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Food & Drink

Home-style is always on the menu at Creekside Diner

Joyce Hanz
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Photos: Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Beer-battered fish dinner ($8.29) is one of the authentic diner entrees at Creekside Diner in Washington Township.
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Photos: Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Creekside Diner along Route 66 in Washington Township, open since 1983, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring homemade classic diner fare.
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Photos: Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Coconut cream is just one of the pies baked daily at Creekside Diner in Washington Township.
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Photos: Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Salad ($7.99) with Mandarin oranges, grapes, red onions, pecans, Feta cheese with spring greens is one of the salads featured at Creekside Diner in Washington Township.
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Photos: Joyce Hanz | For the Tribune-Review
Creekside Diner owner/baker Melissa Crawford (left) with staffers Tiffany Brank, Barbie Hill and Lisa Brank.

William Buchholz, 93, of Kiski Township likes to keep his kitchen clean.

By dining out.

The on-the-go senior visits Creekside Diner along Route 66 in Washington Township daily for his lunch and dinner.

“I like to order whatever’s on the menu,” Buchholz says. “I like all of the food here, especially the house omelet.”

You’ll find plenty of faithful customers at Creekside, in business under various ownership since 1983.

And, while the creek view is long overgrown and gone, the traditional diner fare has remained.

Current owner Melissa Crawford bought Creekside, formerly known as Charlie’s, 14 years ago, seeking a business option that would balance with her family/home life.

“My concept is to make Creekside a homey atmosphere,” Crawford says.

An avid baker, Crawford bakes specialty pies, breads and cakes daily at Creekside.

“Customers tell us that we are one of the only places they can go to get home-style cooking,” Crawford says. “We make as much food as we can from scratch.”

Breakfast gets top billing at Creekside, and you can order it until 6 p.m.

Omelets, hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and homemade signature buttermilk hotcakes, French toast and waffles are popular—with Pecan French Toast ($5.49) and Double Blueberry Pancakes ($6.29) offering twists on the traditional.

Smaller portion dinners are available, like the one-piece Meatloaf Dinner ($6.99) or the half-portion of spaghetti with one meatball ($6.25.)

“We are known for our big portions and low prices,” Crawford says. “I just love that we have some of the same people coming in every day.”

It’s casual at Creekside — with booth, table and stool seating offering a comfy dining experience. There’s one room tucked away that can accommodate larger parties.

Ask your server for the daily pie/cake list and choose your slice ($2.50.)

“I make the pies daily — apple, blackberry, cherry, lemon, coconut (one of our most popular) and chocolate cake — everyone loves that one,” Crawford says.

Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com

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