Back Door Café
402 Chestnut St, Johnstown, PA, 15906
Back Door Café Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Johnstown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Johnstown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Johnstown for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
402 Chestnut St
Johnstown, PA, 15906 - Phone (814) 539-5084
- Website https://www.thebackdoorcafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Sue N.
Delicious food served in an intimate setting. Fabulous service, (thank you, Jon) great martinis, homemade pastas, sauces and more!!!
(5)Joseph B.
Food is quite good. In my experience you simply won't get a table if you don't call and make a reservation. As some have said the service can be a bit uneven, but I can't fault anything I've eaten there.
(4)Jo C.
Bartender Stephanie is amazing and makes a mean martini!! Food is creative and upscale with a nice happy hour!! Ask for STEPH!!! Sit at the bar!!
(5)Jeff G.
Johnstown's best restaurant. Great atmosphere for dates. The menu changes daily, but it's all fresh and top quality ingredients. This is the place to go for any special occasion or night out. Think of this as a big city dining experience in a small town.
(5)Edward B.
When my wife and I went here to eat, we were expecting a tasty meal because of the reviews that we had read on Yelp. We, however, were not expecting it to be as tasty as it turned out to be. Everyone was very friendly; at one point the chef came out to check on how we were enjoying the meal, and for once we didn't have to lie. If you are in or near Johnstown, eat here, it is fantastic!
(5)Tracy A.
We had my birthday dinner here as a stop on a long drive from NJ to OH. I was sure we wouldn't find anything since we were completely unfamiliar with the area, but yelp really showed us the way again. We split two flatbreads for apps. I really only had the mushroom one bc I couldn't stop eating it, but my family loved the other one too. I also had mushroom soup. It was a bit grainy, but super tasty. For the entree, I had the filet with pesto on it. I was afraid the pesto was there to hide a less than stellar steak, but I was wrong. The steak was amazing. The pesto really added to the flavor nicely. The potato soufflé was delicious as well. For dessert I had the creme brûlée. It wasn't the best part of the meal. It was good though. The service was fabulous. They checked on us enough without being too much. They were great for recommendations. Plus they gave me free truffles because they heard it was my birthday. That WAS the BEST part of the meal. So sinfully delicious!
(5)Matt S.
I'm torn. The food is pretty decent but I think the menu is too limited. Yeah they have "daily fish/steak/poultry" dishes etc. but the menu is rather small. Its all fancy stuff too. If you prefer the simpler things in life youre going to have a hard time finding something and once you do get it, you'll undoubtedly find yourself scrapping some sauce/glaze off that you have no idea whats in it. But that's because I have simple tastes. Having said that, it is the "nicest place" or "most upscale" place to eat in johnstown. Its sad though b/c for jtown this is upscale by the environment but if youre from a bigger city this is just the norm. So i do applaud Chef Tom for what he's doing with the place and what he's going which johnstown desperately needs.
(4)Gina B.
Best restaurant in Johnstown hands down. My coworker and I had to return because we were disappointed in venturing to another restaurant. They have a fab variety on the menu, great service and the most heavenly truffles! I ordered the ribs which were great. We started with one crepe, which was perfect since it is fairly rich, and a focaccia flat breads. I love that they had mocktails since I'm prego, and they were delish. Def recommend to anyone in Johnstown and would return hands down if I returned for business. Mmm...and the truffles are a must!!!!
(5)Jonathan T.
My buddy and I were motorcycle touring VA, WV, MD and western PA and chose a stopover in Johnstown on the anniversary of the flood. What was a pure Yelp find turned out to be one of the best dining experiences I've ever encountered on a motorcycle trip and from my perspective as a former chef and culinary school student, a rare example of restaurant perfection. Our hotel being a few miles south of town we decided to seek a place to eat in the city after riding the Inclined Plane, and though we walked in wearing t-shirts and motorcycle boots and without a reservation, the hostess greeted us warmly and let us know that due to a cancelation, they'd be delighted to accommodate us. The hospitality factor from that point on never waned and after a perfect martini delivered by our excellent waitress our meal was delicious and expertly prepared. My friend had the filet with a side of duck fat roasted new potatoes and I enjoyed the pork Porterhouse with a beet-horseradish puree and a small gratineed onion side. The meal was capped with perfect espressos, for our ride back to the hotel. I don't often find myself in western PA, but having visited Johnstown and The Back Door Cafe, I know I'll be back.
(5)Lauren H.
Ate here based solely on the fact that it's the highest-rated Johnstown restaurant on Yelp! -------------------------------------------- FOOD: Food was excellent. Prepared well, seasoned nicely, nicely plated. My table had crepes as an appetizer, I had the seared ahi tuna as my meal with the twice-baked onion as a side dish (whoa ... uhhhh-mazing), and cheesecake for dessert. -------------------------------------------- SERVICE: The reason I can't give five stars is because the service was just weird. A woman came over and took drink orders. When she came back with our drinks, she asked if we had dined there before, to which we told her "no," so she said she would explain the menu. ... About 10 minutes later, she was finished explaining the menu. After that, my mom told her that she and my dad wanted the check. (Otherwise, my parents and husband argue over it.) The staff lady said we "will have to tell our server that" and that she wasn't the server -- she just takes our drink orders and explains the menu. Huh? Following this, a woman came to our table to take our dinner order. I asked her how big of a serving was the full dinner-sized ahi tuna dish? (Also came as an appetizer.) Her vague answer was that it was "not overwhelming." Well, neither was her personality throughout the evening. (I digress.) The issue with someone taking one order/someone taking a different order/one person explaining the menu was just strange to me. Is the management not confident enough in the servers to allow them to do all of this? Because of this, I got the impression that the restaurant doesn't seem to be ran very well. -------------------------------------------- Okay, there's my huge reason for my 3-star review!
(3)Heather G.
This was honestly one of the most amazing meals I have ever eaten. My son was in the hospital for an extended period up the street from there and my sister wanted to treat me to a nice meal because I had been under a lot of stress (son in a coma, husband just diagnosed with lung cancer). We made reservations for 6 PM on a Saturday night and they were perfectly accommodating. I'm not sure if it was the owner, but there was an older lady who sat us and asked what brought us to Johnstown. We explained about my son and my husband, and she was just so, so moved by it - she could not have been more gracious and sympathetic. We asked her for her recommendations on the menu and I ended up with the crepes which blew my mind. My sister had the maple chicken dish was was absurdly good. We passed on dessert since we were stuffed, but I can only assume that it was as good as the rest of the meal. This place is a GEM and we loved every single bit of it. I would love to have such a place here in DC to go to, because I'd eat there all the time.
(5)Andrea W.
Need to return on a Wed. for happy hour (4-7) to try roasted potato flatbread (only $14 w/ prosciutto and bacon)! Liked the fresh taste of the basil gimlet (Hendrick's gin, lime and simple syrup) but not the super sweet Bitten (dark rum, pomegranate, ginger, jalapeno, mint, an simple syrup). Loved the duck schnitzel (duck breast pounded thin w/ Parmesan and panko, served w/ orange hazelnut-butter sauce for $16)! The pumpkin ravioli with veal broth, vegetables and herbs was very good, but not as divine as the duck. I was pleasantly surprised by the meatball soup with broccoli, but was a little underwhelmed by the warm brie with fruit in wine winter conserve.
(5)Aaron M.
The Back Door Cafe is an unfortunate name for a fantastic restaurant! My wife and I just happened upon this quaint little eatery after our plans fell through at a restaurant in Jennerstown. A quick query on Yelp returned the Back Door as the highest rated restaurant in Johnstown. Who would have guessed that such a gem would exist down a side street in Johnstown (no offense J-town). From the minute we walked in the door I know the food was going to be good. The smell of sage and searing meats wafting from kitchen was a dead giveaway. We started with a cocktail. Refreshing sparkling tequila mojitos (a nice twist on the original). Then on to starters, mushroom soup and pasta fagioli, both delicious and made from locally sourced ingredients. Next we had a brick oven flatbread pizza made with pesto, mozzarella & garlic ricotta cheese. Which was very tasty and a generous serving for two. Finally we shared a porterhouse pork chop and meatballs w/ marinara for our entree. The meatballs were great but they were completely over shadowed by the magnificent pork chop. I don't usually gush over a pork chop but this was not your average chop. It was a generous cut of top quality pork done to absolute medium rare perfection. Along with the chop and meatballs we had a sweet onion and Swiss cheese side dish that tasted like the top of French Onion soup (which we all know is the best part). Coupled with a bottle of Pinot Noir from their ample selection of wines. We were in bliss! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation ASAP!!!
(5)Jason F.
I are here last night with my girlfriend and her parents for dinner. We had a 6:00 pm reservation and got there right about that time and were immediately shown to our seats which was a booth. I am not sure what I was expecting the inside of the place to look like but this was not it. It had brick walls, white tablecloths and curtained in booths. Our table also had an interesting looking exceptionally large bottle cap hanging on the wall which I assume was there because it said Johnstown, PA on it. We all decided to start off our evening with cocktails which may sound easier than it was. You see they have 3 full pages of their menu devoted to cocktails which easily amounts to over 100. After looking through interesting creation after interesting creation I finally decided on a pineapple jalepeno margarita while my girlfriend had a basil pomegranate sparkler. Both were quite interesting as in my girlfriends you could really taste the basil while mine started out all pineapply and sweet before ended with a serious kick. For our appetizers we all decided to split both the Brie and a pesto flatbread pizza. The Brie was good and came with some nice sweet fruit toppings while the pesto flatbread was cooked to a good crunch and had the perfect amount of pesto on it. For my entree I decided on the lime chicken piccata with a side of mixed grains and my girlfriend went with the whitefish in a pine nut sauce and a side of broccoli. When our entrees came out, I have to admit I was disappointed in the size of almost everything. The best example was the single large crown of broccoli my girlfriend received for the $4 it cost. She did enjoy everything saying the fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. I also enjoyed my chicken, especially the piccata sauce and capers and thought my grains (wild rice, quinoa and another rice) were decent enough. My girlfriend and I decided to split a creme brûlée for dessert which was a good brûlée but did not blow me away. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here in the future. Everything that I had tasted good, now if they could only work on some of those portion sizes.
(4)Max B.
Mushroom Soup - 6/10 - the mushrooms were good. Unfortunately, the soup was very watery and poorly seasoned Crusted Brick Oven White Fish - 7/10 - fish was well cooked and the tartar sauce was very good. Very expensive for what it is. The Onion - 5/10 - french onion soup without the soup Overall, the food at this restaurant is pretty good, but it is pretty pricey for small portions of fairly basic dishes
(3)Brandy O.
The food was good, but we had such bad service that we have no desire to go back. We received our bill and gave our credit card only to have the woman return with the bill already paid, but with an added $50 on it. She said we made a mistake on what we charged you, but gave no specifics. When we tried to talk about it, she raised her voice and made a scene. We really felt like she should've been more accommodating since it was their fault anyway. We just paid it, but we wanted to let the rest of you know about it.
(1)Dirk J.
I have been to this restaurant multiple times over the past 6 years and every-time was a nice experience. The three start rating is only because of the price/value/taste ratio. The food is good but not remarkable. Compared to other establishments around town I'd place it in the top 10, but compared to other areas around the country with the same style and presentation of food I'd say it's an average plus - and that isn't so bad really. Still, you can't go wrong and I'd recommend this restaurant to my friends.
(3)Cheryl C.
I'm in Johnstown for business and found this restaurant online in a Google Search and it appeared to have great reviews. I called and placed an order for take out. When I arrived to pick it up, right around 6pm, I was shocked to see not a soul inside the restaurant. The place is very inviting and nicely decorated. I had ordered a 10 oz. flat-iron steak and the thick slice onion side dish. When they handed it to me I could't believe how light it was. When I got back to my hotel room, I was disappointed to discover that this was definitely no 10 oz. steak-- maybe 5-6 oz. at best. Also, the side dish literally was a single slice of onion smothered in cream and cheese. Now, please don't misunderstand. The food was DELICIOUS. The steak was seasoned perfectly and had this delicious pesto sauce on it, and the onion was incredibly decadent and delicious, however I was very disappointed with the portion sizes and felt that they were misrepresented on the menu. That is why I am taking off 2 stars for value. I feel that for what they are charging, you should get what you pay for.
(3)Claudia W.
We were in town for a golf tournament over 4 days and looking for local restaurants to try. Unfortunately downtown Johnstown does not have a lot to choose from. We asked YELP for assistance and found the Back Door Cafe. The food was delicious and service was terrific by all parties...we even met the chef. I highly recommend this restaurant but call for reservations as it is a small place. C. Wilson
(4)Mark P.
By far, the best restaurant in the area. Had a fantastic meal here from start to finish. I was a bit hesitant at first, just due to the area. It is in a residential type area, and surely not a spot I would expect to find great cuisine. Glad I went it though. Apps: We had the cheese dip and a shrimp scampi special. The shrimp was good, but the cheese dip was excellent. Great blend of cheese and bacon. Give it a whirl if cholesterol isn't an issue. Soup: mushroom soup. Light, great selection of local shrooms and nice flavor. Dinner: Pork chop. Wow. Silly good. Cooked perfectly, seasoned beautifully and juicy. The seasonal topping was a peach and pecan blend, but I had it on the side as I'm not a fan of sweet with food. By itself it was fantastic, and I'm sure it would add a great flavor if you like that. Additionally, had the baked onion (tasted like my grandmas creamed onions from the holidays and that is a GOOD thing), bourbon corn which was beautiful as well as a crepe. The crepe was OK, but I'm not a huge crepe fan so don't go by me. The service was great, everything was explained and the chef stopped out as well. Will be back anytime I'm in town.
(5)Becca B.
The atmosphere is nice, but completely outdated. What you would expect walking into a fine dining restaurant in Johnstown (at least it was open). Sitting in a wooden booth with a fabric cushion and pillow kind of gave me the creeps a little.. but it was okay. Food.. we ordered the bree & garlic flatbread to share, and the jalapeño dip. The jalapeño dip was cold, which wasn't expected, but we ate it anyway! We both got the manicotti, which was a special. I didn't like mine at all, my boss seemed to enjoy it though. Dessert was lemon berry cake and a tiramisu. Both we delicious!
(3)Lee P.
I try this place at least once a year, hoping for a different experience. The plus: nice atmosphere The minus: stale drink ingredients, Confusing service situation; empty booths and tables throughout service , yet relegated to eat at the bar. Food portions are small ( and I am a light eater) Food is ok, but does not stand up to the lengthy menu explanation and price. I gladly pay top $ for exceptional food and dining experience, but this falls short. I have not lost all hope though, and will keep an open mind for my next try at this place.
(2)Morgan S.
This spot never disappoints! I highly recommend the fresh sage martini. This restaurant uses fresh wholesome ingredients and implements fresh culinary techniques which is a great gem for Johnstown!
(5)Brian P.
For Johnstown, this is very good. We're from D.C., so when we visit our dad, it's always nice to find a restaurant like this to go to. And compared to D.C. prices, very reasonable! (They need a better wine list, but it's PA, what can you do!)
(5)Matt K.
We've been visiting this place for a few years now and have never been disappointed. Last night's meal was no exception! From the quality and taste of the food, to the ambience, to the demeanor of the staff, this restaurant is truly worlds apart from anything in the area (and right up there with some of the best I've been to in other cities). Martinis are bomb; food is exceptional!
(5)Bill P.
We were attending an event at Ace's Lounge and looking for a place to eat when we spotted this place, attracted by the sign outside advertising a wood-fired oven. It exceeded our expectations in just about every possible way. The owner presented us with a long spoken list of specials, and it was evident from her descriptions that she and her chef husband care about good cooking with the use of high-quality ingredients. They have good-looking pizza and focaccias, soups made with wild mushrooms, and grilled meats and seafood selections cooked in the wood-fired stove with an emphasis on locally obtained ingredients. I had the mushroom soup, which was perhaps a bit better in theory than in execution due to its pedestrian chicken broth, but my main course, a small free-range chicken perfectly roasted and finished with a velouté sauce, was delicious. Rebecca had an excellent and perfectly prepared flat-iron steak, and we shared a focaccia with brie and roasted garlic that was delicious. We finished with good, strong espresso. On my exit, I said to the owner, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I really didn't expect to find a restaurant this good in Johnstown." She said that she had heard that before. I expect that every time I am in Johnstown henceforth, I will have dinner at the Back Door Cafe.
(5)CJ T.
The best restaurant in Johnstown. As an urban-dweller, I can promise it has all the amenities of a trendy, "boutique" restaurant--great decor, food, and service--yet the prices are reasonable. It's a great place to buy a bottle of wine or two and sit for several hours with friends. Treat yourself, but make reservations. The dining room only seats about 20 or so.
(4)Jay S.
This hard to find restaurant in a historic Johnstown neighborhood is a nice place for a killer cocktail and a pretty good dinner,all things considered. You enter through the side BACK door into a warm room with restored tin ceiling,long wood bar and a few dinner tables scattered about. Step into an adjacent small dinning room with draped for privacy booths,banquettes and covered tables feels very cozy and intimate. The owner recited a long list of specials that were impressive ( like hand picked mushroom soup) adventurous and ambitious.Sadly Chef Tom's finished product doesn't quite lead up to all the elaborate descriptions. The salads were served in large bowls but were nothing exceptional but your standard spring mixed greens one would find in a grocery store but the Balsamic dressing was quite good. I ordered the Asian styled ribs but there was no sauce whatsoever on them and tasted rather bland,although the quality and taste of the meat was fine.Ratatouille was served in a little dish and had a great texture and flavor. My partner had the Chicken, Avocado & Bacon flatbread pizza from the wood fired oven and he said it was pretty good overall,although he prefers the thick crust type pizza elsewhere much better. I was surprised to see that the menu is a la carte in this blue collar rust belt town and felt that a simple side dish of potatoes,rice or vegs would suit this establishment much better. Prices were a tad high too. Still, the next night we came back for cocktails and served these killer and potent "John's Special" cosmos but again pricey at $10 per drink. The proprietors here are very friendly,hospitable and nice folks and make you feel very welcome to their small cute restaurant. The menu still needs further culinary sophistication and refinement but I venture to say this probably is the best restaurant in Johnstown and would definitely come back if nothing else but the friendly folks and to support a local non- chain restaurant.
(3)Zoran K.
Quaint, cozy, quiet place with only a few tables. Reservations are a must. Has a feel that is far from Johnstown and has a cool vibe. They have very attentive service and a nice drink menu. The menu is filled with locally grown poultry and produce and hand picked mushrooms picked by the chef. I recommend this place highly for a romantic evening out in Johnstown.
(5)Cathy C.
Wonderful meal. Imaginative! Fabulous sage martini, too.
(5)Cathy J.
A wonderful dining experience - thoughtful, well crafted food in a boutique setting with attentive (but not intrusive) staff. Had dinner just last night and already planning a return visit.
(5)alice b.
I love this restaurant. I go there about once a month. Never disappointed. Delicious food, great service. It is an oasis in Johnstown. Not cheap but worth every penny. I recommend it highly. It has some of the best food I have had, and on a consistent basis. It is my favorite restaurant. And has a great bar too. Just stop in or make a reservation.
(5)Ira S.
Thank goodness for this restaurant. I've been traveling to this area for a while and I always make it one of my MUST spots to eat. This area isn't known for their restaurants and this is definitely a gem among all the mediocre places in this town.
(5)Mark K.
I have wanted to take my fiancee there for a long time, and finally bit the bullet and did it. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time, and probably the best I've had in the Johnstown/Altoona area. You could tell everything was FRESH. Not pre-packaged, not frozen. Fresh basil and rosemary. Real hand picked wild mushrooms. Fresh homemade pasta. Real cream, real butter. We started out with some excellent, unusual and reasonably priced drinks. We both sarted with the Wild Mushroom Soup, which was wonderful. Fresh wild mushrooms, rich chicken stock, shallots, white wine and cream. Yum. For entrees, my girl had the roasted chicken, which was topped with an unusual and very tasty kind of corn and mushroom salsa/sauce. You could taste the brick oven flavor all the way through it. I had Fresh Basil Fettuccini with sea scallops. The pasta was homemade, and infused with basil, with a handful of good sized sea scallops (cooked perfectly tender, not overdone and rubbery), in a mildly spicy marinara sauce, with a good sized garnish of fresh basil for me to tear up and mix in. I left the plate practically clean! We had a wonderful fresh creme brulee for dessert, nicely carmelized on top. As I said, this was one of the best meals we have had in a long time. Was it cheap? No, but it wasn't outrageous, either. About $70 for an excellent three course meal, and four cocktails. I thought it was actually pretty good value for the quality of the food, the intimate setting, and the fine service. It certainly won't be our last time there!
(5)Lark P.
Try the sage martini, it's great! Didn't expect to find this place in Johnstown, but so glad we did (found it online, looked into it because of the name). Atmosphere was intimate and quirky, food made with local ingredients was lovely. Service was a little slow. Recommend reservations on a weekend, it was pretty busy.
(5)Michael W.
Pork Porterhouse was amazing, as were the Brussels sprouts!
(5)John H.
Wonderful superb food. He just won a national award: Achievement of Excellence from the American Culinary Fed. I see why! Plus the people here are personable and friendly.
(5)Shelley J.
Delicious restaurant, and the cocktails are creative and wonderful -- I love the mojito, and they'll only serve it if the mint is in season (which is a clue as to how good this place is -- everything is always fresh). It's more expensive than most in Johnstown (although I bet people from bigger cities won't think so), though worth it . Regardless, I consider it a date-night kind of place, rather than it's-Wednesday-and-dinner-ain't-happening kind of place. Delightful, intimate atmosphere -- go intending to take your time. Reservations are a good idea, especially on weekends.
(5)