Life's a Peach - Carriage Inn

At my day job, a colleague who transplanted from California suggested I start a travel guide, predominately in the Pittsburgh area. He came up with the idea, and even the name.

I hope you're happy, Dillon, you started this.

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One of my favorite things to do after a pro wrestling show, is getting the meal afterwards.

I may not have worked a lot of shows, but I know what I like. Just a good steak, and mellow tunes on the way home.

Heck, I don't even have to work. Just get me to a show and get me a steak afterwards.

However, after wrestling shows, not a whole lot of shows are open. Sure you have you're usual fare. Diner chains, but I usually try to hold out for something nicer.

Except after IWC shows.

There's a small place called The Carriage Inn, located in Elizabeth, PA. About a three minute drive from IWC's home base of Court Time Sports. On Route 51, it's about 10 minutes off of the Elizabeth exit.

You've been to a place like this dozens of times. for a first date, a rehearsal dinner, nights out with friends. A place that's very familiar.

I haven't been to the Carriage Inn all at without wrestling involved, but I don't think they revolve their menu around it. A few times I went to order a steak and had to get something else instead. Which was fine by me.

Once, I order the loaded pierogies. It was a good meal, but it just didn't hit the nail on the head on what I was looking for. I'm particular about my pierogies anyways and these were pan-fried and overdone to my liking. I'm not going to knock a place for not reading my head, but these pierogies were certainly loaded with enough cheese, onions, bacon, and sour cream though.

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Also, the Carriage Inn had drink specials named after the talent. going over the notes I took for this, I can't believe I have this much to say on the matter, but here we go.

I thought the best on paper would have been the "Jax-on-the-Rox", a captain and sprite with grenadine named after Jaxon Argos. But the taste and sweetness of too much grenadine just seemed to overpower everything.

Jernny's Boss Bomb, a Red Bull and cherry vodka shot, named after co-owner of IWC Jenny Plummer was very tasty. Kind of makes me regret driving to the show.

I didn't try Bulk Nasty's "Bulk Nas-tea" because a "long island iced tea served with an angry face" just screamed "you're gonna get a DUI on the way home".

The real sleeper hit was "Jack Pol-Liquor", Jack Pollack's cocktail of fireball and ginger ale. I don't buy into the hype of fireball and I'll pass on it every time, but the proportions of both ingredients made the fireball palatable.

I did have issues with a few drinks. The Mane Event's Litty-Rita, a lime margarita named after the best tag team of all time (better than the Rock and Roll Express, Legion of Doom, Hardyz, Dudleys, Young Bucks. Don't @ me) and their mascot, Litty. This could have been ordered frozen or on the rocks, but it was served saltless, and on-the-rocks only. I didn't find out until later when they asked me if I wanted my Ray Cray Twerk-Tini (I can't believe I ordered a peach martini with a straight face) with salt on the rim. A martini with a salted rim. Really? Thanks for checking with me first. The twerk-tini (I may never call a peach martini a peach martini ever again) was also had too much vermouth.

Very chaotic that first after party with the drink specials, but things mellowed out at the second one. Unfortunately, the after party hasn't come back yet but if you want to try any of the drinks, you can ask for it if you describe it.

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Appetizers are typical for a place like this. Fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, and even a blooming onion. These come in large quantities and have good value. Plenty of sauces come with them and everything was cooked through. Those provide a great build up to the main event of the evening.

I order an 8 oz NY strip steak, medium, with a caesar salad, baked potato with butter, and broccoli.

The caesar salad started things off here. Absolutely text book. Fresh everything. Greens, croutons, Parmesan with a savory dressing.

The steak and the sides came in with little fanfare. The broccoli was served on another plate. I'm sure there was a reason why they did this, I refuse to knock a restaurant for plating, but the main plate was looking a little sparse.

The steak came in well-seasoned with good caramelization on the crust. However, it came in too rested and it was warm. The steak was also too rare for what I was looking for. Now, the broccoli was well prepared too with right amount of snap to it, but the potato had this dusting on it. I should have asked with this was, but it seemed like it was corn meal and other spices. I appreciate going for the gusto on a potato, but I also eat the skin and found that the skin with the season crust just made it way too difficult to eat.

The steak may have left something to be desired. I think I am still on the hunt for something that would knock my socks off, but you know what did floor me? The staff. The staff couldn't have been any nicer. Service was quick and drinks were never left empty. Absolutely what I am looking for there.

Plus, you can really get an idea of the cleanliness of kitchens by looking at their bathrooms. These bathrroms were finished, clean, and well-stocked. Nice work.

After supporting, an evening of local wrestling, going to a non-chain restaurant really is a no-brainer. A good show capped off with a good meal. A great way to decompress from a stressful week at work. It really is something I look forward to once a month.

Carriage Inn - 7.9 out of 10, will go back again

- Great staff, bar, value

- Entree left more to be desired