Bailey's Steakhouse - Mt. Pocono, PA

Bailey's Steakhouse
604 Pocono Blvd.
Mt. Pocono, PA

☆ ☆ ☆ 3/5 stars

Where to begin? I have mixed feelings about Bailey's. My partner, myself and two of our guests visited the steakhouse this past weekend. Right off the bat, the host walked us around in a maze attempting to seat us at different tables that weren't ready. We finally were seated - the restaurant wasn't as busy as we anticipated for a weekend night but the service was incredibly slow. We waited quite awhile for a server to see us, then longer to get our drinks.

Once we did have a server, she was quite friendly so all was forgiven. We were pretty hungry at that point so we ordered soup and an appetizer; the sesame seared ahi tuna. While the tuna was great quality (better than most places), the serving was nothing short of a half-sized appetizer, with 4 very thin peices.

I ordered the petit filet mignon, medium-cooked with a loaded baked potato on the side and the salad bar. My partner ordered the rib sampler which included St. Louis spare ribs, Memphis Baby Backs and Dinosaur Bones.

The salad bar was interesting - it wasn't as big as anticipated but included delightful other small sides (egg salad, pasta salad, etc) - things that if you were to add seperately to your meal, you would pay extra for.

The petit filet was just that; petit. However, it was cooked to perfection and the quality of meat was very good. In terms of price, it was $24.99. Not outrageous but not exactly reasonable. The rib sampler was great with the exception of the dinosaur bones which, from what my partner suggested (I did not try them) were very fatty, cow-derived bones of some sort. He tasted one and did not eat any.

All in all, a dinner for four with a few cocktails was about $170.00. Unfortunately, the restaurant would be much better served if it had lower price tags. Like most places, it had a lodgy feel, base-line furniture and slow service. The food quality was good (minus the dinosaur bones) but not $25 an entree-good.

Again, I would suggest buying steak from a local butcher or going to the Village Squire. I did enjoy what I ate but don't feel that it's prices matched its decor and menu.

Check out the menu (notice the lack of prices listed).

Albright Mansion/Absinthe House - Jim Thorpe

Albright Mansion/Absinthe House
66 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA


☆ ☆ ☆ 3/5 stars

We popped in for breakfast during the Fall Foliage festival and had quite an enjoyable experience. From the historical information (including supposed ghost sightings) to the era-rich decor inside, our short breakfast was delightful.

I had chocolate chip pancakes, a side of sausage and a mimosa and my partner had the full english breakfast and a bloody mary. Breakfast food is always hard to review as it is quite simple. But, as a chocolate chip pancake-lover, I am always critical of the batter and moisture of the pancakes and I was quite pleased - they absolutely tasted as though they were made from scratch and had a hint of buttermilk taste.

Both breakfasts were quite satisfying and the prices were very good. Though I can't speak to their fine dining and dinner menu, I can say that if I am in Jim Thorpe again on a weekend morning, I will absolutely pop in and grab breakfast; I recommend that you do as well.

red Steakhouse - Mt. Airy Casino

red Steakhouse @ Mt. Airy Casino
44 Woodland Rd., Mount Pocono, PA


☆ ☆ ☆ 3/5 stars

We ate at red Steakhouse a few months ago when we were much newer to the area and desperate to find a good steak (now we know of a good local butcher and can make our own).

I almost always prefer to cook my own filet because the taste and price are unbeatable when you have the right tools (simple enough you just need an cast iron stovetop griddle and some aluminum foil - I can further explain at a different time). But, as it was, we weren't yet unpacked and were also in the mood to visit the nearby casino.

We started our meal off with a few appetizers: the Trio of Tuna and Prime Beef carpaccio - the tuna was delightful but the beef escapes my memory (which means it couldn't have been too wonderful). For my main course, I ordered the petit felit, cooked medium, while pricey at $37 (though for casino-based restaurants, reasonable) - the cook and cut were right on point.

But, I must resort back to my old gripe: the dreaded wine choices. For a place with entrees that cost upwards of $30 per person, Sutter Home should not be on your wine list at all. We ordered a bottle of Rodney Strong Chardonnay for the table, as it was more affordable than ordering by the glass for other choices. On a positive note, they did have Kendall Jackson Chardonnay as a choice to order by the bottle (it is one of my favorites).

All in all, the atmosphere did boast a certain higher-end dining than many of the restaurants in the area and the servers presented the food quite formally.

I would say it's basically on point for the price to dine. You pay for the casino-based location and the steaks were much better than other restaurant choices.

For the menu

Mollies - Stroudsburg, PA

Mollies Restaurant
622 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA

☆ ☆ ☆ 3/5 stars

As mentioned, we are always seeking good dining options in the Poconos area. Also, keep in mind our ratings aren't just about quality of food (we aren't high brow, self-righteous critics), they also reflect prices and environment. Because, like most working people in this area, we are looking for the best option for the price.

Moving on. We visited Mollies in Stroudsburg on Friday, November 18. Going all out on a Friday night is tough so we were initially seeking pizza but, on our way to Goomba's on Main Street, we decided we should sit down and enjoy our meal. Among the row of restaurants, I chose Mollie's for two reasons: 1 it was rated as the second best dining option in the Poconos by Urbanspoon and 2 the live music that filled the street lured us in.

Walking in was a bit confusing - there wasn't a hostess stand so I had to walk up to the bar where a woman greeted me and then showed us to a table by the live music. I don't know who was playing but I have to say, the female lead singer sounded very much like Alanis Morrisette. Oddly enough, it was extremely loud (the crowd that is) and the decor doesn't hint at toward a drunken-college-bar environment. Either way, the music was still enjoyable.

Menu-wise, I am not sure if it was the time of night or if there are additional menus that we didn't see, but we were able to choose from a menu titled, "Wine Handles." It was a small menu with mostly appetizer-sized portions.

We had two appetizers, the baked brie and the pork empanadas. Neither were particularly impressive but were adequate in flavor. For our "entrees," we ordered the Tuna Nicoise Salad and the Margherita flat bread, which were quite fitting because Margherita pizza is my absolute favorite pizza and Ahi Tuna is my partner's favorite fish. I can't say either were phenomenal, however. The tuna was sliced a bit too thick and was a little over-seared (that is a matter of preference but personally, I like my tuna as raw as you can get) and the flat bread was a little off - but again, it is my preference that margherita-style anything should use sliced fresh mozzerella rather than shredded. The flatbread itself was crunchy and delightful (if only the pizza places around here could get the hint and use thin crusts).

Okay, the bad. As mentioned, the food was decent, but nothing to write home about but, my real problem, was the wine list. While the selection was good for all (from pinot grigio to pinot noir), having about 4 choices per - the pricing was WAY OFF. I had two glasses of Santa Margherita pinot grigio, each glass was $12.00. A $12 glass of wine should come from a $30+ bottle of wine not from a $20 bottle of wine. My choice was, of course, the most expensive pinot grigio on the list - which says a lot. Restaurants around here need to understand the value of good wine. All too often wine selection includes brands like Sutterhome or Cavit and charge between $7-12 per glass. These are low-grade brands and should not even be on menus.

Okay, my wine gripe aside, Mollie's was pleasant in that it offered a nice decor with good live music. I must add that it is a wise decision to put your stage by the street/sidewalk entrance - it allows the music to travel outdoors and attracts potential diners. Great environment and decent pricing (besides the wine).

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.

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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