Love this place! I think it has by far the best Italian Wedding soup I have ever tasted (it has egg in it)! My favorite dish is the Seafood Scampi....Lobster, scallops, shrimp, and crab meat over angel hair pasta served in a white garlic and lemon butter sauce....You can't go wrong! They even advertise in the "Around the Valley" coupon books that the kids sell at school ($8.00 off 2 entrees)!! Reviewing is making me hungry!
(5)
Ashley W.
This place is a "must-stop" whenever we venture above the Mason-Dixon line. Originally recommended by my grandfather, this place did not disappoint! My dad and I have been absolutely ADDICTED to the Pink Vodka Sauce this place conjures up -- it was my first vodka sauce experience ever (my first time eating it, I giggled naughtily b/c I thought I was eating *alcohol* -- corny, I KNOW).
(4)
Paul G.
The food is very good here!
(5)
Deborah B.
Stopped in for an early dinner with my son. I don't know if it was because my son is mentally handicapped and they wanted us out of there ASAP, but I felt as if we were rushed out. The server took our drink order which was just a soft drink and water. hen she came back she took our order and then brought our salads out. There were no onions on a totally bland iceberg salad with a couple slices of cucumber and tomato. Before we were even half way done with our salads, she arrived with our food. My eggplant parm was cool in the middle.. (not enough heat up time in the microwave) well that's my opinion anyway. She then brought our bill before we were through eating without even asking if we wanted coffee or dessert, which we usually get. Have to admit that the service was fast but it wasn't personable. In and out in a half hour. We got the one paper napkin treatment because we got there before 4 and when I went to use my Entertainment coupon she said the manager said they don't take them on Saturdays, when on the coupon it clearly says before 5pm and after 9pm. At this point I was not going to argue over 5 bucks since we didn't get a chance to spend any on dessert or coffee. Went out later for dessert. Will I go back....doubt it! Check was actually dropped at the table before we were finished eating. Time check started was 3:46 pm.. time check was given to me to sign after I gave my credit card was 4:10. So much for a leisurely dinner.The server must have been waiting for her shift to be over. I am usually an overly generous tipper, as I have also been a server,but only left half of what I would normally leave.
(3)
Strat O.
Had their take out pizza once. Average. Went there with my daughter for lasagna. We were seated and we waited. And waited. 15 min. and still no one came over to us for a drink order. I had to stand up and flag a server and ask for service. She said the manager didn't assign our table to anyone. Got 2 sodas finally. Then came the undercooked lasagna. The center was cold and cheese softened, but not melted. Sent it back. I will not return.
(1)
Larry A.
Best italian food I ever ate and the staff is terrific.
(5)
Shane O.
Service was excellent, best part of the experience. The place itself is nothing special, strange layout inside. Food was slightly above average, definitely nothing to rave about. Prices were ok, beverage selection was ok. All in all definitely not bad but there are also better places. Don't do Italian often and it's because of average places like this. Personally I'd take a few steps down the same center to the Japanese place, but if you are set on Italian you could make a lot worse choices.
(3)
Neil S.
My 1 star is extremely generous if you ask me. These people are absolute morons and need a hearing aid. It starts with the idiot who took my order and couldn't understand anything from my cc number to what I wanted. Then the delivery boy made a rookie mistake shows up with no pen moron who does that. I see the bill is more expensive because of the side of pasta I never ordered.
(1)
Nichole B.
Came in for dinner on Valentine's Day looking forward to the pizza. After a 15 minute wait (to be expected), once we sat down were told there would be no pizza that day as it would only be available for takeout. This was really annoying considering they were serving children's pizza. Had chicken parmigiana with salad, which was fine, though there was no cheese on it. Complimentary bread was delicious. Service was friendly and helpful, though not attentive, but it was probably the busy evening keeping our server elsewhere.
(3)
Danielle S.
I have to so I was definitely skeptical when we pulled into the parking lot, but looked on yelp and decided to take a chance. We were not disappointed. The food was actually pretty good. It reminded me of being back home in NY and heading to a local pizza joint. We started with the Mozzarella en Carozza, which was delicious. I was actually very surprised it was even on the menu. It is a NY favorite! Then our waitress, who was courteous and friendly, brought us Delicious Italian bread with olive oil and fresh herbs. I think I ate the entire loaf myself! We both had salad with the house dressing. No complaints here. He had red wine, I had white. No complaints. For our main course, he had gnocchi with red sauce, which was good. I had angel hair with shrimp and broccoli in a white wine and garlic sauce. The chunks of garlic were delicious. We were pleasantly surprised and will definitely go back.
(3)
Tom D.
One of my favorite places to eat! I'm not a 'Foodie'...I'm kind of a pain to feed...'picky' I've been called...hmpf...well, I've never had a bad meal here...it's always full of people and the choices are plentiful. The way an Italian restaurant should be. Service was always good...and there's a bar full of anything you can think of. I've had several celebrations here...and it didn't break my piggy bank! Try it...you'll like it.
(5)
Peter O.
I just keep trying all of the selections and have yet to be disappointed. A lot of italian restaurants mask their lack of imagination by slathering cheese all over everything. this place doesn't do that. they stick to a solid menu with some really fine marinara and pasta dishes. No grease from the cheese and some really nice use of seafood and chicken. the staff is informal and the atmosphere is that of a small deli. nothing fancy, just good food.
(4)
Erica S.
I have frequented this restaurant many times. At one point I guess I would be considered a regular. The food is above par and generous portions. However, I only gave it 2 stars because on 3 seperate occasions and 3 different servers, my credit card was charged incorrectly. I always tip very well, at least 20%. However, what I signed off on and what was actually charged within a few days of my meal is way off. When I looked at my bank statement a few days after the meal there was at least an 8 dollar difference added to what I put as my total after tip. Bye bye taste of italy. I dont support fraud.
(2)
Gregory K.
Came here for a date night w/ my girlfriend. We enjoyed our meals, but strongly prefer Roma or molto pazzo by far. If it wasn't for the coupon we used, we definitely believe the prices are too high for the quality of food.
(3)
Howie A.
My Italian friends have been raving about eating here for years. This place has won the Best of the Valley from Lehigh Valley Magazine for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. That in its self is a testament of the quality of food this place serves up. I had the baked lasagna which really wasn't baked and the Ricotta cheese was hard to find however the sauce was above average. The pizza I had was also above average but my slice was limp with the crust a little doughy. Althought the place is on the smaller side it is clean and the service was outstanding. I plan on returing in the near future.
(4)
Anissa T.
Hum, maybe I don't get too much good Italian down south... I absolutely love this place; it is a stop for me every time I'm up to ABE. My last visit there was my favorite: I was alone, but my obviously transplanted New York waiter was gonna make sure I was taken care of. I had a glass of red wine, and managed to keep my garlic knot consumption down to 2. I had ordered the pasta with red clam sauce, and ate as much of it as I could, and still allow the waiter to talk me into the cannoli. He assured me it was a good, homemade cannoli, and it was absolutely perfect. My only issue - had to ask him to please NOT insist on bringing me another to go! Past visits have been for good pizza and baked pasta dishes. I love it.
(5)
Meredith K.
We ended up going here because of a coupon we got on Living Social. When we showed up, we were a bit skeptical, until we walked inside and saw it was a large, clean, and nicely decorated place. Our waitress was one of the nicest I've ever experienced and the food was soooo good - wish we knew about this place when my boyfriend lived right down the street! The bread is even better than Carraba's or Olive Garden - could have filled up just on that! Overall, great experience and great hole in the wall kind of place.
(4)
David B.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I pretty much only eat meat and veg so going to an Italian place might have been a stupid thing to do, but there were enough meaty dishes on the online menu to look interesting and the gushy reviews here had me curious. Aha! Lamb chops! But they were thin, small, and overcooked despite asking for medium rare. It was just OK. I finished them but only because I was starving. Service was kinda spotty; too much server gab-fest going on. To be honest the only decent meal I've had here all week was at Applebee's which makes me sad. The parmesan garlic-shrimp & steak there was tasty and while not of the best quality the meat was decently juicy and had good beef taste unlike the greasy bland thing at Copperhead. If the atmosphere there wasn't so loud and annoying I'd probably go back. I'm between Allentown and Bethlehem so I guess this is sort of a no-man's land for good dining.
(2)
SalesandTrails H.
Good service (although I think the wait staff has too many tables each), nice salad and bread before the meal. Serving sizes were quite large but overall the food was mediocre. The penne al forno comes in a vodka sauce which was thin and flavorless. The meatballs were very soft and lacked seasoning as well. If you are prepared to spice up your own meal, you will not leave hungry. I was stuffed and had a full container to take home with me. The good news is, with my spice rack at home, I will turn it into a zesty flavorful sauce.
(3)
Steve M.
I go here for lunch at least 3 times a week. The pizza is probably the best in the valley. The service is fantastic, and Joe (the owners son) is a great guy. The servers are extremely friendly, especially the older women. I always feel welcomed when I am there. Now, back to the pizza. Its extremely tasty, and the toppings are always fresh. The pepperoni has jjust enough spice to make it a little hot which is great. Pies to go are great, but I really prefer the slices reheated-they get a nice crunch that way.
(5)
Michele W.
So good, real authentic Italian food
(3)
Matt G.
I was super excited after looking over the menu and seeing some of the reviews. It didn't quite measure up to what I was hoping for, but it was still good. I had the Chicken Dean Martin which looked to be a Chicken Marsala type dish. i thought the menu read that I got a pasta side dish with it. I didn't. The dish, while flavorful, was extremely "soupy" and there was so much sauce on the chicken, it was almost overwhelming and tough to get to the chicken through the sauce. The sauce was good, just too much. Also, there wasn't a lot to the dish for $20. One thinly hammered chicken breast, sauce, some cheese over the top and a roma tomato sliced in four slices with some mozzarella cheese. I left hungry.
(3)
Dave M.
I'm not sure I understand the hype. The pizza is decent. One time I had the gnocchi and it was too salty to even finish. The service and decor is really good and unexpected for a strip mall, though.
(3)
Charly J.
Hubby & I enjoyed our visit. It has the appearance of being a hole-in-the-wall because it's in a strip mall, but the service & food were well above average strip mall offerings. We started with vino (above-average wine selection) & the Sicilian Antipasti which was a meal by itself! I then ordered the Chicken Florentine while my hubby ordered the Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe. Both were DELICIOUS. Plenty of garlic, spices, sauce, etc. The service was very pleasant and the atmosphere was ok. It tries to NOT be a pizza joint, but it does cater to that crowd as well. We'll have to try the pizza next time. We will definitely be going back!
(3)
Kyle S.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the Taste of Italy. Nestled between a discount furniture store and a dollar store, I didn't have high expectations. When we got in, it was pretty crowded, and the hostess said there would be a 25 minute wait, though it ended up only being around 15 minutes. The waitress brought us a roll of bread and some oil/spices, which were really good. For my meal, I got the chicken piccata, which came with a side salad, and instead of pasta, I went with roasted potatoes. The salad came out first, and was really good: the lettuce was crisp and cold, and the dressing was excellent. The chicken piccata was exceptional, as were the potatoes. I would go back here in a heartbeat, as it's definitely the best Italian food I've had in the area. Forget overpaying at somewhere like Melt, and check out Taste of Italy instead.
(5)
Robert T.
Excellent service, second time here and will be back again and again. Try the bruschetta pomodoro it Pairs excellent with peroni beer. The seafood Alfredo is our favorite. Also do not let the appearance of the location push you away, it is very quaint inside and great for a family dinner. Please do yourself a favor and visit this restaurant, you will not go away hungry or upset you came.
(5)
Lucia N.
LOVE their Pizza!!! Reminds me of my favorite pizzeria back home in NY.. This place is pretty pricey but what pizzerias arent now a days..
(5)
Natassja B.
This restaurant isn't bad but it's far from amazing as far as pick up goes. They lacked in quality of the pizza and forgot our order. My boy friend likes the pizza there but it's way over priced. We did a pick up order and we gave them plenty of time , but when we came at said pick time he got a blank stare and a " We forgot about that order, it will just be 20 minutes" .... so my boyfriend waited, whoever it was, was kind enough to give us a 20 percent discount but it still was higher than what you would pay for a decent pizza at any other pizzeria. The toppings were delicious but to our dismay the bottom was burnt charcoal black. Because the toppings were so moist it made it soggier then normal pizzas would be so it was bearable . But I wasn't to thrilled . Usually this place is always on top of their game and the food turns out pretty good , I'm sure it was just busy and there were a lot of orders for dinner but you need to be able to conquer those issues if you want patrons to pay 20 plus dollars for a pizza pie.
(3)
Marc D.
We tried this place out after purchasing a Living Social coupon. The food was simply done but done right -- not undercooked or overcooked. Our waitress provided great service and was very friendly. The teramasu was a great dessert. The meal got only 4 stars because I was not informed at the time of purchase that the Living Social coupon vouchers entited us to a limited menu rather than the regular menu. However with the good food, service, and convenient location, I expect that we'll return and order from the full-price menu.
(4)
Rick F.
I was just in Allentown 10/2010, got in late to the hotel and needed dinner. From my drive through town, my expectations were very (very) low. The guy at the hotel desk recommended Taste of Italy, and we drove over. The location didn't look promising, but we could tell that people were inside (a plus when the place isn't empty!), and took the chance. I am VERY HAPPY we did! The place was pretty full, nice environment, freindly staff. As we were walked to our table we could see several tables with very nice meals. I had the Italian wedding soup, which was as good as I've ever had, and Chicken Picata, which was wonderful. The fresh bread was outstanding. The staff was freindly, helpful and the food great! Prices were certainly reasonable. As I'm going to be returning on business I'll happily be back.
(4)
Joe O.
Very good food.
(4)
Rich S.
Great Italian restaurant! Had mussels as an appetizer. The marinara sauce really made the dish. For dinner we had the veal ravioli & linguini with clams in a white wine and oil garlic sauce. Both dishes were excellent. Fresh ingredients, bold flavors. Definately going back to try everything else!
(5)
Laura K.
I have been to this restaurant a few times in the past, usually before going to the nearby theater with friends, and the food has always been good. For this reason, I give it three stars. If I were basing this review solely on my experience tonight, however, it would be getting one star. The restaurant was busy but not packed; there were a number of empty tables. My husband and I were seated within a few minutes of our arrival, after which we were ignored completely. We sat for twenty minutes while servers and busboys moved around us and pretended we didn't exist. Finally, when we got up and put on our coats, ONE SERVER asked us if anyone had taken care of us. When I told her no one had ever even taken a drink order for us, she apologized and offered to take our order herself (even though we were not in her section), but it was too little, too late. We left and went to Friendly's, where we had food delivered to our table in less time than we spent waiting for someone to speak to us at Taste of Italy.
(3)
Les L.
Great food, excellent,friendly waitstaff and a great atmosphere. Love the veal parm with spaghetti.
(4)
Jaime k.
I was skeptical to try this place because it's in a strip mall between a UPS Store and discount furniture warehouse (!?), but was happily surprised. The decor looks like a sort of faux-Italy in a homespun, endearing way. The food is very good! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it's just a little out of my price range for dinners - and the pizza is good but I could save money and get good pizza elsewhere. I recommend going for lunch where you can get huge servings of the pasta dishes much cheaper than the dinner prices, around $8 each.
(4)
Dong B.
Being from Chicago, people assume I should love deep dish pizzas. That's not the case. I love the thinner crust pizzas like the ones in Southern Italy or the NY style pizzas. Taste of Italy serves a thin crust but definitely not Southern Italy thin. I don't know what they put in the crust but it is actually very tasty. I've been here a couple times for lunch. Besides the crust, I love the variety of pizzas they have by the slice. It seems to vary each time. Also, the garlic rolls are to die for. Make sure if you order this, that you're prepared to be shunned by colleagues at work because it will come out of your pores if you eat all 6 rolls.
(5)
Lawrence D.
Great italian food. Great prices and very quick service.
(4)
Michael L.
I stop here when I go skiing-- a great place for good food and very reasonably priced. I have taken many friends here as well and they always enjoy it-- a very surprising experienc econsidering the location (strip mall).
(5)
Kris G.
YUM!!!!! I like going here, the food never disappoints! Sometimes the service does, but it has gotten way better lately. I love to get the spinach roll, so yummy. My hubby has enjoyed the lunch specials and says they are great. the chicken parm sandwich is also good, but it is large!!
(4)
al n.
Decent neighborhood Italian food, pretty good pizza--but menu is overpriced for the Lehigh Valley (salads $9-$14), so i'm looking for a better alternative.
(2)
Kelly B.
I know this place is deemed amazing by many yelpers, but really I don't quite get it. The place was pretty busy for a weeknight and when I picked up the food, the staff was friendly and had everything ready. The pizza was alright- nothing out of the ordinary, really- the sauce was on the sweet side and the cheese was slightly rubbery, even when hot. The ziti with marinara was a bit sweet, as well- the sauce really didn't taste overly fresh or seasoned much at all. Just kind of "ehhhhhhh," though it is wicked convenient to the movie theater.
(3)
Bill a.
Great Italian food. Pizza is ok. The place is very casual and not fancy looking but the italian food is up their with the best.
(5)
Scott H.
Very good food at decent prices. Their Pizza is very good, particularly their Chicago style. It's not a large restaurant, so sometimes the wait can be long. The service has also been pretty good from my experiences.
(4)
Celia S.
Best pizza in the Valley, in my opinion. We love the margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella. The bathrooms are a bit nasty, but hey, I don't go there to use the restroom...
(5)
Greg A.
They have the best cheesesteak in the Lehigh Valley. Very good food at reasonable prices. If you go during the lunch time, the service will be fine. Friday/Saturday nights, you are bound to have poor service.
(4)
Jen A.
The last 3 times I've been there, I've had to wait FOREVER for my food. They are not timely at all! Once the food arrived, it was okay, but nothing special. Haven't been back since and I don't plan on going there again.
(2)
diana f.
Decent pizza and good pasta dishes. The service was always quick and friendly. Fairly priced. Good meal to get before you head over to the Carmike!
(4)
Vanessa W.
Great family-run Italian restaurant with a little bit of everything. You can eat in or take out. Lots offered to fit a variety of prices and tastes. Love this place.
(4)
Amanda L.
I will give this place a five star because I am still mesmerizing that pasta plate I had from yesterday. I didn't have any expectations at first since this place was just at this small plaza near the ABE airport. I ordered the $14.95 red sauce clam linguini. There was a salad and warm bread that came with my lunch. That salad was not the best, so I wasn't counting on the food being too great. I thought, oh well, it was free. And my clam pasta came, there were only 3 big clams lying on top, I was like, dang, how little clams do they give you! And then I started to dig in and noticed the whole plate was filled with chopped, squared clams! Oh my god, the texture of these little clam pieces went so well with my perfectly cooked linguini! Oh yum! Those three big clams were good too, like in another realm. I haven't tried this kind before, but they were like in a ball shape, kinda like an egg that's almost cooked and ready to pop. It was sooooooooo good! I need to go back again when I am in town for business.
(5)
Lady T.
I can not say anything but GREAT things about this place. When we arrived no one was at the hostess station, but when I peeked around the corner was immediately felt welcomed! My daughter and I were seated but my sister wanted to sit at the bar since we were celebrating. Vicky, our Bartender, was the bomb!!! She was energetic, knowledgeable about the menu and served us the BEST sangria I have ever had! She was personable, funny and made you felt like we were home! And she remembered each of our names :-) EVERY entree, appetizer and even the salad was impeccable!!! I couldn't finish... portions plentiful... delicious... a wonderful experience in all!!! Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Dolores G.
Pizza, calzone, garlic knots, and stuff like that are great! I order to go all the time or have lunch here. The marinara sauce is horrible! Taste like tomato soup! Salads are OK nothing great. Pasta dishes are OK, nothing exceptional to me. The new decor is really nice, but the dining area is still tight. Bar like great though! To me, this place is more of an up scale pizzeria. Servers are nice, but seem to be a bit forgetful at times. My score is based on the lunch and simple pizzeria foods. I never sat at the new bar yet, but plan to. The atmosphere is nice.
(4)
Candi K.
When my international colleagues were in town, we took turns taking them out for dinner...they had already had "American" food and wings, and half the group didn't like spicy foods, so I decided Italian would probably do okay. And it was, thanks to the great staff at Taste of Italy! Despite a lot of questions about the menu and ingredients, they were friendly & so very helpful. While it's not the best Italian food I've ever had, it was pretty good, and the fact that they have a bar is definitely a bonus (and some great happy hour specials). We had a slight mix up on our bill, and the manager came over very quickly and got it fixed for us, all with a smile. I really enjoyed my chicken piccata and the tiramisu. I'll put Taste of Italy on our rotation!
(4)
Robert G.
Avoid this place at all costs for carry out. Nobody should have a single bad experience at any one place, but twice out of two times? I ordered pesto with chicken and broccoli but they forgot the chicken and broccoli. Twice! Wtf?
(1)
Nancy F.
Food is generally good...my risotto was a bit goopier than I expected and was, therefore, a bit rich for my liking. They could eliminate iceberg from the side salad and offer a dippng oil with a bit more zip, but this is , for the most part, a good, casual spot to go when you want a decent, not too pricey meal. That being said, the wine is crazy expensive. My husband and I asked for the "house cab" , which was fine...nothing outstanding, only to get our check and find that 2 glasses each cost more than our entrees! I'm sorry, but this restaurant does not warrant these wine prices! A wine bar they aren't!
(3)
Mike W.
The Stromboli tasted great. The place has a nice comfortable feel. The problem that I had, and why there is no fifth star, was the service. The service was very slow. Once I had my food, I felt neglected. I wanted some red pepper, (no there was none on the table, which I found odd). I was already finished eating by the time I was able to ask for red pepper. The food was more than plentiful, so I had a lot of leftovers. I requested some red pepper and sprinkled it on as I put it in the to-go container.
(4)
Natasha W.
I truly miss this place now that I've moved to the south. Awesome food, awesome service. I was a regular when I lived in Allentown. Will be back to visit soon!
(4)
Jennifer J.
I come to this place with my brother every time i visit my family in pa. The food is always good. Huge portions so can do a family style meal and share a few dishes. I always leave here very satisfied! The new decor makes you forget you're in a strip mall. Go hungry!
(4)
Nancy C.
My husband and I came here on a whim after going to the movies. Here are my pros: nice, friendly staff; nice ambience, decent beer and wine selection. But here are the cons: over priced for location; the dipping oil too much thyme; mozzarella app heavy breading; my dinner contained an ingredient not listed in description, specifically peas, and I hate peas; red sauce tasted straight out of a can and very bland on the chicken parm. It was unanimous that we never come back.
(2)
Natalya S.
This place has gone downhill. We dined here a few years ago for dinner and had a fairly positive experience but this last time was negative in more than one aspect. We came for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon. There was a large party that just finished and was leaving when we arrived. We waited a long time before being acknowledged by anyone and finally after about 7 minutes we were seated. It was almost empty, maybe three other tables in the whole restaurant. Our waiter came by and brought us drinks and then said he would be back to take our order. We waited at least fifteen minutes. He came back to tell us he would be thirty more seconds and then disappeared for another five minutes. He took our order, and we asked if we get bread. He said yes but it would be a while because they bake it fresh. Ok great but we've been sitting here for almost a half hour now. Why didn't you have them pop that bread in the oven when we were seated? Ok well whatever. So, I ordered the panzanella (salad) and an entree -- chicken parm. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna. We had a coupon for $7 off two entrees so he had to put the order in so that instead of being a lunch dish, my meal was a dinner dish which came with a side salad. So he said he would box up the side salad for us to take home so I could have my panzanella as well. But, my boyfriends meal came with a salad anyway, which he never brought out. So, after an excruciatingly long time we got our food. The panzanella came out first since it was a salad. It was ok. I don't have much to compare it to, I've only ever had panzanella at bonefish grill and that was awful. The menu said this came with basil, however, and there was no basil in my salad. Too bad, because without it, it was flavorless despite the balsamic vinegar. Then our entrees came out and I was disappointed with presentation. I love presentation -- if the food looks good, I wanna eat it. If it doesn't, then I don't. This looked... Careless. It could have used some green... Basil or oregano or something. It didn't look restaurant quality which is disappointing because we've not had this experience in the past. The flavor was okay. Nothing to write home about. After dinner, we waited a long time for the check and then when we gave the waiter our card he was gone for a LONG time. I feel very uncomfortable allowing anyone to have my bank card unaccompanied for so long. Like, we WILL be checking our balance religiously for quite a while now. The waiter said it was because they were making the side salads fresh and that might have been true but do NOT keep a guests card for so long! Unacceptable! Also, when we ordered our drinks the waiter clapped my boyfriend on the shoulder. I thought that was weird. Don't touch the patrons! He must have been new to food service in general I think. When we eat here, I think we will stick to ordering take out -- pizza and strombolis. We always like those!
(2)
Steve I.
I was staying in town for the night at the local Red Roof Inn and I found this place on Yelp. From the outside you wouldn't even think the place was in business but when you go in you get a pleasant upscale atmosphere that you can still dress casual to dine in. The food was great I got bacon wrapped shrimp and a Gorgonzola cheese seafood dish that was excellent. The only negative I have is that the croutons were soggy and stale but I just removed them from my salad and kept on truckin through my meal.
(4)
Anthony C.
Solid choice. I thought the food was good, and the service was great. Given out situation, this was perfect. Our group had a long day skiing. We cut out and went back to the hotel. After a rest, we set out for food. After stumbling around we found Taste of Italy in a strip mall. It was busy and we were a big group. The waiters handled us with aplomb. She knew the menu, made suggestions and kept drinks filled. The food was basic, hot and good. I had a eggplant parm, and it was tasty and absolutely huge. I ate it the next day for lunch when I got back to work. I also had a Italian wedding soup--it was he made and really hit the spot. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. This is basic, pizzeria NYC, Italian food. Foodies need not apply. For those looking to eat, this will not leave you disappointed.
(3)
Manfred S.
Arriving late at the Residence Inn, the front desk recommended Taste of Italy and called ahead to confirm that the kitchen is open. The front desk advised us that we would get a 10% discount for showing hotel room key. We arrived about 9:30 PM and the two of us loaded up. Stuffed mushrooms, shrimp limoncello, shrimp & crabmeat portabella, frutti di mare, italian wedding soup, salad ... not bad for two. It will take me a few days to digest. We got friendly service. Downside: Boring wine selection, so we skipped wine and flushed down a few Peroni.
(4)
Karla M.
We had just popped in for a quick Espresso Martini and were blown away by the service and sweet Katie behind the bar!!
(5)
Sharan N.
The ambiance was good. The service was ok. The veal delite was smooth and delicious. The pizza was nice. Lots of drink options. The special wine menu will thrill you.
(3)
Jeralyn V.
Nothing short of pleasantly surprised given the location. We were seated promptly. The service was great. Our server was pleasant, informed about the menu and very helpful. Food arrived quickly and portions were perfect. Price was very reasonable. Can't wait to go back. The 4 stars is because it is a bit cramped but ambiance is nice.
(4)
Debbie C.
Worst visit ever. With four people and we all send the same thing we won't be back. pricey for what We got. One person in our party had a gluten allergy she asked for item on menu without bread. It came out on bread they had to do over.chicken was dry .came with fries that were coated the person with allergies asked what was on fries she didn't know and said that the chef didn't know. Now if your the chef don't you think you would know what was on them?Waitress had personality of a dried up prune , not at all accommodating.if I didn't have to give any stars I wouldn't . Cant wait to spread the word.oh yea there was so much wrong I almost forgot one person ordered chicken Cesar salad dressing came the dressing was not Cesar but lemon dill . Enough said. Don't go there.
(1)
Benny F.
Made a reservation on Open Table about 6 weeks ago for 9 people for Easter dinner. I did receive confirmation. Called the day before to add one person, and they told me they are closed!! Thank God I called! Left me scrambling for somewhere to go. Very unprofessional and non apologetic
(1)
Michelle H.
First timers. Totally surprised when we walked in. The place was georgeous! The food was fabulous. We will be back
Read the reviews and was staying down the street so I thought I'd give it a try. Sat at the bar and was greeted by a really nice bartender that made a fabulous double tall vodka tonic with a lemon AND a lime...nice touch. The menu is huge so I started with half a wedge salad that was awesome and took the bartender's reco on a Margarita pizza that was hot, cheesy, tangy on a crispy thin crust....deliciouso...can't wait to go back for pasta dishes. I met the owner sitting alone in a booth taking a break from the kitchen...sweet man that loves his place and real deal recipes. Highly recommend..
(5)
Sandy S.
Fantastic italian food, & this is coming from an Italian NYer. Service was great as well. Kid friendly without being kid-centric, so it was nice for an adult meal. Stuffed mushrooms were amazing!
(5)
Jake S.
NO STARS!!! One of the MOST really TERRIBLE italian restaurants you might ever have the misfortune of eating at. Clearly I am not writing a review based on being a friend or employee as other reviews DO suggest. REALLY bad food. Worse still, we witnessed the owner/manager scolding and belittling employees right in the diningroom, in front of guests. And not the first time!! JUST AWFUL, AWFUL.
(1)
Ed S.
Excellent spaghetti with marinara, gravy was very very good as was the wedding soup, nice relaxed atmosphere, ate at the bar, casual, on a business trip, will definitely return, service was fine
(4)
Sonia N.
My husband chose this place as a surprise location for our Valentine's Day date night before the symphony. I was initially hesitant, because the outside looks like your typical strip mall storefront, and the table we got seated at was tiny, in the corner, and looked like an afterthought. Once I saw the menu however, I was pleasantly surprised. There was truly something for everyone on that menu. We ordered the bruschetta with crab meat as our appetizer, and thought it was made to perfection! The tomatoes were fresh, the bread was wonderfully crispy without being too hard to bite into, and the crab meat was an excellent addition! We both ordered lobster bisque, which was pretty average, but since it came with each of our meals, I had no complaints! I ordered the Seafood Scampi, which was to die for, and I really enjoyed being able to choose from a large selection of pasta for my entree. My husband ordered the Penne Crabmeat, which was served with a delightful vodka sauce! The only con either one of us came up with, is that their dessert selection is awful, with very few options. Other than that, the service was wonderful, and our waitress knew the menu well, recommending different menu items and explaining them well to us when we asked for her opinion on certain dishes.
(4)
Lisa M.
Went there for our first time, the outside says nothing about the inside. It's very pretty inside. We got 3 med pizzas, plain, pep and german. All delicious! Female server was on point. Prices were reasonable! I can't wait to go back. Might be tight with kids in high chairs, but kids who can sit in a chair or booth would be fine
(5)
Joshua B.
Just in for an anti pasta and calzone. Great beer selection, had a few Mad Elf's. Franks the best.
(1)
Tina B.
Great food, delicious soups, love the Italian wedding soup. However beware of incorrect billing from behind the pizza counter.
(3)
Sally B.
What a cozy gem tucked into a strip mall! And what a bonus for me that it was practically within walking distance of my hotel. My waitress was friendly and attentive. I had a fresh garden salad with the house balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious. Then I had the "appetizer" crab cake over risotto with artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and vodka sauce. Really delicious and such a large portion that I'll be having the leftovers for breakfast. I was full, but I brought home a cannoli. :-) Can't wait to be hungry enough to taste it!
(4)
Mark N.
Great food but horrible service. Was there with a group of 7 for work. The server was ok but I never received a single drink refill. He also made inappropriate remarks to the females in our group. Then once we told the server that our bill needed separated, he became irritated and rude. He added a 20% gratuity to the each bill and took our money without giving us our change. Have been here many time on business and the food has always been great but the server this time was horrible.
(3)
Christopher C.
You know what really sucks? It sucks when you go to a restaurant to spend your hard earned money and they act as if they couldn't care less. So the lovely wife and I had a chance to go see a moving picture show at the Carmike and before we went I called to confirm what time they closed because I thought it was 11pm, that's what says on their front door, and their "website" said 10:30pm and the guy who answered the phone confirmed 10:30pm and that if we got there at 9:30pm it wouldn't be a problem. We walk in at 9:34pm and naturally there is no one there at the host stand to greet us as most of the servers are fawning over a group in the main dining area and two others are putting in way too much time restocking the front cooler for takeout 6 pack sales while both are doing a great job ignoring us. Eventually after about eight minutes someone comes over and seats as far back in the corner under the TV away from everybody else as possible, which of course is the kiss of death because eventually whomever waits on us will no doubt forget about us and sure enough that happened. After another five or six minutes, that makes 13-15 minutes now with only being seated in a restaurant that other than one small group is completely deserted, our server "J" finally comes over and only takes our drink order even though we're both ready to order everything. The drinks come back quick enough and she takes our food order and we think things are finally back on track. The bread with olive oil was OK but nothing special. The Italian Wedding Soup was actually the best thing we ate. The broth was not overly oily although I only got three meatballs in my portion while the lovely wife got fourteen. Entrees show up a few minutes later and they're bad. I got the Chicken Parm and clearly the sauce had been microwaved as it is scalding hot on the top and almost cold on the bottom when I stirred everything around. The chicken was very tough and only giving a butter knife to cut it was not working as it was ripping and tearing more than cutting The lovely wife had Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo which she said was better but her sauce was very thin and runny. The best part is that of course "J" now 100% forgets about us as she is really into vacuuming the area where the group was and vacuuming apparently every spot of carpet and floor as far away from us as possible. Eventually one of the other servers came over and asked if we needed boxes and he took care of getting us that plus getting us our check only to have "J" sweep in at the last second to ask the other server if we needed anything. Well of course not idiot, he already took care of everything as you've been on this 25 minute vacuuming marathon while not giving a shit about our table. We begrudgingly paid and were on our way. The other reviewers on Yelp seem to dig this place but I just don't get it. They say they're open until 10:30pm, yet 11:00pm is on their door. They say they're open until 10:30pm, yet by 9:30pm the light for their sign is already off and after we came in at 9:34pm they turned the light off in their foyer making them look closed even though they supposedly were open for another hour. The food was about a half step over a microwaved can of Chef Boyardee and the "service" from "J" was an embarassing excercise in apathy as she checked her watch more times then she checked on our table. Maybe their pizza is great and we made a mistake not getting that as they clearly can't execute more difficult dishes? I don't know but I can't imagine ever going back again and now I remember why I swore this place off years ago in favor of going to The Vineyard.
(1)
DeWayne F.
We were visiting our daughter and her boyfriend, they live in NY and I had a little work in Bethlehem. we stayed in a hotel a short walk away and ended up eating here three times. Great waters, really good food and a nice atmosphere. My only comment is to spruce up the beer list a bit. Need some nice micro brews instead of the same old Budweiser type beers.
(4)
Dale S.
Very good Italian food walking distance (a little long) from the Marriott hotels on Motel Drive. Good food and beverage selection.
(4)
Dan E.
My wife and I were picking someone up at Lehigh Valley Airport and we arrived about a half hour early, so we decided to stop here to grab some food. I consulted the trusty Yelp app first and saw this place had a lot of reviews and a pretty solid overall rating, so it became our destination. I only wanted a quick couple of slices for lunch. It was a major production to get a couple of slices of pizza. There was a hostess table that we had to maneuver past, but she did walk us to a table by the pizza counter. I picked out a meat-lovers type of slice and a plain sicilian slice. The guy working the counter called me "Boss" a few times. I hate when people call me Boss, Chief, Captain, etc. You get the picture. Then, mid-meal we kind of had a waitress taking care of us even though I ordered my pizza directly from the counter. It was actually a little strange. So, the whole experience besides the pizza wasn't exactly what I would call a normal pizza purchase transaction. But...I have to give them credit. The pizza was actually very good. I always kind of feel like PA pizza is very hit or miss, but this place makes some good pies. The meat-lovers slice I had wasn't sicilian style, but it was cut into a rectangular shape and had a ton of meat. I would easily get it again and recommend it. The sicilian slice was solid, as well. It was a little fluffier than your average sicilian slice but it was good. I really liked the sauce they use and I also loved the crumbled sausage they use. It's a solid spot - I'd have no problem going back here to knock down a few slices. They also have what looked like a full bar. It's also about 5 minutes from the airport - so pretty conveniently located. Prices are relatively standard, as well.
(3)
Mysterious Z.
This place is great. All the good I have eaten here has been good. The ambiance is nice. The lighting is a little too dim for me though. The only negative is that it's in a strip mall.
(5)
Lee M.
Again, right is right - but trying to BS me gets you a wrong. So I go in and waitress says we cannot order a slice of pizza on Friday and Saturday. Have to order a personal pizza. I have been mayor of ToI on Foursquare for years - I go there that often. So someone tells me that for last four months they do not sell slice - BS. Then to add insult to injury table next to ours - guy orders a slice with a waiter and he has no issue. If they are going to make rules, they apply to all. After that sorry to say Franko, will be a while before you see us again.
(2)
Matt S.
Maybe they changed Chefs, I sure wasn't disappointed with my meal at all and neither was my fiance. I had the Veal Parm and it was tender enough to cut that I almost didn't need my knife with Fettuccine. The noodles were cooked to perfection and the sace was wonderful. The salad came with house vinaigrette that was actually better than the olive oil/spices that you dip their fresh baked bread in. The bread was hot and fluffy. I loved my meal. Jess had a veggies over linguine meal. She said it was a bit too hot to eat immediately but i tried some after a cool down of a few minutes and hers was just as scrumptious. Almost like a scampi sauce (butter/wine/garlic). Jess loved the salad with house vinaigrette and the bread as well. Getting in at 6PM on a Saturday night was surprisingly pretty swift. I am glad we didn't come an hour later the line to get seated was huge and almost out the door. My only complaint as to why I didn't give this a 5 star was our waitress spent time chatting up a large group next to us and even though she said she'd refill our drinks. Never did. Perhaps it was because we didn't get wine and or dessert I don't know but she was friendly and we got served in good time. No waiting. I still gave a tip, but sometimes I wish you could choose who it goes to. And I'd say more the Chef. I've been there for pizza too. The pizza is Ok. I prefer other joints I go to. If you want a tasty meal. Go here.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Ashley O.
Love this place! I think it has by far the best Italian Wedding soup I have ever tasted (it has egg in it)! My favorite dish is the Seafood Scampi....Lobster, scallops, shrimp, and crab meat over angel hair pasta served in a white garlic and lemon butter sauce....You can't go wrong! They even advertise in the "Around the Valley" coupon books that the kids sell at school ($8.00 off 2 entrees)!! Reviewing is making me hungry!
(5)Ashley W.
This place is a "must-stop" whenever we venture above the Mason-Dixon line. Originally recommended by my grandfather, this place did not disappoint! My dad and I have been absolutely ADDICTED to the Pink Vodka Sauce this place conjures up -- it was my first vodka sauce experience ever (my first time eating it, I giggled naughtily b/c I thought I was eating *alcohol* -- corny, I KNOW).
(4)Paul G.
The food is very good here!
(5)Deborah B.
Stopped in for an early dinner with my son. I don't know if it was because my son is mentally handicapped and they wanted us out of there ASAP, but I felt as if we were rushed out. The server took our drink order which was just a soft drink and water. hen she came back she took our order and then brought our salads out. There were no onions on a totally bland iceberg salad with a couple slices of cucumber and tomato. Before we were even half way done with our salads, she arrived with our food. My eggplant parm was cool in the middle.. (not enough heat up time in the microwave) well that's my opinion anyway. She then brought our bill before we were through eating without even asking if we wanted coffee or dessert, which we usually get. Have to admit that the service was fast but it wasn't personable. In and out in a half hour. We got the one paper napkin treatment because we got there before 4 and when I went to use my Entertainment coupon she said the manager said they don't take them on Saturdays, when on the coupon it clearly says before 5pm and after 9pm. At this point I was not going to argue over 5 bucks since we didn't get a chance to spend any on dessert or coffee. Went out later for dessert. Will I go back....doubt it! Check was actually dropped at the table before we were finished eating. Time check started was 3:46 pm.. time check was given to me to sign after I gave my credit card was 4:10. So much for a leisurely dinner.The server must have been waiting for her shift to be over. I am usually an overly generous tipper, as I have also been a server,but only left half of what I would normally leave.
(3)Strat O.
Had their take out pizza once. Average. Went there with my daughter for lasagna. We were seated and we waited. And waited. 15 min. and still no one came over to us for a drink order. I had to stand up and flag a server and ask for service. She said the manager didn't assign our table to anyone. Got 2 sodas finally. Then came the undercooked lasagna. The center was cold and cheese softened, but not melted. Sent it back. I will not return.
(1)Larry A.
Best italian food I ever ate and the staff is terrific.
(5)Shane O.
Service was excellent, best part of the experience. The place itself is nothing special, strange layout inside. Food was slightly above average, definitely nothing to rave about. Prices were ok, beverage selection was ok. All in all definitely not bad but there are also better places. Don't do Italian often and it's because of average places like this. Personally I'd take a few steps down the same center to the Japanese place, but if you are set on Italian you could make a lot worse choices.
(3)Neil S.
My 1 star is extremely generous if you ask me. These people are absolute morons and need a hearing aid. It starts with the idiot who took my order and couldn't understand anything from my cc number to what I wanted. Then the delivery boy made a rookie mistake shows up with no pen moron who does that. I see the bill is more expensive because of the side of pasta I never ordered.
(1)Nichole B.
Came in for dinner on Valentine's Day looking forward to the pizza. After a 15 minute wait (to be expected), once we sat down were told there would be no pizza that day as it would only be available for takeout. This was really annoying considering they were serving children's pizza. Had chicken parmigiana with salad, which was fine, though there was no cheese on it. Complimentary bread was delicious. Service was friendly and helpful, though not attentive, but it was probably the busy evening keeping our server elsewhere.
(3)Danielle S.
I have to so I was definitely skeptical when we pulled into the parking lot, but looked on yelp and decided to take a chance. We were not disappointed. The food was actually pretty good. It reminded me of being back home in NY and heading to a local pizza joint. We started with the Mozzarella en Carozza, which was delicious. I was actually very surprised it was even on the menu. It is a NY favorite! Then our waitress, who was courteous and friendly, brought us Delicious Italian bread with olive oil and fresh herbs. I think I ate the entire loaf myself! We both had salad with the house dressing. No complaints here. He had red wine, I had white. No complaints. For our main course, he had gnocchi with red sauce, which was good. I had angel hair with shrimp and broccoli in a white wine and garlic sauce. The chunks of garlic were delicious. We were pleasantly surprised and will definitely go back.
(3)Tom D.
One of my favorite places to eat! I'm not a 'Foodie'...I'm kind of a pain to feed...'picky' I've been called...hmpf...well, I've never had a bad meal here...it's always full of people and the choices are plentiful. The way an Italian restaurant should be. Service was always good...and there's a bar full of anything you can think of. I've had several celebrations here...and it didn't break my piggy bank! Try it...you'll like it.
(5)Peter O.
I just keep trying all of the selections and have yet to be disappointed. A lot of italian restaurants mask their lack of imagination by slathering cheese all over everything. this place doesn't do that. they stick to a solid menu with some really fine marinara and pasta dishes. No grease from the cheese and some really nice use of seafood and chicken. the staff is informal and the atmosphere is that of a small deli. nothing fancy, just good food.
(4)Erica S.
I have frequented this restaurant many times. At one point I guess I would be considered a regular. The food is above par and generous portions. However, I only gave it 2 stars because on 3 seperate occasions and 3 different servers, my credit card was charged incorrectly. I always tip very well, at least 20%. However, what I signed off on and what was actually charged within a few days of my meal is way off. When I looked at my bank statement a few days after the meal there was at least an 8 dollar difference added to what I put as my total after tip. Bye bye taste of italy. I dont support fraud.
(2)Gregory K.
Came here for a date night w/ my girlfriend. We enjoyed our meals, but strongly prefer Roma or molto pazzo by far. If it wasn't for the coupon we used, we definitely believe the prices are too high for the quality of food.
(3)Howie A.
My Italian friends have been raving about eating here for years. This place has won the Best of the Valley from Lehigh Valley Magazine for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. That in its self is a testament of the quality of food this place serves up. I had the baked lasagna which really wasn't baked and the Ricotta cheese was hard to find however the sauce was above average. The pizza I had was also above average but my slice was limp with the crust a little doughy. Althought the place is on the smaller side it is clean and the service was outstanding. I plan on returing in the near future.
(4)Anissa T.
Hum, maybe I don't get too much good Italian down south... I absolutely love this place; it is a stop for me every time I'm up to ABE. My last visit there was my favorite: I was alone, but my obviously transplanted New York waiter was gonna make sure I was taken care of. I had a glass of red wine, and managed to keep my garlic knot consumption down to 2. I had ordered the pasta with red clam sauce, and ate as much of it as I could, and still allow the waiter to talk me into the cannoli. He assured me it was a good, homemade cannoli, and it was absolutely perfect. My only issue - had to ask him to please NOT insist on bringing me another to go! Past visits have been for good pizza and baked pasta dishes. I love it.
(5)Meredith K.
We ended up going here because of a coupon we got on Living Social. When we showed up, we were a bit skeptical, until we walked inside and saw it was a large, clean, and nicely decorated place. Our waitress was one of the nicest I've ever experienced and the food was soooo good - wish we knew about this place when my boyfriend lived right down the street! The bread is even better than Carraba's or Olive Garden - could have filled up just on that! Overall, great experience and great hole in the wall kind of place.
(4)David B.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I pretty much only eat meat and veg so going to an Italian place might have been a stupid thing to do, but there were enough meaty dishes on the online menu to look interesting and the gushy reviews here had me curious. Aha! Lamb chops! But they were thin, small, and overcooked despite asking for medium rare. It was just OK. I finished them but only because I was starving. Service was kinda spotty; too much server gab-fest going on. To be honest the only decent meal I've had here all week was at Applebee's which makes me sad. The parmesan garlic-shrimp & steak there was tasty and while not of the best quality the meat was decently juicy and had good beef taste unlike the greasy bland thing at Copperhead. If the atmosphere there wasn't so loud and annoying I'd probably go back. I'm between Allentown and Bethlehem so I guess this is sort of a no-man's land for good dining.
(2)SalesandTrails H.
Good service (although I think the wait staff has too many tables each), nice salad and bread before the meal. Serving sizes were quite large but overall the food was mediocre. The penne al forno comes in a vodka sauce which was thin and flavorless. The meatballs were very soft and lacked seasoning as well. If you are prepared to spice up your own meal, you will not leave hungry. I was stuffed and had a full container to take home with me. The good news is, with my spice rack at home, I will turn it into a zesty flavorful sauce.
(3)Steve M.
I go here for lunch at least 3 times a week. The pizza is probably the best in the valley. The service is fantastic, and Joe (the owners son) is a great guy. The servers are extremely friendly, especially the older women. I always feel welcomed when I am there. Now, back to the pizza. Its extremely tasty, and the toppings are always fresh. The pepperoni has jjust enough spice to make it a little hot which is great. Pies to go are great, but I really prefer the slices reheated-they get a nice crunch that way.
(5)Michele W.
So good, real authentic Italian food
(3)Matt G.
I was super excited after looking over the menu and seeing some of the reviews. It didn't quite measure up to what I was hoping for, but it was still good. I had the Chicken Dean Martin which looked to be a Chicken Marsala type dish. i thought the menu read that I got a pasta side dish with it. I didn't. The dish, while flavorful, was extremely "soupy" and there was so much sauce on the chicken, it was almost overwhelming and tough to get to the chicken through the sauce. The sauce was good, just too much. Also, there wasn't a lot to the dish for $20. One thinly hammered chicken breast, sauce, some cheese over the top and a roma tomato sliced in four slices with some mozzarella cheese. I left hungry.
(3)Dave M.
I'm not sure I understand the hype. The pizza is decent. One time I had the gnocchi and it was too salty to even finish. The service and decor is really good and unexpected for a strip mall, though.
(3)Charly J.
Hubby & I enjoyed our visit. It has the appearance of being a hole-in-the-wall because it's in a strip mall, but the service & food were well above average strip mall offerings. We started with vino (above-average wine selection) & the Sicilian Antipasti which was a meal by itself! I then ordered the Chicken Florentine while my hubby ordered the Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe. Both were DELICIOUS. Plenty of garlic, spices, sauce, etc. The service was very pleasant and the atmosphere was ok. It tries to NOT be a pizza joint, but it does cater to that crowd as well. We'll have to try the pizza next time. We will definitely be going back!
(3)Kyle S.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the Taste of Italy. Nestled between a discount furniture store and a dollar store, I didn't have high expectations. When we got in, it was pretty crowded, and the hostess said there would be a 25 minute wait, though it ended up only being around 15 minutes. The waitress brought us a roll of bread and some oil/spices, which were really good. For my meal, I got the chicken piccata, which came with a side salad, and instead of pasta, I went with roasted potatoes. The salad came out first, and was really good: the lettuce was crisp and cold, and the dressing was excellent. The chicken piccata was exceptional, as were the potatoes. I would go back here in a heartbeat, as it's definitely the best Italian food I've had in the area. Forget overpaying at somewhere like Melt, and check out Taste of Italy instead.
(5)Robert T.
Excellent service, second time here and will be back again and again. Try the bruschetta pomodoro it Pairs excellent with peroni beer. The seafood Alfredo is our favorite. Also do not let the appearance of the location push you away, it is very quaint inside and great for a family dinner. Please do yourself a favor and visit this restaurant, you will not go away hungry or upset you came.
(5)Lucia N.
LOVE their Pizza!!! Reminds me of my favorite pizzeria back home in NY.. This place is pretty pricey but what pizzerias arent now a days..
(5)Natassja B.
This restaurant isn't bad but it's far from amazing as far as pick up goes. They lacked in quality of the pizza and forgot our order. My boy friend likes the pizza there but it's way over priced. We did a pick up order and we gave them plenty of time , but when we came at said pick time he got a blank stare and a " We forgot about that order, it will just be 20 minutes" .... so my boyfriend waited, whoever it was, was kind enough to give us a 20 percent discount but it still was higher than what you would pay for a decent pizza at any other pizzeria. The toppings were delicious but to our dismay the bottom was burnt charcoal black. Because the toppings were so moist it made it soggier then normal pizzas would be so it was bearable . But I wasn't to thrilled . Usually this place is always on top of their game and the food turns out pretty good , I'm sure it was just busy and there were a lot of orders for dinner but you need to be able to conquer those issues if you want patrons to pay 20 plus dollars for a pizza pie.
(3)Marc D.
We tried this place out after purchasing a Living Social coupon. The food was simply done but done right -- not undercooked or overcooked. Our waitress provided great service and was very friendly. The teramasu was a great dessert. The meal got only 4 stars because I was not informed at the time of purchase that the Living Social coupon vouchers entited us to a limited menu rather than the regular menu. However with the good food, service, and convenient location, I expect that we'll return and order from the full-price menu.
(4)Rick F.
I was just in Allentown 10/2010, got in late to the hotel and needed dinner. From my drive through town, my expectations were very (very) low. The guy at the hotel desk recommended Taste of Italy, and we drove over. The location didn't look promising, but we could tell that people were inside (a plus when the place isn't empty!), and took the chance. I am VERY HAPPY we did! The place was pretty full, nice environment, freindly staff. As we were walked to our table we could see several tables with very nice meals. I had the Italian wedding soup, which was as good as I've ever had, and Chicken Picata, which was wonderful. The fresh bread was outstanding. The staff was freindly, helpful and the food great! Prices were certainly reasonable. As I'm going to be returning on business I'll happily be back.
(4)Joe O.
Very good food.
(4)Rich S.
Great Italian restaurant! Had mussels as an appetizer. The marinara sauce really made the dish. For dinner we had the veal ravioli & linguini with clams in a white wine and oil garlic sauce. Both dishes were excellent. Fresh ingredients, bold flavors. Definately going back to try everything else!
(5)Laura K.
I have been to this restaurant a few times in the past, usually before going to the nearby theater with friends, and the food has always been good. For this reason, I give it three stars. If I were basing this review solely on my experience tonight, however, it would be getting one star. The restaurant was busy but not packed; there were a number of empty tables. My husband and I were seated within a few minutes of our arrival, after which we were ignored completely. We sat for twenty minutes while servers and busboys moved around us and pretended we didn't exist. Finally, when we got up and put on our coats, ONE SERVER asked us if anyone had taken care of us. When I told her no one had ever even taken a drink order for us, she apologized and offered to take our order herself (even though we were not in her section), but it was too little, too late. We left and went to Friendly's, where we had food delivered to our table in less time than we spent waiting for someone to speak to us at Taste of Italy.
(3)Les L.
Great food, excellent,friendly waitstaff and a great atmosphere. Love the veal parm with spaghetti.
(4)Jaime k.
I was skeptical to try this place because it's in a strip mall between a UPS Store and discount furniture warehouse (!?), but was happily surprised. The decor looks like a sort of faux-Italy in a homespun, endearing way. The food is very good! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it's just a little out of my price range for dinners - and the pizza is good but I could save money and get good pizza elsewhere. I recommend going for lunch where you can get huge servings of the pasta dishes much cheaper than the dinner prices, around $8 each.
(4)Dong B.
Being from Chicago, people assume I should love deep dish pizzas. That's not the case. I love the thinner crust pizzas like the ones in Southern Italy or the NY style pizzas. Taste of Italy serves a thin crust but definitely not Southern Italy thin. I don't know what they put in the crust but it is actually very tasty. I've been here a couple times for lunch. Besides the crust, I love the variety of pizzas they have by the slice. It seems to vary each time. Also, the garlic rolls are to die for. Make sure if you order this, that you're prepared to be shunned by colleagues at work because it will come out of your pores if you eat all 6 rolls.
(5)Lawrence D.
Great italian food. Great prices and very quick service.
(4)Michael L.
I stop here when I go skiing-- a great place for good food and very reasonably priced. I have taken many friends here as well and they always enjoy it-- a very surprising experienc econsidering the location (strip mall).
(5)Kris G.
YUM!!!!! I like going here, the food never disappoints! Sometimes the service does, but it has gotten way better lately. I love to get the spinach roll, so yummy. My hubby has enjoyed the lunch specials and says they are great. the chicken parm sandwich is also good, but it is large!!
(4)al n.
Decent neighborhood Italian food, pretty good pizza--but menu is overpriced for the Lehigh Valley (salads $9-$14), so i'm looking for a better alternative.
(2)Kelly B.
I know this place is deemed amazing by many yelpers, but really I don't quite get it. The place was pretty busy for a weeknight and when I picked up the food, the staff was friendly and had everything ready. The pizza was alright- nothing out of the ordinary, really- the sauce was on the sweet side and the cheese was slightly rubbery, even when hot. The ziti with marinara was a bit sweet, as well- the sauce really didn't taste overly fresh or seasoned much at all. Just kind of "ehhhhhhh," though it is wicked convenient to the movie theater.
(3)Bill a.
Great Italian food. Pizza is ok. The place is very casual and not fancy looking but the italian food is up their with the best.
(5)Scott H.
Very good food at decent prices. Their Pizza is very good, particularly their Chicago style. It's not a large restaurant, so sometimes the wait can be long. The service has also been pretty good from my experiences.
(4)Celia S.
Best pizza in the Valley, in my opinion. We love the margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella. The bathrooms are a bit nasty, but hey, I don't go there to use the restroom...
(5)Greg A.
They have the best cheesesteak in the Lehigh Valley. Very good food at reasonable prices. If you go during the lunch time, the service will be fine. Friday/Saturday nights, you are bound to have poor service.
(4)Jen A.
The last 3 times I've been there, I've had to wait FOREVER for my food. They are not timely at all! Once the food arrived, it was okay, but nothing special. Haven't been back since and I don't plan on going there again.
(2)diana f.
Decent pizza and good pasta dishes. The service was always quick and friendly. Fairly priced. Good meal to get before you head over to the Carmike!
(4)Vanessa W.
Great family-run Italian restaurant with a little bit of everything. You can eat in or take out. Lots offered to fit a variety of prices and tastes. Love this place.
(4)Amanda L.
I will give this place a five star because I am still mesmerizing that pasta plate I had from yesterday. I didn't have any expectations at first since this place was just at this small plaza near the ABE airport. I ordered the $14.95 red sauce clam linguini. There was a salad and warm bread that came with my lunch. That salad was not the best, so I wasn't counting on the food being too great. I thought, oh well, it was free. And my clam pasta came, there were only 3 big clams lying on top, I was like, dang, how little clams do they give you! And then I started to dig in and noticed the whole plate was filled with chopped, squared clams! Oh my god, the texture of these little clam pieces went so well with my perfectly cooked linguini! Oh yum! Those three big clams were good too, like in another realm. I haven't tried this kind before, but they were like in a ball shape, kinda like an egg that's almost cooked and ready to pop. It was sooooooooo good! I need to go back again when I am in town for business.
(5)Lady T.
I can not say anything but GREAT things about this place. When we arrived no one was at the hostess station, but when I peeked around the corner was immediately felt welcomed! My daughter and I were seated but my sister wanted to sit at the bar since we were celebrating. Vicky, our Bartender, was the bomb!!! She was energetic, knowledgeable about the menu and served us the BEST sangria I have ever had! She was personable, funny and made you felt like we were home! And she remembered each of our names :-) EVERY entree, appetizer and even the salad was impeccable!!! I couldn't finish... portions plentiful... delicious... a wonderful experience in all!!! Highly recommend!!!
(5)Dolores G.
Pizza, calzone, garlic knots, and stuff like that are great! I order to go all the time or have lunch here. The marinara sauce is horrible! Taste like tomato soup! Salads are OK nothing great. Pasta dishes are OK, nothing exceptional to me. The new decor is really nice, but the dining area is still tight. Bar like great though! To me, this place is more of an up scale pizzeria. Servers are nice, but seem to be a bit forgetful at times. My score is based on the lunch and simple pizzeria foods. I never sat at the new bar yet, but plan to. The atmosphere is nice.
(4)Candi K.
When my international colleagues were in town, we took turns taking them out for dinner...they had already had "American" food and wings, and half the group didn't like spicy foods, so I decided Italian would probably do okay. And it was, thanks to the great staff at Taste of Italy! Despite a lot of questions about the menu and ingredients, they were friendly & so very helpful. While it's not the best Italian food I've ever had, it was pretty good, and the fact that they have a bar is definitely a bonus (and some great happy hour specials). We had a slight mix up on our bill, and the manager came over very quickly and got it fixed for us, all with a smile. I really enjoyed my chicken piccata and the tiramisu. I'll put Taste of Italy on our rotation!
(4)Robert G.
Avoid this place at all costs for carry out. Nobody should have a single bad experience at any one place, but twice out of two times? I ordered pesto with chicken and broccoli but they forgot the chicken and broccoli. Twice! Wtf?
(1)Nancy F.
Food is generally good...my risotto was a bit goopier than I expected and was, therefore, a bit rich for my liking. They could eliminate iceberg from the side salad and offer a dippng oil with a bit more zip, but this is , for the most part, a good, casual spot to go when you want a decent, not too pricey meal. That being said, the wine is crazy expensive. My husband and I asked for the "house cab" , which was fine...nothing outstanding, only to get our check and find that 2 glasses each cost more than our entrees! I'm sorry, but this restaurant does not warrant these wine prices! A wine bar they aren't!
(3)Mike W.
The Stromboli tasted great. The place has a nice comfortable feel. The problem that I had, and why there is no fifth star, was the service. The service was very slow. Once I had my food, I felt neglected. I wanted some red pepper, (no there was none on the table, which I found odd). I was already finished eating by the time I was able to ask for red pepper. The food was more than plentiful, so I had a lot of leftovers. I requested some red pepper and sprinkled it on as I put it in the to-go container.
(4)Natasha W.
I truly miss this place now that I've moved to the south. Awesome food, awesome service. I was a regular when I lived in Allentown. Will be back to visit soon!
(4)Jennifer J.
I come to this place with my brother every time i visit my family in pa. The food is always good. Huge portions so can do a family style meal and share a few dishes. I always leave here very satisfied! The new decor makes you forget you're in a strip mall. Go hungry!
(4)Nancy C.
My husband and I came here on a whim after going to the movies. Here are my pros: nice, friendly staff; nice ambience, decent beer and wine selection. But here are the cons: over priced for location; the dipping oil too much thyme; mozzarella app heavy breading; my dinner contained an ingredient not listed in description, specifically peas, and I hate peas; red sauce tasted straight out of a can and very bland on the chicken parm. It was unanimous that we never come back.
(2)Natalya S.
This place has gone downhill. We dined here a few years ago for dinner and had a fairly positive experience but this last time was negative in more than one aspect. We came for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon. There was a large party that just finished and was leaving when we arrived. We waited a long time before being acknowledged by anyone and finally after about 7 minutes we were seated. It was almost empty, maybe three other tables in the whole restaurant. Our waiter came by and brought us drinks and then said he would be back to take our order. We waited at least fifteen minutes. He came back to tell us he would be thirty more seconds and then disappeared for another five minutes. He took our order, and we asked if we get bread. He said yes but it would be a while because they bake it fresh. Ok great but we've been sitting here for almost a half hour now. Why didn't you have them pop that bread in the oven when we were seated? Ok well whatever. So, I ordered the panzanella (salad) and an entree -- chicken parm. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna. We had a coupon for $7 off two entrees so he had to put the order in so that instead of being a lunch dish, my meal was a dinner dish which came with a side salad. So he said he would box up the side salad for us to take home so I could have my panzanella as well. But, my boyfriends meal came with a salad anyway, which he never brought out. So, after an excruciatingly long time we got our food. The panzanella came out first since it was a salad. It was ok. I don't have much to compare it to, I've only ever had panzanella at bonefish grill and that was awful. The menu said this came with basil, however, and there was no basil in my salad. Too bad, because without it, it was flavorless despite the balsamic vinegar. Then our entrees came out and I was disappointed with presentation. I love presentation -- if the food looks good, I wanna eat it. If it doesn't, then I don't. This looked... Careless. It could have used some green... Basil or oregano or something. It didn't look restaurant quality which is disappointing because we've not had this experience in the past. The flavor was okay. Nothing to write home about. After dinner, we waited a long time for the check and then when we gave the waiter our card he was gone for a LONG time. I feel very uncomfortable allowing anyone to have my bank card unaccompanied for so long. Like, we WILL be checking our balance religiously for quite a while now. The waiter said it was because they were making the side salads fresh and that might have been true but do NOT keep a guests card for so long! Unacceptable! Also, when we ordered our drinks the waiter clapped my boyfriend on the shoulder. I thought that was weird. Don't touch the patrons! He must have been new to food service in general I think. When we eat here, I think we will stick to ordering take out -- pizza and strombolis. We always like those!
(2)Steve I.
I was staying in town for the night at the local Red Roof Inn and I found this place on Yelp. From the outside you wouldn't even think the place was in business but when you go in you get a pleasant upscale atmosphere that you can still dress casual to dine in. The food was great I got bacon wrapped shrimp and a Gorgonzola cheese seafood dish that was excellent. The only negative I have is that the croutons were soggy and stale but I just removed them from my salad and kept on truckin through my meal.
(4)Anthony C.
Solid choice. I thought the food was good, and the service was great. Given out situation, this was perfect. Our group had a long day skiing. We cut out and went back to the hotel. After a rest, we set out for food. After stumbling around we found Taste of Italy in a strip mall. It was busy and we were a big group. The waiters handled us with aplomb. She knew the menu, made suggestions and kept drinks filled. The food was basic, hot and good. I had a eggplant parm, and it was tasty and absolutely huge. I ate it the next day for lunch when I got back to work. I also had a Italian wedding soup--it was he made and really hit the spot. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. This is basic, pizzeria NYC, Italian food. Foodies need not apply. For those looking to eat, this will not leave you disappointed.
(3)Manfred S.
Arriving late at the Residence Inn, the front desk recommended Taste of Italy and called ahead to confirm that the kitchen is open. The front desk advised us that we would get a 10% discount for showing hotel room key. We arrived about 9:30 PM and the two of us loaded up. Stuffed mushrooms, shrimp limoncello, shrimp & crabmeat portabella, frutti di mare, italian wedding soup, salad ... not bad for two. It will take me a few days to digest. We got friendly service. Downside: Boring wine selection, so we skipped wine and flushed down a few Peroni.
(4)Karla M.
We had just popped in for a quick Espresso Martini and were blown away by the service and sweet Katie behind the bar!!
(5)Sharan N.
The ambiance was good. The service was ok. The veal delite was smooth and delicious. The pizza was nice. Lots of drink options. The special wine menu will thrill you.
(3)Jeralyn V.
Nothing short of pleasantly surprised given the location. We were seated promptly. The service was great. Our server was pleasant, informed about the menu and very helpful. Food arrived quickly and portions were perfect. Price was very reasonable. Can't wait to go back. The 4 stars is because it is a bit cramped but ambiance is nice.
(4)Debbie C.
Worst visit ever. With four people and we all send the same thing we won't be back. pricey for what We got. One person in our party had a gluten allergy she asked for item on menu without bread. It came out on bread they had to do over.chicken was dry .came with fries that were coated the person with allergies asked what was on fries she didn't know and said that the chef didn't know. Now if your the chef don't you think you would know what was on them?Waitress had personality of a dried up prune , not at all accommodating.if I didn't have to give any stars I wouldn't . Cant wait to spread the word.oh yea there was so much wrong I almost forgot one person ordered chicken Cesar salad dressing came the dressing was not Cesar but lemon dill . Enough said. Don't go there.
(1)Benny F.
Made a reservation on Open Table about 6 weeks ago for 9 people for Easter dinner. I did receive confirmation. Called the day before to add one person, and they told me they are closed!! Thank God I called! Left me scrambling for somewhere to go. Very unprofessional and non apologetic
(1)Michelle H.
First timers. Totally surprised when we walked in. The place was georgeous! The food was fabulous. We will be back
(5)Jason Z.
My wife and I used to be pretty regular customers here but we stopped coming for a while. After a long absence we decided to come back. Everything we used to like about Taste of Italy has changed. It has been completely remodeled and none of the staff were familiar to us. Instead of the neighborhood Italian place we expected we entered a restaurant trying to be chic and modern and failing. Gone was the counter to order and pick up pizza. It was replaced by a trendy looking bar. The entire place is now so stylish it's generic. Whatever atmosphere was there is gone. There are some elements that stick out like a sore thumb however. When they remodeled they kept the same tired old soundtrack. The same old clichéd Frank Sinatra type songs were still playing. The music would fit in if it were the same old Taste of Italy but with this new design it's a bit jarring. Also in the back there's a sign for where to order or pick up for take out. The food was actually pretty good and if I had never been here before I might actually be OK with it. Since I have been here before I can tell that there has been a noticeable decline in quality. The food was prepared completely differently than it had been. In short the food wasn't as good, the service wasn't that great even though it was empty, and the ambiance is a weird mishmash of different styles. I get the feeling that maybe the owner sold it or turned it over to one of their kids. Our experience was not a positive one. Maybe you'll have better luck. We haven't been back since.
(2)Dan B.
Read the reviews and was staying down the street so I thought I'd give it a try. Sat at the bar and was greeted by a really nice bartender that made a fabulous double tall vodka tonic with a lemon AND a lime...nice touch. The menu is huge so I started with half a wedge salad that was awesome and took the bartender's reco on a Margarita pizza that was hot, cheesy, tangy on a crispy thin crust....deliciouso...can't wait to go back for pasta dishes. I met the owner sitting alone in a booth taking a break from the kitchen...sweet man that loves his place and real deal recipes. Highly recommend..
(5)Sandy S.
Fantastic italian food, & this is coming from an Italian NYer. Service was great as well. Kid friendly without being kid-centric, so it was nice for an adult meal. Stuffed mushrooms were amazing!
(5)Jake S.
NO STARS!!! One of the MOST really TERRIBLE italian restaurants you might ever have the misfortune of eating at. Clearly I am not writing a review based on being a friend or employee as other reviews DO suggest. REALLY bad food. Worse still, we witnessed the owner/manager scolding and belittling employees right in the diningroom, in front of guests. And not the first time!! JUST AWFUL, AWFUL.
(1)Ed S.
Excellent spaghetti with marinara, gravy was very very good as was the wedding soup, nice relaxed atmosphere, ate at the bar, casual, on a business trip, will definitely return, service was fine
(4)Sonia N.
My husband chose this place as a surprise location for our Valentine's Day date night before the symphony. I was initially hesitant, because the outside looks like your typical strip mall storefront, and the table we got seated at was tiny, in the corner, and looked like an afterthought. Once I saw the menu however, I was pleasantly surprised. There was truly something for everyone on that menu. We ordered the bruschetta with crab meat as our appetizer, and thought it was made to perfection! The tomatoes were fresh, the bread was wonderfully crispy without being too hard to bite into, and the crab meat was an excellent addition! We both ordered lobster bisque, which was pretty average, but since it came with each of our meals, I had no complaints! I ordered the Seafood Scampi, which was to die for, and I really enjoyed being able to choose from a large selection of pasta for my entree. My husband ordered the Penne Crabmeat, which was served with a delightful vodka sauce! The only con either one of us came up with, is that their dessert selection is awful, with very few options. Other than that, the service was wonderful, and our waitress knew the menu well, recommending different menu items and explaining them well to us when we asked for her opinion on certain dishes.
(4)Lisa M.
Went there for our first time, the outside says nothing about the inside. It's very pretty inside. We got 3 med pizzas, plain, pep and german. All delicious! Female server was on point. Prices were reasonable! I can't wait to go back. Might be tight with kids in high chairs, but kids who can sit in a chair or booth would be fine
(5)Joshua B.
Just in for an anti pasta and calzone. Great beer selection, had a few Mad Elf's. Franks the best.
(1)Tina B.
Great food, delicious soups, love the Italian wedding soup. However beware of incorrect billing from behind the pizza counter.
(3)Sally B.
What a cozy gem tucked into a strip mall! And what a bonus for me that it was practically within walking distance of my hotel. My waitress was friendly and attentive. I had a fresh garden salad with the house balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious. Then I had the "appetizer" crab cake over risotto with artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and vodka sauce. Really delicious and such a large portion that I'll be having the leftovers for breakfast. I was full, but I brought home a cannoli. :-) Can't wait to be hungry enough to taste it!
(4)Mark N.
Great food but horrible service. Was there with a group of 7 for work. The server was ok but I never received a single drink refill. He also made inappropriate remarks to the females in our group. Then once we told the server that our bill needed separated, he became irritated and rude. He added a 20% gratuity to the each bill and took our money without giving us our change. Have been here many time on business and the food has always been great but the server this time was horrible.
(3)Christopher C.
You know what really sucks? It sucks when you go to a restaurant to spend your hard earned money and they act as if they couldn't care less. So the lovely wife and I had a chance to go see a moving picture show at the Carmike and before we went I called to confirm what time they closed because I thought it was 11pm, that's what says on their front door, and their "website" said 10:30pm and the guy who answered the phone confirmed 10:30pm and that if we got there at 9:30pm it wouldn't be a problem. We walk in at 9:34pm and naturally there is no one there at the host stand to greet us as most of the servers are fawning over a group in the main dining area and two others are putting in way too much time restocking the front cooler for takeout 6 pack sales while both are doing a great job ignoring us. Eventually after about eight minutes someone comes over and seats as far back in the corner under the TV away from everybody else as possible, which of course is the kiss of death because eventually whomever waits on us will no doubt forget about us and sure enough that happened. After another five or six minutes, that makes 13-15 minutes now with only being seated in a restaurant that other than one small group is completely deserted, our server "J" finally comes over and only takes our drink order even though we're both ready to order everything. The drinks come back quick enough and she takes our food order and we think things are finally back on track. The bread with olive oil was OK but nothing special. The Italian Wedding Soup was actually the best thing we ate. The broth was not overly oily although I only got three meatballs in my portion while the lovely wife got fourteen. Entrees show up a few minutes later and they're bad. I got the Chicken Parm and clearly the sauce had been microwaved as it is scalding hot on the top and almost cold on the bottom when I stirred everything around. The chicken was very tough and only giving a butter knife to cut it was not working as it was ripping and tearing more than cutting The lovely wife had Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo which she said was better but her sauce was very thin and runny. The best part is that of course "J" now 100% forgets about us as she is really into vacuuming the area where the group was and vacuuming apparently every spot of carpet and floor as far away from us as possible. Eventually one of the other servers came over and asked if we needed boxes and he took care of getting us that plus getting us our check only to have "J" sweep in at the last second to ask the other server if we needed anything. Well of course not idiot, he already took care of everything as you've been on this 25 minute vacuuming marathon while not giving a shit about our table. We begrudgingly paid and were on our way. The other reviewers on Yelp seem to dig this place but I just don't get it. They say they're open until 10:30pm, yet 11:00pm is on their door. They say they're open until 10:30pm, yet by 9:30pm the light for their sign is already off and after we came in at 9:34pm they turned the light off in their foyer making them look closed even though they supposedly were open for another hour. The food was about a half step over a microwaved can of Chef Boyardee and the "service" from "J" was an embarassing excercise in apathy as she checked her watch more times then she checked on our table. Maybe their pizza is great and we made a mistake not getting that as they clearly can't execute more difficult dishes? I don't know but I can't imagine ever going back again and now I remember why I swore this place off years ago in favor of going to The Vineyard.
(1)DeWayne F.
We were visiting our daughter and her boyfriend, they live in NY and I had a little work in Bethlehem. we stayed in a hotel a short walk away and ended up eating here three times. Great waters, really good food and a nice atmosphere. My only comment is to spruce up the beer list a bit. Need some nice micro brews instead of the same old Budweiser type beers.
(4)Dale S.
Very good Italian food walking distance (a little long) from the Marriott hotels on Motel Drive. Good food and beverage selection.
(4)Dan E.
My wife and I were picking someone up at Lehigh Valley Airport and we arrived about a half hour early, so we decided to stop here to grab some food. I consulted the trusty Yelp app first and saw this place had a lot of reviews and a pretty solid overall rating, so it became our destination. I only wanted a quick couple of slices for lunch. It was a major production to get a couple of slices of pizza. There was a hostess table that we had to maneuver past, but she did walk us to a table by the pizza counter. I picked out a meat-lovers type of slice and a plain sicilian slice. The guy working the counter called me "Boss" a few times. I hate when people call me Boss, Chief, Captain, etc. You get the picture. Then, mid-meal we kind of had a waitress taking care of us even though I ordered my pizza directly from the counter. It was actually a little strange. So, the whole experience besides the pizza wasn't exactly what I would call a normal pizza purchase transaction. But...I have to give them credit. The pizza was actually very good. I always kind of feel like PA pizza is very hit or miss, but this place makes some good pies. The meat-lovers slice I had wasn't sicilian style, but it was cut into a rectangular shape and had a ton of meat. I would easily get it again and recommend it. The sicilian slice was solid, as well. It was a little fluffier than your average sicilian slice but it was good. I really liked the sauce they use and I also loved the crumbled sausage they use. It's a solid spot - I'd have no problem going back here to knock down a few slices. They also have what looked like a full bar. It's also about 5 minutes from the airport - so pretty conveniently located. Prices are relatively standard, as well.
(3)Mysterious Z.
This place is great. All the good I have eaten here has been good. The ambiance is nice. The lighting is a little too dim for me though. The only negative is that it's in a strip mall.
(5)Lee M.
Again, right is right - but trying to BS me gets you a wrong. So I go in and waitress says we cannot order a slice of pizza on Friday and Saturday. Have to order a personal pizza. I have been mayor of ToI on Foursquare for years - I go there that often. So someone tells me that for last four months they do not sell slice - BS. Then to add insult to injury table next to ours - guy orders a slice with a waiter and he has no issue. If they are going to make rules, they apply to all. After that sorry to say Franko, will be a while before you see us again.
(2)Matt S.
Maybe they changed Chefs, I sure wasn't disappointed with my meal at all and neither was my fiance. I had the Veal Parm and it was tender enough to cut that I almost didn't need my knife with Fettuccine. The noodles were cooked to perfection and the sace was wonderful. The salad came with house vinaigrette that was actually better than the olive oil/spices that you dip their fresh baked bread in. The bread was hot and fluffy. I loved my meal. Jess had a veggies over linguine meal. She said it was a bit too hot to eat immediately but i tried some after a cool down of a few minutes and hers was just as scrumptious. Almost like a scampi sauce (butter/wine/garlic). Jess loved the salad with house vinaigrette and the bread as well. Getting in at 6PM on a Saturday night was surprisingly pretty swift. I am glad we didn't come an hour later the line to get seated was huge and almost out the door. My only complaint as to why I didn't give this a 5 star was our waitress spent time chatting up a large group next to us and even though she said she'd refill our drinks. Never did. Perhaps it was because we didn't get wine and or dessert I don't know but she was friendly and we got served in good time. No waiting. I still gave a tip, but sometimes I wish you could choose who it goes to. And I'd say more the Chef. I've been there for pizza too. The pizza is Ok. I prefer other joints I go to. If you want a tasty meal. Go here.
(4)