PITTSTON, PA

Two colleagues of mine from work are being sent to Pittston (between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton) for work-related training next week, and are looking for something along the steakhouse/sports bar type of eating establishment for dinners. Nothing too trashy or fast food. They're pretty much stuck in the Holiday Inn at Pittston's municipal airport all week for this training...I looked at one site, but gave up...they just seem to tout this Cooper's Seafood, and I don't think this is what my friends are looking for. I'm sure that if they have to, they'll drive to Wilkes-Barre. I just don't know anything about that area. We work in Marlton, NJ. They're leaving Monday, April 29. If anyone can get back to me before then, I'd appreciate it!

Don't know much about Pittston but a few minutes up Rt.81 is the Viewmont Mall in Scranton. If I'm hearing you right, you're looking for good, clean franchise food and don't particularily want to experiment. The mall offers franchises from Olive Garden to Red Lobster to Ruby Tuesday's (good burgers and a sports theme. If I'm wrong and you're looking for more variety, Scranton is full of great ethnic spots.

What ethnic spots are there in Scranton? I was up there for a week and drove around and around and couldn't find anything. Please give me some suggestions for next time.

I'm talking Italian here, try Sibio's, Russell's, Angelo's. If calling Italian ethnic is an insult to anyone I apologize.

From Pittston travel south to Wilkes-Barre's Main Street...just off Main St. in the north end of town near General Hospital is Patte's Sports Bar. Food is great, and you will find a unique sports bar atmosphere.
I forget the exact address but stop anywhere along Main St. and they'll direct you. Everyone knows Patte's.
Another worthwhile stop is the sports bar in the Stadium up Rt 81 on Montage Mountain. It's where the Triple A baseball team plays, so the views are great!

[jmoryl]

OK, for Thai you might try the place at the corner of Adams and Mulberry in downtown Scranton (can't remember the name). Have had lunch a few times while passing through town and the food was very good (and reasonably priced). Afterwords, you can get a really good cup of coffee at Northern Lights Espresso, a short walk away on Spruce.

Patte's Sports Bar, 65 W Hollenback, Wilkes-Barre. FRESH hamburgers, medium rare if desired.
570-824-8015.

Arcaro & Genell, 443 S Main St, Old Forge.570-457-5555. My personal favorite Old Forge restaurant. The best spaghetti carbonara I've EVER tasted. Actually, they could just cross under 81 and spend every night in Old Forge. http://www.nepaonline.com/arcaro&genell/

Damons, right next to... naw, just kidding.

You could do worse than Cooper's Waterfront.

About half an hour down 81 is Hazleton; I'd highly recommend The Ovalon. Back in the days, it was a wise guys hangout. 252 N Wyoming St, 570-454-0853 http://wilkesbarre.citysearch.com/profile/8845715/
Someone doesn't like the new decor, but the food is still awesome.

Also in Hazleton, Scattons. Continental Cuisine without the neckties and evening gowns. 570-455-6630. Maybe the smallest restaurant to win a DiRoNA award (Distinguished Restaurants of North America).
http://home.epix.net/~scattons/

Hazleton again; Senape's Tavern Pitza http://www.pitza.com/
Surf to the menu page; "roman or scamutz [scamorza], red or white"... if you get the sausage, you have to eat the pitza with a fork. There's too much sausage for the pitza to hold.

I wish I knew a bit more about the restaurants nearer to Pittston/Avoca. I Live and work about 20 minutes south, and know more about that ares. However, all the places mentioned are top "chow" choices, and all of them are unpretentious, which is the attitude of the entire region. I'd go into any of these restaurants in jeans and a polo shirt.

Mosca

I mixed up Senapes with Rostas's; they're both great, but Rostas's is where there is so much sausage you need a fork. Alter St in Hazleton.

Mosca

I don't want to be rude, but Rostas' isn't very good. Senape's has great pitza...the bar pitz is out of this world and they don't skimp on toppings. It's not much to look at and it's crowded but well worth the trip.

Yeah, I know, I just wanted to clarify that I'd mixed them up. Rostas's Pizza has an overtly sweet sauce that is an acquired taste that many people don't acquire. It's the most toppings I've EVER seen on a pizza, that's why I remembered it.

Mosca

red or white. I've had Victory Pig, Pizza Loven, Arcaro and Genelli's and another whose name escapes me.

My two top pizzas in the area:

ARCARO'S, Main St. Taylor, PA (Top of Taylor Hill is the easiest locator); thin, crispy, Old Forge (square) pizza, lighter and , to me, tastier than all of the other versions.

VINCE THE PIZZA PRINCE, 500 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA, the legendary, cult-fanatic pizza of the region, cheesy, molten, spicy round pie that defies description and hooks anyone who ever tries one. They have a website : www.vincetheprince.com, I believe.

Drive down to Harrisburg for the Subway Cafe. Closed on Saturday and Sunday. (Yes Saturday! The chef has to go to the horse track)

Boy, that's like asking what's the best rock n' roll song!

People like VPig, Arcaro & Genell, Senape's, etc. The original Grotto Pizza is pretty good, thin light crust, sweet tart sauce, easy on the cheese.

Kings in Mountain Top make smaller brick oven pizzas in addition to their regular stuff; I like the one with kalamata olives, red peppers, etc; there are 3 other "original" types.

Luigi's in Mountain Top & Pittston make a bruchetta that is closer to pizza; it's a Sicilian crust with fresh thick sliced plum tomatoes, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella. Hit and miss, though; if a tray's not already made, you can't get it.

Fort Cafe in Forty Fort; is it still there? You could get pizza with fresh garlic; the garlic covers the pie like it was onion! The only place you could get beer in an otherwise dry borough. Probably gone.

There are so many variations; Senapes is different from Dino's is different from Arcaro & Genell is different from Victory Pig, etc.

I'd say in my opinion the absolute best is Dino's Pizza in the Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre, & Laurel Mall in Hazleton. Thin crust, fresh toppings, Italian owners & cooks, right from Italy of course. They make a fresh tomato/spinach/ricotta/mozzarella pie that I can't get enough of. And the pies are HUGE, like 20"-22"; two slices is more than a meal.

Thing is, I've never tried Vince the Pizza Prince! He could be the best; looks like I know where dinner is this Saturday night. Unless of course I decide to do those baby back ribs....

Tom Brenholts
Mosca

Victory pig ..... the one the only everything else is not pizza,

Victory pig ..... the one the only everything else is not pizza,

My sister-in-law is coming down from W-B tomorrow with 3 trays of Brutico's red. I'm pumped!

[Anghelakis]

I have heard that Top of the 80s in Hazelton is supposed to be very good, but have never been there.