Photo by Marco Calderon
Geakers Tacos
Best Taco
In addition to traditional taco choices like beef, chicken and shrimp, Geakers takes it a step further by offering fish and gator options. Spice up your taco with one of their five delicious flavors: regular, jerk, buffalo, Asian sesame or bourbon. Stop by their Bethlehem location, find them at the Lehigh Valley Zoo or keep an eye out for the Geakers food truck at various Lehigh Valley events!
3531 Freemansburg Ave., Bethlehem | 5150 Game Preserve Rd., Schnecksville | 610.419.4869 | geakers.com
Hummus House
Best Hummus
With pride in their authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, Hummus House offers delicious dishes using only the freshest ingredients to ensure the best results. In addition to their many vegetarian and vegan options, gourmet Boar’s Head sandwiches are made fresh every day for purchase.
1502 W. Chew St., Allentown | 610.434.8800 | thehummushouse.com
Egypt Star Bakery
Best Bread
Family-owned and -operated for more than 80 years, Egypt Star Bakery has been satisfying everyone’s carb cravings since the beginning! Serving only the freshest baked goods, customers can choose from sweet options like strudels, pies, scones and so much more!
Various area locations | egyptstarbakery.com
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Best Frozen Yogurt
Menchie’s offers a vast selection of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings. Make sure to check out their celebratory fro-yo cakes and their e-gift cards to give the gift of sweet!
Various area locations | menchies.com
Radish Republic
Best Specialty Grocery Store
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore. Instead of elbowing your way down crowded aisles and loading up your cart with stuff trucked in from all corners of the country, you could be getting a taste of the best the Lehigh Valley has to offer inside the vibrant, inviting space that is Radish Republic. The store, which opened along Allentown’s Arts Walk in 2019, is small—less than 2,000 square feet—but what it lacks in size it makes up for in unique, locally sourced goodies, as well as atmosphere. “We have smaller brands and producers,” says Nicole Shelly, who owns the store along with her husband, Steve. “All of our grab-and-go foods are prepared in-store from scratch in small batches. We have a brand called Holistic Vibes that makes all organic, vegan and gluten-free prepared foods here also.”
The emphasis on local extends to the décor as well. “We have original artwork throughout the store painted by a local artist, and feature local artists in the store also,” Shelly says. It’s all part of being a good neighbor and engaging with the burgeoning community around Radish Republic. “We like Allentown because we love cities and being a part of the urban scene,” she says.
21 N. 7th St., Allentown | 267.671.5340 | radishrepublic.com
Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar
Best Takeout
Notch’s takeout menu is unparalleled, offering the entire menu to-go but also themed meals for two (think Asian, pub, steakhouse, barbecue, comfort and seafood), feed-the-family meals and always-elevated, at-home holiday options. Of course, beer, wine and cocktails are also available for takeout too!
5036 Hamilton Blvd. | Allentown | 610.841.4610 | notchmknb.com
Copperhead Grille
Best Bar Food
Handcrafted bar food meets a quality sports dining experience with Copperhead Grille. Some of their mouth-watering menu options include their crab and parmesan dip and Chesapeake grilled cheese. Save room for dessert, specifically their funnel cake fried Oreos with chocolate sauce!
5737 Route 378, Bethlehem | 610.282.4600 | 1731 Airport Rd., Allentown | 610.403.4600 | copperheadgrille.com
Brü Daddy’s Brewing Company
Best Beer Selection
Brü Daddy’s artisanal craft beers are made on site in their five-barrel brew system using the highest-quality ingredients. They’ve got rotating traditional, new age and seasonal lagers and ales to choose from, with shipping available to all of PA. What’s more, in 2020, they received the Silver Award at the U.S. Open Beer Championships in the Schwarzbier category for their Black Sheep beer, a German-style black lager.
732 Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.351.7600 | brudaddysbrewingcompany.com
Cali Burrito
Best Burrito
With ever-changing weekly and daily specials, Cali Burrito is known for its fresh ingredients and diverse menu. Options include The Big Sur (steak, pinto beans, white rice, ranchero sauce and cheese) and The Cortez (sautéed shrimp, zesty pepper sauce, white rice, pinto beans and cabbage), as well as several vegetarian options like The Humbolt (smoked tofu, black beans, brown rice, sour cream and cheese). Quesadillas and salads are also available to order as well as the option to build your own burrito or bowl.
2149 Reading Rd., Allentown | 610.351.1791 | caliburrito.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
The Goosemen
Best Sandwich
If you’re a deli located in a busy neighborhood in a college town, you’d better make a darned good sandwich. The Goosemen, or "The Goose," in Southside Bethlehem wins for their hearty sandwiches that are straightforward, loaded and satisfying. When you want a sandwich, there’s nothing like a really good sandwich.
Since 1979, if you can come up with it, they can make it—whether it’s tuna, egg or chicken salad, a BLT, Polish or tavern ham, several kinds of bologna, cured meats (salami, capicola). The Goose also does cheesesteaks, meatball parm sandwiches and various hoagies, including the Goosey Hoagie, with ham, cheese and hard salami. You can have those sandwiches toasted (just the bread) or melted (the cheese is melted) or both for the ultimate crispy cheesy sandwich experience. People love The Goose for many reasons (the owner Tony Silvoy knows everyone), but one of those reasons? The prices won’t break the bank.
102 W. 4th St., Bethlehem | 610.868.0176 | thegoose.com
Vince’s Famous Cheesesteaks
Best Cheesesteak
Vince’s has been serving all of the Valley’s catering and mobile food needs since 1957. Sign up for their newsletter to receive weekly food truck schedule updates. They’ve got classic, smoked pork, Angus beef, traditional bratwurst and other premium sausage options available to choose from.
610.395.6500 | thecheesesteakplace.com
Fiamma Italian Grill
Best Family Meal To-Go
Fiamma’s family meal deals feed five to seven people, are served over a choice of pasta, and include a half tray of house or Caesar salad as well as a large container of bread and six mini cannolis. Think chicken parmigiana, shrimp scampi, eggplant rollatini and more.
2118 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.6545 | fiammaitaliangrill.com
Johnny’s Bagels
Best Breakfast Sandwich
Johnny's breakfast sandwiches are piled high with your favorite ingredients on their famous bagels. Next time you’re in, try The Missing Link or Bacon Me Crazy on your favorite bagel.
Various area locations | johnnysbagelsanddeli.com
Social Still
Best Curbside Pickup
Social Still made curbside pickup easy during the pandemic, posting clearly marked maps on social media and always with a hostess or server on the lookout outside. Making cocktails, spirits and food available without ever leaving one’s vehicle, Social Still even encourages customers to bring their pups for the ride!
530 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.4585 | socialstill.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
The Trapp Door Gastropub
Best Cocktails To-Go
Everyone knows The Trapp Door for their stellar beer and food game, including inventive appetizers, craft beer and convivial atmosphere. During the pandemic, co-owner Jen Funk and her team escalated their offerings to really bring the craft cocktail experience home. “The cocktail situation is really anything and everything to go. We did a lot of slushies last year with fresh ingredients but have been pivoting toward putting the blender away and crafting cocktails for in-house and to go,” Funk explains, like the Grapefruit Basil Gimlet and Whiskey Sunset photographed here, with local spirits. She says the kitchen has been experimenting with sourdough “like everyone else” and brewing kombucha; it makes a great mixer for, say, the likes of a mule, or other drinks.
But what about the ice factor? Dilution is also a key element to a good cocktail—you don’t want the ice to melt and make your drink weak and watery before you can enjoy it. Funk says they ask how far you live, and if you want ice or not.
4226 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 610.965.5225 | thetrappdoorgastropub.com
Billy’s Diner
Best Soup
Billy’s atmosphere matches that of their soups: warm and one-of-a-kind. Opt for Billy’s Chili or Yiaya’s Homemade Chicken Dumpling Soup—you can’t go wrong.
Various area locations | billysdiner.com
Tapas on Main
Best Sangria
With changing seasonal rotations, Tapas has a sangria for any time of year. Lemon lavender, orange creamsicle and sparkling black cherry are among the seven signature sangrias offered this season.
500 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.8903 | tapasonmain.com
Wert’s Café
Best Comfort Food
Serving one-of-a-kind dishes for more than 45 years, Wert’s is known for its famous onion rings, signature burgers and homemade soups.
515 N. 18th St., Allentown | 610.439.0951 | wertscafe.com
Chicken Lounge
Best Nachos
The Chicken Lounge has been serving the Lehigh Valley for more than 40 years. Their nachos are piled high with Monterey jack, vegetarian refried beans, guacamole, freshly made taco sauce, sour cream and jalapeño peppers.
3247 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 610.439.1707 | thechickenlounge.com
Photo by Marco Calderon
Rath’s Butcher & Delicatessen
Best Butcher
With the rise of super-comprehensive supermarkets, butcher shops are a bit of a dying breed. But not at Rath’s, which has been slicing meats and customizing orders since 1996, but before that was known as Hineline’s Meats.
These days it’s owned by Matt Johnson, a previous longtime employee of Rath’s, who purchased the business a few years ago from Dennis and Ken Rath. The beef is Prime, the pork comes from Pennsylvania and is all-natural and free range.
“We can cut almost anything on demand as long as we have it. Anything from standing rib roasts to cross-cut beef ribs,” says Johnson. The most popular items are the Prime-grade ribeye steaks, skirt steak pinwheels (which you can get to go, are tenderized, seasoned with Romano cheese and parsley) and the specialty burgers—they do a range, including bacon cheddar, blue cheese and bacon and Guinness cheddar. All the sausages are made on the premises, and you can buy their very own frozen entrées too.
It’s not a surprise in some ways that a butcher would rise to the top during COVID. Smaller businesses felt safer for many people to go into during the pandemic, and it’s been a time for customer service to really make a difference. “Along with the higher-quality proteins, it’s really customer service that keeps people coming back. We know people by their first and last names. We’re always smiling even behind the masks. My crew has been stellar, and we try to make every customer feel special,” he says.
450 County Rd. 519, Stewartsville, NJ | 908.213.2121 | rathsdeli.com
Lehigh Pizza
Best Local Delivery
No one does it like Lehigh! With guaranteed fast and friendly service, Lehigh Pizza never disappoints. And delivery is made easy with estimated pickup, delivery and curbside wait times always available online as well as the ability to track your order!
13 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.866.1088 | lehighpizza.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
ThreeBirds Coffee House
Best Coffee Shop
There are several components of a great coffeehouse. Interiors that are warm, welcoming and a little bit funky or left-of-center help. At ThreeBirds, owners Jennifer Murray and Joe Langdon have taken what’s known as the Bull Mansion and brought it to a new level of beauty—one that’s been largely off limits to customers, however, in the past year because of the pandemic. (That patio, though!) You also need good coffee and tea, and theirs is supplied by Passenger Coffee, based in Lancaster. “We can't say enough about Passenger. We've learned so much about coffee and tea and their preparation with them. Passenger is also a Certified B Corp that supports sustainable practices and partners with many small farmers,” Langdon explains. ThreeBirds has devised a refreshingly straightforward menu of beverages, snacks and treats. “All of our espresso drinks have a double shot of espresso with varying amounts of steamed milk—cortado, cappuccino, latte.” When something is simple, the ingredients just need to be stellar; their mochas are just a latte with the addition of melted dark chocolate. No sweet syrups. The pastries and bread are sourced from The Modern Crumb Bakeshop.
It also helps to have a quippy name that lends itself to signature iconography. But here’s the confusion. There are only two birds in residence. “When we started this project, we had one parrot: little Beetle, a female Senegal Parrot. Having an affinity for winged ones, we liked the name ThreeBirds, and we wanted a name we could express with only an image. Eventually, we adopted Dorian, a male African Grey. He is a delightful addition to the family, but he does throw off our bird math! Now we like to say, the third bird is you!” says Langdon.
226 Bushkill St., Easton | 325 Northampton St., Easton | 484.546.0788 | threebirdscoffee.com
Salvatore Ruffino’s
Best Pizza
This Allentown pizza joint offers the freshest ingredients on their classic pies, making for a one-of-a-kind bite! Try one of Salvatore Ruffino’s specialty pies, like their Bruschetta Neapolitan or Buffalo Chicken Sicilian.
1902 Allen St., Allentown | 610.437.3621 | salvatoreruffinos.com
Yocco’s
Best Hot Dog
No surprise here, right? Yocco’s has been serving up delicious hot dogs with their world-famous chili sauce to the Lehigh Valley for nearly 100 years. Head over and grab yours today—you won’t regret it!
Various area locations | yoccos.com
Todd’s Island Seafood
Best Seafood Market
Todd’s Island Seafood offers fresh new specialty seafood daily with delicious rotating options like halibut, swordfish, red snapper and so much more.
711 N. 17th St., Allentown | 484.221.8385 | @toddsislandseafood
Apollo Grill
Best Appetizer/Small Plate Menu
It’s never smart to fill up on appetizers, but when you’re at the Apollo Grill, it’s hard to do anything but. Choose from starter plates like their lump crab mac and cheese, confit chicken wings, pan-seared scallops and more.
85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 | apollogrill.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
The Vineyard
Best Pasta
Pietro DiMatteo, chef-owner, and his wife, Maria, have been offering handmade Italian favorites for 32 years in Bethlehem. DiMatteo hails from Caserta, Italy, and describes his dishes as Southern Italian, but they’re easily recognizable at many Italian-American restaurants: think chicken parmigiana, fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, veal marsala and shrimp scampi, among others.
“People know what they are getting here. I make my meatballs from meats I grind myself,” he says; he’s a sixth-generation butcher who was dealing with a leg of veal at the time of the interview. Anything that isn’t scratch made, he makes from imported Italian ingredients, such as the fresh and dried pastas and cheeses. His wife bakes the cakes; their homemade tiramisu is sold in individual portions and flies out of there within hours, he says. The wine list leans Italian (no surprise) there, to complement the food. He says during the pandemic he was “open all the time,” for takeout, which he says his customers were grateful for. Looks like this is how he’s rewarded.
605 N. Fiot St., Bethlehem | 610.867.2441 | thevineyardrestaurant.net
P.J. Whelihan’s
Best Wings
P.J.’s famous wings are available classic (dusted with flour) or naked, with 10 signature sauces to choose from. Don’t forget to keep a lookout for their wing of the month!
Various area locations | pjspub.com
Stahley’s Bar & Restaurant
Best Cheap Eats
Known for their fun and friendly atmosphere, Stahley’s offers delicious options ranging from a Nacho Supreme to Everything pizza pies. Their mouth-watering comfort food won’t cost you more than 20 bucks.
1826 Hanover Ave., Allentown | 610.433.2468 | stahleys.com
Mr. Bill’s Poultry Market
Best Public Market/Farmers Market Vendor
Bill Steele, owner of Mr. Bill’s Poultry Market, is considered the unofficial mayor of the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market. He started working at the market as a teenager in the 1960s and knows the first name of every vendor there, as well as many of the customers’ names too. His offerings include stuffed chicken breast, turkey sausages, pot pies and so much more.
1825 W. Chew St., Allentown | 610.432.1108 | mrbills.com
The Shelby
Outdoor Dining Experience
This past year, restaurants had to make the best of what they had and some of them really rose to the occasion in terms of creating memorable outdoor dining spaces. In some places, parts of the street were sacrificed to accommodate restaurants that wanted to extend their dining footprint because indoor dining was so restricted.
The Shelby captured its outdoor space under a big white tent. It’s not too different from what you’d experience at a wedding, complete with the magic of white lights, clear roof panels to let in daylight (or moonlight), hanging pendant lights and large planters full of greenery. As owner Donny Petridis describes: “My team and I had to innovate frequently,” which is perhaps the biggest understatement of responding to a global pandemic. Diners can enjoy live music outside Thursday through Sunday while sipping cocktails or enjoying brunch.
707 N. Krocks Rd. Suite 104, Allentown | 610.841.0808 | shelbyrestaurant.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
3 Men and a Bagel
Best Bagel Shop
Everyone loves bagels, and they’re easy to make but hard to do well. At 3 Men and a Bagel, which was started by three brothers from New Jersey, they’ve been hand-rolling bagels for 25 years. Currently, it’s run by Stephanie Correll, her husband, Matt Duddy (one of the brothers), and his son Tyler.
They offer a stunning 18 different kinds, from the familiar favorites to seasonal offerings. You can find cinnamon raisin, everything, jalapeño cheddar, sesame, poppy seed and so forth. Pumpkin raisin is a seasonal favorite, and white chocolate raspberry is anticipated at Christmas time (bagel for dessert? Mmm!). You can get yours toasted, of course, with cream cheese or bacon, egg and cheese. Or come at lunchtime and build a sandwich with the bagel as your base—pile on Boar’s Head deli meats and/or cheeses. Their custom sandwich menu is a sight to behold, and any item on there ought to fill you up for hours and hours. They also sell smoothies, coffee (naturally), crumb cake, muffins and croissants.
3350 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.868.5805 | 7150 Hamilton Blvd., Trexlertown | 610.366.9520 | 3menandabagel.net
Seasons Olive Oil and Vinegar Taproom
Best Gourmet Food Shop
Seasons’ award-winning products are bottled fresh daily and are sure to be the perfect finishing touch to any meal. Browse through their endless selections, including their Cayenne Chili Infused Olive Oil and Cinnamon Pear Balsamic.
508 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.866.2615 | seasonstaproom.com
White Orchids Thai Cuisine
Best Pad Thai
Using top-shelf imported ingredients, White Orchids prides itself on using zero MSG or trans fat, which are commonly found in street cart pad thai. Their elegant, family-style environment accents the delicious notes found in every mouthwatering dish.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.841.7499 | whiteorchidsthaicuisine.com
Lost Tavern Brewing
Best Local Brewery
Lost Tavern’s brews are of the highest quality, with varieties ranging from the classics to the creatively crafted. Check out fun flavors like DouBull the Jams, Raspberry Lemonade (a sour fruited ale) and Fiesta Molé (Mexican hot-chocolate-inspired dessert stout).
782 Main St., Hellertown | 444 Main St., Bethlehem | 484.851.3980 | losttavernbrewing.com
Franklin Hill Vineyards
Best Winery
Fifth in wine production in the United States, Franklin Hill has been producing delicious, distinct blends since 1982. Make sure to visit one of their beautiful locations in the Valley and try crowd favorites like Sir Walter’s Red and Carnival, a grape wine with natural hints of cotton candy.
7833 Franklin Hill Rd., Bangor | 888.887.2839 | franklinhillvineyards.com
Photo by Marco Calderon
Union and Finch
Best Burger
Here in the Lehigh Valley, there are some seriously good burgers to contend with, but Union and Finch knows what it’s doing. “For us, any good casual restaurant has to have a good burger; that’s the first true test,” says Ed Hanna, who owns Union and Finch with his wife, Shahnaz.
This year, they’ve been recognized for that very menu item, and it’s one they’ve made a point to prioritize—there are several of them on the menu, there’s a burger of the month feature, and every Thursday you can get either burger and a beer or burger and a milkshake for $12. “People love the Union Burger—the combination of the sweet red onion marmalade and smoked bacon and the beef,” he says.
There’s also a Classic Burger with lettuce, tomato and onion, The Roadside Burger (which is just what it sounds like, down to the yellow American cheese) and the Gold Label Burger, an eight-ounce burger with caramelized onions that Pat LaFrieda makes for them specifically.
Another make-it-or-break-it moment with burgers deals with how they’re cooked. “I wander the restaurant and peek in the POS to check their tickets to see if their burgers match up with how they order it,” says Hanna. Now that’s some serious burger love.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
KOMÉ Fine Japanese Cuisine
Best Hibachi
Nestled among the upscale shops at the Promenade, KOMÉ has been serving up authentic, gourmet Japanese cuisine since 2008. Setting the standard for modern hibachi in Southeastern PA, KOMÉ’s warm atmosphere takes fine dining to the next level. Make sure to save some room for dessert, as KOMÉ offers delicious options like Strawberry Pavlova and Smoked Goat Cheese Panna Cotta—a perfect end to any meal!
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.798.9888 | komerestaurant.com
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Best Brunch
Hotel B’s Sunday brunch has been named one of the top 100 in the country. They’ve been known to host specialty holiday brunches throughout the year as well!
437 Main St., Bethlehem | 855.264.2598 | hotelbethlehehem.com
Bolete
Best COVID-Friendly Outdoor Dining
Pivoting during the pandemic, last summer Bolete custom built individual patios for safe dining, followed by individual cabins to dine in their “winter village,” all to create a fun and comfortable way to enjoy a taste of normalcy!
1740 Seidersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.868.6505 | boleterestaurant.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Mister Lee’s Noodles
Best Ramen
Mister Lee’s local farm-to-table dishes are a nontraditional take on Japanese noodles, incorporating only the freshest meats and veggies the Lehigh Valley has to offer. They make everything in-house and to-order and are able to accommodate any changes or dietary restrictions. The menu features hot, cold and sweet (Cody’s Crunch!) options.
325 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.2799 | misterleesnoodles.com
State Cafe and Grill
Best Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? The State Cafe serves up delicious breakfast dishes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. five days a week. Opt for their Steel City Omelet, made with smoked bacon, caramelized onion, tomato, mushroom and smoked gouda.
14-16 S. 5th St., Easton | 610.829.0188 | thestatecafeandgrill.net
Josh Early Candies
Best Specialty Candy
Josh Early Candies has been satisfying local cravings in the Lehigh Valley for decades. Choose from chocolate-covered pretzels, espresso sea salt caramels and almond butter crunch creations. And you can’t go wrong with their signature nonpareils.
4640 Tilghman St., Allentown | 610.395.4321 | 3620 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem | 610.865.0580 | joshearlycandies.com
Photo by Marco Calderon
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery
Best Local Distillery
Eight Oaks grows all of its own grains to produce their award-winning spirits including bourbon, gin, rye whiskey and vodka. Recreate their delicious cocktails (like the Lavender Martini or Jack Rose) at home, with recipes available on their website.
7189 Route 309, New Tripoli | 484.387.5287 | eightoaksdistillery.com
29 Cooks Catering
Best Caterer
29 Cooks provides customers with the highest-quality dishes made from scratch using the freshest ingredients. Check out their spring/summer 2021 “party menu” and choose from small bites, sandwiches, sliders and more.
5402 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 484.951.0442 | 29cooks.com
Veg Out
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Menu
Veg Out’s offerings are 100 percent plant-based, even if they don’t quite sound it. Try the Big Mac hoagie, chicken gyro, cheddar jalapeño ranch burger, loaded mac and cheese, Buffalo pierogis… need we go on?
1 E. Church St., Bethlehem | 610.419.0126 | vegoutbethlehem.com
Photos by Alison Conklin
It's A Tie: Randevoo & Take A Taco
Best Food Truck
Randevoo: The business that started as a food truck recently expanded to a brick-and-mortar location, but that hasn’t slowed Randevoo’s roll by any means. Owner Zach Umstead continues to offer the special version of beyond-Asian-fusion foods that have thus far garnered him a following. The number one original offering that seems to signify Umstead’s headspace as a chef? The carnitas steamed buns—a Mexican-Korean mashup like none other. The vegan fried chicken steamed buns are a stroke of genius, too. You can also order the intensely flavorful crispy pork belly lo mein from the food truck. It’s hard to make a bad choice here.
“I almost forgot! Come corn season we do homemade corn fritters with Pennsylvania maple sage brown butter. Everyone always freaks out over there and we get all the corn locally from Twin Maple Farms in Bath,” he says.
Take a Taco: Take a Taco, owned by George S. Pitsilos, has been around the proverbial block for a long time, and is known for its fresh tacos. It all starts with the tortillas, which are hand stretched and lightly fried to achieve a flaky texture. All their meats are cooked with signature spices and they shred the cheese themselves. (Pre-shredded cheeses have anti-caking agents and other ingredients that make for a less than stellar experience!) “We don’t use frozen products and have never deviated from our recipes in over 40 years,” says Pitsilos.
Beef and chicken tacos are best sellers as well as the pierogi fries—yes, you read that correctly. On Wednesday evenings through the end of September, the truck visits Unagnst Tree Farm on 512 in Bath, and the South Mall on Thursday evenings through the end of October. “We do many corporate and private events along with the newest craze of going into neighborhoods and developments,” he says.
If you make it out to festivals, they’re also slated to appear at Musikfest, The Great Allentown Fair and the Celtic Classic this year.
Blondies Cupcakes
Best Cupcake
Located in Catasauqua, this family-owned café has been recognized for their delicious cupcakes beyond the Valley, appearing on both the Food Network and Spike TV. With a continuously rotating cupcake menu, Blondies has a flavor to satisfy every taste bud. Make sure to check out their second location at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market every Thursday through Saturday!
333 Front St., Catasauqua | 610.443.1741 | @blondies
The Flying V Poutinerie
Best French Fry
There’s French fries and then there’s French fries topped with Montreal smoked meat, cheese, gravy, Dijon mustard and dill pickles. Or topped with shredded Buffalo chicken, ranch drizzle and scallions. Or topped with chorizo, pickled red cabbage, jalapeños, lime crema and fresh salsa. So yeah, you can get plain ole French fries, or you can get the latter (and more) at The Flying V Poutinerie in Bethlehem.
201 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.419.2530 | theflying-v.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Mary Ann Donut Kitchen
Best Doughnut
There’s something to be said about a doughnut shop that’s been operational for 61 years, even in the rise of competitors and national chains. At Mary Ann Donut Kitchen, these people know what they’re doing. “The recipe has been the same for 61 years. We are known for fresh doughnuts daily. We never sell a day old,” says Samantha Miller, manager and baker. (The business is still owned by Tom Thompson.) Anything that happens to be left over is donated to local charities, she says.
It’s the doughnuts, yes—especially the chocolate and vanilla iced ones—but it’s also pastries, cookies, muffins, pies and cannoli cakes. Apple fritters, raisin bars, Funny Cake—how long has it been since you’ve seen those old-school, classically Pennsylvanian baked goods? (Miller says these PA favorites are more recent additions to the menu.) And then there’s unique creations such as the pretzel-shaped doughnut or the cronut. If you are a doughnut person, you’ve likely already been here, but perhaps this factoid is the ultimate element of persuasion: This year, the kitchen cranked out 2,220 dozen (26,640) fastnachts in one day. (Yes, you read that correctly. Perhaps these people stocked up and know you can freeze doughnuts.)
1601 W. Liberty St., Allentown | 610.439.9985 | 1825 W. Chew St., Allentown | 610.434.6456 | maryanndonutkitchen.com
Vegan Treats
Best Cake
Vegan Treats owner Danielle Konya’s mission was to not only create a delicious vegan cake, but to create one so delicious that it blows any other cake (vegan or not) out of the water. Konya succeeded, and has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her desserts. Choose from decadent cake flavors like Vanilla Coconut Custard, Chocolate-Encased Strawberry Shortcake, Peanut Butter Brownie Supreme and so many more.
1444 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.861.7660 | vegantreats.com
Primo Hoagies
Best Hoagie
Originating in South Philly, Primo Hoagies take pride in using the freshest ingredients for its sandwiches. Each hoagie is served on their award-winning bread—baked fresh every two hours—and is loaded with their gourmet meats and cheeses, sliced fresh every day.
Various area locations | primohoagies.com
Bethlehem Dairy Store
Best Ice Cream
Offering dozens of delicious flavors of their homemade ice cream, Bethlehem Dairy Store (a.k.a. The Cup) has something for every sweet tooth. Choose from classics like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, or try one of their signature flavors like peanut butter cookie, chocolate fudge brownie and strawberry cheesecake.
1430 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.691.8422 | 2 Farrington Sq., Bethlehem | 610.865.4360 | bethlehemdairystore.com
The Other Fish
Best Sushi
The Other Fish offers an authentic dining experience leaving patrons wanting to come back for more.Try their best seller, pictured here, The Wayno Roll. It’s got shrimp and avocado on the inside, and is topped with tuna sashimi and spicy mayo, eel sauce, tempura flakes and jalapeño.
59 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 484.821.1370 | theotherfish610.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Black Forest Deli
Best Pierogi
There’s quite a bit of competition, but very little comparison for fans of the Black Forest Deli’s pierogis. Ukrainian natives and mother-daughter team Milana (mamachka) and Vica Shparber run this biz and offer 10 to 12 flavors made by hand every morning. Vica says people love the potato and cheese, as far as savory flavors go. Among others, you can also find potato and mushroom, sauerkraut, spinach and feta, meat and savory farmer cheese. On the sweet side, it’s blueberry (a favorite!) and chocolate cherry.
Prior to the pandemic, Black Forest Deli was known for its Kiev Nights—dinners at the deli. But these days they’ve been bringing a bit of their-kitchen-to-yours with their pierogi kit. “We used to have pierogi-making classes, but we are selling kits now that customers can enjoy making themselves at home, with our help,” Vica says. You go home with the dough and filling. You can either freeze them for future dinners or eat them right away; each kit yields a generous six dozen pierogis.
The everyday favorites are always great, but the deli also offers seasonal offerings such as sweet potato around Thanksgiving, and Beef Stroganoff pierogis and chicken paprikash around Christmas.
Pierogis are a delicious labor of love, and anyone who’s made them before knows this firsthand. That’s also why restaurants partner with the Black Forest Deli. “We are more than happy to talk to restaurants about what kinds of flavors would do best in their establishment,” she says.
This mother-daughter team is hardworking and not easily dismayed, but Vica says: “It’s been a hard year for us and many other local businesses, but our homemade foods, especially the pierogis, have brought comfort into our customers’ lives when they were not able to dine in with us.”
745 Union Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.865.3036 | blackforestdeli.com
Two Rivers Brewing Company
Best Grilled Cheese
You may know them for their coveted peanut butter bacon cheeseburger, but have you tried Two Rivers’ monstrous grilled cheese sandwich? The Smokey Guacamole is built with avocado, jalapeños, roasted red peppers, spinach and smoked gruyère and cheddar cheeses.
542 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1131 | tworiversbrewing.com
Hawaii Poke Bowl
Best Poke Bowl
A poke bowl incorporates fresh, hearty ingredients ensured to satisfy every savory taste bud. Enjoy one of Hawaii Poke Bowl’s signature options, like their Hawaii Classic, made with a sushi rice base, salmon, scallion, cilantro, sweet onion, cucumber, seaweed salad, edamame, masago, garlic crisps, sesame mix and sesame shoyu sauce.
306 Town Center Blvd., Easton | 610.330.2886 | hawaiipokebowlforks.square.site
The Bayou
Best Mac & Cheese
The Bayou’s unique atmosphere matches its creative comfort food, as they take a mix of traditional Southern flavors and modern American cuisine to create an eccentric twist on New Orleans soul food. Go classic with their signature mac or fancy with their Nashville variety, featuring crispy fried chicken, Bayou hot sauce, broccoli, fontina and aged cheddar.
702 Hawthorne Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.6669 | 64 Centre Sq., Easton | 610.829.1700 | datbayoulv.com
Grumpy’s BBQ Roadhouse
Best Barbecue
Barbecuing low and slow, Grumpy’s offers only the best smoked meats for their customers. From spare ribs to chicken quarters, they’ve got it all. Don’t miss their Texas Twinkies—jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and chopped brisket, wrapped in bacon, and glazed with their sweet and spicy barbecue sauce.
3000 Mauch Chunk Rd., Allentown | 610.769.4600 | grumpysbbq.net
