Vegetarian Dining in Harrisburg

I've spent many years building up my restaurant repetoire in the greater Harrisburg area. This journal will be an on-going series of entries to help other vegetarians who may be visiting the area. I'll let folks know which restaurants are veg-friendly.

Quick Tips:

Some cuisines are more veg-friendly than others. Don't expect many vegetarian offerings in a French restaurant (and definitely no vegan with their love of butter and heavy cream)... but most Asian cuisines have plenty of vegetarian dishes.

Best Way To Get Around:

It's always easy to find vegetarian meals at Indian restaurants. Mutter paneer, aloo gobi, malai kofta, saag paneer, and various kinds of dahl round out the vegetarian section of Aangan's menu.

The weekend buffets are very generous to the vegetarian. There are typically three or four veggie hot dishes on the buffet, as well as meatless appetizers and soups. On Sundays, they make dosa (in very generous proportions) at the buffet. Fresh naan (frequently too hot to touch) is readily available.

The staff is attentive and helpful. There is a bar, but I can rarely pass up the mango lassi in favor of something alcoholic.

Mexican food is a large part of this vegetarian's diet. I can't go wrong with beans, rice, tortillas, and salsa. And when I'm craving Mexican food, I always think of El Rodeo.

The meal starts with tortilla chips and fresh salsa. Beverage options range from margaritas and Mexican beers to iced tea and Mexican or US sodas. (I highly recommend the Sidral, a Mexican apple soda.)

Vegetarians can choose from the vegetarian section of the menu or order a la carte. I typically get the vegetable fajitas, a generous portion of fried onions, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms served with tortillas, rice, and beans. My husband usually orders the a la carte bean burritos or cheese enchiladas with a side of rice or beans.

The atmosphere is festive and colorful. The wait staff is polite and friendly (if a little difficult to understand some times). I have yet to make it to El Rodeo when they have their live mariachi band, but I hear it's a sight to see.

Appalachian Brewing Company used to be one of my favorite places. The building is an old factory which was lovingly restored specifically to accommodate the brewing equipment, which you can view from the dining room. The dining room has a lofty, lodge-like feel with its polished wood and high ceilings.

As someone who can't stand the taste of beer, I'm unable to review the beers that are made on site. There are usually several options. Wheat, ale, and stout are always available. The other selections vary depending on season or other factors I haven't yet determined.

I think the food is a bit pricy, but it is usually very well prepared. I don't think a vegan could eat here without making special requests, but there are several options on the menu for an ovo-lacto (or even lacto) vegetarian.

ABC's pizza, stromboli, and pasta dishes are quite good. If you're an appetizer peron like me, I highly recommend the soft pretzels. They come with a spicy mustard that will usually clear your sinuses on the first taste. (I think they make the mustard, as the strength changes from time to time.)

My work Christmas party was held on the second floor of ABC in 2006, and they did a delightful job. The buffet-served food was well presented and just as good as having ordered it during an intimate dinner.

I only give this review a "Recommended" because the wait staff can be hit-or-miss. There is one server we've had several times that is inattentive, if not downright rude. Other staff are better, but not all are highly effective.

Neato Burrito is the last place I ate before I got a kidney stone. After the most painful experience of my life, it took many months before I could go back. But I'm so glad I did.

When you first walk in to any of the Neato Burrito restaurants, you'll feel like you're in some sort of Mod Squad version of Subway. There's a counter where you watch your burrito being assembled and a series of booths... but there's also retro lamps and decor.

You get a choice of several tortilla flavors. Vegetarians can get black beans, refried beans, black bean hummus, or vegetarian chili as their protien ingredient. (Omnivores can select various chicken and buffalo offerings.) There are at least 3 kinds of rice. Salsa is made fresh daily (with a salsa-of-the-day option in addition to the pico de gallo and salsa verde).

Don't worry - it's not as complicated as it sounds. I know, as vegetarians, we're used to only getting one or 2 choices and it can be a little overwhelming. If that's the case, you can fill out their "Silent Treatment" card which gives all of the options as check boxes. Select what you want, and meet them at the register in a few minutes. Don't be too tempted if they ask if you want a side of chips & salsa. While they ARE delicious, the burrito is plenty large to overstuff all but the most hungry person.

**WARNING: Bring cash - credit/debit cards and checks are not accepted!!**