Scotts’
Bar & Grille
212 Locust Street Harrisburg, PA
717-234-7599
By Julie and Greg Peters
A large group of wanna-be restaurant reviewers got together for
dinner at Scott’s Bar & Grille in downtown Harrisburg. This soiree will be the
basis for the first edition of our restaurant reviews. Unlike other reviews that tend to
get uppity when referring to the amount of marjoram used, or the texture of the chicken,
we’ll offer you a "real" taste of the restaurant.
I’m sure you already know that there are a lot of really great places to eat
downtown. But, if you haven’t tried Scotts’, you’ve missed one of
Harrisburg’s best. Scotts’ boasts the only real deck (that we’re aware of,
at least) in the downtown area. Guests can also be served in the classy, yet sometimes
very crowded indoor bar, or in the ample dining area. (Practical suggestion - expect a
wait on the deck and at the bar during cocktail hours. The wait for a dining table would
be a short one, if any.) You’ll find the decor to range from carefree, sophisticated
and elegant as you proceed from the deck, at the front of the building overlooking Locust
Street, through the bar and into the dining room. My favorite is the unique charm of the
dining room - you feel like Frank Sinatra could come around the corner at any minute.
Where else could you find that in Harrisburg?
Too many people think of Scotts’ as the bureaucrat’s bar. The restaurant gets
this reputation since some of the "Hill" people stop over after work. However,
this is a favorite after-work spot for many downtown professionals. I’ve grown to
enjoy Scotts’ for its convenience as a half-way point between my East and West Shore
friends. It’s an easy location to find and offers free parking beginning at 5:00 p.m.
in the Locust Street Garage. Also, its becoming well-known for offering ample portions at
reasonable prices.
The size of one of their most popular items, Chicken Parmesan, usually astounds
first-timers. The rest of the items on their cool new menu are served in near-humongous
portions, also. The Appetizer menu includes Chicken Cordon Bleu Fingers (one of our guests
paused at the idea of "Chicken Cordon Bleu Fingers", but he’s been craving
them ever since he tried them.), Beef & Chicken Teriyaki Sticks and Garlic Cheese
Bread. Their "Light Fare" offers a pretty standard array of soups, salads and
sandwiches.
The entrees, served with a choice of salad or soup of the day, offer diverse (but not
absurd) pasta, seafood and beef selections. Some favorites we’ve tried include:
Linguini Louisiana (chicken tenders with andouille sausage in a tomato Cajun creme sauce
over linguine), Filet & Crab Bernaise (tornados of beef topped with a Maryland crab
cake and sauce bernaise), Scotts’ Seafood Sauté (sautéed shrimp, scallops, clams
and crabmeat with red pepper, onion and snow peas in a sherry, garlic and basil sauce over
linguine) and Veal Scotts’ (sautéed veal with a light Grand Marnier cream sauce,
topped with fresh veggies).
Sounds good, doesn’t it? And you’ll find the prices are fair: $2.25 - 7.95 for
appetizers; $1.95 - $7.95 for the Light Fare; $9.95 - $18.95 for the dinner entrees.
Smaller portions of selected dinner entrees are available for lunch. Beverages, cocktails
and desserts are also reasonably priced.
Scotts’ has a take-out menu, and catering, banquet and meeting facilities are
available.
DIRECTIONS: From 1-83, take the 2nd Street exit into Harrisburg. After passing Locust,
take the next right onto Pine Street. Turn right onto 3rd and then right again onto
Locust. |
|
Scott's
Bar & Grille
ChecklistAverage Dining Time:
2-1/2 hours
Location: Easy to Find
Parking: Ample, On street & parking garage
Handicapped Access:
Entrance way
Exterior Appearance:
Well Maintained
Initial Interior:
Double door foyer
Reservations Necessary:
No
Preferred Dining Attire:
Casual
Wait (to be seated): None
Wait (for service): 5-10 minutes
Lighting: Low/romantic
Meal-time Music: Light jazz
Dining Area Appearance:
Well tended to
Noise: Chatter
Climate: Fine
Tables: Cloth covers
Chairs: Comfy
Booths: Fits six
Table Setting: Full with cloth napkins
Your Meal: Entree from Dinner Menu
Appetizers: Creative Selection
Salads: Caeser
Main Course: poultry, Steak
Dressings: House Specialty
Soups: Du jour
Vegetables:House Specialty
Cocktails:Good
Dinner Wines: House
Desserts: Average selection
Coffees: Cappuccino/ Espresso
Staff Attitude: Busy
Staff Appearance:Company logo-wear
Hospitality: Felt at Home
Cleanliness:Cleaner than average
Wash Rooms: Clean
Crowd (Qty): Busy
Crowd (Attitude): Casual/ laughter
Food (portions): Satisfied
Food (prices): Fair for the quantity
Alcohol (price): Competitive
Overall Service: Very Good
Payment Accepted:
All Major Credit Cards |
