The Glass Lounge: See And Be Seen

If you’re looking for a truly spectacular steak in Harrisburg, The Glass Lounge is the place to go. This casual lounge has a seriously top-quality kitchen that rolls out high-grade New York strips, T-bones, and Delmonicos night after night, with exceptional quality and consistency. Since opening in 1984, The Glass Lounge has won multiple awards from the local press and built a fiercely loyal clientele. You can certainly get a steak on its own here, but the variety of surf & turf that the menu boasts is also worth exploring. The steak and grilled scallops is great, as is the steak with an awesomely formed lump crabcake. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, The Glass Lounge's cheeseburger's one of the best in town, perfectly charred on the outside and pink on the inside, and served with perfectly-crisped fries. From the outside, this place looks like a bit of a dive. But appearances, as they say, can be deceiving.

The Glass Lounge
4745 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 255-9919
www.theglasslounge.net

Kanlaya Thai Restaurant

Thai food's one of the most popular Asian cuisines in America, in large part because of one dish: pad Thai. This savory noodle stir-fry is not too spicy but offers a preview of the uniquely complex flavors that Thai cuisine draws from its neighbors in China and India. So let's just get it out of the way: Kanlaya Thai Restaurant in Harrisburg has excellent pad Thai.

Once you’ve eaten at Kanlaya a few times, you might become adventurous with its menu. The crispy kapow chicken wins raves from diners – it’s fried to perfection, not greasy, and coated with an incredibly delicious sauce that will haunt your dreams. Topped with fried basil leaves, it’s one of Kanlaya’s specialties. The curries here are also excellent, packing potent flavors that are exceptionally well-balanced. Noodle dishes also stack up well, with a spicy pad kee mow drawing special raves. The restaurant's well-decorated, with dim lights for a perfect ambience.

Kanlaya Thai Restaurant
1030 South 13th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 233-0222
www.kanlayathairestaurantpa.webs.com

Taco Shop Mexican Grill

Pennsylvania isn’t typically considered a hot state for Mexican food, but Harrisburg's Taco Shop proves that you can find deliciousness anywhere if you know where to look. The Taco Shop draws universal raves from locals, who love its use of fresh ingredients and bold flavors. The menu offers the usual Mexican specialties, priced fairly and served in abundant portions. Regulars praise the tamales, which are made from scratch – the green chile version is a must-try. The hand-made sopes are also wonderful. If you’ve never tried one of these thick cornmeal patties, fried and topped with a variety of excellent meats and vegetables, Taco Shop is a good place to start. Salsa is a vital part of any Mexican meal, and this place does it right by offering a diverse bar of choices, from fresh pico de gallo to super-hot green chile. Service is incredibly friendly, and although the décor isn’t much to look at, you’ll be too busy enjoying your meal to notice!

Taco Shop Mexican Grill
2810 Paxton Street
Swatara, PA 17111-1057
(717) 561-1100
www.tacoshopharrisburg.com

Sphinx of PA: A Culinary Wonder

Egyptian food is a spectacular cuisine, with a wide variety of rich and satisfying flavors. Whether you’re a frequent eater or new to the scene, Harrisburg's Sphinx of PA will serve you up dishes that will have you swooning. The first thing you’ll notice when you walk in the door is the staff's incredible friendliness! The owner and his daughter are almost always there, and they treat just about every diner like family. They’re happy to explain anything on Sphinx of PA's menu — and they're effusive about the wonders of Egyptian cuisine. Start out with some traditional Middle Eastern appetizers. The hummus is spectacular and the baba ghanoush is astoundingly rich and flavorful. When it’s time to move on to entrees, you can’t go wrong with the delicious beef shawarma. Falafel is an excellent vegetarian option. Sphinx's prices are exceptionally reasonable, with many entrees coming in under ten dollars.

Sphinx of PA
2810 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 558-0702
www.sphinxofpa.com

Miso Sushi and Grill: Japanese Delights

If you’re looking for awesome sushi in the Harrisburg area, you’ll find it at Miso Sushi and Grill. This institution has been pleasing diners with a great combination of expertly-prepared nigiri and rolls as well as hot dishes from the kitchen. Miso’s teriyaki dinners are also very, very good. The meat’s cooked to tender perfection and the sweet sauce is mouth-wateringly tasty. The tempura dishes are also excellent, with a wonderfully light, crisp batter surrounding shrimp and vegetables. If you crave sushi, Miso does it right. The nigiri’s fresh and beautifully presented, and the rolls cover all the bases from traditional to modern. The room is small, but Miso manages to seat a fair number of customers without the space seeming overcrowded. Service is very good as well, with attentive staff there when you need them. Regulars also enjoy some benefits, as the chefs like to send out free rolls to frequent eaters!

Miso Sushi and Grill
4620 Jonestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17109
(717) 526-4088
www.misosushibar.com

Breads n’ Spreads: Cut A Slice

Sometimes the best foods are the simplest. In the case of Harrisburg’s Breads n’ Spreads, that adage holds true. This excellent luncheonette has been drawing raves from locals since opening in Midtown, with great homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches. The roast beef with curry spread on their house-baked grilled bread is spectacular, as is the excellent egg salad with bacon and tomato. Breads n' Spreads's sweets are also incredible, with toffee brownies winning raves from dessert customers. They also serve a popular Sunday brunch that lets the cooks try their hands at some well-received breakfast staples. The baked oatmeal with peaches is absolutely spectacular, as is the French toast. Their coffee is some of the best in the city, brewed fresh by espresso artisans. On nice days, sit outside in their charming courtyard and enjoy the sun. If you’re looking to get some work done, Breads n’ Spreads also offers free wireless Internet for customers.

Breads n’ Spreads
1419 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 695-7713
www.breadsnspreadsmidtown.com

Char’s Bella Mundo: An Upscale American Bistro

This beautiful old-world bistro filled a gap in Harrisburg’s dining scene when it opened, and since then it’s been the recipient of almost too many awards to count. The intimate dining room seats a little over 40 patrons, and also offers a small area for outdoor café-style seating. The intimate setting gives the incredibly talented kitchen the opportunity to deliver a spectacular dining experience from your first bite to your last. This place gets crowded very quickly, so make sure to make a reservation and keep it. Diners rave about just about everything on the European-inspired menu, from the luxurious swordfish steak to the amazing veal osso buco. This is a top-notch restaurant that’s widely considered to be the best meal in Harrisburg, so if you’re planning an evening out that needs to impress, Char’s Bella Mundo should be your first choice. The restaurant also hosts a popular Jazz Wednesdays where live bands accompany service and specially-chosen wines.

Char’s Bella Mundo
540 Race Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 213-4002
www.charsbellamundo.com

Garrason’s Tavern: Your New Local Hangout

It takes a number of essential factors to turn a bar into a neighborhood hangout. The service is probably the most important thing – if you’re treated like a regular, there’s a good chance you’ll become one. Harrisburg’s Garrason’s Tavern knows that maxim well, and over their twenty years in operation they’ve established themselves as one of the friendliest bars in town. First and foremost, that’s because of their fantastic drink specials. A wide array of beers are available, from national favorites to a few carefully-chosen microbrews. The bar is also locally famous for mixing the best Moscow Mule in hundreds of miles—this delicious concoction of vodka and ginger beer packs quite a kick. As for the food, it’s traditional bar grub, but executed very well. The burgers are huge and perfectly-charred, topped with a variety of goodies and served with hearty fries. Their pizzas are also very much worth ordering.

Garrason’s Tavern
400 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 232-2028
www.garrasonstavern.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

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

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