Diners at Armstrong's Restaurant in Moon Township will often have something left over for lunch the next day.

But Craig Paullet, manager, says the large portions are only one of the reasons the restaurant has been around for so long.

Not only are the portions huge, but "we don't cheat," Paullet says.

"We do everything from scratch. We have our own tomato sauce, soups and gravies. We cut our own veal and bread our own chicken. It costs a little more to do, but the finished product is well worth it.

"We don't have teenagers cooking. We have people who do this for a living."

As far as a specialty, Paullet says Armstrong's really doesn't have one because it's menu is so large with so many choices.

"Some people classify us an Italian restaurant because we have a lot of pasta, but we also have sandwiches, calzones, fresh fish and steaks, and we rotate our daily specials from prime rib to roasted pork tenderloin."

Many of the specials are "old time," Paullet says. "People order ahead for the stuffed sweet peppers, and some come in just for the meat loaf with the glaze on top that's really good."

However the specials also take on a more traditional flair on the weekend with lasagna, prime rib and baked salmon on Saturdays.

In addition to the main menu and specials, Armstrong's also offers a lunch menu where diners can find eight to 10 items for $7.95. Available are pastas, a lunch grilled chicken, English cod, open-faced prime rib-eye and more. "They aren't chintzy lunches."

There are no chintzy desserts at Armstrong's either, Paullet says. There are 18 to 20 desserts that are homemade at Armstrong's South Hills restaurant and shipped to its other locations. "We pick six to eight to serve everyday on a rotating basis."

Some of the favorites pies are raspberry cream, chocolate mousse, banana cream and more. The buckeye cake, featuring chocolate and peanut butter layers, also is popular.

Although Armstrong's does not serve alcohol, customers can BYOB, which has turned into a "cool thing," Paullet says. When customers have to wait to get seated in the summer, they take their cooler of drinks out onto the lawn while they are waiting for their names to be called.

And, for those who don't want to wait or don't have time or the inclination to eat in, Armstrong's has been voted Best Take Out restaurant several times. Paullet says a large portion of Armstrong's business is take out for lunch for area businesses and for those on their way home from work.

If that's not enough to bring customers into the restaurant, Paulette says, the service staff will be. "Our staff is really friendly. We get compliments on the service all the time."

Armstrong's, at 1136 Thorn Run Road Ext., Moon, opened at that location in October, 1990, but has been in existence since the early 80s, opening as a small bar with 12 seats and eight to 10 booths.

For more information, call Armstrong's at 412-262-9355.