A bottle of red, a bottle of white, it all depends upon you’re appetite. I’ll meet you anytime you want, at the Taste of Italy Restaurant.

Okay, those are not the lyrics to Billy Joel’s 1977 hit, “ Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” But the Taste of Italy Ristorante, located on 1860 Catasauqua Road, has been serving up the Lehigh Valley authentic Italian cuisine since 2003, but with time comes change as the restaurant has embark on a new path the past year as it has tweaked the name and remodeled it’s interior as Taste of Italy Ristorante is now known as Taste of Italy Bar and Grille. But don’t worry; the business is still under the same ownership so although the look has changed, the quality and service are still front and center.

Franco Grisafi is a current operator of Taste of Italy, having taken over the business from his father. With a mixture of heritage and modern restaurant culture in his blood, Grisafi believes that the new bar atmosphere puts Taste of Italy at a new standard for dining excellence. “Passion is extremely important,” says Grisafi. “Without a strong passion for this lifestyle, a bar can go stale very quickly. I love what I do because there is always something new in the bar and the possibilities are endless.”

Taste of Italy’s bar includes multiple craft and local beer selections from both a tap and bottle selection. The bar also features 2 wine taps to go alongside an extensive choice of hand selected bottled wine that pair perfectly with Taste of Italy’s exquisite entrees. From bread dipped in rich oil, salad made with the freshest ingredients, pizza cooked to peak perfection, and enough pasta to fill a family of 4 with one dish. The Taste of Italy brings both food and drink specials together into one delicious hot spot.

The new bar atmosphere is both business casual and couple friendly as you can try Grisafi’s personal favoirte the Italian limoncello martini after a long day of work, or sip down a glass of their Motto red Zinfandel alongside family and friends, or for the more adventurous type try the Midnight Espresso Martini which is a twist on an espresso and dessert cocktail, a perfect taste to end a perfect evening.

Open everyday at 11am and generally open til around 10 p.m., Taste of Italy is just down the street from the Carmike 16 as well as Coca-Cola Park so it is the perfect Lehigh Valley spot for any dinner and adventure type of date or family get together. For reservations call 610-266-8011 or log on to tasteofitalypa.com where you can also find info on catering as well as an extensive look at the Taste of Italy’s menu varying from lunch, dinner, dessert, and of course drinks.