The Bayou

ate here in Fall 2015, it was my first time and I loved the décor. Staff was very helpful to us and I liked the food & man the drink I had was whoa! Definitely good and strong. Only thing I would change would be less salt on my fries and for the chicken sandwich to be less greasy.

I’ve been here a hand full of times now, but this will be my first review. Went with my sisters and they inspired me to Unilocal it. The place is awesome with a cool southern vibe and décor. We were seated right away which was a delight for a Friday night.
Apps — Ty’s Mac n Cheese is awesome, favorite thing I’ve had there. The hush puppies were pretty bland and on the drier side. Could have used something to moisten them up aside from the olive oil it comes with. Small plate pork ribs were very tasty and definitely worth getting.
Entrees — I had the fried chicken. It was very tasty and authentic. It did not come with anything to dip it in so I got the house made BBQ on the side. It was a bit greasy, but it was fried chicken so it’s what you sign up for. The BBQ is unique, a bit too sweet for my sisters tastes but I was fine with it although not my ideal BBQ sauce. My sisters both got the Bayou Burger. The burger had a good beef flavor but the pork did not add much flavor, nor did the single piece of bacon. Their assessment was that they wish the BBQ had more of a tang to it, rather than the sweetness that it had.
Overall, I’ll definitely be back to try other items. I like the place and the vibe. Don’t think anything (we had) will blow your socks off, but we got the beignets to go, so we have yet to try them. The Bayou experience is a solid meal and a cool place, definitely worth checking out.

INCREDIBLE FOOD. You will not be disappointed. My bf and I had the cornbread, gumbo, fried chicken, and beignets. The beignets were so good I’m still dreaming about them. Only thing that was a little off putting were their hostesses, who were kind of a mess… The hostesses were super frazzled and barley acknowledged us. We had a reservation but still had to stand around for at least 10 minutes before being seated. I totally understand how busy they were, but it was kind of weird. Overall though, I would recommend this place to anyone again and again.

I go here everytime I am in town. The vibe is great, the food is delicious, service is friendly. Always a great time. I’d reccomend making a reservation though.

We were at the Bayou this past Week. Had terrific service. The Fried Chicken was outstanding. Moist and flavorful. Also, Kevin, the manager was gracious and went out of his way to greet every arriving patron and thanked all patrons for coming on their way out. Great experience. Thank you.

Came on a work trip so got to try a few things, which I love. We started with the hush puppies and grilled shrimp small plates, the shrimp were a bit overcooked but the accompanying salad was great, hush puppies were also pretty good. The entries were great though! I had the Mac and cheese with a side of the Brussel sprouts. Mac and cheese was super cheesy and delicious, and the Brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection (plus they had bacon, which always makes them better) I would definitely recommend this place should you be in the area.

The atmosphere was very good here, one of the better spots my girlfriend and I have been too. The wait is ridiculous. We tried to go there two previous times and the approximate waiting time was over two hour long. I tried to think ahead and call ahead, so we can have a reservation and not wait. The wait time for a reservation was at least a half hour, which is not good for business. That was one of the only two downfalls of this place.
I ordered the Mac n Cheese, which was unbelievably good; but what it lacked was a side. There were no «sides» under $ 15, which is an arm and a leg. The waitress explained the sides are other meal options people usually combine. So, people are supposed to get two full sized meals? It does not make sense.
My girlfriend and I did enjoy it though. We may, or may not, be back here for another dining experience.

Since my first review we’ve been back several times. The food has been wonderful each time. The noise level hasn’t changed. Not much can be done about that. Our service the past few times has been impeccable. The servers and manager were very attentive. We’ve been to Grain, their new restaurant in Allentown, several times as well which is very good too, but we still prefer the menu at the Bayou. I suggest you give it a try, if you go into it knowing it will be very high energy and on the noisy side. The place is always packed. It’s worth a try.

Amazing find. The service was great, the drinks were great, the atmosphere is cozy and casual yet energetic from the bar. Not too loud not too quiet.
The food… Ok first of all, everything sounds amazing, they have a large selection of exciting dishes whether it be a small plate, a snack or a sandwich, they have a lot to offer. We had the hush puppies, pork belly, clams, gumbo, oxtails, shrimp po boy and Brussel sprouts. My husband did not enjoy the gumbo and after 3 bites decided to give up on it, but let’s talk about the braised oxtails, by far one of the best dishes I’ve had in the last few years. It was spiced to perfection and had an amazing corn and okra ‘ragout’ which was surprisingly cooked just right, not mushy. We took a week long trip to New Orleans this past summer and I’ll tell you this place has better food for sure. Thank you for a great night.

Really fantastic experience at the bayou. Great service, outstanding food, and easy location (parking, etc). Will definitely add this place to my list of favorite restaurants in and around Bethlehem. Highly recommend!

First time here. Have heard rave reviews so my expectations were high. Slightly disappointed all around. Ordered 1) shrimp small plate (over cooked, tough, under-​seasoned shrimp; soggy, bland, over-​dressed salad). 2) Pulled pork sandwich with fries (forgettable. The hint of spice and crunch, but not enough to truly satisfy) 3) Mac and cheese (great but super heavy. Not impressed since it’s pretty simple to make fattening food taste good.)
Decent beer selection.
Just OK ambiance.
Bartenders were friendly but nothing special in terms of service. Actually, kind of sluggish.
Won’t be back

WATCH OUT FOR ADDED GRATUITY EVEN WITH A SMALLER PARTY
The good: The restaurant offers really yummy comfort food, unique dishes, special requests are considered, friendly staff, nice atmosphere, clean restrooms
We made a reservation for 7pm for a table of 5 + 1 toddler. The restaurant was packed so we had to wait at the bar for half an hour. That was fine because we had some catching up to do anyways. The first half of that was a little bit awkward because the bar was full and we were in the way. They don’t have anywhere else to wait. Ordered food and waited for another 40 minutes. Ordered the AMAZING macaroni and cheese for my daughter and they brought that sooner for her, along with a special veggie side that we requested (so nice!). I had to leave with my 3-​year-​old because we had been there for too long, and it was getting really late. My husband waited for the check. ***our total was $ 170. Despite the long wait and because we always tip generously, my husband got out $ 40. ****He double checked the bill only to see that a 20% gratuity had already been added.**** He told me about it the next day so I called the restaurant. The hostess that answered said they add gratuity to large parties of 10 or more. I then spoke with the manager and he said that added gratuity is at the discretion of the server. I can’t help but think that we were being forced to leave 20%: A.) because we had to wait so long or B.) we had been profiled because we were in street clothes. Either way it’s not a good business practice to add gratuity to a party of 5 ¼. I would say 4**** stars even with the crappy wait, but that unjustified and high added gratuity takes it down to a 2**. Sad that we won’t be going back.

Totally enjoyed «Grain» for lunch… A nice addition to «Bayou», which always is a totally delicious dining experience. Both restaurants are five star, and need to be experienced!

Review based on 1 visit but really impressed by location, food & service! This is a stand-​alone restaurant in Bethlehem a short drive from Main St. Overall so DELICIOUS that I forgot to photograph my delicious Bayou burger!
I sat outside and loved enjoying the October weather. They have a great relaxing set-​up with mason jar lights and all.
I LOVED Tys Mac! The ham + sweet peas really balance the cheddar and fontina. SO SO GOOD. Its a must have! It went well with the corn bread which is also VERY good. It comes with spicy tomato butter, and is a generous serving! PERFECT COMBO.
The Bayou burger was also phenomenal. A burger topped with pulled pork? HOW COULD YOU RESIST? The burger was cooked to perfection and would have been impressive on its own… the added red cabbage and pulled pork will make you smile for days. Can’t wait to have it again.
Finally, the service! My server was so great! She was very well spoken and knowledgeable about the menu. She described the process of making their pulled pork and described how everything at the restaurant is made fresh, including all their meats! Shows a lot about a restaurant when they provide so much education about the food to their table staff!
Pro-​tips: They take reservations!

I thought it would be good to update my review, as I’ve been back to the Bayou a few times. The food has gotten better. One or two things I really liked on their original menu are gone, but what is on the new menu is still very very tasty, and the desserts are HUGE and DELICIOUS. Also a great place for cocktails (great sazerac), and a good selection of beer. And again, they have ABITA so they win.
Sat outside on the patio on a nice evening with a group of friends, and it was very pleasant. Looking forward to my next visit.
They also have definitely worked out any kinks in their service they had when they first opened, so fifth star awarded.

All I can say is YUM!!!
That corn bread is crack!
The food portions are great and so is the hospitality that comes with it!
Every single dish my family ordered was delicious.
To start off def try the curry cauliflower

5 stars for an all around great experience! We were in Bethlehem for a baseball tournament and decided to try this place based on the Unilocal reviews. Even though they weren’t taking reservations because they were booked, they did their best to accommodate us on the fly. I am so glad they did! Service was outstanding start to finish!
We started with cornbread, grilled shrimp, and the marinated cucumbers. Nicely presented and very delicious. 1 adult and 2 kids shared a macaroni and cheese and 2 orders of fried chicken. The mac n cheese was slightly smoky from the ham hock and the cheddar was sharp and definitely cheesy. The chicken was extra juicy and tasted as if it was brined before hand. Outstanding flavor!
Now my favorite of all was the oxtail entrée! OMG! It was rich and decadent with a flavorful sauce and just the right amount of mushrooms. Absolutely divine. It was a heavy dish (in a luscious sort of way) so go easy on the apps if you order this. The portion was very generous with at least 10 – 12 pieces.
The jalapeño margarita was heavy on the spice but that’s what you want in this drink. It was just right!! The berry bourbon cocktail was excellent as well. Not too sweet with a strong taste of bourbon. Again, just right! Loved that they are served in mason jars too!
We sat outside on the patio and finished just before the rain came in. We were warned by the hostess when we got there that the rain may spoil our meal… kuddo’s to her for watching the weather and keeping her patrons in the loop. We appreciated that touch! That being said, our waitress went above and beyond to change our seating arrangement in order to keep us dry. Again, she was wonderful!
The owner greeted us coming in and on the way out as well. We complimented him on what a great establishment he is running. We don’t live in the area but would definitely make the trip back to this place. Overall great dining experience!

It’s been a while since I have looked forward to trying a new restaurant and then be so let down.
I had the shrimp and grits-​and if you can tell by my picture-​the grits were a pasty mess. They were so cooked down that the consistency was that of paste. The shrimp were swimming in an odd gravy that was neither southern OR tasty.
My companion had fried chicken which was overlooked on the outside but tasty on the inside.
The Mac and cheese-​had pieces of Ham and green peas… and was the best part of the meal.

I’m going to preface this review with a disclaimer statement of «I am a born and bred jersey boy with no idea what real cajun food is supposed to taste like.»
First and foremost, this place has the ambiance you would expect in a restaurant straight out of NYC. Excellent attention to detail to ensure everywhere you look reminds you of what eating in a local New Orleans restaurant would be like… And not in a cheesy «hang a canoe on the wall and a Mardi gras beads» Applebee’s sort of way, but in a very classy and upscale way that just makes you fall in love with it. The space isn’t huge, but they make the most of the space they have and even have a gorgeous patio space that is perfect for summer evening dining.
Now despite what my disclaimer says, I know what great food and great drinks taste like and this place has both. I was blown away by the food and drinks both time I visited here. The jalapeño margarita was awesome and had perfect amount of spicy kick and the apple barrel moonshine was incredibly delicious… It’s like apple pie that you drink and then make poor life decisions!
The food was also stellar… In the two times I’ve been there me and the people I was with got the buttermilk fried chicken, steamers, duck confit po’boy, mac &cheese, peanut butter mousse, and the brown sugar beignets and it was all awesome. AWESOME! That’s coming from a Northerner so take it for what you will, but I can’t wait to go back and hit this place up again.
Also, the owner always seems to be there and I got a few minutes to talk to him and you can just tell he takes real pride in his business.

Wonderful food! The menu is varied and unique and a welcome change to the neighborhood. The corn bread was fabulous… crunchy and chewy with just the right spices. The Andouille with corn cakes and fried egg was amazing. Spicy sausage with the sweetness of the corn cakes was a nice pairing. The bayou burger was a great mix of flavors with pulled pork, bacon, cole slaw and spicy sauce. All the entrees looked amazing. We had beignets for dessert, and while good, did not compare to beignets at Café du mond in NOLA.
One star off for being noisy. It was hard to talk over the roar of the crowd in such a small space. Go for the great food but pick a new place if you want to catch up with an old friend!