National dining and entertainment concept to debut new Allentown venue Thursday – The Morning Call

A national dining and entertainment concept is readying to debut its newest location in downtown Allentown.

Sports & Social, a division of Live! Dining & Entertainment that also operates Xfinity Live! and Live! Casino & Hotel in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, is scheduled to open 11 a.m. Thursday, April 28, at the corner of Seventh and Hamilton streets on the ground floor of the Two City Center office building.

The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar, which was in that space for seven years, closed in late November.

Sports & Social’s venues can be found near entertainment and lifestyle districts, casino resort destinations and professional sports stadiums nationwide — including The Battery adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta, Ballpark Village next to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Texas Live! in the Arlington Entertainment District and Live! Casino Pittsburgh.

Sports & Social Allentown plans to bring “upscale food and beverage, one-of-a-kind sports viewing, and a unique social experience,” according to a news release.

The venue will serve made-from-scratch gameday foods, curated cocktails and a beer selection of national brews and local picks from Brü Daddy’s Brewing Company and Fegley’s Brew Works.

Menu highlights will include snacks such as pierogies, Mexican street corn, wings (traditional, boneless and cauliflower) and a nacho chicken quesadilla stack; handhelds such as a cheesesteak, salmon burger, Nashville hot chicken sandwich and “popper” burger (jalapeno cream cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, garlic sauce and onion straws); and tacos such as Korean short rib, mahi soft crunch and chicken bacon-ranch soft crunch.

Customers also will enjoy salads and bowls such as a turkey chopped salad and Korean bowl with grilled chicken; sides such as charred broccoli and steamed cilantro lime cauliflower rice; and desserts such as donut holes and a banana cream tart.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the restaurant also will offer brunch, featuring Sports & Social’s #brunchtails drinks like a build-your-own Bloody Mary and peach bellini and food options like avocado toast, banana cream French toast, “Chicken & Bliss” (toasted waffle with fried chicken strips, maple syrup, sliced strawberries and honey lemon butter) and a breakfast platter (three eggs cooked your way, crispy potato medley, choice of applewood smoked bacon or sausage patty and choice of Texas toast or wheat bread).

The 8,000-square-foot space will feature a variety of live music and special events throughout the week, including sports-watching experiences, with game-day Sports Watch activations.

Outfitted with state-of-the-art audio and visual technology throughout the venue, the space will boast more than 30 high-definition TVs and a 25-foot LED display at its centerpiece that will allow guests to view multiple games and sporting events at once.

Guests also will be able to play a variety of social games, including Skee-Ball, foosball, pop-a-shot, arcade games, shuffleboard, and Beirut. A dog-friendly outdoor patio will feature al fresco dining and Sports & Social’s Crush Bar, offering a large selection of specialty crush drinks.

“Sports & Social is excited to introduce its one-of-a-kind dining and social concept to downtown Allentown,” said Tony Monaco, vice president of operations for Live! Dining & Entertainment. “Our guests will experience incredible food and beverage, great entertainment, and state-of-the-art sports viewing in a high-energy and fun environment.”

Sports & Social Allentown was designed by internationally acclaimed Knauer Incorporated, which has created some of the country’s top destinations in dining, hospitality, and entertainment.

Prominent Knauer projects include Bourbon House in New Orleans, Westin Milwaukee hotel and Stella Van Buren steakhouse in Milwaukee, Le Colonial Vietnamese restaurants in Chicago and Houston, and Ocean Prime steak and seafood restaurants in Boston, Denver, and Chicago.

“City Center Allentown is always seeking superior national and local brands for its properties, and we’re thrilled to welcome Sports & Social to the City Center Allentown neighborhood,” said Judy Borrelli, City Center Investment Corp.’s Chief Operating Officer. “This exciting concept has become one of the top places to gather around the country, whether you’re with family before a game or concert, socializing with friends and colleagues after work, or simply looking for an energized setting to view your favorite televised sports.”

The new Sports & Social location will bring more than 100 jobs to downtown Allentown, and opportunities are still available to join the team.

Interested applicants may fill out an application online at SportsandSocial.com/Allentown or call the hiring center at 404-857-5987.

Sports & Social Allentown will join a diverse mix of downtown Allentown restaurants, which include other full-service spots such as Fegley’s Allentown Brew Works, Brü Daddy’s Brewing Co., blended by Brü Daddy’s, Tacos Y Tequila, Bell Hall, The Dime and Chickie’s & Pete’s.