Backstreets Tiki Bar & Grille offers a ticket to paradise without leaving Scranton.
The business — which has a tiki bar, patio and indoor dining at 2225 Jackson St. — opened in October 2019 under owner John Zelinski. Patrons can sample tropical drinks and menu items ranging from the Tiki Burgers to Tiki Shrimp Skewers and Salmon Tiki Salad.
Chef’s Table chatted with Zelinski, who runs the laid-back, family-friendly establishment in West Scranton.
Q: What is the history of the restaurant?
A: The location is the former Reps, whose family has been part of the Keyser Valley community for generations. (Backstreets Tiki Bar & Grille) is based on a Bruce Springsteen song and is located off Keyser Avenue on Jackson Street, which is truly on the backstreet. We remodeled the property and kept the inside bar as close to the original as possible and added the tiki bar and patio outside.
SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Q: What kind of food do you serve, and what is available for people with special diets?
A: We serve everything from pizza to Fra Diavolo and everything in between. Our summer menu includes flatbread pizza, 8-ounce burgers, cheesesteaks, pulled pork sandwiches, wings and wing bites with a variety of homemade sauces. We carry a kid’s menu for $4.99. For patrons that have special dietary needs or have a request, let our staff know, and our chefs will do their best to make something great for you.
Q: What are your most ordered menu items and why?
A: I think our most popular menu items are pizza, wings, wing bites, steamed clams in butter and salads. On BBQ Sunday, our half chicken and baby back rib barbecue is very popular. We make homemade cornbread, potato salad, roasted sweet corn and baked beans.
Q: How did your menu come to be?
A: The menu is a combination of ideas from our chefs, staff and customers. We change the menu four times a year to keep up with trends but keep the much-loved items. We also serve desserts if you have a sweet tooth that needs to be satisfied.
Q: How would you describe the restaurant’s atmosphere?
A: You are transported to a tiki bar filled with frozen daiquiris, pina coladas, mojitos, micro-brews and mixed beverages to enjoy with a diverse menu and can be transported to a tropical island atmosphere without leaving Pennsylvania. It is a unique place where you can kick back and relax with great food, great drinks and great friends.
Q: What type of seating do you offer?
A: We have a beautiful outdoor patio with umbrella tables, a fantastic tiki bar with seating, or come inside where it is cooler and enjoy seating at the bar, high tops or standard dining tables.
Q: What kinds of promotions do you offer?
A: Our talented chefs come up with different daily and weekly specials all the time. We have a weekly flatbread special. We’ve featured Chicken Calabrese, Burgundy beef tips served over egg noodles, Shrimp Scampi over linguini, Homemade Clam Chowder, and a variety of Mac and Cheese Bowls with our smoked mornay cheese sauce. In the fall, we will bring back our pierogies, which use the Zelinski family recipe from Poland.
Q: Do you offer catering, event space, etc.?
A: Yes. We cater events on- and off-site from parties and graduations to weddings, plus all of the JZ Tour Bus tours and tailgates. You can contact (the restaurant) for details, options and pricing.
Q: Are you currently offering delivery, takeout or curbside pickup?
A: We currently offer eat-in, takeout and curbside if requested.
Q: Where do you see the restaurant headed?
A: We experienced a sharp decline in normal business operations during the COVID-19 shutdown. The silver lining is that it gave us some time to set new goals and plot a new course to include expanded on- and off-site event services. We are thankful for every person who has supported us; without them, we would not be here sharing our story.
Backstreets Tiki Bar & Grille
Address: 2225 Jackson St., Scranton
Phone: 570-866-2427
Established: 2019
Owners: John Zelinski
Cuisine: American
Hours: Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, 1 to 9 p.m.
Online: info@backstreetstikibarandgrille.com or backstreetstikibarandgrille.com
Laura Rysz is the features copy editor and calendar editor at The Times-Tribune and runs the Talk of the Times column, which focuses on local fundraisers and other events. She also writes Chef’s Table that profiles restaurants around the region. Additionally, Laura curates events online on AccessNEPA.com. Laura is involved in the special Mother’s Day edition and curates occasional features Marry Memories and Times Travelers. She is a graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School, New Jersey, and earned an English professional writing degree with a minor in mass communications from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. She also earned a certificate in Social Media Marketing from Rutgers Business School. Contact: lrysz@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5228.
