Where to Eat in the Poconos Now
These 16 restaurants are worth making a drive for.
Café Duet. Photograph by Natalie Chitwood
Joe Bosco BBQ
Monroe
Fans of brisket, sausage and ribs will love the backwoods charm of this humble cabin dinette, which serves up BBQ the way BBQ should taste: fresh, smoky, juicy and tender. Come hungry; portions aren’t for the meek. Delaware Water Gap; joeboscobbq.com.
Notch Eight Craft House
Carbon
With co-founders hailing from Chester County and a lineup of Pennsylvania-only cocktails, brews, and ever-changing small plates (like a breakfast sammie on beer-glazed doughnuts from Donerds, across the street), this steampunk-inspired restaurant is always buzzing. Jim Thorpe; notcheightcrafthouse.com.
Sote Gastropub
Monroe
Basic brunchers, beware: At Harjaap Chatha’s lively seven-month-old gastropub, chef Kavon Langley turns out delicious fusion dishes like fried chicken and red velvet pancakes drizzled with honey yogurt sauce. East Stroudsburg; sotegastropub.com.
Waterwheel Café, Bakery & Bar
Pike
This quaint — and crowded, but for good reason — creekside eatery serves the expected sandwiches and soups, but be sure to try the Vietnamese dishes (especially the rice noodle salad), on the menu thanks to a former chef. Milford; waterwheelcafe.com.
Llama Ice Cream. Photograph by Natalie Chitwood
Llama Ice Cream
Monroe
Llama’s scoops are diabolically creamy, but what really sets them apart is flavor. Don’t miss the stuff made with fruit from founder Julio Amenero’s Peruvian homeland: cherimoya, soursop, and the caramelly, maple-y lucuma, a.k.a. “Gold of the Incas.” East Stroudsburg; llamaicecream.com.
The Settlers Inn
Wayne
You know the fine-dining scene in Philadelphia, and this is very much that. Candle-lit. Blazer-filled. The food and drinks are exceptional, but it’s the old-school atmosphere that has us wanting to return. Well, that and the glorious open-air dining cabins nestled just beyond the flower gardens out back. Hawley; thesettlersinn.com.
Café Duet
Monroe
Whether it’s coffee or a snack you crave, Café Duet’s java (made with sister company Santa Mama’s beans), fancy handcrafted sandwiches, and bake-at-home empanadas (by Argentine co-owner Betsi Bickart) have you covered. Stroudsburg; cafeduetpa.com.
Beer House Cafe
Monroe
The fare at this to-go beer emporium has depth. Chef Chahrazed Chadli infuses her Algerian roots into everything from traditional shakshuka to huevos rancheros (fava beans on paratha) and cocktails (a baklava martini!). East Stroudsburg; beerhousecafepa.com.
Dishes from Bà & Me. Photograph by Natalie Chitwood
Bà & Me
Wayne
Leave it to surprisingly hip Honesdale to host Wayne County’s only Vietnamese restaurant, which somehow manages to best most of the ones we have back home and offers far more vegan options. (Get the “Impossible”-style Shaking Beef!) Honesdale; baandme.com.
Kitch-en Cafe
Monroe
Yes, Kitch-en is located in a bleak strip mall. Get over it, and then get to this extra-quaint bruncherie. Chef Holly ConionCopeman makes farm-fresh dishes (oh hello, breakfast burger) so good, you’ll come back the next day. East Stroudsburg; kitch-en.com.
Native
Wayne
When the New York Times inevitably “discovers” NEPA, it’ll be because of Alex and Caleb Johnson — two veterans of Philly’s Safran Turney hospitality empire — and their beautifully delivered, flavor-rich farm-to-table small plates. Reserve a table for a special occasion. Honesdale; nativehonesdale.com.
The Charcuterie Bistro & Wine Bar
Monroe
This cozy cafe offers build-your-own meat-and-cheese platters as well as gourmet sandwiches. The Honey & Brie Flight is a standout, especially when paired with one of the impressive $20 bottles of rosé. Stroudsburg; charcuterieonmain.com.
Jubilee Restaurant
Monroe
Though this casual spot serves three meals a day, it really shines at breakfast. With creative takes on classic pancakes, waffles and French toast — bacon-stuffed, cornflake-crusted, chocolate-drizzled — it’s a great place to fuel up before a long hike. Pocono Pines; jubileerestaurant.com.
El Rincon Caribe
Monroe
You can’t choose wrong at this Puerto Rican eatery: succulent rotisserie chicken, crisp Cuban sandwiches, perfectly seasoned rice and pigeon peas. But choose quickly: Menu favorites tend to sell out well before close. 2936 Route 611, Tannersville; 570-620-2400.
Inti Peruvian Cuisine
Monroe
Tuck into this unassuming spot on River Road (right next to Llama Ice Cream) and then tuck into plates of ceviche, empanadas and “Peruvian paella” that’ll transport you from the Poconos to the Andes. East Stroudsburg; facebook.com/inticuisine266river.
Santa Mama Coffee
Monroe
Between their unpretentious house-roasted beans and the pop-up cafés they host on weekends in their minimalist roastery just off the Appalachian Trail, prodigal Delaware Water Gapper Daniel Bickart’s spot with wife/partner Betsi may be the pinnacle of bespoke 2021 cool. Delaware Water Gap; santamama.coffee
Published as “Eat Good Food” in the “We’re Going to the Poconos!” guide in the June 2021 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
