Pull up a stool, here’s a little local history with your beer. 
The corner where the Buttonwood Grill stands was once part of the vast William Penn land grant. In 1700, Penn sold 500 acres of what was to become the village of Lahaska to James Streater. Over the next century, this land was subdivided many times for family farms, homes, and businesses. In the mid-1800s, Joseph Shaw built a stone tavern on the corner of Old York and Street Roads which became THE spot in central Bucks county for locals and travelers. Fast forward 120 years and dozens of owners later, proprietors Matthew and Mary Hartigan named the tavern the Buttonwood Inn after the old Buttonwood tree that still welcomes people at the door.
To honor its legacy and our 50th anniversary, we’re bringing back the Buttonwood name to the historic building. Since the food and drink offerings have changed somewhat since the 19th century, we sat down with Jim Perillo, Peddler’s Village Restaurant Director, to find out what’ll be on the menu when the restaurant opens in a couple of weeks.
VI: What kind of food and drink menus did you come up with for the new Buttonwood Grill?
JP: The new menu is geared toward local taste; a beer-centric menu with a serious focus on burgers. Expect a nice selection of craft beers and great comfort food with a progressive twist.
VI: The menu has a featured section called “The Butcher’s Burger.” What’s that all about?
JP: We set it up so you create your own burger. Pick out a style of burger and sides from six choices: traditional Plain Jane, Mediterranean, Cheeseburger, Buffalo Blue Cheese, Southern Onion ‘n Bacon, or SW Border. Then, choose what kind of burger you want: our proprietary Butcher’s Grind, turkey, salmon, bison, or black bean/quinoa/feta.
For the beef burgers, we’re grinding our own proprietary mix of choice Chuck, Brisket & Short Rib fresh every day. It’s a medium grind so the burger stays soft and very juicy. These are all half pounders—we won’t be playing cards with hockey pucks on the grill! Plus, we’re grilling them old school on a flat top and serving them with a steak knife straight down through the buns, which are griddled brioche rolls. And you can choose your burger “Between the Buns” or “Naked.”
VI: What other comfort dishes will we find?
JP: There’ll be made to order, individual-sized, thin crust pizzas fired on stone and served on boards. We’re taking a fresher approach, using greens and seasonal items. The burgers and pizza will be offered all day but lunch will have some sandwiches and dinner will have larger plate entrees.
We’re also offering The Fish Market menu every day at dinner, where you can choose from 2-3 fish specials and select the way you like it—grilled, blackened, or seared with your choice of seasonings and sides.
VI: What are you planning for dessert?
JP: We’re making some classics—tiramisu and a flourless chocolate cake with a s’mores twist and and a pint of apple crumb ala mode. All desserts will be made in house. Also, our fresh house baked potato Focaccia will be on the table for lunch and dinner–half tomato pie, half plain.
VI: What can we look forward to for breakfast?
JP: Breakfast will be a down & dirty breakfast—a good, solid, comfort breakfast– from corned beef hash to omelets and eggs Benedict and great pancakes that we’ll change seasonally.
VI: What’s up with some of these menu names like “The Meathead,” “Plain Jane,” or “The Twisted Greek”?
JP: We want people to have fun with it so we’re lighthearted on the menu, but completely serious with what’s on the plate. When I go out I don’t want to go somewhere pretentious, I want to relax and have great food.
VI: Sounds like the menu will really complement the beer or is it vice versa?
JP: We’re planning a broad range of beer so that the food and brews complement each other. We’re opening with 20 craft beers on tap and 50 types of bottled beer. We’re excited about our Buttonwood Growlers and our mix ‘n match take out program.
Thanks, Jim. Next week, I’ll be talking with General Manager David Zuckerman about the Growlers and craft beer program that will make the most devoted beer geek, or even William Penn, smile. (The founder of Pennsylvania was also the first United States Brewmaster.) Stay tuned…
Want more variety? Ask your server about the Mix and Match to go option where you can choose up to 12 bottles to take home.With a large bar that can sit over 20 people comfortably, a few high tops for some beer, casual drinks and burgers, plus five flat screen TVs to hang out and watch the game, Buttonwood Grill is a friendly and laid back spot with great food and a stellar beer lineup for locals and the after work crowd.
