Back Door Cafe

I have wanted to take my fiancee there for a long time, and finally bit the bullet and did it. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time, and probably the best I've had in the Johnstown/Altoona area. You could tell everything was FRESH. Not pre-packaged, not frozen. Fresh basil and rosemary. Real hand picked wild mushrooms. Fresh homemade pasta. Real cream, real butter.

We started out with some excellent, unusual and reasonably priced drinks. We both sarted with the Wild Mushroom Soup, which was wonderful. Fresh wild mushrooms, rich chicken stock, shallots, white wine and cream. Yum. For entrees, my girl had the roasted chicken, which was topped with an unusual and very tasty kind of corn and mushroom salsa/sauce. You could taste the brick oven flavor all the way through it. I had Fresh Basil Fettuccini with sea scallops. The pasta was homemade, and infused with basil, with a handful of good sized sea scallops (cooked perfectly tender, not overdone and rubbery), in a mildly spicy marinara sauce, with a good sized garnish of fresh basil for me to tear up and mix in. I left the plate practically clean! We had a wonderful fresh creme brulee for dessert, nicely carmelized on top.

As I said, this was one of the best meals we have had in a long time. Was it cheap? No, but it wasn't outrageous, either. About $70 for an excellent three course meal, and four cocktails. I thought it was actually pretty good value for the quality of the food, the intimate setting, and the fine service. It certainly won't be our last time there!

A group of 4 of us met up for the Working Women's Wednesday happy hour. We found great prices on appetizers and drinks and had a great time! The food and drinks (especially the martinis) were tops. For about $30 each we had multiple drinks and ordered one of EVERY appetizer on the menu! It was well worth the trip. This is one of the best restaurants in the greater Johnstown area. Do check it out.

Great food! Great Martini's! Great atmosphere! The owners and staff are always a delight. I strongly recommend trying this place out if you are looking for an extraordinary experience!!!!!