Visaggio's
Visaggio's is an upscale restaurant about 20 minutes west of Harrisburg near the Highway 114 exit off I-81 south. Its signature is good Italian dishes, good enough that six reviewers awarded it an average of four stars. This restaurant, in fact, is the favorite eating establishment for many west shore diners. It's a bit expensive, with most entrees priced in the $25 to $35 range as of 2009, and pasta dishes a bit less, but the food and romantic atmosphere ensure that most nights of the week, Visaggio's pulls in enough patrons that reservations are required.
Visaggio's
6990 Wertzville Road
Enola, PA 17025-1037
(717) 697-8082
www.visaggios.com
Tavern on the Hill
Tavern on the Hill is less than 15 minutes from downtown Harrisburg across the Susquehanna River in Enola, on a hill overlooking the river. Ten reviewers rated it at over 4-½ stars, which of course means almost all of them loved it--and not just the atmosphere and the view but the food as well. Tavern on the Hill's specialty is Mediterranean-style seafood and lamb, but it also has good steaks and features an excellent wine list. Entrees run from just over $20 to around $35 (2009), which is slightly expensive but not unusually so for a restaurant with as much to offer as this one. Tavern on the Hill is a "must do" for many regular out-of-town visitors to the Harrisburg area, and for many local residents, this restaurant has become their favorite "special occasions" restaurant.
Tavern on the Hill
109 Howard St.
Enola, PA 17025-2817
(717) 732-2077
www.tavernonthehill.com
Al Mediterraneo
Al Mediterraneo is another of central Pennsylvania's favorite restaurants, receiving a four-star rating from 12 reviewers, most of whom praised both the food and the atmosphere. It's about 20 minutes east of Harrisburg, close to the Hummelstown exit off Highway 322. Many Hershey-area residents count this as their favorite restaurant for special occasions. As the name implies, Al Mediterraneo serves mostly Italian and other Mediterranean cuisine. Pasta dishes generally run $15 to $20, and other entrees cost about $25 to $30 (2009), with the most expensive items on the menu, a filet mignon and a Moroccan-spiced lamb chop, costing around $35. If you're partial to Mediterranean-style cooking served in a romantic atmosphere, Al Mediterraneo is one of the best choices in the Harrisburg area.
Al Mediterraneo
288 E. Main St.
Hummelstown, PA 17036
(717) 566-5086
www.al-mediterraneo.com
About The Author
Terry Smith is a retired Navy officer who is began his third career as a freelance writer in 2008. Smith graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Smith also boasts a graduate degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School.
