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

McGrath’s Pub: A Neighborhood Institution

There’s something about the atmosphere of an old-school Irish pub that’s impossible to duplicate: dark wood, friendly bartenders, and a crowd of regulars that never seem to change. Since opening in Harrisburg in 2002, McGrath's Pub has been providing the authentic pub experience to hordes of thirsty people, offering excellent food at great prices. McGrath's is certainly not anything fancy – it’s bar grub through and through, but it’s all executed well. The Celtic wings (a re-interpretation of the classic Buffalo wing with a choice of sauces) are cooked to perfection, and the pulled venison BBQ sandwich is a unique treat. McGrath's fish and chips are made with salmon instead of the traditional cod, which seems strange until you try it. A local favorite is Irish nachos, made from fried potato skins with melted cheese, scallions, bacon and banana peppers. The tap beer selection is great and the bar can make just about any drink you desire.

McGrath’s Pub
202 Locust Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 232-9914
www.mcgrathspub.net

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

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

Brick City Bar & Grille

We all need a neighborhood spot to get away, where the bartenders know our name and nobody’s going to hassle us. Harrisburg's Brick City Bar & Grille is your place. Just minutes from downtown, locals claim that it’s the best sports bar in the zip code, with a number of flat-screen TVs showing sports from all over the world.  While you’re there, Brick City offers plenty to quench your thirst and fill your stomach. The fish and chips are spectacular – perfectly breaded and fried, served with amazing shoestring fries and tart cole slaw. The fried calamari is also really good, and the herby aioli for dipping compliments the flavors nicely. Garlic waffle fries are also excellent. The beer and wine selection is above average, and service is attentive and helpful. And even with everything else going on in the space, the volume level's still not too high to carry on a conversation with your pals!

Brick City Bar & Grille
1313 North 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 232-2522
www.brickcitybarandgrille.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

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

Toast to Irish Hospitality at Molly Brannigans

Here’s a pub that really capitalizes on its Irish heritage. If too much Guinness + Boddingtons fuzzes your memory on where you’ve landed, the Irish furnishings throughout the décor will bring it back. Though Molly’s menu graciously adds selections outside traditional Irish food, you can’t go wrong sticking to the traditional favorites. Bangers & mash are a big hit (Irish sausage and mashed redskin potatoes with onion gravy); ditto the Shepherd’s pie. You’ll find any variety of Boxty to suit your mood (Irish potato pancakes stuffed with all sorts of exciting entrée combos). A dense page describes some of the other “pub grub” available, not including all the soups, salads, appetizers, and dinner selections. And when you’re traveling and find yourself pining away for Molly Brannigans, you’ll hope to find yourself in Erie or Pittsburgh, Molly’s other two home towns.

Molly Brannigans
2nd and Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 260-9242
www.mollybrannigans.com

Las Delicias: Authentic Latin Home Cooking, A Restaurant as Delicious as its Name

Las Delicias offers all the spice and flair of Latin cuisine. This family-run restaurant offers a pan-continental offering of dishes and specialties from both Central and South America. There is nothing ""fast"" about the food served at Las Delicias—from juicy chicken to tender Puerto Rican roast pig (pernil) to sweet and salty stuffed plantains (platanos rellenos), everything is made fresh and has the kind of deep aromatic flavor that only come from dedicated preparation and love. The interior looks a bit run down with its weathered vinyl booths, but the food is authentic and the loyal customers give off an intimate, family atmosphere that make it well worth a trip. 

Las Delicias
2060 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2301
(717) 233-3664

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