Circles on the Square: a Longtime Downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA Favorite

Huey Lewis told us it is hip to be square. However, there us a much hipper shape in town.

Back in my heyday as a Wilkes University freshman, I would often wander downtown to grab a bite to eat on Public Square. I was first lured in by the bright neon circles in the window, hence the name Circles on the Square. I was amazed at the vast menu and cool ingredients I never knew could be placed between two slices of bread. I tasted many a sandwich at Circles, but finally settled into a usual item.

Fast forward to now. I walked into Circles, many years after my regular status had faded, to see that the gourmet deli is still pretty much the same place I remembered it to be. (Only this time, I was being more critical and observant!)

The friendly man behind the counter greeted me with a smile, and actually recognized me from all those years ago. He asked what I was having, and as I glanced up at the menu of almost 60 different sandwiches, indecisive me went for the old stand-by. I said to the man, "Maybe I will just have what I used to always get." I still cannot believe his reply.

"Maple honey ham on a croissant with honey cup mustard and...."

I had to add that I like Muenster cheese. What service! He remembered my usual. He prepared my sandwich, wrapped it neatly in real deli paper, sliced it in half, and wrapped it again. Perfect packaging! Since Circles is take-out only, he placed it neatly in a paper sack with a container of thick deli pickle slices (years ago, they gave a while pickle), napkins and a straw for my Moxie cola (anyone remember that?).

I was so hungry; I barely made it back to Boscov's parking garage without sinking my teeth into my lunch and devouring half. Then, I realized that I'd better save the other half until I made it over the Market Street Bridge to my apartment to fully examine the sandwich.

I arrived home and really looked at the baked-on-premise butter croissant. It was baked to a golden perfection, and was bubbly on top and even a little crispy...but just the right amount. It was soft and flaky inside. Perhaps the best I've ever had. The portion of the sweet maple honey ham was generous, and the honey cup mustard with the right amount of kick. Topped with the Muenster cheese, the blend of flavors was delicious. I am getting hungry again just writing about this mouth-watering sandwich.

Although I chose my own custom-made item, Circles has over 50 sandwiches to choose from off the sandwich board, many named after Downtown Wilkes-Barre things- many of them very clever: Genoa Good Lawyer, Kirby Show Stopper, Letter to the Editor, Someday Independent and more. The menu is really great fun to read.

Circles offers Boar's Heads meats, freshly baked bagels, croissants and desserts, handmade soups, fruits, a wide selection of beverages- some unique and hard-to-find- and a hearty take-out salad bar. And, if you thought mayo and mustard were the only selection of condiments for your sandwich, or lettuce and tomato the only veggies to top it off, you have to see the wide selection of spreads and greens offered by Circles, including Vidalia onion spread, sun-dried tomato spread, Champagne cranberry preserves, alfalfa sprouts, sunflower seed and more. Breakfast sandwiches, daily lunch specials and platters are also available, as is limited downtown delivery.

And, Circles is not just a take-out deli. They sell some pretty nifty things, such as coffees, incense, windchimes, stickers, nostalgic advertising reproductions, candles, books, magnets, gourmet candy and other grocery items and so much more. The gourmet-ness of the deli makes the sandwiches a bit pricer than say the Subway down the block-- but the gourmet-ness of sandwiches is what makes Circles worth it.

Grade: A+