The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81)

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:53:27 GMT

Yeah, I think sarah3988 just threw that in because she was on a roll. But basically, her rant also describes my two previous visits to the Anthracite.

On this visit, as soon as we walked in the door we were greeted and brought to our table by the dining room manager. The first question I asked was "is the place under new ownership?". Same owner, new sense of commitment.

One thing though. No beer menu yet. They are still working on it(2 years)

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:16:08 GMT

Don, I hadn't responded to defend The Anthracite against Sarah's post because we felt the same way; the service had gone downhill, the menu had changed. It's good to see per Joe, whose judgement I trust, that it is back on track. I'd read the same review and was skeptical, but now we'll give it another try.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (MiamiDon)

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:20:54 GMT

sarah3988

absolutely the worst customer service i have ever seen. as soon as we got in there, it took us about ten minutes to get our menus. when our waitress finally gave us our drinks, she said she would be "right back to take our order". this took about ten minutes just to place the order. the food wasn't all that bad. however, when i asked for a refill on my water, it came back with the most nastiest looking brown bug in my water. i was soo disgusted by this i couldn't even finish my shrimp salad (not to mention the other two people that were dining with me). it took me forever to finally find my waitress, and when i told her, all she said was "wow thats disgusting" and took it back. she brought back another water and just said sorry about that, but it honestly didn't even seem like she was surprised by it or even cared that there was a bug in my drink. any other restaurant, they would have sincerely apologized, maybe even brought the manager out to apologize. i was mostly appalled the unconcerned waitress. i will never go back to that place again. NO NOT GO THERE!!! the menu might seem really good, but the fact that it is a dirty restaurant should make everyone not want to go there. we saw one of the cooks come out from the back, he didn't even have a hairnet on his head. i mean, if there was a BUG in my WATER, imagine what can be found in the food. i regret ever eating there and i will never go back there again. absolutely disgustingggggg.

OMG! A cook without a hairnet? Ewwwwe!!!

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:07:02 GMT

My last two visits to the Anthracite were less than spectacular, to say the least. The place was literally coming apart at the seams. From what I gathered, the owner had some medical issues....Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Well, I saw a review in the local paper and decided to give the place another try. So, to everyone who was disappointed, especially my buddy Mosca, I say, give the place another try.

I was there this evening and the place was jam packed the whole evening. There was more than enough well trained staff, along with an excellent dining room manager to handle the traffic. And the food was spot on.

I had steamed clams(which are hard to screw up)and they were excellent. The wings were outstanding as were the burgers. The fried ice cream dessert received high marks also.

Nice to see a local RF joint hanging in there.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (sarah3988)

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:56:10 GMT

absolutely the worst customer service i have ever seen. as soon as we got in there, it took us about ten minutes to get our menus. when our waitress finally gave us our drinks, she said she would be "right back to take our order". this took about ten minutes just to place the order. the food wasn't all that bad. however, when i asked for a refill on my water, it came back with the most nastiest looking brown bug in my water. i was soo disgusted by this i couldn't even finish my shrimp salad (not to mention the other two people that were dining with me). it took me forever to finally find my waitress, and when i told her, all she said was "wow thats disgusting" and took it back. she brought back another water and just said sorry about that, but it honestly didn't even seem like she was surprised by it or even cared that there was a bug in my drink. any other restaurant, they would have sincerely apologized, maybe even brought the manager out to apologize. i was mostly appalled the unconcerned waitress. i will never go back to that place again. NO NOT GO THERE!!! the menu might seem really good, but the fact that it is a dirty restaurant should make everyone not want to go there. we saw one of the cooks come out from the back, he didn't even have a hairnet on his head. i mean, if there was a BUG in my WATER, imagine what can be found in the food. i regret ever eating there and i will never go back there again. absolutely disgustingggggg.

Re:The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:52:50 GMT

We ate here tonight, first time in a while. There are quite a few menu additions. I was going to order the hot maple garlic chicken ("Sauteed chicken tenderloins in a zippy maple garlic sauce topped with caramelized Bermuda onions"); and then I saw BEEF TENDERLOIN TROEGANOFF!

Alls I had was my cell phone:

"Tips of beef tenderloin, fresh mushrooms & onions in a Troegs Brewery’s Famous Troegenator Doublebock & sour creamed rich gravy over fettucine pasta."

Damn, damn, damn. This was really good. It was awesome.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (sk bob)

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:03:13 GMT

I ain't sayin nuthin
I got an alibi

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (EatingTheRoad)

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:09:50 GMT

Mosca

Joe, Bob, that is at least the second robbery in the last year; the TVs were stolen sometime in the spring.

sk bob

great report & nice pictures, Mosca.
the only thing that ruins that nice dining room is that TV.

Maybe it was sk bob who took 'em...he was just making the dining room more pleasant.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:36:44 GMT

Joe, Bob, that is at least the second robbery in the last year; the TVs were stolen sometime in the spring.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:16:28 GMT

I was back at the Anthracite today. The house right next door belongs to one of my customers. Yesterday her home and the Anthracite were robbed. Sad.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (sk bob)

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:19:09 GMT

great report & nice pictures, Mosca.
the only thing that ruins that nice dining room is that TV.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:19:37 GMT

Brad_Olson

joerogo

Mosca, We tried The Anthracite tonight. It started out very bad.

Do you have a beer menu(160 beers available)? No
Clams? No
Portabella burger? No
Fresh vegetable? Canned corn

Maybe that's just s.o.p. when they get someone that they don't want as a repeat customer...

Brad

Maybe you are right Brad. No pickles either.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (ScreamingChicken)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:43:15 GMT

joerogo

Mosca, We tried The Anthracite tonight. It started out very bad.

Do you have a beer menu(160 beers available)? No
Clams? No
Portabella burger? No
Fresh vegetable? Canned corn

Maybe that's just s.o.p. when they get someone that they don't want as a repeat customer...

Brad

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:35:12 GMT

She must have been new then; there is an extensive beer menu, I've held it in my hand many times. Heavy on the Stone's, Rogue, Bell's, Dogfish Head, Victory, etc. The usual suspects, all in your favorite place.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:25:19 GMT

Mosca & EatingTheRoad, The sign out front says "160 Beers Available", but they didn't have a menu showing them. Not even a breakdown of what was available on draft. Our waitress tried to rattle off some of the choices, we ended up with Coors Light and Yuengling

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (EatingTheRoad)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:23:07 GMT

That sounds delicious. I love the Snyder's Honey Mustard Pretzel Bits...I bet that would work nicely

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:00:19 GMT

I don't think I have any pictures; but it looks like shake 'n bake chicken with a coarser crust. Actually, I experimented and made it at home, I got pretty close. Whirr a couple or t'ree big honey-mustard sourdough pretzels in a food processor, but not too fine. Set out some bowls with milk, flour, egg, and the pretzel crumbs. Dredge the tenderloins through each and fry in a hot skillet with about 1/4" of peanut oil in it for about a minute on each side to set the coating, then bake in a 325* oven until done, maybe 15 minutes.

Mix up a honey-mustard sauce, try 2 parts Dijon mustard to 1 part honey, a little mayo and a little lemon juice, I like mine on the mustard side. Or use a good commercial sauce.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (EatingTheRoad)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:46:01 GMT

Weird, their website still lists a load of beer:
http://www.anthracitecafe.net/beerdrink.htm

Pretzel Chicken you say...what's pretzel chicken? I like pretzels..I like chicken...

Pretzel Chicken
Fresh chicken tenderloins rolled in honey mustard sour dough pretzels, fried golden brown and served with honey mustard sauce. $13.99

Wow, I think I'd go there just for that. Got any pictures of it?

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:10:10 GMT

Wow, sad to see the beer menu go! We haven't been there for a couple months. I know times are tough for them, their clientele is the people who are hit hardest by the recession. I used to get lunch there, but they aren't open for lunch any more. And the Texas Hawg Wings have been gone for about 6 months.

Yeah, the burgers kick butt, do they not! Always a great choice there. And if you return, try the pretzel chicken; my mom used to make that, but not as good.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:16:00 GMT

Mosca, We tried The Anthracite tonight. It started out very bad.

Do you have a beer menu(160 beers available)? No
Clams? No
Portabella burger? No
Fresh vegetable? Canned corn

I guess they are changing the menu and discontinuing certain items. But we hung in there and had a great meal. Our server, Kathleen, was very nice.

The chili was excellent, thick and meaty. Also, very good french onion soup. But the winner was the burgers. Fresh, hand formed, half-pound patties. I would say it's the best burger in our area.

Thanks for info!

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (mr chips)

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:10 GMT

Missed tis thread earlier. Thanks for sharing a place from your neck of the woods.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:44:26 GMT

Just wanted to add, The Anthracite Cafe now has a website:

http://www.anthracitecafe.net/index.htm

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Scorereader)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:07:44 GMT

On the return trip, (Sunday Nov. 30) the little bugger was out cold through the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. So we skipped trying to find that Anthracite on this return pass.

We stopped in Frackville and hit the Dutch Kitchen. I had the Rueben, which was fine. A little greasy, but meaty. The crab bisque was pretty good. After living several years now in the mid-atlantic, I could've used some old bay in the bisque to liven it up, but it was soft and tender, and hit the spot on a cold slushy day travelling through PA. My wife had the roast beef club. Her take: "a little thin on the roast beef, but the rye bread was delicious; it beats Subway, mostly because of the bread. The decor is like Cracker Barrel only homier. Waitstaff was friendly, but slow to deliver the check. Overall, it's a good stop."

Since they do have a baby changing station in the restroom area, Dutch Kitchen will likely become our Frackville stop.

We certainly will give Anthracite another shot, as long as the little one is ready to eat around that time.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Scorereader)

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:01:04 GMT

got lost trying to find it. I was in the 100-300 block area. Somehow, I goofed, I forgot my print out, so I was sans map and couldn't remeber the block number.

I'll try again on the next pass, now that I know it's in the 800 block. And, after driving in circles, I'm pretty comfortable with the layout of the immediate area.

We ended up getting back on the highway and hitting Ruby Tuesday near the Lackawana visitor center.

Salad bar was spotless and fresh, they did a really great job on the alpine burger.

Hopefully timing will work out with out little one's eating schedule that we can try to find the Anthracite again.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (joerogo)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:23:58 GMT

Mosca, I have the original cedar that lined the beer vats at the Stegmaier Brewery from 1857.

When the brewery was sold and auctioned off, Amity lumber in Taylor, Pa. bought the cedar and made tounge and grove siding from it. I walked by it many a times in his lumberyard, thinking what I could do with it.

Finally I lined the walls and ceiling of my wine cellar with it.

[img][/img]

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Mosca)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:10:27 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Scorereader

Mosca: I'll be travelling I-81 through there four times in the next month (two trips to Syracuse). Now that we have our baby, we actually stop for a sit down meal so that the munchkin can be fed. So, The Anthracite will be a must stop on one of the passes through Wilkes-Barre.

Looks like Exit 168 is the easiest exit to take (Highland Park Blvd to Kidder to Scott). I know that exit well. we usually stop at that Wegmans.

Scorereader, if you're asked, tell them that you heard about them on Roadfood! And, I'd recommend the pretzel chicken; it is out of this world.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (Scorereader)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:14:48 GMT

Mosca: I'll be travelling I-81 through there four times in the next month (two trips to Syracuse). Now that we have our baby, we actually stop for a sit down meal so that the munchkin can be fed. So, The Anthracite will be a must stop on one of the passes through Wilkes-Barre.

Looks like Exit 168 is the easiest exit to take (Highland Park Blvd to Kidder to Scott). I know that exit well. we usually stop at that Wegmans.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (leethebard)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:29:34 GMT

I enjoyed your report Mosca..unfprtunately too afr for me to travel...but I was taken by that homemade Focaccia!!!!

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (ken8038)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:17:39 GMT

Great report Mosca. I've added Anthracite Cafe to my "to Do" list for that area, which I try to get to once a year, usually on a day trip.

Not only does the food look good, but, oh those prices!

At <$2 for a gallon of gas, I could drive there & back from Union County NJ and still have a lower cost than most restaurant meals I could eat locally.

<<WHAAAT?!?!?!? No Stegmaier???? No Gibbons????? No Bartels?????? No Liebotschaner Special Cream Ale???????>>

It does seem odd that a local place with such an extensive beer list would not have any of the local beers on draft. Oh well, I can always pick up a case of Steg Porter on my next trip.

RE: The Anthracite Cafe, Wilkes-Barre PA (Off I-81) (juleebella)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:09:58 GMT

I keep reading the title of this thread as The Anthrax Cafe.

Great pictures, sounds like a really great place.