People Drive Over An Hour To Eat Pizza At This Unassuming Pennsylvania Restaurant Hidden Along A Country Road
A pizza place that started life as a soda fountain and roller rink? That’s the real backstory here, and it gets better from there.
The same family has run this spot since 1927. It later became a garden called Babe’s, and today it turns out wood-fired pies with names like the Tarantino and the OTC.
The building sits along a quiet country highway in western Pennsylvania.
You can watch the pizzas being made, and a wood-fired oven does the heavy lifting. I like how the place keeps its old bar charm instead of hiding it.
I believe the best food stops often look the most ordinary from the road.
So what makes a small roadside pizzeria worth an hour behind the wheel? The answer starts with a family, a building, and a very busy oven.
The Country Road Is Part Of The Adventure
Some pizza trips involve a parking garage and a long line.
This one involves a two-lane state highway rolling through western Pennsylvania countryside.
You’ll find the restaurant at 5733 PA-982, New Derry, PA 15671. It sits a little off the beaten path, which is part of the fun.
New Derry itself is a small Westmoreland County community. It was laid out in 1815 in the foothills of the Laurel Mountains, near Chestnut Ridge.
That means the drive comes with scenery as a bonus. Hills, farmland, and open sky make a pretty good appetizer before the actual appetizers.
The location also works well for travelers already in the area. Saint Vincent sits roughly 7 to 8 miles away, so a pizza stop fits nicely into a day trip.
Football fans visiting during Steelers training camp season might want to remember that. A wood-fired pie after watching practice sounds like a solid plan.
Plan your route with the hours in mind, though. This isn’t a late-night spot, and it stays closed on Sundays.
Showing up hungry to a dark building would be a sad way to end a scenic drive.
Nearly A Century Of Family History Lives Inside These Walls
Roller skates came before pizza peels at Ianni’s Pizzeria in New Derry.
Billy’s Grandpap built the building and opened it as a soda fountain and roller rink.
That was back in 1927, which makes this family business older than sliced bread in stores. Okay, close to it.
The point is that very few restaurants can trace their roots back this far.
Things shifted once Prohibition ended. The location picked up a liquor license and took on a new name, Babe’s.
Billy’s father took over the operation in the 1940s. Then Billy Johns himself stepped in during the 1970s and kept the family thread going.
Today, Paula and Billy Johns own the business. They oversee several Ianni’s locations in Pennsylvania, but New Derry is the original.
That detail matters when you plan a visit. Other spots carry the name, yet this building holds the whole story under one roof.
Think about how many owners usually pass through a restaurant in nearly a hundred years. Here, it has stayed in one family the entire time.
That kind of staying power doesn’t happen by accident, and it gives every slice a little extra backstory.
Old Bar Meets Farmhouse, And Somehow It Totally Works
Old wood, farmhouse touches, and a classic bar set the mood the moment you step inside.
The interior blends those styles into something that feels both rustic and a little trendy.
It makes sense, given the building’s long life as a gathering place. The bar still feels like a centerpiece, and plenty of folks call it beautiful.
The space is small and cozy rather than sprawling. A few TVs hang around the bar area, so catching a game while you eat is easy.
Families fit right in here too. The vibe stays relaxed and easygoing, the kind of place where nobody rushes you out the door.
Pay attention to the sounds as well. A steady hum of conversation fills the room, and on some evenings you may hear pool balls clicking in the background.
That mix gives Ianni’s a lively feel without tipping into chaos. It feels like a hometown hangout that happens to serve seriously good pizza.
Want a quieter meal? Earlier hours on weekdays may suit you better than a packed weekend night.
Either way, the room’s old character comes through loud and clear.
Grab A Seat Where You Can Watch The Pizza Magic
Dinner and a show, minus the ticket price. At Ianni’s Pizzeria, you can watch the crew build your pizza from start to finish.
That open view turns waiting into entertainment. Kids especially tend to love seeing dough stretched, sauce spread, and pies slide toward the fire.
The star of the show is the wood-fired oven. It cooks pizzas quickly, so the wait between ordering and eating often feels short.
Some of the prep happens right where guests can notice it. Cooks have been seen cutting chunks of cheese and shredding it by hand, which tells you a lot about the effort involved.
Here’s a tip for curious eaters. Ask about the pies that come out “extra toasty” if you like a deeper bake on your crust.
Watching the process also helps you appreciate the final product. Fresh ingredients look pretty different from the bagged stuff in a freezer aisle.
It’s a small detail, but it changes the whole visit. You’re not just ordering food from behind a wall.
You’re seeing the craft happen a few feet away, and that makes the first bite feel earned.
Wood-Fired Pies With Names You’ll Want To Say Out Loud
The Tarentino brings the heat with a spicy, garlicky personality.
Pizza lovers also chase the Rocket, the D’Matteo, the Rickey, and the boldly named OTC, short for Off the Charts.
Classic fans aren’t left out. A Margherita and a straightforward wood-fired cheese pizza hold their own on the menu.
What really sets these pies apart is the sauce situation. Different pizzas can come with different sauces, including a sweeter style that some guests love.
That variety keeps things interesting for groups. Order a few pies, share slices, and argue happily about which one wins.
Prefer to call your own shots? A create-your-own option lets you pick toppings when none of the specialties grab you.
Crust lovers should know about the thin wood-fired style as well. It gives you a lighter base while still showing off that oven char.
One budget-friendly heads-up: specials may vary between Ianni’s locations. Ask the New Derry staff about current promotions rather than assuming an offer advertised elsewhere applies here.
Bottom line? This menu rewards adventurous eaters.
Coming back to try a new pie each trip is a perfectly reasonable life goal.
Save Room For Hoagies, Soup, And That Famous Salad
Pizza gets top billing, but the supporting cast deserves applause.
The steak hoagie is one of the most popular items, and it’s known for being big.
Flatbread Italian hoagies offer another sandwich route. They make sense when someone in your group wants a break from slices.
Then there’s the homemade wedding soup. It comes loaded with meatballs, which is exactly how wedding soup should be.
Salad fans, pay attention. The large house salad comes with a homemade garlic red wine vinaigrette that people talk about almost as much as the pizza.
Personal-size salads are also an option. That’s handy if you want greens without committing to a giant bowl.
Appetizers round things out nicely. Homemade spinach artichoke dip with chips and breadsticks give you something to munch while the oven works.
About those breadsticks: they’ve been described as roughly the size of a medium pizza. Sharing isn’t just polite here.
It’s practically required.
A smart order for a group might look like this. One salad, one soup, a couple of pies, and a hoagie for the table.
Leftovers will likely ride home with you.
Friendly Service Is Baked Right Into The Experience
Great pizza gets people in the door. Kind service is what makes a small-town restaurant feel like home.
At Ianni’s Pizzeria, the staff earns steady praise for being friendly and attentive. Servers often walk first-timers through the menu and share their own favorites.
That guidance helps a lot here. With so many specialty pies and different sauces, a little advice can save you from decision overload.
Families with mixed tastes will appreciate the help too. Your server can point picky eaters toward simpler choices while bolder eaters go wild.
The overall feel stays casual and welcoming. Nobody expects you to dress up, and nobody seems in a hurry to flip your table.
Free glass water is listed on the menu, which is a nice touch. Fountain drinks, bottled water, juices, and teas round out the drink options.
One more tip from the family-run playbook: be patient during busy stretches. A small crew handles a lot of orders, especially on weekends.
Treat them well, and the whole visit feels warmer. It’s the kind of hospitality that keeps a family business going for nearly a century.
Evenings Here Can Come With A Soundtrack
Live music sometimes fills the room on evenings at Ianni’s.
It adds an easy, inviting energy to an already cozy space.
Picture a lively backdrop, not a loud concert. Conversation keeps flowing, and the music simply gives the night a little more personality.
Since the schedule can vary, check the restaurant’s social media before you go. That way, you can time your trip for a night with tunes if that’s your thing.
Outdoor seating offers another way to enjoy the atmosphere. On a mild Pennsylvania evening, eating wood-fired pizza in the fresh country air feels pretty great.
The building’s old roots make the whole scene fitting. This place started as a spot for people to gather and have fun, and that spirit still shows.
Weekends tend to bring the biggest crowds, especially on Friday and Saturday. Arrive earlier if you want an easier time snagging a seat.
Not into busy rooms? Takeout is always an option.
Still, if you can stay, an evening here gives you the full picture of what makes this little roadside spot special.
A Few Smart Tips Before You Hit The Road
Timing is everything when a restaurant sits this far out.
Ianni’s opens at 3 PM Monday through Friday and at 11 AM on Saturday.
It closes at 8 PM Monday through Thursday and at 9 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sundays are closed, so save your craving for another day.
Parking is convenient and right on site. No circling the block or feeding a meter, which is one perk of country dining.
Accessibility is covered too. The entrance, parking lot, restroom, and seating are all wheelchair accessible.
Choose how you want to enjoy your meal. Dine-in, takeout, and outdoor seating all work, so you can match the visit to your mood.
The numbers back up the hype as well. The restaurant holds a 4.8 rating on Google and a 4.9 on Facebook, and many call it the best pizza in Westmoreland County.
So is it worth an hour behind the wheel? With nearly a century of family history, a wood-fired oven, and that charming old bar, Pennsylvania pizza lovers have a strong case for yes.
Just bring a friend to share the breadsticks.