A first taste of Sangria, the region’s newest hotspot, turned up delectable five-star fare, a host of house sangrias on tap, chic metropolitan ambiance and highly trained staff, a plus in the Lehigh Valley, where often, sad to say, many servers aren’t privy to the fine menu of where they are employed.
Sangria is poised to bring Allentown’s fine dining culture back to the future with owner, Easton restaurateur George Meireles, adding fine Mediterranean to his successful collection of boutique restaurants in Easton.
Here, a few details from LV Scene’s taste test during a soft-opening Saturday.
The Look: Posh, sleek, yet friendly, Sangria’s modern interior is punctuated with designer lighting, warm hues, and roomy metropolitan bar. Dine inside or alfresco when the weather allows. Sangria is sure to alter one’s perspective of fine cuisine in the Queen City.
Appetizers: Don’t miss the Calamari Fries, large, tender calamari steak sliced and dipped in milk, batter and served with roasted tomato sauce and garlic basil aioli, sure to be voted the best of the Valley and beyond. Other winners are the Boneless Lamb Skewers with Roasted Garlic and Rosemary sauce over bed of potato straw, or Tuna Carpaccio, thin slices of seared tuna accompanied by watermelon and mint salsa.
The Sangrias: With four house recipes on “tap,” the sangria flows at Sangria. The traditional red proved to please with just the right combo of red wine, and bouquet of refreshing fruit and wine flavors, while the Silver Sangria is brilliantly clear and tasty. Even the reluctant will find favor with the sangria here.
Salads: From the Mediterranean Seafood Salad, with octopus, bay scallops and shrimp tossed with bell pepper, Kalamata olives, fresh tomatoes, parsley and red wine vinaigrette to the Caesar Salad with Parmesan or Chopped Greek Salad with Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette, salads are a must in Mediterranean fare, and great to share with and pair with one of the flat breads.
The Entrees New take on traditional Mediterranean favorites, from tasty seafood dishes, including traditional paella, to pastas, several savory lamb dishes, and beef made to order at table side, and a dose of poultry selections. Lamb chops were grilled to perfection with rosemary glaze, as was the pistachio crusted Tilapia. Exotic flat breads, including a daily special, are a must accompaniment.
The Service: Friendly attentive servers prove par excellence in knowledge of the Sangria dining and beverage menu. By the taste and look of things, Sangria is bound to please, bringing fine dining traffic to downtown Allentown.







