Pizza Althea — Restaurant in Pittston

During yet another (yes, another--someone send help) trip to NEPA in the dead of winter, my dear friend said, "Scott, I want to take you to this amazing pizza place in Pittston."

I paused. Pittston?

My skepticism was met with, "Yeah, forget Old Forge and their pizza, you have to try this place called Pizza Althea."

Alright, you got me. I was in.

So, fresh from my ultra-luxe (insert sarcasm here) stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, I hit the road, only to be greeted by snow because, of course. But, when pizza is calling, you dig deep and remember your "how to drive in snow" skills. Safely arriving on Main Street, I stepped into Pizza Althea, housed in what was clearly an old bank--vault and all. If only that vault could talk, I bet it would have some stories about what some of those "infamous" Pittston people stashed in safe deposit boxes there decades ago.

The space is small, with a few coveted seats at the pizza bar, a larger bar area, and a handful of tables. Thankfully, we had reservations because, despite the snowy weather, this place was packed. We were given the option of a table or two open seats at the pizza bar, and we jumped at the chance to sit and watch the pizza magic happen.

First, let's talk drinks. Massive props to Pizza Althea for offering non-alcoholic beer, including NA Blue Moon. If I had Ubered, I absolutely would have indulged in their mezcal cocktails (a personal favorite), but alas, drinking and driving don't mix. And trust me, I know.

To start, we ordered the "Big Ass Meatball" ($12), and let me tell you--it was big. It had some junk in the trunk and absolutely lived up to its name. We also split the Pizza Shop Salad ($15), which was loaded with greens, Italian meats, sesame seeds, and an absurd amount of cheese. Like, seriously, this thing was huge. We barely made a dent in both dishes because we knew we had pizzas coming, but every bite was fantastic.

Now, let's get to the main event. The pizza here isn't your standard "cheese or pepperoni" situation. These are gourmet masterpieces, and narrowing it down was tough. We debated ordering six, but common sense (and the memory of our already massive starters) prevailed, and we settled on two:

Freak Nasty ($25) - Garlic confit, cheese blend, short rib, roasted cippolini onions, taleggio, rosemary, fresh horseradish, and a caraway crust.

Bubba's Shrimp Pizza ($24) - Red sauce, fontina, roasted shrimp, marinated goat horn peppers, banana pepper chow chow, mozzarella, long hot compound butter, and nduja bread crumbs.

Both had an airy, not-too-heavy crust that hit just right. The Freak Nasty was rich and savory, while, the Bubba's Shrimp Pizza was a flavor bomb. The shrimp were generously portioned--maybe too generously, because one rogue shrimp took a flying leap off my slice and onto the floor. (RIP, fallen shrimp.) Would I have preferred them chopped up a bit? Sure. Did it stop me from devouring the rest? Absolutely not.

We left stuffed. Everything was fantastic, from the ambiance to the creative menu to the shoutout-worthy NA beer. If you find yourself anywhere near Pittston, Pizza Althea is a must. And if it's snowing? Suck it up, channel your inner winter warrior, and make the...

I recently had the opportunity to explore a brand new pizza spot in the Local NEPA area, and I was buzzing with excitement! The atmosphere is vibrant and urban, perfectly blending metropolitan flair with a cozy vibe.

We were seated near the pizza ovens, and I have to say, the service was top-notch! Our waitress was incredibly professional, catering to our every need with impressive punctuality.

While the energy was lively, I did find the facility a bit noisy; there’s not quite enough sound insulation to soften the buzz of conversation. However, the music was at just the right volume, allowing us to chat comfortably while enjoying the ambiance.

Now, let’s talk cocktails—absolutely divine! They were expertly crafted, bursting with flavor but not overly strong. The bartender clearly knows their stuff, and each drink was a delightful experience.

As for the food, I couldn't help but notice the generous portion sizes as I glanced at other diners' plates. We decided to dive into two appetizers and two pizzas, choosing calamari and crispy artichokes to start.

The calamari, however, was a bit of a letdown—while it wasn’t terrible, it just lacked that wow factor. I’d rate it around 6.5 out of 10; it tasted too much like a fryer with minimal flavor and presentation needed more color than just Mirco-Bulls Blood ( red beats micro greens).

On the bright side, the artichokes were intriguing! The heart was delicious, but the fried outer leaves missed the mark, coming out dry instead of crispy. A sprinkle of salt and pepper and a side sauce (not drenched in hot sauce!) would elevate it. But I must say, the portion was impressive for an appetizer!

For our pizzas, we opted for the RVB and the lemon zest. I was eager to sink my teeth into these culinary creations, but I found the crust surprisingly doughy instead of the crispy delight I anticipated. However, the dough did have a nice flavor—perhaps just a touch less cornmeal next time.

The lemon zest pizza had a bold lemon zest with cracked pepper that was just too overpowering. It detracted from the pizza itself, so they might want to dial that back a notch.

The RVB pizza was good but packed with an overwhelming garlic punch—definitely not for the faint of heart! The flavor profiles sounded fantastic on the menu, but once served, the toppings clashed rather than harmonized. A bit of fine-tuning in the kitchen could really transform these pizzas into something spectacular!

Overall, I’d give my experience a solid 6.5 out of 10. There are definitely improvements to be made, but I’m excited to see how they evolve! With so much buzz around this new spot—it took me over a week to get reservations—I’m looking forward to returning in a couple of months. I can't wait to see what delicious creations they...

Pizza Althea was an awesome stop! It’s been on our list to check out so we took the drive yesterday and were rewarded with some outstanding pizza! Their place is beautiful … it’s unfussy yet classy. The bartender said it best when she said “it’s a place you can stop in after a workout in your yoga pants or after a wedding in a fancy dress”. Speaking of our bartender, Erin was so sweet!!! She was super helpful and attentive! They have a great cocktail menu! I had the Touch of Grey which was a gin cocktail with lavender, black pepper and lime and it was delicious! We were going to do pizza and a salad but we couldn’t decide on just one pizza so we ordered two. The first was their Cacio E Pepe which is a pecorino cream base, cheese blend, peppercorn crust, whipped ricotta and lemon zest and it was PERFECTION! Those flavors together and the crust of the pizza was chef kiss! We also ordered the Freaky Nasty pizza was had garlic confit, cheese blend, short rib, onions, rosemary, horseradish and a caraway crust which was also equally amazing! We were texting friends as soon as we took the first bite … you need Pizza Althea in your life! Can’t wait to come back and work our way through...