When you’re in the mood for some ice cream, a glass of sangria or a tray of French fries, you’re not craving just any old ice cream, sangria or French fries. You’re craving the best, so why settle for subpar? Go for the crispiest French fry in town and the best ice cream that you could eat an entire gallon of. Choose the sangria that trumps all the rest. That's what you'll find here. If you’re looking for a kick-butt trainer, somewhere fancy to take your date or a pro to fix your computer woes, you’ll find their names here, too.
Don’t just take our word for it. Take the word of over 8,000 Style readers who voted this year, and stop settling— go for the best.
Matey’s Famous Steaks & Pizza
Best Cheesesteak
Matey’s has been making—and then baking—cheesesteaks long before more well-known sandwich chains became recognized for such a delight. “It really allows all the flavors to come through,” says co-owner Michael Matey. The steak sauce is made daily, and they use rib-eye chip steak—maybe you know their bestseller, the California cheesesteak? You’ll find mayo, lettuce and tomato. “It is a bit messy, but our guests say that’s what makes it so good. Of course, we use only the ripest vegetables possible and even buy from local farmers when in season!” says Matey.
At Matey’s, there’s truly something for everyone, with more than 20 types of sandwiches to choose from, from barbecued beef or buffalo chicken to chicken with gravy and cranberry. The vegetarian offering isn’t an afterthought like it often is in many places. “It’s literally all vegetables,” says Matey. Think tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, hot and sweet peppers, onions, cheese, lettuce and mayo.
1305 Broadway, Bethlehem | 610.866.6022 | mateysfamous.com
Copperhead Grille
Best Bar Food
“I hate to say this, because it sounds cliché, but we have taken bar food to another level. It’s done the right way,” says Michael Dontas, Jr., who co-owns Copperhead Grille with his first cousin, Mike Dontas, Sr.
When it comes to hot items such as mozzarella sticks and wings, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill, cheap frozen items. “The mozzarella is cut in-house and hand-breaded and served with homemade marinara. For those wings, the chicken is locally sourced [Bell & Evans], without antibiotics or hormones. The wings are never frozen; they’re made to order,” Michael says. Those wings are available with eight different scratch-made sauces. Sweet and Sweaty, which is their mild sauce plus honey, and Venom, a habañero hot sauce, are the most requested.
The Mediterranean chicken skewers are a signature item, too, with spinach, roasted red peppers, feta and kalamata olives, served with house-made pita and a chimichurri sauce—and their own tzatziki. With 32 draft beers, drop in for happy hour, Wing Wednesday (50 cents a pop) or a late-night appetizer special and see for yourself.
5737 Rte. 378, Center Valley | 610.282.4600 | 1731 Airport Rd., Allentown | 610.403.4600 | copperheadgrille.com
Wert’s Café
Best Juicy Burger
Come for the burger and stay for the legendary, spiralized onion rings.
515 N. 18th St., Allentown | 610.439.0951 | wertscafe.com
Lehigh Pizza
Best Pizza by the Slice
It’s not just the college kids who line up—these pies taste even better after 2 a.m.
13 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.866.1088 | lehighpizza.com
Primo Hoagies
Best Hoagie with All the Fixings
Award-winning rolls and endless menu options.
Various area locations | primohoagies.com
Apollo Grill
Best Business Lunch Location
The Apollo has grown into a sophisticated yet relaxing spot for unique cocktails, refined bar food, extensive appetizer menu and American entrées with tasty twists.
85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 | apollogrill.com
Emmaus Bakery
Best Doughnuts
There’s a reason people drive for miles for these babies. The cinnamon swirl with white or chocolate icing is an all-time favorite.
415 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 610.965.2170 | emmausbakery.com
Geakers
Best Taco
At Geakers, your taco choices are beef, chicken, shrimp, fish or, yep, gator. Hands down, the beef is the most popular, thanks to its unique spices, three-hour cooking process and the family’s secret taco sauce. But this operation has sold more than 200 pounds of gator since introducing the option this past November. These zippy, hand-held items are the specialty of this family-run business, in operation since 2001, owned and operated by Kevin Geake and his son, Jared—with a little help from the rest of the family.
If you haven’t been to their taco stand in Bethlehem for tacos and a shake (or a taco dog), perhaps you’ve encountered their mobile operation, which they’ve dubbed the “Taco Tour 2016.” It’s a bit of a misnomer, as they’ve been running a mobile operation for 12 years. “We’ve found that the mobile food part of our business has exceeded our expectations, as well as the expectations of our customers, when we arrive with a tropical-themed unit complete with live palm trees and wood-carved pelicans, serving the best tacos in the Lehigh Valley,” says Jared. Find them in Bethlehem, or their mobile unit at one of 50 events.
3531 Freemansburg Ave., Bethlehem | 610.419.4869 | geakers.com
The MINT Gastropub
Best Gourmet Mac & Cheese
Though you might not find them all on the menu, The mint's mac & cheese options are endless, from truffle lobster and chipotle bacon to garden and mushroom.
1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.3810 | bethlehemmint.com
White Orchids Thai Cuisine
Best Pad Thai & Best Gluten-Free Menu
The split lobster tail Pad Thai does not disappoint!
2985 Center Valley Pkwy., Center Valley | 610.841.7499 | whiteorchidsthaicuisine.com
The Bethlehem Dairy Store
Best Ice Cream You Could Eat a Gallon Of
Whether you take yours hard, soft or as a half-gallon to go, there is no shortage of flavors to satisfy your craving.
1430 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.691.8422 | 2 Campus Square, Bethlehem | 610.865.4360 | bethlehemdairystore.com
The Taza Truck
Best Food Truck You Wish Were in Your Backyard
Indulge in authentic, natural, preservative-free Egyptian cuisine right here in the Valley.
610.442.1769 | thetazatruck.com
3rd & Ferry Fish Market
Best Bloody Mary to Cure Your Hangover
At this savory seafood restaurant—known for their raw bar, vast beer selection and late-night menu—the briny, tangy, hangover-curing cocktail fits right in. And Third & Ferry does it right, topped with shrimp and—that’s right—a crab cake slider.
56 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.1404 | thirdandferry.com
Stations Café
Best Soup
Lots of homemade, fresh and healthy fare abounds at Stations. Think local (when possible), organic, non-GMO, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. But the real talk here is the soup.
Picking a favorite soup—or a best seller, for that matter—is not easy at a place that cooks up six or seven varieties daily. “I think all of our soups have a following with our customers,” says Brian Graham, who took over the business last summer with his wife, Minh Tran. The daily offering is turkey chili, but the shrimp and roasted corn chowder, Hungarian mushroom, and white chicken chili with cilantro are all best sellers, too. And they arrive with freshly baked breadsticks—or you can have a pretzel, pretzel dog or salad with that warm bowl.
Graham, a culinary school grad, has worked in many restaurants. His wife, a longtime employee of Stations before the pair took it over, is from Vietnam. Since then, they’ve added pho and spring rolls, among other things. Soup, however, isn’t going anywhere. “I love making soup because there is so much room for creativity and experimentation,” says Graham.
559 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.625.5200 | stationscafe.com
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Best Frozen Yogurt
With endless flavors and toppings to choose from, you won’t believe this is yogurt.
3 area locations | menchies.com
The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar
Best Happy Hour Spot
If you don’t already know the crowd when you walk in, you will when you leave. Whether you go here for some serious fun or serious networking, you won’t be disappointed.
645 Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.3535 | thehamiltonkitchen.com
Blue Grillhouse
Best Outdoor Dining
The fire pit, heaters and overhead covering make Blue the ultimate spot for three seasons of impeccable outdoor dining.
4431 Easton Ave., Bethlehem | 610.691.8400 | bluegrillhouse.com
The Joint
Best Coffee Shop
Take your Insta-worthy latte photos here.
77 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.9237
Sweet Memories
Best Girls’ Lunch Location
Make a reservation for the mommy-daughter date of your dreams. Enjoy a slice of decadent cake in the place where anything girly goes!
180 Main St., Emmaus | 610.967.0296 | sweetmemories180.blogspot.com
Yocco’s
Best Hot Dog
Yocco’s has been putting together legendary hot dogs since 1922. There are lots of reasons why—they haven’t changed the formula, which owes its success in equal parts to its secret tangy chili sauce (think condiment, not a topping), and a proprietary, custom beef and pork dog that comes from Hatfield Meats, with no fillers, ever.
Newbies might be surprised that this third-generation biz, owned by Gary Iacocca and assisted by son Chris, cooks the dogs until they are “well done,” so the flavors and seasonings can caramelize. “It’s designed to complement our chili sauce, and it brings out the best in the meat and the spices. We think that it gives it better flavor,” says Gary. Their sales—two million dogs a year in six locations—tell you everything else you need to know.
Of course, you can order your dog however you want, but the Classic Everything still reigns supreme, with mustard, chopped onions and chili sauce. The true connoisseur, Gary notes, will order two Classic Everything dogs, chocolate milk and either pierogies (their second-best seller) or fries.
6 area locations | yoccos.com
Wegmans
Best Place to Grab Dinner on the Way Home
It’s easy to stop by and take advantage of the fresh salad bar, sushi, Chinese, sandwich deli and so much more; there’s a pleasantly eclectic selection. Searching for something in particular, hard to find or simply exotic? You’ll find it here.
3 area locations | wegmans.com
Billy's Downtown Diner
Best Breakfast
This Downtown Diner promises big food with even bigger flavor! The menu features a variety of “signature breakfast” items and sticks to the commitment to be “not your ordinary diner.” Make sure to “Billify” your home fries with homemade chili and cheddar cheese.
10 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.867.0105 | 840 Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.432.5484 | billysdiner.com
Easton Baking Company
Best Place for a Special Occasion Cake
From First Holy Communions to Sweet 16s, weddings and more, there is no occasion this bakery can’t handle.
34 N. 7th St., Easton | 610.252.6343
Egypt Star Bakery
Best Bread that is Totally Worth the Carbs
Enjoy fresh bread made the same way for over 80 years in century-old brick ovens operated by gas, coal and oil.
3 area locations | egyptstarbakery.com
Baby Got “Que”
Best Hometown Barbecue
This two-year-old business has undergone some serious growth, so much that co-owners Mary Shearin and Jay King have opened in a new location in downtown Allentown, in order to add something original to their award-winning barbecue—jazz. Baby Got “Que” is now known as Sugar Hill Jazz House.
“We wanted to bring something different to Allentown for a long time,” says King, who is the chef. “Here, you’ll get great entertainment and great food, in one place,” he says. (Look for local beer and wine, too.)
Baby Got “Que” has earned raves (and awards from the prestigious Kansas City Barbecue Society) for its brisket, ribs (both beef and pork), cornbread and all those homemade sides, such as potato salad, collard greens and mac and cheese. “This is the real deal,” says King. The secret? “Time and patience. You can’t do barbecue unless you are extremely patient, but you have to pay attention to the details,” says King. Shearin’s the effervescent general manager. “He’s the extremely patient one,” she says, laughing.
39 S. 9th St., Allentown | 610.841.5299 | sugarhilljazzhouse.com
Brew Works
Best Local Brewery & Best Place for a Casual Date
Dine with the Fegley’s—a.k.a., the first family of beer in the Valley. Try the pretzel sticks dipped in beer cheese; you won’t be disappointed.
569 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.882.1300 | 812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.7777 | thebrewworks.com
Mitzi's Table
Best Grilled Cheese
These brunch masters layer four types of cheese on buttery Texas toast, served with a side of creamy tomato bisque.
3650 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem | 610.730.1670 | mitzistable.com
Blondies
Best Cupcake You've Ever Tasted
Their “daily cupcake menu” spans from “chocolate lava bomb” to “lemon zinger.” Plus, they have over 20 gluten-free options.
333 Front St., Catasauqua | 610.443.1741 | blondiesfood.com
The Bayou
Best Stick-to-Your-Ribs Comfort Food
Imagine a menu filled with some of your decadent Southern favorites—from pulled pork to buttermilk fried chicken to barbecue shrimp and grits.
702 Hawthorne Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.6669 | dat-bayou.com
Keystone Pub & Grill
Best Place for Wings
Are you brave enough to take the heat? Try their ghost sauce; just don’t ask what’s in it— they’ll never tell you.
3259 Easton Ave., Bethlehem | 610.814.0400 | 1410 Grape St., Whitehall | 610.434.7600 | keystonepub.com
Corked Wine Bar and Steak House
Best Place for Wine Lovers
Think upscale, trendy nightspot with refined attention to food and drinks. Appetizers and meals are scrumptious, beautifully presented and can be paired with over 32 wines to choose from.
515 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.625.9463 | corkedwinebar.com
Tavern On Liberty
Best Beer Selection
Stop in and choose from over 400 bottles to create your own six-pack. Combined with 16 rotating drafts, they really have the largest craft beer selection in the Valley.
2246 W. Liberty St., Allentown | 484.221.8765 | tavernonliberty.com
Cheesecakes by Chester
Best Cheesecake Without the Trip to New York
You can’t go wrong with the Bodacious Blueberry Cheesecake Squares. Enjoy a mouthful of graham cracker crust, icing and blueberries in every bite.
610.428.0354 | facebook.com/cheesecakesbychester
Josh Early Candies
Best Sweet Shop for Classic Candy or Chocolates
Josh Early offers up something sweet for every season, whether it’s chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day or peanut-rolled eggs at Easter or boxes of assorted chocolates around the winter holidays. There are many reasons Josh Early still wins the hearts—and fixes the chocolate cravings—of residents, after five generations of family ownership. They believe in tradition, as their methods are 100 years old and still work. They are committed to quality. Most enjoyably, perhaps, they believe in samples.
The classics they’ve been making for decades are still there, from barks and nonpareils to chocolate-covered pretzels and peanut butter cups. However, in response to trends in the marketplace, Josh Early added the Naturals and Ultra lines in 2010. Owner Barry C. Dobil Sr. credits his son, Barry, with that idea, in response to studies about the benefits of eating dark chocolate—as the Ultra products contain 72 percent cocoa—and consumer interest in organic foods.
4640 Tilghman St., Allentown | 610.395.4321 | 3620 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem | 610.865.0580 | joshearlycandies.com
Heckenberger’s at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood
This mainstay of the market—37 years and counting—stands out for freshness, with daily deliveries and prices that work. “With everything going on in the world, we realize how hard it can be to make healthy food choices that can fit into a budget. So I keep my prices very low, to make those choices easier,” says Raymond “Bubba” Adams, who’s been running the business, named for the original owner Paul Heckenberger Sr., for 21 years.
“We are known for our seafood being 99 percent ocean- or lake-caught,” he says, with an eye toward sustainability. Heckenberger’s is also popular for its North Atlantic salmon, wild-caught haddock (from Canada) and wild-caught Gulf shrimp. No distance is too great for bringing its customers—whom Adams says they treat like family—the best catches, including Arctic char from Iceland.
1825 W. Chew St., Allentown | 610.770.0860 | fairgroundfarmersmkt.com
The Chicken Lounge
Best Nachos
Expect a pile—no, a mountain—of nachos loaded with melted Monterey jack, grilled chicken and all of the fixings you might be craving.
3247 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 610.439.1707 | facebook.com/chicken-lounge
Stahley's Family Restaurant & Sports Bar
Best Cheap Eats
You’ll find a special for everything, whether it’s $6.75 all-you-can-eat spaghetti or $0.50 wings.
1826 Hanover Ave., Allentown | 610.433.2468 | stahleys.com
The Hummus House
Best Hummus
This made-from-scratch, smooth, nutty hummus is an absolute must-try.
1502 Chew St., Allentown | 610.434.8800 | thehummushouse.com
Cali Burrito
Best Burrito
If you’ve never been there, go. Devastated residents lined up down the block when this local favorite temporarily closed.
3104 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 610.351.1791 | caliburrito.com
Black Forest Deli & Catering
Best Pierogi that Tastes Like Your Grandmother Used to Make
Get your Polish fix, sans polka.
745 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.865.3036 | bethlehemdeli.com
Shelby Stalbird, Pints and Pies
Best Female Bartender
It’s clear that Shelby Stalbird’s been working at her craft for many years—14, to be precise. She’s poured drinks and heard the stories of many patrons, who have followed her from her days at Drinky’s Pub to the now-shuttered Starters Pub at the Bethlehem Golf Club and now, at Pints and Pies. “I don’t know what it is, it just comes naturally to me. It always has. I don’t think I would be doing it this long if I didn’t love it,” she says. Still, she’s in shock—she wasn’t expecting it at all. “I don’t like being the center of attention,” she says.
Maybe it’s the friendly smile, maybe it’s because she’ll remember your name or order after just one or two visits. Working at a cozy neighborhood haunt helps, too, where there are typically two bartenders on at once and they take care of the whole place. “Everyone in Easton and Wilson knows Pints and Pies. Our customers are amazing,” she says. “We haven’t had anyone quit since we opened in 2013. We’re like a little family.”
2049 Northampton St., Easton | 610.438.1456 | pintsandpiespub.com
Grain.
Best Appetizer/ Small-Plate Menu
An array of 14 small-plate options will have your head spinning at this new gourmet addition to Hamilton Street.
536 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 484.221.9465 | grainallentown.com
Chickie’s & Pete’s
Best Crispy French Fry
There’s no question why this famous fry (crinkle-cut, sprinkled with spices and served with creamy, white cheese dipping sauce) takes the prize.
701 Hamilton St., Allentown | 484.273.4507 | chickiesandpetes.com
Tapas on Main
Best Sangria
With amazing food and even better sangria, this Bethlehem Main Street hot spot adds flair to tasty Spanish fare.
500 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.8903 | tapasonmain.com
Jenny's Kuali
Best Vegetarian Dish
BYOB and get comfortable in Jenny’s living room—literally—as she makes delicious Malaysian dishes from scratch with the freshest ingredients; it’s a revered Valley secret.
102 E. 4th St., Bethlehem | 610.758.8088 | jennyskuali.com
KOMÉ Fine Japanese Cuisine
Best Hibachi & Best Sushi
Stick around for some entertaining hibachi or take sushi to go. The Saucon Valley roll is a must-try.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.798.9888 | komerestaurant.com
