Things to do / Travel Guide
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a center of culture and sophistication, offering a selection of fine restaurants for upscale dining. There is also a very broad range of moderately-priced restaurants, lots of street food and ethnic eateries, and all the usual national fast-food favorites.
Gourmet dining can be found on Walnut Street, Philadelphia's “restaurant row.” Mid-range restaurants, bistros, and bars can be found throughout the city, are a good value, and many allow you to bring your own bottle of wine.
One of the delectable highlights of visiting Philadelphia is trying a genuine Philly cheesesteak sandwich - sliced steak and fried onions on a soft roll, topped with cheese spread. Two particular venues famous for their cheesesteaks are located on the corner of Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue, with Geno's on one corner and Pat's King of Steaks on the other. At under $10 and large enough to share, the Philly cheesesteak is a real bargain.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Eastern Pennsylvania's traditional country fare is typically German-style meat and potatoes, and lots of it! In Lancaster County, Amish family-style cooking, all-you-can-eat smorgasbord, and buffet spreads can be found almost everywhere, making for a truly unique eating experience.
If you're in the mood for a picnic, the small towns and villages throughout Lancaster County, like Bird in Hand, Ephrata, and Middletown, offer “farmer's markets” from which to purchase supplies. The markets are held on various days of the week, so check the local newspapers for days and hours.
If you stay in one of the inns or bed and breakfast establishments (B&Bs) in Lancaster County, you can arrange through the concierge or front desk to join an Amish farm family in their own home for an authentic Amish eating experience. This is usually a large, country breakfast or an even larger dinner, and is moderately priced, like the local Amish restaurants. Some traditional specialties are chicken pot pie, sauerbraten (pot roast and bacon in vinegar), pickled beets and eggs, and shoofly pie (sweet dough with molasses).
Northeast Mountain Area
The Pocono Mountains offers a plethora of local and ethnic restaurants that serve everything from simple American diner food to Italian cuisine to Chinese dishes to Sushi. For those on the go, there are also the standard selection of familiar chain restaurants and fast food establishments located in the more populated areas. The Poconos are a popular tourist spot for upscale New Yorkers and, as such, there are many establishments that cater to gourmet diners. The area is known for quaint restaurants offering fine dining (many of which serve Italian or European-oriented cuisine), that offer candlelit dinners with meals prepared by master chefs.
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