Food & Drink

Pennsylvania saw 201.6 million visitors, generating $49.9 billion in visitor spending and $83.9 billion in economic impact in 2024. In the Lehigh Valley, visitor spending increased 1.5%, generating just over $2.5 billion.

Okatshe, a Japanese-themed restaurant/bar, expected to open next month.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township throughout September is offering all responders complimentary breakfast and a special hotel rate.

The Lehigh Valley Vegan Chef Challenge is asking local eateries to put their best plant-based dishes forward, and for the community to rate their favorites to find a champion.

Last year’s festival sold out of desserts. Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites said it’s hoping for the same success with another assortment of seasonal sweets this time around.

Bubbakaoo's Burritos, a national, Mexican-themed restaurant, will hold its grand opening in the Hellertown area on Tuesday.

ArtsQuest's Cold Brew Hullabaloo, a cold coffee convention that debuted at Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks last year, will return Sept. 14, it was announced.

To CEO Russell Fletcher, starting out as a small hyper-local business gave Mishka Premium Vodka a leg up to evolve at the rate it is right now. Soon, the vodka, which is distilled in Allentown, will be carried by yet another national chain.

The new eatery, Okatshe, will open at 947 W. Hamilton St., connected to The Moxy Allentown Downtown Hotel in mid-September, Garces announced in a release.

El Jefe Taqueria in Bethlehem is expected to reopen this month. The popular Mexican restaurant has been closed since May because of water damage from a fire in an above apartment complex.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

It's been a wonderfully warm week, so you might be hankering for some ice cream. Fortunately, these Lehigh Valley sweets shops have St. Patrick's Day themed frosty desserts that are perfect for this time of year.

A coffee shop two months ago lauded by President Joe Biden as a shining success of small business appears to be on its way out of Emmaus following an extended landlord-tenant dispute.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with journalists Stephanie Sigafoos and Brittany Sweeney.

ArtsQuest said it will be a day filled with tacos from throughout the Lehigh Valley, along with music, game shows, Margarita Madness, the Chihuahua Beauty Contest, and food and drinks from a ton of vendors.

With restaurants facing high inflation, food and labor costs, Juan Martinez believes eventually, everything is going to level out and "good times will come."

The Rutter's slogan is ‘Why Go Anywhere Else?’ — a loaded question in a Lehigh Valley landscape dotted with a Wawa or a Sheetz at seemingly every turn.

Eric Cutting, owner of Blended Bar + Grill in downtown Allentown, is among those battling higher food costs, labor challenges and fighting each night to get folks through the door.

Representatives from convenience chain Rutter's appeared before Palmer Township's planning commission to discuss opening a new location in the Lehigh Valley.

Jeff Fegley, owner of Fegley's Brew Works locations in Allentown and Bethlehem, talks about entrenched issues facing the restaurant industry and what the future holds for Brew Works.

In February, Bell Hall joined a list of other downtown area restaurants that have come and gone in Allentown. Here's a rundown of those restaurants.

Lehigh Valley restaurant owners get candid on inflation, labor challenges and the state of the industry as they struggle to bring customers in the door.