​ 

 ​ 

TLDR

Donatelli's Italian Steakhouse opened Nov 1 on the main floor of the historic Brick Hotel at State Street and Washington Avenue in Newtown Borough - about 200 seats, a glass-enclosed porch with views over downtown, and a high-end-but-comfortable Italian steakhouse vibe. It replaces Rocco's. I'm planning to eat there for the first time this weekend, and I'll come back with an honest review once I've actually sat down and ordered.

 ​ 

If you drive through Newtown Borough regularly, you already know the Brick Hotel isn't just another building on the corner. It's one of those anchors that makes downtown feel like... downtown. When a space like that turns over, families notice. Buyers notice. Sellers notice. And yes - so do realtors who live and work here.

 ​ 

This week, that space has a new name: Donatelli's.

 ​ 

01 — What's actually open

Donatelli's opened for lunch and dinner on the main floor of the Brick Hotel (State Street and Washington Avenue) as of the first weekend of November. It's framed as an authentic Italian steakhouse - steaks and chops, seafood, house-made pasta, chicken and veal, soups, salads, burgers with fresh-cut fries, plus a bar that doesn't require a reservation.

 ​ 

The dining room is large - about 200 seats - including that glass-enclosed porch with panoramic views of the heart of Newtown. Owner Habib Troudi (who also runs Panache Wood Fire Grill and Ristorante Castello in Blue Bell) spent months renovating the space: new kitchen, new restrooms, elevated dining rooms. The restaurant replaces Rocco's, which closed abruptly last fall.

 ​ 

"We're excited to be in Newtown." - Habib Troudi

 ​ 

 ​ 

02 — Why a restaurant opening matters if you're buying or selling nearby

I don't write about every new storefront. But a busy corner restaurant in a walkable borough is different.

 ​ 

When downtown Newtown has a strong destination for dinner - the kind of place people drive to - it supports the whole "Live, Walk, Play" story we tell about Newtown Borough all the time. Evening foot traffic. Window shoppers. Couples booking a table before a show or after an open house. That energy is part of why so many clients ask for Newtown, Yardley, and the Makefields in the same breath.

 ​ 

And I want to be honest with you: a high-end steakhouse won't, by itself, change your sale price next week. What it can do is keep the downtown sticky - the kind of place that still feels alive after 7 p.m. For buyers touring on a Saturday evening, that matters more than people admit.

 ​ 

03 — What I'm watching (before I taste anything)

I'm going in curious, not already sold. Here's what I'll pay attention to this weekend:

1. 
   
2. The food, obviously - steaks from Pat LaFrieda, house-made pasta, seafood, and whether the "high-end yet family-friendly" promise holds when the room fills up.
3. The vibe on the porch - that glass enclosure is a Newtown postcard waiting to happen. Is it comfortable for a real conversation, or just pretty?
4. Service pace at a 200-seat room - big rooms can feel special or impersonal. I'll tell you which.
5. Whether it feels like our downtown - after Rocco's closed, that corner needed a soft landing. I'll report whether Donatelli's feels like one.

 ​ 

I haven't eaten there yet. You'll get the review after I have.

 ​ 

04 — How to try it yourself

Reservations are through OpenTable or the restaurant's website. The bar is open daily without a reservation. If you're already touring Newtown Borough this weekend - Conti, State Street, Washington Crossing Road loop - it's an easy add-on after showings.

 ​ 

Bottom line

A renovated Italian steakhouse in the Brick Hotel is good news for Newtown's downtown energy. I'm eating there this weekend for the first time, and I'll come back with a real review - the good, the "almost," and anything I'd tell a client before they book a celebration dinner.

 ​ 

If you're thinking about buying or selling near Newtown Borough, Yardley, or the Makefields, I'm happy to talk through what local amenities like this actually mean for lifestyle and long-term appeal - not just the listing flyer.

 ​ 

Reach Heather: 215.431.0884 - hj@heatherjackman.com

 ​ 

 ​ 

FAQ

Where is Donatelli's?

 ​ 

Main floor of the historic Brick Hotel, State Street and Washington Avenue, Newtown Borough, PA.

 ​ 

What happened to Rocco's?

 ​ 

Rocco's closed abruptly last fall after a dispute with the building's landlord. Donatelli's is the new restaurant in that space.

 ​ 

Is it only a steakhouse?

 ​ 

Steaks are the headline (Pat LaFrieda cuts), but the menu also covers Italian classics - pasta, seafood, chicken, veal - plus more casual options.

 ​ 

Have you reviewed it yet?

 ​ 

Not yet. I'm going this weekend and will publish a follow-up once I've eaten there.

 ​ 

Heather Jackman is  a Bucks County realtor with Coldwell Banker Hearthside (Cindy & Heather), serving Yardley, Newtown, and the surrounding communities for 20+ years.

 ​ 

 ​