As a seasoned world traveler, I've seen my fair share of wine bars, but this one in Bethlehem PA stands out with its unique blend of laid-back sophistication. The vibe is comfortably upscale, akin to what you might find in a well-established city hotspot. The management here does an excellent job at keeping things running smoothly, even on busy nights. A memorable moment for me was when the manager presented a superb petite Syrah, ranking it among the best wines I've encountered in my recent travels.The staff strike the perfect balance between friendly and professional. They're always busy, yet they make time for a bit of socializing, adding to the bar's welcoming atmosphere, particularly for solo travelers like myself. The service is spot-on: attentive without being overbearing. And the appetizers are worth mentioning too – they're a fantastic complement to the wine selection.Whether you're on a date night or a solo adventure, this place is a great pick. It has a cool, easygoing ambiance, paired with a level of sophistication that really sets it apart. It's a must-visit for anyone who appreciates fine wine and a relaxed setting.
Recommended dishes: Peculiar Wine Bar Wine Glass
Chris Tavares
Ethan provided excellent service and we had a great time, I would highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Madeline Moore
Wheelchair accessibility: Accessibility Through Urbano’s Main Door and Ramp Access into Peculiar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Peculiar Wine Bar Wine Glass
Kyle Lawson
Great concept here, but very poor execution. They have one person serving the entire bar and restaurant, so needless to say, there is a horrible lack of service. In our experience, if you are not sitting at the bar, the server rarely even comes to the table. They also care more about making small talk with a few regulars rather than taking care of the other guests, whether they are busy or not, they even drink with the guests! It’s a shame, they have great wine and decent food but the service absolutely kills this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Riesling
Joe Cusick
We've been to Peculiar a few times now. We went again last night twice, both pre and post the concert we went to at the Steel Stacks. We keep coming back because Ethan makes the experience unlike any other wine bar you can go to in the Valley. We love telling him what we are in the mood for and he asks a couple of qualifying questions and then off he goes to find something of interest. He always comes back with something we love and also a wine we've never had before. They have a "Bites" menu, or you can order from Urbano's menu next door. It's the same owner and you can walk between the two locations. We split the tenderloin skewers and had the carnitas tacos. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and the sauce with the yuca frittes did not disappoint. The carnitas tacos were loaded with meat and had a great sauce as well. As an added bonus, Craig Thatcher did a 3 hour acoustic set as well. Craig is a local legend, so to see him in a small venue like Peculiar was a real treat! If you like wine, this place is a must. Don't be disappointed if it is busy and Ethan takes a little longer to get around to your table. I can assure you that once he does, you will be very happy!!
Have been to this location twice, and after my experiences will not be back. Great concept and great atmosphere, but some of the worst service. First time, our group ordered food and drinks. Drinks took 20 minutes, and the appetizer never came, even after getting up and reminding the bartender. Our table was ignored, and we had to go to bar to get our check, and we had to get the appetizer removed from check. It was busy though, and the bartender had to take care of bar and tables, so we figured we would give it a second chance. Second time, our group just wanted wine. The bartender came over and we placed our wine orders, and they just never came. This time it was much less busy. While we waited on our drinks, the entire time we could see the bartender talking to the two customers at the bar and other employees. After 20 minutes of our table being neglected, we went to bar and closed out our tab and went elsewhere. The bartender seems very knowledgeable about wine, but clearly there needs to be additional staffing to take care of the tables.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 1
Jamie Achberger
The wine and the bartender was absolutely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling
Ivan Villafane
I stopped in during the Musikfest and got a tasting. The owner was generous with his pour and time explaining wine and even brought out a map covering the different wine regions and history.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
colin brown
Absolutely would recommend for anyone interested in wine, from beginners to connoisseurs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Derek Adler
The Peculiar Wine bar is an absolute gem. Ethan, a certified Sommelier, provides impressive professional service and an all-around fantastic experience for both wine connoisseurs and beginners alike. Ethan is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and can find the perfect wine for your specific taste! He’s a 5-star talented artist in his craft with a surprising amount of other skills.Highly recommend experiencing this place for yourself!Parking: Parking was free during the weekend when we went. Street parking can be tough and from what I observed, it requires coins or mobile payment.
Upscale, cozy, and intimate. The sommelier helps create an atmosphere that rivals some of the nicest wine bars around the world. And the food is some of the best I've had on Main St. If there's room at the bar and you genuinely enjoy wine, skip the table and sit at the bar; trust me on this one.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill Shafer
If you like wine, this is the place for you! Ethan is a wealth of information. and will not do you wrong. Everything in this place is delicious.
Jeanne Remmel
An absolutely incredible wine bar with the most knowledgeable Somalia. The selection of wines is amazing and only carries the very best. Bites has a delicious selection of tasty items and your wine can be easily paired with your food. This wonderful wine bar is on Historic Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Kamiya
Small cute little wine bar in town.Great mix of decent wines. The bartender does have a great knowledge of wines and it’s history. He might actually be going to be a sommelier with the knowledge that he knows.
David R
I’ve been coming here for a bit. But before, it was a place to go when other options weren’t available. Since Ethan took over operations here, it is a wildly different experience. The wine list is finally fit for a place that calls itself a wine bar. I’m excited to see what new items are rotating on the list when I go. Ethan is knowledgeable, charismatic, and service/hospitality focused. If you’ve been here before and not been impressed, try it again and I promise you’ll become a regular.
As a seasoned world traveler, I've seen my fair share of wine bars, but this one in Bethlehem PA stands out with its unique blend of laid-back sophistication. The vibe is comfortably upscale, akin to what you might find in a well-established city hotspot. The management here does an excellent job at keeping things running smoothly, even on busy nights. A memorable moment for me was when the manager presented a superb petite Syrah, ranking it among the best wines I've encountered in my recent travels.The staff strike the perfect balance between friendly and professional. They're always busy, yet they make time for a bit of socializing, adding to the bar's welcoming atmosphere, particularly for solo travelers like myself. The service is spot-on: attentive without being overbearing. And the appetizers are worth mentioning too – they're a fantastic complement to the wine selection.Whether you're on a date night or a solo adventure, this place is a great pick. It has a cool, easygoing ambiance, paired with a level of sophistication that really sets it apart. It's a must-visit for anyone who appreciates fine wine and a relaxed setting.
Recommended dishes: Peculiar Wine Bar Wine Glass
Ethan provided excellent service and we had a great time, I would highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wheelchair accessibility: Accessibility Through Urbano’s Main Door and Ramp Access into Peculiar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Peculiar Wine Bar Wine Glass
Great concept here, but very poor execution. They have one person serving the entire bar and restaurant, so needless to say, there is a horrible lack of service. In our experience, if you are not sitting at the bar, the server rarely even comes to the table. They also care more about making small talk with a few regulars rather than taking care of the other guests, whether they are busy or not, they even drink with the guests! It’s a shame, they have great wine and decent food but the service absolutely kills this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Riesling
We've been to Peculiar a few times now. We went again last night twice, both pre and post the concert we went to at the Steel Stacks. We keep coming back because Ethan makes the experience unlike any other wine bar you can go to in the Valley. We love telling him what we are in the mood for and he asks a couple of qualifying questions and then off he goes to find something of interest. He always comes back with something we love and also a wine we've never had before. They have a "Bites" menu, or you can order from Urbano's menu next door. It's the same owner and you can walk between the two locations. We split the tenderloin skewers and had the carnitas tacos. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and the sauce with the yuca frittes did not disappoint. The carnitas tacos were loaded with meat and had a great sauce as well. As an added bonus, Craig Thatcher did a 3 hour acoustic set as well. Craig is a local legend, so to see him in a small venue like Peculiar was a real treat! If you like wine, this place is a must. Don't be disappointed if it is busy and Ethan takes a little longer to get around to your table. I can assure you that once he does, you will be very happy!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carnitas, Peculiar Wine Bar Wine Glass, Guacamole
Have been to this location twice, and after my experiences will not be back. Great concept and great atmosphere, but some of the worst service. First time, our group ordered food and drinks. Drinks took 20 minutes, and the appetizer never came, even after getting up and reminding the bartender. Our table was ignored, and we had to go to bar to get our check, and we had to get the appetizer removed from check. It was busy though, and the bartender had to take care of bar and tables, so we figured we would give it a second chance. Second time, our group just wanted wine. The bartender came over and we placed our wine orders, and they just never came. This time it was much less busy. While we waited on our drinks, the entire time we could see the bartender talking to the two customers at the bar and other employees. After 20 minutes of our table being neglected, we went to bar and closed out our tab and went elsewhere. The bartender seems very knowledgeable about wine, but clearly there needs to be additional staffing to take care of the tables.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 1
The wine and the bartender was absolutely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling
I stopped in during the Musikfest and got a tasting. The owner was generous with his pour and time explaining wine and even brought out a map covering the different wine regions and history.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely would recommend for anyone interested in wine, from beginners to connoisseurs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Peculiar Wine bar is an absolute gem. Ethan, a certified Sommelier, provides impressive professional service and an all-around fantastic experience for both wine connoisseurs and beginners alike. Ethan is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and can find the perfect wine for your specific taste! He’s a 5-star talented artist in his craft with a surprising amount of other skills.Highly recommend experiencing this place for yourself!Parking: Parking was free during the weekend when we went. Street parking can be tough and from what I observed, it requires coins or mobile payment.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Upscale, cozy, and intimate. The sommelier helps create an atmosphere that rivals some of the nicest wine bars around the world. And the food is some of the best I've had on Main St. If there's room at the bar and you genuinely enjoy wine, skip the table and sit at the bar; trust me on this one.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you like wine, this is the place for you! Ethan is a wealth of information. and will not do you wrong. Everything in this place is delicious.
An absolutely incredible wine bar with the most knowledgeable Somalia. The selection of wines is amazing and only carries the very best. Bites has a delicious selection of tasty items and your wine can be easily paired with your food. This wonderful wine bar is on Historic Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Small cute little wine bar in town.Great mix of decent wines. The bartender does have a great knowledge of wines and it’s history. He might actually be going to be a sommelier with the knowledge that he knows.
I’ve been coming here for a bit. But before, it was a place to go when other options weren’t available. Since Ethan took over operations here, it is a wildly different experience. The wine list is finally fit for a place that calls itself a wine bar. I’m excited to see what new items are rotating on the list when I go. Ethan is knowledgeable, charismatic, and service/hospitality focused. If you’ve been here before and not been impressed, try it again and I promise you’ll become a regular.