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Dining & Nightlife - Altoona and Vicinity

Local Favorites

Texas Hot Dogs
The standard dog is a normal sized hot dog loaded with diced onions and a mild chile sauce with mustard. The term for this configuration is “with everything”. If you want ketchup, too, it would be “everything plus ketchup”. For the complete experience, order your dogs and a chocolate milk. There are three Texas Hot Dog locations, one at Del Grosso Amusement Park in Tipton, one in downtown Altoona, and one in the Eldorado section of Altoona near “the Mall”. At one time, all three locations were under the same management, but now each is operated independently. Downtown Altoona is the original location and it still has the look and feel of a bygone era.
1122 Twelfth Avenue
Altoona
814-942-6381

101 Fifty-Eighth Street
Altoona
814-942-9992

Del Grosso Amusement Park
Business Route 220
Tipton
814-684-5807
(Don’t let the amusement park address scare you off. It’s easy to get in and out.)

Dino’s Pizza
Great pizza from real Italian immigrants. The thin crust is the local favorite, but other varieties are available. Located on the second floor Patio Food Court in the Logan Valley Mall (“the Mall”) in Altoona. The mall is small, so getting in and out is easy. The closest parking is on the top level of the parking garage, but you won’t be far no matter where you park.
510 Logan Valley Mall #916
Altoona
814-940-8447

Meadow’s Frozen Custard
A real treat as far as ice cream goes. Actually, it’s frozen custard, but whatever you call it, it can’t be beat. Butterscotch sundae with wet walnuts . . . NICE! There are two Meadow’s locations, one on Business Route 220 in the Greenwood section of Altoona, and the original location at the intersection of Business Route 220 (Plank Road) and Juniata Street in Hollidaysburg. This location has more atmosphere than the Altoona location. It has a 1950s charm, especially on summer nights, with outside seating, neon signs, and lots of young people.
1393 Old Route 220 North
Hollidaysburg
814-695-0035

1420 East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
Greenwood
814-946-8784

Lena’s Café
Excellent home style preparation of American style (not spicy) Italian pasta. The homemade spaghetti noodles are a favorite, but you have to ask for them specifically, i.e., “spaghetti with homemade noodles”. Nothing special about the atmosphere or service, but the food is excellent. Lena’s can be crowded on Friday and Saturday nights between 6:00 and 7:30 PM. Located in Altoona at 8th Avenue and 20th Street. Take 6th or 7th Avenue and go west at 20th Street.
2000 Eighth Avenue
Altoona
814-943-9655