stanpnepa

There's only one Liberty Bell...and there's only one Django. See cities for what makes them unique. Great parody scene in "Super Size Me" about suburbia. It's a mini-cartoon that resembles the old scenes in the Flintstones when Fred would drive the car. You'd always see the background repeat every four or five seconds (cheaper animation, right). Well, in this parody, you'd see a Walmart, A McDonald's, a Home Depot, a Walmart, a McDonald's. Pretty damn funny...and true.

I've been to Packo's also. We arrived on a Saturday night where there was a Dixieland Jazz Quartet dressed in Red Pinstripes. I thought I was in a time machine!!! I grew up on Abe's in Kingston, PA where the chili sauce is meaty. Maybe that's what puts me off on Yocco's. Not sure, but I do know my all-time favorites have no chili at all. They are the mighty rippers at Rutt's Hut in Clifton, NJ!! My favorite (of late) chili dogs can be found at Tony's Texas Hots in Johnson City (near Binghamton) New York. Bright Red tube steaks with a Cincinnati-style chili sauce. Really yummy!!!

Guy, which Abe's are you referring to? I'd vote for S. Main Street!

Had lunch today at Yocco's on Hamilton in Allentown. Ordered Two dogs with everything (except cheese) and fries. My wife sided hers with pierogies. The dog itself was well-cooked and fairly tasty, but both had skimpy servings of chili (nothing special) or onion to go along with it. Fries were standard fast-food and my wife's (Mrs. T) Pierogies were fried but varied ("one on the money, another soggy and the final too burnt"). This was Saturday lunch (a peak, I'd guess), so you think the A-team would be on-hand. Friendly, quick assembly line service, but the food was mediocre and hardly what we expected. Was this dumb luck or is Yocco's praise unwarranted?

Old River Road has closed up all of its shops, must be about ten years now. I had many an ORR Birthday Cake in the 70's. I don't remember the blueberry delight. Bakery Delite (sic) on River Street near the Cross Valley Expressway has become the en vogue bakery for desserts in Wilkes-Barre these days. Agostini's (Old Forge/Duryea) makes some great local bread, that's what they use at our beloved Tony's for the sandwiches!! My favorite growing up was Ristagno's in Exeter. Dad and I would get a dozen rolls every Sunday morning for dinner later on, but we'd have two gone by time we hit the bottom of the hill!!!

Rich, those are good choices!!! All within a few mile drive and close enough in style to warrant comparison. Do you think the pizza club will buy into the whole "square" tray concept? That's a tough sell for many. Also, some round pie fans find it undercooked. (A co-worker, who grew up in New Haven on Pepe's, gets take-out from Revello's and Colarusso's and then bakes the pizza a little longer!!! It's never well-done enough for him).

Jenny---we'll try Patsel's for brunch! Rich---Revello's is like "mother's milk" to me! Perhaps parallel to your Pizza Prince! I've grown up on the stuff (along with Gabello's in Duryea, which has unfortunately hit the skids) and my taste buds are too set in their ways to know otherwise. However, most of my out-of-town friends have flipped over Rev's too. Also, I just stumbled on your Pizza Club posts. Would you say that Lombardi's is the perfect introduction to Philly pie? Count me in for Old Forge...and if you need any "pre-visit" research, I'll be glad to eat er, investigate.

Jenny, I'm from Exeter/West Pittston/Wyoming. The last Club 17 red square tray (don't say "pie" in Old Forge, they are "trays") we ordered had some pretty tasty red sauce, but the texture varied wildly from the corner slices to the middles. I especially liked the ends, even my wife did...and she's not so much a crust person. We would certainly order from there again. -- Also, I've see you've been to Patsel's. That's one we haven't made it to yet. We've heard "great atmosphere, but ridiculously expensive". They have Sunday brunch now, so maybe that's the way to tackle it first? Was it snooty? I'm not a big snooty fan, but I'll put up with it for first rate food!

Rich, I'd say so. There are really more differences in the Old Forge Pizzas than most people would think. Revello's (for me) has the best sauce, slightly sweet but still tomatoey...and not overpowered by the cheese. Ghigiarelli's has a very (for OF) cripsy crust and packs a punch (onions!). It also has a tomatoey lean. We tried A & G a few months back, the white was like I remembered (solid---but I'm not a big white pizza fan), the red sauce was "sour" in comparision to Revello's, but good. For me, the Italian pasta dishes at A & G are often exceptional...the linguini in oil and garlic was heavenly last summer!! If I had to pick a third pizza in the "PCotW" or immediate environs, it would be Maxie's, which might actually be in Taylor, but whatever! And then there's the red at Arcaro's on Taylor Hill

New to the forum, I was shocked to see some of my faves already mentioned. So, as a life long Northeast PA boy, I contribute my top ten...mostly off the beaten path but all continually reliable. Number one is set in stone...the rest fluctuate a bit, so no order on 2-10. 1. Tony's in Kingston. These were the Italian sandwiches I dreamed about as a teenager...only I didn't find this place until I was 30. Start with the Soprano sandwich or omelet and use the new menus (heresy!) if you must. Jimmy (Tony) is like a Magician on that grill. Ignore the politics and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Porketta and eggs? Why not? 2. Par Four, Wilkes-Barre. My last meal with the new owners didn't "birdie", but didn't "bogey" either. This is great fusion cuisine in a place you would normally drive past. We were shocked that the P4 wasn't filled on a Saturday night (not sure why), and now it looks like Moose is coming back to the rescue. 3. Revello's, Old Forge. The best red pizza in NEPA. Or maybe it's... 4. Ghigiarelli's, Old Forge. Right across the street. Or if you want something different, there's always... 5. Pizza Perfect, Trucksville. The best of the "greasy, square oniony pizza" in the Victory Pig style. 6. Katana, Wilkes-Barre. The best sushi, especially when Suzuki mans the bar. Tuna tatakki appetizer, yellowtail and mackeral plus eel for dessert. What a meal! 7. Glider Diner, Scranton. Wonderful pie. Even better Roast Beef Sandwiches and Fries or Mashed Potatoes, both covered in gravy. 8. Tony Stella's Goodfellos, Exeter. Intimate, cozy Italian. Pricey, but worth it for special occasions. Spoil yourself. 9. Amber Indian Restaurant, Moosic. Better than any I've had in NYC or Philly. Onion fritter appetizer and Lamb Jalfrazie as the main course (tangy orange sauce). 10. Michaelangelo's, Clarks Summit. Continental (French). Another birthday and anniversary place. Great service too. 11. Woody Brown's, Wilkes-Barre. I'm squeezing in my latest favorite. Ribs, chicken and fried fish...cheap authentic and yummy.

My best friend lives in Philly (two hours from our home in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), so we're speaking strictly as vistors who have hit maybe fifty places over the past two or three years. Dollar-for-dollar/course-for-course, the clear winner is Django. We were blown away by EVERYTHING we ordered (the cheese plate is not to be missed). It's clearly obvious that Django is run by a couple who have made cooking and all of its possibilities their legacy. The combinations are astonishing. If you think you've tried it all before, you haven't. Plus, it's casual. unpretentious and very reasonable! In the same league as Django...but totally different too... Tony Luke's. The Roast Pork Italian may be the greatest sandwich ever!!! As my dad says, "It'll put hair on your chest"! After ten visits I've yet to order any other sandwich. Just can't. Carman's Country Kitchen. Amazing breakfasts. Limited hours, limited seating and a limited menu---to guarantee everything's fresh. Carman's as wonderful as the food. A terrific "day off" treat.