For everyone out there blessed with an eccentric auntie who serves up a slice of chocolate mousse pie before dinner because she believes it’s best to eat dessert first in case you’re one to get full quickly (thus risking missing out on dessert), we begin the eats & drinks portion of our dc best of section with our sweetest winners.
Oh the joy of smelling freshly-baked cupcakesâ¦is there nothing better in life? Close your eyes just for a second the next time you visit Bakery Delight and you won’t question why dc readers voted it the Best Bakery and declared theirs the Best Bagels as well. For a delectable dessert menu, including blueberry buckle and peach praline pies, cinnamon buns and more, stop by Bakehouse Bakery & Café, voted Best Desserts.
And when it’s chocolate you crave, you told us Gertrude Hawk Chocolates is the place to find the Best Chocolate. When you need a doughnut to accompany your morning coffee, where do you turn? Dunkin’ Donuts, of course. This yummy hot spot was named Best Doughnuts, and it also won Best Coffee Shop. And When your inner Cookie Monster grumbles for that mid-afternoon sweet pick-me-up, it’s Circles on the Square for you – voted Best Cookies.
If you want some ice cream to go with your cookies, head to Grotto Pizza, winner of Best Gelato, for Italian ice cream, or the famous Curly Creme Soft Ice Cream for traditional favorites. If you’re a fan of Italian Ice, Rita’s is the go-to place in Luzerne County, earning your votes for best Italian Ice.
And whether you eat dessert before or after dinner, there are plenty of great dining choices in the Wyoming Valley, from traditional American cuisine to ethnic specialties. If Asian cuisine is on the menu, visit Thai Thai, voted Best Asian Food and Best Vegetarian, and for hibachi, stop by Katana, voted Best Hibachi. Another favorite is Mizu Sushi, winner of Best Sushi. The winner of Best Mexican/Southwestern cuisine is La Tolteca and Palazzo 53 was named Best Italian Food.
Speaking of Italian food, we must not forget a staple of so many of our diets – pizza! For the Best Square Pizza, readers tell us Pizza Perfect has a corner on the market, and for the best round, you head to Grotto Pizza.
By now, surely you must be hungry. So why are you still reading, silly! Grab this list of winners and mangiare! Mangiare!
- julie imel
Best Asian Food Thai Thai • Best Bagels Bakery Delight • Best Bakery Bakery Delight • Best Boneless Wings The Tipsy Turtle Owen Street Pub • Best Breakfast Tony & Sons Diner, Kingston • Best Brunch Canteen 900 • Best Chain Restaurant Olive Garden • Best Cheesesteak Pizza Bella • Best Chef Tony Macri, Metro Bar & Grill • Best Chocolate Gertrude Hawk Chocolates • Best Coffee Shop Dunkin Donuts • Best Cup of Coffee Crescenzo’s Brick Oven Eatery and Espresso Bar • Best Deli Goldstein’s Delicatessen • Best Desserts Bakehouse Bakery & Cafe • Best Diner Hollywood Diner and Sports Bar • Best Doughnuts Dunkin Doughnuts• Best French Fries Abe’s Hot Dogs • Best Gelato Grotto • Best Hamburger Bobby O’s Family Restaurant • Best Happy Hour Food Arena Bar & Grill • Best Hibachi Katana• Best Hot Dog Restaurant Abe’s Hot Dogs • Best Ice Cream Curly Creme Soft Ice Cream • Best Italian Food Palazzo 53 • Best Italian Ice Rita’s Italian Ice • Best Kids’ Menu McDonald’s • Best Lunch For a Low Price Euro Bistro • Best Mexican/Southwestern La Tolteca • Best New Restaurant Karina’s Retreat • Best Old-School Restaurant Hops and Barleys • Best Patio Dining Club Havana, Outdoor Deck Bar at the Woodlands Inn • Best Pierogies Konefal’s Restaurant & Catering • Best Place to Dine with Kids Grotto• Best Potato Pancakes Jones Pancake Shop • Best Quickie Lunch Crescenzo’s Eatery and Espresso Bar • Best Restaurant AuRants • Best Romantic Restaurant Bentley’s • Best Round Pizza Grotto • Best Salads Rodano’s • Best Sandwiches Circles on the Square • Best Seafood Cooper’s on the Waterfront • Best Service Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse • Best Soup Twigs Restaurant & Café• Best Square Pizza Pizza Perfect • Best Wine Menu Cork Bar & Restaurant • Best Winery Bartolai Winery • Best Wings Whiskey Business • Best Steakhouse Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse • Best Vegetarian Menu Thai Thai • Best Beer Menu Arena Bar & Grill• Best Ambience Bentley’s • Best Cookies Circle on the Square • Best Sushi Mizu Sushi• Best Stromboli Grotto • Best Veggie Burger Rodano’s
