Da’s, which is from the Gaelic for Dad’s is a cozy wood paneled place so often found in the “old” Poconos. While it operated under a different name and ownership before it still has a real feel of local nostalgia even though the existing version of the place is relatively new. It is full of locals stopping for a quick meal and beverage at lunch time or for a social place to have an evening’s drink and conversation with friends. The bar has several selections of draft beer including Guinness and Harp along with many interesting bottled choices from small breweries.

The food menu has a mix of selections including chili, soups, perogies, hot and cold sandwiches of all kinds and reasonably priced drinks. On Wednesday evenings, Da’s has a sirloin steak special for $15.95 which includes a large, perfectly grilled to order sirloin steak, served with the vegetable of the day (it was broccoli one time and string beans another on the times we went there) and a choice of mashed potatoes (with a tasty gravy), French-fried potatoes or onion rings. Sautéed mushrooms and onions can be added to the steak for only $1 more. The steak has great taste and cuts like butter. This special is one of the truly great food bargains in the area and well worth the short trip from here to there. Try it before it becomes too popular to get, in as word of mouth advertising of the place will be quick.
Style Of Cusine: American
Service Quality: Good
Price/Value: Good Value
Ambience: Very Pleasant
Wine Selection: Minimal

After some great cocktails and a free amuse’ from the Chef, we started with a shared appetizer of Rice Krispies encrusted fried oysters. This was an inspired offering providing a crunchy yet light crust encasing sweet plump oysters and allowing their taste to shine through. We also split a baby spinach and mixed berries salad with a great dressing. The combination seemed somewhat odd on reading the menu but it was an excellent and refreshing introduction to the entrees. These included a Duck Breast with Risotto, a Filet Mingon with a Gorgonzola Crust and an excellent veal special choice. Room for desert was minimal but we found it for some shared.

While the tab can be a little higher than the norm in the area, this is a wonderful place to dine, (certainly, at least, on special occasions) and we look forward to doing so again. Blakeslee Inn has fabulous Champagne on Sundays which would highlight any weekend for your guests or visitors to the area, complete and varied upscale dinner menu and a full-service bar. Give it a try sometime!
Style Of Cusine: American
Service Quality: Excellent
Price/Value: Expensive But Worth It
Ambience: Very Pleasant
Wine Selection: Very Good

The selections on the Bar Menu for this type of dining there are many and varied. Some of the choices include: The Mountains Edge hamburger, a huge beef patty on a Kaiser roll with all of the trimmings available (lettuce tomato, onion, cheese, bacon etc etc) plus an order of tasty French Fries and a crisp pickle. The Crab Dip (a lot like an entrée size Crab au’Gratin offered at higher prices in a lot of places) comes with garlicky toast to get the cheesy full-of-crabmeat concoction to your mouth. They have a Prime Rib sandwich with cheese and onion and a tasty gravy-like sauce on it which also comes with the fries and pickle. We decided to get a few of these choices and split them amongst the group. Everyone was pleased wit the results and looks forward to another stab at the menu in the near future.

If you are looking for a range of selection (from appetizers to sandwiches, to chili, to upscale entrees and desert) served at reasonable prices in a location with an outstanding view, this is the place for you. It also helps that the wait staff is attentive and the bartenders are friendly and good at what they do!
Style Of Cusine: American
Service Quality: Very Good
Price/Value: Good Value
Ambience: Gorgeous
Wine Selection: Good

Later that evening we had a Black and Blue Burger (an intense tasting combination of a spicy blackened beef burger, chipotle sauce and melted blue cheese – hence the name), seafood manicotti (enough for two meals at least), open faced steak sandwich and the fabulous Lobster Bisque soup. All were large portions, tasty and well worth the price. The portion size of the choices resulted in “doggie bags” for everything except the soup which was consumed in a hurry!

Shenanigans has a large varied menu of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, fajitas and wraps plus entrees of all kinds at appealing prices. Entertainment is usually provide in the form of Bands or Kareoke sing alongs; and there is always Baby Boomers in the rear of the restaurant for the dance party person in you.
Style Of Cusine: American
Service Quality: Very Good
Price/Value: Good Value
Ambience: Very Pleasant
Wine Selection: Minimal

Comments: Four of us ate there on a Thursday evening and were surprised by the lack of crowds after being told we get the last reservation for that evening! Despite this, we had a pleasant meal in a nice new location which will upgrade the average eatery in the area.

We split two appetizers - a roasted peppers and aged provolone appetizer which came with a thick balsamic reduction and field greens and their coconut shrimp consisting of field greens, perfectly done shrimp with great coconut coating (not overly breaded like most places) and aspargus spears!

Entrees included two orders of the Pescatore (mixed seafood, red sauce served over angel hair pasta), one order of the Veal Saltimboca which had a great sauce and was very flavorful, and one order of the sausage with brocolli rabe and roasted potatoes (this has a tasty garlicky gravy which complimented the tasty homemade sausages perfectly).

Desserts seemed to be impossible to eat but we tried anyway and split their pineapple sorbet (served in a frozen wedge of the fruit) and the watermelon sorbet (also served in a frozen wedge of rind with chocolate chips for seeds). Both were cool and refreshing and enjoyed by the table.

Note that portions are generous and reasonably priced so they are very busy on weekends. Try mid-week dining if you can to enjoy the food without the crowds.

Many specials were available from appetizers/soups to entrees and deserts. Sandwiches and pizza are available as well but Friday and Saturday nights it's the dinner menu only. Complete liquor license and accepts most major credir cards.

Style Of Cusine: Italian
Service Quality: Good
Price/Value: Good Value
Ambience: Quite Nice
Wine Selection: Minimal

Comments: This is the former Villa Verella and is still BYOB until they get a liquor license. The food is still great under the new owners and their Chef Mark and Sous Chef Sal (both formerly with Meadowbrook Inn and the Sunset Grill at the Split Rock Country Club). While the menu has changed from the fixed price multi-course extrvaganza that Villa Verella favored, it is solid upscale Italian Cuisine which you can turn into multiple courses by proper selection from the varied menu. Special soups, appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts are offered daily. The pastas and desserts are made on the premisses so everything is fresh and has that homemade twist.

We started with the fried calamari served with a spicy tomatoe based dipping sauce and sweet peppers. The special appetizer was a smoked salmon mousse served in Belgian Endive spears. Both were very good. WE selected one of the special entrees, 2 lightly battered lobster tails served over angel hair pasta in a lemony sauce, which we found to be excellent. I tried the porchetta, pork loin served with a well seasoned brown sauce over paparedelle pasta. Also very good. Both came with a house salad and vegetables. WE took most of these hone for the next day so there would room for dessert - an espresso flavored creme brulee and the special of strawberries and other fruit served in a chantilly creme stuffed pastry shell (an unexpectedly enormous protion as it turned out). Coffee, tea espresso and cappucinno are available.

With pastas, seafood, beef, neal, pork, chicken and salads, the full menu is extensive, well conceived and it being augmented by the daily specials makes this a place where you can go repeatedly and not run into the same old thing syndrome.

Style Of Cusine: Italian
Service Quality: Excellent
Price/Value: Good Value
Ambience: Very Pleasant
Wine Selection: None