Penalty Box

Place was awesome accommodating me at 11:30! Desiree was awesome so welcoming. Margie a patron gave…read moreme directions to have awesome cocktails! Can't wait to come back ! Everyone needs to stop here and ask Desiree and Lori! Make sure u see Margie!

Food & Service was good. I sat at the bar. Pretty crowed and fairly loud. Had a good time and will…read morego back if I'm in the area! JT

Cassie makes this place great.

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Good time!!

Backyard Ale House

4.0(382 reviews)

3.0 mi

I've never had the food, but I've been in a couple times on a weekend night for a drink…read more The place is always slammed with kids from the University of Scranton. It's a massive space with a large front room and back patio, but on a weekend the entire place feels packed. The bartenders are generally good for how many folks they are serving. I tend to avoid this place on the weekend to avoid the college crew, but overall a good spot to grab a drink.

I ordered the baby back ribs and they were as tough as shoe leather and so salty I could barely…read morestand it They said they would make me another order so I gave him a second shot at it. Second order was just as bad. The mac & cheese was dry. There wasn't much cheese to go with the Mac. The cornbread also was very good We did get their three soft pretzel with cheese and mustard and that was very good. The service was good. The people were friendly. The ambience was cool. Place was clean smelled good. Everything was in proper order.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

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Nashville Chicken

Ale Mary's

3.9(301 reviews)

2.8 mi

Gastro pub a bit of stretch. Food is fair to good student/ bar food. Service exceptional from the…read morebar. Lots of tv's on sports and a definite student feel to the place. Been there many times over the years and stayed pretty honest to itself. Located close to Mall on street that has several other up market choices a few blocks away. We went as we wanted a beer and wings which they did well with cheese fries. Has a game area and walk through to Jenny's which is great speakeasy which appears not to be open. This is great space. If you go to this bar ask if it is open

We waited a while to be noticed at the hostess desk, then we got seated by a family with screaming…read morechildren. Our waitress brought us dirty appetizer plates. We got the Korean dumplings which were very good with Asian zing sauce on them. We also got their nachos which were soggy towards the bottom but had good flavor with bbq sauce and pulled pork. Now they don't offer pulled pork sandwiches but have pull pork on the nachos. My fish and chips were soooooo salty! The tartar sauce was good and French fries. The breading was also soggy but the fish was very tender and nice. The chicken cheesesteaks were good, filling and yummy. The Ale Burger is a double smash burger with good flavor, and a good meal. The Buffalo Mac and cheese was spicy but enjoyable. The service wasssss slow and not very attentive. The manager had to come over and ask if we needed anything bc our server seemed to disappear. I believe it's new owners which explains the menus cut in half, but I hope they get things together bc this spot is super cool. Speak easy, cool hangout spot.

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Food & Fire BBQ-Taphouse

3.6(189 reviews)

1.4 mi

When on the road we have our regular hotels to stay at and restaurants to eat at. This is our PA…read morestop for what had been good BBQ. It is also pet friendly under an outside tent. Unfortunately, I ordered my usual brisket melt sandwich and was disappointed given the amount of fat. The French fries were tasty as was the chocolate cake for desert which was decadent. Our waitress was very personable and was enjoyable. May have to alter this 2x/yr stop going forward. Hopefully, it was a one off experience.

We stopped in for lunch because it was close to our hotel before going to a concert. We started…read morewith the cider Creek snow cone cider, which was outstanding. For an appetizer we had wings, which were very large and delicious. For our meal, we had a brisket, BLT and pit burger. Everything we had was phenomenal. The only potential negative was that there were some fat in the pulled pork. But overall, this is a great experience. Our sugar was very attentive and outgoing, even offering suggestions.

Brisket melt

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Exterior

Dave & Buster's Scranton

2.4(36 reviews)

1.4 mi

I say skip the place and eat somewhere else if you want good service…read more If you want to drink and chill I think it's alright, definitely better than their food service. My boyfriend and I decided to eat after playing games for an hour. It was around 10:00 pm when we were seated. I really wanted to sit at a booth but all 6 of their booths were not cleaned up and had stacks of plates on them. We waited a total of 15 minutes to get our menus. Waited an extra 20 minutes to be able to order our food, then another extra 40minutes to get our food we ordered. I ordered chicken and rice but they were out of rice so they offered fries. My boyfriend ordered chicken tenders and fries. $14 for 4 tiny pieces of tenders ...( he also ordered a shake that they forgot about, so we told them to take it off the tab) Server also forgot to bring us utensils with our food? All of that took almost an hour to come out. They weren't busy either. Most people were at the bar drinking or done eating and hanging out at their seats, but more than half the tables were empty. I saw my server leaning up against a counter talking to coworkers the entire time. They had at least 5 workers roaming around doing who knows what, excluding the kitchen staff. It's now 12:30am and we're out of there. While we were walking out those same 6 booths still had messy plates, cups, and trash. The tables were also very sticky, not properly wiped down. We got seated at 10pm, It wasn't busy and still 3 hours till they closed. I don't blame my server, but probably the managers that don't really care how to run a place or get their servers to be attentive to the customers.

Alcohol beverages could be better, along with staff. I went a while back and it was a one and done…read more Games weren't too bad but service wasn't the best.

Reservation for seats @ the tv wall denied. Seats were "unavailable". This was taken 60+ minutes after our self bar seating.

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Happy Valley Sports Bar

4.2(64 reviews)

7.0 mi

Atmosphere is warm and inviting. Great place to see the game but honestly, the food is star. I've…read moreliked everything on the menu. Service is fun and engaging.

Christine and Marissa and are the best Highly recommend the…read morepersonal pizzas and the whatever burger is the special.

Mozzarella sticks! Awesome!

Amazing Salmon Salad!

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Fried bacon Mac and cheese balls

Pine Hills Grille

4.0(1 review)

1.7 mi

Nice golf course with friendly staff. It's so convenient being close to where I live .read more

On-site catering menu

Buffet

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Refreshing drink with a beautiful view

Poor Richard's Pub

3.6(51 reviews)

2.2 mi

Restaurant that promotes local beer, cognac pierogis and The Office Memorabilia. 5 stars because…read moreit's a good bar food and drink place regardless of the history. One bartender for the whole place so service could get slow (that's what she said-the bartender). Souvenir glasses, growlers, t-shirts and sweaters.

Absolute gem of a venue, especially if you love the office! It's in a bowling alley and is so…read moreunassuming, but you walk in and immediately feel like you're in a neighborhood joint. Bartender was funny and polite. I got the house chips and my husband got mozzarella sticks. Really exciting to see a place with cheap food (both together cost us 6 dollars!) that was actually delicious. I could have eaten two more plates of chips. The drinks were also well made and we got some Poor Richard's swag to bring home We ended up coming back at night we liked it so much and it was clearly a popular spot. This is an absolute must on a Scranton adventure

Entrance (in a bowling alley)

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Mickey Gannon's

4.2(35 reviews)

4.8 mi

Last time 5 stars, this time 2-3. What happened? Probably should avoid wing night (Tuesday) due to…read moreit being busy and pre-cooked wings. Unfortunately, our order tasted old, like maybe from the weekend. We ate 12 of the 15 wings. Sauce was light but the crisp was excellent. Last time the wings were perfect. A little bigger than I prefer (Kelly's are the perfect size for me), but not jumbo size. Sauce and crispiness on point. Still love this place, but we'll sample another of my old wing haunts the next few times we are in town before returning here. Too many good places to pass or just go to our favorite spot. Bartender is great and service always quick. Great little local bar with a good menu.

Always great bar food. Recommend any of the buffalo items- especially the grilled buffalo chicken…read moresandwich or boneless wings.

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Maroni's Pizza House

4.5(217 reviews)

2.0 mi

Really cool ambiance. Found this place in Lonely Planet's Eastern USA book. GPS took us through…read morenostalgic neighborhoods. It's located in the middle of an older section of Scranton. Had to wait a while, but it was worth it! Very good pizza! Be sure you call and order in advance!

First time I ever ate pizza with yellow American cheese. Did not like it. Should have asked for…read moremozzerella! Also, when I left with box in my hands no one told me I left two bottles of soda that I paid for on the counter. Never going back here. Lously pizza.

Soda

Grilled cheese pita bread pretending to be pizza. Absolutely no sauce.

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Street View

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6 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Paul S.

142

4 months ago

I've come here a few times since moving into the area, to grab a meal and enjoy a couple of drinks, and the experience has been consistently excellent. I can see myself becoming a regular for several reasons like the bartenders and wait staff are some of the friendliest people you'll find, they're always welcoming, and always ready to help with a favorite menu item when you tell them what you're in the mood for. They'll offer menu suggestions based on your preferences, and every single recommendation I've taken from them has been spot on. What really sets this place apart is the balance between great service and a relaxed atmosphere. When they're not too busy, they don't mind chatting briefly--talking about the game, who did what, and keeping things fun since it's clearly a sports bar. The best part is that it never feels like an obnoxious, overly loud bar. There are lots of locals who come in regularly, enjoy the food, watch the games, and soak up the atmosphere. The layout is also a big plus: there are tables both in the front and in the back, so it's easy to come with family or a group of friends. The restaurant and bar feel lively without being chaotic, and there are many TVs scattered throughout the space so you can catch the game no matter where you're sitting. There's also a jukebox, and they have a few games of chance around the venue, which adds to the "local hangout" feel. The food is where this place really shines. If you want something you can count on, my personal favorite is the filet mignon sandwich. For only $12.99, you get the sandwich along with fries and a pickle on the side--it's honestly a bargain. The filet mignon is real and tender, and they cook it exactly the way you want it, from rare all the way up to well done. I also have to mention their pickle spears. They're sweet with a sour bite, plus a little bit of heat. I first tried them with my filet mignon sandwich on my first visit, then later I asked whether they were still on the menu. They told me they're called "Chef's Cold Pickles," and they really are worth it. Another standout is their Italian-style wings. They have the flavor of Italian dressing, but they're not soggy, they stay crispy. The wings are loaded with seasonings and spices (they keep the exact blend secret), then finished with a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese. They're not your typical garlic Parmesan wings, but they're absolutely delicious and genuinely unique. Between the awesome customer service, the phenomenal prices, and the great food, this is the kind of place you want to revisit. Go with a bunch of friends for the games and a fun night out, or bring your family for a satisfying dinner at a price that's hard to beat! See You There! read more

Karen O.

15 years ago

out for the afternoon with my girlfriends for lunch and a movie. We wanted to try something new, so we stopped at The Penalty Box cuz my son has told me that the food was really good. That was an understatement! Homemade soups to die for, best burgers in the entire area and a menu you would never expect to see in a bar that does not do any advertisement. Chain Restaurants should be so good, and the prices were cheaper at the Box(that's what my son calls it). I will be back, over and over again. read more

Jason B.

15 years ago

yesterday me and my girlfriend came to the ''penalty box''. so I ordered thirty wings the most amazing wings I have ever tasted EXCELLENT!!!!!!! Is one of the few words I would use to describe these wings. also amazing soups and the cheapest prices in the area's I GIVE THIS BAR 2 THUMBS UP :) read more

Alexandria A.

6 years ago

shittiest blonde server ever. if you ever wanna drink, dont come here. if you dont have a penis, dont think you are getting a drink. have a nice night. read more

Ellie M.

11 years ago

This is a smoking establishment that serves MORE than 20% food. You can't breathe and u reek from cigarette smoke when u leave.

O M.

14 years ago

Fantastic wings, huge bar, great atmosphere. Its a must stop!

Penalty Box - pizza - Updated September 2026

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