Progress Grill: A Taste of History

The moniker of Harrisburg’s Progress Grill is a little ironic—in a town that has seen a great deal of gentrification in the last decade, this local institution has stayed firmly stuck in the past. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as there’s still plenty of room in this world for old-school quality. The retro formal Progress Grill has been welcoming locals for decades, serving up American classics with skill. Service is some of the best in town—with a tradition of excellence like this place has, that shouldn’t be too surprising. Known for their steak and seafood, regulars rave that the prime rib is some of the best to be had anywhere, the crabcakes are spectacular, and the rack of lamb is a winner as well. One complaint about Progress Grill is that the prices are a touch too high, but you’re paying for history here.

Progress Grill
3526 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17109
(717) 652-7348
www.progressgrill.com

Tap into Troeg’s Brewing Company

Introduce yourself to Tröeg’s Brewing Company. Harrisburg is home to its prize-winning lagers, ales, and stouts! The Trogner brothers set up shop here in 1996. They know their brewing. A dozen brews are available, including the Scratch of the moment—scratch selections are experimental beers, created in sampling quantities and available only in Tröeg’s Tasting Room. You’ll want to visit the Tasting Room to try JavaHead oatmeal stout, flavored with coffee beans and cocoa ot Troegenator Double Bock, a frequent award recipient, including a 2010 World Beer Cup Gold Medal winner. A taste will compel you to return for seasonal winners like Flying Mouflan and Mad Elf Ale.

Informative guided tours are provided at fixed times on Saturday afternoons by reservation, so plan well in advance. Soft pretzels can accompany the tastings, but realize that beer, not food, is what this brewery does.

Tröegs Brewing Company
800 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 232-1297
www.troegs.com

Capital Area Greenbelt: A Hiker’s Paradise

Capital Area Greenbelt is a dedicated millennium trail for residents and visitors in need of a natural getaway. The recreational pathway runs in a ring around Harrisburg, offering a scenic track for hikers, bikers, skaters, and runners alike. If you're simply in the mood to take in the flourishing animals and plants, this is also a wonderful place to stroll with friends or walk your dog. A labyrinth of pathways and gardens makes it easy to get happily lost, but a series of well-marked signs and maps will help you find your way back home. In other words, you can get lost in the natural splendor without having to venture far from the bustle of the city.

Capital Area Greenbelt
1690 S. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 921-GREEN
www.caga.org

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

Visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts For Educational Entertainment

There's no need to choose when to visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. The unrivaled facility in downtown Harrisburg is the home to several resident arts companies, science exhibitions, and plenty of educational and entertainment-oriented programs. Whether you're in the mood to see a recently released movie on IMAX, check out three-floors worth of interactive science displays (all hands-on, of course), or take in a top-notch dance or theater performance, the Whitaker center is the place to be. True to its dedication as a resource for educational and expressive experience, the facility also offers 16 flexible spaces to accommodate practice spaces, private viewing events (for up to 1,500 guests), and elegant lobbies for private functions or gatherings. The Whitaker Center is one of the pulsing centers of Harrisburg's cultural activity.

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
222 Market St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 214-ARTS
www.whitakercenter.org

Five Senses Gardens

All this city life can make a soul pine for the natural world! Luckily the Five Senses Gardens are right here for Harrisburg residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Situated on the Capital Area Greenbelt, this lovely and distinctive park has endured some seriously adverse conditions in recent years, but thanks to the efforts of a very dedicated group of volunteers has rebounded and continues to serve the community. As you might guess from the name, the park is divided into five individual “gardens,” each one of which is designed to stimulate a specific sense! The sight garden offers flowering plants and beautiful botanicals that tantalize the eyes with color. The sound garden plays host to a wide variety of songbirds. The smell garden boasts a number of different plants that emit distinctive and pleasurable odors. The taste garden offers mint, blueberries and other examples of nature’s bounty. And, finally, the Labyrinth uses the sense of touch to navigate a maze. This is an experience not to be missed.

Five Senses Gardens
www.caga.org/five_senses_gardens

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Dunes: Desert Magic

Harrisburg natives who hanker for high-quality Mediterranean cuisine have been flocking to Dunes for years. One meal here will make you a convert! Step inside to Dunes and you’ll be transported to a dimly-lit souk far away, where a panoply of delicious options await you. Regulars rave about the lamb, which is cooked to staggering tenderness. The slow-cooking method of Moroccan cuisine is excellent for getting the most out of this sometimes tricky meat… and Dunes nails it. Start your meal with the tapas appetizer, which presents some regional favorites including hummus, zalouk, carrots, olives, and more. It’ll wake your mouth up to the rich diversity of flavor on offer here. Another specialty is the bastilas – pockets of phylo dough stuffed with shrimp, chicken or spinach, there’a perfect snack to grab and go. Couscous is also excellent. Some complain that the food can be uneven, but when it’s good it’s very, very good.

Dunes
19 South 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 695-0873
www.harrisburgdunes.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

Midtown Scholar Bookstore: Read And Learn

The independent bookstore is a dying breed, but stalwarts like Harrisburg’s Midtown Scholar are bucking the tide. There are things you can get at a locally-owned business that you can’t from Amazon or Barnes & Noble – most importantly, customer service. The employees here know their literature, and are happy to offer recommendations that usually hit the mark. This is the largest academic used bookstore between New York and Chicago, with an unreal selection of over 100,000 volumes! The space is incredibly beautiful, illuminated with tons of light, and it’s easy to lose many hours browsing the stacks, finding rare treasures at great prices. A kids play area gives the little ones a place of their own to enjoy. The bookstore also hosts a café that serves up delicious free trade coffees and teas. Friday and Saturday night the Midtown Scholar Bookstore uses some space for free concerts by local musical acts.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 236-1680
www.midtownscholar.com

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