JC Dunphy’s House of Bull
433 North 21st Street, Camp Hill
761-3663

Where to go on a Wednesday afternoon? That was the situation facing my lunch companions and I as we drove over the Harvey Taylor Bridge towards the West Shore. With so many choices and so many varieties of food to select from, we were temporarily stumped. Until our eyes focused on the House of Bull. JC Dunphy’s House of Bull, that is.

Situated just off the Camp Hill Bypass, Dunphy’s has a menu to suit every need and every appetite. There were starter items and sides, burgers and steaks, salads, and chicken, and more. A restaurant/bar, the interior of Dunphy’s is quite ample, with a bar area as well as a separate dining room and a spatial loft. Familiar pictures and paintings — branded with the added touch of Dunphy’s trademark bull mascot — line the wood grain walls and greet the tables and booths.

On a busy lunch day, my two dining partners and I slid into a comfy booth and ordered away. I ordered the Chicken Wrangler Sandwich and the girls ordered chicken fingers and French fries and a chicken fajita salad. After just a short wait and a few pop-ins by our lovely and attentive waitress, our meals arrived. As Betty, I’ll dish on the dish first! My sandwich boasted breaded chicken topped with hickory bacon, cheese, and a lovely barbeque sauce and came with a side of chips or fries. As for the chips, they came still packed in a personal-sized bag, what a treat! And wow, did the BBQ sauce add a touch of the west to this Wrangler. It was just enough to ramp up the taste of what, at a lesser place, was just mayo away from being a Cordon Bleu. 

My friends were pleased with their meals, too. The chicken fingers were crunchy and amply covered with crisp breading that offered a spicy touch to the favorite finger food. The accompanying fries were still complete with traces of potato skins. A nice touch. As for the last chicken entrée to hit the table, my companion was filled to the gills with her chicken fajita salad. Fresh greens topped with chicken, onions, peppers, cheese, tomatoes, and more, the salad was prepared in a floury fajita shell that was spilling off of the dish. The only complaint? Too much lettuce. My dear-hearted fellow diner was overwhelmed by the gracious greens!

All in all the visit was a memorable one. The atmosphere was clean and inviting and the waitstaff eager and pleasant. Dunphy’s offers daily lunch specials — on our visit the special board touted soup and sandwiches! — as well as daily dinner specials, a specific special for each night of the week, ranging from All You Can Eat Fried Fish and Clam Strips to New York Strip Night.

Our bill totaled just over $25 — including drinks — and was definitely worth every penny.