The Trailside

outdoor seating, good food, nice area

This casual restaurant was recommended by just about everyone in town we met...the B&B owners, clerks at the CVS, museum volunteers, etc.  It did not disappoint.  Great draft beer selection...and FRESH pretzels (perfect with the beer!). We ate large salads, very fresh...lots of goodies (cranberries, nuts, cheese, etc) and I have to say that it was one of the best salads we found on the whole of the Great Allegheny Passage. Basket of pretzels for $4.99...dinner for 2 with lots of beer (and the pretzels) and a generous tip: $40.00. Can only judge the restaurant by the beer, salad and pretzels...and those were excellent. Sitting on the deck overlooking the trail with pretzels and beer after a long day of riding, can't get much better than this!  Service was great and if you need a bike repair...no problem! The restaurant is right above a bike shop!

If you're out on the GAP and looking for the perfect spot to stop and grab a bite and a beverage, I can't think of a better place than the Trailside.

We often start our bike rides in Boston, PA, and that puts the Trailside right at about 15 miles. They have a full bar and seating area inside, but they've also got a lovely outdoor patio that overlooks the trail. You can people-watch or catch the Buccos game or even chat with other cyclists who have stopped in for similar reasons. (And yes, this is a place where it's totally acceptable to show up sweaty and in biking shorts!)

The food is pretty great: nice, hearty burgers, awesomely salty fries, a variety of fried munchupons, and a Pittsburgh salad bigger than your head.

They also have crazy cheap drinks: we were there on a Tuesday night and 22 ounce draft Miller Lite was only $2.75! For those of you who, like myself, can't stand beer, you can grab a cold glass of chardonnay to unwind mid-ride for just $5.

On a hot day, the waitresses will bring you a full pitcher of water to your table to refuel before getting back on your bike. And there's a bike shop in the lower level of the building, so if you need any minor repairs during the day, you can have them fix you up while you're grabbing lunch.

While I'm definitely a 'try everything once so you can try it all' kind of gal, it's hard to not just plan all of our stops around the Trailside. The service is awesome, it's got a great hometown feel, and the food will give you the energy to power through another 20 miles!