Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Central Pennsylvania

OpenTable

Updated July 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!

Kevin's

4.9

4.9 (322)

$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

RonaldVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Neighborhood gem in Kingston with outstanding customer service. The swordfish preparation, presentation and taste were all OUTSTANDING!!

Allen Street Grill

4.8

4.8 (978)

$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

john

Dined 2 days ago

The food and service at Allen Street Grill is consistently excellent. We have never been disappointed.

Breaker Brewing Company

4.7

4.7 (516)

$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

Jessica

Dined on Jul 19, 2025

We sat outside by the ramp. I feel like we were forgetten about. We had to get the servers attention a couple times.

The Tavern Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (146)

$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

Amy

Dined 1 day ago

Great service and delicious food. Highly recommend.

Cafe Toscana

4.6

4.6 (344)

$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

ReneeVIP

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Food is amazing. Every time we are in area having dinner here is a must.

Cork Bar & Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (371)

$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

GailVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Enjoyed celebrating my Aunts 75th Birthday at Cork for Sinatra Sunday! Great food choices and everything was delicious! Service was wonderful!

The Greens at Irem Clubhouse

4.7

4.7 (127)

$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

Mary Ann

Dined on Jul 17, 2025

Great restaurant in the Back Mountain. Alex was wonderful and the food was fantastic.

Gigi's Southern Table

4.4

4.4 (1905)

$30 and under

Southern

State College

About the restaurant

Gigi's is as casual as it is chic; it’s a local farm-to-table experience capturing the sophisticated yet laid back ideals of southern hospitality. It’s a social gathering place for friends, whether you're aiming to impress out-of-town guests, linger over a romantic dinner or just want to enjoy a local craft beer in the lounge, come join us at our table.

Top review

Sandra

Dined on Jul 10, 2025

Three of us ate at Gigi's and had a memorable meal with excellent service. My friend from Germany wanted to know what Southern food tasted like and was impressed with the appearance and taste of the boil, gumbo, fried green tomatoes and pineapple upside down cake. My husband and I ordered the fried chicken and green beans and should have had one half chicken instead of two because we basically took one meal away with us. Anyone would enjoy the food there and the Southern hospitality of our waiter was a true gift to add to the enjoyment of the meal.

Discover more

Popular dish

Fried Green Tomato BLT

4.4

4.4 (159)

$31 to $50

American

Boalsburg

About the restaurant

Indulge your tastebuds at Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern. This restaurant serves up contemporary American cuisine in a traditional Georgian tavern that boasts charming rustic décor, multiple fireplaces, original decor and a relaxed bar. The restaurant’s menu features soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and tasty entrées. Dining highlights include our wonderful steaks, pan seared duck, King salmon, sweet potato gnocchi, and Duffy’s famous signature chicken wings. A children's menu is also available.

Don't miss our St. Patrick's Day celebration with a full Irish menu and our Colonial Christmas weekend with colonial fare celebrating the nationalities of the original settlers in the area.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern is a popular spot for local residents and out of towners alike. It makes a good choice for everything from a quick bite alone to an elaborate dinner date.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, excellent service, and lovely atmosphere

Grace at the Carnegie

4.5

4.5 (725)

$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

CathyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We really enjoyed our dinner last night at grace. The menu is so much better than it was a few years ago which was the last time we dined there. Excellent service and everything we ordered was delicious.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Central Pennsylvania

Explore more Diners' Choice lists