Zala's Cafe
A few months back, Ryan's dad won a radio contest. The reward was a $25 gift certificate to this restaurant he had never heard of... he's an extremely picky eater so he knew that we would get better use out of it than he would. We are so lucky that he did because we have found our new favorite place to eat, hands down! Not only did we discover a brilliant cafe in the small town of Herminie, Pennsylvania... but also met the friendliest staff and an owner with the creative spark of an artist.
Every item on the menu is unique in its own way. It was obvious that these guys don't play it safe, and like to experiment with different recipe ideas. If you want to see their extensive menu for yourself, head on over and we promise you will find something you like. We started with the Crab and Bacon Nachos as an appetizer and were definitely not disappointed.
The sauce was so cheesy and creamy and came on a bed of spinach (which makes it healthy...right?). Our favorite part of this dish were the homemade tortilla chips and the strong crab flavor. We were also surprised to see that the menu offered a good bit of seafood dishes, something you don't see very often at a small restaurant like Zala's.
For our entrees, Ryan opted for one of the specials: The Polish BBQ. On top of pierogies sat slow roasted, BBQ pulled pork, sautéed onions and blue cheese with a batter dipped onion wheel as well as a cheesy breadstick on the side. The flavors and textures worked so well together to create a one-of-a-kind dish. If Manny Sanguillén decided to deconstruct his famous "Pulled Pork Pierogi Stacker" and turn it into a beautifully crafted dish, this would be it. Just be prepared to take your leftovers home!
Emma ordered a Reuben with Garlic Parmesan Fries. You can never go wrong with ordering a reuben...as long as it is made correctly...which this sandwich definitely was! Piled with corned beef, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing, this sandwich was nothing short of fantastic. The garlic parm fries put a nice finishing touch on the dish as well.
We finished the meal with a Peanut Butter Nutella Milkshake which unfortunately, due to our excitement, is not pictured. Everyone that we spoke with at the restaurant was friendly and invested in the experience that we had. The owner and waiter were consistently visiting and making sure that we were taken care of and enjoying our meal. The chefs even visited to see how we were enjoying everything.
Our experience at this restaurant was far above what we could have ever expected and we will certainly be back in the future, with friends! Zala's often features musical acts and open mic nights. We just heard about an event on July 8th, their 1st Annual Crab Boil. We plan to make reservations, which are needed to be guaranteed seating! For more information on this, visit their Facebook page at...
Zala's Cafe in Herminie, Pennsylvania made a HUGE impression on us and we hope that you head over when you have a chance to enjoy some fantastic food, drinks, and people!
