Ale Mary's at the Bittenbender

I’m not sure what I just ate, but that was not what Ale Mary’s food use to be. With so much good food a block or two in any direction, the “The Dock on Wallenpaupack model” will not work in Downtown Scranton. There are too many other restaurant choices you can make, and you should choose one of those. I recommend you skip Ale Mary’s.

This used to be one of my favorite restaurants because of the menu, and I would visit 1–2 times a month. The service is still great, but I’m really disappointed with the recent menu changes. The sweet potato/marshmallow dip felt like a staple dish, and it’s disappointing to see it removed. Unfortunately, I don’t see myself returning unless the menu goes back to what made this place so special in the first place. Hopefully the new management listens to their reviews from here and Google Reviews and decides to reverse what they’ve done. Nothing positive.

New ownership gutted a successful restaurant. Don't waste your time or money here.

All I have to say is what the actual hell! This used to be my absolute favorite spot. Walked in today and the entire menu has been changed. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement! Nothing is the same. Will not be returning any time soon that’s for sure.

They changed the whole menu not for the better and took off the French onion soup. The nachos we got were cold and not impressive. Please bring back the French onion soup!!

Have loved this place for years-- interesting food, great vibe, terrific beer list. Well, the new management has gutted the menu, and what's left is limited, average in quality and very different from what I loved about the place. We live near Wilkes Barre and would make our way to Ale Mary's every couple of months, and I would try something different every time, but the new menu gives me no reason to go back there. Very disappointing.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 5

Was really excited to visit one of the old bars I frequented at college until I saw that new management had taken out a lot of the great stuff about it. Not much left from 2019 :\\

I have always loved Ale Mary's but my most recent visit was super disappointing. All of my favorite food options were stripped off the menu with no warning. I looked at the menu online while I was in the restaurant and it was the original menu still. No post on Facebook, nothing. So that was a big letdown. We ordered drinks and I'm pretty sure there was no alcohol in them. The food tasted ok but it wasn't the unique, amazing food I've come to expect from this restaurant. I hope the new management sees all of these reviews and brings back what made this place great. I can go anywhere to get the food they now serve. The staff was nice as always. But I feel bad for them now that they have to explain to each guest why the menu is terrible and watch them walk out the door without ordering..

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 5

The decor has been changed for the worse! Bring it back!

No menu, couches at a sports bar? Changed everything that was good.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Ale Mary’s has been my favorite restaurant of all time for nearly 10 years. I haven’t been in a while because I’ve moved out of town so to say I was disappointed when I went tonight is an understatement. One look at the menu and we were ready to get up and leave. The only reason we stayed is because we felt bad for the waitstaff.

If something works, don’t mess with it. To remove staples like the house fries, flatbreads, variety of unique sandwiches, tacos, beers, etc for a cookie cutter menu that looks like any other cocktail bar feels like they’re purposely trying to make it fail. Ale Mary’s worked because it was unique and casual while still being a great night out. On a thursday night you couldn't dream of getting a table and tonight there were maybe 10 people in there.

The food we did order tasted great, don’t get me wrong, but to go from an extensive menu with tons and tons of options you couldn’t find anywhere else, to this, is actually insane. I hope the new management takes everyone’s feedback seriously and starts listening to their long time workers because they’re going to lose all their customers. Normally I can’t wait for my next visit and now I definitely have no desire to return any time soon.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 5

It is mind blowing what the new management or owners have done to this place. It used to be one of my favorite spots for food but they have since destroyed the menu. It’s cut down to about a third of the selections with the best options just completely gone. The fries (which used to be great) are now frozen grocery store quality. No flatbreads, tacos, are any other unique items. Moving onto the whole vibe. That seems to be no longer as well as they have these weird hotel lobby chairs and tables in the middle that completely look out of place. This used to be a good sports bar/pub. The wait staff seems to be the same and they have always been good but that’s it. The overall feel was just depressing. I doubt anyone asked for this. Sadly I won’t be back under this iteration of Ale Mary’s

It was just aweful..apparently they were bought by some upscale company..took that wonderful menu and condensed it to a placemat size of dishes that belong in a 5 star restaurant..not a pub ....and dont bring the kids with ya...cause there is nothing for them...we all left..plus so others thay came in..felt bad for our waitress..but never would i give thwm a chance again.

This has been my spot that I have gone for the past year. All of these changes are ruining the place. Cut the menu to half. So many changes to the food. Everything I normally order is gone and replaced with things that they can charge a higher price for. They got rid of all the apps like the fries and nachos almost every time I would try a new one every time and be blown away now it’s just bland and trying to be like every other dying restaurant. The only thing that is keeping me comming back to this place is rob. He is amazing and you can’t find another server like him anywhere.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 5

Ale Mary’s used to be one of my favorite places… until new management came in to completely destroy the menu and vibe. All the staples my family and I used to get- completely gone. Who gets rid of the famous burgers, unique wing sauces, flat breads, chicken tenders, the delicious original loaded nachos?!? And more! If you had a favorite dish here- it’s definitely gone. Don’t fix what isn’t broken!! I’m hoping they see their mistake and I’ll delete my review. They just want to be a drink place now. Got rid of tables to put lounge chairs. Embrace what Scranton is, don’t make it something it is not. Ale Mary’s is a delicious sports bar- not some high- end drink place. We used to get a full table of food and appetizers- now we will never return unless management realizes what they did :( The people of Scranton and the staff at Ale Mary’s deserve better!!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 5