BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A new family-run restaurant will serve up tasty European specialties, including steak frites, mushroom bourguignon and crème brulee, beginning this weekend in Northampton County.
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant, a full-service, modern European restaurant, will hold a soft opening on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 216 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem, owner Julie Saadah told 69 News.
Ryan Kneller
A grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration is planned for March.
The renovated property previously housed other restaurants, including Sweet Indulgence Café, Street Eatz and, most recently, Zimbabwean restaurant Braii Hut, over the past decade.
Saadah, of Hellertown, has more than 15 years of experience in the food service industry and previously operated a restaurant and street food camp in Denmark for several years before returning to the United States in 2024.
After moving back to the Lehigh Valley, she started a successful business, Mini Bites, where she makes small sweet and savory dishes for private events.
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant
Several popular selections, including pizza bites and cranberry brie cheese bites prepared with homemade dough, have made their way on to Cozy’s menu, Saadah said.
The new Bethlehem restaurant will be a family affair, with Saadah’s parents and daughters assisting in various capacities.
Guests will be able to enjoy made-from-scratch soups, salads, sandwiches and platters.
“Food is my passion,” said Saadah, who also honed her culinary skills as a chef at Mediterranean Grill in Fogelsville.
“I have a master’s degree in early childhood education and used to own a daycare in Allentown, but I just love cooking so much and find myself in the food world a lot more. I could spend 15 hours a day in the kitchen and not get bored. Making food, especially when I’m mixing cuisines together and creating new flavors, is when I’m happiest.”
At Cozy Café & Restaurant, Saadah and her family have crafted a menu with influences from Denmark, France and other European countries.
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant
Guests will be able to enjoy dips, including whipped feta cheese and whipped pesto with baguette bread, along with appetizers such as salmon canape and tomato basil canape.
There also will be platters such as chicken cordon bleu, mushroom bourguignon, lollipop lamb chops, moules frites (steamed mussels with French fries and Béarnaise sauce), steak frites (with optional surf and turf additions of shrimp or lobster tail), chicken cutlet with béchamel sauce and grilled salmon.
“People in Denmark eat a lot of fresh seafood as well as high-quality meat, and that’s what we’ll be showcasing here,” Saadah said.
Saadah has celiac disease and understands the gluten-free and other dietary restrictions that face many individuals.
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant
She’s completed multiple courses related to food allergies and nutrition, and at Cozy, she’s prioritizing inclusivity with a wide array of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, which will be labeled as such on the menu.
“We want to offer really great food for everyone, including people with food intolerances,” Saadah said.
“So, we’re going to be making gluten-free bread, gluten-free burgers, gluten-free chicken strips and other items from scratch. Our goal is for everyone to feel like they belong.”
The restaurant, with seating for around 75 guests on two levels, also will offer salads such as quinoa and Cozy (spring mix, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, mixed bell peppers, black olives, broccoli and corn); and burgers and sandwiches such as a truffle burger, ribeye burger (with Cozy special sauce), lamb burger, falafel burger, plant-based burger, fried chicken sandwich, smoked salmon sandwich, crispy fish sandwich and “Go Green” sandwich (grilled broccoli, zucchini, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, mixed salad, onion, olives, green peppers and pesto).
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant
Guests will have the option to customize salads with optional grilled chicken, ribeye, lamb, tuna, shrimp, falafel and more, and additional protein could also be incorporated into any platter or sandwich for an upcharge.
Other highlights will include kids’ menu options such as Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and a pizza featuring a crust made from ground chicken; and house-made desserts such as crème brulee, Napoleon cake and tiramisu balls.
“We’ll definitely have something for everyone,” Saadah said.
“If you want a really good ribeye burger or chicken sandwich, we’ll have you covered. But if you’re vegan or vegetarian and often struggle to find options at restaurants, we’ll have you covered, too.”
Cozy will serve brunch daily, with options such as a steak omelet, crispy chicken and waffle platter, and poached eggs with fresh fruit or salad, a croissant and drink, and the restaurant also will offer late-night hours on weekends.
Cozy Cafe & Restaurant
Cozy Café & Restaurant is tentatively set to operate 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, Saadah said.
“A lot of restaurants in the Lehigh Valley aren’t open late,” Saadah said. “So, we’re giving people a chance to eat with us until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.”
A cutting-edge coffee machine from Italian manufacturer Lavazza will be used to prepare specialty drinks such as cappuccino and macchiato, and guests also will be able to enjoy teas, juices and smoothies such as Energy (pear, mint, spinach, lime and matcha) and Immunity Booster (beetroot, apple, lime, ginger and turmeric).
“A lot of people want to eat and drink healthy, but they don’t know how,” Saadah said. “So, we’re going to help them.”
Saadah and her family spent the past few months renovating the East Broad Street space with improvements including new flooring, wall and ceiling paint and an updated bathroom, among other upgrades.
The dining rooms will feature a cozy vibe, blending rustic elements such as wood trim, brick fireplaces and faux greenery accents with modern touches such as pendant lighting and sleek upholstered furniture.
There are also framed photos of the Eiffel Tower and other European scenes.
Ryan Kneller
“We added new everything,” Saadah said. “We want people to feel cozy and comfortable.”
Cozy Café & Restaurant also will offer a private event room for birthday parties, baby showers and other functions, Saadah said.
Cozy’s social media pages, where individuals can find the restaurant’s latest updates, are coming soon.