Mediterranean in downtown Bethlehem

Petra, a new Mediterranean restaurant, is scheduled to open soon in downtown Bethlehem. It's just east of Apollo. I'll try to pop by and get a look at the interior and menu before the end of the week.

Fire at Rios

A fire April 9 at Rios, the Brazilian restaurant in Nazareth, will close the establishment for 1-2 weeks according to the Express-Times.

News about former Tortilla Flat

I met the owner of the restaurant location that used to be Tortilla Flat on Main and Market in Bethlehem. He's the former owner of the Lantern Restaurant in Bethlehem (now the Cuban-themed Nueva Lanterna). He said he plans to open a family restaurant -- kind of like a diner, but one step above. Homemade soups, comfort foods (Yankee pot roast, anyone?) and hearty sandwiches. A liquor license is in the window, so I assume he's keeping the bar. He's had contractors in the building for the past several weeks. I would expect it to open in April or May.

Hidden Italian gem

Our friends the Youngs let us know about an Italian restaurant called La Campagna just east of Quakertown and Richlandtown in Upper Bucks County. They say it's a family-run operation, with the proprietor acting as manager and chef, mother "Nonna" making fresh pasta and other family members waiting tables. Check out the website for more. And the two reviews to date are stellar. It's BYO. And I have a nice bottle of Sangiovese in the wine rack. Mmmm.

Black Orchid open and staying put

I just spoke to Cynthia at the Black Orchid. She confirmed that she's open Wednesday through Sunday for business. (She didn't remember why she would have been closed the Friday night we ventured to her location.) She also denied any rumors that she is moving into LoBaido's location on 8th/Liberty.

Thai Thai II - Bethlehem

The ever-talented Capri posted a thorough review of her recent experience at Thai Thai II in Bethlehem. (What, no tempting food photography, Capri?) I'm heading there myself in two weeks with friends, so we'll see how I make out. I've stopped once for a quick dinner and enjoyed a simple yet flavorful vegetable stir fry -- nicely spicy with mixed vegetables cooked to a perfect crisp-tender. However, I asked if I could replace the white rice with brown rice and was told it would cost $3. I persisted for an entire minute -- I didn't want a separate side of brown rice, I just wanted to swap out the white rice with brown. $3. I declined. I don't know if it was a language barrier or lack of accommodation. Either way, I was a bit bummed, as I'm a brown rice fan. That doesn't mean I won't ask again in two weeks.

Chinese at Asia

I joined my buddy, Rob, for lunch at Asia this week. It's the Chinese/Asian restaurant on Susquehanna Street between Allentown and Fountain Hill. Susan Gottshall, intrepid reviewer for The Morning Call, listed Asia as one of her top experiences in 2008. Rob and I were generally satisfied. The menu was fairly extensive -- typical Chinese dishes along with several that had more creative flair.

We tried two selections from the "Asia Signature Bowls" lunch menu. Rob had Thai peanut chicken. The chicken pieces were as tender as I've ever had. The peanut sauce was mild -- only a mild nut taste. The veggies were plump and succulent. Meanwhile, I ordered the pine nuts shrimp and scallops. The seafood was cooked perfectly -- toothsome, not dry. The sauce (ranked one chili pepper) had only a mild kick. It was a red garlic-ginger glaze.

We both ordered our dishes atop brown rice. (Gotta avoid the afternoon glycemic coma you get with white rice.) However, we both found the sauces drowned the rice. Next time, I will recommend requesting the rice on the side to control the distribution of the sauce. Way too much -- it overpowered the nuttiness of the brown rice and probably added several hundred more calories to each dish.

Winston's warms with Jamaican fare

Winston’s
619 N. Seventh St. (between Tilghman and Allen)
Allentown

When it’s frigid outside, there’s nothing like warm comfort food to drive away the winter doldrums. And when the cuisine is Jamaican, there’s definite potential for a double wallop. Winston’s – a new restaurant along the 7th Street corridor – it not let us down.

The clean, sparsely decorated restaurant features a large deli case upon entering, which displays a selection of pre-packaged Jamaican foods – breads, rolls and so on. The day’s menu is on the wall behind the counter. It varies from day to day (based on what’s made in the kitchen); it primarily consists of meats cooked long and slow amid tropically spiced broths. How can one go wrong?

Our family of four enjoyed a selection of items. My wife gravitated to the oxtail – tender and meaty with a dense, fulfilling sauce thickened from hours of simmering. My son selected brown stew chicken, bone-in pieces that were surprisingly rich and sumptuous. My daughter sampled a chicken soup that was thick, hearty and enjoyable.

I tried the escovietch fish. It was served whole - with head and tail. I found it crunchy and a bit overcooked – a little dry on the ends, but meaty in the middle. The rice and peas were fantastic; with the oxtail gravy, they were sublime.

As a bonus, Winston gave us some of Saturday’s jerk chicken as a sample. It was tender and spicy, but not overly hot. It provided a final bit of warmth to a wonderful evening.

Total cost was $40 -- an incredible bargain. We left a $10 tip, as the service was exceptionally pleasant and thorough. We also left with two lunches worth of extra food. Places like this that make Allentown a great city to live in. I can travel 17 blocks east and get a taste of the tropics with incredible authentic service.

Black Orchid closed?

The Southern/soul food restaurant, Black Orchid, which moved into Louie’s on 12th and Liberty, appears to be closed. We tried to stop in last Friday night. The doors were locked, the lights were off and there was no note on the door. Later in the week, my wife stopped by and it was still closed. I know a lot of restaurants will close for a week or two in January for vacation; it’s a traditionally slow period for most eateries.

Anyone know anything different?

LoBaido's closing this Saturday

An Allentown institution, LoBaido's, is closing this Saturday night, January 24. I've eaten there several times and always found the Italian food a step up from the expected, ordinary fare. I don't know the reason behind the closing; if I learn, I will share. Sorry to see it go -- perhaps it will resurface elsewhere in Allentown a la Louie's. Here's hoping we get another quality ethnic restaurant in its place.