The Knight House

Local dining at its finest.
By Alicia Eichelman

Tom Frank knows what keeps people coming back for more, as owner of The Knight House for four years, he and Executive Chef Will Lewis explain that “the best marketing is the food on the plates.” The Knight House truly lives up to that statement, priding itself on serving only the best products, including their new dry age steak choices, and extensive seafood selection offering soft shell crabs, sword fish, and the “Knights Tower,” which consists of a delicious array of crab, clams, mussels, shrimp, Louisiana Oysters, Ahi Tartar “Nicose” Style Salmon Crouton and lobster avocado salad.

Frank and Lewis’ goal is to be people’s destination restaurant, one that they choose to come back to time and again. “Doylestown, Bucks County and New Hope are blessed with a lot of nice restaurants, there is no question about it, but we know for a fact that people get in their cars every weekend and drive to Philadelphia for dinner. Our goal is to have the kind of products that people want first, and have the best of class products. So if it’s steak, we have the best of it, if it is seafood, we have the best of it. We’re hoping that people who would normally drive the hour to Philly on a Saturday night, will drive ten minutes, come here, and have a great dinner,” explained Frank.

Understanding and sympathizing with the downfall of the economy, The Knight House has created new lunch and dinner specials to accommodate its beloved customers. Their well-priced lunch specials are now paired with dollar martinis, which Lewis says has gained a cult-like following. They have also introduced the “Knight’s Hour,” their version of happy hour, which takes place during the week from 3-6pm. During this time mixed drinks and tap or bottled beers are offered at half price. Also, during the week from Sunday through Friday, when you purchase one dinner menu entrée and regular price, you get a second one at half price, with some restrictions applying.  “People need a break; the economy has put pressure on everybody. People are eating out less, but they are picking their favorites, we want to be people’s favorite,” said Frank.

The history of The Knight House dates back to 1846, when it was occupied by a hatter named Jonas Knight who made the building his residence. Today, the Knight House has maintained its historic and homey atmosphere, with its warm, cozy, and inviting décor coinciding perfectly with the staff’s gracious hospitality. Consisting of three main dining rooms, The Knight House offers a unique old-school tavern feel that is not often found in restaurants these days. However, what is considered to be the crown jewel of the restaurant lies just beyond the back doors at the outside patio. Named one of Philadelphia Magazine’s top outside dining experiences, The Knight House’s gorgeous outdoor seating area hosts a large bar, an entertainment spot for the frequent jazz performances, heaters for the cooler summer nights, and plenty of space to house larger crowds.

This summer, The Knight House will be expanding its space to the building next door, where the architectural firm Wolstenholme Associates and the innovative interior design team at Parisi Incorporated will be adding an upscale bar and posh dining area.  The “Knight Club,” as it is playfully and temporarily referred to, will unveil two large bars, a fireplace, another outdoor dining area that will connect with the existing one, and a sushi raw bar. This extension will include more of a “wow factor,” and add a nightlife atmosphere, giving the restaurant the best of both worlds. “They can come over to this side, have a delicious dinner, and then go next door, and have a great time at the bar, and enjoy some live entertainment,” said Frank.

Located on 96 West State Street in historic Doylestown, The Knight House is also available for special events and catering. For more information visit www.theknighthouse.com or call (215) 489-9900.