The Burg, May 2026
Harrisburg is a food and bev town.
Downtown, Midtown and Allison Hill are thick with restaurants, bars and cafés. I’d even say that they’re the dominant type of small business in the city.
Sure, the post-pandemic knocked the wind out of some longstanding eateries, but the sector has proven to be remarkably resilient, with a crop of new places opening and more planned. Likewise, new restaurants pop up all the time in the suburbs.
I sometimes wonder why this is, especially given the headwinds buffeting this notoriously difficult industry.
A big part of the reason, I think, is simple economics. The Harrisburg area may be a small metro, but it has a growing, diverse, service-based economy. So, many people have some extra income to spend, and they like to spend it dining out. If a food and beverage business has a good product and is well run, it stands a fair chance of success.
I bring this up because May is our annual “dining” issue. Sure, we write about restaurants, bars, lounges, cafés, coffee joints, lunch spots, etc., all the time, but we serve up an extra course every May. Within our pages, we hope you find some new spots for your dining pleasure—as we feature everything from bakeries to brunch to booze.
Personally, May is one of my favorite months of the year here in the lower Susquehanna. The warmth, the green, the flowers—it’s a magnificent time to grab that outdoor table, order something special and spend time with good friends. Happy al fresco dining, everyone!
Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.
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