Zandy’s doesn’t have a website. Zandy’s street-strangled orange stucco structure is flat-out ugly. Inside, Zandy’s resembles a neglected, fifties banquet hall. The truth is, we wouldn’t have it any other way; we like our Zandy’s old school. Where else can you get a burger for $2.35? (Be prepared to shell out another 15 cents for cheese!) A sprawling cheesesteak for $3.85?  A full plate of buffalo wings for $3.60? When you crave no-nonsense grease for almost nothing, head to this family-owned South Allentown legend. You can’t miss the orange stucco. (Open Tu-Sa 10a-10p; Su noon-9p.)

Awkwardly named, yes. Hard to find—it’s true. But we came for the seafood, and here we were impressed. The “famous” clam chowder deserves its acclaim—it’s some of the best we’ve tasted. The Maryland crab dishes, straight from the Chesapeake, are delectable. The place is named for its oysters, and they’re also tasty (and especially slippery). Our servers were friendly and astoundingly knowledgeable about the menu. (Ask about the chowder, and you’ll get a rapid-fire ingredient recitation.) Youell’s has a nautical elegance to its dining room, and it should: The prices here, though fair, will stretch the college budget. Parents weekend? (Open M-Th 4p-9p; F-Sa 4p-10p.)

¿Habla español? No? Well, then, this might not be the place for you. This is not your ordinary taco and quesadilla hotspot; it’s a Dominican restaurant with Spanish-speaking regulars. Tu Casa, as the name suggests, is a casual joint, with televisions (and even a giant projection screen) blaring Spanish-language music videos and soap operas. The Spanish-only menu is potentially crippling for the monolinguists among us, but pictures of each dish make point-and-smile ordering possible. Whole fish, shrimp, octopus, steak and chicken (all mostly fried) are the menu staples, with side choices including rice and fried plantains. If you like Chi Chi’s, then stick to the strip malls. We’re more at home at Tu Casa. (Open M-F 11a-11p; Sa 11a-10p; Su 11a-9p.)

Located in the heart of Bethlehem, Tortilla Flat offers a wide range of Mexican favorites. We’d vote for the fajitas ($13).  The combo meals are a great deal but sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re eating or taste any difference between the dishes.  The changos ($4) – fried bananas with a caramel filling – are a must for dessert. The service is fast and helpful.  And the hand-painted murals and the doggy cantina make both two- and four-legged patrons feel welcome. (Open M-F 11a-10p; Sa 9a-10p; Su 9a-8p.)

We’re not sure what they were going for with the interior decorating at Teppan Hibachi Steak house and Sushi Bar – the bright red walls with multicolored squares scream mod but the tables adorned with bamboo plans and a wall mural with ancient geisha tea-servers, not so much.  Regardless, the wait staff is friendly and fast, and the menu has an infinite number of reasonably priced sushi combinations (accompanied by pictures just in case the Japanese names trip you up).  Try the Maki Combi, which includes three different types of sushi (all delicious), Miso soup, Ginger salad, and ice cream, all for just under $15. Teppan is the perfect fit for a lightweight alternative to the General's Quarters.

Hidden away beneath the busy streets of downtown Allentown is the Sunlight Restaurant, serving up traditional Caribbean cuisine. The inexpensive prices (breakfasts under $4, sandwiches for $3 and dinners mostly between $6 and $12) may lead you to believe that the helpings are small, but don’t be fooled. The plates are piled high and every entree comes with at least one side. Make sure you try the yellow rice and finish up with flan for dessert. Just brush up on your Spanish before you go—so you can respond to the buenos dias you’ll be greeted with when you arrive. (Opening hours vary; call for details.)

For a quick and great-tasting meal, head to Slippery Pete's.  The atmosphere is cozy and patrons can watch the food being prepared while enjoying Pete's amazing complimentary pickles at this quintessential deli.  Breakfast is served all day and delivery is free.  Best of all, Pete's has a catering menu – something to keep in mind for those not-so-distant graduation parties.  Vegetarian?  Don't fret.  While the menu doesn’t offer tons of options, Pete's veggie wrap is fantastic.  (Open M-Tu 7:30a-3p; W-F 7:30a-4:30p.) `

Ruffino’s isn’t shy about what it does best. The specialty here is brick oven pizza, and a whole lot of it. The restaurant serves Napolitano (thin crust), Sicilian (deep dish) and stuffed (where the ingredients are between two layers of dough). And it’s all cooked in an actual brick oven visible from the dining room. (Just drag your eyes away from the desserts on display and you’ll see it.) If pizza’s not your thing, there’s also a lengthy menu full of pasta, chicken and veal entrees, as well as calzones and other sandwiches. Plus, you can’t help but enjoy the atmosphere—very “Italian village” with service like you’d find in the classiest places. It’s a great date spot, especially on weekends when they’ve got live entertainment. (Open M-Th 10a-10p; F-Sa: 11a-11p; Su noon-10p.)

Who says you can’t go back? This café makes time travel possible and worth the trip. The golden oldies on the radio and walls plastered with records and signed photographs make you nostalgic for the days when rock and roll was, well, rockin’. And if the ambiance doesn’t, the menu certainly will, with options like the “Mama Cass” hot ham sandwich, the “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” crab patty and “You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hot Dog” (Elvis sighting, anyone?). Unfortunately, this cafe certainly does not rock around the clock—it’s closed by 2pm. But, if you’re up early (they open at 7am) or looking for a new lunch spot, it’s a fun and tasty place to try. (Open daily 7a-2p.)

If you’ve been scouring the Lehigh Valley for a trendy restaurant where you and your friends can sip martinis and look hip, you may be in luck. But with pricey, mediocre fare and inefficient service, eating at Pistachio regularly would be…well, nuts. The décor is warehouse chic, complete with exposed pipes and art deco light fixtures. Echoing acoustics turn conversations into shouting matches. The menu is hefty but don’t be fooled—the salads (which occupy almost a full page) are all over $10 and a letdown. You’re better off with a pasta dish or the eggplant shelbourne, which is yummy AND huge. Even if you don’t have room for dessert, at least check out the tray. Worst-case scenario: You settle for a cup of Mexican hot chocolate. So if you’re feeling more SoHo than Allentown, head to Pistachio with a full wallet, earplugs and patience. (Open Su-Th 11:30a-midnight; F-Sa 11:30a-2a.)

If you're venturing downtown Hamilton Boulevard, consider Pasta Alla Rosa for an Italian lunch. The menu consists of typical lunch items, like wraps and salads, but also various chicken, fish, or shrimp entrées.  Dishes are served with pasta (with a choice of five sauces) or vegetables. Despite the crowds of lunchtime downtown employees, the place maintains a minimalist elegance, with framed Italian museum posters and checkered curtains. It's not necessary to make an exclusive trip here, but if you're in the area and craving Italian, it's worth the stop. (Open M-F 9a-4p.)

There’s a reason Parma Pizza is called Parma Pizza and not something a little more extravagant or inclusive. It’s true that the restaurant’s atmosphere leaves much to be desired. And while the menu has a decent number of options—ranging from traditional Italian favorites like pasta, calzones, strombolis, subs and steaks, as well as salads—few (if any) are as good as the pizza. The pizza, though, gets high marks. There’s a wide variety of toppings and specialty pizzas including taco or eggplant parmesan. Its wallet-friendly prices, close proximity to Muhlenberg (within walking distance for the car-less), and quick delivery make it convenient for students. In addition, the management is often happy to cooperate with on-campus organizations and programs. While not the choice for sit-down Italian fare, Parma Pizza is a reliable place to turn during any pizza craving. (Open Su-Th 9a-9:30p; F-Sa 9a-10p.) 

Plain on the outside, Paola’s – a family-run Colombian restaurant – is downright manic on the inside, with bright yellow walls and a few tables with a view of the kitchen.  Go for traditional Colombian treats like grilled tongue or beefsteak "a caballo" or stick with a simple bacon cheeseburger.  The service is not that fast, but the televisions inside will keep you occupied until the huge (and cheap!) entree is served. (Open daily 7a-10p.)

610-432-3221

www.panerabread.com

Panera is European café meets cozy ski lodge. There’s a fireplace in the main dining area, toasty on a cool autumn evening. The bakery is old world too, with a vast assortment of pastries, breads and bagels lining the wooden shelves. The sandwiches, soups and salads are inexpensive, and sometimes inventive: Try the soup in a sourdough bread bowl ($5) or the popular grilled panini sandwiches (around $7). Just don’t forget to order a café mocha and a caramel pecan brownie for dessert. We promise Dr. Atkins won’t come after you. (Open M-Sa 6:30a-9p; Su 7a-7:30p.)

O'Brien's Really Good Food may have overshot a little with its audacious name—we're thinking O'Brien's Not Bad Food may have been a bit more appropriate. The decor of this deli reminds us of a hospital cafeteria, with muted pink, green, and beige walls and random tchotchkes arranged on each table. The elderly staff are very sweet but slow-moving. The deli selection at O'Brien's is ordinary, and the size of the kitchen leaves you disappointed that they don't offer more choices—though several homemade soups are featured each day on a rotating basis.  Overall, O'Brien's is a decent mom-and-pop kind of deli if you need a break from GQ (and who doesn't ?); just don't expect that you'll be getting anything extraordinary. (Open M-F 7a-2p.)

Turn your head for a second and you’re bound to drive right by Little Saigon, so pay attention. And you’re not at the wrong place, so don’t lose faith once you enter. (The Formica tabletops and sea shell wallpaper are hardly typical Asian restaurant decor.) But the friendly service and outstanding Vietnamese and Chinese fare are as authentic as they come. The Vietnamese egg roll (a non-fried version of its Chinese cousin) is an excellent appetizer choice. With the rest of the menu full of large-portioned entrées for about $6, Little Saigon is bound to appeal to both your stomach and your budget. (Open W-M 11a-8:30p.) 

Latin Flava has replaced the troubled nightspot Shorty’s, and now the polished wood bar is one of the best places in town to enjoy pastellilos and alcapurria (both $1). Cheerful yellow and red paint, streamers and flags serve as shout-outs to this corner restaurant's Puerto Rican heritage. The menu varies daily—the friendly owner-chef is justly proud of his rotating Puerto Rican specialties, including boiled banana (75 cents) and “canoes” (long, open-faced sweet bananas packed with beef, $1.50). All of the lunch and dinner platters, including beef stew, are a steal at $5.50, and come with rice and beans. (Even the pig’s feet and chicken gizzards are $5.50!) Definitely try the potato ball, a little gem of fried mashed potatoes and ground beef. The colorful, dimmed dining nook is a great place to set up with coffee or hot chocolate and your Intro to Democracy reading. (Open M-Sa 10a-7p.)

It’s a 1950s diner, Cuban style. At Las Palmas, the portions are big (and cheap!) and the service is friendly.  Try the Cuban sandwich with pork, ham, and cheese ($4), or the carnes de res frita (fried flank steak) ($8), or the tostones (fried sweet plantains) ($4). They also have delicious milkshakes – made with real fruit – and traditional chicken soup if you want to stick to something a little less exotic.  Get ready to test your conversational Spanish skills and don’t forget to bring cash (since they don’t accept plastic).  (Open daily 7:30a-9:30p.)

Rincon Salvadoreno is certainly cause for celebration: The unassuming Salvadoran restaurant is kind on the stomach and the wallet. The empanadas are delicious ($1-$1.50), and the fried sweet plantain platter ($5.50) is the best we’ve tasted. The light blue walls, the long Formica counter, the plastic folding chairs, the cheerful regulars—they come together, somehow. There’s a warmth to Rincon Salvadoreno—it’s Cheers with a Salvadoran accent. (Open daily 10a-10p.)

Though billed as “Gourmet Thai Food Delivery,” Kow Thai’s takeout leaves something to be desired—the gourmet Thai food. The limited menu offers entrees “flavored” with curry, Thai dressing or sauce, but the dishes are mostly bland—even the $7 chicken pad Thai. Besides, a takeout that requires someone to “buzz” you in does not help make the wait comfortable. The chicken satay ($3.25) is the only must: Not too spicy but flavored with a zippy peanut sauce, this chicken-on-a-stick is the closest that Kow Thai comes to gourmet. (Open Tu-Sa 11a-9p.) 

This restaurant/snack spot/tea room is sure to make you lie back and think of England (or Ireland—whatever).  Voted “best tea in the Valley” by Lehigh Valley Magazine for the past two years, Granny McCarthy’s offers a homey ambiance with tasty treats.  A variety of soups, salads, pastries, shepherd’s pies, quiches, and hot and cold beverages are offered daily, and Guinness-battered fish and chips are available every Friday evening.  Pass the crumpets!  (Open M 11a-3p; Tu-W 11a-4p; Th 10a-8p; F 10a-9p; Sa 9a-5p; Su 9a-3:30p.)

The bright and lively décor may be one of the only memorable things about this restaurant.  Of course, there’s also the faint smell of chlorine and the patrons in bathing suits (thanks to the hotel’s nearby swimming pool) that sets Geo apart.  The service is on the slow side, though the food’s not bad (steak excepted). At least the prices are high.  (Open M-Th 11a-11p; F-Sa 11a-midnight; Su 11a-10p.)

Attention hungry shoppers: Just beyond Macy’s perfume counter in the Lehigh Valley Mall awaits the smell of …sauerkraut? For the most part, Allentown seems to have forgotten its rich German heritage where dining is concerned. Dunderbak’s is one of the very few exceptions. It’s often overlooked since it’s one of many options at the mall, and the dining area itself is hidden behind a gift shop (where you can choose between ten different kinds of sauerkraut) and quick-service counter (great for a sausage on the go). Your first impression once you wander back: Beer. It’s responsible for most of the interior decorating—it lines the walls on shelves and in coolers—and for filling out a very lengthy drink list. (Just try to name their more than 200 varieties.) Whether you’re drinking or not, try the food for a real taste of Deutschland. Try the griebenschmalz or dogs with wurst, or their signature grilled reuben. The service is quick but don’t look to the servers for much additional assistance. While it isn’t stellar, Dunderbak’s is a great reason to skip the food court during your next trip to the mall. (Open during mall hours.)

There’s south, and then there’s south. The friendly chefs at Caribbean Delight fry up soul food and Jamaican fare—so you can get your curry goat ($7) with a side of collard greens ($2). The xeroxed menu divides straight down the middle, but it’s all cheap. Frightfully cheap, actually: The delicious jerk chicken dinner is only $8, and comes with salad and a steaming pile of rice and peas. Soul food, too: With the fried chicken platter ($8)—greasy and proud—you get two sides (yams, for example, or mac & cheese) and cornbread. The place is definitely dress-down (when in Jamaica...), festooned with kitschy island decor. Tissue-paper palm trees crowd the ship-style wood panelling, as a giant, smiling Bob Marley mural overlooks the modest, plastic-topped tables. It’s not spring break exactly, but it’s as close as you’ll get in Allentown. (Open M-W 11a-9p; Th-F 11a-11p; Sa noon-11p; Su 1p-9p.)‘

Here’s good Italian food without pretension.  Café Buon Gusto is half pizzeria and half dining room, so feel free to call ahead and order from the take-out menu, or enjoy a sit-down dinner.  Either way, you won’t be disappointed.  Their entrees (around $17) include pasta, veal, chicken, seafood, and steak dishes, and are served with bread, salad, and a choice of pasta.  The pollo parmigiana is tasty, though we found the pollo francese a little too lemony.  Prepare for large servings and save trunk space for lefteovers. And don’t forget to bring your own bottle of vino. (Open M-Sa 11a-10p; Su 4p-10p.)

Got extra cash to burn or parents in town?  Try the Buckeye.  Dishes range from the mundane (like nachos) to the classy (like the Crabmeat Colorado, a $30 dish featuring filet mignon and lump crab meat).  Set in a stone tavern from the 1700s, the décor is a little tacky—think Cracker Barrel on steroids. While service is inconsistent, appetizers like the cheesy garlic bread more than make up for it. (Open M-F 11a-9p; Sa noon-10p; Su noon-9p.)

Allentown is a burgeoning center of Latin American cuisine. Allentown? Yes, and Awilda’s is the newest reason to venture downtown for cheap, delicious Latin fare. The Dominican newcomer sits in a stately 19th-century row house, the former home of the Century Cafe. This means that you get to savor your fried green plaintains ($2) in wood-paneled, stained-glass elegance. Take an old wood booth, or sit along the walnut, wrap-around bar (but bring your own beer). Awilda’s portions sprawl across the plate, and each dish gets served with steaming piles of rice and beans—for the price of a Happy Meal. The beef stew ($4.50) comes in tender, delicious shreds; try it with a beef-stuffed sweet plaintain ($3). We’re told that the goat ($6) and oxtail ($6) stews are especially tasty. We’ll take their words for it. (Open  daily 8a-1a.)

The Amazon Café calls itself a healthy alternative to fast food. It’s certainly more figure-friendly than next-door neighbor Johnny Mañanas. The menu , along with a giant toucan mascot, includes nutritious soups, paninis, wraps, salads, and pastries.  But it’s their delicious signature smoothies—like Paradise Lust, The Coldblaster, and Bananaramathat make the drive downtown worthwhile. Keep in mind that the Amazon Café is pretty cramped—it’s only got a counter with some stools, a pair of tables, and a couch—so take your smoothie to the fountain-filled plaza outside. Be warned that resistance to a fountain drenching is, in fact, futile.