Enjoy the warmth, charm, and fine cuisine that has made The Back Porch one of the area’s favorite restaurants. Since 1975 The Back Porch restaurant, on the western bank of the Monongahela River in Lower Speers PA, has occupied one of the oldest buildings in western Pennsylvania.
Henry Speers Jr. originally purchased the land called the “Speers Intent” around 1785. Here, in the year 1806, he built his home next to a young Sycamore tree near the river. The house was constructed using local stone and river sand to make bricks formed by hand and baked on the property. The brickwork is still visible today in the dining rooms.
Diligence and hard work brought prosperity to Speers, who operated ferry routes across the Monongahela, where cattle, driven from the western territories, crossed the river on the long journey east to Pittsburgh.
Henry Speers died in 1840, and the home was handed down through several generations of his descendants before finally being sold and then abandoned for years.
During the Civil War years, the old Speers’s home is said to have been used as a stop on the Underground Railroad that carried runaway slaves north to freedom. Rumors carry on to this day of a secret tunnel from the basement of the home to the riverbank, used by slaves for quick escape from bounty hunters.
In 1972, Joseph Pappalardo acquired the home and began a three-year restoration that ended on Valentines Day 1975 when The Back Porch Restaurant opened its doors to the public.
Today, the young sycamore that Henry Speers built his estate next to stands tall as a reminder of the proud history of the Speers Intent, carried on by the Pappalardo family. The Back Porch Restaurant preserves the beauty and history of the Speers Intent while providing a relaxing atmosphere and delectable fine foods.
Address: 114 Speers Street, Belle Vernon PA 15012
Phone: 724-483-4500 724-483-4500 Fax: 724-483-9133
Dress Code: Business Casual
Owner: 1st and 2nd Generation Pappalardo Famiily
Cuisine: American Cuisine
Hours:
Lunch 11:30 Tuesday – Friday 2:00 Saturday
Dinner 4:00 - 9:00 Tuesday – Sunday
Bistro 4:00 - 9:00 Tuesday – Sunday (lower level bar with both casual dining and regular dining menu)
*We are closed on Monday
Reservations:
Accepted by phone for both lunch and dinner. You may make a reservation by calling 724-483-4500 after 11:00 am
Parking: On premise
Credit cards: VISA, Master Card, American Express, and Discover
Bar: Full bar with an excellent international and domestic wine selection
Corkage: $15.00 per 750 ml. We will gladly waive one corkage fee for every bottle purchased from our list.
Gift Certificates: Available by phone. A perfect gift for any occasion in the amount of your choice.
* Special offer on bulk gift certificate orders, save 10% on orders over $1000
