Coney Island Lunch — Restaurant in Johnstown

I haven't eaten here for some time and I never leave reviews (and I especially had never left a bad review in all my life) but, I was looking for a place to eat while in the area via the internet and felt utterly compelled to leave this review of my experience there due to the fact that it definitely left a lasting impression Ill never forget. Before I get into it, I do understand that there was history here and it may have been good at some point in the distant past. So, here we go... Initial experience: About a decade ago or so I stopped by this place while on one of my walks through J-town and decided to stop in out of curiosity. Coney Island dogs are something Ive only heard of on the T.V. living on the west coast all my life, naturally I wanted to know what the hype was about. First impression of the staff when I walked in was that they we noticably high on some sort of opiate (like pretty much everyone in J-town) and ordering was like some sort of experiment in what it could be like to have a restraunt ran by zombies. I overlooked this fact mostly because everyone I had met from the area were obvious drug abusers to an extreme I had very rarely seen with the exception of the time I passed through an area near skid row in L.A. Very depressing atmosphere everywhere and Coney Island embraced this ambiance to the fullest. The place looked to me like it may had been condemned at any moment and I'm sure cleaning the place up on a daily, weekly or even ever was probably asking too much.Very unpleasant. I should have walked out that moment.... Ordering: Against my best judgement I ordered a hot dog and a hamburger mainly out of my nagging curiosity of the whole "Coney Island" thing. The woman-zombie proceeded to grab the buns and place them on her sweaty forearm as if it were a prepping station and reached a pair of tongs into a very curious looking and noticably off smelling brown water pulling out what could only be described as a hamburger patty I would simply never forget in the worst possible way. I cant remeber how the hotdog had been prepared, but I figured at this point it hardly mattered. The staff wrapped up my order and handed the mess that had been created to me. Very visibly disturbed, I reached out and gathered my shame-burger and "Coney Dog"..... I should have walked out that moment..... The food: I was "In for a penny, In for a pound" at this moment and my nagging curiosity of the whole "Coney Island" experience wasnt going to stop poor arm hygeine or lack of shop cleanliness to ruin this for me... I had to know... I took a bite of the hamburger and can only describe the taste and texture to be what I would imagine dog food to tast like. The burger patty tasted as if it came out of a vat of very old, very questionable water. The folks who run this shop could learn a thing or two from any gas station that serves similar products. After one bite I wrapped it back up and placed it aside for the moment. As far as the "Coney Dog", it was unremarkable in every way save for the obviosly spoiled onions.... I thought maybe it wasnt the onions, maybe that was from the bun taking on the aroma of the staffs sweaty arm. This was my first experience with this type of chili sauce. Almost jelly like inconsistency and a bit runny. It wasnt absolutely awful in and of itself, but it had kept me from trying this type of chili sauce for a number of years to come. Once I finally had the nerve to revisit this kind of chili sauce from a supermarket canned goods aisle in my latter years, I have to admit I have grown to like this style of sauce, although, Coney Islands sauce was bad enough that I had to overcome my trepidations of my J-town Coney Island experience. I wrapped up my coney dog after one bite and gathered up my burger. I proceeded to the garbage can and discarded my meal along with my poor decision making and better judgement. Coney Island will live on in the dark recesses of my mind along with the hamburger and dog I discarded all...

Absolutely love this place. Of course the food is great, they always make it perfectly. The staff is always so kind, helpful and quick. This was both my father's and grandfather's favorite place to eat, and I have great memories of being taken there by both of them over the years. My dad can't drive anymore because of his health, so for Father's Day every year, or his birthday...we try to take him out to to Coney Island to eat. Or at the very least, take some takeout home for him to eat. For the last few years, ive gotten to take my son and daughter along with us and I've gotten to set back and watch my dad tell them stories and talk to them about how he used to go there with his dad all those years ago, and watch as he's introduced them to the Coney Island experience and the incredible food and my kids love the food, and they are addicted to the chocolate milk (Coney Islands chocolate milk is AMAZING!!).

So, like my pap and my dad before me.....any time we are nearby Johnstown for any reason, we always try and make time to stop in for our favorites, the famous Coney dogs and Sundowners.

Keep up the great work, there aren't many places left like this to eat anymore, so i hope this place is there forever. I hope to be around long enough to someday see my kids take their own kids here to experience this unique and awesome place, and create their own memories together to have forever just like all the fond memories I have of my times here over the years...

I started going to Coney Island before the 1977 flood. It used to be across the street before it's location it is now. My mother bless her heart would take me there after the parades, we lived in the old Conemaugh Boro section of town and it was only a 5 minute walk. As a kid growing up the first time I ate a Coney Island hot dog I loved it!! My mother would always get hers with extra onions and I tried it one day and never stopped eating them that way. When I go in now I tell the cooks to make them all sloppy meaning extra sauce and piles of onions, lol. Today I always get a couple of dogs with burgers, I seem to like the burgers more. Occasionally I will order a sundowner. I remember the original owner well, R. I. P Mrs. Contacos. I may of spelled her last name wrong but she was always there to make sure everything was running smoothly and the customers were happy!! She would even go around and talk to customers and tell everyone that she appreciates their business and loyalty. Coney Island will always be a staple in my life and I am very happy that Mr Miller brought it back to life after being closed for awhile, thank you!! P. S. Please bring your prices down just a little, LoL. I want to also give a shout out to the staff for working hard to keep on making Coney Island the best of the best, after all Coney Island of Johnstown, PA...