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Steps away from Easton’s State Theatre, in a low brick building that once housed a neighborhood bar, Kelly Mannino is cooking up a menu of Lehigh Valley-based flavors fit for theater patrons, artists, families, and anyone else who’s hungry.
“I’m calling it ‘homemade bistro’ or ‘rustic fine dining.’” Mannino says of the State Café and Grill, set to open in mid-February on the east side of South Fifth Street, just off Northampton Street. “I want it to be a place where people feel comfortable and still get a really nice meal.”
Mannino herself projects comfort in her voice, as she explains just how she ended up on the brink of opening an eatery that will feature drinks and bar fare, such as fresh-made burgers, homemade pizza, and a special scallop sandwich, and entrees such as “great-grammy’s marmalade-glazed ham,” “mac and cheese for grownups,” “grandma’s pan-roasted Czech chicken,” and, as an alternative, “grandma’s pan-roasted Italian chicken.”
“My background is in art and photography, and therefore I’ve been in the restaurant business most of the time,” she says with a chuckle, explaining that she has ample experience waiting tables and cooking at establishments throughout the Lehigh Valley.
The State Café and Grill, which will also feature “late breakfast” fare starting at 11 a.m. each Sunday and after-the-show fare for State Theatre patrons, is the latest of several recently opened eateries in Downtown Easton. Among the newcomers are the Easton Coffee Exchange, at 321 Northampton Street, featuring a variety of coffees, teas, soups, and desserts, and Sogo, a fusion restaurant at 237 Northampton Street, featuring Japanese-Chinese-Thai influences and a New York-style sushi bar.
Mannino, whose husband, Dennis Kneer, is co-owner of the new café and grill, points out that the project is shaping up as a labor of love for her entire family.
“My mom and my aunt will be baking,” she says, adding that desserts will include homemade kiffels and “beer cake.”
In addition, Mannino’s mother, who fervently hopes to remain anonymous, is painting an art deco mural for the interior, and her father and father-in-law “are good at the inventory thing.”
In keeping with her background in art, Mannino plans to include an exhibit wall featuring the work of local artists and photographers.
Those who aren’t into art will have plenty more to watch, she adds, explaining that an “open concept kitchen” is located within five feet of the door, within full view of diners: “You can have your dinner and watch the chef cook.”