S. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – It’s a surreal homecoming for chef John Moniak, who reopened his restaurant The Wicked Chef in July.
“It feels weird. It’s like you’ve been sleeping for almost four years, then you wake up and suddenly it’s back,” he said.
He and his wife, Georgiann, originally opened this South Whitehall Township location in October 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because they received no support, they had to close the business after a few months.
“You put your heart and soul into it and you know all this. And it’s like having a baby and there’s nothing you can do and you just watch it die,” John said.
The Moniaks moved on, but John’s dream kept calling him back.
As luck would have it, their old restaurant became available again after the business they had moved into closed.
“We just decided to go back to where we were and try again,” Georgiann said.
Now they are once again serving homemade sandwiches with all kinds of house-smoked meats as well as sides and family favorites like Polish potato pancakes.
“His food is good. He has excellent food, it’s always fresh, it’s not frozen garbage. It’s healthy for you. It’s better for you,” Georgiann said.
Wicked Chef is open every day except Monday. You can also order online or through most food delivery apps.
They also offer catering.
“Every day is great,” John said. “You meet new people, you see your regular customers, and when people leave here, they’re happy. They’re full.”
