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Peep Inside Jose Garces’s New Hope Restaurant Overlooking the Delaware

Peek at the menu and take a tour of Stella, Jose Garces's first new restaurant since partnering with Ballard Brands, opening this weekend.

By Alex Tewfik· 6/14/2019, 10:00 a.m.

Stella by Jose Garces | Photo provided

Way back in 2016, the Garces Group announced that they’d be opening a restaurant in New Hope as part of the Riverfront Revitalization Strategic Plan’s renovation of the historic Bucks County Playhouse Inn. Nearly three years later, much has changed about Jose Garce’s restaurant empire: The group declared bankruptcy last summer; he partnered with 3BM1 (a partnership between Louisiana-based Ballard Brands and local investor David Maser) to form a new parent company of the Garces brand, Ideation Hospitality, which assumed control of all but two of the Garces restaurants and its casino contracts (Garces Trading Company and 24 closed).

All the while, Stella quietly prepared for its New Hope debut inside the newly renovated Playhouse Inn, now called the Ghost Light Inn. And it’s opening its doors to the public tomorrow, June 15th, as the first Garces restaurant to open under the Ideation Hospitality umbrella.

Stella will be an American small-plater inspired by local ingredients from the region’s farmers and artisans. The beverage program will focus on American wines and specialty cocktails. There’s an outdoor patio and event space too, which is nice given that the restaurant sits right on the river.

“The fresh air, natural beauty, and the quiet return to nature have always been sources of inspiration to me while spending time in Bucks County. My team and I are challenging each other to create new experiences with the fresh products coming out of this beautiful corner of the world, while also shining a spotlight on the local food artisans and producers,” says Garces in a statement.

Stella is located at 50 South Main Street in New Hope. Take a tour of the space, check out some of the glamour shots, and peep the menu below.