DISH: A NEW LOBSTER

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

A NEW LOBSTER

Last week, I took a trip to Maine via Red Lobster (10 East End Center, Wilkes-Barre). The chain, which was founded in 1968, recently underwent a redesign inspired by the seaside village of Bar Harbor, Maine. Outside, the restaurant now looks like it belongs on a rocky cliff above the Atlantic, and inside, it’s cozy with nautical d�cor, warm-toned fabrics and dark-wood paneling. Red Lobster also has a location at 1502 Scranton-Carbondale Highway in Dickson City.

Dish sampled Red Lobster’s delicious new lobster and bourbon shrimp and scallops, a Southern-inspired recipe featuring a wood-grilled split Maine lobster tail with wood-grilled, bourbon-glazed shrimp and bacon-wrapped sea scallops served over mashed potatoes with roasted corn and the Admiral’s Feast with shrimp, bay scallops, clam strips and flounder fried to a golden brown with a side of Langostino lobster mashed potatoes.

While the d�cor and menu have changed a bit, the old standby cheddar biscuits are still there, and as yummy as ever.

Dish would like you to rediscover Red Lobster for yourself. The first person to send the correct date Bar Harbor was settled to nmascali@theweekender.com wins a $20 gift card to the restaurant.

CHANGING TABLES

31 Lake Street, which opened at 31 Lake St. in Dallas in 2007, closed its doors Saturday, June 26. But fans of the establishment, owned by Kevin Boylan, can soon visit him at 247 Wyoming Ave. in Kingston. The Kingston site was most recently home to Table 247 and before that, Gelpiaz. Boylan also owned Boylan’s in Swoyersville.

“I’ve had my eye on that location for a long time,” Boylan told the Times Leader last week. “It’s a matter of economics. It’s getting back into town where I’ll see increased traffic.”

The space is also large enough for the restaurant — to be called Kevin’s — to host private parties and groups, something Boylan explained he couldn’t do in the small space at 31 Lake Street. Boylan hopes to open Kevin’s sometime in mid-August. The new location will honor gift certificates from 31 Lake Street.

UNCORKING JULY

In addition to a new summer menu, Cork Bar & Restaurant (463 Madison St., Wilkes-Barre) has a smorgasbord of events coming up this week.

First, it’s hosting Wyoming Valley Health Care System’s Healthy Woman. Healthy Grilling! event Thursday, July 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guests can sample healthy grilled items, salads and non-alcoholic summer drinks. A cash bar is available. Admission is $5 for Healthy Woman members in advance. Call 570.552.7465 for info.

There will be a Farm-to-Table Wine Dinner Tuesday, July 13 at 7 p.m. featuring a four-course meal made from products from local farms paired with four organic wines.

The first course is farm cheese Arancini served with fresh tomato and roasted garlic followed by flame-roasted farm vegetable and mixed greens salad with a wild mushroom vinaigrette. The entree is pan-seared chicken breast topped with goat cheese, caramelized onions and thyme jus served with fingerling potatoes and farm fresh veggies followed by homemade strawberry ice cream with passion fruit sauce and a chocolate tulle cookie. The cost is $39.

New York City Restaurant Week comes to Cork July 12-24 by way of 20 three-course specials featuring your choice of entrees for $25. Selections can be found at www.corkdining.com.

For more info on these events, call 570.270.3818.

HOT DOG HAPPINESS

After selling hot dogs on Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square for the Farmers’ Market, Daphne Reid and her husband Jim Roberts opened The Happy Little Hot Dog Co. (123 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre) about four weeks ago. The restaurant, which cleverly has a walk-up window, offers hot dogs — which you can get wrapped in bacon — burgers “dressed the way you like it” and fresh-cut fries.

It’s Reid and Roberts’ first venture into the restaurant business, and she found that the response has been excellent so far.

“We decided to take a chance,” Reid said. She explained that they completely revamped the location, which had been empty since 2003.

The cart on Public Square will still be there every Thursday, but for the other days of the week, hot dog fans may want to mosey down Main Street and see what’s making everyone so happy. Don’t be surprised to see me there dousing those tasty fries in vinegar.

For more info, call 570.970.0123.

NOT CURLY CREME SEASON

Curly Creme Ice Cream (244 South River St., Plains) will not open this season due to the recent death of co-owner Robert Zaremski. His wife and business partner Janine Zaremski told the Times Leader last week she hopes to reopen the popular stand next year.

So do I — its soft serve is second to none!

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