I attended Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Part II in DC, and overall it was a really enjoyable…read moreexperience--especially for fans of Poe--but with a few logistical quirks worth noting. First, "speakeasy" is definitely used loosely here. The event took place in a ballroom at the Kellogg Conference Hotel, with a stage set up at the front and several round 8-top tables arranged throughout the room. It felt more like a small theatrical performance with table seating than an intimate, hidden speakeasy-style venue. One thing to flag: the event FAQ mentioned that some venues may have a pre-show bar but no food. That wasn't the case here--the hotel actually had food available for purchase before the show. So if that matters to you, it's worth checking directly with the venue rather than relying solely on the event website. The performers truly carry the entire experience. They handle everything--checking tickets, seating guests, serving cocktails, and performing--which is impressive but also leads to some occasional disorganization. When we arrived, there wasn't great communication between the ticket checker and the usher, so some guests seated themselves and had to be moved later. It didn't ruin anything, but smoother coordination would make the start of the evening feel more polished. As for the cocktails: you get four, one paired with each story. Unfortunately, this was probably the most underwhelming part. The drinks weren't very strong--you could barely taste the alcohol--and despite the website showing nice glassware, they were actually served in plastic cups. It didn't quite live up to the "cocktail experience" expectation. That said, the performance itself was fantastic. The cast was engaging, energetic, and clearly passionate about Poe's work. They performed The Pit and the Pendulum, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, and The Fall of the House of Usher, and each was brought to life in a compelling way. There were even a few ad-libbed moments that added humor and kept the show feeling fresh. The actors also did a great job interacting with the audience at each table while serving drinks, which added a personal touch. Overall, despite a few hiccups with logistics and the cocktails, the strength of the performances makes this a worthwhile experience--especially if you're a Poe fan.

The performance was fantastic and the cocktails were fabulous! The facility was nice but if I…read morecould change one thing it would be the chairs.

I love their service and the food is delicious. The employees are very helpful and professionalread more

Pennsylvania Rye Company is a New American restaurant and whiskey bar located on Hamilton Street in…read moreAllentown. It's open Wednesday through Saturday from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM and Sunday from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM. My friend and I made our first visit early Friday evening. The service was good, and the food more than lived up to expectations. We started with tender, well-seasoned beef skewers, crispy buffalo wings over blue cheese, and perfectly cooked roasted cauliflower paired with a tasty tzatziki sauce and pickled onion. For my entree, I ordered the maple-glazed short rib. It was incredibly tender, practically melting in my mouth, and came with creamy sweet potato puree and roasted shallots. My friend ordered the rich, deeply flavorful bolognese. Although she received the small plate portion rather than the entree, it wasn't a major issue as we had more than enough food. There are still many items on the menu I'd like to try, and after such a strong first visit, I'll most certainly be back.

So apparently I was here maybe 10 years ago, I said it was casual and it was, I just wasn't…read moreimpressed with the menu, some of the starters sounded interesting but the rest was mainly burgers. I thought there was more selection before but I guess not. Drinks were ok but I don't know I felt like I spent way too much for burgers. Service was decent considering we sat outside and the vibe is nice but still kind of expensive for what it is.

Went with my mom to share some appetizers for lunch. Best choice. I wasn't a total fan of the beef…read moredumplings but they were good. The pretzels and tots are 10/10. Staff were extremely polite and attentive. We went right after opening so it was very quiet and I was obsessed with the farmhouse vibes! Super cute and will definitely be in again!

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.

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.

Want a great microbrewery experience? West End Taproom is it. Illumination Brewing brought their…read moreFunk beers into a former florist and greenhouse creating a great first come first serve space. Not a beer drinker? No worries they have a list of creative cocktails. Hungry? Kitchen by Tre puts out delicious pizzas, salads and sandwiches. Service is friendly, if things are a little slow they let you know without hesitation. This is a great place to slow down the pace, get casual and enjoy their offerings.

Greenhouse Enoteca that was here was a cool spot. I was sad when it closed but glad that The West…read moreEnd didn't take away the feel of this place. It's got common pub fare and a rotating list of drafts and drinks. They still host trivia night as well and make use of the brick pizza oven.

Checked out the new medium-size venue in Allentown last night, for the Descendents / Teen Mortgage…read moreshow, and this place definitely exceeded my already-high expectations. Excellent sound, with a great floor layout; even if you're toward the back, you've got a good view of the stage. They use those new-style of metal detectors where you just walk right through and don't have to slow down or empty your pockets. I'm a big fan of this, as it gets people into the venue faster while also keeping out dangerous items! Drinks are not as expensive as some music venues, and I appreciate that. The staff is friendly and helpful. And the bathrooms are absolutely luxurious, with many stall options. I love Archer Music Hall and hope they get more punk shows like this one, 'cause I'll absolutely be back.

Archer Music Hall has quickly become one of my favorite small-to-mid-size concert venues in…read morePennsylvania. It's about an hour and fifteen from me, totally doable for a weeknight show, and honestly the combination of ticket prices, artist variety, and solid acoustics keeps pulling me back. Venue Atmosphere & Layout If you're into a club-style concert vibe, this place nails it. It's basically a big black rectangle of a room in the best waywith a wide open floor that gives you a clear line of sight from almost anywhere. There's also a slightly elevated second-tier area behind the main floor with its own bar and standing space. Great if you want a little more breathing room without sacrificing the view. Bars run almost the full length of the building on both sides, which makes grabbing a drink pretty convenient (I didn't grab any this time, so can't speak to pricing). Security & Entry Here's the one thing you must plan for: entry takes time. Both times I've been here, I missed the first song of the opening band even though I arrived around 6:20 for a 7 PM show. Security is thorough but slow-moving, so if you want to see the opener or get a good spot, show up earlier than you think. Sound Quality & Experience The sound inside Archer is surprisingly good for a venue of this size. I've seen: * Magnolia Park * From Ashes to New * Set It Off * Autumn Kings * Vana * Fame On Fire And every show felt tight, loud, and balanced not the usual muddy wall of noise you get at some club venues. Lighting and production are also way better than expected. Ticket Prices & Value Another huge win: tickets are cheap. Most shows I've gone to were around $50 with fees, which is practically a miracle these days. For the level of talent they bring in, the value is incredible. Extras * Coat check available * Bathrooms clean-ish (for a concert venue, that's basically a compliment) * General admission only -- which I personally love Overall Archer Music Hall is a fantastic GA concert venue with great acoustics, solid sightlines, friendly staff, and ticket prices that don't make your wallet cry. The only downside is the entry line, but that's fixable by showing up a little earlier. I'll absolutely keep coming back. Perfect for fans of rock, alt, metalcore, pop punk, and high-energy live shows who want an intimate venue without sacrificing production quality.

I went into this blind. Did not check the menu before hand so I was not sure what to expect. The…read morerestaurant was very modern and had a sophisticated flare to it while still staying family friendly. I started with the lobster roll bao buns. Creamy lobster on top of nori inside of a light and fluffy bun. It was a fun twist on a classic bite. For the main I ordered the wagyu burger. I ordered it rare and it was not the right call. The burger was so thick that it didn't get a great sear on the outside and was falling apart. I did hear a waitress recommend medium well due to the size and I would definitely suggest that to anyone who tries it. It had a great flavor so I would still recommend you try it. I also ordered the notch fried rice bowl. Chinese sausage, pork belly, peas, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, broccoli, egg, bean sprouts, togarashi spice, and topped with a dippy egg. This dish was savory, Asian fusion cuisine mixed with something that felt like comfort food. If you go here, this is what I would recommend you try, but their whole menu looked incredible. This is a spot you need to add to your list of places to check out.

More of a brunch type stop. We stopped on the weekend during lunch and not very crowded. Food was…read morejust ok. Most likely will not stop here again. They appeared to be under staffed and played weird music.

If you haven't been here you need to go. Stopped in Allentown on a road trip and needed a decent…read moredinner. The menu online was just so-so and I expected it to be typical bar food. I was wrong. There were so many choices it was hard to decide. I had the French onion soup which was so delicious and had lots of melted cheese on top. Could use a few more onions but still delicious as is. Then I had the house salad and added salmon. The salad was so fresh and had cran-raisins, fresh blueberries and candied pecans. The portion was large. It was a gourmet salad. The best part was the salmon was cooked to perfection. It's a hard fish to cook and not over cook. It was moist and tasty. Kudos to the chef. My Husband had the Cobb salad with chicken. He really liked it a lot and it was a good entree size. Nicolette was our server. She was great. Food came out timely and she was always checking on us. They do have typical bar foods like chicken wings, burger, nachos etc. so you have something for everyone. Seating: bar area, separate indoor dinning area, patio dinning too. If I lived here I would be a regular so I could try some other dishes.

Don't bother coming here. They don't want the business. We got here at 8:30... place doesn't close…read moreuntil midnight... and they were going up seat us until they found out we had 7 in our party, then they claimed the kitchen was closing and wouldn't cook for us. Will NEVER be back here again.

First time we came here was for dinner and we sat inside…read more House made chili was served hot and was good. Crab cake was also good and served with buttery rice & vegetables. Next time we came in, we had lunch on the deck. Roasted half chicken was tender and served with broccolini and house made mashed potatoes. House made chicken gravy was served on the side. Friend had chicken alfredo fettuccine with garlic bread and broccoli for lunch.

If I could give a 0 star rating, I would. I took my girlfriend to eat and see A band that was…read moreplaying here and the staff was straight up disrespectful to the band. First, there were rain and thunderstorms in the area the entire night before they played, but instead of moving inside they stuck them outside because the rain was "going to stop" according to the owners. Secondly, the owners rudely walked up to the band and cut them off in the middle of 4 straight songs due to them apparently being too loud. From where we were sitting, the band actually sounded great and had pretty low volume compared to other bands I've heard. Several other customers around us and people watching them perform were visibly frustrated and appalled at the way the band was treated. The bottom line is, If you have a noise issue, don't have bands. On top of all this the service down by the pavilion was miserable. Nobody was waiting tables or asking people if they would like to eat, and the tables were very dirty. And the food is very bad and quite expensive. My girlfriend got sick from the food she ordered. Please do not make the mistake of bringing a band hear or eating here.