! This restaurant is no longer open. The information below is for archival purposes only.

Centro

The arrival of restaurateur Josh Palmer to Allentown’s Center City fills a void that you may not have even known was there, but you’ll recognize it as soon as you take a bite of a signature Risotto Ball or handmade strand of fettuccine. Everything’s done a little differently and a little bigger at this Hamilton Street hangout, where expected dishes like calamari are upgraded into Frito Misto—a marvelous mound of calamari, octopus, and potatoes deep-fried to blissful golden morsels in olive oil. Effortlessly cosmopolitan and instantly comfortable, the hallmarks of Josh’s brand are evident at this urban daydream, stocked with a specialized wine list focused on smaller Italian producers and creative cocktails.

Did You Know? Stacks of firewood around the restaurant add a rustic vibe, but they’re also functional: they’re used to stoke the new wood oven that fires pies like the Franco, topped with sausage, ricotta, roasted peppers, and fennel fronds.

Insider Tip: Head to the romantic sun-dappled patio for al fresco dining at its finest, then stay for the outdoor summer music series.