Top Eateries Near The Slopes
After the adrenaline rush of the slopes, restaurant tables beckon for wining and dining in a way that's unique to winter sports country - hearty food in a vibrant environment. In other word, comfort food, a rustic atmosphere with a warming fire place and a lot of laughing, wind blushed faces. So where do I go? Here's a sampling of recent stops. -- Jay Lloyd
ROCK BASS GRILL
461 S. Front Street
Wormleysburg, PA 17043
www.rockbassgrill.com/
When looking for some new trails to shred, a growing corps of eastern Pennsylvania skiers and riders turn their sights westward to Roundtop Mountain just south of Harrisburg. It's a compact mountain with a combination of learning terrain, steep headwalls and snow-tubing for non- skiers. After a day on the slopes, a first class seafood specialty eatery is less than 15 miles away on the banks of the Susquehanna River. Beyond the comfy bar, the dining room offers up filling chowders and a crab cake that's worthy of any Chesapeake kitchen, just downriver. The fresh catch is done to perfection. But if you prefer a meal that mooed, the strips and filets fill the bill.
THE FAIRFIELD INN
15 W. Main Street
Fairfield, PA 17320
thefairfieldinn.com/
Liberty Mountain near the Civil War battlefields at Gettysburg has gotten more attention from Philadelphia area skiers who found it while golfing at neighboring Carroll Valley. As winter turns to spring it's not unusual to find morning skiers on the fairways by afternoon. The Fairfield Inn just six miles away fills the need for an elegantly rustic bar and restaurant, steeped in tradition. During the battle of Gettysburg it was a Confederate army hospital. The menu matches the Inn's long history. Where else can you find chicken and biscuits or a rib-sticking ham and bean soup by a cozy fireside. My only regret is that the roast duck, my favorite here is off the menu. Stop at the bar before or after dinner for the lowdown on the inn and its history.
SMUGGLERS COVE
2972 Route 611
Tannersville, PA 18372
www.smugglerscove.net/
Take a lively bar and restaurant that combines kitchen skills across fin food and beef. Mix it with a raw bar, a vibrant crowd and a great Manhattan after a day on the slopes at nearby Camelback Mountain , and you've got the Smuggler's Cove. My favorites here are a plate of oysters with cocktails at the bar, followed by a sirloin and shrimp. But it is hard to pass that live lobster tank when going from bar to table and not be tempted. Try it. You'll like it.
BOULDER VIEW TAVERN
123 Lake Harmony Rd.
Lake Harmony, PA 19624
www.boulderviewtavern.com
When skiing and snow tubing at Jack Frost and Big Boulder Mountains, the Boulder View Tavern comes up with an Adirondack feel in the Poconos. Brick and wood give it that mountain vibe. A skiers bar and wood fire warm the evening. The menu runs as casual as burgers, as trendy as topped flatbreads and as Alpine as a pork schnitzel. My weakness here is the perfectly battered fish and chips. Parents enjoy dropping the kids off at Big Boulder, just minutes away for some sliding under the lights and then head for the tavern for a little adult time.
THE BIG A GRILLEHOUSE
252 Fox Run Lane
E. Stroudsburg, PA 18302
www.bigagrillehouse.com/
Less than 3 miles from Shawnee Mountain, The Big A is the epitome of Italian-American comfort food with a welcoming bar. The key for me here is the dynamite, old world marinara sauce. Spread it liberally over breaded veal or chicken and add the cheeses for a memorable parm. If you're craving leans to big beef, they'll cut a prime rib almost any size you want. Just dig in. The place is easy to find. The classic building is right off route 209.
Enjoy!
