The north side of Bethlehem is peppered with cafes, bars and restaurants, all seemingly “hidden” among the colonial masonry homes and mom-and-pop shops of the historical city. Just a few blocks from Liberty High School is one such eatery, The People’s Kitchen, a cafe putting out breakfast and lunch fare well worth the trip outside of the downtown district.
Occupying the large corner building at North and Linden Streets, The People’s Kitchen has been serving old staples and modern updates of breakfast and lunch favorites since the fall of 2014. Owner and operator Billy Gruenewald is very passionate about his first culinary venture in the Valley, and it shows in the food and in the service.
The People’s Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch every day to very happy customers both young and old. On a recent Saturday morning visit, the eatery was packed with a wait by 8:15 and filled with patrons happily chowing down on griddled pancakes, croissant French toast and that day’s special: plain bagel with a goat cheese schmear, topped with a watermelon salad, fresh arugula and balsamic drizzle.
Gruenewald and his staff of friends move around the cafe in a dance-like manner, rhythmic in nature, being careful to stop at each table to check on meals, refresh coffee and chat with regulars and new customers alike. Chatting with patrons is top priority for the business owner, as he feels the personal attention and relationships that are built with those who patronize his establishment are truly what differentiates The People’s Kitchen from similar cafes and restaurants in the Valley. Sitting at the bar, it’s impossible to not become engulfed in conversation with the staff, as only a few feet of marble separates the diners from the bustling crew.
The People’s Kitchen prides itself on a balanced breakfast menu of old and new. Patrons of traditional diner fare will be happy to find dishes like the Hen & Hog: eggs your style, choice of meat, breakfast potatoes and toast, and Buckwheat Pancakes, served in a two-, four- or six-stack. Those looking for something a little less traditional and a little more creative for breakfast will enjoy dishes like the extremely popular croissant French toast topped with bourbon-laced bananas. There’s also the full Monte, a very cool twist on a Monte Cristo: a large multigrain ciabatta roll stuffed with egg, smoked gouda, turkey bacon, dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied by a side of homemade berry compote. We highly recommend asking about the homemade bread options; our favorite is the vegan onion dill bread with a side of homemade jam, made by a friend and frequent diner. The cafe usually has two jam options daily; all are delicious when slathered on any of the housemade breads.
For lunch, favorites include the Geflugel sandwich, the People’s Kitchen’s much-loved chicken salad piled high on a multigrain ciabatta and topped with crunchy cucumber, juicy tomato and housemade white balsamic dressing; and the pulled pork, crowned with a super crunchy jicama slaw. The People’s Kitchen has options for both vegetarian and vegan eaters, including one of our favorites, the Vegan: a vegan tortilla stuffed full with tofu and a variety of grilled veggies.
The People’s Kitchen is only one of a handful of ventures in which Gruenewald is involved. He also runs The Bolt & Key Cafe on Lehigh University’s Mountaintop Campus, along with his latest project, which finds him working to open up—or in this case re-open—the Tavern at the Sun Inn in Downtown Historic Bethlehem. The Tavern at the Sun Inn will be running alongside Christmas City Spirits, a newly opened distillery occupying space in the historic Sun Inn building as well. Keep an eye out for more information on The Tavern at the Sun Inn, as they prepare to open later this summer. In the meantime, if you find yourself in the Bethlehem area and craving a tasty breakfast or lunch, a stop at The People’s Kitchen is certainly in order.
Find The People’s Kitchen at 639 Linden St., Bethlehem; phone: (610) 849-2080.
- Photos: The People's Kitchen
