Fire Up The Grill: The Brick on Front cooks up a variety of local products
Behind The Plates
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CRESSON -- There is more than one way to describe The Brick on Front bar and grill, but "local" is probably the best fitting -- not only because many locally sourced products are used on the menu, but because owners Jason and Dee Bertison are Cambria County natives.
Jason, who grew up in Cresson, and Dee, from Northern Cambria, fused their love of food, drinks and all things regional, bought a restaurant on Front Street in Cresson and fired up the grill.
Now, regular customers like Melissa Singer always know when the duo go on vacation because she can taste the difference.
"They always put their own spin" on her favorite dishes, she said.
Co-owner Jason Bertison pulls a cooked smash patty from the grill, topped with cheddar cheese and bacon for their limited-edition dish, the ABC burger.
Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
For over five years, the creative duo has created unforgettable dishes such as their Philly Cheese Steak Bomb, their Oktoberfest burger and their ABC burger, which features locally sourced products from Ridgetop Orchards, Fisher's Country Store and Farabaugh Farms.
It's important to use products found in the region because the Brick on Front is a local establishment, Dee said.
"I feel like anytime I can help somebody else that's small, I'm all about it," Jason said. "I'd like to think that people are going to help us out because we're local."
One of their limited-time fall dishes is the ABC burger, which stands for the three main ingredients melted together on top of a smashburger: apple butter barbecue sauce, bacon and cheddar cheese.
Jason said Ridgetop Orchards' apple butter barbecue sauce is a great idea "because it's pretty tasty."
"We're big fans of Ridgetop Orchards in Fishertown," he said. "We'll travel down sometimes two or three times a season to get apples, apple cider, pretty much whatever they have."
Once the smash patty is cooked, co-owner Jason Bertison places it on a brioche bun, where the patty is topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato and lettuce.
Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Dee uses the sweet fruit as garnishes in cocktails, too.
On the way home, Jason said they'll swing by Fisher's Country Store and purchase their lunch meats and vegetables, such as tomatoes and lettuce, which are featured in the ABC burger.
The ABC burger has been a fan favorite since its introduction about two years ago, the couple said.
"Everyone's reactions are so different when I bring it (the ABC burger) out," waitress Lizzy
Slovikosky said. Some people have their jaws on the floor looking at everything on it, or they're so excited to eat it now."
The owners also introduced their Oktoberfest burger for the season, which includes fat tire beer cheese, pub mustard, sauteed onions in Oktoberfest bier and sweet and savory red cabbage inside a pretzel burger. It's served with a side of tater tots.
Besides classic burgers, they also offer a Fire Burger loaded with pepper jack cheese, jalapenos and a spicy brick sauce. The Ultimate Burger is two smash patties topped with four slices of American cheese and bacon, while the Brick Burger features American cheese, bacon and an onion ring before the sandwich is wrapped in pizza dough and baked.
"Anybody can go to McDonald's and get a cheeseburger. We want them to come here and get a great cheeseburger," Jason said.
The ABC burger, which stands for apple butter barbecue sauce, bacon and cheddar cheese, uses locally sourced products on its plate from Ridgetop Orchard, Fisher’s Country Store and Farabaugh Farms.
Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Alongside the burger are french fries, sourced from August to May through Farabaugh Farms in Carrolltown.
Jason said they use Farabaugh Farms potatoes as much as they can while supplies last and then switch to another supplier until it's harvest time again.
When they make the switch back to the fresh, locally grown potatoes, "everyone gets so excited," Dee said. "They're like, 'They're back!' It's a thing here."
They sell different plates of fresh-cut fries, featuring fresh-cut garlic parm fries, fresh-cut cheese fries and fresh-cut loaded fries, covered in bacon, green onions, a cheese mix and topped with sour cream.
Appetizers, pizzas, salads and handhelds are also on the menu, but sometimes the types of foods merge inside the kitchen, using their "food bombs" as an example.
At 709 Front Street in Cresson, The Brick on Front sells burgers, handhelds and other food items, many of which come from local food vendors.
Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Dee said many customers opt to try new items on the menu.
"I'd say 9 out of 10 people who come in here will try something different because it is different," she said.
Incorporating new dishes into their menu is a strategy to keep bringing people back, she said.
"People can eat anywhere," she said. "They can cook at home."
"You want them to come in to try something different," Jason added. "Live outside the norm."
While waitressing at The Brick on Front, Slovikosky said she's noticed they receive a lot of local support.
"It's really great to see because some things in Cresson are dying out, so it's good to see the community come out and support local businesses," she said.
Thinking about Jason and Dee's effort to use locally-sourced products in their food items, Slovikosky said it's nice that the owners not only give business to local vendors but also promote them in the restaurant and online.
"Not a lot of places in the area do that, or at least vocalize it," she said.
Co-owners Jason and Dee Bertison bought The Brick on Front over five years ago where they sell burgers, handhelds and drinks.
Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
The Brick on Front
Address: 709 Front St., Cresson
Phone: 814-408-2344
Website: thebrickonfront.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrickOnFront
Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday-Tuesday.
Atmosphere: casual
Price range: Burgers start at $10; whole pizzas start at $18.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.