Grazings Charcuterie Gal
Best Charcuterie
Some artists work in watercolor, pastels or oil paints. The medium of choice of Kailen Boumal—better known as the Grazings Charcuterie Gal (@grazings_charcuteriegal)—is meats and cheeses. “I love creating,” she says. “Charcuterie fulfills this creative void that I don’t get out of my corporate job.” Her first spread was for a friend’s party, and it was a hit. Boumal began to make a name for herself on social media. Indeed, her talents are on full display on her Instagram page: breads, meats, fruits, cheeses, crackers, spreads and so much more, all artfully layered and arranged in a palette that looks (almost) too good to eat.
Photo by Vlad Image Studio
Local Mama Catering
Best Caterer
Chef Beth Raynock combines local food and international inspiration to offer meal preparation, private catering, cooking classes and pop-up dinners.
Johnny's Fresh Meats
Best Butcher
Johnny’s is family owned since 1951, offering Aged Western Choice Black Angus Beef cut to perfection.
1825 Chew St. Allentown | 610.439.0220. | Facebook
Brü Daddy’s Brewing Co.
Best Beer Selection
Crafted with the highest-quality ingredients, Brü Daddy’s artisanal craft beers are made on site in their five-barrel brew system. They recently took home the silver award for their Red Ale Eddy at the 2023 World Beer Cup.
732 Hamilton St. Allentown | 610.351.7600 | brudaddysbrewingcompany.com
Social Still
Best Mocktail Menu
Head to the Zero Proof section on Social Still’s menu for their non-alcoholic options. The Planet of the Apricots combines apricot, elderflower, lemon, simple syrup and club soda while the Spiced Not Spiked mixes mint, lime, cinnamon syrup, pineapple and ginger beer.
530 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.4585 | socialstill.com
Duck Donuts
Best Doughnut
This national chain, which started on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, is well known—and loved—for its customizable doughnuts, made to order. It can be a bit overwhelming to go in there for the first time because the possibilities are literally endless! It’s hard to resist the creativity you can indulge in. You can also choose from popular options like Blueberry Lemonade, Beach Ball, Bacon in the Sun and beyond. Oh, and in case you can’t decide between sweet and savory for breakfast, you can always get a breakfast sandwich, but on a doughnut.
4608 D Broadway, Allentown | 610.628.3636 | duckdonuts.com
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
ThreeBirds Coffee House
Best Coffee Shop
ThreeBirds Coffee House is home to two parrots (Beetle and Dorian) and specializes in good vibes. It’s the kind of coffee shop you want to hang out in, offering a rotating selection of single origin coffees daily, along with teas and locally baked pastries.
226 Bushkill St., Easton | 325 Northampton St., Easton | threebirdscoffee.com
Apollo Grill
Best Brunch Menu
Saturday brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Apollo Grill, and the menu is updated monthly.
85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 | apollogrill.com
The Joint Coffee Co.
Best Iced Coffee
Try the iced Bourbon Barrel latte, made with The Joint's own coffee blend that's been aged inside of Pennsylvania bourbon barrels.
77 W. Broad St. Suite 18C Bethlehem | 610.419.9237 | Lehigh Valley Mall Whitehall | 610.443.0724 | thejointcoffee.com
Billy’s Downtown Diner
Best Avocado Toast
At Billy’s, it’s fresh avocado and soft poached egg mixed with red onions, cilantro and lime zest on thick-cut multigrain toast, topped with roasted grape tomatoes and chili flakes.
10 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.867.0105 | 123 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.438.3100 | billysdiner.com
Jumbars
Best Breakfast Sandwich
Order the Morning Sandwich, made with lightly scrambled egg and your choice of cheese on a house-made English muffin.
1342 Chelsea Ave., Bethlehem | 610.866.1660 | jumbars.com
The State Cafe and Grill
Best Breakfast Spot
The State Cafe and Grill’s breakfast menu is broken up into seven categories—Eggs & Things, Egg Creations, Morning Sandwiches, A Bit O’ Savory, From Scratch, French Toast and Create Your Own—ensuring anyone can find something delicious.
14–16 S. 5th St., Easton | 610.829.0188 | thestatecafeandgrill.net
Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop
Best Specialty Latte and/or Coffee Drink
With latte offerings ranging from lavender to iced strawberry mint matcha, special is what Lit does best.
26 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 484.626.0945 | monocacycoffee.com
Ciao!
Best Sandwich
Ciao uses only the finest Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses, semolina bread delivered fresh daily and high-quality toppings and spreads. Choose from their list of specialty sandwiches or create your own! Looking to skip the bread? Any sandwich can be made into a salad.
Multiple area locations | eatatciao.com
Green Vida Co.
Best Fresh Pressed Juice Bar
Enjoy two pounds of organic fruits and vegetables in every cold-pressed juice, with zero water or sugars added.
1800 Sullivan Trl. Suite 330, Easton | 610.438.4112 | 325 Northampton St. Easton | 484.541.5309 | greenvidacompany.com
Back Home Bagels Deli & Bake Shop
Best Bagel Shop
Bagels—and all the things you can put on them—get seriously creative at this year’s winning spot, owned by Josh Haines since 2017. He says their bagels are scratch made and steam baked—it makes them fluffier and less chewy. They even mix their own cream cheeses, too. Customers love the roasted garlic and chive, but you can also get choices like funfetti, bacon horseradish and veggie. And as for those bagels? Well, you can expect the usual suspects, but others, such as jalapeño cheddar, and seasonal/specialty offerings, such as lemon poppy, triple chocolate raspberry, and—get this—tie-dye Fruity Pebbles (which sort of looks like a rainbow bagel). Breakfast tastes great on a bagel (bacon, egg and cheese, anyone?) but so does lunch if the bagels are loaded up with Boar’s Head cold cuts and inventive ingredients. Check out Hair of the Dog, Sunshine Club and other creative offerings.
4041 PA-309 Suite 103, Schnecksville | 610.760.3262 | backhomebagels.com
The Bayou
Best Chicken and Waffles
The Bayou team calls this dish a true labor of love, and they’ve worked hard to make sure their version of the Southern favorite is the best around.
702 Hawthorne Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.6669 | 64 Centre Sq., Easton | 610.829.1700 | datbayoulv.com
Photo by Matthew Brooks
Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar
Best Appetizer/Small Plate Menu
The bao buns are three for $15 and a must-order. Choose from pork belly, tofu, crispy roasted brisket and shrimp banh mi.
5036 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 610.841.4610 | notchmknb.com
Marblehead Chowder House
Best Lunch Spot
Marblehead Chowder House specializes in casual coastal comfort food. Find their daily lunch specials online, including fresh fish and oysters, the soup du jour and more.
4101 William Penn Hwy. Easton | 610.258.4301 | marbleheadchowderhousepa.com
Wally's Deli
Best Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese for breakfast? Yes, please! At Wally’s, it’s called the Grilled Cheesy Hen and served with a choice of two meats, two fried eggs and hash browns. Go even bigger with the Grilled Cheesy Hen Hamburger (grilled cheese, hamburger, bacon, two fried eggs and hash browns).
1245 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 610.967.1347 | 711 N. 17th St., Allentown | 610.435.7177 | wallys-deli.com
Black and Blue
Best Salad
Black and Blue has always had an eclectic menu with creative vegetarian and vegan foods. And the salads are no exception. There’s a wide array, ranging from classics such as Cobb, Greek and Caesar, to taco and salmon salads, a peanut butter Thai salad and a seasonal peach salad. So many salads! The cool part? You can add any protein, whether it’s chicken, shrimp, steak or salmon, or coconut tofu or coconut cauliflower. The latter two proteins are vegan and flash-fried with a coconut crust; they also offer vegan cheeses. “We always use fresh ingredients, and a major difference is that we make our dressings from scratch,” says owner Marcel Bedoya.
683 Walnut St., Easton | 610.438.3604 | blacknblue683.com
The Flying V
Best French Fry
What could make a French fry better? Top it with cheddar cheese curds and The Flying V’s signature house-made gravy! Their most popular offerings include the classic poutine, the Montreal smoked meat poutine, the buffalo chicken poutine and the breakfast poutine.
201 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.419.2530 | flyingvpoutinerie.com
Hummus House
Best Hummus
Try the original, roasted red pepper, spicy avocado or roasted garlic hummus. It’s all house-made. It’s all delicious.
518 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.434.8800 | thehummushouse.com
Copperhead Grille
Best Mac & Cheese
The Crab Mac & Cheese is a main event at Copperhead Grille, made with claw crab meat, white cheddar sauce and Old Bay seasoning.
5737 Route 378, Bethlehem | 610.282.4600 | 1731 Airport Rd. Allentown | 610.403.4600 | copperheadgrille.com
Black Forest Deli
Best Pierogi
As of this April, Black Forest Deli is under new ownership—but don’t worry, all of the special recipes have been passed down, so the pierogi making can continue.
745 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.865.3036 | blackforestdeli.com
Carl's Corner
Best Cheesesteak
Carl’s Corner claims you’ll come for the food but return for the ‘tude. That’s because they’re serving up cheesesteaks with a side of friendly banter (and, of course, curly fries, mozzarella sticks or pierogi).
2 W. Elizabeth Ave., Bethlehem | 610.691.1541 | 848 Nazareth Pike Nazareth | 610.994.3384 | carlscornersteaks.com
Yocco's Hot Dogs
Best Hot Dog
The ingredients are simple: a specialty hot dog made by Hatfield meats nestled in a freshly baked, steamed bun, topped with Yocco’s world-famous Secret Chili Sauce, served well done.
Multiple area locations | yoccos.com
Salvatore Ruffino’s
Best Pizza
The Neapolitan thin crust pizza is a top menu item at Salvatore Ruffino’s. Order it well done or half baked, and with whatever toppings you like.
1902 Allen St., Allentown | 610.510.4928 | salvatoreruffinos.com
Mr. Bill's Poultry & Deli
Best Public Market/Farmer's Market Vendor
Count on Mr. Bill’s for organic, all- natural chicken, along with specialty items, classic recipes, poultry tips and more.
1825 W. Chew St., Allentown | 610.432.1108 | mrbills.com
Nick's BBQ
Best Barbeque
Experience a Texas-influenced barbecue style, using only oak wood on an offset smoker, done low and slow, at Nick’s.
1 Kenny Headman Ln., Bethlehem | 610.438.0911 | nicksbbqpa.com
Fegley’s Brew Works
Best Nachos
The loaded nachos combine cheddar jack cheese, red onion, black olives, green peppers, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream and salsa. Add pulled pork, grilled chicken, pulled chicken, chili or brisket.
812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.7777 | 559 Main St. Suite 101, Bethlehem | 610.882.1300 | thebrewworks.com
P.J. Whelihan’s Pub + Restaurant
Best Wings
They’re famous for a reason. Enjoy PJ’s wings classic, naked or boneless in the signature sauce of your choice. Or, opt for the wing of the month.
Multiple area locations | pjspub.com
The Other Fish
Best Sushi
Choose from cooked rolls, raw rolls and fruit and vegetable rolls at The Other Fish, where they strive to provide an Asian culinary journey to each guest.
59 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 484.821.1370 | theotherfish610.com
Geakers Tacos
Best Food Truck
Geakers is on a taco tour. Find the truck at local events and festivals throughout the year and enjoy their half-pound tacos on the go.
610.419.4869 | geakers.com
Noto's Deli
Best Hoagie
Get your three-foot and six-foot hoagies at Noto’s Deli, where they’re $15 per foot.
930 Northampton St., Easton | 610.258.7933 | Facebook
El Jefe’s Taqueria
Best Taco
Tacos, let’s face it, are like religion for some people. And there are many places where you can get a great taco around here. But El Jefe's has a strong following and ardent devotees for many reasons. One big one? They’re open late. Way late! This small-scale taco chain seems to specialize in locations in college towns, but here in Bethlehem, the taco options include shrimp, carne asada, carne molida picante (spicy ground beef), carnitas, chorizo and chicken. And of course, vegetarian. They come with rice, too (Mexican or cilantro lime), and several different kinds of beans, and so, so many different toppings.
506 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.419.2000 | eljefestaqueria.com
Top Cut Steak House
Best Steak
What makes them so good? All cuts are hand selected by Top Cut’s specialty butcher in Chicago, assuring that every steak offers superior marbling and flavor.
2880 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 625 Center Valley | 610.841.7100 | topcutsteak.com
Bang Bang Hibachi Grill & Sushi
Best Hibachi
Choose from hibachi steak, shrimp, salmon, tilapia, lobster tail and more—all served with rice, vegetables and yum yum sauce.
1519 Lehigh St., Allentown | 610.709.8888 | bangbangpa.com
The Vineyard di Norma
Best Pasta
It’s no wonder they go through 150 orders of pasta a week. It’s all scratch made. Order the Pasta Amatriciana.
605 Fiot St., Bethlehem | 610.867.2441 | thevineyardrestaurant.net
Paranormal Pizza
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Menu
We join the community in wishing Paranormal Pizza a safe and speedy recovery as they work toward reopening for business. Until then, we’re dreaming of their 100-percent vegan cashew cheese pizza and seitan wings.
554 N. New St., Bethlehem | 484.357.8727 | paranormalpizzaco.com
Tulum Restaurant
Best Burrito
Long before we had national chains that made a burrito for you in front of your eyes, the Lehigh Valley had Tulum. This cozy business, self-described as “Beth-Mex,” has been a stalwart of Southside Bethlehem for 21 years—and they’ve been winning raves since day one. It’s a tiny spot, but Tulum does a brisk takeout business with stuffed burritos, overflowing with beans, rice, cheese and all the good stuff. Lots of gluten-free and vegetarian options on a menu that’s also loaded with tacos, quesadillas, wings and nachos. The Beth-Mex and Mayan burritos are two signature favorites; try one and then the other, and take them to their charming patio in good weather. “We make everything from scratch, except the tortillas, funny enough. We're a very tiny space so a tortilla press would be pushing our luck,” laughs owner Walt Diller. “But I'm convinced our small size is one of the reasons our food is so good. We're basically forced to make things in small batches every day.” And that’s just what they do.
17 W. Morton St., Bethlehem | 610.691.8300 | tulumbethmex.com
Mister Lee’s Noodles
Best Ramen
Choose from hot and spicy ramen, seafood ramen, Moroccan curried lamb ramen, sticky ramen, veggie ramen and many more hot and cold noodle offerings.
325 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.2799 | 512 E. 3rd St. Bethlehem | 610.900.4888 | misterleesnoodles.com
1001 Thai
Best Pad Thai
The Pad Thai Noodle is 1001 Thai’s most popular dish. It’s made with ground peanuts, eggs, bean sprouts and scallions in a tamarind sauce. Add chicken breast, lean pork, tofu, lean beef, jumbo shrimp or roast duck.
1001 Northampton St., Easton | 610.252.1001 | 1001thai.com
Gannon’s Gourmet
Best Specialty Grocery Store/Market
Gannon’s Gourmet is an Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market mainstay, with more than 30 years under their belt.
1825 W. Chew St. Allentown | 610.439.8949 | Facebook
Easton Baking Company
Best Bread
At Easton Baking Company, the bread-making magic begins around 1 a.m. each Wednesday and continues through Sunday.
34 N. 7th St., Easton | 610.252.6343 | eastonbaking.com
HOEM Kitchen
Best Locally Prepared Meals/Delivery Program
Chill, heat and eat. HOEM’s meals are designed to be easily prepared, served and recycled. New offerings are delivered every Tuesday and Thursday.
484.891.1027 | hoemkitchen.com
Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom
Best Gourmet Food Shop
Seasons’ mission is to inspire home cooks to sauté, drizzle, infuse and marinate with ease and confidence.
508 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.866.2615 | seasonstaproom.com
House of Chen
Best Chinese Takeout
Available for takeout or delivery, House of Chen is here to satisfy every craving.
1200 Northampton St. Easton | 610.330.6990 | houseofcheneaston.com
The Backyard Bar Company
Best Mobile Bar
Brittany Caprista and Candice Weaver’s love of horses, hospitality and a well-crafted cocktail inspired them to launch this converted horse-trailer bar—and they’re ready to make your next event unforgettable.
610.462.8478 | 610.349.8976 | thebackyardbarco.com
Todd’s Island Seafood
Best Seafood Market
Family owned and run, Todd’s offers fresh seafood and great quality products at an affordable price.
17th & Tilghman St. Allentown | 484.221.8385 | Facebook
Hawaii Poke Bowl Forks
Best Poke Bowl
Chicken, Ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp and tofu—there are so many ways to customize your bowl.
306 Town Center Blvd., Easton | 610.330.2886 | hawaii-poke-bowl-forks.business.site
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
Union and Finch
Best Burger + Best Patio/Outdoor Dining
Union and Finch likes to celebrate burgers. With an ongoing burger of the month offering, and a burger and beer special each Thursday, they make it easy to celebrate with them. Enjoy said burger (and beer) in their Union Gardens, rain or shine. The transformed outdoor space is covered, enclosed and heated for year-round enjoyment.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
Shionna Luxxure Picnic
Best Luxury Picnic
A picnic can be as simple as a wicker basket and a gingham blanket. It can also be so much more. Think candles, place settings, gourmet food, floral arrangements and theme-appropriate decorations. That’s Shionna Luxxure’s bag. She began her Allentown-based luxury picnic business during the COVID-19 pandemic, when picnics became popular as a safe way to gather outdoors. Now she offers the same posh experience in a variety of settings, and for just about every special occasion under the sun. She says it’s all about making memories: “Just watching the smiles on everyone’s face, it’s priceless.” And those memories can be captured for posterity in her on-site selfie studio.
812 Hamilton St. 4th Floor, Allentown | 610.233.1959 | lehighvalleyluxurypicnic.com
Owowcow Creamery
Best Ice Cream
Locally sourced organic cream and milk, cage-free eggs, local raw honey and non-GMO cane sugar are just a few of the ingredients that make Owowow’s ice cream so good. Add local roasted fruits and veggies, organic extracts, hand-baked inclusions and the finest cocoa, and you’ve got the best ice cream in the Lehigh Valley.
1262 Simon Blvd. Unit B106, Easton | 610.438.5269 | owowcow.com
Sweet Girlz Bakery
Best Custom Cookie Baker
Count on Sweet Girlz for the cutest cookies on any holiday or for any custom event. Their paint-your-own watercolor and DIY kits are sure to keep the fun going!
40 N. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.1030 | sweetgirlzbakery.com
Josh Early Candies
Best Specialty Candy
Fresh ingredients, small-batch family recipes and an unwavering commitment to quality is the Josh Early difference.
4640 W. Tilghman St., Allentown | 610.395.4321 | 3620 Nazareth Pike Bethlehem | 610.865.0580 | joshearlycandies.com
Blondies
Best Cupcake
Blondies starts each day with 20 different cupcake flavors to choose from, but if that’s not enough, their full catalog, available for special ordering for events, has every option one could ever dream of.
333 Front St., Catasauqua | 484.280.5403 | blondiesfood.com
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Best Frozen Yogurt
Menchie’s frozen yogurt is made with real sustainably sourced California milk—but they’ve also got 100-percent plant-based, vegan flavor options, made with almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk and more.
943 Airport Center Dr. Allentown | 610.841.4913 353 | S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown | 610.841.1900 | menchies.com
Cake as Canvas
Best Cake
Huma Usmani's Cake As Canvas is a custom couture cake design company specializing in edible art. Go check out their Instagram to see for yourself!
215.667.1771 | Instagram | cakeascanvas.com
Böser Geist Brewing Co.
Best Drink Flight
Every Thursday, Böser Geist celebrates Flight Night with four five-ounce beers for just $10—and pierogi flights! Flavor options include loaded, buffalo, BBQ, Caribbean, Nashville and Thai.
1250 Simon Blvd. K100, Easton | 484.293.8005 | bosergeist.com
Clover Hill Winery
Best Winery
Every Friday, head to The Winery in Breinigsville (or any of the Clover Hill locations) for $6 wine by the glass and $5 refills all day.
9850 Newtown Rd., Breinigsville | 610.395.2468 | cloverhillwinery.com
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery
Best Local Distillery
Eight Oaks uses traditional distillation techniques, homegrown grains and farm-fresh ingredients to craft their spirits. Join them for a behind-the-barn-door guided tour every Saturday at 3 p.m. to learn all about the process!
7189 Route 309, New Tripoli | 484.387.5287 | eightoaksdistillery.com
Tapas on Main
Best Sangria
Enjoy Tapas’ seasonal sangria offerings by the glass, pitcher or flight.
500 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.8903 | tapasonmain.com
Separatist Beer Project
Best Locally Brewed Beer to Order
Separatist is all about hops, lagerbier and spontaneous fermentation. We can’t wait for their Easton location to reopen so we can get back to enjoying all three!
101 Northampton St., Easton | 610.330.9114 | separatistbeer.com
Bonn Place Brewing Company
Best Local Brewery
This craft brewery on Bethlehem’s Southside promises good beer, a cool atmosphere and great company.
310–14 Taylor St., Bethlehem | 610.419.6660 | bonnbrewing.com
Blended
Best Cocktail Menu
Try the Queen City Spritz, the North 7th Sour or the Artswalk Punch to celebrate the city while you sip.
27 N. 7th St., Allentown | 610.674.0602 | blendedrestaurant.com
Blue Grillhouse
Best Happy Hour
Blue’s happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4–6 p.m. at their indoor bar and seasonal outdoor patio. Enjoy $7 wines and $5 draft beers as well as $9 cocktails and small plates.
4431 Easton Ave., Bethlehem | 610.691.8400 | bluegrillhouse.com
Two Rivers Brewing
Best Local Brewery Experience
Experience house-made craft beer in one of Easton’s most historic and newly renovated buildings.
542 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1137 | 116 E. Broad St. Quakertown | 267.405.9427 | tworiversbrewing.com
Mojo 516 Cafe
Best Smoothie
This bustling spot on College Hill in Easton next to Lafayette College cranks out tons of coffee, bagels, juices, enormous muffins and now, according to readers, award-winning smoothies. There are so many to choose from, it could take days to get through them. According to Victoria Galanos, whose family owns the business, two of their most popular offerings are Beach Bum, with strawberry, banana, mango, pineapple and yogurt, and Jumpin’ Monkey, with cocoa, peanut butter, almond milk, cinnamon and banana. If you’re into protein, try the Green Machine (vanilla protein, pineapple, spinach, avocado, coconut, banana and mango) or the Hunky Monkey (almond milk, cinnamon, banana and chocolate protein). “It’s highly recommended to add a shot of espresso to the Jumpin’ Monkey or Hunky Monkey,” she says.
516 March St., Easton | 610.438.1350 | mojo516cafe.com
Published as “Best of the Lehigh Valley” in the July 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
