 In recent years, Tapas have gained popularity in the United States. Tapas have come to mean “small plates” here in the States, but the exact origin of this type of dish is up for debate. Some argue that the literal translation comes from the Spanish verb “tapar,” which means “to cover,” and that the original tapas were slices bread or cheese that tavern-goers covered their glasses of sherry with to fend off fruit flies. Others say that there once was a far-away king who needed a small bite of something to stomach his drink, and so he decreed that everyone order and eat “small plates” with their drinks. |
 Not only the first tapas bar to open in Harrisburg, Suba also claims to be the only authentic tapas bar in the city. Suba is located on North Street above Mangia Qui.
Today, tapas in the United States have become a meal in-and-of themselves; diners order a variety of small dishes to create a full meal. Pictured here is an order of Gambas, which is sizzling shrimp, garlic, parsley and lemon. |
 For a snack with some flair, try the Queso Flambeado. Literally translated, “flaming cheese” is a plate of house-made blue tortillas accompanied by queso fresco and chorizo melted together and lit ablaze.
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 Suba’s menu has over 25 tapas choices in all, so there is plenty of variety.
In fact, some of its menu items you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else, such as this Jamon Serrano ham. This is a lean ham, which is cured in the mountains of Spain for 12-18 months, has a rich nutty flavor. |
 In addition to its selection of tapas, Suba has over half a dozen specialty tacos. Tacos include offerings like the Coco Loco (lightly battered shrimp, fresh pineapple salsa, coconut chutney, Viatnamese cilantro, and nopalitos on a warm flour tortilla) or the Cordero (roasted lamb shish, hummous, apricot chipotle glaze, and watercress on a warm flour tortilla), or this Suba Taco (fried crispy tilapia, salsa rosa, avocado, mango cilantro salsa and shredded cabbage on a warm flour tortilla).
Pictured with the taco is one of Suba’s specialty drinks–the Firefly, which is house-made, habenero-infused silver tequila, mango, Bacardi Limon, Midori, lime and mint. The drink menu at Suba changes seasonally and includes Spanaish Sangrias, top- shelf Rums and Tequilas, Mojitos and their own specialty concoctions. |
 Suba272 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-233-7358
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Having the City of Brotherly Love in our back yard, the residents of the Susquehanna Valley have a pretty firm grip on what a cheese steak should or should not be. With their continued popularity (they’ve notched over 15 years now), it appears South Philly Hoagies has zeroed in on the formula.
South Philly offers their hoagies in three sizes, Baby Small and Large where the babies will sate most appetites and a large being just plain massive. The rolls are imported daily from Philadelphia so authenticity is unquestionable. In this photo is a 
Though the Cheese Steaks are their best sellers and what they are known for, they feature a whole line of hot and cold Hoagies like this Ham and Cheese Hoagie which features two kinds of ham piled high and provolone cheese. Other Hoagies include most all of the favorites and selections like
Additionally South Philly offers a selection of eight wraps such as the 
If a Hoagie is a little more than your hungering for, they have a selection of Sandwiches to choose from. Most are served on a Kaiser Roll such as their 
Finally, if a salad is more your speed, South Philly has you covered with over 10 to choose from. And just because you ordered a salad, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t still going to get a filling meal. Their salads come in Half and Whole sizes and include such selections as Tossed Salad, Caesar Salad, Steak Salad, a Chef Salad like the one pictured, and more.
If you aren’t from the Linglestown area, you may wonder as you drive through town why so many of the businesses use St. Thomas in their name. St. Thomas Roasters is one such business, and it took owner Geof Smith to shine a light on the mystery for me, but more on that later. St. Thomas Roasters is a quaint little coffee house that takes coffee to the next level by roasting their own beans.
In this picture Geof releases freshly roasted beans from the roaster into the cooling hopper.
After roasting Geof mixes beans with flavoring agents to create the specialty coffees that they also have available.
In addition to their freshly roasted coffee, St. Thomas Roasters has a selection of food items for breakfast or lunch.
Lunch includes a selection of 
There is also a selection of pastries available at lunch. Here their 
On Harrisburg’s somewhat off-the-beaten-path North Street, just off Restaurant Row you can find yourself in a totally different epicurean neighborhood – Tuscany. Mangia Qui brings authentic tastes of Italy to central Pennsylvania.
Mangia Qui strives to use sustainable organic foods, buy local and find the finest ingredients available.
Other Antipasti includes selections like 
The bread served with dinner is a fresh-baked herb-crusted foccaccia. Pictured is a whole loaf fresh out of the oven before it gets cut into individual slices.
Some of the selections look more like works of art than food, such is the case with this 
The fish isn’t included on the menu as it changes daily. Pictured here a striped bass is poached in white wine and fresh herbs, purple Peruvian potatoes, English peas, littleneck clams and finished in a light cream sauce
The 
Tucked back into a residential neighborhood and overlooking 
But even though they sit on a golf course, their menu is anything but pretentious. Choices like these 
If you are looking for more than just munchies, Bogey Mac’s has you covered with their three main entree categories of 
After all of that, is there any possible way you’ve left room for dessert? Hopefully so. But even dessert may not finish you off since Bogey Mac’s has regular live music performances. You may just want to stick around a little longer to take in some tunes or boogie off some calories. Check 
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 
Like any fine Italian restaurant, pasta is a specialty at Carley’s. The pasta is homemade and includes selections such as 
From the Piatto Principale section of the menu Carley’s offers the Italian favorites of 
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.
Right in the heart of Mechanicsburg on Main Street you will find a cozy little eatery known as the Warm Hearts Cafe.
Warm Hearts’ breakfast selection ranges from Bagels, heart-shaped 
In addition to the selection listed above, Warm Hearts Cafe makes 
For lunch & Friday night dinners they offer daily 
Wraps include your choice of 
Sandwiches include a variety of 
Warm Hearts is open for breakfast and lunch only except Friday’s when they accompany dinner with live entertainment.
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 
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.
Bar-like seating built into the former retail-display windows offers patrons a view across 3rd Street onto Capitol Park and the 
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.
3rd Street Deli
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.
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.
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. 
Shady McGrady’s
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.
Guinness has a special home in any Irish pub and here as well. In fact the first item on the menu is 
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.
Most of the entrees are either Irish favorites like 
If you are looking for sandwiches, McGrath’s offers four wraps, five burgers and another eight sandwiches, including a 