Grabbing food from the drive-thru or relaxing at a sit-down restaurant has become so commonplace that, unless we’re celebrating a special occasion, we probably don’t think much more about it after we’ve finished our meal. But growing up in the ‘80s? Eating out was a big deal, especially if we went to a buffet. One of my favorite places to go as a kid, and eventually as a broke college student, was Ponderosa Steakhouse. Today, those trips to Ponderosa are largely a memory for many of us, but one remains in Pennsylvania, and it’s a fun meal out if you feel like a bit of nostalgia.
The Ponderosa Steakhouse in Butler, sat right in front of the Clearview Mall, is a relic, the last remaining restaurant of its kind in Pennsylvania, and it’s gotten a lot of attention in recent months. Local media in the Pittsburgh area reminded us that it was still around, and visitors flocked to the popular family restaurant. While I’d been several times over the past few years, the stories were just the nudge my daughter and I needed to take the hour drive to Butler for another taste of nostalgia.
When we pulled into the parking lot on that sunny afternoon in late spring, we noticed people posing for photos in front of the restaurant. Since the media spotlighted this old-school favorite, it has become a must-visit for visitors from as far away as Ohio. Every time we visited in the past, the restaurant was busy, but this time it was packed. If you’ve been to Ponderosa, you probably remember standing in line, waiting to get close enough to the cashier to view the menu on the wall. Not much has changed with the menu, except the prices, and you can still order the buffet separately.
While the layout of the Butler restaurant doesn’t look much different from yesteryear, the buffet seems to have gotten an upgrade with a larger variety of food than I remember, so if you don’t order an entrée, you can easily fill up with multiple trips to the food bar. The old favorites – fried chicken, chicken wings, mashed potatoes, corn, and salad fixings – were there too, but the one food I came for was missing. Ponderosa once had a sweet and tangy salad dressing that was so good I would buy it from my local restaurant.
My daughter ordered the classic sirloin steak with fries; the servings were so filling that she was too full to visit the food bar. Don’t worry if you’re a vegetarian like me. The food and dessert bars promise plenty – pasta, pizza, nachos, mac and cheese, fries, and so much more – to fill you up. Then there were the pierogis, the cheesy pillows of deliciousness I can never pass by.
Take your time to enjoy your meal, and just as importantly, the memories it stirs. It’ll also give you time to work up an appetite for dessert. The dessert bar has all of the classics – ice cream, Jello, brownies, and mini pies – so you have plenty from which to choose.
Learn more on the official website of Ponderosa Steakhouse, once one of the most popular steakhouses in Pennsylvania, or head over to the Facebook page of this Butler restaurant.
Do you remember going to Ponderosa Steakhouse in Pennsylvania? Or maybe you’ve been to the Butler location? Join us on a stroll down Memory Lane and share your experiences in the comments. Take time to explore more of Butler, one of the best small towns in Pennsylvania, by booking a stay at a local Vrbo.
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