The Stonehouse Carbondale is a really cool spot in Lackawanna County. The main building is a historic and quirky looking stone “house” that has a bar and dining room along with enough room for musicians and entertainment to play. The facility also features an outdoor patio with more outdoor entertaining space. There is also a separate outdoor bar and game room with a kitchen in the rear. So much going on in one place!
Stonehouse offers entertainment most nights of the week. I took a look at the next two weeks of entertainment which included local musicians and karaoke. Pretty impressive entertainment lineup that you don’t see as much post-covid. I didn’t stay late enough to see any musical acts, but I did stop by to try their Pan Fried Sicilian Pizza with a friend. This pizza is notable, because it’s one of the few available outside of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (see my list and map of PFS in PA). This PFS is one of only a couple in Lackawanna County (also see Cosmo’s and Samario’s)
Reviewing the Stonehouse PFS Pizza
The pizza came out steaming hot and had a wonderfully well done bake on it. The bottom crust was a marvel. The dough was supremely crispy, crunchy, and fully cooked through. It was also a more flavorful dough than many pan fried Sicilians I have reviewed in the past. The crumb structure and aroma was a clue that they were probably using a longer dough fermentation time than some other places. I later confirmed this was true when speaking with the owner.
When you order any pan fried Sicilian, you always have the option of with or without onions. I always order with onions as it adds so much in terms of flavor and aroma. If prepared baked properly, like Stonehouse did, you shouldn’t even notice the texture of the onions on the pizza. The “onion sauce” as they call it was super flavorful and the onions were tender, sweet, and barely noticeable. The cheese was cooked deeply and well done. While I appreciated the color and flavor, I tend to prefer the cheese on this style of pizza to be cooked slightly lighter but just personal preference. However, this minor detail certainly did not prevent me from rendering an excellent and glowing review.
Detroit Style Roots in Pan Fried Sicilian Pizza?
Detroit Style Pizza and Pan Fried Sicilian Pizza share a lot of similar roots. Stonehouse leans further into the Detroit/DSP category further than any other Pan Fried spot I’ve tried so far. They apply generous amounts of cheese against the side of the pan to really establish a full cheese crown. It’s subtle, but it’s absolutely got a mini-frico edge. I also learned that the owner actually traveled to Detroit, MI to purchase the pans that these pizzas are baked in!
Overall, we had a great experience. The pizza was excellent. The people (staff and patrons) were amazing. The place was really cool. I look forward to returning to the Stonehouse for more pizza and some “Stoner Fries” which looked ridiculously good on their way out to a table!
The Stonehouse Pizza Rating Scores
- Restaurant: The Stonehouse
- Address: 473 Fallbrook Road Carbondale, PA 18407
- Pizza Ordered: Pan Fried Sicilian with Onion Sauce
- Date: June 2023
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 9.1 |
| Sauce | 8.8 |
| Cheese | 7.8 |
| Taste | 8.9 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 9.3 |
| Value | 7.5 |
| Overall Rating | 8.8 |
Pizza is Similar to: Teberio’s, Sizzle Pi, Murphy’s Pub
