The People's Kitchen — Restaurant in Bethlehem

This is one of my favorite breakfast spots. Today I had the Bourbon Banana Croissant French Toast. Wow! Made with real bourbon! Can’t beat the two eggs, home fries, meat and toast for 5 bucks. Coffee is good too. Very small but cozy, homey, place. Many gourmet and unique items on the menu for breakfast and lunch. Check out the menu online. A most welcoming and unusual place. Unusual in a good way meaning not your run of the mill diner or fast food kind of place. Everything is made to order, fresh and homemade. You must try this place! If you use the WiFi they will send you emails about the place. However, they ask for your birthday on signup and when your birthday arrives they send you an email stating “Come in and we will make your birthday special “. One would think that would indicate that they would give you a free cup of coffee or a dollar off your check but in fact you get nothing for coming in. I asked, and their response was disappointing . They indicated that they use a marketing company who made up the verbiage on the email. They said that the marketing company would be hearing from them! A better way to handle this would have been to offer something off the check and have the customer feeling good about the establishment. I think they should stop sending emails to customers on their birthdays or be prepared to offer something to the customer. Having said all that, I still love this place and recommend you try it. Went here again yesterday for breakfast and you can not beat 2 eggs, scrapple, delicious crunchy home fries and toast for 5 bucks!! Also excellent coffee and apricot preserves and orange marmalade. Service still very friendly and warm and even though the place is small, but cozy, they let you hang out and linger over your Java and morning chitchat! Can’t find a better place to visit in the early morning!!

Went to People’s Kitchen again this morning and had the 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast for $5 and it is still an excellent breakfast and the price and food quality can not be surpassed. The wait staff is friendly and professional. I will continue to return to The...

So incredibly disappointed. This review isn't about the food, we didn't even get to eat because we were forced to take our business elsewhere. I'd like to point out, this is a small place and I absolutely understand that if we went at a peak time; say breakfast on Saturday and asked for seating I would have no complaints because that's not the fault of the restaurant if they are packed. However, we walked in happy to see that the place was deserted with the exception of two people and asked to be seated. Our party: five adults and a sleeping baby at 11:00 on a Friday morning wanted to have lunch, unfortunately there were a total of TWO customers already dining and there was no way to seat us (as told to us by the two waitresses). Oh, they had seats, but none we could be seated at.

Waitresses: sharp intake of breath "Um, well, we don't really have space. They just got here so the wait will be about 40 minutes."

Us: ..."40 minutes?"

Waitresses: "Yes."

Us: ..."Well, there is a 4 top over there right next to a 2 top, could you push them together?"

Waitresses: "No, we can't"

The staff (3) outnumbered the clients and we were told there was a 40 minute wait...please tell me you are joking. We were stunned to put it lightly and said thank you and went outside to discuss where our second choice for food would be. At one point, one of the waitresses comes out and walks by us to smoke a cigarette about 20 feet away, strange move considering how busy they were with two customers. Shortly after the second waitress comes out and informs us that she just miraculously got the two diners to move to a different table so now they have space. We politely declined. Three of the members of the party were visiting from out of town and two are Bethlehem residents. Needless to say, none will be returning,...

We came early. The morning was bright. The kind that makes you feel clean inside. The kind that makes you want coffee and something hot to eat.

Amber ordered the Skutchy. She said the name like a secret. It came crisped and folded, warm and golden, dusted with sugar like snow on the high mountains. Potatoes beside it, browned with purpose, no nonsense. I had the weekly special. Something new, something daring. A sandwich that carried weight and meaning. Sharp greens, meat slow-cooked with care, drizzled with something dark and sweet. It filled the plate and the belly.

The coffee was good. Hot, honest. Shannon made sure the cups never stayed empty long. She moved with grace, and when she spoke, you listened. Her voice had that thing. Warmth and story, like a fire that doesn’t smoke.

Billy the chef came out. Wiped his hands. Talked to us like we were old friends. He cooks like he means it.

We talked about Bethlehem, and how the downtown still holds charm. Shannon told us about The Tavern at the Sun Inn, said we should see it next time. We will.

There are meals you eat and forget. Then there are meals like this, with people like that. If you are ever in Bethlehem, you stop in at The People’s Kitchen. You hope Shannon’s working. You hope the chef’s name is still Billy. And you drink your coffee slowly.

Because some places are worth...