While in the area for business, I looked online for places and The Bayou had a lot of reviews with 4+ stars which is often a good indicator. After dining there, I was quite disappointed with the quality of the food, especially considering one of my items was said to be a customer favorite there. My soda was by far the best part of my meal. The gumbo was ok at best. The Nashville chicken sandwich was greasy, overcooked and I could not even taste any seasoning on it at all. It was definitely not worth the $30 price. Additionally, the waiter took it upon himself to add $10 to my tip that I found out about when I reviewed my bank statement. My initial tip of $5 was based solely on the service as the food was not good. My service and experience was absolutely not worth a 50% tip. I had to call back and talk to a manager about a refund. Apparently it was my fault when one of the vertical lines on my dollar sign was over too far and in the heat of the moment they misread it as a $15 tip despite the total at the bottom reflecting only a $5 tip. read more

LOVED it and we will definitely be back! Myself and my husband's favorite place in the US is New Orleans. This feels like they brought a lil bit of Nola to Bethlehem. The remodel turned out beautiful, the food is fantastic, and the service is incredibly friendly. This has quickly become one of our favorites ! Be sure to try the black eyed peas, gumbo, and pulled pork sandwich... They won't disappoint. Thank you very much for bringing such a cool, authentic place to the valley. See you again soon :) read more

The Bayou - Great birthday dinner! - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Their Nashville hot chicken is not what you think. It's basically fried chicken with some sort of normal hot sauce similar to Frank's poured on top. I guess the owners of this place have never had NHC before. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely is not NHC. The rest of the food was okay but I've eaten at much better places. read more

I'm going to preface this review with a disclaimer statement of "I am a born and bred jersey boy with no idea what real cajun food is supposed to taste like." First and foremost, this place has the ambiance you would expect in a restaurant straight out of NYC. Excellent attention to detail to ensure everywhere you look reminds you of what eating in a local New Orleans restaurant would be like... And not in a cheesy "hang a canoe on the wall and a Mardi gras beads" Applebee's sort of way, but in a very classy and upscale way that just makes you fall in love with it. The space isn't huge,but they make the most of the space they have and even have a gorgeous patio space that is perfect for summer evening dining. Now despite what my disclaimer says, I know what great food and great drinks taste like and this place has both. I was blown away by the food and drinks both time I visited here. The jalapeño margarita was awesome and had perfect amount of spicy kick and the apple barrel moonshine was incredibly delicious... It's like apple pie that you drink and then make poor life decisions! The food was also stellar... In the two times I've been there me and the people I was with got the buttermilk fried chicken, steamers, duck confit po'boy, mac &cheese, peanut butter mousse, and the brown sugar beignets and it was all awesome. AWESOME! That's coming from a Northerner so take it for what you will, but I can't wait to go back and hit this place up again. Also, the owner always seems to be there and I got a few minutes to talk to him and you can just tell he takes real pride in his business. read more

Tried this place today for lunch and I really like it! You can tell the owners are putting a lot of effort into making this a success! The restaurant looks great inside, they've done a good job with the decorating. They have tons of beer of tap, which will make it popular for happy hour and late night. I had the Mac n Cheese which was pretty good! I like the skillet- it's unique. If anything, I think the Mac n cheese could've used a little kick of cayenne or something to make it pop (but I'm partial to spicy foods). I also had the fries, they were delicious. Others with me had pulled pork, wings, and salmon and everyone loved their food! Can't wait to come back! p.s. Menu recommendation: add fried green tomatoes! They're a southern specialty and nobody else around here has them!? read more

First time here and will return! Had Brussels sprouts and cauliflower apps. Shared one of each between 4 of us. Both were fresh and tasty. Nice beer selection and my wife had a voodoo drink she enjoyed. Her hanger steak was nicely cooked with crisp and fresh green beans. My ox tail was nice and the corn was delicious. The beignets were delicious. I don't normally like pastries but these were hot, fresh, and very good. Definitely a desert to share with others. 3-4 people if you each want a small portion. We'll return and I'm anxious to try the fried chicken I've read about, the grits, or the mac and cheese... +++ returned one month after first visit and brought a larger group! Had the fried chicken this time and the positive reviews are true! Large portion (4 pcs) and delicious. Fries were tasty and cooked perfectly. read more

This is a perfect day drinking spot! It's out of the way, so away from the busy traffic. It was a great crowd with perfect Saturday afternoon food and drink menus. My sister die thought she was ordering extra ribs to take home. But they were exactly the way she like them, dry and plentiful! Of course we're all grown up ow so we rave of the Brussels sprouts. But um yeah. Next time we come we need to plan a stay or a long Uber ride. Much better than going to the places near the casino or in Center City Bethlehem. read more

Ordered takeout, arrived and food wasn't ready they said I could wait in car and they would bring it me. Food was still hot when I got it home. Hush puppies were delicious, we shared the brisket Mac and cheese (easily could feed 2 maybe even 3 people. It was amazing. Also had the chicken and waffles, now the waffle is nothing special but the fried chicken was by far the best I've had! read more

A great example of what a restaurant is supposed to be. Great food, a great bar and vibe throughout. We had brisket po boy, shrimp and grits, fried oysters, oxtails and THE most amazing mac n cheese ever! Great beer selection, nice courtyard also. read more

When you first walk into The Bayou, you are welcomed with a new decor that has a rustic, southern feel. There are great drafts for craft beer lovers and even more curious mason jar drinks for those who prefer mixed drinks. Overall, the bar offers a welcome and intimate setting for meeting a friend or date. The food was a tad disappointing. Not great for the cost. read more

Well I wish I could give this no stars... totally disappointed in their service. What is the purpose of having a reservation when it's 20 minutes past that time and the host so rudely tells us that there are two more tables waiting to be seated in front of us. I truly expected more from a restaurant with such high ratings. The food is good but it's not worth the poor customer service and rude staff. read more

Go Because: 1) Food is good, really good! They do an exceptional job of offering dishes that you will not find anywhere else in the Lehigh Valley. Period. For those reviewers that suggest it doesn't have the true zing of New Orleans cuisine, I would suggest that you have to provide a menu and taste that will appeal to repeat local customers, rather than tourists who will gorge themselves on food too spicy for their bodies to handle (resulting in that "I'm never eating like that again" feeling). 2) The atmosphere is fun, but busy. 3) The staff is incredible! Friendly, accommodating, and helpful. 4) Parking. Yes, I said parking. Convenient and ample. Know when going: 1) Space is small and on the loud side. Not for intimate moments. 2) Not a place to take someone that needs "Something plain" to eat, they will not appreciate the cuisine. 3) Meal with Kids? - At 8pm on a weekend there was not a patron under 20. For us on a date night without our kids this was pleasant. Probably different early in the evening but if you're one of those parents that likes to take your little ones out to eat after many of their peers are in bed, this might not be the place for that. Fitting my review of Bayou follows Scott's (since he told me we had to try it). It's always dangerous wanting to love a place on your first visit since it risks not meeting the expectations. Fortunately, Bayou met, and exceeded, them. While we appreciate the need for good restaurants to be busy (it's a sign of success), I think we secretly loathe it when you arrive on time and your table isn't ready and you can't find a spot at the bar. While this was the case last night, Bayou somehow maintains the laid back feel of the former establishment that resided there making the wait actually enjoyable. How? My opinion is that the well-lit and open (small) space lends itself to an atmosphere of cordiality that starts with one of the friendliest staffs I have seen in the Lehigh Valley. Not only were bartenders and servers great, but both managers visited our tables for more than the usual "How is your meal?" We did end up finding seats at the bar and our table, of course, was then available (only about 15 minutes after our original reservation). We had: Black Eyed Peas app - simply put, order this. Amazing! Hush Puppies - As others have said, a little too dry. Would love to see them step these up. Shrimp Po-Boy - Excellent! Hanger Steak - Amazing! Brown Sugar Beignets - Ok, how do I put this? If you are stuffed at the end of dinner, these are worth forcing down and/or taking home. If you have ever been to New Orleans think Cafe Du Monde with a brown sugar twist. Decadent and incredible. What we will definitely try next time because people were raving about it - fried chicken. We gave it a 5 because of the food, and because the atmosphere worked with the crowd that was there. What does that mean? As busy as it was one small group of loud idiots might have made the wait more taxing. read more

This place was absolutely adorable, but the food was just OK. I ordered the ribs, mac and cheese, collard greens, and brussel sprouts. The ribs were a little dry and difficult to eat (plate was too small so you felt crowded trying to eat them. Collard greens were ok, but nothing to write home about. The mac and cheese, however, was DELICIOUS. Definitely worth trying! The menu sounds fantastic though so I would love to come back and try more items on the menu. I do love me some good comfort food, it just didn't have that full craveable flavor/experience you get from BBQ/southern joints even in Chicago. read more

Loved the patio and the cocktails! Food is good and prices are okay. Definitely a place to go during the summer! read more

Trying to eat different foods and at different places while I'm in town. Found the Bayou on yelp. Parking was easy. I walked in and since I was by myself they sat me at the bar. I could not choose what to eat. I finally chose the cornbread and jambalaya. What a great choice. Cornbread was sweet and jambalaya had a good deal of Spice. Very happy with this choice. read more

The Bayou - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Drinks were nice and in mason jars, decent beer selection, the hush puppies were a nice app, but the buttermilk fried chicken stole the show! Finished it off with the peanut butter mousse, and WOW... Very nice atmosphere. Ate at the bar and the brunette bartender was cute. read more

See all

We arrived at The Bayou thinking we had made a reservation through OpenTable but the restaurant didn't have it in their system . What could have been an unpleasant introduction to a new restaurant, ended up insuring our return and leaving us with a very positive first impression. The staff handled the mixup very well and even though the place was packed we were seated almost immediately. Everyone was extremely friendly....staff and patrons and there was a fun "Cheers" vibe. The food was very good and fairly priced. The cauliflower curry was wonderful and I wish there were more vegetarian options on the menu. There is an interesting selection of beers and my martini was perfect. This restaurant is clearly a labor of love. read more

Made it to the Bayou after hearing nothing but wonderful things about it for months. Was it good? Yes. Was it amazing? No. It has a very nice ambiance and we really enjoyed the back patio. I can see it being a great place for late night drinks as they had a fire pit, and have jazz on Friday nights. Our party ordered a variety of items including pulled pork, fried chicken, and a bunch of small plates. I heard it was the best fried chicken ever, mmm not so much. Yummy yes. Noteworthy, not exactly. Maybe I have just been spoiled with too much real southern food. I enjoyed the place and the food, but it was not the life changing experience I was expecting. read more

All I can say is YUM!!!!! That corn bread is crack! The food portions are great and so is the hospitality that comes with it! Every single dish my family ordered was delicious. To start off def try the curry cauliflower read more

Ok I've been hearing great reviews about this place so I decided to try it out. It was sub par at best. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich and it was greasy and very plain. Didn't care for it at all. Service was also slow. read more

Fabulous Mac & cheese! The blue crab Binet outstanding. Nice wait staff & we could walk!

Great place. Mimosas are bomb! Definitely coming here again. Chicken and waffles are banging as well. read more

The Bayou - Outside - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

See all

I thought it would be good to update my review, as I've been back to the Bayou a few times. The food has gotten better. One or two things I really liked on their original menu are gone, but what is on the new menu is still very very tasty, and the desserts are HUGE and DELICIOUS. Also a great place for cocktails (great sazerac), and a good selection of beer. And again, they have ABITA so they win. Sat outside on the patio on a nice evening with a group of friends, and it was very pleasant. Looking forward to my next visit. They also have definitely worked out any kinks in their service they had when they first opened, so fifth star awarded. read more

My wife and I have been to The Bayou a few times and it's always good. Recently we ordered delivery because of not wanting to go out due to our newborn. I was interested to see how their takeout/delivery stacked up when compared to the in restaurant experience. I can say we were very pleased. We had the brisket po boy, mac and cheese, chicken sandwich, and of course their fries! All of it was very good! Generous portions, great flavors, and good attention to detail (browning the buns before putting the sandwich together...it's the little things). Very impressed and glad to see the quality of the food was as good out of restaurant as it is in. read more

Awesome food and great staff make this a must eat place! The staff is so professional with a great sense of humor, style and grace just like the south. Just the right amount of attentiveness without hovering over us! The food was excellent especially the collard greens, Brussel sprouts and mac and cheese. The fried chicken is stellar as well! The sweet tea is great...not traditional southern sweet tea...they use a spice tea lolike earl grey or something similar...but it's awesome!! Five stars for sure!!! read more

I had to leave the bayou after waiting an hour. My friend and I were sat and then waited for 30 min for someone to come help us. We had to ask a random worker questions about lactose free options and for a drink menu. Half an hour later no water, drink menu, or answers. There was nothing on the menu for me to eat and eventually we just got up and left (doubt they even noticed since no one cared to help us.) It's 2019. Have some allergy friendly options. read more

Anytime I want to feel like I'm down in NOLA, I just come here. It is immensely clean and so accommodating! Staff is so quick to please and help in any and every aspect! Their fried chicken with sweet potato mash is so good! Not too greasy either! Had to end the meal with some beignets. I wore black too and I didn't even care. Also, the staff were so accommodating to my friend who utilizes her wheelchair to get around! Asked if she needed help and what kind of table she preferred. Without hesitation, they pulled a chair out for her and made sure she was comfortable! Absolutely 10/10. Wish I could have given more! read more

Went for lunch a few days ago . All the food was fresh , hot , and delish ! The fried green tomatoes were amazing , and I don't even like tomatoes , ha . The cocktails were really good too . I got the berry one , I can't remember the exact name . Everyone at my table enjoyed their food . read more

As usual, Yelp's rating was right on target! This was an amazing find! Great food, super service - very cool place, too! I had been wanting Grilled Shrimp & Grits for some time! I was able to finally het them at the Bayou and they were fantastic. All my friends raved about their food too! The french fries were, fresh, real time potato's as well. Highly recommended if you're in Bethlehem...A must try if you like Cajun Cooking! read more

BEST restaurant I have been to in a long while!!!! One day I was parked in the lot right by this place and the outside smelled delicious, like BBQ ribs!!! I immediately googled because it doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside. So I grabbed hubby and we went. It's pretty small. I was told to book a reservation 2 weeks in advance to get a table during prime time. They have a bar, few tables surrounding the bar, and a few tables which do look into the kitchen. Also have about 7 tables outside which as long as its not hot that's where you sit! It's quiet and a nice setting. They really should find a new location. Being that small it is VERY noisy! But the food will make you forget about loud patrons. The drinks are amazing. I am hooked on their jalapeño margarita. All drinks are served in the Ball glasses so it's kinda rustic. Portions are decent. Food is to die for! I am very fussy and I got their famous Mac n Cheese which has so much cheese, peas, and smoked pork in it. Flavor is exceptional! Hubby got the fried chicken platter which was excellent. It was crispy, not greasy at all, and chicken was moist and delish! Salads are great as well. As for dessert we get the Beignets and they are so good we haven't wanted to try anything else yet. You get 4 big ones and they come with a ton of 10X but also a cream dipping sauce that is so good. I often want to go by and grab some for take out!! Overall it is a fantastic place! It's hard to find a good restaurant anymore that cares about what they put on a plate consistently and this place does just that. I have been back 3 times and it's always been perfection! The only feedback I can give them is to get a bigger place so when I am eating I don't have to listen to 4 guys downing shots and getting loud! Don't hesitate to go here, it's clean, great service, and nice atmosphere! read more

Stop reading this and get to the Bayou now. The most amazing everything especially the fried chicken. Words can not describe its amazingness read more

The Bayou - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Great great two thumbs up doesn't do this place justice. All I can say is eat here and buckle up for a joy ride of great food and service. Hands down best fried chicken. read more

A much needed place to add some variety in the valley. Pros: good food, good drinks, decent atmosphere. Cons: on the atmosphere, missed the mark here. Good style inside but it was pretty loud and they did next to nothing to help, all hard surfaces very close table placement. I could deal with noise but what was worse was the lighting. Dim the lights! It was like being in a dental chair in that place. Way too many lights and very bright. There is a lot of soft lighting installed but totally overrun by the bright ceiling lights. Didn't give it the cozy feel it should have. Last - too heavy on the fryer. Hush puppies were fried to the core and greasy. Same with my shrimp. Overall pretty good, just a few things to iron out. read more

The menu has a great selection but the food here is definitely "meh". The sweet potato soup was amazing but i was really disappointed with my shrimp po boy. The shrimp was soggy and it was not like any po boy I have experienced in the New Orleans area. The worst part of the experience was when my waitress delivered my drink to another person in my party and didn't realize it for about 15-20 minutes. I understand that mistakes do happen, however, instead of correcting the issue, the waitress just told her that she and the wrong drink, brought and the right one and didn't even acknowledge that I was still waiting for mine or that the drink that was meant for me was already half consumed. After trying to flag her down for about 10-15 minutes, I gave up and my friend passed the remainder of the glass down to my end of the table. When the waitress finally reappeared and one of my friends pointed out that I never actually received my glass the waitress just shrugged it off and walked away. On top of that I was still charged the 9 dollars for the drink (of which I only ever received half). I would have liked to return to sample other dishes on the menu to see if the po boy was just a fluke, but the service was so horrible I don't see myself ever returning. read more

Best meal in a month. Food was ridiculous...blackened salmon, pork belly, jalapeño grits and one of the best bowls of gumbo I've had. The server Niki was perfect, professional and kind. Well done Bayou, cheers to you and to many, many more happy patrons. read more

The Bayou - Pork belly. - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The food is great! Servers are not empowered to make decisions.... No substitutes for some odd reason... My wife simply wanted to sub out her fries for Brussel sprouts and the server had to check with the chef.... The answer was no.... Ridiculous.... The food would garner a 4 on a scale of 5.... But I wouldn't give them more than a 3 star based on the lack of customer focus and flexibility! Try Tapas on Main... Way better service and food.... Nicer atmosphere also! Their place is good... Others are great! read more

The Bayou - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

All the positive are correct and accurate. I'm here often and the consistency is solid, you will always get a great meal and service. Don't hesitate to go and enjoy this restaurant over and over. read more

I am originally from Georgia so I know good southern food. I have been in the Lehigh Valley for 15 years now and I must say hands down this place is authentic and amazing....it is a very CLOSE 2nd to my place in Atlanta (Mary Mac's). We were a party of 9 so we ordered a lot of items from the menu and shared everything. I specifically had the shrimp and grits (my all time fave) and it was AMAZING!!! I also had the jalapeno margargita and it was pleasantly surprising and good. I highly recommend. Being a bartender and server myself, I have got to say the service was stellar as was the attention from all the other staff (food runners to managers). The place is surprisingly VERY small so I would highly recommend reservations on the weekend. We were there on a Tuesday night so it wasn't too busy but I can only imagine the crowd on the weekend. There is a ton of parking across the street but no where, other than the small bar area, to wait if they do go on a wait. We sat inside but they have a beautiful patio out back. I would like to see how they utilize this space during the winter (if at all) since it is pretty small inside. Totally a 5 star place and a must visit in Bethlehem. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner on a Friday night without a reservation. We were seated right away without a problem. The waitress was very pleasant, attentive and didn't mind questions about their portion sizes or their draft menu. The small plates were more than enough for a person with a normal appetite. I had the ribs and cornbread (2 separate sides) and my husband had the bbq chicken thighs. All 3 small plates were brought home with us. The price was average for the area, but more than worth it with the quality of food and service you get here. read more

Nice small place Good appetizers Good craft beer selection and decent mixed drinks Star of the show is the Fried Chicken on a cedar plank Skip the temptation to try the other entrees you'll regret it read more