The story of how the new Patriots Crossing, on the Delaware River in Titusville, came to be is at least 30 years in the making.
After three decades of working in the corporate world, Paul Louie and his brother Wah decided it was time to do something different.
But what? It didn’t take long for them to come up with the answer: Open a restaurant. They loved good food and dining out, and enjoyed making people happy.
But where? That answer didn’t come as easily. They wanted a place in a natural setting, close to water, that would be in an environment where locals would visit and return. And being close to a historical setting wouldn’t hurt.
They considered the Jersey shore. A nice setting, but “too transient” in Paul’s words. They didn’t want to cater to vacationers. They considered various towns like Lambertville that were close to a river or lake. Again, nice settings, but too transient. These towns often catered to tourists.
When the brothers discovered the closed Titusville restaurant that had been Faherty’s, they knew they had found what they were looking for: a restaurant by the Delaware and Raritan canal, close to the river and Washington Crossing State Park, and several nearby neighborhoods.
Next they had to find the right chefs. They were looking for team players and chefs who could prepare new American cuisine, taking food from various cultures and combining them to create something unique. After several interviews, they offered the position of executive chef to Michael LaCorte and sous chef to Michael Michaels.
After renovating the kitchen and dining areas, they opened Patriots Crossing about six weeks ago and have already attracted a following. Paul said they are still in the “soft opening” phase. They haven’t even put up a sign yet.
The menu includes new chef specials every day. A favorite among patrons is the chef’s shrimp dish, sautéed with tomato, shallots, garlic, and rosemary, served over spinach and surrounded with a delicate light cream sauce.
One of Paul’s favorites is Tuscan pasta served with artichokes, shrimp and sun dried tomatoes in a white wine reduction sauce.
The lighter fare menu includes a variety of burgers and chicken wings. Some of the customers’ favorites include the bacon and blue cheese burger and the mango-tango chicken wings made with mango, roasted pepper and a touch of chili pepper. Burger enthusiasts can build their own burgers from a variety of toppings. All burgers are 10 oz. hand formed patties.
The menu also includes soups, calamari, chicken fingers, smothered French fries, bruschetta, salads, and a vegetable of the day.
A few of main entrees include hanger steak, chicken breast, fish and chips, porterhouse pork chops, and Tuscan pasta. Desserts include flan, chocolate mousse, strawberry shortcake, and bread pudding.
Patriots Crossing offers popular beers and a selection of micro brewed beers from New Jersey’s High Point Brewery located in Asparta. A customer favorite is Harbour Amber, a lager of toasty malt and hops.
“If I were to pick one word to describe my business philosophy, I would say “inclusive,” Paul said. “We serve excellent food, with excellent service. All of the menu items are under $20.”
“We haven’t even advertised but we’re getting good reviews in papers and on the Internet,” Paul said.
The atmosphere is gracious and casual. The outdoor patio is the most popular section of the restaurant. Diners enjoy views of the canal, Washington Crossing Park, and the bridge which is lit at night. Well behaved pets are welcome on the patio. Sometimes a person walking his dog on the canal path will see people dining outside and decide to come over for a bite to eat Paul said.
Although the brothers don’t have experience as restaurant owners, they have years of managerial experience and understand the importance of communication skills, Paul as a Wall Street executive, and Wah as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. This is what matters most in any business Wah said.
The Louies welcome local musicians and visual artists to showcase their talents, and have already hosted several performers.
Future plans for the restaurant include an expanded menu selection, an adjacent wine store and gourmet market, and a renovated exterior.
Paul Louie lives with his family in Chatham, and Wah lives with his family in Mountain Lakes.
The restaurant website provides complete dining and micro brewed beer menus. On the web: patriots-crossing.com.
Patriots Crossing is located at 1339 River Road (Route 29) in Titusville. Phone: (609) 737-2780. Hours are Sunday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Owners Paul and Wah Louie on restaurant patio sitting alongside of diners. Background: D&R Canal. (Photo by Lynn Robbins.)
Shrimp and micro brewed beer are served on the patio of Patriots Crossing family restaurant. One of Chef LaCorte’s dishes is this shrimp creation (sautéed with tomato
and rosemary
