You might say Brian and Nathan Hugill were weaned on a spatula. Growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., the brothers clocked a lot of hours working in their father's restaurant and developing a passion for all things culinary. Now, as the new owners of Maxwell's on Main - or M.O.M's for short - located at 37 North Main St., the Hugills have brought their flare for providing good times and great food from their western New York roots to Doylestown.
Prior to landing in the borough, the brothers forged their own paths during their college years. And while they were separated by geography, they were together in spirit, both planning to one day follow in their father's footsteps. After reconnecting in Manhattan, the Hugills, along with two friends, opened two restaurants: the Grape and Grain, a wine bar featuring tapas-style plates, and Against the Grain, an homage to their love of craft beers. But when Nathan's wife landed a job outside the city seven years ago, he and his wife settled in Bucks County. Brian eventually followed.
Recalling his excitement from his first tour of M.O.M.'s, which stood vacant for nearly a year after Rare folded, Brian was astounded at the space he had to work with. "I couldn't help but think this place was like the Titanic," he muses, on how it was a drastic departure from their former space-starved environs of New York City. "Then we walked into the kitchen and I said, ‘We have to call Bob.'" Enter Executive Chef Robert Marchesano. An associate of the Hugills from their Manhattan days, Marchesano also cut his culinary teeth during stints in San Francisco, Chicago and New Orleans.
Marchesano and the Hugills set about designing a menu that plays on the theme of homestyle cooking. "We were looking
to create food like mom used to make but crafted from the hands of an experienced chef," says Brian. "I'd put our food next to anything you can find in the borough." Incorporating Marchesano's experience in the Crescent City, M.O.M's serves up such authentic Southern fare as fried pickles, hush puppies and etouffee, as well as beignets served with homemade coffee ice cream on Tuesday nights. "We celebrate Fat Tuesday every month," Brian adds.
Every Sunday night is Brisket Night, when Marchesano prepares and cooks his brisket for seven hours. M.O.M's Happy Hour, featuring drink and appetizer specials seven days a week, blends in another of the Hugill's passions: craft beer. "My brother and I are craft beer brewers so, we like to focus on that at M.O.M's too," Brian says. And featuring six on tap and more in cans and bottles, the bar hardly disappoints.
Ask any local about M.O.M.'s and the first thing you might hear is a story about the ghosts and supernatural goings-on within its four walls. According to legend, Rosemary, the building's resident ghost who's known to don a Blue Victorian dress, "floats" about the premises and isn't shy about making her presence known and felt. So far, Brian, who's a self-described "definite believer," has yet to come across his famous tenant or experience any of the rumored otherworldly occurrences. But eager to replace myth with natural evidence, he's excited about inviting
a team of professional ghost hunters to case his restaurant for any sign of Rosemary... or anyone who else might be lurking.
M.O.M's is already generating a growing lunchtime crowd, and the burgers have been met with rave reviews. All of their food is prepared fresh and cooked to order. The upstairs, still undergoing renovations, will soon be available for events and private parties. Brian isn't quite ready to reveal their plans for the upstairs space: but rest assured, the Hugills will certainly deliver something unique to town.
"Doylestown is great because it really caters to and embraces the mom-and-pop-type businesses," Brian says. "We couldn't be happier to be here and be part of this community. We're looking forward to making our place a favorite for years to come."
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