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O’Neil’s: A place to remember

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

Once upon a time, a fictional bar existed that promised a place where everyone would know your name. That’s the type of place that Mike O’Neil and his business partner, stockbroker Perry Rose, said they had in mind when they opened O’Neil’s Bar and Grill– a place where great friends, great food, great music and great times would intertwine to create an all-around great experience. And that’s exactly what one will find while visiting O’Neil’s.

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Head bartender Liz Yusinski, right, serves up fun to patrons Larry Sokoloski and Steve Davis.

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O’Neil’s offers classic bar and grill fare such as wings, as well as signature dishes such as Clams O’Neil.

Abington Journal Photos/ Mauri Rapp

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A former salesman, O’Neil said he had wanted to open a bar for a long time. He had been initially expecting to open a bar in Scranton when the opportunity to purchase the former Thompson’s Dairy Bar and RT’s Restaurant came about. “It was already a bar before, so we weren’t starting from the ground up,” said O’Neil.

After a few minor changes, the bar and grill was ready to open, and on May 14 of this year, O’Neil realized his dream to open a bar/restaurant. “Everything just came together,” he said.

The next step was to draw in customers, and that’s where head bartender Liz Yusinski came in: as a former bartender for R.T.’s, Yusinski was already a well-known face behind the bar, attracting old friends like Larry Sokoloski, of Dalton, and new friends Sokoloski said he had been a patron when the bar was known as R.T.’s, but really enjoys the welcoming atmosphere O’Neil has created. “It’s what this area needs,” he said. By adding a friendly wait staff and smiling bartenders, O’Neil draws in customers from all around the Abingtons. “We get businessmen from Clarks Summit and farmers from Newton,” said O’Neil. “People come from Pittston and Scranton, too.” In fact, O’Neil reports meeting customers from as far as Wales. “We get them from all over,” he laughed.

“Fridays seem to be the “bar” night,” said O’Neil. “And Saturdays seem to be mostly families.” This family-friendliness isn’t exclusive to the customers, either: O’Neil gets a little help from his family when wife Jennifer lends a hand, whether it’s behind the grill or behind the bar. O’Neil said that daughters Halle, 9, and Sydney, 6, enjoy helping during the summertime or when school is not in session.

And what eating establishment would be complete without an accomplished chef behind the grill? O’Neil and Rose called upon Paul Svoboda to cook up both standard tavern fare as well as signature dishes. Fans of the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” may want to try Pittsburgh-native Svoboda’s Pittsburgh Style Sandwich, a sandwich made from a choice of grilled chicken, steak, boneless wings, chicken tenders, egg or turkey, placed between two slices of Italian bread and piled high with cheese, vinaigrette cole slaw and homemade fries – just like they make at the famous Primanti Brothers Restaurant.

Seafood lovers may want to try the Clams O’Neil, served in a garlic broth and made with crumbled sausage and roasted red peppers, while steak lovers may opt for the New York Strip, served Philly Style or Milanese. Weekly specials abound at O’Neils: Monday is $1 off steak entrees and Tuesday is $1 off Clams and Texas Weiners. Kids eat free on Wednesday, and Thursday is O’Neil’s Wing Night. “People always tell me ‘this or that restaurant makes the best wings,’” said O’Neil. “Then they try ours and say ‘your wings are just like my favorite restaurant’s wings!” On Fridays, O’Neil has Pasta Specials, and Saturday is O’Neil’s Prime Rib night. In addition to breakfast, O’Neil’s Bar and Grill serves comfort food specials on Sundays, with dishes such as meatloaf or meat-stuffed cabbage, known throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania as “pigs in a blanket.” O’Neil’s also serves regular bar and grill appetizers like jalapeno poppers, nachos and cheese sticks and, of course, beer. In addition to national favorites like Coors Light and local favorites like Yuengling, O’Neil said he tries to switch out unique microbrews every few weeks. Currently on tap is Hook and Ladder Ale, a microbrew made by a firefighter from Bethesda, MD. “They donate $4 of each keg sold toward helping local burn victims,” said O’Neil. “With a fire company just up the boulevard, we feel as though we are giving back to the community.”

O’Neil’s Bar and Grill is located at 1959 Newton-Ransom Boulevard, just past Scranton Label and halfway down the boulevard to Ransom Village. O’Neil’s is open seven days a week: the bar is open Monday through Wednesday from 5 until 10 p.m., Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., and Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m.; the dining room is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 until 10 p.m., and Sunday from 5 until 9 p.m. The dining room is also open for breakfast Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Contact them at 587-5415.