Le Manhattan Bistro

I adore this place. Great food. Fresh ingredients. Fun atmosphere. Lovely staff. The French Classics are fabulous and dessert is made from scratch by a professional pastry chef. I recommend a Paris Express martini, escargot, French onion soup, followed by Le Coq Au Vin or the jumbo sea scallops, a nice bottle of wine to go with dinner, and follow the meal with crème brûlée and an espresso martini.

Could not be more disappointed. Arrived at 5pm. Even though there was no one in the restaurant, JB (½owner) advised we should have our cocktail at the bar since our reservation as not until 6pm. Ok. Then we ask for a table furthest from the door because we have my elderly father with us which required additional negotiation with JB. Again, no one else is there. Ok. Then we go to the bar where Gary mixes up 2 perfect martinis and a Manhattan. My husband ordered a bottle of Côte du rhone when another bartender (Suzanne) made a sour face. She admitted her face was a reaction to us ordering one of the more inexpensive wines. For the record, the wine was lovely and the word pretentious started to show up in our conversation. Off to the table…
Chef Gwen stopped by to say hello and took a pic with Dad. We were so lucky to have Jocelyn as our server. She eventually saved the night. The noise level continues to escalate until it becomes unbearable. Now, for dinner…
The meat tray was nice, but the pâté on it was wonderful. Lobster bisque was flavorful but thin and should have been listed as a soup. French onion soup was good. The signature duck, which was expected to be the highlight of the evening, was a disaster. The skin was soft and mushy, cold and dripping in grease. The same goes for the potatoes. Dad decided to pick around his, I returned mine. Jocelyn was gracious and professional and happy to exchange the meal for scallops which turn out to be good. Then for the shock…
JB came back to our table with my cold, greasy, mushy duck in hand and put the dish in my face saying there is nothing wrong with it and that this is the way it’s served. Really?! I pressed my finger on the duck and the grease oozed out with my finger sinking into the fat. I then explained that I know exactly how the duck was prepared as I saw it done on the news segment that highlighted the dish. Ok. So we’ll skip our dessert and take the check… our $ 188 check!
Called Connor’s in Dallas. They were happy to accommodate us for dessert and cordials. Bonus? They made brandy Alexander’s with ice cream. Whoo hoo.

Such a nice treat. Went there today with my ladies for brunch… Jean Baptiste was quite entertaining. The food was delecious. The hollandaise leans towards the lemony side… of that’s your preference. The quiche was velvety smooth and quite a nice crunchy texture on the outside. The french toast had a nice amount of sweetness buy was slightly underdone for my palate. The truffle fries were so good and only lacked a bit of perhaps Parmesan cheese… but were well done and seasoned with the truffle oil well. The lobster bisque soup had an amazingly smooth texture with melt in your mouth bits of sweet lobster. The bloody Mary’s were a bit on the spicy side, but I enjoyed them. Overall… fantastic experience. I felt the waitress a bit inattentive, but Jean made it so much fun for us. I will definitely go back for dinner in fact I’m excited about the prospect of indulging in their dinner menu.

We have lived in several major metro areas all over the country. We love to explore restaurants. Saw a review for this on Unilocal and doubted how it could be all five stars. But we now have no doubts! We went on Wednesday night for one dollar oysters fresh and delicious. My wife had escargots (rich and tender) and I had country pâté (excellent but could use more toasts). She had Coq au vin which was exceptional. Waitress told us it was marinated in red wine for three days! Dark and rich, with soaked potatoes. I had the duck confit which I had never had. Absolutely stunning. Crispy skin and tender rich meat. Tiny fried potato bits which, oddly, were wonderful with frisee lettuce. Won’t take time on desserts– fabulous. Every service person was friendly and knowledgeable and one of the owners came by to check on us. Wednesday and the place was packed. WE WILL GO BACK! Don’t pass this up!

I can’t believe that I actually had one of the best meals I’ve ever had in the valley. I can say this because I grew up there and was never that impressed by most of the food. Especially once I moved to the west coast and discovered what food tastes like that isn’t fried or preserved in salt sugar or fat. Not that that can’t be a good thing every once in a while!!!
I took my mom and niece here for dinner while I was visiting family and I have to say, this is one of the best steaks I ever had. I’m actually looking forward to eating here again for my nieces graduation dinner. My steak was cooked perfectly. The French fries were delicious. I also tried the Mac and cheese which was also great. I had their flan for dessert. My mom, being from the valley, said, «that’s all you get for 9:00??» But it was the perfect amount. The only misstep was the latte at end of dinner which was too hot, I think they burned the milk a little. But I didn’t say anything and I drank it so it wasn’t the worst thing.
The service was also stellar. We had a young lady from Florida and she could honesty work at any restaurant in the world, she was that friendly and professional. And the décor really makes you feel like you’re at a bistro in Paris. I hope this place stays open as I’ll be visiting it every time I’m in Pennsylvania. I can’t recommend this place enough!!!

It is a nice place, used to be an old bank. Service was fast and the food was excellent! Spacious, you don’t feel right, open and comfortable!

My wife and I have been to Le Manhattan Bistro at least 7 or 8 times and we enjoy it more with each visit. The venue and atmosphere is grand, whether you’re seated in the main dining area with the vaulted ceilings with tall circle top windows offering tons of natural light, or the smaller area adjacent to the bar area with the fabulous painted murals. Jean Baptiste, the host, is most accommodating with a pleasant smile and a kind comment with every visit, and the dining options from Chef Gwen are truly amazing for our area. I have typically chosen the grilled salmon with basil emulsion, while my wife is a huge fan of the organic roasted chicken and mashed potatoes, which are to die for. We often order an extra side of the potatoes, they are that delicious. I order salmon 95% of the time we dine out, and the grilled salmon here is hands down the best I’ve had. I’ve also sampled the raw oysters, always fresh and tasty, while the Misses enjoys the chilled shrimp cocktail with a very well prepared cocktail sauce. Fresh bread is always delivered promptly upon being seated, and never fails to impress. The bar offerings are more than adequate, and the music selection is always very eclectic and refreshing. Another true indicator of the quality of this establishment is the cleanliness and paintings/​pictures that adorn the restrooms, certainly the cleanest and classiest restaurant restrooms in the valley. This place is a «can’t miss» for any foodie or anyone who enjoys classy and enjoyable dining in a truly beautiful setting.
Kudos to Chef Gwen and Jean Baptiste for the phenomenal French Bistro they’ve given us in Wilkes-​Barre. Thank you for the amazing dining experience!

As a CIA graduate and a chef for 15 years. I will keep this short and sweet. First off the duck confit and scallops we’re honestly perfection. The manager John showed us nothing but hospitality and consistently make sure throughout the courses that we were taken care of. Good luck trying to find a better wine list and selections of wine by the glass. Just to give you an example we dined there on a Thursday and we had plans to dine in Manhattan on a Saturday being that I wasn’t feeling so well we decided to go there on Saturday instead because it was equivalent to what we would have probably experienced in Manhattan. I just hope other restaurants in the area step their game up to where Manhattan Bistro is in terms of standards and service

«Hello darling» says the lovely French man as I walk in. Oh, yes, this is going to be good. I finally took the plunge and stopped in for lunch. I’ve been wanting to for months, ever since I found out we have a real French bistro in downtown Wilkes Barre. I’m a French onion soup fiend so ordering it was a must. I forgot to take a picture of it, I was too busy eating. The broth had intense depth of flavor, tons of deeply caramelized onions, roasted baguette flowing on top with the perfect amount of golden brown gruyère cheese. Yum! I ordered the steak frites for the entrée. The steak and frites were perfectly cooked and so flavorful. I will be back.

Cannot say enough about Le Manhattan Bistro, but I will say something. In my opinion, this is not only by far the best establishment in north-​eastern Pennsylvania, but this is quite possibly one of the best restaurants on the east coast. No matter where you live, Philadelphia, NYC, this place is worth the drive.
The space itself is great, and the ambiance is extraordinary, especially at night when the high ceilings are lit by the perfect amount of light. Being located inside of an old bank, the esthetically pleasing vault is on display. Above the vault is a private party room. The room is lined with windows, allowing anyone dining in that space an open view of the restaurant.
The service was on point. There wasn’t a moment during our dining experience that we weren’t tended to. My favorite aspect of the service, we were never rushed. We were able to sit back, relax, and truly enjoy the masterpieces Chef Gwen Le Pape put in front of us.
The entire night was delightful, starting with the first course: French Onion Soup. It was a special concoction that smashes your taste buds with amazing flavors. Don’t do yourself a disservice by not ordering this, it is simply amazing. The second course – Homemade Country Pâté– was done perfectly. Having eaten this dish in many places, I would put this near or at the top of my list. It is such a simple but yet decadent dish when done correctly. I would highly recommend this dish. Lastly, I finished this stellar meal with the braised Lamb Shank. Of course this dish was nothing less than spectacular. The meat was cooked to perfection basically falling off the bone, braised in the perfectly-​paired red wine and served over mashed potatoes and carrots, this dish was the cap to a perfect meal. The lamb shank is a large portion aiming to fill the hungriest of patrons, but do not let that deter you; you should order this dish, even if the only reason is, you can and you only live once. The side we shared – Potato Gratin «Dauphinois”– was perfectly executed. It was simple, traditional, classic and delicious. There is something on this menu for everyone, with Chef Gwen at the helm you cannot make a bad choice.
Unfortunately dessert was not an option, but that did not stop us from enjoying several – maybe too many– after-​dinner-​drinks. The bartender was great. She was professional, friendly and made our time sitting at the bar an enjoyable experience. The bar has a great selection of cocktailsWe were also able to speak to Chef Gwen, and it was an absolute pleasure. The man clearly enjoys his art and frankly, is one of the best at it.
Wilkes-​Barre should delighted to be the host to one of the best eateries on the east coast. DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED WILKES-​BARRIANS. Drop what you are doing and get to this place, I would even proffer that one is wasting their money if they are not spending it dining at Le Manhattan Bistro.

The food here is absolutely phenomenal. They perfected the art of French cuisine minus the lack of fresh baguette/​more innovative offering of bread.
I ordered french onion soup and the duck entrée and was impressed by the depth of flavor and display of homage to French inspired cooking. The chef (s) know how to create a colorful plate and flavor palate that will dance on your tongue, especially in an area like Wilkes Barre.
It was truly one of those meals that you don’t forget, food-​wise that it.
What lacked was service. Granted, we came on Mother’s Day so there was definitely a crowd, but service crawled. Our server was such a sweetheart but he gave off the nervous vibe which led us to think he was new or just very busy. Don’t get me wrong, he was very involved and constantly at our table checking on us, but the busyness mixed with the long wait for bread and our entrees didn’t warrant a five star rating — even though the food and ambiance deserves it.
I am definitely going to give this place another shot to redeem themselves so that we can hopefully chalk up the slow service as just another expected busy holiday in the restaurant biz.

Nicely located with ample parking plus streetside parking. I liked the décor and the warmth of the people here. Not your regular chains or other upscale restaurants. Homely feel to the upscale dining experience. Pretty romantic, even though I was dining alone. One of the finest places in the area with a bunch of low key food joints.
I ordered the raw oysters, which I use as a scale these days, were extremely good. I was craving for more, but concentrated on the entrée instead. The hanger steak as an entrée was balanced, but I’ve had way better before.
The drinks — got started with the Manhattan to chime with the place, and was better than other manhattans. But the dessert wine, i.e. A port wasn’t the greatest. They only had a Sandeman Tawny which I don’t regard as the best port. I was hoping for a Cockburner 20 yrs or similar. But nevertheless, I was happy with the experience overall.

I was very excited to try this place after many positive reviews and it being very close to home (of which we have NO where of this caliber to enjoy food this good.)
I’ll start with saying it was an absolute pleasure to experience some of Chef Gwen’s food. My partner and I ordered Oysters and Lobster Bisque to start & because we typically order a lot of different things off the menu while trying a new place out. The Oysters were amazingly fresh & the Lobster Bisque was easily the best I’ve ever had. If you’re a wine lover like myself btw they have a very nice selection of which I recommend they grey stone Merlot
For our entrees we ordered the Scallops and the braised lamb shank. Everything was amazing and totally worth the price might I add. If you’re from Wilkes Barre like myself you’re probably used to going to a place with 5 stars, spending a bunch of money and leaving hungry and disappointed. I highly recommend this place for a night out, you won’t be disappointed! :)

Dont let this place die again! In the sea of usual NEPA pizza/​pasta houses, Le Manhattan is a welcome addition. When the SouthSide closed, we were crushed.
When we heard news of a reopening, we were excited! The changes are quite apparent.
Bar: Jacob the bartender has gooten the go ahead to make a new cocktail menu and the shelves are stocked with a good selection of spirits. They are experimenting with shrubs, infusions, etc. I would say that the bar program has improved tremendously. There are reports of a wine cellar in the works.
Food: Gwens food is as good as ever. My favorite hands down is the duck confit. One exciting thing is that there is now housemade bread, and a new pastry chef I believe. Let me tell you, the house baguette is the best you will have in the city or NEPA.
Is it perfect: no, of course not. Every restuarant has cycles of evolution and what is exciting about this place is that they are always trying new ideas and ways to bring a better dining experience to the area. Between the bar program and the food, I dont believe there are many restaurants in NEPA that are doing the same thing. Perhaps AV Lounge, Beaumont Inn, Posh? Certainly nothing in Wilkes Barre.

This is my favorite restaurant in Northeastern PA. From the lovely space, the professional staff, to the delightful food, it is a pleasure to go here for lunch, dinner, or a few drinks with friends.
The establishment is separated into three main areas: the beautifully refurbished main dining area in bright yellow with the soaring ceilings of the old bank building intact, a separate cozy dining area lined with brick walls and a darker atmosphere, and the open and hip bar area great for a cocktail before a meal or hanging out for a few hours with something delicious from the raw bar menu. There is also a fourth private room that overlooks the main dining area from the second floor that is available for parties.
The staff is professional and helpful. The gentleman that runs the front-​of-​house keeps everything running smoothly and ensures there’s great music playing throughout the night. ;)
The food is just great. It’s not just that it is nice to have a French restaurant in the area, but that it is a GOOD French restaurant. The lunch menu offers many of the same items on the dinner menu, but at a smaller price-​point for the smaller serving size. This makes it more approachable for those that may want to try it first before going for dinner. I highly recommend the Croque Madame, the daily quiche special, or the Frisée with Lardon!
For dinner, the Coq au Vin is prepared in classic French style — it is dark and delicious. The Niçoise Salad with seared tuna is a delight. They have oysters, clams, crab, and lobster on the Raw Bar menu and steaks, lamb, and even Le Burger for those that prefer meat. The frites (or French Fries) are seriously good. Don’t forget to save room for an espresso and desert! The Passion Fruit torte or the Lemon Tart are lovely.

Had a wonderful experience in this French bistro. Was in town for an errand and thought we’d give it a try for dinner on a Thursday night. Food was very good, service very attentive. Newly refurbished, freshly decorated interior.
The complimentary appetizer (cheese cream puffs) was amazing! Ordered a truffle walnut cream soup (excellent). The seared jumbo scallops (main dish) was good but the champagne sauce was on the salty side. However, the braised crispy leeks were a nice touch. Overall, very good.
Had a flambé crêpe suzette – always a good source of entertainment! Chef made it in front of us. It was quite good, the Grand Marnier and orange zest adding interest.
The manager and servers were very friendly and attentive!
Note that they have a private parking lot (we didn’t know at first), which can make it much more convenient.
Would definitely love to go back!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across this restaurant on Unilocal.French cuisine in Wilkes-​Barre? The chef who hails from Les Halles, a famously known restaurant chain in NYC and Miami? Calling for reservations now.
I dined here last evening with my family. I was so excited to see French in NEPA. Love French cuisine.
The restaurant is located on South Main, a few blocks south of the square. Private lot and meter parking on the street available at the restaurant.
The restaurant atmosphere is great for a family night out, a date, or night with friends. Wine list limited with a few mix drinks available. I wish it was a BYOB. How fun it would be…
We were served freshly baked french bread. The butter was served in little packets and at room temperature. YES! Thankfully, it was not cold butter.
The chef prepared a complementary cheese puff with an eggplant moose filling. Yum! Each guest was served 1 serving.
The appetizer that we chose was the Assorted Charcuterie. I forgot to take a picture, but it was delicious. The patee was my favorite! A great choice for 2 — 3 people. The patee was exceptionally good. Made with pork. My husband loved it!
The following entrees were chosen: Lobster BLT, Roasted Duck Breast (Special), CRISPY Duck Confit, and Braised Lamb Shank.
The Duck Confit was great. The skin was EXTRA CRISPY! The way it should be done. I wish there was a little more sauce with the Duck Confit.
The Braised Lamb Shank was one of the best shanks I had in a long time, maybe ever? The shank itself was HUGE. This is one serving? Doggy bag please! Served with creamy, buttery mash potatoes (who raves about mash potatoes) and perfectly cooked mini carrots. Again, who raves about vegetables? That’s telling you something…
Duck breast special was very good as well. The chef selected medium-​rare which is the perfect way to the eat duck, however a member of our party chose to eat it medium. Even at medium the chef prepared it very well.
Now, Lobster BLT is not very french, but this dish is close to the chef’s heart; it’s his mother’s favorite. So why not have my mother try it too? Yes, it was a winner for her as well. Fresh, big pieces of lobster, yum.
Dessert — we chose crème brûlée and profiteroles. The profiteroles were like cream puffs with the cream replaced with ice cream coated in milk chocolate. It was good, but I prefer the crème brûlée more. The crème brûlée was more of a creamy liquid, where I prefer my brulee’s more solid and dense. Flavor still great (using real vanilla bean).
I would have loved to see Herring on the menu since it is commonly seen on French Bistro menus in Paris.
So rather than spend all that money on a trip to Paris or to a major city for French Cuisine, stop by Le Manhattan Bistro for your trip to the City of Lights in your hometown backyard. I hope this place is around for a long time.
Enjoy!

I cannot express how overjoyed I am that chef Gwen was able to stay in our little city and continue to serve us kids his amazing French food. The chef is a French native and was once the executive chef of the famous NYC restaurant Les Halles (Anthony Bourdain’s old haunt) — he was even a champion on a recent episode of «Chopped». His restaurant’s big city menu and small-​town charm mesh beautifully together in a gorgeously renovated bank building, complete with a lacquered bar and an «overseer’s office» area for groups that overlooks the entire dining room. The ambiance is romantic but not stuffy — you won’t have to dress to the 9s and you won’t find any white tablecloths at the banquette, but you WILL want to bring your friends, your family, and especially your date. It’s definitely a place that will impress your dinner guests.
As far as costs go, for dinner it is comparable to other fancier NEPA restaurants, like Kevin’s, The Bistro on the Ave, and Ruth’s Chris — no NYC prices here. The menu, however, offers up food you’ve likely not had at any corner bar downtown… escargots, blood sausage, profiteroles, pâté, etc. If you’re not in the mood for too much gastronomic adventure, you cannot go wrong with their amazing oysters (the mignonette is seriously the best thing I’ve ever had on a oyster — ever), their traditional potato gratin (bechamel and a hint of nutmeg… so delicious), and one of their steak entrees (Filet, NY Strip, Hanger, etc. — all served with frites). If you want to try out some of the food at a smaller price-​point, check out their lunch or weekend brunch offerings.
Make sure you finish with the crème brûlée if you’re even a casual fan of this dessert. The real vanilla pod used in the custard and the expertly flamed sugar crust will not disappoint.
Welcome back, chef, and thanks for another amazing meal!

Chef Gwen Le Pape is a passionate chef that will make you fall in love with French cuisine.
I can personally say that the Ahi Tuna tartar is probably the best tuna tartar I have ever had. Stuffed mushrooms were also mind blowing.
The place looks very nice and elegant.
Prices are well suited for what you’re getting. Personally, I don’t care to pay extra as long as I get my money worth and at Le Manhattan Bistro I totally got it!
I hope this restaurant succeed and attract more talented chefs to that area.

Le Manhattan Bistro, this area’s only authentic French dining experience, has finally opened and proves to have been worth the wait. The menu offers a number of traditional French dishes. The bistro serves as a welcome breath of fresh air in downtown Wilkes-​Barre, an area littered by pizza places and fast food joints and not exactly known for culinary diversity.
I have personally tried and can recommend the NY strip steak au poivre and the roasted chicken au jus. On the appetizer front I can recommend the burgundy escargot and the tuna tartare. I intend to eventually make my way through the entire menu.
Finish your meal with one of the amazing desserts — the Crème brûlée is a particular favorite of mine but I also recommend the macaroons. All dishes are prepared under the supervision of award-​winning chef Gwen Le Pape.
For those not in the mood for hearty French cuisine, the bar serves a wide selection of delicious wines and signature cocktails.
Parking isn’t an issue as Le Manhattan Bistro has a private lot formerly occupied by the dearly departed Chuck Robbins sports store.
Le Manhattan Bistro occupies the first floor of a century old building that’s also home to eighteen luxury apartments. The architecture of the building is absolutely stunning and certainly makes Le Manhattan Bistro the most beautiful restaurant in all of Wilkes-​Barre or Scranton.