Neato Burrito: A Harrisburg Must For Mexican

This Harrisburg favorite has been serving up excellent Mexican food to appreciative eaters for years, holding true to a very simple formula: great quality, great service, fair prices. The formula is simple—walk down the counter and select your tortilla, your beans and rice, your meats and cheeses, et cetera. But this is no paint-by-numbers Mexican; the guys at Neato Burrito have gone the extra mile to make their grub stand out. From the unique choices, including BBQ rice, to the homemade salsas (try the spectacular jalapeno feta), these burritos are the best in town. Regulars rave about the enormous portions—a burrito here is virtually impossible to devour in one serving. Vegetarians have a lot to love here, with their house-made black bean hummus an unusual but very savory choice. Get it grilled for even better flavor. The décor is also charming, with a fun and funky 50s theme going on.

Neato Burrito
3370 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 564-7875 ‎
www.neatoburrito.com

Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe: More Than Just Sweet Treats

If you’re looking for classic old-school Italian bread, the Alvaro family has a loaf for you. This local favorite, housed in a completely refurbished brick building, has become a hangout for eaters looking not only for baked goods but also Italian classics. Everything is made on the premises, and regulars rave about the pizzas, which are made with the perfect amount of fresh ingredients on a delicious crust. Portions are gigantic and prices are incredibly reasonable. If you’re there for dinner, make sure at least one person at your table orders from the amazing fresh pasta menu—the house-made ravioli are some of the best in town, packed with flavor and cooked to incredible tenderness. Spaghetti is also incredible, with unique thick noodles perfectly supporting a dense, flavorful sauce. For dessert, you have plenty to choose from—Alvaro’s cakes and cookies compete with incredible gelato. This place is a definite winner.

Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe
236 Peffer Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 238-1999
www.alvarobread.com

Appalachian Brewing Company: Harrisburg's Spot for Handcrafted Ales and Lagers

With three different and unique locations—the one in Harrisburg actially includes two taprooms—Appalachian Brewing Company is dedicated to bringing fine brews to its patrons. Take your pick between the Abbey Bar and the ABC Harrisburg home base, both of which serve finely malted beers in an assortment of flavors. The custom-outfitted brewery and central bar is location in a historic downtown building built in 1915, offering all the antique atmosphere you could want with massive wooden beams, exposed brick walls, and hardwood floors to complement a pint of classic homemade beer.  And with flagship flavors from Trail Blaze Organic Brown Ale to Mountain Lager, you’ll get a taste of Appalachian influence in every sip.

Appalachian Brewing Company
50 N. Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 221-1080
www.abcbrew.com

Gingerbread Man Downtown: A Harrisburg Favorite for Locals and Tourists

Like the storybook character it’s named after, Gingerbread Man Downtown is a delicious treat that’s well-worth chasing after. Fortunately, you won’t have to run as fast as you can to taste its flavors—just a quick trip to downtown Harrisburg will do the trick. With a casual but intimate atmosphere, the restaurant and bar serves eclectic modern dishes like hearty salads, prime rib, burgers, and even fish and chips along with microbrews and an extensive wine list. Beware of letting your bill stack up, but you don’t have to worry about being disappointed by the overall atmosphere and top-notch food.

Gingerbread Man Downtown
312 Market St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 221-8400

Food, Fun and Friends at Gullifty's

In a volatile world, Gullifty’s is a dependable tradition. Dating back to 1985 and nicknamed a “restaurant for all reasons,” this establishment offers a variety of sections for dining, patio, bar, and nightclub preferences. Gullifty’s is in its founding families’ second generation of management.

Within the fourteen-page menu, you’re sure to find pleasing dishes and your favorite comfort foods. Down Home dinners and scores of sandwich selections, pizzas and salads, soups and bar standards, are trusted companions to Gullifty’s assortment of specialty sodas, smoothies, coffees, and alcoholic beverages. Gullifty’s is also a venue for camaraderie, offering happy hours, serious sports screens, pool tables and live entertainment in its Underground. You'll keep returning for consistent food, fun, and friends.

Gullifty’s Restaurant and Underground
1104 Carlisile Road
Camp Hill, Pa 17011
(717) 761-6692
www.gulliftys.net

The Sky's the Limit at Hershey PA's What If . . . Cafe

As if the name didn’t already suggest as much, there’s no end to the possibilities at What If Café. Located in the sweetest place on Earth, Hershey, PA, the restaurant takes its location and open-minded name to heart. With classic dishes like pan-seared scallops, calamari, and hand-cut steak served in the dining room (with an extensive wine menu to complement the varied fare) as well as a relaxed bar area serving lighter items like seafood sliders with infused martinis, there’s a range of atmospheric options to suit every occasion. And, in staying true to its hometown, What If’s homemade desserts will leave your sweet tooth happily satisfied—especially the hot fudge peanut profiterole.

What If  . . . Café
845 East Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
(717) 533-5858
www.whatifdining.com

El Sol: Authentic Mexican Cuisine Tucked Away in Harrisburg

Once you step inside El Sol, you will be swept away to a warm Mexican eatery full of vibrant colors, rich flavors, and an enlivened atmosphere. Bringing authentic Mexican food to downtown Harrisburg, the restaurant serves classic dishes like fajitas and burritos, along with unique fare like Aztec-inspired molcajete dishes served in volcanic mortar bowls. Even the presentation hits a high note with fresh ceviche delivered in an oversized margarita glass, grilled fajita ingredients spilling off a warm grill, and rings of vegetable and avocado garnishes to dress up every plate. This is no chain Mexican restaurant—the dishes are authentic and full of fresh, flavorful ingredients.

El Sol
18 South Third St.
Harrisburg, PA
(717) 901-5050
www.elsolmexicanrestaurant.net

Morgan's Place: A Neighborhood Eatery Serving Classic American Fare

Serving classic American fare in a relaxed atmosphere, Morgan’s Place is a great stop for quality food at a reasonable price. Located on Harrisburg’s beautiful waterfront, the restaurant prides itself on simple selections in a scenic setting. Menu items cover the gamut of standard heartland cooking with an emphasis on fresh seafood such as clams and crab served every which way, as well as comfort classics like fried appetizers (onion rings, potato skins, breaded mushrooms), burgers (from simply grilled to piled high with BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar), and southern-influenced cuisine like Cajun chicken salad. Check out the Morgan's Place facebook page for updates about weekly events like Texas Hold'em every Monday Night at 7 p.m., karaoke on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., and lounge entertainment every Friday and Saturday from 8 – 12 p.m.

 

Morgan's Place
4425 N. Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 234-8103
www.morgans-place.com
 

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub: A Casual Irish Pub With Fun for All

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub promises fun times for all. The menu is as classic as you can get with everything from steak sandwiches to pub pretzels, sliders, buffalo chicken dip, and even Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs served warm with a side of fries. A few local treats include Pittsburgh Pillows (fried pierogies) and an unbeatable French dip sandwich. Nightly drink specials offer up classic beers in cheap pitchers and pints along with marked down food offerings, while ongoing game nights and special sports events keep the atmosphere lively and socially involved. Coakley's is the place to come with good friends and good spirits.

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub
305 Bridge Street
New Cumberland, PA 17070
(717) 774-5556
www.coakleys.com

Spice: The Only Place in Town Serving a 15 lb. Lobster

There’s nothing small about Spice, a refined dining establishment with a lot of bite for each buck. Health-dedicated chef Jeff Utzman (formerly the personal chef for exercise guru Richard Simmons), turns out hearty plates of simply prepared, yet filling choices. Modern American meets the Mediterranean in mindful creations such as the crabacado salad (crab meat and avocado with tomatoes, mozzarella, and mixed greens in a lime-cilantro-champagne vinaigrette) and lemon chicken Tuscany (sautéed chicken in a Tuscan lemon cream sauce served over pasta) for an overall dining experience that is at once nutritiously balanced and deliciously satisfying. Oh, and a word to the wise—if you want to try the specialty of the house, a 13-15 pound lobster stuffed with crab (it feeds 4-6 people) call up and order it in advance.

Spice
201 North Second St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 441-1556
www.spiceharrisburg.com

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