PALMER TWP., Pa. — Listen up, landlubbers.
One of the Lehigh Valley’s best-known seafood restaurants is getting national acclaim.
Marblehead Chowder House in Palmer Township landed on Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Restaurants list for 2024, claiming the No. 10 spot in the United States for casual dining.
It’s an honor that co-owner and General Manager John Reichard said the restaurant didn’t seek out — but was delighted to receive.
“I didn’t know what to say,” Reichard said. “We don’t advertise with Tripadvisor. We don’t pay them a penny. It’s a matter of our incredible loyal regular guests who write reviews.”
Rare company
Tripadvisor is an online travel information and booking website that has reviews and information about restaurants, resorts and hotels around the globe.
The company says its Best of the Best honors the highest level of excellence in travel. Its awards go to establishments with the highest volume of “above-and-beyond” reviews and opinions from Tripadvisor users over a 12-month period.
Out of 8 million listings, Tripadvisor says, fewer than 1% make its lists.
"We’re in a wonderful community. It’s not just about the food. It’s about the social environment here and people running into each other and seeing friends."John Reichard, co-owner of Marblehead Chowder House
Marblehead Chowder House at 4101 William Penn Highway is known for its cozy wraparound bar, housemade chowders and attentive staff.
It’s been in operation since 1996 at a location whose roots as a house of hospitality go back to the 1930s. Former restaurants there include the Cross Timber Inn, Lowrie’s Steak House and Frank’s Top Hat.
In an interview this week, Reichard said Marblehead has a staff of 60 that is just as responsible for the business’ success as the folks who frequent it.
“We have a lot of very loyal, long-term employees and that’s a big part of it,” he said.
“We’re just so fortunate. We’re in a wonderful community. It’s not just about the food. It’s about the social environment here and people running into each other and seeing friends.
"The Lehigh Valley’s a great place.”
Reichard has been there from the start. He worked in the kitchen of the old Cross Timber Inn and stayed on with the ownership change, eventually becoming kitchen manager, then general manager, then co-owner in 2017.
In 2023, he and co-owner Paul Tsiknakis opened another Marblehead Chowder House in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
Change with the times
According to Reichard, the business has changed with the Lehigh Valley. Years ago, Marblehead would see an influx with big shows at the State Theatre in Easton or parents’ weekend at Lafayette College.
Since then, Downtown Easton has blossomed into its own restaurant scene that draws people from all over — and keeps them there.
"We do get a lot of people from out of the area coming in from not only out of the state but out of the country. There’s plenty of business to go around. What we lost we gained in other ways.”Marblehead Chowder House co-owner and General Manager John Reichard
About four miles from the city, Marblehead today is discovered by people coming to the region for the casino in Bethlehem or draws such as Christkindlmarkt, according to Reichard.
“You may not think of the Lehigh Valley as a destination but as years go by, it becomes more and more of that,” he said. “The other thing is the industrial parks — the business and industry.
"We do get a lot of people from out of the area coming in from not only out of the state but out of the country. There’s plenty of business to go around. What we lost we gained in other ways.”
The only other Pennsylvania restaurant joining Marblehead on the casual dining list is Ristorante Pesto in Philadelphia.
Others in the top 10 are in New York City, Miami Beach and other points in the South.
