We are currently in the process of updating our menu and it will temporarily be unavailable online. Welcome to The Checkerboard Inn, a local landmark known for our great food and friendly service! We're more than just another restaurant, more than just the local bar down the road. The Checkerboard Inn serves Fine Food and Drink, and sports an extensive Take-Out Menu.
We specialize in catering, both on and off site, and offer a private dining room and a unique reception area, "The Grove", for larger parties and receptions. We're conveniently located in the Back Mountain area of Northeastern Pennsylvania, just minutes from Wilkes-Barre, PA. Spotzy's Sports Bar is the perfect place for friends to gather to watch the game.
We specialize in catering, both on and off site, and offer a private dining room and a unique reception area, "The Grove", for larger parties and receptions. We're conveniently located in the Back Mountain area of Northeastern Pennsylvania, just minutes from Wilkes-Barre, PA. Spotzy's Sports Bar is the perfect place for friends to gather to watch the game.
Services
Whether you're looking to watch the big game, celebrate, catch up with some friends, or just relax, Our bar area has the perfect atmosphere for you! We offer our full dinner menu at the bar and bar dining area. Thirsty? We offer a wide variety of craft beers, draught beers, wines, cocktails, and more at our bar.
The Grove is the most versatile building on the premises. The seating pavilion is conveniently connected to its own kitchen and serving area. With its relaxed outdoor setting, casual parties may enjoy the volleyball court, horseshoe pits, pool tables, and many other extras. The Grove complex can also be elaborately decorated for formal parties and receptions (see picture below).
Our banquet room is a versatile, big room great for any type of party or event you may need. Banquet parties can be either sit-down dinners or buffets. There are many menu combinations from which to choose. Our Private Banquet/Dining room is perfect for family reunions and parties, to more intimate wedding receptions.
When the weather gets warm, it's deck season here at The Checkerboard Inn! Whatever the occasion, we have ample deck seating. Grabbing a drink? Come hang out at our big, deck bar where we've got you covered no matter what you're thirsty for. Hungry? We've got our full dining room menu that everyone knows and loves available for dining out in the sun.
Reviews (20)
Phil Cummings
Sep 03, 2021
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Ray K.
Sep 03, 2021
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Passed by several times in our travels and finally decided to stop in for dinner.
The good:
Had a very nice beer selection and food menu. Beer selection included craft brews form local and state. Had soft pretzel with cooper cheese sauce and IPA mustard and chicken wing stromboli. Highly recommend both! Large deck for enjoying a meal and drink outside. Also had a very nice inside area. Staff was very nice and took time to talk to us about selections (food and beer). Wait time wasn't bad either.
The bad:
We had a nice seat outside with others enjoying a nice night. A couple came in and was seated
The good:
Had a very nice beer selection and food menu. Beer selection included craft brews form local and state. Had soft pretzel with cooper cheese sauce and IPA mustard and chicken wing stromboli. Highly recommend both! Large deck for enjoying a meal and drink outside. Also had a very nice inside area. Staff was very nice and took time to talk to us about selections (food and beer). Wait time wasn't bad either.
The bad:
We had a nice seat outside with others enjoying a nice night. A couple came in and was seated
Ron Blight
Aug 31, 2021
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Jay Earl
Aug 27, 2021
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The Pizza Snob Of Nepa & Snj
Jul 21, 2021
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Had a family reunion there. Catering menu is aweful: hot dog hamburger fries...nasty brown coleslaw, butterless corn on cob. Sausage and peppers. Manhattan clan chowder ok. Ate there a decade ago inside off regular menu. Would have to try it again. Great outside bar and outside covered seating at bar. Pavillion available for large group events. Staff is accommodating. Better food exists. Try if you like. 😕
Katie Semanek
Jul 19, 2021
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Amy Sadvary
Jul 03, 2021
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Moon S.
May 20, 2021
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Michelle Patterson
Feb 22, 2021
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Debbie Wier
Dec 27, 2020
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Christopher M.
Aug 21, 2020
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Used to be phenomenal. Pizza and wings were the best in the area and their dinner entrees, especially the crab stuffed haddock, were always incredible and great value. Unfortunately the last 3 times I ordered tho the wings were soggy and the pizza was either burnt on the bottom or under cooked. Not sure if they changed management or have a new cook but I've been very disappointed. Several friends have had similar experiences lately too. Not usually one to complain but called after the last order and asked for the manager and was told they would call me back, but no one did. Too bad since
Sue W.
Mar 03, 2020
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My friend and I had delicious New York strip steaks that are on the special menu on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for 2/$22. Our steaks were done exactly the way we wanted them and they came out with a compound butter of garlic and parsley melted on top. We had a delicious meal and our whiskey sours were the way we remembered them from long ago. We will go back here when we're hungry for steak again!
Charles M.
Aug 13, 2019
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Ali B.
Jun 02, 2019
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Well, it's a nice bar. I had the wings and they were delicious. My wife tried ordering 5 different items, all of which we were told they were out of or stopped making a long time ago and never took them off the menu. Wife settles on potato pancakes just to put something in her stomach. Waitress brought out flat hash browns and said were out of sour cream! Out of sour cream?!? What the heck are we going to do with potato pucks and no sour cream?!? Never told us before we ordered, never questioned if we still wanted them, no apology. There was only one bathroom for men and women to share which
Alex H.
Apr 08, 2019
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A few beers on tap and a handful in bottles. This place has some really big TVs to watch sports which is pretty great. There is a pool table too (if you're into that kind of thing). I ordered the French Dip and my friend ordered the Steak & Cheese. Next time I am ordering the Steak & Cheese sandwich. That was phenomenal...way better than the French Dip. The fries are pretty average, but they're good.
Overall, pretty average place but the cheesesteak was a winner!
Overall, pretty average place but the cheesesteak was a winner!
Chuck Yarrish
Nov 06, 2018
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Mac McCormick U.
Apr 12, 2016
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Love this place... I read the other reviews and kinda had to write this in case someone just relied on those for a decision. Free pool and juke box on Mondays and their bar pie is awesome. I usually get the honey dipt chicken when I'm in the area (I live in Philly) If you want friendly staff and service and some great wings, bar pie, brews and mixed drinks then hit it up. Ps they just built a deck so when I come in the warmer months I'm assuming it'll be an even cooler spot to hang.
Becca L.
Jun 03, 2015
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Their food tastes prepackaged. I strongly recommend you don't eat here. We had the eggplant parmesan sub, a salad and a side of potato skins with broccoli. The first order of potato skins came out loaded (more expensive) and my friend is vegetarian, so the waitress began to take the order back. I stopped her and asked if they were just going to throw it away. She said yes so I made her leave it but she still had to charge us for it! Then she said she would give me a glass of wine on her, but she brought out red instead of white! The food left alot to be desired. Every other place I have reviewed
John O.
Jan 24, 2015
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Went here tonight with the kids for a late dinner. I ordered the steak special and my wife had the fish special. The kids split a large pizza. The fish was good but the portion size wasn't worth the price. The steak came with a "demi glace" which was basically mushrooms and gravy on the side. The pizza was reasonably priced and was a nice size for a large, however the sauce had a very strong oregano taste and not much else. There are TVs at each table that you can control which is a cool idea, however you can't really hear them because of all of the noise around you
Amy G.
Jan 12, 2015
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