It was a big year for restaurant openings in the Harrisburg area.
Newcomers include a slew of fast casual restaurants and chains as well as flavorful ethnic stops and breweries. More than ever, the number of Asian establishments is exploding with everything from Chinese to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern.
But if there’s one theme, diners are gravitating toward casual atmospheres with memorable foods that draw them back for more.
Here are several restaurant openings PennLive reported on this year. Be sure to check them out in 2020, if you haven’t already.
Rice & Beans Diner has opened at 319 S. 17th St. in Harrisburg.
Rice & Beans Diner joined the growing Allison Hill restaurant scene in February at 319 S. 17th St.
The specialty is Caribbean food with Spanish and American influences; its menu punctuated with oxtail, pork feet, stewed chicken, mashed fried plantains, paella, hamburgers and breakfast.
Owners, husband and wife Jose Pichardo and Starlyn Rivera, borrowed the concept from their Brooklyn, New York, Rice & Beans restaurant. About two years ago they moved their three children to the Harrisburg area where Pichardo’s cousin lives.
“When I came in, I saw there is nothing with my concept. That’s why I try and come with a little bit of everything,” Pichardo said.
Poke bowls arrived on the West Shore in February.
Freshido, a local chain operated by partners Shawn You and Benson Chan with locations in Harrisburg and Hershey, opened an outpost at 6449 Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township.
“It’s a great area. We have lots of customers downtown from the West Shore,” You said.
The two hope to capitalize on the busy Carlisle Pike and nearby residential areas on the West Shore. The 2,200 square-foot restaurant seats about 50 diners and offers counter service and custom menu offerings.
Poke (pronounced POH-Keh) bowls, basically deconstructed sushi, are the focus of the menu. The bowls are comprised of chunks of fish, rice and vegetables with various umami and flavor-packed sauces.
First Watch Hershey is located at 151 W. Chocolate Ave. Suite 143 at the Hershey Towne Square. Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, October 28, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
First Watch, a new early-morning stop, gave diners in central Pa. two reasons to wake up this year. The Florida-based chain restaurant opened its first central Pa. “daytime cafe” Feb. 25 at 151 W. Chocolate Ave. at the Hershey Towne Square and followed with a second one at 101 Senate Ave. in East Pennsboro Township in the fall.
Diners order cups of Colombian coffee and fresh squeezed juices along with Floridian French Toast topped with kiwi, banana and strawberries; piled-high avocado toast; and Sunrise Granola Bowls.
First Watch opened its first restaurant about 30 years ago in California and now operates 250 locations throughout the United States. It is named after the nautical term that refers to the first shift of the day.
The restaurants are open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., daily, and concentrate on breakfast, brunch and lunch foods.
Hops, Vines and Spirits Tasting Room
Hops, Vines & Spirits Tasting Room opened in February at Mulligan’s Downtown Pub at 17 N. Second St. in Harrisburg.
Basically an emporium of Pa.-produced beers, wines and spirits, Hops, Vines & Spirits specializes in variety of beverages and brands under one roof. Customers sit at long, wooden communal tables to sip cocktails, wine and beer and order french fry flights, meat and cheese boards and bacon on a stick.
Ron Kamionka, owner of venues such as Sawyer’s and Bourbon Street Saloon in Harrisburg, created the concept.
Part of the appeal, he said, is providing customers with the convenience of having different locally sourced products in one spot. Every month, the tasting room showcases a revolving door of new items, highlighting two breweries, two wineries and one distillery.
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The new Market restaurant has opened at 3700 Market St. in Hampden Township, in the former Sophia's on Market location. March 5, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Megan Seiferth took over operations at a well-known cafe. In February she opened Market at 3700 Market St. in Hampden Township in the former Sophia’s on Market where she had worked for 12 years as pastry chef.
“One of the reasons I love this place is it’s such a neighborhood community place,” she said.
Customers can order breakfast fare including avocado toast, baked oatmeal, omelets, French toast, pancakes and egg sandwiches.
Lunch options cover salads - a Thai with grilled chicken, edamame and peanuts; a southwest with chicken, corn and cilantro; and a steak with blue cheese and red onion - along with cold and hot sandwiches such as pulled pork, cheddar burgers, egg salad and pastrami.
Since May, diners have filed in line to order health-conscious custom bowls, pitas and salads made with fresh ingredients, some raised and produced on local farms. Olive Oil Grille opened at 71 Erford Road in East Pennsboro Township at the Camp Hill Commons.
The menu is accented by roasted seasonal vegetables, soups, grilled meats and homemade dressings and toppings.
At first glance, Olive Oil Grille resembles a chain, but the restaurant is owned by husband and wife John and Maryam Kranias of Mechanicsburg. They are joined by John’s brother, Niko Kranias.
The concept for the 65-seat fast-casual restaurant grew out of a Gettysburg pizzeria owned by the brother’s parents, Kostas and Antonia Kranias. The restaurant operated for about a decade and had a loyal fanbase for pizzas and entrees. (Kostas Kranias had been in the business since 1972.)
Hawaii Poke opened May 28, 2019 at 89 Erford Road in East Pennsboro Township.
Diners have another place to satisfy their cravings for the bowls - basically deconstructed sushi – on the West Shore. Hawaii Poke opened May at 89 Erford Road at the Camp Hill Commons in East Pennsboro Township.
The simple fast casual restaurant specializes in dozens of bowls, from custom creations to a handful of signature menu items. Owners Yong and Selina Jiang, who also operate Sakura Japanese Restaurant in Silver Spring Township, decided to open Hawaii Poke after customers expressed interest in the fast food dish.
Restaurants serving the seasoned bowls have been springing up across the country. Poke is made from a mix of fresh cubes of raw fish, usually ahi tuna and salmon, in a soy sauce marinade and garnished with seaweed, scallions, cucumber and avocado. It’s served over rice or greens.
At Hawaii Poke, Selina Jiang said most customers are requesting to DIY their bowls and select their ingredients whether it’s chicken, steak, grilled salmon, tofu, ahi tuna, spicy ahi tuna, salmon, scallops or shrimp. Mix-ins and toppings range from carrots and sweet onion to pickled radish, crab salad and kimchi.
Primanti Brothers opens at Capital City Mall on June 19, 2019 Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
A Pittsburgh tradition arrived earlier this summer on the West Shore at the Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township.
“All we hear is excitement and it’s amazing how many people are familiar with Primanti Bros. That’s the great thing,” said Will Bowker, one of the chain’s operations partners.
The 215-seat restaurant is located on the mall’s exterior near the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Last year Primanti Bros. requested a liquor license transfer to Lower Allen Township from Carlisle to use at the mall.
Tikka Shack, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with locations in Texas and Arizona, opened a franchise in June at 825 Hogestown Road in Silver Spring Township.
The restaurant, owned by the same company that owns the Asian fusion chain Masala Wok, adds an innovative twist to traditional Indian dishes, allowing customers to build their own masalas and curries.
The restaurant also offers vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and kid-friendly options, in addition to an array of sides and desserts.
Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
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
Cold Springs Inn & Brewing Co.
Friends Chris Crowley and Dennis Mulroy converted the former dive bar and renamed it Cold Springs Inn & Brewing Co.It opened in mid-June at 993 Park Place along the picturesque Yellow Breeches Creek, about a mile from Williams Grove Speedway in Monroe Township.
“We worked awfully hard to make this happen. I just wanted people to come and relax and take in the scenery,” Crowley said.
The inn takes advantage of the view and breezes from the Yellow Breeches. Its menu is simple with burgers, wings, flatbreads, sandwiches and small plates such as bacon bombs and tenderloin tips with red wine. Eventually, about eight Cold Springs’ beers will fill the taps.
Stevie Wright opened Stevie’s Bistro in June, almost a year after a fire damaged Cafe Uovo at 2163 Market St. in Camp Hill. Wright now leases the building from her former employers, John and Cheryl Bisel, who owned and operated Uovo.
Wright had been an integral part of Cafe Uovo for two years, working as a chef. “My heart and soul are in this building,” she told PennLive restaurant critic Mimi Brodeur.
As with Cafe Uovo, the bistro is only open for breakfast, lunch and brunch, and you order at the counter.
Wright has tweaked the recipes for the homemade soups, crepes, omelets and sandwiches enough to make them her own.
Walima slipped into the shopping center with Aldi and AMC Theater at 3433 Simpson Ferry Road in Lower Allen Township at the former Kababish Tandoor & Grill. The specialty is flavorful South Asian cuisine - Pakistani and Indian with a menu that includes chicken kebab, butter chicken, lamb gyro platter, chicken tikka platter, biryani and more.
The former Pete’s Olde Towne Bar & Grill has been transformed into Carpe Diem, an upscale 60-seat diner that is providing New Cumberland residents with a new breakfast and lunch spot. Nino Basic, former owner of Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant in Camp Hill, purchased the restaurant at 401 Market St. Look for foods such as eggs Benedict, omelets, pancakes and French toast as well as burgers, gyros and wraps. Those in the know order Eastern European/Yugoslavian dishes such as burek, a meat filled pastry. Groups can reserve a 40-seat room for events.
Domino's Pizza opened at 71 Cumberland Parkway in Upper Allen Township.
Diners can now take a seat or buzz through a drive-thru at a new Domino’s on the West Shore. The restaurant opened in July at 71 Cumberland Parkway in Upper Allen Township in a former Burger King.
For several years Domino’s has been rolling out an updated store design with features such as dining rooms, open “Pizza Theater” kitchens and spacious lobbies. It’s a total pivot for the chain, known for its tiny, off-the-beaten path delivery spots.
“We’ve really focused on carryout, bringing the customer into our beautiful stores,” said Mike Cornell, co-owner of the Upper Allen store. “We want to be more transparent into how everything here is fresh.”
In July, Misago Bistro opened specializing in teriyaki and sushi with a full bar. It’s named after the Japanese word for “osprey.”
It replaced the Inn 422 at 1800 Cumberland St. in Lebanon which had operated for 25 years until its owners Scott and Crystal Aungst announced they were retiring and selling the bed and breakfast. The inn was known for its Victorian decor, dinners and Sunday brunches.
Bistro owner Caroline Lai, who also owns Wasabi Bistro in Hershey and Miyako Sushi in Harrisburg, said they maintained the building’s original footprint but added their own touches.
Mainly, they simplified the decor. Heavy draperies were removed while outside they cut down several bushes and trees.
Owners and staff at Mom's Momo & Deli in Swatara Township.
The East-meets-West restaurant opened inJuly at 5550 Derry St. in Swatara Township and marries authentic Nepali dishes with Americanized items such as breakfasts, deli sandwiches and milkshakes.
“This is something very different,” said co-owner Subash Sharma, who also owns Nirvana Kitchen in Susquehanna Township. “Anybody can come her for any kind of food.”
The casual restaurant has a bit of a convenience store vibe with coffee, counter ordering and Hershey’s Ice Cream. Customers place their orders and then take a seat at a smattering of tables and booths inside the converted Subway.
Mike and Linda Martin opened their second Hoageez shop in September at the West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne.
In 2012 they built the business at 422 Walton Ave. in Hummelstown out of their family’s love of Philadelphia’s food, and a desire to recreate that signature Philly style here in their hometown.
The new shop is small with a few stools near a front window. Much of the action takes place in an open kitchen where employees take orders, build sandwiches and answer phones.
The restaurant serves an identical menu of sandwiches as the Hummelstown location, all named after famous Philadelphia icons and landmarks including Rocky, South Philly, Broad Street, and Philly Fanatic. They use Dietz & Watson and Freda meats and cheeses.
Tri Asian Taste co-owner Than Than Win makes sushi at the restaurant which opens Oct. 14 at 5001 E. Trindle Road in Hampden Township.
Twenty-five years after leaving Burma, Nyunt Win brought a taste of his homeland to the Harrisburg region in October. Tri Asian Taste opened at 5001 E. Trindle Road in Hampden Township serving Burmese and Thai dishes along with sushi, sashimi and nigiri.
“I wanted to do my own, be my own boss,” said Win, who is joined by his wife, Than Than Win.
The restaurant replaces the former Chef Wongs, which closed earlier this year after 28 years of business at the corner near Country Meadows Retirement Community.
Four Sea Restaurant has opened at 2306 Walnut St. in Harrisburg. Dishes include a dried fried pork with sweet and sour sauce.
The former Meiji’s Vietnamese at 2306 Walnut St. in Harrisburg pivoted this fall and is operating under a new name, format and menu. Now called Four Sea Restaurant, it continues to serve pho but the emphasis is on authentic and traditional Chinese dishes.
Four Sea’s partner Josiah Zhang, who was born in China, said some of his family members have stepped away or retired from the business. The changes are designed to grow the business and make it better, he said.
They have hired chefs from Orlando, Florida and Los Angeles to assist in the kitchen. Diners will find traditional Chinese-American favorites such as General Tso’s chicken, black pepper beef and shrimp in garlic sauce as well as more authentic fare, Zhang said.
Known for his traditional northern Chinese restaurant in Middletown, Howard Dong slide into Harrisburg with another restaurant, He Express Authentic Chinese Food. The mostly takeout restaurant opened in October at 1070 S. Cameron St.
The menu is comprised of central and southern Chinese dishes – rice, fried rice, noodle and hand-made dumplings. It’s not traditional Chinese American takeout. Spices, peppers and other dry ingredients are imported from China.
“We guarantee the taste is going to be the same if you travel overseas,” Dong said.
The one-page menu includes rice dishes such as chicken and rice, braised pork with rice and Chairman Mao’s favorite pork belly, which is a traditional Chinese dish.
He Express also serves fried rice dishes - chicken fried rice and pickled cowpea fried rice - as well as noodle dishes including Dan Dan noodles made with minced pork and a spicy chili sauce atop noodles.
Those looking for a caffeine jolt in Harrisburg now have another spot to make a coffee run.
The five-year-old Elementary Coffee Co. branched out with a second city location in October. Owner Andrea Grove and her staff opened the shop at the corner of North and Susquehanna streets, joining the block with Home 231, Mangia Qui and Rubicon.
The first-floor shop is an extension of Grove’s Broad Street Market stand where customers crowd around the counter for small-batch brewed coffee and conversation. Elementary roasts its own coffee and sells single-origin coffees and experimental espresso-based beverages such as nitro and cold brew.
Soul Burrito co-owner Obi Linton said the restaurant will serve the signature burritos along with new items including quesadillas and Soulquitos.
Soul Burrito drove into a new location in November.
The fleet of food trucks known for its globally inspired burritos and homemade mac and cheese expaded with a sit-down restaurant at 314 S. Progress Ave. in Susquehanna Township.
“To be able to do this our way with our ownership is great,” said Obi Linton, who operates the business with his wife, Nicole Linton.
As for the menu, it is the same core burrito menu the Lintons serve on their food trucks. Favorite burritos include The Greedy made with tender grilled steak and marinated chicken and the Jamaican Sensation with marinated chicken and a mild coconut curry sauce.
Welcome Red Boat Asian Fusion to the Harrisburg restaurant ranks.
It opened in December in midtown at 306 Reily St. in a spot where several soul food restaurants have operated in the past. Owner Nam Doan, who recently quit his full-time job with DirectTV, has renovated the space into an upbeat, fast-casual restaurant.
The menu emphasizes flavors of Vietnamese, Korean and Thai foods. Doan said he’s banking on the growing midtown community, especially with the arrival of the Federal Courthouse a few blocks away.
Among the menu offerings are banh-mi, a type of Vietnamese sandwich with fillings such as lemongrass chicken, lemongrass pork, Korean bulgogi beef and fried tofu. Red Boat also has it’s take on hot dogs with Saigon Dog and K-Town Dog, basically hot dogs with flavorful toppings such as kimchi, pickled daikon and chopped lemongrass.
Bacon, chicken and Ranch pizza specialty pizza from Home Slice at Walden in Silver Spring Township.
In November, owner Matt Flinchbaugh tossed his love of pizza into a full-time commitment at the BYOB restaurant. It’s located at 111 Walden Way at the Crossroads of Walden in Silver Spring Township.
“I love pizza. It’s probably my favorite food,” said Flinchbaugh, who also owns Flinchy’s restaurant in Lower Allen Township.
Home Slice elevates standard pizza shop fare. It’s not traditional, and it’s not gourmet.
Options abound with cauliflower or gluten-free crusts as well as dairy-free mozzarella cheese for vegans. The menu is comprised of pizzas made with toppings, from plain cheese to pepperoni, mushroom, ham, pineapple or bacon, among more than a dozen options.
The one-time taco Taste Agave in Harrisburg shifted gears in early December. The taco format was replaced with Buffalo wings, beef on weck, beer and something new for Harrisburg, a smash room.
Owner Ron Kamionka has transformed the restaurant at 31 N. Second St. into Taste Buffalo Wing It & Fling It, a sit-down venue with bar food and an outlet to help alleviate stress.
Earlier this year he opened Taste as a rotating taste room where the concept will change twice a year. He kicked it off with a taco and tequila theme.
“We want to bring different experiences to Harrisburg and it’s not always going to be about food,” Kamionka said.
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