Strange Brew Tavern
1996 S 5th St, Allentown, PA, 18103
Strange Brew Tavern Menu
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Address :
1996 S 5th St
Allentown, PA, 18103 - Phone (610) 841-3610
- Website https://www.strangebrewtavern.co
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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J B.
Great food, horrible service. No one answers the phone, takes forever to get drinks. I was sitting at the bar one time, while TWO known owners of the bar were chatting up a customer, while I waited 10 minutes for a drink (and the bar was virtually empty). If the food weren't as amazing as it is, there would be no reason to come here. In most cases, there still isn't though.
(2)Joanna J.
Love this place! Great local bar, good food and an AWESOME beer selection! Haven't gotten a chance to see any of the bands here but I've heard good things. - Joanna Jasinski
(4)Julissa M.
Five of us came in for Thursday night trivia and regardless of where we placed in the trivia competition, we didn't leave happy. First off, it took exactly 1 hour and 20 minutes for our food to be brought to our table (longer than tables that sat down and ordered AFTER us). Our order consisted of fried pickles, seared tuna salad, jerk chicken (served with a side salad), and the bbq rib special (with a side salad). Doesn't seem too difficult to whip together, right? Our dear waitress (who mind you was actually awesome and super apologetic all night) kept explaining that the kitchen was really backed up this night. However, when I asked if it was normal to wait this long for food, she wasn't exactly too quick to defend the timeliness of the kitchen, which leads me to believe it's normal for food to take quite some time to be served at Strange Brew. When our food finally arrived, it wasn't worth the wait. The sauce on the jerk chicken was pretty awful and was considered so by everyone at the table. The ribs were dry but the sauce was decent. The seared tuna salad and fried pickles were good according to those who tried them. After all was said and done, our waitress apologetically gave us a free round of drinks and covered the jerk chicken, which was very much appreciated. And after 2.5 hours of freezing in the cold air conditioning and sitting through 4 slow rounds of trivia, we were quick to storm out the door, sadly, never looking to return back to Strange Brew.
(2)Ty S.
A total regulars bar and not very welcoming if you're not one. Cheesesteak special is seemingly a loaf of bread with just remnants of steak. I'd gladly pay $2 more for one that size but please don't be so skimpy on the filling! Potato chips were so stale, almost soggy. Bartenders don't say a word or ask how the good is. Maybe the look on my face and 1/2 the roll of my cheesesteak left on my plate was a hint to my disappointment. The place mat lists birthdays, I assume, of all the regulars so if you're not important enough to have yours listed, you might be ignored when it comes to service. I hope they survive on the few they care about but it won't be from any future patronage from me.
(2)Ian F.
This place is the classic "everybody knows you're name" kind of bar. The food's also great. It's casual dining. But, most of the dishes are significantly better than the average tavern. When it comes to beer, this place shines. The bartenders know about every one of their beers (well over 100) and will gladly make recommendations. The 24 taps are regularly rotated with new and interesting selections. They support local musicians and have bands every weekend. What else do you need? Definitely stop in. You'll be a regular in no time.
(5)Kristen O.
Strange Brew Tavern is one of my favorite places to hang out! In fact, I've been there so often that it's practically a second home at this point. Here are a few of the highlights: * An extensive and ever-changing list of craft beers: I've tried beers that taste like gingerbread, watermelon, chocolate, and vinegar (yes, vinegar - sour beer is oddly delicious!). I'm working my way through the 100-beer Mug Club list and having lots of fun trying different beers along the way - even if it takes me a few years to get through it! * Super fun trivia night: Trivia Night takes place every Thursday at 7 or 7:30 (the start time shifts depending on whether there is Thursday Night Football). It's usually a very popular event and the trivia night crowd can fill the entire bar area and quite a few of the restaurant tables as well. It's definitely my favorite trivia event in the area. Though I've yet to be on a winning team, the questions are usually at the right level of fun/difficult and it's easy to see and hear the questions. If you're *not* planning to be part of trivia, however, I'd recommend not visiting SBT on a Thursday night as it may be hard to find a table/spot at the bar or get quick service. * Tasty food: I'm not one for breaking out of my "favorite foods" bubble, so I haven't tried a lot of what SBT offers, but I've really enjoyed the few menu items I've had! Definitely do yourself a favor and try The Fritz sandwich. If you are a fan of hot and spicy, try the wings in one of the hotter sauces - sooo delicious! Finally, the cheese fries are always a good staple. * Other stuff to do: Strange Brew also offers darts, shuffleboard, a jukebox, Megatouch game machines, foosball, pool, bands/musicians, and more!
(5)Sue S.
I'd been here under the previous Jellybeans so I wasnt expecting much in way of decor. But it had always been a cool place to hang out and now, the beer list was said to be fabulous. Unfortunately we made the mistake of visiting this place on Trivia night. I wish I had brought my earplugs. The hosts were way too loud--obnoxiously so--their voices were not at all soothing (guess you dont have to go to broadcasting school to be a trivia host) and when one of them announced a Trivia team as "Hitler was right" we were out of there. At that point, we were just finishing our appetizers. We asked that our main meals be wrapped for takeout and left. Not only did they miss out on our liquor sales for the night (too bad because the beer list was decent) but we most certainly will never go back. Still, I have to give two stars because my onion soup and his chili were really good. But the veggie burger and Londoin Broil sandwich were only so-so. Not good enough for us to even go back for takeout.
(2)Meg R.
A great beer bar with really tasty and affordable food. A personal favorite is the salmon sandwich with a fresh dill aioli. The trivia on Thursdays is very popular, it's fast - moving and entertaining. The drafts are fantastic, and change frequently, and the staff is knowledgeable. It's the best beer bar in the Valley, so yourself a favor and check it out.
(4)Kelly M.
I stopped in here last night for a drink on Valentine's day, before we headed out to see nickleback. Their were 2 bartenders and I'd say 3 or 4 other couples at the bar. When we 1st walked in no bartenders where behind the bar. Finally after 5 or 10 mins a bartender came out. He walked right past us and back to the other side of the bar and started to wash glasses. We continued to wait. Then a 2nd bartender came out, they started a conversation still not noticing us. We sat there for almost 20 mins before giving up and walking out. As I walked out I made sure they recognized me and said thanks for the service! Bartender looked at me strange. And I then replied with I'm taking my business elsewhere where the bartenders actually serve their customers. We will not be back!!!
(1)Alyssa B.
Their beer menu is as fantastic as the food is inedible. Super disappointing. Caution: beer prices listed online via BeerMenus.com did not match the (higher) prices we were charged.
(2)Paul C.
I visited on 12/19/14. Heard some good reviews. Good selection of craft beers but food was disappointing and bathroom was out of soap. Same compliant as made on 10/11/13 by another reviewer. Come on. Could be cleaner and better food.Wings were dry as mentioned in other reviews. Beer selection does not make up for other flaws.
(2)Stephen T.
Family and friends stopped in following a memorial service to enjoy the food and spirits in this local favorite. They have a good beer selection. I ordered a Chimay and was surprised to learn they had Chimay blue in stock (among others). I also ordered some chicken fingers with one of their signature hot wing sauces and we all enjoyed them so much we ordered another basket! Looking like a Chimay and chicken fingers with hot wing sauce are going to be a favorite of mine! Have fun at the old Mountainville Inn now called Strange Brew.
(5)Jonathan K.
We actually like this place a lot... I've really enjoyed some superb and epic sandwiches here and it's hands down the best place for great beer. But there are some elements of the negative reviews that ring true. The bathrooms are gross lots of times. The bar staff are kind of inattentive from time to time. The bar could be wiped better once in a while. We keep coming back because overall you can tell that everyone is trying hard and they want to be good. I think they just need a (visible) manager that's there all the time to keep an eye on the bar, serve drinks if there's a back log, train the staff in customer service and make sure the bathroom is in order.
(3)Mark M.
Having gone hear multiple time I can say this place is tolerable when not too busy. If busy the service drops off. You can be waiting over 15min for your check to leave. The food isn't horrible not the best. Recommend eating at BK before coming to save money. They have a decent amount of craft beers but they are all served at the same temperature. Making it hard to enjoy certain styles of beer because they are too cold
(3)Shelley P.
For all those Lehigh Valley residents, Strange Brew Tavern used to be called Jelly Beans. I came with a few friends, who are frequent customers of this fine establishment. We sat at the bar. It must have been after dinner hours I think because the dining room was empty. The menu looked great. I definitely had a few things in mind I wanted to try. I decided on a gyro. I still have no idea what kind of sauce is on a gyro, but it's heaven. What a great idea. Make a game out of trying one beer from 100 different breweries. After you try 100, you get a really cool mug, which you keep there and use every time you come back. They track each beer by providing a place mat with 100 numbers. Each number signifies a specific brewery. Each number gets crossed off when you order a beer from that brewery. The bartender keeps track and on your next visit, provides an updated place mat.
(5)Bob L.
This place is a hidden gem as far as pub food is concerned. The burgers are simply fantastic and the specials are even better. Scott the bartender is ready to make food and beer suggestions if you can't make up your mind. It gets a little crazy later on,, but is very mellow during the early evening. Take your Mom here for dinner and your girl later on for the live music.
(4)Brittany S.
Good place to stop for drinks and live entertainment but they really lack in service and upkeep of the place. They could keep it cleaner and update things, the sign such trapped to the wall is a good example of how they present their business. The food is sometimes really good but sometimes not so good. The worst part though is the service. Sometimes you're lucky and there is one or two servers in the dining room area but other times no server we can see. At the bar, there might be three bartenders but they hardly ever come to the one end, you need to flag them. Brittany is a great bartender but I haven't found another I like that much.
(2)Evan G.
I've never written a review before because I don't believe it's fair to judge a place on one visit. I've been to strange brew a few times, Good beer selection and it's close to my house. I usually get wings, not the greatest but also not terrible. I was there tonight, in fact I just left ten minutes ago. I work in the business so I notice the little things. For example, using a spackle bucket that was stacked inside another to bring ice to the bar... But tonight brought things to another level. I was brought out my second beer and I drank about half of it... When my friend sitting next to me asked what was in my beer. A plastic lid from a to-go ramekin and a napkin wrapper were stuck to the bottom of the inside of my beer glass.. I can forgive mistakes however, when I told the bartender he said "well I don't know how you didn't notice that"... Asked me if I wanted another and I obviously said no. He walked away, and we asked for the bill and we were charged for everything including the beer with garbage floating in it. Don't ever go here, if you want more proof, walk in and go straight to the bathrooms or watch the owner walk around behind the bar in thong sandals.
(1)Y M.
For a business owner to say defend himself and say that bartenders have hand wash stations is ridiculous! For employees to not wash their hands after leaving the bathroom is disgusting! The department of health needs to pay a visit!
(1)Kevin B.
This was really a great find! A few frends and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a bite to eat and we were not disappointed in the least bit. The beer selection alone is worth coming in to see. They had many craft brews on tap and they let you sample them before buying - always a plus! Aside from the beer, they make insanely great sandwiches and I was really, really pleased with my meatball sandwich (yum!). Combine good drink and good food with pretty decent prices (especially for how much food you get) and you have a very solid restaurant. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the area for lunch and you'd like a really tasty meal.
(5)Matt D.
Excellent craft beer selection earns the 3 stars. Inattentive bartenders. Are they ignoring me or too stoned to realize I have been standing here for 10 minutes waiting for a beer? Questionable food. Are wings supposed to be this dry? The odd South Allentown customer base. Who is this bar for?
(3)Thomas H.
Great drink selections, great food, sat at the bar for lunch and the service was great too.
(5)Laura B.
My husband and I have recently stopped frequenting this bar as we have felt that the service here is less than desirable as of late. The beer selection is still phenomenal and the wings and burgers are definitely tip top, but I definitely don't get the homey feeling that makes me feel like I want to return.
(3)Kelli R.
Met some friends here for drinks. I haven't been here since it was Jelly Beans. Fun place, live band, great craft beer selection. I can't remember the name of the beer I had but it was pumpkin - quite delish! I also had quite a few jolly rancher shots which were really yummy - LOL! Also tried some wings and potato skins which were good. The wings had a bit too much sauce on them, but that's a personal preference. I saw some reviews that questioned the service at the bar. I can't complain. The bartender was as attentive as he could be on a busy Saturday night. I'll be back!
(4)Nick K.
NOT the same old neighborhood watering hole. This establishment evolved from the Mountainville Inn to Jelly Beans Southside Jam and, finally, to Strange Brew Tavern. The latest evolution of this corner venue features an optimal mix of great beers, tasty vittles, and ambiance. Their "Century Mug Club" boasts a list of 100 notable beers from around the world. Drink all the beers on the list, receive a commemorative gift; drink all the beers in one night, receive commemorative alcohol poisoning. The draft and bottle lists are impressive for a local pub, and the prices are reasonable. The pub fare is top-notch, and the daily specials leave little to be desired. Prime rib is currently featured on Saturdays! Aside from the live music on the weekends and the typical dart board and pool table, this place also features a shuffleboard table! You don't find that too often. I must say I'm delighted with the way this place has taken shape. I frequent Strange Brew Tavern multiple times a month.
(5)Greg H.
Great craft beer selection, and definitely has been improved since the old incarnations, and the new bar is lovely. Live music on many nights, and food that is significantly better than your standard bar fare. For craft beer fans in the area, it's probably the best option. It's roomy and doesn't have the smoke of Liberty St (though no place can match Liberty's selection), it's easy to get to and has parking (which can be annoying at some of the center city locations), and the service has been good or great every time I've been there. Worth a stop for any fan of craft beer, good food, or live music.
(4)Ozzie C.
As far as Evan's review goes, I was the friend along with him. If I could give this place 0 stars I would. I know exactly what happened, someone cleared a table and threw the ramekin lid and napkin and wrapper etc into the glass to make it easier to take back to the dish room. When they "emptied" the pint glass into the garbage obviously not everything was cleared out but they didn't notice, a simple enough mistake. When the glass was put through the dishwasher the lid was forced into the bottom of the glass and got wedged inside. Obviously the bartender didn't inspect the glass enough to see that there was garbage inside and because we weren't inspecting the bottom of our beer glass (because we're not being paid to do so) we didn't notice the lid. As disgusting as it is finding garbage inside your beer, I would have accepted it as a mistake if the bartender would have been apologetic even remotely, but not even close. He didn't even take the beer off the bill, we paid full price (and even tipped, mind you) for a beer with garbage in it. The absolute worst service I have ever received in a restaurant. Close the place down before someone gets hepatitis... PS, when you serve lobster, the entire restaurant shouldn't smell like a fish market.
(1)S W.
The one star is based entirely on service -- we were ignored at the bar for over 10 minutes before we finally walked out (we were on our lunch break and didn't have time to waste). The place was practically empty for lunch and the bartender definitely saw us...all he had to do was pour us a beer and we would have stayed. It's a shame too, since their food is pretty decent and they have a great tap selection.
(1)Scott K.
Just got back from Strange Brew Tavern. My second trip. Unfortunately, I'll have to say it was poor overall. First ordered wings, they were so dry and overcooked I could not bring myself to swallow the first bite. Spit it out and informed the waitress. No offer of replacement or removal from the bill. My wife had flavorless chicken penna vodka. I had over/undercooked fish and chips. That is to say the fish was overcooked and the chips were undercooked, they were a cooked color but very cold. Another complaint with no action. I'm sure if the waitress had told the chef our complaints he would have done what any good chef would, fix it or remove it from the bill. Summary very unhappy and kind of expensive at that. We are running out of good restaurants to go to in this area.
(2)Tiffany N.
Do not underestimate dive bars. This gem was hiding around the corner of our neighborhood this whole time and it took us until now to go. My friend's and I are in that weird inbetween of too old for college bars but too young for middle-aged bars. This is great for the casual atmosphere, wide beer selection, and amazing food. Wings were crispy and flavorful, cheese fries, onion rings, pierogies, quesidilla, all delicious and at decent prices. And the best part, everything was fresh. Live music after 10, no groupies, not too crowded where you're uncomfortable. Definitely stop by if you are craving down-to-earth food and drink.
(5)