By Cathy Kiley When Chef/Owner Domenic Lombardo (aka Chef Mimmo) opened The Mint 15 months ago, he and his staff brought bustling new life to the former Bank of America building on West Broad Street in Bethlehem. I’m not sure the term “bustling” is sufficient to describe the bold atmosphere of this vibrant eatery. The retro décor, including brightly colored furniture, shin... »
By Cathy Kiley Photo by Ryan Hulvat I know very few people in the Lehigh Valley who haven’t been to Henry’s Salt of the Sea. It’s been there for decades yet one could easily miss it when traveling on Allen Street if you weren’t looking for it. The humble wooden façade boasts a modest sign and two ship’s lanterns lighting the entrance to the cavernous interior that is Henr... »
By Cathy Kiley I am almost embarrassed to admit that it took me over a year and a half to visit Cosmopolitan. However, I must say, “better late than never!” The moment you enter the architectural delight that is Cosmopolitan, you’ll feel you’ve stepped back in time. The dining room is what one can only describe as classic, with richly-draped windows accenting the well-spac... »
By Cathy Kiley When Tom and I moved to Forks Township in 1980, the first place we discovered and frequented was Youell’s on Easton’s College Hill. Youell’s was the place to eat, offering fresh seafood with lots of butter. They took no reservations, so the line ran up the block on weekends and – with Lafayette College close by – it was nearly impossible to get in on Parent... »
By Cathy Kiley Blue has been a shining star on the Lehigh Valley dining scene for nearly a decade. Since opening in 2002, locals and business travelers have embraced Blue as a favorite destination for not only dining and corporate meetings, but as a lively, friendly meeting place. Now, with recent renovations completed, one cannot help but notice the painstaking attention ... »
By Cathy Kiley When owner John Trapani opened Grille 3501, he brought with him over a decade of experience in the food industry that included the former Trapper’s Pub on the Southside of Allentown. His dream of opening a casual yet upscale restaurant came to fruition in 2001 when he transformed a 75- year-old Lehigh Valley tradition, Trinkle’s Cetronia Hotel, into a trendy... »
By Cathy Kiley Of the many pleasures I’ve had over the years writing restaurant reviews, my favorite may be the opportunity of getting to know area chefs on a more personal level. One of the most visible chefs in the Lehigh Valley is Shawn Doyle of Savory Grille. He is active not only on the Valley’s dining scene, but also in the giving of his valuable time and skills by ... »
By Cathy Kiley There exists, on the corner of Chelsea Avenue and Greenwich Street in Bethlehem, a dining oasis serving up some of the best breakfast and lunch fare in the Lehigh Valley. For nearly eight years, this quaint eatery – Jumbars – has been a neighborhood staple, providing a popular venue for great food, warm hospitality and buzzing conversation between friends, f... »
By Cathy Kiley It is no secret that, for years, I listed The Farmhouse among my favorite dining establishments in the greater Lehigh Valley. I praised not only the wonderful food, but also its ambiance and professional, unpretentious service, all served up in a glorious old farmhouse sitting on the outskirts of the quaint Borough of Emmaus. The Farmhouse was one of the fir... »
By Cathy Kiley One of the fun aspects of writing about restaurants is the discovery of new eateries that are off the beaten path. There are many country inns in the Lehigh Valley with extraordinary histories that are situated in remote yet beautiful areas. One deserving example is the Landis Store Hotel located on Baldy Hill Road outside the picturesque borough of Boyer... »
