Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe 23

    3.7 (10 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Order Cafe 23 Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe 23 Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe 23

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jake B.
    4
    211
    263

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Overpriced mediocre food. Looks like the owner went straight to Home Goods to furnish the place. Yuk.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly P.
    26
    19
    10

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Cafe 23

    You might also consider

    Baked

    Baked

    4.6
    (62 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I think I've found my go-to cafe to get work done in the area. Great ambiance. Very cozy and I…read morehad easy access to outlets. Missy the owner was wonderful to chat with and I appreciate that she didn't laugh at me too hard when I told her I want to put on plays in her place. The food is great too!! I had a PB and Chocolate bar to stay and a toasted cheese sandwich to go for dinner. Both were great and I look forward to exploring the rest of the menu. A can't miss if you're in Emmaus!!

    If you know me you know I loved baked goods and after hearing good things from friends of mine I…read moredecided to give Baked a try. So Baked is a small bakery located on Main St in Emmaus, they focus on dessert side of baking, mostly cookies, bars, scones and things like that. Everything is made in the shop. They also have gluten free items as well. You can even get a salad or Iced Coffee if you want to. The baked goods were good, nice and fresh. The lime coconut bar was great, the orange cranberry scone was very good, but I was let down by the peanut butter cookie sandwich, the filling was lacking flavor. The Iced coffee was also good, I like that the ice cubes were made with coffee. The service was good, she was friendly and answered our questions and gave us recommendations. The inside looks basic but gets the job done. This place is also cheaper than I expected with the boom in gourmet cookie places charging $5 a cookie, this place is a steal at less than half that for some stuff. Overall a very good local bakery to stop in when ever your looking for a sweet treat.

    Photos
    Baked
    Love the sign out from soooo much!!
    Love the sign out from soooo much!!
    Baked

    See all

    The Shelby

    The Shelby

    4.2
    (624 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    My coworkers and I were in Allentown for some meetings and booked a reservation here for dinner…read more Everyone was very impressed! We walked in and even though it was busy we were taken to our reserved table immediately. The place is big with nice decor and ambiance, and the tables are spaced out enough that it keeps the area around you quiet enough to be able to hold a conversation comfortably with the people at your table. Our server was with us quickly and took our drink orders. All of the cocktails were delicious and several of us got a second round! We got the bao buns, chicken skewers, and birria poutine to start and they were all extremely delicious. The poutine tasted more like molé though so I personally wouldn't call it birria, and the cheese was a molten cheddar-like kind and not cheese curds. It was delicious though so no one complained! I got the curry and subbed tofu for shrimp. It was a little bland and I honestly wish there would've been a bit more of the curry itself (there was so much rice) and some more salt/seasoning, but it was fine. I'd give it a 7.5/10. My coworkers all enjoyed their own dishes (especially the rigatoni) and they kept raving about them throughout the whole meal. Our server was attentive and kept the table clean and our water bottles topped up. I definitely recommend checking it out! We're keeping it i. our list for next time we're in town :)

    My friend and I had a wonderful dinner at The Shelby. We started with the bao buns and skewers, and…read moreboth were packed with flavor. We also enjoyed delicious cocktails that paired perfectly with our meal. For our main course, we shared the paella, which was flavorful, well seasoned, and generously portioned. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was attentive, and the entire experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. It's the kind of place that's perfect for catching up with friends over great food and drinks, and I'd happily return.

    Photos
    Booth
    Booth
    Giant pork chop
    Giant pork chop
    The Shelby

    See all

    Max and Butters

    Max and Butters

    4.3
    (15 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    It was a nice Saturday in mid-May and my girlfriend and I wanted to try someplace new. We landed at…read moreMax and Butters. We had hoped to sit outside but a family had their kids running wild so we ducked inside. The establishment is one long, eclectic rectangle with a hodgepodge of art and decoration without any noticeable theme or cohesion. They served me a wonderful Reyka martini and we had breakfast for dinner because the dinner offerings didn't leave an impression. My girlfriend had three over-easy eggs with smoked bacon and I had a grilled chicken omelet with gruyere and spinach with a side of potatoes. The omelet was excellent. The potatoes could have been a crispier by they were fresh. My girlfriend enjoyed her dish as well. For a Saturday, it was strange that they had only one server and one cook in the kitchen. Even so, our server was wonderful and kind. We hope to return soon and actually have breakfast for breakfast!

    After an afternoon at the museum, the Honey and I were famished! We walked to Hamilton Street and…read moreamongst the many eateries, chose this place. What a beautiful space! With its airy outside patio and spacious interior, we loved the vibe. We were warmly greeted by our server Paige and were seated. Our spicy margaritas had just the right amount of kick! We were off to a great start... We dined on chili and a dish called El Fresco. The El Fresco are marinated seasoned chicken chunks served on a bed of sliced mozzarella and tomatoes. It was so savory and satisfying. The Honey could not stop saying how good the chili was!! I was lucky enough to get a spoonful (or two) before it was all gone! You will not go wrong with either one of these dishes. Paige was nice enough to answer my questions about the Brunch menu and history of the restaurant. She directed me to the wall where an article about the owner Marta was hanging. We then had the pleasure of meeting her when she came by the table to check on us. We're so happy we stopped in. The food and service were top notched. When we're in the area again, we're definitely returning. If we lived in the area I could see us becoming regulars here. I suggest you pay them a visit...if you're local to the area or out of towners, you won't be disappointed!! Thank me later.

    Photos
    The back area.
    The back area.
    Max and Butters
    When summer calls for aperol spritz's on the patio.

    See all

    When summer calls for aperol spritz's on the patio.
    Union and Finch

    Union and Finch

    4.5
    (804 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Wow!!! Found Union and Finch in an online review article. Absolutely the best food!!! Started w…read morethe Pepperoni and Brussels sprouts. Crispy pepperoni with Brussels, pecorino cheese, and spicy honey. The most unique combination of delicious flavors!! Followed with the Burrata. Excellent and the bread that came with it was some of the tastiest bread I have ever had. Yes, I know it is just bread..but no seriously, so good! Next a burger and fries! My husband declared it the best burger he has had in at least 10 years! Fries were equally noteworthy!! Best best best meal! Beer selection varied and outstanding and the Aperol Spritz was one of the best I've had. Get yourself to Union and Finch..your taste buds will thank you!!

    We sat outside in what they call the "garden room." The ambience and lighting were cozy and…read morepleasant, and it was comfortably warm despite the 30°F temperature. Unfortunately, there was a strong cold draft at floor level, leaving our feet uncomfortably cold throughout the meal. The hostess was sweet and greeted us with a smile. The food service was unremarkable. Our waiter was not particularly friendly nor personable. The drinks were a weak start. The red sangria was poor. The bourbon cocktail was an odd mix of bourbon, apple cider, and other elements--an awkward, Frankenstein-style whiskey sour that simply didn't work. Worst of all, both drinks were served in thin plastic cups, which immediately cheapened the entire experience. I ordered the falafel sandwich and specifically requested a toasted bun. It arrived not just room temperature, but cold. I sent it back, and it returned burning hot... the bottom soggy... literally too hot to pick up... with no browning or color change, clearly microwaved. Microwaving is not toasting. At that point, the sandwich was inedible. I removed the bun entirely and ate just the falafel, which was dry and largely tasteless. At this point I knew coming back to this restaurant was a mistake. Food timing was another issue. The dishes took roughly 45 minutes to arrive after the drinks, possibly longer. We were all getting annoyed and what started out well when we first walked in turned negative. I wasn't impressed on my first visit years ago... and this second visit confirmed it. Between the poor drinks, cheap plastic cups, ridiculously long wait (with no explanation nor apology), and careless food execution, there's no reason to return.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Hawaij seasoned mushrooms on seasoned yogurt
    Hawaij seasoned mushrooms on seasoned yogurt
    Moroccan Eggs ($13)

    See all

    Moroccan Eggs ($13)
    East Penn Diner

    East Penn Diner

    3.8
    (148 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Food was good and a lot of it. Reasonable prices and an outstanding server. Entree came with…read moresoup, salad bar, and a side. Can't ask for much more.

    The short version is many years ago this place is great. There was a fall out between some brothers…read morethat happened or something like that, it was a family business, and one of the brothers took over. At first it was a little rough and then it became outstanding for a while. And then it started to slip again. Haven't been back since it started to slip. Freshness and good ingredients are very important. It seemed like the ingredients were slipping the last time we were there. We have not been back. There's a lot of good restaurants in this area that don't slip. So we stick with our favorites for now but, we do like to try new things. Most of the time the service is spot on and really nice. Such a shame to have all those good things in place and not pay attention to the most important detail. Food quality is where it starts. If you don't do this correctly and use subpar raw ingredients down to every detail, you're wasting all the hard earned resources that you have to work with. It's a desperate move, not a move that is going to lead to a long term successful business of any kind. The key is sticking to quality and find a way to keep going with those good ingredients. Lower prices can jumpstart the business again. And, if you're fortunate enough to get your customers back and your business grows again, lower your prices just a little to show your appreciation for your customers. Sincere good will is what you want and what you need to spread. Don't allow greed to return even in difficult times if they should return. And in regards to ambiance, we found it to be nice but, on occasion the shades weren't blocking the sun well enough. Small, yet important detail. Clean restrooms are also very important. I understand that you can't be everywhere at once but, like a security guard, you can do a run from station to station or restroom or freezer to check that everything is all good. I used to work in a kitchen for a few years. I loved the first one but, the second one had some people that I couldn't work around. Two entirely different experiences. The second one drove me back to pursuing my music career again and I am still at it. I will be playing at The Water Lantern Festival on July 18th at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. My set is at 8 pm. And try not to look sad. I understand it's not going to be easy. Good things don't come easy is a saying that I heard a long time ago and I understand it from experience. And I can testify that it worked for me.

    Photos
    The hostess/Cashier area
    The hostess/Cashier area
    Homemade Chicken Croquettes
    Homemade Chicken Croquettes
    Coffee

    See all

    Coffee

    Cafe 23 - coffee - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...