We've eaten at the Watson Inn several times over the years, but since I've started reviewing restaurants based on their food, service, quality, and atmosphere, I knew it was time to give this place the recognition it deserves. Five stars without hesitation! We almost always choose to dine at the bar, where the atmosphere is welcoming and the service is consistently excellent. If you prefer a more traditional dining experience, the Watson Inn also offers cozy booths, spacious dining rooms, and banquet facilities for larger groups. Although it's about a 45-minute drive for us, it's well worth the trip. On this visit, we were greeted immediately by the hostess and warmly welcomed by the bartender. As always, the staff was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made us feel at home. Our drinks and menus arrived promptly, setting the tone for another great evening. I almost always order the Taco Salad, while my partner can't resist the Fish Basket. We also started with an order of the mozzarella wedges, which were cooked to perfection--crispy on the outside, hot and cheesy on the inside. The Taco Salad never disappoints. It's served in a homemade taco shell and comes with your choice of seasoned beef or chicken, loaded with fresh toppings, salsa, and sour cream. I always add a side of jalapeños to give it an extra kick. My partner's Fish Basket was equally impressive. The portions were generous, the fish was perfectly cooked, and everything was fresh and full of flavor. Both meals were excellent and offered outstanding value for the price. Whenever I'm craving a taco salad or she's in the mood for a fish basket, the Watson Inn delivers every single time. Their consistency is one of the many reasons we keep coming back. For my taste, this is hands-down the best Taco Salad in the Central Pennsylvania River Valley. The fish ranks among the very best as well. Between the outstanding food, warm atmosphere, attentive service, and genuinely friendly staff, the Watson Inn makes you feel like part of the family. And while we have our favorites, the menu is packed with delicious options, including excellent entrées, burgers, and wings. If you're looking for a restaurant that consistently delivers quality food and exceptional hospitality, the Watson Inn should absolutely be on your list read more

Food is tasty, atmosphere is really cool with the wood trim and tin ceiling. Service was excellent, will come again.

Menu had a number of selections that interested me. I ordered 4 courses! Food was Great! Very cozy atmosphere in an old country inn. Service was excellent! read more

Had an unhappy server/bartender, & the House Steak Sandwich was the worse steak sandwich we have ever had. the steak was tender, but absolutely no flavor. read more

Always a great meal at the Watson Inn! Service was outstanding and a great atmosphere.

Fantastic room, quiet and great service. Room far better than expected. Staff extremely accommodating. Will definitely return!!

The Watson Inn is a great place. And, its the only real reastaurant and bar in town. I enjoy going there when visiting. The bar is a great place with lots of bar space. The food is good but not great. But that does not mean sometimes is is a good experience. On this vist, I was a little disappointed. I ordered a "Turkey with Cramberry" sanwich which I asked to be made in a wrap instaed of bread which they cheerfully accomodated. I was thinking that from a local place in north central PA, this would clearly be "real" turkey. Unfortunately it was deli cuts. It was OK, but disappointing from my expectation/hope. But I will be back again and again as I enjoy the place with friends. read more

Watson Inn - Great bar - Hotels Near Me - Watsontown, Pennsylvania

It is a quiet Inn that has great dining and bar experience. The servers are very courteous and polite and very inviting. The room we stayed in was not fancy but simple enough to feel at home. It was my birthday experience away from home. I recommend it to anyone near the vicinity. read more

Watson Inn used to give you a free meal for your birthday, if you came in on your birthday. We always had a good group of people who would come for one persons birthday and that person got a free dinner while the rest of us bought our meal. We would sometimes have 12 people for one birthday person. We planned a 100th birthday dinner for my Dad who was a WW2 Veteran. Our dinner plan was on his birthday. There were 15 of us total counting him. When I ask the server about it if he would get his dinner free she told me they quit doing that. She said because of covid. Which was pretty much over. I said he is 100 years old today and he can't get a free dinner. She said NO. I'm thinking wow and there are 14 more people buying a full price dinner and they can't give a 100 year old a free dinner for his birthday. As it was our meals were all over priced. But we were there to celebrate with him. This pretty much put a sour taste in my mouth. I don't plan to patronize this place again. They need to think about it. read more

The food was very good. The dining area and bar atmosphere was steller. Their hotel area on the other hand was severely lacking. It was like walking back in time to 1960. Rooms are not updated. Our TV was a very very small and old 13in brown RCA. Furniture is old and in need of updating. We had a very squeaky and uncomfortable Queen Size bed. Bathroom is also very small. The Inn needs some serious work. Although they do provide free WiFi which was a plus. Room rates are decent and the rooms were clean. I wouldn't stay here again unless I had no choice. read more

Great food at reasonable prices. Loved the free meal on your birthday. read more

Watson Inn - Hotels Near Me - Watsontown, Pennsylvania

I am surprised nobody has review the Watson Inn yet. This is your local meeting place. Most Watsonians believe everything happens at the Watson Inn, which is probably true. They have a great atmosphere, wonderful wood work, separate bar and dining area. The management is very kind to local organizations. The Rotary Club, Lions Club, and card clubs all host their meetings here. Food is okay- nothing spectacular. Unless specified all salads are iceberg. Boring! Additionally, none of the salads come with bread or rolls. I have yet to find any exciting or different food venue here. Your typical American fare with hamburgers, wraps, salads, and dinners. Dinners include a small (very small as in 5 pieces of lettuce) and a side dish. Price range $13 - $20 per dinner. The Watson Inn does offer great daily specials on drinks and meals. If you haven't visited the Inn before, I suggest you stop by just to hear what the gossip in town is. read more

Dining unexpectedly after a track meeting my son and I stopped in on our way home for a quick bite. Food came quickly and was quite good. Service was quick and friendly. Ambiance was great. Overall a good place. Sure the locals love it and although I would stop anytime, I would not travel to eat here. read more

I love this place!! Best French onion soup in the area. The wings are awesome and can't beat the fresh cut fries. Also has good adult slushies!! All the staff are friendly and helpful!!! read more

My husband and I enjoyed our Easter dinner at this fine dining establishment. Our steaks were cooked to perfection, and we savored the bruschetta as our appetizer. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive. All in all, it was a wonderful meal. The ambiance allowed for a quiet, relaxing, delicious meal. read more

The food is good but lunch service is very slow, typically you will need 1 1/4 hr. There is not much of a crowd at lunch, getting a seat is never an issue. read more

I wish I could tell you what our servers name was, Daniel rings a bell, but I could be wrong. He was a super nice gentleman. We sat in a booth on the bar side at about 3:30pm. Generally in any restaurant when you go at an off time, the staff tends to wander. I have to say he did a phenomenal job of making sure we were taken care of and that we had everything we needed. Our food came out in a very timely manner and everything was very good. It was only my second time dining there but I am happy to say we will come back again! read more

Interesting visit. Came here for my wife's birthday. We had reservations and were seated within 10 minutes of arrival. Then it took 10 minutes until we were waited on and another 20 minutes until we got our drinks. Rolls were covered with so much raw flour that we asked for replacements which were better. Meals arrived in a timely manner and my wife enjoyed her Black Diamond Steak entree. My flat iron steak (a special) came out very rare (ordered medium) and cold over lukewarm smashed red potatoes. Sent it back and it came out the way I had ordered it and it was hot. They compensated with a free dessert. An okay experience but not one that would draw me back. The food was good but nothing above average. Kudos to our waitress though who was great and the atmosphere is very nice. read more

We've always had great meals here ... in fact, I can't remember a bad meal, or bad service. So - that's why we keep coming back! The black diamond steak is really good, by itself or in the salad. It's my favorite! read more

Tacky and dingy! Hallway carpet is all taped up with electrical tape, broken furniture, ancient tv's, and stained comforters and carpet..and did I mention dark as a dungeon? The cheapest room rate has gone up to $99 from $60. read more

This is going to be lengthy - have lots to cover. Hate to look a gift horse in the mouth but have to tell it like it is. We went there for my birthday dinner. In case you don't know it, Watson Inn gives the birthday person a free dinner (up to $20) if you go ON YOUR BIRTHDAY! Very generous! So I shouldn't complain, right? First let me say that the ambience is incredible. The wood work on the building is exquisite and the huge fireplace in the main dining room is impressive. And the bar (we walked through on our way out of the restaurant) is amazing. Very crowded on a Friday night, but absolutely beautiful. But the service leaves something to be desired. Our waitress was not familiar with the menu, spilled hot au jus in my lap, did not bring (or offer) horseradish for prime rib. And as for the food, my friend had liver and onions. You get your entree and two sides (one side with pasta entrees). So if you order liver and onions and a salad and soup, you get a plate with a slice of liver and a scad of onions. According to my friend, the liver was very dry. I had the prime rib - had to pay extra because it was over my birthday allowance, but it seemed reasonable. However, it certainly was not the best piece of prime rib I have ever had. It was barely warm and quite thin for prime rib - I would have preferred a smaller piece, but thicker. As for the au jus which did not end up on my lap, I shared that with my friend for his dry liver. One of my biggest complaints is all the little plastic containers that show up on the table. Salad dressing in a little plastic container, sour cream, horseradish, au jus, they all show up in little plastic containers - which may be practical for the restaurant, but seemed oh so tacky for what otherwise would be a classy place. My other big complaint is all the service personnel mulling around doing nothing. At one time, we counted eight male and female employees either talking among themselves or just standing around doing nothing at all. Will I go again next year for my birthday dinner? Probably, but I'd like to see fewer plastic containers and fewer work staff making me feel self conscious as I eat my dinner. read more

We visited the Watson Inn several years ago and found it delightful and decided to visit again. Keep in mind that you really have to go out of your way as the restaurant is not really close to any major highway or town. Some friends joined us and we made reservations for the bar. We were greeted and promptly seated in a booth. The decor and early american decorations are stunning. We started out with the nachos which were fantastic. The steaks and sandwitches are great. For great service, fantastic food in a Country setting, visit the Watson Inn. read more

What a pleasant place to unwind from a long day of driving. Watson Inn is a lovely place to dine. The servers and hostess were so welcoming and friendly. I was lucky enough to be there the day they were serving the crab bisque. I highly recommend it. read more

The food here is great! I highly recommend the prime rib & the steak salad.

Stayed here last year, August 2011, for the Little League World Series, with my 11 year old son. We loved the place, the room was nice and clean, yes it was outdated but I was not expecting anything fancy. We did walk down to the local mini market and bought some snacks and bath items for our 11 day stay but we made it home. The TV was small, but we were not their to watch TV. The only drawback for both of us was the NO WIFI in the hotel. I understand that this year they have it now. Will I go back, yeap...I sure am...for another trip to the LLWS. We ate in the town a few times, found the food good and the selection just right. read more

Smoked turkey leg was awesome. A very nice bar area and great service. I will be back.

Delicious food, very kind service, and an old-fashioned esque vibe. The fettucini alfredo pasta was delicious. The dining room is sort-of quiet/dead, so if you want more of a restaurant vibe, go to the bar area. read more

I love this restaurant! Amazing food and amazing wait staff! I have never had something I did not like and I have received some of the best service I have ever recieved! Their spinach artichoke dip is one of the best I have had at a restaurant! The bar area is absolutely gorgeous! If in the area it is a must to stop here! read more

My husband and I go there for the food and service. Our favorites are the Old Bay Cheese scallops, bacon wrapped scallops, and crab cakes. You can go for dinner or drinks. They make a great Long Island ice tea. The bar area is better. The dining room is outdated and chairs are uncomfortable. read more

We had two bus loads of students riding back from NYC to Ohio. We had reservations for 4:30 but had bus troubles and didn't arrive until an hour or so past their closing time. They stayed open just for us and had delicious fresh hot food ready to feed 100 teenagers and 10 adults. Thank you Watson Inn! The food was amazing and the staff was so welcoming and gracious! Their macaroni and cheese is a hidden gem! read more

Stayed there one night in October 2012... Very disappointing... old, outdated, tired room, with no functioning central air or heat, a terribly noisey ceiling that kept me up most of the night, no screens on the window (second floor) to get some air, very small room, with very little furniture. The mattress had a low spot in the middle and I kept rolling into it all night long! The room was clean, I'll give them credit for that. I complained in the morning and told them that the room wasn't worth $63.00 with tax. I told them that I had recently stayed in a very nice, modern Motel 6 for $29.00 in NC on the way there and it blew their room away. I expected a discount... they refunded the full amout... I guess they know how bad their rooms really are. Sorry, I would not stay there again. read more

Stayed here after weeks of trying to find a place for Parents Weekend at Bucknell University. This inn COULD be cozy and homey...but it's not. We checked in around 10:15 on a Friday night after traveling 1800 miles. Luckily, we just caught the front desk guy as he was locking everything up. He said that we could still have gotten in but it probably would've taken a while for someone to answer the door buzzer (yes, we had advance reservations). We received our room key and went to the third floor using the elevator. The hallway was almost completely dark when we stepped out of the elevator. We wound around in the darkness and found the room itself was...underwhelming, to put it nicely. It could've been charming. It wasn't. None of the finish work (door trim, baseboards, doors) was well done. The tiny sink (no vanity) is in the room itself while the commode and shower are in their own space separated by a door. The switches for the light and fan were in the bedroom rather than the bath. There was a 2-1/2 inch space under the bathroom door -- so much for quiet and privacy. There was no place to work (desk), no chairs in the room. The queen-sized bed was decently comfortable but it squeaked loudly with EVERY movement during the night. And I mean LOUDLY. There was no thermostat and the windows didn't open so we couldn't control the temperature. They did provide a box fan if we needed it (but since you couldn't open the windows, what's the point?). The ceiling near the air vent was filthy. One of the two lightbulbs in the overhead ceiling fixture would go off about every 20 seconds, then back on. The carpet was stained in numerous places and was disgusting. We only slept here and tried not to spend time in the room. The maid was VERY pleasant and helpful. She needs to train the rest of the staff (if she can find them). Other than that, the service was completely non-existent. There was never anyone at the desk -- we were completely on our own. We had to change plans and cancel the third night, so we only stayed for two nights. The hotel manager refused to refund our third night claiming that we should've canceled at least 48 hours in advance. We wondered why almost all of the reviews were for the restaurant/bar and not the hotel. We sucked it up and made our reservation anyway. Lesson learned -- I've stayed in a LOT of hotels through the years and I can say that this one was solidly in the bottom three. I'd rather go to the KOA with my tent and sleeping bag (at least I know that it's clean). But, on the bright side, it was quiet... read more

My favorite restaurant in the region. If you are traveling in the area, stop here! Great atmosphere, great food, pretty decent beer selection for a place that doesn't brew their own beer. read more

My husband and I, along with 2 friends, enjoyed a delightful meal, comedy show, and overnight lodging at the Watson Inn, Watsontown PA! We had a awesome waitress who enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed her; I devoured a perfectly prepared rare prime rib while my husband loved his crab cakes in an atmosphere full of gorgeous oak surroundings and tin ceilings. The Comedy Show was a benefit for the Warrior Run Football Team which was unfortunately not advertised by the Watson Inn and therefore was not a full house, though it should have been. It was in a beautifully decorated basement banquet room, fit for a wedding reception. Wisecrackers pop provided comedians who had us in stitches for two hours for $20!! So much fun!! We stayed overnight in a comfortable Inn room which was quaint and sufficient and certainly inexpensive enough to match the accommodations! Thank you Watson Inn for a wonderful pre-Mother's Day getaway!! read more

I have just returned home from a VERY VERY DISAPPOINTING meal at the Watson Inn. Can't say that the meal was bad because I ended up bringing my sandwhich home. My sister & her daughter & I joined my daughter with her 2 children for a birthday lunch. Thank God the kids got their meal right away but it was 1 1/4 hr before I meal came. We all only ordered sandwhiches & salad. People seated after us (5 in one group) got their full course meal before us and 2 ladies were also seated after those people & ate & left before we got any of our meal. I got a chicken junior club sandwich ...had to search for the chicken & had more lettuce (brown color) than chicken. My sister & I paid full price for our meal but thank god my daughter did get $10 off hers. Needless to say I will not go back there. read more

Just spent the weekend at the Watson Inn in the King Suite. We had a great time, the room was beautiful, staff was top notch and the food was great. We had the stuffed flounder and eggplant parm and loved them both. The jacuzzi was awesome, the rooms were spacious, clean and nicely decorated. We felt the whole experience was just lovely. We are already looking forward to returning to the area and will Always stay at the Watson Inn. Thank You to the Staff for making our weekend a Special One! read more

We stayed at the Watson Inn the last weekend of September, 2014. Full disclosure, it was the only room available in the area. I waited to write a review in hopes the management would respond to a letter I sent. They did not respond. We stayed in the suite and it was NOT worth $199 per night. The Watson Inn does not offer discounts, not even for Veterans. There was NO microwave. NO hair dryer. NO breakfast. NO fitness/business center. The shampoo came in packets. No space in the bathroom. Cheap tissues. Broken blinds. Uneven floor. Severely outdated furnishings. Minimum housekeeping (didn't wipe down bathroom mirror, did not vacuum, did not clean the coffee pot, did not take out all of the trash). The light next to the bed did not work. The toilet blocked up and I was told I was lucky there was a plunger and I got to clear it. Two rooms at another place would be cheaper. This was not a good value for my money, it was a disappointment and substandard for the price. read more