Altoona / Duncansville PA?

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tedlovesdogs

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Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Mon, 07/13/09 12:08 AM

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Hi folks,

I'm new to the site but have loved looking around and scoping out new places. I'm headed to Duncansville / Altoona PA for a few days. I've used the search function but sadly, haven't found much on Roadfood that speaks well for that area. Just in a last-ditch effort, thought I'd throw the question out there again to see if anyone had any recommendations for breakfast or dinner.

Thanks in advance!

Delilah77 Total Posts : 29 Reward points : 0 Joined: 7/21/2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH	Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Mon, 07/13/09 8:55 AM 0 [This post was marked as helpful] You can try The Meadows Original frozen Custard stand in Duncansville. I don't remember if they sell hamburgers or hotdogs but the frozen custard was terrific. I haven't lived in that area for a very long time. They weren't many good places to eat when I lived there, but that may have changed.

tedlovesdogs

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Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Mon, 07/13/09 9:20 PM

Thanks Delilah! I just passed the Meadows on my way back to the motel. Unfortunately, I'm stuffed! Here's the deal.

I got into town earlier than expected, and since it was such a nice afternoon and I'd never been to this part of the world before, thought I'd head out for some sightseeing. Since Altoona is so built up, I just started driving out of the same ol', same ol' as directly as I could. I ended up going through an older part of town which was just gorgeous. Beautiful, well-kept old homes that just looked so Americana on this beautiful afternoon.

I headed out of town and just kept going through some picturesque farmland in the valley bottom. I don't honestly remember how I got there, but I went through Roaring Springs, then into Martinsburg (great old villages!). From there I climbed substantially through some State Game Lands, over the hill, then cruised on into Saxton. In my opinion, this route IS NOT well suited for towning vehicles. Steep, sustained grades up (and back down) with two hairpin turns. If you lost your brakes, Lord help you.

However, once I got into Saxton, I ended up stopping at Jed's Country Cooking (720 Main Street). WOW. Huge portions of homemade food. Very good! I had the hamburger steak dinner, which came with potatos (home-cooked fries, with gravy), two sides (tossed salad and macaroni for me), and a roll (which now that I think about it, I don't think I got--thank goodness). The hamburger was smothered in grilled peppers and onions, then a generous portion of gravy overtop all that. The food was very good American food. Nothing fancy, but good flavor, great service, and reasonably priced. This one's definitely off the beaten path, but in my opinion, it was well worth the trip. And by the way, apparently 'Mrs. Jed' was cooking--she did a great job!

Again, don't take the route I took if you're towing a camper (or maybe even a boat). Google Maps says the trip's about 23 miles; seems the GPS said about 17. Oh well, good ballpark for the scenic route. There's probably faster, flatter ways to get there, but if you can do it, the trip over the hill has some great views. The sights I saw, coupled with the food at Jed's made the outing well worth it!

HPlatz Total Posts : 103 Reward points : 0 Joined: 8/2/2007 Location: State College, PA	Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Mon, 07/13/09 9:31 PM 0 [This post was marked as helpful] Try a place called "The Dream" right along Rt. 22 in Hollidaysburg. Family place, good homestyle food and prices. Used to be known as "Dave's Dream." I've eaten there a few times and would again. Here's a link http://www.thedreamrestaurant.com/ <message edited by HPlatz on Mon, 07/13/09 9:33 PM>

rebeltruce Total Posts : 627 Reward points : 0 Joined: 9/8/2006 Location: Culpeper, VA	Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Tue, 07/14/09 6:23 AM 0 [This post was marked as helpful] Clem's BBQ is sort of close to Altoona, worth the drive. http://www.clemsfire.com/ Not really traditional Southern Q, but very good none the less. Clem's is located in Port Matilda, right on old rt 322.

tedlovesdogs

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Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Wed, 07/15/09 10:58 PM

rebeltruce

Clem's BBQ is sort of close to Altoona, worth the drive.

http://www.clemsfire.com/

Not really traditional Southern Q, but very good none the less. Clem's is located in Port Matilda, right on old rt 322.

Well, the 'old' Clem's is no longer. I went out there to Port Matilda, got the GPS locked in on the address, and when I pulled in, it looked a-w-f-u-l-l-y quiet. I saw some red and white checkered tablecloth thing flapping in the wind next to the door. There, there was a sign thanking patrons for their 10 years on business, but saying that since the new I-99 went in, the old Clem's has been 'spanked'. There are two other locations. One is just off I-99 going south at the Tipton exit. The other is out in State College. (I had a few details written down for the site, but now, of course, I can't find them.)

Well, by this time, I had to try it! I went to the one in Tipton. It had a new feel to it--like it hadn't collected too many memories or stories yet. I sat at the bar and had good service from the barkeep. Unfortunately, they were out of both chicken and country ribs. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and got an order of the red potato salad. The pork itself was excellent--great flavor with a good BBQ sauce. The roll, in my opinion, left a little to be desired. Hard on the outside and maybe even a little (just a little) stale on the inside. Though there was a generous portion of pork, it almost got a little outdone by the volume of the roll. Small complaint, but worth mentioning I guess. The potato salad was absolutely great!

I also tried The Meadows. I'm not a frozen custard connoisseur, but I thought the flavor was a little lacking. I just got basic vanilla--no toppings. It was good, but the vanilla didn't stick around my tastebuds too long. Just a fleeting 'how'd ya do?' and it was gone. It was probably worth a second try, but by that time, I was plenty full. Maybe next trip...

rebeltruce

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Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Thu, 07/16/09 6:35 AM

tedlovesdogs

rebeltruce

Clem's BBQ is sort of close to Altoona, worth the drive.

http://www.clemsfire.com/

Not really traditional Southern Q, but very good none the less. Clem's is located in Port Matilda, right on old rt 322.

Well, the 'old' Clem's is no longer. I went out there to Port Matilda, got the GPS locked in on the address, and when I pulled in, it looked a-w-f-u-l-l-y quiet. I saw some red and white checkered tablecloth thing flapping in the wind next to the door. There, there was a sign thanking patrons for their 10 years on business, but saying that since the new I-99 went in, the old Clem's has been 'spanked'. There are two other locations. One is just off I-99 going south at the Tipton exit. The other is out in State College. (I had a few details written down for the site, but now, of course, I can't find them.)

Well, by this time, I had to try it! I went to the one in Tipton. It had a new feel to it--like it hadn't collected too many memories or stories yet. I sat at the bar and had good service from the barkeep. Unfortunately, they were out of both chicken and country ribs. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and got an order of the red potato salad. The pork itself was excellent--great flavor with a good BBQ sauce. The roll, in my opinion, left a little to be desired. Hard on the outside and maybe even a little (just a little) stale on the inside. Though there was a generous portion of pork, it almost got a little outdone by the volume of the roll. Small complaint, but worth mentioning I guess. The potato salad was absolutely great!

I also tried The Meadows. I'm not a frozen custard connoisseur, but I thought the flavor was a little lacking. I just got basic vanilla--no toppings. It was good, but the vanilla didn't stick around my tastebuds too long. Just a fleeting 'how'd ya do?' and it was gone. It was probably worth a second try, but by that time, I was plenty full. Maybe next trip...

Ted,

Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew that freeking highway was up to no good!!! I was just at Clem's (The Original Clem's) in April of this year it's a stop for some buddies and I when we ride motorcycles from DC to St. Mary's....I guess I should cherish that memory, and take comfort in the fact that I may have had one of the last plates of ribs sold at the old location.

Last time we were there was the first time since the highway was finished, it threw me, and I about got lost......damn I'm bummed out.

To bad you didn't get to try the country ribs, they are excellent.....Clem's was the first Q place I'd ever seen cook country cut ribs, and we always ordered a serving to split amoung ourselves. Did I say that I was bummed out!

tedlovesdogs Total Posts : 63 Reward points : 0 Joined: 7/9/2009 Location: Western, NY	Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Thu, 07/16/09 11:07 PM 0 Looks like I missed the good ole days rt, but those pictures are starting to make me hungry all over again...thanks for posting!

GeoNit

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Re:Altoona / Duncansville PA? - Wed, 07/29/09 11:24 AM