Bites Nearby: Stoned Crab

The understated exterior of the offers few clues about the cuisine and character of the establishment within -- except that the name hints at a plenitude of seafood on the menu.

What diners will find at the intersection of Brookside and Lower Macungie Road is a full-service restaurant and bar with unfussy, contemporary décor and a menu full of classic American steak and seafood fare.

For both lunch and dinner the list of appetizers teems with shrimp, crab and oyster offerings. Crab cakes are a signature dish.  Staples of the lunch menu are entrée salads, sandwiches, crostini and burgers.

Many of these options appear on the dinner menu as well, such as the New York strip steak salad, tuna Niçoise and Stoned Crab chopped salad, and the “grown-up” burger varieties served on a brioche roll with steak fries.

Seafood and steak steal the show among the entrees, where most are $18.95-$26.95 including salad, starch and vegetable (market price for lobster).  Early Bird Specials, offered daily 4:00-5:30 p.m., are an economical option at around $9.95-$14.95.

For many people, the observance of a special day is more festive when it includes a restaurant meal. The Stoned Crab is careful to facilitate that for its guests.  Occasion-specific menu items are already planned and will be featured on Easter, Mother’s Day, and during Administrative Professionals Week, April 25-29.

1905 Brookside Rd., Macungie, PA 18062. 610-398-8060.