New England Restaurant Coming To Bucks, Steak House Closes: 2025 Restaurant News

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The Bucks County foodie scene had its challenges in 2025 with rebrands and sudden closures as the industry continued to face soaring operational costs, labor shortages, intense competition and economic uncertainty impacting consumer spending.

But the year also brought its share of mouthwatering excitement to the table with the opening of brand new restaurants, including several firsts in the county. It also brought national recognition for one Bucks County eatery.

Here are some of the restaurant stories that made headlines in 2025.

Restaurant Named One Of Top Places To Eat In Nation

A Bucks County restaurant known for its unique vegetarian fare has been named one of the top 44 places to eat in the nation. In 2025, the food writers from USA Today picked Dharma Bums in Point Pleasant as one of the places they would "return to again and again" and would recommend it to friends and family. Fiona and Steven Trachtenberg, who opened the unique venue just two years ago, said they are "blown away" by the national recognition.

Dharma Bums in Point Pleasant.

Rocco's At The Brick Closes Without Notice

Rocco’s at the Brick in Newtown closed without notice on Nov. 22, just as the lucrative holiday dining season was about to begin. Employees reported on social media over the weekend that they were informed of the closure of the popular steak and seafood restaurant at the end of their shift Saturday night. The restaurant operators blamed the sudden closure on a dispute with the property's landlord and said they are in the process of looking for a new location.

Rocco's at the Brick was a popular spot in Bucks County for prime steaks and seafood.

New England Restaurant To Open Bucks Location

Burtons Grill & Bar, a Massachusetts-based restaurant chain, signed a lease in 2025 to open its first Bucks County location at the Barn Plaza on Easton Road in Doylestown Township. Burtons is among the first tenants to commit to new restaurant and retail space coming soon to the former Regal Cinema portion of the property on Route 611. Look for construction to begin in 2026.

The Barn Plaza Shopping Center in Doylestown Township. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Cafe Brings Eastern European Dishes To Bucks

Fourish Cafe opened in 2025 inside the Village at Newtown Shopping Center where it is now serving an extensive menu of Eastern European favorites. Many in the area may already be familiar with the cafe, which has built a loyal following for its made-from-scratch Eastern European food and baked goods at its other location inside the Village Shires Shopping Center on Buck Road in Northampton Township.

Cutting the ribbon on the new cafe in Newtown.

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro Shuts Down Operations

The Waters Edge Winery & Bistro in the heart of Doylestown Borough closed its doors in 2025. The restaurant, which opened a year and a half earlier inside the newly-renovated 50 North Main Street building at the intersection of Court Street, Shewell Avenue, and North Main, shut down its winery and restaurant operations in October without notice. Bucks County residents Eric and Nicole Landolfi had high hopes for the unique Waters Edge Winery & Bistro concept, which they brought to Pennsylvania in March 2024.

Water's Edge Winery and Bistro. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

First Watch Opens At The Barn Plaza In Doylestown

First Watch, a made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot, opened its first Bucks County location in September. Located at the Barn Plaza at 1745 South Easton Road in Doylestown, the new restaurant serves a chef-inspired menu and rotating seasonal offerings at the 3,900-square-foot space, which accommodates more than 150 people and features a covered patio and a bar. According to First Watch, dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients in a kitchen without heat lamps, microwaves, or deep fryers.

Lemon ricotta pancakes. (First Watch)