Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Central Pennsylvania

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Central Pennsylvania? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cafe Toscana

4.8

4.8 (340)

$30 and under

Italian

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

We are now taking reservations on our website at cafetoscana.net or click the link below to go there directly https://cafetoscana.menu11.com/wilkesbarre/reserve

Bringing a taste of the Old World to downtown Wilkes-Barre, Cafe Toscana is located at One Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Our recipes are tried and true family favorites that represent the best that Tuscany and the surrounding region has to offer.

Cafe Toscana’s Northern Italian cuisine is light and delicate and allows the individual flavors to come through. We feature an array of tried and true family favorites, including veal, pasta, risotto, fish, steak and seafood, with a variety of specials to keep the menu always fresh and exciting. There are also an abundant asortment of homemade desserts on the menu.

A new and greatly expanded wine list gives customers plenty of choices for every dish and every palette.

Top review

Edward J.

Dined on May 9, 2025

CAFE TOSCANA is a must stop for me on all my trips to Wilkes- Barre, PA from Wilmington, DE. It has become the reason to look for all opportunities to get up there. The Friendly Service and DELICIOUS FOOD, across the entire Menu. makes CAFE TOSCANA the place to go to!

Kevin's

4.9

4.9 (309)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

Owner Rob Friedman invites you to join us at Kevin’s for a casual, fun, and creative dining experience. The culinary team at Kevin’s headed by Chef Matt Gilbert offers a wide range of dishes including fresh seafood, handmade pasta, hand cut steaks, and so much more. Specialty cocktails are featured daily and are sure to be enjoyed! Most of our staff have been with us from when the restaurant opened, lead by General Manager, John Lahr, with many years experience in the industry and who also creates our famous table side Caesar Salad and Bananas Foster. Our family strives to make your dining experience the most memorable one, and we invite you to celebrate any occasion with us!

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined 3 days ago

SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT, FOOD WAS GREAT AND ATMOSPHERE WAS PERFECT

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4.8

4.8 (957)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

State College

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of downtown State College, our newly restored space offers an honest, no-fuss menu featuring modern American cooking. The bar program features classics-inspired craft cocktails and a thoughtfully curated biodynamic wine list including plentiful wines by the glass.

Located on the second floor of Hotel State College, an iconic corner of hospitality in the community, the Grill has offered the community and alumni one of the grandest views of town and Penn State through floor-to-ceiling windows for more than 40 years. Thoughtfully restored and reimagined by new owners, Chef Karen Nicolas and the team set out to re-establish the Allen Street Grill as the epicenter of the downtown dining scene with a focus on local, quality ingredients and great hospitality.

Top review

William

Dined on Jun 2, 2025

Had a great meal with great service. A very enjoyable outing!

Breaker Brewing Company

4.7

4.7 (512)

$30 and under

Brewery

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

Welcome and thank you for your interest in Breaker Brewing Company. We are a Micro Brewery & Brew Pub in Northeast PA’s coal region that brews, serves and delivers handcrafted beer to local bars and pubs. Our small batch craft brews are dedicated to the hard-working people who have been and still are examples of our rich heritage.

Top review

Tami

Dined 3 days ago

everything was great they accommodated us by switching texas toast to a wrap. I went there specifically to use my birthday reward and after i paid the bill i forgot to use my reward. Silly me.

The Tavern Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (128)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

State College

About the restaurant

The Tavern Restaurant has proudly served downtown State College, Pennsylvania since 1948.
A newly renovated historic institution, The Tavern specializes in contemporary classic American cuisine in the ambiance of a colonial tavern. Join us for elevated comfort food, timeless cocktails and first class service.

Top review

Chris

Dined on May 31, 2025

The service was great and the food was excellent.

Cork Bar & Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (361)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

Cork Restaurant opened in Wilkes-Barre in 2007, bringing an innovative, hospitality-focused concept with a unique array of dining, cocktail and wine menus. Cork is located in a quaint neighborhood in the north end of Wilkes-Barre and is a place where customers become friends. Our spacious, multi-level floor plan features a classy, yet contemporary decor and a relaxed cosmopolitan ambiance perfect for dining or entertaining. Cork’s second floor dining area provides the ideal setting for a romantic dinner for two or a larger dinner group of friends or family. Visit Cork Bar & Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre today for hospitality at its finest!

Top review

Kevin

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

We were in town for an event and always try to find unique places. This is how we ended up at the Cork Bar. The restaurant was exactly as described and the experience was amazing. Our server Rachel was great in making sure we had everything necessary for our dining experience. The food was excellent and priced right. Thank you for a great meal. Next time when we are back in Wilkes-Barre, we will make sure to dine at the Cork Bar Restaurant!

Grace at the Carnegie

4.6

4.6 (717)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

State College

About the restaurant

Grace Restaurant at the Carnegie House has been awarded for 10 consecutive years by State College Magazine the Best Fine Dining Restaurant and Best Romantic Restaurant!

As you enter the dining room through the French doors from the library, a feeling of warmth and elegance beckons you to enjoy leisurely modern trending dining. A bow window allows dinner guests to view the beautiful flowers that surround Carnegie House and the woods surrounding the golf course. China, crystal, and silver grace the tables on crisp white table linen. Servers are attentive in providing for the needs of the guests who dine on trend-setting cuisine.

From breakfast to elegantly prepared hors d'oeuvres and dinner selections, dining at Carnegie House is as spectacular as it is relaxing. The Library invites casual conversation while savoring a favorite cocktail or glass of wine from the Wine Spectator award winning selection.

Top review

Alyssa

Dined 2 days ago

Nice place. Food was good but the portions were very small even for a nice restaurant. Service was attentive. Good place for a quiet or romantic dinner.

The Greens at Irem Clubhouse

4.6

4.6 (120)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

With a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere at The Greens you are sure to have a great time. The Greens offers you seating from our cozy Dining Room to our beautiful Patio and Terrace which overlook the Irem Golf course, to the inviting surrounding in our pub. Chef Frank will fulfill your requests when it comes to looking for delicious food. Our friendly staff will always be willing to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. The Greens will be your go to restaurant for all special occasions to come, after all we are Friedman Hospitality Group.

Top review

Joeseph

Dined on May 29, 2025

Excellent lunch menu options. We were sat immediately and well taken care of. Definitely coming back.

The Greek

4.5

4.5 (274)

$30 and under

Greek

State College

About the restaurant

BYOB Authentic Greek Cuisine in State College, PA.

After many years of serving the perfect American breakfast, The Original Waffle Shop's founder John Dimakopoulos brings his traditional Greek cuisine to you!

From fresh and abundant vegetables to the most succulent kebabs, each dish has been perfected to showcase genuine Greek flavors.

Top review

Jim

Dined on May 19, 2025

this was our first time at your restaurant. WOW we had a great time, the food was great, our server Owen was very nice and made sure that we were taken care of. We. would happy to come back and enjoy another great evening.

Federal Taphouse-State College

4.5

4.5 (200)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

State College

About the restaurant

A modern gathering place for great American scratch cooking. 100 Beers on tap and 10 Wines on tap!! Great place to book events with large parties. Be our guest!

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

Lovely waitress, attentive service. Had the carnitas tacos and they were delicious. Son had the hot honey chicken and homemade chips, all very good. Other son and husband each had a pizza, they enjoyed both. Would recommend.

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