Just had soup & calamari salad at outside bar with a nice glass of Red Zin. All was good. Service was good as well. Sadly the inside & outside bar were dead. Really on a Friday night @ 9pm? If staff isn't making $, u'll have turn over, which will equal bad service. Not seeing good things in the future for this place. I think part of the problem is the somewhat expensive menu & drinks for the area. Hopefully I'm wrong cause food & service are very good, but they might price themselves out of the area.
(4)
Steel K.
OUTSTANDING !!!! I don't know where to begin . The service was on top of things but not intrusive . The food was fresh hot and not rushed in between courses . We had the coffee rubbed filet , it was done to perfection and nothing like I had ever had before . Also blue point oysters , were crisp and fresh with a nice clean texture. You can't go wrong with this restaurant .
(5)
Kimberly C.
Love this place! Best food in town. Great and very friendly service. Fabulous atmosphere! Highly recommended:))
(5)
E.M. L.
Wow! What a happy hour! The BEST calamari I've ever eaten. What is that sweet/spicy/crunchy combination? Because it works! Had the pumpkin martini that was "to die for" and I don't say that about many things. Nice to find an upscale, trendy joint amongst the chaos of chain restaurants Can't wait to return for dinner.
(4)
Melinda M.
Blue has always been our special-occasion spot and we're always happy with the food and service. But we had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas Eve there this year, and will NEVER do that again!! We booked our reservation early, but they shoehorned the four of us into the back of a very crowded, blank, upstairs room, seating us at a card table in a corner. There were no windows, no art - just an ugly flat screen monitor on the wall - obviously a conference room. The food was good as usual, but I am very disappointed that we spent so much money and looked forward to our usual lovely experience on such a special night. This definitely tainted my opinion of Blue. They should have at least told us when we booked that we would not be getting ANY of the usual experience of eating there. We wish we had just done takeout!
(1)
Brit D.
This place is one of the best in the valley. Steaks are always cooked perfect, all their steaks are at least wet aged and they usually have a dry aged selection as a special. If you go here, you will not be let down unless your trying to stay on a tight budget. Every time I've gone it's been at least $200 for the two of us. But it's worth it. Get the ribeye.
(5)
Barbara C.
I loved it!! Sometimes, you get a nice looking restaurant & the food is not that great. Not here, its the best of both worlds. I had the flat bread & the penne pasta with julienne asparagus!! Yummy. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
James C.
Great place to have a meal. Good staff. The drinks are perfectly done by a great bartender the best martins everyone loved them, they all had there own flavor. Not like some other places that all the martinis taste the the same. Food was good. Appys tasty. We will be back.
(4)
Kayla P.
We went here for Bethlehem's Restaurant Week and it was a great choice! The food and beverages were amazing! The service was great and making my reservation right here on yelp was so easy and convenient! We will definitely be going back again soon!
(5)
K S.
Our party of three had an average dinner experience there; the oysters for appetizers were just not bad (at the very borderline of freshness, but hopefully safe); one of us had a 10 oz filet mignon which was good (not great), another one of us had short ribs equally good but not fantastic and I had a grain-fed ribeye which was barely edible (very chewy): I mentioned it to our waitress who did not seem fazed otherwise. The service was friendly and efficient and the restaurant was full (it was a parents weekend for Lehigh University and a lot of family were enjoying entertaining college students there).This was my second time at Blue Grill in 6 months; the first time was a B-; this time was a C-. Next time, I'll be looking for other steakhouse options in Bethlehem.
(2)
Holly G.
My fiance and I ate at blue and had a great experience. Our server was Ramon and he was outstanding. He made sure that our glasses were always full, table was clean, replaced our silverware and he also took some pictures of us at our request. We were expecting a couple pictures at our table, but he took us around the restaurant to the fireplace to take pictures. He also took pictures of us when our desert came. The food was very good and the atmosphere was great. We will be coming back soon!!!
(5)
Karin V.
We were here for an event so we were not in the main dining room, and instead in an event room. The appetizers were amazing and with the amount they brought around, we could have made a meal out of them. They served us mini grilled cheese wedges with a tomato soup shooter and it was amazing. Fresh shrimp cocktail with enormous shrimp. Several other yummies that I can't recall. I had chicken and my husband had steak. Both perfectly cooked with potato and fresh veggies sides. In addition to the cake we had, the restaurant also provided fresh pastries with take home boxes so we could bring them home with us! We also had a chocolate fountain with several dippers including pretzel rods, marshmallows, rice krispie treats and brownies. If I'm ever in the area again, I'd definitely consider coming here for dinner.
(5)
Katie K.
WHERE AND WHY: Sunday, Joe, family, friends and I ventured to blue grillhouse. We have been saving this location for a special occasion. Joe successfully qualified for his PhD! It was also his 27th birthday and father's day is coming up, so we got our godsons and family together to celebrate such an exciting time for us. I told Joe "If you pass this exam, you deserve a big, honkin' steak." Well he did, so I delivered. THE EXPERIENCE: From the patio, to the bar area, to our table, the ambience was great. There was a faint smell that I couldn't put my finger on, but we got over it once the mojitos hit the table. I had the patio mojito - strawberry rum - and it was heaven. The kids were allowed to color at the end of the table with all the goodies they scored at the Crayola Factory in Easton and the chicken tenders came out early for them so everyone was happy. THE FOOD: The food was PERFECT. From the honey calamari (my favorite) to the quesadillas to the flatbread... we could not get enough! The center cut filet was perfect. I ordered it medium and enjoyed the sea salt, pepper, and olive oil finish on a perfect cut of meat. We were told by the waitress that the meats were cut in Chicago and the chef has special experience in steaks. From what I can tell of Joe's steak, it was awesome. He ordered the bone-in NY Strip, cooked "rare plus." Yes, for all you steak lovers like my Joe who like it a smidge more than rare but not as much as medium rare, blue can prepare your steak to "rare plus." The waitress also cut up the cake we brought in and plated it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I didn't realize that a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream could be so delicious, too! The restaurant's atmosphere, food, booze, and manners were the perfect addition to an already beautiful day! We are glad we saved this location for such a special occasion. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: This was definitely a place that we enjoyed celebrating at. With both of our big scary tests behind us and this new chapter upon us, we needed to kick it off in big style. An elegant location with a fantastic menu, I highly recommend. CLOVER RATING: I figured I would implement a new rating system... make it interesting! Joe actually came up with the initial idea. He said, "hey, you need to make it so if enough people read this thing, they can say how many stars you gave or something." Being the fun Irish gal that I am, I thought "what's more perfect than clovers?" Nothing. So here is my new little segment on my blog (happy 1 month anniversary self, this is the first time in years you are consistently blogging!): 1. No clover = I would not recommend this place and I am in awe how it is still going on 2. One-leaf clover = A is for Effort; but definitely not a good recommendation 3. Two-leaf clover = Mediocre at best but if you're in a jam, you will be okay 4. Three-leaf clover = Really great place, just missing something 5. Four-leaf clover = Perfect, all around greatness and the best recommendation that you can get from me. blue grillhouse has successfully earned a four-leaf clover. I figure, might as well introduce my rating system on a high note! Thanks for reading this. I hope my posts brighten your day and/or are helpful to you. Slainte, Katie for more, check out: thelvthymes.blogspot.com
(5)
Alison C.
I went to my college grad. dinner at Blue and it was excellent! Great ambiance, appetizers, entrees, and cocktails. My favorite is the outdoor bar and happy hour specials.
I went to Blue for brunch and it was delicious! I ordered the doughnuts, eggs with bacon as well as mimosas. Very good, a little pricey, but worth going for a nice occasion. The service was excellent.
(5)
Sharo W.
Overpriced. Clams on the half shell for 1.25 a piece are smaller than a dime. Service is always great, but food is not consistent. Have to ask for bread, then butter, candles to be lit at tables. Salt and pepper at the bar when eating. Felt rushed.
(2)
K Alison H.
This place is very good. Nice menu, not too expansive but enough choices for everyone. Lovely drink menu and wine list to pair with your order. Lovely patio to drink and dine on. The service is excellent, somehow there was a mixup with our appetizer order and it was corrected and comped without solicitation. If anything they over compensated for the mistake. Continually asking us if everything was okay, etc. I would be more than happy to return.
(4)
Keo N.
Just ok. The green salad was ok. The salmon was alright. The mash potatoes and apparagus was ok. Apparently the filet mignon was spectacular according to my friends who had it. The vanilla ice cream for dessert sucked. It was left out standing for a while and was half melted when it was served. The two servers who served our group was not excited to be there so why should we be excited to be there. I think this place can score a 4 star but our group experience was closer to a 3 star.
(3)
Darla A.
First time visit and I was there with a large group. We were outside on the patio which is a great area for casual dinning. The staff did a great job considering the amount of people we had in our group, plus other people sitting out on the patio. The appetizers were just ok. Although I didn't have a mixed drink they looked good! I have them on my list to try again in the restaurant. I suspect the food is good and the interior looks amazing!
(3)
Marie T.
ok frist of all this place looks Amazing inside and out! I came here for the first on Valentines day and we reserved a seat. The atmosphere was just incredible and the service made me feel like we were the only ones there. I thought it would have been packed and we would have been siting close by to people but they say us somewhere secluded and it made the experience special. The food was amazing and the wine tasted fantastic. I will definitely be going there again!
(5)
Karl O.
Great looking place with it has lanterns outside and warm cozy interior. Service was good, but unfortunately we got a table by the kitchen, so lots of traffic. Tuna tartar appetizer was delicious, creamy avocado with a well seasoned tuna. That's where the praise stops for me. We ordered the bone in dry aged 14oz filet, the grilled scallops with spinach and a side of brocollini salutes in garlic and olive oil. Filet was cooked ok, nice crust, but not worth the $54 price tag. Brocollini came out just steamed and no seasoning, they did take it off the check, thank you. Scallops were cooked nicely, but I missed that crust that you get from pan searing, so a little disappointing. Overall, nice place, just a little disappointing.
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday. The food was great. He got the ny strip steak and I got frenched chicken breast. A little on the pricey side but good for a special occasion. Service was good as well. All in all, I'd definitely recommend Blue.
(4)
Mailnet R.
Food 8/10 Service 8/10 Atmosphere 8/10 Parking 10/10 Value 8/10 Food and drinks Menu verity and assortment 8/10 Cost per person (3 course meal) Avr. $60 All and And All 8/10 - Recommended !
(4)
Preston W.
This was a very very nice restaurant, the service was top notch. This has to be the Best place I've eaten. Their attention to detail was on point and the ambience was very romantic, although I wasn't dressed up. Had a really good time, I would drive from the Jersey Shore just to eat dinner at this Restaurant. That says a lot for how much I liked this place.
(5)
Billythe K.
The beautiful building, its flaming gate posts, and grand entrance give one great expectations. The ambiance, the staff, the service and the comfortable seating increase the expectations of the fare. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. YOU WILL RETURN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. TRUST ME.
We enjoy the accessible and affordable happy hour. It's a higher class joint than we usually frequent, but it doesn't feel that way -- particularly if you sit outside during happy hour. The calamari appetizer is delicious, with this surprising sweet/spicy crunch. I nearly ate the whole plate. Very solid quesadilla, too. You can order several appetizers and there's your dinner -- that's how filling and plentiful they are.
(5)
jeff s.
So apparently if you have attended an event at the attached event space , you are not allowed to be a customer???? Seriously???? Going to another establishment where my money is welcomed.
(1)
She C.
The ambiance was just lovely, very soothing. The service was attentive and courteous. We had reservations but didn't have to wait for our table. Our food was very nicely prepared and we enjoyed it very much. Our only problem was difficulty finding a wine to enjoy for the catalog of wines was way over the top along with too many books ; menu, drinks too much on the table! It needs to be simplified a bit. It took us (4) way to long to order.. Too much
(4)
Mike B.
Visit was almost perfect, the tuna tartar was good, the steak was excellent, the service was excellent. The only complaint was the "side". How can you screw up lyonnaise potatoes? Send it out partially cooked and cover your mistake by throwing some herbs over the top. I will come back but was surprised by such a mis step.
(4)
Aleksandra G.
Much better this time around. Service was great. The waiter was helpful and attentive. I really recommend getting the tuna tartar for appetizer, it has a great and subtle taste. The Branzino for dinner was also equally delicious. Finished it off with a creme brulee and I was in heaven. My boyfriend had the lobster bisque, the boneless pork, and a mango sorbet which was out of this world. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)
Patrick F.
I've eaten here several times, for lunch, dinner, as well as drinks and appetizers at the bar. The service has been impeccable every time. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, the staff makes you feel welcome and like you're an old friend. (And watching the regulars interact with the staff gives you something to aspire to!) The steaks have always been cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Main entrees come with salad, always tasting like each ingredient was fresh picked. Sides come out family style so you can pick a few and enjoy lots of flavors at the table. I've also tried the pulled pork sliders, boneless wings, several flatbreads, and wings. The kitchen knows what they're doing no matter the plate. To top it off, a wine and beer selection to impress anyone. Run don't walk, so you get here soon and burn off all the calories you're about to (deliciously) replace.
(5)
Andy W.
The food was excellent but the service was so-so. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sides were generous. I think if we had not been given the impression by the waitress that she was not sure if we could afford to eat there, this probably would have been at least four stars.
(3)
Elvin B.
Blue use to be a great place to eat. A little pricey but used to be worth the money. Just ate there with 4 other couples and can say it was one of the worst meals I have every had. Paid $170.00 for 2 for under seasoned , overcooked food. A shame that a place that used to be so good has deteriorated so quickly. Ate there last year and said I would not return, however this was for a friends 50th so gave it another shot. Am officially done with Blue. Too many good options in the area to spend that kind of money on low quality food. :-(
(1)
Michael U.
The steaks are awesome and they have a great happy hour. I recommend!
(4)
AnnaMarie D.
We had a graduation luncheon at the Blue Grillhouse event center on Saturday for 65 people. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Jess and Carolyn were spectacular. They were flexible, helpful and responsive with all requests and changes. The food was delicious and the wait staff at the luncheon were wonderful. I would not hesitate to do an event at the Blue Grillhouse again!
It's a shame. This used to be our favorite restaurant. Lately, something has changed. We made reservations for Christmas Eve and specifically asked for a table downstairs due to a handicapped member of our party. When we arrive, they have no tables downstairs, and we end up carrying out friend up and down the stairs. I spoke with a manager and received an apology, and a request to give them another chance. So we tried again today for my wife's birthday. We were seated, and started our plans looking over the menu. We knew within a few moments what we wanted and started our wait for a server. We saw two parties seated while we waited, but we're never approached by a server. After 15 minutes, I noticed the manager walk past my table. I tried to wave for his attention, but he was oblivious to me waving frantically. At this point, we have up and left. I chased the manager down and let him know we were leaving because we had waited so long. He asked, "in the dining room?". Yes, in the dining room although we weren't actually able to dine.
(1)
Mdm Handyman Service M.
Quite overpriced and the food was nothing shy of mediocre. I was quite disappointed. Won't be going back as I won't drop another $125 and leave hungry. Service was excellent, but that's it.
(2)
Jay W.
When with a group for celebratory dinner. Service was excellent, our server made helpful recommendations for wine, promptly filled our glasses when needed, and left us alone when he wasn't need. I wish I could remember his name to give him a shout out here. The food was good, but I was not happy with my entree. For the first course I had pan seared scallops with lemon grass and coconut sweet rice. This was phenomenal, the scallops were huge, delicious, and cooked perfectly. For an entree I had a humongous slab of prime rib (I think it was 27 oz). It was a bit undercooked for my taste, but I think it was my mistake ordering it. The description of 'slow cooked with horseradish sauce' had me ordering and forgetting that prime rib is not my favorite cut of meat. The dessert, creme brulee, was made exactly as it should be, great sugar top that wasn't overly burnt, and light, flavorful custard. I am not a big fan of having to order everything on your plate separately, but I realize that this is how a true steakhouse operates. If I were to go back I would order something else for an entree and make sure to order myself some side dishes. This place is certainly expensive, I am not sure if it is worth the price, but the food is good. While I was disappointed with my entree, it seemed like other cuts of meat on the menu would have been great.
(4)
Tiffany B.
Best restaurant I've eaten to by far very friendly staff and service a bit pricey but u get what you pay for
(5)
Finicky P.
Very impressive exterior. It's got the gas-powered torches all around the front of the property, making it look really classy. The interior was equally impressive as well. Tastefully decorated, evenly spaced out seating, relaxing atmosphere. The food, however, was not something I would rave about. I had the caesar salad which was okay, and the flatbread crackers with baby spinach and artichoke dip were run of the mill. Now this being a steakhouse, said steak should've been the star of the show. Instead my favorite cut of rib eye was served in an uninspired fashion (see picture below). It was just a slab of meat on a plate with a string of unidentifiable green on the top. No garnish, no presentation, no special plate - what a shame. It didn't have a lot of flavor either. The highlight of the meal for me was the hula pie. Outstanding dessert! It was a macadamia cookie crust with vanilla ice cream filling. Not a scoop on the top but as a filling. Scrumptious! It made up for a lackluster tasting meal. So all in all, beautiful restaurant, outstanding service, but so-so food (with the exception of the hula pie). Is it worth going back to? It depends what your reason is for going out in the first place. For me, I'm always all about the overall package, so....
(3)
Thomas C.
Like several previous reviewers, I went here with a large group for a celebratory dinner with a pre-set menu. From working in restaurants, I know how hard these types of events can be to pull off without severely compromising food quality. In a few words, the staff pulled this one off in smashing fashion. The most incredibly attentive, yet not overbearing service, and one heck of a job by the kitchen from appetizers to desserts.
(4)
Candi K.
My first trip in since the big remodel. Looks like a more polished & modern version of the old blue...love the cherry wood trim, the fireplaces and the large bar area. A quiet Saturday lunch for two was in order. Maybe 40 people having lunch inside, but all spread out. I didn't realize how many people were inside until we were headed back to the car. The music is kind of loud for lunch - but the place is pretty open, so without the loud-ish music, you'd be able to hear every other conversation. And I'm sure it's perfect in the evenings when they are packed. I tried the blue burger...$6.95 for a plain burger (LTO) with fries or salad...$1 extra for each additional topping (cheeses, mushrooms, avocado, etc). I topped mine with cheddar and avocado (which was more of a red onion/avocado mash...yum!). Served a perfect medium, it was delicious. The fries...just okay. My companion had the grouper sandwich...a huge 1" thick filet, perfectly breaded...served with a delicious remoulade. He chose the salad instead of the fries. Just okay (maybe too much dressing?). Finished off the meal with the NY Cheesecake - oreo was the day's flavor. I was expected a little slice, but it was an entire little round cheesecake. Half of it is still in the fridge with the rest of my burger. Service was fantastic. Jenn made sure we had everything we needed without being too clingy - waters stayed full - and she made great recommendations. Looking forward to heading back for happy hour ($6 drinks & appetizers), dinner ($29 prix fixe during the week) and brunch (yay mimosas!).
(5)
Daniel H.
I don't understand what this restaurant is supposed to be good at in terms of food. The steaks are mediocre and the sides weren't anything to write home about. I find that severely disappointing. I love good steak. I don't mind paying for expensive steak if it's up to par. It's not a seafood restaurant either. The food tasted overly salty and lacked any sort of standout flavor. The tastes seemed all muddled and not harmonious in the least. However I will say that I've been coming here for some time and the cheese plate and martinis are great. They have a nice wine selection and a comfortable bar area that doesn't scream "Applebees." For the money you're paying for dinner I'd recommend going elsewhere. If you want nice drinks and some appetizers somewhere without deafening music I'd recommend a visit. The service was okay. Nothing to write home about. In terms of actually getting in the restaurant they have a lot less parking spaces than you'd expect. And the lot isn't a fun one to circle around in. Oddly it seems that people come here in very casual clothing. The exterior and interior decor make me think at least business casual but nope, you'll see folks in jeans.
(3)
D N.
Nice place. Been here twice so far Very nice ambiance. Inside or out. Large selection of wine by the bottle. Good selection of wines by the glass. Buying by the bottle IS NOT necessarily cheaper. Wait staff is friendly. Not stuffy like hostesses. Some of the food is surprisingly below what you'd expect. I think their bread and butter is selling the wine by the bottle, and hosting parties. Overall good experience. Hopefully it will stay constant or even get better. Not enough parking during busy times.
(3)
Blond B.
I have heard such amazing things about this restaurant only to be completely disappointed. I've only been for a private party event and not an actual dinner but after that I don't think I am willing to give this place another shot. The atmosphere is really nice and the party rooms look great! But looks can be deceiving. My husbands chicken was not cooked and was pink. The food was not tasty at all to say the least. We had chicken marsala and it was very bland. Service and atmosphere is the only reason they got two stars!
(2)
Porfidio A.
I found it to be a very nice place, especially for Bethlehem. The drinks were a little expensive but they were very well made. The ambiance was great, the fireplace was cozy and the music volume was perfect. Our bartender was very professional and a total sweetheart. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer because the outdoor garden seems like a great place to party and make some new friends.
(4)
Shawna H.
Food was good, nothing overly impressive for the cost i was expecting over the top. Service was great nice once we got in he door, hostess was kind of snobby. We live locally and I'm not sure I'd return there are much better fin ding restaurants in Downtown Bethlehem. I noticed the staff is hit or miss, I had called for Restaurant Week information cause I was planning a ladies night and the person who answered the phone was not very helpful.
(4)
Scott K.
Always a pleasure. Top notch
(5)
John M.
I've dined here twice and have to say that this place is pretty good. The ambience and decor are fantastic, the outdoor bar area is really nice. The waitstaff is excellent too. When paying 35-40 bucks for a steak though you have to cook that thing perfect. Both times I've ordered a steak medium rare and it was medium. The sides are usually quite good and abundant, enough for a table of four to share with plenty to go around. The oysters are very good and very fresh. The cheese sampler I had one other time was amazingly good. Overall a pretty good experience and worth the money. Just please get that steak right for the money you're charging.
(3)
Mark L.
we went on Valentine's day. The place was very crowded as expected. They were still able to move people through without feeling rushed.the menu was um they're normal menu plus a few Valentine's Day specials. Our server was excellent. She was prompt courteous and entertaining. We ordered 2 appetizers and 1 meal. The kalamari salad was superb. The tuna tar tar was some what bland and mushy. The scallop was delicious. All in all it was a very good meal and a an excellent atmosphere. I would recommend the restaurants and will go back many times in the future.
(4)
Bill M.
Fabulous food, fabulous service and fabulous ambience! What more can you ask for? Yeah, a little more expensive, but certainly worth it! Perfectly prepared steaks and chops, inventive and delicious appetizers. Sides plentiful for sharing. Something for everyone! Reminded me of Ruth Chris's in downtown Philadelphia, only better! Table for 6 for a Graduation celebration. Our waitress was friendly, casually knowledgeable, and attentive. (I never felt stupid for asking a question, or, intimidated by the upscale surroundings!) Ambience is gorgeous! We were a little apprehensive after reading some previous reviews from last year, but, we were pleasantly surprised! We live in Bucks County, PA and would drive to Bethlehem to visit Blue again!
(5)
Bill B.
This was my first time here. It is a very eye appealing building. The interior is very well designed. The staff were polite, knowledgeable and on top of things. I had the crab ravioli which was very tasty. A great pasta pouch. My entree was the swordfish which was their "Catch of the Day'. It was cooked perfectly and appropriately seasoned. The bread served was fresh and warm. The olive bread was delicious as was the multigrain bread. My only ding on the place is their selection of beer. For such a great restaurant, the draft and bottle selection was somewhat anemic. Overall, check this place out if you haven't done so.
(4)
Rich K.
This place was amazing. Took my wife here for our anniversary and was never here before so didn't know what to expect. Beautiful place friendly people and delicious food. Good sized portions and awesome cocktails. And for the quality of food and the atmosphere the prices were good. This is our new place and we will be back every year. Highly recommend.
(5)
matthew l.
Perhaps my 15th+ visit to Blue, this nite was for Mom's birthday dinner with a party of 6. The place is beautiful, and the service was ok, should have been better for having 2 waiters. I feel there has been a change in food quality here the past 6 months. It is pricy, but was happy with what I recieved in the past. Little things like frozen french fries instead of fresh cut at a restaurant of this caliber are not acceptable to me. Bring back fresh cut french fries! Minor check issue, and all guests agreed it was just o.k.
(3)
Miguel S.
Overrated. I think it used to be a lot better a few years ago. It's still decent, but I've experienced more average food + subpar service during the past couple years to the point where we don't look forward to going anymore like we used to. Previously, it always felt like a special occasion. Could just be our experience, but it seems like they are now trying a little too hard to be hip & not focusing quite enough on the basics. It's also fairly pricey.
(3)
N S.
Out for a nice dinner on New Year's Eve, NOT a wedding reception. As a party of six we were sat upstairs at a round 10 person table in what felt like a reception hall, that's not the atmosphere I would expect at Blue. Never had an introduction from the waiter or explanation of specials either, just like a wedding reception. I've been to Blue plenty of times before and I go for the food AND the atmosphere. Food was great as usual, but I can't imagine why they would sit anyone in a reception hall for an elegant dinner....might of well have been at Outback Steakhouse at that point.
(2)
Kathleen M.
The menu is impressive with a lot of really great selections. We were with a large group, so I was able to sample a few dishes. The calamari appetizer was delicious and perfectly cooked. The crabcake appetizer was like 98% crab with almost no filler and also incredible. I got the ahi tuna for dinner, and, I hate this cliche, but it literally melted like butter in my mouth. The sauce was great, the bok choy was tender and fresh. Everyone was really pleased with their meal. The staff was friendly and attentive. We did have to wait about 40 minutes between dinner and dessert because they got pretty busy and didn't seem to be very well staffed. There was a big graduation in town, so maybe this was an unusual circumstance, but the wait was a little frustrating. The cappucino for dessert was lovely, and the creme brule was good but not great. The sugar on top was a bit too burnt for my taste, but the custard was well made. Definitely a great place for a nice meal.
(4)
Max C.
Never again. We had dined at Blue a few years ago and were looking forward to going again. We took our son for his 14th birthday and had a horrible experience. Our waiter did not take our order for almost an hour. We watched the table next to us get seated after us and their appetizers and meals were served before we even were asked for our order. (Next table had a different waiter). Of all steaks, my sons "medium" steak was served very rare as was my other sons. Not even edible. In an effort to save the night, I gave my son my dinner & my husband shared his with our other son. At least two of our dinners were prepared correctly, Normally a extremely rare steak is correctable, but the waiter would need to stop by and see how things are. I don't know what was wrong that night, but he only returned after we were done. It was then he saw the two plates not touched and asked. It was a little too late to accept his offer to have the steaks cooked to medium (and he saw how rare they were). Then he started to clear the dishes away. What? Wait a minute there - we now want to see the manager as we did not touch two meals & this guy wanted to sweep us out. That's not right. The manager just explained they were really busy and he had a few staff members that did not come in. However, he never apologized for our horrific experience. We even explained waiting close to an hour to order & we felt like we fell off the radar (esp. sitting near a table where the waiter was more attentive - 2x we had to ask him if he could please find our waiter). The manager offered dessert - uh, no thanks. A good dinner & experience is what we wanted. A little customer service would have been nice too. Never again. No way. Poor service ruined what could have been corrected.
(1)
M P.
Note: This refers to the bar only. I have never had dinner here. When Blue first opened, I loved going here with friends. It was always packed. Great drinks, fun, upscale crowd. The only downside at that time was that people could smoke cigars, and you'd smell like nasty cigar smoke even after you'd washed your hair twice trying to get the smell out. Then all of the sudden they banned smoking (before it became the law, if memory serves), and the place was dead. Dead, dead, dead. I'm not a smoker, but it was weird - it was more fun when the smokers were allowed in, because it was crowded and lively. It was nice to come home not smelling of smoke, though. After a couple of trips where we got indifferent, lackluster service at the bar, my friend and I decided to go back last night after hearing about the big remodel. Honestly, we couldn't tell any difference in the bar area, because it looked exactly the same. That was fine, because I always thought the bar area was really beautiful. Looks like they're working on a bigger outdoor area, but it isn't completed yet. The biggest difference from the last few times we'd been there was there was definitely more of a crowd. Still easy to find seating at the bar, but it was the busiest I'd seen it in a long time. The crowd skewed decidedly older (55+), which of course is not a big deal, but certainly a difference from Blue's early days. We were greeted by several smiling hostesses by the door - they seemed genuinely glad to be there and glad to see us, so it was a nice welcome. Drinks were great. I had a Key Lime Martini, and I really enjoyed it. The Preakness was on, so that was fun to watch, and the crowd around the bar really got into it. Again we were underwhelmed by the service. The bartender was nice enough, but kind of unsmiling, and we waited quite a bit before he asked us if we wanted more drinks. By that time, we were kind of over it, otherwise we probably would have ordered more drinks. We had been thinking about ordering an appetizer, and even though he brought a menu quickly, he never checked back to see if we wanted to order something. So we paid for the drinks and left and honestly, I'm not sure we'll come back anytime soon. It was just, eh. Overall, I think a bar where you're going to pay $19 for a round of drinks should work a little harder to provide quicker, friendlier service. If the bartenders had been more fun and engaged with the customers more, rather than appearing to be so absorbed in the computerized system behind the bar (which means they spent most of their time with their backs to the customers), this place might be able to reel in the customers it used to - people who came in for a good time and stayed for the evening, rather than for just one drink. Blue used to be our must-go place. Now it's only selling point is it's really close to my friend's house, so it's convenient. Kind of sad, when one thinks of the Blue of old.
(2)
Kevin S.
We have heard many good things about the Blue, so my wife and I decided it would be a good place to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. The restaurant itself is very inviting and comfortable. The wait staff was prompt and very nice. Our first disappointment was my appetizer, ( Asian pork belly) it had good flavor but was dry and IMO overdone. I felt like i was eating a dried out pork loin. My wife got the prime rib again great taste but It needed to go back because it was not hot or even warm. I got the grass fed ribeye, It was over cooked, dry and tasteless. Sides were very good and the dessert was fantastic Hula cake. We more than likely will never go back, the prices are too high for the quality.
(2)
R Jane W.
Food was plain and nothing to write home about. I had Seafood Penne -- 3 shrimp, 5 mussels, 1 sea scallop cut into 3 pieces. Sauce was skimpy an no garlic. My husband had grouper that was crumbed with unseasoned cracker crumbs. Add1 chocolate cake whose edges were dried out as though sitting un covered since morning, one glass of wine and 2 Hoegartens and our bill came to $118 minus tip. A ripoff in the name of fine dining. Avoid!
(1)
Jennifer S.
Very nice place in Easton - I was pleasantly surprised. I started with a strawberry bellini martini...yum! We tried several appetizers and enjoyed all of the them. The filet was cooked perfectly too! The service was fantastic and the decor was very nice.
(4)
Allen B.
This place is on top of their game. The dining area (inside and out) is decked out very nicely. They have an outside patio with a bar and big screen TV which is pretty sweet. The inside dining is very modern. The staff were all very professional, pleasant, and knowledgeable . I thought the menu could have been a little larger and I think the prices are just a tad high. My 6oz filet was $44 and all sides are al carte. Everything is of good quality though so maybe I should complain too much. Altogether the bill was $82 and that was for a 6oz filet, caesar salad, asparagus, salmon dinner, and 1 glass of wine. I will return again though it's definitely one of the best places in the Lehigh Valley.
(5)
Brian H.
I took a ride to meet some friends who live in the Poconos at a conveniently located halfway point in Bethlehem. We walked into a very welcoming, well designed, well decorated building, and were greeted professionally and courteously. The one bartender was very busy but her pleasantry made up for the wait. We sat down to dinner and were attended by the most precious server, smart, efficient, professional, the service and ambiance was the best thing about this place, though. The chopped salad had a funky flavor and seemed like day old produce. The lobster bisque was very salty, but decadent. The arugula with prosciutto and melon was probably the best app we got. Oh, before the apps we had a cheese plate with our wine order. There is a decent selection of wines which came from a beautifully inserted glass walled wine room visible to the entire restaurant and bar area. But the cheese plate was something grand mom would put out on Christmas. The plate included 5 cheeses, horrible presentation with 2 smoky cheeses, 1 horseradish and 2 without flavor. Along side were townhouse-type crackers, salty, buttery, not appropriate, and the garnish of grapes were of mixed sizes and ages, yes, some were old, and blueberries, some mushy, some unripe. The Ono fish special was so dry, it needed the chutney to create moisture in your now dry mouth. And the chutney was flavorless. The Ahi tuna, although fresh and cooked to a perfect rare, had too many veins running through it to get a clean bite without getting stuck in your teeth. Another person had the lamb chop which I was assured was "good". The company of my good friends made me not dwell on the culinary mediocrity. I don't plan on going back...but what did I expect for "up there", I'm a city snob.
(2)
Laura M.
BRUNCH So my parents were visiting from out of town and my husband and myself were looking for a nice brunch location, not a diner but an actual restaurant (with a full bar of course). I was hesitant at first because I see that Blue has mixed reviews, but the two other locations that I called first (The Bolete and the restaurant at the Hotel Bethlehem) were all booked. Wow, am I glad that we ended up at Blue! First off, the place was very empty, I'm assuming because not many people know that they have brunch. Plus, if you're looking for a more upscale dining experience one doesn't tend to look in that neighborhood. Don't let this fool you. The restaurant is beautiful, wonderful atmosphere, great layout, and great seating options. We were very kindly greeted and escorted to a booth immediately, even though we were twenty minutes early. Right away we all noticed that it was very chilly, though we mentioned it to our maitre'd and she adjusted the temperature of the restaurant promptly. Our server was a very nice lady who was sharp, kind, friendly, and professional. The menu had a nice variety that made choosing just one option difficult for us. (The menu is available on their website). The food: My mother and myself each had a mimosa. Normally I will easily go through at least two during brunch (because after all, isn't the whole reason for brunch an excuse to drink before noon?). Well these mimosas were a bit larger in size than I'm used to, and also a bit stronger! I worked on it my whole meal and felt no need for more. My father had the house bloody mary and said that it was the best bloody mary he's ever had (and he's had quite a few throughout his travels). Just as during dinner it is common for a basket of bread to be brought to the table, we were given a plate of a banana coffee cake. What a nice and delicious surprise! It was clear by the lightly sweet and fresh taste that the baker knew what they were doing. For a starter we ordered a spiced donut... wow. Delicious. I know that I'm using that word a lot but hey, when the shoe fits. For entree's my mother and myself had the classic eggs benedict, my father had a roasted pepper omelet, and my husband had a sausage and bacon omelet (the real name of the dish is escaping me right now). Each dish was served with potatoes that reminded me of home cooked- if you lived with a professional chef. The eggs benedict was wonderful. The hollandaise sauce was light and flavorful, the eggs were poached perfectly (light and fluffy), and the canadian bacon was as delicious as it ever is. My only complaint was that the english muffin part of my eggs benedict was a bit difficult to cut with my butter knife. I am fairly confident that if I had expressed this concern to my server that I would have been provided with another option for cutlery, though I was too busy deciding which part of my dish I should bite into next. Everything about this dining experience was supurb. They mentioned that they have a wonderful lunch menu that is surprisingly inexpensive (a burger with a salad for under $7.00), and that on week nights they serve a prix fix three course dinner menu for $29.00 (or $29.99). I am disappointed that I have been in this area for so long and haven't discovered this gem until recently!
(5)
Dana M.
First of all the decor is amazing, especially the outside. We were there for a group event and didn't chose from their full restaurant menu but from a small custom menu. I had a Caesar salad, mahi mahi, and chocolate genache cake. Everything was awesome and I would definitely return. The service was excellent as well.
(4)
John A.
Great place after work on a Friday night. The outside seating is very nice.
(4)
Chelsea P.
Went here for my friend's bachelorette dinner. We decided to go for a bunch of apps and drinks. The apps were enjoyable.. but not what I'd consider worth the price we paid for them. I can't even remember what I ate, so that has to tell you something. Drinks -- definitely worth the price. My favorite was called the "midnight in paris." I'd go again just for this drink and skip the food next time. However, I've never tried their main courses so I can't comment on that. The atmosphere was trendy and fun. It was definitely a fun excuse to get dolled up and chill out with my ladies :-) Staff were super friendly and offered to take pictures of us as a group. Although what young man wouldn't want to find an excuse to get in with the cute table of young ladies wearing black dresses and penis necklaces (classy I know).
(3)
Sue C.
We heard someone raving about this restaurant so we were really looking forward to it. The place is beautiful. The service was excellent. But, the prices are very high and we didn't feel the food was worth it. I ordered my small filet mignon medium. The first few bites were ok, but as I got closer to the middle it was rare. I sent it back to have them cook it more. When it came back, it was just as rare. They offered to take it back again, but I just gave it to my husband to eat as I do not like steak that rare. Even he said it was on the too-rare side for him and he likes medium-rare. My husband ordered a veal chop which was $38. He said it was small and it was mostly fat. He did not enjoy his meal either. The ceasar salad was ok. The side dishes were ok. Nothing was great. We were pretty disappointed. They did go over and above to make it up to us (my rare steak; my husband didn't bother complaining about his veal chop) which was very nice of them.
(3)
E M.
After reading all the positive reviews, I made a reservation for my birthday. When I got there with my partner, the place was half empty. We could not decide which room to dine at. It was lacking atmosphere and felt generic as a restaurant in a chain hotel. Outdoor area was nice, but did not feel to dine with the view of the parking lot. I spent about 10 minutes wondering around the place with no one asking if I needed help. Final decision we walked out without dining. If just hungry I could stay at home. When dinning out ambiance is essential.
(2)
Dave M.
I've never had a bad meal here. The menu has tons of variety and the staff has always been extremely courteous and attentive.
(4)
Johnny I.
Back last night after a couple years, and still very good!
(4)
Kelly S.
Ok. Here it goes. Blue is all fluff. If you are a person who must do what everyone else is doing. This is Your joint. period. Food was less than average. The bathroom was the most impressive. A romantic dinner and was seated in the middle of... the whole place. Yuck........................Who cares about their wine fridge. I am busy. I want to think about my evening not a bottle wine. Just give the great wine and a great meal. I really do not want to talk about it ALL evening. Life is too short for that. Great place for a really empty feeling. What will we HAVE to drink and smoke next?
(2)
Jennifer P.
The ambiance was exceptional making it a special dining experience for my boyfriend and I on his birthday. I ordered the grassfed ribeye w/ mashed yukon potatoes. I always order my steaks well done ... some get it right some don't but boy was this well done steak juicy. mmmhm. I barely needed a knife. I noticed another comment about the 'overpriced' menu. Yeah, umm don't go if you're on a tight budget and don't understand the concept of fine dining. It's not going to be cheap! You'll complain way too much about the price and miss out on the goodness this establishment has to offer! Which is heaven on a plate.
(5)
Jan R.
The food was wonderful and the service better than most restaurants. Blue was always good but since the remodel the atmosphere is great. The new menus is excellent but I miss the chop salad as well as the spinach salad. I had the. Ew arugula with calamari and it was excellent.
(5)
Victoria S.
Have been here many times for drinks and dinner. Had their bar menu which was great for a late night snack when everything else is closed. Their kitchen is open past 10pm. Tried the rib eye steak sandwich and a chopped salad. Was good. Service is always good, great decor and good time.
(4)
Benny F.
After a long anticipated wait, Blue re-opens. I have to say I didn't really notice many interior changes, but I was only in the bar area. I did notice some outside changes-fire pit, patio area etc. We just wanted something to drink and something small to eat-not a full meal. There were three of us. Wine list extensive. Had Greek fried cheese and lobster ravioli appetizer-tasted good but came out cold. Two of us had burgers-very good-one had crabcake-good as well. My major disappointment was the menu change. It didn't have my favorites on here anymore (chopped salad for one) and nothng really stood out for me. Even though it is trendy inside and has a nice crowd, I don't think I'd drop a lot of cash to eat dinner here when the menu was so blah
(3)
Jeff H.
The food here is better than at sister restaurant Melt, but they both suffer the same problem, the emphasis is on decor/looks. Not that a beautiful restaurant is bad, I think Blue looks great, but don't rest on your visual laurels! The appetizers are, for the most part, good. Both times I've gotten the cheese plate I've enjoyed it. Most recently it featured not a single blue cheese, major plus. I've gotten the steak once and fish once, I think they do steak better. However, someone else ordered the ahi tuna and had nice things to say about it. The biggest disappointment for me was a crab mascarpone and orecchiette side dish. It was far and away the most expensive side at $15 and had about as much flavor as one of the 99 cent Lipton sides you can get at the grocery store. You know the ones, a dab of butter, a 1/4 cup of milk, cover and simmer for 11 minutes. Naturally a good wine/drink selection and I think if I chose to go there it would probably be for drinks and to enjoy the music. Nice selection of lounge and chill out music earns them a few points, I enjoy a little Nina Simone with my dinner.
(3)
Ryan S.
Went there for dinner. Seated 10 minutes after our reservation. Once seated we waited quite a bit for water. The glass they gave me for the water had water spots all over it. Waited to order our drinks. Then waited some more to get those drinks. Waited even longer to get more drinks. I guess what I'm getting at is the service was slow, not fine dining slow, but gouge my eyeballs out slow. Here's a hint, get me some wine and drinks before my dinner so I can relax and think about ordering the high priced items on the menu. Lobster ravioli was prepared well just didn't seem to taste any lobster. The flatbread appetizer was just ok. Nothing special here. I had the big fillet for the main course. It was good, it was cooked to how I requested it. My wife's was slightly undercooked based on her request. Blue tries to be something it's not. You might be impressed with how this place looks but once you look beneath the surface you'll find there is nothing there that will keep you coming back.
(2)
Joshua L.
Ok, for those of you who gave this place a bad review get over yourselves. I just had the two best crab cakes I have ever had, absolutely NO FILLER, all meat. No idea how they even keep the little suckers together. Asparagus was cooked perfect, baked potato unreal. Excellent beers and a fantastic atmosphere. A little pricey for my liking but you get what you pay for. The waiter did an amazing job. The apple upside down dessert with ice cream was fantastic. The ice cream had such a pungeant vanilla scent and flavor. All in all a great meal. Hey food snobs, aka foodies, aka the people on here shitting on places when they clearly do not know food, shut it.
(4)
Dorothygale T.
I had hesitations about eating here, it is afterall, the freaking Candlelight and anyone who grew up here has been forced to eat here for some occasion or another. I was impressed by the wine selection, I will give them credit for that one. The food however, was nothing to write home about. The steaks were pretty good, I had tuna 2 ways...horrible. Terrible cuts of tuna, horrendous sauces. They do the whole, "sides to share" for the table. I'm not a fan of this...I don't want steak sides with my delicate fish dinner, thanks anyway. Unimpressed, should have listened to my brother on this one.
(3)
Allison E.
I'm giving 1 star because it was my BIRTHDAY AND I CAN! So, after doing a brief move from Philadelphia back to Allentown and then BACK to Philadelphia, I wanted to take my boyfriend at the time to a nice restaurant in the area. I had eaten at Blue years ago (maybe two or three prior to this experience) and enjoyed every minute of it. The food, service, atmosphere were just top notch, so we decided to try it out again, on my 21ST BIRTHDAY. That was the biggest mistake of my 21st Birthday! We made reservations WELL in advance (I'm talking at least 5 weeks as my Birthday also falls around the Christmas/Holiday/Company Party season) and the hostess was great. Actually, she was the only great thing about the entire experience. When we showed up the night of our reservation, we were seated promptly which was a plus and did have GREAT seats (another bonus) so we thought this was going to be the start of a great night. It just took a nose dive down hill from that point on. The waiter (who I still think to this day was on drugs), was absent, cold, rude, distant, for the ENTIRE night. And to make matters worse, any time we tried to flag down the manager who was bouncing from one table to another, we couldn't. I really truly think he was trying to avoid us at all costs. My boyfriend had the crab cake entree and after waiting 1 1/2 hours for our entrees to arrive after I had the lobster bisque soup ( which was mediocre at best), we discovered WHY it took 1 1/2 hours to bring us our entrees. The two crab cakes on his plate were BURNT, LITERALLY BURNT AND BLACK to a crisp. We couldn't identify any other color of the hockey pucks on his plate except charcoal black. Inedible. Absolutely unacceptable. When the waiter came over 25 minutes after someone else dropped this dish onto our table and realized we aren't eating it and WON'T be eating it, he asked if everything was alright and how the food tasted. We told him and he said that they usually "BLACKEN" the crabcakes. Excuse me, there is a BIG difference bewtween a light chargrilled blackened crabcake and a HOCKEY PUCK! I can't believe this guy's actually arguing with me! You've got to be joking right? We already waited an hour and a half for our entrees and horrible, HORRIBLE non existent service that we decided to just get the check and leave. I wouldn't go back there if you paid me. This restaurant lost my business and any future referrals I would give to my business professionals traveling through the ABE area. I will and do continue to recommend any place BUT this.
(1)
Joe L.
There seem to be some wishy-washy reviews here for Blue, and I'm not quite sure why. I have never had a bad meal here, and it makes me wonder why the owners couldn't replicate the Blue quality over at Melt. I've been to other major steakhouses, like Capital Grille in Philly, and Blue remains my benchmark of quality steak joints. This is, first and foremost, a steakhouse. The cuts are great. The bone-in NY Strip is fantastic (when available on special), as is the prime rib (special), which warranted a photo with my mobile phone it was so huge. Sides are family style, typical for a steakhouse. I've found the fish dishes to also be quite good, from the tuna steak to the scallops. This is my splurge place in the Valley - I go on New Year's Eve every year and run the full menu: appetizer, salad, entree, dessert. I'm stuffed, but it's oh-so-good. Table service is always very good, although a few members of the staff are better than others. Shortly after Melt opened, I suspect that some of the long-time staffers made the jump over there. I've found the meals to be very well-timed - everything makes its appearance just as it should, and nothing feels like it's been under a lamp or sitting on a counter. Kudos to the kitchen staff on that. The bar area is rather nice. Bar service (mixed drinks) are good, and the wine list is nicely appointed. (A good selection of by-the-glass as well.) Draft beer selection is a bit limited, but a nice Sierra Nevada Pale Ale goes quite well with NY Strip. Lunch is very good...and recommended if you can get over here during the week. Most of the crowd goes for dinner, so lunch is usually quite sparse. But trust me, it's very good, and great for a business lunch if you can swing it. Attire is technically casual, but I usually avoid jeans for slacks and a Oxford shirt. I've seen guests in flip-flops and shorts, and I just want to punch them in the face. Don't make me do that to you - wear a pair of pants and actual shoes, please. Blue is great for special occasions, and a good place for a date. Make reservations. (You can do so on OpenTable.)
(5)
Stephanie K.
The atmosphere is very nice but this restaurant is too pretentious for mediocre overpriced food. It's also trying to be trendy but even on a Saturday night 80% of the patrons are over 50. Shula's and Emeril's are much better in every category. One postive is the lack of loud children.
(1)
Nicky R.
This time my fiance and I returned for a celebration dinner. Once again had a wonderful experience. The hostess and waiter were very professional. We enjoyed our dinner and will return very soon.
(5)
Vanessa W.
Upscale restaurant with excellent wine list. The largest wine selection in the Valley. Great for a lunch business meeting. Even has a back board room to close the deal privately. Menu is american with unique twists including a Shrimp Lobster Reuben for lunch. Large selection of steaks for dinner. Generally attracts an older crowd, but has a very hip, trendy appearance. Not for the budget-minded.
(4)
Rick M.
Overpriced, that's my only issue. Food, drinks and service are very good. No one will be disappointed, unless they're the one picking up the check.
(3)
Daniel K.
this place is not that innovative, overpriced and uninspired. i would not recommend to friends.
(2)
Anthony L.
First time I went there I enjoyed my meal. The bartender had trouble making their martini's so we had a lot of taste tests. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal. The only issue I had is that there were no less then three people watching us eat. If something was dirty, then came and replaced it. If there were crumbs from the bread they came and cleaned them up. It was too excessive. The waitress knew exactly what drink went well with each meal we ordered. She also took our complete order without even taking out a pen. Fast forward to this year. Our steaks were very undercooked. OK, they said they would correct the problem. This is where the night was a bit interesting. My wife cut a few pieces of steak as did I to check how cooked it was. When the steaks came back from the kitchen they were the same steaks we sent back, except now overcooked. The manager came over and asked us if there were any issues with our meal. I told her flat out that for $42.00, a steak should not be put back on the grille. A new piece should have prepared. The manager agreed and without any suggestion from us, removed it from the bill. I still tip based on what the bill would have been and so it was a very expensive evening for excellent soup, bread and desserts. The restaurant decor is nice. It is not overly done and the dim lighting seems to make one assume that it would be a quiet evening. However, they were sitting everyone in one section when we were last there and it was one of the loudest places I have eaten a fancy meal. If I am spending $$$ (which is rare) I expect a quiet, slow evening. After all, this is not a burger joint where they usher you in and usher you out to get another table sat.
(3)
Alexis G.
This place is great for the Lehigh Valley because it's not a chain, and it's huge. As a former meat eater, I can say this place is pretty good. Unfortunately, this is where I took my then-boyfriend the first time he met my family. He has been vegan for about 10 years, so I was nervous about going here. But my mom had called ahead and assured me they had options for vegans and vegetarians alike. In reality, the waiter looked like a deer in headlights when we asked for vegan recommendations. On the spot, he thought of a dish called "The Tower of Vegetables," and swore up and down that this was one of the restaurant's best dishes. They must have had a chuckle about it back in the kitchen, because "The Tower of Vegetables" was more like a carrot on top of a piece of lettuce. It's a funny story that we still laugh about to this day. It was our bad for thinking they really did have vegetarian options here. Why would they?
(3)
Patricl Z.
This is one of the best grill house I have eaten in sometimes. And I have eaten at Emerill, in st-martin the french food capital of the Caribbean. The surrounding is top notch (up to NY's standard). Service was a bit quick though but still best porterhouse steak ever.
(5)
Josh F.
The epitome of overpriced "fine" dining. Let's be clear...the food is good, the wine selection is great, and the service get's no complaints....but if you can explain to me why it deserves the pricing it get's, I am all ears. The place is very nice, beautiful decor, very trendy setting. I believe they even have or had a cigar bar...cool, if you're into it. Have been three times, just to make sure I wasn't missing something. Once with another couple, who raved about the place, and we found it to be just alright. Second time was with a buisness function, so the check was picked up by the company...and I still felt like the place was suffering from delusions of grandeur. Last time was a few of us, for a friends birthday...we all had a great time, enjoyed a bit of wine, light fare and some deserts. Now I no wine is not cheap when purchased within an establishment, but 125% mark ups on a same bottle I purchased the day before at the local wine and spirits!?!? Oh well, I suppose some people just enjoy the feeling of dumping tons of money on a dinner/evening at places like this...a false sense of satisfaction, for having indulged in something so pricey in a upscale setting maybe?
(3)
Ricardo S.
I am not speaking from a food point of view, but from a bar/loungie place...this was a great place to go for a few hours with some friends and listen to good music and enjoy a few nice drinks. I am usually a beer person, but I decided to try their espresso martinis and they did not disapoint. The wine selection also seems pretty decent. All in all I would at least recommend it for that.... in the summer, there is also a small patio where you can enjoy the weather and your drinks outside, it's also not nearly as loud out there.
(3)
Jeff H.
My wife and I went there for valentines day. We had a reservation for 5:45. After checking our coats we only waited five minutes and was seated upstairs in their "new section". It seemed more like a mini banquets hall. They made it a point to inform us this was the first night this section was open. When sitting at our table we could still smell the adhesive they used on the wall covering. We order cheese quesadillas for our app which we really enjoyed with the homemade guacamole. For our entrees my wife had the beef steak tomato salad I had the big eye tuna steak and we split tri color potatoes, spinach,and asparagus. For dessert we had a chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache. The overall meal and experience was good. The dessert we had better honestly iPad better event a diner for dessert. When leaving the lobby was so crowded I thought about coming back tomorrow for our coats due to the fact everyone was packed in like sardines. Just a thought when you expand your dinning room expand your lobby. The overall experience was nice my tuna was great and our drinks where made perfectly. We would visit again even though when we arrived home we both became a little ill from the dessert. I have no idea maybe it was old. Like I said we would go back but skip the dessert menu.
(4)
Kate S.
Way too pricey for what you get... My boyfriend and I used to enjoy going to Blue for special occasions (because it's pricey) for the traditional and delicious steakhouse experience. We went tonight after almost a year away and they revamped the menu and we were so disappointed they got rid of our favorite steakhouse classic sides. We started out with some tasty apps, the oysters rockefeller and lobster raviolis which were good but overpriced. The new sides were blah. They were basically steamed or sauteed vegetables and they were charging $7 for a plate of mushrooms that were eh and a $7 baked potato that was overcooked to the point where you couldn't even cut through it with a steak knife. They got rid of the lobster mac n cheese as well as the creamed spinach sides which was something I would totally pay $7 for. I also realized they were charging $2 for a steak sauce which I don't think they used to charge for before. The service is always great there and my filet was to die for but everything else fell short of my expectations for the price which was worth about a week and a half of groceries! OUCH... So we will explore other more reasonable places in the valley to get a good steak.
(2)
Robert S.
Blue turned out to be better than I expected, given some of the other reviews. I went with some friends on a Friday evening. First we tried the happy hour specials in the bar, which was pretty busy. They discounted some glasses of wine and beer by a few bucks, and had some good appetizers for $5-7. We then went into the dining room for our dinner, which was pretty empty. Oddly empty for a Friday night. The atmosphere/design in both the bar and dining areas is pretty cool. The prices on the menu were actually slightly less than I had anticipated. Steaks and sides are cheaper than Shula's or Emerils. If I remember correctly, a 8-oz filet was $28, sides maybe $5-$6. I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup that tasted great, but the bowl it came in made it very difficult to eat. The steaks were excellent, and they give you several sauces on the side to try. I was too stuffed to try dessert. They do have a huge wine selection, probably better than any other local restaurant. The service was great, but probably because the place was empty. As far as expensive restaurants in the Lehigh Valley go, I think Blue is a pretty fair value for what it is. I'll be back.
(4)
Abby W.
Decent wine list I would recommend going to the bar for drinks over having dinner here, the food is pretty mediocre but the ambiance is nice overall
(2)
Mike W.
This is one of the nicer places in the Allentown area. There ws a nice atmosphere; good (not great) service and the food was excellent. It was on the epensive side, but it is what i would expect to pay for the quality of the meal. I had: Wild boar. Tomato and mozzarella salad. Broccoli w/ hollandaise. & Tiramisu. The balsamic reduction on the salad was excellent. It had lots of flavor,but not in the hit you over the head sense. The tomatoes were firm and tasty and the mozzarella was fresh and yummy. The boar was excellent, but im happy i ordered medium rare because it came out medium. Even though it was wild, i did not get a gamey taste, although it was a bit stringy as expected. The Tiramisu was a let down because it was only really good and not great. If there was a low point it was i would consider our waitress to be average, i had to flag her down and ask for the refills on my water and soda. All in all though a very nice dining experience
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rhino V.
Just had soup & calamari salad at outside bar with a nice glass of Red Zin. All was good. Service was good as well. Sadly the inside & outside bar were dead. Really on a Friday night @ 9pm? If staff isn't making $, u'll have turn over, which will equal bad service. Not seeing good things in the future for this place. I think part of the problem is the somewhat expensive menu & drinks for the area. Hopefully I'm wrong cause food & service are very good, but they might price themselves out of the area.
(4)Steel K.
OUTSTANDING !!!! I don't know where to begin . The service was on top of things but not intrusive . The food was fresh hot and not rushed in between courses . We had the coffee rubbed filet , it was done to perfection and nothing like I had ever had before . Also blue point oysters , were crisp and fresh with a nice clean texture. You can't go wrong with this restaurant .
(5)Kimberly C.
Love this place! Best food in town. Great and very friendly service. Fabulous atmosphere! Highly recommended:))
(5)E.M. L.
Wow! What a happy hour! The BEST calamari I've ever eaten. What is that sweet/spicy/crunchy combination? Because it works! Had the pumpkin martini that was "to die for" and I don't say that about many things. Nice to find an upscale, trendy joint amongst the chaos of chain restaurants Can't wait to return for dinner.
(4)Melinda M.
Blue has always been our special-occasion spot and we're always happy with the food and service. But we had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas Eve there this year, and will NEVER do that again!! We booked our reservation early, but they shoehorned the four of us into the back of a very crowded, blank, upstairs room, seating us at a card table in a corner. There were no windows, no art - just an ugly flat screen monitor on the wall - obviously a conference room. The food was good as usual, but I am very disappointed that we spent so much money and looked forward to our usual lovely experience on such a special night. This definitely tainted my opinion of Blue. They should have at least told us when we booked that we would not be getting ANY of the usual experience of eating there. We wish we had just done takeout!
(1)Brit D.
This place is one of the best in the valley. Steaks are always cooked perfect, all their steaks are at least wet aged and they usually have a dry aged selection as a special. If you go here, you will not be let down unless your trying to stay on a tight budget. Every time I've gone it's been at least $200 for the two of us. But it's worth it. Get the ribeye.
(5)Barbara C.
I loved it!! Sometimes, you get a nice looking restaurant & the food is not that great. Not here, its the best of both worlds. I had the flat bread & the penne pasta with julienne asparagus!! Yummy. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)James C.
Great place to have a meal. Good staff. The drinks are perfectly done by a great bartender the best martins everyone loved them, they all had there own flavor. Not like some other places that all the martinis taste the the same. Food was good. Appys tasty. We will be back.
(4)Kayla P.
We went here for Bethlehem's Restaurant Week and it was a great choice! The food and beverages were amazing! The service was great and making my reservation right here on yelp was so easy and convenient! We will definitely be going back again soon!
(5)K S.
Our party of three had an average dinner experience there; the oysters for appetizers were just not bad (at the very borderline of freshness, but hopefully safe); one of us had a 10 oz filet mignon which was good (not great), another one of us had short ribs equally good but not fantastic and I had a grain-fed ribeye which was barely edible (very chewy): I mentioned it to our waitress who did not seem fazed otherwise. The service was friendly and efficient and the restaurant was full (it was a parents weekend for Lehigh University and a lot of family were enjoying entertaining college students there).This was my second time at Blue Grill in 6 months; the first time was a B-; this time was a C-. Next time, I'll be looking for other steakhouse options in Bethlehem.
(2)Holly G.
My fiance and I ate at blue and had a great experience. Our server was Ramon and he was outstanding. He made sure that our glasses were always full, table was clean, replaced our silverware and he also took some pictures of us at our request. We were expecting a couple pictures at our table, but he took us around the restaurant to the fireplace to take pictures. He also took pictures of us when our desert came. The food was very good and the atmosphere was great. We will be coming back soon!!!
(5)Karin V.
We were here for an event so we were not in the main dining room, and instead in an event room. The appetizers were amazing and with the amount they brought around, we could have made a meal out of them. They served us mini grilled cheese wedges with a tomato soup shooter and it was amazing. Fresh shrimp cocktail with enormous shrimp. Several other yummies that I can't recall. I had chicken and my husband had steak. Both perfectly cooked with potato and fresh veggies sides. In addition to the cake we had, the restaurant also provided fresh pastries with take home boxes so we could bring them home with us! We also had a chocolate fountain with several dippers including pretzel rods, marshmallows, rice krispie treats and brownies. If I'm ever in the area again, I'd definitely consider coming here for dinner.
(5)Katie K.
WHERE AND WHY: Sunday, Joe, family, friends and I ventured to blue grillhouse. We have been saving this location for a special occasion. Joe successfully qualified for his PhD! It was also his 27th birthday and father's day is coming up, so we got our godsons and family together to celebrate such an exciting time for us. I told Joe "If you pass this exam, you deserve a big, honkin' steak." Well he did, so I delivered. THE EXPERIENCE: From the patio, to the bar area, to our table, the ambience was great. There was a faint smell that I couldn't put my finger on, but we got over it once the mojitos hit the table. I had the patio mojito - strawberry rum - and it was heaven. The kids were allowed to color at the end of the table with all the goodies they scored at the Crayola Factory in Easton and the chicken tenders came out early for them so everyone was happy. THE FOOD: The food was PERFECT. From the honey calamari (my favorite) to the quesadillas to the flatbread... we could not get enough! The center cut filet was perfect. I ordered it medium and enjoyed the sea salt, pepper, and olive oil finish on a perfect cut of meat. We were told by the waitress that the meats were cut in Chicago and the chef has special experience in steaks. From what I can tell of Joe's steak, it was awesome. He ordered the bone-in NY Strip, cooked "rare plus." Yes, for all you steak lovers like my Joe who like it a smidge more than rare but not as much as medium rare, blue can prepare your steak to "rare plus." The waitress also cut up the cake we brought in and plated it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I didn't realize that a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream could be so delicious, too! The restaurant's atmosphere, food, booze, and manners were the perfect addition to an already beautiful day! We are glad we saved this location for such a special occasion. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: This was definitely a place that we enjoyed celebrating at. With both of our big scary tests behind us and this new chapter upon us, we needed to kick it off in big style. An elegant location with a fantastic menu, I highly recommend. CLOVER RATING: I figured I would implement a new rating system... make it interesting! Joe actually came up with the initial idea. He said, "hey, you need to make it so if enough people read this thing, they can say how many stars you gave or something." Being the fun Irish gal that I am, I thought "what's more perfect than clovers?" Nothing. So here is my new little segment on my blog (happy 1 month anniversary self, this is the first time in years you are consistently blogging!): 1. No clover = I would not recommend this place and I am in awe how it is still going on 2. One-leaf clover = A is for Effort; but definitely not a good recommendation 3. Two-leaf clover = Mediocre at best but if you're in a jam, you will be okay 4. Three-leaf clover = Really great place, just missing something 5. Four-leaf clover = Perfect, all around greatness and the best recommendation that you can get from me. blue grillhouse has successfully earned a four-leaf clover. I figure, might as well introduce my rating system on a high note! Thanks for reading this. I hope my posts brighten your day and/or are helpful to you. Slainte, Katie for more, check out: thelvthymes.blogspot.com
(5)Alison C.
I went to my college grad. dinner at Blue and it was excellent! Great ambiance, appetizers, entrees, and cocktails. My favorite is the outdoor bar and happy hour specials.
(4)Ryan P.
Been to dinner there a few times and it's always been incredible. Incredible food, incredible service and very nice wine selection. Went there for lunch today and didn't expect anything less. I had the mini beef Tenderloin sandwiches and they were great. The Pinot Noir was great and reasonably priced and for desert I finished off with the Crème Brûlée. I would recommend Blue Grillhouse to everyone. Been there six times and never had bad service or a bad meal
(5)Ericka B.
This review is specifically for the restaurant, and not the event center; however, we did go to the Easter Buffet in the event center this year and that was pretty spectacular. I would go to another buffet dinner in the Blue event center any day! The restaurant is beautiful inside and out. We sat inside and I would say that the service and food were good. Nothing great that just blew us away, but good. We had a grilled fish, a prime rib, a side of sautéed spinach and a jumbo baked potato, as well as two desserts: the hula pie and the walnut blondie (which we got to go). There was really nothing special about any of it--it wasn't particularly awesome or terrible. It was just very run of the mill. We had read reviews and talked to folks who had been here and we were so excited. I wouldn't say it was a let down, but it wasn't anything to write home about either. I have eaten at 5 star restaurants and steakhouses with Diamond awards with the same pricing as Blue, which is where the issue is for me. Blue is NOT worth the money you'll spend here. For the same $175 for two, I would rather go elsewhere and have the experience of a truly wonderful steakhouse. But, at the same time, it's not bad. It's just not worth what you'll pay for it. Also, as I mentioned, Blue is so fantastically beautiful. It is really a shame they don't have or even gently enforce any sort of dress code. I'm not saying everybody needs to be in black-tie, but the experience is further cheapened when the table next to you is full of guys wearing t-shirts and basketball shorts. Even when we were walking in, there were people on the patio wearing t-shirts and shorts. Whatever happened to folks dressing up to go into a nice restaurant? Even if it's just clean jeans and an ironed polo, make an effort.
(3)K G.
I went to Blue for brunch and it was delicious! I ordered the doughnuts, eggs with bacon as well as mimosas. Very good, a little pricey, but worth going for a nice occasion. The service was excellent.
(5)Sharo W.
Overpriced. Clams on the half shell for 1.25 a piece are smaller than a dime. Service is always great, but food is not consistent. Have to ask for bread, then butter, candles to be lit at tables. Salt and pepper at the bar when eating. Felt rushed.
(2)K Alison H.
This place is very good. Nice menu, not too expansive but enough choices for everyone. Lovely drink menu and wine list to pair with your order. Lovely patio to drink and dine on. The service is excellent, somehow there was a mixup with our appetizer order and it was corrected and comped without solicitation. If anything they over compensated for the mistake. Continually asking us if everything was okay, etc. I would be more than happy to return.
(4)Keo N.
Just ok. The green salad was ok. The salmon was alright. The mash potatoes and apparagus was ok. Apparently the filet mignon was spectacular according to my friends who had it. The vanilla ice cream for dessert sucked. It was left out standing for a while and was half melted when it was served. The two servers who served our group was not excited to be there so why should we be excited to be there. I think this place can score a 4 star but our group experience was closer to a 3 star.
(3)Darla A.
First time visit and I was there with a large group. We were outside on the patio which is a great area for casual dinning. The staff did a great job considering the amount of people we had in our group, plus other people sitting out on the patio. The appetizers were just ok. Although I didn't have a mixed drink they looked good! I have them on my list to try again in the restaurant. I suspect the food is good and the interior looks amazing!
(3)Marie T.
ok frist of all this place looks Amazing inside and out! I came here for the first on Valentines day and we reserved a seat. The atmosphere was just incredible and the service made me feel like we were the only ones there. I thought it would have been packed and we would have been siting close by to people but they say us somewhere secluded and it made the experience special. The food was amazing and the wine tasted fantastic. I will definitely be going there again!
(5)Karl O.
Great looking place with it has lanterns outside and warm cozy interior. Service was good, but unfortunately we got a table by the kitchen, so lots of traffic. Tuna tartar appetizer was delicious, creamy avocado with a well seasoned tuna. That's where the praise stops for me. We ordered the bone in dry aged 14oz filet, the grilled scallops with spinach and a side of brocollini salutes in garlic and olive oil. Filet was cooked ok, nice crust, but not worth the $54 price tag. Brocollini came out just steamed and no seasoning, they did take it off the check, thank you. Scallops were cooked nicely, but I missed that crust that you get from pan searing, so a little disappointing. Overall, nice place, just a little disappointing.
(3)Aaron T.
Blue his it out of the park: ambiance, quality, service are all fantastic. This establishment is built for ambiance. The landscaping, the well placed fireplaces, the outdoor seating and it's welcoming windows. The building has an elegant, modern design filled with neutral colors that are easy on the eyes. We were welcomed by their staff at the door with one of them quickly getting the door for us. I made my reservation online with a specification for gluten free options, and had seamless entry to the establishment. Before specifying my gluten free needs to our server, she quickly asked about my noted needs and brought a gluten free menu to our table. For those with an intolerance to gluten, their menu has a respectable list of options. The menu and the food are excellent. For appetizers, my fiancée had their steak tartare. I had the wedge salad to start. Both were prepared perfectly and delicious. As my fiancée joke, "the steak tartare was cooked perfectly, raw!" Their specials were worth a look from both the cocktail menu and the food menu. This prompted my fiancée to order the bone in, dry aged, filet which she said was "amazing." My less adventurous choice included the center cut filet with béarnaise sauce. Both of our orders were cooked perfectly to rare and medium rare, respectively. With our entrees, we both opted to add South African Lobster tail. It was a nice compliment to the meal, but if you're ordering a larger cut of steak adding the lobster tail is "overkill." Nonetheless, the lobster tail was cooked perfectly. For the lobster, there were 8 and 18 oz. options. In addition, we had two of their vegetable sides. Mashed potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. The vegetables, like everything else, were well prepared; the asparagus is a must have. Any diner should note that the vegetables are delivered in quantities that are adequate for sharing. The service here is phenomenal. From the moment you are greeted at the door to the time you leave everyone is attentive to your needs. Staff frequently will clear the table as walking by, the management staff was hospitable, and our waitress, Tammy, was one of the best we've had in a while. If there was anything outstanding, like a drink order, and she passed our table, she acknowledged that our order would be there shortly. It's a small touch, but recognizing your customer is one of the easiest things wait staff can do to boost satisfaction. Aside from that, our waitress gave recommendations, was very pleasant, and attentive during the whole experience. Their seasonal cocktails were perfect. My fiancée tried the pumpkin mojito and the candy apple martini. Both are well crafted for the season and I'm sure I'll be experimenting to make these amazing concoctions after our next trip to the liquor store. Our dining experience here was nothing short of fantastic. The restaurant is pricey, but for the quality of the food, service, and comfortable ambiance, it's well worth it!
(5)Melissa R.
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday. The food was great. He got the ny strip steak and I got frenched chicken breast. A little on the pricey side but good for a special occasion. Service was good as well. All in all, I'd definitely recommend Blue.
(4)Mailnet R.
Food 8/10 Service 8/10 Atmosphere 8/10 Parking 10/10 Value 8/10 Food and drinks Menu verity and assortment 8/10 Cost per person (3 course meal) Avr. $60 All and And All 8/10 - Recommended !
(4)Preston W.
This was a very very nice restaurant, the service was top notch. This has to be the Best place I've eaten. Their attention to detail was on point and the ambience was very romantic, although I wasn't dressed up. Had a really good time, I would drive from the Jersey Shore just to eat dinner at this Restaurant. That says a lot for how much I liked this place.
(5)Billythe K.
The beautiful building, its flaming gate posts, and grand entrance give one great expectations. The ambiance, the staff, the service and the comfortable seating increase the expectations of the fare. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. YOU WILL RETURN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. TRUST ME.
(5)Cristy S.
As a vegetarian, I rarely expect much from a steakhouse but this place was great. I ventured out to dinner with a few colleagues while in the area and really enjoyed the penne with julienned vegetables and the sautéed mushrooms. The wine list was pretty good and my colleagues thought their steak and lobster tails were some of the best they'd eaten. Services was good (but not great) but I would still return if I needed to take others out or cater to a group of meat appreciating carnivores!!
(5)Lindsay B.
Oh BLUE! How I love you! The outdoor bar is awesome. The bartenders outside are so nice and fun. The food is decent ... Not AMAZING. Blue is a wonderful place that I visit often. The creme brûlée is the best I've ever had here.
(5)M W.
We enjoy the accessible and affordable happy hour. It's a higher class joint than we usually frequent, but it doesn't feel that way -- particularly if you sit outside during happy hour. The calamari appetizer is delicious, with this surprising sweet/spicy crunch. I nearly ate the whole plate. Very solid quesadilla, too. You can order several appetizers and there's your dinner -- that's how filling and plentiful they are.
(5)jeff s.
So apparently if you have attended an event at the attached event space , you are not allowed to be a customer???? Seriously???? Going to another establishment where my money is welcomed.
(1)She C.
The ambiance was just lovely, very soothing. The service was attentive and courteous. We had reservations but didn't have to wait for our table. Our food was very nicely prepared and we enjoyed it very much. Our only problem was difficulty finding a wine to enjoy for the catalog of wines was way over the top along with too many books ; menu, drinks too much on the table! It needs to be simplified a bit. It took us (4) way to long to order.. Too much
(4)Mike B.
Visit was almost perfect, the tuna tartar was good, the steak was excellent, the service was excellent. The only complaint was the "side". How can you screw up lyonnaise potatoes? Send it out partially cooked and cover your mistake by throwing some herbs over the top. I will come back but was surprised by such a mis step.
(4)Aleksandra G.
Much better this time around. Service was great. The waiter was helpful and attentive. I really recommend getting the tuna tartar for appetizer, it has a great and subtle taste. The Branzino for dinner was also equally delicious. Finished it off with a creme brulee and I was in heaven. My boyfriend had the lobster bisque, the boneless pork, and a mango sorbet which was out of this world. Definitely worth coming back.
(5)Patrick F.
I've eaten here several times, for lunch, dinner, as well as drinks and appetizers at the bar. The service has been impeccable every time. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, the staff makes you feel welcome and like you're an old friend. (And watching the regulars interact with the staff gives you something to aspire to!) The steaks have always been cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Main entrees come with salad, always tasting like each ingredient was fresh picked. Sides come out family style so you can pick a few and enjoy lots of flavors at the table. I've also tried the pulled pork sliders, boneless wings, several flatbreads, and wings. The kitchen knows what they're doing no matter the plate. To top it off, a wine and beer selection to impress anyone. Run don't walk, so you get here soon and burn off all the calories you're about to (deliciously) replace.
(5)Andy W.
The food was excellent but the service was so-so. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sides were generous. I think if we had not been given the impression by the waitress that she was not sure if we could afford to eat there, this probably would have been at least four stars.
(3)Elvin B.
Blue use to be a great place to eat. A little pricey but used to be worth the money. Just ate there with 4 other couples and can say it was one of the worst meals I have every had. Paid $170.00 for 2 for under seasoned , overcooked food. A shame that a place that used to be so good has deteriorated so quickly. Ate there last year and said I would not return, however this was for a friends 50th so gave it another shot. Am officially done with Blue. Too many good options in the area to spend that kind of money on low quality food. :-(
(1)Michael U.
The steaks are awesome and they have a great happy hour. I recommend!
(4)AnnaMarie D.
We had a graduation luncheon at the Blue Grillhouse event center on Saturday for 65 people. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Jess and Carolyn were spectacular. They were flexible, helpful and responsive with all requests and changes. The food was delicious and the wait staff at the luncheon were wonderful. I would not hesitate to do an event at the Blue Grillhouse again!
(5)James V.
I'm a seasoned diner, and I'm very fair. I give credit where credit is due, and offer fair criticisms/suggestions as well. This restaurant has a beautiful exterior, and the gas torches really do add a nice touch, but the food really needs to be improved upon. Our waitress was friendly, but wasn't really into her job, and almost fell over putting silverware on the table. I ordered the Saganaki (fried cheese) appetizer, and the foie gras appetizer as well. Both came out within 3 minutes, leading me to believe that they were prepared well in advance (foie gras was not seared; terrine instead). I could deal with these. They were decent, but probably a 4 out of 10. When I asked the waitress what the restaurant was known for, the answer was an unequivocal "steaks", and the way she described them, you would anticipate NY style steakhouse. I ordered the 16 ounce ribeye, medium rare, and we spent some time clarifying the different temperatures to make sure that we were on the same page. What I WASN'T expecting was a one inch thick steak that looked like something I could have picked up at a discount grocery store, maybe a manager's special!! The quality of the meat was really atrocious, and a HUGE disappointment, especially when they have the nerve to charge $37 for it!!! It came with potatoes that just seemed like they were old - I have no other words to describe them. The broccolini was in fact the best part of the meal, sautéed nicely with garlic. Diners close by our table were sending food back for various reasons, fish WAY overcooked, steaks not cooked to the desired temperature. All-in-all, a nice looking restaurant, but I would not offer more than 2 stars on Yelp, and out of 10, I would offer no more than a 3, at best.
(2)Tim D.
It's a shame. This used to be our favorite restaurant. Lately, something has changed. We made reservations for Christmas Eve and specifically asked for a table downstairs due to a handicapped member of our party. When we arrive, they have no tables downstairs, and we end up carrying out friend up and down the stairs. I spoke with a manager and received an apology, and a request to give them another chance. So we tried again today for my wife's birthday. We were seated, and started our plans looking over the menu. We knew within a few moments what we wanted and started our wait for a server. We saw two parties seated while we waited, but we're never approached by a server. After 15 minutes, I noticed the manager walk past my table. I tried to wave for his attention, but he was oblivious to me waving frantically. At this point, we have up and left. I chased the manager down and let him know we were leaving because we had waited so long. He asked, "in the dining room?". Yes, in the dining room although we weren't actually able to dine.
(1)Mdm Handyman Service M.
Quite overpriced and the food was nothing shy of mediocre. I was quite disappointed. Won't be going back as I won't drop another $125 and leave hungry. Service was excellent, but that's it.
(2)Jay W.
When with a group for celebratory dinner. Service was excellent, our server made helpful recommendations for wine, promptly filled our glasses when needed, and left us alone when he wasn't need. I wish I could remember his name to give him a shout out here. The food was good, but I was not happy with my entree. For the first course I had pan seared scallops with lemon grass and coconut sweet rice. This was phenomenal, the scallops were huge, delicious, and cooked perfectly. For an entree I had a humongous slab of prime rib (I think it was 27 oz). It was a bit undercooked for my taste, but I think it was my mistake ordering it. The description of 'slow cooked with horseradish sauce' had me ordering and forgetting that prime rib is not my favorite cut of meat. The dessert, creme brulee, was made exactly as it should be, great sugar top that wasn't overly burnt, and light, flavorful custard. I am not a big fan of having to order everything on your plate separately, but I realize that this is how a true steakhouse operates. If I were to go back I would order something else for an entree and make sure to order myself some side dishes. This place is certainly expensive, I am not sure if it is worth the price, but the food is good. While I was disappointed with my entree, it seemed like other cuts of meat on the menu would have been great.
(4)Tiffany B.
Best restaurant I've eaten to by far very friendly staff and service a bit pricey but u get what you pay for
(5)Finicky P.
Very impressive exterior. It's got the gas-powered torches all around the front of the property, making it look really classy. The interior was equally impressive as well. Tastefully decorated, evenly spaced out seating, relaxing atmosphere. The food, however, was not something I would rave about. I had the caesar salad which was okay, and the flatbread crackers with baby spinach and artichoke dip were run of the mill. Now this being a steakhouse, said steak should've been the star of the show. Instead my favorite cut of rib eye was served in an uninspired fashion (see picture below). It was just a slab of meat on a plate with a string of unidentifiable green on the top. No garnish, no presentation, no special plate - what a shame. It didn't have a lot of flavor either. The highlight of the meal for me was the hula pie. Outstanding dessert! It was a macadamia cookie crust with vanilla ice cream filling. Not a scoop on the top but as a filling. Scrumptious! It made up for a lackluster tasting meal. So all in all, beautiful restaurant, outstanding service, but so-so food (with the exception of the hula pie). Is it worth going back to? It depends what your reason is for going out in the first place. For me, I'm always all about the overall package, so....
(3)Thomas C.
Like several previous reviewers, I went here with a large group for a celebratory dinner with a pre-set menu. From working in restaurants, I know how hard these types of events can be to pull off without severely compromising food quality. In a few words, the staff pulled this one off in smashing fashion. The most incredibly attentive, yet not overbearing service, and one heck of a job by the kitchen from appetizers to desserts.
(4)Candi K.
My first trip in since the big remodel. Looks like a more polished & modern version of the old blue...love the cherry wood trim, the fireplaces and the large bar area. A quiet Saturday lunch for two was in order. Maybe 40 people having lunch inside, but all spread out. I didn't realize how many people were inside until we were headed back to the car. The music is kind of loud for lunch - but the place is pretty open, so without the loud-ish music, you'd be able to hear every other conversation. And I'm sure it's perfect in the evenings when they are packed. I tried the blue burger...$6.95 for a plain burger (LTO) with fries or salad...$1 extra for each additional topping (cheeses, mushrooms, avocado, etc). I topped mine with cheddar and avocado (which was more of a red onion/avocado mash...yum!). Served a perfect medium, it was delicious. The fries...just okay. My companion had the grouper sandwich...a huge 1" thick filet, perfectly breaded...served with a delicious remoulade. He chose the salad instead of the fries. Just okay (maybe too much dressing?). Finished off the meal with the NY Cheesecake - oreo was the day's flavor. I was expected a little slice, but it was an entire little round cheesecake. Half of it is still in the fridge with the rest of my burger. Service was fantastic. Jenn made sure we had everything we needed without being too clingy - waters stayed full - and she made great recommendations. Looking forward to heading back for happy hour ($6 drinks & appetizers), dinner ($29 prix fixe during the week) and brunch (yay mimosas!).
(5)Daniel H.
I don't understand what this restaurant is supposed to be good at in terms of food. The steaks are mediocre and the sides weren't anything to write home about. I find that severely disappointing. I love good steak. I don't mind paying for expensive steak if it's up to par. It's not a seafood restaurant either. The food tasted overly salty and lacked any sort of standout flavor. The tastes seemed all muddled and not harmonious in the least. However I will say that I've been coming here for some time and the cheese plate and martinis are great. They have a nice wine selection and a comfortable bar area that doesn't scream "Applebees." For the money you're paying for dinner I'd recommend going elsewhere. If you want nice drinks and some appetizers somewhere without deafening music I'd recommend a visit. The service was okay. Nothing to write home about. In terms of actually getting in the restaurant they have a lot less parking spaces than you'd expect. And the lot isn't a fun one to circle around in. Oddly it seems that people come here in very casual clothing. The exterior and interior decor make me think at least business casual but nope, you'll see folks in jeans.
(3)D N.
Nice place. Been here twice so far Very nice ambiance. Inside or out. Large selection of wine by the bottle. Good selection of wines by the glass. Buying by the bottle IS NOT necessarily cheaper. Wait staff is friendly. Not stuffy like hostesses. Some of the food is surprisingly below what you'd expect. I think their bread and butter is selling the wine by the bottle, and hosting parties. Overall good experience. Hopefully it will stay constant or even get better. Not enough parking during busy times.
(3)Blond B.
I have heard such amazing things about this restaurant only to be completely disappointed. I've only been for a private party event and not an actual dinner but after that I don't think I am willing to give this place another shot. The atmosphere is really nice and the party rooms look great! But looks can be deceiving. My husbands chicken was not cooked and was pink. The food was not tasty at all to say the least. We had chicken marsala and it was very bland. Service and atmosphere is the only reason they got two stars!
(2)Porfidio A.
I found it to be a very nice place, especially for Bethlehem. The drinks were a little expensive but they were very well made. The ambiance was great, the fireplace was cozy and the music volume was perfect. Our bartender was very professional and a total sweetheart. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer because the outdoor garden seems like a great place to party and make some new friends.
(4)Shawna H.
Food was good, nothing overly impressive for the cost i was expecting over the top. Service was great nice once we got in he door, hostess was kind of snobby. We live locally and I'm not sure I'd return there are much better fin ding restaurants in Downtown Bethlehem. I noticed the staff is hit or miss, I had called for Restaurant Week information cause I was planning a ladies night and the person who answered the phone was not very helpful.
(4)Scott K.
Always a pleasure. Top notch
(5)John M.
I've dined here twice and have to say that this place is pretty good. The ambience and decor are fantastic, the outdoor bar area is really nice. The waitstaff is excellent too. When paying 35-40 bucks for a steak though you have to cook that thing perfect. Both times I've ordered a steak medium rare and it was medium. The sides are usually quite good and abundant, enough for a table of four to share with plenty to go around. The oysters are very good and very fresh. The cheese sampler I had one other time was amazingly good. Overall a pretty good experience and worth the money. Just please get that steak right for the money you're charging.
(3)Mark L.
we went on Valentine's day. The place was very crowded as expected. They were still able to move people through without feeling rushed.the menu was um they're normal menu plus a few Valentine's Day specials. Our server was excellent. She was prompt courteous and entertaining. We ordered 2 appetizers and 1 meal. The kalamari salad was superb. The tuna tar tar was some what bland and mushy. The scallop was delicious. All in all it was a very good meal and a an excellent atmosphere. I would recommend the restaurants and will go back many times in the future.
(4)Bill M.
Fabulous food, fabulous service and fabulous ambience! What more can you ask for? Yeah, a little more expensive, but certainly worth it! Perfectly prepared steaks and chops, inventive and delicious appetizers. Sides plentiful for sharing. Something for everyone! Reminded me of Ruth Chris's in downtown Philadelphia, only better! Table for 6 for a Graduation celebration. Our waitress was friendly, casually knowledgeable, and attentive. (I never felt stupid for asking a question, or, intimidated by the upscale surroundings!) Ambience is gorgeous! We were a little apprehensive after reading some previous reviews from last year, but, we were pleasantly surprised! We live in Bucks County, PA and would drive to Bethlehem to visit Blue again!
(5)Bill B.
This was my first time here. It is a very eye appealing building. The interior is very well designed. The staff were polite, knowledgeable and on top of things. I had the crab ravioli which was very tasty. A great pasta pouch. My entree was the swordfish which was their "Catch of the Day'. It was cooked perfectly and appropriately seasoned. The bread served was fresh and warm. The olive bread was delicious as was the multigrain bread. My only ding on the place is their selection of beer. For such a great restaurant, the draft and bottle selection was somewhat anemic. Overall, check this place out if you haven't done so.
(4)Rich K.
This place was amazing. Took my wife here for our anniversary and was never here before so didn't know what to expect. Beautiful place friendly people and delicious food. Good sized portions and awesome cocktails. And for the quality of food and the atmosphere the prices were good. This is our new place and we will be back every year. Highly recommend.
(5)matthew l.
Perhaps my 15th+ visit to Blue, this nite was for Mom's birthday dinner with a party of 6. The place is beautiful, and the service was ok, should have been better for having 2 waiters. I feel there has been a change in food quality here the past 6 months. It is pricy, but was happy with what I recieved in the past. Little things like frozen french fries instead of fresh cut at a restaurant of this caliber are not acceptable to me. Bring back fresh cut french fries! Minor check issue, and all guests agreed it was just o.k.
(3)Miguel S.
Overrated. I think it used to be a lot better a few years ago. It's still decent, but I've experienced more average food + subpar service during the past couple years to the point where we don't look forward to going anymore like we used to. Previously, it always felt like a special occasion. Could just be our experience, but it seems like they are now trying a little too hard to be hip & not focusing quite enough on the basics. It's also fairly pricey.
(3)N S.
Out for a nice dinner on New Year's Eve, NOT a wedding reception. As a party of six we were sat upstairs at a round 10 person table in what felt like a reception hall, that's not the atmosphere I would expect at Blue. Never had an introduction from the waiter or explanation of specials either, just like a wedding reception. I've been to Blue plenty of times before and I go for the food AND the atmosphere. Food was great as usual, but I can't imagine why they would sit anyone in a reception hall for an elegant dinner....might of well have been at Outback Steakhouse at that point.
(2)Kathleen M.
The menu is impressive with a lot of really great selections. We were with a large group, so I was able to sample a few dishes. The calamari appetizer was delicious and perfectly cooked. The crabcake appetizer was like 98% crab with almost no filler and also incredible. I got the ahi tuna for dinner, and, I hate this cliche, but it literally melted like butter in my mouth. The sauce was great, the bok choy was tender and fresh. Everyone was really pleased with their meal. The staff was friendly and attentive. We did have to wait about 40 minutes between dinner and dessert because they got pretty busy and didn't seem to be very well staffed. There was a big graduation in town, so maybe this was an unusual circumstance, but the wait was a little frustrating. The cappucino for dessert was lovely, and the creme brule was good but not great. The sugar on top was a bit too burnt for my taste, but the custard was well made. Definitely a great place for a nice meal.
(4)Max C.
Never again. We had dined at Blue a few years ago and were looking forward to going again. We took our son for his 14th birthday and had a horrible experience. Our waiter did not take our order for almost an hour. We watched the table next to us get seated after us and their appetizers and meals were served before we even were asked for our order. (Next table had a different waiter). Of all steaks, my sons "medium" steak was served very rare as was my other sons. Not even edible. In an effort to save the night, I gave my son my dinner & my husband shared his with our other son. At least two of our dinners were prepared correctly, Normally a extremely rare steak is correctable, but the waiter would need to stop by and see how things are. I don't know what was wrong that night, but he only returned after we were done. It was then he saw the two plates not touched and asked. It was a little too late to accept his offer to have the steaks cooked to medium (and he saw how rare they were). Then he started to clear the dishes away. What? Wait a minute there - we now want to see the manager as we did not touch two meals & this guy wanted to sweep us out. That's not right. The manager just explained they were really busy and he had a few staff members that did not come in. However, he never apologized for our horrific experience. We even explained waiting close to an hour to order & we felt like we fell off the radar (esp. sitting near a table where the waiter was more attentive - 2x we had to ask him if he could please find our waiter). The manager offered dessert - uh, no thanks. A good dinner & experience is what we wanted. A little customer service would have been nice too. Never again. No way. Poor service ruined what could have been corrected.
(1)M P.
Note: This refers to the bar only. I have never had dinner here. When Blue first opened, I loved going here with friends. It was always packed. Great drinks, fun, upscale crowd. The only downside at that time was that people could smoke cigars, and you'd smell like nasty cigar smoke even after you'd washed your hair twice trying to get the smell out. Then all of the sudden they banned smoking (before it became the law, if memory serves), and the place was dead. Dead, dead, dead. I'm not a smoker, but it was weird - it was more fun when the smokers were allowed in, because it was crowded and lively. It was nice to come home not smelling of smoke, though. After a couple of trips where we got indifferent, lackluster service at the bar, my friend and I decided to go back last night after hearing about the big remodel. Honestly, we couldn't tell any difference in the bar area, because it looked exactly the same. That was fine, because I always thought the bar area was really beautiful. Looks like they're working on a bigger outdoor area, but it isn't completed yet. The biggest difference from the last few times we'd been there was there was definitely more of a crowd. Still easy to find seating at the bar, but it was the busiest I'd seen it in a long time. The crowd skewed decidedly older (55+), which of course is not a big deal, but certainly a difference from Blue's early days. We were greeted by several smiling hostesses by the door - they seemed genuinely glad to be there and glad to see us, so it was a nice welcome. Drinks were great. I had a Key Lime Martini, and I really enjoyed it. The Preakness was on, so that was fun to watch, and the crowd around the bar really got into it. Again we were underwhelmed by the service. The bartender was nice enough, but kind of unsmiling, and we waited quite a bit before he asked us if we wanted more drinks. By that time, we were kind of over it, otherwise we probably would have ordered more drinks. We had been thinking about ordering an appetizer, and even though he brought a menu quickly, he never checked back to see if we wanted to order something. So we paid for the drinks and left and honestly, I'm not sure we'll come back anytime soon. It was just, eh. Overall, I think a bar where you're going to pay $19 for a round of drinks should work a little harder to provide quicker, friendlier service. If the bartenders had been more fun and engaged with the customers more, rather than appearing to be so absorbed in the computerized system behind the bar (which means they spent most of their time with their backs to the customers), this place might be able to reel in the customers it used to - people who came in for a good time and stayed for the evening, rather than for just one drink. Blue used to be our must-go place. Now it's only selling point is it's really close to my friend's house, so it's convenient. Kind of sad, when one thinks of the Blue of old.
(2)Kevin S.
We have heard many good things about the Blue, so my wife and I decided it would be a good place to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. The restaurant itself is very inviting and comfortable. The wait staff was prompt and very nice. Our first disappointment was my appetizer, ( Asian pork belly) it had good flavor but was dry and IMO overdone. I felt like i was eating a dried out pork loin. My wife got the prime rib again great taste but It needed to go back because it was not hot or even warm. I got the grass fed ribeye, It was over cooked, dry and tasteless. Sides were very good and the dessert was fantastic Hula cake. We more than likely will never go back, the prices are too high for the quality.
(2)R Jane W.
Food was plain and nothing to write home about. I had Seafood Penne -- 3 shrimp, 5 mussels, 1 sea scallop cut into 3 pieces. Sauce was skimpy an no garlic. My husband had grouper that was crumbed with unseasoned cracker crumbs. Add1 chocolate cake whose edges were dried out as though sitting un covered since morning, one glass of wine and 2 Hoegartens and our bill came to $118 minus tip. A ripoff in the name of fine dining. Avoid!
(1)Jennifer S.
Very nice place in Easton - I was pleasantly surprised. I started with a strawberry bellini martini...yum! We tried several appetizers and enjoyed all of the them. The filet was cooked perfectly too! The service was fantastic and the decor was very nice.
(4)Allen B.
This place is on top of their game. The dining area (inside and out) is decked out very nicely. They have an outside patio with a bar and big screen TV which is pretty sweet. The inside dining is very modern. The staff were all very professional, pleasant, and knowledgeable . I thought the menu could have been a little larger and I think the prices are just a tad high. My 6oz filet was $44 and all sides are al carte. Everything is of good quality though so maybe I should complain too much. Altogether the bill was $82 and that was for a 6oz filet, caesar salad, asparagus, salmon dinner, and 1 glass of wine. I will return again though it's definitely one of the best places in the Lehigh Valley.
(5)Brian H.
I took a ride to meet some friends who live in the Poconos at a conveniently located halfway point in Bethlehem. We walked into a very welcoming, well designed, well decorated building, and were greeted professionally and courteously. The one bartender was very busy but her pleasantry made up for the wait. We sat down to dinner and were attended by the most precious server, smart, efficient, professional, the service and ambiance was the best thing about this place, though. The chopped salad had a funky flavor and seemed like day old produce. The lobster bisque was very salty, but decadent. The arugula with prosciutto and melon was probably the best app we got. Oh, before the apps we had a cheese plate with our wine order. There is a decent selection of wines which came from a beautifully inserted glass walled wine room visible to the entire restaurant and bar area. But the cheese plate was something grand mom would put out on Christmas. The plate included 5 cheeses, horrible presentation with 2 smoky cheeses, 1 horseradish and 2 without flavor. Along side were townhouse-type crackers, salty, buttery, not appropriate, and the garnish of grapes were of mixed sizes and ages, yes, some were old, and blueberries, some mushy, some unripe. The Ono fish special was so dry, it needed the chutney to create moisture in your now dry mouth. And the chutney was flavorless. The Ahi tuna, although fresh and cooked to a perfect rare, had too many veins running through it to get a clean bite without getting stuck in your teeth. Another person had the lamb chop which I was assured was "good". The company of my good friends made me not dwell on the culinary mediocrity. I don't plan on going back...but what did I expect for "up there", I'm a city snob.
(2)Laura M.
BRUNCH So my parents were visiting from out of town and my husband and myself were looking for a nice brunch location, not a diner but an actual restaurant (with a full bar of course). I was hesitant at first because I see that Blue has mixed reviews, but the two other locations that I called first (The Bolete and the restaurant at the Hotel Bethlehem) were all booked. Wow, am I glad that we ended up at Blue! First off, the place was very empty, I'm assuming because not many people know that they have brunch. Plus, if you're looking for a more upscale dining experience one doesn't tend to look in that neighborhood. Don't let this fool you. The restaurant is beautiful, wonderful atmosphere, great layout, and great seating options. We were very kindly greeted and escorted to a booth immediately, even though we were twenty minutes early. Right away we all noticed that it was very chilly, though we mentioned it to our maitre'd and she adjusted the temperature of the restaurant promptly. Our server was a very nice lady who was sharp, kind, friendly, and professional. The menu had a nice variety that made choosing just one option difficult for us. (The menu is available on their website). The food: My mother and myself each had a mimosa. Normally I will easily go through at least two during brunch (because after all, isn't the whole reason for brunch an excuse to drink before noon?). Well these mimosas were a bit larger in size than I'm used to, and also a bit stronger! I worked on it my whole meal and felt no need for more. My father had the house bloody mary and said that it was the best bloody mary he's ever had (and he's had quite a few throughout his travels). Just as during dinner it is common for a basket of bread to be brought to the table, we were given a plate of a banana coffee cake. What a nice and delicious surprise! It was clear by the lightly sweet and fresh taste that the baker knew what they were doing. For a starter we ordered a spiced donut... wow. Delicious. I know that I'm using that word a lot but hey, when the shoe fits. For entree's my mother and myself had the classic eggs benedict, my father had a roasted pepper omelet, and my husband had a sausage and bacon omelet (the real name of the dish is escaping me right now). Each dish was served with potatoes that reminded me of home cooked- if you lived with a professional chef. The eggs benedict was wonderful. The hollandaise sauce was light and flavorful, the eggs were poached perfectly (light and fluffy), and the canadian bacon was as delicious as it ever is. My only complaint was that the english muffin part of my eggs benedict was a bit difficult to cut with my butter knife. I am fairly confident that if I had expressed this concern to my server that I would have been provided with another option for cutlery, though I was too busy deciding which part of my dish I should bite into next. Everything about this dining experience was supurb. They mentioned that they have a wonderful lunch menu that is surprisingly inexpensive (a burger with a salad for under $7.00), and that on week nights they serve a prix fix three course dinner menu for $29.00 (or $29.99). I am disappointed that I have been in this area for so long and haven't discovered this gem until recently!
(5)Dana M.
First of all the decor is amazing, especially the outside. We were there for a group event and didn't chose from their full restaurant menu but from a small custom menu. I had a Caesar salad, mahi mahi, and chocolate genache cake. Everything was awesome and I would definitely return. The service was excellent as well.
(4)John A.
Great place after work on a Friday night. The outside seating is very nice.
(4)Chelsea P.
Went here for my friend's bachelorette dinner. We decided to go for a bunch of apps and drinks. The apps were enjoyable.. but not what I'd consider worth the price we paid for them. I can't even remember what I ate, so that has to tell you something. Drinks -- definitely worth the price. My favorite was called the "midnight in paris." I'd go again just for this drink and skip the food next time. However, I've never tried their main courses so I can't comment on that. The atmosphere was trendy and fun. It was definitely a fun excuse to get dolled up and chill out with my ladies :-) Staff were super friendly and offered to take pictures of us as a group. Although what young man wouldn't want to find an excuse to get in with the cute table of young ladies wearing black dresses and penis necklaces (classy I know).
(3)Sue C.
We heard someone raving about this restaurant so we were really looking forward to it. The place is beautiful. The service was excellent. But, the prices are very high and we didn't feel the food was worth it. I ordered my small filet mignon medium. The first few bites were ok, but as I got closer to the middle it was rare. I sent it back to have them cook it more. When it came back, it was just as rare. They offered to take it back again, but I just gave it to my husband to eat as I do not like steak that rare. Even he said it was on the too-rare side for him and he likes medium-rare. My husband ordered a veal chop which was $38. He said it was small and it was mostly fat. He did not enjoy his meal either. The ceasar salad was ok. The side dishes were ok. Nothing was great. We were pretty disappointed. They did go over and above to make it up to us (my rare steak; my husband didn't bother complaining about his veal chop) which was very nice of them.
(3)E M.
After reading all the positive reviews, I made a reservation for my birthday. When I got there with my partner, the place was half empty. We could not decide which room to dine at. It was lacking atmosphere and felt generic as a restaurant in a chain hotel. Outdoor area was nice, but did not feel to dine with the view of the parking lot. I spent about 10 minutes wondering around the place with no one asking if I needed help. Final decision we walked out without dining. If just hungry I could stay at home. When dinning out ambiance is essential.
(2)Dave M.
I've never had a bad meal here. The menu has tons of variety and the staff has always been extremely courteous and attentive.
(4)Johnny I.
Back last night after a couple years, and still very good!
(4)Kelly S.
Ok. Here it goes. Blue is all fluff. If you are a person who must do what everyone else is doing. This is Your joint. period. Food was less than average. The bathroom was the most impressive. A romantic dinner and was seated in the middle of... the whole place. Yuck........................Who cares about their wine fridge. I am busy. I want to think about my evening not a bottle wine. Just give the great wine and a great meal. I really do not want to talk about it ALL evening. Life is too short for that. Great place for a really empty feeling. What will we HAVE to drink and smoke next?
(2)Jennifer P.
The ambiance was exceptional making it a special dining experience for my boyfriend and I on his birthday. I ordered the grassfed ribeye w/ mashed yukon potatoes. I always order my steaks well done ... some get it right some don't but boy was this well done steak juicy. mmmhm. I barely needed a knife. I noticed another comment about the 'overpriced' menu. Yeah, umm don't go if you're on a tight budget and don't understand the concept of fine dining. It's not going to be cheap! You'll complain way too much about the price and miss out on the goodness this establishment has to offer! Which is heaven on a plate.
(5)Jan R.
The food was wonderful and the service better than most restaurants. Blue was always good but since the remodel the atmosphere is great. The new menus is excellent but I miss the chop salad as well as the spinach salad. I had the. Ew arugula with calamari and it was excellent.
(5)Victoria S.
Have been here many times for drinks and dinner. Had their bar menu which was great for a late night snack when everything else is closed. Their kitchen is open past 10pm. Tried the rib eye steak sandwich and a chopped salad. Was good. Service is always good, great decor and good time.
(4)Benny F.
After a long anticipated wait, Blue re-opens. I have to say I didn't really notice many interior changes, but I was only in the bar area. I did notice some outside changes-fire pit, patio area etc. We just wanted something to drink and something small to eat-not a full meal. There were three of us. Wine list extensive. Had Greek fried cheese and lobster ravioli appetizer-tasted good but came out cold. Two of us had burgers-very good-one had crabcake-good as well. My major disappointment was the menu change. It didn't have my favorites on here anymore (chopped salad for one) and nothng really stood out for me. Even though it is trendy inside and has a nice crowd, I don't think I'd drop a lot of cash to eat dinner here when the menu was so blah
(3)Jeff H.
The food here is better than at sister restaurant Melt, but they both suffer the same problem, the emphasis is on decor/looks. Not that a beautiful restaurant is bad, I think Blue looks great, but don't rest on your visual laurels! The appetizers are, for the most part, good. Both times I've gotten the cheese plate I've enjoyed it. Most recently it featured not a single blue cheese, major plus. I've gotten the steak once and fish once, I think they do steak better. However, someone else ordered the ahi tuna and had nice things to say about it. The biggest disappointment for me was a crab mascarpone and orecchiette side dish. It was far and away the most expensive side at $15 and had about as much flavor as one of the 99 cent Lipton sides you can get at the grocery store. You know the ones, a dab of butter, a 1/4 cup of milk, cover and simmer for 11 minutes. Naturally a good wine/drink selection and I think if I chose to go there it would probably be for drinks and to enjoy the music. Nice selection of lounge and chill out music earns them a few points, I enjoy a little Nina Simone with my dinner.
(3)Ryan S.
Went there for dinner. Seated 10 minutes after our reservation. Once seated we waited quite a bit for water. The glass they gave me for the water had water spots all over it. Waited to order our drinks. Then waited some more to get those drinks. Waited even longer to get more drinks. I guess what I'm getting at is the service was slow, not fine dining slow, but gouge my eyeballs out slow. Here's a hint, get me some wine and drinks before my dinner so I can relax and think about ordering the high priced items on the menu. Lobster ravioli was prepared well just didn't seem to taste any lobster. The flatbread appetizer was just ok. Nothing special here. I had the big fillet for the main course. It was good, it was cooked to how I requested it. My wife's was slightly undercooked based on her request. Blue tries to be something it's not. You might be impressed with how this place looks but once you look beneath the surface you'll find there is nothing there that will keep you coming back.
(2)Joshua L.
Ok, for those of you who gave this place a bad review get over yourselves. I just had the two best crab cakes I have ever had, absolutely NO FILLER, all meat. No idea how they even keep the little suckers together. Asparagus was cooked perfect, baked potato unreal. Excellent beers and a fantastic atmosphere. A little pricey for my liking but you get what you pay for. The waiter did an amazing job. The apple upside down dessert with ice cream was fantastic. The ice cream had such a pungeant vanilla scent and flavor. All in all a great meal. Hey food snobs, aka foodies, aka the people on here shitting on places when they clearly do not know food, shut it.
(4)Dorothygale T.
I had hesitations about eating here, it is afterall, the freaking Candlelight and anyone who grew up here has been forced to eat here for some occasion or another. I was impressed by the wine selection, I will give them credit for that one. The food however, was nothing to write home about. The steaks were pretty good, I had tuna 2 ways...horrible. Terrible cuts of tuna, horrendous sauces. They do the whole, "sides to share" for the table. I'm not a fan of this...I don't want steak sides with my delicate fish dinner, thanks anyway. Unimpressed, should have listened to my brother on this one.
(3)Allison E.
I'm giving 1 star because it was my BIRTHDAY AND I CAN! So, after doing a brief move from Philadelphia back to Allentown and then BACK to Philadelphia, I wanted to take my boyfriend at the time to a nice restaurant in the area. I had eaten at Blue years ago (maybe two or three prior to this experience) and enjoyed every minute of it. The food, service, atmosphere were just top notch, so we decided to try it out again, on my 21ST BIRTHDAY. That was the biggest mistake of my 21st Birthday! We made reservations WELL in advance (I'm talking at least 5 weeks as my Birthday also falls around the Christmas/Holiday/Company Party season) and the hostess was great. Actually, she was the only great thing about the entire experience. When we showed up the night of our reservation, we were seated promptly which was a plus and did have GREAT seats (another bonus) so we thought this was going to be the start of a great night. It just took a nose dive down hill from that point on. The waiter (who I still think to this day was on drugs), was absent, cold, rude, distant, for the ENTIRE night. And to make matters worse, any time we tried to flag down the manager who was bouncing from one table to another, we couldn't. I really truly think he was trying to avoid us at all costs. My boyfriend had the crab cake entree and after waiting 1 1/2 hours for our entrees to arrive after I had the lobster bisque soup ( which was mediocre at best), we discovered WHY it took 1 1/2 hours to bring us our entrees. The two crab cakes on his plate were BURNT, LITERALLY BURNT AND BLACK to a crisp. We couldn't identify any other color of the hockey pucks on his plate except charcoal black. Inedible. Absolutely unacceptable. When the waiter came over 25 minutes after someone else dropped this dish onto our table and realized we aren't eating it and WON'T be eating it, he asked if everything was alright and how the food tasted. We told him and he said that they usually "BLACKEN" the crabcakes. Excuse me, there is a BIG difference bewtween a light chargrilled blackened crabcake and a HOCKEY PUCK! I can't believe this guy's actually arguing with me! You've got to be joking right? We already waited an hour and a half for our entrees and horrible, HORRIBLE non existent service that we decided to just get the check and leave. I wouldn't go back there if you paid me. This restaurant lost my business and any future referrals I would give to my business professionals traveling through the ABE area. I will and do continue to recommend any place BUT this.
(1)Joe L.
There seem to be some wishy-washy reviews here for Blue, and I'm not quite sure why. I have never had a bad meal here, and it makes me wonder why the owners couldn't replicate the Blue quality over at Melt. I've been to other major steakhouses, like Capital Grille in Philly, and Blue remains my benchmark of quality steak joints. This is, first and foremost, a steakhouse. The cuts are great. The bone-in NY Strip is fantastic (when available on special), as is the prime rib (special), which warranted a photo with my mobile phone it was so huge. Sides are family style, typical for a steakhouse. I've found the fish dishes to also be quite good, from the tuna steak to the scallops. This is my splurge place in the Valley - I go on New Year's Eve every year and run the full menu: appetizer, salad, entree, dessert. I'm stuffed, but it's oh-so-good. Table service is always very good, although a few members of the staff are better than others. Shortly after Melt opened, I suspect that some of the long-time staffers made the jump over there. I've found the meals to be very well-timed - everything makes its appearance just as it should, and nothing feels like it's been under a lamp or sitting on a counter. Kudos to the kitchen staff on that. The bar area is rather nice. Bar service (mixed drinks) are good, and the wine list is nicely appointed. (A good selection of by-the-glass as well.) Draft beer selection is a bit limited, but a nice Sierra Nevada Pale Ale goes quite well with NY Strip. Lunch is very good...and recommended if you can get over here during the week. Most of the crowd goes for dinner, so lunch is usually quite sparse. But trust me, it's very good, and great for a business lunch if you can swing it. Attire is technically casual, but I usually avoid jeans for slacks and a Oxford shirt. I've seen guests in flip-flops and shorts, and I just want to punch them in the face. Don't make me do that to you - wear a pair of pants and actual shoes, please. Blue is great for special occasions, and a good place for a date. Make reservations. (You can do so on OpenTable.)
(5)Stephanie K.
The atmosphere is very nice but this restaurant is too pretentious for mediocre overpriced food. It's also trying to be trendy but even on a Saturday night 80% of the patrons are over 50. Shula's and Emeril's are much better in every category. One postive is the lack of loud children.
(1)Nicky R.
This time my fiance and I returned for a celebration dinner. Once again had a wonderful experience. The hostess and waiter were very professional. We enjoyed our dinner and will return very soon.
(5)Vanessa W.
Upscale restaurant with excellent wine list. The largest wine selection in the Valley. Great for a lunch business meeting. Even has a back board room to close the deal privately. Menu is american with unique twists including a Shrimp Lobster Reuben for lunch. Large selection of steaks for dinner. Generally attracts an older crowd, but has a very hip, trendy appearance. Not for the budget-minded.
(4)Rick M.
Overpriced, that's my only issue. Food, drinks and service are very good. No one will be disappointed, unless they're the one picking up the check.
(3)Daniel K.
this place is not that innovative, overpriced and uninspired. i would not recommend to friends.
(2)Anthony L.
First time I went there I enjoyed my meal. The bartender had trouble making their martini's so we had a lot of taste tests. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal. The only issue I had is that there were no less then three people watching us eat. If something was dirty, then came and replaced it. If there were crumbs from the bread they came and cleaned them up. It was too excessive. The waitress knew exactly what drink went well with each meal we ordered. She also took our complete order without even taking out a pen. Fast forward to this year. Our steaks were very undercooked. OK, they said they would correct the problem. This is where the night was a bit interesting. My wife cut a few pieces of steak as did I to check how cooked it was. When the steaks came back from the kitchen they were the same steaks we sent back, except now overcooked. The manager came over and asked us if there were any issues with our meal. I told her flat out that for $42.00, a steak should not be put back on the grille. A new piece should have prepared. The manager agreed and without any suggestion from us, removed it from the bill. I still tip based on what the bill would have been and so it was a very expensive evening for excellent soup, bread and desserts. The restaurant decor is nice. It is not overly done and the dim lighting seems to make one assume that it would be a quiet evening. However, they were sitting everyone in one section when we were last there and it was one of the loudest places I have eaten a fancy meal. If I am spending $$$ (which is rare) I expect a quiet, slow evening. After all, this is not a burger joint where they usher you in and usher you out to get another table sat.
(3)Alexis G.
This place is great for the Lehigh Valley because it's not a chain, and it's huge. As a former meat eater, I can say this place is pretty good. Unfortunately, this is where I took my then-boyfriend the first time he met my family. He has been vegan for about 10 years, so I was nervous about going here. But my mom had called ahead and assured me they had options for vegans and vegetarians alike. In reality, the waiter looked like a deer in headlights when we asked for vegan recommendations. On the spot, he thought of a dish called "The Tower of Vegetables," and swore up and down that this was one of the restaurant's best dishes. They must have had a chuckle about it back in the kitchen, because "The Tower of Vegetables" was more like a carrot on top of a piece of lettuce. It's a funny story that we still laugh about to this day. It was our bad for thinking they really did have vegetarian options here. Why would they?
(3)Patricl Z.
This is one of the best grill house I have eaten in sometimes. And I have eaten at Emerill, in st-martin the french food capital of the Caribbean. The surrounding is top notch (up to NY's standard). Service was a bit quick though but still best porterhouse steak ever.
(5)Josh F.
The epitome of overpriced "fine" dining. Let's be clear...the food is good, the wine selection is great, and the service get's no complaints....but if you can explain to me why it deserves the pricing it get's, I am all ears. The place is very nice, beautiful decor, very trendy setting. I believe they even have or had a cigar bar...cool, if you're into it. Have been three times, just to make sure I wasn't missing something. Once with another couple, who raved about the place, and we found it to be just alright. Second time was with a buisness function, so the check was picked up by the company...and I still felt like the place was suffering from delusions of grandeur. Last time was a few of us, for a friends birthday...we all had a great time, enjoyed a bit of wine, light fare and some deserts. Now I no wine is not cheap when purchased within an establishment, but 125% mark ups on a same bottle I purchased the day before at the local wine and spirits!?!? Oh well, I suppose some people just enjoy the feeling of dumping tons of money on a dinner/evening at places like this...a false sense of satisfaction, for having indulged in something so pricey in a upscale setting maybe?
(3)Ricardo S.
I am not speaking from a food point of view, but from a bar/loungie place...this was a great place to go for a few hours with some friends and listen to good music and enjoy a few nice drinks. I am usually a beer person, but I decided to try their espresso martinis and they did not disapoint. The wine selection also seems pretty decent. All in all I would at least recommend it for that.... in the summer, there is also a small patio where you can enjoy the weather and your drinks outside, it's also not nearly as loud out there.
(3)Jeff H.
My wife and I went there for valentines day. We had a reservation for 5:45. After checking our coats we only waited five minutes and was seated upstairs in their "new section". It seemed more like a mini banquets hall. They made it a point to inform us this was the first night this section was open. When sitting at our table we could still smell the adhesive they used on the wall covering. We order cheese quesadillas for our app which we really enjoyed with the homemade guacamole. For our entrees my wife had the beef steak tomato salad I had the big eye tuna steak and we split tri color potatoes, spinach,and asparagus. For dessert we had a chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache. The overall meal and experience was good. The dessert we had better honestly iPad better event a diner for dessert. When leaving the lobby was so crowded I thought about coming back tomorrow for our coats due to the fact everyone was packed in like sardines. Just a thought when you expand your dinning room expand your lobby. The overall experience was nice my tuna was great and our drinks where made perfectly. We would visit again even though when we arrived home we both became a little ill from the dessert. I have no idea maybe it was old. Like I said we would go back but skip the dessert menu.
(4)Kate S.
Way too pricey for what you get... My boyfriend and I used to enjoy going to Blue for special occasions (because it's pricey) for the traditional and delicious steakhouse experience. We went tonight after almost a year away and they revamped the menu and we were so disappointed they got rid of our favorite steakhouse classic sides. We started out with some tasty apps, the oysters rockefeller and lobster raviolis which were good but overpriced. The new sides were blah. They were basically steamed or sauteed vegetables and they were charging $7 for a plate of mushrooms that were eh and a $7 baked potato that was overcooked to the point where you couldn't even cut through it with a steak knife. They got rid of the lobster mac n cheese as well as the creamed spinach sides which was something I would totally pay $7 for. I also realized they were charging $2 for a steak sauce which I don't think they used to charge for before. The service is always great there and my filet was to die for but everything else fell short of my expectations for the price which was worth about a week and a half of groceries! OUCH... So we will explore other more reasonable places in the valley to get a good steak.
(2)Robert S.
Blue turned out to be better than I expected, given some of the other reviews. I went with some friends on a Friday evening. First we tried the happy hour specials in the bar, which was pretty busy. They discounted some glasses of wine and beer by a few bucks, and had some good appetizers for $5-7. We then went into the dining room for our dinner, which was pretty empty. Oddly empty for a Friday night. The atmosphere/design in both the bar and dining areas is pretty cool. The prices on the menu were actually slightly less than I had anticipated. Steaks and sides are cheaper than Shula's or Emerils. If I remember correctly, a 8-oz filet was $28, sides maybe $5-$6. I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup that tasted great, but the bowl it came in made it very difficult to eat. The steaks were excellent, and they give you several sauces on the side to try. I was too stuffed to try dessert. They do have a huge wine selection, probably better than any other local restaurant. The service was great, but probably because the place was empty. As far as expensive restaurants in the Lehigh Valley go, I think Blue is a pretty fair value for what it is. I'll be back.
(4)Abby W.
Decent wine list I would recommend going to the bar for drinks over having dinner here, the food is pretty mediocre but the ambiance is nice overall
(2)Mike W.
This is one of the nicer places in the Allentown area. There ws a nice atmosphere; good (not great) service and the food was excellent. It was on the epensive side, but it is what i would expect to pay for the quality of the meal. I had: Wild boar. Tomato and mozzarella salad. Broccoli w/ hollandaise. & Tiramisu. The balsamic reduction on the salad was excellent. It had lots of flavor,but not in the hit you over the head sense. The tomatoes were firm and tasty and the mozzarella was fresh and yummy. The boar was excellent, but im happy i ordered medium rare because it came out medium. Even though it was wild, i did not get a gamey taste, although it was a bit stringy as expected. The Tiramisu was a let down because it was only really good and not great. If there was a low point it was i would consider our waitress to be average, i had to flag her down and ask for the refills on my water and soda. All in all though a very nice dining experience
(4)