I dined with two family members for breakfast at the
Bethlehem location of Billy’s Downtown Diner on a Sunday morning in mid-June
2017. Billy’s does not accept reservations, but you can call ahead to arrange
seating for large parties. On the morning that we dined, the host accurately
quoted us a 20-minute wait, part of which we spent waiting outside on the
sidewalk, and the other part indoors leaning against the half-wall adjacent to the
front window. Small parties (1 or 2 people) had shorter wait times than our
party of 3. Metered parking is available on the street or in a surface lot
across from the restaurant (complimentary on Sundays).
The Bethlehem location of Billy’s opened in 2000 in the
former Rudy’s Newsstand on Broad Street in the downtown area. The space was renovated/enlarged in
2006 and 2014. Billy’s offers locations in Allentown (opened in
2013) and Easton (opening soon!), with goals of franchising. Green and caramel-painted
walls (some of which are covered with awards and photographs) and terracotta-looking
tile floors accent the various configurations of tables and booths. The space
even offers an old-fashioned lunch counter where singles can dine.
Billy’s offers thoughtfully creative comfort food. We
ordered the berry crunch French toast, the monte cristo (ham, turkey, and Swiss
cheese on egg-soaked bread), and the sriracha bowl (a crispy flour tortilla
shaped into a bowl [the kind that is sometimes used to hold a taco salad]
topped with hash brown potatoes, scrambled eggs, and carnitas [pulled pork],
with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and pickled [but not spicy] chili
peppers; sriracha sauce drizzled over the top added a kick). The restaurant has
been named “Best Breakfast in the
Lehigh Valley” several times.
We enjoyed our breakfast at Billy’s Downtown Diner – great
service, good quality food, and a comfortable atmosphere.
