Pearly Baker’s Ale House

This social anchor of downtown Easton endures as an inclusive environment where business leaders attired in bespoke suits and millennials sporting sleeve tattoos feel equally at home. Customers who flocked to Pearly Baker’s when it opened 27 years ago now arrive with their adult children in tow. Clearly, everyone bonds over good food and spirits. 

Recently arrived Executive Chef Paige Robinson is putting her imprint on a New American menu encompassing upgraded pub fare – from burgers to Double-Breaded Calamari (see recipe on page 97) – weekly features, and main plates. (Lunch, dinner, and late night selections include gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes.) Committed to a belief that fresh food is key to the best dining experience, everything brought into this chef’s kitchen is fresh and never frozen. For a tasty example, Braised Short Rib delivers hearty comfort with locally sourced, top-quality –
and marvelously marbled – beef that’s seared before braising in a red wine sauce for four hours, yielding a firm and flavorful exterior and super-tender interior.

The juicy meat then melts into a bed of creamy Parmesan grits, brightened by an accompaniment of Brussels sprouts coated with pomegranate molasses. The recommended pairing for a dish that balances richness with vibrancy is Fiddlehead IPA – or choose a glass or bottle of red wine from the food-friendly list. 

An expansive bar with loads of yesteryear character invites patrons to sample 23 taps of house staples and rotating craft brews, or sip a signature or innovative specialty cocktail such as a Sloe Sazerac. Live music with no cover charge energizes the atmosphere every Friday and Saturday, and the fourth Thursday each month brings a spirit-lifting comedy show. A refreshed dining room in the rear – still appointed with a breathtaking crystal chandelier – offers a more laid-back and contemporary vibe with cushioned chairs, booths, banquettes, and a handsomely refinished hardwood floor. In spring, sidewalk tables make the most of a lively metropolitan atmosphere.