ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A staple of downtown Allentown’s dining scene has undergone a refresh just shy of its 11th birthday.
The Dime, the signature restaurant inside the Renaissance Allentown Hotel in downtown Allentown, has relaunched with a new culinary concept — elevated American cuisine — led by its newly appointed director of culinary and restaurant operations Nick Vogel, according to a news release.
The restaurant’s refreshed direction includes expanded regional sourcing along with redesigned dining, bar and event spaces to serve hotel guests, local residents, visitors and eventgoers at the connected PPL Center.
The Dime in Allentown has a new lounge.
The Dime
Vogel, a Philadelphia native, comes to The Dime with a rich culinary background.
Raised in his family’s restaurant, he worked nearly every job in the business before refining his skills in notable kitchens across the country, including serving as executive chef at Alta Strada in Washington, D.C., a restaurant founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow.
Most recently, Vogel was regional area executive chef at EHP Hospitality, overseeing Si Si, Enchante Bistro, Sunset Harbor and Buongiorno Café.
Prior to that, he served as executive chef at Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor, New York, where he became known for his “dock-to-dish” approach and partnerships with farmers and fishermen across the Northeast.
The Dime, the signature restaurant inside the Renaissance Allentown Hotel in downtown Allentown, has relaunched with a new culinary concept — elevated American cuisine — led by its newly appointed director of culinary and restaurant operations Nick Vogel (pictured).
The Dime
His work emphasized “freshness, seasonality and creative American flavors” — all principles that he has brought to Allentown, the release states.
“I’m committed to partnering with local purveyors to let great ingredients shine,” Vogel said.
“Here in the Lehigh Valley and nearby in Lancaster, we have an incredible bounty of produce and proteins to work with. Our menus will reflect the changing seasons while still offering signature favorites guests can enjoy year-round.”
The Dime’s new concept includes four seasonal menus per year.
The current menu features dishes such as beef tartare with Asian pear, confit egg yolk, rosemary potato chips and kimchi vinaigrette; and grilled octopus with Castelvetrano olives, salsa verde, crispy prosciutto and chilled and marinated bean salad.
The complete menu can be found at TheDimeAllentown.com/menus.
As part of the relaunch, The Dime features a refreshed interior designed by The Society, a nationally recognized hospitality design firm.
The updated space includes approximately 65 seats spread across the dining room, bar, revamped lounge and cocktail reception areas, creating a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere well-suited for everything from casual meals to special occasions.
With increased seating flexibility and a modernized design, The Dime is also positioning itself as a premier destination for private parties, corporate gatherings and social events.
Two private dining rooms that seat 20 and 40 guests, respectively, and an event space that seats 96 guests are now available. Pictures of the event spaces are available at TheDimeAllentown.com/private-dining, and bookings can be made by calling 484-273-4010.
The Dime
“With its renewed culinary program and reimagined design, The Dime aims to become a signature gathering place in Allentown — from breakfast meetings to pre-concert dinners, late-night bites and private celebrations,” said Mike Slivka, regional vice president of operations at Gulph Creek Hotels, which manages the Renaissance Allentown.
The Dime, which opened in January 2015, is located on the third floor of the hotel at 12 N. Seventh St. in downtown Allentown.
The Dime is open daily with the following hours:
Restaurant hours:
Breakfast: 7 to 11 a.m.Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Dinner: 4 to 9 p.m.Late-night bar menu: 9 to 11 p.m. (based on demand, including arena-event nights)
Bar hours:
Sunday to Thursday: Noon to 11 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays: Noon to midnight
For reservations, call 484-273-4010, visit TheDimeAllentown.com or go to OpenTable.com/The-Dime.