By Cathy Kiley The Stoned Crab opened more than 30 years ago in its current Macungie location. Since then, this building has gone through many lives including Le Due and Le Due Sorelle, reverting back to The Stoned Crab in 2005. Present owners Ron and Claire Pickering have completely refurbished and redecorated this eatery over the past seven years and offer a substantial ... »
By Cathy Kiley Photo by Ryan Hulvat It seems like only yesterday that I first met Mike and Rebecca Pichetto. It was back in 2007 when Vintage was only open a couple of years. At that time, they were together but not yet married and partners in a business that even back then was very successful. Now, in addition to a growing business, they have a growing family and it could... »
By Cathy Kiley Located off the beaten path in Forks Industrial Park is Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar & Lounge. This very unique eatery is the new offshoot of The Famous Smoke Shop, a mail order cigar business and retail store/lounge operating in this location since 2000. I was aware that the Famous Smoke Shop Lounge has catered for years to the cigar aficionado and allows ... »
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 ... »
