Scranton Downtown Lunch Around Courthouse Square

Scranton downtown lunch happens on the blocks around Courthouse Square and Lackawanna Avenue, where lawyers, jurors, hospital workers, students and visitors share a few busy counters. The coal region city has a compact center that is easy to walk. Pick a counter, find a bench and be back at your desk by one.

Where is Scranton downtown lunch?

Within a few blocks of the Lackawanna County Courthouse, along Lackawanna Avenue and the cross streets. Delis, diners, cafes, pizza counters and sit-down restaurants fill the older buildings, and a few newer places have moved into renovated spaces. At midday the sidewalks are busy, and by two the rush has passed.

Park once and walk. The center is small.

What is Courthouse Square like?

A green square beside the county courthouse, with benches, monuments and shade trees, used by workers on their breaks. A sandwich eaten on a bench here is a Scranton ritual. People bring lunch in paper bags, buy coffee from a cart or carry a slice from a nearby counter, and the benches fill by noon. In winter, the square is quiet and cold, and the diners nearby are warm; in summer, it is shaded and cheerful, and the counters send people out with iced coffee. Either way, the square gives the downtown a center of gravity. The surrounding buildings are a mix of brick and stone, and many date from the city's boom years. On a pleasant day the square is the nicest table in town. The courthouse itself is a handsome building worth a look from the outside, and the monuments tell part of the region's history. Walk around the square once before you eat, and note the buildings that rise over it. Many hold offices, law firms and banks, and their workers are the reason the lunch counters keep such regular hours.

Check city events, which sometimes take over the square, before you plan a picnic. A few pigeons will keep you company, and the benches in the shade go first.

What is a Scranton diner like?

Friendly and filling. A classic diner serves eggs, pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, meatloaf and pie, with a counter for solo diners and booths for families. Staff know the regulars, and the coffee is poured without asking. Many diners in the region also serve local specialties, such as pierogi or haluski on a special. A diner lunch is a good value and a good look at daily life. Daily specials are often written on a board, and they tend to be the best deal: meatloaf with mashed potatoes, a hot turkey sandwich, stuffed peppers, soup and a half sandwich. Ask the server what is made in the kitchen that day. A diner that bakes its own pies is a diner to remember, and a slice with coffee is a fine second course. If you are in a hurry, ask for the order to go and carry it to the square. Count on a short wait at noon, and be ready with your order when you reach the counter.

The Scranton pierogi guide explains the local favorites.

Where is a Scranton coffee shop?

On Lackawanna Avenue and the nearby blocks, serving students, workers and visitors. Coffee shops sell espresso drinks, pastries and sandwiches, and some offer a quiet space to work. Locals treat them as informal offices. Go early for the best pastries, or mid-afternoon for a seat. Local roasters supply some of the shops, and a few sell beans by the bag. Many have a small shelf of books or a bulletin board of local events, which is a good way to learn what is on in the city. If you are working, buy a drink every hour or two and keep your belongings compact so others can sit.

What about pizza and sandwiches?

Pizza counters sell slices and trays, and sandwich shops make subs, cheesesteaks and hoagies. The region has its own pizza tradition, covered in the older Old Forge pizza guide. A slice and a drink is a cheap lunch. Ask what is fresh from the oven.

How do you plan lunch around a court or a visit?

If you are a juror, ask the court for the schedule and plan a lunch near the building. If you are a visitor, check the hours of any museum or tour you plan to see and eat before or after. Leave time for lines at noon.

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 lunch break the useful ones are Quick Service, Great Value, Diner, Deli and Coffee Shop. A tag is a note from someone who was there, so check hours before you walk over. Rate the dish too, so the next person knows what to order.

Where next in Scranton?

The Scranton nut roll guide covers the bakery side, and the fan visit guide covers a television pilgrimage. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

This is one of many Pennsylvania guides, and the Food in Pennsylvania page lists them all by town.

Before the afternoon starts, open the Mosey app, rate your lunch by the dish and add the place to a list called Courthouse Square that your colleagues can use.