2015 Year in Review

Lehigh Valley & Beyond, 
You've provided many delicious meals, enjoyable moments and satisfying options for all of us in 2015.  Evans' Eats wants to take some time recognize a few of them.  This list is not exhaustive of every food genre, but rather gives some recommendable highlights from our longtime and recent dining experience:

Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern:  Damascus Restaurant (Allentown, PA)
Best Mexican:  Fiesta Habanero  (Quakertown, PA)
Best Burrito:  Cali Burrito (Allentown, PA)
Best Sushi:  The Other Fish (Bethlehem, PA)
Best Appetizer:  Karisik Meze at Aci Halal (Allentown, PA)
Best Breakfast Spot:  Blue Sky Cafe (Bethlehem, PA)
Best Sandwich:  Now That's Italian (Coopersburg, PA)
Best Dessert:  Baklava, Anatolian Kitchen (Bethlehem, PA)
Best Ice Cream:  The Inside Scoop (Coopersburg, PA)
Best Deal:  Prince Palace Dumpling House (Bethlehem, PA)
Best Night Out:  Aladdin (Allentown, PA)
New & Noteworthy: Tony's Pizza, especially the cheese steaks & calzones (Coopersburg, PA)
Thankful Addition to the LV & B: Penn State Creamery ice cream at The Shoppe at Hotel Bethlehem  (Bethlehem, PA)
 


 

Vassi's Drive-in

Vassi's Drive-in
1666 Main St.
Hellertown, PA 18055
610/838/1877
Hours: M-Sun 11a-9p
Evans' Eats Spoon Rate: 
 

 Summertime is ideal for simple, outdoor eating.  We started our season of alfresco dining by finally visiting Hellertown's historic, well-known and loved, Vassi's Drive-in.   Easily accessible to Route 78 and nearby the popular Saucon Rail Trail, Vassi's is a delightful stop for summer sojourners.  For "hole-in-the-wall" alfresco lovers, it has an attractive front which features a walk-up and order ice cream counter.
    

The menu offers a simple classic sampling of classic family-friendly favorites including burgers, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches and a variety of sides and appetizers.  We highly recommend their New York gyro ($8.65) as a flavorful, satisfying treat.  We also sampled the buffalo chicken cheesesteak ($6.70), a solid option, but it did not top their locally well-known gyro.

For those who are interested in a sweet ending, Vassi's offers soft and hard ice cream, sundaes, milk shakes and banana splits.  

Outdoor eating does provide a view of current roadwork, so it requires some flexibility.  An indoor dining room is also available for a more quiet experience.   This summer keep it outdoor, simple, family friendly and inexpensive.

 

  

2013 in Review:

The end of 2013 brought time for reflection & thanksgiving...the Lehigh Valley really does have a lot to offer the food scene--our year of eating included Mexican, Turkish, Middle-Eastern, French, Southern BBQ, Jamaican, Spanish/Portuguese--to name just a few.   Locally grown products, health-friendly, comfort food--old and new spots include it all.  While we have our favorite spots we continually return, we want to share just a few categories to reflect some of our favorite eating in 2013.  What have been your most memorable meals? We'd love to read your comments!

Favorite Mexican:  Fiesta Habanero

Favorite BBQ:  Tex's Smoking BBQ

Favorite Ice Cream:  milkshakes at MOO

Noteworthy addition to the Lehigh Valley & Beyond:  Full of Crepe

Favorite Thai:  Charly's

Favorite Find:  Damascus

Favorite Comfort Food:  Paprika's

Most Memorable Meal:  Europa Barbeque

 

Summer Stops-Longacre's Dairy

Longacre's Dairy
1445 Route 100
Barto, PA
610.845.7551

Hours:  Nov.-April M-Th 7:30a-8p; Fri 7:30a-8:30p; Sat 7:30a-8:30p Sun: closed

June-Aug. M-Th 7:30a-9p; Fri 7:30a-9:30p; Sat 7:30a-9:30p; Sun: 1p-9p

May, Sept. & Oct M-Th 7:30a-8:30p; Fri 7:30a-9 p; Sat 7:30a-9p; Sun 2-8p

Spoon Rates: 

Savoring the final days of summer with a trip to a local "dairy bar."  Longacre's is known for more than its ice cream, with a history of selling milk since 1920.  It's about time we tasted their homemade ice cream.  While they have a small meal menu (serving breakfast, lunch & dinner), we were there for a sweet treat.  Their restaurant is like stepping back in time with its bar stools and paneled walls. They also have a large covered seating area to enjoy your ice cream outdoors.

Their ice cream menu includes 40 flavors, with traditional & more unusual options (pineapple, pina colada, and cherry garden to name a few).  Over 10 toppings can create a sundae.  The natural flavors, real ingredients and some of the sundae selections give you the feel of having dessert on the farm (peach melba: peach ice cream, raspberry topping, brown sugar praline nuts, whipped cream & a cherry or strawberry shortcake:  vanilla ice cream, pound cake, real strawberries, whipped cream & a cherry.

Our family enjoyed coconut custard, cotton, candy, pineapple milkshake, cherry vanilla, coffee, cookies & cream, and moose tracks....while they do offer a family special called the Garbage Sundae (10 scoops, 10 toppings, whipped cream & a cherry), we individually enjoyed this large sampling of flavors and left satisfied--prices, portions and farm-fresh, creamy goodness.  Definitely a happening place in the quaint town of Barto.

Summer Stops-Sundae School

Sundae School
401 School House Road
Hilltown, PA  18927
215-723-4123
Hours: M-Th 5-10p; Fri-Sun 12-11p
 

Did you ever have that overstimulated feeling at a boardwalk, carnival, or amusement park?  The one where all your senses are simultaneously provoked with delight and a momentary inability to respond?  That is how I felt walking into Sundae School...no, not church Sunday School, but an ice cream spot recommended to us by friends.  Celebrating their 5 year anniversary, this local hotspot was an old school--built in 1829 and hosting students till the 1950's.

The outdoor scene is very inviting--lights strung around the yard with several picnic tables, where individuals of all ages were enjoying the remaining days of summer or stopping for a quick treat after practice.  

Then...you head in to the brightly lit school house.  I have never seen so much "signage."  It was difficult to settle in and decide what to order because everywhere you looked there were brightly colored, festive signs with every kind of sundae, milkshake or ice cream concoction. 

Sundae School claims to serve 58 flavors of Hershey's ice cream.  A candy lover's dream, several of the flavors and sundaes are based off of their candy.  We chose the Turtle Sundae ($5.99)--any flavor of ice cream, caramel, hot fudge, whipped cream and pecans.  The sundaes are definitely shareable.



Wow. Overwhelming, but worth the experience if you are in the area.  A highlight was enjoying it in the yard on a warm summer evening.

  

 

Celebrating Simplicity--on Milkshakes at MOO.

MOO

4010 Durham Road

Ottsville, PA  18942

610-990-6267

Hours: M-Th 11a-8p; Fri-Sat 11a-9p; Sun 11a-5p

Spoon Rate: 


For the first time, I am reviewing a restaurant 2 weeks in a row.  A mere addendum to last week's review  on Bucks County's first food truck now planted in Ottsville, would not suffice.  You see, I mentioned that we were hesitant to try their milkshakes since it was so close to Owowcow, too tempting to be that close to one of the best ice cream spots in the LV & B. 

This weekend, however, we ventured to Owowcow for dessert.  On a warm summer evening, sunroof, tunes glaring, a country drive...and a packed parking lot with long line at Owowcow.  I would have waited it out, but my husband suggested trying the milkshakes at MOO.  I was so skeptical.   I knew they were $5.50.  Would they disappoint?  I am thankful we took the risk.

 




The menu included chocolate, vanilla, black-and-white and a "special."  To our enjoyment, we asked what the special was: caramelized banana with crushed walnuts.  Some of my favorite flavors and ingredients?  Without hesitation we ordered one and a black-and-white.

It may have been the scenic route and the warm breeze--but I don't think so.  This Bucks County local ice cream (Tanner's in Richboro) provided 2 flavorful, thick milkshakes...I can confidently say they were the best milkshakes I have had.  Worth the financial splurge.  We just may have made a second trip the next night...love summer nights...and a refreshing treat.

   
 

Celebrating Simplicity-MOO

MOO  

4010 Durham Road

Ottsville, PA  18942

610-990-6267

Hours: M-Th 11a-8p; Fri-Sat 11a-9p; Sun 11a-5p
Spoon Rate: 

I love it when readers send me suggestions of restaurants we may enjoy, especially meeting someone new by sharing the love of great local eateries.  It took me a few months till we tried this new spot in Bucks County's Ottsville.  If you aren't from Bucks County, this is a great season to take a scenic drive to this family-friendly spot.  Formally "Friends" ice cream, this location, not too far from Lake Nochamixon, Palisades High School and Owowcow , has been taken over by a young, ambitious chef (Solebury graduate, 2011). 

MOO started as the first food truck in Bucks County.  Planted in Ottsville, he is serving up American-style food, mainly sourced from local farmers. Loved the decor, including photos of local farmers and a simple, clean country-American feel.  Individuals of all ages were served quick, simple, average-sized, but sufficient orders.  His simple menu with a gourmet flare includes burgers, veggie burgers ($6), hot dogs ($3-4), PB & J for the kiddos ($4--homemade organic PB, raspberry preserves, served warm!), house-made soups ($4-5),  and a beautiful seasonal salad ($6, ours included micro greens, local dried cranberries, roasted walnut, honey-dijon vinaigrette).Their shakes sounded tempting, including strawberry, with locally made strawberries and homemade ice cream ($5.50), but instead we took advantage of Owowcow creamery being so close!