Simpatico — Restaurant in Allentown

Simpatico - 4/5 Stars

Just visited Simpatico during their soft opening, and I'm genuinely excited about what this place will become! Owner Jesse (co-owner of the beloved Pennsylvania Rye) has created something special here - an Italian-inspired restaurant with New Orleans flair that showcases his exceptional beverage expertise.

The Highlights: The space itself is impressive - over 300 seats thoughtfully sectioned into different areas so it never feels like a cafeteria. The square bar area is particularly striking, with outside seating and completely open doors that connect to the Arts Walk area. I can imagine this being absolutely beautiful in the evenings with that indoor-outdoor flow. The cocktail program is absolutely outstanding. The Jungle Bird was a revelation - ingredients you'd never think to combine creating perfect harmony with smooth rum and pineapple. The Affumigato (Campari, lime, bitters, agave, reposado) was so delicious I had to exercise serious self-control not to order three more. Jesse's sommelier background really shines through the entire drink menu. The food showed real promise. The focaccia with olives, tomatoes, and roasted shallots was excellent with perfectly baked bread demonstrating solid pastry skills. The mushroom arancini was even better than Shelby's version (high praise from me!). The Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella was extremely flavorful - a bit different from traditional Italian style but in a way most Americans will actually prefer.

Areas for Growth: Being a soft opening, there are some kinks to work out. The polenta cake bruschetta needed more seasoning and umami depth. The gnocchi was slightly doughy despite good searing. The pappardelle with short rib lacked flavor, and the chicken piccata's roux was grainy rather than smooth. My main concern is portion sizes - we ordered entree-sized pasta dishes that honestly wouldn't satisfy anyone as a standalone entree. The prices are fair for the market, but the quantity needs to increase to match the value proposition.

The Team: The service was fantastic. Assistant GM Yolanda clearly knows her stuff, GM Clint stopped by multiple times seeking feedback (showing they truly want to improve), and server Raul was a absolute highlight - knowledgeable about every menu item and passionate about the experience.

Bottom Line: This is a restaurant I'm genuinely rooting for. The bones are excellent - great cocktails, solid food foundation, caring staff, and beautiful contemporary decor with Italian charm. Once they dial in the seasoning and portion sizes over the next few weeks, this could easily become a 5-star destination. I'll definitely be back soon to try the linguine clam sauce and see their continued evolution. For cocktail lovers and foodies willing to support a promising new spot while they hit their stride, Simpatico is absolutely worth visiting now. This area needs restaurants like this to thrive, and I...

Simpatico has officially become our new favorite date night spot! We knew it was going to be a great night because right away, we found a parking spot across the street. Tonight was a beautiful summer night, so we decided to sit outside on the patio. There was no wait for our table, which was an added bonus! We are Italian food fanatics, and everything we ate blew us away.

We started with two appetizers, the “mozzarella en carrozza” and “mushroom arancini.” While both were delicious, our personal favorite was the mushroom arancini!

I ordered the fusilli primavera as my entree, and my boyfriend ordered the short rib pappardelle. Both of us completely cleaned our plates! Oh, and of course, we both added burrata to our meals because, well, duh!

For dessert, we both ordered the dark chocolate gelato, which was to die for. It is served with a sprig of mint, which really took it to the next level.

My boyfriend and I were extremely impressed with the elegant ambiance, friendly staff, fair prices, and—arguably most importantly—incredible food! On a personal note, I was THRILLED to find out that half portions are offered on the menu! I was able to have a drink, sample two appetizers, and enjoy my meal which is super rare for me at most restaurants due to the enormous portion sizes. People, please help spread the word about Simpatico, and go give them a try so you can see how great they are...

Ordered 2 entrees. They were first delivered with one of them being incorrect, so they took them back. Then they brought the two correct entrees. One was obviously cold, as it was the originally fired plate and the second being warm—not heated all the way through. They did reheat the first, but it was still cold and dry.

Disappointedly, there was no meat in the Italian bolognese lasagna and the "short rib" parpadelle was a hunt to find the short rib. Additionally, the lasagna bolognese seemed to not understand the assignment of also having meat—or cheese despite the top layer.

The staff knew we were disappointed and did offer for us to come back the next night for "personally cooked food", but in our opinion, that doesn't make up for the night. To make up for it, it would have been nice to have the meal recooked immediately. The parpadelle was removed from the bill.

We will...