Reviving the restaurant thread

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Saturday Jan 24, 2009

In my never-ending quest for a good cheap meal, I figured I'd revive the restaurant thread that ran a couple of months ago.

Many Thanks to REDillon for the Rey Azteca suggestion awhile ago, it was excellent, a really tasty meal for very little money. I think I like it a little better than El Campanero in Altoona, and I like that one a lot.

Yesterday I went to Traditions in Martinsburg... I've been there a few times, and they never disappoint. Huge servings of homestyle PA Dutch food is one of the quickest ways to my heart... they have these honey-glazed ham balls (no, that's not a venereal disease

) that just ROCK, they're Dutch ham ground up, formed into handball-sized chunks, and baked with a glaze drizzled over them... I know it doesn't SOUND so good to hear it described, but they're really good.
Another good PA Dutch place is Miller's Diner along Rt 22 near Mill Creek... giant servings of good food, and the desserts are the shizz, my wife has a huge sweet tooth, and she loves that place.

I went to Sakura (Japanese) a few weeks ago, they make something called the Altoona Roll I like, cooked whitefish and salmon as the main ingredients. they do sushi pretty well there, for being in Altoona, which isn't the hotspot for fresh fish OR foreign cuisine.
Good sushi is something you don't understand until you try it. I'm firmly against eating fishing bait, and stayed away, until a friend explained it to me like this: Sushi is very complex. One bite of good sushi presents several different tastes, aromas, and mouth-feels at once, each working with the others to light up your tastebuds... much the way good hot wings combine a hot taste (from the kind of pepper used), an acid taste (vinegar, lime, or other ingredient used to "pop" the pepper taste), a sweet taste (from honey, sugar, or molasses), an aroma that bites your nose, and a saucy mouth-feel.
A lot of people don't realize that if you don't want raw seafood, they'll gladly cook it for you in most cases. I've eaten raw sushi a few times, just to say I did, and it kinda sucks to me. I get everything cooked. Don't miss out on good food because of a misconception.

So, where do you folks like to eat, and why? Where's the best sushi? Where are the little holes-in-the-wall that have kickass food? Who makes the best pies? What's overrated? Discuss!---->JMS

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Saturday Jan 24, 2009

Big Dogz in Johnstown along Bedford Street has very good food at reasonable prices and huge portions. They also have perogie strombolis and chicken cordon bleu strombolis that are great as well as everything else. If you order any of the jumbo stombolis, get a side of cheese sauce.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Saturday Jan 24, 2009

... anyone else dying for a good Austin's texas dog right about now? or is it just me?i know there is one by the mall in altoona, but that place sucks compared to the one by delgrosso's.

mmm chili cheese dog... must aquire chili cheese dogs...

bfoust · Post by **bfoust** » Saturday Jan 24, 2009

There's a Texas HotDogs downtown, unless you don't consider them good ?

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Sunday Jan 25, 2009

bfoust wrote:There's a Texas HotDogs downtown, unless you don't consider them good ?

it's better than the shithole by the logan valley mall.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Sunday Jan 25, 2009

My wife is a big Austin's fan, we live nearby, and her family was raised on them. I'm okay with them... I like their boardwalk-style fries better, though.
I'll have to check out Big Dogz, moxham. I like the music at Johnstown Folkfest, but I'll come clean and tell you I go there for the pierogies (now over at the "other" fest). I'd be willing to wager that the best pierogies in America come from old ladies in Cambria County. Same for potato pancakes, they know their comfort food. Skip the $100-a-plate works of art, and give me a Sunday afternoon at your bubba's kitchen table anyday.--->JMS

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Sunday Jan 25, 2009

slackin@dabass wrote:... anyone else dying for a good Austin's texas dog right about now? or is it just me?i know there is one by the mall in altoona, but that place sucks compared to the one by delgrosso's.

mmm chili cheese dog... must aquire chili cheese dogs...

Hey man, lets go get some chili dogs today.

CHICKSINGA · Post by **CHICKSINGA** » Sunday Jan 25, 2009

it ain't cheap, but our whole family loves going to Sakura. Sushi is my favorite and my kid loves Japanese Hibachi!

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

I saw Big Dogz on the news last night... they're across the street from the big tire-shop fire the other day.

There's a little place in J-town, italian name, my boss says it's excellent... I wish I could remember the name... it's across the street from a Catholic church whose pipe organ we tune... of course, there are LOTS of Catholic churches there... I remember it's down in the flat part of town.
Damn, I wish I could remember that name.

--->JMS

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Open face turkey sandwich from Diner 22, near Alexandira, PA. Pretty darn good for as cheap as it is. In fact most of the food there is cheap and tasty.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Songsmith, did you ever see that guy on TV (think it's called Diners Drive-ins and Dives), where he travels across the U.S. and visits all of these small local mom and pop restaraunts.

I used to know of alot of these, but sadly alot of them aren't in business anymore.
There's a tiny place in Roaring Spring. I think it's called the "Spring House". I've only eaten there a few times, but the Turkey and Waffles were awesome.
It's one of those places where most times there's more on your plate than you'd ever think of eating.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Songsmith,

Mike from Big Dogz is going to owe me for this one. Here is their website link so you can check out their menu. The food portions are huge.

http://www.bigdogzgrill.com/

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

You know, I drive past there pretty often, but I haven't stopped since I was kid, and I don't remember the food. It used to be popular with truckers, and now seems to be where old folks go... that's a good thing... if you want good cheap, filling food, ask a trucker or a senior.

I've heard good things lately about Topp's Diner in Mill Creek, too.--->JMS

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Another place in Johnstown that is known for homestyle cooking and the older crowd loves is The Corner Coffe Shop in the Bel-Air Plaza along Scalp Ave. I have not been there in years. It is up the street from Music Haven.

Our Sons Family Restaurant in the Cambria City section along Broad Street has great chicken.

The Phoenix in Johnstown's Cambria City along Broad Street has good food. If you order the special breaded butter and garlic wings, they are unbelievable. They are not on the menu but they wil make them for you.

The Haven in Johnstown in the 8th Ward near the hospital has very good food with huge protions and jumbo wings.

If you want the most fantastic super thin crust pizza and the other food is great, check out Morris' Tavern in Sidman, PA, accross from the Forest Hills High School. My favorite thin crust pizza anywhere. The added bonus is that the place is filled with all types of animals that were taken on exotic hunting trips and it is like a mini museum.

http://morristavern.com/

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

moxham123 wrote: ...The added bonus is that the place is filled with all types of animals that were taken on exotic hunting trips and it is like a mini museum.
http://morristavern.com/

There's a bar in Ligonier called "Joe's Place" (I think??) that has mounted wild life and exotic (borderline endangered species) there. I haven't been there in about 10 years though, so I'm not even sure if it's still open.

REDillon · Post by **REDillon** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Songsmith, glad you liked Rey Azteca. It's as good as you're gonna get around these parts.

There are at least 4 little Italian restaurants in the FLAT PART of Johnstown, Frankos, Capri and Tower of Pizza and Ninos. Does that help?

Fuji in the Galleria has a wonderful Spicy Tuna sushi. I've not gotten it anywhere else that I like it as much. I'm not a shushi eater either, but I dig their Spicy Tuna.

Indiana Pa has a great steak sub at the 9th Street Deli. It's greasy and sloppy just like my first husband.

Joe's is still open. THey don't have a great booze selection. If you like Pabts, then you are in luck!

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Tom and Joes. The mess, with added cig ashes.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

another good place for home style cooking is Thelma's Cafe in Tyrone. i know what your thinking, no, they don't spike the food with heroine...

the people that own it also own a diner in Huntingdon, but i forget what it's called... if i remember, i'll post it later...

anyway, thelma's in t-town has the best monty cristo this side of the Mississippi. and the portions are large and cheap.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Where is Thelma's, slackin'?--->JMS

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

beside burly's. Pennsylvania Avenue, towards the old IGA building... these tyrone directions good enough for ya? haha, basically, get off I-99, bear right down the ramp, make a left at the first light, and it's before the bridge. i think it's 3 doors before the bridge on the left. it dosn't look like much, but i worked there before, and it's top notch...

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

Alot of the people I know out here complain about Traditions in Martinsburg all the time. Prices, portions, service, they go on and on lol. Maybe its not bad if youre only there once in a great while.

(Insert Fox's Pizza - Martinsburg plug here)
I live off fox's, lol. You should see how fast a big daddy gets torn apart when I take one to shaws =)

faceoffmuzik · Post by **faceoffmuzik** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

songsmith: Altoona Roll at Sukura is wonderful, its also the only 'cooked' roll i like. Thanks, now ill be thinking about it all day. I love that place we go every couple weeks.

Any one else check out Catalano's (sp?) where Olivio's used to be near Lloyd St? They have mean baked ziti.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

faceoffmuzik wrote:songsmith: Altoona Roll at Sukura is wonderful, its also the only 'cooked' roll i like. Thanks, now ill be thinking about it all day. I love that place we go every couple weeks.

Any one else check out Catalano's (sp?) where Olivio's used to be near Lloyd St? They have mean baked ziti.

Catalano's is very good!

bassist4life2004 · Post by **bassist4life2004** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

There are 2 places that I love to eat, unfortunately they aren't in this area.

Primanti Brothers. BEST FUCKING SANDWICHES PERIOD.

And for breakfast, Pamela's Diner in the oakland section of pittsburgh.
They have the best breakfast food in the history of man. There Crepe's and hotcakes are phenominal!

slink · Post by **slink** » Tuesday Jan 27, 2009

A good place to go is Tim's American Cafe its on Crawford ave. and about 16th. St. Altoona. Its a small place and its usually packed.. I like the steak salad or taco salad. I'm a big guy and its all I can do to finish one of their salads.