In the shadow of Harrisburg’s City Hall on N. 2nd Street sits one of the capital’s hottest up-and-coming spots for gourmet, gas-fired, brick-oven pizza, traditional Sicilian cuisine, fine wines and Prohibition-inspired cocktails.
Named after Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and merry-making (the deity equivalent of the Greek’s Dionysus), Bacco Pizzeria and Wine Bar lives up to it’s namesake by offering a casual, yet sophisticated atmosphere of fun and relaxation with an impressive menu of culinary as well as spirit-filled palate-pleasers.
Open for nearly a year, veteran of the restaurant business, owner Max Randazzo immediately saw the location’s potential.
“I knew this space could be more than a nightclub, and we changed it into what it is today,” Randazzo explains. “…We have a very relaxed atmosphere, and all of our ingredients are fresh, and everything is made in-house – the dough, the sauce. …The whole concept is that it’s a fun place to get a bite and a drink, where guests can dress casually and relax.”
In addition to delicious cuisine and notable wines and cocktails, Bacco Pizzeria and Wine Bar boasts one of the city’s best happy-hour deals.
“With very few exceptions, everything on the menu is half-off between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.,” says Bacco’s manager, Isaac Schatz. “Our current Happy Hour Menu is pretty amazing.”
Top 3 Must-Try Pizzas
1. Margherita: Crushed tomato, olive oil, mozzarella and basil.2. Salsiccia: Crushed tomato, pork sausage and mozzarella.3. Fig: Fig marmalade, di parma prosciutto and gorgonzola.
Top 3 Must-Order Pastas
1. Gnocchi Carbonara with bacon, cream, black pepper, egg yolk and parmesan cheese.2. Orrechiette al Pollo: Chicken, smoked gouda, cream sauce and baby spinach.3. Cappellini al Pesto with brick-oven egg, parmesan reggiano, and pesto sauce.
Top Must-Sample Small Plate
Angello: Two marinated lollipop lamb chops, rosemary, olive oil, sea salt, and lemon.
Top 3 Can’t-Miss Cocktails
1. House Sangria: Secret house recipe made with brandy and a Tempranillo red wine, served over cracked ice.2. Old Fashioned: Kentucky bourbon, demerara sugar, Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters and orange essence, served on a king cube.3. Penicillin: Blended Scotch, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, house-made ginger syrup, local honey, Angostura orange bitters and a single-malt scotch float, served on a king cube.
Bacco Pizzeria and Wine Bar (20 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg) is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday noon to 2 a.m. The kitchen closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (717) 234-7508 or visit baccopizzeriawinebar.com.
