The area's five best restaurants (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: house, prices, eat)

[dexcye]

Thought I'd start an informal poll here on the area's best restaurants. I never place a lot of validity in the reader polls from the local freebies (it may be the most popular, and while I think they've got a great beer selection, I can't in good faith believe that people genuinely consider Cooper's to be the area's best restaurant).

That being said, what do you folks consider to be the area's 5 best restaurants? I'm defining "area" as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, its surrounding communities and parts of the Poconos, but feel free to expand/elaborate. Mine would be:

1. AV (Moosic)
2. Pepato (Clarks Summit)
3. Isabella (Wilkes-Barre)
4. Blu Wasabi (Dickson City)
5. Thai Rak Thai (Scranton)

Would love to hear about some place I haven't discovered or need to revisit.

Thanks

[WasPA]

for the eightieth time.......Damenti's, south of Mountaintop. mangia.

Damenti's Restaurant for Distinctive Dining...

[weluvpa]

Harbor House on Keyse ave.

[SteelCityRising]

1.) Damenti's, Mountain Top (Fine Dining)
2.) Theo's Metro, Kingston (Greek)
3.) Thai Thai, Downtown Wilkes-Barre (Thai)
4.) Mambo Italiano, Dupont (Italian)
5.) Brixx, Downtown Scranton (Pub Food)

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by SWB

1.) Damenti's, Mountain Top (Fine Dining)
2.) Theo's Metro, Kingston (Greek)
3.) Thai Thai, Downtown Wilkes-Barre (Thai)
4.) Mambo Italiano, Dupont (Italian)
5.) Brixx, Downtown Scranton (Pub Food)

they have a mambo italiano in brooklyn NY which is excellent! I wonder if it is the same owners.

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by dexcye

Thought I'd start an informal poll here on the area's best restaurants. I never place a lot of validity in the reader polls from the local freebies (it may be the most popular, and while I think they've got a great beer selection, I can't in good faith believe that people genuinely consider Cooper's to be the area's best restaurant).

That being said, what do you folks consider to be the area's 5 best restaurants? I'm defining "area" as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, its surrounding communities and parts of the Poconos, but feel free to expand/elaborate. Mine would be:

1. AV (Moosic)
2. Pepato (Clarks Summit)
3. Isabella (Wilkes-Barre)
4. Blu Wasabi (Dickson City)
5. Thai Rak Thai (Scranton)

Would love to hear about some place I haven't discovered or need to revisit.

Thanks

pepetos is suppose to be good, you can also byob

[dexcye]

Originally Posted by WasPA

for the eightieth time.......Damenti's, south of Mountaintop. mangia.

Damenti's Restaurant for Distinctive Dining...

I looked at the website and, to be honest, the menu doesn't really excite me. Obviously you can't judge a place on paper, but can you tell me (for the eighty-first time) what it is that makes this the best restaurant in the area for you?

Thanks

[dexcye]

Originally Posted by SWB

1.) Damenti's, Mountain Top (Fine Dining)
2.) Theo's Metro, Kingston (Greek)
3.) Thai Thai, Downtown Wilkes-Barre (Thai)
4.) Mambo Italiano, Dupont (Italian)
5.) Brixx, Downtown Scranton (Pub Food)

Interested to try the Greek place. Thanks for the tip. Is Thai Thai the new place opened across from Katana? I believe it's from the same people who own Thai Rak Thai. If I'm not mistaken, Mambo Italiano is owned by the same folks who run Bistro Bistro in Kingston, a place I've always enjoyed but haven't been to for a couple years. Gotta get there again, and also want to try out Mambo.

Finally, no disrespect intended, but in the interest of offering alternate views, I think Brixx is really no better than any other TGIF chain in terms of the menu/food quality. Sorry

[WasPA]

Originally Posted by dexcye

I looked at the website and, to be honest, the menu doesn't really excite me. Obviously you can't judge a place on paper, but can you tell me (for the eighty-first time) what it is that makes this the best restaurant in the area for you?

Thanks

Exceptional food. Great atmosphere.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by dexcye

Interested to try the Greek place. Thanks for the tip. Is Thai Thai the new place opened across from Katana? I believe it's from the same people who own Thai Rak Thai. If I'm not mistaken, Mambo Italiano is owned by the same folks who run Bistro Bistro in Kingston, a place I've always enjoyed but haven't been to for a couple years. Gotta get there again, and also want to try out Mambo.

Finally, no disrespect intended, but in the interest of offering alternate views, I think Brixx is really no better than any other TGIF chain in terms of the menu/food quality. Sorry

The Greek place is an old popcorn factory that was renovated into a restaurant with a great ambiance. It is located on Mercer Avenue in Kingston, which runs parallel to Wyoming Avenue (Route 11). I believe the prices are a little steep, but I only ever go there when my friends' family treats me.

Yes, Thai Thai is the new Thai restaurant (that was already robbed but I digress) near the Katana in the Midtown Village. I'm eager to use my $50 gift certificate for there that I got for Christmas; my partner is a very picky eater, so whatever he won't touch I'll chomp down on. This restaurant is owned by the same folks who own Thai Rak Thai in Downtown Scranton; they opened this second location to better serve their Luzerne County clientele.

The same folks own Mambo Italiano in Dupont and Bistro Bistro in Kingston. I haven't been to Mambo in ages, but I always enjoyed their food. Say what you will about Brixx, but I like it.