Bites Nearby: Chris's Family Restaurant

For a lot of people, diners offer the kind of solace that’s needed after a night out or a long drive. You can always count on greasy dishes and a breakfast menu that boasts a good serving of bacon. But aside from these rare occasions, most people don’t immediately think of diners as a place where you can find a good meal.

at 5635 Tilghman Street, Allentown, near Kuhnsville, is setting out to change that. Besides boasting a 24-hour breakfast menu that includes chocolate chip pancakes as big as the plate, they also offer lunch, dinner and dessert items that will put the chain restaurant down the street to shame.

Last weekend, Patch put Chris’s menu to the test when two hungry 20-somethings visited the local favorite for dinner.

The Dishes: Waffle Fry Appetizer Dish, Buffalo Chicken Salad, one slice each of Strawberry Shortcake and King Cheesecake. When you go to a diner, you shouldn’t have to worry about caloric intake.

What’s on the Plate: The waffle fry appetizer, just like everything else on Chris’s menu, is a huge serving. Make sure you have at least two hungry people at the table. The Buffalo Chicken Salad was topped with buffalo chicken strips, boiled eggs, onions, bleu cheese, tomatoes and croutons. Dessert is always served in thick slices or heaping spoonfuls.

How’s It Taste: I love diner food, but I usually don’t expect much quality in their lunch or dinner dishes, and I almost always shy away from eating any meat at a diner. It’s a personal thing. Let’s just say I’m glad I broke my streak. The Buffalo Chicken Salad was delicious. It doesn’t skimp on toppings or buffalo sauce, which are both important criteria, and it’s big enough that you can share with a friend without feeling cheated out of a meal.

Dessert is one part of a diner menu that I can always get behind. Chris’s is no different. The first thing you see when you walk into the restaurant is a case full of desserts that are tempting your sweet tooth before you even take a peek at the menu. The King Cheesecake is topped with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and alternates peanut butter and chocolate layers with peanuts in between. Chocoholics can’t go wrong there.  

Eat This Because: It’s just like eating at your favorite restaurant, only there’s probably not a wait on Saturday night. Chris’s food is a pleasant surprise in the diner world, and should be more than just a dinner option; it should be a preference.

The Tab: $25.36 not including tip.

Etc: Chris’s also has a private room available for morning events. Birthdays, reunions, rehearsals, showers…you name it, Chris’s can host it.