Widow’s Tavern and Grille in Stockertown is reputedly haunted by a ghost named Marvin.
You might not always get a trick, but you’ll definitely be in for a treat when you dine in at the supposedly haunted Widow’s Tavern and Grille in Stockertown. Marvin, the friendly resident ghost, has been haunting Widow’s for almost as long as it’s been built (think back to when stagecoach stops were a thing). You can read the full story about Marvin on the restaurant’s menu and on its About Us webpage, but let’s just say you may experience some spooky happenings if you stop in at Widow’s.
Conveniently located right off of Rt. 33, the historic tavern building is hard to miss when you drive down Main Street. The restaurant was decorated nicely for fall with pumpkins and seasonal flowers when I visited. When I first walked in I could easily tell that Widow’s is a favorite with locals, seeing that almost every seat at the bar was full. We were seated at a large table in a room next to the bar, right next to an old fireplace. Widow’s has preserved many of the historic features of the building.
Fried Mozzarella
Homemade Pierogies
The menu at Widow’s is quite large, but the variety was welcome. To start, we had the Homemade Pierogies ($6.50), Fried Mozzarella ($8.50) and Warm Homemade Chips ($5) with ranch.
All the appetizers came out quickly, and it was hard to pick a favorite among the three. The pierogies definitely tasted like they were house-made. Sauteed with butter and onions, they hit the spot on a chilly fall night. I was especially excited to try the fried mozzarella, since the cheese is from Calandra’s in Nazareth. It did not disappoint, either. The mozzarella was fried perfectly golden on the outside, and gooey on in the inside. Lastly, the homemade chips seemed like a simple choice for a starter, but I could have eaten the whole basket myself! Every chip was perfectly crisp and salted.
It’s hard to believe, but even after all these appetizers there was no way I was saying no to a cup of signature She Crab Soup ($6.50), which is crab meat simmered with celery, cream and a hint of sherry.
She Crab Soup
Being that it was so creamy and rich I’d suggest getting this as a single appetizer (not in addition to many others, like I did). I could taste the sherry in the soup, but it was not overwhelming. And there were lumps of crab meat in every single spoonful.
For my dinner I went with the English Burger ($11), which was topped with a mixture of mayo, diced bacon, mustard and jack and cheddar cheeses served on an oversized toasted English muffin.
English Burger with fries
I was more than happy to find that the delicious mixture of toppings was formed into a patty, and seemed to be grilled on the flat top before being placed on top of my burger. This creamy, cheesy combo was the perfect topping for my burger; no ketchup needed. I opted to pay extra for french fries with my burger, but I regretted not getting the housemade chips instead. They’re much tastier than the fries, and of course nothing beats house-made.
One of my guests got a slightly fancier option for dinner: the 8 oz. Filet ($28.50) with a Chesapeake mixture on top that included crab meat, mozzarella and crumbled bleu cheese, baked golden brown ($6 extra).
Eight ounce filet with a Chesapeake topping
All entrees come with a dinner salad and it was surprisingly much tastier than your typical house salad.
Dinner salad
What set the salad apart from the rest were the crispy shredded sweet potatoes on top. A little personal touch like this makes it stand apart from your typical greens, tomatoes and onions. The filet was the standout meal at the table. It was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and melted in your mouth. This filet was actually better than those I’ve had at actual steakhouses! The cheesy crab sauce poured over the top was filled with flavor, and did not overpower the steak, either.
This probably won’t come as a surprise, but I had no room for even one bite of dessert after this meal. It’s rare that I go to a restaurant and have everything I order be a hit. Widow’s Tavern and Grille served up nothing but delicious, homemade food on a busy Friday night. Hopefully next time I stop in, I’ll get to finally meet Marvin the friendly ghost.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Address: Widow’s Tavern and Grille, 200 Main St., Stockertown, PA 18083
Phone: 610-365-8890
Facebook Page: Click here
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:30 am – 11 pm; Friday & Saturday: 11:30 am – 11 pm; Sunday: 11:30 am – 8 pm.
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. Do you have a local restaurant review suggestion for Kristina? Please email it to josh@sauconsource.com.