If you’ve lived in the Lehigh Valley long enough you most likely remember The Lantern restaurant, which was located on Pembroke Road in Bethlehem. It’s hard for me not to remember it, since I grew up right across the street from it. Many of my childhood memories are filled with playing at the old arcade machines while my grandfather enjoyed a beer at the bar. Now this building is home to Adagio, a restaurant specializing in seafood and continental fare.
The renovations the owners have done to this iconic establishment are incredible. Beautiful hardwood floors and fresh neutral paint have created a modern, elegant and unpretentious atmosphere at Adagio.
To start off our dinner, we decided to try a classic seafood appetizer: fried calamari ($10). The calamari was served with marinara, pesto cream and Thai chili sauces. Our starter came out quickly, and the calamari was crisp and tender. The Thai chili sauce was my favorite of the three, and gave the calamari some much-needed seasoning.
We both went with combination entrees for our main course, which are a good deal if you want to try a bit of several things. The combination entrees came with a choice of house or Caesar salad to start and a choice of a side dish. Being a big fan of crab cakes, I knew I definitely wanted to try Adagio’s recipe. I paired them with a broiled lobster tail and a baked sweet potato to complete my entree ($28).
My friend went chose a classic surf and turf combo: a medium New York strip steak and lobster tail ($34). For his side, he went with a baked potato with signature Old Bay butter.
Our salads were a fresh way to start off our meals, with crisp veggies and salad dressings that tasted homemade. The size of our entrees did not disappoint, and neither did the flavor. My crab cake had large lumps of crab meat, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice elevated the flavors. Both of our lobster tails were cooked perfectly and extremely tender. My friend got a generous portion of NY strip that was grilled to his desired temperature. Both of our starchy sides were delicious, but hard to finish after our surf and turf feast.
The desserts looked delicious but we were too full to enjoy them this time.
My overall experience at Adagio was an extremely positive one. From the modern atmosphere to the quality seafood, it was hard to find anything not to like.
Besides stopping by Adagio for an amazing lunch, dinner or drink (the restaurant offers a full bar), you can also book your next party there. The newly remodeled, beautiful banquet room is equipped with a dance floor and bar that can accommodate up to 130 people. Be sure to check out Adagio soon to experience all they have to offer in person.
ADAGIO
Address: 530 Pembroke Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday)
Phone: 610-625-3777 (reservations are accepted)
Parking: Free lot with additional parking available across the street
Payment: Major credit cards accepted
Website: AdagioSeafood.com
Facebook Page: @AdagioSeafood
Instagram: @adagioseafood
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. Is there a local restaurant you’d like Kristina to review? Please email your suggestion to jo**@sa**********.com.
