Take Your Holiday Guests Out to Dinner at These 4 Restaurants Hermitage, PA

The holiday season is upon us, meaning it’s time for celebrations with friends and family from all over the country. Thanks to various gatherings in December, many Hermitage residents find themselves hosting visitors from out of town, there to enjoy a cheerful, possibly snowy, Pennsylvania Christmas.

When you show them around town, make sure you take them out to some of the best places to eat in the area. This can also take some of the pressure off from cooking big meals every day. The following Hermitage restaurants are a treat for both locals and visitors, and they’re the best places to have a warm, cozy, and joyful night with your holiday guests.

Hickory Bar & Grille

Founded in 1998, the Hickory Bar & Grille has become a well-established institution in the Hermitage area and a local favorite. Customers appreciate the warm, rustic ambiance of the restaurant, especially during the chilly Pennsylvania winters.

The grill offers premium steaks and a great selection of top-tier beers on tap. For pescatarian or vegetarian guests, there’s also a large variety of seafood, salads, and other dishes on the menu that will meet their dietary needs. Finish up an indulgent meal with one of the many homemade desserts on offer.

If you’re hosting a big celebration, or taking out a large group of people, you can call ahead to book the restaurant’s private dining room. This lovely room can hold up to 30 people and give you some space to enjoy family time.

• Location: 1645 N. Hermitage Road, Hermitage.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

If you want to hang out and have a nightcap before heading home, keep in mind that the bar hours are extended on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m.

La Isla

If your family wants to try something a little different from the usual holiday fare, why not give the Mexican and Southwestern cuisine at La Isla a try? Stop into this family-friendly restaurant in Hermitage to enjoy Mexican classics like guacamole, tacos, and burritos. Be sure to try the delicious empanadas on the appetizer menu as well.

The restaurant has a bright, fun, and jovial atmosphere that makes it perfect for large groups of people, so you’ll feel comfortable bringing even your loudest friends and family here. If you’re in the mood, get some margaritas to accompany your meal for an authentic, fully Mexican cuisine experience. The service is incredibly friendly and top-rated among Hermitage locals.

• Location: 1800 E. State St., Hermitage.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

The Simple Greek

Is there anything more family-oriented and friendly than a Greek restaurant? Experience delicious food and plates you can customize yourself at The Simple Greek.

Unlike some other restaurants on the list, The Simple Greek is akin to elevated fast food, in the sense that it maintains delicious flavors while serving easy-to-create food to customers very quickly. This makes it a perfect spot to stop at when you’re in a hurry during the day.

At The Simple Greek, you can enjoy traditional Greek specials like gyro and salad, but with a twist. The twist is that you can build your own wrap or bowl, picking only the ingredients you want, to make sure you have the best snack possible. It’s a great place to take out of town guests for a quick lunch break when you’re on the go, running between various holiday activities, such as Santa visits and Christmas shopping.

• Location: 2431 E. State St., Hermitage.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Sunday.

Combine Brothers Bar & Grille

When you want to head out to eat with a large group of people and you’re all feeling very hungry, the Combine Brothers Bar & Grille is the place for you. Though the restaurant is known for its wonderful service and delicious dishes, it’s even more well-known for the size of its portions.

Customers love to visit and order large dishes for the table, as some of the portion sizes are truly out of this world and can easily be shared among multiple people. As far as the actual menu goes, it includes a wide variety of food, from salads to pastas and meats. The steak and pasta combo is always a winner for guests, as is the pesto pasta with shrimp. For an appetizer, try the meatballs.

In fact, even though the restaurant is a grill, it’s the Combine Brothers’ pasta dishes that are highly favored by regular customers. Don’t worry about what children in the group will eat, as the restaurant also offers a Just for Kids menu with simple dishes, such as spaghetti and meatballs and pizza bread

If you want to stay in for lunch or dinner but don’t feel like cooking for a large group of people, order something off the Industrial Sized menu. The dishes on this menu will easily serve 15 to 20 people and include many varieties of ziti (with meatballs, with sausage, with cheese, etc.) along with a large salad and homemade rolls.

• Location: 2376 South Hermitage Road, Hermitage.
• Hours: 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Now that we’ve shared our favorite restaurants in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, for dining with guests from out of town, contact us at #1 Cochran to let us know if you know of any other great local spots for big group meals, or anywhere else special that you like to take visitors. We love to hear from our customers and neighbors, and we might even include your suggestion in a future post about our wonderful area of Youngstown, Ohio, and beyond.

In the Restaurant by Susanne Nilsson is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0