Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. While off on a Saturday afternoon adventure in Harmony, my son and I found a great spot to stop for lunch nearby. The Log Cabin Inn, located just north of Cranberry is a 160 year old log cabin nestled in a wooded valley on Rt. 19. What first struck me was that at three in the afternoon on a Saturday, the parking lot was already crowded! The Log Cabin Restaurant is definitely a popular place with locals, and a growing number of the 'destination' crowd.
The Scene
Walking in the front door, the first sense is that of walking into a friend’s rustic cabin. The warmth of what appears to be the original log walls coupled with warm lighting immediately takes away the stress of the day. What I found interesting is that the Log Cabin Inn’s attitude can change to meet your needs – romantic couples whispering in a booth, a table of 10 guys talking about their outdoor adventures, three ladies out for an afternoon get together, and a family with young children all were at ease in the Log Cabin Inn’s inviting atmosphere.
The Food
The food at the Log Cabin Inn is simply excellent. We started with their calamari appetizer. Somehow our whole family feels calamari is one of the ‘staples’ of dining, and we’ve sampled this at many restaurants. Here it was prepared just the way we like it - calamari with just enough breading to add flavor and texture. For lunch, we asked our waiter what he recommended and he suggested the Prime Rib Sandwich and the Seafood Alfredo. We tried both. The Log Cabin Prime Rib Sandwich was piled high with tender cuts of excellent prime rib with a tasty au jus. But my favorite was the Seafood Alfredo. I’m usually disappointed with many alfredo sauces because they taste too much like macaroni and cheese. But the Log Cabin’s Alfredo sauce is an explosion of tastes and flavors that I’ve not tasted elsewhere. Whatever they put in it – well worth sampling. The scallops, shrimp, and clams were tender and cooked just perfectly.
Great for Younger Diners
For the younger diners, The Log Cabin Inn has finally figured out that while many children like the staples of grilled cheese, macaroni & cheese, chicken fingers, and corn dogs, there are also more adventurous childen who prefer junior portions of house specialties. The Log Cabin Inn offers a nice selection of "Junior Meals," including Haddock Fillet, Chicken Parmesan, Shrimp-Your-Way (5 shrimp served crispy coated, broiled, or scampi style in garlic butter), and what they call "Kids Cubs" (twin steak medallions grilled to perfection). My son had the Haddock Fillet with a side salad. Both were borderline full adult portions (much to the delight of my son who, while is only 9, loves seafood). The Haddock was lightly battered and very flavorful.
Enjoy the Scenery
The Log Cabin Inn also sports a large deck that overlooks the woods that is serene and peaceful - an especially place to stop and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery. While in the area, consider checking out the historic town of Harmony with one of the best collections of log cabins in western Pennsylvania!
The Log Cabin Inn
430 Perry Highway
Harmony, PA 16037
www.springfields.com/lci_files/logcabininn.html
