Eating at over 50 restaurants a year, it’s smooth for me to get right into a rut of mediocre meals and eateries; however, once in a while, I go to one that makes me fall in love with food all over again. Danielle’s Cafeteria, a brand new family-run eating place in South Bethlehem headed up with the aid of Danielle Emanuel-Moore, fits into this category. A small neighborhood joint that took over the short-lived outpost of Rice N’ Beans at the end of March, Danielle’s Cafeteria serves up an everyday, various menu chock-full of brilliant soul and luxury meals. The menu at Danielle’s adjusts, relying on the day, ensuring a clean new batch of entrees.
Tuesday is all about the tacos, with floor beef, adobo fowl, grilled shrimp, and blackened fish alternatives. Wednesdays provide a Caribbean topic, with curry chicken, jerk chicken, curry shrimp, and oxtail. On Thursdays, comfort meals reign, with meatloaf, stewed beef, fried chicken, and barbeque chicken to be had. Fish fry Fridays characteristic whiting and catfish as the main alternatives. On Saturdays and Sundays, there’s a diffusion of soul meals like stewed turkey wings, baked lemon chicken, braised steak, black-eyed peas, and collard greens — in addition to extra Sunday brunch options.
Setting and decor
The interior of Danielle’s is particularly small, with 4 laminate contour booths comprising the seating, taking into consideration a 16-man or woman eating area. A chalkboard displays the menu of the day and specials. Artwork — like a graffiti-fashion portrayal of Jean-Michel Basquiat — dots the walls, and a word art piece implores diners to “eat, drink, and be grateful.” Orders are placed on the counter and readied for dine-in or takeout. All are served in a to-go field, which you’ll have maximum probably want, given the large meal quantities.
Food
On my first go, which fell on “Caribbean Wednesday,” I opted for the jerk turkey wings ($13). Unlike nearly every jerk dish I’ve had in the Lehigh Valley, the fiery and flavorful seasoning at Danielle’s is the real deal. The turkey wings had been massive and fall-off-the-bone soft, juicy, and downright phenomenal. The juices pooled in the bottom of the box, a testimony to how flawlessly cooked the wings had been. Two sides got here with the dish, and I selected the fried cabbage and rice with peas.
The rice with peas became doused in the jerk juices from the turkey, including a highly spiced, fuller flavor. The heap of fried cabbage, light brown and nutty, made for a fulfilling and incredible treat, a Southern classic. The meal also came with a cornbread muffin (a bit on the dry side) that was an excellent aggregate of savory and candy, with a mild salt bringing out the exceptional taste. The plantains, also protected in the meal, had been deep mahogany and gentle, richly fruity, and an all-around delectable aspect.
Equally great became my second go-to. This time on “barbecue Friday,” I selected the fried catfish nuggets ($13). A healthy serving of massive catfish portions (more hunks than nuggets) has been flawlessly battered, breaded, and fried, leaving a scrumptious exterior and a slightly flaky fish on the interior. When drowned in a conventional Louisiana-style hot sauce, it made for a great meal I’ve had in a while.
The two side sauces, a self-made tartar sauce and a creamy chipotle, had been perfect, and the tartar, a sauce I tend to keep away from, turned into irresistible. It changed into tough to slow down the baked mac and cheese, eschewing the same old breading and choosing cheese, cheese … And more cheese. This side turned into a filling and extremely flavorful. While no longer as exact without a smothering of jerk turkey juice, the yellow rice and pink beans tasted just pleasant, especially whilst aided with a smattering of warm sauce.
Service
The carrier at Danielle’s is fairly brief and personable. On each visit, the workforce made me experience at home, treating me like an ordinary person. Like my fried catfish nuggets, every item (cooked to order) took only a few minutes from the kitchen to the plate. There were some problems on my first visit. My desk turned into now not wiped down, and the napkin dispenser was empty, but the pleased and hospitable surroundings of the eating place made this clean to miss.
