Friday, August 28, 2009
7th Street restaurant news
According to the Seventh Street Now blog, the former LoBaido's at 8th and Liberty has been transformed into Morton's, which I heard has a soul food/Southern cuisine. (Anyone been there?) Also, La Mexicana Grille is undergoing a facade facelift, which I witnessed during my trip there this week. (Somehow, I avoided getting paint chips in my hair.) It's good to see the 7th Street corridor gradually being transformed into an ethnic restaurant row with several establishments -- including Winston's (Jamaican) and Casa Latina (Hispanic) -- offering outdoor dining.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Authentic Mexican options abound in Allentown
With the Mexican chain "On The Border" about to open in Allentown's new Airport Square center, I thought it would be an ideal time to review existing options for Mexican food in the city. After all, chain restaurants are OK if you like consistency and predictability, but authentic restaurants are a bit more of an adventure.
La Mexicana Grille -- 7th and Gordon
Just stopped in this week for lunch. Plain but non-cliche decor. Food was outstanding. I had a torta, the traditional Mexican sandwich with lettuce, pico de gallo and avocado slices. One half faetured marinated sirlion steak (surprisingly tender) and on the other half, chorizo (just enough kick.) At $4.50, it's probably one of the best sandwich deals in town. My friend Rob had a chicken enchilada with mole. We're both big mole fans. (To you noobs, that's pronounced mole-ay and has nothing to do with birthmarks.) La Mexicana's mole was well balanced with a deep chocolate aroma that belied its suprising lightness. Dinners are equally impressive. Then again, their poblano sweet potatoes make anything beside it even better.
La Placita Mexico -- 12th and Turner
My favorite place for tacos. Choose from chicken, beef or chorizo. They'll heat it up on a griddle, sprinkle it with fresh cilantro and quesa fresca (and minced onions, I think?) and put it between a double layer of corn tortillas. They also have a selection of soups and other small plate items ideal for lunch or sharing. Our friend who grew up in Mexico for 18 years of his life says it's his favorite place in the Lehigh Valley. How can you go wrong with that recommendation?
Amigo Mia -- 545 Cleveland St (near Good Shepherd)
The original Mexican in the city -- and to many, still the reigning champ. It's open only Wednesday and Friday evenings, I believe. It's a small place -- a reconfigured row home. I've had exceptional bean burritos and some of the best refried beans anywhere. Fare is standard Mexican -- don't expect anything exotic or fusion. But if you're eating more authentic Mexican food, you're probably south of the Rio Grande. Note: they don't accept credit cards. And I think they have a small bar, so you can get your favorite Mexican beer or cocktail. (The two other locations above are BYOB.)
In the end, it depends on your risk-reward tolerance. Service in the smaller restaurants can be spotty. Menus have misspellings. The decor didn't start on the drawing board of an interior designer. Parking for all three is on-street. But for a real experience, they're tough to beat. For me, it's all part of the experience.
La Mexicana Grille -- 7th and Gordon
Just stopped in this week for lunch. Plain but non-cliche decor. Food was outstanding. I had a torta, the traditional Mexican sandwich with lettuce, pico de gallo and avocado slices. One half faetured marinated sirlion steak (surprisingly tender) and on the other half, chorizo (just enough kick.) At $4.50, it's probably one of the best sandwich deals in town. My friend Rob had a chicken enchilada with mole. We're both big mole fans. (To you noobs, that's pronounced mole-ay and has nothing to do with birthmarks.) La Mexicana's mole was well balanced with a deep chocolate aroma that belied its suprising lightness. Dinners are equally impressive. Then again, their poblano sweet potatoes make anything beside it even better.
La Placita Mexico -- 12th and Turner
My favorite place for tacos. Choose from chicken, beef or chorizo. They'll heat it up on a griddle, sprinkle it with fresh cilantro and quesa fresca (and minced onions, I think?) and put it between a double layer of corn tortillas. They also have a selection of soups and other small plate items ideal for lunch or sharing. Our friend who grew up in Mexico for 18 years of his life says it's his favorite place in the Lehigh Valley. How can you go wrong with that recommendation?
Amigo Mia -- 545 Cleveland St (near Good Shepherd)
The original Mexican in the city -- and to many, still the reigning champ. It's open only Wednesday and Friday evenings, I believe. It's a small place -- a reconfigured row home. I've had exceptional bean burritos and some of the best refried beans anywhere. Fare is standard Mexican -- don't expect anything exotic or fusion. But if you're eating more authentic Mexican food, you're probably south of the Rio Grande. Note: they don't accept credit cards. And I think they have a small bar, so you can get your favorite Mexican beer or cocktail. (The two other locations above are BYOB.)
In the end, it depends on your risk-reward tolerance. Service in the smaller restaurants can be spotty. Menus have misspellings. The decor didn't start on the drawing board of an interior designer. Parking for all three is on-street. But for a real experience, they're tough to beat. For me, it's all part of the experience.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Quick bites
Two items of note:
1. Replying to a previous post about LoBaidos, Amanda shared that LoBaidos and the chef Bernie moved to an industrial park across from St. Lukes North. His new place is called Bernardo's. Anyone been?
2. I was notified last night that Four Aces on 13th and Hamilton had a soft opening. I was unable to make it, but hope to stop by soon to try the various exotic meats and other foods. If you want to try it and save some cash (who doesn't these days?), I found a $3 coupon on line.
Happy eating this weekend. I'll be doing a little damage at Musikfest, where the ethnic food selection is a little disappointing. Best bet for authentic food: Holy Infancy near Plaza Tropical for outstanding Portuguese.
1. Replying to a previous post about LoBaidos, Amanda shared that LoBaidos and the chef Bernie moved to an industrial park across from St. Lukes North. His new place is called Bernardo's. Anyone been?
2. I was notified last night that Four Aces on 13th and Hamilton had a soft opening. I was unable to make it, but hope to stop by soon to try the various exotic meats and other foods. If you want to try it and save some cash (who doesn't these days?), I found a $3 coupon on line.
Happy eating this weekend. I'll be doing a little damage at Musikfest, where the ethnic food selection is a little disappointing. Best bet for authentic food: Holy Infancy near Plaza Tropical for outstanding Portuguese.
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