BBQ

Owners of grain. and The Bayou to Open Barbecue Restaurant in Former Shula’s Space

The owners of two wildly successful Lehigh Valley restaurants, grain. and The Bayou, announced today that they will open a barbecue restaurant and bar in the space formerly occupied by Shula’s Steak House at the corner of Seventh Street and the ArtsWalk at City Center. The yet-to-be-named restaurant, which will offer dine-in and carry-out options, will open in August 2016.

Restaurateurs Morris Taylor and Cristian Duarte say their new casual eatery will offer premium authentic barbecue – smoked on site – at a low price point. They plan to create a high-energy atmosphere that will appeal to families as well as to adults seeking a fun bar scene. The new restaurant will offer outdoor seating, including picnic tables, and a fire pit on the ArtsWalk and an indoor/outdoor bar.

In September 2015, Taylor and Duarte opened grain. in the former Federal Grill space on Hamilton Street in Downtown Allentown, offering American contemporary dishes, with culinary flairs from around the world, and 24 beers on tap in a polished casual environment. Shortly after opening, grain. was named 2015’s Top Rated New Hot Spot in Pennsylvania by Yelp and Nightclub & Bar magazine.

In March 2014, the team opened The Bayou, a Southern-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar in Bethlehem, calling it “a fine dining experience disguised as a casual country restaurant.” The Bayou was named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in America in the 2014 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Awards.

“We’re excited to build on the tremendous success and following we’ve found in Downtown Allentown with this new concept,” Taylor said. “We’re looking forward to adding another place to Downtown Allentown that’s upbeat and lively with great food for people to share with family and friends at a price point that everyone feels is a good value.”

“We’re thrilled that the great restaurateurs behind grain. and The Bayou want to deepen their roots in Downtown Allentown with what we know will be another award-winning concept,” said Jarrett Laubach, City Center Lehigh Valley’s leasing manager.

While still yet unnamed, Taylor and Duarte have shared some details about their new barbecue restaurant with The Morning Call in a recent story. In addition to offering take-out service, the new eatery will also have:

  • A custom-made smoker, designed and manufactured in Texas, that will be on full display. “It is going to be a showpiece of the restaurant,” Taylor told the newspaper.
  • Picnic-table outdoor dining, with tables that are heavy enough to be left outside year-round, to create a casual dining feel. The big indoor-outdoor bar will be utilized to make a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
  • A fire pit in the outdoor dining area along the ArtsWalk will offer diners and patrons warmth during the cooler months.
  • A southern-inspired drink menu will be offered that includes a wide selection of cocktails and 20 to 30 beers on tap. There will be plenty of options for the budget-minded as well as the adventurous.