Shortstop dishes cozy, warm feel
What is a pecan ball?
Order one at the Shortstop Inn Restaurant on Neshannock Avenue in downtown New Wilmington and a waitress emerges with a ball of ice cream rolled in pecans and dipped in hot fudge or caramel.
The unique dessert is a popular choice, but restaurant owner Carol Short says desserts like rice pudding and bread pudding are most popular.
Now in its 20th year of business, the casual dining restaurant offers home-style favorites like meatloaf, chili and Reubens on Tuesdays through Sundays.
On weekends, breakfast begins at 8 a.m.
The restaurant features a casual dining room, decorated with family photos and local art, and a more formal dining room with a floral décor, used for customers with reservations.
Dinner specials and desserts are listed on large blackboards in the main dining room.
The restaurant was the business venture of Short and her husband Raymond, who died a year ago.
Short calls the success of the business simply "a blessing."
The menu developed over the years reflects Short's home-style favorites. She said her husband's confidence in using herbs and spices has also helped add to many of the recipes.
Though New Wilmington residents frequent the inn, Short said many of her regulars travel from Butler, Greenville and Pittsburgh for chicken divan, stuffed chicken and pork chops, fresh baked Italian bread and apple butter."We have a lot of comfort food," said Short.Service is another calling card of the restaurant, a standard Short is proud to keep.Short advises her staff to always be polite and upbeat, even with unfriendly customers. In many cases, she said, good service can brighten someone's day.Among Short's wait staff is her sister Nancy Hill, who left office jobs in Pittsburgh 18 years ago to pursue a position in the restaurant.Whether in the casual dining room or the more formal reservations room, Hill chats with customers like longtime friends, sharing both local news and personal anecdotes."Thank God I have her," said Short. "She loves the job. She loves the people."Adding to the ambiance of the dining room is the instrumental and Christian music Short plays."It's very peaceful," said Short of her chosen tunes.Lunch specials at the restaurant start at $5.95 and a hearty cup of chili is available for $2.50 every day.Dinner, however, is when the Shortstop is busiest, serving steaks, pastas, fried fish and chicken.Short's hope is her customers enjoy the experience as much as she does."It's quaint and cozy and all my waitresses are great. … I tell them that's the way it should be."
