Potatoes on pizza, served from a shop decorated like an old coal mine. That’s a real thing, and it only shows up for part of the year.
The potato pizza is a Lent tradition here. When the season ends, it’s gone until next spring.
I like how that makes every tray feel like a small event on the calendar.
The pizza itself follows a proud regional style from northeastern Pennsylvania. Think rectangular trays, crisp crust, and a recipe built around trays instead of pies.
The family name behind it goes back to 1936, which is a long time to keep anything going.
Then there’s the setting, which makes the experience even stranger. Old mining photographs, helmets, and equipment turn an ordinary pizza pickup into a reminder of the region’s coal-mining past.
A restaurant serving a seasonal potato pizza would already be unusual enough. Add nearly ninety years of family history and a dining space designed around a coal mine, and this becomes a story about much more than dinner.
Potato Pizza Shows Up Like A Spring Holiday
Some foods are worth waiting all year for, and the potato pizza at Ferri’s Pizza is one of them. It’s tied to Lent, so the season decides when it appears and when it disappears.
That timing makes sense in this part of Pennsylvania. Many families skip meat on Fridays during Lent, and meatless trays become a big deal.
Potato on pizza might sound odd at first. Then you remember that crisp crust and soft potato are basically a fry and bread team-up.
The shop has posted on its Facebook page about the season wrapping up. One Easter, a customer even celebrated snagging the very last potato tray of the year.
So here’s the practical tip. If you want this pizza, plan for the weeks of Lent and don’t wait until the final weekend.
Calling ahead is a smart move during busy stretches. Spring Fridays can bring a lot of hungry, meat-free households to the same counter.
It’s also a fun pick for anyone curious about regional food. You won’t find this tray on every pizza menu across the country.
Think of it as a seasonal tradition you can actually taste. Missing the window just means a long wait until next spring rolls around again.
Mark the calendar early.
Grab Your Tray Under Mining Lamps And Old Photographs
Most pizza shops greet you with a menu board and a soda cooler. Ferri’s Pizza greets you with the feel of a coal mine.
The interior pays tribute to the region’s mining history. Old photographs and miner memorabilia fill the space, giving it an antique, museum-like mood.
That theme isn’t random decoration. Northeastern Pennsylvania grew up around anthracite coal, and generations of families worked underground in the valley.
Picking up dinner here feels a bit like a history lesson. Only this lesson comes with a warm tray of pizza at the end.
Kids will probably have questions. Why the helmets?
What were those lamps for? It’s an easy way to share some local history.
Take a minute to look around before you grab your order. The photos tell stories about the people who built these towns.
You don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy it. The look alone makes a regular pickup feel more memorable.
It’s a smart detail for a takeout spot, too. Even a quick visit gives you something more than food to talk about.
Just don’t spend so long admiring the walls that your pizza cools off. Crisp crust deserves to be eaten while it’s still warm.
Square Slices Are The House Language Here
Round pies are fine, but this corner of Pennsylvania speaks in rectangles. Ferri’s Pizza serves Old Forge style pizza, a tray-baked tradition born in nearby Old Forge.
Here’s the fun part of the lingo. Locals order by the tray and talk about cuts, not slices.
Trays come in red and white versions. Red brings sauce to the party, while white skips it for a different, cheesier take.
Old Forge itself proudly calls itself the Pizza Capital of the World. Ferri’s carries that regional style just a short drive away in Moscow.
The crust is known for being crisp. Square cuts also make sharing easy, which helps when a whole family is reaching for dinner.
New to the style? Order one red and one white tray so you can compare them side by side.
The pepperoni pizza gets an extra boost here. Toppings can include chopped pepperoni along with slices, so flavor spreads across the whole cut.
Old Forge style can surprise people expecting a typical pizzeria pie. Go in curious and treat it as its own thing.
Once you understand trays and cuts, you’re basically speaking like a local. That’s a pretty tasty way to learn a new vocabulary.
Hoagies And Tex Mex Fries Deserve A Spot In The Bag
Pizza may be the headliner, but the supporting cast is strong. Ferri’s Pizza also serves hoagies, wings, cheesesteaks, and fries.
The tex mex fries are a menu item worth noticing. They make a fun side when you want something besides another cut of pizza.
Hoagies come up often when people talk about this shop. In Pennsylvania, a good hoagie is practically its own food group.
Wings are another option for anyone who wants a classic pairing. A tray of pizza plus wings covers game night pretty well.
Mixing it up helps big families too. Not everyone wants pizza every time, and sandwiches can fill that gap.
Here’s a smart strategy. Order your main tray first, then add one side everyone can share.
That keeps the order simple and cuts down on leftovers. It also lets you sample more of the menu over time.
Like the pizza lineup, available items may shift. A quick look at the shop’s Facebook updates can save you from disappointment.
Fries, sandwiches, and trays all travel well enough for the ride home. That matters at a takeout-focused place like this one.
So go ahead and fill the bag. Your future self will thank you during the second round at the table.
Bring Cash And Plan For Takeout
Cards stay in your wallet at this counter. Ferri’s Pizza is cash only, and that’s the first thing to know before you go.
Large bills can be a problem too. Bringing smaller bills makes the whole pickup smoother for everyone.
The dining room is permanently closed. That makes this a takeout spot, so plan to eat at home, at work, or somewhere nearby.
Calling ahead is a great way to keep things easy. Your tray can be ready when you arrive instead of making you wait around.
Timing matters as well. Showing up close to your pickup time keeps that crisp crust at its best.
Check the Facebook page before leaving home. The shop uses it to share updates, including whether the full menu is available.
A little planning goes a long way here. Cash, a phone call, and a quick Facebook check basically cover it.
Some folks see rules like these as old-fashioned. Others like that a long-running shop keeps things simple and steady.
Either way, knowing ahead prevents a surprise trip to the nearest ATM. Nobody wants a pizza delay caused by a missing twenty.
Treat it like packing for a road trip. Get your essentials ready, and the fun part goes much better.
The Family Story Stretches Back To 1936
Plenty of businesses come and go in a few years. The Ferri name has been tied to pizza in this region since 1936.
That gives the Ferri family nearly nine decades of pizza-making history, even as locations and generations have changed. Few family food traditions in Pennsylvania can match that kind of staying power.
The business has changed locations over the years, with longtime customers also remembering Ferri’s Pizza in Taylor. Earlier generations of fans remember buying Ferri’s pizza in Taylor, including a spot on top of Taylor Hill.
Back in the 1970s, workers on late shifts grabbed slices and foot-long hot dogs there. Those memories still bring people back today.
Some fans have even driven hours just to taste a childhood favorite again. That says plenty about how food can hold memories.
The move to Moscow kept the tradition rolling. Now a new crowd gets to discover what older fans already know.
History like this connects to the coal mine theme inside. Both honor the hard-working towns of the Lackawanna Valley.
When you order a tray here, you’re joining a long line of families. Grandparents, parents, and kids have all shared this pizza.
That’s a pretty special thing to get with dinner. Not many takeout orders come with a family story nearly ninety years deep.
Your Weekend Is The Sweet Spot For A Visit
Planning a Wednesday pizza run? Hold that thought.
Ferri’s Pizza keeps a short weekly schedule, so timing really counts.
The shop sits at 106 Church St, Moscow, PA 18444. It’s open Tuesday from 11 am to 7 pm.
Then it closes Wednesday and Thursday. Friday brings the longest hours, running from 11 am to 9 pm.
Saturday hours are 11 am to 8 pm. Sunday runs from noon until 7 pm, and Monday is closed.
That makes Friday through Sunday the easiest window for most people. Friday nights fit perfectly with a weekend pizza tradition.
During Lent, Fridays may carry extra demand for meatless trays. Ordering early in the day can help you beat the rush.
Schedules can change around holidays or seasons. A quick look at the Facebook page keeps you from driving to a dark shop.
Moscow is a small borough in Lackawanna County. It’s an easy drive from Scranton and other nearby valley towns.
Save a screenshot of the hours on your phone. It’s a tiny step that can save a whole lot of hungry disappointment.
Then all that’s left is deciding between red and white. That part is up to you.
Turn Your Pizza Pickup Into A Coal Country Day Trip
A replica mine at the pizza counter is fun. A real coal mine tour nearby makes the day even better.
The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton’s McDade Park takes visitors underground into a real anthracite mine. It runs seasonally, so check dates first.
Pair that tour with a tray from Ferri’s Pizza. You get history in the morning and Old Forge style pizza for dinner.
Steamtown National Historic Site is another great stop in Scranton. Railroad fans can explore steam locomotives and the history of rail travel.
Old Forge is close by as well. Pizza lovers can see the town that gave this square style its name.
All of these stops connect to the same story. Coal, rail, and food shaped northeastern Pennsylvania in big ways.
Families can easily build a full day around it. Kids get hands-on history, and adults get a satisfying pizza payoff.
Remember the takeout setup at Ferri’s. A nearby park makes a nice spot to enjoy your tray outdoors.
Bring cash, check the hours, and plan your route. Then let the day unfold one stop at a time.
Honestly, coal country tastes pretty great when it ends with a crisp square cut in your hand.
