Latrobe's family-owned Hotel Loyal Pizza has a 'Cheers' vibe
When they answer the phone at Hotel Loyal Pizza in Latrobe, they just say, “Hotel.” It isn't a hotel anymore, and it offers a lot more than just pizza, but it's been a neighborhood fixture for so long that customers know they have the right place.
It's been in the same family since 1953, when the grandparents of current owner John Migyanka took over a building dating to the late 1800s.
Ownership passed to Migyanka's parents and aunt and uncle in 1964, and he bought the business in 1999.
The ground floor houses a combination bar and restaurant. The hotel that occupied the upper floor closed in the late 1990s, and the space is now used for storage.
The bar has that “Cheers”-style aura of a place where the owner and employees, if not everyone, knows your name. The old-school dark-wood paneling, covered with neon beer signs and generations of family photos, gives a comforting sense of familiarity.
The full bar boasts a large selection of bottled beers, with Straub Amber and Lager on tap. Beer also is sold by the six-pack.
Given that Migyanka's grandparents, John and Mary Riggi, came from the old country in 1927, the menu skews toward the Italian.
“A lot of the recipes came from my grandmother and from what my mom used to make,” says Migyanka, 66.
While there are plenty of casual-dining options, he says, “Our main calling card has always been pizza, and the most popular is the pepperoni. Everyone goes for that.”
Employee Sharon Kobistek has been preparing the pizza dough for more than 20 years. Thick or thin crust is $5.49 for a four-cut, $7.59 for an eight-cut and $12.25 for the 15-cut. Cost for the traditional array of toppings varies by size.
For specialty pies, Buffalo chicken and Philly Angus steak are top sellers, with white, taco, pierogi, chicken and broccoli also available.
Starters coming out of cook Mike Sevacko's kitchen include the standard deep-fried veggies, nachos and chicken tenders. Big appetites can spring for the Hotel Sampler, a platter of fried ravioli, green pepper rings, zucchini planks, chicken tenders, shrimp, cheese balls, mushrooms and onion rings for $16.99.
Migyanka's special sweet-hot wings are a customer favorite: “I know that, because I make the sauce.”
Other flavors are Cajun, dry spice, honey mustard, BBQ, garlic parmesan, Hot and XXX Hot. All are $5.45 for five pieces or $9.45 for 10.
A garden salad is $4.25 for small or $5.55 for large; a chef, steak or chicken-topped salad is $8.59. An eight- to 10-serving tossed salad with Italian and ranch dressings and breadsticks is $19.59.
Wraps, burgers and hot sandwiches come with cole slaw and fries. Subs are $5.95 for an 8-inch and $8.25 for a 12-inch.
Though Migyanka says Hotel is “not really a dinner place,” he does offer early-bird dinner specials from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Choices are chicken leg, breast and thigh ($5), meatloaf ($6) or roast beef ($7). Each comes with a choice of mashed potatoes or fries and cole slaw or salad.
To satisfy the kiddos, there are boneless wings, mini-burgers, chicken tenders and shrimp, each served with fries for $5.25. Recent additions to the kids' menu are Mac-n-Cheese Bites with fries or ravioli and cheese sticks, each $4.99.
There's no dessert menu for a good reason, Migyanka says.
“We just don't have much call for it. When they're done eating, they're full. They're taking food home.”
Simple and satisfying has worked for the family-run Hotel for 63 years. Will it continue when Migyanka, 66, is ready to retire? His daughters pitched in during their high school and college years, but both have pursued other careers.
Grandson Noah Ankney, 15, works some weekends in the kitchen, and granddad says he works hard, is well-liked by the other employees and seems to enjoy it.
“I'd like to say he'll stay, but, right now, I'd say he's mostly here for the money,” Migyanka says.
Hotel Loyal Pizza, 615 Ligonier St., Latrobe, is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Details: 724-537-3741 or facebook.com/Hotel-Loyal-Pizza
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5750 or smcmarlin@tribweb.com.
