Last month, Harrisburg Magazine staffers sat down together on three consecutive Fridays and put their editorial taste buds to work, sampling items from local restaurants and officially launching “Taste This!” a new monthly feature. The idea was simple: a local eatery provides lunch and in return, gets a food review, both in print and online. Below are the reviews of the first three local eateries that delivered lunch, answering the question, “It’s Friday. What’s for lunch?” They include Soul House Café, Hong Kong Ruby, and Market Street Deli, now official charter members of “Taste This!” We want to thank all three for providing the delicious lunches that allowed us to sample real food instead of our brown bag lunches from home. We also want to extend the invitation for other eateries to take part. If you would like to participate then all you have to do is let Editor Jackie Goodwin know by dropping her a line at jgoodwin@harrisburgmagazine.com. Of course, none of this content would be created without our supremely talented and dedicated (also hungry) staff who accurately conveyed the taste, texture, smell, and presentation of the food items before them.
Soul House Café
Do you like soul food? Do you like authentic and affordable food? Then look no further. Soul House Café provides a real taste of the south! This place does not skimp on flavor or portion size. Specialties of the house include mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, potato salad, tuna mac, Spanish rice, dirty rice, baked beans, cabbage, and fresh-cut French fries, in addition to wings, shrimp, cat fish. And smoked turkey. Comfort food at its best.
717-236-3500
Fax: 717-236-3501
1852 North St. Harrisburg, PA 17103
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.—10 p.m.
Friday 11a.m.—11 p.m.
Saturday 1 p.m.—11p.m.
Closed Sunday
Here’s What We Say About Soul House Café
“Never had soul food before but I’m here for it now. Everything was so good. The wings weren’t spicy but nicely sauced. The mac and cheese was perfection. I never tasted cat fish before but I would definitely order it again from Soul House Café.”
—Laura Reich, Graphic Designer
“I loved the cat fish, mac and cheese and wings. Far exceeded my expectations. Thank you!”
—Chris Aloia, Director of Sales & Marketing
“Was one of the best soul food experience to date. The mumbo wings were perfect with the mac and cheese. The cat fish was well flavored and the cornbread was moist.”
—Ross Burnett, Account Executive
“Loved the fact that the cat fish was not greasy and the wings not too spicy. The food was delicious.”
—Julian Rosado, Account Executive
“All the food was delicious. The items were perfectly seasoned. I highly recommend Soul House Café.”
—JoAnn Shover, Account Executive
Market Street Deli
Looking for a made-to-order sandwich on Artisan bread? How about a homemade deli-style salad to go along with that sandwich? Then you’ve found your place. Market Street Deli, located in the West Shore Farmers Market, works with five bakeries in Philadelphia that bake and deliver on a daily basis. Select from table breads, sandwich loaves, dinner rolls, sandwich rolls, and even a pastry case stocked with a variety of croissants, coconut macaroons, and, yes, pretzels!
717-727-3049
900 Market Street
Lemoyne, PA 17403
Hours: Tuesday 8 a.m.—3 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.—6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m.—2 p.m.
Catering available
Tuesday – Saturday
Delivery available to Camp Hill and Lemoyne areas.
Here’s What We Say About Market Street Deli
“The Big New Yorker Sandwich was delicious. It was stacked full of pastrami with a perfect ratio of Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing.”
—Danielle Carl, Director of Operations
“While I’m not a salad ‘guy,” I did enjoy all of the salads, especially the Kristin Salad.”
—Ross Burnett, Account Executive
“Everything was super fresh and delicious. All of the ingredients in the Kristin Salad. . .chicken, apples, dried cranberries, toasted almonds and crumbled blue cheese complimented each other well.”
—Laura Reich, Graphic Designer
“The Chicken Salad Sandwich was delicious. Market Street Deli’s salads are best in the area.”
—JoAnn Shover, Account Executive
“I absolutely loved the Kristin Salad. The Italian Sub was excellent. Tasty, too.”
—Chris Aloia, Director of Sales & Marketing
Hong Kong Ruby
Craving Chinese food? This is the place to go when you want traditional Chinese food that will not disappoint. Besides the usual egg foo young, lo mein, fried rice and egg rolls, specialties of the house include steamed dumplings, Sesame chicken Hunan beef and the ever popular General Tso chicken. The menu is extensive and the service top notch. Eat in, take out and delivery options available.
717-541-1378
2308 Patton Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.— 9:15 p.m.
Friday 11a.m.—10:15 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m.—10:15 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.—9:15 p.m.
Here’s What We Say About Hong Kong Ruby
“Yummy. Everything was really good. I loved the beef with snow peas.”
—Laura Reich, Graphic Designer
“The food was spicy, delicious and not heavy.”
—JoAnn Shover, Account Executive
“The General Tso chicken was fried perfectly with the right amount of spices. I could taste a hint of ginger and the chili peppers gave it the perfect zing.”
—Danielle Carl, Director of Operations
“Thank you so much for lunch. The food was absolutely delicious. I also appreciate the fact that there was no MSG in the food.”
—Chris Aloia, Director of Sales & Marketing
“Hong Kong Ruby’s food was delicious. It was very light; not heavy.”
—Julian Rosado, Account Executive