BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A new restaurant is offering an “elevated dining experience” – complete with Tuscan ribeye, Espana mussels, flaming saganaki and other Mediterranean specialties – in a beautifully restored, 19th-century mansion in Northampton County.Swift & Olive, a full-service establishment featuring a Mediterranean-inspired menu that incorporates local ingredients, held a soft opening in late May at The Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem, according to Lorrie Miller, The Wilbur Mansion’s general manager.
Ryan Kneller
Swift & Olive replaces The Wilbur Restaurant, a fine dining restaurant that opened in late 2022 alongside The Wilbur Mansion, a boutique hotel and event center at 201 Cherokee St.”At The Wilbur Mansion, we feature a restaurant, hotel and event space,” Miller told 69 News.”We decided to debut Swift & Olive because some people weren’t realizing that we have a full-service restaurant that’s open to the public. The restaurant’s name was the same as the hotel and event center, and we thought a fresh new concept would help it to stand out. So, we are slowly rolling out Swift & Olive as a separate brand over the next few weeks to distinguish the restaurant from the rest of our space.”
Ryan Kneller
Swift & Olive offers small plates ($12-$19) such as bacon-wrapped scallops, beef carpaccio, braised short rib ravioli, charred octopus (Spanish octopus, blistered bell pepper, red pepper coulis, Bello olive oil, lemon and fresh Herbs de Provence), lemon shrimp skara (sauteed shrimp, lemon garlic white wine butter and cucumber feta salad) and roasted Italian peppers (stuffed baby bell peppers, sweet Italian sausage, Parmigiano Reggiano, tomato-basil and fresh herbs).More than a dozen entrees, $17-$55, include options such as center-cut filet mignon, fresh branzino, pan-seared king salmon, Wilbur pork chop, pasta primavera, herb-grilled lamb chops (with warm couscous salad, roasted artichokes, Greek olive, sun-dried tomatoes, mint gremolata and basil oil) and frutti di mare (seared scallop, Prince Edward Island mussels, garlic shrimp, fresh jumbo crab, fresh fettuccine, roasted tomato broth and toast points).Other menu highlights include salads and soups such as classic Greek salad, Caesar salad, insalata di caprese and lemon chicken and orzo soup; and sides such as garlic-herb whipped potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sauteed broccolini and sweet corn polenta.
Ryan Kneller
“The menu has a distinct Mediterranean flair,” Miller said.”There are some Greek influences, French influences, Spanish influences and Italian influences. We wanted to offer a little something for everyone. We also brought in a new chef, Mike Linn, a few months ago to help overhaul the menu and ramp up for this. So far, we’ve gotten very positive feedback, and we’re excited for the future.”Swift & Olive is located within The Wilbur Mansion, a mid-19th century building located just off Route 378 near the Hill-to-Hill Bridge.Husband and wife John and Lynn Noble purchased the property in 2015, sensing it was rich with history and potential.
Ryan Kneller
The couple was struck by its impressive architecture as well as its unique location at the gateway to Bethlehem, with views of the SteelStacks campus and other parts of the city.The Nobles spent more than three years renovating the 9,000-square-foot mansion, restoring original features such as hardwood and tile flooring and ornately carved wooden columns and staircases, while adding aesthetic upgrades such as new light fixtures, furniture and wall paint.In December 2020, demolition of the former Masonic Temple – adjacent to the mansion – took an interesting turn when John was approached by a neighbor and local Audubon Society member, Jennie Gilrain.Gilrain informed John that the building’s 40-foot-high chimney was used as a resting stop for swifts migrating to South America.“As a lifelong advocate for nature and wildlife, John knew he would do whatever it took to keep our chimney upright,” a message on The Wilbur Mansion’s website reads. “With the help of our local community, the Audubon Society, engineers and architects we were able to find a way …
See the full article on Arizona residential development, or, read more Arizona real estate investing news. Feel free to share our site with your investor friends.
