Over at PennLive, I’ve been sharing memories and trends during my last decade covering the greater Harrisburg area’s nightlife.
You can find my 10 most notable nightlife moments through the years — the “must trys” and theme parties, the weird trends and those we wish would return — on PennLive. While creating this list, as the food-related items piled up, I thought they deserved their own list. And such, this is the 10 iconic Harrisburg foods over the last decade, plus where to find them now (and a bunch of runners-up!).
1. Killer bread at the original Zephyr (and Fisaga, North St. Zephyr)
The secret ingredient to this must-have pre-dinner treat would frighten today’s health conscious, but back then, mayonnaise was the key to this deliciousness. Add a signature chopped salad and there was lunch.
Get it: Donnie Brown’s secret to success? Tasty breads. It’s not the same, but you can get FireBread at The FireHouse or Black N Bleu.
Read more after the break.
2. Kokomo’s wings
I wasn’t much of a wing-eater back in the day, but my dad still will not shut up about how great Kokomo’s wings were. Service was abominable, practically every location was a disaster, but it didn’t matter. Kokomo’s wings reigned supreme.
Get it: Arooga’s is now the wing king. Much less drama, many more locations.
3. Spot dogs
It was hard not to fit this on the nightlife list, because what better excuse for eating a greasy, chili-smothered cheese dog at 2 a.m. than being drunk? Still, these things were sinfully good.
Get it: At Metro Bank Park! Did you know The Spot has a stand on the Boardwalk? It’s sometimes easy to miss, but it’s to the right just after you enter the ballpark. For your nightlife hot dog fix, there is only one answer: PD’s Pretzel Dogs. Accept no substitute.
4. Sauce-on-top pizza and fishbowls at The Subway Cafe
Another one for the nightlife list. Area newbs, take note: this is not a Subway chain restaurant. The Subway Cafe is a storied Harrisburg classic (It is one of two popular locations in John Luciew’s Fatal Dead Lines novel.) The personal-sized pizzas are best plain, in my opinion, and accompanied by a fishbowl of beer. Don’t miss out on dessert here, either. The Chocolate Eclairs and Peanut Butter Pie are made in-house and are fantastic.
Get it: Thankfully, not even a pair of floods can make The Subway Cafe go under. Check out the water level lines on display when you visit.
5. Major League menu at Zembie’s
Did you know that Zembie’s Sports Tavern used to be a Gingerbread Man restaurant? That was well before my time, but if the mirrors and goose handles at this sports bar ever left you wondering — that’s why. Did you also know that Zembie’s honors every Harrisburg Senator baseball player who made it to the major league by naming a sandwich after him? Choose from the likes of Milton Bradley (smoked ham, turkey, bacon and cheddar on kaiser) or the Shane Bennett (California cheesesteak!) or any of the 20+ in-between.
Get it: Hey, they didn’t go anywhere. Do note, they allow smoking after 9 p.m.
6. Steak at Scott’s Grille
Weirdly, I am probably asked more often where to get a good steak (at home, from my freezer, by the way). Scott’s Grille was my spot. I’ve heard conflicting reports over the years, but all of my experiences were great. Back when Chef Joe Mishler ran things, it was tops (you can find him at Devon now, by the way).
Get it: Another legislator hot spot, people tell me Tavern on the Hill is next on the list for steak.
7. Steak at The Glass Lounge
One Bob Flounders treated me to The Glass Lounge for the first time years ago. It’s a Patriot-News favorite, in fact. It’s okay. It’s again the novelty of this spot that makes it so popular. It’s a casual, no frills bar and restaurant. It’s also fun to advise people who have never been to ask for “extra carrots” on their salad.
Get it: Any time you want to.
8. Jackson House burgers
I have beef with a place that regularly runs out of beef and the patty falls apart, but everyone else agrees that the Jackson House is THE place for burgers in the Harrisburg area. UPDATE: Continuing to prove me wrong, the Jackson House won PennLive’s 2013 Burger Battle.
Get it: During limited lunch hours only, no holidays. Go early or run the risk that they are sold out.
9. Phoenecian trout at The Fire House
Back in the ’00s, when “American” cuisine was plaguing every menu on Restaurant Row, The Fire House’s Phoenician Trout, revealed at your table from its salt bath, was somewhat of a rite of passage for those of us just learning to expand our palate.
Get it: At both The Fire House and Black N Bleu.
10. Gyros at the Pep Grill
Until last year when Hellenic Kouzina opened, the question often was posed, “Why do we not have any Greek restaurants?” Way back when the Camp Hill Mall was still, well, a mall, Spiro’s Gyros was a staple of the food court. When the mall was transformed to a strip, Spiro moved into his sister’s restaurant, what we know as The Pep Grill, and added authentic Greek cuisine to the menu. His gyros were tops.
Get it: The aforementioned Hellenic Kouzina would be ideal.
Honorable mentions go to:
- Olive tapenade at 5:01 Downtown. It required an immediate food-in-teeth check, but I’ve never had anything that came as close to it. Spectacular.
- “Little puffs of heaven” at Shady McGrady’s. Spicy cheese hidden inside little fried puffs. Gone but not forgotten!
- Mercado’s late night window. Tips: Only order Mercado’s pizza by the whole pie or when their late night window is pushing out maximum product.
- Fish tacos at Suba. A new but worthy classic. Oh, and half price during Happy Hour Tuesday through Friday.
What did I miss? What are your Harrisburg favorites?
