Harrigan’s Cafe & Wine Deck

We came here for the Thanksgiving buffet. Excellent, well worth money and no slaving over hot stove and dirty dishes afterwards. Our waiter Derek, was great, very attentive. Hostess sat us immediately. Will definitely be coming back. Derek was so nice he even gave us a to go box for my husband’s brother in hospital.

My husband and I come to Thunder in the Valley and like to stay at Holiday Inn.
Went to the Café Wednesday early evening food was way over priced Stuffed Mushrooms way over cooked the Calamari was coated with panko bread crumbs which would have been great if they were fried longer. They had no color still white. Burger was ok and Fish tacos ok a little bland. My husband had 2 captain and coke tall glass and I had Chambord on the rocks our bill was 79.83 with out tip.
Oh onion straws with the burger were good but our bartender/​server was told in front of us not to offer the onion straws anymore because the Chef doesn’t like to make them.
Really I am a Chef and we own or restaurant I would not except that behavior.
Chef Donna Benner

Just ok for dinner. Had the lobster mac and cheese and it was ok. Little bland. Steak was a bit gamey tasting
Very convenient but if not for that and staying in hotel I’d pass.

The food is good, but it’s SLIGHTLY overpriced but not enough to deter me from going back but what could prevent me from return is the hostess, she looked directly at myself and my companions and continued to put on her coat and leave. This forced us to seat ourselves and delayed our service for about ten minutes. Then a waiter realized that we were waiting on menus and drinks. Our waiter was very attentive and polite and it almost made up for the rudeness of the hostess. The atmosphere is very nice and peaceful.
Overall we enjoyed our meal. I would recommend the International Cheese Plate and the stuffed mushrooms, they were but delicious. We also had the olive tapenade which was HORRID and sour, this is coming from a lover of olives. I had the crown cheese burgher which was also excellent. One of my companions had the Asian Salad and enjoyed. For desert we split a STELLAR crème burlee.

Harrigan’s is the restaurant/​bar inside the Holiday Inn Johnstown. I stayed at the Holiday Inn recently when I was in town for a wedding and had a chance to visit Harrigan’s. For any of those who know me — I typically try to avoid hotel restaurants at all costs. But, when we got back to the hotel after the reception on Saturday night — we were looking for something to do and we really didn’t know the area so we went down to Harrigan’s.
We grabbed a couple of seats at the bar and were greeted by Tara who a fantastic bar-​tender/​waitress. She was very personable and pleasant and had a very positive outlook. My wife was looking at the cocktail menu (which was a bit over-​priced) when Tara volunteered that she could make my wife a «strawberry» based cocktail that wasn’t on the menu and was less expensive than what was on the menu. It was excellent and my wife really enjoyed it. We ordered a smoked salmon pizzette from the menu and it was also exceptionally good. There was another gal working at the bar (I didn’t get her name) but she was also very professional and personable.
The next morning, we went back to Harrigan’s for the breakfast buffet. It was decent and was reasonably priced at $ 9.95. The scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon were all well prepared although the french toast and the breakfast potatoes was less than great. They also had a nice bowl of cut-​up fresh fruit. The buffet price includes coffee and juice which makes it sort of a bargain since the coffee and juice are both several dollars each when ordered off the menu. Service at breakfast was also solid — although it was limited to coffee and juice service and the clearing of plates, etc.
When in Johnstown again — I’d go back to Harrigan’s.

Great atmosphere, but I’ll never go here to eat again. Horribly overpriced trash. Still worth showing up for adult beverages and live music.

If this was the fifties or sixties you would expect everyone to be elegantly attired in this stunning dining room with attached bar. Back then that was true as this a very old but recently remodeled hotel.
Today everyone is dressed in everything from a business suit to jeans and a t-​shirt but they are still enjoying the wonderful atmosphere.
So a few days ago I was the typical weary traveler that just checked in and was checking out the happy hour bar scene. I sat at the beautiful bar and ordered a moderately priced drink. I was interested in a light dinner so the competent bartender suggested something from the small plates menu and a salad might be appropriate.
I began by choosing the Olive Tapenade — with garlic, tomato, fresh herbs and parmesan crostini for $ 9. It was beyond excellent and beautifully plated. The crostini was served warm and the portion was substantial.
Next I ordered the Marinated Steak Salad — which came with grilled steak, romaine, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers for $ 14. It was delicious and so large that I couldn’t finish it. Those two dishes comprised an excellent meal.
The next night I stopped in later in the evening and enjoyed a pianist beautifully playing lite rock standards.
This venue is a nice change from the typical gastro pub scene that is so common these days and well worth a visit.

This restaurant is by far the best restaurant in Johnstown.
Visiting town today, I took my grandmother for lunch this afternoon. The restaurant was pretty dead, and they were able to accommodate our request for a table on the wine deck… it is more private and intimate, and I figured my grandmother would appreciate the tranquility and seclusion of it.
Reservations are not needed, but suggested, and I agree with that generalization. If you would like a specific table (ex Wine Deck or along the front Windows…) I would make a reservation to be safe. For Brunch, Dinner, and around the holidays, in general, this place can get busy.
My grandmother was in the mood for chicken alfredo and while it was not on the menu, the chef was able to accommodate the request. I did not have any (am lactose intolerant) but she said it was the best she’s ever had. Considering that she gets it practically everywhere we go, that means a lot coming from her! I believe it was $ 12.95, and they gave her a senior discount… only in Johnstown!
I ordered the 8 oz Filet Mignon medium-​well. It came out looking amazing; juicy, but thoroughly cooked. It was double cut (not butterflied) which is how I prefer and was served with a potato and a vegetable. I opted for french fries and to pass on the veggie, and was very satisfied with the fries-​not too salty, hot on the inside! The steak was amazing until I got about halfway through. There was a progression from medium well to medium to medium rare in about three bites. The waitress saw this without my even pointing it out and offered to take it back and have it finished up. I was very impressed that a) she remembered how I ordered by steak; and b) I didn’t even have to ask for the situation to be resolved. She scored huge points with this! The entire steak was delicious-​absolutely amazing no matter how it was cooked-​I enjoyed every bite. At $ 29.95, it was expensive for Johnstown, but rivals some of the best filets I’ve had from top steakhouses in Pittsburgh (Ruth Chris, Capitol Grille, Morton’s, Hyde Park, to name a few…) and well-​known locals in DC (Ray’s the Steaks, POV, J&G, The Palm).
We were so filled by the time we were done that we opted to take dessert to go. They did not have the dessert cart up (because it was New Year’s Eve) but our waitress recited its offerings from heart. We both took a slice of apple pie ($ 6.25) home. I am having mine as I write this review. It is good, but not great. My grandmother makes far better, and was quick to say so as she ate hers :)
So out the door, with drinks, tax and tip, the bill was $ 65, which is pricey for lunch in Johnstown, but don’t let that turn you off from here. Had I not ordered the most expensive (I think…) offering on the menu, 2 could easily have lunch here for $ 20-​$ 30.
I highly recommend this restaurant for an enjoyable dining experience.
We were so full

You have to do Sunday Brunch. The atmosphere is very nice and laid back. Every time I have gone in the have a nice little piano and Bass combo, just some cool cats. It is a very nice pub, that has a full bar.

Our table was perfectly situated one level up and off from the semi open lounge and piano bar. Our young and very personable, good looking waiter Jonathan, who comes from Delaware and ended up in Johnstown when his father’s job transferred him, was everything a server should be. He was very knowledgeable of the wines and bar menu, he was able to advise us as to what were some of the better choices from the dinner menu. He was attentive, charming, right on cue and his bright white smile, jet black hair and blue eyes could launch any ones heart into returning just to enjoy his service again.
They have an extensive martini and cocktail menu, my sister in law had a Cosmopolitan and I had a Dirty Martini, both of these were served in a very large chilled cocktail glass. They were seven dollars and change each and were 99% alcohol, powerful stuff and it made me realize once again how weak and over priced the drinks are in the area in which I live.
My brother in law had a glass of Shiraz while my sister in law had a Seven Daughter’s Syrah blend from California and I had an Italian chardonnay; Pio Cesare L’Altro Piedmont 2007. We were all very pleased with Jonathan’s recommendations and he was even kind enough to write them down for us.
Harrigan’s’ has a new tapas menu and it is the only one in town. We were all very excited about this, even though Jonathan was trying to tell us that for sharing we should consider ordering appetizers from the restaurant menu instead, we chose to go with the tapas menu anyway. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.
Our choices to share were the garlic shrimp which were five large «sauteed shrimp in a garlic olive oil, chipolte peppers and deglazed with brandy». Not even close, they were very bland with none of the flavors coming through and it was almost like they had quickly poached cocktail shrimp. The marinated sirloin beef and manchego cheese were both dry and uneventful. Last we had the crispy breaded white anchovies that were over fried and to the point where no anchovy taste came through at all, a very small portion.
The tapas were only served with a basket of rolls but we all agreed they were some of the best rolls we ever had and I enjoyed spreading the roasted garlic on mine. I would love to have the recipe for those rolls.
I was still stuffed from lunch and the tapas with two rolls pretty well filled me. The stiff over sized cocktail followed by the glass of wine wasn’t helping, plus Jonathan had brought me another full glass of wine that he thought I might like, three of us each had one sip and left the rest sit. I don’t think any of us can drink the way we used to.
I had a bowl of the lobster bisque with tarragon essence for my entrée, which was a large portion and quite good along with another roll I was happy. Hubby had the filet mignon and said it was one of the best steaks he has ever had and he normally does not order filet. My brother in law had the Chef’s Veal ravioli of the day and raved about them. My sister in law had the shrimp and crab newburg with mushrooms and gruyère cheese, I got to sample the newburg and it was prepared differently than I have ever seen, it was loaded with shrimp and crab, not heavy at all on the sauce and cheese and it was outstanding.
They had dessert and I snitched bites, I was still finishing my drinks and bisque. They ordered the pear cheesecake with homemade apple cinnamon ice cream, you know the pear cheesecake was good, but very subtle in pear flavor, the apple cinnamon ice cream was outrageous. I have a feeling my taste buds were drunk, the carrot cake was exactly the way I like it and the peanut butter and cream cheese pie was my favorite.
I give Jonathan five big stars, I give the restaurant and it’s menu four to five stars as well as the awesome wine list and the amazingly large potent cocktails. The food is fabulous, but skip the tapas here folks, it is not their forte.

By far the worst service I have ever received. The bartender was rude and obnoxious! Food was mediocre at best. Would not recommend to anyone, there are far better choices in Johnstown.