Cosmopolitan

Loveeeeee this place! Me and hubby stopped by since it’s close to our other home out this way, it was great… Service food and the beautiful atmosphere … They are recently developing this area of town and it’s coming along quite wonderful !

Shrimp bisque appetizer was cold and so was it’s replacement. Took a third time before the kitchen staff could send it out hot. The bronzino was tasty and cooked correctly but the kohlrabi that came with it was raw and not seasoned. Wait staff very disorganized and manager clueless on the basics of running a restaurant. Extremely disappointing experience and definitely not worth the $ 50 per person charge. One can do much better just about anywhere else in the city. Yes, we complained to both the manager & the owner. Very strange, worthless excuses. Felt like we were in a bad movie.

My husband and I dined at Cosmopolitan on Saturday, February 7. Overall, I have to say we were not impressed. I felt like the food was good, but highly overpriced.
We did not order any drinks. We had the Cheesesteak Spring Rolls as an app, I definitely recommend these! They were delicious and the cheese sauce served with them was perfect.
For our entrees, I ordered the Wild Boar Bolognese and my husband ordered the Braised Beef Short Rib. My bolognese was nothing to rave about, I feel like I could make a similar one at home that would taste just as good. I was not impressed with it at all. My husband’s beef short rib entrée was delicious. The short ribs were cooked perfectly, they were tender and delicious.
Overall, I personally thought the atmosphere was a little stuffy. I suppose if you like more fine dining and dressing more formal (some men were in suits or at least suit jackets) then this may peak your interest. In the area we were sitting, barely anyone was talking to each other. It was really weird.

I’ve been here three times and the last time was the best. I think the place has come together well. The area has improved as well and the parking was very convenient. The service was very prompt and unobtrusive and attentive. Minor flaws which maybe put it into a 4 ½ star category (but the whole experience given the Allentown location bumped it to 5). The flaws were the food may seem under seasoned for some (I don’t like salt and I was pleased) and it was a bit drafty.
I had the buffalo won tons which were inventive, crispy and spicy without being greasy or heavy at all. The salmon was great great and the desert menu was really good with an unbelievable «deconstructed» cannoli which I absolutely loved. I was really impressed.

If you are looking for a venue to host an event, I highly recommend you go somewhere else. I found the staff at the Cosmopolitan to be extremely disrespectful and uncooperative. While attending a private event, I had some of my belongings stolen. I tried to work with the management to recover my belongings they were extremely rude and questioned my own actions for losing the items. I was always under the assumption that in the service based industry the customer always comes first — but at the Cosmopolitan you will find that this is not the case.
This venue is not safe, their staff is rude and disrespectful, and is not worth booking an event with.

Fancy, pretentious and VERY expensive, esp. for Lehigh Valley. Food is good, not great and portions are small.
Believe you can do much better for your $$ elsewhere in Lehigh Valley.

I would give no stars but I’m not a mean person. We were put in a small booth where there was not enough room for a person to fit between the table and the seat. When we asked to be moved we were refused. There were empty tables throughout our meal. We had to ask for menus and water. Service was extremely slow and our waiter was very unfriendly. The melon and prosciutto appetizer was embarrassing. The pieces were so small it looked like someone’s leftovers. I could barely cut my pork chop, never mind chew it. Yes, we were there for the Eagles but when the food is not good there is no excuse.

we arrived a little after 6 for a 6:15 reservation. it was the night of the eagles concert. all of allentown was bustling with excitement over the opening night of PPL center.
stood by hostess station for ten minutes upstairs before some guy told the hostess she could have seated us at an emply table. waited 20 minutes before I went back to the hostess and told her no waitstaff had been to our table. this was the beginning of one apology after for the entire evening. 10 minutes later a waitress came over and told us no one knew who should wait on us. she decided on her own to wait on us.
ordered drinks. that took 15 to 20 minutes to come. one hour after sitting we finally received some bread after pleading with our waitress to bring us something to nibble on while we were waiting. one person at our table never received silverware or water until it was pointed out to a bus person.
appetizers took forever to arrive. by this time it was approaching concert time. my friends appetizer had a bone in it, the cheese on my french onion was burnt. we pleaded with our waitress to please bring our entrees with the appetizers so we could get finished and make the concert. that never happened. in the meantime,
people all around us were leaving without getting their food. entrees finally arrived fifteen minutes before concert. my wife’s shrimp were not cooked near enough.
our friends duck was literally raw.
up until this point management was non-​existent. we were informed this happens on major holidays as well by a member of the waitstaff.
my advice for anyone thinking of going there on a major holiday or pre-​concert is to avoid the cosmopolitan unless it is only for their overpriced drinks. even then you will wait for a very long time.
i genuinely thought with the première of the new concert and hockey arena, this place would be geared up to put on a show to impress everyone there. boy, was I
wrong.
terrible experience!!!

Cosmopolitan exceeded our expectations. My wife and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary with them at their newly added chef’s table. Executive Chef Justin Cogan and his team created a custom menu for our night. We enjoyed the 10 course tasting menu with expertly paired wines. Everything was executed with perfection. The Lehigh Valley exclusive Chef’s Table is located in their kitchen and allows diners to experience the behind the scenes action involved in making this place tick. Our meal was paced well and we were well attended to by their general manager. We were told that this was their inaugural service at the chef’s table. If that’s the case then I have no doubt that everyone will enjoy their time in the kitchen. I will be sure to reserve the chef’s table again and I will definitely try to fill the 6 person capacity.
Thank you again and see you all soon.

I really wanted to give 5 stars but there were a few issues. The atmosphere is amazing and it felt like being in a high end casino restaurant (we just came back from AC). We had made a reservation with open table and indicated it was my birthday. When we were seated there was a Birthday/​Thank You card signed by the executive chef; Classy!
The menu is small and seasonal. My husband ordered the NY strip special and it was good but after we saw the price on the bill he felt money would have been better spent on the filet. His broccoli was under cooked and under seasoned and went uneaten.
We had shared the grilled Caesar salad and was surprised how tasty it was. I was on a mission to save room for dessert so I ordered the scallop dish. I am big on scallops being prepared properly; these were only seared on my one side but cooked well. The quinoa was awesome but I was disappointed that the pea purée was cold!
I ordered a second Cosmo for dessert (for a place named Cosmopolitan their drinks are spot on!) I ordered the Hess’s strawberry pie I came for and my husband ordered the seasonal dessert of sponge cake with sweet corn ice cream and candied bacon. The strawberry pie is just as we remembered it from the patio and took half home. I loved the sweet corn ice cream but the sponge was lacking and the bacon was intense.
The service was exceptional from the valets to the servers. We will certainly go
Again sometime.

Here it is folks… you’ve read bunches of generous 3-​star reviews. It’s time for the 2-​star (or less) review it really deserves. If you do not have time to read 4 paragraphs, this place is a «try». Not a «must-​go».
Lets keep in mind this place self describes itself as a place offering «exceptional food and drinks coupled with outstanding service in a beautiful, classic setting.» We went with a group of friends, 7 of us in total. The complementary valet is wonderful.
Food:
The food was good. Main menu was a little small and I do not know how often it is changed. Specials of the day did a good job to supplement the menu… and while I’m thinking of the Menu… I felt the actually physical menu was an over-​sized card for the sake of being over-​sized. Back on point, the food was good. Not great. Not amazing. It was well made, tasted good, but perhaps a touch uninspired.
For Appitizers I tasted the cheese-​steak spring rolls (very good), shrimp skewers (very good), and corn soup (soup du jour; excellent). Let’s talk through the soup. The server (not main waiter) came to the table with the soup and had to inquire who it belonged to (this occurred with all food delivery and I’ll crush them in the service part of this review below). The bowl came unfilled (+1) but with fresh off the cob corn and finely chopped pancetta. I like when they pour the soup at the table… its a nice touch. The soup was excellent! More stock based than cream. It was smooth and thin but not watery. The soup itself was excellently flavored with a slight spice to the broth (with no visible black pepper) and sweet as a corn soup can be. The pancetta really complimented the broth. This was well done.
Passed on a salad course and headed straight to the main. Oh, I almost forgot. I was the DD so my cocktail of choice was lemonade. Fresh hand squeezed. Good call for the non-​drinker or DD in your party. Back to the main course… I had a strip steak special. It was very good. The steak was cooked properly, seasoned well and very flavorful. Definitely was the Prime cut it was pitched as. The broccoli on the plate was another matter. It was a bit flavorless despite the bbq drizzle on it. Needed 30 seconds less in the steamer and a light toss of butter (or some salt). In the middle of the summer I expect a nice, fresh vegetable medley. There is no excuse but laziness here on the veg. Potato to the rescue. Sliced, layered, twice baked potato cake was awesome. Hot, crispy top and bottom with a creamy smooth center texture. This was everything the broccoli was not.
All my other friends reported very good to excellent meals too. Duck, Halibut, Wild Mushroom Fettucini all very good dishes.
Service:
Our main waiter was very nice and capable. He may have been the more experienced one as the other assistants were new or inexperienced at a restaurant of this nature. Like many have reviewed back in 2011 folks who served the food did not know where it was suppose to go and this includes mains. This still needs to be corrected. Men’s room was w/​o hand towels for much of the night. Departing with wet hands is a SMH moment.
Setting: Clearly a significant investment was made in the décor and design. The materials and design are extremely sophisticated and high end. Its a blend of modern and elegant. The bathrooms were floor to ceiling marble tile, grand staircase was spacious and the center hallway chandelier all well thought out.
To wrap up… the i’s are not dotted and the t’s not crossed with this establishment. Little things add up to be big things. Cosmo can be fixed and improved. Every area has some flaws (some multiple) that quickly detract from the whole. Good luck with your experience.

Went for Mother’s Day. Food was terrific though not hot. Waiter was inattentive and liked to talk. Would go back to give it another try.

We had our wedding at the Cosmopolitan in late 2013. From the time we saw the ballroom we knew the cosmopolitan would fit our needs. Once we made a decision we had several meetings and the tasting prior to the event, all went off without a hitch.
The cocktail hour was in the rooftop bar. It’s was a perfect space for the cocktail hour since it was large enough for all the guests to spread out enjoy the hors d’oeuvres and drinks before move to the ball room. Following cocktail hour we moved to the main room. The main ballroom at the cosmopolitan is beautiful featuring two levels with a open floor plan, classy bar area, and beautifully appointed bathrooms. The room is beautiful and our Decore complemented it’s natural set up well.
Initially we select the cosmopolitan because we wanted quality food. We were not disappointed. We had numerous people explain to us how great the food was following the ceremony. Food-​service was well done and we quickly were able start dancing. Additionally many guest commented on the fact of the drinks were prepared well and there’s never an issue with waiting for cocktails.
One of the main pluses about the Cosmopolitan in Allentown is the fact they have free valet parking seven days a week during all operational hours. This was a great benefit for guests and allowed for them to have a carefree experience at our reception. Additionally the nice thing about the cosmopolitan is there are no additional fees for weddings. They have house linens chairs up lighting and additional services that all come within the price without the additional add-​ons. There are three specific wedding packages but they do accommodate for some interchanging within the packages.
Overall we are pleased with the planning implementation and actual event of our wedding reception at the cosmopolitan and would recommend it to anyone planning a wedding in Lehigh Valley.

For a sophisticated, romantic dinner, the Cosmopolitan is highly recommended both for its food and its service. We came for dinner on a Thursday night and were treated to delicious salads and entrees. The lobster salad was excellent and the salmon entrée, on a bed of pea purée and delicate gnocchi was first rate. The tilefish entrée was also a joy. A shared crème brûlée ended a fine meal. Our waiter was very knowledgable and courteous and he made us us aware that on Thursdays, wine by the bottle are half price, what a value. The complimentary valet parking was very prompt and convenient. We look forward to our next visit.

Just had brunch for the third time and again not dissapointed. I had the crab Benedict the most expensive offering at only $ 13. delicious! And the all you can drink bloody Mary’s at$ 14. The menu is nicely varied; something for everyone. The atmosphere is elegant but not stuffy, the service is always perfect and the free valet parking is a bonus although I rarely use it because there is always parking close by.

Wedding shindig.
Beautiful décor, fabulous service.
My meal: tasty.
Bar Tenders: exceptionally hip.
Valet parking a (+).
Revisit: Y

I was pleased with the valet service and friendly hostess. Our table thoroughly enjoyed the baby beet salad, duck and filet entrees.
The scallops were good but could have been more flavorful. The Hess’s strawberry pie needed ripe strawberries.
The service was prompt and professional and overall we had a pleasant evening and a good dinner, but at $ 140 .00 per couple, (2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 drinks and a shared dessert), I’m not sure we’ll go back.

There were plenty of reasons to give this place 2 stars. The service recovery of they manager, some bright spots here and there, and a couple of good courses are the only reason they are getting 3 and the only reason I might return.
We arrived early, on purpose, to have drinks at the bar. I ordered a Manhattan on the rocks. I got a glass of bourbon with some sweet vermouth in it. A shaker wasn’t used, bitters weren’t there, nor was a garnish. Weak. If I wanted bourbon and vermouth on the rocks I would have ordered that.
We were sat 15 minutes after our reservation time… unacceptable, and they should have bought our drinks at the bar (especially at a place like this). Waitress took forever to come to the table… unacceptable. Appetizers were auctioned off (who had the salad?)…unacceptable.
My entrée was borderline terrible. There was barely any veal in my veal cheek ravioli, the mushrooms were weak and the raviolis were overcooked. I will say that other people seemed to enjoy their entrees, my appetizer (pork belly) was very nice and desert was great, as well (panna cotta).
Now, after being sat 15 minutes late, we were sat at arguably the worst table in the restaurant. On a cold night, they shouldn’t have a table that close to the door and when you’re already seating someone so late, why seat them there? I must give credit to their manager who handled the situation relatively well with a very generous gift card and sincere apology (after she got past a little bit of condescending snark).
If this place wasn’t so expensive and so beautifully presented, I wouldn’t have the same expectations. But it is, so I do. This was a weak experience but the restaurant has potential. I would try again.

I chose Cosmopolitan for a ladies’ lunch after visiting their happy hour several times. The lunch was a smashing success. From the time I booked the reservation with Greer to the final delivery of our cars (by Greer, again… do you ever sleep???), it was a perfect day for a group of ladies. Service was great… we were there for a very long time chatting and enjoying the company; we were never rushed! Food was incredible, allot of food for your money. The atmosphere very chic!
I would highly recommend this place for happy hour and for an event where you want to sit and savor the food and company!
Thank you, Cosmopolitan!

Had dinner here during Restaurant Week with the hubs. Easy to make a reservation with OpenTable… free valet…$ 30pp…definitely a great way to try a new local place!
Valet was quick & easy. Within a few seconds, we were at the hostess stand and then off to our table. They weren’t that busy, but ended up being stuck at what must have been one of the worst tables in the place. Right on the front corner of the first floor, so we got all of the traffic. Not a huge deal since it wasn’t super busy, but when you have plenty of empty tables, why do you seat people at not so great tables? I’ll request a table on the second floor the next time we visit.
Carlos took pretty good care of us during our visit. There were a few issues, but I think they were more kitchen issues than our waiter (I wasn’t half finished with my starter before my entrée was plopped down… served the wrong entrée, etc). Carlos kept our water full and managed to keep an eye on us without being intrusive. I felt that he was close enough to ask if I needed something but didn’t feel bothered. Perfect.
Food & drink ranged from awesome to just okay. I ordered the blood orange martini, one of their specialties, and it was just okay. Not very orangy and felt a little flat. But the hubs Chardonnay was very good. Black bean soup was awesome… green salad (spiced nuts, gorgonzola) was average. Both of our entrees (salmon & chicken) were so so, but the pork loin that I was accidentally served was AWESOME! Wish I wouldn’t have said something and kept it :) Both desserts were fantastic… the key limi semifreddo was very traditional, while my strawberry dessert was a little more creative (fresh strawberries served w/​a dish of balsamic chocolate, a cup of white chocolate milk & a few pound cake «cookies.»
Made a trip to the ladies’ room while Carlos was getting our bill… I much preferred the look & feel of upstairs (plus the bathrooms are pretty flush). The Indian jazz fusion was at a good level and kept things upbeat.
Two restaurant week prix fixe plus two drinks and tax was a bit over $ 80 + tip. I felt it was more than fair for what we received. I wasn’t blown over impressed, but we’ll definitely give it another shot (even if it’s just for drinks & appetizers at the bar… the appetizer menu looked very good).