Balance Restaurant — Restaurant in Johnstown

Quick, in five seconds or less, name one thing Johnstown, PA conjures up in your mind. Time’s up! I’ll bet none of you said “fantastic food”.  But let me tell you—Balance Restaurant is a place to consider.

A day trip to the Flood Museum (very interesting!) was followed by a quest for lunch. We had overheard the staff at the museum tell another couple about “…[something] bistro down near the park…” Well, we found the park and then circled it twice, searching in vain for the place. My other half spotted a sign with a large ‘B’ and naturally, we assumed it was the “bistro” mentioned in the museum. We parked and made our way across the street to discover no, it was not for bistro. The B was for Balance.

We walked in and were pleasantly surprised by the décor. Very modern, well-lit and welcoming. We were seated immediately. Our server approached and told us they were running a bit behind (busy with a limited staff) and asked for our patience, and then took our order. My partner opted for a Mushroom Risotto. I went with an audible and opted for the Steak Burrito Bowl.

True to the warning, the food did take a while to arrive. But (and I want to emphasize this) our server was diligent and professional and checked on us several times to refill drinks and provide a timing update. That alone was worth half the visit! There is a lot to be said for keeping that server-guest connection, and the young lady got it right.

Honestly, we were not expecting much given where we were. After all, just like in the opening sentence, Johnstown isn’t usually associated with a dining experience.  Our low expectations were shattered. The Risotto, served in a bowl, was creamy, thick, perfectly done and had just enough mushrooms to not overwhelm the other ingredients. And the taste…Wow! The flavors were robust and powerful. It was phenomenal.

Now, with the proliferation of places that serve “bowls”, I know my choice sounds a bit, well, boring. So as I watched servers walk by with other patrons’ meals (including cheeseburgers, which I love), I wondered if I had made a mistake.

My entrée, also served in a medium-sized bowl, was a visual delight. A bed of white rice, with all the elements of the meal on top but separated—filet, avocado, black beans, roasted corn, tomato, cheese and sour cream. Everything, and I mean everything, in that bowl was perfect. The sour cream wasn’t cold (which is one of my pet peeves), the avocado was fresh and ripe. And the corn? It had been cut off the cob and appeared slightly roasted. Yeah. Oh, the filet? Perfectly cooked. I don’t mean perfect like “Oh, this is pretty good.” I mean perfect, like “I watched three different international chefs cook filet and they all said this is how you do it” perfect.  The meat just melted when I bit into it.

We begged off dessert but in hindsight, that’s the only regret we had from the entire day. As two people who have eaten at countless places in numerous cities, we were floored by Balance. The service was great, and the food wasn’t just unexpected—it was outstanding! It’s not hyperbole to say the food we had was, in every sense, perfectly prepared. So, great job by the staff and the kitchen.  If you’re in Johnstown (and if you live elsewhere in PA, give the town a shot) stop in and try this restaurant. What a...

We made reservations for 6:45 pm on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was not very busy at the time. There was one party of 8 leaving around the time we ordered drinks. It took just a couple of minutes for our two children to get their drinks. My husband and I ordered drinks from the bar, a martini and an old fashioned and ordered buffalo cauliflower and 3-way bacon. The drinks took 20 minutes to make and the bar was not busy at all with only 3 people. We ordered dinner right before the drinks came out. The appetizers came 1 hour and 5 minutes after we ordered them. The cauliflower was delicious. Don't bother with the 3-way bacon, it was beyond burnt to a crisp, and for the record I like my bacon very well done. My husband ordered the pork shank, I ordered the pierogi skillet, my kids ordered fried chicken strips and a cheese quesadilla. Macaroni and cheese was delivered to the table 20 mins after the appetizers for my son who ordered a quesadilla. We told the server it was wrong and she came back with a grilled cheese and the chicken strips. Ok, whatever. The adult food came out about 7-8 minutes after the kid food. This seemed like forever after we waited so long for everything. My son wouldn't eat the grilled cheese because it didn't taste right. Again, ok, whatever. I gave him some of my food and a chicken strip and he was fine. The pork shank was a very large portion and was delicious, but it came with two baby potatoes cut in half and a splash of sauce (gravy maybe?) on a very large plate. It looked like there was hardly anything there except a Flintstone sized piece of meet on a bone. The pierogies came with a portion of kielbasa and the delicious brussels. It was great and we even ordered another side of kielbasa for the kids. As good as the food tasted, it doesn't outweigh the extremely long experience we had with hungry kids. It would have been 2 stars for the service, but I gave it 3 because the adult food was good...

A Flawless Celebration at Balance: A Night to Remember for Our Parents’ 80th and 85th Birthdays

Planning a dual milestone birthday party for our parents—720 miles away—was no small feat, but Balance Restaurant made the experience seamless and full of joy. Amanda, the owner, was a joy to work with: efficient, thoughtful, and incredibly reassuring throughout the planning process. She helped us feel completely at ease, even from afar, as every detail came together beautifully.

On the night of the party, Nick Woyton and the Balance team went above and beyond to create a warm, elegant atmosphere that felt tailor-made for our celebration. From the welcoming ambiance to the attentive service, everything was handled with care and precision.

We were especially honored to meet the head chef and personally thank him for the incredible food. The buffet was nothing short of spectacular—our guests couldn’t stop raving about the variety and quality of the menu. Each dish reflected masterful preparation and a thoughtful touch. And the craft cocktails? Absolutely top-tier. Balance’s bar team curated drinks that added an extra sparkle to the night, and every sip was savored by our family and friends.

A special thank-you also goes to the staff for allowing me to come in ahead of time and decorate. That personal touch meant the world, and it made the space feel truly special for our parents. From custom accents to meaningful details, it felt like the perfect reflection of their lives and love.

Thanks to Amanda, Nick, and the entire Balance team, our celebration was unforgettable—filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and gracious hospitality. It was more than a party; it was a tribute to our parents’ journey, and Balance helped us honor it with style and soul. Highly recommend; 10/10; 5...