First. It's is like dining in a turn of the century (19th, not 20th) restaurant. The woodwork is unlike anything I have seen except for a Packer Mansion tour we did in Jim Thorpe. I mentioned this and was told that's because many of the same craftsmen worked on this place too. Made me feel smart! If you go. Do yourself a favor and walk around a bit. The food was very tasty I think it is the only restaurant I've been in locally that didn't use excessive amounts of salt. A big plus. The mixed drinks were interesting and reasonably strong. I usually quaff mine down fairly rapidly, savoring the buzz during dinner and still safely driving home after. I had potato soup, which was very good, and Ming had Beet Carpaccio, which was thinly sliced seared root veggies with seasoning. I only had a bite because she wanted it all! Then came dinner. I had the ribeye, which was done so that it was seared one the outside to keep the flavor in and red (while being cooked thru, not an easy feat) and it's was flavored but not overly salty, were unusual. I ordered my usual Worcestershire sauce to clean off the extra salt, but hardly used any. Ming had the crab cake, which was the only negative of the meal. While not overtired or salty, there was a bit of a fishy smell. Not terrible, but off putting. Luckily for me, I don't like crab anyway so I didn't have any. The desserts were good, with a tasty chocolate cake and a peach cobbler that was good but could have had a bit of peach goo to moisten it a bit. The prices were very competitive considering the venue AND the quality of the food. The bar was hopping too because it looked like a great place to hang out with friends! read more

Update on Nov 30, 2025 We have once again stayed at this beautiful place and am in awe with their attention to details and the lovely holiday decor. We stayed in the premier king with soaking tub room and everything is described to perfection from the spacious bathroom with the soaking tub to the separate get ready changing room. The overall room and establishment decor is one thing, but what elevates this establishment are the personal human connections with the attentive staffs. A huge shoutout to both Sundiata and Lou for their graciousness and hospitality skills. They along with the restaurant bartender tonight, Ashlynn, continue to make us feel like a home away from home. Having been here a few times and been to their restaurant, we highly recommend this place to both locals and visitors. read more

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From the beginning of our weekend stay until we departed, the staff was friendly and extremely helpful. The room was comfortable with an extra large bathroom with a large rain shower head. The historic nature of the Wilbur Mansion makes this an exceptional place to stay in Bethlehem. The woodwork is incredibly beautiful throughout the mansion . The food at Swift was outstanding with attentive service, and the bar, fun with wonderful, chatty bartenders. I heartily recommend staying and eating at the Wilbur Mansion when in Bethlehem! read more

This was our first time dining here. We were a group of four celebrating a birthday . We were very impressed with the hospitality of the entire staff. The complimentary birthday toast was a pleasant surprise. The food was excellent. The wine and cocktail list were great . We loved the upscale atmosphere , but down to earth vibe. It is on the pricey side , but worth it. We will certainly return. read more

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My wife and I came here for a Saturday date night with a reservation. We were immediately impressed with how nice it looked inside. We are greeted and seated immediately. We ordered drinks, a charcuterie board, entrees, and the dessert. Wait times were to be expected for everything. There were a handful of other tables in the dining room we were in, tables in other areas and outside, plus they had some kind of private event going on. The cocktails were great, not too boozy but not all filler. I had a local draft beer which is always a plus for me. The pork chop was cooked to perfection! My wife loved her salmon and said it was prepared perfectly as well. The true highlight was the chocolate cake we had. Oh my god was it good. A perfect dessert to split. Overall, we were here for just under two hours. We weren't in any kind of hurry though. I would consider the Wilbur to be more of a fine dining experience, so it's not meant to be quick. I noticed throughout that food was brought to whomever was there first, as it should be IMO. Will definitely return! read more

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Took our mom to WM for their Mother's Day brunch buffet - wow!! Incredible spread, atmosphere & service. Everything from prime rib, ham, omelette station, shrimp cocktail, homemade whipped cream, fresh fruit, salmon, waffles, sausage, chicken, charcuterie table, a wide range of yummy desserts. It was all very tasty! Looking forward to going back and trying happy hour! read more

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Attended an event yesterday. The space was beautiful. The bartender, Sarah, was helpful and super friendly. When the food came, I realized my autistic son would not have anything he liked, I asked an employee if I could order him chicken tenders from the restaurant and bring it for him. I wish I got the name of the female who went to the kitchen, came back and said, "I got you." A few minutes later she came back with the most delicious plate of chicken tenders and fries. I asked how much I owe, and she said to not worry about it. My son ate the whole plate and said they were the best chicken tenders he ever had (and he's had A LOT!) Beautiful venue, very accommodating staff, DJ was great, food was delicious. Will be planning our next date night at Swift! read more

Rarely have I walked into a place and felt so welcomed. The staff was incredible. They invited us to explore the building and its amazing evolution. (Google the chimney swifts) We are so lucky to have this in the Lehigh Valley. The cocktails were carefully curated and delightful. Our burrata appetizer was one of the best I'd ever had. Entrees were great with our favorite bottle of Chappallet Cab. This is my go to in the Lehigh Valley. read more

A group of us met up for happy hour the other night and had a great time. Drinks were around $9. However I fell for a drink on the regular menu, a smoked Paloma. I love tequila grapefruit drinks and was expecting some kind of liquid smoke flavor. However, my drink was an experience. It came with its own vessel full of what smelled like campfire smoke - so cool!! It was absolutely worth every penny. Great portion size and experience. I was a little disappointed they didn't have the shishitos listed on their menu for a snack, but in the end I didn't spoil my dinner so it worked out. I would love to come here again. Beautiful place and excellent service. read more

The Wilbur Mansion - Chimney swifts mural - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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If it were possible to give zero stars, I would. We made reservations for the Easter buffet for 4:45pm. When making the reservations we confirmed that food choices would still be available during our seating. We were assured the only difference for this seating vs any other time would be that there would be no omelette station. I guess we should have asked if any warm food would be available. We arrived in time for our reservations, sat down and waited forever for our drinks (which arrived at 5pm). The food stations were not clearly labeled. I have no idea what I ate from the salad section. When we went to get actual non salad food the sterno burners were out and everything was cold. My mom mention to the chef that the food was cold, and the chef said it wasn't. I worked in food service for many years, I'm also a human who can tell if something was warm or cold, and I can assure you it was cold. Then, a random waiter, who was not the one assigned to my table came up to tell us: "the chef has decided this is last call." We had been there for 30 minutes. Apparently, a big reservation for a table of 10 was a no show, so that meant we had to go. We sat there while servers screamed and hooted, and also tried to clear our plates that we were still eating. We paid $240 for three people, who barely got to eat! Honestly I have no problem paying the price- I do have a problem being told to pay that price, while being given less than 45 mins to eat... especially when it took 10 minutes to chew just one bite of the prime rib! We weren't even offered a doggie bag. Come on. The ham was good though. The venue is beautiful. Honestly, being pushed out in less than 45 mins wouldn't be that much of a problem if the food was even remotely good. It was awful. And I feel like I set my money on fire. And worse yet I'm freaking hungry Edit: fwiw I hope this review is not taken out on our server. He did a fine job with what he is working with read more

Overall, we did not have a good experience. After we were seated, it took over 20 m for our server to approach and give us menus. Then it took another 10m before she came back with water. She was always saying , "I will be right back"; however that was 10-15m afterwards. The manager never came over to check on our table either when he was in the same room chatting with other guests. The steak was not served as ordered and had to be sent back. We were there for 2.5 hours with most of the time spending waiting for our server. The busboy was very efficient and attentive. We were celebrating our anniversary and the only person who acknowledged that was the hostess!! For a fine dining establishment, we expected excellent service from both management as well as our server. Unfortunately, we won't be returning or be able to recommend Wilbur Mansion to our friends. In addition, we posted this same review on OpenTable and got an AI generated response from Lou, the GM. Not impressed at all, especially for the prices they charge! read more

Love that the Lehigh Valley has another nice date/event/interview spot! The renovations done in the Wilbur Mansion are stunning, and the woodwork is incredible. The menu is really inventive, and it really feels like a fancy occasion every time we are here. Their espresso martini is delicious, and the food is great too. We had the peach and yellow tomato gazpacho last time we were there, which was delicious. My shrimp scampi pasta entree was great too! And what a nice touch that they bring a little amuse bouche before your dinner. The prices are a little high for what you get, in my view, and I would love to see the place decorated with some nice textiles-- curtains, rugs, tapestries-- partly just to muffle some of the echo-y sound. But it's a great place to add into the nice dinner rotation... It's good quality food, some novel flavors, in a gorgeous historic space. Wish we had more like this in the area! read more

The food: In a word, lacking. Appetizer: Roasted mushroom flatbread. This arrived at the table warm, not hot. It was flavorful, though, and generally a very pleasing dish. Entrèes: Chicken Fettuccini Capuliato. The chicken was dry, and the pasta was overcooked such that the consistency was mushy. Chicken and pasta should not be difficult to cook properly. This could have been a good dish, but the execution was not there. Practically inedible. Blackened Mahi Mahi. This was supposed to come with a sweet and spicy apricot jam, which sounded delicious, but there was only a tiny teaspoon of it on top of the fish. The fish, itself, was overcooked and overseasoned. The blackened skin was too salty. The polenta had no flavor. The avocado mousse tasted like avocado mashed with greek yogurt, which was too tart for the dish. It came with a side salad of rainbow chard which was dressed with an oil that was way too salty. For $39, this should have been a savory yet delicate dish, but instead it lacked flavor and seemed to rely on the salt to compensate. Again, why so little jam? Disappointing. Dessert: Chocolate cake and peanut butter-chocolate cake. Both were good. Other points: The cocktail list had many options, but nothing particularly unique. The wine list was average. Beer list was extremely limited and consisted of Chimay and just a few other common (forgettable) options. Moving on to the ambiance. The architectural details of the building are attractive. The woodwork is intricate, and there are some pretty stained glass windows and tile fireplace hearths throughout. The rooms feel a bit cavernous and incomplete, though. They need plants or artwork or something. The quality of the meals did not match the price point, unfortunately. I don't think I would eat here again based on this experience. read more

I attended the Easter buffet this afternoon with my wife and children. From the moment we arrived I was in awe of how gorgeous this property is and how well it is maintained. Upon entering at our reservation time, we were promptly seated and our server Jeanine was wonderful. There were plenty of options from a salad bar, pasta station, meat station, a dessert station, and more. I appreciated that everything was clearly labeled to make it easier on my wife who has dietary restrictions. The food was wonderful and well cooked. Chef Mike was very friendly and informative of his stations. My kids loved getting to see the Easter bunny and they all received an Easter basket. I appreciated the effort that went into this event. Even though the property is not huge, the staff handled the crowds very well. I was informed that The Wilbur Mansion will be hosting an event for Mother's Day as well and I am looking forward to attending that as well with my family. read more

We decided to give the Wilbur mansion a try on a Sunday for brunch. It was not crowded. Half full at most. We had two different people greet us, neither of whom could seat us. We were seated and the building and paneling are beautiful. However, it's sorely needing some sound dampening. We could hear several conversations from other rooms across the restaurant. The service, although pleasant, was glacial. It took more than an hour to receive our food during breakfast. The server took quite long to get our order. Took our drink order, came back without drinks and asked for our main order. We waited forever for the food. Manager told us at one point it would be "2 minutes," 20 minutes later we finally had it. Food was adequate but nothing special. Orange juice was served with a ton of ice and tasted like the refrigerator. In all, the beautiful building did not make up for the slow service, loud atmosphere and nothing special food. I would skip it. read more

Decided to enjoy a dinner outdoors and the patio dining option was a winner. My wife and I split the burrata and truffle toast after ordering a couple of martinis (the Vesper was perfect). My wife had the scampi and I had the crab cakes for mains. Both excellent. Crabcakes were served with a corn and andouille base. I only ate one and took the other home for lunch. They really did a nice job landscaping the outdoor area as there are natural shrub walls dividing the dining area from the large area for receptions and also the traffic noise from the hill to hill bridge while still having views of the south side and SteelStacks. Our server Shanygne was attentive and sweet! A great place also to try for cocktails and appetizers. read more

The building and decor get a 5. The service a 2. Our server did not take or understand allergies seriously enough. She should have checked everything coming out with the kitchen and told us what was in the shared appetizers. I asked and that's how we found out. The food was meh. The fish tacos were awful. The worst I have ever had. They should simplify their menu down to what their kitchen can handle as other people's dishes were much better. Drinks were not up to par for the price. Will I go back? Yes for the experience and to see if it was an off night for the kitchen. read more

So, first time here not for a special event. Came for brunch, I ordered the eggs Benedict flight. I expected good things, I love eggs Benedict, unfortunately not good. The first time they came out it was cold, I sent it back, the second time it was also cold and I sent it back again. The chef? Manager? Not sure who she was, asked if I wanted to try something else instead. I decided to give the Benedict flight one more try, I did not realize instead of remaking fresh they must've microwaved my original order as yes it was warm but my eggs were hard boiled. My friend had crab cakes and said they were good, my drink was excellent and we all got a dessert but I don't recommend the Benedict flight. read more

The Wilbur Mansion - Eggs Benedict 3rd time served - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

We had a fabulous time at Sunday Brunch on 6/1/25. From the Maitre De' (who gave us a tour) through service at brunch. Menu and everything we had (2 benedict flights) was spectacular. Don't miss the Bloody Mary or the breakfast potatoes! read more

The Wilbur mansion has never failed us. The food was excellent and as always and the ambience of the resturant is rustic and beautiful read more

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Been wanting to try and glad we finally made it. Interesting and beautiful property. Yes, let's get it out of the way it is expensive, but no more so than other high end establishments and the service and ambiance are in line with the prices. The food was delicious, interesting, and well prepared. Everything was seasoned and cooked beautifully. Call out that gluten free choices for my wife were easy and ample. She had crab cake, which was a high pile of delicious crab meat. I had lamb steak, which was amazing. We'd definitely return. Only complaint is that the restroom is apparently shared with the event center? There was a wedding reception going on, which is great and it looks like a lovely venue, but I wanted to use the facilities as we were leaving the restaurant but after waiting in line for 10 minutes I gave up. After spending $200 for dinner for two, one ought to be able to pee... read more

The food was really good, the drinks were fun and interesting. Really liked the vibe. What made it a 5 star was the service by Sandee!

Stopped in for some apps and drinks. The atmosphere was super inviting and the drinks were exceptional! Unsure of what I was in the mood, for I threw some flavors out to the bartender, and she made a delicious drink! Will definitely be returning! read more

The Wilbur Mansion - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Easter Dinner. What is there to say. Went last year; very good. This year; never again. Prime Rib was almost raw. Had to throw out the majority of it. Ham was ok. Chicken Marsala; really? Chicken thighs with all the skin on. Beans were cold and potatoes hard. Did they bother to even check the Sterno. Dessert; frozen pies and cookies. The staff was wonderful; did the best they could do under the circumstances. The kitchen manager should take the responsibility. What were they thinking. We gave our waitress a tip well over 25%. She was great. What a shame. read more

Overpriced mediocre food. Service was great and the ambience was perfect. Bathrooms were very nice, besides being gender neutral which is a little creepy and wierd. Overall I don't think I would be back nor would I recommend it. read more

The Wilbur Mansion - Short ribs over pasta - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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My husband and I went here for our anniversary. It's always a bit nerve-wracking for me to eat at restaurants because I have so many allergies. But, once we spoke to the very nice waitress, Janine, and she checked with the chef, I had a delicious meal. I had the duck with the harvest quinoa with a delectable sauce and it was scrumptious. My husband loved his pasta with Ragu sauce meal. The manager was very friendly, and the place is really beautiful. It's a great mix of old-world charm and modern chic. We Loved it and will go back. The bartender managed to make me a mocktail (blueberries, simple syrup, mint, and club soda) but that wasn't as amazing - as it could've used more simple syrup - next time. But the food and service was terrific. read more

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Great food slow service staff was very good bar tender top notch recommend a reservation

We have been here several times but this last experience will be my last until they get a new chef and revamp the kitchen. The food was plain bad. Sit down, my napkin is dirty. It happens, I asked one of the staff if I could have another one. Never comes back. Octopus appetizers way overcooked. The eggplant caponata was good but the bread they served with it should have been toasted and not soggy. We got our appetizers and when delivered there were no plates for sharing which we had indicated we would do. Asked the sameperson that I had asked for a napkin if he could bring some. Never came back. I had to get up - as our server stopped in and then would not be seen for quite awhile - and asked someone else to get us some plates. She delivered them quickly. Shrimp scampi had no flavor. It was fussili pasta in starchy water with shrimp. Lacked seasoning badly. One of my guests asked for parmesan cheese (from the same guy we asked for other things) and never got it. My wife"s so called lobster ravioli in a vodka sauce, had minimal lobster and came with a red sauce, not vodka. Finally, I ordered the rack of lamb. looked good on menu but the execution wa terrible. i asked for it medium rare but it came out very well done and dry. I took two bites and stopped. Took me 10 minutes to flag a second server (our was MIA again) and send the dish back so they could refire. Refires should be priority in a kitchen, sat there for 15 minutes waiting. Server finally came and I told her to just cancel the lamb rack. The manager came over and was very apologetic. He actually insisted he would have it refired and not charge us for it. I tasted it when I went home and I would have been very happy if I had gotten that when I ordered it at the table. Again, the manager was very apologetic and I appreciate that. The service was also severely lacking, server would take order and not check on us after food came. Wilbur under their first chef was very good. Since he left, the quality has been declining and, to me, they have hit rock bottom. The space is beautiful but it does not make up for the poor service and the poorly made food. Disappointing how low this once solid restaurant has fallen. read more

The phrase that was said constantly during dinner time was "this place sucks" The service is slow The portions were small The drinks so expensive for the Lehigh Valley The ambience was beautiful but honestly not worth being cramped in a corner and waiting 2 hrs to eat! I wont hurry back here thats for sure. read more

We dined at the Wilbur. The atmosphere in the dinning room was average and the service was not up to par for the prices that were charged. We expected top shelf service for top shelf prices and that didn't happen. Our $62 steaks came out lukewarm and 45 mins after we ordered them. The sides were very good as was the desert. We had drinks at the bar before dinner and a good conversation with the bar keep our cocktails were $17.00. read more

We did happy hour at the bar, which was very nice. There are a lot of windows, and the natural light coming in was beautiful. It is a small bar, but very quaint. The entire place is beautiful and we walked around a little bit to take a tour of the 1st floor and basement.. it's a beautiful place for a wedding. I had to stuffed mushrooms, which were delicious. Only suggestion I have is that the chef adds a vegetarian option to the happy hour menu because my friend struggles with this at many establishments. The staff were very friendly. I'll definitely be going back. read more

We have been there twice. The food was very good. There were 2 items my wife had that were a little quirky. The ambiance is beautiful. Now the negative. After my second visit and a bill of over $500 we were asked to leave by the manager because "it was getting late and we have a brunch to serve in the morning". To me if you are going to play in the elite restaurant world you never tell guests to leave. It was 10:30 on a Friday night. read more

Wow what an amazing place. Brunch is great, drinks- spectacular. Luckily for us we booked the two bedroom suite for a girls getaway- it couldn't have been nicer. The beds are amazingly comfortable and wow -the shower and bathroom is fantastic. 10/10 would eat and stay here again. What a beautiful place and the outside area is too. The staff was terrific -so kind and helpful. Highly recommend for a couples or girls getaway!! read more

Bone in rib eye...ordered Pittsburg style. It was not that and the steakt was more like a delmonico steak. Not worth $63 at all. Nice place and atmosphere but overpriced. read more

Horrible service. They refused to cook my steak medium rare. They served me gray chewy steak. The staff was unresponsive to my requests. No dressing on the salads. Food was horrible! The bartender was good! Ill give them that. Avoid this place. Not nice people. Stay away! You read more

Was very disappointed when we went. The floors were sticky (which is a huge turn off for someone who worked in a restaurant and knows that the main floor shouldn't be sticky if you mop daily). The mahi I had was good but the polenta and avocado mousse were not and tasted only like likes. My drink was nothing to be desired. The service was nice, nothing over the top and exceptional though. read more

An incredible atmosphere to eat uniquely styled/plated food!! Cant recommend enough. The service was quick and polite! read more

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Phenomenal venue. Architecturally stunning. Valentines day dinner. Wondering bespoke cocktails, precision service, seafood cooked perfectly. Real pleasure in a lively space. Definitely will go back to check out the wooden bar. read more

Went on Valentine's Day. The service was very polite. The food took a long time to get out and a few of the plates were over cooked cause they sat around too long. Great view of Bethlehem. Great place to have a drink. read more

Positives: Service was excellent, presentation was lovely, drinks were good as well. The entire service was prompt and smooth without a hitch. Negative: the place is kind of stodgy and bland. It lacks atmosphere. Dark wood, cream walls, maybe a plant or two would be nice, or some color, I mean there is an entire rainbow out there to choose from. Even the paintings are grey. There was no sound absorption panels, after about 3 tables filled in we were all screaming over each other. For a higher class place this was odd. Now to the food.... The salads were quite delicious, everything was fresh. We had the Smoked Trout and Shrimp Scampi. The Trout lacked good flavor fusion. The squash purée tasted like baby food and all the textures were mushy. It needed crunch and zing like more lemon or citrus. The Scampi was also only okay with only a few shrimp. The pasta was cooked al dente, which was great. The presentation was nice but I felt for the prices and the build up of the place the food should have more zing. Like at least make you say 'Mmmmmm' Lastly we were served complimentary tiny desserts. 3 different types. All of which were bland and also lacked zing. I feel they've not heard of adding citrus when baking/cooking. In one word the place is okay but bland. I prefer more atmosphere when dining out. read more