Bel-vue fish earns repeat customers

BY GREG WILLIAMS Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

REEDSVILLE – If you want good and hearty American food designed to hit the spot, the Bel-Vue Inn in Reedsville is worth the trip, or maybe two.

“We are passionate about making food that has substance to it, try our mouthwatering desserts,” the owners state on restaurant review website. “We don’t skimp on anything, and we ensure your food is perfectly made.”

That’s not a news flash. The Bel-Vue Inn has been making food and feeding diners this way for years.

“Love the small-town friendly atmosphere,” one said after a particular visit. “Excellent service and care for the customers.”

And then there was the food, which also drew rave reviews.

“A great out-of-the way place to eat, with great food and service,” another patron said. “We stopped by for dinner and had veal parmesan, stuffed flounder and a bowl of their great bean and bacon soup. They offer a multitude of sides, and we selected a tossed salad, spaghetti and creamy slaw.

“All was fresh, tasty and perfect,” they added. “Can’t say enough about this great place to eat. We’ve been here before and always make it a point to stop here when we’re traveling in the area. We highly recommend it and give it a grade of A+.”

There’s also their customary fish and chips. The perfect entrée for “good food, good friends, good setting for a get together of friends.” The chips are thinly-sliced potatoes.

Another patron also chose the fish and chips, saying, “I ordered the fish and chips as it was it was the house special. .... My husband ordered a burger, and it was cooked to perfection.”

The Bel-Vue has remained a tradition at all hours of the day. The lunch and dinner crowds sometime mix.

One patron said, “We stopped for a late lunch –about 3 p.m. – on a Friday. By the time we left the place was packed. Our waitress was quick and attentive. I ordered the beef vegetable soup which was excellent with big chunks of beef. I ordered the pickled egg and red beet. It was average. My grilled chicken sandwich was great ... freshly cooked on a brioche-type bun and cus- tomized as I wanted with no problems.

“My husband had the ham and bean soup, which was fine and a BLT which was good. Now the best part –their homemade coconut meringue pie, which was out of this world. We will definitely stopw when we are in the area,”

The Bel-Vue has gained a reputation as a cozy, back country restaurant, which it has come to embrace. The menu features food that is basic Pennsylvania rural, like fish and chips, but the portions are on the hearty side.

“This restaurant has pretty much the same appearance and mood as it did 30 years ago,” an online reviewer said. “But why would it change? It has what it has, and no change of any kind is needed.”

Family Recipes

We asked readers to submit “Grandma’s Best” or other family recipes that bring back nostalgic memories. Here are a selection of those submissions. We also drew a random winner to receive a $50 Sal-lee’s restaurant gift certificate and the winner was Kathy Reed of Lewistown.