At Jay's Local in Allentown, every cup of coffee is special. “When searching for a coffee roaster, we knew we wanted someone local and with great quality beans,” says owner and operator Lyell Scherline. The coffee beans at Jay's are roasted in Kutztown and personally delivered by the owners of Four Monkeys. “We always know when they arrive, as you can smell the freshly roasted beans as soon as they walk through the door,” says Scherline.
When determining their seasonal specialties, Scherline says they like to think outside the box: “We understand that customers have a variety of options when it comes to restaurants, so we like to provide that little bit of novelty in our menu that you normally would not see elsewhere.” This fall, the Pumpkin Brûlée Latte is introduced to the menu. Made with 24-hour cold brew (from Four Monkeys) and pumpkin spice, the drink is then topped with whipped cream and house-made maple brûlée chips. It's available hot or iced, “for those who still enjoy a cold beverage all year round,” says Scherline.
While the latte will pair nicely with just about anything on their menu, Scherline recommends their Southwest Avocado Toast to balance it out with something savory. Of course, diners can't go wrong with the fan-favorite Waffle Muffin, a delicious merging of a waffle and a muffin, served with whipped cream, berries and a side of honey bourbon maple syrup with honey from Funny Farm Apiaries in Mertztown. “If our Waffle Muffin is your go-to, we highly recommend trying the seasonal versions like the pumpkin version in the fall, sufganiyot version during Hanukkah or the carrot cake filled with sweet cream cheese in the spring,” he says.
Be on the lookout for the restaurant's weekend pop-up shops, featuring local artists, vendors and small businesses to shop, and Thursday open mic nights hosted by Kris Fried and Tyler Rothrock through the fall and winter months. “Supporting and offering local is an important part of why Jay's Local was established,” says Scherline. The restaurant recently began offering doughnuts and baked goods from Vegan Treats, Mary Ann Donut Kitchen and Lusitania Bakery. “Pair them with any of our classic drinks for a quick treat.”
Keeping customers constantly excited and guessing what they'll come up with next is extremely important to the team at Jay's. “We take great pride in our weekend specials, which usually consist of items derived from our staff. It's important that our staff take part in the creative process, so we do a lot of recipe and taste testing as a team.”
2301 W. Liberty St., Allentown | 610.351.3100 | jayslocal.com
