River Grille Plains

The River Grille is a casual restaurant in Wilkes-Barre that offers pub-style fare and views of the Susquehanna river while dining. We arrived on a Friday evening around 6:30, with threatening rain clouds on the horizon. We were immediately seated in the covered patio section overlooking the river. After a brief shower, we were treated to a declining sun glistening off the water. In addition to the covered patio, the restaurant also has open patio and indoor seating. Mike, our server, was a gentleman, and gave us honest insights to the menu selections. For starters, I went with the crab pretzel, a soft pretzel topped with crab meat and cheddar cheese. The pretzel was soft and fresh, and the crab very creamy. It was just enough to whet the appetite. For our entrees, we had the Caprese Ciabatta, which consisted of sliced turkey, roasted tomato, mozzarella, pesto aioli, a balsamic reduction, spring mix, on a rosemary ciabatta roll. The turkey was fresh, and the medley of fixings were flavorful and mouthwatering. Also enjoyable was the smoked meatloaf sandwich infused with Gouda cheese, topped with roasted garlic black pepper aioli, lettuce, tomato, on a rosemary focaccia roll. The meatloaf, served cold, had a delicious smoky flavor. I never had smoked meatloaf before, but after this dish, I'll be searching for it at many a sandwich shop. Overall, the River Grille was relaxing and delightful, a perfect way to begin the weekend. The venue also serves brunch, and if the dinner selections were any indication, I'm sure the choices are just as enticing.