Serving up delicious Detroit-style pizza, great energy in Stockertown
Greetings, food lovers of the Lehigh Valley! I have a real treat for you.
Fasten your seatbelts and take a tasty road trip to “Detroit” — by way of The GOAT Pub and Pie in Stockertown. Greatest Of All Time? Maybe.
Detroit-style pizza is served here, and it might be the best take on the classic dish that I’ve ever had.
Humbly resting along Main Street, this place is everyman’s bar. They also make one of the most delicious and unique pizza pies in the Lehigh Valley.
Why a Detroit-style pizzeria around here? According to our server, the owners tried it, loved it, and wanted to recreate it — just for the fun of it.
Choosing the GOAT Pub & Pie as your dinner or after-work beer destination is plain and simple ... cheesy, delicious fun.
Setting and décor
This spot is low-key, and fall looks good on her. A chilly October night called for a beer and a slice. I was accompanied by two pizza connoisseurs who are still worshiping their leftovers. Since it’s a bar, I wasn’t thinking I needed to make a reservation for 6 p.m. on a Tuesday. However, as we pulled in, the parking lot was packed, and so was the GOAT.
The energy was up. The U-shaped bar was crowded with bearded men. Couples on date night were seated next to families watching the MLB playoffs as jukebox music played. This place had the works.
For a roadside bar, this place is impressively spotless. It is bright and sleek. The floors are immaculate, and so are the tables. The paneled walls are painted grey, except for the floor-to-ceiling mural featuring bursts of color, graffiti shapes, and goats, of course.
Let’s address the motif of the place. In accordance with its title, the pub is peppered with pictures of classic GOATs: Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Marilyn Monroe, Dennis Rodman (which sparked a lively Jordan vs Rodman debate).
Spoiler: Ladies, if you go to the loo, you’ll be greeted by a giant photo of Tom Brady holding a baby goat. You’re welcome.
Service
Being a hostess is a challenging role. It’s nice to meet one with a huge, genuine smile on her face. Our server was just as lovely and memorized our order with no pen or paper needed. This always impresses me.
The food came out quickly, and everyone in the crowded GOAT seemed to be in good spirits. No one waited too long but definitely eyed up the orders as they passed by (debating if they should have maybe gone with the wings instead).
Food
Excluding the fantastic variety of pies, the menu is low-key. They have wings, fried goodies (onion rings, mozzarella), and handhelds (pulled pork, sourdough
grilled cheese, burgers). They offer two salad options: the house and the caesar. Both are deliciously crisp, fresh, and served in a nice big bowl. These salads are great to split — before the main event.
Here comes the Detroit Style Pizza — which was basically a tomato pie, but with all the cheese. I went for the GOAT pie. I had to. It featured a threecheese sauce, apples, caramelized onions, and is sprinkled with goat cheese. It’s not for the faint-of-cheese heart. One slice will fill you up.
Side note: The pies arrive in these 9 x 13 silver trays. You can chow down with your hands, or daintily with your knife and fork. I wonder if Tiger Woods cuts his pizza with a knife and fork? He probably does.
The 700 Main Pie is a combo of house-made marinara, provolone, Giacomo’s Italian sausage, and roasted red peppers. It was flavorful with not too much heat. Just right.
If you are looking for a kick, I recommend the fried chicken sandwich with the horseradish dijon. It’s a classic handbreaded chicken thigh, but with spice.
You can cleanse your palette with one of the draft beers on
tap. The GOAT has a great list. If you prefer a cocktail, their list of 12 leaves you with a difficult decision. In light of the season, I’d go with the Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned, made with Bulleit and a house-made maple syrup reduction. Mmmmmm.
The bottom line
I can’t tell you how excited I was — after a long day of work — to eat some good old comfort food. That’s exactly what I got. The GOAT did not disappoint on any level.
There is something special about this place. It is unpretentious, fun, and although you’re drinking a beer, the place makes you feel like a kid again. Maybe it’s the pictures of those familiar faces: Woods, Phelps, Brady, and the legends of my childhood.
It transported me back to school days and coming home from a cold, cloudy, fall day to my mom’s warm pizza bagel bites. But now I was coming into the pub from work ... and the pizza wasn’ts so little ... and the juice was spiked.
Maybe adulting doesn’t have to be so scary after all.