The Fairgrounds Hotel has been an Allentown destination since 1909. The decor inside reflects a lot of Allentown and the restaurant's history. It is a graceful old building but the inside could be freshened up a bit. This is not a white table cloth place; it has oilcloth table coverings. It is noisy because it is an old building with all hard surfaces - nothing to dampen the sound. The menu is extensive, with an emphasis on seafood. We had sandwiches, so I cannot speak to the quality of the food, but we observed that the portions were large and many diners were enjoying the lobster special. I had a fried fish sandwich, which was dry and disappointing. The fries that came with it were good. My companion had a small filet mignon that was cooked as ordered. They offer daily specials, including a half off second meal early in the evening. The service was good, given that it was pretty crowded when we were there. I doubt that we will give it a second chance.
Marci Karess
Perfect date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant
John Le
Excellent & delicious food, love the service from our waitress and even the bartender when I was sitting there waiting for my family to come.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
THOR POWER
Excellent seafood restaurant; outstanding people; extensive seafood menu, not Red Lobster.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristen Moore (Blondie)
Seafood Lovers rejoice! This place is so good. You won't be sorry! Good variety on the menu. Seafood, steaks, pastas.Wheelchair accessibility: They even have a wheelchair ramp for the deck.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant, Crab Cake, Lobster Bisque, Peanut Butter Pie, Fairgrounds Fish Tacos, Lobster Flight, Grilled Lobster Tail, Broiled Scallops, Lobster Roll w Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster Blsque or Clam Chowder, Lobster Trio, Lobster Lovers Trio
Christine Betz
Great food and service it was wonderful! Cheers out to Jenny, she gave us the best experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angie B
First.Off.Let's just say that my son and my father got food poisoning. My son was throwing up all night with diarrhea and my father had the diarrhea. I took my parents there for their 52nd anniversary last evening. First we got bread brought to the table ,no butter and the rolls were hard as a rock. Then we had salads brought out which were not the greatest. My mother had the honey mustard dressing which she said literally was mustard with horse radish. We got our meals which looked like they were fantastic but looks can be deceiving. There was not much seasoning to the steaks .And they definitely were undercooked. My daughter in law who ordered a medium well steak ,her steak was bloody. We informed the waiter and he took the steak back and said she was going to be given new sides and her steak and going to be cooked. When they brought the steak back now it's too well almost to the point where there's no juices whatsoever and her sides were definitely not new.They were microwaved and now hard. I ordered a medium steak but once I got to the middle of my steak It was absolutely rare. Then we were told there was gonna be a free dessert for her because she sent her whole meal back and didn't eat at all. She wanted the peanut butter pie which we were told was going to be brought out and then we were told they didn't have anything so she didn't get anything. My mashed potatoes were cold. This steak was rare and unseasoned. Was definitely a disappointment especially for the price tag. Needless to say we will not be returning. And like I said in the very beginning My son and my father both had food poisoning and we're up all night in the bathroom.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Beth Fritzinger Jones
We did the lobster flights & lobster bisque.Personally, I think they were really small, over seasoned n tough . The soup didn't have that much flavor & was way too thick. Sticky-like. The warm rolls were very tasty though & the drinks were good.Our male server was the best part of the night. The place itself was very cool, lots of history. Really crowded.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Heather Bell
My family and I were so excited to try this place, but we regretted coming afterwards. To warm beers, to very rare steak when asked for well, to honey mustard that was just honey and mustard. When asked for a new steak when it was raw, they said they would give me a new plate, and in which they only gave me a new plate, microwaved potatoes and steak. And offered a free dessert, and the only thing I have been excited for for the peanut butter pie and they didn't have it anymore. The coleslaw was good..... that's about it. Not good food going in, or coming back up.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Donna G.
After a fun time at the Allentown Farmers Market we had 4:30 reservations at the Fairgrounds Hotel. Absolutely delicious! The hostess was so friendly and sat us right away. Leann was our waitress and she was so attentive! We had the best food and so reasonable! Started with steamed clams, hot bread and wine and beers. We had the seafood platter and steak and shrimp. So delicious! We will definitely go back! Drinks, appetizers, and entrees were $100 for two. Lovely place, old posters and lots of cat pictures.
In the mood for a good fish sandwich? They will make it for you even though it's not on the menu. Delish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Debbie B.
Hidden Secret...good food, inexpensive... UPDATE: Still really good...land & sea options, but they specialize in sea...very large menu & portions... sometimes they have an "all you can eat" special or two... very reasonable ???...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Flight, Grilled Lobster Tail, Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Roll w Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster Blsque or Clam Chowder, Strawberry Pie, Clams Casino, Lobster Trio, Dozen Steamed Clams, Lobster Lovers Trio
Krizia
This place has really cute decor and a very antique feel to it. The cat pictures are really unique! I liked everything we had. The lobster roll was good, the bisque was creamy with large chunks in it. I learned that if you don't get the lobster tail, all the other lobster items end up being claw meat, at least from what I could tell from the two lobster rolls we had, the bisque and the lobster mac. Overall it was great! I just wish the lobster rolls wasn't all claw meat. I will be coming back again, esp for the specials! My friend got the lobster flight, and there really was a distinct difference between the flavor and texture of the 3! If you love lobster, go for it! Our server was amazing and attentative as well!Parking: I didn't have trouble parking, the lot is an OK size. But if it's really busy I think you might have a problem.
I made the reservation online and asked for a really nice table as we were having a late birthday celebration for my wife on Saturday February 24th. We were seated upstairs at a lousy table. Ordered our drinks and food at the same time. Received our lobster flights (very good) but never received our salads and didn’t receive drinks until our meals were finished (15-20 minutes after our meals were brought out). This was our first and probably last visit.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Lobster Flight
mark wertman
The lobster flights was perfect t! And the friendly service even better!
The Fairgrounds Hotel has been an Allentown destination since 1909. The decor inside reflects a lot of Allentown and the restaurant's history. It is a graceful old building but the inside could be freshened up a bit. This is not a white table cloth place; it has oilcloth table coverings. It is noisy because it is an old building with all hard surfaces - nothing to dampen the sound. The menu is extensive, with an emphasis on seafood. We had sandwiches, so I cannot speak to the quality of the food, but we observed that the portions were large and many diners were enjoying the lobster special. I had a fried fish sandwich, which was dry and disappointing. The fries that came with it were good. My companion had a small filet mignon that was cooked as ordered. They offer daily specials, including a half off second meal early in the evening. The service was good, given that it was pretty crowded when we were there. I doubt that we will give it a second chance.
Perfect date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant
Excellent & delicious food, love the service from our waitress and even the bartender when I was sitting there waiting for my family to come.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent seafood restaurant; outstanding people; extensive seafood menu, not Red Lobster.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seafood Lovers rejoice! This place is so good. You won't be sorry! Good variety on the menu. Seafood, steaks, pastas.Wheelchair accessibility: They even have a wheelchair ramp for the deck.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant, Crab Cake, Lobster Bisque, Peanut Butter Pie, Fairgrounds Fish Tacos, Lobster Flight, Grilled Lobster Tail, Broiled Scallops, Lobster Roll w Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster Blsque or Clam Chowder, Lobster Trio, Lobster Lovers Trio
Great food and service it was wonderful! Cheers out to Jenny, she gave us the best experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First.Off.Let's just say that my son and my father got food poisoning. My son was throwing up all night with diarrhea and my father had the diarrhea. I took my parents there for their 52nd anniversary last evening. First we got bread brought to the table ,no butter and the rolls were hard as a rock. Then we had salads brought out which were not the greatest. My mother had the honey mustard dressing which she said literally was mustard with horse radish. We got our meals which looked like they were fantastic but looks can be deceiving. There was not much seasoning to the steaks .And they definitely were undercooked. My daughter in law who ordered a medium well steak ,her steak was bloody. We informed the waiter and he took the steak back and said she was going to be given new sides and her steak and going to be cooked. When they brought the steak back now it's too well almost to the point where there's no juices whatsoever and her sides were definitely not new.They were microwaved and now hard. I ordered a medium steak but once I got to the middle of my steak It was absolutely rare. Then we were told there was gonna be a free dessert for her because she sent her whole meal back and didn't eat at all. She wanted the peanut butter pie which we were told was going to be brought out and then we were told they didn't have anything so she didn't get anything. My mashed potatoes were cold. This steak was rare and unseasoned. Was definitely a disappointment especially for the price tag. Needless to say we will not be returning. And like I said in the very beginning My son and my father both had food poisoning and we're up all night in the bathroom.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
We did the lobster flights & lobster bisque.Personally, I think they were really small, over seasoned n tough . The soup didn't have that much flavor & was way too thick. Sticky-like. The warm rolls were very tasty though & the drinks were good.Our male server was the best part of the night. The place itself was very cool, lots of history. Really crowded.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
My family and I were so excited to try this place, but we regretted coming afterwards. To warm beers, to very rare steak when asked for well, to honey mustard that was just honey and mustard. When asked for a new steak when it was raw, they said they would give me a new plate, and in which they only gave me a new plate, microwaved potatoes and steak. And offered a free dessert, and the only thing I have been excited for for the peanut butter pie and they didn't have it anymore. The coleslaw was good..... that's about it. Not good food going in, or coming back up.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
After a fun time at the Allentown Farmers Market we had 4:30 reservations at the Fairgrounds Hotel. Absolutely delicious! The hostess was so friendly and sat us right away. Leann was our waitress and she was so attentive! We had the best food and so reasonable! Started with steamed clams, hot bread and wine and beers. We had the seafood platter and steak and shrimp. So delicious! We will definitely go back! Drinks, appetizers, and entrees were $100 for two. Lovely place, old posters and lots of cat pictures.
Restaurantji Recommends
In the mood for a good fish sandwich? They will make it for you even though it's not on the menu. Delish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hidden Secret...good food, inexpensive... UPDATE: Still really good...land & sea options, but they specialize in sea...very large menu & portions... sometimes they have an "all you can eat" special or two... very reasonable ???...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Flight, Grilled Lobster Tail, Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Roll w Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster Blsque or Clam Chowder, Strawberry Pie, Clams Casino, Lobster Trio, Dozen Steamed Clams, Lobster Lovers Trio
This place has really cute decor and a very antique feel to it. The cat pictures are really unique! I liked everything we had. The lobster roll was good, the bisque was creamy with large chunks in it. I learned that if you don't get the lobster tail, all the other lobster items end up being claw meat, at least from what I could tell from the two lobster rolls we had, the bisque and the lobster mac. Overall it was great! I just wish the lobster rolls wasn't all claw meat. I will be coming back again, esp for the specials! My friend got the lobster flight, and there really was a distinct difference between the flavor and texture of the 3! If you love lobster, go for it! Our server was amazing and attentative as well!Parking: I didn't have trouble parking, the lot is an OK size. But if it's really busy I think you might have a problem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Bisque, Lobster Flight
I made the reservation online and asked for a really nice table as we were having a late birthday celebration for my wife on Saturday February 24th. We were seated upstairs at a lousy table. Ordered our drinks and food at the same time. Received our lobster flights (very good) but never received our salads and didn’t receive drinks until our meals were finished (15-20 minutes after our meals were brought out). This was our first and probably last visit.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Lobster Flight
The lobster flights was perfect t! And the friendly service even better!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Flight