Bites Nearby: Ray's Famous II Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

Just down the road from the Palmer Park Mall, tucked between the 1818 Tavern and Easton Beverage, is an Italian restaurant serving up more than just the average pizza.

Ray’s Famous II Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, at 2928 Old Nazareth Road in Palmer Township, has been in business serving up a large selection of gourmet pizzas for the past six years. But that's not all that's on the menu. Seven days a week, from 6am to 2pm, there's a full menu of classic diner and country-style breakfast served.

“We serve everything like any diner would do,” said manager Frank Kodza. He started running the business after leaving Ray's Famous Pizzeria in Allentown. The two locations are still affiliated.

The breakfast menu is chock full of diner and country classics like eggs, a variety of omelets (Western, mushroom, bacon, sausage, cheese steak and plain) and pancakes (banana, chocolate chip and blueberry), french toast, waffles, sausages, scrapple, ham and bacon. Breakfast prices range from as little as $1.95 for an egg sandwich to $10.95 for a steak and egg breakfast, sides included.

Diners Jerry and Barbara Rinehart are regulars for breakfast. The couple travels from Belfast to eat at the restaurant every day except for Wednesdays.

“That’s when we go somewhere else,” chuckled Barbara Rinehart. “We usually go and have lunch with our son on that day.”

Inside, the restaurant décor is somewhat modern with pendant lighting and lots of mauve, vinyl-clad booths lining the windows on one side. There’s also a large screen plasma television mounted on the wall. In the center is the counter area and pizza ovens, where take-out orders can be picked up or visitors can get a glimpse of pizzas being made.

For lunch and dinner, “classic Italian dishes” are served, according to Kodza.

“The best in Lehigh Valley,” he said. “That’s what everyone says."

The Buffalo chicken pizza is a fan favorite, but there are many other varieties made each day. Forget plain and pepperoni pizza; there’s broccoli, taco, chicken ranch, German and bacon pizzas. Pizza prices start around $10, but there are plenty of daily specials and coupons available on the restaurant flier.

Wraps, hoagies, calzones, Stromboli, cheese steaks, seafood dishes and burgers of all sorts are also sold. Lunch and dinner is available from 2pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. Sodas and fountain drinks are available but the restaurant does allow for alcohol if you bring it inside.

There is also wi-fi inside the restaurant, delivery available, orders can be faxed or taken over the phone. All major credit cards are accepted and there’s also a website for the business at www.rayspizza2.com