This place used to be a 4/5 now it should be less than one. Before Covid Backyard was a great place to go for food and drinks and I have been there many time. When Covid hit there was a small dip with service food etc but then it quickly rebounded. Yet as many other establishment opened the quality quickly declined. At first I thought it was due to shortages with workers staff etc but to be honest I am unsure of what it is. After multiple errors with wrong orders, cold food I was let down by the service. Usually when these issues would happen they would be quickly resolved but recently they have been compounded with constant inconstant service. However I recently went back and was pleasantly surprised with how much smoother things were operating. The food seemed better the bar service was easier and smoother. Yet a comment made by the owner on my previous review has left me with an extremely negative opinion about the restaurant. I stated my initial experience and while the owner initially appeared to own up to some of the issues, he quickly wanted to turn it into a "teachable moment because there is a child like naiveness to your review". The owner then compares the establishment's experience to those of the tragic hurricane katrina and the struggles that the establishment faced. This to me shows the disconnect between reality and their own view. Many businesses have struggled, and failed during these hard times but stating "I hope you develop some context to avoid living such a shallow life" in reply to 1 bad review is just disheartening to see. I gave backyard another chance recently and planned to check it out one more time but seeing how the owners reply to not only my negative review but others has left me disheartened. My main issues with backyard was the decrease in overall service, quality of food and inconsistent drink price/ service since they reopened AFTER the initial Covid restrictions. During and before Covid ,minus a small dip, the service was great and the food which is typical bar was decent. I had planned to update my review with some of the positive changes but after the comments by the alleged owner I cannot recommend this establishment. Nevertheless after my recent experience with food and drinks i cannot let who ever commented be the only deciding factor in my review. From my recent experience they have made improvements and are back on their way to a 4/5 out of 5 with their service and food quality, yet based on my experience with a condescending reply to my previous review and some bad experience I've decided to update my review to a 2 read more

Great selection with a great staff. Live music is a plus. Smoking out back is a bummer. Great selection of beer. The best burger I ever had in Scranton. read more

Stopped in for a late lunch. The beer selection was amazing but not too many people willing to talk about it. Food was mediocre...not really that great. Great atmosphere and might guess it's more of a college nightlife scene. read more

My favorite place in town to get a beer. Their draft lust is awesome, and their bottle shop is impressive. I also really enjoy their boneless wing bites, which go great with a cold beer on tap. read more

I met a pal here after a job one Saturday afternoon in late October. The place was quiet, with maybe 10 other patrons. Those looking to pick up something other than a pint might have been disappointed but it suited us fine. The decor is nothing special but more than adequate for our needs. We sat at the "Inside" bar. The Backyard Ale House has another bar in an adjoining tented-in area which might be the source of the name. The Outside provides something of a rarity in 21st century Pennsylvania--a bar for smokers. I don't know if the place is in compliance with the Commonwealth's laws governing smoking in public but I imagine this area is a real bonus for those who enjoy cigs and suds. I couldn't detect smoke where I drank when there were a few puffing away. I do wonder if a full tent might be a problem for tobacco-sensitive folk. Pictures on the bar's website show that section sans tent which could be quite nice in warmer times. The Backyard Ale House's printed draft menu was split into Inside and Outside listings with 20 for the former and 6 for the latter. The broad selection offered a good variety of styles. That day 5 of the 20 Insiders were Marzens or pumpkin ales. Only 1 mainstream offering diluted the group. Many beers were new to me, which is always a plus. I went with Belgian-style IPAs, Evil Genius Beer's Evil Eye PA and Clown Shoes' Tramp Stamp. For the record, I liked the Tramp Stamp better but did feel a little funny when I told the bartender "I need another Tramp Stamp." The Backyard Ale House also had an extensive bottle list. I would definitely return should I find myself back in the Electric City. read more

It's a nice bar with a nice outside patio. Their drinks are reasonable. Last I knew there was no kitchen, so don't plan on eating here. The clientele is usually decent to be around, usually laid back, not rowdy, trashy, or scummy. read more

Awesome food and amazing year! Their selection of beer supersedes any other bar in the area. I am also so excited that they started serving food a few years ago. Not the typical barfood you would expect but instead, you will see a thoughtful and delicious menu! Their brunch is top notch also! read more

Amazing and FRIENDLY service. Even though they were setting up fir the band the servers were super attentive. Three different servers asked if they could get us drinks! Excellent menu options. Try the Thai salmon sandwich. read more

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my nights at the Backyard Ale House, but with the every-increasing popularity of Craft Beers, you could usually find bars that fit exactly what you are looking for. Positives? Great beer selection, usually have good local cover bands and I usually have good service. In the summer, the outside section is also nice. I am a sucker for decks and nice outdoor drinking areas and this one is pretty good. The downsides are more just personal preference. As another reviewer mention, they allow smoking outside and during the winter they have a tent that goes over the outside. This keeps all the smoke inside the tent and can become pretty unbearable. This is a personal issue and I'm sure others might not mind. During the weekends it can get crowded so if you do not like the smoke, you might get a bit cramped on the inside. The other downside is just the spillover of people from Mulligan's. Now this is a minor gripe, but sometimes you can get crowds that are mostly college-aged or like the 10+ group of frat-type folks. This is minor, but I tend to prefer sitting down and having a nice pint and sometimes I cannot get this. Super-minor, but if you enjoy a more laid-back craft beer bar, this might not meet your preferences (especially on weekends). read more

I had a mexicali burger. While a common item on a lot of menus nowadays, it was delicious and cooked exactly how I wanted it. It was served with their own chips, which were also delicious. My boyfriend had the one night stand burger. It was also cooked the way he wanted it and was a more unique choice than mine. He devoured his quickly. For an appetizer we had the mac and cheese quesadillas. They were very yummy as well. There is an extensive beer menu with many choices, but beer isn't my thing. I'm sure that by the sheer size of the menu, there will be one for you. The staff was also very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and options. Overall, I am very happy and will come back again read more

I ordered a chicken sandwich and fries. The fries came out likes nubs. I told my server and someone came out to speak with me. He told me the fries are freshly cut. He apologized and walked away. He didn't even offer to make a fresh batch. Don't get the fries. They're $3.50 and not worth $.50. read more

Good selection of beers and a big back yard that's great in the summer. It's a young crowd with a good gender ratio. Getting a drink often takes a while, and the inside section is a bit too dark. One thing that I personally take a big issue with is the cover charge. There is no live music and no reason to otherwise justify it. read more

Great beer selection! Good specials and wings are fantastic and unique. Service was good enough but the portions and flavors are worth it! Five wing sampler great. read more

Amazing. Just amazing. They constantly update the beer on draft, so it's really awesome. And their food is good.

Great summer happy hour spot. The location is convenient and they have a huge beer selection. The outside bar gets packed on weekends, but is less so during weekday happy hour and they often have free food. The staff is friendly, though not always attentive, and there is an interesting mix of clientele. My one complaint is their prices. Especially for draft beer. read more

A pretty good beer selection. I had the clam chowder and simple salad. Both were also decent. I expected the chowder to be better. I would have also expected a chilled glass for my beer, but got them at room temperature. I would definitely recommend this place. I would go back and try more food options if I were going to be in town longer. read more

This place was great! Came in for Sunday brunch with my boyfriend. The menu consisted of mostly meat/egg/cheese dishes, which I can't eat, but the server was so accommodating and let me order the vegetables from the veggie omelette, inside the tortilla from the breakfast wrap, making myself a veggie breakfast wrap. It came with home fries, and everything was delicious. Great mimosas too! read more

Really nice spot to hang with friends. This place has over 500 beers available! Wish they had better parking, but that's a curse for any bar owner in that area so can't blame em. Well worth stopping by. read more

An insane selection of beers, with an impressive number on tap. Food was very good, with a wider selection than I expected. I wish they offered flights. I will be back. read more

Great place. The burgers are excellent. The staff represents all of the people of Scranton. Kind and hardworking. Thank you.

If your looking for obscure beers this is the best bar in a 30 mile radius at least that you will find them and you will find a very vast selection. Hundreds of beers to choose from and the prices are good. Food could be better but this is the best bar/restaurant in town with the biggest beer menu. read more

The burgers were amazing cooked to order and the drink selection alone was worth the short walk from the Hilton. And the service was amazing even after it got busy they were on point. She even brought my service dog plenty of water read more

Best find for Sunday brunch! Their meal and drink special for $10 is cheap and delicious. Place wasn't crowded and service was great.

They have a ton of beers on tap from multiple places around the US. The prices are reasonable and the food was great. I had a kielbasa, egg, and cheese bagel with fries. Very filling and exactly what I expected. It wasnt too crowded or loud and the service was good. read more

No joke when I say I had one of the best burgers of my life here. Cooked perfectly to order. Craft beer list was also very impressive although I did not indulge. Can't wait to come back and try more of the food and drinks. read more

My family and I had lunch on a Saturday. The food was great as well as the service. Everyone was friendly knowledgeable about the menu and local attractions. We had burgers, homemade chips, hand cut fries and BBQ nachos. The nachos were incredible!!! We will definitely stop by again when in the area. read more

Good food, good beers, but what enticed me to write this review was the service. Never did I have so many staff members approach my table and ask how we were doing, what else they could get us, etc. Extremely attentive and pleasant staff- never had an empty pint ! read more

We like sitting at the back bar & like to get there between 5 - 6 to make sure we get a seat. Always a nice offering of beers on tap, about 25 different varieties. That's on tap. Easily over 100 different varieties in bottles. The food is usually above average (like the chicken bites) but there have been a few disappointment dishes. Love the atmosphere & the waitresses & waiters are great & cordial. We look forward to our next visit. read more

Love the atmosphere on the outside patio! Great variety of beer and food!!Always make a point in dining here while visiting my daughter at Marywood University. read more

Great atmosphere, eclectic crowd, attentive staff and food was value for money. Good selection of beers both inside and out.

I'm not much of a beer drinker, buy the food was excellent. I had the Morning After Burger, which is a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top, served on a large English muffin. My wife had a pork and rice bowl and my friend had a super chili dog that you had to eat with a fork. Everyone loved their meal. The service was also snappy and courteous, always on hand for refills. Prices were fair, around ten bucks per dish. It's definitely worth stopping here next time you're in Scranton. read more

Amazing beer selection and awesome service from the bartenders no matter how busy it gets. It can get very crowded and smokey Friday and Saturday in the back area but it's awesome for summer mid day drinking on the weekends. Biggest draw though is the outstanding beer selection. The food is OK but not as good as some other places in town with similar menus. read more

As a gay guy from the wildly homophobic Alabama who was always skeptical of straight bars, Backyard has an amazing atmosphere and a great mixed crowd. The outdoor back patio is amazing. read more

Decent bar food and reasonably priced. Wings are good. Big place. There was a peculiar smell in the back corner that tended to waft through occasionally. Worth going back on game night. read more

My husband and I stopped here for a late lunch last Tuesday......what a find for sure. Our server, Jeff, recommended the Cuban sandwich which was excellent. I couldn't decide on a beer, so he asked what kind of beer that I like and brought me three samples to try......found a new beer to add to my favorites. I would recommend this spot. read more

First time in here and I like the vibe. Relaxed, college/sports bar place. Unpretentious. I didn't order any food nor did I sit outside (it's snowing.) Draft list is decent as is the to-go fridge. Not at all busy on a Tuesday evening which is the source of my complaint. I sat ten minutes as literally the only person sitting at the bar to be acknowledged by the staff. I got a draft list from the couple next to me. Female bartender finally walks over and asks if I'm good down here and walks away before I can order. She's at the other end of the bar talking with another bartender (I use the term loosely.) She's probably 23, tops, and a student at the college across the street. Cool, make your college spending money, but your job could literally not be any easier right now (nobody ordering multi-part cocktails) and still I sit. Thirsty. Inattentive bartenders (my biggest pet peeve) trying to coast to tips with that waif hipster bs (seriously, they all look like the same person) make me regret walking in when I could have just drank in the comfort of my hotel room while watching 'Just Go With It' again. It's such an easy thing to get right. Maybe the staff is just having an off night or not trying hard because it's not busy and they don't have to. Idk. Don't let this dissuade you from coming in, but fine dining it is not, and don't expect punctual service if you're not f*cking one of the bartenders. read more

Good beer selection but not ideal atmosphere for a young crowd. Older crowd is gathers here.

Good beer selection. Cool outside in summer/heated and covered in winter bar. Some cool bartenders and some (I'm a bartender I'm awesome bartenders) Prices for scranton probably a bit high. read more

This is my go to bar on the weekends, partly because it does a lot of things well, and partly because downtown (believe it or not) is lacking in this type of scene. The positives of BYAH: fanstastic selection of craft/micro brews. The bottle list is HUGE and they usually have approx 20 or so beers on tap; I can't remember the last time they've charged a cover; it's not a "dance club" type of place so the nonsense is kept to a minimum; the "backyard" part of the bar is awesome during the warmer months and there is a heated tent up during the cold; the inside part of the bar has enough tables if you get there early enough; the service is generally speedy and has knowledge of the beers they serve. The biggest negative I can find is that BYAH still allows smoking in the backyard part of the bar. This is not really a problem in the summer, but it is absolutely unbearable for a non-smoker when the tent is up. You need to shower immediately upon leaving and possibly throw your clothes away. I've had smoke hangovers the day after going, it's that bad. I understand the business aspect of allowing smoking, but if that doesn't appeal to you, plan on getting there early on the weekends so you can get a spot in the inside bar. The only other small complaint is that, while they do a good job rotating their drafts, the draft selection is usually dominated by ales. I'm not big on bitter beers and they rarely have many lagers available. Not the biggest deal in the world, but something to know if you plan on going for the beer. read more

This place is the go-to bar for my friends and me. As graduate students, we like the relaxed yet fun atmosphere here without the overwhelming craziness of a typical college bar. They always have a crazy number of beers available. Tuesday nights they feature five 4oz beer samples for $5 which is a great way to try new beers without paying a lot. I've only have food here once, but it was very good. Their macaroni and cheese was delicious. They have indoor tables and an outdoor patio that is beautiful in the summer. In the winter they put up a large tent so you can still enjoy the bar and seating available without freezing. I recommend this place if you are looking for a fun bar atmosphere! read more