A Lehigh Valley woman is pursuing her long-held dream of running her own restaurant by opening a new café in Lehigh County, drawing inspiration from her late spouse.
Three-boy mother Rebekah Doyle of Emmaus intends to start Cafe 23, a restaurant "geared toward the health-conscious foodie," at 318 Main St. in late October. The cafe is the latest development in the history of Cafe 23. Doyle first presented the idea as a pop-up restaurant at Jay's Local in Allentown, PA, which opened from April to August. Later in the summer, he launched The Brunch Box food trailer, a mobile branch of the business.
Doyle declared, "I am excited" about her upcoming café. "I am eager to get started, and I believe the community is equally enthusiastic." Doyle has dreamed of Cafe 23 since she was 19 years old, and it has been her dream realized for more than 20 years.
At the age of 15, Doyle began her career in the restaurant business as a busser. She went on to work as a server and bartender in her later years. Doyle had always wanted to be the creative force behind her own restaurant idea, which offers “healthy but tasty food.” Her late husband, a former electrical foreman who changed careers and launched his own company creating lacrosse heads in 2019 after being diagnosed with a severe lung illness, gave her the final motivation to follow her ambition.
"Being the breadwinner of a family consisting of three boys and someone who is very motivated with an excellent work ethic, he felt tremendously robbed of his identity when he got sick," Doyle said. He was suddenly unable to do many of the things he had spent his entire life doing. Thus, he sort of recreated himself by launching a lacrosse business and stringing and designing lacrosse heads. I felt at that point that I had to follow my heart, which had been my passion since I was 19. I reasoned that if he could pursue his goals and succeed in a field he was completely unfamiliar with, why could not I follow my own? I have spent my entire career working in this field. He is undoubtedly the inspiration behind this, which is why I am so glad to be doing it.
According to Doyle, the menu at Cafe 23's new permanent location will be more broad than it was at its pop-up restaurant at Jay's Local.
Breakfast favorites like organic avocado toast, "Felicity" French toast (layers of custardy French toast topped with yogurt frosting and walnuts), the "Samson" egg sandwich (free-range organic eggs, uncured turkey bacon, and American cheese on choice of sourdough, sprouted, or rye bread), and the "Christopher" sandwich (a take on the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a grilled brioche bun with organic banana) are among the dishes that customers can anticipate.
Doyle added, "We will also have several omelettes, including a salmon omelette." We served it at Jay's, and a lot of people like it. It has cream cheese and smoked salmon inside, with tomatoes, arugula, red onion, and capers on top. Popular lunch options will include the “Jonathan” chicken quesadilla with cheese mix, peppers, and onions (optional guacamole also available) and the “Goliath” bacon cheeseburger (Impossible patty replacement available) with tomato and lettuce and house-made Dijonnaise. According to Doyle, a selection of freshly made salads, sandwiches, and wraps will complete the menu.
Doyle also intends to collaborate with nearby companies at the new location to source "healthy and delicious" goods like cake pucks, salsa, and vegan, gluten-free scones. Doyle remarked, "I am thrilled to work with other fantastic small businesses in the area."
Doyle often uses monk fruit as a sweetener in her recipes instead of sugar. Doyle stated, "I aim to buy as much organic foods as possible." "Those who are health conscious and foodies should order from our menu." Along with a range of beverages, Cafe 23 will also sell organic coffee roasted in California and a selection of fruit smoothies paired with almond, oat, and coconut milks. Additionally, Doyle noted that Mad Catter Coffee Roaster, located in Allentown, will be serving coffee, including a specialty roast.
There will be a number of vegan, gluten-free, and keto alternatives available.
"My mom had mentioned something in the hospital that day along the lines of, 'Jonathan's going to wake up on the 23rd,'" Doyle remembered, "so I felt inspired that the number 23 would be my sign." "My mother was simply being upbeat due to the circumstances. However, I thought to myself on the drive home, "Well, God, if 23 is my sign, let us see it." A minute later, I looked up and saw the number 23 painted on the back of a massive 18-wheeler. "Well, that was cool, but maybe one more time before I get home," I said to myself. A short while later, I turned to look to my right, and the house next to me had the address 2300. I was extremely angry after our bad conversation with the physicians when we arrived at the hospital the following day, until I noticed that my husband's bed had the number 23 on it. Since then, he has reminded me daily that he has me and that the number 23 appears when I am feeling down or discouraged.
The building that houses South Mountain Cycle also houses Pedro's Cafe and Nowhere Coffee Co., the spaces that were refurbished to make way for Cafe 23. The original Nowhere Coffee Co. site in South Whitehall Township is still open, and a second one in downtown Allentown will open soon.
Doyle is still working out the specific hours for Cafe 23's new location, but she expects it to open with daily service for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
Keep an eye on the Cafe 23 pages on Facebook and Instagram for the most recent information, including opening announcements.
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