The Gem and Keystone

The Gem and KeystoneThe Gem and Keystone
The Gem and KeystoneThe Gem and Keystone
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1 River Rd
PO Box 67
Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania, 18356-0067
United States

(570) 424-0990 | map
gemandkeystone.com

Hours:
Lunch:
Everyday: 11:30am - 4:00pm

Dinner:
Sunday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday - Saturday: 4:00pm - 12:00am

Now introducing our very own ShawneeCraft artisanal beers. The Gem and Keystone is the de facto taphouse for ShawneeCraft Beers.
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.75
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
18
pDev:
11.73%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by metter98:
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Rated by metter98 from New York

3.75/5  rDev 0%

Jan 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.86 by Gkruszewski from New York

Aug 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.71 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Dec 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by LoveStout from New York

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by acurtis from New Jersey

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Robjvoorhees from New Jersey

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by BeerBuddy2122 from Pennsylvania

Jul 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JMS1512 from New Jersey

Jun 06, 2014
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

3.1/5  rDev -17.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Atmosphere - The restaurant is located in a nice looking inn the upstairs area seamed more formal or at least has customers that like to dress well. A coworker and I wanted to sit at the bar so we were sent downstairs. The downstairs bar is larger and more my speed being very casual with some tvs showing college football and a side room with a pool table and two dart boards which is a plus for me. Overall I liked the way the place looks lots of wood lower lighting and pretty chill.

Quality/Selection - During my visit they had four beers on tap from their onsite brewery Shawneecraft a Blonde, Wit, Oktoberfest, and porter along with two or three macros. Their beers for the most part were good but nothing to go out of your way for.

Service - I came in for a late lunch and sat at the bar so it wasn't very hard to get the bartenders attention if I needed something. However the shift changed and a new bartender came in and she liked to complain about work with her coworkers sitting next to us which didn't seem like good business to me.

Food - I ordered the honey mustard chicken sandwich for lunch and while it tasted good I doubt anything was from near or fresh other than the lettuce and tomato on it. The piece of chicken was small and looked like a piece that comes in one of those frozen bags with ten in it.

Overall if you want some decent craft beer in an otherwise wasteland with some decent food this place isn't bad.
Jan 03, 2012
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Reviewed by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
This was a place that my cousin stumbled upon and wanted to check out with me. We went up last night for dinner and a few beers. The place looks nice on the outside, good amount of parking. The atmosphere was nice also, an employee opened the door for me as I walked in the door. The seating we good and the menu was also pretty extensive. The beer selection was a little generic without much of anything to write home about. The beer menu had about 6 or 7 choices on it and they were sold out of about 3 of them. It's was a little irritating that this place wouldn't have something else to put on tap right away once an old keg kicks. The beers I ended having were a mediocre Oktoberfest and a pretty good Porter that was on nitro. The food was good, left feeling very full and satisfied about that. Overall I didn't think that the prices were outrageous or anything but I felt that the selection was very minimal on the beers. The service was decent and manager was very attentive. Overall it was a decent place I thought. I could end up going there again one day perhaps. I feel there are much better places out there though.
Oct 16, 2011
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Reviewed by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
This is a review from notes- I was here in June with my mother on our annual PA pubs and parks tour-which this year stopped in the Deleware Water Gap.

This place is super swanky- so swanky that it doesnt really even have an address-people just know where it is. Its located next to this huge, goregeous, and expensive resort in the Deleware Water Gap area.

The inside is fancy yet kind of woody. Dark wood is everywhere and it of course has white table clothes with the servers dressed to the 9s. The beginning of our experience was kinda weird with there being a ton of tables open but the hostess wasnt seating anyone and kept telling people different lengths of time for the wait. Well-it finally got all sorted out and we got our seat inside.

I really enjoyed the beer menu-all Shawnee Craft-actually I was almost so excited about it I didnt know what to do with myself. A great balance of session ales, big beers, and speciality beers. I had two barrel aged beers and one session beer-actually I may have had four beers. All were very well done and good.

The dinner menu is "vegetarian friendly" and, of course, a bit pricey. After all it is located next to a swanky resort and named the Gem and Keystone. My salad and the cheese plate were wonderful- but this isn't your average burger and fries kind of joint.

Overall I really enjoyed this place, espicially the beer. Definately worth a stop.
Oct 13, 2011
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Reviewed by Beerquester from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The slogan on their sign out front reads: "Beer from here. Food from near." The Gem and Keystone beer is brewed in a building separate from the pub, yet all on the same Shawnee Inn property, a close walk to the banks of the Delaware.

While waiting for the door to open at 11:30 we noticed all kinds of herbs growing in half barrels outside the building and were told there was a garden also on the property they use to grow food for their menu. I like that concept.

Upon entering the top floor we asked for a seat at the bar but were directed to the downstairs bar instead. The downstairs bar was bigger and more aesthetic anyway. We got a sampler of all 6 beers that were available: gold lager, session porter, rasberry blanche, biere blanche, American blonde, and stock ale. To my recollection both blanche beers were good as was the stock ale.

The service was good as was the food. The atmosphere is relaxing and it is nice to look out the window at the outdoor seating area and see hops growing under the deck. When we left we went back upstairs and were surprised to see almost all the tables taken by diners, so that may be another indication of good food. The pub is in a nice setting not far from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. I will definitely be stopping back here next time I am in the area.
Aug 16, 2011
Photo of ShaneThePain
Reviewed by ShaneThePain from Pennsylvania

2.63/5  rDev -29.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3.5
The Gem & Keystone is more a tied house for Shawnee Craft, but the beer is brewed on the Shawnee Inn property, so technically it's referred to as a brewpub.

The place looks tiny from the outside, but in addition to the upstairs bar and dining room, they have a large downstairs with another full bar and outdoor seating. The outside overlooks a nice stream and attractive landscaping too.

Food has always been good and the beers, while mostly sessionable and pedestrian, are solid. Stock ale is probably my favorite but also I can never seem to coordinate a visit when they have anything remotely IPA-like available.

Doesn't matter though, since my most recent visit will probably be my last. I stopped by a week ago for lunch a little after the place opened @ 11:30AM and the place was not ready to serve anyone. The guy upstairs told me to try downstairs. Once downstairs a server told me she wasn't ready for anyone and to try the upstairs. Told her they just sent me down, and she said, yeah well, I'm not ready. Rude, dismissive and unacceptable. My money will now be spent elsewhere.

To be as fair as I can, I leave this review only after my email to management concerning my visit went unanswered. I really like the Gem, but I will in no way support a place that treats customers like shit. Try it for yourself, could be different for you.
Jul 25, 2011
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Reviewed by sudzweasel from Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped in on the way back to RI with two friends to see what this place was all about. We met Linda our friendly, enthusiastic and talkative bartender and were immediately taken with the place. The brewpub is part of a vacation resort complex by the river on the Water Gap road. The beers on draft at the time were style of pale, stout, etc. Two caught my eye in particular; a pumpkin beer - I think saison-like and a raspberry saison. The food selections were abundant - I decided to go with a pulled pork sandwich as that is a staple food source of mine. Excellent choice I must say. Had it not been late in the day and colder than normal for the time of year I would have hung around longer and explored the area a bit as the grounds are huge and sprawling. This visit was the last on a three day trek starting in Bethlehem and I hope to be stopping back at this place in July some time.
Apr 03, 2011
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Reviewed by crenegar from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Stopped in for the second time yesterday, was here about 6 months ago. Major improvement in the quality of the beer I'm happy to say. Selection was great too, blanche, o'fest, standard ale, gold lager, schwarzbier and a session porter. Nothing had IBU's over 35 as I recall which I like, sick of double this and imperial that stuff...

The blanche was very nice, bright gold/yellow with a little bit of cloudiness, very drinkable and balanced no obvious overtones of any one particular spice, soft yet crisp.

The session porter was also very nice, a bit light at 4.5 abv but still had a nice roasty nose with a touch of caramel in the taste.

Didn't eat but I've heard the food is good, the place is now definitely worth a visit for the beer alone.
Sep 24, 2010
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Reviewed by zekeman17 from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in during a weekend getaway to ride bikes and relax in the Poconos. Was happily surprised to find a brewpub practically within walking distance. Stopped in on a Friday night after the dinner rush. The place was still crowded, but we were seated right away. The dining area and upstairs bar were nicely decorated, didn't get a chance to check out downstairs.
I ordered the sampler, which that night was only 4 beers. They were all ok, but nothing to get too excited about. I saved the IPA for last as that is usually my favorite, but this one was a little off-kind of had a burnt rubber aftertaste.
All was not lost as our dinner was very good.
Aug 03, 2010
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
To be fair, the slow roll out to (dirty) Western Maryland on Sundays does afford me the op to stop for lunch along the way. Something new now, at the foot of The Shawnee; a standard resort of sorts with a 27 hole golf course, banquet space, a brewery, a spa, etc. I'm sorry, what? Wait, back up. A brewery here and a restaurant that serves their beers there within the same complex, just far apart from being a brewpub proper...

Stand alone off the street, a "Beer from here, food from near" sign out front ('cause that's how they roll). Parked and headed in ziggin' for the bar to the left and was shut down. Hard. "I'm sorry, the bar is closed". Silent reflection of bad. "But the bar downstairs is open". Zag! I did just that. Barside down below; empty save a couple of little old ladies from Connecticut getting a growler of the Pale Ale to go and Linda serving.

11 seat straight wood bar with a lip & brass foot rail, and glass bowls with polished stones & tea candles atop for my looking at. Pillars on the bar along the way break up the flow some, but whatever. Barback is a wood unit running the length with 3 mirrored panels, with strung wreathiness lining the middle one. Tiered booze running the length below except behind the tap tower on center, where growlers are known to hide, and some wines tucked down on the end. Some cooler space down below below and shelved glassware, too. TV's mounted in the corners and a large cooler on the end with lots of macros, plus some mostly local PA sixes and singles (Victory, Weyerbacher, Stoudts, Yards, and random strayed far from home Long Trail entries) and a handful of various 750's (Victory V12, Corsendonk Monks Brown Ale).

Lime green walls over wood slat lowers & trim, and tile floors. Glass lamps over the bar and more mounted on the barback and out on the floor pillars. Local art scene paintings, a blackboard tapboard on the far wall listing what's what, and some display cases with Shawnee golf pieces. Upwards of a dozen tables high & low and a single booth taper away from the bar. Through and to a small rear room holding a lone table and racks for barreling beer mischief. Another ½ dozen tables outside under the deck there, and if you venture upstairs, a 9 seat straight bar that ain't open and 16 tables out across the room. Also, some sort of a banquet room on the 3rd floor I can't be bothered to check out. Now back where downstairs is, the bar somewhat fills in around me. I found myself not arguing but assertively debating the upcoming World Series with some Philly type smack talker who doesn't know it yet, but his team is going to lose. We've since moved to talking about beer though and are now the best of friends.

And speaking of... 5 house beers, all on the sampler served on a sure to cause major havoc fish shaped piece of slate with no slots or grooves, just large enough to hold 5 small glasses. Pumpkin Saison, 6.4%, they grow their own pumpkins, good pumpkin spice, big aroma, moderately sweet but not too much, surprisingly good; Biere Blanche, 4.7%, citrusy tart, spicy, unfiltered, hazy even; Bohemian Pilsner Lager, 5.25%, nice hop bitterness, a good Czech lager; ESB Pale Ale, 5.25%, decent hop profile & finish; Entire Porter, 6.4%, on nitro, dark chocolatey, good roastiness, creamy & smooth (I had a pint on the heels of the sampler). The Pumpkin Saison, Bohemian Lager & Entire Porter were the best of the lot. And guest taps 3 (Victory Festbier, Yuengling & Miller Lite).

And a lunch menu, sure; I will entertain. Um, yes, a bowl of the 7 onion soup, for starts (Vidalia, scallions, which I can see, leeks, what else? Sumac? Really? That's a type of onion? And others that if you just make up words and say they're varieties of onion types, I'll never really know otherwise), good, with cheesy goo and toasty things. And a Gem Burger, medium with a real life ripe tomato, red leaf lettuce, a litto bit a' unyun, and cheddar cheese, please, on a soft soft roll. Oooh, yeah, sweet potato fries, yes. Lovely for the 4 four drive ahead of me.

Revisited after the new year and found them nearly cleaned on the heels of the big MLK holiday weekend. Curious. Opted again for a sampler which is now only 3 beers, probably as a result of the havoc caused by trying to move 5 glasses on a small fish shaped piece of slate with no slots or grooves (they look cool but are a functionality fail). So today's sampler is 2 house beers (Bourbon Porter, of unspecified ABV, a bit thin, a good bit bourbon; and the Session Porter, 5.12%, light in color like the bourbon, a bit of roast, nitro creamy even), and a Victory Fest to round out the sampler trio.

I've had some nice beers here, and the food's been good, too. The servers are learning craft beer as dealing it is kind of a new thing here, but that'll come in time. I suspect this'll be one to watch. A welcome addition to the 80 corridor. I do approve.
Mar 19, 2010
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Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
So, Gem & Keystone/ShawneeCraft. Beers offered now are not blow you away beers but they are solid nonetheless. I had...Entire Porter, a nice English Porter, German Pils--solid, quite crisp, clean and well done, Blanche--surprising amount of falvour in this light bodied Belgian, "Pale ale" which isnt a pale at all but an ESB--it isnt really exciting but it is decent enough, and lastly the Pumpkin Saison--I found it to be very nice, interesting and well, different....I mean how many pumpkin saisons have you ever had? Selection overall is a a touch low right now....4-5 house beers and a few guest taps. They also offer 20 ish bottles, mostly macro beers and a few other craft selections . I am sure this will change once the brewery gets running up at full speed.

The food is VERY solid. Dare I say, as of now, the food is better than the beer! During our visit C and I had an awesome lunch. I had a Morrocan spiced/inspired beef stew (wonderfully spicy and flavourful) and the absolutely AMAZING Pumpkin Ravioli with a spiced cream sauce....freshly made pasta and flavour beyond belief! C had a delicious, pan fried, hazelnut encrusted trout on a bed of "autumn chowder" which consisted of diced squash, turnips, potatoes and roasted red peppers with a red pepper cream sauce....it was outstanding!

Our service was solid and the place is very nice....multi-leveled with lots of room and different feels between the more "upscale" dining area versus the more casual sports bar feel of the downstairs. They even have lovely deck seating for when the warmer months come back to the Poconos!

A great addition to the Poconos a location that has LONG been in need of another beer/foodie establishment. Highly recommending if you in the area or passing by on I-80, only about 5 minutes from exit 309.
Nov 06, 2009
The Gem and Keystone in Shawnee on Delaware, PA
Place rating: 3.75 out of 5 with 18 ratings