While I don't live in York, I may have to eat there several times during Restaurant Week York, Feb. 23 through March 2. I'm honestly impressed with the sheer number of eateries that are coming together for this event, including smaller places offering desserts, snacks and drinks. Harrisburg and Hershey, you may want to take note.
Participating York restaurants will be offering prix-fixe menu options, such as $10 lunch specials and $20 and $30 three-course dinners. Whether you're a foodie or a foodie-wannabe, I think this will be right up your alley.
What are my picks? I'll definitely be making a stop at The Left Bank Restaurant and Bar for the panko-chicken meatball "lollipops" with blue cheese fondue and Buffalo honey drizzle, thyme-roasted chicken with butternut squash risotto and the rustic apple tart. I'm also torn between the chicken, chorizo sausage, shrimp and scallop paella at the OffCenter Grill and the surf and turf — filet with roasted tomato demi and scallops with lemon cream — in the Commonwealth Room at the Yorktowne Hotel. York Blue Moon is a must, mostly because I know that the irresistible chocolate empanadas are included in the three-course dinner.
For lunch, I may head to Maewyn's for a Reuben or Rachel or, better yet, a Pretzel Devonshire — grilled smoked turkey breast topped with broccoli, sweet and spicy bacon, cooper cheese and poppyseed mustard on a toasted pretzel roll. Yum!
Want a little more of the exotic? Viet Thai Market Street Café offers up pho and my favorite, summer rolls. Or visit Central Market for specials at NAMA Sushi, Simply Soup, Bair's Fried Chicken and J.R.'s Fresh Cut French Fries, to name a few. And don't forget, you'll get 20 percent off your total purchase at Just Cupcakes if you mention Restaurant Week York.
Take a look at all the Restaurant Week York participants below. What will be your first stop?
Bair's Fried Chicken (Central Market House), 34 W. Philadelphia St., 717-848-1945
Central Family Restaurant, 400 N. George St., 717-845-4478
The Green Bean Roasting Co., 100 S. Beaver St., 717-848-4070
J.R.'s Fresh Cut French Fries (Central Market House), 34 W. Philadelphia St., 717-332-2502
Just Cupcakes, 9 W. Philadelphia St., 717-848-4488
The Left Bank Restaurant and Bar, 120 N. George St., 717-843-8010
Maewyn's, 110 N. George St., 717-718-7800
Mudhook Brewing Co., 34 N. Cherry Lane, 717-747-3605
NAMA Sushi (Central Market House), 34 W. Philadelphia St., 717-425-4747
New Grounds Roasting Co., 284 W. Market St., 717-843-0716
Nuts About Granola, 46 W. Philadelphia St., 717-814-9648
The Roosevelt Tavern, 50 N. Penn St., 717-854-7725
Sharon's Sweet Shop, 39 W. Market St., 717-801-2890
Simply Soup, (Central Market House), 34 W. Philadelphia St., 717-515-0680
The Stadium Grille of York, 133 N. Duke St., 717-845-3725
Stage Deli on George, 26 N. George St., 717-668-8193
Student-Run Bake Shoppe, 44 W. Philadelphia St., 717-848-8339
Take Five Expresso Bar (Central Market House), 34 W. Philadelphia St., 717-846-4152
Tanzania Seafood and Jazz, 29 E. Princess St., 717-846-8000
Varsity Smoke Shack, 39 W. Market St., 717-885-5356
Viet Thai Market Street Café, 917 E. Market St., 717-846-9302
White Rose Bar and Grill, 48 N. Beaver St., 717-848-5369
York Blue Moon, 361 W. Market St., 717-854-6664
Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., 717-848-1111
