Northeastern Pennsylvania is known for many great places to eat; but the one “must have” food is Old Forge Pizza. Old Forge is a town of approximately 9,000 residents and at least 20 different places making “Old Forge”-style pizza.
The origins of the pizza go back to at least the early 1920’s, when local legend pins the style on “grandmother” Ghigiarelli owned a family restaurant below a gentlemen’s club where workers in the area coal mines would go at night to play cards.
The asked Ghigiarelli to make them something to eat, she grabbed a rectangular baking pan and baked a pizza for them on a coal stove. The pizza evolved as rectangular because the coal mining immigrants could not afford pizza trays, using instead the baking trays they had in most of their kitchens.
Options include red or white. Red pizza is made with tomato sauce and cheese; white is cheese only, double crusted with olive oil and rosemary sprinkled on top.
The question normally comes up as to which Old Forge Pizza is the best; there is never an answer given as the owners of the restaurants are a loyal bunch just answering “Old Forge”.
Virtually everything on the pizza is a well-kept secret mixture of ingredients, unique cheese blends, homemade sausage and meatballs and tomato sauce made in each restaurant from actual tomatos.
All this makes the age-old pizza debate – New York versus Chicago – a real battle for second, behind Old Forge – the Pizza Capitol of the World.
Arcaro & Gennell
Address: 443 S. Main St., Old Forge, PA 18518
Phone: (570) 457-5555
Website: www.ArcaroandGenell.com
Hours: Lunch – Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.
Dinner – Monday – Saturday 3:00 p.m.
Other Food:
Edelweiss
This German restaurant near the track is a bit pricey, but very authentic and a great dining experience. Traditional German favorites – like Sauerbraten, Weiner Scnhitzel, and Rostbraten – and traditional beef and seafood dishes are available for any taste.
The restaurant has a huge selection of beer and at various times traditional entertainment is part of the dinner.
Address: Route 940, Pocono Lake, PA 18347
Phone: (570) 646-3938
Hours: Monday – 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday – 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday – 11:20 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday – 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.