Only resturant in the greater Lehigh Valley worth going to. For the quality it's perhaps the best deal around, their menus are always changing and the staff is very welcoming. Sunday brunch never disappoints and the bartenders actually know what their doing. If your sick of all the awful food in the area I would look know further than Bolete. read more

Bolete Restaurant - Brunch - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

In town alone on business so I stopped in for some dinner around 6pm on a Wednesday 2/28/18 after looking at other reviews. The place was already packed and I grabbed the only seat left at the bar. They were so busy that it took them a few minutes to even acknowledge me, but once they got to me the service was very good from there on out. I ordered the calamari appetizer and the short rib dinner. The Calamari was excellent and the short rib dinner was good, but not spectacular. I'm not saying it was bad, I just didn't think it was awesome either. Overall I thought the food and the service was very good. If you're making reservations and want any chance of a quiet evening, ask to be seated in the "main restaurant" and not in the "bar area". Maybe it was just tonight, but there was a bar full of somewhat noisy people tonight. Not terribly so, but it certainly would have slightly detracted from a romantic night out with your significant other. Finally, don't come here with the expectation that some particular dish you read about here on Yelp is going to be on the menu that day. They have paper menus that have a date written on them, so it's quite obvious they are changing things up frequently, which can be refreshing and keep people coming back, but it could also be disappointing if you had your heart set on a certain dish only to find that it's not being served when you come in for dinner. Two things I would change if I were king for a day: - Remove the gnocchi from the short rib dinner. In my opinion it took away from the dish rather than added to it. No big deal. I just set them aside. In place of the gnocchi, I would suggest just a few pearl onions -- maybe 4 or 5 in the whole dish. Those two small changes would, in my opinion, perfect the short rib dinner. - Get rid of the nasty bucket full of cigarettes on the front porch. If you want to encourage people not to litter cigarettes, how about buying one of those cigarette butt containers with the skinny neck at the top. That way the cigarettes end up collected, but people don't have to see something so unappetizing right at your front door. Overall, very good. read more

Bolete has been a special spot for 3 years now. For every small life win I always celebrate here. I personally love the ambiance of sitting in the tavern room at the bar and crave that experience weekly. Besides the mouth watering food, the staff is always so welcoming and nice. Bolete will always be a special place for me! read more

Excellent food, fine service and special atmosphere. Everything we had was delicious, the starters, the entrees and the dessert. We will definitely coming back soon. You must book a table in advance, unless you're going to have a very late dinner. The other thing I liked about this place is that they don't close too early. read more

Took my mom here on a Saturday evening for her birthday. Everything was wonderful. We arrived as they were opening for dinner service and were warmly greeted and our coats taken. Food was stunning and delicious. The fresh in house baked complimentary rolls with sea salt and thyme were a wonderful start to the meal. Shared the best oysters I have ever had as an appetizer and the ham cured duck breast as my entree. My mom raved about her scallops and my brother was ready to lick his plate of shirt ribs clean. Our waitress was attentive, kind and provided fantastic service. We were too full for a full dessert order but the restaurant gave my mom a complimentary scratch made butterscotch pudding that put the meal over the top. High end yet rustic dining without pretentiousness in a beautiful setting. THE best restaurant in the Lehigh Valley and perhaps beyond. Three cheers for the entire staff at Bolete for making my mother's birthday a special evening she won't soon forget. read more

Bolete Restaurant - Ham cured duck breast - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Hands down one of the finest farm to table restaurant meals I've eaten. Unfortunately, I ate there a couple of months ago and I forgot to review....there is a new menu up for Spring. I guess, to be fair, I should go back and review individual items. I'll review what I remember. Oysters with mignette sauce. These were the first oysters where I learned to understand the term "sweet" oyster. They were also briny at the same time. Just fantastic. We also had the yellowfin tuna tartare. I wasn't a raw tuna fan, but this was just incredible. Fresh. Not fishy with crunchy cucumbers. We tried the fois Gras. So rich. So meaty and yet light and buttery. Not a huge fan, but I'd order it again! What a treat! I had the pork loin. It was, honestly, only the 2nd best pork loin(I had a Berkshire pork chop at Kelly's in Boalsburg, PA that was better). This, however was served with beets, kale and sweet potatoes. They all went so well together it's as if they were meant to be. Dessert. 2 words. Butterscotch Pudding. Incredible. Get it. I didn't think I'd like it. Not a pudding person. It alone is worth the trip. Service was spotless. Only criticism. The bar area gets too noisy. I'll be in the dining room next time. read more

Love love love Bolete. This is our third or fourth time doing curbside and it was the best! I had the crab-stuffed squash and lobster roll - summer on a plate. Heavenly. Hubs had the wild bass with amazing succotash and the tuna tartare. Can't imagine how challenging it's been for them to pivot to takeout and then the outdoor dining, and they've done it without sacrificing the quality of the food or the commitment to community. Can't wait to come back for the indoor experience - someday - and grateful to have curbside for now. read more

Bolete set the modern tone in the Lehigh Valley for comfortable high-end fare. Set in a historic wood and stone inn, the restaurant and pub have a welcoming feel. It's cozy... the realty term for "small", but the focus at Bolete is on quality. Cocktails are unique, here. Crazy, yet tasty concoctions for every palate. Smallish list for beers, plenty of well chosen wines. The menu changes frequently, and reflects the seasons quite well. Game meats in the Fall/Winter, for example. Rabbit wrapped in bacon, anyone? Portion sizes are appropriate, and the cost is probably below the mark considering the quality of ingredients and their execution. Decor is simple, rustic, and clean. No distractions. No windows to the outside, no blaring televisions, and simple, warm lighting. It feels quite welcoming on a cold Winter evening... almost as if the ancient inn wants you to be there. Bolete offers joined tables for larger parties, as well... so don't pass over it for social gathering because of its size. Tables fill fast, so reserve your seats well ahead of the date. read more

We had no idea what to expect! Have to say it was one of the best meals we have ever had! Loved the shed, it was cozy and quaint. Staff were amazing. Thank you for such a great night! read more

This was one of the best meals I've ever had. Everything was plated so artfully and the flavors were delicately balanced in all three courses. The outdoor seating had a charming atmosphere and really made for a lovely evening. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Went yesterday for first time and under COVID-19 pickup only for Mother's Day Brunch. Placed my order earlier in the week and provided my vehicle description and license plate. Showed up in parking lot at prescribed time and was delivered brunch for two - including a Mimosa Kit and flowers for the mother of my children. Went to a local park to enjoy some of the best food I have ever eaten, especially for take out. Can't wait till their doors reopen! Deserves ten stars! read more

Our only other visit to Bolete was years ago. We've tried to get reservations a few times since then, but we're not week-ahead dinner planners, so we kept striking out. In light of Bolete's recent James Beard nomination as one of the 20 best restaurants ... IN THE COUNTRY ... FOR THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW ... (let that sink in) ... we tried again this week and got lucky. After leaving the place $200 poorer, Playmate and I agreed on two things. 1. If we're going to drop $200 on a meal in the Lehigh Valley, we need to be wowed. And we were definitely wowed. 2. We regularly spend less at many other local restaurants that wow us just as much as Bolete did but that apparently haven't wowed James Beard in the least. Let's start with what the $200 bought us. Playmate had a glass of wine and a Mushroom Martini (apparently, "bolete" is Latin for "mushroom." I tasted it and immediately began wondering wonder what's Latin for, "blecchh.") I had a Manhattan and two 10 oz. drafts (relax, folks, it was over a two-hour meal). Dinner rolls were a true delicacy - soft, doughy, sweet, with sea salt sprinkled on top. I wolfed down two of them, minus the single, dainty little bite I grudgingly surrendered to you-know-who. We split an app - white bean soup. Coulda used more beans and fewer chunks of pickled beet. But the soup itself - actually more of a bisque consistency - was amazing. Entrees: Playmate went with sea bass, I got a pork chop. Both were as good as we've ever had. (Operative phrase: "as good as.") I had no intention of ordering dessert. That 2nd beer left me bloated like a beached whale. Or maybe it was the two dinner rolls. But the dessert menu had me at "Butterscotch pudding, candied pecans, fresh whipped cream ." It was the highlight of the meal. Came in a small jar -- kinda like you'd get fruit spread in. It had a creamier consistency than you normally associate with pudding. You could pour it out, if you wanted to. But the flavor was indescribably good. It's really the only part of the night that we agreed was better than anything (dessertly speaking) than we've ever had. Service? It took six or seven minutes before our waitress showed up, but she made up for it with attentiveness and a good sense of humor the rest of the night. Atmosphere? The building is 200 years old, and the owners have done their best to keep the rustic, country-inn-and-stagecoach-stop ambience. It works. We were seated next to a window, right around the corner from the main entrance. So it was a bit drafty, whenever people entered and left. But Playmate had a warm radiator right next to her, and that's all that mattered. Noise level was surprisingly high for a place of this ... ummm ... stature. We don't mind that. Kinda enjoy it, actually. But putting it out there, just in case. Bottom line: Bolete definitely deserves the praise it has received over the years. But to us, the experience wasn't noticeably better than we've had at any number of other fine-dining restaurants - whether in the Lehigh Valley or in Philly or New York. Makes us question what goes into these "Best of" contests. read more

Always, always, Bolete delights! And their COVID experience is no exception. We have done takeout several times now and everything has been totally delicious. Kudos to Chef Lee and Erin and the whole team for being able to completely reinvent their service without losing anything iin the quality! With takeout, we've actually eaten more Bolete meals than usual and are loving it! Great fish, amazing fried chicken, lobster roll(!) , it's all been great. And our daughter is in heaven with their mac and cheese and pizza on Chef Lee's crust! So glad that they are making this work. It's a real bright spot in the Valley! read more

Beautiful setting outside. Incredible food. Attentive staff. Thank you for your innovative service during this crazy time. We will be back!!

Have gone a number of times for brunch and it was awesome - essentially a nap in a bowl. Great ingredients properly prepared. Very rich but that what you expect with hash and a duck egg on top! Went tonight for dinner, first time. Was planning on doing the tasting menu, but they were closed last week and apparently not prepared to do a tasting. Was told that if I mentioned I wanted a tasting when I made the reservation, they might have been able to accommodate. Wife's oysters with carpaccio was a miss. Simply tasted like oysters with M sauce (can never remember how to spell). I had foie gras which was pretty good. Texas type toast points, greens, fruit base etc and foie gras. Foie could have been seared more and the focus being on it. Personally, my favorite thing is to have a nice piece of foie seared perfectly with a small amount of fruit glaze and a Sauterne side. Mains were scallops for the Mrs and Halibut for me. Wife did not love her scallops but I thought they were great. My halibut was good. Nice flavors throughout the dish. Overall, nice dinner, fair prices etc. just not the rock star meal we expected given the ratings and hype. Will definitely come again (and again and again) but my expectations are now lowered to "nice place, good food" vs epic "must go to place". read more

I'll start by saying that I still think Bolete is the best restaurant in the Lehigh Valley, but tonight was disappointing. It was painfully slow and I'm not sure if it was an issue with the waitstaff or if the kitchen was simply struggling to get dishes out. It took 40 minutes to get a plate of rolls, an hour to get our first courses and an hour and forty five minutes to get our second courses. The food was, as usual, very good, but the service was really not. My advice would be to dine here on week nights and avoid it on Saturdays. When the bar area and dining room are both full, it's simply a subpar experience. read more

We had a pretty fantastic experience. The food was amazing. Each dish was perfectly cooked, tasted delicious and was beautifully presented. We started with freshly baked dinner rolls topped with flaked salt, served warm with butter. Our first course included the warm mozzarella and tomato salad, oysters, tuna tartare, and crab stuffed squash blossoms. Each was unique and bursting with flavor! Everyone enjoyed their second course as well, which included the lobster roll, scallops with risotto, farm burger with chips, the pork chop, and the chicken breast. We finished with the butterscotch pudding (must try!) and the s'mores desserts! The food was divine! The outdoor private patios were lovely, lined with plants and flowers, and the service was excellent. We never felt rushed, nor did we have to wait for anything we ordered, the pace of the meal was just right. I should also mention the restaurant took every precaution to make us feel safe and comfortable. My only reason for giving 4 out of 5 starts, and if I had the option I would give 4.5 out of 5, is because of the lighting. We had a 7:30 reservation, so by 8:30 we were sitting in the dark. We could barely see what we were eating, especially my parents, who are in their early 70s and struggle with night vision in general. I understand mood lighting but you still want to see what's around you. There were only two candles provided as lighting for the table... so we had to use our cell phone flashlights and turned the napkin basket into a makeshift lampshade. It wasn't ideal. A couple strands of battery-powered twinkle lights around the top of the canopy or a few stick-on tap lights would have made a huge difference. Outside of the lighting issue -- the meal, service and decor were wonderful and we will be returning! We made another reservation in September! read more

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To say my guests and I were beyond extremely disappointed would be gross understatement. From the failures to provide the menu, "arrival instructions" and comprehensible COVID-ordering process prior to our reservation through our dining "experience" - and it was an "experience" - I am left wondering if we went to a different Bolete in Bethlehem. However, I have learned from a number of my friends since posting about my horrible experience that this is new "norm" for Bolete in this post-COVID world; yet, while I was told "everyone in the valley knows," no one seems to want to post about their experience. So while I'd like to explain, in detail, my experience, Yelp limits you to 5000 words. So, I'll limit the detail and not review all the issues with pre-ordering. When we arrived, there was a staff member waiting to show us to what they call a "bungalow" but is a shed, with plywood interior, where you get to hear all the traffic from the road, as people go by. I was a little taken-aback by the disposable eating utensils, plastic plants on the table, mason jars for drinks, including wine, and the faux bamboo plates. At this point, my guests (as well as myself) were questioning my ability to pick a nice restaurant. The waitress who came in was wearing a belly shirt on display for everyone. Quite honestly, I haven't even seen a waitress or staff wear a belly shirt at a diner or McDonalds, but apparently, it is acceptable at Bolete. But I digress. She wasn't very pleasant and seemed out of place. She told us that we're responsible to have masks on whenever server come in to serve and that we're responsible for busing our own table. We were told that the drinks were in the cooler, except for the bottle of wine, which was on the table. Upon opening it, we only found the water that I had requested for the table, the unsweatened ice tea was MIA. About 15 minutes later, a server came in with the two glasses of ice tea. While far more pleasant than the waitress, he was wearing grungy jeans. After about 45 mins, appetizers were brought out - the steak tartare and the smoked salmon. While neither were bad, neither had much flavor. Around an hour and fifteen minutes after arriving, the entrées were served. The ribeyes were decent, but far from spectacular and not worth anywhere close to $38, a piece. One was served with a steak knife and the other was not...luckily my one guest had his own knife with him...The roasted chicken was very juicy and had good, delicate flavor. The scallops were apparently the best thing of anything served, although I wouldn't know, as I am not a scallop fan. Around the hour and forty-five mark - oh yeah, did I tell you they mandate that you vacate the "bungalow" within 2 hours of arrival so they can clean it before the next guests - the dessert was served. The Key Lime pie was decent, the butterscotch pudding was at best decent but the whip-cream was clearly homemade and good, and my ice cream sandwich tasted like they bought an ice cream sandwich at a store and re-served it. For four people, the bill came to $350.00 with only $40 of that being related to alcohol. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I learned that there is a mandated 20% gratuity and a $5, per person, fee for cleaning the bungalow. Setting aside the legal issues with these practices, from a business-relations standpoint, I cannot comprehend these policies. First, I am one, who frequently tips well in excess of 20% for *good* service. In this instance, no service was provided, beyond delivering the food. We had to pour our own drinks, bus our own table, and basically wait on ourselves. What exactly warranted an obligatory $55 gratuity? Then, there is $5, per person, cleaning fee. What exactly are they doing that they would not otherwise do, if it were indoors? The inside of the bungalow is plywood...there is virtually nothing to clean! The meals we had weren't worth half the price. I've been to a LOT of other restaurants in the area and would strongly suggest that people look elsewhere, like Savory Grille in Macungie, or Appollo or Edge in Bethlehem, as just three examples. It would be far cheaper, better quality, more flavorful, and the ambiance would be worlds apart. After dinner, I posted about my experience and a number of friends responded to me that our experience was identical to theirs and that everyone in the valley knows that it is nothing like it was pre-COVID. That may be true, I don't know, but I do know that I'll never go back. read more

I found it really disturbing to me to be sitting in a shed eating off paper plates, paper bowls and plasticware but being charged normal prices. The pandemic has effected everyone, every restaurant. I prefer to eat off a real plate and real silverware. I don't think they should act as prestigious as they do. Also the portion was much less than normal. Sorry but I won't be returning to a place that I used to enjoy very much. read more

Their food is not bad at all. Atmosphere is great, great drinks. My expectations was really high so not much their fault. Food was good

This is one of the most delicious and unique places for food in the valley. The owners really know how to make amazing food, as their other restaurants also have top quality ingredients and ridiculously awesome flavors. It's worth the price for special occasions. If they offer a prix fixe menu, take them up on it, even if it's something you don't usually like or haven't tried! read more

Came here with hubby for my birthday dinner tonight. Everything from drinks, appetizers , main course and birthday dessert was excellent. Customer service was stellar. They really care that you have a wonderful experience. Thank you, Bolete!!! read more

I love there noodle restaurant so I though I would try there fine dining. Kind of disappointed. Butternut squash soup had no flavor , Bloody Mary too peppery, beer overpriced. Tuna tartare got like 6 pieces of tuna for $16, my usually happy hour spot I get the same tuna and more for $8. burger good but greasy , heartburn at night , Lucky no heart attack. Overall I thought it was just ok and expensive. I did like the locally supplied ingredients but a-lot of other places now do the same without the huge upcharge. I will stick to ramen noodles. read more

I was really looking forward to having Sunday brunch at Bolete - I'd seen all the wonderful reviews and the glowing write up in the newspaper, so my friends and I chose it for our get-together yesterday (September 29th, 2019) Atmosphere was lovely, service was great -- but our first disappointment came with the bloody mary's we all ordered. I guess I expected a little more than the plain-jane cocktail that was served with 1 olive and a lime garnish on a toothpick. For $13, it was underwhelming. My sister ordered the plum bellini and she liked it, but said it wasn't strong enough to order a second and she switched to wine. We were given a tiny plate of 4 bite-sized things that none of us knew what they were. Good thing too, because had whatever it was been delicious there would not have been enough to go around anyway. No complimentary bread or anything else. For our entrees, I ordered the "3 egg scramble" and found it lukewarm upon first bite, breakfast potatoes were not "crisp" as described in the menu, and scrambled eggs that appeared to have been sitting under a heat lamp a tad too long. My friend ordered the eggs benedict and while he wasn't bowled over by it, he finished it because (as he said) he was hungry. My sister ordered the burger and said it was fine, but nothing to write home about. We decided to splurge on dessert and were disappointed to discover our only choice was butterscotch pudding. No thank you. Doubt that I'll be returning, but hope that Bolete reads this a takes the constructive criticism under consideration. You have a beautiful establishment. But if you're written up for 5 star dining, people come with expectations! read more

Bolete used to be an amazing restaurant. It used to have some of the best food and drinks I've had- I wouldn't think twice about paying over $120 per person. I raved to everyone about this restaurant. Sadly, the Bolete today is a much different story and I do not plan to return anytime soon. First, the food and drinks were just okay, which is a FAR cry from before. The duck came out cold, the haddock came out dry, the ceviche was literally swimming in a pool of deep juice. Next, they charge you a mandatory $30 to eat outside, but that's the only place they have available even after COVID restrictions have been lifted. Additionally, they had a mandatory 20% tip, despite the fact that you weren't waited on- you had to clear and set your own table. All together, for a group of 6 people we paid over $120 in service fees. Also, everything is served in paper and plastic. HOW can you serve a $40 plate on a paper plate? Plates should have always been sanitized so I don't understand how COVID changed the material of your serve-ware. The drinks were not good and inconsistent. Some were in mason jars, some glasses, some had ice and then the same drink remade didn't. Lastly, they made the entire table order by 2pm prior to everyone getting there and for a table if 6, getting appetizer, dinner, and dessert orders organized and communicated was very burdensome. I emphasize with COVID hitting the restaurant industry hard, but I haven't experienced any other restaurant that has gone down hill this much. These people obviously knew what it was to be great before so they know that what they are doing now is not great. For them to knowingly continue to take the hard earned money of their customers only to provide mediocre service at top shelf price is disgraceful. I was honestly embarrassed to have my guests go through this experience. read more

Every year from our anniversary, my wife and I always treat ourselves to a restaurant that we would not go to on a regular basis. This year we chose Bolete. They are a farm to table restaurant that uses as many local and seasonal ingredients as possible. Whenever I could in this review, I included the name of the local farm. We arrived at 7:30 PM for our reservation and we were seated immediately. Our server tonight was Melissa. She was very attentive to us all night. She made sure that we under stood the components of our dishes and was delighted that we had such a fantastic meal. We decided to go with the Chef's Tasting Menu. If you're not familiar with what this is, you place your culinary tastes in the hands of the chef. They ask you for any dietary restrictions and after that you buckle in for the culinary ride. At $75 per person, it is worth it. Chef Chizmar started us off with an amuse bouche of Chilled Island Creek Oysters. They were just the right size, sweet, briny and the mignonette was perfect. This was the only course that was the same for both my wife and I. All the other courses we got were different and we decided to eat half and then swap. If you do the chef's tasting, please do what we did, you will not be disappointed. The next course was the Scallop and Lobster Ceviche w/ Champagne Grapes and Lime and the Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare w/ Green Apples, Cucumber and Apple Broth. Both were phenomenal. The next course was the Butternut Soup for me and the Mushroom Soup for my wife. Now I am a soup nut so these really spoke to my heart. They were so smooth and silky, they were ethereal. Next came the Pepper Crusted PA Beef Carpaccio w/ Pickled Mushrooms, Porcini Mustard and Horseradish Crème Fraiche and the House Smoked Happy Farm's Duck "Ham" w/ Farro, Both dishes really spoke to us. The duck "ham" was more like a prosciutto as it is cured, smoked and then hung before the chef serves it. Shaved thin w/ the Black Mission fig gastrique and the Keepsake Farm's Ferale Cheese, again it was perfect. The beef carpaccio was perfectly seared and the porcini mustard was a great condiment. The next course was the Seared Day Boat Maine Sea Scallop w/ pork belly ravioli, Hen of the Woods mushrooms, and Scholl's Orchards apple gastrique and the Day Boat Alaskan Halibut w/ risotto, chanterelle mushrooms and house cured bacon. The seafood was seared perfectly and the ravioli was phenomenal. Again it was a perfect course. The final savory course was the Braised Colorado Lamb Osso Bucco w/ carrots, Liberty Gardens Turnips and beech mushrooms and the Roasted Beef Ribeye. The beef cam with a twist though, the accompaniments to this dish were parsley vinaigrette, fingerling potatoes and crispy shallots. This was a brand new creation of the chef's. Thank you Chef Chizmar for this, I was amazed at your culinary mind to come up with this on the fly like you did. The lamb was perfect and the sauce that came with it was so smooth and rich. Our desert course we broke from the sharing aspect and kept them to ourselves. I had the Apple Dumpling w/ Apple Cider Granita, Cheddar Cheese Crisp and Thyme infused Crème Anglaise. My Wife had a Dark Chocolate Tart w/ Orange Sorbet and Orange Segments. The chef must have been psychic because I love apples and my wife is a chocolate fanatic. Again, it was another perfect course. The whole meal took about 3 hours to complete and we were the last to leave. I did have a chance to meet Chef Chizmar and I told him that the meal he fed us tonight was perhaps the very best meal we have ever had, including the meal my wife and I had in Italy on our honeymoon. If you have a special occasion coming up and you want to impress that special someone, please definitely consider Bolete before traveling in to NYC or Philly. read more

I'm going to kill two birds with one stone with this review, so it may get lengthy. If you're easily bored, you should stop now. I'm about to rant. So first of all, I'd like to do the direct thing first, and say Bolete is by far my favorite restaurant. Perfect for a couple of friends (Frugal Foodie), couples (Tasting Menus), and for a nice Brunch on Sunday if you are sick of the normal shrimp cocktail and run-of-the-mill omelette station. Expensive? Maybe, but you know what they say about getting what you pay for. Food for thought: comparing prices between Bolete and the other local 'fancy' (loosely used) restaurants in the area, they tend to be nearly the same. And I don't think you're getting even half of the preparation, finesse, and execution anywhere else in the valley. How many BELLS did anybody else in the Valley get? Exactly. I've had a great deal of dishes from Bolete, and not one has let me down. The dishes are like a class in palette education, raising your awareness of flavors, and unison therein. From their selection of oyster to their entrees, the bread to the stocks and sauces, and from desserts to soups, the level of attention and invention is amazingly evident. Every staff member (including front of the house) is a SUPERHERO! On to the second part. It just pains me to read reviews from people like Ricky B, and especially when it's on a place so close to my heart. I'd like to address my issues with the review, line for line... "From a nutritional standpoint, this food is indistinguishable from Mcdonalds" This sort of thing just knocks me back a step or two. I tend to wonder why Ricky would suggest that a place that serves super processed foods with genetically modified foods present in nearly every item, not to mention Transfats, stabilizers, and some of the highest sodium levels of any eating establishment would be on the same level as an establishment offering food with NONE of the above? Funny that you see fats and cholesterol as your only concern, evidently they don't teach any progressive nutrition at your college. Maybe I'll give them a 1 star review. "So a steak, cooked in butter, topped with blue cheese crumbles, on a bed of mashed potatoes whipped with creme fraiche, butter, salt, and a side of cheesecake for dessert is the same as a cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake" Everytime I've come to Bolete, the setups are much for diverse than this, in fact, I highly doubt your description is accurate at all. I've had setups with WONDERFUL vegetable setups, and almost no starch at all. Roasted carrots, baby turnips, rye gnocchi, spinach, tons of mushrooms, spaetzel, you name it. Fresh herbs, sauces made from reduced Veal Stock, or rich emulsions (requiring very little fat at all). Might I suggest you talk to your server, and ask if the Chef can change a setup around for you before you start giving poor reviews? Refer to the old Spanish proverb "A closed mouth receives no food". "Beef tartare, cheesecake, steak, fois gras, etc, etc. are not healthy foods, even if they are organic or local. Yes, it is better for the environment. Yes, it probably tastes better. But better for you? No." The unhealthy aspects of Fois Gras, or a cheesecake may be a very important factor in eating, but the simple fact is that portions are specifically geared toward limiting that sort of excess in your dining process. Don't like that sort of thing? Why not try a different menu item. Their apps list is wide enough in scope to accommodate your needs as well as the next guy. Try the oysters, great protein, low fat, low cholesterol. Plus, they are the best East-Coasters you'll ever have, I promise. "A focus on Mediterranean based dishes rather than French inspired cuisine is the key to achieving both goals of health and tasty food" If every restaurant abided by a single cuisine standard, we'd have a whole lot of boring food, and in your case a whole lot of Feta and Oregano. Sometimes people need egg yolks, butter, cream, and raw red meat. Isn't there some measurable quality to having a meal that makes you FEEL good? Food isn't just a necessity anymore, it's a means to happiness. If I had to eat shellfish and vegetables in olive oil for the rest of my life, I may be physically happy, but I'd also be culinarily depressed, and for the most part let down by one of the best senses we've been blessed with. ...and finally "Saturated fats cause heart disease which is the predominant cause of premature death in the United States." But isn't being overly concerned with trivial things and/or stress a leading cause of 'essential hypertension'? And wouldn't that sort of thing put you at a higher risk for stroke, aneurysms, and heart failure? Funny that this whole thing is a double edged sword. So you might call me a mean guy, or maybe just a 20 something guy bitterly trying to defend his favorite spot... ...and you'd be SO right. Go waste that rhetoric in class. read more

I came in with the NYC chip on my shoulder.. thinking nothing could impress me outside of my city, but everything about this town has surprised and amazed me. Humbling, but I got over it with the delicious dishes coming out of the kitchen. The restaurant is easy to miss via GPS but once arrived, you can't imagine a better setting (stagecoach shop from the 1700s!). Of course, everything in this town has a historical provenance.. Menu changes daily so most of the stuff I'm detailing below prob won't be available. Because it was a late dinner for 2, Erin was able to get us the chef's tasting menu even though it was a Friday. It was hedonistic how much good food we had. Favorites starred - Starters: Chilled Pete's Point Oysters* Teprovich Farm's White/Green Asparagus Salad* (for me) and Rhode Island Fluke Sashimi* (for him) Teprovich Farm's Fried Green Tomato (for me) and Seared Rougie Fois Gras (for him) Chilled English Pea Soup w/ Maine Lobster (for him) and Steak Tartare* (for me) Seconds: Seared Day Boat Main Sea Scallops (for him) and Cast Iron Seared Day Boat Alaskan Halibut* (for me) LI Duck Breast* for both Sidenotes: Good rolls. Olive oil was tasty. And for a cocktail, The Remedy was perfect - tasted like a ginger candy. I've never tried so many different dishes at once. We were beyond full by the time the last course came. Everything about this meal was perfect, from the attentiveness of the servers, the timing of the meal, food, setting in the main dining hall etc. This might be my new favorite place to go... even if it is 1h45m drive out of the city. read more

If you read this review please remember the following at all times: Bolete definitely deserves five stars. It has an excellent staff and the chef is wonderfully talented, probably the best in the area. The gnocchi is perfect, not chewy, but like a little dough pillow for your tongue to rest on. If you have the chance, any meal with gnocchi as a side will be an excellent experience. Their other food is good too. That said, I do have one small bone to pick with Bolete that has been really bothering me. Pretty much everything has mushrooms. I get that 'bolete' means mushroom in Latin. I understand that there are going to be a lot of mushrooms at a restaurant called Mushroom. Frankly, I really liked the mushrooms dishes... the first time. Bolete is a wonderful restaurant, easily one of the best in the area. This means that I want to go there often. I just can't though. Everything tastes earthy. It is a wonderful flavor and an absolute treat, but getting it more than once every couple of months is too much. The fact that everything tastes earthy or truffled or both, gives the impression that the chef is, as far as flavor goes, kind of a one trick pony. Again I get the name of the restaurant, but seriously this chef has much too much talent to stick to one flavor profile and my only negative comment about Bolete is that the chef could branch out a little more. I will say that I have only ever made it there for dinner, so perhaps once I've had brunch my review will change. I welcome such change. read more

I fully intended to be let down by Bolete. I've found that numerous places in the Lehigh Valley are "out of this world" and then I dine there and am left wondering if those reviewers think McDonald's is a 4 star restaurant. Thankfully, Bolete did not disappoint and lived up to its expectations. My wife and I had an 8 PM reservation. After wondering if the front door was THE front door, we walked into the foyer and looked around wondering what we were supposed to do. Within a minute the hostess saw us and eventually we were seated within a few minutes, just about exactly at our seating. The waiting foyer is very small, but this is essentially a home, and can be over looked. We had every course offered. The dinner rolls were fresh, dense, and delicious. The chips as an appetizer were phenomenal. We both had mixed green salads that didn't disappoint. I had the ribeye which was cooked perfectly over greens and potatoes. My wife had scallops that were very tasty and I am not a huge seafood eater. For desert she had the goat cheese cheesecake and I the brownie. Every single item was on point from start to finish. My only minor complaints would be some ambiance items. We were seated next to the door to the kitchen, and my chair wobbled. But someone has to get that table, and the chair is supposed to be rustic. There was a light above the fireplace that kept flickering, but the house was built before electricity, so I'll let it slide. Last but not least, the bathroom fan appeared to have dust from when the house was built. That I can't let slide, but not enough to take away from 5 stars. Bottom line, all of the 5 star reviews are justified. Anything less, I'd question that reviewers knowledge of dining experience! This is not cheap dining and is worth every penny. There's a lot to be said about a place where I clean every morsel of every plate, am pleasantly full, but not stuffed. Excellent! read more

This place came highly recommended by a friend who knows that I love food and I can be a bit of a snob. Needless to say, I was impressed. Set in a very old house (excess of 200 years) and bustling with charm and sophistication is the restaurant called Bolete. Their website states that the "integrity of their ingredients defines the food." They hit that mark and stylishly I might add. The only part of the meal that fell slightly short for me was the appetizer. I felt the foie gras was just a bit overcooked on the top and the peanut butter/jam combo just seemed like an odd combination. The small pb&j toasts along side of the foie gras were very tasty, along with the bed of arugula it was on. The main portion of the app fell a bit short. My entree was the seared duck breast. The portion of the duck was a tad smaller than I would have liked but I might just be a glutton for duck. I believe it was served over quinoa with figs and a very tasty sauce. The duck was perfectly cooked and very tasty. Dessert was a goat cheese cheesecake. Wow. I mean really wow. Nomtastic. Good food, great, friendly staff and a nice space. If you're up in Bethlehem, put it on your short list. read more

This is by far the best restaurant in the Lehigh valley. The food is seasonal and from local farms and is always fresh and amazing. The oysters I had last time I was in were the best thing I ever ate. They had a mignonette, slice of raw beef and crispy onions I think.. Bottom line: crack. I have been here maybe 20 times now and have never had a bad plate of anything. I am not a sweets person but holy mother of god. Get the butterscotch pudding for desert!!!!! Thank me later. This is one place where you take a bite of food and can't speak it's so delicious. I take a long time when I'm eating here because the food is so amazing I want to savor it forever! Do yourself a favor and go here for dinner or brunch or whenever and you will not be disappointed !!!! read more

The food was very fresh and excellent. I had steak tartare to start and black bass as the main course and my girlfriend had tuna tartare as a first course and bacon-wrapped rabbit in rabbit stew. Both second courses were cooked perfectly--especially the fish. For dessert, we shared chocolate butter cake and the house-made vanilla ice cream. Although it looks small, the butter cake is definitely shareable because it is basically a cube-shaped chocolate neutron star on a plate. The service was very attentive but do not come expecting a quick meal before a movie. This place is all about taking your time, enjoying the food, and actually talking to another human face-to-face. The timing of the courses allows plenty of time to savor each and let them settle before the next course comes out. It is great to have a place so close and easy to get to that is as good, if not better than more well-known restaurants we have tried in big cities. Well worth the money! read more

Well if I enjoyed a seat at the tavern bar anymore I might grow roots. We shall we begin :) For those of you who remember the Inn of the Falcon, Bolete has taken over this old stone house turned restaurant. The parking lot is a bit of a mess, needing to be paved but get over it because what waits inside more than compensates! You enter the small wooden door to the delightfully charming building that oozes character to a very small lobby. Now comes the big choice; to your right is a 'formal' dining room and to your left is the tavern area. While I have enjoyed the dining room a few times, the Tavern is really where it's at. James (staple bar keep) has a very calm and friendly demeanor that helps add to the rustic feeling of the wood and stone and modest bar. Don't let his relaxed approach fool you, the staff is extremely knowledgeable and has the menu to prove it. From a steak tartare that's to die for down to the chilled Island Creek oysters, you can't go wrong. Close your eyes and point to something on the menu, order it, you won't be disappointed. They regularly change the menu so it can fluctuate and accommodate weekly findings from the head chef. While I would love to talk about each item I've eaten here before, I don't' want to lose you...simply two thumbs up! We talked about the chow, now let's hit the drink list. Simply genius. They resurrect the art of true mixology. With homemade syrups, juices and garnishes they create concoctions that tantalize your taste buds in ways a normal drink wouldn't dream. Such unique style must be praised. Try them all, I slowly am :) The staff and atmosphere remains professional and admirably grounded after numerous mentions and features in magazines and most notably the Food Network's show "Best Thing I Ever Ate". Your best to get into the Tavern early for a seat, since it's limited and the dining area will almost always require a reservation. Must Try: Cast Iron Seared Slow Roasted Bolete Burger Don't Miss: Happy Hour Oyster Special - 1$ oysters for the first and last hour the Restaurant is opened Tuesday - Friday Best restaurant in the Lehigh Valley hand's down. read more

Ohhh man. I wanted so badly to like this place. Have been driving past here for five years. But this experience was one of those that I have to share. I called in the early afternoon to reserve a place for 2 at the Tavern. The reservationist was quite rude and actually laughed at me that I was trying to reserve a spot for that evening, indicating that the only available table was at 10. I thought it was just "the scene" and brushed it off, just assuming it was a swanky, packed place. Well we get there and stand for a bit in the lobby and four different people ask if we have a reservarion and check and recheck the book, all appearing suspicious as if we had not called earlier. We are invited to sit at the bar and wait, but as soon as we are about to order, we are told that a place has opened in fine dining. Here we were, thinking we were going to sit in the Depeche Mode playing bar area and are ushered into a four person table with broken chair cushions so thway the table is at chest length. We now feel uncomfortable ordering our pre decided tavern selections and our waitress made no qualms appearing annoyed with us all night. Here is the best part. Bread comes over. We have been waiting for our cocktails for about 20 minutes. The rolls were delicious. I partook. The waitress comes back over and made a comment about how quickly I ate the bread and proceeded to sarcastically laugh in my face. I was humiliated. The food arrived. My husbands meal was charred and unedible. Mine had this aftertaste reminiscent of old man breath. Also... They place was empty. So no need for laughs on the phone. This was one of the poorest dining experience I have had in years. It was pretentious and cost over $100 dollars for two without dessert ( we decided to flee at this point). I left actually feeling terrible about myself...like a bread munching, late rsvping, tavern menu ordering slacker. Step it up Bolete. Don't let your snobbery get in the way of your reputation, beautiful building and creative menu. Your patrons deserve better. read more

Cute little place, generally very good overall. We stopped by with a reservation for five on a Friday evening, and we split a bunch of appetizers and entrees as a group. Among the dishes I enjoyed were the tartare, the oysters, and the soft-shell crab entree, while I wish the meat entrees we ordered had a bit more flavor, the grains and vegetables that accompanied the dishes were very tasty. The bread that came as a starter was also delicious and freshly baked (especially with the salt on top), while the drinks we ordered were also balanced and tasty. The service was generally very good and the meal not too expensive; I'd definitely recommend coming here if you're in the area. read more

Best place for Sunday brunch in the Lehigh Valley, with excellent breakfast and lunch options. Great egg dishes and burgers.

Starting with the good- Bolete has a fantastic menu and absolutely amazing food. From start to finish they are high quality and fresh. There are two negatives: First: To be a vegetarian is accommodated, but involves extra steps. We had to ask specifically and there were no veggie options on the menu. Second: The staff. We were served by a male server who was not great. At all. We waited standing in the doorway almost 20 minutes past our reservation (stuff happens, no biggie) but were then seated, gave drink orders immediately, and no one came back to the table for almost half an hour. The pace of the dinner is intentionally slowed, but it seemed to be more than that when it took an hour from when we stepped in the door to when we got two beers. In the meantime we might as well have been standing in the entrance. The waiter took our food order (again, after we had to spend time inquiring about vegitarian options) then we waited another 45 minutes to an hour before it was served (again, no problem with the pace, rather just how it was managed). When we asked for a box for remaining (delicious) leftovers the waiter said "we don't do boxes, we just toss it all in the trash." Which was an attempt at humor that fell flat in delivery to the point that we actually said- no worries, just the check before he then said "I'll box these up." We did not know whether we would get boxes or not until he returned with them. Very odd behavior. We then had to ask for the check again as he dropped the boxes and walked away without leaving the check. To wrap up- Bolete management is clearly intentional in all of their decisions. The attention to detail is noticable. I want the same care and attention among the waitstaff in such a nice establishment. read more

Outstanding. Dinner at Bolete was one of the TOP 5 in over 30+ years of dining round the world. That's right, this place is just superb. Our evening was memorable in every way - from the cool iPod soundtrack that accompanied our dinner in the tavern to the inventive cocktails (dirty farmer martini anyone?!) and fortified sangria to the succession of courses and vino that followed. We enjoyed it all. Starting with a small cauldron of popcorn, followed by piping hot rolls with a nice addition of herbs and sea salt, then ultra fresh oysters to start, seared ribeye and tuna tartare for apps, striped bass and scallops on a bed of gnocchi plus local veggies for entrees and finally butterscotch pudding to end the evening. Words can't describe the freshness and quality of the ingredients, the expertise in the kitchen or the outstanding and welcoming service. Bolete has it all and then some. read more

As per most of the 5 star reviews, this place is likely the best place to eat in the LV. Food is highly artistic and crafty. Excellent tastes. The chef tastings is like a rollercoaster flavor adventure that lasts 2-3 hours. My advice is come hungry, but don't gorge yourself on the rolls because the full meal will definitely fill you up. I'm a 6'3'' 225 lb guy and I like to eat big so take my word for it. Price is what it is. You don't have an experience like this without expecting to pay for it. Only small downside was being seated by the noisier bar, but they moved us at our request as soon as a table opened in the dining room. I've heard friends of mine rant and rave about this place and couldn't really understand why. I mean, it's just food, right?! But now I understand and agree. Very well-done. read more