Aladdin restaurant in New Hope a winner

By Charlie Sahner

I’ll say it from the get-go: I’m impressed by this place.

The fare ranges far beyond Middle Eastern in derivation. Yes, the obligatory kabobs and falafel abound, but this is Mediterranean fusion with a decidedly Egyptian bent and pronounced Moroccan, Israeli, Greek and Italian influences.

The decor is authentic, expensive and well chosen.

The owner Barry is maniacally fastidious. One night last week he yelled at me when I tried to take his arm, “Don’t touch, don’t touch, I’m cooking tonight.” The place is spotless — they don’t pour oil or ghee over every item, and they swap out fava beans for chickpeas on the falafal…all of which means one can completely gorge oneself and not feel bloated or queasy afterwords.

The food tasted fresh, and used in simple combinations felt, well, healthy. This spot will be a blessing for vegetarians, and while not cheap, a $15 platter will feed two, so the value is there.

What’s good? Stordallia, a homemade mashed potato salad with fresh garlic, olive oil and parsley; hummus, smooth and balanced; smokey and subtle babaganoush; crisp, fresh-tasting tabbouli salad; sweetly spiced kofta; a lovely bechamel macaroni; and the oven-baked tagines (mine was made with shrimp and expertly seasoned). For dessert, I’ll be coming back for the rice pudding.

The snapshot of Alladin? Moderately priced, big portions, healthy food, good service, welcome variety. Worth a try.

Aladdin is located at 82 S. Main St. in beautiful downtown New Hope; (215) 862-1110.

Logan Inn in New Hope shifts restaurant focus toward the Mediterranean with introduction of ‘Nikolas’

Nikolas restaurant at the Logan Inn, New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

The Logan Inn at 10 W. Ferry St. in New Hope has renamed its indoor/outdoor dining space “Nikolas”, and the new menu is impressive. Prices are not bargain basement, but owner Nick Gialias says that he “seeks out the finest, freshest ingredients, and then we go from there.

“The restaurant is named after my grandfather Nikolas to highlight our Mediterranean roots and our emphasis on good, natural food,” added Gialias.

The menu is presented in four prix fixe sections ranging from $35 to $75, with optional bottles of wine specially paired with each entre. A seven-course tasting menu is also available. Dishes like seared octopus, clams casino, Greek salad, grilled whole fish, prime rib, Kobe strip steak, filet mignon, and crab strudel with seared scallops underscore the surf and turf emphasis.

“We amped up the wine selection quite a bit,” said Gialias. “We brought in several new wines.” Not that a selection of more than 150 wasn’t enough, but Gialias’ latest additions reflect his love and knowledge of the grape, and also his disdain for mass produced wine products with numerous artificial additives.

Gialias says he’s adding wines from small family-owned vineyards, many of which specialize in organic production methods. White and red varieties from the United States, France and Italy are well represented, but the selections from Spain, Portugal, and Greece are standouts.

All in all, Nikolas adds an interesting, fresh take on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to the downtown scene.