Obscure Watering Holes - The Rowdybuck Roadhouse

Tom Thew, Professional Restaurant critic

Should you be planning to make a trek across Pennsylvania, you might want to consider stopping at the Rowdybuck Roadhouse. Located off the Donegal exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this little hidden gem of a bar/restaurant is quite the experience for any person from a civilized area.

Let us start with the entrance to the bar. As you walk through the door, you notice it is guarded by the Antlers of a once Mighty Buck, that apparently had been harvested by one of the locals. To an outsider this may seem a bit strange, but to these locals it’s all part of the décor. The lighting is also unique and seems to set itself apart from any normal lighting fixtures. Anyone who questions why one would decorate a lamp with deer antlers probably does not belong in this bar.

As you continue to walk up the stairs to the main Bar, you notice other animals that had unknowingly given there life in order to become loyal patrons of the Rowdy Buck Roadhouse. A beaver sits along a stream while a Mountain Lion sits above apparently watching to make sure nobody gets out of line.

If you can get past the entrance way you will notice a good size bar with a pleasant bar staff that is eager to serve you. The beer that they serve on draft had a few surprises, as most would expect this bar to only serve Budweiser. Yuengling Lager, Hoegarden, and Troegs were some of the better beers on tap at the Rowdy Buck. Of course being a Pittsburgh area bar they are obligated to serve the swill called Iron City.

If you are interested in dining at the “Rowdybuck” I would suggest you make reservations. Yes, something entitled "Rowdybuck" will take reservations. However, if you are from a semi-urbanized area you may want to be specific as to where you want to be seated. Your reservation might go something like....."I'd like to make a reservation for 4 people on Friday at 7:30. I would NOT like to be seated near the dueling deer heads, the enormous elk head, the deer skins hanging on the wall, nor next to any full size stuffed moose head."

The food at the Rowdy Buck was ok, but you might want to stick with the appetizers as this is by no means a five star restaurant. The appetizers consisted of the usual bar food of wings, cheese sticks nachos and chips. I decided to go with the chips which turned out to be fresh thin cut potato slices deep fried and served with Ranch dressing. This was a delectable surprise and turned out to be the best food of the night. I would rather not harp on the rest of the food, because as most of the locals would tell you, this is a place to go for drinks and socializing rather than food.

I am sure that many people have stopped at the Rowdy Buck on there way across the state of Pennsylvania, whether it be for a meal or a quick six pack for the last part of the journey to Pittsburgh. If you have not, I would suggest you put it on your list of things to do as this bar is truly unique. One bar patron probably put it best in saying “the Rowdy Buck is to ‘special’ for words.”