Inside a beautifully restored early 20th-century building on Rutter Avenue in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, a farm-to-table brunch and lunch cafe has been turning first-time visitors into devoted regulars since the summer of 2019. ☕️
The Canning House is the rare kind of restaurant that makes you feel something the moment you walk in — a place where history, creativity, and genuinely great food all share the same table.
In a region where chain restaurants dominate every strip mall, this Northeast Pennsylvania brunch gem has quietly built one of the most loyal dining followings in the entire Wyoming Valley.
How The Canning House Won Forty Fort’s Hearts
The building at 900 Rutter Avenue was originally a cigar-rolling facility that employed 1,400 people at its peak — a true piece of Northeast Pennsylvania industrial history.
It sat abandoned for decades before developer David Koral painstakingly restored it floor by floor, transforming it into one of the most vibrant mixed-use spaces in all of NEPA.
Today, 900 Rutter Avenue is home to wellness studios, boutiques, salons, and sweet shops — and right at the center of it all sits The Canning House, the crown jewel of the complex. 👑
The restaurant was founded in July 2019 by Connor Scalleat and Natalie Lynn — the co-owners behind Scalleat Hospitality Group, which also includes the Powerhouse Eatery in White Haven and Ovalon Bar & Grill in Hazleton.
But The Canning House wasn’t just another restaurant on a growing portfolio — it was a passion project built around a very specific mission: outstanding food in a unique and historic environment.
Connor and Natalie set out to create a menu rooted in local, fresh, and sustainable ingredients — from cage-free eggs and locally sourced produce to meats and fish that support the Northeast Pennsylvania community.
“We want to support our community as well as our planet,” Connor explained, and that philosophy is evident in every dish that leaves the kitchen. 🌱
The restaurant brought on Chef David Carey, whose creative energy and rotating specials helped elevate The Canning House from a neighborhood cafe into a dining destination that people drive across the region to experience.
The specialty, from day one, has always been brunch — and Natalie and Connor approached it with a playfulness and precision that quickly set them apart.
A menu that blends traditional breakfast comfort with unexpected, creative twists proved to be an irresistible formula for Forty Fort locals and visitors alike. 🍽️
The Canning House didn’t chase trends or cut corners — it simply committed to doing things the right way, in a building that deserved nothing less, and the community of Northeast Pennsylvania has rewarded that commitment with loyalty that shows no signs of slowing. ☕️
Food Highlights
Every dish at The Canning House is built around local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients, with a menu that evolves with the seasons and a kitchen that takes real creative pride in every plate. Here are the must-try offerings:
- Brûlée PBJ Toast 🍯: Toasted ciabatta layered with smooth peanut butter, house berry jam, and brûléed banana slices, topped with a house peanut crumble and fresh mint.
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Bananas Foster French Toast 🍌: House-made French toast topped with fresh bananas, banana-nut crumble, and warm caramel sauce.
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Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast 🥑: Toasted ciabatta layered with smashed avocado, togarashi spice, sprouts, fresh lemon, red onion, cucumber, and kosher smoked salmon.
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Short Rib Cheesy Breakfast Bowl 🥩: Seasoned home fries loaded with slow-braised short rib, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy applewood-smoked bacon, rich beer cheese, and sweet caramelized onions.
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Potato Crusted Frittata 🥚: A seasonal, signature egg creation with a golden, crispy potato crust.
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Canning House Reuben 🥩: Corned beef braised low and slow for 13 hours in Stegmaier IPA, layered with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on marble rye.
- Traditional Breakfast 🍳: Crispy bacon, eggs cooked your way, well-seasoned potatoes, and fresh mixed greens.
Atmosphere
The Canning House is one of the most visually striking dining spaces in all of Northeast Pennsylvania — housed inside a beautifully restored historic building filled with local artwork, soaring ceilings, and the jaw-dropping chandelier salvaged from the legendary Hotel Sterling. 🕯️
Diners eat surrounded by rotating local art and industrial architectural details that make every visit feel like both a meal and a cultural experience.
With 110 seats spread across booths, round tables, high-tops, and bar seating, the space manages to feel both lively and intimate — the kind of place where a solo brunch is just as enjoyable as a table full of friends.
As DiscoverNEPA described it, “fresh flavors and artistic charm come together to create a memorable meal” — and that combination is something you simply have to experience for yourself. 🎨
Bottom Line
The Canning House is Northeast Pennsylvania brunch at its very best. A historic building, seasonal farm-to-table ingredients, Chef David Carey’s creative kitchen, and house-brewed kombucha make this Forty Fort dining gem unlike anything else in the region. 🍳☕️
Address:
900 Rutter Avenue, Forty Fort, PA 18704
📞 (570) 763-5043
🕔 Mon–Fri: 9:30 AM–7:00 PM | Sat–Sun: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM