The Blue Tortilla Restaurant Has Closed

 

 

Unfortunately the Blue Tortilla Restaurant is permanently closed.
This was its website.
The content below is from the site's archived pages.

Enjoy a truly Mexican meal dining alfresco in our terraces during the warm months or join us inside all-year-round.Treat yourself to our award-winning Guacamole with freshly made corn chips and our delicious home-made salsas. 

We are a BYOB restaurant, so go ahead and bring your favorite beer or wine and if you're in the mood for Margaritas, bring your Tequila and try our amazing fresh-squeezed lime mix. 
Vegetarian and Kids' Meals are available.
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WINTER HOURS 
OPEN FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 
11:30 AM

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The Blue Tortilla Restaurant
18-20 North Main St
New Hope, PA 18938
Reservations: (215) 862 - 5859
Please, only parties 4 & more.

About Us

Our family is proud to bring truly authentic Mexican Cuisine to our home here in New Hope, PA. 

When he opened the restaurant in 2004, Enrique had a very clear idea of the food he wanted to serve: the food he grew up eating in Mexico. The food you will enjoy is authentic Mexican, the kind of food you can only eat when you go to Mexico. We take pride in saying that all of our salsas, tortillas and corn chips are vegetarian and made on premises.

Our Margarita Mix is an old family recipe made with fresh lime juice. Bring your own Tequila and make yourself the best Margaritas in town!

We also offer a variety of vegetarian options and kids' meals. All of our dishes are made from scratch, creating a truly memorable dining experience.
Please, feel at home because "Mi Casa es su Casa"

Food Allergy Notice: Please be advised that during kitchen operations, involving shared cooking and preparation areas and common fryer oil, the possibility exists for food items to come in contact with other food products. Due to these circumstances, we are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens. Due to the individualized nature of allergies, we cannot make recommendations that are suitable for your dietary needs. Please consult your physician. Please be aware that food prepared here may contain these ingredients: milk, eggs, wheat, soybean, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and other allergens. For people with Celiac Disease, please know that there is wheat flour in our beans.

 

Seasonal Menu

REVIEWS

 

6/17/2012
Ashay S.
Franklin Park, NJ
My wife planned an eventful day in New Hope on Fathers Day.  After the Ivyland Train event, we were in the mood for Mexican.  We chose Blue Tortilla over Taco Loco because we thought our son preferred to sit outside.  Service was pretty good.  The chicken mole enchiladas were amazing.  My wife had the enchiladas with the grandmothers sauce.  To me it tasted like pasta sauce on an enchilada.  She thought it was ok and it was something different.  They had a kids menu which is always a plus.  The main negative of this place is the price.  For each enchiladas plate it was $16 and only 2 come in the dish!  My sons plate was $11 for shredded chicken and plain Mexican rice!  In total it cost us $60 for lunch....I do recommend this place but not all the time as you will end up going broke :)

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5/12/2012
john c.
New York, NY
I've dined in LA, NY, ciudad de mx, etc. the dude who could not get over the $3 chips really cheated himself out of the exquisite flavors the chef perhaps the owner delivered the night I dined there. the pork dishes were sublime and represented true mexican flavors that I can attest to. from the achiote of the Mayan, (portion  little smaller than I would normally like)the liveliness of the tomatillo salsa. It's the first place i've seen in the area that makes heir own tortilla!!!!

I can assure all that this place does not compromise on the quality of its ingredients. many folks might have expected a punch of jalapeno but I think the owner was trying to elevate the senses of the diners by introducing a more delicate but true and relatively unknown side of Mexican cuisine.

The area might not be ready for a such an out of the box Mexican but I would encourage all to come indulge something unique and original for the folks at blue tortilla seem to display a love and care for the thoughtful dishes.

They just need a little more fine tuning on the service, (Iwas greeted 4 times and asked how many in my party) but these kind of growing pains can be expected by folks that just want deliver good food to good folks.

The unique and exquisite flavors have won over than shortcomings for me.

I hope you will enjoy asIdid.

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Apr 03, 2011
Cindy Range
POSITIVE
Delicious but Pricey. I am originally from New Mexico, so I am always looking for good Mexican food. This is traditional Mexican, not Tex-Mex.
We started with chips and salsa. They serve the chips with both their red and green salsas. Both are great, but I liked the red and my husband liked the green better. Don't get me wrong, they are both great. The chips were warm and crispy! They weren't too thick or too thin...they were just right and they serve you a large portion. By the way, this is not complimentary, chips and salsa here, costs $.
I had the pork in salsa verde with mashed black beans, rice and homemade corn tortillas. It was delicious. The pork was tender and quite lean...just enough fat to flavor and the salsa verde had the perfect spice and saltiness to compliment the pork. My husband had the quesadillas with chicken. (They are more like soft corn tortilla tacos) I took a bite of his quesadilla and loved the flavor of the chicken; it must have been marinated because it was superb! I seriously can't say enough about the flavor of the chicken...and it was so moist!
There was only my husband and me in the restaurant when we started, but our service was very slow. We waited and waited for drink refills and our check at the end of the meal. The check, by the way, was a little much for what it was, over $40 with tip for two people. You pay for the ambience, the authenticity and great paper products in the ladies room. My husband works for a janitorial e commerce site so I get to try out all the various paper goods samples he brings home. Of the various products my favorite is Preference paper towels. Even though my husband sells the various paper products wholesale to customers such as commercial kitchens, laboratories, hospitals and clinics, the site also sells retail. Fortunately for me my husband gets great deals so I always have my Preference paper towels on hand. You can't imagine my surprise when I saw the paper towels on a shelf in the ladies room, along with Preference toilet paper rolls and Preference C-Fold Paper Towels- (the paper towels that come out of dispensers). I had to wonder if the Blue Tortilla Restaurant management bought their paper goods at CleanItSupply.com

I don't remember seeing anything on the menu for children, and with the prices,I don't think I'd bring kids here.
Will I be back? Probably, since this is good, homemade, authentic Mexican food in a lovely setting.

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Jan 01, 2011
Redgoblin
POSITIVE
Enchiladas verdes. Fantastic meal! The verdes sauce is homemade, and follows the family's grandmother's recipe. They even sell it in a jar for your enjoyment at home. The enchiladas come with chicken, but can be made with mushroom or cheese. They come with beans and rice. Don't miss out on their guacamole, either. LOVE THESE! GET THEM!

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Jan 12, 2010
The Cutlers
POSITIVE   Excellent food and service! You get what you pay for!! All Mexican food is not Taco Bell cheap!!! Blue Tortilla is a lovely restaurant with charming indiginous art in beautiful New Hope near the Delaware river and Lambertville bridge*!*

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8/16/2009
* Petrina K.
Jersey City, NJ
Very disappointing. Very expensive for mediocre food.

My friends and I decided to try this place. We sat down and saw the prices on the menu. We figured they must offer big portions for the prices they were charging (and we're from the NYC area! HOW NAIVE we were!). We decided to order the nachos (priced at $13) and order more if he were still hungry. Then we noticed the $10 minimum per person notice at the bottom of the menu. That left us with a bad taste in our mouth before we even got the food.

The nachos were barely enough for two people. And why use Parmesan cheese? We were still hungry. My friends ordered the quesadilla app ($16 I believe) and I ordered the quesadilla with guacamole ($17). We could have gotten more authentic Mexican food from Taco Bell. Very bland.Ialso noticed that the lettuce and tomatoes on my plate had Italian dressing on them. Was this Italian-Mexican fusion?

Do not let the cute atmosphere suck you in. KEEP WALKING!!!

 

More Background on The Blue Tortilla Restaurant

 

TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com once served as the official website for The Blue Tortilla Restaurant, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that operated for more than a decade in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Although the restaurant has since closed, the website remains a valuable digital artifact—capturing a moment in the town’s culinary and cultural history when authenticity, handcrafted food, and intimate hospitality defined the dining experience.

More than a simple online menu, TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com documented the philosophy, values, and lived reality of a restaurant that deliberately resisted shortcuts and trends. Today, the preserved content allows readers to understand how a small, independent establishment carved out a loyal following by prioritizing tradition, family recipes, and cultural integrity.

Ownership and Family Leadership

The Blue Tortilla Restaurant was founded and operated by Enrique and his family, whose culinary roots trace directly back to Mexico. From the beginning, ownership was not framed in corporate terms but as an extension of family life, heritage, and memory.

Enrique opened the restaurant in 2004 with a clear guiding principle: to serve the food he grew up eating, prepared the way it was prepared at home in Mexico. This approach shaped every decision—from ingredients and preparation methods to portioning, presentation, and even the language used on the website.

The restaurant was proudly described as family-run, and the site repeatedly emphasized warmth, welcome, and personal connection. Phrases such as “Mi Casa es su Casa” were not marketing slogans but statements of intent, reinforcing that diners were guests, not customers.

Location and Setting in New Hope, Pennsylvania

The Blue Tortilla Restaurant was located at 18–20 North Main Street, directly in the historic core of New Hope, PA. This location placed it among galleries, boutiques, theaters, and riverfront attractions, making it a natural destination for both locals and visitors.

New Hope is widely known for its:

  • Walkable downtown

  • Arts and performance culture

  • Weekend tourism from Philadelphia and New York

  • Proximity to Lambertville, New Jersey

Being situated on North Main Street meant the restaurant benefited from steady foot traffic, particularly during warmer months and festival weekends. The website frequently highlighted outdoor dining on the restaurant’s terraces, reinforcing its connection to the street life and seasonal rhythms of the town.

Proximity to Regional Attractions

The restaurant’s setting was especially appealing to visitors exploring the Delaware River corridor. Within a short walk were:

  • The Lambertville–New Hope Bridge

  • Canal towpaths and riverfront walks

  • Performance venues and live music spaces

  • Inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and antique shops

This proximity allowed The Blue Tortilla to function as part of a larger New Hope experience—a lunch stop after sightseeing, a relaxed dinner before a show, or a destination meal during a weekend getaway.

Culinary Philosophy and Commitment to Authenticity

Authenticity was the defining characteristic of The Blue Tortilla Restaurant, and this theme ran consistently throughout TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com.

The restaurant explicitly distinguished itself from Tex-Mex or Americanized interpretations of Mexican food. Instead, it emphasized:

  • Traditional Mexican recipes

  • Subtle, layered flavors rather than heavy spice

  • Regional influences, including Mayan and central Mexican techniques

  • Family and grandmother-inspired sauces

The site explained that many dishes were “the kind of food you can only eat when you go to Mexico,” signaling an educational intent as well as a culinary one.

Handmade Food and On-Premises Preparation

One of the restaurant’s most celebrated practices was its commitment to making food from scratch on site. According to archived descriptions:

  • All salsas were prepared in-house

  • Corn tortillas and corn chips were made fresh

  • Guacamole was prepared using an award-winning recipe

  • Margarita mix followed a long-standing family formula using fresh lime juice

The website took pride in explaining these processes, helping diners understand why prices might be higher than expected and why flavors differed from mass-produced alternatives.

Menu Highlights and Signature Dishes

Although the menu evolved seasonally, several items became strongly associated with The Blue Tortilla Restaurant.

Award-Winning Guacamole

Freshly prepared and served with house-made corn chips, the guacamole was consistently highlighted as a signature offering and one of the restaurant’s most talked-about dishes.

Enchiladas

Multiple enchilada variations were featured, including:

  • Enchiladas verdes with homemade green sauce

  • Chicken enchiladas

  • Mushroom and cheese alternatives

Several sauces were described as family or grandmother recipes, reinforcing generational continuity.

Pork Dishes

Pork prepared in salsa verde or achiote-influenced sauces drew praise for tenderness and depth of flavor, often described by diners as refined and distinctly Mexican rather than spicy for effect.

Vegetarian and Kids’ Options

Despite its traditional focus, the restaurant was inclusive in its offerings. The website clearly stated that:

  • Vegetarian dishes were available

  • Many salsas, tortillas, and chips were vegetarian

  • Kids’ meals were offered

This made the restaurant accessible to families and diners with varying preferences, without compromising its culinary identity.

BYOB Policy and Dining Experience

One of the restaurant’s most distinctive operational choices was its BYOB policy.

Guests were encouraged to bring:

  • Beer

  • Wine

  • Tequila (to pair with the house margarita mix)

The website framed this not as a cost-saving measure but as an enhancement to the experience, allowing diners to personalize their meals and enjoy a relaxed, social atmosphere.

This policy also reflected New Hope’s broader dining culture, where BYOB establishments are common and often celebrated.

Ambiance, Design, and Interior Character

The interior of The Blue Tortilla Restaurant was frequently described as:

  • Warm

  • Intimate

  • Decorated with indigenous and traditional art

Rather than adopting a themed or theatrical design, the space emphasized authenticity and comfort. Reviews often noted the charming, understated atmosphere and the feeling of dining somewhere personal rather than commercial.

Outdoor seating during warmer months extended this ambiance into the street, reinforcing the restaurant’s connection to New Hope’s lively pedestrian environment.

Customer Reviews and Public Reception

TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com preserved numerous customer reviews, offering a nuanced portrait of public reception.

Common Praise

  • Authentic flavors rarely found in the region

  • Handmade tortillas and chips

  • Guacamole and enchiladas

  • Thoughtful preparation and ingredient quality

Many diners with experience in Mexico or the American Southwest praised the restaurant for resisting Americanized shortcuts.

Common Criticism

  • Higher prices compared to portion size

  • Chips and salsa not being complimentary

  • Occasional service inconsistencies

Importantly, even critical reviews often acknowledged the quality of ingredients and the sincerity of the restaurant’s mission, suggesting that dissatisfaction was more about expectations than execution.

Pricing Philosophy and Market Position

The restaurant occupied a distinctive niche in New Hope’s dining scene.

Rather than competing with casual, inexpensive Mexican eateries, The Blue Tortilla positioned itself as:

  • A destination for authentic cuisine

  • A place for slower, more intentional dining

  • A restaurant where craft justified cost

The website did not apologize for pricing, instead educating diners about labor-intensive preparation, fresh ingredients, and traditional methods.

Seasonal Hours and Operations

The restaurant operated on seasonal hours, particularly during winter months, when it was typically open Friday through Sunday starting at 11:30 AM.

This schedule reflected both tourism patterns in New Hope and the realities of running a small, family-owned restaurant without compromising quality or overextending staff.

Press and Media Attention

While not a media spectacle, The Blue Tortilla Restaurant received attention from:

  • Local food writers

  • Regional dining guides

  • Word-of-mouth recommendations

Coverage often focused on its authenticity, BYOB model, and commitment to handmade food, positioning it as a standout option in a town known more for eclectic dining than for traditional Mexican cuisine.

Cultural and Social Significance

The Blue Tortilla Restaurant played an important cultural role in New Hope by:

  • Introducing diners to non-Tex-Mex Mexican cuisine

  • Preserving family recipes in a commercial setting

  • Creating a gathering place rooted in hospitality rather than trendiness

For many patrons, the restaurant represented a bridge between cultures—bringing Mexican culinary traditions into a small Pennsylvania river town without dilution.

Closure and Legacy

At some point after operating for many years, The Blue Tortilla Restaurant closed permanently. While the exact circumstances are not publicly detailed, its closure marked the loss of a distinctive voice in New Hope’s dining landscape.

Nevertheless, its legacy endures through:

  • Archived website content

  • Preserved menus and reviews

  • Continued fond recollections from former patrons

TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com now stands as a digital record of what the restaurant was, what it valued, and why it mattered.

Audience and Who the Restaurant Served

The restaurant attracted a diverse audience, including:

  • Local New Hope residents

  • Weekend tourists from New Jersey and New York

  • Diners seeking authentic Mexican cuisine

  • Couples and families looking for a relaxed BYOB experience

This mix reflected both the town’s demographics and the restaurant’s inclusive yet uncompromising approach.

What TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com Is Known For Today

Today, the website is known not as an active business presence, but as:

  • An archival snapshot of early-2000s independent restaurant websites

  • A preserved record of a family-run culinary venture

  • A reference point for authentic Mexican dining in the region’s past

For researchers, food historians, and former patrons, it offers a rare, detailed look at how a small restaurant communicated values before social media dominated local dining culture.

 

TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com preserves the story of a restaurant that chose tradition over convenience, authenticity over mass appeal, and hospitality over spectacle. Through its archived content, the site continues to communicate the values of its founders and the experience they worked to create.

While The Blue Tortilla Restaurant no longer operates, its digital footprint remains a meaningful testament to the power of family-run establishments, cultural integrity, and food prepared with intention.

TheBlueTortillaRestaurant.com