Archive for the ‘LV Eats’ Category

« Older Entries
LV Eats – Hometown Heroes – Bethlehem, PA
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Disco Fries and Samuel Smith? Super!

Expect to be wowed by the food, beer and prices at Hometown Heroes, a hard-working bar & grill that feels like your neighborhood pub. I consider it one of Bethlehem’s unsung treasures.

If you want to kick back with some friends, if you want to mellow out or pig out, you can do that here. If you want to ready yourself for bar hopping, you can lay the foundation here. If you’ve been out for a few hours, this is the place for a plate of disco fries.

Disco Fries = French fries with brown gravy and melted cheese.

You can thank our northern neighbors for this delicacy; in Canada this is called “poutine” and it kinda makes up for Bryan Adams. In the U.S. it’s called a most delicious solution to the munchies. If you’ve ever gone clubbing in NYC, you have probably devoured disco fries at a diner to revive yourself at the end of the night. Hometown Heroes smothers fries in savory, salty homemade gravy and melted fresh mozzarella. And you’d better say it like “mutz-a-rella.”

But before you get to the food, have a beer from the tap or bottle. Featured selections have included Guinness, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Yards Brawler, Victory Hop Devil, Lindeman’s Framboise, the elusive Leinenkugel, as well as PBR and Yuengling lager (domestic drafts are always $2!) Oh, and Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout which can sometimes be a meal in itself.

Along with the Disco Fries, my favorite appetizer is the house made tomato bruschetta with fresh mozzarella (“mutz”.)

The owners and the servers are affable yet attentive, and the food is meticulously prepared and promptly delivered to your table or the bar. Their menu offers something for everyone. Even kids, even vegetarians.

For meat lovers, though, the tasty 8 oz. Black Angus steak burger is an excellent choice. It’s as big as my face and served on a fresh crunchy roll. The heroes, several of which feature the fresh melted mutz option (which really classes up a sandwich, dontcha think?) are available in a half-size or whole. I have never seen anyone eat a whole sandwich. They are huge, not just in length but in girth. Take the Bri-Elle-T, which is a Hometown BLT with chicken tenders and ranch dressing added to it. A half-sandwich was so loaded with bacon that even I couldn’t finish it. And I love bacon! Once I ate the incredible Papa Allen: Ham, hot capicola, and tomatoes sautéed in butter then topped with melted mutz. Mamma mia. If you’re craving a hot pastrami sandwich, patronize this hometown joint instead of the Sands’ Carnegie Deli, and order a New Yorker.

Some come specifically to get the daily special hero. Like, on “Wild Card Sundays,” you can chomp on that big steak burger with three fried eggs, bacon and cheese, called the Alter Egg-o. If you eat one of these, let me know in the comments.

After a few visits to Hometown Heroes I started to crave it. And it wasn’t just because of the food. For $20 you can eat great, enjoy a few brews and have dollars left for a healthy tip and a few games of MegaMaxx. And sometimes, they even have cheesecake.

The fun superhero-themed website provides their full menu, including the daily specials and featured beers: www.heroesbethlehem.com

310 E. Goepp Street (near the intersection with Linden St, in the north side of Bethlehem)

610-317-8007

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | No Comments »

LV Eats – Snuzzles – Lyons, PA
Monday, March 1st, 2010

Do you want to be a chicken wing convert?

If so, maybe you’re like me. All your friends love chicken wings and everyone wants to get an order when you go out. You’ve tried to enjoy the neon orange mouth-burners. But somehow, you just can’t figure out why it’s better to gnaw around bones for little strips of chicken — while getting greasy sauce all over your mouth, face and fingers. — than to just eat chicken tenders. You like that initial buffalo wing flavor, until you feel like your mouth is on fire.

I know all about you. I was you. Until I went to Snuzzles. No, it’s not a stuffed animal store or a spin-off of the Snuggie, but the unique name means you aren’t likely to forget you’ve heard about it. You are likely to forget how to get there though, mostly because you’ll probably be worried your driver is taking you to some remote part of Berks County to drop you and leave you. Snuzzles is tucked away on a back road, with no other commercial buildings in sight, a few miles outside Kutztown. There’s no sign… so unless you are going with someone who knows where it is, just look out for the gravel parking lot overflowing with cars.

Once inside, Snuzzles feels like a ski lodge and biker bar morphed into one, minus the overpriced sweaters and cigarette smoke. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, expect to wait for a table, especially if you have a big party. But the wait isn’t bad at all if you enjoy a few beers at the bar. It’s hard to feel guilty about getting whatever you want at Snuzzles because everything is so reasonably priced. While they cater to families and large parties (some of their normal tables seat 12 or more), they do not cater to plastic. So bring your cash, or use the ATM in the bar area.

Snuzzles is known for its pizza and steak sandwiches, but my friends know it for its wings. This is the kind of place where you go around the table, everyone says how many wings they want, and you add up your order on a napkin. Or maybe that’s just me. But, we normally put in orders between 60 and 100 wings.. just to start.

So what’s so amazing about the wings? The wings that will convert you to be a chicken wing fanatic? The sauce is the key. Snuzzles only has one sauce… and it’s hot. No Caribbean mango pineapple spice or sweet tangy honeybee zinger sauce. But, believe me, you don’t need another sauce. I’m not one for spicy or hot foods, but I can’t get enough of this stuff.. even if my eyes are watering. It’s that good. The wings are a good size and meaty too, so you aren’t pulling at tough strings of meat that won’t part with the bone. You can get a large serving of bleu cheese or ranch, and celery, which is a must if your mouth is tender and can’t take too much heat. There’s nothing better when it comes to bar food than a hot plate of Snuzzles wings coming to your table. My mouth waters just dreaming about it. My friends and I have long tried to convince the very friendly staff to bottle it.. but no luck yet. My vegetarian friend gets a little cup of the sauce to dip her french fries in. Do I need to convince you anymore that it’s that good?

The good food doesn’t stop there. Try the fried vegetables for a not-so-good-for-you, but unique, way to get some veggies, complete with melted cheese sauce. The cheesesteaks are one of my personal favorites, but don’t miss out on perusing the page of the menu with the customer sandwich creations. There are some creative and delicious concoctions. And the pizza is great. As if a pizza couldn’t get any better, they offer at least two pizzas that have their signature wing sauce on it. It’s heaven on a doughy, cheesy pie. If you want to be full for a week, order a stromboli and try to finish it. I dare you. I even dare two of you to finish one.

The menu is much more extensive than what I’ve listed above.. in fact it’s a colorful jumble of delicious food. So you can try something new every time! Or, if you’re like me, you’ll want to, but you’ll want your favorite too much.

Snuzzles is a great place to go with a big group of friends before a night out.. or as your night out! They have a wide selection of beer and other alcohol at the bar, and it won’t leave a huge dent in your wallet. A hint if you want to go on a weekend… go early or late. Try getting there around 4:30 or 5 for an early dinner, or wait until 8 or 8:30. You won’t have to wait nearly as long, and if you go later, you can avoid most of the children.

All in all.. if you mention Snuzzles to me, you’d better be mentioning when we’re going to go next.

Snuzzles is located at 145 Lyons Rd in Mertztown, PA. For more information, visit their website at www.snuzzles.net

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | 2 Comments »

LV Eats – The Melting Pot – Bethlehem, PA
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I Melt With You on Ladies’ Night!

If you’re like me, you thought fondue was just melted cheese or chocolate cooked over a little burner and stirred up with color coded forks. Maybe you hosted a fondue party to try to appear all cosmopolitan. Well, it’s a pain in the ass to make your own fondue, so just go to The Melting Pot for the full experience.

This national fondue chain restaurant moved onto “restaurant row” on Broad Street in downtown Bethlehem. If you’re up for a high-calorie adventure, it’s the place to go.

Basically, “fondue” is just food dipped into a pot. The Melting Pot goes beyond basic.

A nose-wrinkling smell of boiling meat is the first thing that hits me when I enter the warm, lush feeling entryway. No, that’s not the most appetizing odor. But it gets better!

I’ve been to the Melting Pot a few times. It doesn’t get any easier for me to order. It’s puzzling. To make my choices clearer, I start with a fancy drink. My favorite is the Strawberry Blonde Martini: $9 worth of champagne, strawberry vodka and fruity flavors. Sparkly! The wine list is extensive, and, expensive.

If you want to start with dessert, you must have the Yin Yang martini. But, if you do that, you might not be hungry for the dessert fondues, which to me are the top reasons to go to The Melting Pot.

First know that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your waitperson. They’ll cook everything at your table on burners. They’ll explain the process to you as they’re cooking. “Now, I’ll add the garlic.” “Let’s turn the heat down to 3.” “I’m going to flambé this chocolate now.” If you don’t like your server, your meal is going to suck. I have liked all of my servers here, they’re personable and professional.

There’s this big deal called the Big Night Out which includes a cheese fondue, a salad, an entrée and a dessert, all themed together. Right now you can get Alpine. I’ve never found this appealing but if you’ve skied Germany or Switzerland, you might enjoy reminiscing: “And after the Matterhorn, I had the best melted Gruyere and bratwurst, just like this!” I do not know what the Big Night Out costs, but I assume it’s a big price.

If you don’t want to stomach that, go a la carte. Depending on your table size, you’ll have one or two burners within easy reach and you’ll share one or two cheese fondues. You’ll spear bread cubes, apple slices and veggies with your color-coded fork. It’s so good you’ll be scraping the pot and asking for second plates of “dippers.”

The chocolate fondue choices are all heavenly. But whichever you choose, you’ll get a plate of rice krispies treats, pound cake, strawberries, brownies, marshmallows bananas and cheesecake to immerse and devour.

In between cheese and chocolate, if you desire, you can have a salad and/or an entrée.

Well, the salads are lackluster in comparison to the cooked food. And, the act of cooking raw meat and seafood in a steaming pot of boiling oil and broth directly in front of me, when there’s a chance I might undercook it, and I lose meat chunks in the pot as they mix with my dining companions’ meat chunks, well, it’s kind of weird. Is this what they do in the Alps? Really? The Melting Pot makes it as appealing as possible. You’ll select a plate of raw ingredients, which are seasoned. You select your cooking method, which is seasoned. Then you are presented with dipping sauces in case you need even more flavors. The combinations of tastes are seemingly endless and the dinner is spent trying all the food on the table, every which way. That’s part of the fun of The Melting Pot.

Fondue rules: Remember your fork color. No double dipping. Don’t let the fork touch your mouth. All of these rules are void if your dining partner is a very close friend.

When to go to The Melting Pot:

First date? I wouldn’t recommend it.

Third date? Probably not. If you have the full dinner, you might feel incredibly full, breathing garlic, and sweating from the steamy pot of oil at your table. Better to wait until at least your fourth rendezvous.

Special occasion? Absolutely. The Melting Pot makes celebrating easy on the party-planner. Make your reservations and they’ll offer you the package options of balloons, a vase of roses, photo souvenirs and more.

Business meetings? Leave the meeting at the office and break the ice here. Don’t talk business with cheese dripping down your face.

My favorite dishes:

Cheese fondue: Wisconsin Trio (Fontina, Butterkase, and Buttermilk Bleu with wine and scallions and sherry.)

Chocolate fondue: Chocolate S’mores!

Each is $16 for a pot that feeds two.

What I’m excited about:

The first Ladies’ Night at this location will be next Tuesday, February 23. Special $5 martinis and glasses of wine, special $35 per person 4-course menu! Girly friends in other cities rave about The Melting Pot’s Ladies’ Night deals. Also, join “Club Fondue” and get coupons and event notices sent to you. And, guys, Ladies’ Night might be a good time to relax at the posh bar.

The Melting Pot is one of a handful of restaurants in the Lehigh Valley for which you can make reservations conveniently on Open Table. Why talk to a live person when there’s an app for that?

The Melting Pot is located at 1 East Broad Street, Suite 100 (corner of North New Street & E. Broad) Bethlehem, PA 18018

(484) 241-4939

Link for menus and event info at this location: http://www.meltingpot.com/locations.aspx?z=18018&n=171935

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | 3 Comments »

LV Eats – Mangos Coastal Cuisine – Allentown, PA
Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Who doesn’t love Italian food? Or have a craving for Chinese every once in a while? We all do. But there comes a time when we need a change of scenery from all of that. Mangos Coastal Cuisine fulfills that change for me. Mangos is located across the street from Dorney Park in Allentown. It’s an establishment you wouldn’t expect to find so close to Dorney Park and Ice Cream World.

The design and decor of the restaurant was the first thing that caught my eye. Upon walking towards the entrance, it looks as if you’re walking into your own spanish hacienda. The wrought iron decor includes the extravagant chandeliers and wall sconces. These are perfectly placed throughout the dining area, bar, outside patio and the restrooms. The walls of the dining area have a rustic feel with a vibrant blue tile design. The bar area is separate from the dining room and is another option if there are no tables available. It’s designed as a half moon shape and has ample seating for those at happy hour and/or those who stopped by on a whim for a bite to eat.

Now, all this talk about restaurant decor is definitely important to the dining experience, but I know what you’re longing for at this moment. A refreshing mojito with just the right amount of mint, grilled chilean sea bass with brown butter mashed potatoes and a honey balsamic reduction, along with a beautifully lit dining room with great ambiance. Yes, it was fabulous. In addition to this meal, my party decided to order a few things to share. We ordered the baked lobster and crab with black bean queso dip, stuffed artichoke hearts, and lastly, the mesquite rubbed, grilled black angus porterhouse. The porterhouse came with smoked cheddar cheese mashed potatoes, bourbon demi glace and chipotle frizzled onions. The flavor didn’t disappoint to say the least. The mashed potatoes were mouth watering good! On the other hand, the stuffed artichokes (stuffed with cheddar, pepper jack and goat cheese with spicy herbed coulis) were not the typical choice for me, but I tried them. Not bad, but not something I would order on a regular basis. One of my favorites, the baked lobster and crab with black bean queso dip was a hit with my party. The dip comes with garlic whole grain crustines and tortilla chips. No other word, but delicious. To cap off the evening, I had the pineapple-infused martini. Now, If I could, I would order this any day of the week, but it’s only offered on select days.

The service at Mangos was good, the staff were knowledgeable of the menu and gave great recommendations. The menu has a glossary of items that you may have never heard of or eaten before which helps in the food selection process. We really enjoyed the environment and stayed for long after our meals were finished. The Mangos dining experience took me to the Mediterranean for the evening. All that was missing was the ocean view.

If you would like more information about Mangos, please visit their website at www.mangos-restaurant.com

Tags: , ,
Posted in Allentown, LV Eats | 2 Comments »

LV Eats – Burrito Grille – Allentown, PA
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Allentown’s Burrito Grille has a lot of expectations to live up to. Because the corporate overlords at Chipotle and Qdoba have deemed the Lehigh Valley unworthy, they’re one of only a few fresh-Mex burrito joints in town. The only other one that comes readily to mind is Cali Burrito. I’m a big fan of burritos. Any time I’m out of town Chipotle is my first choice for lunch and, if I could eat any more afterward, I’d go back for dinner too. So, as you can imagine, I was very excited when I finally got the chance to check out Burrito Grille.

Burrito GrilleAfter walking in I was a little underwhelmed. It’s probably unfair to expect a small place like Burrito Grille to come up with an interior design scheme as sleek as Chipotle’s, but most of the decorations and the furniture inside are hold overs from when there used to be a Quiznos operating out of this location. The very Quiznos I worked at in between my freshmen and sophomore years of college, I might add. Gone is the Quiznos sandwich toaster, but the pickle & pepper bar has been repurposed as a salsa bar and most of the chairs have Burrito Grille stickers over where the Quiznos logo used to be. I’m not saying they had to rip everything out and start from scratch but it would have been nice to see a little more of a change from what it used to look like inside.

But let’s get back to what’s really important here…the burritos. The menu on the wall had all the usual items you would see at any other burrito joint. Since nothing really jumped out at me as particularly unique or original, I decided to go with an old stand by that never fails, a chicken burrito. I got mine loaded up with rice, pinto beans, fresh salsa, lettuce, sour cream and cheese and a couple other varieties of salsa on the side. Keeping the burrito from falling apart was no easy task but, for the most part, proved to be pretty rewarding. It tasted good and was quite filling, plus at $6.49 it wasn’t too hard on my wallet either.

I’d like to say I loved this burrito…but I didn’t. There wasn’t anything in particular wrong with my burrito, the chicken was good, the salsa was decent, overall it worked, but for some reason I just did not love it. And I really wanted to love it too. I wanted to have another awesome burrito option in the Lehigh Valley to go alongside Cali Burrito. What I will say is this, it was a solid burrito and something that, if in the neighborhood, I would definitely order again. And that’s exactly what I’m going to recommend to you. If you live in this neck of the woods or happen to be passing through, check out the Burrito Grille. Maybe after grabbing some chocolates at Josh Early across the street, swing by for some lunch or even dinner. Just because I didn’t love my burrito doesn’t mean you won’t and you’re only gonna find out if you try it!

The Burrito Grille is located at 4791 W. Tilghman St in Allentown, PA. For more information, go to www.burritogrille.com

Tags: , , ,
Posted in LV Eats | 2 Comments »

LV Eats – Braveheart Highland Pub and Restaurant – Hellertown, PA
Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Braveheart 1When 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.

Braveheart 2In 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

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | No Comments »

LV Eats – Yianni’s Taverna – Bethlehem, PA
Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Up until now Greek cuisine in the Lehigh Valley has mostly been relegated to the the occasional gyro, Greek salad, or baklava found on the menu of a diner that happens to be owned by a Greek family. Pickings have been slim and the huge turnout at the Greek Food Festival this past September proved that Valley eaters are interested in more than just gyros.Jaw_4

Enter Yianni’s Taverna. Formerly Gus’s Cross Road’s Inn, a long time Valley establishment with a menu that was about 90% American fare and 10% Greek cuisine, Yianni’s is the end result of a face lift to both their facilities and their menu. The new menu at Yianni’s turns the tables and contains almost exclusively Greek food. Picky or unadventurous eaters need not worry, they’ll be able to find something they like on the Continental section of the menu. But please, don’t do that. You can get a burger anywhere, if you go to Yianni’s you owe it yourself to try something Greek.

The inside of Yianni’s is decorated with the colors of the Greek flag, bright blue and clean white throughout provide a welcoming and cheery atmosphere to this casual eatery. The butcher’s paper on the table is both functional and authentic to tavernas in the Greek isles. The service at Yianni’s was quick and friendly, I found our waitress to be both knowledgeable and attentive.

Jaw_3Other than the aforementioned gyros and Greek salads, I’ve not had a whole lot of experience with Greek food. That being said, it was easy to find several items on the menu that sounded so good it made my decision on what to order quite difficult. As an appetizer we ordered two homemade pork sausages and a skewer of grilled shrimp. Both appetizers were delicious, particularly the sausage which was seasoned with a unique blend of herbs and spices. As an entree I ordered the pork souvlaki; two delicious skewers of grilled and seasoned pork served with warm pita bread, tzatziki sauce and Greek fries. The first bite of the pork knocked me back on my feet and almost brought tears to my eyes. The fresh from the grill pork had a slightly charred outside that provided great flavor and sealed in the meat’s natural juices. The Greek fries were lightly fried, crispy pieces of potato heaven. The menu was reasonably priced and portions were generous…both myself and my friend took home leftovers.

Yianni’s has a full bar including a wide selection Greek ouzo, a licorice flavored liquor that is common throughout the Greek isles. Though I should point out that I was a little disappointed to find that there were no Greek beers available.

Jaw_5 Jaw_1

It’s exciting to see new restaurants come into the LV, especially when they are filling a much needed blind spot in the Valley’s dining community. At Yianni’s you’ll get a great Greek experience without all the expense of a trip to Greece.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in LV Eats, Latest | 5 Comments »

LV Eats – Liu’s House Asian & Sushi Cuisine – Allentown, PA
Thursday, November 12th, 2009

The Sushi craze is bigger than ever right now in the United States and it’s one of the most popular dinner options by far. Here in the Lehigh Valley, the choices have been slim to none when it comes to Fine Asian and Sushi Cuisine. That is, other than the common take out place, which you can find rather easily. Enter, Liu’s House.  I actually heard about Liu’s from a former coworker and she raved about it, and said I had to try it. I love Asian food, so I was ready for my Liu’s House experience!!

Liu'sLiu’s House is located at 4128 W. Tilghman Street in Allentown, a few steps away from Wegmans and Josh Early Candies. Knowing I wouldn’t have to force the husband to eat out, he was thrilled to find that we were going to try a new establishment, an Asian/Sushi one at that!

As soon as you walk in to Liu’s, you know this isn’t just a take out kind of place. The restaurant has a very clean, simple design. It is small, with a limited amount of seating, but waiting for a table is worth it.  It also has a Sushi bar and Master Chef to the side of the main seating area. This is a great option if you only need a table for one and you can see your meal being made right before your eyes.

The menu is very easy to read and understand, which is sometimes an issue coming into ethnic restaurants. We decided to order the Gyoza (pot stickers), which you can get fried or steamed, and the Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps as our appetizer. After the first bite, I knew I was going to enjoy my evening, and this meal was going to hit the spot. The Lettuce Wraps were spicy, but a good spicy. Not the type where you’re wiping your brow every five minutes. The Gyoza were fantastic and had such great flavor.

lunchmenuFor dinner, we decided on an array of Sushi. We ordered the Spicy Shrimp Roll, Scallop Tempura Roll, Spicy Rock Shrimp Avocado Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and the ever popular California Roll.  I have never tasted Sushi that has been this fresh, and fabulous.  We barely even held a conversation through dinner, it was that good. My favorite is the Spicy Shrimp Roll. I think it’s the pinch of ginger the chef puts on top that makes it melt in your mouth.  My husband really enjoyed the Scallop Tempura Roll.

The service at Liu’s was fast, courteous and professional.  The wait staff always made sure our water glasses were filled and our food came out with little to no wait time in between courses. I should add that it is a BYOB establishment, so even better. Your bill will be even less than you thought! Since my first visit, I am now a regular at Liu’s House and they have come to know me by what I order.  The quality of food and service are worth you treating yourself or a loved one. The Lehigh Valley is slowly coming into its own with the variety of restaurants popping up, and Liu’s House is a great addition.

For more information you can visit their website at www.liushouse.com.

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | 2 Comments »

LV Eats – Fiesta Ole – Emmaus, PA
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

When it comes to Mexican restaurants, Lehigh Valley diners are a very discerning bunch. You see, not just any old chain restaurant will do, both a Don Pablo’s and Chi Chi’s have gone out of business here in the Lehigh Valley. On the flip side though, many locally owned Mexican restuarants have survived and flourished in our discriminating Valley. Cactus Blue, Cali Burrito, and Fiesta Ole to name a few.

DSC02998My visit last week to Emmaus’ Fiesta Ole was kind of a spur of the moment decision. I was hungry and tired of driving by Fiesta Ole and saying, “Oh, I should check that out sometime”, so I finally did. The atmosphere when me and a friend entered was casual and relatively subdued, which is a nice change of pace to the somewhat manic vibe in many Mexican restaurants. Table service was casual, quick and low key. In other words, just what we were looking for as we watched the Phillies clinch the ALCS against the Dodgers.

For dinner I had a combination meal consisting of a chicken taco, a beef enchilada and a chile relleno. All were tasty and prepared just the way I like them, particularly the chile relleno, which was spicier than most rellenos in my previous experience. The enchilada and the taco were both solid, but nothing revelatory. The chicken fajitas my friend had were excellent; the freshly sauteed chicken, green peppers and onions were prepared perfectly and were beautifully counterbalanced by warm soft shell tortillas.

Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience at Fiesta Ole, the food was great and the service was more than adequate. I’m not the type of guy to wish anything bad on a business, corporate owned or otherwise, but it’s really nice to see an independent restaurant succeed where so many chain restaurants have failed. If you’re OK with taking a trip to Emmaus and you’re looking for some great Mexican food in the Valley, do yourself a favor and head on over to Fiesta Ole. While you’re there, try the chile relleno!

Tags: , ,
Posted in LV Eats | No Comments »

LV Eats – Bethlehem BrewWorks – Bethlehem, PA
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Bethlehem BrewWorks is not a new topic of discussion here on LV Scene, I’ve written about them before and will probably write about them again. More often than not, when I go to the BrewWorks I’m going there for a drink with friends, not for dinner. But this past weekend, myself and some friends from out of town decided to grab some dinner (and yes, drinks) at the locally famous brewpub.

Despite the fact that we showed up on a Saturday night without reservations and the dinner rush in full swing, me and my friends were seated immediately in a comfortable booth near the “fishbowl” section of the dining room. The BBW has a good number of tables and is able to accommodate lots of hungry people. Our service was courteous and quick, you’d never know we were in the middle of the dinner rush from the speed at which our entrees were brought out. The only wait that seemed longer than normal was for our dessert at the end of the meal.

For dinner, I had the 2500 Degree chicken sandwich, a delicious, yet spicy, take on the traditional buffalo chicken sandwich. The marinated chicken breast was grilled to perfection and topped with buffalo sauce, jalapeno peppers, pepper jack cheese and served on a fresh roll. For those of you who like their dinner with a little kick, I highly recommend this sandwich. But if heat isn’t your thing, there’s no need to worry. The BrewWorks has a full menu with a wide variety of burgers, steaks, salads, and pasta, I’m sure you’ll find something more your style.

A review of the BBW wouldn’t be complete without talking about their delicious brews. Bethlehem BrewWorks is known far and wide for their awesome, premise brewed beer. In my opinion, beer doesn’t get any better tasting then beer drank in the building it’s been brewed in. Don’t believe me? Order a draft from the BrewWorks and see for yourself. Saturday night I was able to enjoy the BrewWorks take on a traditional fall beer, the Oktoberfest. Not too hoppy but not too sweet, the Oktoberfest contains a subtle hint of caramel and not-s0-subtle hints of delciousness. You’re not going to find Yuengling Lager or Miller Lite at the BrewWorks, and that’s a good thing. Do yourself a favor and try whatever is in season at the Brewworks beer garden.

The BrewWorks has been been in business for over a decade, let’s hope they continue to serve Lehigh Valley diners for many more to come.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Bethlehem, LV Eats, Latest | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries