Balancing called-for caution with the irresistible lure of Lehigh Valley’s restaurants, outdoor seating is simple in summer and a bit more elusive when the weather turns cold. Here’s a list of dining delights with outdoor accommodations for wintertime, to put your mind at ease and a mouthwatering meal in front of you.
1. The Shelby
The Shelby in Allentown may take the cake for largest outdoor dining venue. The spacious tent makes it popular for parties and bigger gatherings as well as the inimitable intimate brunch The Shelby is famous for. Decorative lighting dangles from the high ceiling and planters add a greenhouse feel. Make reservations or you’ll be out in the cold!
2. Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar
The fusion cuisine at Notch ranges from juicy pork dumpling and bao buns to “Drunken Bolognese” and fish and chips with kimchi coleslaw. They also go the extra mile on outdoor seating, with an intentional “Cozy Corner” prix fixe menu just for the patio. Though covered and heated, the space is open-air, so bring your hats and scarves—that brisk winter air makes Notch’s Winter Asian Fondue all the more satisfying!
3. Switchback Pizza Company
Right next to Switchback Pizza Company in Emmaus, the covid-cautious are invited to eat in a walled tent kept toasty with a large propane heater. Good news, because summer isn’t the only time to enjoy wood-fired pizza scorched to rustic perfection and the eatery’s house-made Red Balloon Cider. DIY your garlic bread with fresh ciabatta and garlic grown on-site.
4. Sage Alley Brewery & Grille
Tucked away in Coopersburg, Sage Alley Brewery & Grille is a veteran-owned establishment with limited Thursday through Sunday hours (now offering Friday lunch specials) and a varied collection of brews. With a custom heated enclosure, the 40-by-60-foot patio accommodates up to 40 guests. Warm up with homemade soup and a toasty panini.
5. Porter’s Pub
Porter’s Pub wears its name well, hunkered-down and dimly lit with rough stone walls. But for those looking for more headspace and fresh air, a roomy beer garden is available for dinner service only. Inside a heated and walled tent, it’s popular on weekends and hosts live music Wednesday and Thursday nights.
6. Grille 3501
Grille 3501 boasts a lofty and breathtaking atmosphere inside this wood-beamed and high-windowed four-season indoor-outdoor porch and mezzanine. Try the incredible cocktails and a fusion menu fit for that special date night. On busier nights additional tent space comes into play.
7. Braveheart Highland Pub
Comfortable with an old-world tavern feel, Braveheart Highland Pub is the place to go for your haggis fix and a rich plate of bangers and mash as well as less thoroughly Scottish fare. A deck was recently added to provide an outside dining option, well-warmed and covered in the colder months.
8. Ocean 235
Unsurprisingly, seafood is the specialty at this Easton gem. Ocean offers fine dining with the freshest ingredients, and an option for eating outside if four walls make you fret. Snugly insulated in the alley alongside Ocean is limited seating, so make sure to mention your preference when making reservations.
9. Copperhead Grille
Holding down its stretch of 378, the elevated sports bar Copperhead Grille expanded its outdoor capacity with a 2,000-square-foot area before the pandemic was even a whisper. Get your wings, your nachos, or your slate of piping-hot fajitas and watch a game without stepping foot inside.
10. Three OAK Steakhouse
OAK’s glass-enclosed rooftop bar offers an outdoor dining experience without the chill. Hanging string lights and fire pit tabletops provide a cozy vibe in the winter months. Enjoy a cocktail up top before venturing downstairs to the 128-seat multi-floored restaurant for a steak dinner.
