BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. – The family behind a popular and longstanding sports bar with two Lehigh Valley locations is opening a new tasty concept in Northampton County this week.
Cousins Michael L. Dontas and Michael P. Dontas, owner-operators of Copperhead Grille in Allentown and Upper Saucon Township, are planning to open Utopita – a fast-casual eatery offering fresh Mediterranean cuisine – on Monday, March 3, at 3650 Nazareth Pike Unit 8 in Bethlehem Township.
Ryan Kneller
The new restaurant, with seating for around 30 diners, occupies a renovated space in the Bethlehem Village Shoppes.
The Dontases, first cousins both named after the same grandfather, founded Copperhead in 2002 on Route 378 in Upper Saucon Township.
The cousins – Michael L. goes by “Junior” and Michael P. goes by “Senior” based on their ages – opened a second Copperhead location on Airport Road in Allentown in 2007.
A Copperhead Grille restaurant operates on Route 378 in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
The duo is excited to open their first fast-casual eatery, focusing on Greek specialties.
Utopita customers will be able to enjoy various pita wraps, starting at $10.99, including “The O.G.” (shredded iceberg lettuce, beef and lamb gyro, tzatziki, tomato and red onion).
Other pitas will include the “Utopita” (fries, pork gyro, tzatziki, sumac onion, tomato, uto sauce and parsley), “Yiayia” (hummus, skordalia, spinach spring mix, Mediterranean falafel, quinoa tabbouleh, sumac onion, cucumber, roasted red pepper and herb crema) and “Spicy Spartan” (shredded iceberg, lemon oregano chicken, tzatziki, Greek pico, red onion, cucumber, feta, Kalamata olives and harissa hot sauce).
There also will be signature bowls, starting at $12.99, such as the “Bams” (roasted lemon potatoes, shredded iceberg, tzatziki, hummus, pork gyro, quinoa tabbouleh, Greek pico, roasted red pepper, sumac onion, feta and side of herb crema) and “Spicy Vava” (yellow rice, spicy feta spread, skordalia, beef and lamb gyro, Greek pico, pickled long hots, sumac onion, roasted long hots, herb crema and harissa hot sauce), along with build-your-own bowl and pita options where guests can mix and match flavors to build their own creations.
Ryan Kneller
For the build-your-own options, customers will choose up to two spreads (hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, skordalia, spicy feta or tzatziki), one or double main options (beef and lamb gyro, pork gyro, lemon oregano chicken, Mediterranean falafel or charred cauliflower), up to six toppings (charred cauliflower, chickpea salad, crispy chickpeas, crumbled feta, diced red onion, diced tomato, fries, Greek pico, Kalamata olives, pickled cucumber, pickled long hots, quinoa tabbouleh, roasted red pepper, roasted long hots, shredded iceberg or sumac red onion) and up to two sauces (Greek citrus vinaigrette, harissa hot sauce, herb crema, honey balsamic vinaigrette, sundried tomato chimmi or uto sauce).
Build-your-own pitas will be wrapped in authentic Greek pita, while build-your-own bowls will include your choice of one base or half and half base (fries, roasted lemon potatoes, shredded iceberg, spinach spring mix or yellow rice).
Ryan Kneller
Other menu highlights will include appetizers such as avgo-lemono soup and mini chopped salad; spreads (served chilled with Greek pita chips) such as skordalia and roasted red pepper hummus; and fries such as Greek street fries (shredded iceberg, tzatziki, pork gyro, tomato, sumac onion, uto sauce and parsley) and spicy feta gyro fries (spicy feta spread, tzatziki, beef and lamb gyro, shredded iceberg, Greek pico, red onion, herb crema, harissa hot sauce, parsley and za’atar seasoning).
For individuals with a sweet tooth, Utopita also will serve fresh desserts, including loukoumades – small, round Greek doughnuts – in varieties such as honey cinnamon, stuffed Nutella and vanilla nut crunch; and Greek frozen yogurt in varieties such as chocolate baklava (with chocolate sauce and baklava crunch) and sour cherry (with sour cherry preserve).
“It’ll be a low-fat option, with a base flavor of a Greek vanilla yogurt and your choice of toppings,” Junior said of the Greek frozen yogurt.
Utopita, a play on the words utopia and pita, is a nod to the cousins’ Greek roots.
Ryan Kneller
“Utopia is a Greek word, and we were playing with different names like pita and utopia,” Junior said. “We were in a meeting one day, and it just came to me – utopia with a ‘t’ in it.”
Copperhead, which has a tagline of “where champions are fed,” is known for its award-winning wings, house-made mozzarella sticks, premium burgers and “fall off the bone” baby back ribs.
The locations also feature an array of steak, chicken, seafood and pasta dishes; full bars serving up hand-crafted cocktails and more than 50 craft, import and domestic beers; and state-of-the-art sound systems and TVs strategically placed to “make you feel like you are part of the action.”
“Copperhead Grille Restaurant is a place where handcrafted recipes and sports merge to form The Ultimate Sports Dining Experience,” a message on the restaurant’s website reads.
“Every morning our highly trained staff arrives to prepare all of our signature sauces, classic recipes, and handmade dishes. All items on Copperhead Grille Restaurant menu are crafted with painstaking precision and our team spends hours everyday tasting and monitoring our products to ensure that each dish meets our high standards.”
In Bethlehem Township, Utopita will occupy a renovated space between Atlantis Aquatics and Callahan Driving School and Testing Center in the Bethlehem Village Shoppes.
The shopping center is home to around a dozen tenants, including other eateries Mitzi’s Table and Sorella’s Pizza & Pasta.
Ryan Kneller
Utopita, operating 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, will offer dine-in, takeout and catering services.
Online ordering also will be available. Info: 267-403-4600; utopitafresh.com.