Join us in celebrating our 19th annual Restaurant Award winners. Make a reservation, order takeout or share this list with a friend to show your support. And definitely keep this edition handy for the next time you have a craving and you're not sure what will satisfy.
Favorite Modern American
Twisted Olive
Chef-owner Steve Kershner has been feeding people in the Lehigh Valley for several decades, and knows well how to put together a menu that is by turns surprising and creative. As Kershner describes it, “The menu offers a variety of flavors (Asian, European and classic American) with our very own twists we pull from around the world.” Think French onion soup dumplings, short rib ravioli, crab cakes and beef brisket. Kershner also grows a ton of organic produce and herbs in his garden (ask about the fig trees!); much ends up on the menu, including the seasonal, weekly Garden Cocktail.
51 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1200 | twistedolivebethlehem.com
Favorite Italian
Sette Luna
Pasta, pizza, salad and delicious Italian cocktails… what's not to love?
219 Ferry St., Easton | 610.253.8888 | setteluna.com
Favorite Japanese
Komé Fine Japanese Cuisine
Komé promises fresh sushi and gourmet hibachi in a warm atmosphere.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.798.9888 | komerestaurant.com
Favorite Thai
White Orchids Thai Cuisine
Bringing the best tastes of Thailand to the Lehigh Valley, the dishes at White Orchids are scratch-made and full of flavor.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.841.7499 | whiteorchidsthaicuisine.com
Favorite Spanish
Tapas on Main
Think meats, cheeses, soups, salads, flatbreads and, of course, endless tapas to share.
500 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.8903 | tapasonmain.com
Favorite Middle Eastern
Aladdin Restaurant
There's nowhere else like it in the Valley. Aladdin invites locals to lounge on plush pillows while dining beneath a starlit sky, and on Saturdays, there's live belly dancing!
651 Union Blvd., Allentown | 610.437.4023 | aladdinlv.com
Favorite Indian
Aman's Artisan Indian Cuisine
Specializing in North Indian Punjabi cuisine, Aman's invites locals to “keep calm and curry on!”
336 Northampton St., Easton| 484.298.0400 | amanseaston.com
Favorite Mediterranean
Daddy's Place
Family owned, the team at Daddy's Place believes that heathy homemade food equals a healthy life.
650 Northampton St., Easton | 610.438.4442 | daddysplaceeaston.com
Favorite Korean
KOJA Cuisine
KOJA combines Korean and Japanese cuisines. Don't miss their Korean BBQ options.
1061 S. 25th St., Easton | 610.258.4657 | kojacuisine.com
Favorite Casual Dining
Brü Daddy's Brewing Co.
At Brü Daddy's, it's easy to understand why their mantra is “good beer, real food, cool vibes,” as it's that ethos that's earned them this honor. It's the kind of place where you go with a mess of friends, order all the scratch-made fare that sounds appetizing (good luck deciding), and share, share, share. “We have a large shareables section on the menu with items that are great for sharing but can also be the main event for one person,” says CEO/President Rich Ryan. This means inventive pizzas made in a wood-fired oven, apps such as pretzels and pierogi and, of course, the beer.
732 Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.351.7600 | brudaddysbrewingcompany.com
Favorite Bethlehem
Social Still
Social Still is not just a restaurant, a bar or a distillery, it's a destination. Dine, drink and tour inside this Prohibition-era bank building!
530 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.4585 | socialstill.com
Favorite French
Maxim's 22
Experience Maxim's take on comfortable French cuisine. There's baked brie en croute, moules frites, steak tartar, escargot, duck confit… and those are just the appetizers.
322 Northampton St., Easton | 610.252.2622 | maxims22.com
Favorite Easton
Three OAK Steakhouse
Described as a multistory, handmade marvel, Three OAK leaves an impression.
323 Northampton St., Easton | 610.559.5510 | threeoaksteakhouse.com
Favorite Forks/Bangor
Surv
The team at Surv wants every dining experience to be a memorable one, with their passion starting in the kitchen and ending at your table.
1800 Sullivan Trl., Easton | 484.544.0624 | surveaston.com
Favorite Vietnamese
Pho-Nom1nal Vietnamese Cuisine
A restaurant that lives up to its name is worth celebrating, but we'll forgive you if you haven't been here yet. Pho-nom1nal opened in January 2021 but has been gaining a loyal following ever since for a variety of extremely fresh and flavorful Vietnamese fare including apps like spring and summer rolls, and the well-known banh mi sandwich. But you're here for the pho, right? Choose your protein—eye of round steak, brisket, beef rib, chicken, shrimp, beef ball—and the rest writes itself. You can also order this in a vegetarian version with tofu, plenty of veggies and a vegetarian broth.
319 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown | 610.477.1144 | pho-nominal.com
Favorite Irish
McCarthy's Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar
McCarthy's is your ultimate Celtic destination, no passport required.
534 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.861.7631 | redstagpub.com
Favorite Cajun
The Bayou Southern Kitchen & Bar
Experience a creative take on classic New Orleans cooking, with an atmosphere to match.
702 Hawthorne Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.6669
64 Centre Sq., Easton | 610.829.1700 | datbayoulv.com
Favorite German
Dunderbak's
Having opened in 1977, Dunderbak's is the longest continuously operated, independently owned business in the Lehigh Valley Mall. That's worth celebrating—here, every day is Oktoberfest.
Lehigh Valley Mall | 610.264.4963 | dunderbak.com
Favorite Allentown
Union & Finch
At this American-style bistro, diners can enjoy casual fare like comfort foods and familiar favorites with a twist.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
Favorite Chinese
U & Tea
If you have not been to this restaurant on Southside Bethlehem, whose tagline reads “authentic Chinese cuisine and Hong-Kong-style food” please go. Order the shrimp dumplings, the Ma La Dry Hot Pot, the Peking Duck. It almost doesn't matter what you order, as it's all good. Be prepared for kind, attentive service. In operation since 2015, U & Tea is a revered spot for some of the best and freshest Chinese dishes we've tasted. The students at Lehigh know it. You should, too. While you're there, order some bubble tea—there are plenty of fruity flavors to choose from.
119 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.866.4900 | uandteabethlehem.kwickmenu.com
Favorite Seafood
3rd & Ferry Fish Market
Don't leave without ordering The Crabby Mary or the lobster roll.
56 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.1404 | thirdandferry.com
Favorite Bath/Walnutport
Point Phillips Hotel
Embrace history at Point Phillips Hotel, built in 1806, and enjoy local cuisine and craft beers.
943 Point Phillips Rd., Bath | 610.837.1544 | pointphillipshotel.com
Favorite Mexican
Mesa Modern Mexican
Maybe it's the tableside guacamole, which you can customize with various add-ins (hello, fruit!). Maybe it's the stellar margaritas that you can sip at the outside tables while partaking in some equally stellar people watching. Or maybe it's just the fact that you can get some creative and delicious Mexican fare at Mesa—including a growing vegan menu, with tacos, nachos and burritos, too, made with a homemade avocado cream. Chef Rafael Palomino knows what he's doing here, and so does his staff. “We take great pride in the quality and inventiveness of our menus,” he says.
42 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.2101 | mesamexican.com
Favorite African
HOZA African Restaurant
HOZA has made its mark on the Lehigh Valley in just a little over a year since it opened in Downtown Easton. Sibu Mafundikwa, the owner, grew up in Zimbabwe, and the menu is full of dishes from all over Africa and the African diaspora (Jamaica). A range of African fare is offered, such as peri peri (South Africa), egusi and fufu (West Africa), oxtail, jerk chicken, Jollof rice, goat curry and more. There's also plenty of vegan options, too, such as peanut butter spinach and dishes with collards, baked beans and more.
349 Northampton St., Easton | 610.330.1000 | hozarestaurant.com
Favorite Greek
Yianni's Taverna
Yianni's promises modern interpretations of traditional Greek cooking, with seasonal menu changes.
3760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem | 610.410.9300 | yiannistaverna.com
Favorite Nazareth
Birthright Brewing Co.
Birthright promises quality craft beer and fresh, seasonal food.
57 S. Main St., Nazareth | 610.365.2225 | birthrightbrewingco.com
Favorite Healthy Fare
Green Vida Co
At this health-focused café and juice bar, transparency is key. Ingredients are listed clearly on the menu and the open-concept kitchen is designed so you can see your order as it's prepared.
1800 Sullivan Trl. Suite 330, Easton | 610.438.4112
Easton Public Market | 484.541.5309 | greenvidacompany.com
Favorite Macungie/Fogelsville
Hops Fogelsville Hotel
There is truly something for everyone at Hops, from buffalo wings to cheesesteaks.
7921 Main St., Fogelsville | 610.395.3999 | hopslehighvalley.com
Favorite Hellertown
PA House
Italian at heart, the PA House is not quite fine dining or casual—it's a true hybrid.
662 Front St., Hellertown | 484.851.6662 | thepahouse.com
Favorite Northampton/Catasauqua
Assante Ristorante Italiano
Assante promises elegant dining and refined Italian cuisine from Mount Vesuvius!
2050 Main St., Northampton | 610.262.1301 | assanterestaurant.com
Favorite Whitehall/Coplay
My Tequila House
From the Cocina to the Cantina, My Tequila House offers infinite Mexican favorites—and plenty of tequila to choose from.
1808 MacArthur Rd., Whitehall | 484.664.7109 | mytequilahouse.com
Favorite Private Dining/Private Room
Blue Grillhouse
Blue is the perfect venue to host your next special event.
4431 Easton Ave., Bethlehem | 610.691.8400 | bluegrillhouse.com
Favorite Southern
Family Chicken and Waffles Seafood and Soulfood
At Family Chicken and Waffles, all of the food is made with a very special ingredient—love.
1800 Sullivan Trl. Suite 360, Easton | 610.438.1882 | familychickenandwaffles.com
Favorite Gluten-Free
Indigo 52
Indigo 52's food is gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free and shellfish-free… and there's still plenty to love.
52 S. Main St., Nazareth | 610.365.2026 | indigo52.cafe
Favorite Center Valley/Coopersburg
Melt
Melt prides itself on taking pasta to a whole new level, adding traditional sauces prepared with a fresh, modern twist.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.798.9000 | meltgrill.com
Favorite Phillipsburg, NJ
La Bella Via
La Bella Via promises a truly unique pizza experience! Their secret? Imported Italian flour, an old family pizza sauce recipe, a blend of the finest cheeses and a custom wood-burning oven.
41 3rd St., Phillipsburg, NJ | 908.387.8070 | labellavianj.com
Favorite Music/Live Music
The Beam Yard at Steel Club
Looking for live music? Head to Steel Club for its weekly Tunes on Thursday event.
700 Linden Ave., Hellertown | 610.838.7018 | steel.club
Favorite Bar
Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar
Pull up a chair at this 20-seat bar and enjoy one of the most inventive cocktail menus around.
5036 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 610.841.4610 | notchmknb.com
Favorite Design/Décor
Westside Grill
Champalimaud Design, based in New York, is to thank for Westside Grill's beautiful interiors.
621 Grange Rd., Allentown | 610.508.4500 | westsidegrillpa.com
Favorite Quakertown
McCoole's at the Historic Red Lion Inn
McCoole's offers a fine dining experience at a casual dining budget, promising the finest food at affordable prices.
4 S. Main St., Quakertown | 215.538.1776 | mccoolesredlioninn.com
Favorite Rooftop
Zest Bar + Grille
Visit Zest on a rooftop in the heart of Southside Bethlehem and enjoy three-season terrace seating.
306 S. New St., Bethlehem | 610.419.4320 | zestbethlehem.com
Favorite View
Slopeside Pub & Grill
Pick almost any seat at Slopeside and enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding Pocono Mountains.
1660 Blue Mountain Dr., Palmerton | 610.824.1557 | skibluemt.com
Favorite Special Occasion/Fine Dining
Savory Grille
Savory Grille promises to take guests back in time to when fine dining was an experience to be savored.
2934 Seisholtzville Rd., Macungie | 610.845.2010 | savorygrille.com
Favorite Hotel Restaurant
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Choose from the Tap Room and 1741 on the Terrace to enjoy one menu with two different views—Main Street or Historic Moravian Bethlehem.
437 Main St., Bethlehem | 855.264.2598 | hotelbethlehem.com
Favorite Overall Vibe
Easton Wine Project
Wine produced on-site in a city versus in a traditional rural vineyard makes Easton Wine Project an “urban winery” with a rustic ambiance.
1247 Simon Blvd. Suite N103, Easton | 610.438.2533 | eastonwineproject.com
Favorite Emmaus
Switchback Pizza Company
Experience Switchback's version of a Neapolitan pizza cooked at 900 degrees in a wood oven using 24- to 48-hour slow-fermented pizza dough.
525 Jubilee St., Emmaus | 610.928.0641 | switchbackpizza.com
Published as "2022 Restaurant Awards: 46 Reader-Voted Favorites" in the November 2022 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
