Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Conveniently situated on Main Street in Hellertown, PA, the Sagra Bistro is ideal for a sophisticated dinner out. The New American restaurant offers a variety of cuisines, blending Italian, French, and classic American dishes to create truly divine meals.

Upon entering, I was immediately surprised by the tight, limited space. There was a twenty minute wait, and not much room to do so. Despite the wait, once we were seated the waitress was extremely accommodating, and the service was exceptionally quick. The attire is casual, and the restaurant itself is suitable for children, as it offers a kid’s menu for those ten and under. The first room is the every day dinner area, with the bar spanning the left wall. The second floor is home to the recently remodeled private dining room, ideal for parties, gatherings, or fundraisers. Reservations are accepted any day of the week. The Sagro Bistro also offers catering within the Lehigh Valley, delivering the food directly to your door.

The extensive menu featured a variety of appetizers, such as the Philly Cheese Steak Spring Rolls (consisting of ground beef, caramelized onions, and cheese) and the famous Bubble Fries (the Bistro’s house-cut fries with their secret cheesy bubble-bread topping and bacon bits), plus many more fascinating samples. I ultimately decided on the Onion Petals, which didn’t disappoint. I finished the basket of crispy fried deliciousness in less than a minute and was extremely tempted to order a second helping. They were similar in taste to tradition onion rings, but presented as crunchy rounded bites, or, as their name suggests, petals. My table decided to try out the Philly Cheese Steak Spring Rolls, but sadly ruled that they sounded much more interesting than they actually tasted. The outside was mushy, a major setback for a spring roll, and the flavorless filling lacked texture as well.

As a main course, I ordered the $15 Filet Mignon, with a sautéed mushrooms, red pepper and caramelized onion topping. The dish came with the vegetable of the day, green beans and. Presentation wise, the meal was beautiful. The cut of steak, which was relatively large considering its affordability, was served over the crunchy, vibrant green beans, and covered in the mushroom onion glaze. It was cooked medium-well, as requested, and had a perfectly charred outside with a juicy, tender inside. Although it could have done with a little more of the vegetables, the dish was very impressive, and I would order it again in a heartbeat. My table had the Chicken Parm over pasta ($15) and the Chicken Marsala ($15.95) as well. The latter was also served over pasta, in a creamy mushroom mix. However, it was not the tradition Marsala wine sauce; it appeared to be more like a thick gravy rather than a thin sauce. The Chicken Parm was nothing special, but still enjoyable. Overall, the dishes were fairly inexpensive, with the majority of items on the menu costing between $8 and $21.

If you’re in the area and looking for a cozy atmosphere to satisfy your hunger, give the Bistro a try. It’ll appease every appetite and occasion from rehearsal dinners to family nights. The Sagra Bistro offers dressed-up classics as well as creative new dishes, all at an affordable price.