Family-owned restaurants that serve better food than most chains define the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. However, no one has the time to try every eatery during a single visit to Northeast Pennsylvania. So, in no particular order, here are some of the best local restaurants you need to try while you're in and around the valley cities.
1. Nina's
Located right on the border between Scranton and Dunmore, this family-owned Italian restaurant will leave you and your wallet satisfied. Co-owners Joe and Maria Macciocco, children of the famous Nina, take pride in the freshness of their food. From the homemade soup to the pizza dough, everything on the menu is made from scratch that day (trust me, I used to work there).
Like most Italian places, this sit-down and take-out place serves made-to-order hoagies and pizza, but the restaurant is renowned in the area for its chicken wing bites. Cut fresh every day and fried up by the order, these delicious wing bites stay perfectly crispy while covered in your choice of sauce.
As demand for Nina’s food was growing, in 2014, the restaurant rolled out the Bitemobile, a food truck that primarily serves wing bites and various dishes with wing bites as the main ingredient. Nina’s has been making food with love for more than ten years and it is a staple Italian restaurant in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Address: 602 New York St., Dunmore
What to Order: Mild Wing Bites
2. Oyster
Whether it’s date night or a girls night out, Oyster is the place to be. Located inside the Genetti Hospitality Complex, this seafood and steakhouse is perfect for wedding parties or Valentine’s Day dinners with its romantic atmosphere. Trip Advisor ranks oyster the second best restaurant in Wilkes-Barre, and it was an OpenTable.com Diners’ Choice Winner in 2013.
This eatery is nothing but upscale, including having a martini bar and cigar lounge. Oyster is located down the street from the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, so why not go for dinner and a show?
Address: 77 E Market St., Wilkes-Barre
What to Order: Surf & Turf (Lobster Tail and Filet Mignon)
3. Revello's
When you’re looking for food in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, you can’t go wrong in Old Forge, the pizza capital of the world. Pick any little pizza shop in the town and you won’t be disappointed. However, if you want arguably the best and world-renowned pizza, head to Revello’s.
Formerly known as Pesoli’s, this family-owned shop has served in the heart of downtown Old Forge since 1967. The restaurant has a full Italian menu of salads and chicken, but the pizza is a must-have. Revello’s makes everything from scratch with the freshest ingredients, and the shop is dedicated to family and tradition.
The pizza is so delicious and famous that celebrities like Hillary Clinton, former governor John Heinz and rock star Ozzy Osbourne have paid visits to Revello’s.
If you don’t have enough time to stop at Revello’s on your trip, they have you covered. You can order pizza online or over the phone and it will ship to anywhere in the country. Of all the Old Forge pizza shops, Revello’s is the place to go.
Address: 502 S Main St., Old Forge
What to Order: Tray of Red Pizza
4. What the Fork
This brand new restaurant emerged from the legendary food trucks of the same name, and it serves the same type of street food you would expect. What the Fork is unlike any other restaurant in the area, and the owners pride themselves on serving tasty, “unconventional” cuisine. From buffalo chicken grilled cheese to sweet potato soup, whatever you choose is the right choice.
In 2013, owner Mario Bevilacqua and his fiancé appeared on the ABC show “Live with Kelly and Michael” to show off What the Fork’s delectable pulled pork tacos. What the Fork started a food truck craze in Northeast Pennsylvania, but now you can finally sit down inside while enjoying their street food. Don’t forget to grab a jar of baconjam or bottle of CandySauce on the way out.
Address: 41 S Main St., Wilkes-Barre
What to Order: Pulled Pork Tacos
5. Terry's Diner
This chromed-out, classic American diner will make you feel like it’s the 1950s again. Terry’s features stainless steel, terrazzo floor and a jukebox. The authentic diner has been serving Northeast Pennsylvania for 60 years.
In 1999, a devastating fire destroyed the original diner, which was made out of a 1950s Jerry O’Mahoney dining car. Terry Jr. and his wife decided to rebuild, and they transported a similar dining car of the same company to Moosic. The diner reopened in the spring of 2000 and is thriving better than ever.
The menu features over 200 items and you can purchase dinner and movie packages. Terry’s Diner will bring nostalgia with its blue plate specials and BYOB policy. A Rock 107 poll voted Terry’s the “Best Breakfast in Northeast PA.” Check out Terry’s Diner, located just off Interstate 81, for some nostalgia as well as delicious, classic American food.
Address: 4118 Birney Ave., Moosic
What to Order: Today's Blue Plate Special
6. Carl Von Luger
The name sounds familiar, doesn’t it? That’s because owner and restaurateur Robert Dickert’s father, Carl Von Luger, was Peter Luger’s nephew. Zagat surveys have named Peter Luger Steak House the best steakhouse in New York City for 30 years in a row. Well, Scranton has its own version of the famed steakhouse, and it’s every bit as good.
Carl Von Luger serves 5-star steak, seafood and much more. Its “quality, service and cleanliness” combined with its vibrant atmosphere and expanded menu provides guests with “an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of beautiful, historic downtown Scranton,” according to its website.
Dickert’s work ethic and vision for his steakhouse developed from working at Peter Luger’s at a young age. He truly makes dining at Carl Von Luger one of the finest experiences in Northeast Pennsylvania. If you have a little bit of extra cash to spend for an upscale dining experience, this is the place for you.
Address: 301 N Washington Ave., Scranton
What to Order: Seafood Linguine
7. The Sweet Lush Cupcakery
Why not end this list with some dessert? Located in the center of Dunmore, Sweet Lush specializes in serving up award-winning gourmet cupcakes. It’s not a restaurant you’d go to for dinner like the other places on this list, but it can’t go unmentioned.
Sweet Lush is the perfect place to treat yourself to something different and delicious. The menu changes every day and features different specialty cupcakes, like Lucky Charms (St. Patrick’s Day) and Eggnog Tiramisu (Christmas), throughout the year.
In 2014, owners Angela Capo and Amanda Sedlak traveled to Los Angeles to bake 500 cupcakes for an Emmys pre-party. Seth Meyers probably enjoyed his cupcake.
Sweet Lush also recently rolled out their version of a food truck, the Cupcake Camper, which provides the rest of Northeast Pennsylvania with same mouthwatering delicacies. Although the storefront may be easy to miss at first, Sweet Lush’s cupcakes are a must-have.
Address: 105 Chestnut St., Dunmore
What to Order: Mixed Half-Dozen
