The Sweet Spot

CURBSIDE PICK-UP

Replenishment is essential after a round of golf—including a virtual experience in the always-perfect weather of a Topgolf Swing Suite at The Sweet Spot— whether a refreshing draft beer and custom-topped Angus beef burger or a tropical Mulligan Martini and steak with all the trimmings. An expanded entrée selection featuring The Driver, a generous dry-aged center cut strip loin steak—cooked to preference—adorned with mushroom au jus and crispy onions and accompanied by garlic roasted baby bakers and broccoli, satisfies even the heartiest appetites. Seafood and pasta dinners, sandwiches, salads, and a bountiful appetizer list cover a spectrum of tastes and preferences. Casual pub fare, from chicken wings, Cajun fried calamari, and lavishly adorned cauliflower flatbread to nachos and quesadillas featuring signature pulled pork (also available in sandwich form), encourages group grazing—for those inclined to share. For golf-centric noshing and imbibing, pair housespecialty Bacon Cheeseburger Golf Balls with a Hit the Links cocktail. Dine in-house, with or without gameplay, or order favorites—including mixed drinks—to go.

Five high definition simulator bays offering 84 round-the-globe courses, including Pebble Beach, gratify linksmen, and leagues and tournaments expand golfing options. However, interactive games that include Zombie Dodgeball, Carnival Classic, Baseball Pitching, the recently introduced Jewel Jam puzzle—and more—make this an ideal destination for families with kids of all ages as well as a playful date night. New plexiglass extensions between suites augment the sense of personal space for groups of players.

2805 Lehigh St, Allentown thesweetspot.golf 610-813-2536

“Year-round entertainment for all ages plays well with a deliciously diverse menu.”

“Everything we make and do reflects our family’s pride in the Poconos and Italian heritage.”

POCONO BREWERY Company

TAKEOUT + CURBSIDE PICKUP

A winning combination of wood-fired pizza and forward-thinking craft beers—an irresistible pairing that happens to be eminently transportable— made this Lehigh Valley Mall-adjacent Taproom branch of the Swiftwaterbased company a premier destination for fans of both specialties. Their recently launched Pocono Winery now brings pinot grigio, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, moscato, and more to the spirited mix—by the bottle, glass, flight, and even mixed in cocktails (as are, more surprisingly, beers). Five flagship beers infused with local flavors, including signature Wally Wilson, are available for takeout, and growlers expand variety. Twenty taps, with 10-plus house brews (including seasonal favorites like stouts and porters that showcase brewer Jean-Luc Vitiello’s creativity) and the remainder regional-friendly IPAs, fill two sizes of classic and innovatively designed growlers, like the genie bottle with a silicone pop-top.

Pizza baked in the Italian-import oven reflects the style of Naples, birthplace of founder Silvio Vitiello, Sr.—traditionally eaten with a knife and fork. However, the menu’s broad assortment of standards, plus specials, now features the firmer fresh mozzarella that better accommodates an American pick-up approach to slices. Creamier imported ovaline mozzarella, offering an elegant mouthfeel, may still be ordered as an upgrade. Classic red-sauce pizzas with abundant topping choices are supplemented with white pizza variations, such as the Tuscany. A heady marriage of mozzarella, fresh basil and spinach, roasted red peppers, red onions, and grilled shrimp may easily revise your definition of pizza perfection.

938 Lifestyle Center, Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall poconobrewery.com 610-264-2194

THE MINT Gastropub

TAKEOUT + CURBSIDE PICKUP

Discover a fresh take on contemporary comfort in a vibrantly upbeat atmosphere that lifts the spirits and invigorates the appetite as familiar foods are seen from an alternate perspective. A concise menu of apps, platters, salads, and sweets—revised twice a week and tweaked daily—uses modern techniques to reimagine traditional tastes with splashes of flavor from globe-trotting cuisines. (Really, why settle for ordinary ketchup when housemade curry ketchup can spice up crispy Fish & Chips?) Pescatarian, vegan, and gluten-free offerings supplement meaty options, and all are designed to travel well for those looking for a homey meal to enjoy in their home environment. Additionally, a commodious West End neighborhood locale makes pickup a snap. Notably though, the staff strives to ensure that in-house dining feels friendly, inviting, and safe. Dishes such as Pork & Beans provide something like a time-travelling taste continuum that reinvents a humble childhood favorite as an aromatic plate of worldly complexity geared for grown-up palates. A base of hoisinbaked adzuki beans gets topped with tender sous vide-cooked pork that’s chopped, pan crisped, and tossed with five-spice powder. Next come chunks of roasted butternut squash and a scattering of fava beans, all splashed with signature citrus ponzu sauce. Sliced scallions and black sesame seeds crown this fragrant, gluten-free amalgam that’s been aptly described as smelling “like Chinese Christmas.”

An esoteric wine list, classic and inventive cocktails, and solid selection of beers—featuring rotating taps—contribute liquid cheer to a memorable meal.

1223 W Broad St, Bethlehem bethlehemmint.com

610-419-3810

“In an uncomfortable world, people need comfort. We aim to make them feel comfortable.”