About Us
Tapas on Main opened in May 2011 boasting an array of meats, cheeses, tapas & other unique Spanish inspired dishes. The first of it's kind in Bethlehem's restaurants, they won "Favorite New" in 2011 for Lehigh Valley Style's Decadent Dish. Join them with one of the coziest bars on Main Street highlighting eight seasonal sangrias, ever-changing cocktails & an extensive wine list. Have an intimate dinner in the dining room or step down into the bar/lounge for a few drinks & happy hour bites. Reservations through OpenTable are highly recommended from Thursday-Sunday and are taken for lunch and dinner every day. Seasonal outdoor seating draws a large crowd for the Spring and Summer months and who could pass up a pitcher of sangria in the beautiful setting that is Main Street in Historic Downtown Bethlehem. Check news/events for updates on live entertainment including the wonderful Craig Thatcher & Nyke Van Wyk as well as The Big Wahu featuring Lorenzo. Keep your eyes open for new acts as well on Fridays & Saturdays. Happy Hour runs from 5-7 pm during the week along with some other specialties, and we have one of the only Weekend Happy Hours from 3-5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Click OpenTable or call and join us today!
Juan Carlos Paredes
The proprietor of Urbano has an extensive background in the restaurant industry. Originally from Medellin, Colombia, he came to the U.S. with a degree in Journalism & Media and with the dream to accomplish film production. He found his love for food, wine, and customer service in his travels by the hand of his mentor and friend, Rafael Palomino. He has worked in many areas of the country including Manhattan and Miami. From the beginning of his restaurant career, he has conquered every position available from server/bartender to General Manager, and now proprietor.
He currently resides in Bethlehem, PA and has come to truly love the Lehigh Valley. He is also the owner of numerous locations on Main Street in Historic Downtown Bethlehem. Our attached sister restaurant, Cachette Creperie + Bistro, a French inspired cafe; Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar along with attached Peculiar Wine Bar & Bites; and The Flying Egg boutique diner serving breakfast & lunch.
Chef Rafael Palomino
Whether he’s in the kitchen, penning his cookbooks—or working the stove in one of his eight-and-growing establishments, Palomino is the consummate creator and astute businessman. Keenly aware of flavors people love and crave, Colombian-born Chef Palomino draws from his childhood in Bogotá, his younger years in New York City—alongside such culinary legends as Larry Forgione and Charlie Palmer—as well as his time in France, with Michel Guèrard in Eugènie-les-Bains. Today his many restaurants—his menus and his success—represent the culmination of his artistry and business savvy; he knows food, and he knows how people relish their dining experiences.
These days, in between scribing cookbooks (he’s got five published to date: Bistro Latino, Viva la Vida, Nueva Salsa, Fiesta Latina, and Latin Grill!) and teaching cooking classes, Chef Rafael Palomino is an active participant in all of his restaurants, which currently span four states and many miles! In addition to Tapas on Main in Bethlehem, Palomino boasts ownership of two more in PA ( Mesa Modern Mexican in Easton, Cachette Bistro & Creperie in Bethlehem), one in Connecticut (Pacífico in New Haven), one in New York (Sonora in Port Chester), and B Square Burgers in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Chef Rafael Palomino is living testament to his own motto, “If you dream it, you can live it!” Open any of his cookbooks, or enter any of his establishments, and you’ll soon see—and taste—the successful combination of Palomino-style ingredients