Indian-fusion cuisine and late-night cocktails are on the menu at a new restaurant that recently opened in the Lehigh Valley.
White Elephant held a soft opening in August at the Delta by Marriott hotel at 7736 Adrienne Drive in Upper Macungie Township, co-owner Rubal Vekariya said.
The menu, which will expand with a cocktail menu for the restaurant’s grand opening later this month, includes lamb chops, paneer angara, goat curry, shrimp moilee, butter chicken, eggplant bruschetta and cassata ice cream.
The restaurant is open to the public, not just hotel guests.
Vekariya said the restaurant will fulfill what he sees as a lack of Indian restaurants in the area.
“We have a couple of restaurants down in New Jersey, and then my uncle [Harshil Patel] actually lives in that area,” Vekariya said. “And that’s where we saw that, OK, there’s a lack of Indian restaurants nearby that area, that’s actually modern with a fusion twist to it, and that was the main reason why we actually opened up in that area.”
For now, the restaurant is open 5-10 p.m. daily, except Tuesday when it is closed. It plans to expand those hours to 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests can reserve tables there by using OpenTable on the restaurant website.
Vekariya said he hopes to host and cater for events at the hotel’s banquet hall, and keep the bar open until late at night.
“Our goal is to make that area more modern, more fine-dine,” he said. “Right now, when I was in that area, if I wanted to eat something, there’s only mainly Taco Bell. There’s not that many bars that are open till late. So what we’re trying to do is we want everyone to come and enjoy our drinks — cocktails and mocktails — and make a nice … scene out of it.”
The hotel, which also hosts the American-style Stay restaurant, opened in 1988 as the Holiday Inn Conference Center before Delta Hotels acquired it in 2018.
Lehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief
Karl Ehmer Quality Meats has gone up for sale and set its last day of business as Nov. 29 at 1645 Union Blvd. in Allentown, following 50 years of operation.
Marcy’s Hamburgers held a soft opening Wednesday out of the former typewriter shop at 77 N. Fourth St. in Easton. The menu includes burgers, wings, empanadas, sandwiches, salads and in-house mozzarella.
Norman’s Hallmark will open by the end of the year at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township, where it’ll offer Hallmark cards, ornaments, decorations, books, games, clothes.
AEC Market opened Saturday at 2374 Seiptstown Road in Weisenberg Township, owner Alyssa Mengel said, where customers can buy meat, dairy, produce, sourdough bread, muffins, croissants, pasta, snacks, soups, salads and wraps.
Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery held a grand opening Aug. 30 at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, manager Penny Burke said, replacing the former Pocono Brewery Co. Taproom.
Owned by Randy Detrick, the new Blue Ridge serves pizza, sodas and wine varieties such as red, white, dry, sweet and semi-sweet. The original Blue Ridge opened at 239 Blue Ridge Ridge Road in Chestnuthill Township.
“We’re a little far from the Lehigh Valley, so we wanted to have our wines available down here, and Randy’s mission is always to add value to your life,” Burke said. “So that is what we’re doing down here.”
It operates 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Amigos Mexican Grill held a grand opening Thursday at its new location on the ground level of The Marquis apartments at 27 S. Third St. in Easton, where it serves tacos, burritos, bowls and quesadillas.
The Claire’s stores at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township and the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township will remain open after previously holding closing sales. The location at Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township remains set to close.
The national sandwich chain Jimmy John’s has returned to the Lehigh Valley with a new location at the Schoenersville Centre at 3219-A Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, franchisee Abe Stity confirmed on Wednesday.
Bar Louie has closed at the Promenade after about a decade of operation.
Breakfast on Broadway has temporarily closed until further notice after its exhaust fan was accidentally damaged at 15 Broadway in Bangor, it announced online.
“We sincerely apologize to our loyal customers for this unexpected closure and truly appreciate your patience and understanding,” the restaurant said in the announcement.
The Rooted hair salon held a ribbon cutting Saturday after it relocated in May from its home of about 8 years at 6636 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township to 3900 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township, it announced online.
Retail Watch is a weekly column covering retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question, tip, or want to see something in the area? Contact retail reporter Graysen Golter at retailwatch@mcall.com.
