Crowley's Restaurant & Lounge

Under the Crowley's banner, with Jack and Norma Jean's attention to detail and their growing reputation for delicious dining, it was only five years later that the first addition was added to the restaurant increasing the seating capacity to 130 with an additional bar.

The front room (entrance) of the restaurant is the original structure, built in the 1940s when the Chorney family first opened the tavern bearing their name on the present site. Years later the family sold the business, and the name was changed to the Blue Star Tavern, which it carried through several more owners.

What has emerged from that humble beginning on Route 18, in the little town of Platea, is a flourishing restaurant with a reputation for dining excellence that draws crowds from near and far. While today's menu boasts 20 plus appetizers, fresh seafood, fresh-cut steaks, and much more, many still come solely for Norma Jean's famous "N.J.'s Sauce," a perfect topping for your salad or a delicious compliment to wings or their homemade fries.

On April 1, 2008, Charles and Ginger Allen
purchased Crowley's Restaurant and Lounge from the former
proprietors, Jack and Norma Jean Crowley. The Crowleys had
purchased a small tavern in 1981 that had been known as the Blue Star Tavern. They had no immediate plans to expand but thought they would install a charcoal grill so patrons could cook their own steaks. Then, other food items were added. The floors were refinished, walls were painted, and an entrance porch was added. Each year a little more renovating took place.

Pictured above: Seating in the first addition area. This area increased the seating capacity to 130 and includes an additional bar and an additional charcoal grill.

Pictured at right: One of two fresh charcoal grills giving patrons the option of grilling their own steaks.

Pictured below: The Gallagher Room features a stone fireplace, a beautiful stained glass window, and a scenic view of two ponds.

In 1992, the Crowley's found themselves bursting at the seams again and in need of space to serve more patrons and larger groups for banquets, showers, rehearsal dinners, and small wedding receptions. So, in 1993, the back "Gallagher Room" and adjoining bar were added, increasing the restaurant seating to 225.

Through the years, Jack and Norma Jean have put their own personal touch on the decor of the restaurant. Tongue and groove wood accents the walls, while the antiques and collectibles never fail to catch the eye of customers. The restaurant boasts a double-faced clock which once graced the hallway of Stong Vincent High School and booth seats were once pews used by worshipers at St. Patrick's Church in Erie. The newell posts in the Gallagher Room are from old homes and churches in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Tiffany lamps abound and a beautiful stained glass window and stone
fireplace are focal points in the
back dining room. The ceiling in
the back bar is tin, a replica of old
tin ceilings found in many taverns
and stores and provides a lovely
warmth to the surroundings.

Diners in the Gallagher Room have
the additional advantage during the
daylight hours of a scenic view of
two ponds surrounded by colorful
flowers and plants - replete with
wildlife.