U. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – A new tasty chapter – filled with American and European specialties – will begin later this month for a prominent restaurant site in Lehigh County.
U-MAC Tavern, offering a fusion of American and European dishes and drinks, will hold a soft opening on June 15 at 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township, owner Emmanuel Teloniatis told 69 News.
The freestanding building was previously home to Sunset Grille, a full-service establishment that closed in 2024 after more than 30 years.
U-MAC Tavern is coming soon to 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
Teloniatis signed a lease for the Upper Macungie property in February and spent the next few months implementing renovations that include new flooring, lighting, wall paint and kitchen equipment.
“We’re super excited to bring the property back to life and write history again like the Sunset Grille wrote history,” Teloniatis said. “We’re going to be creating a must-go place for the community.”
Teloniatis, a resident of Whitehall Township, has more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, including owning and operating bars and nightclubs in Greece.
U-MAC Tavern is coming soon to 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
His foray into the restaurant world began as a child, when he worked at dining establishments that his parents operated in Reading, Berks County.
For the past five years, he previously owned The New Country View Diner on Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County, which he ran through late March before new ownership took over operations in April.
“My wife and I were looking to do something different to showcase our European culture at a new restaurant,” Teloniatis said.
Teloniatis, 46, has a Greek background, and he is excited to showcase some Greek specialties along with dishes originating in Italy and other Mediterranean countries at U-MAC Tavern.
U-MAC Tavern
A variety of starters will include burrata, wings (bone-in or boneless), shrimp cakes, shrimp skewers, fried oysters, lobster rolls, salmon Wellington, ranch fries, hash brown casserole, truffle cream-filled gnocchi, cucumber hummus bites (cucumber slices topped with hummus, black Kalamata olives, feta cheese crumbles and cilantro) and kataifi-wrapped halloumi (halloumi cheese wrapped with shredded phyllo pastry dough, baby kale and red pepper drops).
Guests also will be able to enjoy handhelds (served with fries or tavern chips) such as a Buffalo chicken wrap, avocado turkey sandwich and Mediterranean sandwich (grilled chicken, hummus, roasted red peppers, black Kalamata olives, cucumber, bacon, lettuce, tomato and feta cheese); and main dishes (served with house salad, bowl of soup and one side) such as lamb chops, 8-ounce Atlantic salmon filet, 18-ounce porterhouse steak and a “land & sea” selection (12-ounce boneless ribeye and 5-ounce cold water lobster tail).
Nearly a dozen sides will include options such as corn, rice, asparagus, broccoli, baked potato and sweet mashed potatoes.
U-MAC Tavern is coming soon to 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
Other menu highlights will include salads such as Cobb, Caesar and Greek (with optional protein, including shrimp, salmon or chicken breast); and burgers (served with fries or tavern chips) such as a California, Spartan (grilled mushrooms, onion ring, Cooper cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, bacon and mayo) and Great Alexander (lettuce, tomato, onion, roasted red peppers, cucumber, fried egg, feta crumbles and bacon habanero pepper jam).
For the burgers, diners could choose from a 6-ounce beef patty, 5-ounce grilled chicken breast, 5-ounce fried chicken filet, two 3-ounce smashed beef patties or a veggie burger.
“I was born in the United States, but my parents were immigrants from Greece,” Teloniatis said.
“I moved to Greece when I was 12 years old, and I came back to the U.S. in 2015. So, I was raised in restaurants, and I’ve done everything – from busboy to chef.”
Lunch and dinner service will be offered Monday through Friday, and brunch, lunch and dinner service will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
U-MAC Tavern is coming soon to 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Teloniatis said.
On Saturdays and Sundays, an all-you-can-eat brunch, featuring scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage and other breakfast favorites, will be served from 9 a.m. to noon, Teloniatis added.
U-MAC Tavern will offer bar and dining room seating for 160 guests, and an upstairs banquet room – expected to debut next year following renovations – will accommodate an additional roughly 80 guests, Teloniatis said.
There also will be outdoor seating for around 50 guests on a partially covered patio.
The restaurant will feature a full bar, offering 12 draft beers, a variety of wines and classic and signature cocktails such as a blue lagoon, white Russian, Aegean cosmo, Kalliopi’s bellini, ouzo martini, Meraki espressotini and Santorini lemon drop.
U-MAC Tavern is coming soon to 6751 Ruppsville Road in Upper Macungie Township.
Ryan Kneller
Guests also will be able to enjoy specialty coffee drinks such as double shot espresso, cold brew (with optional flavors) and Freddo cappuccino (iced), along with house-made desserts including peach crisp brioche bread pudding and lava labneh (chocolate lava cake with yogurt cheese labneh, pure honey and pistachio).
“We’re very excited to welcome the community, but I think the community may be even more excited,” Teloniatis said.
“We’ve had a lot of people stopping by in recent weeks asking either if we’re open yet or when we’re opening.”
U-MAC Tavern will bring freshly prepared eats and drinks back to a prominent restaurant site at the northwest corner of Ruppsville and Schantz roads in Upper Macungie.
Sunset Grille, which was owned by longtime restaurateurs Ron and Clairissa Pickering, closed in 2024 after more than 30 years of business.
The business served up Mexican and American cuisine such as burritos, burgers, cheesesteaks, enchiladas, tacos and wings.
“After 34 years of operation as the Sunset Grille, we have entered into a purchase agreement for the restaurant,” a September 2024 announcement on Sunset Grille’s Facebook page read.
The property was purchased by husband and wife Ed and Shahnaz Hanna of Whitehall Township in late 2024.
For the latest U-MAC Tavern updates, follow the restaurant’s Facebook page.