We all have that one restaurant we go to when we crave comfort and a guaranteed delicious meal. It’s the backup after a busy day when we don’t feel like cooking, the perfect spot to catch up with friends, and the first place we recommend when celebrating the simple things in life, like the start of a new school year. Over the years, this nostalgic restaurant near Pittsburgh has become our go-to, a spot well worth trying next time you've got a craving for good food and yesteryear.

My daughter and I had just given our order to the server as we sat in a two-person booth when I looked up at the wall next to me and the nostalgia hit. A framed Pirates scorebook, with Jay Bell on the cover, hung right above me. I have the same one from 1992 at home, bought at one of the many games I went to that year. Part of why we keep coming back to Max & Erma's in Monroeville is the familiarity and memories.

Max & Erma’s is one of those family-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh with a laidback vibe and a menu that has something for everyone, whether you’re a diehard carnivore or a vegetarian. Our first visit was more than a decade ago, after a day of exploring the Christmas decorations in downtown Pittsburgh. Back then, Max & Erma’s had more locations, including one in the city, but we’re still fortunate to have one in my hometown, making it easy to stop by for a meal or pick food up to take home.

If you visit when it’s warm, you might want to sit on the outdoor patio. There’s ample indoor seating, although it’s not uncommon to have a short wait, especially on the weekends and around dinnertime. My favorite spot is near the fireplace on a cold winter day, but all the seats are comfy.

The menu hasn’t changed much over the years, or maybe we just haven’t noticed because we have our favorites and don’t usually stray too far from them. If you’re really hungry and don’t mind leftovers, try one of the starters. From loaded tots and onion rings to nachos and soft pretzel sticks, you have plenty from which to choose. Portions are generous, so you might want to share. The soft pretzel sticks are divine, and the nachos topped with cheese and other favorites are enough for an entrée.

The nostalgic restaurant near Pittsburgh makes the best tortilla soup around; it’s cheesy and sprinkled with shredded cheese and tortilla strips. If you like it hot, the soup is perfect, although sometimes it's hotter than others. The Tasty Twosome is a good option if you’re not too hungry and visit before 5 p.m. Pair a bowl of tortilla or French onion soup with a salad or a baked potato. The soup and baked potato combo is surprisingly filling but not so much that I’m too stuffed to have freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Browse the menu that's brimming with a full range of classics from entrée salads and burgers to steaks and more than half a dozen burgers. I’m not typically a fan of beans or veggie burgers, except Beyond and Impossible, but Max & Erma’s makes a tasty black bean burger that’s well worth trying, whether you eat meat or not. While the fries, particularly when topped with cheese, are delicious, I haven’t found a restaurant that makes baked potatoes as perfectly, so that’s my side of choice.  My teen always orders the hand-breaded chicken tenders with fries and coleslaw, and she leaves with leftovers every time. The portions are huge and fill the entire plate.

Even if you don’t have time or an appetite for dessert, order some to go. The chocolate chip cookies and funnel fries are heavenly, and the menu also features New York cheesecake, chocolate cake a la mode, and banana cream pie.

If you go: Download the app, and join the Good Neighbor Rewards. Scan your receipt every time you visit to earn points. Once you earn 150 points, you receive $10 off. Members also get a new reward every Monday – a free cup of tortilla soup, for example – and a birthday treat, too.

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