New restaurant owner Billy Rugh has a straightforward philosophy: if he has his own restaurant, he can serve up the kind of meal that he would like to have.
Judging by the Black Bull Saloon's menu, that includes gourmet French fries, thick hamburgers and plenty of steaks.
“Before, you had to travel for a good steak,” Rugh said. “I figured I'd bring a good steak to this area.”
The Dayton steak house at 9369 Route 85 – formerly the Shannock Valley Tavern – opened a month ago. It's menu features a 22-ounce cowboy cut bone-in rib eye steak, along with everything from salmon in lemon tarragon wine sauce to wedge salads to French fries sprinkled with truffle salt.
The Black Bull opens for breakfast at 5 a.m. and serves up appetizers at its bar until closing time — which is 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
“A lot of people have thanked us for doing this, saying the area needed a place like this,” said Rugh, a Punxsutawney resident and member of the Dayton Fair Board.
Head Chef Sarah Nagy worked in restaurants in Kittanning, Manor and Ligonier before jumping at the chance to join Rugh's crew.
“When I spoke to Billy I was able to get a taste of what he wanted to do in the kitchen. I found out it's actually what I'm used to doing,” she said.
Nagy said she likes the fact that the restaurant's steaks are never frozen and that she gets to come up with a different special every weekend. She also likes the fact that this is her first head chef gig.
“It's different, but it's exciting,” Nagy said. “I've heard a lot of compliments, so it makes me feel good.”
Restaurant manager Rebecca Troutman said the restaurant has received a warm reception from patrons since opening Aug. 3.
“It has been amazing,” she said. “Before noon, we're steady. And Thursday through Sunday, we're the busiest. I love bringing something new to our area.”
While the steak house may be something new, its owner is already planning an expansion to bring back some of its building's past. With a nod to the near-century-old building's history as a dance hall, Rugh would like to remodel the space to include room for bands.
“As soon as I walked in, I loved the place,” Rugh said, noting that the building's interior – from its wood paneling to its antiques – fit his own style.
He wants to learn more of the building's history, and, from the sounds of it, is well on his way. Earlier this week, a 102-year-old man stopped in with his two daughters because he heard the business changed hands. He and his daughters reminisced about an earlier incarnation of the spot – which he used to deliver kegs of beer to about five decades ago. His daughters recalled swinging back and forth on the stools around the horseshoe-shaped bar.
“I love history and antiques, so to hear stories like that, it's intriguing to me,” Rugh said.
Julie E. Martin is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1315 or jmartin@tribweb.com.
