Beyond Dining: Explore One of Pennsylvania’s Most Unique Restaurants

An unexpected culinary journey—shrimp tacos that bring tropical flair to the forest, beautifully arranged on a weathered wooden board. ©Dawn Damico

Destination Destination Pennsylvania│Unique Restaurants

Some say Polymath Park is a place where the past will always have a home. While Tom and Heather Papinchak never planned to create an architectural pilgrimage site celebrating the brilliance of Frank Lloyd Wright, that’s exactly what they have done.

And, while they didn’t intend to create one of Pennsylvania’s most unique restaurants, it seems they’ve done that too. With some people making the 90-minute drive from Pittsburgh solely for the opportunity to enjoy a dining experience at TreeTops Restaurant, this Laurel Highlands culinary landmark is one to add to your list.

Two of the homes on the Polymath property are Frank Lloyd Wright designs that were disassembled, moved, and re-assembled here. Architectural enthusiasts can enjoy these and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fallingwater.    ©Dawn Damico

Their story started in 2000 with a desire for a summer retreat. Set among Southwest Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, the Papinchaks were unaware that their new mountain home stood near two very special houses that would inspire a preservation journey.

Those two homes also began as mountain retreats for Pittsburgh families in the 1960s. Known as the Balter home and the Blum home, they were designed by Peter Berndtson, a Wright apprentice who embraced the Usonian style for which Wright was known. While Berndtson had envisioned building dozens of homes to create a compound, the original owners were happy to enjoy summers on their 130-acre retreat just as it was. Therefore, Berndtson’s vision was never realized.

Today, in some ways, the Papinchaks have breathed new life into that vision.

The red floor you see matches the red door to the TreeTops Restaurant.  ©Dawn Damico

When the Balter and Blum homes came up for sale in 2003, Tom Papinchak’s architectural and entrepreneurial passions were ignited. He was inspired to save the land from potential development, preserve the homes, and become a steward of historical craftsmanship. After Tom and Heather purchased the homes and the 130 acres they sat on, they began the arduous task of restoration.

Years later, they purchased, disassembled, transported, and reassembled two additional homes designed by Wright himself. Today, you can tour the Balter, Blum, Duncan, and Mantyla House. While I was there, another Wright home sat in several shipping containers awaiting their revival.

Currently, Polymath Park has four homes available for overnight stays. Guests speak of mornings transformed by nature’s embrace as the sunlight filters through dramatic windows, creating an intimate connection between the home and the wilderness.

However, touring and staying in Wright homes isn’t all that’s happening at Polymath Park.

There are several dining options, including the forest pods. The creativity and vision of the owners seems to have no bounds as they look for opportunities to continue to impress Polymath Park guests.  ©Dawn Damico

With the transformation of the Papinchak’s summer home into the TreeTops Restaurant, Polymath is becoming a unique dining destination that’s grabbing the attention of culinary travelers and city foodies.

True to Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture, TreeTops Restaurant delights guests with elevated dining pods designed with clean horizontal slats that seem to float among the trees. The experience creates an intimate space that blends Japanese zen aesthetics with Pennsylvania’s woodland charm.

Polymath strives to maintain its original rustic appeal; however, when you sit among the trees to savor an expertly crafted meal, everything feels elegant.

The owner’s mountain home was transformed into the TreeTops Restaurant as a way for overnight guests staying in the Frank Lloyd Wright homes to enjoy a meal without having to drive somewhere else. Today, people come from all over the state to enjoy the unique restaurants experience.   ©Dawn Damico

The TreeTops Restaurant experience begins with a gentle descent along a tree-lined path toward a wooden structure that feels as if you’re approaching a friend’s house. Glimpses of wooden dining pods hidden among the trees are your first hint of the magic you are about to enjoy.

Once you enter the screened-in pod, your multi-course culinary experience begins with each plate introducing a new taste experience.

Our meal began with delicate small-bite appetizers – including fresh fig quarters – followed by Shrimp Tacos wrapped in organic Bib Lettuce and Seaweed served on a wooden board. The bisque soup was constructed before our eyes as our server poured the creamy broth into wide rimmed bowls. The tableside presentation continued when the Summer Salad wrapped in a cucumber ribbon was drizzled with an aromatic honey lavender dressing.

I enjoyed the Grilled Faroe Island Salmon as my main course. Others feasted on Sous Vide Pork Loin, Portabella Ravioli, or Airline Chicken. Everything was accompanied by red and white wine, concluding with a Honey Cinnamon Panna Cotta served in a charming eight ounce mason jar.

This truly memorable experience was a blend of curated flavors that play harmoniously on your palate and the sound of nature’s symphony as the sun set among the trees. 

I’ve never dined in the woods in such an elegant manner.

On a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright homes at Polymath, you can learn about the impact the celebrated architect in the field of environmental design.  ©Dawn Damico

You may come to Polymath Park for Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius and leave with a newfound appreciation for Laurel Highland’s culinary scene. Or, you might come for the TreeTops dining experience, and leave with a deeper understanding of environmental architecture. Either way, Polymath Park embodies its name as a place with many experiences to discover.

Author’s Note: Although my dining experience was complimentary, I do not hesitate to recommend TreeTops Restaurant when you are in the Pittsburgh area…it’s worth the drive. It seems that Pittsburgh residents agree as I saw several reviews saying they bring guests they want to impress to the TreeTops. Go Laurel Highlands hosted the trip.

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