The menu is broad and eclectic. You can find something for nearly every taste and they are equally good for lunch or dinner. They have a nice assortment of children’s selections on their menu as well. There is pizza with amusing river themed names as well as sandwiches, vegetarian selections and full dinners. So, whatever your preference, you will likely find something to suit you.

The prices on appetizers during Happy Hour can’t be beat! Our last visit in late July turned out  making it out from the city and arriving while it was still Happy Hour with 1/2 price appetizers. You can easily make a meal out of 2 or 3 of their generous appetizer portions and it won’t kill your budget.

Bucket of Shrimp

We’ve enjoyed appetizers (vegetarian ones as well), wraps, burgers, and buckets — yes, they are literally buckets  — of shrimp and fries, wings and fries, fish and chips. Great finger food, well prepared. The salads are huge as are most of the sandwiches. Come prepared with a hearty appetite.

The atmosphere is that of a well-worn local haunt, which only adds to the charm. There are flat screens around the dining area for those who what to keep up with the sports scene but it isn’t overwhelming. There are also pool tables and a full bar if you want to gather a group of friends for an evening out for good beer, conversation and a game of pool.

It does get a bit packed at times during Penguins or Steelers games. There’s a nice enclosed outdoor deck that allows you to escape the crowds when the weather is nice. They have specials and events throughout the year. It’s best to check their web site for that information to be up-to-date.

Prices range from $4.95 appetizers to $19.95 for a bucket with a whole pound of steamed crab legs. Appetizers  at 1/2 price during Happy Hour (subject to change without notice).

You should consider checking out their other locations as well — one might be more convenient for you. We’ve enjoyed very good beer at the Pour House, in Monroeville, PA,  where they have 14-18 styles of beer on tap. We haven’t tried the Rivertowne Inn in Verona, PA but with the same menu on offer I’m certain you will find something to enjoy there as well.

Hours: 11 am – 2 am (kitchen closes at 1:30 am)

Rivertowne Pub & Grille
14860 Route 30
North Huntingdon, PA 15642
412-823-2239

The restaurant and craft shop are in the last log hospitality house still providing meals for travelers on the National Pike. It sits between a gristmill dating to 1797 and the historic Casselman stone arch bridge, which was the longest single span of stone in America when it was built in 1813.

Penn Alps

There are six dining rooms, three of which were once part of the log stagecoach stop, Little Crossings Inn. The original log tavern is at the core of the current restaurant, which has been expanded six times over the years.

The evening we stopped the buffet was a full on Thanksgiving feast with sliced turkey, stuffing and wonderful creamy mashed potatoes. The homemade soups, for which they are well known, are very good.

There is an ample salad bar and they also have Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream as one of the desserts. My mother’s favorite is the blackberry cobbler, which is a standard dessert in the buffet. I can see why she likes it, as it is indeed a wonderful, classic cobbler.

There is a full served menu as well and my husband enjoyed a special on our recent visit, a tasty salmon fillet. The menu (pdf) offers a broad selection with a definite overtone reflecting the German history of the Amish and Mennonite founders of the non-profit organization that runs the restaurant.

There are plenty of options to suit children, making this a great affordable family choice that is not a cookie cutter “family restaurant” and a nice alternative to fast food while traveling.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but be prepared, they close earlier than you might expect for a restaurant serving dinner — 8 PM.

In addition to the well prepared food there is a gift shop with an extensive selection of fine hand crafted items, primarily by artists local to the region. The craft shop is open 10 am – 8 pm daily. During the day there are artisans on site in a little “village” that is just across the parking lot from the main building housing the restaurant and gift shop. The village is open May through October from 10 am – 5 pm, Monday through Saturday.

We arrived there too late in the evening to see the artists but it is a lovely location with a weaver, bird carver and metal sculptor among other fine crafts. Take time to check out the one room school house and a couple of buildings that date to the Revolutionary War period! Just beyond the village is the small river and stone bridge that was part of the original National Pike.

Prices range from $3.59 for one egg with bacon, sausage or ham to $18.99 for a Delmonico Steak dinner. The all you can eat buffet is priced at $12.99 for adults, $7.70 for children under 12 and free for children under 5 years of age (all prices subject to change).

Hours:
7 am – 8 pm daily
Country Buffet Friday’s from 4-8 pm, Saturday & Sunday from 11 am – 8 pm.

Penn Alps is approximately 85 miles from Pittsburgh.

125 Casselman Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
301-895-5985

Of course Plyler’s main feature used to be the pizza and it still is a good bargain for the size and taste. Today the big draw seems to be the salad bar which you can order as-is, food and dessert bar only or the whole kit and kaboodle. The  variety is good, the food is fresh and there always seems to be a line.

As you come in to the spacious restaurant you’ll encounter the register and an ample counter of mouthwatering pies and a gift shop for the tourists. One of our party didn’t fancy the 4″ meringue on their lemon pie but for the most part no-one turns the pie down (the chocolate pie got a thumbs up from someone else at the table).

Service is pretty simple- we went in at 8pm on a Friday night and didn’t wait at all for a booth. Our waitress must have been having a bad night as her enthusiasm wasn’t exactly bubbling over but still she was quick and on the ball. The decor is low-lit and friendly and after a few hours’ drive it was good to stretch out and relax.

There’s something for everyone at Plyler’s and it’s nestled very close to a major truck stop on Route 36 so you really can’t miss it.  Fare includes italian, fish dishes, pizza, comfort food and of course the ubiquitous food bar. Before you leave make sure you grab a take-along menu- you can always call in  and pre-order; there’s a pickup window on the side.  My thumbs down would be that there isn’t an official online site with times and menu.

Plyler’s Pizza and Family Restaurant
Brookville Exit 78 I-80
Brookville, Pa 15825
814.849.7357

Otto’s has a bar area with several TVs, outside seating and two main dining areas. They also brew their own beer, with selections changing seasonally. Parking can be a problem on weekends and Tuesday trivia nights, but Otto’s has agreements with several neighboring businesses for additional free parking.

Otto’s is frequented by the Penn State students, but it is also a very family-friendly establishment. My Dad joined me on a recent visit and the menu was so extensive that we had difficulty deciding what to order. I went with the Drunken Chicken while my Dad opted for a Grilled Ribeye. The entree serving sizes were generous, however the soup sizes run small. My Dad ordered a bowl of the soup of the day and it was served in a very small cup. We were assured that was in fact the “bowl” size. While the food and the beer were excellent, the service was sub-par. I suspect that was due to our particular server, and not the whole establishment.

Otto’s is a place that I will visit again, I just hope I’m not met with the same inattentive and slow service as I was on my first visit. Many locals that I talked to spoke very highly of the place. Decent beer is difficult to find in Central PA (Budweiser doesn’t count!) and Otto’s brewers really know what they’re doing.

The kitchen is open on Sunday-Wednesday: 11AM – 10PM, Thursday-Saturday: 11AM-11PM, the bar closes at different times depending on business, so call 814-867-6886 for current information.

The Jukebox Cafe is only open for lunch and dinner, which is nice because you can get the breakfast items any time. It gets crowded at peak hours, but the front is glass so you can see when there’s a wait. We had to wait about three minutes for a booth, which wasn’t bad.

The kids love the ’50s theme inside and were commenting on the Mickey Mouse photo on the wall near where we sat. There are records on the wall, photos of James Dean, Marylin Monroe and Elvis, but it’s not overdone. There are vinyl booths with formica tops, a counter with swivel stools and a jukebox (of course) that offers current hits and oldies.

On this visit, I got an egg sandwich with bacon. I love their club sandwiches, but wanted something smaller since I had eaten breakfast. When I’m really hungry I get one of their three-egg omelettes (I like the Dutch omelette with onion, cheese and potato).

One son got his favorite – grilled sticky bun. He’ll get them for breakfast or lunch! It’s a large sticky bun almost the size of the little plate that’s nice and gooey inside.

My other son got chocolate chip pancakes. They serve two very large pancakes loaded with chocolate chips. He loves them!

My daughter got a grilled cheese sandwich and fries. They have a kids’ menu with several selections even picky eaters like mine enjoy. But there are also many items on the regular menu kids might like, like plain scrambled eggs or hot dogs.

My husband got a wrap from the special’s menu. He likes their wraps, and there’s a different one every month. I believe you can get any of their regular sandwiches as a wrap as well. He also got fries.

The sandwiches are served with a small bag of Herr’s chips. It’s one of the tiny bags that really isn’t much, but it’s good for the kids. My husband and I usually order regular fries (for him) or sweet potato fries (for me) with a sandwich, and the kids help us eat them.

The servers at “the Jukebox” are always friendly, and the service is usually quick. Friday’s lunch seemed to take longer than usual. We’ve found the best time to go for breakfast is before 8 on a Friday morning.

Their parking lot  is on a hill, and there’s an outside staircase you have to use except for a limited number of parking spots at the bottom in front. We don’t mind, but I have seen people pull into the pick-up spots in front to drop off/pick up people who have trouble walking.

Sunday’s are the most crowded, but if you time it right you miss the rush before and after church. They have an enclosed waiting area out front with benches, but in summer it’s too hot to sit there, so people wait inside by the door or on the outside benches.

The Jukebox Cafe is a place I recommend to everyone new to the area, because it’s clean, the staff is friendly, and there are healthy menu options, like  salads and wraps.

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I’ve never been to any of Emeril Lagasse’s other restaurants before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when my significant other’s parents said that we had a reservation there this past weekend.  The décor is very fitting with the rest of the casino, which has a steel theme (the casino itself is in a building that used to be part of the Bethlehem Steel Works), with dark browns and blacks and sheer reddish-orange curtains.  Interesting cylindrical crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling.  The extensive wine selection is displayed in a sort-of rotunda near the host desk.  This restaurant also has a section where you can sit and eat at a “bar” right in front of the kitchen and you can watch the world-class chefs preparing your meal.

For starters, we ordered some drinks and appetizers.  Their wine menu is HUGE and I’m sure you can find any type of wine that your taste buds desire.  We ordered a few lobster bisques, which were presented to us in a way that I’ve never seen before.  The server came over with a bowl that had a small lump of lobster meat in the center.  In their other hand was a small saucepan with the actual soup in it, and they slowly poured the soup around the lobster meat.  The bisque was not like other lobster bisques I’ve tried, it has some unique favoring that I couldn’t identify and a bit of a kick that pleasantly lingered in your throat after you finished.

For the main course, myself and my boyfriend’s mother both got the fresh fish of the day (mahi mahi) prepared in the “lighter style”: over cous cous and fresh veggies with tomato citrus vinaigrette (they also can prepare the fresh fish Creole style).  Very delicious – the vinaigrette was a perfect pairing with the fish and vegetables.  The men at the table both ordered steak, New York Strip and Filet Mignon.  A trio of sauces accompanies any steak order: house-made Worcestershire sauce, creamy horseradish sauce, and a Béarnaise sauce.  I didn’t try it, but apparently the Worcestershire was to die for and didn’t have the usual smoky taste that store brands have.  You can also order side dishes à la carte, which are big enough to share between two people. After we gorged ourselves on dinner, we enjoyed some vanilla bean crème brûlée for dessert (my favorite!).

One big sell of this restaurant (other than the Emeril name, of course) is that they are stimulating the local economy and buying local produce as much as possible.  The free-roam chickens, beets, and other vegetables on the menu are all grown locally to the Lehigh Valley.  The service seems to be another big draw.  We were waited on by a friend of the family, who was so friendly and helpful during the entire dinner service.  We heard rumors that if you get up from your seat during dinner, someone will come over and give you a new napkin by the time you get back.  None of us got up during dinner to find out if that was true or not, but I suspect that is probably is true because the wait staff was really up top of things.

I’m sure you’re wondering about price.  The menu is pricey, and if you decide to get an appetizer, and a salad, and a side dish, and dessert, and a drink… well, it adds up.  Most of the appetizers and salads are close to $10, and most of the dinner plates are between $25 and $40.  If you’re in the area or at the casino and are looking for a nice, upscale dining experience, definitely give Emeril’s Chop House a try.

Emeril’s Chop House

77 Sands Boulevard

Bethlehem, PA 18015

484-777-7777

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Both their lunch and dinner menus offer a wide variety of salads, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. The restaurant is well known for their burgers and warm chocolate chip cookies. They even have a customer loyalty card, called “Good Neighbors Rewards”. It allows you to save money on every visit, as well as receive special promotions throughout the year. It’s free to join and can be used at any Max and Erma’s.

My regular lunchtime item has been the “Erma Combo” ; it includes a cup of soup, a 6 oz. cheeseburger with seasoned fries (or hamburger in my case), and a warm chocolate chip cookie all for $8.99.

On my recent visit, I requested Amber, who is extremely nice and a great waitress. Amber remembered what I like to drink- ice tea, half raspberry/half unsweetened, and she remembered my milk allergy. Definitely ask for her during lunch if you’re at the Greentree (Manor Oak Plaza) location. She was sweet enough to substitute a salad in place of the soup for me and every course of my lunch was timed perfectly. The 6 ounce burger is a perfect size for lunch fare, however a 10 ounce option is available, if you have a heartier appetite. Other notable things about the restaurant include: FREE cookies on your birthday! You can choose chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut or a mixture of both. They serve you half a dozen warm cookies right out of the oven. They do take about 10 minutes to bake, so be sure to plan ahead if you’re going to indulge. For the kids, or the “kid at heart” there’s a sundae dessert bar, Tuesday nights at the Greentree location are fun filled with a magician roaming the tables during dinner, and there’s the ever-popular Sunday brunch. The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are even known to make appearances on their special days.

The website has a location finder so that you are able to find the Max & Erma’s closest to you.

Since The Hop House is known mainly for their beer selection, on the menu they have indicated their beer suggestions to go with some of the entrees.  They have a pretty long draught list (I counted about 26) and a variety of specialty beers, too.  There are daily happy hour specials and each night has a different beer special, which is indicated on their website.  Wednesday is 15 cent wing night – you can’t beat a deal like that.

The Ross Township location has a big parking lot next door with free parking (this is a major improvement from the lack of parking back when it was the Barking Shark) and the Greentree location has free parking as well as outdoor seating.  The Greentree location also plays host to popular local bands on a weekly basis; the schedule is on the website.

I did notice after I left that I was charged for an iced tea when I only had a water, but I’m not one to make a fuss over something little like that.  Despite the mistake on the bill, the total came to under $30 for an appetizer and two entrees.  I’d definitely like to go back to try some of their other entrees and sample some beer.

The Hop House – www.thehophouse.com

Greentree location – 2749 Noblestown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, 412-922-9560

Ross Township location- 5510 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 412-366-3606

Actually something had my mind on bento all day so I had already printed out their menu at http://www.oishiibento.com  so I could get in and out with my Spicy Pork Bulgogi Bento. Additionally, the website is as clean and friendly as the restaurant- something you don’t always experience.

I was delighted to find the restaurant clean and airy with window seating and plenty of traditional yet modern Japanese decorations you’d find in the home. The staff was pleasant, polite and quick and it took about 5 minutes for my order, totalling $7.40-something. I ended up having to walk across Oakland to get a 40 minute bus home so it’s a good thing I ordered bento, which is one of the most portable dishes on earth. Well-packed, it survived the trip with the miso soup unscathed in its styrofoam bowl and everything at exactly the right temperature- no reheats. 

So here’s what you get: my bento had a choise of soup or salad and I took soup. A generous portion (I’m having the rest today for lunch) of spicy pork and steamed rice w/sesame seed, 2 potstickers, a cold rice salad, miso soup and kimchee. The pork wasn’t as spicy as I was anticipating but the flavour was nice and complex and I’m not a fan of mushrooms but they were blended into the dish quite well.  I’ll never turn down a potsticker (excuse my American english, I’m not even sure what these were called besides yummy) and I tried kimchee and miso soup for the first time.

Let’s just say I didn’t hate the kimchee but it is strong and I loved the miso soup- it’s a unique and lovely light tasteing broth. And okay, I’ll admit I didn’t touch the cold salad- I have this thing against cold salads in general but it didn’t smell too bad.
  Oishii Bento’s menu includes both Japanese and Korean offerings from udon to sushi, rice bowls to bento, and very reasonably priced sides such as miso, edamame, kimchee and tempura amongst others. This is definitely a place I’ll hit up again, and they have a pretty cool business card too. You’ll find it on Oakland Avenue on the right hand side before Citizen’s Bank- ironically it’s across the street from Sushi Boat and a door or two past Sezchuan.  Visit their site http://www.oishiibento.com  for online coupons.

Oishii Bento
  proprietor: Si Hyuk Choi
  119 Oakland Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213
  412.687.3335
  Mon-Fri 10:30a-9p
  Sat: 11a-9p

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Located at 930 Penn Ave., Seviche offers a taste of Cuba and Miami in a Pittsburgh-friendly sort of way. Plenty of beautiful people, sure, but also several regular folks like us. One night we were there, the manager’s parents were there from the ‘burbs, hugging and high-fiving with customers and staff. Only in Pittsburgh.

Seviche (the restaurant) boasts “an eclectic blend of traditional Latin American recipes and modern ingredients infused with international influences.”

Any of the knowledgable staff will tell you that the kitchen’s main attraction is the seviche bar, which features 15 fresh sushi-quality seafood selections that may be ordered in seven different preparations.

Diners can choose from raw Ahi Tuna, Scottish Salmon, Hamachi (Yellowtail Snapper), Bahamian Conch, Oyster or Fish of the Day, and semi-cooked Lobster, Shrimp, Crab, Octopus, Scallop, Mussels and Calamari.

Seviche also offers a wide selection of Tapas, the small-plate servings heavy on seafood also traditional in Latino cultures, and Bocadillos, which are a kind of rustic sandwiches of pork or beef. The menu can be confusing, given all the possible combinations, but our server was happy to make good recommendations.

The bartender whipped up a wicked Mojito (repeat after me, “It’s my first time here,”) and the wine list looked excellent.

Executive Chef/Owner Yves Carreau came to Pittsburgh in 1984 from his native France (via Los Angeles) to manage the kitchen at the Churchill Valley Country Club. Four years later, he opened his own venture, Asiago, a French/Italian restaurant, located in One Oxford Centre, downtown Pittsburgh.

As the Seviche website boasts, “Carreau now brings his worldly sophistication to Pittsburgh with both Seviche and the Sonoma Grille, a melting pot of international cuisine, wrapped with a California twist.”

An evening at Seviche, which offers valet parking at a reasonable price, is like taking a trip to South Beach or Havana minus the hassle and expense. A great asset to Pittsburgh.

Seviche
930 Penn Ave.
Cultural District
412-697-3120
www.seviche.com

Hours: Dinner Mondays-Saturdays 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
Prices: All plates, $7-$12; desserts, $8; wines, $6-$16.
Non-smoking

GlobalPittsburghEats offers occasional candid reviews of international restaurants in the Pittsburgh region. Read more at http://globalpittsburgh.blogspot.com.