The Lehigh Valley Restaurants Blog

Cosmopolitan stages Sal's Spaghetti House Tuesdays

Although Sal's Spaghetti House has been gone since 1988, it hasn't been forgotten. Cosmopolitan (which now occupies the vintage restaurant's former North Sixth Street location), will stir up delicious memories of the beloved Allentown eatery when...

Chopstick at Sands a fine addition for fresh and well-made Asian

A new Asian restaurant, Chopstick, opened in Bethlehem’s Sands Casino just after Thanksgiving. At my recent visit, the trays of food I saw carried through the dining room before I even ordered were enough to tell the eatery’s tale of...

Weaversville Inn adds new dining features

A “Weekend in Tuscany” will bring a taste of Italy to the Weaversville Inn Jan. 25-26.

River Grille in Easton celebrates decade of success

Nearly 10 years after Mick Gjevukaj launched River Grille in downtown Easton, the MLM Restaurant Group restaurateur still embraces his founding philosophy.

Burger King introduces new menu items

Attention, chocolate fans! Burger King has just introduced new, limited-time-only menu items, including two variations on molten fudge. Molten Fudge Bites are round fudge brownies with molten chocolate centers while the Molten Fudge Sundae builds...

IHOP celebrates National Pancake Day with free stacks

Pour the syrup and dig into a free stack of IHOP's signature buttermilk pancakes 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 5. But then, dig into your pocket to make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Hai Ky Pho Ga serves up familiar and unusual Vietnamese

Hai Ky Pho Ga, which opened just a few weeks ago, brings Vietnamese cuisine to the commercial corridor of MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township. The restaurant features an extensive menu of exotic-sounding dishes, many of them more recognizable than...

Hess's Strawberry Pie, Sal's Spaghetti revived at Cosmopolitan

Everything old is, indeed, new again — at least in downtown Allentown where Cosmopolitan restaurant is dishing up “a slice of history” with Hess’s Strawberry Pie.

Restaurant review: Nazareth Diner features fresh look and big menu

When the Nazareth Diner closed last year for renovations, the restaurant added a full-service bar to its offerings and reopened its doors to reveal a transformed everyday dining spot.

Virginville Hotel holds first beer dinner

Lagers and ales made by Great Lakes Brewing Co., long popular in western Pennsylvania, are finally migrating to the Lehigh Valley — and the Virginville Hotel is highlighting its craft brews with a Beef and Ale Dinner on Jan. 12.

La Tosca in Bethlehem Township bought by original owner

In 2006 Chris Valianatos sold the Lincoln Hotel in Bethlehem Township to a pair of Long Island restaurateurs who transformed the eatery into La Tosca, a fine-dining Italian restaurant. Last month Valianatos, who also owns Borderline Restaurant in...

'Hell's Kitchen' chef to sizzle at Roma Ristorante

While farm-to-table is a notable dining trend, Roma Ristorante is about to introduce TV-to-table fare to the culinary lexicon. A special dinner hosted by the Allentown restaurant on Jan. 21 will feature a live demonstration by chef Clemenza Caserta,...

Old School Sandwich Co. packs fresh, movable feasts

No doubt John Montagu — Great Britain’s fourth Earl of Sandwich commonly considered the inventor of one of America’s favorite fast foods — would be proud of his legacy as interpreted by South Whitehall Township’s Old...

Family style New Year's at Rascal's

Kids get to share the excitement of New Year’s Eve 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 31 at Rascal’s Food and Fun in Upper Macungie Township. The restaurant’s annual family-friendly holiday party features live music, dancing, a midnight...

New Year's Eve at Allentown Brew Works

The city of Allentown’s yearlong 250th anniversary celebration culminates with a sensational Semiquincentennial Soiree on New Year’s Eve at Allentown Brew Works’ recently opened level Five.

Review: Easton's Casera restaurant serves fresh Spanish Caribbean dinners

In the late autumn night, Easton’s Casera looms large with an air of mystery. After all, the restaurant sits in a dark block of residential, Victorian-looking houses, its sign easily overlooked in the blackness. There’s a restaurant...

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Irene Kraft is a features writer for The Morning Call. She also writes the popular Retail Watch column, which keeps you informed about restaurant openings, closings and relocations throughout the region. A lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley, Irene has had the opportunity to see how tremendously the area's dining-out options have grown. She makes no claim to be a foodie. She was raised on Ukrainian and American cuisine. But her food passion is anything Italian, particularly if it's served with a great marinara sauce.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

Diane Stoneback, Senior Reporter for Food at The Morning Call, has sampled smoked reindeer meat above the Arctic Circle, sauteed alligator in New Orleans and Chinese chicken feet in Allentown while learning about the world's authentic cuisines. Although Thai restaurants are irresistible magnets, she also loves revisiting the Lehigh Valley's classic eateries and sharing their treasured recipes with readers.

Jodi Duckett is the Arts and Entertainment Editor of The Morning Call. She's lived in the Lehigh Valley all her life and appreciates all its diverse dining options -- from fine dining to pub grub to chain eateries and, especially, small, homegrown ethnic restaurants. She has a particular fondness for Indian and Mexican fare, and just wishes food didn't have so many calories.

Mike Hirsch is the Features Editor of The Morning Call. He developed a love for ethnic restaurants (as well as hot chicken wings, beef on weck and Mighty Tacos) while growing up in Buffalo, New York.

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