Biscotto's

Overview

Biscotto's is a restaurant located at 163 Susquehanna Avenue in Exeter, Pennsylvania, serving the greater Wyoming Valley region. The establishment operates as a casual dining destination specializing in Old Forge-style pizza, a regional specialty indigenous to Northeastern Pennsylvania. The restaurant has developed a following among locals and visitors who travel from surrounding communities to experience its interpretation of this distinctive pizza tradition.

Regional Pizza Tradition

Old Forge, a small borough located approximately six miles southwest of Scranton, has earned recognition as a significant pizza destination in the United States. The style that emerged from this community differs substantially from other American pizza varieties. Old Forge pizza features a rectangular shape, typically served in trays rather than round pies. The crust tends toward a lighter, airier texture compared to New York or Neapolitan styles, and the cheese blend used in the region often incorporates American cheese alongside traditional Italian varieties, creating a distinctive flavor profile.

Biscotto's operates within this tradition, producing pizza that reflects the techniques and flavor characteristics associated with the Old Forge approach. The restaurant offers both red and white pizza varieties, with the white pizza preparations drawing particular attention from customers. Double-crust options, which sandwich fillings between two layers of the characteristic Old Forge dough, represent another traditional preparation method available at the establishment.

Menu and Culinary Offerings

Beyond pizza, Biscotto's menu encompasses a range of Italian-American dishes that reflect the culinary heritage of Northeastern Pennsylvania's substantial Italian immigrant population. The restaurant prepares stromboli using techniques that produce the same light, airy crust characteristic of its pizza offerings. Italian meats feature prominently in various preparations, with the kitchen utilizing traditional cured meats including prosciutto, lonza, and soppressata in its antipasto presentations.

The menu extends to comfort food categories including chicken wings and boneless bites, small plates suitable for sharing, and dessert options. Coffee service rounds out the beverage offerings. This range of options positions the restaurant to serve multiple dining occasions, from quick meals to more leisurely family dinners.

Portion sizing at Biscotto's follows the generous standards typical of Italian-American restaurants in the region. Pizza is sold in tray format, with half-tray and full-tray options available to accommodate different party sizes. This approach to portioning reflects the family-style dining traditions common to Old Forge pizza establishments.

Dining Environment and Atmosphere

The restaurant maintains a casual atmosphere oriented toward comfort rather than formality. The interior design creates a relaxed environment suitable for family dining, group gatherings, and solo meals alike. High chairs are available for families with young children, and the establishment has developed a reputation as an appropriate destination for multi-generational dining occasions.

Seating capacity appears limited relative to demand, particularly during peak dining hours. The restaurant accepts reservations, and securing a table in advance proves advisable for Friday and Saturday evening visits. The establishment's popularity within the local community means that walk-in diners during busy periods may encounter waits or find the restaurant at capacity.

The business operates as a family-run establishment, a characteristic that influences both the service style and overall dining atmosphere. This operational model is common among Old Forge-area pizza restaurants, where family ownership often spans multiple generations and contributes to consistency in recipes and preparation methods.

Service Options and Accessibility

Biscotto's accommodates both dine-in customers and those seeking takeout orders. The restaurant does not currently list a website, with telephone ordering at +1 570-299-7863 serving as the primary method for placing takeout requests. Advance ordering is recommended, particularly during high-volume periods, as preparation times can extend during busy service hours.

The restaurant accepts credit card payments and provides restroom facilities for dining customers. Parking options include a free parking lot and free street parking along Susquehanna Avenue. The parking lot includes wheelchair accessible spaces, addressing basic accessibility requirements for customers with mobility considerations.

Location and Geographic Context

Exeter is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, situated along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley. The community lies within the greater Scranton-Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, positioning Biscotto's within reasonable driving distance of population centers throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The restaurant's Susquehanna Avenue address places it along a primary commercial corridor in the borough.

The Wyoming Valley region maintains strong connections to its industrial heritage and the immigrant communities that settled there during the anthracite coal mining era. Italian immigrants constituted a significant portion of this population, and their culinary traditions became embedded in the regional food culture. Old Forge pizza represents one of the most distinctive expressions of this heritage, and restaurants like Biscotto's that specialize in this style serve as ongoing connections to these historical roots.

Operating Characteristics

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, making it suitable for midday meals as well as evening dining occasions. The kitchen produces food appropriate for quick bites as well as more substantial meals, accommodating varying time constraints and appetite levels among customers.

Group dining represents a significant portion of the restaurant's business, with the establishment equipped to handle larger parties. The tray-based pizza format naturally lends itself to shared dining, and the menu's range of appetizers and small plates supports the communal eating style common to Italian-American family meals.

Position Within Local Food Culture

Biscotto's operates within a competitive landscape that includes numerous pizza establishments in the Old Forge tradition. The concentration of pizza restaurants in this small geographic area has earned the region recognition in food media and among pizza enthusiasts who travel to sample different interpretations of the local style. Within this context, Biscotto's has established itself as a destination that draws customers from beyond its immediate neighborhood, with some patrons reporting travel times of thirty minutes or more to reach the restaurant.

The restaurant's emphasis on traditional preparation methods and quality ingredients aligns with the standards expected by customers familiar with authentic Old Forge pizza. This attention to maintaining regional culinary traditions while operating a viable restaurant business reflects the broader pattern among successful establishments in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Italian-American food scene.