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.

Restaurant action - Main St. Bethlehem

I apologize for the delay in notification, but Tortilla Flat -- the Mexican restaurant on Main/Market in downtown Bethlehem -- closed in the late fall. However, we've seen activity inside and rumor is that another Mexican joint will take its place. Maybe that's bad mojo -- same concept, same location. (Let's hope the new restaurateur has better luck keeping customers from getting food poisoning.)

Mmmm tacos at La Lupita

LaLupita - 4th/New Streets, South Side Bethlehem
(610) 868-5733

While I've had a unremarkable experience at La Lupita in the past, I decided to give it another try recently. (It's close to Spark; what can I say?) I landed on a Mexican staple: tacos. The restaurant offers three tacos with different meats for about $5.50. The beef tongue was tender and flavorful. The crumbled chorizo had tang and a bit of heat. And the marinated pork was similarly delicious. All tacos came with a "double walled" tortilla to hold in the meat (and accompanying grease). A bit of shredded lettuce, onion and cilantro rounded out each taco. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the freshness and quality of the tacos. They were closer in taste and composition to La Placida Mexico (Allentown) than other Mexican restaurants I've been to. The green sauce (pictured in the small plastic container) was rather bland; it didn't add much to the dish. While the tacos were good, the furnishings were less so; one booth bench had a slice in the cushion that would have swallowed a small child.