Signature Dish: French onion soup a perennial hit at Oliver’s Pourhouse in Greensburg
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This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com.
French onion soup is often thought to be a cold-weather staple, but that’s not the way it works at Oliver’s Pourhouse in Greensburg.
“Our customers order it in the dead of winter and the heat of summer,” said manager Matt Nicolazzo. “They don’t care about the temperature; they want it all the time.”
The recipe was developed by the restaurant’s former executive chef Keith Dunlap, who now plies his skills at Robokyo Hibachi Express in Wexford, also owned by Pourhouse owners Roy and Natalie Bodnar, along with Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi in Hempfield.
“He didn’t care for the wine in French onion soup, so he figured out a recipe without it,” Nicolazzo said.
Current chef Zach McLean has “continued the excellence” by tweaking the soup recipe, he added.
For $5, customers get the traditional ceramic crock of soup made with yellow onions simmered in a beef broth. The soup is layered with croutons, topped with provolone cheese and then oven-baked.
“A lot of people come in for it, and everything else on the menu is secondary,” Nicolazzo said. “Some customers, when they sit down, we know that 99% of the time, that’s what they’re gonna order.”
The soup is even labeled “Signature French Onion Soup” on the menu.
Describing Oliver’s other offerings, Nicolazzo said, “They call it gastropub, but I call it upscale bar food with the typical burgers and fried food.”
Appetizers include dips, fresh-cut fries and homemade potato chippers, chips and salsa and nachos. Salad options include chicken, steak and salmon toppings. The sandwich selection includes another customer favorite, the “Big Ass Beer-Battered Fish Sandwich” for $13.
Oliver’s Pourhouse reopened in late May after a 14-month pandemic closure.
The owners took advantage of the shutdown to do some renovations, including installing a new bar top and kitchen floor and wall panels. They also painted and added some new accessories.
“Our goal is to give you a comfy cool atmosphere with good beer, stiff drinks and quality kick-ass food,” they say on the website.
Oliver’s Pourhouse (8 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg) is open 3-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Call 724-836-7687 or go to oliverspourhouse.com.