The Bayou Bethlehem

4.5

1719 Reviews

$30 and under

Southern

Top Tags:

The Bayou: Southern Kitchen & Bar is a local restaurant that offers a creative take on classic New Orleans cooking. Young restaurateurs Cristian Duarte & Mo Taylor have brought a blend of traditional southern flavors and modern American cooking to create a unique take on Nola soul food. The Bayou’s interior and atmosphere match it’s cuisine’s unique blend of creativity and comfort. Pick and choose a mixture of items to satisfy your different tastes, and share them amongst the table. Pair your meal with a perfectly mixed cocktail, or one of our many craft beers. Then, sit back, savor your meal, and enjoy some music. Dining at The Bayou is truly a one-of-a-kind experience in the Lehigh Valley.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Southern, American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:00 pm
Phone number
(610) 419-6669
Website
https://www.datbayoulv.com/bethlehem#Home
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
John Magsino

Location
702 Hawthorne Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Neighborhood
Pennsylvania
Cross street
North St
Parking details
Guest may park in the lot across the street.
Additional
Bar Dining, Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Buttermilk Fried Chicken$25.00
Five (5) pieces of fried chicken, Sweet Potato Mash, House Pickles
Bronzed Salmon$29.00
pork hoppin' john, southern trinity
Chicken & Waffles$23.00
Belgian Waffle, Spicy Maple Syrup on the side, Pickled Fruit
Bayou BBQ Ribs$24.00
A half rack of smoked ribs served with collard greens & cornbread.
Jambalaya$30.00
Crawfish, Shrimp, Chicken, Andouille Sausage & Rice
Nashville Hot$25.00
nashville hot oil, white bread, pickles
Shrimp N Grits$29.00
Jalapeno Cheddar Grits, Tomato Marmalade & Nola BBQ Sautéed Shrimp
Shrimp Creole$28.00
southern trinity, spicy tomato broth, rice

Sandwiches & Po Boys

Fried Chix Sandwich$16.00
Fried Chicken Thigh, House Pimento Cheese, Bread & Butter Pickles. Served with Fresh Cut Fries Nashville Style (+$1) add Nashville hot sauce and switch Pimento Cheese to Pimento Ranch
Shrimp Po' Boy$16.00
Fried Shrimp, Pickled Fennel & Cabbage Slaw, Voodoo Sauce. Served with Fresh Cut Fries
Plain Burger$13.00
classic burger with your choice of toppings
Brisket Po' Boy$16.00
Aged Cheddar, Shallot Marmalade, Cabbage Slaw, Marinated Tomatoes. Served with Fresh Cut Fries
Smokehouse Burger$16.00
8oz Burger topped with Bayou house BBQ, bacon, aged cheddar & onion straws
Catfish Po' Boy$16.00
lettuce, tomato, remoulade
BBQ Pork Po' Boy$16.00
bbq aioli, cabbage slaw, pickles
Bayou Cuban$16.00

Shareables

Bayou Mac n' Cheese$16.00
Smoked ham hock, cave aged cheddar, fontina, sweet peas
Brisket Mac n' Cheese$18.00
Mac n Cheese mixed with house smoked brisket & blistered tomatoes
Nashville Mac n' Cheese$17.00
Mac n Cheese mixed with our Nashville Hot fried chicken & broccoli
Collard Greens$9.00
Slow cooked greens with pork & molasses
Cornbread$10.00
Three (3) pieces of Cast iron skillet baked cornbread served with whipped honey butter
Crab Cakes$18.00
Two (2) Crab Cakes served with house made remoulade
Cast Iron Pierogies$17.00
Seared house-made pierogies, lump crab, lobster cognac butter
Dirty Rice$9.00
finely minced chicken, andouille, trinity vegetables
Fresh Cut Fries$6.00
Our fries are hand cut daily!
Hush Puppies$10.00
Jalapeño, Aged Cheddar, Herb Chimichurri
Sweet Mash$9.00
Roasted sweet potatoes mashed with brown sugar and a hint of spice. Topped with homemade marshmallow fluff.

Soup & Salad

Gumbo$10.00
Andouille & chicken. Served with white rice.
French Onion Soup$9.00
Classic French Onion soup with crostini croutons, covered in melted swiss and provolone cheese.
Beet & Goat$15.00
spring mix, arugula, crumbled goat cheese, beets, bacon, pickled eggs, pecans, pecan vinaigrette on the side
Summer Salad$15.00
spring mix, bleu cheese, radish, citrus apple, candied pecans, blackstrap vinaigrette
Cajun Chicken Caeser$18.00
Caesar Salad$13.00
Spiced cornbread croutons, parmesan, cracked black pepper. Served with dressing on the side

Dessert

Beignets$13.00
Classic Beignets, dusted with powdered sugar and served with Maple Creme Anglaise
Peanut Butter Mousse$9.00
Layers of house made peanut butter mousse, peanut brittle and chocolate soil. Yummy!!
Bayou Bread Pudding$10.00
Single Scoop Vanilla$3.50

Kids Menu

Kids Burger$9.00
plain burger served with fries
Kids Chicken Fingers$9.00
3 chicken fingers served with fries
Kids Fried Shrimp$9.00
fried shrimp served with fries
Kids Mac N Cheese$9.00
mac-n-cheese served with fries
Kids Pulled Pork$9.00
pulled pork sandwich served with fries
Kids Cheese Burger$9.00
cheese burger served with fries

Sides

Collard Greens$9.00
Slow cooked greens with pork & molasses
Dirty Rice$9.00
finely minced chicken, andouille, trinity vegetables
Jalapeno Grits$9.00
Aged Cheddar, Jalapeño puree
Sweet Mash$9.00
Roasted sweet potatoes mashed with brown sugar and a hint of spice. Topped with homemade marshmallow fluff.
Side Caesar$6.00
Side Chicken$7.00
Side House Salad$5.00
Side Maple Syrup$1.00
Side Pickles$1.00
Side Pimento$1.00
Side White Rice$2.00
Side Catfish$14.00
Side Shrimp$12.00
Nola Shrimp$14.00

Brunch

Andouille$7.00
Bacon$5.00
Side Homefries$6.00
Waffle$7.00

Fat Tuesday

Bourbon Street Tacos$14.00

Happy Hour

Fry Flight$8.00
Nash Rogies$9.00
Pork Sliders$10.00
FCS Sliders$12.00
Old Bay Shrimp$12.00
Catfish Tacos$14.00

What 1,719 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

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h
hoops
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Reviewed on May 21, 2019
overall5foodserviceambience
The Bayou is simply the best place to go in the region. Just please don't tell anyone
R
Revrick
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience5
My wife and I were here for our anniversary, ordered drinks, and Jerry sat down and chatted with us. We shared the pear and arugula salad, which had a scoop of the creamiest cheese ever. For the main course, my wife had the fried chicken and I had the catfish with rice and beans. Both dishes were a festival of taste. We finished our meal sharing the bananas Foster cheesecake. Oh my. We ate every sinful bite.
GB
GBaum
Denver
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on August 21, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this restaurant Our son goes to college in Bethlehem and we have had the pleasure of dining here twice and will again. Food is amazing and service exceptional. Will see you again in november. Thank you
t
toms
Philadelphia
15 reviews
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on August 18, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience5
This is our go to place for several years. Absolutely love the food and service has always been great. However, our recent visit we were greeted by a hostess that made me feel like we were bothering her. We arrived 10 minutes before our reservation and she said with a condescending tone “ well you’re early so your tables not ready.” I asked if we could sit at the bar and she said “yeah”. Twenty minutes later our table was ready and she came up to me at the bar and asked my name. Thankfully this was our last interaction with her. Once seated our waitress and food were excellent. It amazes me that someone with limited people skills is the first person you meet when you arrive.
l
llfekula
Philadelphia
41 reviews
vip
5.0
41 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience5
Our go to place after a hard day! Best Chicken in the valley and beer on tap! Never a bad plate! 😎🌴
DF
DanielleF
Philadelphia
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a great time at The Bayou! This time we ordered a bunch of small plates, and they surly didn’t disappoint...especially the ribs and Mac and Cheese!!!
DG
DavidG
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 10, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved the cucumber mist cocktail. The fried green tomatoes were perfect- crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful inside. The shrimp and grits were scrumptious with a spicy kick.
MW
MelissaW
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 10, 2018
overall4food4service3ambience2
Food was great. Very very noisy. There were four of us and hard to converse. Our waitress mixed up the wines and my friend and I were served opposite of what we ordered. I made a reservation well in advance but we were seated next to the kitchen which is not to my liking.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 9, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outside seating was cozy and relaxing. Great service. Love the grits.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2018
overall5food5service3ambience4
Sun coming in window was glaring. Area was cluttered, kept kicking person across the table. Could hear conversation next to me was very loud tables too close together
J
Jules
Philadelphia
39 reviews
vip
4.0
39 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2018
overall4food4service4ambience1
Good was great- loved the cornbread! Proportions are ample and ladies can definitely share! The noise volume was very high and not conducive to conversation.
h
happydiner
Philadelphia
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
The bayou was fantastic! Their cocktails are delicious and well priced for what you get. Their jambalaya was spicy but incredibly tasty. The cornbread melts in your mouth.
P
Phoebe
Philadelphia
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 2, 2018
overall3food2service2ambience3
The two dishes we got were very salty. I like salt but it was a bit over the top. It was so loud we couldn’t hear each other talking. I would recommend but warn about noise level and the possibility of meal being salty.
S
Sal728
Philadelphia
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 2, 2018
overall3food3service5ambience2
We have eaten here many times. Always have a delicious meal. Pricing is fair. Service was excellent. Our server was wonderful. However this time we order fried oysters which were not cheap as an appetizer. They were overcooked. My husband ordered fried chicken and that as well was over cooked. The noise level is horrible. We were seating in the bar area. There was people standing right next to us while we were trying to eat. And the poor server had trouble getting through the aisle. If you want a place where you can hold a conversation, this is not it.
PJ
PatJ
Atlantic City
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 1, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience4
Great food as always. However I did request a table when I made my reservation, but was told I had to take a “high” table. Disappointing.
T
Triv
Philadelphia
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2018
overall2food2service2ambience3
I really enjoyed my first time here but this time wasn’t good very disappointed
K
Kristen
Philadelphia
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2018
overall4food3service4ambience3
Steak was cold but they reheated it. Fried chicken was not anything special but the mac and cheese and pork chops were awesome.
1
1981
Charleston
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience4
Very lively and loud but the food and service were excellent !
GS
GwenS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 23, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Bayou is fabulous! Everything we tried was DELICIOUS! Tanya was also just GREAT! She even gave our friends a rundown of what it is like in New Orleans as they will be going there in the Fall! We were able to eat outside on the patio and everyone and everything was terrific! Thanks to all of you!
j
jackies
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 22, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Please include some live Bayou music! Blues, Jazz, etc.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 21, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience4
Attentive and helpful waitstaff; unparalleled food quality!
OM
OzzieM
New York Area
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 20, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always The Bayou does not disappoint! Food is amazing and the staff is awesome !!!
KE
KarenE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 19, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food. Outstanding service. Great date night.
b
bellaluna
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 19, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was fantastic and service was great. Love the outdoor seating area. A hometown restaurant for me, so will definitely be visiting often.
AJ
AJB1
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 16, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience4
The Bayou is simply the most consistently very good restaurant in the Lehigh Valley. Food always great, very nice atmosphere, service almost always terrific. It is just a great place to go for a nice dinner or a very good drink. On our many times there over the years have never been disappointed.
BW
BarbaraW
Philadelphia
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on July 14, 2018
overall5food5service3ambience3
Service was a little slow and they would bring more plates and glasses and never remove the old ones. She did not check back very often. The food was awesome... very loud inside kinda wish we would have asked for outside table.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charlotte
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 13, 2018
overall4food5service3ambience5
Great food, not so great service! But, I'll try it again!
J
Jason
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 11, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful service, great food. I’ve been here several times now and have never been disappointed. One small plate from the original menu was just ok, but that has since been changed in a menu update. Speaking of menu updates, they do a great job at keeping their menu & specials fresh and new. I’m a big fan of that. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a nice night out with amazing food & creatively delicious house cocktails.
f
frankiegoestohollywood
Philadelphia
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2018
overall4food4service3ambience3
everything on the menu is good. the chef knows what he's doing! the gumbo is amazing, so is the sweer tea!
j
jbfood
Philadelphia
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2018
overall4food5service3ambience3
Visiting our son and his lovely wife. Very pleased with menu and food. Service was a bit inconsistent - e.g., long wait for water refills but minor. Same with noise and ambiance on patio. Nice but could have been easier to talk over music. Will definitely be back! Highly recommend!!
SA
ShannonA
Atlantic City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 7, 2018
overall5food5service3ambience5
My Husband and I made reservations at The Bayou for our 1 year wedding anniversary and my birthday. We love this restaurant and the Mac n cheese is to die for. Our waitress was a bit “blah” but that won’t keep us from returning again. The Bayou has an amazing atmosphere and you can’t go wrong with ordering just about anything on the menu.
FT
FusionTed
Philadelphia
30 reviews
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on July 7, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience4
Great food & drink. My meal (shrimp & grits) looked exactly like the photo on their website.
LC
LC14
Philadelphia
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 6, 2018
overall2food1service2ambience3
Most of the food ordered was overcooked and dry. No reply from establishment after expressing disappointment.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 6, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food as always!!! My favorite place!
PJ
PatJ
Atlantic City
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 5, 2018
overall5food5service4ambience4
The food and drinks were amazing and our server was great. Great night with friends!
SH
SHEKY
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 3, 2018
overall2food2service4ambience2
Second time there and again the cook poured a bucket of salt into the collards....they are AWFUL!!! Mac and cheese? Eh..not creamy cheesy enough and what’s with the peas in it? Rest of our meal...shrimp P.O. boy, fried chicken, ribs...were nothing special like other people rave about! The only thing that was excellent and possibly I would only do a stop drive by to pick up is the corn bread, it’s fabulous! We gave u guys 2 tries and sorry...we will not be back! But good luck.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Have been wanting to come here for a while, but you need to plan ahead because it's really popular. Thoroughly enjoyed the cornbread, red beans and rice, oyster po boy, and peanut butter mousse. Drinks are a little stronger than I expected (not a bad thing!), so plan your Uber accordingly 😁
B
Bull
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best in the Lehigh valley ✅ food was excellent and service even better
DB
DBT749
Philadelphia
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was a repeat visit for us and it lived up to our expectations. Our friends were there for the first time. They liked to decor and ambiance. We ordered a few apps and small plates to share as well as two large plates. Not only were we satisfied, a large amount of food was taken home. Servings are generous. Our waitress was outstanding and pleasant.
JA
JamesA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 2, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Offered a free meal for veterans. My 14 year old took me out for dinner. Had a great night with great company at a great restaurant!!!

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from The Bayou Bethlehem using the Order Online button.

The Bayou Bethlehem is rated 4.5 stars by 1719 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

Options

Order online

Additional information

Cross street
North St
Neighborhood
Pennsylvania
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:00 pm
Cuisines
Southern, American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Guest may park in the lot across the street.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
John Magsino
Additional
Bar Dining, Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.datbayoulv.com/bethlehem#Home
Phone number
(610) 419-6669

The Bayou Bethlehem

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Options

Additional information

Large Plates

Buttermilk Fried Chicken$25.00

Bronzed Salmon$29.00

Chicken & Waffles$23.00

Bayou BBQ Ribs$24.00

Jambalaya$30.00

Nashville Hot$25.00

Shrimp N Grits$29.00

Shrimp Creole$28.00

Sandwiches & Po Boys

Fried Chix Sandwich$16.00

Shrimp Po' Boy$16.00

Plain Burger$13.00

Brisket Po' Boy$16.00

Smokehouse Burger$16.00

Catfish Po' Boy$16.00

BBQ Pork Po' Boy$16.00

Bayou Cuban$16.00

Shareables

Bayou Mac n' Cheese$16.00

Brisket Mac n' Cheese$18.00

Nashville Mac n' Cheese$17.00

Collard Greens$9.00

Cornbread$10.00

Crab Cakes$18.00

Cast Iron Pierogies$17.00

Dirty Rice$9.00

Fresh Cut Fries$6.00

Hush Puppies$10.00

Sweet Mash$9.00

Soup & Salad

Gumbo$10.00

French Onion Soup$9.00

Beet & Goat$15.00

Summer Salad$15.00

Cajun Chicken Caeser$18.00

Caesar Salad$13.00

Dessert

Beignets$13.00

Peanut Butter Mousse$9.00

Bayou Bread Pudding$10.00

Single Scoop Vanilla$3.50

Kids Menu

Kids Burger$9.00

Kids Chicken Fingers$9.00

Kids Fried Shrimp$9.00

Kids Mac N Cheese$9.00

Kids Pulled Pork$9.00

Kids Cheese Burger$9.00

Sides

Collard Greens$9.00

Dirty Rice$9.00

Jalapeno Grits$9.00

Sweet Mash$9.00

Side Caesar$6.00

Side Chicken$7.00

Side House Salad$5.00

Side Maple Syrup$1.00

Side Pickles$1.00

Side Pimento$1.00

Side White Rice$2.00

Side Catfish$14.00

Side Shrimp$12.00

Nola Shrimp$14.00

Brunch

Andouille$7.00

Bacon$5.00

Side Homefries$6.00

Waffle$7.00

Fat Tuesday

Bourbon Street Tacos$14.00

Happy Hour

Fry Flight$8.00

Nash Rogies$9.00

Pork Sliders$10.00