Molinari’s
322 E 3rd St, Bethlehem, PA, 18015
Molinari’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bethlehem for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
322 E 3rd St
Bethlehem, PA, 18015 - Phone (610) 625-9222
- Website https://www.molinarimangia.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Stephen G.
My GF and I go to the Steel Stacks quite often and have always wanted to try this place, so after catching a movie at Arts Quest we stopped in for a late night snack. Sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by Jessie our bartender. Very attentive and knowledgeable on their drinks and menu. We both ordered salads, Roasted Beet & Ricotta for her and the Arugula for me, both were outstanding!!! We then opted to split the pizza on special that night. Pancetta, Spinach, Mozzarella and Roasted Parsnips... It was fantastic!!! Thin crust baked in a wood-fired oven done to perfection.
(5)Elaine M.
People were nice, food was good, service was bad. Long stretches between food, as other diners have mentioned. When we came in they seem unsure where to put us although the restaurant was pretty empty. I requested a window which they accommodated. As we we started to follow her she asked us to please wait. She then put the menus down on the table and then got us. It was rather strange...couldn't we have sat down and she could put the menus down rather than stopping us mid-walk?? Teenage son ordered a plain fettucine sauce with pasta and it was $15 for about 20 of them. I looked at that plate when he got it and thought 'oh please don't be more than $10.' I got the carbonara pizza and it was more like naan than pizza. The crust was soggy, not crispy. Kids and spouse got gelato and the waitress seemed annoyed I did not want to get a scoop myself. I had the red sangria and pink sangria and I will say they were good, although $22 for two drinks yikes! With my 2 sangria's, spouse's beer, one 'shirley temple' drink for one of the kids, and gelato for 3 of them, with tip it came to $135. Ouch! Not what we expected to spend for a family of 4.
(2)Lauren T.
My husband and I ate here for dinner on a Friday evening. The service was incredible in the beginning. They were wiling to switch us from a table to a booth upon request. The rosemary foccacia bread and olive oil from Seasons was the perfect way to start. The waitress was incredibly friendly and was willing to offer recommendations for wine and appetizers. We had the formaggio and the arancini (made with butternut squash). It was incredible! I think that is what makes it hard to write an unfavorable review. After our appetizers we waited an exorbitant amount of time for our entrees. The restaurant did not seem overly crowded, and while I like a slower pace to a meal, thirty minutes between courses felt excessive. The waitress came by once to check on us in this time. When dinner finally arrived they brought my husband's first and it wasn't until five minutes later that mine came out. Further adding to my disappointment was the dryness of the pasta. I was surprised with the lag time between courses and between our own meals coming out that there wasn't an attempt by a manager to explain or apologize. I think we would try it again because the beginning of the meal was so promising, but I can't say I would recommend it.
(2)Scott H.
Five stars for great food and great service midweek. For those of you who only dine at restaurants on the weekends, you're really missing out. Molinari's is one of those places that gets packed and loud during prime time which, for some people, is energizing and others is stressful. Stopping by mid week really allows you to enjoy your meal and interact with your fellow diners and your servers. Visited last night and had a terrific pasta dish, saffron fettuccine with shrimp. Service was fast, friendly and the food was delicious. We're hosting an event there in a few weeks which I expect to be fantastic.
(5)Michele J.
Pardon the pun, but the "little town of Bethlehem" has a nice spot in Molinari's. The service was exceptional. I'm from out of town, and service where I'm from is getting worse by the minute. The service here was friendly and GENUINELY SO. I luckily got the last spot both at the bar AND at the restaurant when I happened in to eat before a show. The bartender was happy to serve me at the bar (which doesn't always happen). There were many unique but appealing menu items. Short on time, I went for the pizza funghi (mushroom)j. I was still served some home made foccacia bread (even though I only had pizza as opposed to an entree) and some very nice olive oil. The pizza was delicious. The crust was thin and the cheese and mushrooms were delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in town for dinner!! Reservations are probably recommended.
(5)Layton D.
Really nice dining experience. If you enjoy a nice glass or two of wine - be sure to talk to Lee for his recommendations. The menu is somewhat limited, but everything on it is fresh from local farms. Pastas are made on the premises, as are a unique selection of gelato and sorbettas. We tried a trio of sorbettas - orange/ginger, lemon and a cucumber/lime - amazing. Nice bar featuring cocktails, wines and beers - al fresco dining on nice summer evenings. Try it - you'll enjoy your experience!
(4)Sara S.
Very good food and service. My boyfriend and I each got a non-alcoholic cocktail, and they were a little syrup-heavy. We split the roasted almonds, marinated olives, and arugula salad, all of which were excellent. I got the margherita pizza; it was decent. Not the best I've had, but good nonetheless. My boyfriend had the striped bass which he thought was very good. I had the dark chocolate budina for dessert. It was very good, but too rich to finish. The water for my tea was not hot enough to properly steep the chamomile that I ordered. Overall a good experience. I would recommend to anyone.
(4)Karen W.
The food here is very good. It is traditional food from Italy, not American Italian. You won't find overdone pasta and heavy marinara sauce on the menu here. Instead you'll find delicious salon, pork and fresh pasta dishes. They have amazing gelato choices for dessert also.
(4)Tyson F.
This review isn't just about amazing food, drinks or even restaurant service, it's about a restaurant that clearly goes far above and beyond of any reasonable expectation. There are restaurants with good service, and then there are restaurants - like Molinari's - that have great service, but more on that later. Firstly, the drinks and overall beverage options. Molinari's cocktail menu was a huge surprise. It featured several classic cocktails, as well as an impressive selection of signature and seasonal cocktails. For the first time in a long time, I found myself wanting to order every drink on the menu. Both cocktails we ordered were from the seasonal menu, and were delicious. A quick browse of the beer list was also quite comprehensive, as they offer quality options from across the beer spectrum. They even had 2 sours on the menu, which I'm a huge fan of. On to the food. Molinari's has been on the top of our must-do list for quite some time now, and we would've come sooner had we known what was in store for us. The complimentary toasted focaccia and olive oil (from Seasons in Bethlehem) was delicious. We ordered a handful of items across the menu... From the Sputini/Antipasti menus, we ordered: marinated olives, butternut squash arancino with basil pesto, a 60-minute egg with wilted spinach, garlic, bread, crispy speck and chicken sugo (which was brand new that night, and an instant crowd favorite according to our server), and burrata with black garlic pesto, truffle salt, lightly pickled cauliflower, topped with watercress. Order the egg now. Thank me later. From the Pasta menu, we ordered the Rye Pappardelle with braised duck leg, cocoa, parsnips, rosemary, parmesan and foie gras butter. Simply put, each item we ordered was phenomenal and was presented beautifully. The standout from the night was the 60-minute egg, which was just knockout delicious. The amount of flavor they've put into that dish is mind-boggling. As for the service, we couldn't have expected anything better. We made dinner reservations at 5:15 on a Wednesday. Our server was perfectly attentive, and the pacing of the dishes was timed extremely well. As soon as we finished one course, the next was out within a minute or 2. If they're able to replicate this during a heavy weekend dinner service, even more kudos to the staff. But the one thing that really made our night was a simple, kind gesture from one of the members of the staff. My girlfriend and I were seeing a show immediately after dinner at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University. Right smack in the middle of our dinner, we realized we had forgotten the tickets to the show. A member of the staff (I now wish I had gotten her name) overheard us discussing this, and offered to call Zoellner for us, to let them know we were dining at Molinari's and had forgotten our tickets. After she called, all we had to do was drop by Will Call to pick up replacements. Obviously, this was something we could have done ourselves, or something that the girl could've suggested we do ourselves, but instead, she offered to make the phone call so that we didn't have to interrupt our dinner. And that, on top of the amazing food and drink, is why we'll be back soon.
(5)Joe K.
We were seated outside on the patio. Our server, I believe her name was Hilary(?), was outstanding! She was super nice and went over the menu with us. We started off with a meatball pizza which we shared 4 ways. 12 inch thin crust which was very flavorful. I originally ordered a rabbit pasta dish but they ran out, so I went with the squid ink pasta. My dish was so delicious! The rest of our party had a salmon dish and another sausage pasta dish. Everyone thought the food was amazing! For desert, we split a trio of sorbet and gelato. We had two types of gelato: Hazelnut and pistachio saffron. The sorbet was rhubarb mint. Everything was very tasty and the pasta was extremely light. I would highly recommend this place and once again are server Hilary, I hope that's her name, was fantastic!
(5)Hailey H.
Menu was very limited, with little variation between dishes. The serving sizes were not very large and the food was very average. Definitely not worth the price and would not consider going back.
(1)Jeffrey G.
My first visit. Great atmosphere. Great conversation at the bar. And the food was amazing. Thanks to Jesse who made great recommendations on food, cocktails and wine. Portions are generous!
(5)Anthony F.
We ate here while visiting Lehigh with our two teenage children. It was a week long road trip so we decided to have a special meal one night. The food at Molinari's is excellent. We started with the Salumi Misti, the Piatto di Formaggi, and the marinated olive salad. The salumi was excellent and the portion large. The cheese was also excellent, especially the gorgonzola dolce. My daughter loved the olives. Entrees were also very good. I had the port loin which came with an excellent parmesan polenta. My wife had the duck and my son had the Canestri con Sugo Toscano. Dessert looked wonderful but we were too full to indulge. They have Affogato which I really wanted to taste. The ambiance was nice. It was not too crowded the night we were there. Presentation and service were excellent. I would definitely go again if I were in Bethlehem.
(4)William J.
After hearing some really good free jazz (the NYC-based swing group, Fleur Seule), and munching on some fairly edible popcorn and peanuts over at the Steel Stacks, we were hungry. With a quick flip of the smart phone and with Yelp in tow, we were off to Molinari's, only 1/3 of a mile as the crow flies. We were not disappointed and, in fact, we were blown-away by the delicious food that was once in, as I remembered, a dusty backwater area that mainly served the after-work drinking buddies pouring out from molten metal caves. I had the whole wheat penne with kale and other tasty bits, my lovely partner had a perfectly presented and tasty salmon, and her mom and daughter dug into some fine looking margarita pizzas. They even had a wonderful Vermentino, which is a restaurant rarity, by the glass. Maggie was a great server and the reception we got from everyone surrounding her was a testament to good management and a great working environment. Do I have one complaint? Okay, yes, the front door is way too heavy for older folks to open on their own, but at this rate they may need a door man/woman to control the crowds. Special all the way around, we want to go back.
(5)Dawn B.
I was not sure about this place. The menu seemed a little extreme and odd, but I was wrong. The food was fantastic. The service was even better if that is at all possible. We had our son who loves pasta. We did pick something off the menu for him and then I saw the build your own pasta menu. I believe it may be a kid's menu. He had wheat pasta with meatballs. He wanted shrimp too and they made him shrimp too. He loved it. We had the cheese platter appetizer and the risotto appetizer. Both were great. Wasn't sure about risotto since it had a fried egg on top but it all worked together. Their bread is delicious. For main course I had the pasta with meat sauce. It was very good and portion was a god size. My hubby had the chef's fish dish. He didn't like it came with skin but otherwise it was really good. Desert was also good. Hubby had a chocolate 'pudding' thing (can't remember the Italian name). I had the 3 choice sorbet/gelato. My absolute favorite was blood orange hibiscus. It was delicious. I highly recommend this place. The staff was awesome as was the food!!!
(5)phoebe c.
We are in town as vendors for a show and were looking for a new dinner destination on a late night and Molinari was an easy drive, parking and had good reviews. Because we arrived at 8:30 (late for us to eat anything but a light dinner) we did not try the meat or pasta dishes. We were able to call ahead to be sure of a table. The staff was attentive and friendly. The interior is a rustic sleek. The wine list, beer selection and cocktails were perfect! I ordered a ginger & rosemary infused gin sipper. Loved. Local farms and businesses are represented on the menu. Seasons olive oil & vinegar taproom arbequina CA olive oil was on the table. The house focaccia was toasted... That was odd. We kept it simple and quick (late to eat for us) I loved the arugula salad with apples, roasted hazelnuts, shaved celery, fennel, onions, parm. It may be strange but I adore a big fresh salad that's no nonsense but I'm not a meat eater. We shared a local broccoli white pizza. It was just right, thin crust. Next time we'll have more time to play!
(4)Dave L.
This review is long overdue. My girlfriend and I had dinner at this restaurant weeks ago. The food was actually decent. I can't remember everything we got but one of the dishes was pasta with truffle sauce and I think duck. The service was warm and friendly. The reason for the 1 star is we were both in pain for days from food poisoning. Both very disappointed.
(1)D O.
was here for a friend's wedding reception. the food here is amazing. the appetizers, the entrees and wine list were on point. and this is coming from a couple of nyc foodies. :) they created a beautiful setting for my friend, hence; generated a memorable day. the service was attentive, thoughtfully decorated, and the food was delicious. next time we are back, we will come here for another amazing meal!
(5)Caitlin F.
Great food and very great service! I got a pasta with corn cream and my boyfriend got pizza with smoked mushrooms. They know what they are doing when it comes to Italian food. The bread and olive oil you get is especially good.
(5)Rachel J.
Last night I went to Molinari's with a girlfriend for the first time. I must say I'm rather sad that, having lived in the Lehigh Valley for the last four years, I have never had the privilege to dine here until now. I'm also sad that I'll only get to go here perhaps one more time before my husband and I move out of the state, as I would've really loved to make this a regular date destination. The only potential problem is that I would recommend placing your reservation by phone, especially if it's a late reservation, as they said they hadn't checked for online bookings when we arrived and therefor didn't notice the one I had made. The restaurant wasn't totally packed, and they accommodated us very quickly, so it really wasn't much of a problem for us, but I can see how that could be a frustrating situation in other, less fortunate circumstances. Hillary was our server, and she was simply fantastic. She was super friendly, and helped us through the menu and answered any questions we had very succinctly and gave us plenty of time to figure out what we were going to order. And what a ridiculously awesome meal it was. We shared the Burrata cheese and the Rabbit Risotto, followed by the pork tenderloin for my friend and the softshell crab for myself. For dessert I had the olive oil cake and my friend ordered a trio of gelato consisting of dark chocolate, cappuccino, and chocolate chip cannoli. While everything was delicious, I must say that for me, the high note was the dessert, and a perfect end to the evening. Overall, I had a great time at Molinari's, and I can't wait to visit again.
(4)TJ K.
I just wrote a long review and it got erased when I logged into Yelp, so I've gotta keep this one short because of time. Bottom line...GO! GO, EAT, RELAX, ENJOY! The wait staff (our waiter Jesse was great!), atmosphere and food are fabulous! They are very accommodating to gluten and dairy issues (and probably others), so it was a pleasure to dine here. I'll be back there again soon, even though it's an hour drive! GO!!!!
(5)Alan Z.
Excellent (Lee) service, friendly hostess , gracious owner. Unbelievable food. Grilled octopus app, cheese app were excellent. Who would believe dinner could top that sword fish balls with homemade pasta fantastic. Panea cotta was the best I have ever had.
(5)Lauren W.
Very good Italian restaurant! A great addition here on the south side. My boyfriend and I will definitely be returning soon!
(4)Andrew B.
A little about me: I'm a trained chef and used to write restaurant reviews for a restaurant guide in NYC. My average rating would probably be in the 3-4 range. Molinari's was below average (1.5 stars). I'll start on a high note. My wine was excellent and reasonably priced. The dining room is nicely decorated and has a good feel, though, we sat outside because the weather was perfect. Things went downhill from there. Maybe, it was because we were outside, but, the waitstaff seemed inattentive, which is a problem because there were only a few tables seated. Worse, the waiter made two errors with our order--the one was a mistake related to a serious allergy, which was clearly noted. When the food came, which happened slowly, the results were inconsistent. The mussels we had were old and starting to discolor, the sauce was languid, uninspired, and used sausage to try to pick up the pieces. The pasta pomodoro was a real flop. I think the chef tried to use local tomatoes, but he jumped the ripeness gun. There was not enough acid to give the sauce bite and depth, nor enough salt to create savour, and the basil just sort of wilted on top. There are few things as disappointing as a poorly prepared tomato dish--which is a shame because cherry tomatoes are now in season and could have produced a wonderful sauce! On a positive note, we did have a mushroom and polenta dish which was good, if a bit over-salted. My general impression is that Molinari's is trying way too hard to impress before they get the basics right. Italian food is about simple ingredients executed well. From my observation, neither the kitchen nor the front end got that memo. That's a real problem in a restaurant where two people could easily drop $100 on a meal.
(2)Jess E.
I have celiac disease and went here for their gluten free pasta- and heavily expressed my allergy to the waiter. It was absolutely fantastic until I found an angel hair in my penne and asked why there was a cross contamination of pasta and realized that they use a "fryer full of hot water and trow all their pasta in it- not separating the gluten free pasta from the regular pasta water..... VERY IRRESPONSIBLE . completely negates having gluten free pasta on the menu at all and it was very irresponsible to have that sort of cross contamination. needless to say i was absolutely sick for a month after that night. Am never going back
(1)Isabella C.
Exceptional Italian. Can't get enough of this food! Fresh ingredients, house made, locally sourced, and gluten free. This is as close as it gets to the real deal. The menu is innovative and harmonious, the environment is ambient & sophisticated, the staff is outstanding & knowledgable, (shout out to Lee!) A true gem in the valley for a reasonable price- could easily hold it's weight in Philly or Nyc.
(5)Tracy S.
My husband and I just returned from a wonderful meal at Molinari's. From the service to the ambiance, and of course the amazing food, everything showed attention to detail and pride in execution. This place is a great date night location paired with a movie or concert at SteelStacks. We will definitely be back!
(5)Rachel D.
Man, I really like this place. Seasonal menu, casual but upscale decor, and creative cocktails. My husband and I ate here last Saturday night around 9. I mention that because we tend to eat late and that can really limit one's choices and affect the level of service when it come to non-chain places. I started with a very inventive beet and gin cocktail and a wild ramp crostini, both were excellent. I really wanted to order something different than pizza as my entree this time, but the last time I had it, it was so good and I am a sucker for anything served with an egg on top. So I had the wood fired carbonara pie, and it was right on point with all the spring flavors and textures. By the way, I LOVE their crust, chewy tender inside with the right char and crispness on the outside. My husband had the pancetta wrapped pork and he cleaned his plate. We split the gelato trio, I thought the mint chip was fantastic, but my husband said he didn't like it because you could "taste the mint leaves" Isn't that a good thing?! Anyway, its a nice touch to be able to create your own trio from many different flavors. The service was fine, our main server, Lee, seemed to know the menu well. The only odd thing was that we had about five or six different staff members waiting on us, which really wasn't an issue, just odd. It may have been because it was late. I will definitely be back to hopefully try a non pizza entree.
(5)Jesse M.
A great spot for an evening out of the ordinary. We sat outside, close to the street but they created a nice spot for dining. The menu is very unique with fun dishes that mix and match flavors and combinations that aren't typically seen. It was hard to decide what to get (which is a good thing). They had 5-6 different Sangria selections and the two we had were AWESOME! The appetizer and salad were both 5 star, the pasta entrees were only 4 star but the flavors were so different. I think it was a little different for our taste buds but definitely enjoyable. Also had 3 fun new sorbet flavors for dessert "Avocado & Honey" was strange but good at the same time. Prices were phenomenal for the quality of food, entrees between $16-$25ish. The service was as good as it gets. Our server was exactly how a server should be and one of the owners was very friendly and helpful. We would HIGHLY recommend sitting down for a lovely evening at Molinari's. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Barb R.
My husband I went there for dinner last night. Oh my goodness... so good!! It started with a very nice wine, then a wonderful olive appetizer, next I had the Chestnut Encrusted Salmon and my husband had the Striped Bass. OMG - exceptional! Even the coffee was delicious... Oh and the atmosphere and service were top notch. What a pleasurable evening...! Thank you!!
(5)Ryan M.
Even though it was busy, we were able to get a booth right away. The food was EXCELLENT....the service was sub par. Not sure of the waiter was new or something but, frankly, he sucked. I would, however, come back just for the food. Gf made an excellent choice.
(3)M G.
Have visited Molinari's a few times now and absolutely love it. Really good cocktails and beers. The bread they give you is warm and very. We started with a salad that had arugula, grapefruit, onion and toasted hazelnuts... Sooo good! Pizzas are also tasty and great to share! I had their whole wheat pasta (I believe all pastas are house made!) with porcini mushrooms and kale in a brown butter. I like that they offer half portions for pasta. That way I can save room for dessert! We've only had their sorbets and gelatos which were all to die for. I especially love the Chocolate chip cannoli gelato yummmmm! Great place for a date night or just a night out with friends. We will definitely be back!
(4)Ed B.
Fourth visit. This place keeps getting better. Food: outstanding. Rabbit risotto was a great find. Seafood pasta was prepared well with sliced octopus and shrimp. Arugula and mâché salad was as fresh as could be Service: attentive and knowledgable. Everyone was helpful Wine: nice list of well priced bottles Atmosphere: comfortable and welcoming. One of the best places in the Lehigh Valley for dining.
(5)Elvin B.
Place has potential, but after two visits I have to pass. Service very slow and food just OK. Too many other great option for the money.
(3)Brittany M.
I went to dinner here with my boyfriend and two if our friends. I admit, I was nervous... I am a vegan which often greatly limits my choices in even the most accommodating of places. Upon scoping out the menu online I saw that it looked incredible for omnivores, but I was expecting that I'd probably be stuck ordering a salad and omitting everything but the lettuce. ...I was pleasantly surprised! The interior had changed a lot from the last time I was there, and the place looked great. The staff was wonderful. I ordered one of their pizzas with no cheese, and they added all kinds of veggies and beans on it for me. Absolutely delicious, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. My friends loved their non-vegan dishes, too. For dessert, I had really tasty lemon sorbetto, which was the perfect light dessert. My friends ordered an espresso and ice cream dessert that looked great. The drinks were great too. So, if you like good food, good drinks, and great service, give Molinari's a try. And if you're a vegan or vegetarian, don't worry! They are great. Thanks, Molinari's!!
(4)Denise S.
Limited menu, average food, horrible music. The Branzino was fishy and most likely previously frozen. Fennel was abundant in at least three items including the steamed clams appetizer, so for those of us who don't like overpowering fennel tastes, this was disappointing. For an Italian restaurant, swing music did not go at all. Service was good despite the food, music and mile high artwork. Wine list was adequate but nothing to write home about.
(2)Mark A.
WOW! That would be one word to describe our meal and experience at Molinari's. I am only disappointed that it took me this long to get there. The menu is not you typical "American Italian" Menu. This menu looks like it is right from a trattoria in Rome. the menu is small but flavorful. I had a good feeling when the dinner bread was served and we tasted the rich, flavorful olive oil. we started with the Keepsake Farm Ricotta Crostini which had a fresh pesto spread and creamy ricotta cheese. For our meals, we enjoyed the Canestri with a Tuscan meat Ragu. The Ragu was extremely flavorful and rich, and the pasta is made fresh and you can tell the difference. the wife had the beef dish with fontina cheese, Italian Ham, and fingerling potatoes. this dish was excellent as well. for desert we had 3 scoops of homemade gelato! Like I said, WOW!
(5)Chadwick T.
It took me a while to get in to try this restaurant but once I did, I have become a regular. Everything about this restaurant's success starts with the humble yet passionate ownership. Keen on bringing the 'peasant' food of Italy to an approachable restaurant that elevates the food without changing it and they have done so brilliantly. Rock starts with the opening chef lead to them hiring a chef that shared the vision and that started them on a great path. The concept is simple: True to Italy. The food, the vibe, the beer, the wine and the liquor. The food is beautiful and simple. Fresh, clean flavors that remind you of your mother's cooking....well, let's say your mothers dishes but created by a professional chef. That's better said ;) I have tried quite a few dishes here but nothing compared to the Charred Octopus salad with potato's and a lovely pesto. It was to die for. The octopus was tender and done right, that alone is hard to find in the valley but the favors complimented it so well. The one thing I will say is, next time you want a pizza and you are going out anyway...come here. The pizza is great. They will customize it too. Perfect example, they have an amazing pizza that I always ask the chef to put an egg on. The next time I came in and asked for a poached egg instead. Not a single word or huff about it, instead my bartender "Lee" (excellent and passionate) smiled and thought it was a great addition. I sipped wines and talked them over with the bartender...once that was done, it was time for a nightcap. Now...I'm in an Italian restaurant, Italian music, discussing the authenticity of the restaurant, guess what I drank? That's right, Grappa. Just like your grandfather would make at home years ago. They have a good selection and if you are unsure, ask Lee. He won't stir you wrong. This is the best new restaurant in the Valley right now, hands down. You are only hurting yourself if you don't pop in and try it.
(4)Amanda Y.
We have been coming to Molinari's since it opened up and are so pleased with it! I love the seasonal menu, I love the local sourcing of products. I love everything on the dessert menu, I love their pizza. I appreciate the cocktail menu, but I am not a "bitters" drinker, so I love their wine list and that they have Peroni on tap. Do you think I like it here? I have never once been let down by a meal here, which statistically speaking should be impossible given how much we like to come here. Do yourself a favor and just eat here. Just once. You'll be back. You won't be able to even help it.
(5)Kelley H.
Great place! I was originally of the "no need to go to any other Italian place when you're near Mama Nina's" persuasion, but my neighbor convinced me to try this place, and it turns out it's not even in the same stratosphere as the beloved Mama Nina's (in a good way). The food is fantastic -- the chef uses fresh, very high quality ingredients, and you can tell he puts a lot of thought into designing each of the dishes. Their menu isn't extensive (just one page), but everything they serve, they do well. The pizzas are great (Neapolitan, thin-crust, brick-oven style), and I love that you can get "half" portions of the pasta. Finally an Italian place that doesn't give you 4 days worth of food for one person! (although sometimes leftovers are nice). The only gripe I have is the seating / reservation / hostess department ... we came to the restaurant one night with 6 people, ready to eat, and the restaurant was literally empty save for one table & a few people at the bar. Nonetheless, we were told that they didn't have room for us until several hours later ... uh?? Having worked in the restaurant industry for years, I get that you have to keep your tables ready for reservations, but what's that saying about "a bird in the hand..." again? We've had similar experiences a few times, and it seems to me like they haven't yet mastered the seating / turnover yet. Overall though, nothing substantial to complain about -- the food is great, and we've had good luck with the servers. The fact that the restaurant fills up pretty much every night is an indication that they're doing something right.
(5)Andrew L.
I went there for the first time this past Valentine's Day. I chose to propose there. I was glad I made that choice. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent. Wine selection was way over my head, but the wait staff was very helpful. Great atmosphere. If I was to propose again, I would pick the exact same spot. Very romantic.
(5)Shine I.
Absolutely one of the best dining experiences I've had here in Bethlehem. It began with our greeting from the friendly ladies at the hostess station. Our service was superb. Our food was phenomenal. If you go, you must try the crustini appetizer and the watercress salad. The ingredients were fresh, and the best part was they customized menu items for us because we are vegetarian. We also found the experience provided us with and affordable, yet romantic evening out.
(5)Stephanie K.
I enjoy the italian staples like chicken parm and fett. alfredo so the food was kind of a miss for me. The service is nothing to write home about. Overall it was ok but there's too many great restaurants close by that I'm in no hurry to go back.
(2)Ryan D.
The food was very good, but the service will keep us away. I met my mother for dinner here and as soon as we were seated we realized the air was blowing very strongly over our booth. The pendant lamp over our table was blowing back and forth so we could see it may have been better at another table. We asked our waitress if we could move to another table since the restaurant was almost empty. She had to check with the hostess who told her it was not possible to move us. I would have understood if the restaurant was full or even close to full at the time, but there were several other identical booths that were empty and remained empty for at least half of our visit. The place did fill up by the time we left, but I highly doubt that the other diners specifically requested the booths that sat empty. Our waitress (Emily I believe) was very friendly, but the situation was not in her control. The worst part about it was as we left we asked what the managers name was and the woman who I assumes was the manager walked up. It turns out that she was not actually the manager, but a Molinari. I don't know if she owned the place or is just in the family, but I would have expected a better response from a namesake. She told us there was only so much she could do when in reality she did nothing. Upon our initial request to move the waitress was told by her that it was like "a game of Tetris" trying to move us to another table. That probably should have been kept between them. I don't care how good the food is when the service doesn't show any concern for their customers. I might have been less appalled if the behavior had come from the actual manager, but this was unacceptable. At the VERY least they could have offered an explanation as to why we couldn't move to one of the identical booths.
(2)Laura K.
The Molinari's gift certificate I received was, like, the best. Gift. Ever. Lately, I'd been to several restaurants, all with bad service. So I was pretty much prepared for another lackluster evening. But to my surprise I had a great experience. My faith in restaurants is restored. We were there on a busy Saturday night. The service was excellent. The antipasto platter was the perfect size of salty delights. I also had the watercress salad with mushrooms, pistachio, shaved fennel and pistachio butter. I never thought I'd drool so much over a salad but I did. It was damn good. I can't stop talking about it. My friends are so annoyed with me, like, "shut it about the watercress!" My fellow diner loved the homemade spaghetti with clams, and I had a half-portion pasta with beef ragu that was rich and yummy. We rounded out the meal with a nice bottle of Chianti and the chocolate espresso cake. I'm not one to gush on Yelp over a restaurant but this was so delicious.
(5)Elaine K.
The 1st time I had gone to Molinari's I thought the food was amazing--- so fresh & wonderful. Loved the Italian wine & beer selection as well. Unfortunately although the atmosphere looks nice, it is extremely noisy, patrons voices are unbearably. Fortunately we were seated along the wall next to the bar, which wasn't as attractive but was much quieter. Went back a second time w/ family & out of town guests & requested to sit in that area. Food again was amazing and even with the limited menu they graciously accepted our request for some altering of a dish to accommodate a picky eater in our group. I also love that they patronize local establishments by using their olive oils & such.
(5)Thomas R.
Molinari's attempts to provide the Lehigh Valley with an upscale Italian themed culinary experience. On some notes, like ambiance, decor, and presentation they succeed. On other notes like menu selection and waitstaff they fall short. The valley's Italian food scene is littered with both subpar and quality options. Between Paolo's, Sette Luna, the Vineyard, Giuseppe's, and Giacomo's there are almost too many places competing for dollars in the Italian food marketplace. In order to compete with these heavy hitters, a new place needs to do something different or better. Molinari's attempts to be different. Most of the menu offerings move away from the standard Italian fare and they try to bring an upscale feel to the traditional Italian flavor profile. My table tasted multiple first courses including a pizza, the antipasto, and a salad. All of which were good but nothing blew us away. The white pizza with sausage had ok flavor, the antipasto was good, and the salad was standard. The entree's were again good but did not blow us away. Two people got pasta and the other two fish. Each of the meals was tasty but again, no one was raving. After our meal the table shared the homemade Panna Cotta and we were very happy. It had great flavor and was as good as any we have previously had. The drink selection was solid. The major issue we had was with the waitstaff. Our waitress was hard to hear, did not visit the table often, and was unable to make comprehensive suggestions about the menu. She did however fill the drinks quickly. Molinari's will find a niche. Personally, I will have a hard time going there before I go to some of the other heavy hitters across the valley.
(3)Janet J.
Tonight was my third fabulous meal at this Southside gem. The ingredients are simple & fresh and the service is excellent. Comparisons to dining in Rome are well deserved. The salmon served over chickpeas and swiss chard with a light broth is the most flavorful preparation I have experienced. The pastas, all available in half portions, are delicious and include a spicy puttanesca and a delicate and sophisticated vegetarian option featuring orecchiette with roasted cauliflower and breadcrumbs. The fresh burrata cheese and grilled fennel appetizer is outstanding. Love the view of 3rd Street from the enormous windows.
(5)Sunshine K.
I love this restaurant! I usually just order 2 apps for dinner, but since they are so big, I'm good to go! I LOVE the butternut squash arancini (ravioli), calamari & the arugula salad. Drinks are kind of pricey, but the atmosphere is great so it makes up for it! Be sure to call ahead for reservations or you'll never get a seat on the weekends. I especially love this place during the warmer weather. They have an amazing patio for outdoor seating!!
(4)John G.
This place is a real gem. I have been there numerous times and they really do an amazing job in all areas - service is fantastic, food is wonderful and the wine is reasonable and really good. This really is a first rate place and is assuming and friendly. I would highly suggest trying it out.
(5)Bob F.
I rarely give five stars, but I continue to be very impressed wtih Molinari's. I drive past it every day and decided to stop in. I'm glad I did. This is not the traditional Italian fare available in the Lehigh Valley. I have tried nearly every appetizer and they are all fantastic. My favorites are the Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels, Baby Arugula Salad, and the Arancini di Riso. My wife enjoys the pizza's and her favorite is the Funghi al Forno. My favorite entree is the Grilled Pork Chop with kale, cannelini beans, and sausage. The flavors in this dish really complement each other nicely. I haven't tried the pasta dishes, but guests that have joined me for dinner have said they are great as well. My kids are picky eaters and they also enjoy the food. They have a solid wine list and make an excellent classic martini. I highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy Italian, but want something different than you'll find at most places in the Lehigh Valley. The wait staff is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing.
(5)Rex W.
From when we first called for the reservation, the level of hospitality was excellent. Hillary, the young lady who filled our water, to Jill our server to Drew the bartender, were all very kind and inviting. It was our first visit, so we just went to the entree. C had the salmon and I had the 3 meat ragu, both above average. We had the olive oil cake and the sea salt expresso mouse(I'm sure it had an italian name), again both excellent. Certainly a great find and place we will certainly return to.
(5)John S.
I have dined at Molinari's several times and have had a very good experience each time. Great food and outstanding staff who are friendly and helpful. Pasta is all made in house and available as half portions which are still plenty for one person. Make sure to check out the outstanding Italian beer list.
(4)Jean N.
We've eaten here a few times and had delicious food every time. They use fresh and local ingredients when they can, which is an added plus. Nice atmosphere too.
(4)Katherine N.
Ate here for my pre-half marathon meal. The appetizer was a creative mix of cheeses and meats with a caponata (grilled eggplant) like spread, grilled toasts, and hard boiled egg dipped in balsamic vinaigrette which seemed odd but was really good. For the main we had salmon and two of the fresh made pastas. The waiter was attentive and helpful with the wine. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Kate M.
This is the place to go in the valley for more authentic Italian food. ( If you are interested in excessively large portions of chicken parmagiana, this is not the place for you..) We have eaten here several times and enjoyed all of our experiences. The pasta dishes are particularly wonderful--fresh and homemade to order. It is nice to have the option of a "half portion". The wine list was a lovely suprise--interesting and unique choices all within a very reasonable price range--including several good options by the glass. Do not miss the homemade gelato--this is the real thing (not just ice cream called gelato)--especially the hazelnut!
(5)Biagio R.
Went here for the first time a couple months ago. My family came to visit me at school and wanted to take me out to dinner. First trying to go to Emeril's restaurant in the Sand's which ended being packed, we found ourselves at Molinari's. Not knowing what to expect from this restaurant, we decided to take a risk anyway. we were quickly seated, and looked right at the menu. We decided to order 2 pizzas as appetizers one being the classic margarita and the second being the "breakfast" pizza which included sausage, egg, and cheese. My dad, aunt, and uncle all being from Italy, they all know their food especially Italian food. The pizzas came out and looked cooked to perfection on the crust and toppings. Taking a bite right into the "breakfast" pizza and right away so many flavors and great taste came to my tongue. My dad, aunt, and uncle tried the margarita and overly approved of the dish. Then for my main course was a spaghetti with meat sauce. When my dish came it looked great, but after taking a bite into the cooked to perfection pasta it was amazing. This place was a great find and I can't wait to go back and eat here again. I can't forget they also bring in different olive oils and bread from different places I believe every week to give their customers a different taste. You can't go wrong with eating here, due to the fact that even my family from Italy loved it. Please enjoy!
(5)Russ T.
I really enjoyed dinner here. We started with the antipasta tray (meat, cheese) and I must say that the flavors were diverse. I would have liked a little bit more on the plate. The dinners were very well done. Each of us enjoyed what we had (and shared amongst one another). Dessert was also well done. I want to come back and try the pizza. The waitress was excellent. Only comment was that the drink list tried to be too fancy but maybe that's the trend today. I like that you can go to this place dressed casual or fancy and either way you don't feel out of sorts. Street seating is fun (although sometimes a tad noisy) and seems to pick up as the evening goes on. This is an upscale, trendy, romantic, casual, intimate place. Yep, all of these in one.
(4)John K.
We were there just before Christmas so the atmosphere was festive. It is on a great corner location with outdoor seating when warmer very close to Sands. Everything is homemade with the exception of the gluten free pasta (which they volunteered was not homemade). Molinari's also donates 2% of their proceeds to feed hungry children. The food was very good. I had the pork chop which was served over a mixture of sausage, spinach and lentils...very tasty. The rosemary bread they served was unique and tasty. My only criticisms are that the menu is limited which would limit how often I visit and the calamari was nothing special except for the salsa verde with which it was served which was very tasty - especially with the rosemary bread.
(3)John A.
Better than Momma Nina
(4)J. K.
This is our regular date night venue. Every time my husband asks me where I'd like to eat, it's always Molinari's. I have had consistently great food here. For apps, I like the fresh ricotta crostini, the antipasti plate, the calamari, the watercress salad, and when they have it, the grilled octopus. The focaccia that starts the meal is always paired with a tasty olive oil. For mains, I've had a few of the pizzas and pastas - the bucatini is simple but delicious. I love the orecchiette with cauliflower. Braised short rib with creamy polenta is also up there in my favorites. For dessert, try the gelato or chocolate Budno or panna cotta....I'm getting hungry again just thinking about all this food. Service is pretty decent, sometimes a tad slower on a busy night but still attentive.
(4)Jennifer P.
Dined here with a group of friends on a Thursday night. Service was attentive but on the slower side for the valley. However, the slow pace allowed us to enjoy our evening and take our time. Ordered beef carpaccio for appetizer which was fresh and delicious. Ate lobster ravioli as main dish - this was one of the specials. Ravioli was incredible and the best part was that it was prepared with tomato sauce and local ricotta salata instead of the typical cream sauce. Finished meal with a yummy panna cotta. We all ordered wine off the fairly extensive wine list which the server knew a lot about. Overall, I thought our experience was above average and plan to return.
(4)Bob D.
Drove in for Columbus Day weekend with the family, & we had a blast. From the selected cheeses for an appetizer, to a salmon dish for my wife, a pasta with marinara & multiple-meats sauce for me, and pizzas for the kids, plus very rich desserts, we were all very, very pleased. It's a very comfortable setting, and our server was knowledgeable & very helpful; the wine person helped us select a perfect bottle to go with dinner. This was a five-star experience for anywhere--but for Bethlehem, this place is a gem!
(5)Maribel C.
My experience here wasn't completely bad. The atmosphere was nice and the people were friendly. We started off with a couple of appetizers and a pizza to share.They tasted good but I was just surprised by the size of the antipasto platter -just a few pieces of meat and cheese-kinda skimpy. I've been served larger platters when I was in Italy. I ordered the pork chop-it was decent but nothing special. One friend ordered the Veal Rollatini- I had a taste and it was okay. He offered me more, but he only had 2 little rolls-I didn't want to eat most of his food! I actually gave him some of my dinner.Personally speaking, I don't think the food is worth the money we spent here.
(2)Howard C.
Service started out great but did get a little weak at the end. The menu is limited, which is good. The menu selections were perfect. There was something for everyone. The size of the first and second courses were just right, European sized. The food was prepared to perfection and the was served at the correct temperature. The ambiance was great and not too noisy.. The food was priced correctly. Good wine list and reasonably priced. A little more attention to the serving the second course could be improved. The wait staff was excellent and knowledgable.
(5)Sally Lynn A.
The food was very good, but when we asked to be moved to a different table because the air was blowing on us so cold we were shivering, we were told there was nothing they could do. If we were a large table I could understand, but we were 2 people and there were many dueces stll not used when we left after NOT being accommodated. When leaving I spoke to a Molinari, who was the one who refused to move us, and I was told she was sorry but there was nothing she could do and told me I didn't understand. I very politely told her that I used to own a restuarant and that there is ALWAYS something you can do to please your customers...she made a bad decision. Maybe she'll read this and realize it's all about the customer. Word of mouth is the very best free advertisement. I don't ever want to see any good business venture fail, but there is more to running a restaurant than the food.
(2)