The Shanty on 19th — Restaurant in Allentown

The staff at the Shanty are the best of the best! My son, my dog, and I were all stuck with a broken down car on a road trip from GA to NY. We made our way slowly to The Shanty because of their dog friendly patio to wait for family to get to us from NY. We had excellent food - the coconut shrimp salad is delicious - but even better service. I apologized to our server for being on the phone so much, and told her I was trying to locate a mechanic where I could drop off after hours, and upon hearing that, they launched into action! In no time, someone had checked my oil (!!! At a restaurant!!!), another had recommended a garage and offered me parking for the weekend, and another had contacted a family member mechanic to find me a place to take care of my ailing vehicle. They offered me to stay at a table well past being finished and paid while I waited, and in general, made me feel so safe and taken care of when I was feeling incredibly vulnerable. I would go back for the food anyway, but from now on, The Shanty will be my spot on my way through PA. I am so, so grateful for the kindness of this crew! Thank you to Joe, Christine, the bartender whose name I didn’t get, and our sweet server. You guys...

I was looking for a quick bite to eat and googled food near me. This stood out because of pictures I saw of a band playing there. There is only street parking but it’s fairly easy to find in the middle of the day.

When I entered, no one greeted me at first. I saw one bartender and one waitress who was tending to a large party. I only waited about a couple minutes but it felt like forever. The bartender finally welcomed me after the waitress passed right by me without saying a word (I was standing by the door so I obviously was waiting to be served). However, the bartender was polite and friendly and apologized for the wait.

I loved their appetizers they are somewhat eccentric and their drink menu has fun names and combinations. I ordered their 19th on Mule it came with pear vodka, ginger beer, mint and elderflower liqueur. It was a sweet drink but I didn’t taste the individual flavors like I hoped to. For lunch I ordered an appetizer called Boom Boom Chicken Mac and Cheese. It was so good. Their cheese sauce was flavorful but not spicy, it came mixed with sirarcha sauce but I didn’t taste the siracha. I tasted a hint of garlic and green onions. I loved it....

For starters service was extremely slow. While they put on the door that you must have a mask, several people where allowed in without one and where not offered one. None of the staff is wearing a mask. (Except one of the cooks, but not the other 2 cooks) There are gambling games available, but the stations don't have sanitizer or wipes anywhere nearby. They also are reusing paper menus which is considered unsanitary by the CDC guidelines. Thankfully, I have already had C-19 and I'm still in my immunity period. However, as a man with a severe heart condition, reduced Lung capacity, and liver Cirrhosis, its hard not to think of how much they are risking the health of others. And to be honest it's all a shame because the food is good, but it was all different temperatures the waffles were dry and luke warm, the chicken was easily the best part of the meal. Unfortunately the good flavor was severely soured by the experience. I would suggest you find another place to have brunch. (Some of their decor is also political which I don't mind, but im not here to discover your politics I'm here to eat food. It's not that I even disagree with it, I just find it a tacky...