The Arena Restaurant & Lounge

The previous reviewer wasn’t impressed. There are 3 restaurant options on the connector between I76 and I99. Actually there were 3, the Arena is now closed. Have to imagine it couldn’t have been to good if it couldn’t survive against limited competition just off the highway.

I’ve never been overly impressed with the Arena, which has been around for more years than I can remember, but every few years or so, I give them another chance. Maybe because it has been a local staple for years or it is the very friendly and mature staff, who you feel you’ve known forever.
The house specialty is prime rib and you can even have it thinly sliced and served on a roll with au jus or on top of a salad. I’ve mentioned in past reviews, you are in the heart of black Angus farms, so you can be assured their steaks and roasts are top quality, however knowing how to cook it is another subject.
They have a vast selection of home cooked meals, like rotisserie chicken, meatloaf, a roast turkey dinner, braised beef liver, spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna. I certainly have not tried it all, but most of it is mediocre at best and when you serve it with crappy mashed potatoes, yet have outstanding gravy, it’s a forgettable experience.
They have a wide selection of seafood, their fish fry on Friday’s is good, I need to try their crab cakes or do I? They have a wide selection of popular sandwiches and the patty melt, burger and Reuben are the way to go.
This time around we popped in on a Sunday, late morning, right before getting on the turnpike. We could have ordered anything from the lunch or dinner menu, but we chose the all you can eat Sunday brunch buffet @$ 14.50. The cream of broccoli soup was loaded with chunks of fresh broccoli, but thin and bland, no cheese. The steamed shrimp were the tiniest shrimps I have ever seen and over cooked to mush for the most part, I thought they used this size in cat food.
The salad bar was okay, no bleu cheese ;+{ with the usual tossed greens and additions galore to add on. The house made salads were not very good at all from the potato salad to the macaroni salads, I think they used the same bottled dressing for all of these and they were all over dressed. The pickled eggs and beets were good and the assortment of hard cheese and spreads was the highlight for me.
I do not know who makes their loaves of bread but they were outstanding, especially with some mustard and a thick slice of cheddar. Fresh fruits were on the salad bar, grapes, melons as well as cling peaches and cottage cheese. The hot buffet held bacon, sausage patties, scrambled eggs and home fries, They had chaffing pans filled with baked lasagna and baked chicken, both were good enough, but the ham and turkey slices left a lot to be desired.
The dessert table was the real winner with homemade blackberry pie, loaded with fresh whole berries and a flaky crust, the lemon meringue was piled high with both filling and meringue and had a wonderful lemon tartness to it. The piled high coconut cream was good and they had an assortment of home baked cookies and sheet cakes.
Their Attitude Adjustment Hours (happy hours) in their attractive and large lounge is Wednesday and Friday’s with drink specials and they do have a bar menu. Music includes live jazz, bluegrass, oldies and soft rock with a pianist or a guitarist. A 16 year old crooner is making his start here and he has a lot of energy and a ton of talent, makes you almost want to buy the kid a drink. I’m kidding folks!
I know I’ll be back and not for the best food in town, but I just will. 2.5 stars. wheelchair accessible.