Pennsylvania Restaurants

Ruby’s, located in Ardmore at Suburban Square, is a delightful little chain restaurant kids (of all ages) will love. Young ones watch the "Wizard of Oz" playing in port holes in the front desk, color a placemat, or point to the train circling the ceiling. Bold stripes of red and white fit perfectly with the ‘40s-era diner theme.

The menu has quite a selection of entrées for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From children’s favorites (chicken fingers and fries) to moms watching their weight (seven salads and three soups) or dads wanting a full-size sandwich (smoked peppercorn gouda burger topped with ranch dressing), you’ll surely find something that tempts your palate.

Everything we’ve ordered off the menu has been scrumptious. Don’t let some prices fool you—the portions are large, so my daughter and I usually share. Try to save room for those creamy whipped-topping desserts or the famous milkshakes.

Ruby’s has a birthday club with mailings of special offers and invites. They also offer a nice senior citizen’s discount. For more information, click on RUBYS.

Ruby’s has become one of my favorite places to eat. I take the train from Middletown to Ardmore to get there. If you’re interested in taking the train to Ruby’s, read my journal for other things to do in the area: Suburban Square - On the Main Line. This would make a great birthday-party trip!

Hidden in an alley just off the town square sits a romantic Victorian pub and eatery waiting for you to discover. The dark-wood trim and hardwood floor gives way to beams of sunlight streaming through the tall windows graced with red curtains. Plants are abundant with spiders and philodendron dangling in the windows, and pink carnations fill the blue bottle vases.

Colorful Tiffany’s lamps hang above the shiny brass stools at the bar. The atmosphere is quiet, relaxed, romantic – a great place for a date if you want to enjoy each others company.

The food is delicious and service is friendly and fast. Dress is casual. Menu prices are reasonable, $5 to $8 for lunch and $10 to $13 for dinner entrées (not including alcoholic beverages). The bar has quite a collection of foreign and domestic beer. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Local talent ranging from blues, to jazz, to rock performs here on Friday and Saturday nights. To view the menu or for more information, click on the following link: Lancaster Dispensing Company

To find The Lancaster Dispensing Company (or just Dispensing Company, as locals call it), go to the center of Lancaster (Penn’s Square) at King and Queen Streets. Look for the brick tower, visible between the Lancaster Cultural Museum and the Bank of America. Walk toward that building (Central Market) and go around it either way. Across the alley from the back corner of the market is the restaurant.

>p>Tucked in the south corner of Dauphin Borough sits the Stoney Creek Inn, an eatery specializing in seafood, Greek cuisine, and steaks. The scrumptious food offers plenty of variety for any appetite. Lunches range from $5 to $8. Dinners are priced a little higher, but well worth it. The main dining room is open from 11am to 10pm Monday through Saturday, and Sundays until 8pm. On Sundays, they offer a large all-you-can-eat buffet from 11am to 2pm, a favorite among locals. The Inn has a separate bar area with subdued lighting and extended hours. During the warmer months, kick back on the deck overlooking Stoney Creek waterfalls and enjoy a few beers with friends. You can find this charming place just a 10-minutes north of Harrisburg.

The Fire House Restaurant and Bar is located on the north end of the restaurant and bar district in downtown Harrisburg. The Hope Station was the first fire station built in Harrisburg in 1871 and was used until 1980, when a new larger fire station was needed. The station is decorated with a variety of fire-fighting memorabilia, from plaques and pictures to hoses, figurines, and, of course, dalmatians! Daily soup specials run $3.50 a cup to $4.50 a bowl. The lunch menu has everything from duck to crab, and a sandwich menu that will make your mouth water just reading it. Lunches are priced from $4 to $13. Fantastic dinners such as Phoenician baked trout, prime rib, and surf and turf, run from $15 to $30 per entree. If you order a beer on draft, it pours from a fire hydrant tap at the bar. Just outside the large garage door are a few tables for outside dinning when weather permits. Weekday lunches can be crowded, as it’s a favorite among working locals in the district, so you may want to make a reservation. Your meal will be a pleasure from the first bite to the last. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11:30am to 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30am to 11pm. They are closed on Sundays. Private parties of up to 100 can be accommodated on the second and third floors. For more information, check their website Fire House Restaurant.