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 In the Restaurant Row section of Harrisburg, just off 2nd Street on Locust you will find Carley's Ristorante & Piano Bar. Carley's features rustic Italian specialties including homemade pastas, pizza, veal dishes and whole fish entrees. |
 Carley's offers a unique selection of Antipasta dishes including this large meatball known on the menu simply as "The Meatball". This is a whopping 12 oz. traditional meatball with provolone cheese melted over it and served with three dipping sauces. The sauces are a Marinara, a Basil Pesto and a Tomato Coulis.
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 Like any fine Italian restaurant, pasta is a specialty at Carley's. The pasta is homemade and includes selections such as Lasagne Ai Bolognese di Mascarpone, Risotto Mantecato al Funghi e Cipolle and the Salsiccia e Pepperone pictured here. This is grilled Italian sweet rope sausage and peppers over angel hair pasta with Tomato Coulis. |
 From the Piatto Principale section of the menu Carley's offers the Italian favorites of Francese, Marsala, and Picatta in both chicken and veal selections. Additional entrees in this section include preparations of a seafood stew, rack of lamb, escolare, quail and more.
For more familiar territory Carley's offers a selection of Pizzas and Paninis both on their dinner menu, and with even greater variety on their lunch menu. The pizzas are made to personal proportions such as this Pizza Bianco which is whole milk ricotta, mascarpone cheese, sweet Italian sausage, basil chiffonade and plum tomato sauce. |
 As the name suggests, Carley's Ristorante & Piano Bar features a baby grand piano as part of its ambiance. Live music is performed on Friday and Saturday nights and diners are encouraged to join in with some of the sing-alongs and other favorites. Check their website for and updated list of performers. |
Carley's Ristorante & Piano Bar
204 Locust Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-909-9191
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Labels: Carley's Ristorante and Piano Bar, Harrisburg restaurant, Italian, piano bar, Restaurant Row
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 Right in the heart of Mechanicsburg on Main Street you will find a cozy little eatery known as the Warm Hearts Cafe.
Warm Hearts Cafe offers a wide variety of hot and cold drinks as well as breakfast and lunch selections and even Friday night dinners. |
 Warm Hearts' breakfast selection ranges from Bagels, heart-shaped Danishes, Biscotti, Oatmeal and Hash Browns and "Build Your Own" Breakfast Sandwiches.
The "Build Your Own" Breakfast Sandwiches allow you to choose from egg with bacon, ham or sausage on bagel, wrap or English Muffin with Provolone, American, Cheddar or Swiss Cheese.
Pictured here is a Breakfast Sandwich consisting of Egg, Sausage and Cheddar on an English Muffin with Hash Browns and a Mocha Latte. |
 In addition to the selection listed above, Warm Hearts Cafe makes Quiche daily and offers a varying selection.
Pictured here is a Broccoli Quiche along with a black coffee. Warm Hearts uses fresh roasted coffee beans from St. Thomas Roasters. They are one of only a handful of locations that you can find St. Thomas at on the West Shore. |
 For lunch & Friday night dinners they offer daily Soups and Chili, Baked Potatoes, Honey BBQ Wings, and a variety of Sandwiches and Wraps.
Additionally they offer Hebrew National Hot Dogs and Jumbo Hot Dogs with specialty selections such as this Southwest Dog. Here Chipotle Cheese, Red Peppers, Onion and Guacamole top a Hebrew National All Beef Hot Dog. |
 Wraps include your choice of Chicken or Tuna Salad, Turkey or Ham with Provolone, American, Cheddar, or Swiss Cheese, and your choice of Lettuce, Tomato, or Onions with Ranch Dressing on a Spinach, Plain or Sun-Dried Tomato wrap.
Here a Turkey, Lettuce and Tomato Wrap is complemented by a Strawberry Smoothie. |
 Sandwiches include a variety of Grilled Panini Sandwiches, a couple Hot Pretzel Sandwiches, Pork Barbecue, "Build Your Own" Deli Sandwiches, Hamburgers and more.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches can be combined with a variety of meats, breads, cheeses and with or without tomato. Pictured here is a specialty Italian Gourmet Grilled Cheese which is grilled Provolone Cheese and Tomato with Pesto on Thick Cut White Bread.
In addition to their fresh brewed Coffees, Teas, Lattes, Espressos, and cool Fountain Drinks and Smoothies they have a selection of unique Sodas. |
 Warm Hearts is open for breakfast and lunch only except Friday's when they accompany dinner with live entertainment.
A large stage area is permanently set up to accommodate their weekly jazz, acoustic and Christian performances.
A couple of sidewalk tables are also setup when weather permits to allow patrons to enjoy the outdoors. |
 Warm Hearts Cafe'
25 East Main Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-697-1600
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Labels: coffee house, live entertainment, Mechanicsburg restaurant, Warm Hearts Cafe
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 Look around downtown Harrisburg for a delicatessen like the countless number scattered throughout many other cities in the Northeast, and you'll find few choices. It was the discovery of these slim pickings that inspired restaurant owner Denise Tsipouras to bring the New York Deli to our capital city in the form of The 3rd Street Deli. |
 The deli is open for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Saturday. Breakfasts include typical start-of-the-day fare, such as a selection of Omelets, Pancakes, French Toast, Breakfast Sandwiches, Danish and Bagel and Lox. |
 The lunch menu features a selection of salads, wraps and deli subs highlighted by some traditional deli offerings. Some of these include Corn Beef on Jewish Rye and Chopped Chicken Livers on Kaiser Roll. The corn beef is a specialty of the house as they make their own.
There are plenty of sandwich choices as well, including Cheeseburgers, BLTs, Sloppy Joes and Chicken, Tuna or Egg Salad Sandwiches. The prices rival fast-food eateries and offer a fresher product. |
 Bar-like seating built into the former retail-display windows offers patrons a view across 3rd Street onto Capitol Park and the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building.
Pictured is an Egg Omelet, which comes accompanied by toast and home fries. |
 The 3rd Street Deli also makes their own mouth-watering desserts. Pictured here, clockwise from bottom right, are Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Strawberry Parfait, Chocolate Wafer Cake and Peanut Butter Cake.
If cake is your thing, the 3rd Street Deli offers a Break Time Special of a freshly baked slice of cake or cheesecake with a soda, coffee or tea, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. |
 3rd Street Deli
210 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-234-0240
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Labels: 3rd Street Deli, deli, Harrisburg restaurant
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 On Verbeke Street, just up from the Broad Street Market, is a neighborhood bar that finds itself being visited by patrons from far beyond the surrounding streets.
Beerheads from far and wide search out Shady McGrady's strictly for their over-the-top selection of beers. Owner Scott Thomas believes that his pub has one of the best selections of top quality beers in the State, and a stroll down the taps would make it hard to argue with him. I was only there five minutes before I heard someone who had just walked in say "My God... they have that on tap!!!" and I think that such exclamations occur frequently in front of Shady's modest u-shaped bar.
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 Shady McGrady's has a full 24 taps. With that much real estate you expect a fair share of macro-brews. Not here. Only one macro, and a Guinness, and the rest are all top-end micros or hard to find brews.
What about the food? Shady McGrady's offers a bar menu consisting of many of your usual subjects like wings, pizzas and your other fried favorites. But you get the sense that it is served more as a convenience to their patrons who want to get on to trying their next beer.
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 In addition to the draft beers, Shady McGrady's offers an ever expanding selection of bottled beer. In keeping with their craft brewed philosophy, many of these are hard to find specialty beers from around the country and the globe. They even feature one beer that is literally from all around the globe. Dogfish Head's Pangea is brewed with ingredients from each of the world's continents.
If you subscribe to the "beer is food" or "liquid bread" philosophies, Shady McGrady's is the place for you.
Shady McGrady's is only open evenings and it is a smoking bar, so plan accordingly. |
 Shady McGrady's
204 Verbeke Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-234-4070
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Labels: billiards, Harrisburg restaurant, Shady McGrady's, smoking
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 In 2002 Tom and Amy Scott looked around the landscape of what would soon be known as Restaurant Row in Harrisburg and noticed a distinct deficiency. There was no authentic Irish pub. This deficiency was rectified by them when they opened McGrath's Pub on Locust Street, just off Second Street.
The family run business has a family atmosphere on both sides of the bar. Family has a lot to do with this pub, as McGrath was the maiden name of Tom Scott's mother. And like any mother wants their food served, McGrath's strives to offer "comfort food in a comfortable setting."
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 Guinness has a special home in any Irish pub and here as well. In fact the first item on the menu is A Pint of Guinness because "every great Irish meal should start and end with the perfect pint O'Guinness!" McGrath's complements their Guinness with 20 beers on draft and another 75 in bottles.
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 When you think Irish you think green, but I'm guessing that Salads aren't exactly what you're picturing. At McGrath's though, maybe you should. They offer eight different salads and if you include all of the options the number goes up to fifteen.
For appetizers, they put an Irish spin on a lot of your favorites. The Celtic Wings have sauce choices of Celtic, Guinness Honey BBQ, Hot Garlic Habanero or Dublin. The Pot O' Gold is crab, roasted artichokes and creamy melted cheeses baked in a bread bowl. The Blarney Bread, pictured here, is Mozzarella, Parmesan and Cheddar cheeses mixed with Irish Mist Liqueur and smeared on a Cuban roll and broiled until golden brown. |
 Most of the entrees are either Irish favorites like Fish and Chips, Irish Lamb Stew, Bangers and Mash or this Shepherds Pie, or offer a nod to the land of the green like Bridget's Irish Meatloaf, Salmon Kilpatrick or the Emerald Isle Fisherman's Platter.
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 If you are looking for sandwiches, McGrath's offers four wraps, five burgers and another eight sandwiches, including a Batter Dipped Fish Sandwich, a Crab Cake Sandwich, and Irish Roast Beef Dip and this Pub Club, which is three slices of toasted thick cut sourdough bread layered with slow roasted sirloin, smoked turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon, Pepper Jack cheese and a good helping of mayonnaise.
McGrath's has a banquet room for private parties of 25-75 that also becomes a second bar area during busy nights. Stop in to find out why they say that "McGrath's is always greener."
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 McGrath's Pub
202 Locust Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-232-9914
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Labels: Harrisburg restaurant, Irish Pub, McGrath's Pub
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 Some towns you have to look a little harder to find. There are no exit signs off the freeway indicating where they are, in fact they aren't very close to the freeway at all. For Marietta, even the modestly traveled Route 441 zips by with barely an indication of the charming town that lies just blocks away. Nestled on the last street of this town, next to the river and the railroad tracks, is McCleary's Public House. |
 Though only known as McCleary's in the last few decades, the location has operated continuously as a bar &/or restaurant since the late 19th century. While the building has certainly gone through transformations and numerous updates in that time, it has still retained its old-world charm, which is befitting the town of Marietta and an Irish Pub. |
 While their appetizers include such pub favorites as Chicken Wings and Pub Cheese Spread, they also have some fusion dishes like this Seared Tuna. This is a 4 oz. Yellowfin Tuna Steak, seared rare and perched on a Seaweed Salad and garnished with an Asian Sesame Seed Glaze. |
 At McCleary's its easy to make your salad into a main course, if you are trying to count calories. You can easily request to add chicken, shrimp or fish on top of your salad. Here a fresh Caesar Salad is topped with a Breaded Basa Fish. |
 McCleary's features the traditional Irish favorites like Fish and Chips, McCleary's Shepherds Pie, Bangers and Mash, and Irish Seared Lamb Loin. In addition they serve plenty of American favorites like Seafood Sauté, McCleary's Crab Cakes and the 12 oz. New York Strip pictured here. They also offer a Vegetarian Pasta Du Jour. |
 Like a traditional Irish pub, music is an integral part of McCleary's. McCleary's has weekly entertainment with a schedule that can be found on their website. |
 In addition to the main dining rooms, McCleary's has several upstairs rooms that are used as overflow dining areas on busy nights. Alternatively, these rooms can be reserved for larger groups or private functions. And for when the weather is warmer, McCleary's has a 2000-square-foot deck that accommodates over 100 patrons.
McCleary's is also a hotel, making it an ideal nearby getaway. Some of their rooms offer verandas with views overlooking Front Street Marietta and across the Susquehanna River. |
 McClearey's Public House
130 West Front Street
Marietta, PA 17547
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Labels: Irish Pub, Marietta Restaurant, McCleary's Public House
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 As the oldest Irish Pub in the Harrisburg area, Coakley's has built up a lot of tradition. In fact it has been operating continuously as a bar and/or restaurant since 1895.
Located in the Olde Town section of New Cumberland, Coakley's has an atmosphere that can come from years in business only. It's kitsch - yet authentic. It seems forced - yet natural.
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 The restaurant is sprawling with multiple rooms that are certainly the result of an ever-expanding successful business.
At the start of the year new management took over at Coakley's. But they came in with an attitude of "If it ain't broke - don't fix it." They plan on following the same successful blueprint laid out by the Coakley family over the past quarter century. |
 The main focus of the new management is shoring up the consistency of the food. They brought on new staff with a tradition of excellence in the food service industry to make sure every item stands up to quality standards.
Here, an order of Coakley's Nibbler offers a glimpse at the appetizer selection, including Cheese Sticks, Onion Rings, Potato Skins, and Chicken Fingers with dipping sauces. |
 Among their seven salads is this meal-in-and-of-itself Pittsburgh Steak Salad. This is a mountain of crisp tossed lettuce with tomatoes and cucumbers topped with London broil, steak fries and onion rings. And believe it or not, this is the small.
Other salads include such selections as Taco Salad, Asian Chicken Salad and Coakley's California Salad. |
 In this image is Coakley's take on Salmon. The salmon is baked on a fresh cedar plank and finished with a dill sauce. Another salmon option offers it blackened and grilled and served with a honey mustard topping.
Coakley's menu is decidedly American until you get to the bar menu where there is a much more deliberate nod to the Emerald Isle. But if you are looking for a filling entree like the New York Strip Steak pictured below, you won't go wrong. |
 As part of their commitment to community involvement the new management staff has developed The Coakley's Foundation. The foundation is set up to help provide financial support to children to participate in after school activities such as sports, the arts, music and theater, who may otherwise be financially unable to participate. They also hope to help support the providers of these activities. T-shirts are being sold to help fund the foundation. |
 If it is traditional Irish food you are looking for, you might be in luck as the new owners may slowly introduce some favorites. For now, look for items such as this Corned Beef and Cabbage on the specials board. |
Coakley's Irish Pub
305 Bridge Street
New Cumberland, PA 17070
717-774-5556
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Labels: Coakley's Irish Pub, full bar, Irish Pub, New Cumberland Restaurant
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 Among the influx of restaurants that are leading to the revival of the North George Street area of York is The Harp and Fiddle. When you want some authentic Irish atmosphere, food, and drink any time of the year, The Harp and Fiddle has you covered. |
 While it is a fairly large pub, The Harp and Fiddle has a number of nooks and crannies that allow you to have the intimite feeling that Irish Pubs are known for.
The rich dark bar and matching woodwork of the Harp and Fiddle was imported directly from Dungarvan Ireland. A pair of fireplaces also help add warmth to the setting. |
 General Manager Damian McGarvey swears by the authenticity of the Harp and Fiddle's recipes. You see, Damian was born and raised in Ireland and the recipes the Harp and Fiddle uses come from his mother's kitchen and were passed down through generations. In fact, mom McGarvey still crosses the Atlantic once a year to make sure the recipes for the Shepherds Pie pictured here and other items have the same authenticity. |
 This hearty Steak and Guinness Stew is made from Guinness Stout, aged sirloin, onions, carrots and celery cooked into a savory stew then served over scallion mashed potatoes. It is by no means mandatory to order this with a side of dark luscious Guinness Stout... but is there really any other way to have it? |
 Here in the States we often throw our sausages in a roll and slather them with peppers and onions... but in Ireland they let them speak for themselves. In fact, they speak so loudly that they call them "bangers." And then they shorten "mashed potatoes" down to simply "mash." That's it. Bangers and Mash isn't nearly as strange as it may sound. At the Harp and Fiddle they accompany their Bangers and Mash with vegetarian baked beans and a rich brown sauce. And again, I accompany mine with a Guinness. |
 The final selection on their Irish Favorites section of the menu is their Classic Irish Fish and Chips. They use fresh Atlantic cod and beer batter it, then fry it to a perfect golden brown. It is served with fries (chips if you want to be authentic) and a side of green peas. We moved to the bar for this shot -- it was closer to the Guinness refills.
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 While the Irish favorites are quite literally THE favorites at the Harp and Fiddle, they also offer a selection of more traditional American appetizers, soups & salads, sandwiches and entrees. Entrees include selections like Jameson Barbequed Smoked Ribs, Pan Seared Maryland Crab Cakes and the Walnut Chicken pictured here. And just because you're not ordering traditional Irish food, there is no reason you can't still order a Guinness!! |
 Upstairs at the Harp and Fiddle is a private banquet/dining room that is known as the Abbey. This area is suitable for parties of 25 or more and can comfortably accommodate 75 seated guests or 125 standing guests. The Gothic bar in the Abbey is also imported from Ireland. |
The Harp and Fiddle
110 North George Street
York, PA 17401
717-854-4277
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Labels: banquets, full bar, Harp and Fiddle. York Restaurant, Irish Pub
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 Creating a traditional Irish pub takes more than slapping an apostrophe in your name and putting a keg of Guinness in your cooler. In Ireland the pub is a daily gathering spot--a place to unwind among friends--and the warmth of the Irish character is echoed in the pub's design. For that kind of atmosphere in Harrisburg, you can pop into Molly Brannigans.
|  As one of the early players in the development of Harrisburg's Restaurant Row, Molly Brannigans practically imported its interior, piece by piece, from Ireland. Molly Brannigans has a warm inviting decor with a number of nooks and crannies. In fact, since Molly's has entrances on two streets, it is common for barhoppers to unwittingly saddle up at Molly's bar twice in one night without realizing they've returned to the same place.
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 Ok... how about the food?
When starting a meal at Molly's, you may want to opt for this Spinach Salad, served with Feta cheese, green apples, craisins, bacon, red onions & tomatoes. It is one of their eight salads. |
 Living on an island, the Irish are pros at cooking fish. Molly's traditional Fish and Chips comes with a side of cole slaw and tartar sauce. |
 In addition to their traditional Irish fare, Molly Brannigans serves a selection of more Americanized pub grub, such as this 3-pack of Cheeseburger Sliders, as well as a number of wraps and traditional burgers and sandwiches. |
 Good ole American fare is great, but when going to an Irish Pub, why not stick to the classics? Like this Shepherd's Pie. Some other traditional favorites include Guinness Stew, Bangers and Mash and a selection of four different Boxties.
For those less adventurous souls, Molly's also has a selection of pasta, chicken and seafood entrees. |
 What would any trip to an Irish Pub be, though, without a pint of Guinness? Here, bartender Brooke satisfies that thirst for one of her customers.
Molly Brannigans is based in Erie and is poised to open another 7 restaurants across the country to complement the four in operation here in Pennsylvania. To date, the Molly's in Harrisburg's Restaurant Row remains the company's No. 1 producer. |
Molly Brannigans
31 N. Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
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Labels: Harrisburg restaurant, Irish Pub, Molly Brannigans
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 This Tuesday, the 17th, is St. Patrick's Day and to celebrate we are featuring a different Irish Pub each weekday. Be sure to check back each day, or better yet, subscribe to our RSS feed.
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 While St. Patrick's Day is only an official holiday in Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the tiny island of Montserrat, it is widely celebrated around the world and steeped in deep tradition. In fact, the first St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States dates back to 1737 and was organized by the Irish Society of Boston. Here in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia sports the 3rd oldest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the United States; it dates back to 1771. Local parades are organized in York and Harrisburg (photos from 2008 Harrisburg St. Patrick's Day Parade).
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 Guinness Fun Facts:
Do all Irish drink Guinness? - Though it may seem that way and it is by far the number one seller in Ireland, Guinness is not the only beer produced in Ireland (in fact not all Guinness is produced in Ireland anymore). Some of the others include Beamish Irish Stout, Murphy's Irish Stout, O'Hara's Celtic Stout, Harp Lager, Kinsale Irish Lager, Kilkenny Irish, Murphy's Irish Red, and Smithwick's Irish Ale.
Why do the bubbles fall down when you pour a Guinness? - This was debated for years before a study was actually done on the phenomenon. This is caused by a combination of factors. First, one of the properties of nitrogen, which Guinness is drawn with rather than CO2, is smaller bubbles. As with the larger bubbles in other beers, as the bubbles rise the ones on the side of the glass are slowed by friction. As a result the bubbles in the center of the glass rise faster. This causes a column of faster rising bubbles in the center of the glass which in turn create a current. This current disperses to the sides of the glass and actually pulls the bubbles down the side before they move back to the center and up again.
Why does it take so long to pour a Guinness? - This is actually a tradition that compensated for a practice which is now obsolete. Years ago when Guinness was poured from a cask it was common practice to pour the first half of the glass from an older cask. This was allowed to settle before adding the second half from a new cask. The practice is continued today because as the head from the first pour compresses it actually becomes more stable and helps with head retention.
Isn't Guinness heavy, fattening and strong? - The dark color of Guinness simply comes from roasting the grains to a dark color before brewing the beer. Actually, Guinness is on the lower end of the calorie scale. In fact, it is mostly only light beers that have fewer calories. It is also a little lower in alcohol content. Another added benefit is that Guinness is supposed to be extremely rich in antioxidants.
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 And finally, if you find yourself offering a toast this St. Patrick's Day, here are some traditional Irish ones to try:
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
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May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road...
And may all your friends remember
all the favours you are owed!
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May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
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Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.
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May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold—
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.
Sláinte!
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Labels: Central Pennsylvania, Event, Holiday, St. Patrick's Day
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 There is made to order, then there is made to order! At Neato Burrito they take made to order to a whole new level. Each fresh ingredient in these Mission-Style burritos is added immediately, at your request, right in front of your eyes.
If you live in the Harrisburg area and have never eaten a whole Neato Burrito --well you are probably not alone -- they are massive. If you've never tried a Neato Burrito, where have you been hiding?
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 Here's a walk through what to expect when ordering your burrito. First select from one of 7 tortillas. These range from the straightforward Flour Tortilla or gourmet tortillas like Honey Wheat, Jalapeno Cheese and Tomato Basil.
Next choose between Spanish, BBQ and Brown Rice then Black Beans, Refried Beans or Chili Beans. You can now either leave it vegetarian or add Chicken, Cajun Chicken or Buffalo Roast and finally choose whether to add shredded cheese.
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 The last choice before your burrito takes a trip into the steamer for a little R & R is the type of salsa. They have a Pico De Gallo and a Salsa Verde that are available everyday and another five daily special salsas that are each available on their specific days of the week. For example Tuesday's salsa is Jalapeno & Feta (feta cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, lime juice) and Friday features Salsa Bacharach (cucumbers, red onion, dill, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar). |
 Now that it is out of the steamer your burrito is ready for some fresh veggies. Choose your favorites from tomatoes, jalapenos, lettuce, onions and more, then if you'd like add either non-fat or regular sour cream.
This would also be a good time to request some hot sauce if you like that sort of thing. They use Sriracha hot sauce, which is just plain hard to beat. |
 Ok, time for the part that is best left to the professionals -- figuring out how to get all of this goodness wrapped into your tortilla.
Somehow (I honestly have no idea how they do it) the burrito maker (what do you call these guys? Burristas?) always manages to get it wrapped. |
 Lastly if you'd like, they will grill your burrito for a few moments before they send you on your way to enjoy your massive burrito.
There are other options if a burrito just isn't your speed, such as a Burrito-Bowl or a Burrito-Bowl on Chips. |
 Neato Burrito has handy fax order forms that you can fill out and have your burrito waiting when you arrive.
One word of caution though, Neato Burrito takes cash only. Make sure you hit the ATM before you arrive if you usually use your debit card to pay for things. |
Neato Burrito - Center City
209 N. 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-232-7467
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Labels: Harrisburg restaurant, Neato Burrito
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 In 1996 when the news was getting around town that an abandoned warehouse on North Cameron Street was being renovated into a brewery, it created quite a buzz. After all, it had been 45 years since Harrisburg could claim a brewery of its own. Due to neglect, substantial renovations were required. Upon opening in 1997 though, the 50,000 building that now housed Appalachian Brewing Company became one of the largest microbrewery/brewpubs in the country, and remains so today. |
 The lower level sports a large dining area as well as a large bar area. The North wall is entirely made of glass offering a full view into the brewing area. The bar features a seasonal selection of ABC's beers. Where ABC differs from many brewpubs is that they do not limit their patrons to their beers only. They allow their patrons the choices offered by a full bar as well as bottles of their competitor's beers. The bar also houses the "Mug Club" collection that offers club members special perks and discounts. |
 Not to be outdone by the brewers, the chefs turn out some quality grub. Here an order of Black and Bleu Pork Medallions is paired with a Trail Blaze Brown Ale. Trail Blaze is Pennsylvania's first and only Certified Organic beer.
Trail Blaze is one of eight flagship beers offered by the brewery year-round. These are accompanied by another dozen specialty beers that are released monthly and based on their seasonality.
Additionally Appalachian turns out their own Root Beer and Ginger Beer for those who want the fresh brewed flavor without the alcohol. |
 ABC (as the brewery is often referred to) offers a number of burgers and other sandwich options, pizzas, and a selection of hearty entrees. This Rockville Ribeye is juicy ribeye steak between two pieces of Texas garlic toast smothered with caramelized onion, mozzarella, provolone and creamy horseradish sauce. Behind it is their version of a liquid air conditioner. The perfect thirst quencher on a hot day - a pint of Water Gap Wheat. |
 The Sautéed Scallops offer a healthy portion of scallops on a bed of linguine that has been tossed with smoked salmon, artichoke hearts and asparagus and a garlic Parmesan tomato cream sauce.
With it is a pint of Jolly Scot Scottish Ale which lends its name from a beer made by R.H. Graupners Brewery, the last brewery in Harrisburg that had been located a block away from ABC's current location. |
 Like the brewery, the kitchen serves seasonal selections. This Smoked Salmon Plate is part of a special Irish Fest menu that turns St. Patrick's Day into a month long celebration. With it a Susquehanna Stoutt is ABC's own take of this Guinness-like style of beer. |
 In addition to the main floor, the ABC features a second level known as the Abbey Bar. The Abbey features over 50 Belgian beers in bottles and on draft in addition to their own fresh selection. The Abbey regularly features local and regional acts with no cover charge, a deck for enjoying the outdoors and pool tables. Off the Abbey is a banquet room for private functions. |
Appalachian Brewing Company
50 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-221-1080
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Labels: Appalacian Brewing Company, banquets, beer selection, billiards, brewery, full bar, Harrisburg restaurant
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 The Left Bank Restaurant and Bar continues to bring big city dining to York, Pennsylvania. Voted best overall restaurant in Central Pennsylvania Magazine's "Best of Central Pa" reader survey 2005-2007.
While designed after a Parisian restaurant by its previous owner and even deriving its name from La Rive Gauche (The Left Bank) of the river Seine in Paris, The Left Bank's cuisine is much more eclectic.
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 The bar area has a bit more of a cosmopolitan feel than the seating area, but the patrons were quick to point out how the Left Bank feels like a slice of New York stuck onto North George Street -- York. |
 The menu features fusion dishes like this Terriyaki Crusted Seared Yellowfin Tuna which is served with wasabi ginger buttered pad thai noodles, wok fired wakame seaweed & vegetables and firecracker.
Other entrees include such offerings as a Maple Dijon Glazed & Grilled Salmon Fillet, a Sauteed Petite Filet Mignon & Lump Crab Scampi and an Amaretto Chicken & Penne Pasta Saute.
There also is a lunch menu that includes a variety of sandwiches as well as lunch entrees. Sandwiches will be familiar with a Left Bank spin and the lunch entrees will be similar to the dinner entrees with a few alternative selections. |
 Executive Chef and Owner David Albright credits the Left Bank's success to his staff. After 10 years in business, over half his staff has been with him over 7 years. These are numbers that are unheard of in the restaurant business and serves to credit not only the staff themselves but the management and customers as well.
David strives to have his staff create a memorable dining experience for their patrons with each and every visit. He wants the restaurant to be a source for top rate food and atmosphere, but without the pretenses. |
 The restaurant has a literary theme running through it with its shelves full of books. In fact the bill is even brought out at the end of your meal in a book that is especially picked for you by your server. What will your book say about your personality? Only a trip to The Left Bank will tell. |
 The Left Bank Restaurant and Bar
120 North George Street
York, PA 17401
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Labels: full bar, fusion, The Left Bank Restaurant and Bar, York Restaurant
photography © Tom Wenger Photography, LLC posted by Tom Wenger at
9:37 PM
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 Among the restaurants within Kamionko Entertainment's ever evolving restaurant portfolio is the Bourbon Street Saloon. There's not much to tie this place to its Louisiana namesake other than being a good place to drink, have a good time and grab some pub grub, but then again, how many bars in New Orleans are exactly like this one? Plenty.
|  The interior is modest yet nicely appointed, with large sofas in the foyer for those who prefer to lounge. |  The food is distinctly American bar food but with a homemade touch. Their wing sauce is made from scratch. Unlike most, it is not a vinegar-based sauce, but it is full of flavor. Their Suicide Wings are so hot that if you can finish a plate, you get your picture taken and put on the wall. At the time of this posting, there was only one picture on the wall. And I can tell you from personal experience, these babies are made from fresh peppers and are hot! |  The menu claims that this Saloon serves the "Best Burgers in York!" of which they have 15 varieties, like this straightforward Bacon Cheeseburger. Some of the other varieties include Bourbon Burger (Grilled Onions, Cheese, Thousand Island, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Sweet Pickle), Rodeo Burger (BBQ Sauce, Onion Rings), Western Burger (Sour-Dough Bread, Grilled Onions, Cheese), and Italian Burger (Pepperoni, Mozzarella Cheese, Pizza Sauce).
One word of caution, though: the Saloon's hours are limited. As of this writing, they are only open Wednesday - Sunday evenings, and their website did not detail this. |  25 West Market Street York, PA 17401 717-854-3494
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Labels: Bourbon Street Saloon, full bar, hot wings, non-smoking, York Restaurant
photography © Tom Wenger Photography, LLC posted by Tom Wenger at
6:00 AM
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