Lightly clouded with the briny tang of olive juice, the dirty martini is both smooth and savory, with just the right amount of salty goodness to awaken your taste buds. These five restaurants craft them with care.
1. The Dark & Dirty
PA House
662 Front St., Hellertown | 484.851.6662 | thepahouse.com
Hellertown's PA House is the place to go for modern Italian, from limoncello cheesecake to wood-fired eggplant pizza, and they also have their own take on this classic cocktail. The Dark & Dirty is made with Ketel One vodka and Dolin dry vermouth in a chilled Nick and Nora glass. The twist is a dash of cuttlefish ink in the olive brine. Its deep color has no effect on the flavor but will make you feel extremely cool.
2. Twisted Dirty
Twisted Olive
51 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1200 | twistedolivebethlehem.com
With an emblem of the fruit glowing above the door, you know that Bethlehem's Twisted Olive has a dirty martini on the menu year-round. Stateside vodka, olive juice and olives stuffed with feta, bleu and provolone cheeses go into this straightforward and classic rendition. Pair it with a grilled shrimp salad or flank steak—the menu is very kind to the gluten-averse. And for your next drink, explore some of the house-infused liquors!
3. Youell's Elite
Youell's Oyster House
2249 Walnut St., Allentown | 610.439.1203 | youellsoysterhouse.com
With a much-loved happy hour, Youell's Oyster House is the seafood hot spot of Allentown, the place to go for a succulent lobster bisque, fresh oysters and bountiful crabcakes. Balance your fish feast with a sharp and tasty cocktail—the Elite Martini is made with Stoli Elite vodka and plump olives stuffed with bleu cheese, but you can also order it with gin if that's your thing.
4. Kabinett Martini
Kabinett Wine Bar & Garden
125 Northampton St., Easton | 484.545.7670 | kabinettwinebar.com
The Australians are among us. The same aesthetically ingenious duo that brought Tucker to the Silk Mill in Easton recently opened Kabinett Wine Bar & Garden downtown—it's cozy, classy and extremely intentional. For their dirty martini they use Australian Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin, Australian Maidenii vermouth, and upgrade as requested to extra dirty with a gilda. This pickled garlic clove, green olive and white anchovy skewer is a Spanish custom.
5. Grana Padano
Stoke Coal Fire Pizza & Bar
1 Lehns Ct., Easton | 610.829.1400 | stokecoalfirepizza.com
Stoke Coal Fire Pizza & Bar in Easton is all about the simplicity of a perfectly fired pizza made with mouth-watering, artfully conceived ingredients, and their cocktails are no different. The mixologists are known for a great dirty martini, but the savory drink gets savorier: the Grana Padano is made with Parmesan-infused Tito's vodka, Cinzano sweet vermouth and lemon, with a cheese and olive garnish. Go ahead and satisfy your curiosity.
Published as “5 Things” in the May 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
