The votes are in for the 12th annual Decadent Dish Restaurant Awards. Our readers told us who their absolute favorites are.
Lee Chizmar
Favorite Chef
Bolete
Favorite Special Occasion
In a way, it's a small pity that Bolete is tagged as a favorite place for a special occasion, because having this uber-talented chef cook for you any night of the week is an event worth celebrating. Tuesday through Thursday are extra special because you can mitigate the cost a bit by selecting the chef's five-course tasting menu.
It's $75 (add $50 for alcohol pairings) and the most immediate way to learn about what's important to Bolete's chef and co-owner, Lee Chizmar: fresh, local and, increasingly, as unfettered as possible.
It's obvious why Bolete is the splurge place of choice among our readers. “It's expensive,” Chizmar acknowledges. “The best part is that we don't make lots of money. Our food costs are high. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would cook for free, because I love it,” he says. That love translates to the plate every time he cooks. “We just try to stick with the best ingredients and hope every year we get a little bit better,” says Chizmar. It's also why Chizmar landed on the semi-finalist list this year for the coveted James Beard Foundation Awards for best chef, mid-Atlantic region. And it's why in 2014 Bolete received the Diners' Choice Award from OpenTable as one of the top 100 restaurants in the country. Luckily for us, an evening in this rustic but elegant inn, where Chizmar's wife, Erin Shea, runs the warm, classy dining room, is just a short ride away. (Hint: The tavern side of Bolete, with its inventive cocktails and a scaled-down menu, is week-night approachable.)
1740 Seidersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.868.6505 | boleterestaurant.com
Photo by Colin Coleman
Diner 248
Favorite Diner
With seven flat-panel televisions, classic fare plus a full dinner menu and lots of local brews on tap, this modern take on a diner is always hopping.
3701 Easton Nazareth Hwy., Easton | 610.252.4300 | diner248.com
Photo courtesy of Hotel Bethlehem
1741 on the Terrace at Hotel Bethlehem
Favorite Brunch
With beloved chef Michael Adams at the helm, a carving table, omelets and waffles made to order and jazz or Celtic music in the background, repeat wins are no surprise.
437 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.625.2219 | 1741ontheterrace.com
Photo courtesy of Blue Mountain
Slopeside Pub and Grill
Favorite Atmosphere
Roaring fires in the winter. Panoramic views of Blue Mountain from the outdoor terrace. Nature creates the most soothing ambiance here.
1660 Blue Mountain Dr., Palmerton | 610.824.1557 | skibluemt.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Blue Sky Cafe
Favorite Café
In a good café, the fare is satisfying and creative. The vibe is casual and welcoming. All is certainly true for Blue Sky, which wins the appetites of our readers by serving a freewheeling comfort food menu that emphasizes seasonal and local, and it displays a penchant for Southwestern flavors (see an abundance of black beans and local hot sauces: Billy's Bud Burners and sriracha from Buy the Farm) along with a sensitivity toward vegan and gluten-free diners.
Readers have two locations to choose from: Bethlehem (since 2007) and Blue Sky at the State Cafe and Grill in Easton, which opened July 2014. Although there are nuances that distinguish the fare, whether it's the way the potatoes are cooked or how much local produce is used (Easton has more, thanks to its relationship with the Easton Farmers' Market), you'll still find an open kitchen and a laid-back vibe. Many favorites can be found at both spots.
Big sellers include the single Big Daddy pancake, which co-owner Bill Sneeringer says, “fills the whole griddle,” or the Rachel sandwich for lunch. Or any of the numerous specials that emerge organically among the two staffs, Bill and Tabitha Sneeringer (who own the business) and Bill Poplawski, chef for Blue Sky in Easton.
There's a disclaimer on the menu that reads, “Due to our creative spirit, menu subject to change without notice.” It's true. “Sometimes people get upset, but we like to change things. We get inspired,” says Sneeringer. Still, it wouldn't really be possible without the flexibility of its customers, who increasingly roll with whatever Blue Sky offers, says Poplawski.
That spirited approach also means they're open to suggestion. “I'll cook whatever people want, as long as there's time,” says Poplawski.
Blue Sky Cafe | 22 W. 4th St., Bethlehem | 610.867.9390 | theblueskycafe.comBlue Sky at the State Cafe and Grill | 14-16 S. 5th St., Easton | 610.829.0188 | theblueskycafe.com
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Youell's Oyster House
Favorite Seafood
Ahoy! Dock yourself at this West End mainstay, with fresh catches—many of them oysters—delivered seven days a week.
2249 Walnut St., Allentown | 610.439.1203 | youellsoysterhouse.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Jenny's Kuali
Favorite Vegetarian
Fresh ingredients and pungent spices make for a heady homemade mix of Malaysian fare. Ask for the homemade vegetable dumplings.
102 E. 4th St., Bethlehem | 610.758.8088 | jennyskuali.com
Photo by Colin Coleman
Gio Italian Grill
Favorite Italian & Favorite Gourmet Pizza
You can thank Giovanna and Tony DiMaio's open-flame oven—plus the hand tossing—for creating some of the tastiest pizzas (especially the Giovanna), plus homemade sausage and ravioli. Eight years running.
6465 Village Ln., Macungie | 610.966.9446 | gioitaliangrill.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Hunan Springs
Favorite Chinese
Chinese restaurants aren't always the number one choice for a dining-out kind of experience—it's all too often the go-to for quick takeout. However, if you put down the takeout menu—or step away from the PDF online—and actually come in to Hunan Springs, you're in for something unusual. You'll be dining in a Chinese restaurant that's situated in an old barn, with exposed brick and large wooden beams. Years ago, it used to be a stable for horses, and after that, it was the Widow Brown's Inn until Jay Ho's parents, Ming Yang Ho and Fen I Ho, opened it as Hunan Springs in 1994. The look remains intact. “My parents wanted to maintain its historic character,” says Jay Ho, who owns the restaurant. Suffice to say, it creates a vibe much different from your stereotypical Americanized Asian restaurant experience.
Loyalists at Hunan Springs are typically pretty quick to memorize their favorites of the endless combinations of veggies, rice and proteins available, and the dim sum options, too—all served family style. The restaurant's super-popular specialty is Pai Ya, or steamed whole duck. If you want that, it's best to call ahead, as it's “an all-day process,” says Ho. Hunan Springs earns points for not using any added MSG, and it offers extensive vegetarian offerings, along with a steamed-with-sauce-on-the-side section. You like it hot? Let them know; they're happy to oblige. You want an unusual delicacy such as jellyfish? You can have that here, too.
4939 Hamilton Blvd., Wescosville | 610.366.8338 | hunansprings.com
Photo by Kori Livingston
Komé
Favorite Japanese
Elevated Japanese cuisine and a sleek, modern aesthetic are on the menu here.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.798.9888 | komerestaurant.com
Photo by Kori Livingston
Spice India
Favorite Indian
Warm, colorful walls surround you, and generous portions representing the country's various flavor profiles and dishes await.
3812 Easton Nazareth Hwy., Easton | 610.365.74001894 Catasauqua Rd., Allentown | 610.419.8700 | spiceindia.us
Photo by Kori Livingston
Cactus Blue
Favorite BYOB
Munch on tortillas and zesty salsa as servers offer you a house-made virgin frozen margarita—you supply the tequila and bring it all together.
2915 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.814.3000 | cactusblue.biz
Photo by Olaf Starorypinski
White Orchids
Favorite Thai
Flavorful, creative and crowded—that's how you know this place is good.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.841.7499 | whiteorchidsthaicuisine.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
187 Rue Principale
Favorite French
“I cannot believe how lucky I am to have this chef,” says Mary Margaret Cullen, a.k.a. Mitzy, about her executive chef Dustin Selvaggio. He heads the kitchen at this cozy restaurant in Emmaus, known for its French-inspired modern cuisine with a strong emphasis on fresh and seasonal. A new menu is printed every day, based on what's available. “About 80 percent of our menu is sourced locally,” says Cullen.
As a teenager, Selvaggio worked under chef Michael Adams at the Farmhouse and attended Johnson and Wales for its culinary program. During the day, Rue Principale is a crêperie serving sweet and savory crêpes, plus light fare, sandwiches and soups—that's the initial concept Cullen started with. “But then I met Dustin and things changed,” she says, once she saw what he was capable of. At night, the linen tablecloths come out and the space is transformed into a classy dining room with a small, thoughtful menu and a full bar with lots of French wines and local beers.
Quickly, they've become known for their crêpes, especially the savory buckwheat ones (“That's traditional,” she says) with fillings such as parsnips, along with their indulgent French toast. It's made with a seasonal fruited cake such as apple, peach or blueberry, and then bathed in a crème brûlée batter and garnished with more seasonal fruit. The rustic peasant dish coq au vin succeeds, along with their menu staple: a rabbit tasting, prepared four different ways.
Another distinctive feature is the no-tipping policy, which Cullen instituted in order to create pay equity between the front and back of the house. It takes some getting used to, but she insists the servers are compensated well above minimum wage. “It works because we all work together and we all work for each other,” says Cullen.
187 Main St., Emmaus | 610.928.0418 | 187rueprincipale.com
Photo by Brian Wcislo
Yianni's Taverna
Favorite Mediterranean
Order a mess of mezze at this airy space with vivid Aegean blue accents and share, share, share.
3760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem | 610.867.8821 | yiannistaverna.com
Photo by Kori Livingston
Terry's
Neighborhood Favorite
The fresh mozzarella, handmade pasta and thin crust pizza earn raves. It's been a hidden gem since 1951. Join the locals and see for yourself.
200 S. Delaware Dr., Easton | 610.252.5330 | terrysrestaurant.com
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
3rd & Ferry Fish Market
Easton Favorite
No one's crabby here, but you've gotta order the Crabby Mary (at the long, copper-topped bar), try the ceviche sampler and share the market crab fries.
56 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.1404 | thirdandferry.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Apollo Grill
Bethlehem Favorite & Favorite Appetizer Menu
If there's one thing we can say about the Apollo Grill in Bethlehem, it's that it's consistently excellent. It's no small feat given the competitive and dynamic nature of restaurants. “One of the reasons that we have been able to maintain our place in the restaurant industry is that we care... about our customers, our staff and our community,” says Dyanne Holt, who, with her husband Rod, owns Apollo with Tucker and Pat Lyons. The restaurant has donated nearly half a million dollars to local charities since its inception, and it provides paid benefits—including medical and two weeks' vacation—to its employees, a real rarity in the restaurant world. That's part of the consistency, too.
Apollo launched in 1996 with an appetizer menu that instantly raised the standard, long before tapas-style plates became the norm. They've kept the classics, like the black and blue tenderloin, lobster taco and the crab mac and cheese. Periodically, new ones are added, such as cauliflower cakes, Asian lettuce wraps and this particularly inspired mash-up: cheesesteak spring rolls.
Happily, a night at Apollo still means a two-hour reservation window, but make sure you call about a week in advance for weekends—the place fills up fast. And the lengthy menu, one that offers much for the palate and thoughtful options (half-portions of pasta and salad), keeps people coming back, too.
“This restaurant is an attitude; if we work to-gether, it works. We survive and thrive because we pick each other up and all have the same goal,” says Holt.
85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 | apollogrill.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar
Favorite New
In just a little over a year, this splashy spot—and its sprawling outdoor bar area—has quickly become a key player in downtown Allentown's renaissance.
645 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.3535 | thehamiltonkitchen.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Shula's
Favorite Steakhouse
This restaurant may be part of the dining empire owned by former NFL superstar coach Don Shula, but its local owner, Kostas Kalogeropoulos, recently uprooted it from the Promenade Shops to downtown Allentown's growing restaurant scene. According to head coach (a.k.a., general manager) Scott Craver, “Kostas saw what was happening and he wanted to be a part of it. There's a big upside to being in the new spot,” he says. It only seems right that you should be able to find the requisite classy steakhouse—complete with white tablecloths and dressed-up servers—in a revived urban core on the first floor of the Strata Flats apartments.
The new location affords an expanded lunch menu and bar area, plus patio seating for up to 60. Most nights of the week (except Sunday) it's open until 11 p.m.; when there's an event at the arena, they stay open until midnight, with a separate bar menu featuring items such as short rib tacos and sweet chili shrimp. But everything else that makes Shula's great remains intact, including its signature steak, the Shula Cut: a custom center of premium Black Angus steak from cattle that graze on grass but are finished on corn—that's what provides the marbling. Options start with a six-ounce petite filet and go all the way up to the coach's challenge: the massive 48-ounce porterhouse. Bring your A-game to the table.
27 N. 7th St., #110, Allentown | 610.841.5600 | shulasdowntown.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Grille 3501
Allentown Favorite & Favorite Martini
It's been rocking for nearly 15 years, and there's no question why Grille 3501, a mainstay in the western part of the Valley, is beloved. It's not just the cocktails, although those are strong players, but the whole package—the progressive American cuisine, the hospitality and the ambiance. “I am confident that we are a sum of our parts,” says John Trapani, who co-owns the restaurant with executive chef John Pukanecz.
Now, about those cocktails—more than two dozen of ‘em, specifically. The most signature drink, however, is the 3501—a “high-end Cosmo,” he says, with clementine vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice. Any bar worth its salt preps house-made infusions; think of figs in Wild Turkey, basil in Bluecoat gin and “papaya, melon or rosemary in vodka. As long as it's good,” says Pukanecz. Bartenders are even aging bourbon, rye, tequila and scotch in-house and in small barrels; they'll pour it right out for your drinks. A couple of years ago, it became possible to offer organic cocktails, and they jumped on it, “because organic is exploding,” says Trapani.
About a year ago, Grille 3501 added a two-story, indoor-outdoor dining experience called the loft, whose retractable glass wall, radiant floor heating and heat lamps seriously extend al fresco dining possibilities. “It's been my dream for years,” says Trapani. While you're there, order one of their best-selling entrées, such as the Maine lobster tails or filet mignon with buttermilk mashed potatoes. Seasonal and local items make appearances, too—Primordia mushrooms, produce from Red Earth Farms, along with fish flown in fresh from Hawaii. The success is not a big secret, according to Pukanecz. “It's quality ingredients, prepared well using classical recipes and techniques,” he says.
3501 Broadway, Allentown | 610.706.0100 | grille3501.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Torre
Favorite Mexican
There's no shortage of spectacle at the latest George Paxos restaurant, from the 28-foot high illuminated tequila tower to the round bar to the sugar skulls. But the modernized Mexican fare commands equal attention.
The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.841.9399 | torrerestaurant.com
Damascus
Favorite Middle Eastern
Frequenters have enjoyed Damascus's friendly, laid-back vibe and homemade hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh and baba ganoush for 20 years running.
449 N. 2nd St., Allentown | 610.432.2036 | damascusrestaurantpa.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Savory Grille
Favorite Farm to Table
Everything is fresh, mostly seasonal, made from scratch and beautifully presented at chef Shawn Doyle's long-running Valley fave.
2934 Seisholtzville Rd., Macungie | 610.845.2010 | savorygrille.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
Dave's Deli
Favorite Deli
Don't let the lines at lunchtime scare you. Dave Hall and his staff have been slicing up sandwiches and scooping fresh gelato in Bethlehem since 1992. As such, they have the whole thing down to a science. Or maybe it's a sandwich building system. You can't just slap a bunch of ingredients together and hope for the best. No, it's more careful than that—but it's not so specific. According to Hall, there isn't one magic sandwich that accounts for those lines and his success. “Doing business for 23 years, my feeling is that it's not just one signature sandwich that keeps people coming back, but all my sandwiches will keep people coming back,” he says. To wit: there are more than 300 sandwiches to choose from in the arsenal at this point. The best-seller? The Twisted Turkey—a hot maple-glazed turkey breast with melted Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato and sweet hot mustard, served on a toasted pretzel bun.
It starts with ingredients—but that should be obvious. Boar's Head meats and cheeses are cut fresh, right for your sandwich—no deli slices sitting around to dry out around here. The soups and dressings along with egg, tuna and chicken salads are all made from scratch, too. And then there is the gelato. You cannot leave here without it. You just can't. The mixes and the machine come from Italy, but many of the flavor combinations are all Dave Hall, including the beloved salty caramel with chocolate. Fall means caramel apple, apple pie, cranberry orange and, of course, pumpkin—just in time for the holidays.
310 Stoke Park Rd., Bethlehem | 610.882.3663 | daves-deli.com
