A newly opened restaurant and bar is getting attention in Bucks County and looking to make a name for itself.
The Bistro at Parxview Hotel is located at 3327 Street Road in Bensalem inside the 160-room hotel that opened in spring following a complete renovation of the building. The hotel features 160 spacious guest rooms across four categories, including 16 well-appointed suites designed with your comfort in mind. Guests will enjoy free parking and a completely smoke-free environment.
Parxview Hotel General Manager Melissa Ward said there is a common misconception in the community that the hotel’s culinary options are exclusively for overnight guests or Parx Casino visitors.
“People can just come in off the street and have dinner here,” Ward said. “They can even come and purchase the breakfast buffet, too.”
The Bistro’s morning centerpiece is a daily breakfast buffet operating from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The all-you-can-eat spread features standard continental items, breakfast meats, pancakes, and eggs.
“Everything is cooked fresh,” Ward said. “We actually crack eggs.”
For later in the day, the hotel features The Bistro, a restaurant Ward described as having “a fun atmosphere that is a little more on the casual side.”
The menu focuses on crowd-pleasing staples, highlighted by crispy shrimp tacos, smash burgers, pepperoni pizza flatbread, sticky nuggets, boneless wings, and a smokehouse burger.
One major selling point is that The Bistro runs a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“The happy hour can’t be beat among other places in the area,” Ward said. “And we actually do that every day. Even on the weekends.”
The bar is staffed by veteran bartenders who have built strong followings at other area establishments before joining the Parx team.
“The bartenders both came from the area and they have a lot of people that followed them,” Ward said, noting that the hotel considers itself fortunate to retain talent capable of carrying a returning customer base. “People actually come here because they know the bartenders are really good. They enjoy spending time talking to them while enjoying the food and beverages here at the hotel.”
Ward attributed The Bistro’s atmosphere not just to offerings and the fresh design but also to a hiring philosophy that prioritizes interpersonal skills.
“I always say we hire based on personality — we can train you on the rest,” Ward said. “If you don’t have the right personality, it’s not going to work. We really look for people that are outgoing, that are bubbly, that are social, because we want it to be a welcoming experience from the moment you walk through the door.”
Martin Doyle, vice president of food and beverage for Parx, said the property pairs elegant design with a dining and bar experience that offers an elevated yet laid-back and relaxing environment.
Ward said the food and beverage team at The Bistro is focused on making each visit special.
During Mother’s Day, the chef prepared and distributed chocolate-covered strawberries to mothers in attendance. Ward noted the staff provides similar gestures for guests celebrating birthdays.
“We’re in hospitality, so we’re not just a restaurant,” Ward said.
For those looking to combine dining and drinks with gaming, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service directly to Parx Casino. The shuttle runs 24 hours a day on weekends and from noon to midnight during weekdays.
Future property developments include an ongoing renovation of the hotel pool, which Ward said will create a seamless indoor-outdoor layout connecting the primary bar directly to the pool deck.
Ward is confident that local residents will adopt The Bistro as a standard neighborhood option once they experience it firsthand.
“Once people come in and have dinner or breakfast one time, they become regulars because it’s that good and it’s somewhere different to go,” Ward said. “This is a new experience for people, and it’s a fun vibe here.”
This article was created as part of a partnership with Parx.