Grico's

Overview

Grico's is an Italian restaurant located at 1074 Wyoming Avenue in Exeter, Pennsylvania, serving the greater Wyoming Valley region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The establishment operates as a full-service dining destination with an on-site bar, offering lunch and dinner service in an upscale setting that blends historic character with contemporary dining sensibilities.

The restaurant has established itself as a destination for Italian-American cuisine in Luzerne County, drawing patrons from throughout the region for both regular dining occasions and special events. In addition to its dining room operations, Grico's maintains an active catering division that services weddings, corporate functions, and private celebrations.

Cuisine and Menu

Grico's menu centers on Italian-American preparations with a particular emphasis on seafood dishes alongside traditional meat and pasta offerings. The kitchen produces classic Italian comfort food preparations including pasta dishes, veal preparations, and various seafood combinations that draw on the traditions of Italian immigrant cooking adapted to American tastes and ingredient availability.

The restaurant's seafood program features prominently in its culinary identity. Preparations include crab-based dishes, various shellfish combinations, and seafood pasta dishes that combine multiple varieties of fish and shellfish. The menu also accommodates diners seeking lighter fare, with vegetarian options and dishes marketed as healthier alternatives to traditional Italian-American preparations.

Small plates are available for those preferring to sample multiple dishes or seeking lighter meals. The dessert program rounds out the menu, with the kitchen producing its own sweet course offerings to conclude meals.

Beverage Program

The on-site bar at Grico's maintains a full liquor license, offering a comprehensive beverage program that includes wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits. The wine list features selections intended to complement Italian cuisine, while the beer selection includes multiple options for those preferring that category.

The cocktail program produces mixed drinks ranging from classic preparations to house specialties. Happy hour service provides discounted drink pricing during designated periods. Coffee service is also available, allowing diners to conclude their meals with espresso-based drinks or standard coffee preparations.

Dining Room and Atmosphere

The interior design at Grico's creates an upscale dining environment with elements that evoke both historical character and romantic ambiance. The space incorporates architectural and decorative elements that contribute to what the restaurant positions as a special occasion atmosphere, suitable for date nights, anniversaries, and celebratory dinners.

A distinctive feature of the restaurant's layout is the inclusion of private booth seating. These booths, separated by curtains and illuminated by candlelight, provide an intimate dining experience removed from the main dining room. This configuration proves particularly popular among couples seeking privacy and groups celebrating special occasions who prefer a more secluded setting.

The restaurant also offers private dining rooms that can be reserved for larger parties and special events. These spaces accommodate group gatherings while maintaining separation from regular dining room service.

The overall atmosphere balances several qualities: the space aims to feel simultaneously cozy enough for intimate dinners while maintaining the capacity and service infrastructure to handle group dining and larger parties. The design aesthetic trends toward the trendy and upscale without abandoning the welcoming warmth associated with Italian family-style restaurants.

Service Model

Grico's operates on a reservation-based service model. The restaurant accepts reservations and recommends them for dinner service, with reservations described as required during peak periods. This approach reflects both the popularity of the establishment and its positioning as a destination dining experience rather than a casual drop-in restaurant.

The service staff operates in a traditional full-service model, with servers managing tables from greeting through dessert and check presentation. The restaurant provides high chairs for families dining with young children, accommodating multi-generational groups alongside its couples and adult-focused clientele.

Dine-in service represents the primary business model, though the restaurant also offers takeout for customers preferring to enjoy meals at home. Delivery service is not available through the restaurant directly.

Catering and Event Services

Beyond its restaurant operations, Grico's maintains a substantial catering division that services events throughout the region. Wedding catering represents a significant portion of this business, with the operation providing full-service coordination from initial tastings through day-of execution.

The catering operation handles events of varying scales, from intimate gatherings to large wedding receptions. Services extend beyond food preparation to include coordination with event venues, timing of service courses, and management of dietary restrictions and special requests. The catering team works with clients through the planning process, conducting tastings and adjusting menus to meet specific event requirements.

Corporate catering and private party services are also available, extending the restaurant's cuisine to off-site locations for business functions, family celebrations, and other gatherings that require professional food service.

Accessibility and Facilities

Grico's maintains full accessibility accommodations throughout its facility. The restaurant features wheelchair accessible entrances, seating areas, and restrooms, allowing guests with mobility limitations to access all areas of the establishment. The parking lot also includes accessible spaces.

Parking is available through multiple options. The restaurant maintains a free parking lot for customer use, and free street parking is available in the surrounding area. This parking availability addresses a practical concern for diners in the Wyoming Valley region, where most customers arrive by personal vehicle.

Restroom facilities are available on-site, and the restaurant accepts multiple payment methods including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Location and Regional Context

Exeter sits within the Wyoming Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a region shaped by its coal mining heritage and subsequent economic transitions. The Wyoming Avenue location places Grico's along a main commercial corridor in this Luzerne County community, accessible to residents of surrounding municipalities including Pittston, West Pittston, and the greater Wilkes-Barre area.

The restaurant serves a regional dining market where Italian-American cuisine holds particular cultural significance, reflecting the substantial Italian immigrant population that settled in Northeastern Pennsylvania's coal communities during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This heritage informs both the demand for Italian dining options and the expectations local diners bring to such establishments.

Practical Information

Grico's can be reached by telephone at +1 570-654-9120 for reservations and inquiries. Additional information about menus, hours, and special events is available through the restaurant's website. Given the reservation-recommended policy, prospective diners are advised to call ahead, particularly for dinner service and weekend visits.

The restaurant accommodates various dining purposes, from solo diners comfortable eating at the bar or in the main dining room to large groups utilizing private spaces. The menu and atmosphere support both casual weeknight dinners and more elaborate special occasion celebrations, though the upscale positioning and reservation policy suggest an experience oriented toward the latter.