When you hear the word Braveheart what comes to mind? The majority of people would say, the oscar winning movie and the scottish hero William Wallace as played by actor Mel Gibson.  But in this case, I’m talking about the Braveheart Highland Pub in Hellertown, PA, where the Hellertown Hotel was formerly located. There are two pubs that co-exist at Braveheart. The Highlands is located on the main level and the entrance to the Lowlands is at the rear of the building. There is also a Scotch Lounge, where you can become a member and enjoy a fine selection of Malt and blended whiskies in a private area. The building has been beautifully renovated and is reminiscent of a traditional scottish pub. The attention to detail is tremendous and the design is impeccable.  Specifically, the high-waisted wooden booths, wrap around bar, and the lighting.

The menu at Braveheart includes a variety of scottish fare, seafood, as well as some traditional options like N.Y. Strip Steak but with a Braveheart touch.  Some higher end choices include the Guinness braised Lamb Shank and Shrimp and Lobster Pie. Our party dined on the Wallace Burger, Shepherds Pie, Scottish Meat Pie and a few pints of Guinness and Harp beer.  We were all very happy with our meals and could have gone for seconds. Our dishes came out in a timely manner and were prepared excellently.  The burger was cooked perfectly and the flavor in both the Shepherds Pie and the Meat Pie were fantastic.  This type of comfort food comes few and far between in the Lehigh Valley.

In addition to the food and drink, the Braveheart Highland Pub hosts a variety of Celtic bands (view the website calendar for dates/times) as well as parties for every occasion. The staff are friendly, fun and hardworking. Despite being short-staffed because of two parties going on in the Highlands and Lowlands areas, along with Lehigh University fans celebrating a victory, our server was also tending bar when she could. She never strayed from her server duties and checked on us whenever possible. On a side note, all the wait staff and bartenders wear kilts, which is a great marketing idea in my eyes.

The Braveheart Highland Pub motto is “Enter as strangers, leave as friends”, and that’s definitely how we felt after our dining experience.  The posters on the wall from Celtic Classics gone by display the fact Celtic ties are strong in the Valley, ties that are strengthened with the addition of this fine establishment.

The Braveheart Highland Pub is located at 430 Main Street, Hellertown, PA 18055.  For more information, go to http://www.bravehearthighlandpub.com