The outside building is big however the inside is somewhat small plus there is a big bar as well. It seems that they do outside seating but when we went, it was still cold outside. The alcoholic beverage I got called Magnolia Lane was delicious. I could have had 2 or more of that drink. We also tried their jambalaya and it was packed of ingredients (seafood) and very tasty, I highly recommend it to anyone. And don't miss out on there bread pudding, it was served warm with a whisky caramel sauce. The staff was friendly as well and the place was clean. I would definitely come back here again. read more

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If you're looking for an amazing Southern meal, this place is amazing. The service is fabulous. The food is spectacular. Our absolute favorites and MUST order items are: Hush Puppies Crab Cakes Fried Chicken Brussel Sprouts Loved the Whiskey Sour Cocktail and the Voodoo Juice. Also, make reservations if you can. Our first trip was a 2 hour wait so we went somewhere else. We made reservations for our second visit which worked out well. We were too full for dessert but shared the birthday beignet. Will need to save more room next time read more

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I had lunch at The Bayou and was very happy with the food! I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich, and it was excellent! The service was great too. Thankfully there is off-street parking across from the restaurant. I'll plan to go back there again soon. read more

Visited 12/19/2019 So we're in Bethlehem PA because this is where baby Jesus was born Just kidding. On our way over to Bethlehem, my wife started getting hungry (as she does) and began looking for someplace to eat once we got to the Christmas market in Bethlehem. As soon as she saw Nashville hot chicken... that was it. Turns out, it was a great call (again) Excellent service, along with really excellent Nashville hot chicken (only better in Nashville area) along with some really amazing Mac and cheese (smoked ham hocks, cheddar and fontina cheese and peas). Excellent! I also started with a bowl of gumbo... Nice and thick and tasty! We were back down South again. The bar had a very nice selection of craft beers which helped bring a really nice crowd in here a couple of days before Christmas. It's nice to know we don't have to go all the way back to Nashville for some "HOT" chicken now. Oh! and if you love the beignets from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans... these come close. I don't think anyone (or anyplace) can copy the beignets from Cafe du Monde' French Market. Go ahead and try them... tell me what you think. read more

The Bayou - Nashville "HOT" chicken! Excellent! - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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I was blown away by the food here at The Bayou in Bethlehem. I was up north visiting a friend who frequents this restaurant a lot and she wanted me to try it out. Of course we over did it ordering food because we wanted to share everything! But I have no regrets since I had fabulous leftovers the next day. Some definite choices to order at The Bayou: -Bayou Mac-N-Cheese (ham, cheddar, and peas) -Hush Puppies (spicy jalapeno, cheddar, and chimichurri) -Brussel Sprouts -Buttermilk Fried Chicken Plate (comes with sweet mashed) -Peanut Butter Mousse It was very difficult to cut anything out because she loves it all and I wanted to try it all. I usually do not order dessert but the Yelp pictures of the mousse looked like a must-try, and my friend was happy that I wanted to share the mousse. I did not take any of the mousse home but everything else was really good reheated for lunch the next day. The mac-n-cheese portion is HUGE and could be a meal to share but definitely grab at least one of these other items as well. Location had easy parking and the service was very nice. Probably need reservations on busier nights like the weekend. read more

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This place is amazing. The food all tasted so good! We wanted to try every dish! We will be back often! read more

The Bayou - Mac and cheese, French onion soup, crab beignets, pierogies - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Oh boy, the food is amazing! The fried chicken is amazing, but I wasn't a huge fan of the waffle. ALL the appetizers are delicious and I can't wait to go back to try more foods! read more

My wife and I split the fried chicken, corn bread, hush puppies and the gumbo. This was a ton of food, that we couldn't even finish. Everything was amazing, fresh and so full of flavor. We especially loved the corn bread which was served with a very unique and flavorful butter. The chicken had a slight heat too it and was not greasy or heavy at all. I highly recommend this place and it's less then a mile from the River Creek event center if you are looking for a place to eat before a show. 5 stars all the way! read more

Super enjoyable time at The Bayou. Emily was an enthusiastic and bubbly server. As first timers, we had questions and our server gave us a "tour" of the menu. I decided on the Shrimp Po Boy. The shrimp were crispy and full flavored. The remoulade sauce was so savory and complimented the shrimp and fresh lettuce perfectly. I loved the roll it was served on too, it was dense and delicious. The fries were hand cut. I ordered the side of sweet potatoes that had the broiled marshmallow cream on top. That broiled sweetness on top was my motivation in ordering it. You can switch to a different side for 2$ more but if you want the marshmallow cream they add another dollar to it so I just elected to add the side on. One would've been plenty to share. The sweet potatoes had some surprise heat but the sweetness of the marshmallow cream was a nice balance. Attentive friendly service, an interesting menu, and rustic decor make for a unique dining experience. I was in the area to see a show and I was reading reviews for the restaurants in the casino that seemed "meh" so I'm super glad we chose to visit The Bayou. The portions were generous & the food is quality. Also the bathrooms were very clean. read more

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You'll likely need reservations but we arrived before 6pm on a Saturday and grabbed dinner at the bar. Cocktails were on pointe. Food was outstanding- we had the pierogis, catfish, and blackened salmon. All layered with flavor and expertly prepared. Our super picky son requested plain chicken and waffle sandwich with fries and loved it! Wish we lived closer so we can come again! read more

I have been here four times and have never had a good experience. This last time was the final straw. I actually said to the hostess that I would never come back. Visit 1: I went with two friends. We were seated and got food. Drinks were subpar and we were not treated very nicely. Visit 2: I went for drinks and got the most watered down mojito I have ever had. At that time I actually said I would never return. Visit 3: I attempted to go with my wife on a date here. We had a babysitter, which doesn't always happen, and we were told there were no tables or seats and we should have made a reservation. Open tables were clearly present. So we got beignets to go. They were fine, nothing to write home about, or even recommend. Visit 4: This was the final straw. I made reservations as suggested for a repeat date night with my wife. I made them for 7:45. I arrived at 8:00. I am aware that I was 15 minutes late, but in the reservation it stated that my table would be held for 15 minutes. We walked into the restaurant only to be told they were closed. We would not be seated. They were not working anymore that day. What a load of bull! We ended up going down the road to the Twisted Olive and ordering short rib ravioli and créme brûlée which was amazing. It was such a good pivot that I wish I had just started there to begin with. In short, the food seems just okay. It is nothing special. The staff and service are poor, not average or fine, poor. Go somewhere else. read more

I was impressed with our lunch today, celebrating our wedding Anniversary at The Bayou and it did not disappoint. Having been to New Orleans several times to include during Mardi Gras this had the same vibe. Service was attentive and courteous highly recommended. Thanks for the memories read more

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Decided to stop here before a Sebastian Maniscalco show, and the New Orleans inspired restaurant had a vibrant atmosphere! We ordered Hush Puppies, Gumbo, and Cast Iron Pierogis to start off our meal and chose to share the Nashville Hot Fried Chicken. Out of all of the appetizers, the hush puppies came out to be our top favorite with an amazing chimichurri sauce. The gumbo was a bit salty for my liking but it was still filled with lots of chicken and sausages. For the pierogis, the menu states that there is lump crab, however, it's misleading because it was ONLY filled with mashed potatoes. The dish was topped with a small portion of crab and some lobster butter - a bit disappointing. The Nashville chicken was crispy and juicy with the spice level being just right. Overall experience was great for the evening. read more

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Wow where to begin with this place. I called in my order for a pick up got there 20 minutes later and had to wait which I didn't mind. I waited nearly an hour for my food to be brought out to me. It was pretty busy but to wait that long even ordering 20 minutes ahead was unacceptable to me. I sat by the bar waiting for my order and not a single waiter or bar tender asked if I wanted anything for what I paid is pretty sad. I will admit it's a nice quaint little place and I did like the ambiance. Now let's get to the food which was one of the biggest letdowns I have ever tried. I got the buttermilk fried chicken which was insanely dry had no flavor. Next was the nearly unbearable texture that is there cornbread, I know it's cooked in a skillet but it was hardly chewable. The ham hock mac and cheese was ok but the pees were hard as a rock so it was not the greatest. I was impressed by the portion size they gave me. The brisket Mac and cheese was the same way ok but not that great either but again the portion size was impressive. The chocolate peanut butter mousse was very good and the highlight of the meal which is not saying much. I ordered a few other things to have for dinner but have no hopes for that either but we will see. I've been to the location in Easton, Pennsylvania and was very disappointed so I wanted to give them another chance at there Bethlehem location and sadly it's just as bad. Hopefully things do get better and may be back for another shot but we will see. read more

The Bayou - The Bayou Restaurant - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

I was in Pennsylvania visiting my sister and we decided to get some Cajun food so we went to the Bayou, the food was fantastic I had the cauliflower bites and it was like eating wings, I could be a vegetarian, LOL just kidding but it was delicious they had a great drink menu and if you know me i like to wet my whistle So if you're in Bethlehem Pennsylvania check out the value that place is great! read more

I would not say that The Bayou is totally cajun, but it had delicious food. The menu is like a new spin on New Orleans classics. We sat at the bar and was served by the bartender, Brianna. I got the Voodoo Juice $11. It was blue, very sweet, and carried a punch. Appetizers: Deviled eggs and cornbread. The cornbread was delicious, and the deviled eggs whetted my appetite for more. I got cast iron pierogies (never had it before) and hubby got Fried Catfish. Everything exceeded our expectations. I'm now a fan of pierogis. Gary, the manager was fabulous. There was a mix-up in our reservation and they were closing down early for a large party. The initial hostess (young female) was not very customer service oriented, but Gary came up and said he thought he could work us in before they closed for the party since someone at the bar looked as if they were leaving. We were grateful for Gary being so accommodating and at least trying. We ended our meal with Beignets that were light, fluffy, and the perfect complement to our meal. read more

Love the food, the service, and the environment. Very friendly atmosphere. I love the jalapeño margarita

Good quality food that is reasonably priced. Couldn't give it 5 stars because the fried black eye peas were like eating gravel and the shrimp and grits were swimming in sauce. read more

I looooove their food! But their corn bread is to die for! I recommend this place! It is on the spicy side do to the Cajun cuisine

Highly recommend. Generous portions, piping hot and delicious food made to order, great service.

Great food, great location, great bar selections. You won't leave hungry. A bit loud in the dining room but totally ok. Highly recommend hush puppies and Brussels read more

Holy heart-attack chicken! And I say that in most complimentary way. This place has heaping portions and has been one of the better dining experiences we've had in Bethlehem. After a lackluster experience the night before at a Malaysian restaurant, we went to The Bayou with the family on a Sunday evening. We had tried to eat here the night before and attempted to make a reservation but were told they were booked, so make a reservation. From the outside it looks big, but when you go in, you'll see it's small with limited seating, a little noisy due to the proximity of everyone. We ordered the deviled eggs and gumbo as starters, unfortunately they ran out of deviled eggs that night. The gumbo was delicious, it had a nice spicy kick to it and was complemented with white jasmine rice, it was great to see Uncle Ben's style rice NOT being used. For the main course we ordered the pork sandwich and Nashville Hot fried chicken, and we ordered the chicken fingers for our son. All I have to say is that the portions are humungous, but not in the way that an Applebee's will give you extra food to mask a mediocre meal. A party next to us was stunned to see a plate full of chicken and waffles that was literally spilling off of the serving board. My wife could only eat a half of the sandwich while I could tackle two of the pieces of chicken. I don't know what they do but they fry the chicken perfectly, my son had one of the best chicken fingers I've ever seen and tasted. As an adult I wanted to order his kid's meal as an entrée. The Nashville Hot chicken was great but in retrospect I think I should've gotten the traditional to really savor how they fry their chicken, but it was complemented with a good portion of coleslaw and pickles. Our waitress was great, even though she was frantically busy, was able to cater to all of our requests. As for the desert, I think this is the one area my wife wasn't as impressed since she's had beignets in New Orleans. They were a little bit on the doughy side and not as fluffy and light to her expectations. Overall, this was an amazing meal and look forward to visit again when in Bethlehem. read more

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Um idk what this was but it wasn't Cajun or creole. Being the resident foodie in my crew, I normally pick the restaurants, but since it was my friend's birthday, she chose. My friends and I roadtripped from Baltimore to the Pocono Mountains near Long Pond. I had originally scoped some Italian restaurant to try because that seemed like a safe bet for the area. We stopped in Bethlehem to visit Vegan Treats and the birthday girl searched nearby for dinner and found this place. I honestly had no expectations when we decided to come here; PA is not LA. But how busy they were made me think twice and get my hopes up. I'll start by saying the service was lovely. We walked in to order, but were able to wait in our car and had or food delivered curbside. I ordered hush puppies, gumbo, and the catfish dinner which comes with greens and dirty rice. The hush puppies were too a bit too flour heavy (I like more cornmeal for texture) and bland aside from the jalapeno. There wasn't the touch of sweetness I'm used to either. The gumbo was rich in color so I was disappointed to find that it was also very bland. It just tasted like gravy and salty at that. The mirepoix gives a very distinct flavor to Creole food that just was not present. The dirty rice was well seasoned but again missing that cajun spice and essential components making is "dirty." The greens were my favorite part of the meal: tender, a little sweet, and a little vinegary. The catfish was perfectly battered and expertly fried but again BLAND. The kitchen could really benefit from some Tony Chachare's and Slap Ya Mama. Overall it was sad dinner. Was it edible? Sure. Was it enjoyable? Nah read more

dry, burnt, black fried chicken that tastes like fish and sweet potato mash that looks like vomit. Hard pass! These people don't even know how to use different oil for different meats and only fry when the oil is super hot. Don't go here. You will be upset with the food. read more

Love this place. The servers are all nice, the atmosphere is very relaxed and food is so good. Been here about 3-4 times the past month and their chicken and waffles are the best I've ever had (and I've been to New Orleans and travel a lot). Cornbread: Crispy with nice flavor and lots of butter (but hey, does it matter? It's good and you weren't ordering corn bread to be super healthy to begin with) Chicken & Waffles: Ample amount of delicious, crispy tender chicken that isn't greasy, balanced out by a hint of maple syrup towards the end and the waffles are side and fluffy with about of crisp on the enge. Shrimp & Grits: We tried the shrimp and grits and they're nicely spiced. Very good sized portion, but not what I come here for. Brussel Sprouts: Nice flavor, but a little on the saucier side. Good flavor. I tend to prefer it a little crispy personally and can do with a little less of the sauce personally though. Beignets: I was so excited for the beignets and to be fair, I compare all beignets to Cafe du Monde. They're good but personally didn't like the crispy texture And it didn't go well with the chicory coffee, which I recall Cafe du Monde doing an amazing job with, so if you've never been to the original in New Orleans, you'll still enjoy these but if you're using Cafe du Monde as an anchor, they get a 6/10 from me. I can see them improving on these a bit on balancing the texture and the bitterness of the coffee. There's one other place, Mitzi's Kitchen in bethlehem and they do the texture beautifully (but they're very different - served in mocha powder and no chicory coffee but texture is great) Peanut Butter Mousse Their PB mousse was really light and nice. The right amount of sweetness with some major crunch. They do a good job in general of balancing texture and flavour here. Buttermilk Pie Don't look too shocked when it arrives to the table. It may look very heavy and dense but is a bit lighter on the fork and palette. Marshmallow and jam on it are a nice touch of flavor that brings out the pie! If you choose a dessert, in order I'd rank the mousse, pie and then beignets. For food, you must go for the chicken and waffles. Admittedly, I need to go back just for the chicken to see if I prefer that over the serving with waffles. read more

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Recommend calling for a reservation a couple days in advance for this location especially if you're planning to come here on the weekends. The food is tasteful and decently priced! Definitely got a taste of Southern flare right here in Bethlehem. The portions are huge so bring an appetite or be ready to take some food home. Highly recommend the corn bread for appetizer and the po' boys and the jambalaya for the entrees! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu. read more

First and foremost....it's NOT southern food. I've spent over a decade living in the southeast and have never come across food like this. To be fair, my travels have not taken me as far down as Louisiana. If that's their angle, then they should call it Louisiana-style food, not "southern". Been there a couple of times.... nothing special. Not too pricey, but pricey enough to keep the riff-raff away. They have buttermilk fried chicken.....ooooooohhhhhhh. I usually have the ribs. You could do a whole lot worse in the area. Just an inspiring menu. read more

Their gumbo is I wish we lived closer I would be there all the time just for that! Other food and cocktails were delicious, staff was very friendly and welcoming! read more

Meal was great and our waitress Angela provided excellent service. Ordered the hush puppies and the jambalaya. My only little gripe was the pricing of the food.But in these times everything is going up. We will be back again for sure. read more

The Bayou - Exterior of Building. - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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I've visited both the Easton and Bethlehem locations and big fan of both! Food and drinks are great. Staff is friendly. The only reason i wouldn't give 5 stars is because i feel it's a little pricey. It's definitely turned into a place i wouldn't go to as often because of that. When i do go though it's a great time! read more

This was my third time in a 4 month span so yeahhh the food is yummm! Went for valentines day weeked and had the bubbles & berries (raspberry vodka, champagne, mint puree, berries)! The cornbread is always good...that honey butter!!! I tried the hush puppies and I dipped every bite in the chimichurri sauce. Fried chicken sandwich was nice and crispy. I was so full from the appetizers that I barely ate the nashville hot chicken at the restaurant but I brought it home and tore up the leftovers a few hrs later. The sweet mash was okay; I was expecting it to be more sweet like candied yams but it wasn't bad. read more

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Dinner at The Bayou on a Thursday night is busy, loud and crowded. The restaurant itself is rather small (approx a dozen tables and then 4 two person high tops in the bar area. I suggest on Thursday - weekend I suggest making a reservation. The acoustics are loud. The bar area seating cramped. This is a FYI and not saying don't go. Just saying the atmosphere is not a date night or conversation sharing one. The menu is Cajun influenced with wide selection of appetizers, small plate, large plates and sandwiches. The appetizers are huge shareable ones. I got a bowl of Jambalaya, and cornbread. My husband had Gumbo and collard greens (i know they don't go together but we had to try them they looked delicious and they were!!) The pecan crusted redfish was amazing. Passing up their famous Mac and Cheese and fried chicken was hard but the quantities were just too large with the other things we enjoyed. I would definitely come back here when passing through Bethlehem. Our drinks were Irish coffee and a local orange beer. read more

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The Bayou food is fantastic. I can't compare this to no other. I had with my husband fried chicken dinner along with brisket Mac and cheese. I never had food that tastes like this. I would recommend to anyone to try. I love the food. I will be back and tell others. read more

Tasty food. Comfortable atmosphere. Professional, timely service. My girlfriend and I ordered shared plates and a few drinks. The food was delicious; mac n cheese, brussel sprouts (my girlfriend loves brussel sprouts ~I'm usually not a fan but they were quite tasty), cornbread and maple chicken. Will definitely return to try more of the menu! read more

The Bayou - Maple chicken and brussel sprouts - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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WOW! We dined on the patio which was a great experience. The drinks were good, we each got something different & enjoyed the flavors of cocktails. The service was wonderful, the food was OUTSTANDING. As a group, we got the hot Brussels sprouts, shrimp & grits, jambalaya, & fried chicken Mac n cheese. All super delicious, flavorful, and large portions. Definitely will be coming back! read more

I am from Louisiana. I grew up on my grandmother's and my mother's creole/cajun cooking. Rarely do I find Cajun/Creole cooking outside of the house or the south that is enjoyable. I still try, because I have ran into a few "Diamonds in the rough". I had been working in the Bethlehem area for a couple of weeks and continuously saw The Bayou pop up on yelp several times while looking for an evening spot. Finally had the opportunity to try it. My two friends and I did not have reservations, but the made arrangments for us on the Patio. The patio was nice and I enjoy sitting outside, if that is an option. The waitress was very plesent. I ordered a bourbon and the Jambalaya. The bourbon came 1st wish definitly helped put the rough day in the past. The Jambalaya arrived and it smelled great. I dug into it and it was different than what I had my taste buds all worked up to receive. Not bad, just different. As a I continued, the cajun flavors were a little more subtle than I'm used to but the dish was really good. The sausage and shrimp had great flavors. I really enjoyed the dish. Now it didn't make me jump back to my childhood, sitting on my grandparents front porch. But, it did make for an enjoyable evening. I do want to get back and try the fried chicken. One of the guys with us had it and it said it was the best he ever had. Thanks Bayou....See ya soon. Do I recommend - Yes Would I come back - Yes read more

Can I say 4.75? Great food, much unique for this ares, is well prepared. Servers are knowledgeable and "friendly polite". Why the small deduct? Too many of my favorite appetizers and entrees have disappeared: flash fried BEP and Oyster Po Boys are good examples. Please, BRING BOTH BACK. read more

Ok this is primarily for service. Bartender is slow. The catfish, my favorite meal was still good, rice could be hotter and the sauce is not as good as the previous. Also wayyyy to much sauce. But to go back to the service I'm starting to see a trend in poorer response of servers. I used to only grade on Yelp for the food but recently waiters and bartenders have become so much poorer that I'm starting to rate it as well read more

Stopped by for the beignets. Curbside service. Friendly staff Delicious beignets. Not burnt. But still fluffy and soft with the powdered sugar. Will be back for the rest of the menu read more

What a great restaurant! I felt like I was in New Orleans! It's a small restaurant but perfect for what I like. The only thing I wish is that they had some booths. I prefer that to tables. There was jazz music playing which made it feel even more authentic. Our server was very pleasant. I wish I could remember her name. I started with a Hurricane, which was delicious. My husband and I shared an appetizer of hush puppies with a chimicurri dipping sauce. They were different than I've had before, they had cheddar cheese in them, but very good. My meal was the catfish po' boy with hand cut French fries and my husband got the brisket po' boy. We shared an order of collard greens, which were some of the best I've ever had! The po' boys were excellent! They were huge and served on soft French bread authentic to Louisiana. After tasting both sandwiches, we both agreed the brisket had more flavor, but both were good. Although we were extremely full we had to try an order of the beignets. They were just ok. Nothing I would likely get again. I had never had beignets before so they could be exactly like they're supposed to be. I just did not think they had much flavor, tasted more of grease than anything. Overall, this is one of Our most favorite restaurants as of late. We will definitely return! read more

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