4 Aces Grill
1301 W. Hamilton St.
Allentown, Pa. 18102
484-661-4723
Major credit cards accepted
By M. DAVID SNYDER
Special to Lehigh Valley Source
Having heard by word of mouth about 4 Aces Grill--a new place that had opened in Allentown--I decided to check it out. By foot is the best way to get to this quaint little eatery because street parking is neither readily available nor is there a parking lot. The place is handicapped accessible; a ramp, rather than stairs, leads to the front door. In addition, customers can enter through a large veranda intended for al fresco dining.
The staff was quite friendly as I entered, and I was told to sit anywhere. I love the restaurant's ambiance—an elegant, New Age green. Seating next to the open kitchen reminds one of a sushi bar; however, sushi is not on the menu. One of two flat-screen TVs was tuned to a jazz music station.
After perusing the menu, I settled on an Ostrich Skewer, cooked medium with an Herb Tamarind Marinade, setting on a chunky Orange Tamarind Sauce. It came with a delicious side salad of arugula, potatoes, and asparagus tips, all for $13. I also ordered the house-cut French Fries for $3. I had heard that the fries would be super-thin, but mine were cut like steak fries. My beverage was cranberry juice with ice for $1.50.
Cooked to divine perfection, the ostrich meat melted off the skewer. Likewise, the tamarind sauces were fabulous. Before my entrée arrived, I was offered complimentary homemade potato chips--a bit greasy for my taste--and three spoonfuls of salsa.
After the potato chips, I experienced a minor serving mishap. Another server placed a plate of Jalapeño poppers in front of me and said, “Here you go. Try these.” Although I didn’t order the poppers, I figured they were simply another complimentary dish. It turns out they weren’t, so it’s good that I took only one bite and pushed the plate away. (I like spicy food, but the poppers were too hot.)
When my original server noticed what had transpired, the other server was berated. They asked why I failed to say that I hadn’t ordered the poppers. “This was my first time here, and I was just given a plateful of chips that I didn’t order either,” I replied. “And you didn’t say, ‘Here are your poppers, sir.’ You said only ‘Try these.’ ” In the end, I wasn’t charged for my accidental bite.
I asked for a few menus to take home and was told that the restaurant usually offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $35. I’ve told my housemate and co-workers that the food is scrumptious. I am planning to return and take a guest with me.
M. David Snyder of Allentown is a multimedia artist and freelance writer.
