Creamed Dried Beef? (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton: home, buy, restaurant)

[pennsynative]

Where in the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton or Hazleton area can I get a good and tasty plate of creamed dried beef? Yes, I know....it's not exactly good for the diet, but I like to treat myself once or twice a month.

[Riverside4ever]

Originally Posted by pennsynative

Where in the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton or Hazleton area can I get a good and tasty plate of creamed dried beef? Yes, I know....it's not exactly good for the diet, but I like to treat myself once or twice a month.

any greasy spoon diner would have it

[pennsynative]

Originally Posted by Riverside4ever

any greasy spoon diner would have it

I'm fully aware of that. That is why I used the word "tasty." I'm looking for a place that makes a good one. I've had the tasteless flour and milk globs many times and do not want to waste my time ordering from those that make it that way. I am not familiar with the diners in the area so please enlighten me.

[Chefkey]

Ever looked at the price of that stuff? Unless I buy premade frozen blocks it costs $7.44 per pound which breaks down to $1.84 per serving not counting the butter, flour and milk. Insanely simple either way, why not just make a small batch?

I would have to charge $6.00 for a small 4oz plate just to keep my gross percentage, Not worth it. The frozen blocks come in around 65 cents a serving but who wants that garbage? Hence, why I don't serve it.

If you want to make a small batch:

Melt butter, add flour, cook till lightly brown, add milk. Simmer with peppercorns and bay leaf for about five minutes. Add the beef and simmer for another 15 or so. Stir constantly to avoid a scorch on the bottom of the pan. Pour over toasted Challah bread or some other nice thick bread, Voila.

[weluvpa]

No, not every greasy spoon has it...........Its almost impossible to find SOS or sausage gravy and biscuits around here..............I don't know of anywhere in the Scranton area that sells it, we just make it at home. If there was a place that I could go for it that I knew of I would be there almost everyday, nothing sticks to your ribs and gives you that full feeling like a heaping plate of SOS over some white toast.

[fisheye]

Can’t you just re-up? Perhaps the new, modern army doesn’t approve of SOS anymore?

[Magritte25]

Mel Roes is on Route 11 near Berwick, which isn't too far away from Hazleton.

www.MenusNEPA.com...Mel Roe's Family Restaurant, Berwick, PA

Tony Thomas's Deli is on S. Main Street near Public Square:

www.MenusNEPA.com...Tony Thomas Deli, Wilkes Barre, PA

These places don't have websites or menus on menusnepa, but they are worth a try since they serve classic diner foods:

S&W Restaurant
149 North Main Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Sweet Treat
230 Wyoming Avenue
Kingston, PA

Bus Stop Cafe
2 East Broad Street
Nanticoke, PA

[varmintblaster]

Originally Posted by Chefkey

Ever looked at the price of that stuff? Unless I buy premade frozen blocks it costs $7.44 per pound which breaks down to $1.84 per serving not counting the butter, flour and milk. Insanely simple either way, why not just make a small batch?

I would have to charge $6.00 for a small 4oz plate just to keep my gross percentage, Not worth it. The frozen blocks come in around 65 cents a serving but who wants that garbage? Hence, why I don't serve it.

If you want to make a small batch:

Melt butter, add flour, cook till lightly brown, add milk. Simmer with peppercorns and bay leaf for about five minutes. Add the beef and simmer for another 15 or so. Stir constantly to avoid a scorch on the bottom of the pan. Pour over toasted Challah bread or some other nice thick bread, Voila.

Assuming the cost is 1.84 per serving for the meat, the additional meal ingredients consist of bread,butter,flour,and milk and you would propose a price of $6.00, then you must have one heck of a gross margin %.

To the OP - try the Moosic Diner at the intersection of Rte 11 and 502 in Moosic Pa. I had it there about a year ago and it was very good.

[pennsynative]

Sorry Fisheye, I've never been in the service. I was raised on this as my grandparents were depression babies and my mom grew up on it.

Chefkey, thanks for the recipe. I have made it at home but can never seem to get it to taste as good (assuming I find a good place to eat it around here lol). I have eaten it in other areas and have been able to get it for $5.00 a plate or less with home fries. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Thanks to the rest of you for diner suggestions. I'm looking forward to trying them all. I'll let you know where I found the best one. I guess that means I will have to do another day of Zumba after visiting each of these places

[frank754]

That's cool, let us know. Tony Thomas sounds like a good choice since it's so close to us. My wife loves it, she gets the Stouffers frozen kind and makes her own open sandwich, but would love to try something more homemade.