The Trapp Door Gastropub
4226 Chestnut St, Emmaus, PA, 18049
The Trapp Door Gastropub Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Emmaus for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Emmaus for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Emmaus for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4226 Chestnut St
Emmaus, PA, 18049 - Phone (610) 965-5225
- Website https://thetrappdoorgastropub.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Daniel H.
Walk quickly but don't run either (you might trip and fall). Yeah the outside of this place looks a little grim and the parking lot is darker than I'd like. But you're kind of in the middle of the sticks out here. But sometimes the middle of nowhere yields a pleasant sort of surprise. Not in Allentown or in lowly Bethlehem, but in tiny Emmaus on the road to Bethlehem. I love my beer. If you enjoy amazing beers on tap and are sick of the standard boring drafts, you'll love this place. Sample an entire flight of beers and you won't regret it. I picked up a couple new favorites in this place and I make a point to have those beers elsewhere. The food is fantastic here. Our entire table tried a whole variety of different entrees and appetizers and I couldn't think of anything bad to say. Everything had a unique taste and the flavors in each dish worked together as opposed to stuff slapped together in a microwave. I don't mind spending money on quality beer and food. I've often expressed my displeasure at restaurants that claim to offer that quality but fall short. However I'm going to have equally strong positive opinions about places that live up to their reputation. A solid five stars.
(5)Abbie P.
Stumbled upon the Trapp Door tonight browsing on Yelp since we aren't from the area. We split two starters and an entree. Beer selection was amazing. Atmosphere perfect. Service was great. Food was delicious. Highly recommend the short rib perogies.
(5)Erika B.
I'm going to continue the 5 star trend for this place. I loved the space, the beer selection, and the perogis! Well the whole menu looked great but the perogis were such a great, creative take on a traditional dish. The s'mores were also a must-try for desert. A home made marshmallow? Yes! Nice owners, good crowd, I will return and recommend to others.
(5)P T.
This is my favorite place right now. Go for Saturday 12-3 for happy hour. All beers half off and they have the best pate. The smoked salmon mousse is incredible and it is an incredible charcuterie plate in a land of cheese sticks and wings. This is a grown up place.
(5)Jon D.
always leave full, quenched, and happy! great place!
(4)clement m.
Decent food with their burgers and short ribs being among the Valley's best; excellent although obtuse beer selection and mediocre service. The service may be the result of a tiny kitchen or maybe not, but it is not an in and out place. The glassware and silverware are hard water spotted leaving non-locals to think these items are not clean. Finally, when live music is present, forget it. You can't fit through the door because that's where the band plays. The Act also is way too loud to have even a basic grunting conversation. If the food and beer are what you want, go nights other than Friday and Saturday. If you are a masochist and want to pay a lot for your drink and entree and walk out with a headache, then go on the weekend. One final thought. Tiny place, so if your group is more than two, get there at an off-peak time to secure seating for your group.
(3)Lucas P.
Stopped in for an afternoon snack and couldn't have been happier. An awesome beer selection and a few gluten free beer options as well as ciders for those that are intolerant. House made pirogi were excellent and the truffle aged goat cheese on crostini was delicious. Gluten Free gf (GF gf?) had the mussels and the pom fritte and they were equally as tasty. Staff is always friendly and helpful, and I love getting upscale-ish food and good beer at a place where I don't feel out of place in jeans and t-shirt. Plan to stop here whenever I'm in the area visiting family for some good eats and beer.
(5)David R.
Had a nice and quiet night out. Burger was delicious and the beer selection was great.
(4)Jeffrey L.
All the food we had was delicious. Beer selection was great. Service was good. We plan to return.
(5)Steph K.
The food is amazing. The beer list is awesome and the service is wonderful! My husband and I love to go here. I say it's a must try!
(5)Marc Q.
Great food. Great beer. Great service. Great ambiance. We had no complaints and can't wait to go back. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Momma K.
I can't say enough about how much we loved this place. From the warm atmosphere to the friendly waitstaff, delicious food, and craft beers. On top of it all, there was amazing live music. The perfect date night spot. As parents, we scarcely are able to get a night out, so we are very picky about where we go. We will absolutely return!
(5)Paul C.
The best beers, great food selection and friendly staff. Currently on draft... cigar city maduro oatmeal and a williamsburg alewerks coffee house stout. The beers change frequently but they have a wide variety. Nice selection of meats and cheeses that you can order.
(5)Sue S.
Might have given 4.5 stars for price, but like the others said, you get what you pay for. The beer selection is without a doubt amazing. I like a place where beer is an art not an advertising gimick with bikini clad models and no taste. Everyone had a great knowledge of the selection du jour and made us feel right at home. Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was the pace! This is a place to sit and relax without being rushed in and out. Almost every table that was there when we arrived was still there when we left...but not because the service was slow...it was because everyone is there to enjoy the experience. I actually loved the location. It is beyond the chain restraunt and strip mall section, so we felt like we were in a cozy European pub. Check it out!
(5)J B.
Was here during this restaurant's previous life and liked it, figured we'd give it a shot in its new life, and we still liked it! We aren't big drinkers, but the beer selection is great. Since it was a cool fall night, I figured I'd try out the on-draft Southern Tier Warlock imperial stout brewed with pumpkins (based on bartender recommendation). Good stuff. Appetizers were (excellent) Pomme Frites with homemade ketchup, honey mustard, and horseradish mustard accompanied by the House Made Vegetarian Flatbeard (also excellent). Entrees were the (excellent) Free Range Chicken Breast (skin on, I always skip the skin, but it looked so good I had to eat it, and it rocked) and an (excellent) braised beef special that replaced the out of stock skirt steak. Got the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Good, but a little lacking compared to the rest of the meal. Not sure if it's outsourced or not, but the outside was warm while the middle was still in the process of thawing out. Very good restaurant. Actual place itself is divey, dingy, and small. Reservations are a MUST for a busy night (Fri, Sat, holidays), altho you may get lucky with a bar area high-top if you're a last minute drop-in. The prices are high-end, but suits the food. I'd say everything is overpriced by maybe $1 - $3 each, but an extra $10 isn't going to kill me.
(5)Mandeep G.
Wife and I were looking for a local place with unique character, great food, friendly staff, and excellent beer selection. This place met all, hence the 5 star rating. You have to check this place out next time your even remotely close.
(5)Kris P.
I am so thoroughly impressed by this place! ended up here as a result of a random search for sunday brunch in the Lehigh Valley. The draft beer selection seems well thought out and the food was excellent. I was almost put off when i read the prices as everything seemed too inexpensive to be good! Beautiful presentation followed by flavor to match. Definitely coming back here next time i visit the Valley.
(5)Dannell M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant, so I thought I should add it to Yelp! I went there last night and had the tomato salad, which was perfectly delicious and the Iron Pan Scallops. Both were perfectly delicious- the bill is never cheap, but you get what you pay for and I def. try to go back every two weeks! Great date place. Great staff. Awesome beer and food. Def- more organized than when it was Tap and Table. Even though it is a bit out the way, it is worth checking out on a weekend or Tuesday. Live music is always fun.
(5)Lauren M.
This place gets it almost perfect. Great atmosphere. Wood beam ceilings, soft candlelight, really enjoyable live music (one guy, guitar, Kris Kristofferson, Simon and Garfunkle, and Beatles), and great food. We ordered several small plates to share. First, let me say that we were seated at a very small table for two, so the plates came out one or two at a time. We realized later that we didn't make a very easy time of it for our server, Craig. But he handled it beautifully, even making sure the fondue and frites came out together so we could mix and match. He checked on us frequently and kept the drinks filled while remaining unobtrusive. That brings us to the food. We greatly enjoyed our meal. The frites were excellent- fresh, hot, crisp and salty. The dips were very good (a light horseradish, which was quite mild but good, a sweet mustard that hit just the right note with the salty fries, and homemade ketchup that was just okay). The only small complaint I have is that that fries were all really tiny. Not sure if we got the end of a batch or something, but it really wasn't conducive to dipping. I kept losing fry nubbins in the dips. Oh, don't worry, I managed to fish them out and eat them just the same. The fondue was good, too. Not amazing, but solid. It was a gruyere-ale combination, and though it tasted good, it wasn't terribly flavorful, but Craig was right - it was great with the fries. The pretzel bread that came with it was not good. We were expecting chewy, moist bread, but it was thin slices that were dry and stale. Just didn't work. Next, the calamari. The menu said it was served with ghost pepper-infused salt, which excited my Scoville-level-obsessed fiancé. But the calamari really wasn't hot (spicy) at all. Now, that having been said, it was absolutely delicious. Salty, fried just right, and served with a garlicky cream sauce. The last portion of the meal was the real highlight. They have a small but diverse selection of meats and cheeses, and we chose the rosemary manchego and the truffle goat cheese. The manchego was good, but the goat cheese was mind-blowing. It was served with a fig relish and garlic toast. The creamy, salty bite of the cheese complemented the sweet fig beautifully. Yes, the, salty-sweet combo is a common theme here- but it works, so why not? Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal thanks in no small part to Craig's adept handling of a less-than-easy order. The food presentations, on stone or wood boards, are beautiful. I'd say this place could earn 5 stars with a couple of minor tweaks to the details (better/fresher bread with the fondue, larger fries). I would definitely come back if I lived in the area.
(4)Jessica L.
Five of us had brunch here on a Sunday. They have a creative menu. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Good presentation. The beer drinkers in the group loved the selection of beers (and the beer itself). The exterior of the building belies the funky interior. $4 mimosas - can't beat that!
(4)Jennifer C.
This place was great, can't wait to go back again. The outside doesn't look like much but don't be fooled. The inside has been very nicely redone. The food was delicious, my duck was cooked perfectly as well as my husbands pork chop, loved the purple mashed potatoes. The deserts were amazing, strawberry rhubarb crisp with bee pollen crumble and lavender ice cream was heavenly! If you are into craft beers you can't beat this place. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
(5)Rob P.
Came here with a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. I was expecting good things from this place due to past experiences with the old establishment. How ever this place came up short. The beer list was decent however I think their stock was old due to some skunked beers we were served. We had these beers on multiple occasions and were very familiar with the taste and quality of the beer. Next the food was marginal at best. Got the eggs benidict and my yolks were cooked through. The fritata's tasted like they cooked with egg beaters(no real egg tast). The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. One of the fritattas was asked to have bacon in it in addition. When she brought out the orders another person ordered a fritatta and he asked if that was his with the bacon. The server gave us the Oh Crap look and walked back into the kitchen for the rest of our order and 5 min later she appeared with store bought bacon chopped up and put on top of the fritatta instead of cooked in it like asked. Three of the 5 water glasses smelled like a fish bowl. The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. The service was slow and the server stated lecturing us about how it could not be the beer because they get it fresh.
(2)Shane O.
I'm really surprised this place doesn't have more reviews.... it has soooo much going for it. If you are looking for a GREAT (I mean GREAT) beer selection, excellent good, or GREAT service... give this place a try. I have been to many a bar (too many) and this is probably a Top 5 beer selection location. Really my only non-positive things to say would be the location (but close to 78) and the prices (which are somewhat understandable for the selection). If you are even close to the area and are a beer fan you would be making a colossal error not to stop in for at least one or two drinks. They have 3 hand-pumps, enough said.
(5)Trey O.
Loved the experience. Excellent! Took wife, mother-in-law and sister -in-law here for Mother's Day brunch and we were fulfilled all the way around.
(4)Tara S.
Great ambiance, live bands, friendly knowledgable servers. Got a 5 beer flight based off bartenders choice and got some great tasty selections. Ordered the butternut squash soup (SO GOOD) and grilled cheese (delicious). All in all an enjoyable night. Prices are a bit higher, but you're paying for quality. Worth it.
(5)James D.
Awesome great food..nice selection of beer... Attentive staff...nice job guys...thanks Craig!
(5)brian s.
Ok,I had heard so much about the reboot of this location so I was very excited to try it for the first time. Like the atmosphere, and the food & service were both good,unfortunately the beverages were terrible. We had the beers on special,and at $9 for less than a 12 oz glass I was more than underwhelmed. I don't know if their taps are dirty or the kegs were skunky,but I was THOROUGHLY disappointed! I tried a pilsner first, and than an amber lager,and both were flat and barely palatable. The burger was tasy,but the calamari appetizer though good,was minuscule considering the price. It seems to me this pub is in search of an identity.It is not Blue,although by its bar prices you might think otherwise.I don't mind paying a premium for a good brew,but I expect said brew to be at least drinkable. I am bummed because the proximity is close and the atmosphere comfortable,but I will not be returning.
(2)Deb M.
I've been wanting to visit Trapp Door for a long time, but figured brunch would be our initiation. However, last night, after hubby came back from a trip away, we decided to go try it for a beer and light food. First of all, do not be put off by the exterior. It's a shame they can't do something to make it a little less nondescript and offputting. The inside is gorgeous. Beer selection is great, although I would actually like to see more offerings on tap, but the bottle options make up for that. Food is fantastic. The pierogies with potato and chorizo and cipolline onions are considerably better than the goat cheese and caramelized onion pierogies offered by Stanton Social in NYC. We did one round of salumi/cheese, and then finished with a salad. By that time, the entertainment had begun, and what had been planned as an hour or two visit turned into three or four, with a few extra beers consumed, as well as another round of salumi/cheese. We've already made note of the next date that the entertainer (Jake Kaligis) will be there and have already planned another visit. By the way, service was outstanding - at one point I wanted just a little more beer rather than ordering a full one (I was drinking Troegs on tap), and our waitress was more than happy to tap a half a glass for me. How awesome is that? Looking forward to going to brunch for our next special occasion. Yes, it's pricey, but it's very worth it. Apparently many people agree, because the place was hopping.
(5)Just A.
To keep it short....disappointed. Beer, old and skunky. Menu, limited. Food, fair at most. Staff, ha. Years ago when this place was Rumors, it was great, now I give this place a few years at best.
(1)Steve L.
Employee owned and operated and it shows with friendly personalized service. Outstanding rotating selection of beers. Great food with a very creative chef. It costs a little more but worth it.
(5)Bob B.
A trusted buddy with a hankering for a good cocktail told me I needed to go to this place for a great brunch experience, centered on a "Make Your Own Bloody Bar". While this concept is growing in popularity throughout the states ( a great thing, think Deer Park Tavern, Wilmington, DE; Boylan Heights, Charlottesville, VA) - these guys do it well. Top shelf vodka, "red stuff" and room to toss in your choice of about 60 things from the mixing'/fixin' bar. After tossing in some clam juice, Old Bay, blue cheese stuffed olives, yada yada - I was proud of myself. Made the sweat pores pop open ;). The owner/bartender, John, was an awesome host. The menu was eclectic, with well prepared and presented food - and it came out quick, in spite of a Father's Day brunch crowd. Great hand-crafted coctails. Spirited crowd, atmospheric space with cathedral ceilings. Pair this with a weekend at Bear Creek Inn and Resort, about 10 minutes away. Two things for management reassessment: lighting was too bright and music not tailored to maximize the intimacy of the brunch occasion. I hear the nights are great with entertainment.
(4)Tymish H.
We came here for my birthday dinner this weekend. From start to finish the Trapp Door delivered! We had reservations and were seated promptly (Strongly recommended) The beer selection was exotic, varied and extensive. The oysters we had as an appetizer were very good, simply executed with a raspberry sauce or vinaigrette. For dinner I had the braised pork cheeks with sausage and turnips. I could have eaten this dish with a spoon. The meat was so tender and flavorful I couldn't believe it. the sauce was sweet without being overpowering and the turnips complimented the pork marvelously. The sausages had a great flavor and were a perfect accompanyment to the pork cheeks. Despite being crowed, the staff were able to keep up and give good attention to all the tables. Overall this was a great find I can't wait to find a good excuse (or a bad one) to come back! Thanks for a great evening.
(5)G M.
This review cannot improve on the huge cross section of existing reviews. I cannot give a full 5 stars because of my personal preferences. You know what they say about opinions and a**holes? We all have one. That they didn't have an "American swill" lager draft e.g. Yuengling is unforgivable. Is this a conceited attempt to act elite? Having a vast selection of unfamiliar overly priced variations of beer is what you get here. (I was a homebrew enthusiast 25 years ago and know a lot of these so-called craft beers are hype). On the one hand I am pleased there are variety and choice, but they are way overpriced for what you get because, for example, some brewer adds tangerine peels to the mix or something. Then too, I'm not a fan of flavored coffee. I like foreign import coffee (and beer and wine), but dumping flavors into these, then charging a premium is an American mongrel thing. The food is tasty and of a decent "take extra home" portions. But again, they add an odd spice or trinket like a fig piece on vegetarian pita bread with smoked cheese. Odd combination. Several menu items have odd combinations. Study in detail. To each his own. The hamburger with egg was extraordinary. Though you can get something similar with bottomless fries at familiar non-fast food hamburger place (or see my Frenchtown NJ Cafe review), for half the price. The Cuban sandwich is extraordinary too. The acoustics are incredibly terrible. You can barely converse and hearing the waiter describe things is a challenge. It was relief to get out of the place. If you don't mind overly priced novelty Ãtems, give this place a try. Your opinions might be very favorable.
(4)Erica F.
Food was good beer was amazing. With all that said, the lack luster cocktails and terrible service overrode every possible good thing. Went for brunch last Sunday and they were so under staffed and confused. We were there for three hours and were left in a corner to parish. If the staff were more crisp they could've made a lot more money. Having used to be a server I understand getting slammed, but this was just awkward and uncomfortable. I'll go again if there isn't a crowd. The beer selection is worth a second chance.
(2)Adam P.
WOW! What a gem to find in the humble confines of Emmaus PA certainly not known for its culinary prowess. I don't live here but come back to visit periodically and have stopped here for a beer and apps but never for dinner. I travel alot and have been top all the top restaurants and top chefs in cities all across the country and even the globe with no less than 2 Michelin star places. This place can hang and deserves a spot with the best of them! The ambiance is warm, the candlelight is a charming touch and sets the mood for a romantic dinner or just a place to escape to for a drink. I was skeptical of the guitarist when he took to the corner to play. Had all the makings of the owner or partner who is doing us a favor by playing for us but it wasn't the case and he won me over. But it's because it was done tastefully, the right volume and song selections to add to the mood by not taking over the place and dominating the atmosphere. I started with a fun cask IPA for a drink and we ordered the duck wings because we both agreed you don't really see that on a menu everyday. The duck drums were perfectly fried and the sauce complimented well. Off to a good start. For entree I ordered the pork chop and wife got the chicken. The pork chop was a very stylish french double cut, with a pan fried brown crust on the outside with the most tender and juicy middle that was so perfectly cooked to the millisecond I swear. It blew me away how well prepared it was. The pork belly latkes made for an interesting and compelling side that had the tough task of keeping up with this dish but was up to the challenge. And the sauce, believe had sweet potato, tied it all together beautifully without being too overwhelming and letting the pork chop keep center stage and shine. I was so enamored by my dish I ignored my wife's dish but did take a taste and the chicken was well prepared and juicy. My only regrets was not ordering the homemade ice cream. My only constructive criticism is portion sizes were unnecessarily big, maybe do us foodies a favor and cut back the size, improve your margins, make more money so you can stay in business a long time serving up these masterpieces. But large portions might be a regional thing that locals demand for this price point. And the wine list could use improvement. The beer list is plentiful but I would have enjoyed a wine with my dish but couldn't find one to order. But it's tough to find good wine anywhere in Lehigh Valley (Although I admittedly am a California wine snob so that might be on me).
(5)Michael B.
Have been here several times. It's an acquired taste. Obscenely large beer selection, so that's a plus. Menu is a bit bizarre for my taste. Quail eggs? But you can still get a good bowl of gumbo or a cheeseburger. Beyond that, I fully admit my palate may not be discerning enough to make this a regular dining spot.
(3)Justin P.
Good little place with good beer selection and good food. Our waiter was excellent and food came out quickly. I would say it was a little pricey for the portion size, and overall taste of food. We were put at a small table right next to another occupied table which seemed a little uncomfortable especially since there were plenty of other open tables. I had the fish sandwich which was not too great and nothing to go crazy about. My friend had their burger and he said it was one of the best he has had. Overall a good experience and would go back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Philly S.
Really like the atmosphere, unpretentious and like a country bar. The bar is prominent and the tables are few, at least in the main room. The beer selection is good, but come here for the food. I wanted lamb, but none on the menu that day. So I opted for the pork sirloin which was a perfect medium. The sprinkling of bacon throughout was extreme!y tasteful. The eggplant corn fritters worked better than potatoes. My favorite part, was the oxtail poutine starter. Never had poutine, and can't really compare, but it was great.
(5)Patrick M.
Don't be fooled by the humble exterior (with an unpaved lot and shack-like structure) this place is the real deal. The interior of the restaurant has the aura of an old sportsman's bar and everything is clean as a whistle. Despite this decor, it is not a "guys place" per se; it is profoundly a "beer drinkers place". The bottled beer selection is extensive (easily over 100 options) and has something for any serious beer drinker. I believe they have the old-school American swill as well, but I've never actually seen it. The one drawback to their beer selection is that there's only 10ish beers on tap, which isn't a bad number, but there are usually more at places like these. They do rotate the draft beers frequently, so at least it keeps things interesting for returning customers. They also have an impressive cocktail list, and they probably have some wines too, but this is a beer drinking place first and foremost. As good as the beer is, the food is what keeps me coming back. While it seems like every other restaurant in Macungie/Emmaus is slinging chicken fingers and anything else that can be deep-fried, this place serves complex food that is actually intended for mature palettes. Only a few restaurants in this area actually give a damn about there food. These restaurants know that there's hardly any competition for quality food, so they can inflate their prices. Evidence of this tactic is strewn across the menu; sandwiches cost about $14, a proper entree is usually $35-40. I understand that quality ingredients and skilled chefs aren't free, but when there are better values in Philly or NYC, you know something is out of whack. It's a shame, because I would come here more often if it was more reasonably priced. They do have happy hours though, which offer half-priced drafts to softens the financial blow.
(5)Leslie Y.
this is a small dark intimate yet casual place. They serve very good and thoughtful food with locally sources produce and meats. I had several appetizers as my meal and was thoroughly pleased. My companions had the hamburgers and were happy but not overwhelmingly so. The bottled beer list is extensive and the cocktails fun and delicious. Its certainly pricey for the area but you get what you pay for here.
(5)John T.
Excellent food!! Foie Gras was delicious as was the pork chop and ice cream for dessert. Others in my party had the crab apps and scallops. All were incredibly delicious and expertly presented. The beer list went on forever. Great find in little Emmaus!!! My new favorite Lehigh Valley restaurant!!
(5)Er B.
Really great place. We stopped here to grab dinner on our way home from an event in the Lehigh Valley. Despite being on a major state route, it's tucked away like a "blink and you'll miss it" type of location. Great selection of beers. We had very good service and sat at the bar. The flavors of our food were incredible.
(4)Sharon C.
We were here for the first time tonight with a party of nine people and I have to say that it was absolutely not a 4.5 star experience. In fact, I was wavering between 1 and 2 stars, and only ended up choosing 2 stars because of a few redeeming dishes. I made our reservations yesterday by phone, and it was an easy and straightforward process, but, unfortunately, there are no prices on the online menu, so I've included here the prices that we've paid for the various dishes. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated immediately, and our order placed and drinks delivered within ten minutes. Unfortunately, it was an hour before we actually received our entrees. We did get an appetizer about thirty minutes into the wait, but, as only one member of our party had ordered an appetizer, it only created an awkward situation. The dishes that I tasted: 1. Seared Wagyu Sirloin ($37), with truffle potato duchess, gorgonzola gougere, braised greens, porcini jus. This dish was ordered medium but arrived well done and very dry; our waiter was very good about getting us a replacement, but it was another twenty minute wait for that. The replacement (more a medium rare) was flavorful, with a good sear, but wasn't particularly tender. We also got an extra mashed potato side, which my brother liked, but I didn't. The truffle potatoes were nothing special, the gorgonzola gougere was honestly one of the least delicious breads I've ever tasted, and I wouldn't recommend this dish to anyone. 2. Bone-in Pork Chop ($27), with creamed leeks, sweet potato and pork belly latkes, fried brussel spouts. This was one dish that I thought was okay, but it was a single pork chop, and honestly not more flavorful than ones that I've had at home. The fried brussel sprouts were probably the standout part of this dish. 3. Braised short rib ($27), with natural jus, creamed corn with bacon and confit fingerling potatoes. I found these ribs to be dry and somewhat flavorless, didn't taste the bacon at all in the creamed corn, which also tasted a little underdone, and the fingerling potatoes were totally flavorless and definitely undercooked. My mom had the short rib sandwich and thought it was quite good, but I didn't get a chance to taste it. The fries were a little soggy, and totally flavorless. Our waiter was difficult to find, despite the small size of the restaurant, and we had to ask repeatedly for our waters to be refilled. He was nice when we could find him, and he was very good about the sirloin and also when we spilled a drink. Overall, we heard that the head chef wasn't in today, but that's no excuse for the food that we received. If it weren't so pricy, I'd be tempted to give this restaurant another try, given the rave reviews on this site, but, at this price point, I wouldn't want to risk it.
(2)Diana B.
You want great food, great beer and wine with a venue that encourages you to chat with friends without a TV to distract anyone, this is for you! Service is prompt and helpful and other patrons are friendly. Enjoy!
(5)Sophia Z.
Great space with an extensive and interesting beer selection. I recommend going during their Happy Hour for specials. Their oxtail poutine was amazing and was actually my entrée. I love getting their meat and cheese plates as an app. All in all a neat place to go. Priced accordingly.
(4)Bryan M.
I liked it. My wife didn't. Eclectic and intriguing menu, across the board. Loved the cheese offerings - had two varieties, a sharp-aged cheddar and one I can't name. These were each paired with a mustard / chutney ... and paired well. Chipotle sweet potato soup was tasty. I had a skirt steak sandwich. Meat was medium rare ... like I like it. Tasted good. My wife had the burger. Best in Lehigh Valley, bragged the waiter. In fact, he gave it up for Lent a couple of years ago, and went on a quest to find a better one in the area. When I asked what other offerings he tested, he couldn't remember ... it was a couple of years ago, I guess. Anyway, it underwhelmed. Flat and dry and kind of big. It was a chore to eat. The waiter also forgot the salad that she ordered. His effort to apologize were clearly feigned. I'm sure he was trying to figure out how to play it off that he meant to do that, and by doing so he did us a favor. That would have been a spectacular feat, and one that he was not able to pull off. And, as you can imagine from the burger comments, the waiter's patina of smugness did not convince us of his hipness, but soured the flavor of the experience, such that my wife will not likely go back. I'd probably go back; I'd like to explore the menu. I can get past the establishment's efforts to be hip. For example, The Farmhouse staff in KC, MO pull off that hipness thing so much better, and still come across as genuine and comfortable so that the experience is not impaired by the staff. They are over-tattooed and hyper-pierced and who cares - I didn't even notice, but had a great meal experience. ;-)
(4)Teresa H.
My husband and I ate brunch here the other weekend and boy was it yummy. I noticed that they seem to have better vegetarian option too. One star off for slow service.
(4)Janelle H.
Favorite place to go! Best bar in emmaus area. Amazing quality food and ingredients. Excellent service and just such a low key good vibes gothic dark type of cool joint. Love the cooper bar and yummy drinks. Amazing fries, salmon, apps soups and the sunday brunch and bloodys are out of this world. Fav soot ever and my first date w my soon to be husband. Always a special favorite.
(5)C. L.
This place is the real deal!!! I don't even know where to start... Don't judge by the outside or you will miss out on one off the best places on this side of the valley. 5 stars no questions asked. 3 dinners ordered: fried barramundi sandwich, range chicken breast, and Denver steak!!! Check out the menu for the details...everything was absolutely amazing! All I'm going to say is bacon lardons!!! Everything was excellent! Not to forget the outstanding beer selection! Locally sourced food and unique beers...go here! No seriously, this place is a must try! Awesome to see a place like this, on this side of town! Need more!
(5)Lisa D.
This place is the shiitake. They really pavéd the way for foodie pubs in the Lehigh valley. We rouladed in just in time for dinner at 4pm. The author of the menu really deserves a pâté on the back. Au jus don't expect it to taste as good as it sounds. We didn't love the tex mex treatment of the chicken n waffles. They served it with mole and charred corn husk creme but I'd rather have had some mrs. Butterworths. And they served it to us raw in the middle the first time. They made a new one of course but we were really hoping for a round of free drinks or something to take sting off. On the way out I banged my chutney trying to chimichurri my way to the door. Those Moscow mules really kicked me in the fois gras.
(3)Dave W.
So far, borderline 5 stars. This place is different from anywhere I've ever been. The chef has sourced local and yummy. I went with 4 apps (2 cheeses and a smoked trout) were 3, and I went with the Duck Confit Flatbread. Was tempted by the Tuna (app and meal), the filet tartar, the heirloom tomato salad, the calamari and the fondue and and and... Wow!!! Great flavors, fresh, local, and either free range, organic or just plain yum. If you're looking for a cheesesteak or crappy chicken Parm, this isn't your place. If you want to enjoy an incredibly flavorful unique experience, this is your place. Oh yeah.... Lots of really unique beers and wines. Step up your food variety and come hither. The service and ambience bumps it up to 5 stars
(5)m p.
Not sure I understand the hype. This would have been a 3.5 if I could give that for the burger and fries, but my companion thought the tomato soup and grilled cheese was really quite good, so I'm rating this place a 4. The atmosphere is dark and I thought uninviting, but the servers were pleasant.
(4)Audi A.
Read some brunch reviews and decided to give it a shot. We literally drove right by the small place. The door was wide open and we were greeted by two very nice bartenders. The inside is funky with a gothic feel. It took me five minutes to pick out a beer due to the endless beer list. We ordered house corned brisket and the pulled pork poached eggs dish. The food was fabulous. I even got a bloody mary and there is an alter with 50+ hot sauces, seasonings, peppers, cucumbers and bacon bits to customize it yourself. We had a great experience and will definitely go back if we're in the area. Great job, keep up the great work and service. Happy 4 years in business. Cheers!
(5)Diana F.
My date took me here and I was absolutely impressed with the service, Food and ambience. We had the pomme frites as an appetizer with their own home made sauces, really tasty. I ordered the quinoa fritters as my entree, it was delicious Loved how they had a live band
(4)Elvin B.
OUTSTANDING!!!! Had the short rid perogies as an app and pork jelly sandwich. Both were crazy good.
(5)Lauren W.
Brunch was excellent. Potatoes are flavorful. Eggs Benedict was delicious and the hollandaise was really good. The Cuban sandwich special was incredible. I look forward to returning.
(4)Josh B.
This is a great after work place. The beer menu is among the best in the Lehigh valley, there a a few specialty cocktails from which to choose (I had the Sazerac, which was very well prepared), and the menu is eclectic while definitely catering to foodies. I ordered one of their cask beers to go with my meal (Racer 5) and we had several small plates: the Jamaican duck wings (3 large drumsticks, crispy outside and incredibly tender inside), braised short rib pierogies (awesome), chicken liver pate (a favorite of mine), and the pomme frites (house made ketchup, mustard, and aioli). I've been here a few times. The food and service are always consistently good. There was some problem with the power overnight and as a result, a few dishes weren't available, but that didn't affect our experience.
(4)Brittany B.
Tried this place for the first time last week, and had a great experience. It's a rather small, cozy place that would be great for a date or girls night. The bartenders were great (although a bit slow or else they were understaffed) and our server was knowledgeable and not overbearing. The grouper was fantastic although some parts of my plate were cold, possibly from sitting out too long before being sent out. Would definitely try it again, and would recommend it to the foodie and beer lover looking to try.
(4)R W.
Love their selection of beers! The food is great but pricey. It's dark inside so bring a flashlight and your reading glasses. A great date place or to hang with friends and listen to their live music.
(4)Sean M.
Visited with some friends tonight at the Trapp Door. The drink selection was awesome and the dinner was delicious. My wife and I shared the special and had high expectations when our waiter described it to us. The meal was very good but was not even enough to feed one person and was $26. I think we would have been more satisfied with one of their sandwiches or burgers for half the price.
(3)Rob W.
The Trapp Door is a beer guys dream. The selection is out of this world. The burgers are amazing..... some of the best around. The staff is super friendly and always quick to offer a smile!! This is def one of my wife's and my favorite spots to at the end of a date night.
(5)Jodi P.
This place is little but that won't bother you once you eat here. Great selection of beer (for my husband ) & always great wines for me. The food is amazing! The atmosphere is great with live music playing as your dinning. I guess if I had to say one thing I wish they had, it would be an outdoor patio? Maybe I'm just saying that now because it's summer & who doesn't want great food, service, drinks & live music while enjoying the beautiful summer days. Try this place I'm certain you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kat J.
Great drink selection. I had a veggie sandwich for dinner because it was less expensive but very filling and tasty nevertheless. The service was a lacking or it would have been a 5 star rating.
(4)M G.
Where do I begin? If you're a beer geek, this place is for you! My boyfriend and I LOVE coming for dinner or brunch or even just stopping in for a tasty drink. Great draft and bottle list! Staff is warm and friendly and certainly knows what their taking about when it comes to craft beer! They also have live music nightly which we've always enjoyed. The food is out of this world.. Fresh and local when possible. Great vegetarian options. They offer brunch Sunday mornings with a build your own Bloody Mary bar (UM, YES PLEASE). We'll see Jen and the Trapp Door crew again soon!
(5)Ty S.
The poor service ruined this experience. Ordered beer, waited 10 min and got nothing. Waiter realized he didn't even put in the order. Food and beer were great. Waiter then presents the bill takes the credit card but charges someone else's tab to our credit card which made ours $30 more. He didn't even notice. In fact, I think this was done on purpose as he could tell we needed the flashlight app on our phones to read the menu because it is so dark in there. Shame, but I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Andrea A.
What a pleasant surprise to find that elusive pub in the suburbs that has it all - good vibe & ambiance, excellent & appropriately-priced food, thoughtful servers, nice music add at times, and of-course, well-considered beer selections. If I lived closer, this would be 'The Place' for me.
(5)Jess T.
Went here for brunch this past weekend--I had the eggs Benedict and it was divine. It was prepared perfectly. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. My friend and I had blood marys and enjoyed adding all the little goodies from the bar. It's a nice touch and made it fun. The service was good, our waitress was polite. They also had a wonderful beer list which will definitely bring me back in the evening.
(5)Jenn V.
We had previously gone to this place when it was the Tap and Table. Needless to say, if you know beer, you'll know that the beer here isn't that great and it's WAY over priced. My husband and I had one drink each and the perogie appetizer and it was $35. The perogie's were good but not worth how expensive they were. Don't get me wrong, we love good food, and are beer snobs, but this place is over the top for what it is. I suggest if you're looking for good beer, go to the Bethlehem Brew-Works and if you want good pub food, visit 2nd St. tavern instead where prices are fair. Otherwise, if your filthy rich and you don't care about how much you pay for pretentious food, then this is your spot.
(2)Kurt I.
I noticed people complaining about price - step away from the Lehigh Valley for a minute folks... these are comparable to anyplace of this caliber. So here I am with a friend - the day before the Lehigh Valley Half marathon and looking for something vegan to eat. I walk in, nothing vegan on the menu other than soup. The bartender asks why the long face (are you expecting a joke here?) and I explain my situation. I need non-greasy, vegan food - and allentown is very limiting. He tells me that they can whip up a mushroom panini in no time, am I interested? He explained the different mushrooms and sauces that go into it, all vegan, and I emphatically said yes. I ended up ordering two. This place gets a thumbs up from me. Also - the beer selection is out of sight. Please add vegan/veg selections back onto your regular menu.
(4)Stephen R.
Great atmosphere, food, and the best selection of specialty beers in the Lehigh Valley!
(5)Robert P.
I have been to this Gastropub probably 20 times since they opened under the new employee owners a year ago. They actually listened to their customers and improved what was wrong with the old place (lighting, odd menu items) and kept what made it special (beer selection and knowledgeable staff). I love that you can sit down on a Saturday night and enjoy live music from the bar. Even better, though I am a bit of a beer geek, you can always strike up a conversation with someone that knows more about beer than you. It might be the bartender but almost always is another customer there to try their ever rotating beers on draft and cask. On my last visit we enjoyed Dark Horse Crooked Tree double IPA, Harviestoun: Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve Blackest Ale and to go a bit lighter, Bear Republic Racer 5 with the second and third beers being from cask! The burger is the best burger I have ever had and the rest of the menu is just as good if not better. If you have never been here or have not been here lately, I highly recommend it. Don't come to watch baseball or basketball as they do not have TVs! Come for excellent beer, wonderful food and an atmosphere that stimulates conversation with friends.
(5)C. L.
This place is the real deal!!! I don't even know where to start... Don't judge by the outside or you will miss out on one off the best places on this side of the valley. 5 stars no questions asked. 3 dinners ordered: fried barramundi sandwich, range chicken breast, and Denver steak!!! Check out the menu for the details...everything was absolutely amazing! All I'm going to say is bacon lardons!!! Everything was excellent! Not to forget the outstanding beer selection! Locally sourced food and unique beers...go here! No seriously, this place is a must try! Awesome to see a place like this, on this side of town! Need more!
(5)Lisa D.
This place is the shiitake. They really pavéd the way for foodie pubs in the Lehigh valley. We rouladed in just in time for dinner at 4pm. The author of the menu really deserves a pâté on the back. Au jus don't expect it to taste as good as it sounds. We didn't love the tex mex treatment of the chicken n waffles. They served it with mole and charred corn husk creme but I'd rather have had some mrs. Butterworths. And they served it to us raw in the middle the first time. They made a new one of course but we were really hoping for a round of free drinks or something to take sting off. On the way out I banged my chutney trying to chimichurri my way to the door. Those Moscow mules really kicked me in the fois gras.
(3)R W.
Love their selection of beers! The food is great but pricey. It's dark inside so bring a flashlight and your reading glasses. A great date place or to hang with friends and listen to their live music.
(4)Sean M.
Visited with some friends tonight at the Trapp Door. The drink selection was awesome and the dinner was delicious. My wife and I shared the special and had high expectations when our waiter described it to us. The meal was very good but was not even enough to feed one person and was $26. I think we would have been more satisfied with one of their sandwiches or burgers for half the price.
(3)Rob W.
The Trapp Door is a beer guys dream. The selection is out of this world. The burgers are amazing..... some of the best around. The staff is super friendly and always quick to offer a smile!! This is def one of my wife's and my favorite spots to at the end of a date night.
(5)Jodi P.
This place is little but that won't bother you once you eat here. Great selection of beer (for my husband ) & always great wines for me. The food is amazing! The atmosphere is great with live music playing as your dinning. I guess if I had to say one thing I wish they had, it would be an outdoor patio? Maybe I'm just saying that now because it's summer & who doesn't want great food, service, drinks & live music while enjoying the beautiful summer days. Try this place I'm certain you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kat J.
Great drink selection. I had a veggie sandwich for dinner because it was less expensive but very filling and tasty nevertheless. The service was a lacking or it would have been a 5 star rating.
(4)M G.
Where do I begin? If you're a beer geek, this place is for you! My boyfriend and I LOVE coming for dinner or brunch or even just stopping in for a tasty drink. Great draft and bottle list! Staff is warm and friendly and certainly knows what their taking about when it comes to craft beer! They also have live music nightly which we've always enjoyed. The food is out of this world.. Fresh and local when possible. Great vegetarian options. They offer brunch Sunday mornings with a build your own Bloody Mary bar (UM, YES PLEASE). We'll see Jen and the Trapp Door crew again soon!
(5)Ty S.
The poor service ruined this experience. Ordered beer, waited 10 min and got nothing. Waiter realized he didn't even put in the order. Food and beer were great. Waiter then presents the bill takes the credit card but charges someone else's tab to our credit card which made ours $30 more. He didn't even notice. In fact, I think this was done on purpose as he could tell we needed the flashlight app on our phones to read the menu because it is so dark in there. Shame, but I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Andrea A.
What a pleasant surprise to find that elusive pub in the suburbs that has it all - good vibe & ambiance, excellent & appropriately-priced food, thoughtful servers, nice music add at times, and of-course, well-considered beer selections. If I lived closer, this would be 'The Place' for me.
(5)Jess T.
Went here for brunch this past weekend--I had the eggs Benedict and it was divine. It was prepared perfectly. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. My friend and I had blood marys and enjoyed adding all the little goodies from the bar. It's a nice touch and made it fun. The service was good, our waitress was polite. They also had a wonderful beer list which will definitely bring me back in the evening.
(5)Erika B.
I'm going to continue the 5 star trend for this place. I loved the space, the beer selection, and the perogis! Well the whole menu looked great but the perogis were such a great, creative take on a traditional dish. The s'mores were also a must-try for desert. A home made marshmallow? Yes! Nice owners, good crowd, I will return and recommend to others.
(5)Kurt I.
I noticed people complaining about price - step away from the Lehigh Valley for a minute folks... these are comparable to anyplace of this caliber. So here I am with a friend - the day before the Lehigh Valley Half marathon and looking for something vegan to eat. I walk in, nothing vegan on the menu other than soup. The bartender asks why the long face (are you expecting a joke here?) and I explain my situation. I need non-greasy, vegan food - and allentown is very limiting. He tells me that they can whip up a mushroom panini in no time, am I interested? He explained the different mushrooms and sauces that go into it, all vegan, and I emphatically said yes. I ended up ordering two. This place gets a thumbs up from me. Also - the beer selection is out of sight. Please add vegan/veg selections back onto your regular menu.
(4)Stephen R.
Great atmosphere, food, and the best selection of specialty beers in the Lehigh Valley!
(5)Robert P.
I have been to this Gastropub probably 20 times since they opened under the new employee owners a year ago. They actually listened to their customers and improved what was wrong with the old place (lighting, odd menu items) and kept what made it special (beer selection and knowledgeable staff). I love that you can sit down on a Saturday night and enjoy live music from the bar. Even better, though I am a bit of a beer geek, you can always strike up a conversation with someone that knows more about beer than you. It might be the bartender but almost always is another customer there to try their ever rotating beers on draft and cask. On my last visit we enjoyed Dark Horse Crooked Tree double IPA, Harviestoun: Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve Blackest Ale and to go a bit lighter, Bear Republic Racer 5 with the second and third beers being from cask! The burger is the best burger I have ever had and the rest of the menu is just as good if not better. If you have never been here or have not been here lately, I highly recommend it. Don't come to watch baseball or basketball as they do not have TVs! Come for excellent beer, wonderful food and an atmosphere that stimulates conversation with friends.
(5)Daniel H.
Walk quickly but don't run either (you might trip and fall). Yeah the outside of this place looks a little grim and the parking lot is darker than I'd like. But you're kind of in the middle of the sticks out here. But sometimes the middle of nowhere yields a pleasant sort of surprise. Not in Allentown or in lowly Bethlehem, but in tiny Emmaus on the road to Bethlehem. I love my beer. If you enjoy amazing beers on tap and are sick of the standard boring drafts, you'll love this place. Sample an entire flight of beers and you won't regret it. I picked up a couple new favorites in this place and I make a point to have those beers elsewhere. The food is fantastic here. Our entire table tried a whole variety of different entrees and appetizers and I couldn't think of anything bad to say. Everything had a unique taste and the flavors in each dish worked together as opposed to stuff slapped together in a microwave. I don't mind spending money on quality beer and food. I've often expressed my displeasure at restaurants that claim to offer that quality but fall short. However I'm going to have equally strong positive opinions about places that live up to their reputation. A solid five stars.
(5)P T.
This is my favorite place right now. Go for Saturday 12-3 for happy hour. All beers half off and they have the best pate. The smoked salmon mousse is incredible and it is an incredible charcuterie plate in a land of cheese sticks and wings. This is a grown up place.
(5)Dannell M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant, so I thought I should add it to Yelp! I went there last night and had the tomato salad, which was perfectly delicious and the Iron Pan Scallops. Both were perfectly delicious- the bill is never cheap, but you get what you pay for and I def. try to go back every two weeks! Great date place. Great staff. Awesome beer and food. Def- more organized than when it was Tap and Table. Even though it is a bit out the way, it is worth checking out on a weekend or Tuesday. Live music is always fun.
(5)Sue S.
Might have given 4.5 stars for price, but like the others said, you get what you pay for. The beer selection is without a doubt amazing. I like a place where beer is an art not an advertising gimick with bikini clad models and no taste. Everyone had a great knowledge of the selection du jour and made us feel right at home. Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was the pace! This is a place to sit and relax without being rushed in and out. Almost every table that was there when we arrived was still there when we left...but not because the service was slow...it was because everyone is there to enjoy the experience. I actually loved the location. It is beyond the chain restraunt and strip mall section, so we felt like we were in a cozy European pub. Check it out!
(5)J B.
Was here during this restaurant's previous life and liked it, figured we'd give it a shot in its new life, and we still liked it! We aren't big drinkers, but the beer selection is great. Since it was a cool fall night, I figured I'd try out the on-draft Southern Tier Warlock imperial stout brewed with pumpkins (based on bartender recommendation). Good stuff. Appetizers were (excellent) Pomme Frites with homemade ketchup, honey mustard, and horseradish mustard accompanied by the House Made Vegetarian Flatbeard (also excellent). Entrees were the (excellent) Free Range Chicken Breast (skin on, I always skip the skin, but it looked so good I had to eat it, and it rocked) and an (excellent) braised beef special that replaced the out of stock skirt steak. Got the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Good, but a little lacking compared to the rest of the meal. Not sure if it's outsourced or not, but the outside was warm while the middle was still in the process of thawing out. Very good restaurant. Actual place itself is divey, dingy, and small. Reservations are a MUST for a busy night (Fri, Sat, holidays), altho you may get lucky with a bar area high-top if you're a last minute drop-in. The prices are high-end, but suits the food. I'd say everything is overpriced by maybe $1 - $3 each, but an extra $10 isn't going to kill me.
(5)Mandeep G.
Wife and I were looking for a local place with unique character, great food, friendly staff, and excellent beer selection. This place met all, hence the 5 star rating. You have to check this place out next time your even remotely close.
(5)Kris P.
I am so thoroughly impressed by this place! ended up here as a result of a random search for sunday brunch in the Lehigh Valley. The draft beer selection seems well thought out and the food was excellent. I was almost put off when i read the prices as everything seemed too inexpensive to be good! Beautiful presentation followed by flavor to match. Definitely coming back here next time i visit the Valley.
(5)Brittany B.
Tried this place for the first time last week, and had a great experience. It's a rather small, cozy place that would be great for a date or girls night. The bartenders were great (although a bit slow or else they were understaffed) and our server was knowledgeable and not overbearing. The grouper was fantastic although some parts of my plate were cold, possibly from sitting out too long before being sent out. Would definitely try it again, and would recommend it to the foodie and beer lover looking to try.
(4)Jenn V.
We had previously gone to this place when it was the Tap and Table. Needless to say, if you know beer, you'll know that the beer here isn't that great and it's WAY over priced. My husband and I had one drink each and the perogie appetizer and it was $35. The perogie's were good but not worth how expensive they were. Don't get me wrong, we love good food, and are beer snobs, but this place is over the top for what it is. I suggest if you're looking for good beer, go to the Bethlehem Brew-Works and if you want good pub food, visit 2nd St. tavern instead where prices are fair. Otherwise, if your filthy rich and you don't care about how much you pay for pretentious food, then this is your spot.
(2)Abbie P.
Stumbled upon the Trapp Door tonight browsing on Yelp since we aren't from the area. We split two starters and an entree. Beer selection was amazing. Atmosphere perfect. Service was great. Food was delicious. Highly recommend the short rib perogies.
(5)Marc Q.
Great food. Great beer. Great service. Great ambiance. We had no complaints and can't wait to go back. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Momma K.
I can't say enough about how much we loved this place. From the warm atmosphere to the friendly waitstaff, delicious food, and craft beers. On top of it all, there was amazing live music. The perfect date night spot. As parents, we scarcely are able to get a night out, so we are very picky about where we go. We will absolutely return!
(5)clement m.
Decent food with their burgers and short ribs being among the Valley's best; excellent although obtuse beer selection and mediocre service. The service may be the result of a tiny kitchen or maybe not, but it is not an in and out place. The glassware and silverware are hard water spotted leaving non-locals to think these items are not clean. Finally, when live music is present, forget it. You can't fit through the door because that's where the band plays. The Act also is way too loud to have even a basic grunting conversation. If the food and beer are what you want, go nights other than Friday and Saturday. If you are a masochist and want to pay a lot for your drink and entree and walk out with a headache, then go on the weekend. One final thought. Tiny place, so if your group is more than two, get there at an off-peak time to secure seating for your group.
(3)Lucas P.
Stopped in for an afternoon snack and couldn't have been happier. An awesome beer selection and a few gluten free beer options as well as ciders for those that are intolerant. House made pirogi were excellent and the truffle aged goat cheese on crostini was delicious. Gluten Free gf (GF gf?) had the mussels and the pom fritte and they were equally as tasty. Staff is always friendly and helpful, and I love getting upscale-ish food and good beer at a place where I don't feel out of place in jeans and t-shirt. Plan to stop here whenever I'm in the area visiting family for some good eats and beer.
(5)David R.
Had a nice and quiet night out. Burger was delicious and the beer selection was great.
(4)Jeffrey L.
All the food we had was delicious. Beer selection was great. Service was good. We plan to return.
(5)Steph K.
The food is amazing. The beer list is awesome and the service is wonderful! My husband and I love to go here. I say it's a must try!
(5)Lauren M.
This place gets it almost perfect. Great atmosphere. Wood beam ceilings, soft candlelight, really enjoyable live music (one guy, guitar, Kris Kristofferson, Simon and Garfunkle, and Beatles), and great food. We ordered several small plates to share. First, let me say that we were seated at a very small table for two, so the plates came out one or two at a time. We realized later that we didn't make a very easy time of it for our server, Craig. But he handled it beautifully, even making sure the fondue and frites came out together so we could mix and match. He checked on us frequently and kept the drinks filled while remaining unobtrusive. That brings us to the food. We greatly enjoyed our meal. The frites were excellent- fresh, hot, crisp and salty. The dips were very good (a light horseradish, which was quite mild but good, a sweet mustard that hit just the right note with the salty fries, and homemade ketchup that was just okay). The only small complaint I have is that that fries were all really tiny. Not sure if we got the end of a batch or something, but it really wasn't conducive to dipping. I kept losing fry nubbins in the dips. Oh, don't worry, I managed to fish them out and eat them just the same. The fondue was good, too. Not amazing, but solid. It was a gruyere-ale combination, and though it tasted good, it wasn't terribly flavorful, but Craig was right - it was great with the fries. The pretzel bread that came with it was not good. We were expecting chewy, moist bread, but it was thin slices that were dry and stale. Just didn't work. Next, the calamari. The menu said it was served with ghost pepper-infused salt, which excited my Scoville-level-obsessed fiancé. But the calamari really wasn't hot (spicy) at all. Now, that having been said, it was absolutely delicious. Salty, fried just right, and served with a garlicky cream sauce. The last portion of the meal was the real highlight. They have a small but diverse selection of meats and cheeses, and we chose the rosemary manchego and the truffle goat cheese. The manchego was good, but the goat cheese was mind-blowing. It was served with a fig relish and garlic toast. The creamy, salty bite of the cheese complemented the sweet fig beautifully. Yes, the, salty-sweet combo is a common theme here- but it works, so why not? Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal thanks in no small part to Craig's adept handling of a less-than-easy order. The food presentations, on stone or wood boards, are beautiful. I'd say this place could earn 5 stars with a couple of minor tweaks to the details (better/fresher bread with the fondue, larger fries). I would definitely come back if I lived in the area.
(4)Jessica L.
Five of us had brunch here on a Sunday. They have a creative menu. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Good presentation. The beer drinkers in the group loved the selection of beers (and the beer itself). The exterior of the building belies the funky interior. $4 mimosas - can't beat that!
(4)Jennifer C.
This place was great, can't wait to go back again. The outside doesn't look like much but don't be fooled. The inside has been very nicely redone. The food was delicious, my duck was cooked perfectly as well as my husbands pork chop, loved the purple mashed potatoes. The deserts were amazing, strawberry rhubarb crisp with bee pollen crumble and lavender ice cream was heavenly! If you are into craft beers you can't beat this place. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
(5)Trey O.
Loved the experience. Excellent! Took wife, mother-in-law and sister -in-law here for Mother's Day brunch and we were fulfilled all the way around.
(4)Paul C.
The best beers, great food selection and friendly staff. Currently on draft... cigar city maduro oatmeal and a williamsburg alewerks coffee house stout. The beers change frequently but they have a wide variety. Nice selection of meats and cheeses that you can order.
(5)Rob P.
Came here with a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. I was expecting good things from this place due to past experiences with the old establishment. How ever this place came up short. The beer list was decent however I think their stock was old due to some skunked beers we were served. We had these beers on multiple occasions and were very familiar with the taste and quality of the beer. Next the food was marginal at best. Got the eggs benidict and my yolks were cooked through. The fritata's tasted like they cooked with egg beaters(no real egg tast). The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. One of the fritattas was asked to have bacon in it in addition. When she brought out the orders another person ordered a fritatta and he asked if that was his with the bacon. The server gave us the Oh Crap look and walked back into the kitchen for the rest of our order and 5 min later she appeared with store bought bacon chopped up and put on top of the fritatta instead of cooked in it like asked. Three of the 5 water glasses smelled like a fish bowl. The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. The service was slow and the server stated lecturing us about how it could not be the beer because they get it fresh.
(2)Shane O.
I'm really surprised this place doesn't have more reviews.... it has soooo much going for it. If you are looking for a GREAT (I mean GREAT) beer selection, excellent good, or GREAT service... give this place a try. I have been to many a bar (too many) and this is probably a Top 5 beer selection location. Really my only non-positive things to say would be the location (but close to 78) and the prices (which are somewhat understandable for the selection). If you are even close to the area and are a beer fan you would be making a colossal error not to stop in for at least one or two drinks. They have 3 hand-pumps, enough said.
(5)Tara S.
Great ambiance, live bands, friendly knowledgable servers. Got a 5 beer flight based off bartenders choice and got some great tasty selections. Ordered the butternut squash soup (SO GOOD) and grilled cheese (delicious). All in all an enjoyable night. Prices are a bit higher, but you're paying for quality. Worth it.
(5)James D.
Awesome great food..nice selection of beer... Attentive staff...nice job guys...thanks Craig!
(5)brian s.
Ok,I had heard so much about the reboot of this location so I was very excited to try it for the first time. Like the atmosphere, and the food & service were both good,unfortunately the beverages were terrible. We had the beers on special,and at $9 for less than a 12 oz glass I was more than underwhelmed. I don't know if their taps are dirty or the kegs were skunky,but I was THOROUGHLY disappointed! I tried a pilsner first, and than an amber lager,and both were flat and barely palatable. The burger was tasy,but the calamari appetizer though good,was minuscule considering the price. It seems to me this pub is in search of an identity.It is not Blue,although by its bar prices you might think otherwise.I don't mind paying a premium for a good brew,but I expect said brew to be at least drinkable. I am bummed because the proximity is close and the atmosphere comfortable,but I will not be returning.
(2)Deb M.
I've been wanting to visit Trapp Door for a long time, but figured brunch would be our initiation. However, last night, after hubby came back from a trip away, we decided to go try it for a beer and light food. First of all, do not be put off by the exterior. It's a shame they can't do something to make it a little less nondescript and offputting. The inside is gorgeous. Beer selection is great, although I would actually like to see more offerings on tap, but the bottle options make up for that. Food is fantastic. The pierogies with potato and chorizo and cipolline onions are considerably better than the goat cheese and caramelized onion pierogies offered by Stanton Social in NYC. We did one round of salumi/cheese, and then finished with a salad. By that time, the entertainment had begun, and what had been planned as an hour or two visit turned into three or four, with a few extra beers consumed, as well as another round of salumi/cheese. We've already made note of the next date that the entertainer (Jake Kaligis) will be there and have already planned another visit. By the way, service was outstanding - at one point I wanted just a little more beer rather than ordering a full one (I was drinking Troegs on tap), and our waitress was more than happy to tap a half a glass for me. How awesome is that? Looking forward to going to brunch for our next special occasion. Yes, it's pricey, but it's very worth it. Apparently many people agree, because the place was hopping.
(5)Just A.
To keep it short....disappointed. Beer, old and skunky. Menu, limited. Food, fair at most. Staff, ha. Years ago when this place was Rumors, it was great, now I give this place a few years at best.
(1)Steve L.
Employee owned and operated and it shows with friendly personalized service. Outstanding rotating selection of beers. Great food with a very creative chef. It costs a little more but worth it.
(5)Jon D.
always leave full, quenched, and happy! great place!
(4)Bob B.
A trusted buddy with a hankering for a good cocktail told me I needed to go to this place for a great brunch experience, centered on a "Make Your Own Bloody Bar". While this concept is growing in popularity throughout the states ( a great thing, think Deer Park Tavern, Wilmington, DE; Boylan Heights, Charlottesville, VA) - these guys do it well. Top shelf vodka, "red stuff" and room to toss in your choice of about 60 things from the mixing'/fixin' bar. After tossing in some clam juice, Old Bay, blue cheese stuffed olives, yada yada - I was proud of myself. Made the sweat pores pop open ;). The owner/bartender, John, was an awesome host. The menu was eclectic, with well prepared and presented food - and it came out quick, in spite of a Father's Day brunch crowd. Great hand-crafted coctails. Spirited crowd, atmospheric space with cathedral ceilings. Pair this with a weekend at Bear Creek Inn and Resort, about 10 minutes away. Two things for management reassessment: lighting was too bright and music not tailored to maximize the intimacy of the brunch occasion. I hear the nights are great with entertainment.
(4)Josh B.
This is a great after work place. The beer menu is among the best in the Lehigh valley, there a a few specialty cocktails from which to choose (I had the Sazerac, which was very well prepared), and the menu is eclectic while definitely catering to foodies. I ordered one of their cask beers to go with my meal (Racer 5) and we had several small plates: the Jamaican duck wings (3 large drumsticks, crispy outside and incredibly tender inside), braised short rib pierogies (awesome), chicken liver pate (a favorite of mine), and the pomme frites (house made ketchup, mustard, and aioli). I've been here a few times. The food and service are always consistently good. There was some problem with the power overnight and as a result, a few dishes weren't available, but that didn't affect our experience.
(4)Justin P.
Good little place with good beer selection and good food. Our waiter was excellent and food came out quickly. I would say it was a little pricey for the portion size, and overall taste of food. We were put at a small table right next to another occupied table which seemed a little uncomfortable especially since there were plenty of other open tables. I had the fish sandwich which was not too great and nothing to go crazy about. My friend had their burger and he said it was one of the best he has had. Overall a good experience and would go back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Adam P.
WOW! What a gem to find in the humble confines of Emmaus PA certainly not known for its culinary prowess. I don't live here but come back to visit periodically and have stopped here for a beer and apps but never for dinner. I travel alot and have been top all the top restaurants and top chefs in cities all across the country and even the globe with no less than 2 Michelin star places. This place can hang and deserves a spot with the best of them! The ambiance is warm, the candlelight is a charming touch and sets the mood for a romantic dinner or just a place to escape to for a drink. I was skeptical of the guitarist when he took to the corner to play. Had all the makings of the owner or partner who is doing us a favor by playing for us but it wasn't the case and he won me over. But it's because it was done tastefully, the right volume and song selections to add to the mood by not taking over the place and dominating the atmosphere. I started with a fun cask IPA for a drink and we ordered the duck wings because we both agreed you don't really see that on a menu everyday. The duck drums were perfectly fried and the sauce complimented well. Off to a good start. For entree I ordered the pork chop and wife got the chicken. The pork chop was a very stylish french double cut, with a pan fried brown crust on the outside with the most tender and juicy middle that was so perfectly cooked to the millisecond I swear. It blew me away how well prepared it was. The pork belly latkes made for an interesting and compelling side that had the tough task of keeping up with this dish but was up to the challenge. And the sauce, believe had sweet potato, tied it all together beautifully without being too overwhelming and letting the pork chop keep center stage and shine. I was so enamored by my dish I ignored my wife's dish but did take a taste and the chicken was well prepared and juicy. My only regrets was not ordering the homemade ice cream. My only constructive criticism is portion sizes were unnecessarily big, maybe do us foodies a favor and cut back the size, improve your margins, make more money so you can stay in business a long time serving up these masterpieces. But large portions might be a regional thing that locals demand for this price point. And the wine list could use improvement. The beer list is plentiful but I would have enjoyed a wine with my dish but couldn't find one to order. But it's tough to find good wine anywhere in Lehigh Valley (Although I admittedly am a California wine snob so that might be on me).
(5)Michael B.
Have been here several times. It's an acquired taste. Obscenely large beer selection, so that's a plus. Menu is a bit bizarre for my taste. Quail eggs? But you can still get a good bowl of gumbo or a cheeseburger. Beyond that, I fully admit my palate may not be discerning enough to make this a regular dining spot.
(3)John T.
Excellent food!! Foie Gras was delicious as was the pork chop and ice cream for dessert. Others in my party had the crab apps and scallops. All were incredibly delicious and expertly presented. The beer list went on forever. Great find in little Emmaus!!! My new favorite Lehigh Valley restaurant!!
(5)Er B.
Really great place. We stopped here to grab dinner on our way home from an event in the Lehigh Valley. Despite being on a major state route, it's tucked away like a "blink and you'll miss it" type of location. Great selection of beers. We had very good service and sat at the bar. The flavors of our food were incredible.
(4)Sharon C.
We were here for the first time tonight with a party of nine people and I have to say that it was absolutely not a 4.5 star experience. In fact, I was wavering between 1 and 2 stars, and only ended up choosing 2 stars because of a few redeeming dishes. I made our reservations yesterday by phone, and it was an easy and straightforward process, but, unfortunately, there are no prices on the online menu, so I've included here the prices that we've paid for the various dishes. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated immediately, and our order placed and drinks delivered within ten minutes. Unfortunately, it was an hour before we actually received our entrees. We did get an appetizer about thirty minutes into the wait, but, as only one member of our party had ordered an appetizer, it only created an awkward situation. The dishes that I tasted: 1. Seared Wagyu Sirloin ($37), with truffle potato duchess, gorgonzola gougere, braised greens, porcini jus. This dish was ordered medium but arrived well done and very dry; our waiter was very good about getting us a replacement, but it was another twenty minute wait for that. The replacement (more a medium rare) was flavorful, with a good sear, but wasn't particularly tender. We also got an extra mashed potato side, which my brother liked, but I didn't. The truffle potatoes were nothing special, the gorgonzola gougere was honestly one of the least delicious breads I've ever tasted, and I wouldn't recommend this dish to anyone. 2. Bone-in Pork Chop ($27), with creamed leeks, sweet potato and pork belly latkes, fried brussel spouts. This was one dish that I thought was okay, but it was a single pork chop, and honestly not more flavorful than ones that I've had at home. The fried brussel sprouts were probably the standout part of this dish. 3. Braised short rib ($27), with natural jus, creamed corn with bacon and confit fingerling potatoes. I found these ribs to be dry and somewhat flavorless, didn't taste the bacon at all in the creamed corn, which also tasted a little underdone, and the fingerling potatoes were totally flavorless and definitely undercooked. My mom had the short rib sandwich and thought it was quite good, but I didn't get a chance to taste it. The fries were a little soggy, and totally flavorless. Our waiter was difficult to find, despite the small size of the restaurant, and we had to ask repeatedly for our waters to be refilled. He was nice when we could find him, and he was very good about the sirloin and also when we spilled a drink. Overall, we heard that the head chef wasn't in today, but that's no excuse for the food that we received. If it weren't so pricy, I'd be tempted to give this restaurant another try, given the rave reviews on this site, but, at this price point, I wouldn't want to risk it.
(2)Diana B.
You want great food, great beer and wine with a venue that encourages you to chat with friends without a TV to distract anyone, this is for you! Service is prompt and helpful and other patrons are friendly. Enjoy!
(5)Sophia Z.
Great space with an extensive and interesting beer selection. I recommend going during their Happy Hour for specials. Their oxtail poutine was amazing and was actually my entrée. I love getting their meat and cheese plates as an app. All in all a neat place to go. Priced accordingly.
(4)Bryan M.
I liked it. My wife didn't. Eclectic and intriguing menu, across the board. Loved the cheese offerings - had two varieties, a sharp-aged cheddar and one I can't name. These were each paired with a mustard / chutney ... and paired well. Chipotle sweet potato soup was tasty. I had a skirt steak sandwich. Meat was medium rare ... like I like it. Tasted good. My wife had the burger. Best in Lehigh Valley, bragged the waiter. In fact, he gave it up for Lent a couple of years ago, and went on a quest to find a better one in the area. When I asked what other offerings he tested, he couldn't remember ... it was a couple of years ago, I guess. Anyway, it underwhelmed. Flat and dry and kind of big. It was a chore to eat. The waiter also forgot the salad that she ordered. His effort to apologize were clearly feigned. I'm sure he was trying to figure out how to play it off that he meant to do that, and by doing so he did us a favor. That would have been a spectacular feat, and one that he was not able to pull off. And, as you can imagine from the burger comments, the waiter's patina of smugness did not convince us of his hipness, but soured the flavor of the experience, such that my wife will not likely go back. I'd probably go back; I'd like to explore the menu. I can get past the establishment's efforts to be hip. For example, The Farmhouse staff in KC, MO pull off that hipness thing so much better, and still come across as genuine and comfortable so that the experience is not impaired by the staff. They are over-tattooed and hyper-pierced and who cares - I didn't even notice, but had a great meal experience. ;-)
(4)Tymish H.
We came here for my birthday dinner this weekend. From start to finish the Trapp Door delivered! We had reservations and were seated promptly (Strongly recommended) The beer selection was exotic, varied and extensive. The oysters we had as an appetizer were very good, simply executed with a raspberry sauce or vinaigrette. For dinner I had the braised pork cheeks with sausage and turnips. I could have eaten this dish with a spoon. The meat was so tender and flavorful I couldn't believe it. the sauce was sweet without being overpowering and the turnips complimented the pork marvelously. The sausages had a great flavor and were a perfect accompanyment to the pork cheeks. Despite being crowed, the staff were able to keep up and give good attention to all the tables. Overall this was a great find I can't wait to find a good excuse (or a bad one) to come back! Thanks for a great evening.
(5)G M.
This review cannot improve on the huge cross section of existing reviews. I cannot give a full 5 stars because of my personal preferences. You know what they say about opinions and a**holes? We all have one. That they didn't have an "American swill" lager draft e.g. Yuengling is unforgivable. Is this a conceited attempt to act elite? Having a vast selection of unfamiliar overly priced variations of beer is what you get here. (I was a homebrew enthusiast 25 years ago and know a lot of these so-called craft beers are hype). On the one hand I am pleased there are variety and choice, but they are way overpriced for what you get because, for example, some brewer adds tangerine peels to the mix or something. Then too, I'm not a fan of flavored coffee. I like foreign import coffee (and beer and wine), but dumping flavors into these, then charging a premium is an American mongrel thing. The food is tasty and of a decent "take extra home" portions. But again, they add an odd spice or trinket like a fig piece on vegetarian pita bread with smoked cheese. Odd combination. Several menu items have odd combinations. Study in detail. To each his own. The hamburger with egg was extraordinary. Though you can get something similar with bottomless fries at familiar non-fast food hamburger place (or see my Frenchtown NJ Cafe review), for half the price. The Cuban sandwich is extraordinary too. The acoustics are incredibly terrible. You can barely converse and hearing the waiter describe things is a challenge. It was relief to get out of the place. If you don't mind overly priced novelty Ãtems, give this place a try. Your opinions might be very favorable.
(4)Philly S.
Really like the atmosphere, unpretentious and like a country bar. The bar is prominent and the tables are few, at least in the main room. The beer selection is good, but come here for the food. I wanted lamb, but none on the menu that day. So I opted for the pork sirloin which was a perfect medium. The sprinkling of bacon throughout was extreme!y tasteful. The eggplant corn fritters worked better than potatoes. My favorite part, was the oxtail poutine starter. Never had poutine, and can't really compare, but it was great.
(5)Patrick M.
Don't be fooled by the humble exterior (with an unpaved lot and shack-like structure) this place is the real deal. The interior of the restaurant has the aura of an old sportsman's bar and everything is clean as a whistle. Despite this decor, it is not a "guys place" per se; it is profoundly a "beer drinkers place". The bottled beer selection is extensive (easily over 100 options) and has something for any serious beer drinker. I believe they have the old-school American swill as well, but I've never actually seen it. The one drawback to their beer selection is that there's only 10ish beers on tap, which isn't a bad number, but there are usually more at places like these. They do rotate the draft beers frequently, so at least it keeps things interesting for returning customers. They also have an impressive cocktail list, and they probably have some wines too, but this is a beer drinking place first and foremost. As good as the beer is, the food is what keeps me coming back. While it seems like every other restaurant in Macungie/Emmaus is slinging chicken fingers and anything else that can be deep-fried, this place serves complex food that is actually intended for mature palettes. Only a few restaurants in this area actually give a damn about there food. These restaurants know that there's hardly any competition for quality food, so they can inflate their prices. Evidence of this tactic is strewn across the menu; sandwiches cost about $14, a proper entree is usually $35-40. I understand that quality ingredients and skilled chefs aren't free, but when there are better values in Philly or NYC, you know something is out of whack. It's a shame, because I would come here more often if it was more reasonably priced. They do have happy hours though, which offer half-priced drafts to softens the financial blow.
(5)Leslie Y.
this is a small dark intimate yet casual place. They serve very good and thoughtful food with locally sources produce and meats. I had several appetizers as my meal and was thoroughly pleased. My companions had the hamburgers and were happy but not overwhelmingly so. The bottled beer list is extensive and the cocktails fun and delicious. Its certainly pricey for the area but you get what you pay for here.
(5)Erica F.
Food was good beer was amazing. With all that said, the lack luster cocktails and terrible service overrode every possible good thing. Went for brunch last Sunday and they were so under staffed and confused. We were there for three hours and were left in a corner to parish. If the staff were more crisp they could've made a lot more money. Having used to be a server I understand getting slammed, but this was just awkward and uncomfortable. I'll go again if there isn't a crowd. The beer selection is worth a second chance.
(2)Teresa H.
My husband and I ate brunch here the other weekend and boy was it yummy. I noticed that they seem to have better vegetarian option too. One star off for slow service.
(4)Janelle H.
Favorite place to go! Best bar in emmaus area. Amazing quality food and ingredients. Excellent service and just such a low key good vibes gothic dark type of cool joint. Love the cooper bar and yummy drinks. Amazing fries, salmon, apps soups and the sunday brunch and bloodys are out of this world. Fav soot ever and my first date w my soon to be husband. Always a special favorite.
(5)Dave W.
So far, borderline 5 stars. This place is different from anywhere I've ever been. The chef has sourced local and yummy. I went with 4 apps (2 cheeses and a smoked trout) were 3, and I went with the Duck Confit Flatbread. Was tempted by the Tuna (app and meal), the filet tartar, the heirloom tomato salad, the calamari and the fondue and and and... Wow!!! Great flavors, fresh, local, and either free range, organic or just plain yum. If you're looking for a cheesesteak or crappy chicken Parm, this isn't your place. If you want to enjoy an incredibly flavorful unique experience, this is your place. Oh yeah.... Lots of really unique beers and wines. Step up your food variety and come hither. The service and ambience bumps it up to 5 stars
(5)m p.
Not sure I understand the hype. This would have been a 3.5 if I could give that for the burger and fries, but my companion thought the tomato soup and grilled cheese was really quite good, so I'm rating this place a 4. The atmosphere is dark and I thought uninviting, but the servers were pleasant.
(4)Audi A.
Read some brunch reviews and decided to give it a shot. We literally drove right by the small place. The door was wide open and we were greeted by two very nice bartenders. The inside is funky with a gothic feel. It took me five minutes to pick out a beer due to the endless beer list. We ordered house corned brisket and the pulled pork poached eggs dish. The food was fabulous. I even got a bloody mary and there is an alter with 50+ hot sauces, seasonings, peppers, cucumbers and bacon bits to customize it yourself. We had a great experience and will definitely go back if we're in the area. Great job, keep up the great work and service. Happy 4 years in business. Cheers!
(5)Diana F.
My date took me here and I was absolutely impressed with the service, Food and ambience. We had the pomme frites as an appetizer with their own home made sauces, really tasty. I ordered the quinoa fritters as my entree, it was delicious Loved how they had a live band
(4)Elvin B.
OUTSTANDING!!!! Had the short rid perogies as an app and pork jelly sandwich. Both were crazy good.
(5)Lauren W.
Brunch was excellent. Potatoes are flavorful. Eggs Benedict was delicious and the hollandaise was really good. The Cuban sandwich special was incredible. I look forward to returning.
(4)Tymish H.
We came here for my birthday dinner this weekend. From start to finish the Trapp Door delivered! We had reservations and were seated promptly (Strongly recommended) The beer selection was exotic, varied and extensive. The oysters we had as an appetizer were very good, simply executed with a raspberry sauce or vinaigrette. For dinner I had the braised pork cheeks with sausage and turnips. I could have eaten this dish with a spoon. The meat was so tender and flavorful I couldn't believe it. the sauce was sweet without being overpowering and the turnips complimented the pork marvelously. The sausages had a great flavor and were a perfect accompanyment to the pork cheeks. Despite being crowed, the staff were able to keep up and give good attention to all the tables. Overall this was a great find I can't wait to find a good excuse (or a bad one) to come back! Thanks for a great evening.
(5)Janelle H.
Favorite place to go! Best bar in emmaus area. Amazing quality food and ingredients. Excellent service and just such a low key good vibes gothic dark type of cool joint. Love the cooper bar and yummy drinks. Amazing fries, salmon, apps soups and the sunday brunch and bloodys are out of this world. Fav soot ever and my first date w my soon to be husband. Always a special favorite.
(5)Teresa H.
My husband and I ate brunch here the other weekend and boy was it yummy. I noticed that they seem to have better vegetarian option too. One star off for slow service.
(4)C. L.
This place is the real deal!!! I don't even know where to start... Don't judge by the outside or you will miss out on one off the best places on this side of the valley. 5 stars no questions asked. 3 dinners ordered: fried barramundi sandwich, range chicken breast, and Denver steak!!! Check out the menu for the details...everything was absolutely amazing! All I'm going to say is bacon lardons!!! Everything was excellent! Not to forget the outstanding beer selection! Locally sourced food and unique beers...go here! No seriously, this place is a must try! Awesome to see a place like this, on this side of town! Need more!
(5)G M.
This review cannot improve on the huge cross section of existing reviews. I cannot give a full 5 stars because of my personal preferences. You know what they say about opinions and a**holes? We all have one. That they didn't have an "American swill" lager draft e.g. Yuengling is unforgivable. Is this a conceited attempt to act elite? Having a vast selection of unfamiliar overly priced variations of beer is what you get here. (I was a homebrew enthusiast 25 years ago and know a lot of these so-called craft beers are hype). On the one hand I am pleased there are variety and choice, but they are way overpriced for what you get because, for example, some brewer adds tangerine peels to the mix or something. Then too, I'm not a fan of flavored coffee. I like foreign import coffee (and beer and wine), but dumping flavors into these, then charging a premium is an American mongrel thing. The food is tasty and of a decent "take extra home" portions. But again, they add an odd spice or trinket like a fig piece on vegetarian pita bread with smoked cheese. Odd combination. Several menu items have odd combinations. Study in detail. To each his own. The hamburger with egg was extraordinary. Though you can get something similar with bottomless fries at familiar non-fast food hamburger place (or see my Frenchtown NJ Cafe review), for half the price. The Cuban sandwich is extraordinary too. The acoustics are incredibly terrible. You can barely converse and hearing the waiter describe things is a challenge. It was relief to get out of the place. If you don't mind overly priced novelty Ãtems, give this place a try. Your opinions might be very favorable.
(4)Justin P.
Good little place with good beer selection and good food. Our waiter was excellent and food came out quickly. I would say it was a little pricey for the portion size, and overall taste of food. We were put at a small table right next to another occupied table which seemed a little uncomfortable especially since there were plenty of other open tables. I had the fish sandwich which was not too great and nothing to go crazy about. My friend had their burger and he said it was one of the best he has had. Overall a good experience and would go back to try other things on the menu.
(3)Michael B.
Have been here several times. It's an acquired taste. Obscenely large beer selection, so that's a plus. Menu is a bit bizarre for my taste. Quail eggs? But you can still get a good bowl of gumbo or a cheeseburger. Beyond that, I fully admit my palate may not be discerning enough to make this a regular dining spot.
(3)John T.
Excellent food!! Foie Gras was delicious as was the pork chop and ice cream for dessert. Others in my party had the crab apps and scallops. All were incredibly delicious and expertly presented. The beer list went on forever. Great find in little Emmaus!!! My new favorite Lehigh Valley restaurant!!
(5)Er B.
Really great place. We stopped here to grab dinner on our way home from an event in the Lehigh Valley. Despite being on a major state route, it's tucked away like a "blink and you'll miss it" type of location. Great selection of beers. We had very good service and sat at the bar. The flavors of our food were incredible.
(4)Patrick M.
Don't be fooled by the humble exterior (with an unpaved lot and shack-like structure) this place is the real deal. The interior of the restaurant has the aura of an old sportsman's bar and everything is clean as a whistle. Despite this decor, it is not a "guys place" per se; it is profoundly a "beer drinkers place". The bottled beer selection is extensive (easily over 100 options) and has something for any serious beer drinker. I believe they have the old-school American swill as well, but I've never actually seen it. The one drawback to their beer selection is that there's only 10ish beers on tap, which isn't a bad number, but there are usually more at places like these. They do rotate the draft beers frequently, so at least it keeps things interesting for returning customers. They also have an impressive cocktail list, and they probably have some wines too, but this is a beer drinking place first and foremost. As good as the beer is, the food is what keeps me coming back. While it seems like every other restaurant in Macungie/Emmaus is slinging chicken fingers and anything else that can be deep-fried, this place serves complex food that is actually intended for mature palettes. Only a few restaurants in this area actually give a damn about there food. These restaurants know that there's hardly any competition for quality food, so they can inflate their prices. Evidence of this tactic is strewn across the menu; sandwiches cost about $14, a proper entree is usually $35-40. I understand that quality ingredients and skilled chefs aren't free, but when there are better values in Philly or NYC, you know something is out of whack. It's a shame, because I would come here more often if it was more reasonably priced. They do have happy hours though, which offer half-priced drafts to softens the financial blow.
(5)M G.
Where do I begin? If you're a beer geek, this place is for you! My boyfriend and I LOVE coming for dinner or brunch or even just stopping in for a tasty drink. Great draft and bottle list! Staff is warm and friendly and certainly knows what their taking about when it comes to craft beer! They also have live music nightly which we've always enjoyed. The food is out of this world.. Fresh and local when possible. Great vegetarian options. They offer brunch Sunday mornings with a build your own Bloody Mary bar (UM, YES PLEASE). We'll see Jen and the Trapp Door crew again soon!
(5)Bryan M.
I liked it. My wife didn't. Eclectic and intriguing menu, across the board. Loved the cheese offerings - had two varieties, a sharp-aged cheddar and one I can't name. These were each paired with a mustard / chutney ... and paired well. Chipotle sweet potato soup was tasty. I had a skirt steak sandwich. Meat was medium rare ... like I like it. Tasted good. My wife had the burger. Best in Lehigh Valley, bragged the waiter. In fact, he gave it up for Lent a couple of years ago, and went on a quest to find a better one in the area. When I asked what other offerings he tested, he couldn't remember ... it was a couple of years ago, I guess. Anyway, it underwhelmed. Flat and dry and kind of big. It was a chore to eat. The waiter also forgot the salad that she ordered. His effort to apologize were clearly feigned. I'm sure he was trying to figure out how to play it off that he meant to do that, and by doing so he did us a favor. That would have been a spectacular feat, and one that he was not able to pull off. And, as you can imagine from the burger comments, the waiter's patina of smugness did not convince us of his hipness, but soured the flavor of the experience, such that my wife will not likely go back. I'd probably go back; I'd like to explore the menu. I can get past the establishment's efforts to be hip. For example, The Farmhouse staff in KC, MO pull off that hipness thing so much better, and still come across as genuine and comfortable so that the experience is not impaired by the staff. They are over-tattooed and hyper-pierced and who cares - I didn't even notice, but had a great meal experience. ;-)
(4)Adam P.
WOW! What a gem to find in the humble confines of Emmaus PA certainly not known for its culinary prowess. I don't live here but come back to visit periodically and have stopped here for a beer and apps but never for dinner. I travel alot and have been top all the top restaurants and top chefs in cities all across the country and even the globe with no less than 2 Michelin star places. This place can hang and deserves a spot with the best of them! The ambiance is warm, the candlelight is a charming touch and sets the mood for a romantic dinner or just a place to escape to for a drink. I was skeptical of the guitarist when he took to the corner to play. Had all the makings of the owner or partner who is doing us a favor by playing for us but it wasn't the case and he won me over. But it's because it was done tastefully, the right volume and song selections to add to the mood by not taking over the place and dominating the atmosphere. I started with a fun cask IPA for a drink and we ordered the duck wings because we both agreed you don't really see that on a menu everyday. The duck drums were perfectly fried and the sauce complimented well. Off to a good start. For entree I ordered the pork chop and wife got the chicken. The pork chop was a very stylish french double cut, with a pan fried brown crust on the outside with the most tender and juicy middle that was so perfectly cooked to the millisecond I swear. It blew me away how well prepared it was. The pork belly latkes made for an interesting and compelling side that had the tough task of keeping up with this dish but was up to the challenge. And the sauce, believe had sweet potato, tied it all together beautifully without being too overwhelming and letting the pork chop keep center stage and shine. I was so enamored by my dish I ignored my wife's dish but did take a taste and the chicken was well prepared and juicy. My only regrets was not ordering the homemade ice cream. My only constructive criticism is portion sizes were unnecessarily big, maybe do us foodies a favor and cut back the size, improve your margins, make more money so you can stay in business a long time serving up these masterpieces. But large portions might be a regional thing that locals demand for this price point. And the wine list could use improvement. The beer list is plentiful but I would have enjoyed a wine with my dish but couldn't find one to order. But it's tough to find good wine anywhere in Lehigh Valley (Although I admittedly am a California wine snob so that might be on me).
(5)Leslie Y.
this is a small dark intimate yet casual place. They serve very good and thoughtful food with locally sources produce and meats. I had several appetizers as my meal and was thoroughly pleased. My companions had the hamburgers and were happy but not overwhelmingly so. The bottled beer list is extensive and the cocktails fun and delicious. Its certainly pricey for the area but you get what you pay for here.
(5)Erica F.
Food was good beer was amazing. With all that said, the lack luster cocktails and terrible service overrode every possible good thing. Went for brunch last Sunday and they were so under staffed and confused. We were there for three hours and were left in a corner to parish. If the staff were more crisp they could've made a lot more money. Having used to be a server I understand getting slammed, but this was just awkward and uncomfortable. I'll go again if there isn't a crowd. The beer selection is worth a second chance.
(2)Paul C.
The best beers, great food selection and friendly staff. Currently on draft... cigar city maduro oatmeal and a williamsburg alewerks coffee house stout. The beers change frequently but they have a wide variety. Nice selection of meats and cheeses that you can order.
(5)Rob P.
Came here with a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. I was expecting good things from this place due to past experiences with the old establishment. How ever this place came up short. The beer list was decent however I think their stock was old due to some skunked beers we were served. We had these beers on multiple occasions and were very familiar with the taste and quality of the beer. Next the food was marginal at best. Got the eggs benidict and my yolks were cooked through. The fritata's tasted like they cooked with egg beaters(no real egg tast). The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. One of the fritattas was asked to have bacon in it in addition. When she brought out the orders another person ordered a fritatta and he asked if that was his with the bacon. The server gave us the Oh Crap look and walked back into the kitchen for the rest of our order and 5 min later she appeared with store bought bacon chopped up and put on top of the fritatta instead of cooked in it like asked. Three of the 5 water glasses smelled like a fish bowl. The house cured bacon tasted and looked like regular store bought bacon. The service was slow and the server stated lecturing us about how it could not be the beer because they get it fresh.
(2)Shane O.
I'm really surprised this place doesn't have more reviews.... it has soooo much going for it. If you are looking for a GREAT (I mean GREAT) beer selection, excellent good, or GREAT service... give this place a try. I have been to many a bar (too many) and this is probably a Top 5 beer selection location. Really my only non-positive things to say would be the location (but close to 78) and the prices (which are somewhat understandable for the selection). If you are even close to the area and are a beer fan you would be making a colossal error not to stop in for at least one or two drinks. They have 3 hand-pumps, enough said.
(5)Trey O.
Loved the experience. Excellent! Took wife, mother-in-law and sister -in-law here for Mother's Day brunch and we were fulfilled all the way around.
(4)Tara S.
Great ambiance, live bands, friendly knowledgable servers. Got a 5 beer flight based off bartenders choice and got some great tasty selections. Ordered the butternut squash soup (SO GOOD) and grilled cheese (delicious). All in all an enjoyable night. Prices are a bit higher, but you're paying for quality. Worth it.
(5)James D.
Awesome great food..nice selection of beer... Attentive staff...nice job guys...thanks Craig!
(5)Ty S.
The poor service ruined this experience. Ordered beer, waited 10 min and got nothing. Waiter realized he didn't even put in the order. Food and beer were great. Waiter then presents the bill takes the credit card but charges someone else's tab to our credit card which made ours $30 more. He didn't even notice. In fact, I think this was done on purpose as he could tell we needed the flashlight app on our phones to read the menu because it is so dark in there. Shame, but I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Sharon C.
We were here for the first time tonight with a party of nine people and I have to say that it was absolutely not a 4.5 star experience. In fact, I was wavering between 1 and 2 stars, and only ended up choosing 2 stars because of a few redeeming dishes. I made our reservations yesterday by phone, and it was an easy and straightforward process, but, unfortunately, there are no prices on the online menu, so I've included here the prices that we've paid for the various dishes. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated immediately, and our order placed and drinks delivered within ten minutes. Unfortunately, it was an hour before we actually received our entrees. We did get an appetizer about thirty minutes into the wait, but, as only one member of our party had ordered an appetizer, it only created an awkward situation. The dishes that I tasted: 1. Seared Wagyu Sirloin ($37), with truffle potato duchess, gorgonzola gougere, braised greens, porcini jus. This dish was ordered medium but arrived well done and very dry; our waiter was very good about getting us a replacement, but it was another twenty minute wait for that. The replacement (more a medium rare) was flavorful, with a good sear, but wasn't particularly tender. We also got an extra mashed potato side, which my brother liked, but I didn't. The truffle potatoes were nothing special, the gorgonzola gougere was honestly one of the least delicious breads I've ever tasted, and I wouldn't recommend this dish to anyone. 2. Bone-in Pork Chop ($27), with creamed leeks, sweet potato and pork belly latkes, fried brussel spouts. This was one dish that I thought was okay, but it was a single pork chop, and honestly not more flavorful than ones that I've had at home. The fried brussel sprouts were probably the standout part of this dish. 3. Braised short rib ($27), with natural jus, creamed corn with bacon and confit fingerling potatoes. I found these ribs to be dry and somewhat flavorless, didn't taste the bacon at all in the creamed corn, which also tasted a little underdone, and the fingerling potatoes were totally flavorless and definitely undercooked. My mom had the short rib sandwich and thought it was quite good, but I didn't get a chance to taste it. The fries were a little soggy, and totally flavorless. Our waiter was difficult to find, despite the small size of the restaurant, and we had to ask repeatedly for our waters to be refilled. He was nice when we could find him, and he was very good about the sirloin and also when we spilled a drink. Overall, we heard that the head chef wasn't in today, but that's no excuse for the food that we received. If it weren't so pricy, I'd be tempted to give this restaurant another try, given the rave reviews on this site, but, at this price point, I wouldn't want to risk it.
(2)Diana B.
You want great food, great beer and wine with a venue that encourages you to chat with friends without a TV to distract anyone, this is for you! Service is prompt and helpful and other patrons are friendly. Enjoy!
(5)Sophia Z.
Great space with an extensive and interesting beer selection. I recommend going during their Happy Hour for specials. Their oxtail poutine was amazing and was actually my entrée. I love getting their meat and cheese plates as an app. All in all a neat place to go. Priced accordingly.
(4)Lisa D.
This place is the shiitake. They really pavéd the way for foodie pubs in the Lehigh valley. We rouladed in just in time for dinner at 4pm. The author of the menu really deserves a pâté on the back. Au jus don't expect it to taste as good as it sounds. We didn't love the tex mex treatment of the chicken n waffles. They served it with mole and charred corn husk creme but I'd rather have had some mrs. Butterworths. And they served it to us raw in the middle the first time. They made a new one of course but we were really hoping for a round of free drinks or something to take sting off. On the way out I banged my chutney trying to chimichurri my way to the door. Those Moscow mules really kicked me in the fois gras.
(3)m p.
Not sure I understand the hype. This would have been a 3.5 if I could give that for the burger and fries, but my companion thought the tomato soup and grilled cheese was really quite good, so I'm rating this place a 4. The atmosphere is dark and I thought uninviting, but the servers were pleasant.
(4)Dave W.
So far, borderline 5 stars. This place is different from anywhere I've ever been. The chef has sourced local and yummy. I went with 4 apps (2 cheeses and a smoked trout) were 3, and I went with the Duck Confit Flatbread. Was tempted by the Tuna (app and meal), the filet tartar, the heirloom tomato salad, the calamari and the fondue and and and... Wow!!! Great flavors, fresh, local, and either free range, organic or just plain yum. If you're looking for a cheesesteak or crappy chicken Parm, this isn't your place. If you want to enjoy an incredibly flavorful unique experience, this is your place. Oh yeah.... Lots of really unique beers and wines. Step up your food variety and come hither. The service and ambience bumps it up to 5 stars
(5)Audi A.
Read some brunch reviews and decided to give it a shot. We literally drove right by the small place. The door was wide open and we were greeted by two very nice bartenders. The inside is funky with a gothic feel. It took me five minutes to pick out a beer due to the endless beer list. We ordered house corned brisket and the pulled pork poached eggs dish. The food was fabulous. I even got a bloody mary and there is an alter with 50+ hot sauces, seasonings, peppers, cucumbers and bacon bits to customize it yourself. We had a great experience and will definitely go back if we're in the area. Great job, keep up the great work and service. Happy 4 years in business. Cheers!
(5)Diana F.
My date took me here and I was absolutely impressed with the service, Food and ambience. We had the pomme frites as an appetizer with their own home made sauces, really tasty. I ordered the quinoa fritters as my entree, it was delicious Loved how they had a live band
(4)Elvin B.
OUTSTANDING!!!! Had the short rid perogies as an app and pork jelly sandwich. Both were crazy good.
(5)Lauren W.
Brunch was excellent. Potatoes are flavorful. Eggs Benedict was delicious and the hollandaise was really good. The Cuban sandwich special was incredible. I look forward to returning.
(4)Josh B.
This is a great after work place. The beer menu is among the best in the Lehigh valley, there a a few specialty cocktails from which to choose (I had the Sazerac, which was very well prepared), and the menu is eclectic while definitely catering to foodies. I ordered one of their cask beers to go with my meal (Racer 5) and we had several small plates: the Jamaican duck wings (3 large drumsticks, crispy outside and incredibly tender inside), braised short rib pierogies (awesome), chicken liver pate (a favorite of mine), and the pomme frites (house made ketchup, mustard, and aioli). I've been here a few times. The food and service are always consistently good. There was some problem with the power overnight and as a result, a few dishes weren't available, but that didn't affect our experience.
(4)Brittany B.
Tried this place for the first time last week, and had a great experience. It's a rather small, cozy place that would be great for a date or girls night. The bartenders were great (although a bit slow or else they were understaffed) and our server was knowledgeable and not overbearing. The grouper was fantastic although some parts of my plate were cold, possibly from sitting out too long before being sent out. Would definitely try it again, and would recommend it to the foodie and beer lover looking to try.
(4)R W.
Love their selection of beers! The food is great but pricey. It's dark inside so bring a flashlight and your reading glasses. A great date place or to hang with friends and listen to their live music.
(4)Sean M.
Visited with some friends tonight at the Trapp Door. The drink selection was awesome and the dinner was delicious. My wife and I shared the special and had high expectations when our waiter described it to us. The meal was very good but was not even enough to feed one person and was $26. I think we would have been more satisfied with one of their sandwiches or burgers for half the price.
(3)Rob W.
The Trapp Door is a beer guys dream. The selection is out of this world. The burgers are amazing..... some of the best around. The staff is super friendly and always quick to offer a smile!! This is def one of my wife's and my favorite spots to at the end of a date night.
(5)Jodi P.
This place is little but that won't bother you once you eat here. Great selection of beer (for my husband ) & always great wines for me. The food is amazing! The atmosphere is great with live music playing as your dinning. I guess if I had to say one thing I wish they had, it would be an outdoor patio? Maybe I'm just saying that now because it's summer & who doesn't want great food, service, drinks & live music while enjoying the beautiful summer days. Try this place I'm certain you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kat J.
Great drink selection. I had a veggie sandwich for dinner because it was less expensive but very filling and tasty nevertheless. The service was a lacking or it would have been a 5 star rating.
(4)Andrea A.
What a pleasant surprise to find that elusive pub in the suburbs that has it all - good vibe & ambiance, excellent & appropriately-priced food, thoughtful servers, nice music add at times, and of-course, well-considered beer selections. If I lived closer, this would be 'The Place' for me.
(5)Jess T.
Went here for brunch this past weekend--I had the eggs Benedict and it was divine. It was prepared perfectly. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. My friend and I had blood marys and enjoyed adding all the little goodies from the bar. It's a nice touch and made it fun. The service was good, our waitress was polite. They also had a wonderful beer list which will definitely bring me back in the evening.
(5)Jenn V.
We had previously gone to this place when it was the Tap and Table. Needless to say, if you know beer, you'll know that the beer here isn't that great and it's WAY over priced. My husband and I had one drink each and the perogie appetizer and it was $35. The perogie's were good but not worth how expensive they were. Don't get me wrong, we love good food, and are beer snobs, but this place is over the top for what it is. I suggest if you're looking for good beer, go to the Bethlehem Brew-Works and if you want good pub food, visit 2nd St. tavern instead where prices are fair. Otherwise, if your filthy rich and you don't care about how much you pay for pretentious food, then this is your spot.
(2)Abbie P.
Stumbled upon the Trapp Door tonight browsing on Yelp since we aren't from the area. We split two starters and an entree. Beer selection was amazing. Atmosphere perfect. Service was great. Food was delicious. Highly recommend the short rib perogies.
(5)Erika B.
I'm going to continue the 5 star trend for this place. I loved the space, the beer selection, and the perogis! Well the whole menu looked great but the perogis were such a great, creative take on a traditional dish. The s'mores were also a must-try for desert. A home made marshmallow? Yes! Nice owners, good crowd, I will return and recommend to others.
(5)Kurt I.
I noticed people complaining about price - step away from the Lehigh Valley for a minute folks... these are comparable to anyplace of this caliber. So here I am with a friend - the day before the Lehigh Valley Half marathon and looking for something vegan to eat. I walk in, nothing vegan on the menu other than soup. The bartender asks why the long face (are you expecting a joke here?) and I explain my situation. I need non-greasy, vegan food - and allentown is very limiting. He tells me that they can whip up a mushroom panini in no time, am I interested? He explained the different mushrooms and sauces that go into it, all vegan, and I emphatically said yes. I ended up ordering two. This place gets a thumbs up from me. Also - the beer selection is out of sight. Please add vegan/veg selections back onto your regular menu.
(4)Stephen R.
Great atmosphere, food, and the best selection of specialty beers in the Lehigh Valley!
(5)Robert P.
I have been to this Gastropub probably 20 times since they opened under the new employee owners a year ago. They actually listened to their customers and improved what was wrong with the old place (lighting, odd menu items) and kept what made it special (beer selection and knowledgeable staff). I love that you can sit down on a Saturday night and enjoy live music from the bar. Even better, though I am a bit of a beer geek, you can always strike up a conversation with someone that knows more about beer than you. It might be the bartender but almost always is another customer there to try their ever rotating beers on draft and cask. On my last visit we enjoyed Dark Horse Crooked Tree double IPA, Harviestoun: Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve Blackest Ale and to go a bit lighter, Bear Republic Racer 5 with the second and third beers being from cask! The burger is the best burger I have ever had and the rest of the menu is just as good if not better. If you have never been here or have not been here lately, I highly recommend it. Don't come to watch baseball or basketball as they do not have TVs! Come for excellent beer, wonderful food and an atmosphere that stimulates conversation with friends.
(5)Daniel H.
Walk quickly but don't run either (you might trip and fall). Yeah the outside of this place looks a little grim and the parking lot is darker than I'd like. But you're kind of in the middle of the sticks out here. But sometimes the middle of nowhere yields a pleasant sort of surprise. Not in Allentown or in lowly Bethlehem, but in tiny Emmaus on the road to Bethlehem. I love my beer. If you enjoy amazing beers on tap and are sick of the standard boring drafts, you'll love this place. Sample an entire flight of beers and you won't regret it. I picked up a couple new favorites in this place and I make a point to have those beers elsewhere. The food is fantastic here. Our entire table tried a whole variety of different entrees and appetizers and I couldn't think of anything bad to say. Everything had a unique taste and the flavors in each dish worked together as opposed to stuff slapped together in a microwave. I don't mind spending money on quality beer and food. I've often expressed my displeasure at restaurants that claim to offer that quality but fall short. However I'm going to have equally strong positive opinions about places that live up to their reputation. A solid five stars.
(5)P T.
This is my favorite place right now. Go for Saturday 12-3 for happy hour. All beers half off and they have the best pate. The smoked salmon mousse is incredible and it is an incredible charcuterie plate in a land of cheese sticks and wings. This is a grown up place.
(5)clement m.
Decent food with their burgers and short ribs being among the Valley's best; excellent although obtuse beer selection and mediocre service. The service may be the result of a tiny kitchen or maybe not, but it is not an in and out place. The glassware and silverware are hard water spotted leaving non-locals to think these items are not clean. Finally, when live music is present, forget it. You can't fit through the door because that's where the band plays. The Act also is way too loud to have even a basic grunting conversation. If the food and beer are what you want, go nights other than Friday and Saturday. If you are a masochist and want to pay a lot for your drink and entree and walk out with a headache, then go on the weekend. One final thought. Tiny place, so if your group is more than two, get there at an off-peak time to secure seating for your group.
(3)Lucas P.
Stopped in for an afternoon snack and couldn't have been happier. An awesome beer selection and a few gluten free beer options as well as ciders for those that are intolerant. House made pirogi were excellent and the truffle aged goat cheese on crostini was delicious. Gluten Free gf (GF gf?) had the mussels and the pom fritte and they were equally as tasty. Staff is always friendly and helpful, and I love getting upscale-ish food and good beer at a place where I don't feel out of place in jeans and t-shirt. Plan to stop here whenever I'm in the area visiting family for some good eats and beer.
(5)David R.
Had a nice and quiet night out. Burger was delicious and the beer selection was great.
(4)Jeffrey L.
All the food we had was delicious. Beer selection was great. Service was good. We plan to return.
(5)Steph K.
The food is amazing. The beer list is awesome and the service is wonderful! My husband and I love to go here. I say it's a must try!
(5)Marc Q.
Great food. Great beer. Great service. Great ambiance. We had no complaints and can't wait to go back. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Momma K.
I can't say enough about how much we loved this place. From the warm atmosphere to the friendly waitstaff, delicious food, and craft beers. On top of it all, there was amazing live music. The perfect date night spot. As parents, we scarcely are able to get a night out, so we are very picky about where we go. We will absolutely return!
(5)Sue S.
Might have given 4.5 stars for price, but like the others said, you get what you pay for. The beer selection is without a doubt amazing. I like a place where beer is an art not an advertising gimick with bikini clad models and no taste. Everyone had a great knowledge of the selection du jour and made us feel right at home. Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was the pace! This is a place to sit and relax without being rushed in and out. Almost every table that was there when we arrived was still there when we left...but not because the service was slow...it was because everyone is there to enjoy the experience. I actually loved the location. It is beyond the chain restraunt and strip mall section, so we felt like we were in a cozy European pub. Check it out!
(5)J B.
Was here during this restaurant's previous life and liked it, figured we'd give it a shot in its new life, and we still liked it! We aren't big drinkers, but the beer selection is great. Since it was a cool fall night, I figured I'd try out the on-draft Southern Tier Warlock imperial stout brewed with pumpkins (based on bartender recommendation). Good stuff. Appetizers were (excellent) Pomme Frites with homemade ketchup, honey mustard, and horseradish mustard accompanied by the House Made Vegetarian Flatbeard (also excellent). Entrees were the (excellent) Free Range Chicken Breast (skin on, I always skip the skin, but it looked so good I had to eat it, and it rocked) and an (excellent) braised beef special that replaced the out of stock skirt steak. Got the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Good, but a little lacking compared to the rest of the meal. Not sure if it's outsourced or not, but the outside was warm while the middle was still in the process of thawing out. Very good restaurant. Actual place itself is divey, dingy, and small. Reservations are a MUST for a busy night (Fri, Sat, holidays), altho you may get lucky with a bar area high-top if you're a last minute drop-in. The prices are high-end, but suits the food. I'd say everything is overpriced by maybe $1 - $3 each, but an extra $10 isn't going to kill me.
(5)Mandeep G.
Wife and I were looking for a local place with unique character, great food, friendly staff, and excellent beer selection. This place met all, hence the 5 star rating. You have to check this place out next time your even remotely close.
(5)Kris P.
I am so thoroughly impressed by this place! ended up here as a result of a random search for sunday brunch in the Lehigh Valley. The draft beer selection seems well thought out and the food was excellent. I was almost put off when i read the prices as everything seemed too inexpensive to be good! Beautiful presentation followed by flavor to match. Definitely coming back here next time i visit the Valley.
(5)Dannell M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant, so I thought I should add it to Yelp! I went there last night and had the tomato salad, which was perfectly delicious and the Iron Pan Scallops. Both were perfectly delicious- the bill is never cheap, but you get what you pay for and I def. try to go back every two weeks! Great date place. Great staff. Awesome beer and food. Def- more organized than when it was Tap and Table. Even though it is a bit out the way, it is worth checking out on a weekend or Tuesday. Live music is always fun.
(5)Lauren M.
This place gets it almost perfect. Great atmosphere. Wood beam ceilings, soft candlelight, really enjoyable live music (one guy, guitar, Kris Kristofferson, Simon and Garfunkle, and Beatles), and great food. We ordered several small plates to share. First, let me say that we were seated at a very small table for two, so the plates came out one or two at a time. We realized later that we didn't make a very easy time of it for our server, Craig. But he handled it beautifully, even making sure the fondue and frites came out together so we could mix and match. He checked on us frequently and kept the drinks filled while remaining unobtrusive. That brings us to the food. We greatly enjoyed our meal. The frites were excellent- fresh, hot, crisp and salty. The dips were very good (a light horseradish, which was quite mild but good, a sweet mustard that hit just the right note with the salty fries, and homemade ketchup that was just okay). The only small complaint I have is that that fries were all really tiny. Not sure if we got the end of a batch or something, but it really wasn't conducive to dipping. I kept losing fry nubbins in the dips. Oh, don't worry, I managed to fish them out and eat them just the same. The fondue was good, too. Not amazing, but solid. It was a gruyere-ale combination, and though it tasted good, it wasn't terribly flavorful, but Craig was right - it was great with the fries. The pretzel bread that came with it was not good. We were expecting chewy, moist bread, but it was thin slices that were dry and stale. Just didn't work. Next, the calamari. The menu said it was served with ghost pepper-infused salt, which excited my Scoville-level-obsessed fiancé. But the calamari really wasn't hot (spicy) at all. Now, that having been said, it was absolutely delicious. Salty, fried just right, and served with a garlicky cream sauce. The last portion of the meal was the real highlight. They have a small but diverse selection of meats and cheeses, and we chose the rosemary manchego and the truffle goat cheese. The manchego was good, but the goat cheese was mind-blowing. It was served with a fig relish and garlic toast. The creamy, salty bite of the cheese complemented the sweet fig beautifully. Yes, the, salty-sweet combo is a common theme here- but it works, so why not? Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal thanks in no small part to Craig's adept handling of a less-than-easy order. The food presentations, on stone or wood boards, are beautiful. I'd say this place could earn 5 stars with a couple of minor tweaks to the details (better/fresher bread with the fondue, larger fries). I would definitely come back if I lived in the area.
(4)Jessica L.
Five of us had brunch here on a Sunday. They have a creative menu. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Good presentation. The beer drinkers in the group loved the selection of beers (and the beer itself). The exterior of the building belies the funky interior. $4 mimosas - can't beat that!
(4)Jennifer C.
This place was great, can't wait to go back again. The outside doesn't look like much but don't be fooled. The inside has been very nicely redone. The food was delicious, my duck was cooked perfectly as well as my husbands pork chop, loved the purple mashed potatoes. The deserts were amazing, strawberry rhubarb crisp with bee pollen crumble and lavender ice cream was heavenly! If you are into craft beers you can't beat this place. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
(5)brian s.
Ok,I had heard so much about the reboot of this location so I was very excited to try it for the first time. Like the atmosphere, and the food & service were both good,unfortunately the beverages were terrible. We had the beers on special,and at $9 for less than a 12 oz glass I was more than underwhelmed. I don't know if their taps are dirty or the kegs were skunky,but I was THOROUGHLY disappointed! I tried a pilsner first, and than an amber lager,and both were flat and barely palatable. The burger was tasy,but the calamari appetizer though good,was minuscule considering the price. It seems to me this pub is in search of an identity.It is not Blue,although by its bar prices you might think otherwise.I don't mind paying a premium for a good brew,but I expect said brew to be at least drinkable. I am bummed because the proximity is close and the atmosphere comfortable,but I will not be returning.
(2)Deb M.
I've been wanting to visit Trapp Door for a long time, but figured brunch would be our initiation. However, last night, after hubby came back from a trip away, we decided to go try it for a beer and light food. First of all, do not be put off by the exterior. It's a shame they can't do something to make it a little less nondescript and offputting. The inside is gorgeous. Beer selection is great, although I would actually like to see more offerings on tap, but the bottle options make up for that. Food is fantastic. The pierogies with potato and chorizo and cipolline onions are considerably better than the goat cheese and caramelized onion pierogies offered by Stanton Social in NYC. We did one round of salumi/cheese, and then finished with a salad. By that time, the entertainment had begun, and what had been planned as an hour or two visit turned into three or four, with a few extra beers consumed, as well as another round of salumi/cheese. We've already made note of the next date that the entertainer (Jake Kaligis) will be there and have already planned another visit. By the way, service was outstanding - at one point I wanted just a little more beer rather than ordering a full one (I was drinking Troegs on tap), and our waitress was more than happy to tap a half a glass for me. How awesome is that? Looking forward to going to brunch for our next special occasion. Yes, it's pricey, but it's very worth it. Apparently many people agree, because the place was hopping.
(5)Just A.
To keep it short....disappointed. Beer, old and skunky. Menu, limited. Food, fair at most. Staff, ha. Years ago when this place was Rumors, it was great, now I give this place a few years at best.
(1)Steve L.
Employee owned and operated and it shows with friendly personalized service. Outstanding rotating selection of beers. Great food with a very creative chef. It costs a little more but worth it.
(5)Jon D.
always leave full, quenched, and happy! great place!
(4)Bob B.
A trusted buddy with a hankering for a good cocktail told me I needed to go to this place for a great brunch experience, centered on a "Make Your Own Bloody Bar". While this concept is growing in popularity throughout the states ( a great thing, think Deer Park Tavern, Wilmington, DE; Boylan Heights, Charlottesville, VA) - these guys do it well. Top shelf vodka, "red stuff" and room to toss in your choice of about 60 things from the mixing'/fixin' bar. After tossing in some clam juice, Old Bay, blue cheese stuffed olives, yada yada - I was proud of myself. Made the sweat pores pop open ;). The owner/bartender, John, was an awesome host. The menu was eclectic, with well prepared and presented food - and it came out quick, in spite of a Father's Day brunch crowd. Great hand-crafted coctails. Spirited crowd, atmospheric space with cathedral ceilings. Pair this with a weekend at Bear Creek Inn and Resort, about 10 minutes away. Two things for management reassessment: lighting was too bright and music not tailored to maximize the intimacy of the brunch occasion. I hear the nights are great with entertainment.
(4)