My spouse and I dined at Grain for the first time on a Sunday afternoon in early October 2015, although we have dined at sister restaurant The Bayou in Bethlehem multiple times. Grain, which opened in September 2015, is located in the space previously occupied by the Federal Grill (which closed in June of 2008), but the space has been totally revamped and renovated. The restaurant accepts reservations by telephone and via the Open Table reservation system. The proprietors of this restaurant, nicknamed the “Bayou Boys” also own The Bayou in Bethlehem, as well as a carry-out bottle shop called Cork & Cage (located adjacent to Grain). Grain is open daily for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant
space occupies two floors: the ground floor contains a long 15-seat bar, with
just a few small tables preceding it. A bar rail opposite the bar provides
additional drinking space for patrons to enjoy the 20+ beers on tap and 10+
signature cocktails. Restrooms are located on the ground floor of the
restaurant towards the back, up just a step or two from the ground floor (a
handicapped lift is available). The flooring in the ladies’ restroom looks like
pennies, which was a unique decorative element. A private event room that can
hold 40 people is located at the rear of the building behind the restrooms, and
features long windows and a private entrance. Most of the dining space is
located on the second level, which is accessible only by a long open metal
staircase. The main dining area features reclaimed wooden beams, brick walls,
and a metal ceiling, accented by unique lighting and rustic decorative pieces.
A semi-open kitchen/service area is located on the second level at the back of
the restaurant.
The restaurant
cuisine is American contemporary, and the menu features modern, eclectic spins
on traditional favorites, such as biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles,
sandwiches, appetizers, and entrees. The chef uses unique ingredients in every
dish. We shared several plates when we visited: lamb meatballs (with almonds,
onion, and ricotta), pork belly (with celery, apple, and black sesame seeds),
griddled corn cakes (with brisket, onions and black garlic aoili), all of which
are listed on the “small plates” section of the menu, followed by the biscuits
and gravy (with pepper succotash and green tomatoes) and the cavatelli (with
crab, arugala, and a poached egg) as entrees. For dessert, we shared a banana
pudding, which was served in a jar and accented with bruleed bananas. (The
banana dessert was delicious – it will be difficult not to order it again next
time - but it was not quite as phenomenal as the peanut butter “dirt” dessert
served at The Bayou). Starters are priced around $12 and entrees around $19,
which seems quite fair for such complex dishes that contain so many
ingredients. Grain also serves salads and sandwiches. No menu items appear to
be exact duplicates of The Bayou (for instance, both restaurants serve a pork
belly dish, but with different preparations), so you must visit each restaurant
to sample its unique cuisine.
We will
definitely return to Grain! We love the location, the operating hours, and the
fact that the menu is so expansive - we look forward to trying completely new
options next time.
May 2018:
