The rebranded Playhouse Deck opens in New Hope tonight (May 12), but it retains its skilled chef and scenic setting along the Delaware River. The Lower Bucks Times plated the story of this revised dining experience adjacent to the Bucks County Playhouse.

The revised menu is being directed by Chef Michael O’Halloran, who also governs the gas ranges at Stella of New Hope, just upriver a piece. O’Halloran, a recent competitive victor over television’s Bobby Flay, will showcase pasta, salads, and fish, all with a Mediterranean flair. Its bar, too, will reflect tastes from the islands off Southern Europe.

“It’s been a blast creating menus that are bright and fun that complement the liveliness of the theater,” said O’Halloran. “The menu [is] perfect for sharing or a quick bite before a show and larger, more substantial pastas and entrees.”

The main dining area features a centralized bar with wraparound seating. Counter-seating on the periphery lines the wall-to-wall garage door windows, providing 180-degree views of the river.

This summer, as weather allows, al fresco dining will be set up on the river promenade and in the theater’s courtyard.

More information on the Playhouse Deck is at the Lower Bucks Times.