Named for its baseball legend owner, Chuck Tanner’s Restaurant has been a New Castle, Pa. institution for many years. But there is a problem. If you Google it, you won’t find much. It is listed on several general restaurant sites like Urban Spoon, but other than location and phone number, there isn’t much there. I couldn't find a picture of the place to post. Even on Google maps, there are just a few reviews, one of which is a rant about old building, old people, and old food. Wow!!!!
Maybe the rant was right. Tanner’s is a bit dated. But then again, so am I. This is a 1980’s restaurant still functioning as a 1980’s restaurant in 2011. You know what? I like it. In fact, I like it a lot, and I think I found a new favorite place to go.
My chorus sang in New Castle last night, and I passed Tanner’s on the way to the performance. A friend of mine, who passed away several years ago, told me about it and what wonderful food it had. Back in the day, it was THE place to go, and Carol had lots of stories about her evenings at Tanner’s. So looking for someplace to go this weekend, I loaded up the wife and drove back to New Castle to give Tanner’s a go.
It is a visually interesting building built into the side of a hill (this IS Pennsylvania). The parking lot is on a lower level, and there are lots of steps to reach the front door. There is handicap access and some handicapped parking spaces along the main drag right in front of the building. The style is 1980’s rustic modern? Up close and personal, it is clear the building is due for a redo and upgrade. Right now it might be shabby chic, but it could use some TLC in the future. I am not sure how to describe the general ambience. It kind of reminds me of Wolfie’s or the Rascal House in Florida…both of which are large deli’s.
As you enter the restaurant, the dining room is to the right and the “bar” is to the left. There are some booths in the bar…and what looks like a lunch counter actually is the bar. Sports memorabilia is everywhere, much of which celebrates the astonishing career of its namesake. Even the booth tables in the bar are covered with hundreds of family pictures and photos. There is plenty to look at!!! There are some medium sized flat screen televisions in the bar area providing some background noise.
Once you get over trying to decide if you are in Scandinavia on the outside, or Denny’s and/or a deli on the inside, you get to the food and you forget real fast that you’re doing the time warp. The food is old fashioned and outstanding. Yes, they still offer liver and onions as an occasional special!!!! Tonight they offered stuffed pork chops. And the rather extensive menu takes off from there. There are lots of steaks and chops with heavy Greek and Italian overtones to balance the choices.
I love lamb, and it is offered several ways. I opted for lamb on a stick, charcoal grilled cubes served with rice. It was great. And what was really good, and at the top of my “best ever” list, was the chicken pastine soup with egg, black pepper, and parmesan cheese. OMG. It was to die for in every sense of the word…exactly as my grandmother made it when I was small. I have not had it prepared this way since my grandmother died in 1960. Italian comfort food par excellence!
My wife had pot roast, and it was blessedly served without trendy “garlic” mashed potatoes, just plain mashed potatoes and gravy, thank you. That’s how she likes them. That’s how I like them. The Italian salad dressing is homemade, and wonderful.
The service is adept and friendly. Our waitress has worked there for 32 years, and was helpful and cheerful and we shared some laughs. Prices are moderate plus. Portions are large. This is a good value.
Here’s the deal. If you are looking for a trendy bistro done up in purple and named Prune serving “small plates” and stacked food with techno music playing in the background, this ain’t it!! If you want sushi, go someplace else. Tanner’s may be a little worse for the wear. It may have dated décor. It may have dated food. But it is aces with me.
I am not going to give Tanner’s a meatball rating because I have only been there once. But I can tell you that it is being added to my “go to” restaurant list. I expect to make the twenty mile drive to New Castle often. I can’t wait to taste its spaghetti sauce, also homemade. Chuck Tanner died this past February. I hope the restaurant goes on for a long time.
Give it a try. Word to restaurant management: get a website!!!! A publicist might help too!!!!!!
Chuck Tanner's Restaurant
2305 Wilmington Road
New Castle, PA 16105-1959
(724) 658-5900
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