Bites Nearby

Bites Nearby: Giovanni's Pizza

This local pizza restaurant provides an authentic, family-friendly experience.

Despite living in the Lehigh Valley for most of my life, there are plenty of local eateries I've never heard of. Luckily, my shopping has taken me to all ends of the Valley and, thanks to a couple of drive-bys, some places have caught my eye. This weekend, after a Saturday full of spending, I visited Giovanni's Pizza in Fogelsville to sample their extensive menu of authentic dishes. Giovanni's has an extensive sandwich menu, including Veal Patty, Barbecue Beef and Cheesy Beef, which my brother opted for. I'm not usually one for anything beefy or cheesy, so I left the review up to him. It was a hearty helping, and Giovanni's definitely pleases all the cheese lovers out there, as the beef is covered in gooey, melted cheese, which also serves…

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Bites Nearby: Evergreen Chinese Restaurant

Evergreen's menu puts its local rivals to shame.

Chinese food is one of those things that's hit-or-miss for me. It's not like pizza; pizza has two categories: great and good, but I've never met someone who found pizza they just couldn't have a second slice of. I have, however, come across plenty of Chinese restaurants that I swore I would never visit again, no matter how hungry I was. Sometimes it's just too greasy, too 'eh' for my taste. But it looks like I've finally found a local spot that lives up to my expectations, and plenty of other people's, too. I visited Evergreen Chinese Restaurant after a friend tipped me off to it, claiming it would be the best Chinese I would find in the Lehigh Valley. I'm happy to report that, if it's not the best, it's certainly earned its spot in the …

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Bites Nearby: Vince's Cheesesteaks

This local eatery serves up hearty favorites.

I enjoy eating Thanksgiving leftovers maybe a little bit more than I do Thanksgiving dinner itself. I look forward to turkey sandwiches and mashed potatoes for lunch instead of my usual cold cuts, but now, a week later, I find myself getting a little tired of leftovers. So, for this week's Bites, I decided to seek out the exact opposite of Thanksgiving dinner and found myself at Vince's Cheesesteaks, in the Wal-Mart shopping center on Mill Creek Road in Allentown. This local eatery serves up hearty favorites like calzones, pizza, hoagies, sandwiches, wings and, of course, cheesesteaks. I anticipated a big meal, so I ate lightly during the rest of the day so I'd be able to finish whatever dish I decided to get from their extensive menu. I'm…

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Bites Nearby: Cracker Barrel

Something new and something tried and true.

Comfort food is something everyone is familiar with, and when venturing out for mine, I usually look for the same two or three different meals and decide between them. But, on a recent trip to Cracker Barrel in Fogelsville, the franchise touted its new Texas Beef Brisket barbecue dinner. Now, being a BBQ fan and Food Network groupie, I figured it was time to step out of the box and give it a try and also give the Cracker Barrel's comfort food the once over. The Dishes: The Texas beef brisket and the roast beef dinner. What's On The Plate: Sliced beef brisket, Texas toast, french fries and baked beans. Slices of roast beef with carrots and mashed potatoes. Cornbread and biscuits were served on the side. How's It Taste: The brisket appeared …

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Bites Nearby: Java Joint

This local favorite manages to trump nationwide coffee chains.

Anyone who has driven around the Lehigh Valley might have caught sight of two tiny stands on Hamilton Boulevard or Tilghman Street. From afar, they might look like an abandoned produce stand or the remnants of a gas station, but these vintage-looking stands are home to one of the Valley's favorite coffee spots: Java Joint. Java Joint is proving to be the little coffee stand that could, earning the title of best local coffee shop for five years in a row as part of Lehigh Valley Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. During the week of Nov. 6, Java Joint was offering the Hot Butter Toffee Latte. I'm a huge fan of Heath bars and toffee-swirled ice cream, so I decided to give it a try. The latte was flavored with English toffee and caramel sauce, …

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Bites Nearby: Windsor Deli

This local eatery offers deli staples and expands on some of the classics.

It seems to me that Wegman's and Subway have become everyone's favorite hoagie spots. But while that might be convenient, there are a couple of local hoagie spots that shouldn't be overlooked. One of them, which I visited this week for the first time, is Windsor Deli on Tilghman Street in Allentown. The deli wasn't too crowded on Tuesday when I visited, which was a good thing. It meant that my inability to decided which sandwich to choose wasn't holding up the regulars. Eventually, I settled on the Petite Turkey Club Pita, which offers turkey, bacon, American cheese, lettuce tomato and (hold it please) mayonnaise wrapped in a delicious piece of pita bread. Obviously, a recipe like this is a deli favorite--it's nothing new, but I found that…

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Bites Nearby: Rascal's

Rascal's really is the perfect spot for all ages.

Plenty of places boast that their dining is kid-friendly, or that a restaurant welcomes patrons of all ages, but at Rascal's Food & Fun 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 …

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Bites Nearby: Dickey's Barbecue Pit

The local barbecue restaurant serves up delicious sandwiches with a side of southern hospitality.

I've been dreading the end of summer, mostly because I consider it to be the end of my favorite food season. I'm not ready to surrender my grilled hamburgers and corn on the cob. Luckily, thanks to Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Wescosville, I don't have to say goodbye to all my favorite summer dishes just yet. Before I give my foodie feedback; I have to give Dickey's credit for their atmosphere. The space is small, but the decor gives the eatery the look and feel of an authentic barbecue joint. The tables are covered in blue and white checkered tablecloths and the walls are covered in vintage-looking rustic signs. Upon entering, the staff greeted us with a smile and a loud "Welcome to Dickey's!" Ordering at Dickey's can be a little confusing at…

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Bites Nearby: Joe's Pizza III

This local Italian restaurant offers a variety of choices, including gluten-free.

For this week's 'Bites,' I visited Joe's Pizza in Fogelsville. Most pizza joints are pretty basic; they offer your pizzas, strombolis, pastas, cheesesteaks, etc. Joe's offers all that and more. Poking around their website last weekend, I found that, besides offering traditional Italian fare, they have gluten-free menu options, the "colossal" 28-inch pizza pie and DIY pizza kits, which are available for purchase and can be made at home. The toughest part of visiting Joe's is deciding what to order; when they say they have a variety, they mean it. Ham and pineapple, buffalo chicken, cheeseburger french fry and chicken bacon ranch are just a handful of the crazier pizza pies they have. I opted to stay on the safe side, and ordered two slices …

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Bites Nearby: Primo Hoagies

The local chain offers a variety of delicious sandwiches and sides.

It seems as though there are always new lunch spots popping up around the Valley, so sometimes I don’t even notice the grand opening flags and full parking lots that accompany a restaurant opening. Lucky for me, I was stopped at a ridiculously long red light when I caught sight of the newly opened Primo Hoagies location at 1403 N. Cedar Crest Boulevard. I’ve been a Primo devotee for about three years now, and it’s been hard for me to find a sandwich that even competes with the lunches I’ve had there. Read on for the review. The Dishes: American Hoagie, Turkey Breast Hoagie and a side of pasta salad. How’s it Taste? My Turkey Breast hoagie was packed with finely chopped turkey, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and seasoned with oil and vinegar. …

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