Landmark Murrysville restaurant destroyed in overnight fire

May 16—The Spaghetti & Steakhouse, a landmark on Route 22 in Murrysville for more than 50 years, was destroyed Sunday in an early morning fire.

The restaurant that has fed generations of local families and survived the pandemic was a total loss.

A dispatcher for Westmoreland 911 said a caller reported the building, located near the intersection of Route 22 and Mellon Road, was engulfed in flames at 3:38 a.m. Eight local volunteer fire companies were dispatched to the blaze and remained on the scene until mid-morning.

Only charred portions of the outer walls of the two story structure that was once a popular family restaurant and tavern were left standing.

"My first job was here when I was 14. I worked there from 1971 until 1975," Beth Karas, of Delmont, said as she surveyed the ruins Sunday afternoon.

The restaurant, originally owned by Fran and Joe DeNastasio, has been a staple in the community for decades.

Karas said there are few families in the area who never enjoyed the homemade pasta that became the eatery's signature.

"All of their pasta was fresh," she said.

Monica Meehan, who acquired the restaurant in 1989 has continued that tradition. In March, she shared her secrets with Tribune-Review reporter Patrick Varine.

In addition to homemade spaghetti, the restaurant featured homemade ravioli and gnocchi and sauce made from scratch.

Meehan could not be reached for comment and no additional information about the cause of the blaze was immediately available.

Karas said the restaurant and the upstairs lounge were a treasure trove of local history. The walls of the restaurant were decorated with sepia-toned photos of Delmont and Export at the turn of the 20th century; the Hot Rod Lounge that played host to live music and comedy acts over the years was festooned with antique auto memorabilia.

No one could say exactly how long the restaurant has been in business.

No additional information was immediately available Sunday morning.

Mimi Rivardo, 59, of Delmont, said she's lived in the area all of her life and she can't remember a time when it wasn't there.

"People have been stopping by all morning saying how sad this is," Rivardo said, as yet another car pulled into the parking lot of the convenience store next to the shell of the restaurant.

Deb Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@triblive.com or via Twitter .