The Little Black Truck: Slow Smoke

Barbecue is sweeping the nation as one of the hottest new food trends, and lovers of slow-cooked meat have plenty of options. In Harrisburg, one of the best options is the Little Black Truck. The Little Black Truck's a roving smokehouse that serves up spectacular meat cooked to incredible tenderness. The pulled pork here is excellent: every bite is permeated with the most wonderful smoky flavor, which reacts amazingly to the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. The portions are huge — a single sandwich is more than enough to fill you up. If you don’t feel like barbecue, The Little Black Truck also offers extremely good burgers, topped with gooey melted cheese and a delicious horseradish sauce. The homemade chili is also a high point, perfectly spicy and laden with delicious meat. Don’t come here expecting a salad, but if you’re in the mood for some epic meats, the Little Black Truck certainly won’t disappoint.

The Little Black Truck
3809 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 877-7636
www.facebook.com/TheLittleBlackTruckBBQ

For a Picturesque Dining View, Deck Out at Dukes Bar & Grille Riverside

Atmosphere is outstanding at Dukes Bar & Grille Riverside. Overlooking the Susquehanna River on an award-winning outdoor deck and the deck bar, you’ll feel the week’s tension float away downstream. The comprehensive menu needn’t scroll so long—with so many appealing appetizers and bar items, you won’t even want to glance into the dinner fare. The crab pretzel is unusual, tasty, and popular; cheesesteaks and soups get nice reviews. Anticipate waiting for a table, since reservations are not accepted. But regulars suggest calling ahead anyway to warn the staff that a large party is on the way. Then enjoy a happy hour or two.

Dukes Bar & Grille Riverside
www.dukesbarandgrille.com

313 S. Front Street
Wormleysburg, PA 17043 
(717) 737-1313

Dukes Bar & Grille Hershey 
1715 E. Chocolate Ave.
Hershey, PA 17033 
(717) 533-5541

The Cellar Could Become a Habit

Cellar BYOB is known for delicious and gorgeous food, served well in a lovely place.  Orchestrated under the spoon of executive chef Matthew Hickey and brought to patrons by the Dunphys and Gaudellis, even the basics sing opera at the Cellar. Heirloom tomato soup and the lump crab and lobster mac and cheese bring down the house. Crab cakes, duck and sesame Ahi tuna are performed expertly. The Cellar executes with equal magnificence its amazing salads and veggies, sandwiches, beef, and lamb. It may take lofty aspirations to fully appreciate the storage lockers rented to patrons for storing their favorite alcohol selections, but this amenity speaks to The Cellar’s desire to attract, please, and bring back its distinguished clientele. Visit for lunch, Monday through Friday, and return for dinner Monday through Saturday. Scrumptious, artful cuisine never gets boring.

The Cellar BYOB
433 North 21st Street
Camp Hill, PA  17011
(717) 724-2803
www.thecellarbyob.com

Benihana: Japanese Style "Eater-tainment" in Harrisburg

Don’t dare blink an eye at Benihana, or else you might miss the best culinary performance of your life. This beloved chain restaurant serves classic Japanese hibachi grill items that are chopped, flipped, fried, and served at lightning speed before your eyes. The theatrical skill of each specially trained chef will keep you entertained while munching on fried rice, seasoned steak, chicken, and seafood, as well as sushi rolls and fresh veggies. This is “eater-tainment at its best. Given the choreographed cooking that goes into each meal, Benihana is a great choice for big parties or a fun night on the town.

Benihana
2517 Paxton St.
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 232-6731
www.benihanahbg.com

 

Treat Yourself to a Meal at Mangia Qui

Mangia Qui—together with Suba, its upstairs Spanish tapas bar—is a consistent favorite among discerning diners. Here you’ll find the best of regional Italian and Spanish dishes, performed with agriculturally sensitive local, seasonal ingredients. You can feast righteously and gloriously, though not necessarily inexpensively. Extensive, imaginative menus excite the palate; the dishes merit every bit of that anticipation. Your toughest decision is whether to go for the tapas or the entrées, and you may end up with a little bit of everything. From almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese and seafood tacos, to seviche and calamari, amazing pastas and Tuscan Grill beef, and so much more, Mangia Qui requires repeat visits. Mixed drinks and wines raise a fine meal to exquisite.

Mangia Qui offers lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch. Suba opens at 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.  Live music begins at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mangia Qui
272 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 233-7358
www.mangiaqui.com

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

Fire House Restaurant: A Local Eatery with a Big Personality

Housed in a restored historic fire station—complete with exposed brick walls and tall ceilings—Fire House Restaurant offers a welcoming atmosphere that is inviting yet unpretentious. Priding itself on ""serving Harrisburg's finest foods,"" the menu reflects pure American cooking and rich flavors. True to the restaurant's locale, courses thematically correspond to a fire alarm number (1st Alarm: appetizers; 4th Alarm: entrées) and are all designed to satisfy hearty appetites. From potato wrapped shrimp and baked goat cheese to horseradish encrusted Chilean sea bass and award-winning baby back ribs, there's a range of savory items to suit every preference. The Fire House is a great stop for a big gathering or easy-going meal on the town—and be sure to stop off on the Monday of your birthday week for a $10 discount on your meal.

Fire House Restaurant
606 North 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 234-6064
www.thefirehouserestaurant.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

How to Celebrate Halloween in Harrisburg

1. Check out Spirit Halloween for your last minute Halloween needs. The gigantic superstore has every costume you can possibly dream of, from scareworthy frocks to garments with sex appeal. You'll also find decorating supplies galore to make your pad look festive and freaky for the big night.

2. Scare yourself silly at the 2nd Annual Harrisburg Zombie Walk on October 30, 2010, from 4 – 6 p.m.! Meet at the Harrisburg Mall to watch this scary spectacle, or make youself look ghastly to walk with the rest of the city's living dead. A spooktacular zombie bar crawl will follow at 8 p.m.! Check out the Harrisburg Zombie Walk Facebook page for details. 

3. Taking your kids trick-or-treating, or enjoying a night out for yourself? Check out the CDC's Halloween Health & Safety Tips to keep you and your little trick-or-treaters safe and sound.

4. Get in the spirit. Halloween may seem like a holiday that's meant for kids, but adults can enjoy it too! Host a costume party at your house, check out local community events, and most imporant of all, have fun!

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
 

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