Sandwich restaurant is at 3499 Market St. in Hampden Township. August 15, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
So far, 2019 has been a stellar year for new restaurant openings. Whether sandwich shop, Indian eatery or brewery, these places in the Harrisburg area have found their niche in customer’s daily routine.
Tikka Shack, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with locations in Texas and Arizona, opened a new franchise in Mechanicsburg on June 25, 2019 Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJOE HERMITT
825 Hogestown Road, Silver Spring Township, 717-889-0111
Located near Deloitte and CarMax, this new, clean cut Indian eatery is a delight. “Seriously good Indian food” is the truthful motto here. The streamlined eat-in or take out boxy cafe modernizes the menu by offering craft-your-curry, tikka grill and vegetarian bowls. For starters, Tikka pizza crosses into Indian comfort fare with super thin Naan crust, and distinctive, exotic tikka sauce, fresh garlic, mozzarella, chopped red onions, tomatoes and chopped fresh cilantro. Add chicken for an additional dollar. But don’t stop at the starters. For more comforting entrees such as the house favorite, creamy butter masala ($9.50), it is made with big, tender chunks of meat. The aromatic, cumin scented sauce cascades over a fluffy, flavorful basmati rice. For value for the dollar, generous portions and delectable Indian fare, this Indian “shack” is worth a visit.
Mimi Brodeur
231 N. Hanover St., Carlisle, 223-212-5192
This 19th century prominent black and white stone manor was once the home of John Hays, a Civil War soldier and business man. He started Frog Switch Manufacturing Company. Sunny yellow walls and generous natural lighting cheer up the interior of the casual and relaxing cafe. New York style deli sandwiches range from a Long Island egg sandwich ($4.95) made with twin over-medium eggs, American cheese, thick-sliced bacon on poppy seed roll to the lunchtime favorite, the Simple Pig ($8.95); brown sugar and honey ham on buttered griddled-golden bun. The Dutch ($8.95) is an enormous, two-handed sandwich made on warm fluffy, family-secret-recipe flatbread. Slices of turkey, crisp bacon, Swiss, diced red onion, lettuce, tomato, arugula and creamy avocado mayonnaise somehow all fit under the flatbread lid. This sandwich is deliciously messy.
The Olive Oil Grille in Camp Hill. June 28, 2019 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COM
71 Erford Road, Camp Hill, 717-761-4455
Nothing gets more attention around town than when a new restaurant gels with the neighborhood. Maryam and John Kranias and John’s brother Niko Kranias pooled their ideas and recipes to come up with this clever, health-conscious Mediterranean cafe.
At the assembly line counter, start with a bowl, pita or salad, ($9.87) and choose a base such as ancient grains, brown rice or power blend of greens. To flavor this base, dips and spreads have lots of flavor. Fire feta gets its mild heat from jalapeños and hummus is well pronounced by roasted red pepper. Braised beef and lamb come next but moist, lip-smacking lamb meatballs speckled with chopped fresh parsley are worth the $1.65 up charge. Finally, toppings like house made lemon slaw, herbaceous white beans or grenadine pickled pink onions and house dressings complete this conglomerate of varied ingredients. Mediterranean, health conscious homemade food at Olive Oil Grille has garnered attention and appetites. As Maryam says, “the reception has been fantastic. We’ve been very busy.”
Market
3700 Market Street, Camp Hill, 717-975-3800
“One of the things I’ve always remembered during my childhood was going to the farmers' market with my grandparents. I loved going to see all the fresh fruits and vegetables," said Megan Seigerth, former pastry chef at Sophia’s on Market.
Earlier this year she took over the business and renamed it Market.
“In fact, I still love going to the market to source local produce. I’m trying to do my own thing. I’ve totally changed recipes to make them my own," she added.
Two of the most popular presentations are the crispy chicken hot Sammy ($10) with surprise house made pickles on brioche bun and the avocado toast ($6). Smashed one finger thick avocado is pressed onto multigrain toast and topped with roasted, candy sweet and tomatoes and cracked black pepper. This toast goes over the top with the additional poached egg ($2) cascading over the crusty edges.
The interior of Koda. Koda restaurant, and partner Newfangled Brew Works, operate in a 12,000-square-foot space at 8001 Union Station Blvd. in Lower Paxton Township. The restaurant and brewery are separate entities but will work in collaboration under the same roof. November 28, 2018. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COM
Koda
8001 Union Station Blvd., Lower Paxton Township, 717-982-6473
Cobalt blue isn’t a common restaurant color and Koda isn’t your average central Pa. dining destination. During the day, the huge dining space is doused in natural light from double rows of windows and oversized light fixtures dangling from high industrial piped ceiling. By night, the expansive dining room has a blue glow and modern feel. It’s not cozy or warm but quirky, minimalist and as wide open as a high school gym.
Every dish is made with the same attention to quality and preparation. Pinky-size oysters are cloaked in a crunchy potato crust and served with cilantro tartar, ($16 or served raw with chopped cocktail). A wood grill perfected King ribeye steak ($28) seeps in natural juices and herby butter and is accompanied by crisp, beef-fat natural cut fries and garden fresh peas.
Worth the price tags, Koda and Newfangled Brew Works stand out amongst the restaurant/brewery crowds with whimsical open settings, inventive yet unpretentious menus and caring, happy staff.
Cold Springs Inn and Brewing Company along the Yellow Breeches Creek in Mechanicsburg, opened on Monday, June 17, after two years of work by Chris Crowley and Dennis Mulroy. June 17, 2019 Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
Cold Springs Inn and Brewing Company
993 Park Place, Mechanicsburg, 717-790-9395
Diners at tiered decks sit above the Yellow Breeches Creek and along the water’s edge at this novel inn and brewing company. The unique, waterfront spot also catches the eye of tubers, kayakers and folks seated in canoes meandering down the creek. There’s a bank where they can pull up their boats and head to the bar and restaurant. Hearty pub fare is served here beginning with appetizers: Philly cheese steak rolls (3 for $9.95) and bacon bombs (mozzarella cheese wrapped in bacon and pastry ($8.95) to crisply, deep fried onion rings ($5.95) and skinny, addictive fresh cut fries ($4.95). Slow, smoked pit beef sandwiches cover fingers in natural juices, especially after a dip in the au jus vat. This sandwich is especially pungent with horseradish swiped beneath Kaiser roll. Flame grilled CSI burger ($10.95) with little crisp bits around the edges are always a solid choice or the pulled pork ($12.95).
First Watch restaurant has opened its first central Pa. "daytime cafe" at the Hershey Towne Square at 151 W. Chocolate Ave, February 25, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COM
151 West Chocolate Ave., Suite 143, Hershey, 717-500-2230
Breakfast for lunch or lunch for breakfast. It doesn’t matter, either meal is served from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Go big, go healthy but don’t go home until you’ve tried something from the scratch kitchen. One of the most popular items from the lengthy menu is the highlighted chickichanga ($10.99); a whipped egg concoction consisting of all-natural, hormone free chicken breast, green chilies, cheeses, onions and fresh avocado rolled into a flour tortilla and served with Vera Cruz sauce and sour cream. For a simply luscious breakfast, order the avocado toast ($10.69) served with two basted cage-free eggs that literally melt in your mouth like butter. Scoops of velvety fresh avocado are thick on top of chewy, toasted whole grain slices. A slight sprinkle of Maldon sea salt enhances the intrinsic flavor of the eggs and avocado. Pair any breakfast with "Million Dollar" bacon slices for an additional $4.99.
2850 Horseshoe Pike, Palmyra, 717-641-3258
Nothing has sparked more curiosity amongst the local dining scene than the reopening of this local landmark. The centuries-old dive bar has turned into a grandiose, good time livening up Campbelltown’s Main Street. Friday and Saturday nights especially the Who’s Who of Hershey and Hummelstown step out and saddle up to the bar as live music plays nearby. Perogies ($6) don’t get much better than the ones served here heaped with caramelized onions and crispy pancetta. The conspiracy burger ($15) epitomizes the two handed sandwich heading, toppling with hash browns, fried egg, melted cheeses, seasoned tomato and candied bacon or delve into an oversized cheeseburger ($13) made with creamy Havarti and caramelized onions.
25 N. 32nd Street, Camp Hill, 717-801-0503
Healthy eating gets a high five at this wholesome restaurant chain established in 2015. Leafy dark greens, sustainable proteins, grains, crisp-tender vegetables and slow-simmered bone broths come together on power plates or build-your-own bowls. Keep score of your daily calories listed under menu items. Sculpted ice cream scoops of hummus and crispy falafel balls sit prominently atop lofty salad greens, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes and red onion served with refreshing cucumber basil dressing.
300 Market St., #157-159, Harrisburg, 717-603-3501
6449 Carlisle Pike, Silver Spring Township, 717-790-2119
Hershey Towne Square, 151 West Chocolate Avenue, #142 717-500-5335
Freshido is the latest uber-modern, fresh and healthy focused storefront to hit Harrisburg, Hershey and Silver Spring Township. Quick, cafeteria-style service allows customers to customize eat-in or take out poke bowls or good for the body, burritos. Poke refers to the Hawaiian word that means “to cut or cut crosswise as in fresh fish or vegetables" on sushi and salad bar topped quinoa or rice bowls. Vats of fresh vegetables, meats and sushi are lined up opposite the glass. Choose from tofu, seaweed, raw marinated fish, chicken, pork and beef or ask for one of the specials if you can’t decide.
Mimi Brodeur
2853 Hershey Rd.,Elizabethtown, 717-361-4442
Hershey Bistro is only 15 minutes to Hersheypark. You’ll get value for the dollar, big portions, decent down-home cooking and friendly, experienced service. Owner Brenda Sheehan never dreamed of opening a restaurant but as she says “life takes you on a different journey, that’s for sure. It’s been a home run for all of us.” The renovated, rustic bistro along route 743 has been a local’s favorite for decades and once you have eaten breakfast here, you are hooked. Ingredients for omelettes are folded into three eggs for creations such as the vegetarian omelette ($8.59), swirled with spinach, cremini mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. It's served with home fries and toast or fat pieces of French toast with fresh, locally-sourced seasonal toppings.
Some comfort foods such as old-fashioned favorites, Gene Wengers' ham loaf served with pineapple sauce and two sides on Sundays and slow-simmered homemade chicken pot pie enhanced by homemade noodles and vegetable steeped broth served as a Monday special. “I don’t dare take these items off the menu," Sheehan said. “Residents have not wanted me to change a lot of things but gradually I’m updating and eliminating things from the menu.”
3499 Market Street, Hampden Township, 717-603-3992
When Doug and Debra Barry, owners of the Pizza Grille chain, launched their pilot eatery, Sandwich, they wanted to keep it as simple as possible. “Everywhere you go including the grocery store there are so many choices. It’s annoying We felt this is the way people are leaning," Doug Barry said.
Sandwich is direct and to the point. There are no preservatives or nitrates in any of the ingredients, including the meats, cold cuts and even the fresh cut French fries ($2).
"Sliced potatoes all have preservatives, so we rinse, dry and cut the potatoes fresh every day," he said.
Melt-in-your-mouth, deep-fried French fries are served with salt or Old bay seasoning. For 50 cents extra, get an earthy, pungent truffle dipping sauce.
Sandwich focuses primarily on sandwiches ($7.50-$10.50) categorized by meat or vegetarian. And there are protein plates (also categorized by meat or shrimp salad) served with one side ($4.50-$5.75), one or two daily soups such as chicken corn ($4.50) and three different salads ($5.25-$9.75) with house made vinaigrettes. They also serve thick milkshakes ($4) including a caffeine stoked shake made with half ice cream and half cold brew coffee.
Iron Hill Restaurant & Brewery
101 West Chocolate Ave., Hershey Towne Square, 717-312-5164
The uplifting, gregarious bar and restaurant is so novel and inviting that it is impossible to wander in and find a seat without reservations on weekends. The beers are good, especially the ever-popular, hoppy Lap Bar IPA but this place is also known to have decent and different pub fare such as top seller, robust Philly cheesesteak egg rolls ($12). They are packed with ripply, tender slices of meat and moistened by caramelized onions and melted American cheese. When Triple Chocolate Hill ($9) dessert is ordered, 75 cents will be donated to the local charity Cocoa Packs, which supplements food for those students in need on weekends, holidays and summers.
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