TAMAQUA — For the fourth year in a row, La Dolce Casa is being decorated lavishly for the holidays, with a dazzling array of Christmas lights, angels and other festive icons to adorn every part of the restaurant.
A process that usually takes close to two months, the restaurant has approximately 275,000 lights that it will put up on its walls, bannisters, ceiling and bar, providing a special holiday atmosphere from November to January.
This year, the restaurant will craft its theme around Rockefeller Center, evoking the New York landmark’s big white trees, angels, ice rink and the busy sights and sounds of the urban winter wonderland. It will stand in contrast to last year’s Brooklyn theme, which focused on smaller villages and provincial images, according to owner Alfonse “Alfi” Piccone.
Owner Alfonse “Alfi” Picone, shown last holiday season, invests in decorating his restaurant in the spirit of Christmas and positivity. This year, he’s putting more lights than ever inside and outside his restaurant, creating a Rockefeller Center theme. (JOHNATHAN B. PAROBY/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
A grand opening will be held for La Dolce Casa’s holiday season the evening of Nov. 15. Serenaded by the musician Autumn Falls Entertainment, the restaurant will turn on all of its lights that day and officially present its display for the holiday season.
The restaurant is now taking holiday reservations. They can be made by calling the restaurant at 570-668-3763.
Piccone said that Pennsylvania Lawn and Landscape, a Lehigh County firm, has once again agreed to install the lights.
This year’s batch of Christmas decorations will be the biggest one yet, he said.
Piccone said La Dolce Casa had always been decorated for the holidays, but an article about the restaurant that went viral about four years ago pushed him to go above and beyond. That was the genesis for making the Christmas decor an official event, he said.
Given the holiday season is the busiest time of year for the restaurant, Piccone has taken measures to better accommodate the big crowds.
This year, the restaurant will include a heated canopy that customers can sit in while they wait for a table. The restaurant accommodates up to 400 people.
“This year, we’re more organized,” he said.
Currently, the restaurant is building a tree in the middle of the dining room and installing the lights, which he acknowledged is “a major job.”
He credited his employees with maintaining excellent service and food quality while also helping out with the Christmas decorations.
“The whole staff works really hard,” he said.
Originally Published: October 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM EDT
Dining and Cooking