Texas Hot Dogs

Altoona is a regular stop for me on trips to central Pennsylvania.  One of my favorites if Texas Hot Dogs.  The place is kind of like a diner, where you order your food at the counter and sit at old time Formica booths.  I always get my dogs with onions, mustard and sauce.  The onions are very finely minced and the sauce is fantastic.  As far as sides go, the fried cheese is great, but I really like the mac and cheese.  They add the spicy dog sauce to the mac and cheese and it makes for a great, flavorful side dish.

If you go, Texas Hot Dogs is at 101 58th Street, Altoona PA, right down the road from the Hampton Inn.

Oram's Donuts

Oram's Donuts in Beaver Falls Pa

 

 

 I don't really care for donuts that much.  Just too sweet for me so it's kind of surprising how much I really love Oram's!  The quality is great, the cinnamon rolls are huge, like hubcaps.  They are also sweet, but for some reason I like them.  This place has been open since 1938, so they must be doing donuts right.  They are so good, I make the drive all the way from the city to get them.  You should too!

 

The picture below isn't all that good, but to put it in perspective, the cinnamon rolls are at least 6 or 7 inches across. 

Oram's is located at 1406 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls.  Their website says they are open from 5am to 2pm, but in my experience they usually run out of donuts well before 2, and close early.  Best to go early in the morning!

Max's Allegheny Tavern

One of my favorite places on the North Side has always been Max's Allegheny Tavern.  It's truly one of the old ethnic neighborhood places in Pittsburgh. 

 

The building is old and a lot of history is printed in the menu.  As you enter, the bar is on your right. It's a real comfortable place to have a drink, and the locals are always friendly.  They have a nice selection of German beers including Spaten Lager, Kostritzer Black Lager, Waresteiner Premium Ale, and Hacker Pschorr Weisse.  They also sell Penn Pilsner ad of course the usual domestics.

I'd be the first to admit that I've never found German food to be particularly exciting, although that may be because my knowledge about it is somewhat limited.  The menu includes soups, sandwiches, salads, schnitzels, sausages, a few seafood selections and a few desserts.

Check out the Schnitzel Liechtenstein , veal topped with ham, cheese, and green olives.

 

 

If you don't care for this type of food (which I understand) it's still worth it to stop and take in the ambiance over a German beer or a glass of wine.  Happy hour is Monday thru Friday from 5 to 7, and on Friday in the basement Rathskeller.

 

Max's Allegheny Tavern is on Pittsburgh's North Side at 537 Suismon Street.

Bristol Motor Speedway

So, you're wondering what's this have to do with food around the 'Burgh?

Nothing.  I just thought it was a neat picture.  Taken last weekend in Bristol Tn.

Coleman's Fish Market



 

 

 

Coleman's Fish Market has been a famous landmark in Wheeling for as long as I can remember.  That's why it's so surprising that I've never been there before!  This is a true fish market with a good selection of fresh fish to take home, and also a food counter where you can order a variety of sandwiches and sides but I went for the fish!  This is a place where you place your order at the counter and wait pick it up, and seat yourself.

 

 

We ordered a couple of fish sandwiches, and couldn't resist getting the onion rings.  The fish is served on plain white bread (think Wonder bread) and is perfectly fried, golden brown.

 



 



The sandwich was very good, although I'm accustomed to a much larger portion...If you look through this blog, you will see that I really love the traditional Pittsburgh fish sandwiches which tend to be huge!  That said this is a tasty sandwich and I wouldn't hesitate to stop again whenever I'm in the area. 

Coleman's is in downtown Wheeling in an area called Centre Market.  The building also houses a few other eatery's and shops and makes for a pleasant afternoon.