Yep, it's official: THIS. PLACE. ROCKS!! Everything my coworkers & I ate here was amazing, from the pierogis to the home style chicken to carrot cake trifle...all of it was top notch! The service and atmosphere are fantastic as well. I highly recommend having a meal at The Shelby next time you're hungry; it'll be the best decision you make that day. read more

Food - 4/5 Service - 4/5 Ambiance - 5/5 Short Rib Quesadillas - short rib, chef's cheese blend, and sautéed onions, served with guacamole and sour cream. Fantastic! 8.6/10 Bao Buns - house made chicken sausages, sweet chili aioli, and cilantro. 7.8/10 Shrimp Rice Bowl - teriyaki shrimp, steamed rice, sesame, kimchi, dippy egg, pickled jalapeños, bok choy, oi muchim. 7.5/10 The Shelby Burger - two four ounce local beef patties, American cheese, Shelby sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Solid. 7.7/10 French Fries - hot and crispy. 8.1/10 Chicken Parm - bucatini, crispy chicken breast, Nonna's sauce, chef's cheese blend. The chicken had crispy edges and the pasta was al dente. 8.2/10 Mac and Cheese - cavatappi pasta, Shelby cheese sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Rich, creamy, and a great table side. 8.4/10 read more

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​Rating: 3/5 Stars (or your preferred rating) ​The service remains excellent--definitely 5-star quality--but unfortunately, the rest of the experience didn't live up to expectations. The menu felt quite limited compared to previous visits. I tried the seafood dip special, which was unfortunately very bland, and the main course wasn't particularly memorable. ​The atmosphere has also shifted; the bar area was very loud and felt more like a "pick-up spot" than a high-quality dining establishment. While they still have a great alcohol selection, the overall vibe and food quality are very different from when they first opened. read more

Delicious for take out or dining in. Family friendly and absolutely stunning interior. Food is exceptional and we are enjoy whatever we order. read more

Katie is the best server at The Shelby! Always so sweet and kind. makes us feel so comfortable with my speech impediment as well! I want her every time I come! haha thank you for the great experience! Morgan And Amber read more

I happened to be in the Allentown area and found this place for lunch. We got here a bit before noon and there were plenty of seats but by 12:30 the place was quite full. The menu is all made in house so there were no issues to get adjustments to orders. We all opted for the paella although one of us declined the chorizo. There was plenty of seafood and the chopped olives were a nice briny touch. It was tasty, although not spectacular. I only say that because the bubbly waitress said the chef was Chilean and that this was his "signature dish." Bread "service" is extra ($5 for a square of focaccia). Dessert was a little disappointing. Cheesecake tasted more like a refrigerator, no-bake kind, homemade but gelatinized. Coffee was fresh and delicious. Portions are large and enough to take home for another meal. I would come back here again. Service is good. Decor is pleasing and gives off greenhouse vibes. read more

The Shelby - Bar and entrance from dining area - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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While enroute to the Poconos we swung into Allentown to tryout maybe the towns most recommended lunch spot. Shelby didn't disappoint and my first impression was the classy layout, hipster vibe and clean appearance. We split some hot honey wings and a beef style Cubano sandwich with tater tot's. My wife's pomegranate martini was delicious and For me a Guinness. I will say I was put off with the stature of my Guinness as it was in a tiny pour at maybe 12oz versus the standard US 16oz. Our food was decent but not spectacular with the wings being a bit fatty and sandwich being a little salty and lacked pickle presence which is typically abundant on a Cubano. Service was great! read more

The Shelby - Beef Cubano - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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This place completely surprised me. Stopped here on the whim for lunch and upon entry was blown away how beautiful it was. I had a fried chicken sandwich and my wife got fish and chips. Food came out faster than expected and was absolutely delicious. The staff were very friendly and our server Abbey was absolutely amazing and provided great drink recommendations. Will definitely eat here again. read more

I ordered a side, Caesar salad, pan, seared salmon, vanilla bean cheesecake. I also got a Coke for my drink. The service was really nice as far as when I came in. I was able to place my order and they give out really nice bags for takeout. It is very beautiful in there, loving the light structures and just how they set it up. read more

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Food: the food was excellent. I got a protein free salad that had beets and tomatoes. It was a great salad. I also got their bao buns. Not a traditional bun in any way, but it was delicious none the less. The chicken sausage was spicy and complimented the doughy bun. Service: my waitress was fairly attentive but also was mia for half the time (when I needed a refill on water). It wasn't a bad experience but wasn't a good one either. Ambiance: I requested outdoors, and while I was seated on their indoor/outdoor patio, I was not permitted to sit outside. The patio I was on was air conditioned with a decent view and had the elevated eclectic design that carries from the inside of the restaurant. Value: I got a salad (protein free) and an appetizer and my bill was over $30. It was definitely not worth the money. Recommend: Depends. The atmosphere was nice but it really felt overpriced for what you were getting. If you are looking for upscale apps and some cocktails then maybe this is your spot. read more

The Shelby - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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We came here on the recommendations of a co worker. We were not disappointed. The food and service were excellent and we will be coming back again. read more

The Shelby - Paella del mar - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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our server Alexa was fantastic..very friendly and knowledgeable. We thought she was here for years but it was just her 4th day on the job. we will be back!!! read more

I dined here for their new menu and was very impressed. The nitro coffee was delicious, the pumpkin old fashioned had a delicate flavor balance and the Mac n cheese with fried chicken was a large portion and delicious. It's a wonderful place to sit and enjoy a meal. If I lived in the area I would come back frequently. read more

The Shelby - Dining room - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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This restaurant was AMAZAZING!! We stopped there for lunch & liked it so much we went back for dinner the same day! It is clean & beautifully decorated & has a very cool vibe. I had the Birria Poutine the first time & my husband ordered the Chicken Quesadilla. Both were delicious! Their Malanga Chips were also very good; we'd never heard of malanga before so our waitress brought us a sample bowlful. For dinner I had their Waldorf Salad & added chicken to it. It came with 3 LARGE skewers of grilled chicken on top. I don't know how they season their chicken but it was mouthwatering! My husband ordered their Cioppino & said it was the best he's ever had, which is a huge compliment. We're just sorry this is the only location! We would DEFINITELY eat there on a regular basis if we lived nearby. read more

My fiancé and I wanted to stop for lunch on a little trip we were taking. Allentown appeared to be the halfway point. I found this place when searching for places to eat in the area. Now I will admit I tend to gravitate to these types of restaurants so the criticism that I include in this review I will admit is half my fault. I will start with the good and honestly that was 90% of this restaurant. The food was delicious, the service was good, and the ambiance of the restaurant was great. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and made sure all of our order was correct. I ordered an Expresso Mocktini and she specified that it was a Mock-Tini when delivering it. I drink so I joked with her that it didn't matter to me either way, but I had a drive ahead of me and didn't want to be irresponsible. I appreciate her thoroughness as there are some people that truly cannot have alcohol. That's a sign of a great waiter/waitress. The food was great. We shared some short rib poutine. It was bursting with flavor. I ordered the Chicken Fajita Pizza. It was also delicious and stuffed with flavor. My only complaint was there was no indication on the menu on how big it was. I swear this pizza was enough for 3 people to share, it was so filling and big. My fiancé's meal portion was also massive. When I got the bill at the end of the meal, my heart did flutter a bit. It was over a $100 after tip. It was definitely one of the more expensive lunches I've had. Though again I will digress and say that I do tend to seek out these "boujee" restaurants as I am a foodie. I also believe we may have done it wrong. We probably should have ordered a pizza or something to share. I wish they would decrease their portion sizes by like 15-20% and then decrease the prices a bit. But that's probably asking way too much in this economy. I can't pretend to know the back end of running a restaurant, I can only imagine it's rough right now. It's just super rough on the customer end to pay over $100 for lunch for an appetizer and two entrees and not even any alcohol or dessert. I liked the ambiance of the restaurant. They recently added a very large half outdoor area that was very nice to sit in especially on a beautiful day temperature wise. The indoor restaurant was very modern and sleek. Unfortunately I don't find myself in Allentown very often. But next time I do, I will probably be back for maybe dinner or a trip to the bar with a shareable. read more

The Shelby - Poutine and Expresso Mocktini - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Here's an updated review. The staff are still great as well as the food. I tried the harvest salad with grilled chicken. Great portion and even better taste. The bar options are great as well for those partaking. read more

The Shelby - Harvest Salad with Grilled Chicken, delicious. - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

My husband and I tried this restaurant on a Saturday morning right when they opened. When we walked it, the restaurant felt very welcoming and the decor was beautiful. Our waitress was on par and our food was delicious, came out hot and fresh. We ordered an appetizer then a meal each. We look forward to going back and trying something different in their menu. They have a full bar. read more

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This was an awesome place to eat! I grabbed lunch here with a couple of friends and it was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday afternoon, but we were seated right away. I ordered the Coconut Tofu Curry and it was delicious! The tofu was cooked wonderfully, the veggies were tasty, and the curry itself was fantastic! It was excellent all mixed in with the white rice that's part of the dish. I also got their seasonal sangria special which was a great drink. The service there was excellent and the atmosphere is really great. I understand why it was so busy on a Tuesday afternoon! I'll definitely comeback the next time I'm in town. read more

The Shelby - Coconut Tofu Curry - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Went back to the Shelby last night for dinner and saw Lauren again. Our daughter had joined us on our vacation and our last night we had to take her. Again the food was amazing and the service was wonderful. Upon receiving the bill we were informed that our dessert was complimentary. What a lovely treat and surprise. Thank you Michael and Lauren again for a wonderful experience read more

Nice place here on Krocks Rd The meatball veal, pork beef - top tier meatball served up Can't think of any restaurant where I ordered this app and it was better Best dirty martini I ever had The paella - very good Not the best I ever had In summary - great place An Allentown must read more

The Shelby - Best dirty martini I ever ordered from a restaurant Kettle one - dirty - blue cheese olives - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Beautiful place. Service is outstanding. Attentive and super friendly Fantastic cocktails and excellent food. Definitely one of the best spots in the area read more

Food was great, service was great, really good experience overall. I recommend making reservations on the weekend, the place was absolutely packed. They also have a really nice outdoor area that I look forward to trying once the weather is nice. read more

The Shelby - Gyro pizza - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Great vibe! Packed on a Tuesday night. Food was amazing. Got the beet salad with grilled salmon and it was delicious.

Fun , contemporary atmosphere, food was good , had the broccoli, farro salad with spinach , almonds in lemon tahini dressing with salmon , delicious ! Husband had a special adobo pork atop biscuit with egg and hollandaise... and it was my bday and our incredible waitress Trinity brought out their vanilla cheesecake with a candle .... enjoyed the whole experience very much!!! Our server Trinity was really exceptional! read more

The Shelby - The Shelby dining area - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Always delicious and always a great vibe. Was visiting family and make sure to stop here. The bao buns are out of this world.

Got wings to start - delicious. I ordered paella. It was fine. My fav paella ever was at a house party in Florida where some millionaire hired a chef to cook for the party. Now I try paella everywhere I go trying to recreate the experience. This one was 3/5 stars. It was fine. Somewhat tasty. Just not nearly as good as it could be. :( The search continues. The vibe of this place is great tho. So vibe plus chicken kicks my review up to 4 stars overall. read more

I have come here a few times for breakfast/brunch with friends and I always have a good time. However today was an exceptional experience with our server Sami! She was perfect and it's the best service we've had in a long time. She had great recommendations from the menu and was so accommodating for my allergy. The restaurant itself is lovely and the food is always fresh. read more

The Shelby - Shelby Triple - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

We went on a Sunday afternoon (about 2) and the place was packed with a 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour wait time ~ unless we wanted to sit at the bar, which we did opt for. Bar service was impeccable. They were prompt and courteous. I loved the atmosphere & the overall look of the place. The drinks were all perfection, beyond perfection. The food selected was all enjoyed very much by each of us. I personally had the Harvest salad with chicken & loved every single bite. We would absolutely come here again. read more

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Outstanding lunch spot offering a big selection of large tasty sandwiches in a very cool setting with very friendly service! read more

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The inside is GORGEOUS. The interior designer DID THEIR THING. Real large plants everywhere cute marbled bar area and the leather green booths. So cute, yes. Now to the food. We ordered the wings to share. The hot honey wings were sauced and fried to perfection. It's just, they were all drumsticks, not one flat. Flats are easier to eat . My son ordered the Shelby burger . It was gone in 10 minutes and looked effin awesome if you are burgin. My toddler ordered mac n cheese and fries. She dipped her fries to her hearts desire in ketchup and loved her mac n cheese. (We all were tearing up her mac) I ordered the pork chop trying to be different. The chop was HUGE served over a bed of mash. Together it was a rich and heavy combination. It needed more acidity and tang for me. The apple slaw on top wasn't singing loud enough for me, she just laid there with no vibrancy and the chop was tough. I'm still chewing from the weekend. My girlfriend ordered the salmon which was cooked perfectly, she didn't like the succotash and sauce that came with. Said it tasted like tomato soup? The drinks were nicely made, we had the sangria and one of the dessert liquors. The servers were attentive and made sure or table was cared for. Overall great experience and I would come back to try something new on the menu. read more

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I was here for brunch about a year ago and did not recall if I enjoyed the food here (usually not a good sign). I ordered the Cuban sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group also enjoyed their meals. Newer, is also their outdoor seating space. Last year, I recall fighting with the umbrellas to help shade the sun, but this year, we walked into the most beautiful, well protected patio. Highly recommended if the temperature is pleasant! Our server was also very wonderful and accommodating and attentive. The food took a little bit to come out, but it was completely understandable given how busy this restaurant is. read more

The Shelby - Beef "Cubano" - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Visiting from out of state & met with friends. Great food ~ great drinks. Fun vibrant atmosphere. Friendly staff. read more

came in to get drinks and dinner with a friend. we sat at the bar and were greeted within minutes of sitting down. I ordered the nonalcoholic gin mocktail and it was delicious! My friend got the gimlet and was very happy with it as well. This was both of our first times here so we got a few items to split. The pierogis were the first stand out item on the menu followed by the cauliflower fritters. Both were great shareable portions and packed so much flavor. The squash pizza was great and perfect to share as well. We ended up taking home half the pizza and some the cauliflower fritters. Definitely would recommend to anyone in the area and I hope to be back soon! read more

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Excellent food and service. The atmosphere was casual but very nice. The food was amazing.

The service and food awesome. The server was very helpful and her recommendations were really great.

Had such an amazing night tonight with my girls! I ordered a greek salad with fried chicken & the "forget about it" drink (its spelt differently on the menu). My friends ordered a Caesar salad and a rice bowl that they enjoyed. Everything was a 10/10. The service, the food, and the cozy vibes. Our server Courtney was super sweet! The Shelby never misses. read more

The Shelby - Greek salad with fried chicken - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Great atmosphere, inside of this place is really nice and inviting love all the plants. We got the perogis, poutine and bao buns suggested by our waiter and all were fantastic. He also suggested the paella but we weren't hungry enough for that. We will have to come back and try it! read more

The Shelby - New American Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

good luck trying to call to make a reservation for 6 or more(as per the website). Starting 3/2/26 I called every day during business hours 2-3 times a day, no answer/unable to leave VM! FINALLY today 3/7/26 at 11:07am I got an answer! Reservations for 6 at 4:30pm please, nope. Am told "earliest available 8:30pm, you should make reservations for a party of that size before the day of. We are very busy! " I proceeded to inform her that I had been trying for 5 days without reaching anyone or able to leave a VM until today. But there is availability for parties less than 6?!? Unbelievable... How about 2 parties of 4, seated together!?!? No attempt to accommodate. No worries, word of mouth, a VERY powerful tool! Good bye! read more

Attended for a business dinner. Pork bao buns, pierogi, poutine, some sort of fake gin and citrus mocktail, and the ribeye with garlic broccoli. Food was absolutely phenomenal. Steak was cooked perfectly (I asked for medium, which I'd argue is best for fattier cuts like ribeye) and it was obviously a very nice cut - really high quality beef. Wish they could cook it over a wood fire. I was shocked, but this was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had that wasn't cooked on my own kamado grill. I typically don't order steaks at restaurants because I'm so picky, but since the company was covering the bill, I figured it was worth a shot. Glad I went for it. The broccoli was amazing too - also perfectly cooked with delicious seasoning. Service was great. Restaurant was really loud, which sometimes made it hard to hear the guy across the table from me. Mocktail was very interesting - I think my brain was legitimately convinced I was drinking alcohol. Had to ask the server to confirm it didn't have any booze in it. Maybe it was the placebo effect, but I genuinely feel like it tasted exactly like the real thing. Anyway, it was delicious and perfectly made / presented, but I probably wouldn't get it again since it made me feel so weird. That's probably a "me" problem, but wanted to provide a heads up for any other infrequent drinkers who decide to try it. read more

Always a treat to dine here. Food is excellent, service always great and knowledgeable despite being young (as was the case this day), and ambiance well done. Place is not cheap however, plan on pretty much $15 per item (appetizer, sandwich or main) with specials pushing $30 even for lunch, desserts also amazing but $$$. 3 apps, 1 main, 2 desserts = $100 plus tip read more

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