Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Central Pennsylvania

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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

4.8

4.8 (246)

$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

Edwardvip

Dined 2 days ago

We sat outside again at Kevin's on a wonderful Saturday evening and had a great meal. Mark, our waiter, was very good. Our meal consisted of the summer salads, the ginger & soy glazed salmon, and the shrimp & scallop sambuca. Dessert was the lava cake. Funny that this was actual the same meal we had at the start of the summer.

Discover more

Breaker Brewing Company

4.8

4.8 (482)

$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

Marlene

Dined 2 days ago

Great menu and specials. Terrific food and beer!

Discover more

Experience

Mozzarella Making Experience

Allen Street Grill

4.8

4.8 (836)

$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

Susan

Dined 5 days ago

I am my two guests were quite happy with the meal and service at Allen Street Grill. I had not been there in quite a while and was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a "new" chef and a fresh and delicious seasonal menu. Have already shared my experience with a few colleagues and will return again soon.

The Tavern Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (45)

$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

Natalievip

Dined 1 day ago

Great service and delicious meal! Loved the outside seating and ambience.

The Greek

4.6

4.6 (248)

$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

Betsyvip

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Grilled calamari was excellent. Salad was fresh and very good!

Duffy's Tavern

4.5

4.5 (87)

$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

Kim

Dined 2 days ago

Out of staters second time here ( first Easter ‘24 and this weekend). Both excellent dining experiences. Food cooked to order and delicious. We’ve had salads, calamari, soft pretzel, wings, steak, brisket, halibut, pork chop. Never a complaint. It is a little loud but could be just the other guests. Place is a cool old building with a brief history outlined on back of menu. This will be our go to restaurant when in State College area.

Cafe Toscana

4.5

4.5 (300)

$30 and under

Italian

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

Please call us at 570-208-1252 if you would like to make a reservation for more than 4 people.

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

MaryLee

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Always a great experience at this venue. Excellent food, lovely atmosphere, and good prices. A true gem whose owners and management have weathered economic ups and downs, the pandemic, and the general decline of downtown Wilkes Barre to maintain a consistent level of excellence 👍👍👍

Discover more

Popular dish

Mozzarella Caprese

Four Blooms

4.5

4.5 (362)

$31 to $50

American

Wilkes-Barre

About the restaurant

Good Food - Good Drinks - Good People
Enjoy a freshly prepared meal or one of our signature cocktails in our spacious dinning room & bar area, or on our patio! Reservations are strongly suggested.

Top review

David

Dined 5 days ago

Had a nice time there. Nice ambiance. Food and service were good.

The Greens at Irem Clubhouse

4.5

4.5 (84)

$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

Paul

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Good food and service was great. Food arrived in short time. An overall great experience.

Cork Bar & Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (304)

$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

Corny

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful dinner last night before going to the Little theater in Wilkes-Barre.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Central Pennsylvania

Explore more Diners' Choice lists