Giant octopus tentacles drape across the roof of a Pennsylvania restaurant, looking like they claimed the building for their own. Next to it sit a pirate ship and a lighthouse, which is not something you expect to see in a city hundreds of miles from the ocean.
The family behind this place has been serving seafood since 1948, and the building has grown into something part restaurant, part museum, and part treasure chest. I came for a bowl of crab bisque and ended up spending most of the afternoon wandering room to room.
Every corner holds a new surprise, a nautical oddity or an old photograph. The food is hearty, the portions are generous, and the welcome feels genuine.
Hours slip away without notice, and leaving is hard. This is a stop you will be talking about for years.
The Rooftop Octopus Says Hello
My neck got a real workout on the way in, because that octopus is impossible to ignore. Its long arms stretch across the roof as if it climbed out of the sea and decided Scranton, Pennsylvania looked like a nice place to settle down.
Honestly, I get it.
A sight like this does something to your mood before you even find a parking spot. Grown adults point and grin, and kids act like they just spotted a real sea monster.
It is the kind of silly, cheerful welcome that tells you nobody here takes life too seriously, at least not the fun parts.
The octopus also hovers over the outdoor tiki deck, so you can actually eat lunch under its watch on a warm day. Sitting out there with a breeze and a basket of seafood feels a lot like a beach boardwalk, even though the nearest ocean is a long drive away.
That little bit of make-believe is half the charm.
Here is a tip from my visit. Snap your photo from across the street, because getting the whole octopus, the ship, and the lighthouse into one shot is tricky up close.
Morning or late afternoon light makes the colors pop, and the picture becomes a great souvenir that costs nothing at all.
A Family Story That Started in 1948
Old photos on the walls pulled me in long before the menu did. Cooper’s opened on April 24, 1948, started by John Cooper and his brothers Frank, Bill, and Joe after they returned home from World War II.
Their first spot was in what used to be an Erie-Lackawanna Railroad station, which fits the playful spirit of the place perfectly.
In 1976, the next generation stepped in. Brothers Jack and Paul Cooper took over and kept building, adding rooms and space as more and more people showed up hungry.
That kind of steady growth does not happen by accident. A restaurant lasting over 75 years under one family usually means people trust it, and you can sense that trust in how relaxed and welcoming everything feels.
Servers chat easily, and families who have been coming for decades sit next to first-timers like me.
Much of the history is right there on display, so take a few minutes to read the framed stories and look at the old pictures. Kids especially enjoy spotting how the building changed over time.
It turns a simple dinner into a small history lesson, and the best part is that nobody gives you a quiz at the end.
Rooms Packed With Treasures
Every wall had something on it, and I mean every single wall. Model ships, sea artifacts, vintage movie posters, statues, dolls, and pop culture pieces from shows like Gilligan’s Island and movies like Star Wars fill the rooms from floor to ceiling.
It is like eating dinner inside a giant scrapbook.
The best part is that you are free to roam. I left my table between courses just to explore, and each room had its own personality.
The Blue Whale Room, added in the 1980s, has a massive whale display that makes kids gasp, while the Train Room features a little train chugging along above the diners.
A lot of these items came from the family’s own collections, and some were donated by loyal customers over the years. That gives the decor a homemade feel, like a museum built by friends instead of experts.
Even the restrooms join the fun with themes like Elvis and the Beatles. My advice is simple.
Plan extra time, because a quick meal here easily stretches into an hour of looking around, and you will still miss things. That just gives you a reason to come back for round two.
Climbing Aboard the Pirate Ship
Part of me wanted to shout ahoy the moment I stepped onto the ship. Cooper’s has a full-sized pirate ship built right into the restaurant, with construction work dating back to 1987.
It is not just a fake front for photos, either, because you can actually sit and eat inside it.
Right nearby stands a tall lighthouse, a newer addition that adds even more seating along with outdoor decks. Grabbing a table up there gives you a fun view of the neighborhood and a nice breeze on warm evenings.
It made me feel like a ship captain checking the horizon, minus the seasickness.
These two structures change how the whole visit feels. Instead of one big dining room, you get a little adventure where each area offers something different.
Families can choose a cozy corner inside or a sunny spot outside depending on the mood.
If you are celebrating a birthday or bringing visitors from out of town, ask about sitting in the ship or near the lighthouse. Kids light up when they learn dinner happens on a pirate ship.
Adults tend to grin too, even if they pretend they are only there for the fish.
The Soup That Made Them Famous
One spoonful of the Maryland Crab Bisque and I understood why the family calls it the soup that made them famous. The recipe goes back to 1948, and it is rich, creamy, and comforting in a way that warms you all the way down.
On a chilly Pennsylvania day, it hits the spot.
The Maine Lobster Roll is another crowd favorite, piled with tender lobster on a soft roll. Fans of chowder can pick between New England and Manhattan styles, so you can settle that old creamy versus tomato debate at your own table.
For sharing, the Crabby Pretzel is a fun pick, a big soft pretzel loaded with cheesy crab dip. Shark Bites sound wild but taste great, and the buffalo scallops are a happy surprise.
Classic fish and chips and crab cakes round things out for anyone who likes to keep it simple.
Save a little room for dessert, because the cheesecake and Key Lime pie get plenty of love. Portions are generous, so splitting starters works well for groups.
During busy times, the kitchen serves over 1,000 meals a day, which tells you how many people keep coming back hungry.
A Stop for Office Fans
Being a fan of The Office, I could not wait to see this part of the restaurant. Cooper’s is mentioned in the show and is a featured stop on The Office Self-Guided Tour of Scranton.
For fans, eating here is a little like visiting a movie set where the food is real.
Themed displays and memorabilia from the show pop up around the building, so keep your eyes open as you wander. Spotting them becomes a game, and it is a fun way to keep everyone at the table busy while waiting for food.
The gift shop deserves its own trip. It is packed with official merchandise, from mugs to shirts to Dunder Mifflin goodies, and prices are pretty fair.
I walked in planning to just look and walked out with a bag, which surprised nobody.
If you are building a whole Scranton trip around the show, put Cooper’s on your list for a meal break. You get a solid lunch, plenty of photos, and souvenirs all in one place.
Plus, the family running it clearly loves the connection, and that cheerful energy makes the visit even more special for longtime fans.
Good Times Under the Tentacles
By the end of my visit, I did not want to leave the tiki deck. Sitting outside under that giant octopus on a warm afternoon is one of the most relaxing ways to spend time in Scranton.
The sun, the breeze, and the silly view make everything taste a little better.
Families will find plenty to love here. There is a children’s menu, and some kid meals even arrive in a little paper boat, which is pure joy for young diners.
With so much to explore, nobody gets bored waiting for dessert.
Cooper’s has also been recognized as one of the Top 100 Independently Owned Restaurants in America, a big honor for a family business. That makes sense once you spend a few hours here and see how much heart goes into every room.
Hours run from noon to 9 PM most days and until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, so planning a late lunch or early dinner is easy. Parking is plentiful, and seating is roomy enough for big groups and birthday parties.
Bring your appetite and your camera, and leave some time to simply enjoy the place.
Address: 701 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania
