Bites Nearby: Rascal's

Plenty of places boast that their dining is kid-friendly, or that a restaurant welcomes patrons of all ages, but at  on Ruppsville Road in Allentown, it's the truth. On any given night at this combination restaurant/family fun  center, you'll find a family of four seated next to a group of teenagers enjoying a few appetizers as their parents enjoy a few glasses of wine at the bar.

If you haven't been to Rascal's, picture it as a local version of the popular dining-while-gaming chain, Dave and Buster's. Rascal's is home to a casual dining restaurant, arcade games and activities like a rock climbing wall, mini-bowling and bumper cars, but it also hosts after dark activities for the over-21 crowd. Like I said, it really does have something for everyone.

Although I had been to Rascal's before, I had never come for an in-house meal at their restaurant. It's located separately, but not far away from, the game room so my friend and I were able to enjoy our meal without the dings and buzzes of the arcade games behind us. To start, we ordered a basket of Garlic Parmesan fries, which were a little greasy, but definitely trumped the flavored fries I've tried at other local restaurants. There was no skimping on the garlic or parmesan here, and we enjoyed them with a side of marinara sauce. Quirky, but it worked. 

I ordered the Fiesta Grilled Chicken Salad for my entree, which featured black beans, tortilla strips, grilled chicken, tomatoes and corn topped with Rascal's mexi-ranch dressing. The salad was very good, and the kitchen doesn't cheat you with the chicken, a plus in my book. The mexi-ranch dressing was the perfect complement to the ingredients, and wasn't too spicy or overpowering.

My lunch buddy ordered the Rascal's Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which was topped with guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo and served with a side of tortilla chips. The sandwich earned a B from her, but the chips earned an A from both of us. If you ever stop by Rascal's, give their Tortilla Chips and Salsa appetizer a try. That's what we're planning for next time.

Overall, we were happy with the Rascal's experience. Although it might not be my first choice for date night or a night out on the town, it's a great place to bring a large group looking for a little variety.