A new restaurant has debuted on Route 903 in Penn Forest Township.

And the eatery is appropriately named.

“We went full speed ahead, as the timing was perfect,” said Thorpe’s 903 owner Rob Scolnick.

Scolnick and his wife, Alexis, had purchased and sold several dozen properties when they heard about the building that housed the former Trattoria 903 restaurant was for sale.

Luckily, a business associate let them know that a liquor license was for sale in Carbon County, which led to their desire to own a restaurant.

Both had worked in restaurants and consider themselves “gourmets” at home, with Alexis cooking nightly. “We were able to make a dream come true,” Scolnick said.

They redid the space top to bottom, leaving the glass windows that surround the dining room, which seats 70.

Thirty-five can fit at the bar. A party room downstairs seats 40. There is no fee to rent the room, which has been used for holiday parties and weddings.

“We welcome people here to have meetings or just play cards,” Scolnick said.

Serving American food and food with an Italian spin, the restauran’ts top sellers are the Chicken Parm and 903 Burger, short rib and brisket with lettuce, tomato and onions on a brioche roll with the numbers “903” on the bun.

The extensive breakfast menu includes homemade corned beef hash and eggs, New York strip steak and eggs, country fried steak and eggs with country gravy with home fries and toast, lox and bagels, breakfast sandwiches, Benedicts and Bailey’s French toast, brioche bread, coated with Bailey’s Irish Cream batter, topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

Lunch includes a variety of specialty soups, salads, pasta and sandwiches.

Start your dinner with an appetizer. Choose from burnt brisket ends with Jack Daniel’s Sauce, lobster mac and cheese, baked clams stuffed with lobster and shrimp or many other menu items.

Entree choices vary from steak and seafood to specialty salads and pasta.

Desserts include homemade cheesecake, tiramisu and every week a new featured dessert such as crème brûlée.

On Dec. 26 the restaurant will host its first comedy show in conjunction with Next Stop Comedy.

In warmer months the outside deck, which holds 60 people, is open and will feature live music every other weekend.

“We worked hard to build a good relationship with the community,” Scolnick said. “We are very philanthropic and have donated food to the Boy Scouts and the Penn Kidder school administration following their shutdown.”

Thorpe 903 also participates in Dine and Donate events, in which a portion of proceeds go to a local organization.

“Our staff is phenomenal, Alexis said. “Everyone stepped up when we opened. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

When they are not working, they take time for their two golden retrievers, 15-year-old Sonny, who is “master of the family” and 7-year-old Fred.

Thorpe 903 is located at 874 Route 903 in Jim Thorpe, serving breakfast on weekdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Hours are noon-8 p.m. weekdays, open until 9 p.m. weekends, with the bar open until 10 p.m.