Lehigh Valley Restaurant Week 2026: Complete Guide to Dates, Deals & Best Spots

Quick Answer: Lehigh Valley Restaurant Week is not one event — it is a series of community-specific restaurant weeks held throughout the year across Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and surrounding towns. In 2026, major winter events run January through March, with summer editions in June and July. Most feature prix fixe menus ranging from $20–$40 per person, and reservations are essential at the most popular spots like Bolete and Apollo Grill.

Key Takeaways:

Multiple restaurant weeks, multiple seasons — the Lehigh Valley hosts at least nine distinct restaurant weeks per year, each organized by its local chamber of commerce or business improvement district
Book early — popular restaurants fill up within days of menus being announced; set a reminder when dates are posted
Prix fixe is the main event — expect 3-course meals at set prices, typically $20–$35 for lunch and $30–$45 for dinner, a significant discount à la carte pricing
Try somewhere new — restaurant week is the lowest-risk way to try that spot you have been curious about, since the fixed menu means you know exactly what you will spend
Look for giveaways — many events include gift card raffles, QR code scavenger hunts, and social media contests that can score you free meals
Summer dates are coming — Historic Bethlehem Summer Restaurant Week runs June 22–29, 2026, and SouthSide Bethlehem follows July 20–26

What Is Lehigh Valley Restaurant Week?

Restaurant Week in the Lehigh Valley is a region-wide tradition where local chambers of commerce and business districts organize multi-day dining events. Each community — from Bethlehem to Allentown to Easton and beyond — hosts its own week, typically featuring prix fixe menus, exclusive specials, and promotional giveaways designed to drive foot traffic to local restaurants.

Unlike single-city restaurant weeks in larger metros, the Lehigh Valley model spreads the love across dozens of communities throughout the year. That means more opportunities to explore new spots, but it also means you need to track multiple schedules. We have rounded up the key dates and what to expect at each one.

Pro tip: Subscribe to email lists for your local chamber of commerce and follow Discover Lehigh Valley on social media. Restaurant week menus are typically announced 1–2 weeks before the event, and the best tables go fast once they drop.

2026 Restaurant Week Schedule: Every Date Across the Valley

Winter Season (January–March)

The Lehigh Valley goes big on winter restaurant weeks. These events have become local institutions, drawing diners out during the colder months when restaurants need it most:

Hellertown-Lower Saucon: January 11–17, 2026
Easton Winter Restaurant Week: January 18–24, 2026
Historic Bethlehem Winter Restaurant Week: January 25–31, 2026
Downtown Allentown Winter Restaurant Week: February 1–7, 2026
East Penn Winter Restaurant Week: February 22–27, 2026
SouthSide Arts District (Bethlehem): February 23–March 1, 2026
Greater Northampton Area: March 1–7, 2026
Nazareth Area: March 22–28, 2026

Spring & Summer Season

Southern Lehigh Restaurant Week: April 12–18, 2026
Historic Downtown Bethlehem Summer Restaurant Week: June 22–29, 2026
Easton Summer Restaurant Week: July 12–18, 2026
SouthSide Bethlehem Summer Restaurant Week: July 20–26, 2026

Additional fall dates are typically announced in late summer. Check the Discover Lehigh Valley restaurant week page for the most current schedule.

Which Restaurants Participate in Lehigh Valley Restaurant Week?

Participation varies by community, but across all events, you will find a mix of fine dining institutions, casual neighborhood favorites, ethnic cuisine, and craft breweries. Here are some standout restaurants from our directory that regularly participate:

Bethlehem Standouts

Bethlehem restaurants dominate the winter and summer restaurant week calendars. Keep an eye out for these local favorites:

Bolete Restaurant — The Valley's most acclaimed fine dining spot regularly offers a restaurant week tasting menu. If you see it on the list, book immediately.
Edge Restaurant — A Historic Bethlehem staple with creative American cuisine and one of the best bar programs in town.
Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar — Vibrant Mexican flavors on Main Street, consistently a restaurant week favorite.
Blue Grillhouse — Upscale steak and seafood with a lively atmosphere right in the heart of downtown.
KingFish American Bistro & Wine Bar — Creative American plates with an approachable wine list on Broad Street.

Allentown Favorites

Downtown Allentown restaurants bring strong restaurant week energy with diverse options:

Grille 3501 — Upscale New American cuisine in the West End. Their restaurant week prix fixe is one of the best values in the Valley.
Union and Finch — The neighborhood bistro with a 4.8 Google rating. Their comfort food translates beautifully to a fixed menu format.
Pennsylvania Rye — Modern American with a craft cocktail focus. A newer addition to the Allentown dining scene that has quickly earned its place.
Cafe Athena — Mediterranean flavors bring something different to the typical restaurant week lineup.

Easton's Scene

Easton restaurants have built one of the most exciting dining scenes in the region, and their restaurant week reflects that:

Sette Luna — Tuscan-inspired trattoria that has anchored Easton's dining revival for years.
3rd & Ferry Fish Market — Fresh seafood in a historic setting — a standout during Easton's winter and summer weeks.
Meli European Taverna — European-inspired small plates and entrees on Northampton Street.
River Grille — Waterfront dining with views of the Delaware River, perfect for summer restaurant week.
Mesa Modern Mexican — Creative Mexican cuisine that adds variety to the Easton lineup.

Our advice: Do not just stick to your hometown. Some of the best restaurant week experiences come from crossing city lines. Bethlehem residents should try Easton's week. Allentown locals should explore SouthSide Bethlehem. The whole point is discovery.

How to Make the Most of Restaurant Week in the Lehigh Valley

After years of covering these events, we have developed a strategy for maximizing every restaurant week:

Review menus before booking — Most chambers post participating restaurant menus online 1–2 weeks before the event. Read through them and prioritize spots offering dishes you actually want, not just the cheapest option.
Book Tuesday through Thursday — Weekend slots at top restaurants fill within hours. Weeknight reservations are easier to get and the kitchen is less rushed.
Try lunch instead of dinner — Many restaurants offer lunch prix fixe menus at a lower price point ($15–$25 vs. $30–$45 for dinner). Same kitchen, smaller bill.
Bring a group — Restaurant week is more fun with friends, and you can order different courses to share. Many restaurants accommodate larger parties during these events.
Tip on the full value — If your prix fixe meal is $35 but the à la carte equivalent would be $55, tip on $55. The server is doing the same amount of work.
Follow the hashtag — Each restaurant week has a social media hashtag. Following it gives you real-time updates on availability, surprise specials, and giveaway winners.

Why Lehigh Valley Restaurant Week Matters for Local Dining

These events are not just about deals — they are an economic engine for the local restaurant community. Winter restaurant weeks were specifically designed to bring diners in during the slowest months of the year. For a small independent restaurant operating on thin margins, a strong restaurant week can mean the difference between surviving January and closing for good.

The Lehigh Valley dining scene has exploded in the last decade. What was once a region known primarily for chain restaurants and diners has become a genuine food destination, with fine dining, craft breweries, and innovative chefs drawing visitors from Philadelphia and New York. Restaurant week helps sustain that momentum by introducing new customers to independent restaurants they might not otherwise try.

So when you are browsing those prix fixe menus, remember: you are not just getting a deal. You are investing in the restaurants that make the Lehigh Valley worth living in.

Planning Your Restaurant Week Adventure

With so many restaurant weeks spread across the calendar and the map, a little planning goes a long way:

Bookmark the Discover Lehigh Valley events page — They maintain the most comprehensive calendar of restaurant weeks across the region
Follow your local chamber of commerce — The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber, Historic Bethlehem, and Easton Main Street all post updates on their respective events
Set calendar reminders — When dates are announced, block off your preferred nights immediately. You can always cancel; you cannot always book later
Build a restaurant week squad — Get 3–4 friends committed in advance so you are not scrambling to coordinate schedules once menus drop

Whether you are a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident or new to the area, restaurant week is one of the best ways to experience the breadth and quality of our local dining scene. From the steakhouse classics to Mexican cantinas, Italian trattorias, and seafood spots, there is a prix fixe menu with your name on it.

Explore our full directory of restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, filter by Bethlehem, Allentown, or Easton, and start planning your next restaurant week lineup today.