Scranton Office Fan Visit: Where to Eat on a TV Trip

A Scranton Office fan visit is a day trip for people who love a television comedy set in a Pennsylvania paper company, and it ends up being as much about lunch as about locations. Scranton is a coal region city and fans arrive on weekends with a list of places to see. Eat well between the photo stops and the day runs itself.

Why do fans visit Scranton?

Because the show made the city's name known across the country, and its opening credits and jokes mention local landmarks. Visitors come to see the sign, the streets and the sights mentioned on screen, and they often make a weekend of it. The city welcomes fans, and local tourism offices publish their own guides and maps. The tourism office publishes current tour details.

The show is fiction, and the businesses on screen are not the same as the real places in town.

How do you feed a Scranton Office fan visit?

Plan the day around the stops. Eat breakfast near your lodging, a quick lunch between sights and a proper dinner at the end. Scranton has diners, delis, pizza counters and sit-down restaurants downtown, and the region's pierogi, pizza and sandwiches are good fan food. Keep the plan flexible, because lines at popular stops can eat an hour. A group of friends who agree on two must-see stops and one must-eat stop will enjoy the day more than a group chasing a long list. Build in breaks, and let someone else drive, since the roads are hilly and the parking is limited in places. A sandwich and a rest in the middle of the day keep the mood up. Pack water and snacks in the car, because hills and heat tire everyone sooner than expected.

Where is a quick lunch for a day trip?

Downtown, near the courthouse and the main commercial streets. A deli sandwich, a slice of pizza or a diner plate is fast and cheap. Eat on a bench in the square if the weather is kind, or take a table in a diner for a rest. The downtown lunch guide explains the center.

What are Scranton sandwich and pizza options?

The region's pizza tradition, covered in the older Old Forge pizza guide, is a good thing to try. Sandwich shops make subs, hoagies and hot sandwiches, and a few make their own bread. A pizza tray is a good meal for a group. Ask the counter what locals order, and try it. Order a tray to share if you are four or more. Locals are used to visitors and are generally friendly, but they appreciate it when you do not treat the city as a set. They also have strong opinions about the best slice, the best sub and the best bakery, and it is worth listening. A conversation at a counter is often the best part of a trip, and people in the region enjoy telling visitors what they think.

What about photo stops and snacks?

Fans take photos at a number of places around the city, and a snack is a good reason to stop. Bring a few dollars for a coffee, a pastry or a slice. Be polite to the businesses, whether or not they appear in the show, and buy something if you linger. Keep your voice down near houses and offices. Remember that real people live and work in the places you pass, and that a kind word goes a long way. If a business has a sign asking you not to photograph the interior, respect it. A small purchase at the counter shows appreciation, and a nice review is better than a selfie.

How do you share the day with friends?

Make a list in the Mosey app and name it for the trip. Add the places you plan to eat, with a note on what to order and a note on what is nearby. Invite the friends you are traveling with so they can add their finds. Anyone with an invite link can join as a collaborator, even if they are not on the app yet. A shared list also settles the argument about where to eat before the first car is out of the lot, and it keeps the day's plan in one place when phone signals are weak in the hills. Only the people you invite see a private list.

How do tags help?

In the Mosey app, raters add tags when they rate a meal, and diners look for them in the Find sheet. For a day trip the useful ones are Quick Service, Family Friendly, Group Dining, Great Value and Diner. A tag is a note from someone who was there. Rate the dish too, such as the pizza or the sandwich, and tag the people who ate with you.

Where next in Scranton?

The pierogi guide covers the region's dumplings, and the nut roll guide covers the bakery side. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

Eating your way across Pennsylvania? The Food in Pennsylvania page links every town we cover.

On the drive home, open the Mosey app, rate the best meal of the trip by the dish and send the finished list to the friend who would have loved to come.