Travel Itinerary
In Pennsylvania’s small towns, food feels a little different.
The recipes carry family stories, the dining rooms echo with familiar voices, and every plate is served with a kind of warmth you don’t find just anywhere.
These are the places where pie still cools in the window, where waitresses call you “hon,” and where the menu hasn’t forgotten what comfort tastes like.
Beyond the bustle of the big cities, these 14 restaurants are proof that the heart of Pennsylvania’s food scene lives in its quiet corners, inviting you to sit down, slow down, and savor something memorable.
1. Ernie’s Texas Lunch – Gettysburg
Don’t let the name fool you – there’s nothing Texan about this Gettysburg institution except its big-hearted hospitality.
Since 1921, Ernie’s has served their legendary “Texas wieners” topped with a secret chili sauce recipe guarded like Fort Knox.
Sitting at the vintage counter watching your food prepared makes the experience even better.
2. Heisey’s Diner – Lebanon
Stepping into Heisey’s feels like traveling back to the 1950s, complete with chrome accents and friendly servers who remember regulars by name. Their famous homemade pies draw visitors from counties away.
Breakfast shines brightest here, with fluffy pancakes larger than your plate and creamy sausage gravy that locals swear cures everything from hangovers to heartbreak. T
3. Laurel’s Hometown Cafe – Honesdale
Morning sunshine streams through gingham curtains at this cozy spot where locals gather before starting their day.
Farm-fresh eggs come from hens just a few miles away, and the sourdough bread has a backstory that spans generations.
The cranberry walnut pancakes have developed something of a cult following among weekend visitors to the Poconos.
4. The Fireplace Restaurant – Tunkhannock
Named for the massive stone hearth that dominates its dining room, this Tunkhannock favorite serves comfort food that actually comforts.
Winter visitors gravitate toward tables near the crackling fire, while summer guests enjoy the screened porch overlooking Tunkhannock Creek.
Seasonal vegetables come from farms you can see from the restaurant’s windows, creating the ultimate farm-to-table experience without any pretension.
5. Point Philips Hotel Tavern & Smokehouse – Bath
Housed in a building dating back to 1806, this historic tavern blends colonial charm with modern smokehouse techniques.
Exposed stone walls and original timber beams create the perfect backdrop for their slow-smoked specialties.
The brisket spends 14 hours in the smoker out back, tended by pitmasters who treat the process like a sacred ritual.
6. Dutch Treat Restaurant – Spartansburg
Family recipes passed down through five generations make this Amish-inspired eatery special.
Hand-carved wooden booths and quilted wall hangings create a warm atmosphere that matches the hearty portions.
Their chicken and dumplings could make your grandmother jealous.
7. The Catacombs – Mount Joy
Beneath a historic mill building, this underground restaurant offers a dining experience as unique as its name suggests.
Stone walls and arched ceilings create intimate dining nooks lit by flickering candles.
The French onion soup, baked in individual crocks until the cheese forms a perfect crust, has achieved legendary status.
8. The Horse Inn – Lancaster
Originally a speakeasy during Prohibition, this second-floor restaurant still maintains its secretive charm.
The entrance through a former carriage house and up a narrow staircase builds anticipation for what awaits.
Original horse stalls now serve as intimate dining booths where couples enjoy craft cocktails and locally-sourced dishes. Pennsylvania’s best, though regulars know the daily specials offer the kitchen’s most creative offerings.
9. Jean Bonnet Tavern – Bedford
Ghost stories swirl as freely as the beer at this 1762 stone tavern where Continental Army soldiers once plotted revolution.
The massive fireplace has warmed travelers for over 250 years, and the thick stone walls hold centuries of secrets.
Game dishes dominate the menu, with venison stew and rabbit pie honoring Pennsylvania’s hunting traditions.
10. Miller’s Smorgasbord – Ronks
Pennsylvania Dutch bounty overflows at this Amish Country institution where buffet tables stretch seemingly into infinity.
Four generations of the Miller family have perfected recipes that showcase the region’s agricultural abundance.
Fried chicken achieves a perfect golden crust while staying impossibly juicy inside. Shoofly pie, apple dumplings, and whoopie pies tempt from the dessert table, making pacing yourself the real challenge.
11. Shady Maple Smorgasbord – East Earl
Size matters at this behemoth of buffet dining – reportedly the largest in the country – where 200 feet of food stations serve authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine.
Despite its massive scale, quality never suffers, with dishes prepared in small batches throughout service.
Carving stations offer tender roast beef with horseradish cream made fresh daily.
The adjacent farm market lets you take home ingredients to attempt (usually unsuccessfully) to recreate the magic.
12. Talbot’s Taproom – Mercer
Beer lovers flock to this converted hardware store where 24 rotating taps showcase Pennsylvania’s booming craft brewery scene.
Exposed brick walls and the original tin ceiling create an atmosphere that honors the building’s 1880s origins.
The menu focuses on elevated pub fare that pairs perfectly with their beer selection. Hand-cut fries arrive crispy outside and fluffy inside, served with house-made dipping sauces.
13. Milford Diner – Milford
Chrome gleams and vinyl booths squeak at this authentic 1950s diner that’s been serving the Delaware River town since before Elvis was king.
Breakfast runs all day, with scrapple making a mandatory appearance alongside eggs and home fries.
The rice pudding recipe hasn’t changed in 70 years, and longtime customers wouldn’t have it any other way.
14. The Settlers Inn – Hawley
Arts and Crafts architecture provides a stunning backdrop for farm-to-table dining at this Pocono Mountains gem.
Hand-crafted furniture, Stickley-inspired lighting, and impeccable woodwork create an atmosphere of thoughtful elegance.
The kitchen maintains relationships with over 20 local farms, changing menus weekly based on what’s freshest. Their garden supplies herbs and edible flowers that garnish carefully composed plates.