Allentown: Sunset Grille (March 2016)

I dined with some friends at the Sunset Grille for an early dinner in late March 2016; however, I live near the restaurant, so my spouse and I have eaten there many, many times over the past 20+ years. The Sunset Grille is open daily for lunch and dinner. You can make a reservation by telephone. Complimentary parking is available in their private parking lot. The owners of the Sunset Grille also have an association with The Stoned Crab in Macungie and The Shanty on 19^th in Allentown.

The Sunset Grille opened in 1990; however, the building in which it resides was built in the mid-1800s (it was originally called the Ruppsville Hotel and then the Sunset Hotel; see the antique sign for the Sunset Hotel hanging in the open foyer of the restaurant). Several different seating options are available: the ground-level main dining room (which is divided into two separate rooms, one of which is L-shaped), the bar (which offers both booth and table seating, as well as seating at the long J-shaped bar), and the upstairs dining rooms (in two different-sized spaces that are also used for private parties/events; the larger room holds groups of up to 40 people, and the smaller room holds up to 12 people). We like to sit in the bar area because of the wooden both seating. (All the rest of the seating in the restaurant is at tables). In warmer weather, al fresco dining is available (albeit next to a somewhat heavily trafficked road); a few of the outdoor tables are arranged under the side-porch roof overhang, and others are spaced on a patio and shaded by individual umbrellas.

The restaurant serves Southwestern and American food. Certain nights of the week feature special events: Sunday wings, Tuesday fajitas, Wednesday Mexican fiesta, Thursday comfort food, and daily happy hour. We almost always order the chicken wings as an appetizer (our favorite sauce is Sunset Gold); we think that the Sunset Grille makes some of the best wings that we’ve ever eaten. As entrees, we generally have a burger, sandwich, or Tex-Mex dish, although the restaurant offers larger entrees, too.

As stated previously in this review, we have eaten at the Sunset Grille too many times to count. The casual atmosphere, outdoor dining, reasonably-priced food, and large portions make it a frequent stop for us.