Senape’s Tavern Pitza

A good example of the how and why «regional» pizza varieties are usually a «locals only» experience. The menu was rather confusing. I’m still not clear what a «pitza» is. I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume it was the smallish round pies I saw other folks eating. The much ballyhooed «scamutz» is apparently a blend of mozarella and romano cheeses. The Mediterranean legacy of «scamutz» is sketchy at best and the word sounds a bit-​too-​close to the Yiddish word for «snot on your face.» The pies are eaten with a fork and knife, which is probably the best approach since they are a bit unsound from a structural standpoint. The cheese/​sauce ratio made for a watery topping. It was tasty but messy. The dough was somewhere between brick oven crisp and doughy but nothing too special or off-​putting. Other diners were eating gargantuan iceberg/​onion/​tomato salads and pasta dishes of the sort you see at every Italian joint. I saw at least one couple enjoying a large pizza and a giant bowl of pasta on the side. The service was pleasant although getting a table on a busy Friday night seemed to be an arcane process best navigated by regulars. The dining room was small and packed and drearily lit with rather depressing fluorescent lights. Everyone seemed to be having a good time so who am I to get all snooty about it?

I was given a box of pizzas by one of my mothers friends. I Am hooked. I love this pizza. Reminds me of when I was a kid. Wish I could get it shipped to New Jersey. Please make this pizza available in NJ. I would love to try more of their food.

Great sausage pitza so good we never seem to get anything else. Also the best waitresses. We try to get there at least every other Thursday or Friday

Went to Senapes and never had a good experience. It seems like they never clean this place… my hand stuck to the salt-​and-​pepper shakers. I saw the waitress wipe the table with a rag that was in a ball and was never cleaned off. The crumbs went all over the floor and chairs people that came in and sat on those crumbs. There is always just one waitress who tries to accommodate all the people in the room. When the room was packed she could not take care of everyone. I think they have one oven to make pizza because it took them almost an hour to get us one pan of pizza. When you walk into the back door you will pass by the kitchen. When you look in the kitchen notice how some of the employees have a cigarette hanging from their mouth. They cook the pizza in the basement so no one really gets to see what their basement kitchen looks like. When the pizzas done they put it in the hand conveyor and pull the rope so the conveyor elevator raises the pizza to the upper floor. By this time everyone standing in the hallway waiting for their pizza. It seems that once they bring the pizza out everyone is fighting and arguing over who’s pizza it is since everyone was standing there for one hour. My recommendation, is to either stay home and make a can of soup. Or go to Dominos and get takeout good luck on this one wish you the best thanks

Senape’s is a Hazleton staple. My grandparents used to order out from here once a week back when they still had their kids at home. The scamutz is really quite great (and my favorite) but I also love the romano pie. The crust is pretty unique — not fried, but kind of flaky? Not too light, but not too crispy. I can’t quite describe it, except that it’s really good. I would recommend take out over staying at the restaurant, though, because 1. it is a VERY small dining room and it gets LOUD and 2. They have to keep the fans running full speed due to the ovens and it VERY quickly will cool down your deliciously hot pizza. Enjoy with some take out birch beer.

I had supper here last night with the family. Our reservation was for 4:30 and the place quickly filled up. I hadn’t been here in three years and nothing has changed. We started with an antipasto which was simple but good. Thick slices of homemade bread accompanied it. It took about an hour for the Scamutz with sausage to come out of the kitchen. It was delicious. There was only one waitress working the floor. The place has a one room dining area that can get rather noisy. The loud mouth Democrat next to our table talked politics all night. I wish people like that would just stay home. The next time I come here I’ll seriously consider bringing earplugs.

the place is dirty the tables are sticky the walls are greasy and the décor is old but… WHO CARES. the food is great. Got a square pizza or as they would say PITZA with onions and sweet peppers and a large antipasta. Well the Salad could of used some work but it still wasn’t bad. The pitza makes up for it. The crust is think and doughy and the cheese is just the right blend… Def will visit again.

the atmosphere is of an old bar very little renovations since the place opened but dont let that stop you from trying the delicious pizza the round pie is awesome not a generic run of the mill pizza the crust is great the sauce not overly sweet or bitter and the blend of cheeses is spot on the square pie with scamutz is also fantastic i recommend it topped with their homemade meatballs and mushroom the beer is cold yuengling lager on tap a local beer from pottsville is great with it but they also have birch beer on tap a must try if you are in the hazleton area

The signature «tavern pitza» is wonderful — a medium crust pizza with a blend of cheese containing scamotz.