Health Inspectors Keep Bacteria Off the Menu

The Bucks County Department of Health inspects hundreds of restaurants and cafeterias each year to ensure there are no public safety dangers lurking in the kitchens.

In 2003, tainted green onions served at a Chi Chi's restaurant in western Pennsylvania sparked an outbreak of Hepatitis A that infected more than 500 patrons, killing at least four. The green onions originated from a farm in Mexico, but the investigation by the Center for Disease Control suggested that the storage and preparation of the green onions contributed to the outbreak. Settlements from the lawsuits effectively forced Chi-Chi's to close its restaurants in North America in 2004. It is exactly this type of scenario that Bucks County Director of Environmental Health Bill Roth and his team of health inspectors hope to prevent. "We are not trying to put anybody out of business," said Roth. "By educating restaurant owners on proper food …

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Restaurants to Stay Open Despite Tax Evasion Charges

Nifty Fifty’s owners plan to keep selling burgers and milkshakes to local customers.

Despite tax evasion charges against the owners of Nifty Fifty’s, the restaurant plans to continue operating its five locations including the one in Bensalem. According to PhillyBurbs, a release from the five owners explained the decision. "Our five family restaurants continue to operate, providing excellent, affordable fresh food and outstanding service to our loyal customers whose support we greatly appreciate," the owners said. "We are honored to serve them, to provide numerous good jobs in the communities in which we do business, and look forward to doing so for years to come." Last month, the owners were charged with conspiracy to commit tax evasion, and tax evasion, for allegedly constructing a long-running scheme to avoid paying …

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Seafood-Themed Restaurant Opens Wednesday

Marlin & Ray's brings seafood and sunsets to former site of Ruby Tuesday's.

The Marlin & Ray’s restaurant, which is replacing the Ruby Tuesday’s that closed in March, will open at 600 Rockhill Drive across from the Neshaminy Mall on Wednesday, May 16. In April, a company spokesperson called the change a “conversion” explaining that the Marlin & Ray’s franchise is also owned and operated by Ruby Tuesday Inc. This location will be the seafood-centric concept’s first location in Pennsylvania and10th total, with other locations in: Maryville, TN; Knoxville, TN; Manassas, VA; Acworth, GA; Lithonia, GA; Hilliard, OH; West Chester, OH; Fairfax, VA and Stafford, VA. According to a release, the restaurant presents a casual, welcoming environment perfect for a wide variety of diners. Its menu’s focus will be on fresh …

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Readers' Choice

Patch Poll Winner: Best Bakery

Your votes are in and the winner of this week's Readers' Choice poll is...

This week, Patch readers voted for best bakery in Bensalem. The results are in and the Fritz's Bakery came in first place with 59 percent of the votes. "Like most poll participants I voted for Frtiz's as the best of those listed," said Patch reader Dave Fielder. "Their cinnamon buns, which is I believe how they started, are the best I've ever had, Buttercake is mostly a sloppy mess--thin cake and 'liquified' butter." Coming in second place was H.F. Hornberger's Bakery with 31 percent. Next week, we will be asking Patch readers where the best place is to buy plants in Bensalem. If you have a business you think should be included in this poll, leave a comment here or e-mail joe.hart@patch.com.  

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Readers' Choice

Patch Poll Winner: Best Italian Food

Guess who won...

The winner of this week's Readers' Choice poll is the Calabrisella. We asked readers what restaurant had the best Italian food in Bensalem, and Calabrisella won with 29 percent of the vote. Toscana 52 finished second with 18 percent and Carrabba’s was third with 17 percent. “Callabrisella by far…the best food anywhere,” Patch reader Margie Knowles said. Be sure to check back in next week to vote in a new Readers' Choice poll: Best place to do your taxes.

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Readers' Choice

Readers’ Choice Winner: Best Family Restaurant

Patch readers like BBQ.

The results are in for this week’s Readers’ Choice Patch Poll and Smoke’n Dudes Bar B Que was picked as the best family-friendly restaurant in Bensalem. A total of 198 votes were cast in the poll and the BBQ place garnered 46 of them or 23 percent. Patch readers really love those ribs. Apollo’s Family Pizzeria came in second place with 35 votes followed by Nifty Fifty’s with 26. According to its website, Smoke'n Dudes is family owned and operated and was started in 1998 as a competing group in barbeque contests. “We have taken part in competitions all along the East Coast from New Hampshire to the Florida Keys,” the website states. “Our team has won awards in every category including ribs, pork, chicken and beef brisket. We have also won …

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Readers' Choice

Patch Poll: Best Family Restaurant

What will the Readers' Choice be this week?

Is there a restaurant in Bensalem that you love to take your family to? In this week’s Readers’ Choice poll, Patch wants to know your favorite family restaurant. Is there a place where your kids can play video games or one with a great family atmosphere? We want to hear about it. There are a lot of great choices, including: Nifty Fifty’s, Apollo’s Family Pizzeria, Gino’s Burgers and Chicken, Bob Evans, Smoken Dudes Bar B Que, Friendly’s Applebees, TGI Friday's, Longhorn or Carrabba's. Vote for your favorite in the poll below by 9 a.m. Friday and don't forget to click on the links above and rate the business on its Patch Place listing. You can even leave a review. If there is another local spot that we missed, tell us in the comments …

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Readers' Choice

Winner: Best Breakfast Spot

Pookie’s rallies past Red House for the win.

Wow, this was an exciting battle between Pookie’s Restaurant and Red House Bagels for the title of Best Breakfast Spot in Bensalem. A total of 3,945 votes were cast in the poll. There were several lead changes with both restaurants really getting the word out to their friends, family and loyal customers. In the end, Pookie’s garnered 2,344 (59 percent) of the votes and Red House finished with 1,513 (38 percent). The seven other restaurants in the poll combined for a total of 78 votes. “Pookies is the best,” Patch user Mike Welsh wrote in the comments section. “The place is so clean and the food is tremendous…I’ll keep going!” Paulette V., another Patch reader, added, “POOKIES! Best breakfast in town...nice atmosphere, good food & great …

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Dave Fiedler

1:40 pm on Sunday, February 26, 2012

Wonder, will we ever see an eatery in Bensalem unique enough to qualify for Guy Fierri's program on the Food Network? We do have some dives but none interesting or good enough for Diner's, Drive-In's & Dives. I look at some of the places he features and think, "man, wish we had that place here." Bensalem is too overrun with chains and most of the independents are pretty average in both menu and …   more ›

Two Street Road Restaurants Closed for Business

The Old Country Buffet and the Sonic Drive-In shuttered in recent weeks.

The retail scene along Street Road just west of I-95 along with many local employees have been hit with the closure of two eateries. The Old Country Buffet in the Brookwood Shopping Center and the SONIC Drive-In further east on Street Road have closed in recent weeks. The Old Country Buffet shutdown is one of 81 announced Jan. 18 as part of Buffets Inc. second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in two years. But spokesman Nathan Riggs told Bensalem Patch the company is optimistic. "We filed in 2008 and when we emerged the company still had a great deal of debt -- $250 million -- and we weren't able to get rid of our underperforming restaurants," he said while adding that the recession has hurt sales. "This is a prepackaged filing in which we …

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Gino’s Celebrates Bensalem Opening Today

Everyone is invited.

The new Gino’s Burgers and Chicken located at 1606 Street Road is celebrating its recent opening today with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The event will feature restaurant namesake, former football star Gino Marchetti. Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and other local dignitaries are also expected to participate. The event includes entertainment with WOGL’s Bob Pantano and special food offerings throughout the day. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. The original Gino‘s was founded in 1957 by two former Baltimore Colt football players: Alan Ameche, Captain Gino Marchetti and their long time friend, Louis C. Fischer. The franchise eventually expanded to 500 restaurants in several states employing 20,000 workers and serving 12 million …

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