I love going to restaurants where I feel welcomed the minute I walk through the door. This was the way I felt when I ate at Euro Bistro, located at 21 Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. I knew my dining experience was going to be wonderful when the owner was so welcoming and outgoing.

My regular dining partner Brittany Battista and I were greeted and then given menus once we got to the counter. The menu has European-style homemade soups, bistro salads, sandwiches (wraps or pitas), baked sandwiches, paninis, sweets and pizza.

I love panini and I don’t get to eat them often, so I decided to order the “Veggie Baby.”

This panini is made with a traditional eastern European vegetable spread (grilled eggplant, tahini, lemon juice and garlic), zucchini, onion, sweet peppers and mozzarella. It was delicious. The homemade Panini bread was crunchy and had a great texture. The sweet peppers and zucchini dominated, packing a powerful punch. This is definitely a wonderful menu option for vegetarians.

Brittany got a panini called “For Chicken Lovers Only.” This one had roasted chicken, pickles, sweet peppers and mozzarella over a thin spread of honey mustard. Brittany said it was delicious. The chicken was tender and flavorful. She wasn’t sure how she would like pickles with this particular combination, but once she tried it she thought they added a nice touch.

While we were waiting for our meal, the staff let us try the chicken that is used for gyros. Good stuff. We also sampled their “Euro Wedding Soup.” It had a different taste than Italian wedding soup, but it was still good.

I’d previously had a chance to sample their homemade crepes made with a variety of fruit fillings including blueberry, cherry and grape filling. I tried one with Nutella and was surprised at how good it was. It was nice and light with that great Nutella taste. The owner said they don’t sell a lot of them because most people don’t know what they are.

The restaurant’s subtle European-sounding music in the background sets the mood for a relaxed environment. The paintings on the walls are stunning. The owner said they’re even better at night when it gets dark out and they shine special lights on them.

The staff really went above and beyond to talk with us and make sure we liked what we ordered. It was also very nice of them to let us sample some of the items. When we went to pay, the owner asked us if we were students so he could give us the ten percent off discount. In most restaurants, the customer has to mention the discount.

I would recommend this place to anyone who loves phenomenal service and great food. For more information, visit theeuro-bistro.com.

5 stars out of 5