I am thinking of attending this event. I am also thinking of trying to get to one of the markets in York or Lancaster. I am curious if any one has any thought on which I should go to, or if it is worth trying to plan on going to both. Does anyone have any suggestions for best restaurants in Harrisburg? Something local or unique to Harrisburg?

Harrisburg isn't usually on my list of go-to dining locales and I wouldn't say there's any defining food too be had there.

Depending on what you want to spend, I like Alfred's Victorian in Middletown (just down the road from Harrisburg) or the Progress Grill (pronounced PROh-gress). In nearby Hershey, the fancy place is Hotel Hershey which has a number of food offerings. There's also The Mill, which is pretty good.

Personally, if I were looking for some more local flair, I'd hit up Shady Maple Smorgasbord outside of Blue Ball. Amish buffet. All the food. Plus is that there's a gun store right across the parking lot!

I forgot about this, I haven't gone in a while. Wonder if we will? Usually it's just something to do in the winter doldrums.


The one time we tried to go to a local place, spend some money in a small place rather than the national franchise places, we looked up a place online. Drove there, got out and walked part way, close enough to see inside. We all stopped, looked at each other and said "Lets go to Applebees!" (or somewhere like that)

There was like 3-4 things that sent up red flags lmao.

Good eating to be had at Bullys in Columbia, PA - basically on the river between Lancaster and York. John Wright Resturant, other side of the river from Columbia is another place. Both have good selections of beer (required in my mind).Very good food to be found at the First Post in York.

As far as going to the Central Market in either Lancaster or York, guess that is interesting once. Not worth the trip IMO. As far as Shady Maple Buffet in/near Blue Ball - big selection of food, none of it great, a percentage of it canned and warmed up. Again, not worth the effort in my mind.

Something interesting, kind of special - Bubes Brewery in Mount Joy, Lancaster County.

Annie Baileys Irish Public House, downtown Lancaster. Good food, good beer, nice atmosphere.

Quips Pub, east side, Lancaster. British and American food. Good beer. Small, local pub. Good food and (did I say?) good beer.

Harrisburg - Federal Taphouse. An impressive row of taps & beer to go with it. Good food. This is going to be the closest to the PA Farm Show Complex of everything suggested. Their website notes 100 beers on tap. Food was also good.

My standards for “good” food? I spent several years teaching at Millersville University, living in the area. Evenings after class I was looking for some good eating, good beer and some quiet time to actually grade papers while dining. Chain restaurants were not even close to being considered. As a rare animal, a Republican Professor, these places I suggested are “fine dining” that I would not hesitate to take my wife for some good eating. As an aside, Quips is more a small town pub. All the rest are more of the “fine dining”.

I second the notion of going a little bit further and hitting Shady Maple. It’s good hearty PA Dutch/Amish cooking and you will go away stuffed.

Shady Maple

LUCA in Lancaster. Exquisite combinations of unique flavors, open fire grill, and the best pizza I've ever had (the Piccante). Enjoy.

https://lucalancaster.com/

Mosby's Pub in Mount Joy used to be the best place for wings.

Trop Gun Shop in Elizabethtown.