Hellertown restaurant rebranding with new name, look and burger-heavy menu

An eatery that was previously home to decorative unicorns, fairies and gnomes is taking on a new identity in Hellertown.

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Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St. in Hellertown. Drip, featuring an atmosphere more welcoming to people of all ages, will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include a variety of unique burgers.

Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee, toys and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St., according to co-owner Brandy Franco.

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Andrew Murtha, chef and co-owner of Drip – The Flavor Lab, stands inside the forthcoming Hellertown restaurant on Monday.

Drip will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include “a variety of very unique burgers,” Franco said.

The restaurant, featuring 38 indoor seats (with social distancing guidelines in place) and about 40 additional seats outdoors, also will feature a look “more welcoming to people of all ages,” she added.

Green, purple and orange walls have been repainted white with sketches of animated food such as a milkshake and potato, pop culture icons such as Luke Skywalker and Willy Wonka and other images such as a lightning bolt and turntable.

© Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call/The Morning Call/TNS
Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St. in Hellertown. Drip, featuring an atmosphere more welcoming to people of all ages, will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include a variety of unique burgers.

“I wanted it to look like pencil and pen drawings on paper,” said Andrew Murtha, Drip’s head chef and the lead artist behind the dining room’s design. “The inspiration was one of my high school notebooks.”

© RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call/The Morning Call/TNS
Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St. in Hellertown. Drip, featuring an atmosphere more welcoming to people of all ages, will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include a variety of unique burgers.

A white unicorn bench along with a large and menacing black and blue dragon sculpture remain from the Mystical Treatsss days, but most references to the eatery’s former whimsical theme are gone.

“The very kiddie, fantasy-theme is gone,” Franco explained. “We’re trying to make it more universally welcoming.”

Murtha, a native of Buffalo, joined Franco and Bob Weill as a business partner earlier this year.

A veteran chef with more than 20 years of culinary experience, Murtha previously headed operations at various Buffalo area restaurants, including Juicy Burger Bar.

In recent years, he’s worked at popular Lehigh Valley dining destinations such as The Bayou restaurants in Bethlehem and Easton and The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar in Allentown.

“When I came on board here, the restaurant was already doing really great ice cream,” Murtha said. “So, I told Brandy, ‘Let’s build on that while meeting people in their comfort zone. Let’s give them something they want and do it better than everyone else.’”

© RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call/The Morning Call/TNS
Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St. in Hellertown. Drip, featuring an atmosphere more welcoming to people of all ages, will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include a variety of unique burgers.

Drip’s menu is still being finalized, but Murtha is initially planning about 10 burger varieties, featuring assorted patties and toppings, along with other freshly prepared items such as salads and fries.

© RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call/The Morning Call/TNS
Mystical Treatsss Cafe, a fantasy-themed shop offering nitrogen ice cream, cold brew coffee and more, is expected to reopen as Drip – The Flavor Lab within a few weeks at 1310 Main St. in Hellertown. Drip, featuring an atmosphere more welcoming to people of all ages, will build on the business’ successful ice cream and coffee programs, while expanding the food offerings to include a variety of unique burgers.

The eatery’s popular made-on-site nitrogen ice cream will continue to be a hallmark of the business and will be supplemented by small batch ice cream from Kreider Farms in Lancaster County.

Customers will be able to order ice cream in homemade waffle cones along with milkshakes and other chilled treats.

“We’re also planning a lot in the vegan realm,” Murtha said. “We’ll have an amazing vegan burger along with vegan ice cream options.”

The business’ coffee program, featuring in-house cold brew coffee, nitro coffee, cappuccinos and more, will remain and be joined by rotating made-on-site hard ciders and signature beers made by a local brewery, Franco said.

Additionally, teas and roasted coffee from Cafés Richard in France will be available for purchase.

Drip, taking its name from burgers, ice cream and coffee that drip, is hiring for front- and back-of-house positions, Franco said.

Prospective employees can apply by visiting the business’ Facebook page, facebook.com/DripTheFlavorLab.

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