The Wayside Restaurant — Restaurant in Knox Township

I was at The Wayside on a Saturday night, a bit of a celebration I suppose, on the strength of a couple very good recommendations. To be brief, The Wayside is nothing short of spectacular! It is by far the best restaurant in the area, and I would suggest that it keeps pace with all but the very very best (and most expensive) in New York or Chicago. If Zagat rated The Wayside, it would be a 27+. It is that good.

The menu would appear to be edited down from what it once was, but it was still great. This is an old school presentation with a strong emphasis on quality. The appetizers were fairly predictable, but very very good, and the Coconut Shrimp were by far the best I've ever had. Amazing. The salads and bread were excellent, and the entrees included a couple fish (including a Sea Bass you never see around here), several outstanding dry aged steaks, a pork osso bucco, and a seafood casserole, in addition to the Mexican specials for the evening.

The cocktails were, predictably, just right. Big, with top shelf liquor. I don't know that they had the boutique liquor that one sees in Chicago or New York, but something has to give out here in the country!

Yes, it is pretty expensive by local standards, but the value is absolutely there. This is very fine dining without the pretentious city nonsense. Honestly, it reminds me of a couple places in the Hamptons (the ritzy waterside end of Long Island). All about quality and a relaxed experience.

My advice is get a reservation, don't hold back, and enjoy The Wayside for what it is. This...

What an absolutely amazing dining experience! Let's start with our waitress Nicole, (who is also the owner) what an amazing person to talk to. We talked about the waysides heritage and her plans for the restaurant and where she sources her food for the establishment. I specifically asked because the steak that everyone had at our table was agreeably the best beef products we had ever had at a restaurant. Nicole informed us that she gets her beef locally and some of her vegetables as well. I found it very comforting to know that Nicole and her family take enough pride in there cozy establishment to actually care where their product comes from and the support they give back to their own community. All and all what should have been an extremely stressful night "sat. April 1st, running on a generator with no phone lines" ended up being one of the best dining experiences my family has ever had. Thank you Nicole and your entire family for being terrific hosts!!!!! P.S try the smoked old fashion, you can...

For most, this restaurant is a bit out of the way, however we're 20 minutes away and what a treat it is to experience. Don't hesitate to come and enjoy a pleasant environment, with lovely and delicious food cooked perfectly. Attentive, caring owners are the nicest people. And check out the recently redone bar. They did a beautiful job!!! Thank you Wayside for offering a very special eatery.

It's a couple months later, and we just visited Wayside Restaurant, May 29, 2024, and I'm again compelled to write about the marvelous experience we had.

Friends from Roanoke, VA joined us for an extremely relaxed and delicious meal. Nice clientele, excellent service, outstandingly yummy food offered in large portions. There are two meals in one, really. Ossobuco and the salmon with crabmeat were both 5 stars. Please do not miss this gem of an experience located in Lucinda, PA. Rates highest in likability and charm all due to the owners attention...