Revival Kitchen [Reedsville, PA]

[linguafood (Natascha)]

I enjoyed another outstanding meal at Revival Kitchen — perhaps the best restaurant between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For a place located in the boonz, it sure is difficult to get a table: they’re open May-Oct, and only Thur-Sat. This year, reservations went online in April & every single table for the season was gone within 6 minutes. There’s a wait list, of course, and sometimes a cancellation is posted in a local Facebook food group I’m in. Some people drive there from the Philly suburbs (!), but thankfully it’s only a 30 min trip for us

The menu — a prix fixe meal at $100 (gratuity not included) —changes monthly, with dietary restrictions being taken into consideration if mentioned at the time of reservation. It is also BYOB.

I was smart and had sent the owners an email early spring, throwing out some dates in July & August, et voila: got the chef’s table for 8.

Everything was absolutely fantastic, as usual. We brought a lovely Prosecco Superiore for starters, a crisp Torrontes, and a wonderfully fresh Austrian Blauer Zweigelt rosé.

The welcome bites: cantaloupe agua fresca with ginger topped with lime foam & rim of chili lime strawberry seasoning, grilled shiitake mushroom with crispy mushroom salted puffed rice & morel aioli, and carrot juice infused tapioca chip with beet hummus, dukka, and chervil. The perfect introduction of what’s to follow

The poached shrimp & hills of coconut granita in red curry broth before being bathed in cucumber buttermilk soup

Tantalizing tomatoes

A table favorite: the charred ramps with 1-month cured prosciutto. So smoky!

I forgot to take a pic of the intermezzo, which was a habanero sorbet topped with a jalapeño. Both completely devoid of heat, but on purpose. I love the floral fruitiness of habaneros, but would’ve preferred just a hint of heat.

The duck was amazing and left us wanting more.

I don’t like meringue, but this blueberry version was delightful.

A true gem in the middle of nowhere.

[gaffk (kim)]

Looks great. Unfortunately according to Google maps it’s anywhere from 3-1/2 to 4 hours away.

It’s about time that the Pennsylvanians not in Philly or Pittsburgh get a destination-worthy restaurant and, judging from the demand for reservations, lots of people have been waiting for just such a place.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

It is an absolute treasure (and a steal, frankly). That said, I probably wouldn’t make the drive from Philly

[gaffk (kim)]

I wouldn’t make the drive specifically, but if I was headed that way I’d definitely look into a rez.

Given the area, you’d think there would be more kitchens focused on fresh produce and local meats and cheeses.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

(post deleted by author)

[gaffk (kim)]

Funny, when I talk to people who travel out that way it’s mostly talk of ice cream and sticky buns --then again, they’re either picking up/dropping off kids or going to football games. Maybe I just need to find a better circle of family and friends

The band discount is a real benefit. I remember years ago I was in NY state and stopped for a time in Oneonta, where my niece was both a student and band member. We were going to meet up at Ommegang for some bites and brews. I waited at the bar and when my niece arrived the bartender said “You didn’t tell me Michelle was your niece!” Odd, we didn’t receive a bill for our afternoon and, when I went to the shop and loaded up on beers to bring home, the bill was magically cut in half. Had I only known . . . I would have brought 2x the amount home.

[byarvin (Brian Yarvin)]

This area is really taking its place on the gastronomic map. It’s near the Big Valley (think the Lancaster County of a half a century ago) and State College with its own restaurant scene.
My only complaint is the description. If you drew a line from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, this would at least fifty miles from the nearest point on it.

This could be a serious food adventure destination; hand-pulled noodles in State College, that Georgian place in the stix that may or may not exist, the Native American stand at the Lewisburg Farmer’s Market, and a coffee roaster or two. Nobody from the big cities ever comes here unless they have kids at Penn State, Bucknell, or Juniata. And to top it off, here’s a fine dining restaurant.

Amazing.

[HappyOnion (Tom)]

State College area is definitely a ‘trip of its own’

for Lancaster area

• on Rt 30 aka Lincoln Highway, not in the boonies . . .
  I can recommend
  (fine dining)
  Gibraltar Grill - Oregon Pike
  Belvedere Inn - downtown
  JJ Jefferies - farm to table, near F&M College
  401 Prime - same block/sister resto to Belvedere - excellent but over priced.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

@byarvin

hand-pulled noodles in State College, that Georgian place in the stix that may or may not exist

The hand-pulled noodz are excellent, though not as good as those I’ve had in Berlin. I take it you are referring to Cafe Luna, which very much exisits & which is a local fave for their soups, pelmeni, and pastries.

The culinary scene in SC has def seen a lot of improvement over the last two decades, and thank goodness for that!

[byarvin (Brian Yarvin)]

Yes, Cafe Luna, but I haven’t yet made it there. (I’ll have to return to the USA first - that’s supposed to happen late next week) I haven’t had hand-pulled noodles in Berlin, but I had them in Queens, NY - there, I expected excellence and got it. In State College, I had no expectations, and got near excellence. Not bad.

Tom; if you live walking distance from those restaurants (as I do), they’re pretty cool, but if you’re traveling, you might be misled by the hype and high prices that seem to infect downtown Lancaster. Let’s not forget that State College and Lancaster are more than a hundred miles apart and not really connected.

Of course, a fine dining restaurant in Reedsville, a serious third wave cafe in Mifflinburg, or half a Chinatown in State College are even more farfetched.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

My PIC met up with a couple of work friends for a weekend in Lancaster and was very impressed by the dining scene there.

Yes, we have very good Chinese (heavy on the Sichuan, which I don’t mind at all), decent Lebanese, too many fried chicken places, good sushi, fantastic tacos, and — as of fairly recent -— fabulous Detroit style pizza.

But no good Italian, tapas, Greek, Viet, Turkish, Thai…

[byarvin (Brian Yarvin)]

While the dining scene in Lancaster is no match for State College, there are some bright points. However, it’s often more worth it to drive somewhere for a far better meal.

Of all the cuisines I suffer through in Pennsylvania, Italian is the toughest. Pittston and Old Forge have pretty good restaurants if you ignore the strange “pizza.” I’ve had great homemade pasta at Salerno’s (for example) and Philadelphia has at least a few good Vietnamese places.

I suspect that there’s good Thai hiding somewhere, and feel the same way about Greek and Turkish. I don’t even know where to start looking.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

Kalaya for elevated Thai in Fishtown. I went when they were still on South St.

Absolutely gorgeous & really fantastic food.

[mig (you can call me mig)]

Taking notes on these Lancaster spots from over here in York, where I spend zero dollars on restaurant food annually because

[byarvin (Brian Yarvin)]

If you’re in York, then those Lancaster places might look great in comparison. But a little more travel might bring much greater rewards. Going to Kennett Square (for example) might take an extra half hour, but will get you many more choices and far better food.

In another direction, Hershey will do the same. Sadly, you (or we) can’t hop over to State College or Philadelphia when we want a meal out. But we can make a trip north or east every now and then and that’s really worth it.

[mig (you can call me mig)]

Any Hershey recs ?

[linguafood (Natascha)]

Avoid Iron Hill Brewery.

[byarvin (Brian Yarvin)]

How about Troegs? Much better beer and a crowded, energetic space befitting an amusement park. I actually really enjoy the food there.