Exceptional as always…read more Denise took care of us, as well as the bartender, in their cool yet warm, modern establishment. The food is always exceptional. In a nutshell, the chef caters to flavor, and balanced flavor at that, which makes each dish phenomenal. I had the grilled octopus appetizer and it is the best octopus I have had since 1989. That is no lie. Their shell and cheese, small beet salad, hummus, and fall risotto special are equally fantastic in their own right. Enjoy the food, drinks, and quiet atmosphere. Whether small plates, entrees, or desserts, you have come to the right place. One of my top restaurants in eastern-Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Rye Company is a New American restaurant and whiskey bar located on Hamilton Street in…read moreAllentown. It's open Wednesday through Saturday from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM and Sunday from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM. My friend and I made our first visit early Friday evening. The service was good, and the food more than lived up to expectations. We started with tender, well-seasoned beef skewers, crispy buffalo wings over blue cheese, and perfectly cooked roasted cauliflower paired with a tasty tzatziki sauce and pickled onion. For my entree, I ordered the maple-glazed short rib. It was incredibly tender, practically melting in my mouth, and came with creamy sweet potato puree and roasted shallots. My friend ordered the rich, deeply flavorful bolognese. Although she received the small plate portion rather than the entree, it wasn't a major issue as we had more than enough food. There are still many items on the menu I'd like to try, and after such a strong first visit, I'll most certainly be back.

Came here while in town for my best friend's birthday. We were staying at the casino and wanted to…read moreget out for a bit, so we ended up in this downtown area and found this spot. Really glad we did. The area was busier and with more foot traffic than we expected, which actually made it fun for people watching. We sat outside and the vibe was just easy and welcoming. Not packed, but well attended. Service really made the night. Angel took great care of us and didn't just check in, he actually spent time with us, talked through things, and made the whole experience feel personal. The general manager (we believe his name was) Kevin came over as well and was just as engaged, calm, and genuinely open. Food-wise, the beef and chorizo meatballs were insane. Easily one of the best things we had all weekend. The steak skewers with mashed potatoes were also excellent. Great flavor, cooked right, and the presentation was really nice. We also tried the meat paella and it didn't hit the same. The meat was overcooked and the balance felt off. We shared that honestly, and both Angel and Kevin handled it incredibly well. No defensiveness at all. Kevin comped the dish right away and said he'd talk to the chef, which I respected. Drinks were fun and creative. We tried the coconut lavender and the Honeycrisp sangria. Both really unique, just a little sweet for my taste. Overall, this is a place that clearly cares about the experience. Great service, standout dishes, and they handle feedback the right way. I'd absolutely come back for those meatballs alon

Tapas on Main is a tapas bar and restaurant that opened in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in May 2011. It…read morewas founded by restaurateurs and business partners Juan Carlos Paredes and chef Rafael Palomina. Both hailing from Bogota, Colombia, the two partners own a number of restaurants both separately and together. With Tapas on Main, they brought authentic Spanish-inspired dishes to downtown Bethlehem. In February 2015, when the unit next door became available, the partners opened a French-style bistro dubbed Cachette Bistro + Creperie. With both eateries adjacent to each other, they can share the same kitchen and liquor license; it makes for easy management. Palomina serves as the executive chef for both establishments, while Luis Abundez serves as the chef de cuisine. My family and I visited Tapas on Main and Cachette Bistro + Creperie this past summer while we were visiting relatives in the area. We stopped by while exploring Main Street and it looked like a cool place to get brunch. Although we were all seated in Cachette's dining room, the staff said that we were allowed to order anything from either establishment's menu. For drinks, I ordered a "Limoncello Spritz" while my wife had a "French 75". For food, I had the "Smoked Salmon Benedict" (two poached eggs, smoked salmon, sautéed spinach, bacon crumbles and hollandaise over English muffins), my wife had the "Huevos Rancheros Crepe" (two fried eggs, chorizo, pico de Gallo, cilantro rice, black beans, jack cheese), and our sons shared the "French Toast" (fresh bananas & strawberries, maple syrup). We all really enjoyed our meal! Our extended family also enjoyed their dishes, which included the "Croque Madame" (gruyere, ham & egg sandwich, served w/ frisee & apple salad). Whether you fancy a culinary trip to Spain or France, you'll find plenty of delicious dishes at these two establishments!

Yep, it's official: THIS. PLACE. ROCKS!!…read more Everything my coworkers & I ate here was amazing, from the pierogis to the home style chicken to carrot cake trifle...all of it was top notch! The service and atmosphere are fantastic as well. I highly recommend having a meal at The Shelby next time you're hungry; it'll be the best decision you make that day.

Food - 4/5 Service - 4/5 Ambiance - 5/5…read more Short Rib Quesadillas - short rib, chef's cheese blend, and sautéed onions, served with guacamole and sour cream. Fantastic! 8.6/10 Bao Buns - house made chicken sausages, sweet chili aioli, and cilantro. 7.8/10 Shrimp Rice Bowl - teriyaki shrimp, steamed rice, sesame, kimchi, dippy egg, pickled jalapeños, bok choy, oi muchim. 7.5/10 The Shelby Burger - two four ounce local beef patties, American cheese, Shelby sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Solid. 7.7/10 French Fries - hot and crispy. 8.1/10 Chicken Parm - bucatini, crispy chicken breast, Nonna's sauce, chef's cheese blend. The chicken had crispy edges and the pasta was al dente. 8.2/10 Mac and Cheese - cavatappi pasta, Shelby cheese sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Rich, creamy, and a great table side. 8.4/10

Service was great. And food was amazing as always.. they never disappoint.. always a great…read moreenvironment

I was here for a business dinner. It's definitely a more upscale place - it certainly looked nice…read more I did try the following: - Butternut Squash Soup: Ok. I find just about all butternut squash soups taste about the same. It was fine, but not special. - Duck a l'Orange: OK. The duck itself was pretty good, the skin was crisp and the meat was tender. Everything else seemed an after thought - the parsnips, blood orange, confit and chilis - they tasted ok but felt more like random ingredients than one cohesive dish. Service was also fine. They did what would be expected, nothing more and nothing less. Overall it was a somewhat average meal. The ambiance certainly felt more upscale, and the food had the same inspiration but didn't really come through on the execution.

Delicious food! Waitress was lovely. Amazing bread and babaganoush. Tender lamb and rice pilaf…read morelike my mom would make. Will be back! Don't hesitate to go here because of the less than ideal neighborhood and street parking.

Excellent, fresh, and delicious! Don't miss this welcoming place. Fabulous food and service. The…read moreFattoush Salad reminded me of the freshest salads my grandparents served. Chicken shawarma and the Kafta sandwich had excellent spice and flavorings. And we were made to feel like welcome friends. Will definitely return next time we find ourselves in Allentown.

Love love love Can't say enough good things…read more Fantastic food, unique drinks and wonderful service. Thank you!

Five star French fries. Excellent burger. Service was SUPER friendly, which is the main reason for…read morethe high rating here, because no one wants bad service with the price of going out these days. Overall, the bill wasn't too expensive either. However, the ambience is majorly lacking for how cool the historical building looks from outside. That was a big let down after years of seeing this in passing. It feels too much like a 90s coffee shop from Friends / a poorly converted modern bank lobby with the lighting, and the floor layout lacks flow if you're sitting at the bar. It would be an improvement to see historic qualities restored to the interior, rather than bland sheet rocking, no crown molding, etc. Aside from this, we found the music to be a very distracting and random selection of early 2000s dance, pop, EDM, emo, and rock, mixed with the occasional alt rock hit that was (finally) tolerable enough to fade into the background. The room is vacuous because of the high ceilings and hard building materials, so turning the volume down a little and choosing something consistent in tone (perhaps neo soul or just sticking to alt rock) would be beneficial for the overall atmosphere. Bottom line: would return again for the food, but the atmosphere wasn't what we expected and could be improved for a cozier, vintage styled atmosphere (but that's mostly a matter of preference). Friendly service, affordable prices, and good eats go a long way.

Ive been coming here every week for the last 3 months up from lancaster and everytime without fail…read morehave bin welcomed with the big smile and exuberant energy of Ques. she has consistently provided fantastical service and most definetly needs a raise. love you ques. -huddy

Hands down, this is the BEST Southern restaurant in the area... by far. Honestly, I don't even know…read morewhere to begin. I'm from New York, and my sister moved to Pennsylvania, so she introduced me to this spot. Now every single time I visit her, I somehow end up right back here because the food is just that good. They used to have a second location that closed, but honestly, it doesn't even matter because this one was always my favorite, the food here is on another level. We always start with the Brussels sprouts, the fried green tomatoes, or the hush puppies. You simply cannot go wrong with any of them. The appetizers are always hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. And then there's the mac and cheese... absolutely to die for. Even the children's mac and cheese is ridiculously good. Creamy, cheesy, comforting, exactly how mac and cheese should be. Their salads deserve their own shoutout too. The goat cheese salad with pickled eggs is perfection, and the Caesar with cornbread croutons? Genius. It's the kind of detail you don't expect but end up craving every time you think about it. But of course, the real star of the entire place is the cornbread. Truly heavenly. They serve it warm, and the whipped butter melts right into it, it's honestly dangerous how good it is. I could eat the entire dish by myself without hesitation. The service is always great, quick, friendly, and welcoming. It's one of those places where the vibes feel just as good as the food tastes. On weekends, it does get packed, so making a reservation is probably a smart idea. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. The food, the atmosphere, the consistency, everything hits. I will always come back whenever I'm in the area, and yes... mostly because the cornbread is truly that good.

Enjoyed a date night here with a reservation on the roof top. The weather wasn't too bad although…read morethere was a slight breeze they have several warmers out on the roof top that helped with staying warm. Our server was very friendly! The drinks were good and strong lol. Our food was delicious! I had the " butchers cut" which was the steak of the day being a 20oz porterhouse I believe and my girlfriend had the grilled pork chop. We would definitely come here again!

After two recent visits, ZEST bar+grille has really stepped up in unexpected ways…read more My girlfriend and I always enjoyed the restaurant due to it food, drinks, view, and overall aesthetic, as well as its quality staff. But now, their meals have advanced to another plain. The grilled salmon was phenomenal. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, and with amazing rice and blistered tomatoes, it was an absolute treat. My girlfriend got a couple of small plates and she loved her meal as well. In the morning, we returned for brunch, which usually wasn't as good in the past. My girlfriend wanted scrambled eggs and bacon and fries. Since I was starving, I indulged in the beef poutine with onion gravy over fries and with an egg -- as well as the blistered tomatoes. Absolutely phenomenal (along with a great cappuccino). The flavors were truly incredible. Kimberly, the server who may be the best in town, took care of us, which only added to our experience. She is a stellar ambassador to ZEST. Reservations were fast and easy. Upon arrival (both times) we were seated immediately. The only strange thing had nothing to do with ZEST: Even within the restaurant, if you search for "brunch near me" or "breakfast near me," ZEST does not come up at all. That's a shame because many souls may be missing out on a fantastic experience.

We came by here during our trip to Allentown. No regrets and we loved the…read more ambience, the service was warm & welcoming, and of course the food homely & tasty. We got the kebab platters. Wife got the Turkish meatball with Chicken Adana. I got the Lamb Chops with gyro. Side order of Hummus with Turkish bread. For dessert we got plenty of their Turkish Delights all of them were devoured with their Turkish coffee. PS. I got to say the sweets have something about them that nostalgic and opens up memory cells in your brain you never thought you had lol

Stopped here for lunch this eeek upon the recommendation of my chiropractor. Loved the decor, food…read morehad some absolute standouts and service was warm and wonderful! Will definitely return. Food that's absolutely a must order include the hummus platter, with extraordinary fresh bread. and the baklava. Both are epic! I had the lunch special, which was lamb kebabs with white rice. Lamb was ok but not remarkably spiced nor that tender. But it was good. The rice was a bit mushy and there was little to no dressing on the salad nor the red cabbage on the dish. Would have loved to have had something more like rice pilaf. Requested some white yogurt dressing on the side and this brought it together. I don't think one can judge a place based on the lunch special so I will definitely be returning to try more of their entrées that they're known for. The place was packed so clearly locals know this is a good place to go!

Periogies were terrible. Hard and not hot enough. Wait staff slow! We only came for Craig Thatcher…read morewas awesome! Very cold I. Here, couldn't take my jacket off! But Craig Thatcher is awesome! On would never eat here again! Food brought across parking lot without lids to keep food warm! A joke!

We recently held a memorial reception here and were so pleased with everything! The space is…read morehistoric and interesting, the food selected from their catering menu was delicious and beautifully arranged. Glennie (manager/owner) and her staff couldn't have been nicer or easier to work with. We appreciated her flexibility and recommendations as she helped us plan the event from out of state. We highly recommend!