By Kelly Huth

Easton has a delicious problem. There are sooo many flavorful restaurants and cafés, it makes it hard to choose! As your family and friends gather for Commencement weekend, enjoy a celebratory meal at one of the many local restaurants and businesses near campus. It’s a good time to use up those Pard Dollars—see which restaurants accept them and how to check your balance. (Note: Non-mandatory Pard Dollars expire by end of day Saturday, May 20.)

With help from Easton Main Street Initiative, here’s a list of local eateries to try for brunch, dinner, or to satisfy that sweet tooth! Find a full list of locally owned shops and restaurants to support at Shopdowntowneaston.com. 

Just do yourself a flavor—make your reservations early!

Post-graduation lunch and dinner

3rd and Ferry, 56 S. Third St. If the fam is feeling chowdah, a raw bar, and all the seafood faves, head to Third and Ferry Fish Market. (Outdoor dining)

Aman’s Artisan Indian Cuisine, 336 Northampton St. Named a Tripadvisor Best of the Best World Top 10% Restaurant, Aman’s offers out-of-this-world butter chicken, tikka masala, and tandoori specials. (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining, BYOB)

Cellar 159 Wine Bar, 159 Northampton St. This wine bar features wines from Cellar Beast Winehouse, which specializes in old world, French-style wines with grapes imported from the West Coast. Find local beer, seasonal cocktails, and small snacks. Guests also may bring their own food.

Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, 136 Spring Garden St. Haven’t tried the famous Upside Down Pizza yet? Now’s your chance! (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining)

Don Juan Mex Grill, 300 N. Third St. You can’t leave Lafayette without a trip to Don Juan’s. Order your fave to enjoy post-hike on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail. (Use those Pard Dollars here!)

Daddy’s Place, 650 Northampton St. Baba ghanoush, tabouli, falafel, kebabs, kibbeh, and shawarma—find all your Lebanese favorites in one place. (Outdoor dining)

Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St. With 14 vendors, you’ll find something for everyone at the market. Some of the vendors offer Leopard discounts or accept Pard Dollars. (Outdoor dining)

Easton Wine Project, 1247 Simon Blvd., N103 Friends will love gathering here for shareable snacks and flatbreads, bowls and sandwiches, plus wines named for Easton locales and traditions.

Kabinett Wine Bar and Garden, 125 Northampton St. Toast commencement at the wine bar and garden, and enjoy burrata, duck ravioli, roast chicken mousseline, or braised beef cheek. Or head to Kabinett for a Sunday brunch menu that features ricotta hotcakes (with vanilla custard, orange curd, blueberries, and honeycomb), steak tartare, or potato rōsti (with smoked salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise, and crispy capers). (Outdoor dining)

Mesa Modern Mexican, 42 S. Third St. For starters, feast on guacamole made tableside, and a bevy of botanas such as mango ceviche or scallop tostadas. Dinner delights with tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, salads, or mains. Or stop by for brunch and dine on smoked salmon toast, breakfast quesadillas, or huevos rancheros. (Outdoor dining)

Ocean, 235 Ferry St. Enjoy small bites, and entrees such as crispy salmon, seared duck breast, or tomato and smoked mozzarella ravioli. (Outdoor dining)

Pearly Baker’s Alehouse, 11 Centre Square Owned by Jonathan Davis ’93, this longtime Easton favorite is sure to please all your guests with mains like risotto, scallops, or short ribs. (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining)

Porters’ Pub, 700 Northampton St. Start with the famous nachos or grilled wings. Finish your list as you dig into sandwiches like The Lafayette, or entrees of ribeye, crab cakes, or more. Enjoy Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with corned beef hash, steak and eggs, Monte Cristo, and more! (Outdoor dining)

River Grille, 243 Northampton St. Find contemporary American cuisine such as tuna tartare, lobster sliders, and Guinness-braised short ribs. (Outdoor dining)

Sette Luna, 219 Ferry St. For dinner, share wood-fired pizzas, or tuck into osso buco, pastas, and a slice or two of Mama’s cheesecake for dessert. The Sunday Jazz Brunch beckons with frittatas, eggs in purgatory, salmon pizza, and more. (Outdoor dining)

Sogo Fusion Lounge, 237 Northampton St. Celebrate graduation with sushi! (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining)

Stoke Coal Fire Pizza, 1 Lehns Court Start with a delicious selection of small plates, then order the signature pizzas, or try the mains. (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining)

Tandoor Grill, 9 N. Third St. Find ‘naan stop fusion’ and Indian favorites. Enjoy late night eats and dinner until 10 p.m. (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining, BYOB)

The Bayou, 64 Centre Square. Try a New Orleans-themed menu of cornbread, hush puppies, fried pickled green tomatoes—and that’s just the starters. Tuck into po’ boys, gumbo, crispy catfish and jambalaya. Brunch highlights include fried grits, chicken and waffles, and breakfast mac. (Outdoor dining)

Three Oak Steakhouse, 323 Northampton St. Commencement is cause for celebration. Enjoy steaks and chops with all the trimmings. (Outdoor dining) 

Tierra De Fuego, 612 Northampton St. Dig into Colombian cuisine and try empanadas, pandebonos, arepas, and bandeja paisa. 

Two Rivers Brewing Co., 542 Northampton St. Been raving about that peanut butter bacon cheddar burger? Now’s the time for the fam to try it! (Outdoor dining)

Brunch options

Billy’s Downtown Diner, 123 S. Third St. From bennys and bowls, to a cannoli tower French toast, this menu puts a creative spin on your breakfast faves. (Outdoor dining)

Miss Jackson’s Kitchen, 201 McCartney St. Who can say no to all-day breakfast? Biscuits with sausage gravy, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, and peaches and cream pancakes are just a few to try! (Use those Pard Dollars here! Outdoor dining)

State Cafe and Grill, 14-16 S. Fifth St. Dig into omelets, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, frittatas, reubens, and more. (Outdoor dining)

Don’t forget to check out The Bayou, Sette Luna, Porters’ Pub, Mesa Modern Mexican, and Kabinett for brunch as well. Find details in their listings in the dinner section!

Sweet treats

Bank Street Creamery, 15 S. Bank St. Celebrate graduation with a scoop of homemade ice cream or vegan gelato. (Outdoor seating)

Chocodiem, 325 Northampton St. Enjoy handcrafted Belgian truffles, macarons in a rainbow of flavors, and chocolate treats from one of the ‘Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America.’ Order early for custom designs. (Use those Pard Dollars here!)

Easton Baking Co., 34 N. Seventh St. Yes, there may be a line. And yes, this Easton staple is worth the wait. You’ll need your energy for move-out day. Grab a box of doughnuts, coffee rolls, and baked goods for the day.

Modern Crumb, 325 Northampton St. Specialty cakes, cookies, pastries, and those almond croissants will delight your family and friends.

Owowcow, 1262 Simon Blvd., B106 A day of packing calls for an ice cream break. Owowcow starts with an organic cream base and adds locally sourced fresh fruits and mix-ins for flavors like Honey Lavender, Strawberry, Blueberry Lemon, and more.

Pie + Tart, 444 Northampton St. Need a treat Friday or Saturday morning? Stop by Pie + Tart for savory items such as hand pies, Aussie sausage rolls, and quiche, or try a sweet slice of their tarts, pies, and pasteis de nata.

Sweet Girlz, 40 N. Third St. Cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and more. Find plenty of sweets to ring in commencement.

Virella’s Sweet  & Treats, 154 Northampton St. Indulge in a variety of sweets, and Latin treats including Tres Leches, homemade flan, Flancocho, and more. (Outdoor dining)

Lunch to fuel move-out

Need lunch as you’re packing Saturday? These restaurants also accept Pard Dollars:

• Big Woody’s Sports Grill, 1855 Sullivan Trail
• Giacomo’s Italian Grille, 700 Cattell St.
• Hana Sushi and Teppanyaki, 218 Cattell St.
• Mojo Hill Cafe, 516 March St.

Note about Pard Dollars: Upon graduation, accounts with remaining funds in excess of $25 will be refunded to the student. Accounts with $25 and less will be transferred to the Student Activities Fund.