Barley Creek Brewing Company

Barley Creek Brewing Company

Tannersville, PA
☆ ☆ ☆ 3 stars/5

Though it's not entirely fair of me to write a review for this place as a few friends and I merely stopped in for an appetizer and some brew prior to having dinner elsewhere, I thought it was an appropriate selection for Fall fun.

Barley Creek, by all appearances, epitomizes the Poconos. The lodgy, natural wood feel brings an expected pleasantry for tourists and visitors alike. It was the bright spot of a summer day that was almost entirely wasted at Camelbeach waterpark (I could go off on a tangent about the awfulness of that place, but I won't).

My friends and I sat at a high top table with views of the beer refinery behind us - rustic and inquistive. We ordered two beer samplers to try the in-house made brew. Of the six small samples we had (which also came with a free little glass), two were very good - the Antler Brown Ale has a delightful full-bodied taste to it; rivaling Guiness (I think I would prefer the brown ale to Guiness actually) and the Iron Arm Belgium Wheat Style Witbier - though I am a bit bias as I usually prefer Blue Moon-like beers. Their wheat beer was a little sweeter, not something that could be consumed as a six pack but was refreshing along side of the buffalo wings we had.

Food wise - they had the bruschetta appetizer and two variations of buffalo wings: traditional buffalo and the honey garlic. The Bruschetta could have been very good had it had less onions (and perhaps white rather than red) and the right kind of breadsticks (the bread selection clashed with the bruschetta). The wings on the other hand, particularly the honey garlic were very good. The traditional buffalo was adequate while the honey garlic was the show-stopper; the combination of sweet and garlic proved to be a harmonious marriage of flavors - I highly recommend them.

All in all, the rustic atmosphere and wings and beer made the experience worthwhile; resembling a true Poconos feel. And, on a side note, beer enthusiasts should prepare as it appears Barley Creek will be hosting an Ocktoberfest celebration on October 8, 2011.

Blakeslee Inn

Blakeslee Inn
Rt. 940, Blakeslee, PA

☆ ☆ 2 stars/5

Where to begin? We had visitors staying with us who were seeking a fine dining experience. Unfortunately, while the country club-like atmosphere boasts just that, and the menu fits the bill, the food itself was an underachiever.

The food is very overpriced, not sure if it's because the Blakeslee Inn is the only fine dining option in town or if it's because someone in the management office is greedy.

Either way, the most impressive part of the dining experience was the selection of quality beer (they have all Chimay variations, which is hard to find in many restaurants) and the quasi-appetizers - these little fried balls of tastiness (we were told they were Chicken Cordon Bleu bites, though the wait staff was unable to point us in the direction of a recipe).

Now, here's the bad: I had filet, cooked medium. The cut of the steak was okay but the tenderness left much to be desired as did the side vegetable (overcooked and bland). One of my guests had the chicken special (not sure what it is called, this was a month or so ago) but suffice to say, the chicken was very overcooked - it's dryness did provoke us to order more Chimay but the indulgence of beer or any beverage caused a whole other issue...their bathrooms were not in working order.

Not sure how long they didn't have water for, so I won't assume they continued serving without a public restroom for the remainder of the night, as we didn't hang around much longer. We took our open bottle of Chimay to go, paid the steep bill and never returned.

My suggestion is: buy your own steak and find a gourmet recipe. If you have 100+ bucks to spend on dinner for two, visit a local pub then go bowling, otherwise your empty stomach will be accompanied by an empty wallet.

Finally, good sushi nearby!

Mirakuya Japanese Restaurant
695 Kidder Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 4 stars/5

Having lived in basically every state in the Mid-Atlantic prior to moving to the Poconos, I took for granted the availability of good sushi and great pizza. Since I moved here, I have been on the hunt for both and finally I have found some tasty sushi (and hibachi) at Mirakuya Japanese Restaurant.

From the highway, it doesn't look like much - being nestled in a shopping plaza usually isn't a great sign. But, the inside was clean, the wait to sit non-existant (on a busy Friday evening) and the service was prompt. I sat in a booth (rather than hibachi) though the relentless "Ole, Ole, Ole" of the Hibachi chef was probably the one annoyance of the evening...Either he was a huge Montreal Canadiens fan or he didn't know any other phrases in English.

Either way, the food was surprisingly good. I had the pepper tuna appetizer which was a nice-sized portion and the quality of the tuna was Good (not great, but good) and the spicy sauce was right on point.

I am an adventurous orderer when getting sushi so I had a "special" roll - the Volcano roll which was a mixture of shrimp tempure and spicy tuna. I also ordered my favorite roll, a Dragon roll - not for the amateur sushi eater as it is an eel-based roll.

The Volcano roll was EXTREMELY good - the size, quality and texture were all what you would expect from a good sushi joint in more populous areas but the Dragon roll wasn't as successful, the texture was a bit off and the roll itself was kind of flimsy.

All in all, if you are vacationing here and have a hankering for sushi, take the 30+ minute venture out to Wilkes-Barre to Mirakuya.

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Recipe: Garlic Teriyaki wing sauce

Just in time for football season! Good wings are hard to come by, and buying a couple of dozen wings for a Sunday football party can get pretty costly. Inside, make your own. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser and super easy.

What you will need:

The wings:

• 2+ packages of chicken tenders (or breasts - cut into tenders)
• 1 cup of flour
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

The sauce:

• 2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
• 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce
• tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of hot sauce

1. Whisk all the "sauce" ingredients in a large bowl until they are mixed evenly.
2. Cut the fat away from your tenders, then lightly dip them in flour
3. In a skillet on medium, cook the tenders until they are brown (and cooked through).
4. Place cooked chicken tenders on a plate with a power towel (to drain excess oil)
5. Once drained, dump your tenders in your large bowl and make sure all are lightly coated with sauce.

Enjoy!

The "Breakfast King" or Jubilee Restaurant

Jubilee Restaurant - Route 940, Pocono Pines, PA
☆ ☆ ☆ 3 stars/5

There's nothing better than a good breakfast out prior to hitting the slopes or going fishing. Having tried Jubilee Restaurant
for a variety of meal types, I think it's safe to say breakfast is their bread and butter (though their wings aren't too bad, either). The breakfast rates are very affordable and the menu is super-sized. Whether you go for the "Country Boy" breakfast or some delightful french toast, your meal will be well-rounded; served with coffee and fruit.

However, don't expect service with a smile. Cranky waitresses will make you wait before serving you and aren't exactly attentive. The food comes out quick...once you order BUT, make sure you have your order ready when your unpleasant server first comes to the table.

All in all, if you are starving on a Saturday morning, stay home and make breakfast...if you have leisurely time and thick skin, go visit the Jubilee. It's a shame their wait staff isn't nicer, they could easily have a four star rating.

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