowded.
(3)Tim O.
Not bad...we ate here after receiving a gift card at christmas..calamari appetizer was very good..clams casino was kinda small...entrees were good and portions ample...Tiramisu dessert was not good...poor presentation and bland flavor...Overall food was good..not sure I'd go out of my way for it though
(3)Karl D.
Went to the Saloon for dinner after receiving a gift card, and we will definitely be back. Food was excellent, service was top notch and the ambiance was perfect for a nice date night dinner. The only reason I can't give them 5 stars is that they did not offer the wine list when we were first seated. We started off with a cocktail, and I had to ask for the wine list. It took a while to get the bottle out... so we were starting the main course by the time the wine was uncorked... minor complaint. Calamari appetizer was perfectly cooked, and all the food was top notch. The dining room is not what I expected from the name or the outside of the building - cozy and relatively quiet even though it was a busy and full Friday night. Tables are spaced so you feel like you have some privacy. While it was not inexpensive, I left feeling like the overall experience was exceptional and worth every penny.
(4)Bob R.
Very poor meal. Wine glass was filled a quarter of the way. The mussels were bland, the burger was charred and the salmon salad smelled fishy. Very disappointed. On top of that it was $120 for four people with two small kids.
(1)Jelyn F.
I've order lunch take-out from the Saloon many times, and I'm always pleased with the results. The crispy buffalo chicken wrap is fantastic. I did sit down to have dinner once. I wasn't very impressed with their dinner menu (or prices). It was relatively expensive for the quality of food.
(3)Joseph S.
If I could give a zero star rating I would!!! The establishment is dark and dreary and the owner is nothing short of rude! Plus the cost for the food you get is outrageous save your money and go to a restaurant where you will get taken good care of and feel comfortable spending that much money
(1)Gerald S.
The Saloon is housed in one of the most historic buildings in Newtown Township, although the interior has been so well redesigned that you would never know it once you get passed the old buggy out on the side porch. Rest assured that you are dining where travelers and locals have chowed down for more than 200 years. Yes. The food is much fresher than that. I stop in occasionally for lunch or a late evening refresher with friends. The bar is where I accomplish both. As a former tender, I enjoy the tight confines of the long narrow room and excellent old bar. Yesterday, I came in for a late lunch and sat at a high top along the wall. A couple of old dudes sat at the bar chatting up the bartendress, so I basically had the room to myself. I ordered their 10 oz. Saloon Burger with American, Red Onion, Lettuce on a Roll; Medium please. It came out slightly beyond the midpoint, but still quite good. The grill marks were pronounced, as was the taste of the hot steel. The accompanying Fries were crisp, with a mix of those small overdone pieces that I love to crunch. My attempt to reduce calories has me eating only half the roll, so the larger than usual burger was more than enough for a satisfying lunch. The price points on most dishes offered in the afternoon are between $8 and $12, with their burger coming in at $9. Really a nice spot for a quiet lunch, and a good night spot for a drink and conversation. In good weather, the deck outside awaits.
(4)Steven B.
Id say it's the best place to eat in Newtown ..... And there are plenty of very good places to eat in Newtown. The espresso martini is simply the best I've ever tasted . The food is always delicious with special attention to the mussels fre' Diablo. Friendly staff and exceptional wait staff always make The Saloon a treat.
(4)Christy G.
Nice ambience and good service. Calamari was excellent. Large selection of wines and we were very satisfied with what we ordered. The sauce on the clams and linguine was watery and not very flavorful. Roasted portobello stuffed with crabmeat was good. Some entrees seemed very highly priced for standard dishes though. Overall a good meal.
(4)Cristy B.
The real short version: If you want Italian and you're in Newtown, you can find better easily. If you want to eat outdoors, you can find better spots. It seems like people either really like the place or they don't really have a feeling about it. I ate here once and have never really wanted to go back. I was underwhelmed by the entire experience. Nothing standing out as terrible, nothing great. "Hey, want to go to The Saloon for dinner?" "Meh, if you want to." That sums it up.
(2)Sam T.
Best French onion soup in the area. The salads are very good also.
(4)Denise P.
We came here for the first time tonight. The atmosphere here is beautiful, and you also have the option to sit outside. We sat outside, our server Adam, was amazing. He was friendly, and didn't miss a beat. If he is any example of the other staff, I would say the service is phenomenal. The food was also incredible. I had the chicken scarpalini, my boyfriend had the rigatoni in vodka sauce, and our friend had the chicken parm. The food came out quickly, and was presented well. I would highly recommend this restaurant to other people.
(5)Doug R.
What does it say when you visit four (4) bar/restaurants in the same town throughout the course of one (1) day, and the one that gets a review posted is the one that impressed the least?! Perhaps the old adage is true, it takes umpteen positive customer experiences to offset a single irked customer! Nothing particularly BAD here, but as others have pointed out, "over-priced" food and drink, none of which is anything to write home about. However! The real reason to prompt this review and strike away another star - backing up the otherwise subjective term, "over-priced" : Several of the SAME EXACT beverages were as much as TWICE the price here vs. the SAME EXACT (did I already use the already redundant terminology "SAME EXACT"???) beverages at the other equal-if-not-better places just up the street. $14 for something that was $6 around the corner, etc etc. The ambiance doesn't justify it and one must accept the existence of competition if one is to survive let alone thrive. Surely I'm not this place's "target demographic" I suppose, but honestly the only real target demographic here is that of the Sucker. Or those who thrive off of manifesting to others how much they are able to pay for something, which is actually a very real thing called Veblenesque behavior, I have recently learned. Companies build their entire business around it. That said, the bread & olive oil were excellent
(2)Mason R.
We walked into this place and I thought to myself...wow. This is somewhere to be seen. I felt like I needed to brag about my wine cellar on my speed boat. The bread was really good, served with an olive oil mix, also good. I thought we were in for a winner. I ordered the olivia with tilapia. My mother ordered a shrimp Cesar and mussels in "not sure" sauce. The shrimp were over cooked. Salad was mediocre at best. The mussels came Out with "extra crispy" sausage. The sauce was a weird orange color. It tasted awful. The mussels themselves were fine. My dish came Out and it looked like progresso, septic, and Tyler Durden got together for a gang bang. Mostly I was shocked. I took one bite and was not interested. The server was a sweet heart otherwise this is a 1 star.
(2)Abigail L.
We had driven by this place so many times that we decided it was time for a try. The ambiance is not exactly what I expected, given how rustic it looks outside. The waiting area looks semi-hip, with low couches, lots of candles, etc. - definitely not a match with that stagecoach outside. Enter the main dining room and you see a very generic setting with lots of beige and red. We were greeted by a server who was clearly not excited to be there; yet she was responsive and helpful. The menu itself is extremely "Newtown generic"; I swear there are about a dozen of these types of places around. We were there for lunch and there were salads, sandwiches, pasta and some other main courses. It was salad for both of us. My blackened scallop salad over mixed greens actually came over romaine (maybe they stirred the lettuce, thereby mixing it?). There were a paltry 3 scallops, and quite a lot of dressing. Still, it tasted okay. Hubby liked the cobb, but didn't rave about it. We asked for and received a basket of warm bread that came with some herbed olive oil for dipping. I don't see any reason to come back to this place, but I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it either. It does have a liquor license, which is a plus.
(3)Kim H.
This is one of those places that you definitely shouldn't judge by it's cover...outside, it looks like a "saloon"--they even have a wheel barrel (is that how you spell it?) outside the door. Inside, it's super modern, warm, and romantic! The food was DELISH and prices were pretty reasonable! Service was a little...questionable...but other than that, 2 thumbs up.
(4)Samantha M.
Despite enjoying this place, it's been a while since I have been here! But I went back with my family on Christmas eve - and we were lucky enough to get a last minute reservation. We sat at a table in back of the bar area, but it was not bad, and we had a wonderful server - Ron! He was so funny and made the dinner rather enjoyable. Despite the portion sizes of pasta and appetizers being smaller (not sure why this is the case because the price is the same), my meal was out of this world and I can't wait to go back and get it again, and try to replicate it at home! I really wanted fish, and they let you choose a fish and get it done in a chicken/veal style. SO I got salmon done in buttered tomato sauce with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella with a side of these amazing roasted potatoes! It was a great value, and I was so satisfied with the meal! I immediately signed up to hopefully get a birthday voucher to come back soon!
(4)Jeanne S.
This is soooo much better under new management. The place is very trendy dispite the exerior. The menu is great.
(4)Will C.
Great diner food at 5 star restaurant prices. It feels like the place is trying too hard to be something its not. Identity crisis...... Food, price, building, decor, and name does not make sense together. Would go back if someone else suggested the venue, but probably would not suggest it to others.
(2)Aaron D.
Excellent food and an even more interesting atmosphere. From the outside, it looks kind of like an old run down place, but looks are deceiving. The inside is very modern and well decorated. Kind of dimly lit, but that's the price you pay for a fancier restaurant. Would definitely eat there again.
(4)Mary V.
I have frequented this place several times for many years. I know some of the staff by name. I even convinced my Gujarati vegetarian friend to sit at the bar and eat a salad! Always friendly always good food . This Friday not knowing that we could not sit outside for dinner unless we had reservations. We were given a menu, wine and bread. We were served by a pleasant staff and were enjoying our wine. Suddenly a man by the name of Dean appeared and ordered us to leave the table because it was reserved. We were not asked we were told! We apologized and stated we did not see it was reserved. He then stated we were not supposed to enter from the deck but the main entranceway. 5 minutes later he appeared and ordered the waitstaff to take our bread off the table. ( we had not even got our check). We paid our bill and left the staff a tip. I was encouraged by the staff and other clients to write this review. He is apparently abusive to the staff as well. The person I was with is a local businessman in Newtown. He takes clients out often. He will not do it again until this horrible person is gone
(3)Georgianna G.
Love, love, love their food!!!! I had the blue cheese and walnut salad to start, absolutely amazing. I had the porcini linguine as my meal. I have never tasted something so flavorful and delicious!!!!! Their portions are very large for their price. We were a group of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meal! I had the sangria which was great! It is beautiful inside. Many candles lit gave it a warm feeling inside. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!!!!
(5)Suni A.
Enjoyed the meal but take heed: 1 - If you get a salad, split it with somebody. The salads are HUGE! It was enough for a meal. If you ask for the salad to take home, they bring it to you immediately instead of keeping it cold in the refrigerator. So there it sits in room temperature while you're eating your meal. So don't take it home. 2 - If you get dessert and you like chocolate, get the chocolate kiss. Get the kiss, take one bite and take the rest home. You'll never finish the entire thing in one sitting. I was so full from the wonderful salad (and bread) that I was unable to enjoy the entree. Now that we are armed with the knowledge of how to eat here, when we return we will eat properly.
(3)Aimee K.
This was dinner for my husbands birthday and it was just the two of us. We were seated immediately and our server was at our table within 2 minutes to take our beverage order and tells us about the specials. The fresh warm bread with olive oil for dipping was excellent. The Muscles fra Diavlo was our appetizer and it was huge. We were very surprised to see almost 2 dozen muscles in a wonderful tomato broth with lots of garlic. My husband had the Crab Cakes with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Again, the portion was very large with 2 giant lump crab meat cakes lightly coated on the outside with breadcrumbs. The asparagus was perfectly grilled and tender and he was given a mountain of mashed potatoes. I had the Tilapia Francaise with crab meat, artichokes and sundried tomatoes on top. Delicious! Our server gladly extra grilled veggies instead of wild rice. The veggies were a delicious sauteed combination of yellow and green zucchini, red peppers and red onion. Our dinner was perfect and so much food we could only manage coffee at the end of the meal. Our server was fantastic! He was there when we needed him yet left us alone long enough for us to talk and enjoy our meal. We will definitely be back.
(4)