Red Caboose; Rostraver PA

If you're ever traveling Route 51 in Western Pennsylvania between Uniontown and Pittsburgh you have to stop at this roadside gem. The dogs and kielbasa are fantastic and the amount of fries is phenomenal. The building is a little red caboose complete with outdoor picnic tables shaded by umbrellas. This placed is usually packed from lunchtime on!

Can you tell me exactly where on Rt. 51? I have been to Uniontown several times as I have family in California, Brownsville and Elizabeth PA (we usually go to Nemacolin for lunch) but have never seen this red caboose. I would like to tell them to go there!

I passed the Red Caboose last Friday and it seems to be going strong. Several outside tables had folks sitting there and there were six or seven cars in the parking lot.

I ate there maybe five or six years ago and liked the hot dog, but don't recall much more.

The Red Caboose is on Rt 51 maybe halfway from where you get on 51 from 70 West and Elizabeth. It is on the other side of 51 from the Rostraver airport and if you're westbound, you have to go past the fruitstand to make a U-turn.

Thanks,

Kevin

The Red Caboose is outstanding.

It's just south of PA state route 136 on the south bound lanes of route 51.  Tuesday through Saturday, 10-4.  Closed holidays.

It's inexpensive and often has a line out the door.

While standing in line there one Saturday afternoon (about 20 people back) a lady in front of me turned and asked what the draw of this place is.  I told her that I could grill similar hot dogs at home, but could never hope to replicate the chili and cheese. 

I've had their burgers, fries and kielbasa, but for me it's 3 chili cheese dogs and a drink nowadays.  Just be sure to hold the stryofoam serving tray under your chin to catch the extra cheese and chili as it falls from your hot dog.

While I, too, think I can replicate all the ingredients and toppings served at the Red Caboose, a quick estimate of what it would cost to obtain a caboose and then find a suitable place to put it, would make it unfeasible, especially if I were doing it all just to have three chili dogs...even four. 

   The Bear 

Hey, I know this place; it's been there for years. It's near that one light on the right going south? Near the mini golf course? I never knew the name, it was just a place we stopped, back in the '70s.