On a recent trip to Pennsylvania, I felt compelled to stop at Hoss’s Family Steak and Seafood Restaurant since I always enjoy stopping at restaurants that have good food and that are not the same ones I have at home.
I stopped at the Somerset location on a Saturday night and there was a long line of families waiting to be seated.
This location is right off the Pennsylvania Turnpike and located on the major route in Somerset that leads to the business district.
Remember, however, that Somerset’s business district mainly consists of a Wal-Mart Super Center, Tractor Supply Store, Giant Eagle, Goodwill, Save-A-Lot grocery store, and a few smaller shops.
There is a register at Hoss’s where you order your food before a waitress seats you and after your meal you can take the receipt up to a different register to pay for the meal.
The restaurant features a large Soup and Salad Bar which is quite extensive.
There are three different types of homemade soups, usually including Chicken Noodle and Clam Chowder, featured along with small oyster crackers.
The bar also includes salads, garden vegetables, fresh fruits, breads hot from the oven, nachos with cheese, small boneless chicken wings, and don’t forget to save room for the soft serve ice cream in flavors of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Twist, a combination of Vanilla and Chocolate.
Those of us who love toppings will enjoy the twelve different ingredients you can put on your ice cream in addition to three types of syrup.
Some of these ingredients include Gummy bears, M&M’s, skittles, and much more.
Usually there are also two types of pie available right near the ice cream topping area.
The restaurant has a rustic wooden feel and photos of Pennsylvania along with different memorabilia from the state are features on its walls.
I had the 6 ounce Little House sirloin steak and it was cooked well-done, just the way I like it, along with a side of mashed potatoes that comes with the meal.
The mashed potatoes were homemade and tasty really good with plenty of delicious gravy.
Other sides available include rice pilaf, sautéed mushrooms, onion rings, steamed broccoli, sugar snap peas, baked sweet potato, loaded baked potato, French fries, and Seasoned fries.
The restaurant has an extensive menu of items including nine other types of steak, eight types of seafood, six types of chicken and pork selections, four combo platters, eleven types of sandwiches, six types of lunch specials, kids’ meals, and desserts.
All food selections are available in the restaurant’s to-go menu.
It is quite reminiscent of Bonanza and Ponderosa restaurants, two chains of restaurants that used to exist within a half hour of my home but later closed, probably because of competition from the other chain restaurants like Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday’s, and 99 Restaurants.
Pennsylvania Hoss Restaurant locations are in Allison Park, Altoona, Annville, Bedford, Belle Vernon, Canonsburg, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Cranberry, Cressona, DuBois, Duncansville, Elizabethtown, Enola, Erie, Gettysburg, Greensburg, Grove City, Hanover, Hummelstown, Huntingdon, Indiana, Johnstown (Richland Township), Leesport, Lewistown, Lionville, Lititz, Meadville, Mechanicsburg, Moon Township, Murrysville, New Castle, Pleasant Hills, St. Mary, Shamokin Dam, State College, Williamsport, York East, York West.
Other locations include Martinsburg, West Virginia, Wheeling West Virginia, and Winchester Virginia.
