Valentour's Italian restaurant moves to Sturgeon

From Sicily to Johnstown to South Fayette

Couple moves Valentour's Italian restaurant to Sturgeon neighborhood

By Andrea Iglar

When people ask John Tummino what region of Italy he cooks from, he says Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

That’s because he learned to make Italian food from his Sicilian grandparents, Joe and Rose, who lived in that city, 70 miles east of Pittsburgh, when he was growing up.

For about three years, John and his wife, Elaine Tummino, ran Valentour’s Family Restaurant and Pub in McDonald Borough.

John and Elaine Tummino prepare for the day in the dining room of Valentour's Family Restaurant and Pub in South Fayette.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

In February, they said “piacére” (a pleasure to meet you) to South Fayette Township, where they reopened their Italian eatery in the former Lemon Tree Lounge, a log cabin-style building in the Sturgeon neighborhood.

While its location has changed, the restaurant continues to serve a variety of family-inspired homemade recipes for sauce, gnocchi, meatballs, stuffed peppers and more. All dishes are made to order.

The Tumminos aim to provide not only homemade food but also a homey feel.

“It’s the food and the experience we’re pushing, not get in, get out,” John said. “Here it’s meant to be slow, calm, eat at your own pace.”

John Tummino's grandparents, Rose and Joe Tummino, were born in Sicily and lived in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He learned Italian cooking from them.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

The Tumminos, who live in Mt. Pleasant, Washington County, had met when they worked at Mariani’s Italian Restaurant (now McClelland’s Public House) on Millers Run Road in the Cuddy neighborhood of South Fayette.

After working in the restaurant business for many years, the couple decided to open their own place, with John running the kitchen and Elaine operating the front of the house.

“It’s just a nice feeling of coming in and you know that this is your place and people are coming to see all of us,” Elaine said.

Many customers also come to see Luigi, the chef mascot who frequently appears on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Chef mascot Luigi greets guests at Valentour's.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

The restaurant is named for the Valentour family that historically owned the building where the eatery originally opened in McDonald. The Tumminos kept the name when they moved.

The South Fayette location, with plentiful parking, sits along the Panhandle Trail, opposite mainstay family restaurant Hunner’s Pizza and Restaurant—creating more food options for trail users, visitors and local residents.

“We’re proud to be next to Hunner’s because they’re a quality place, and hopefully we help each other out,” John said.

Valentour's is located in a log cabin-style building along the Panhandle Trail in the Sturgeon neighborhood.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Valentour’s offers a full bar and Italian-focused menu of appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees and desserts.

Some of Valentour’s most popular dishes include the spicy Harlot Pasta, blackened chicken Alfredo, a pesto-based chicken and broccoli, and Pasta Valentour, which includes a rustic homemade Alfredo that uses butter, wine and Parmesan rather than heavy cream.

Elaine said the neighbors in Sturgeon have been welcoming, and John said he looked forward to being a good neighbor in return.

“It’s already a nice neighborhood,” John said. "We want to keep it that way, and we want to make sure that they can be proud of having us here."

Valentour's includes a full bar to complement the Italian menu.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Valentour’s serves dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To-go ordering is available.

Valentour’s Family Restaurant and Pub: 400 Arlington Ave., South Fayette 15082; 724-926- 2041; Facebook @valentours110; valentoursrestaurant.com.