Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant Is More Than a Year Past Its Opening Date, But Work Proceeds

April 30, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Mexican restaurant planned for Center Street in Bethlehem is bright and bold outside, but inside, work continues.

Don Carlos Fine Mexican Food and Tequila Bar, 1406 Center St., was supposed to open early in 2025. I walked by Wednesday, and although it wasn’t open, there was some work going on inside. I could hear what sounded like a hammer pounding away.

The restaurant has Southwest-theme murals and an image of artist Frida Kahlo on its exterior walls. It may not be open, but anybody driving on Center Street has seen the art.

The planned restaurant and bar is at the site of the old Rudy’s, and before that it was the Star City and Collins, which I was at many years ago.

I couldn’t find anything official on the Internet or social media about the restaurant’s plans, so I’ll stop by again and interrupt their work, but only briefly.

When they’re open, I’ll check it out. The location on Center Street is not far from Moravian University.