MVD Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre

MVD Restaurant and Bar, located on Parrish Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is a tiny, fine dining establishment that specializes in small plate tapas. The food is locally sourced and unprocessed.

We arrived on time for our 7 p.m. reservations on a late-summer Saturday and were immediately seated. Mary, our very friendly and knowledgeable server, took our drink orders ( a Yards Brawler beer and a Merlot from Bordeaux) as we studied the menu.

Our first few plates arrived shortly afterward. First was the homemade, boursin-stuffed ravioli, and a sauce consisting of oil, tomato, basil, asparagus, tomato, and parmigiano. This was our best plate of the evening, with the ravioli served al dente, and the boursin oozing from the pasta.

A close second was the Queso Empanada filled with habanero cheese, chicken and bacon. The crust was very light, and the cheese was incredible. The potato and bacon croquettes with romesco sauce was also a delight.

The Remolacha was also very good, with organic roasted beets, feta cheese, greens, a hard boiled egg, and homemade caesar dressing. Also a treat was the Coreano, with thinly sliced Korean-style sirloin in a sweet and spicy gochujang/soy/sesame and garlic marinade. The beef was placed over white rice. As one would expect, the soy made the dish a bit salty, but the plate was an explosion of flavor and extremely delicious.

Our least favorite plate was the rosemary focaccia and burrata, with heirloom and organic cherry tomatoes, as well as Moldon salt and oil. The plate was very salty, and the oil just wasn’t to my liking. I ended up eating more of the fresh bread than anything else.

Rounding out our small meals were the mini hamburgers. The meat was very juicy and tasty. The burgers also included provolone, tomato, red onion, aioli on a brioche roll. The fries were also good, but very salty.

Finally, our dessert arrived. The Vahlrona chocolate cake came with a rich, gooey center, and served with a white chocolate ice cream  with a raspberry ice and blueberries. The cake was decadent and delightful. We also had an organic raspberry tart with homemade pastry cream and an apricot glaze. Both desserts had a dash of basil and was a nice sweet ending to our meal.

The small dining room was packed, which made conversation a bit challenging at times. Some of the plates were a bit salty, and the wait between plates toward the end of our dining experience was a mild nuisance. Overall, however, MVD is a refreshing venue and deserves a visit. The nine plates we had were just a fraction of what was offered, which included seafood, duck, and lamb choices as well. I believe the menu rotates, so every visit would no doubt result in a...

We visited MVD to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was just the two of us and we were very excited to go back to the restaurant after an amazing experience in May with my inlaws celebrating my husband's birthday.

The second trip was honestly a bit of a let down. The dining space is well decorated, but seating is close, not too close but a bit more than cozy. This wasn't too bad when we first arrived as we made an early dining reservation, but as 6 rolled around, it started to get a little tight and very loud.

The menu changes slightly week to week. The empanadas seem to be consistent, which is awesome because they are for sure the standout item for us! We loved the spinach and also ordered the corn and bacon this time. Last time, the beef was a table favorite as well.

The small plates we ordered were good this time around, but nothing really stood out like during our first visit. The sliders were tasty, but nothing special. The fried Yuca was interesting in texture, but tasted mostly like frying oil. I would have almost preferred a fried zucchini log. Appreciated the creativity though!

I really enjoyed the croquetas- a fried potato and bacon croquette served with romanesco sauce. It was a delicious bite.

The crab cakes were not like any crab cakes we've had before. They were definitely made with real lump crab, but they didn't have enough of a binding agent to really call a "cake" - they were very crumbly. The texture could have been forgiven, if the flavor was right. It tasted like an entire salt shaker was dumped on the crab cake. We ended up being unable to finish them.

We ordered dessert, my husband had the peach cobbler and I had a lava cake. The lava cake is tasty, very rich and delicious, but I wish it was served warm. The peach crisp was a bit of a let down. The first time we went, we ordered the wine poached pear. It appears to be a staple on the menu that they change the wine and aromatics on seasonally. Definitely would suggest the pear as the best dessert option.

The server was attentive. Everyone was very personable and kind on the staff.

I think we would give the restaurant another chance, since the menu changes, it could just be that we didn't pick winners on that week's offerings. Our experience in May was just so special and delicious, it was a very hard bar...

Renee’ and I recently visited MVD Restaurant with friends, and I was blown away by the exceptional service and delicious food. This fine restaurant truly deserves a Five-Star rating. The staff is incredibly attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, offering recommendations and ensuring our dining experience was top-notch. Speaking of the menu, the dishes are creative, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Every bite was a delight for the senses, from the perfectly cooked steaks, empanadas, and homemade pasta to the decadent desserts. The extensive wine list features a wide variety of options to complement any dish. The outstanding bartender makes the best old-school Tom Collins. Overall, I highly recommend MVD Restaurant for an unforgettable dining experience. The combination of outstanding service, delicious food, and atmosphere make this restaurant a must-visit in the local dining scene. Five...