Winter has settled into the mountains and valleys of the Susquehanna River Valley, which is a clear sign to shift our energies to nesting and resting indoors.
For me, that means comfort food in the form of robust pasta dishes, hearty soups and stews, and comforting desserts that remind me of my childhood (creamy rice pudding for the win, every time).
In this blog post, we’ve given bonus points to local restaurants that can deliver comfort food AND a cozy fireplace glow.
Here are our top picks for cozy dining spots that offer ambiance, menu variety, and a belly full of comfort.
When you walk into Penn’s Tavern, just south of Sunbury in Fishers Ferry, you step back in time – to the 1700s!
(Fun historical side note: The historic stone building was likely built around 1791 by Samuel Auchmuty as a ferry house, serving as a key transport hub on the Susquehanna River before becoming a hotel, post office, and railroad stop. While some claim a 1703 founding linked to Conrad Weiser, historians dispute this, with evidence pointing to the later 1791 construction by Auchmuty.)
Today, Penn’s Tavern is a warm and inviting waterfront restaurant known for its colonial-era ambiance, modern pub offerings, and maybe even a few ghost stories.
Nearly every room in the Tavern features an inviting fireplace – the main dining room features a dual-sided hearth!
Bring your appetite, because the portions are huge and the choices are endless, from steaks with decadent mashed potatoes, burgers with a heaping pile of fries, seafood entrees with roasted root vegetables, and melty hand-held sandwiches, to name a few options.
They are also known for their German specialties: Sauerbraten, Bratwurst, Wiener Schnitzel and Jagerschnitzel.
If you have a lighter appetite, soups and salads are freshly made here, and you could easily fill up on appetizers like soft pretzels, wings, beer cheese fries, and hot spinach dip.
Located in downtown Selinsgrove, check out Axemann Tavern, which features a cozy brick fireplace in the main tavern area. Axemann Tavern is located in a renovated historic building highlighted by repurposed wood, metal, and brick features.
The Tavern’s food is created by Smokehouse Fixx, which is independently owned and operated. Menu items include smoky pulled chicken or pork, smoked brisket, grilled seafood, and a mac and cheese bowl that’s worth the trip on its own!
They also feature nearly a dozen sauces for their BBQ fixings, from regular sweet BBQ to creamy horseradish, spicy mustard, and many more. Don’t forget the jalapeno cornbread. That’s all we’re saying.
For hearty Italian comfort foods, we have two family-owned, local establishments: Ciro’s Ristorante Italiano in Watsontown and La Primavera Italiano Ristorante in Lewisburg. 
Ciro’s restaurant opened in 1989 by Ciro Granato and has been delivering high-quality Italian favorites ever since. Ciro has over three decades of experience in the restaurant business – he started his career cooking at his uncle’s restaurant in Miami and New York City.
Ciro’s features a vast menu of Neapolitan cuisine including seafood, steaks, poultry, veal, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, salads, soups, and appetizers. Take the time to savor your meal in the cozy dining room that centers around a fireplace.
Leave room for homemade cheesecake and tiramisu!
Another Italian staple in the SRV: La Primavera Italiano Ristorante offers delicious, authentic Italian food and pizza, most notably wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas. It sprung from the passion of two brothers: Vito and Salvatore Mazzamuto. The pair came together and used recipes that their father had handed down to them.
The menu offers endless variety and the menu and very helpfully calls out gluten free items: gnocchi, penne, ravioli parmigiana, stuffed shells parmigiana, and pizza.
When you enter, you’ll walk past an enticing dessert case of cheesecakes, tiramisu and cannolis – they are already packaged and ready to take home (how convenient!).
For a fine-dining experience in the heart of downtown Lewisburg, directly across from the Campus Theatre marquee, check out Elizabeth’s An American Bistro which offers a cozy fireplace in the main room and a seasonally-changing menu.
Elizabeth’s is named for Elizabeth “Liz” Long Furia, the Chef/Owner who founded the restaurant in 1997. Liz recently passed away in May 2025 after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer.
As her husband Dr. John Furia said, “She used her artistic talents, her boundless energy and her exceptionally high standards to create an establishment that transformed the dining experience in the Susquehanna Valley. As her staff, former employees and I can attest, ninety-nine percent was never good enough for Liz. She strove for perfection, in service of her wonderful guests.”
A special aspect of Liz’s menu is that it changes seasonally. I highly recommend the shaved brussels sprout salad AND the apple and fennel salad. The menu also features products from local farms such as Landis Poultry, Dries Orchards, Springcress Trout Farm (A MUST TRY!), Whispering Pines, and Dream Catcher Farm, to name a few.
The restaurant is also known for their freshly baked breads daily and their made-from-scratch desserts.
For the best view of the Susquehanna River, visit Skeeter’s BBQ on the bluff above Routes 11 & 15 in Shamokin Dam for cozy atmosphere and expansive, welcoming views, even on the most bitter cold day.
Owner and Founder, late John Skotedis, described Skeeter’s as “like dining in a treehouse!”
One of the best things about Skeeter’s, aside from the expansive River views, is the BBQ chicken, beef and pork, served in a casual and fast, family-friendly setting. The restaurant also serves up homemade chili, chicken corn soup, and the best corn muffins and coleslaw in the Valley, in my humble opinion.
Throughout the year, Skeeter’s also hosts live music, and during the colder months those performances add an extra layer of warmth. The cozy sounds, relaxed atmosphere, and river views create an inviting wintertime experience that’s perfect for lingering a little longer.
For tried-and-true comfort food, check out Masser’s Restaurant in Paxinos, which has been family-owned and operated since 1981. Masser’s has been serving up oven roasted meats, from scratch gravies, and family recipes for over 40 years, so clearly they have the comfort food down.
Their signature chicken and waffles meal is available daily and they are known for their in-house fried chicken. Once you have it, there’s no substitute, ever again!
Don’t overlook their hot bacon dressing over lettuce – it’s a life changer.
This is also a terrific breakfast spot on Saturdays and Sundays until 11 am.
Last, but not least, Pine Barn Inn in Danville boasts a space that is one of the coziest taverns in the region, complete with a roaring stone fireplace all winter long.
Sit back and revel in the warmth of the fire as you enjoy a hot appetizer like crispy brussels sprouts, cheesesteak egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, or a soft pretzel with Dutch mustard and beer cheese dip. 
They also have a full menu of soups, salads, entrees, handhelds, and three delicious vegetarian dishes: eggplant parmesan, vegan coconut curry, and vegetarian Tuscan ravioli.
Leave room for dessert: they are well-known for their crème brulee, rice pudding, and homemade cakes and pies.
Are you hungry yet?
Which cozy dining establishment will you try first? That just might be the hardest decision you’ll make all day!
