Behind-the-scenes with The Dime
The Dime offers an upscale dining experience like no other. Its menu features locally inspired and locally sourced cuisine. Not to mention an extensive list of craft beers, wines, and made-from-scratch cocktails. On Thursday, April 19, The Dime took over the @CityCenterAllentown Instagram for the day to give us an inside look at the timeless dining space and unforgettable meals. Watch their #DowntownTakeover below!
Name: Colin O’Brien, Bartender
The Dime, @DimeAllentown
Tell us a bit about your business.
The Dime is new American bar and restaurant centrally located in the downtown area. Situated above PPL Center, The Dime is inside the Renaissance Hotel on the third floor. We enjoy bringing good drink and food to our regular hotel guests as well as our downtown guests.
How many people does your business employ?
We are a close-knit team of 15 to 20 people. Our hours of operation span from breakfast to late night, so we all do a little bit of everything to solidify our team.
What is unique about your business?
The Dime is uniquely located inside the Renaissance Hotel, with amazing views of the downtown area. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument can be seen in full from the bar and restaurant area. Our bar menu offers a variety of different cocktails to explore, and our food menu incorporates local flavors and ingredients to discover.
Favorite product/menu item/ cocktail. Why?
Our most popular items have to be the Duck Wings and the Crispy Honey Chili Brussels Sprouts. But in terms of entrees, I really love the Bone-In Ribeye. It's cooked to your choosing and served with herbed russet and sweet potato wedges, asparagus, and bordelaise. I'm also really excited about the Barrel Aged Cocktail program I've recently started. We've got classic spirit-forward cocktails aging in charred oak barrels, such as a Vieux Carre, Sazerac, Boulevardier and Rob Roy, among others.
What is The Dime's biggest challenge?
The Dime can be a little tricky to find from the parking garage or hotel lobby, but once people discover our beautiful establishment, they always come back.
Why do you love working in Downtown Allentown?
I enjoy working in the Downtown area because I get to see firsthand the growth of Allentown. There have been so many businesses and homes created in the last five years, it's amazing. I love being a part of something new and exciting.
Why do customers love coming to The Dime?
Guests enjoy coming into The Dime for the bar scene and live music on weekends. They also enjoy coming and spending time with the staff, whether it be Mary in the dining room or Jenny at the bar. A lot of people come in for the company.
The favorite feature of your space in City Center?
The views of the downtown area are the most favorite feature of our space at The Dime.
What motivates you to go to work every morning?
What motivates me to go to work every day are the people around me. I enjoy working alongside all these wonderful people who care about the integrity of our restaurant and strive to be better every day.
The Dime's #DowntownTakeover Recap Video