Italian restaurants are easy to find throughout the Lehigh Valley. Though finding an Italian restaurant in the valley that serves up more than your basic fettucine alfredo is easier said than done (at least in my experience). When I learned that the previous Bethlehem location of That’s Amore was being renovated and renamed Fiamma Italian Grill, I was eager to try out their new offerings.
Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how the interior was much more modern than before. The walls have been painted a goldish yellow with accents of a burgundy paint throughout. Booths are available, but we were very comfortable at a nice hardwood table with soft leather chairs. Right away I was pleased to find a simple double-sided menu with lots of tasty options. Our waiter, Devon, went over the specials and took the time to give us great suggestions.
Crispy Fried Calamari
Of course there are the classic appetizers you’ll find at an Italian restaurant, like fried calamari and breaded mozzarella, but there’s also a great selection of unique appetizers that tempts you to step outside box, like Shrimp Sambuca featuring shrimp wrapped in prosciutto with oranges, shallots and a Sambuca reduction. As much as my friend and I wanted to be adventurous, we chose the Crispy Fried Calamari ($11). Though we changed it up a little and went with bang-bang sauce. Other sauces to choose from were classic marinara, balsamic, sweet Thai and buffalo.
While waiting for our appetizer to come out, our server delivered us some bread to hold us over.
Garlic bread
Now this is definitely NOT the typical garlic bread you get at an Italian restaurant. Placed before us was a warm, fluffy pillow of tender bread topped with a garlic parmesan blend. It was fun to be able to pull apart the bread and dip it into the garlicky olive oil on the plate. This was a delicious take on the typical garlic bread you’d get at an Italian restaurant. Don’t pass on the bread here! It’s worth every carb.
When our calamari came out I was surprised to find that it was already tossed in the bang-bang sauce and feared it would be soggy or overwhelming. Fortunately, this was not the case. The sauce to calamari ratio was spot on. The sauce was a little sweet with a kick to it, which complimented the crispy, tender calamari. We were given a generous portion, but it was too much for the two of us so we took the rest home for a snack for later.
Lobster Lemoncello with a side serving of linguine with tomato sauce, basil and parmesan cheese
The entrée menu includes many unique options. Tempting dishes like Venetian Papparedelle with a duck ragu and double wide fettuccini, and Blackened Sea Scallops with a roasted tomato relish and green onion vinaigrette both caught my eye. My stomach was won over by the Lobster Lemoncello, which is an 8 ounce lobster tail with crabmeat and a light cream lemoncello reduction ($27). My friend with went the classic Chicken Marsala with mixed mushrooms and red onion ($19). When I go back though I will be trying something off the grill section, specifically the Rack of Lamb Tuscana with a sundried tomato yogurt.
Chicken Marsala
Along with our entrées came a choice of either the house salad or Caesar salad. My entrée also came with my choice of pasta so I went with a personal favorite, linguine. There’s also an option of adding on gnocchi or pappardelle for $3. Shortly after we finished our calamari our salads came out. I enjoyed the creamy, garlicky Caesar dressing on my salad, but if you enjoy a lighter dressing then I also suggest the house salad, which my friend got, which has a refreshing house vinaigrette.
I must note that the food service here is excellent. Shortly after our salad plates were cleared our entrees arrived. Not once during the evening did I find myself wondering where my food was (and keep in mind that the restaurant was full). Our meals not only came out quickly, but they were hot and delicious. My lobster tail was topped with a creamy mound of crabmeat that I couldn’t wait to attack. I had a hard time at first cutting into it, but once I figured out how to detach the lobster meat from the tail I had no problem thoroughly enjoying my meal. The lemoncello reduction was creamy and rich, but did not take away from the flavor of seafood. I was so into my lobster tail that I almost forgot about my linguine topped with a hearty tomato sauce, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. I’ll be honest, I almost always stay away from tomato sauce at restaurants because no one comes close to my mom’s famous homemade sauce. Though I have to say, Fiamma’s marinara is the best I’ve had dining out at an Italian restaurant in the Lehigh Valley.
Tiramisu for two
My friend was impressed with their Chicken Marsala as well. There were big pieces of tender chicken, lots of mushrooms and a Marsala sauce that was spot on. I could barely see the pasta underneath all of it! Needless to say we both enjoyed our entrées. And of course I always have room for dessert, so we packed up our leftovers and decided to split a piece of tiramisu. It was the perfect, sweet ending to an excellent Italian dinner.
It’s safe to say I’ve found my new favorite Italian restaurant that’s close to home. Fiamma Italian Grill is perfect for an intimate date night or just a relaxing dinner with loved ones. The owners have made a strong comeback with this dining establishment. I’ll definitely be coming back again to try a one pound meatball entree with whipped ricotta (I couldn’t take my eyes off this when the waiter walked past my table with it) and try more of the unique menu items they offer. Whether you’re craving classic Italian or want to try something new, you’re sure to find something delicious at Fiamma Italian Grill.
Note: Fiamma is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The restaurant has a bar, with happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
Address: 2132 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, Pa.
Phone: (610) 419-6545
Kristina Gonzalez is a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident who works in the publishing industry. She enjoys dining out regularly and trying new restaurants in the area.
