Susquehanna Style’s Silver Spoon Awards honor favorite area restaurants for their fine dining experiences—primarily the delicious, unique flavors captured and savored on those silver spoons. But the aesthetics of a space are often a big draw too.
“A restaurant’s interior and ambiance greatly affect our dining experiences,” says Alison McIndoe, principal at AK Interiors. “When we eat, we use all of our senses; taste is the obvious, but beyond that we use our sight, smell, touch and even hearing. Our surroundings are part of that sensory experience.”
Here, we highlight 10 Silver Spoon-winning restaurants from the 2019 lineup with especially tasteful interiors.
WOW FACTOR
AMORETTE | LANCASTER, PA
401 N. Prince St., Lancaster, | 717-947-7710 | amorette.com
A palette of plush gold, royal purple, sparkling silver and other shining metals sets the tone at Lancaster’s Amorette, French for “little love.” Located in the recently renovated Press Building, Amorette features décor accented with unique details such as customized carpeting; detailed, wallpaper-encrusted ceilings; and gold-veined petrified wood that looks like marble. The end result? It’s all designed to have a “wow factor” that sets the tone for the cuisine.
Owners Donna and Tom Ponessa, self-described “foodies,” say they pulled décor ideas from their visits to fine restaurants around the globe—in New York, Chicago, Paris and beyond. Architect Charlie Yohe of Yohe Architecture + Design, Paul Risk Construction, and interior designer David Lyall transformed the former 1907 cigar factory and warehouse into the adventuresome Amorette.
FOOD WITH A VIEW
PLOUGH | LANCASTER, PA
25 S. Queen St., Lancaster, PA
Mixing traditional architecture on the outside with modern, warm golden and silver tones on the inside, Plough pays homage to Lancaster County’s agricultural roots with today’s locally sourced, innovative menu.
Located at Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Plough conveys much of its warmth through its wood floors and tabletops. Light streams in, and you can watch the world go by through its large windows looking directly out on Penn Square.
A WORLD AWAY
THE BARN AT ALLENBERRY | BOILING SPRINGS, PA
1559 Boiling Springs Road, Boiling Springs, PA | 717-258-3211 | allenberry.com
Rustic elegance describes the open, airy ambiance at The Barn Restaurant at Allenberry Resort. Natural elements throughout the restaurant include exposed stone and brick walls; distressed wood; and deep, inset stone windows overlooking a peaceful, picturesque view of the sparkling Yellow Breeches Creek. The restaurant, featuring a creative American menu, doubles as a nature getaway minutes from the Susquehanna Valley’s major cities, yet it feels a world away.
OLD HOLLYWOOD
JOSEPHINE'S | LANCASTER, PA
50 W. Grant St., Lancaster, PA | 717-299-7090 | josephinesdowntown.com
Elegance abounds at Josephine’s. Rich midnight blue tones set the scene for Lancaster’s downtown fine dining experience, nestled next to Lancaster Central Market, Fulton Opera House and the Ware Center. The classic Steinway grand piano is a focal point—Josephine’s offers live music every Friday and Saturday evening. Echoing the ebony and ivory piano keys, framed black-and-white photos of Hollywood royalty set off by gleaming, gilded frames enhance the space.
BACK IN TIME TO BAVARIA
GREYSTONE | HARRISBURG, PA
2120 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, PA | 717-829-9952 | greystonepa.com
You can’t visit Harrisburg’s Greystone Public House without soaking in the history. The original fieldstone building was built in 1798 by Godfrey Fritchey, one of Harrisburg’s earliest settlers, to resemble his former home in Bavaria. Keep an eye out for a copy of the original license hanging in the tavern’s bar. The casual, upscale restaurant exudes easy elegance, which extends onto its gorgeous outdoor dining pavilion as well.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
CHECKERS BISTRO LANCASTER, PA
398 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, PA | 717-509-1069 | checkersbistro.com
When Checkers Bistro’s owners moved the popular Lancaster eatery around the corner to the Champion Forge building, designer Alison McIndoe of AK Interiors was given a challenge—to maintain the restaurant’s cozy atmosphere in a larger, once-industrial space.
“The building itself and its history proved to be the driving force behind the design,” McIndoe says. “With such a rich history, it only made sense to incorporate details from not only the namesake but also some of Lancaster’s other historic businesses.”
Keep an eye out for those historical details—the entry features a large framed image of one of Champion Blower and Forge's past presidents, Henry Keiper. And all throughout the restaurant you will find relics of and images depicting local history. It’s a fun mix, just as the menu is a playful blend of French, Asian, and American cuisines.
“We decided to create an upholstered ‘wall’ out of the banquettes in the upper level. This allowed for a more intimate dining experience and gave great sound absorption,” McIndoe explains. “We also designed curved banquettes, which [direct] the flow of traffic in the main dining area and provide cozy spots for guest to dine.”
SPARKLING FINISH
RUBICON | HARRISBURG, PA
270 North St., Harrisburg, PA | 717-317-9027 | rubiconhbg.com
Three sister restaurants–Rubicon, Suba and Mangia Qui–grace Midtown Harrisburg with European cuisine and culture. The French sister, Rubicon, is defined by its horseshoe-shaped bar topped by four sparkling chandeliers. Light sparkles throughout Rubicon, not only from the chandelier crystals, but also from the sparkling finishes, including pewter countertops and exquisite cocktails, reflected in windows overlooking Harrisburg’s crown jewel capitol building.
BELLY UP
THE HANDSOME CAB | YORK, PA
106 N. George St., York, PA | 717-793-2413 | thehandsomecab.com
It’s hard to decide which element most influences The Handsome Cab—history, art, or its bar featuring creative signature cocktails. (We would be remiss if we didn’t mention meeting a special Tall, Dark, and Handsome at the bar—featuring vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, and Godiva chocolate liqueur.)
Winner of an Historic York Award for Preservation, The Handsome Cab is filled with inspirational details, including works by local artists in the upstairs Cab Gallery.
LUNCH ITALIA
TUTONI'S | YORK, PA
108 N. George St., York, PA | 717-885-5169 | tutonis.com
Savor all the lush details at Tutoni’s and imagine that you’ve been transported directly to Italy. From the earthy color palette (think terra cotta, olive, and stone) to Italianate columns, hand-painted details, and Roman busts, not to mention a fountain, you can soak in the ambiance while enjoying one of the area’s finest Mediterranean menus—with an incredible wine list to boot.
AMERICAN FUN
WYNDRIDGE | DALLASTOWN, PA
885 S. Pleasant Ave., Dallastown, PA | 717-244-9900 | wyndridge.com
York County’s rolling green farmland sets the tone for Wyndridge Farm’s farm-fresh menu. Surrounded by a classic red barn, big blue skies, and yellow sunshine, Wyndridge Farm encapsulates the primary colors of Americana. But there’s also a dash of fun—this farm known for its craft cider and beer includes rustic, crafty details sure to make you smile, including the farm’s iconic, scarf-wearing fox.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
RESTAURANT RESTROOMS
Have you ever visited a restaurant restroom and been bowled over (pun intended) by its creative design and details? Or rushed back to the table to tell your friends they have to go check it out? Bathrooms are no longer an afterthought, as more and more restaurants are deliberately designing their restrooms to extend the design theme behind closed doors.
For example, “We wanted the restrooms at Checkers to be just as special as the restaurant itself,” says McIndoe. “It is a great opportunity to do something unexpected, such as a wallcovering on a ceiling. We believe restrooms are a great indicator of the level of quality a restaurant possesses.”
A few other local faves for their unique design include the restrooms at Ma(i)son, Amorette, Suba, General Sutter Inn, Maize, and The Pressroom. It’s no secret: these spaces have style.
AWARD WINNERS
1700 STEAKHOUSE | HARRISBURG, PA
BACCO PIZZAERIA & WINE BAR | HARRISBURG, PA
BISTRO BARBERET & BAKERY | LANCASTER, PA
BLUE HERON | YORK, PA
BOX HILL AT REGENT'S GLEN | YORK, PA
BRICO | HARRISBURG, PA
CAFE 1500 | HARRISBURG, PA
CAFE 2400 | LANCASTER, PA
CAFÉ FRESCO | HARRISBURG, PA
CALLALOO | LANCASTER, PA
CHALIT'S THAI BISTRO | MECHANICSBURG, PA
CHAR'S TRACY MANSION | HARRISBURG, PA
CITRONELLE | LANCASTER, PA
CORK & CAP RESTURANT | LANCASTER, PA
CORK AND FORK | HARRISBURG, PA
DEVON SEAFOOD & STEAK | HERSHEY, PA
EL SERRANO | LANCASTER, PA
EL SOL | HARRISBURG, PA
GENERAL SUTTER INN | LITITZ, PA
GIBRALTAR | LANCASTER, PA
GYPSY KITCHEN | LANCASTER, PA
HARVET SEASONAL GRILL & WINE BAR | HARRISBURG, PA
HIMALAYN CURY & GRILL | LANCASTER, PA
HOME 231 | HARRISBURG, PA
HUNGER-N-THIRST | LANCASTER, PA
IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT | LANCASTER, PA
JOHN J. JEFFRIES | LANCASTER, PA
JOHN WRIGHT RESTURANT | WRIGHTSVILLE, PA
KODA | HARRISBUR, PA
LUCA | LANCASTER, PA
MA(I)SON | LANCASTER, PA
MAIZE | LANCASTER, PA
MANGI QUI | HARRISBURG, PA
MILLWORKERS | HARRISBURG, PA
NOTE | HARRISBURG, PA
OLD SAN JUAN | LANCASTER, PA
ONE LINCOIN | GETTYSBURG, PA
OSTERIA AVANTI | LEOLA, PA
PORCH | MYERSTOWN, PA
REVIVAL SOCIAL CLUB | YORK, PA
ROCKFISH PUBLIC HOUSE | YORK, PA
ROOSEVELT TEVERN | YORK, PA
SIDNEY | EAST BERLIN, PA
SIDNEY WILLOUGHBY RUB | EAST BERLIN, PA
STOCK'S ON 2ND | HARRISBURG, PA
STOCKYARD INN | LANCASTER, PA
SUBA | HARRISBURG, PA
TATIANA'S | MECHANICSBURG, PA
TÉ | LEOLA, PA
THE BELVEDERE INN | LANCASTER, PA
THE CIRCULAR AT THE HOTEL HERSHEY | HERSHEY, PA
THE FIRST POST | YORK, PA
THE GREENFIELD RESTAURANT & BAR | LANCASTER, PA
THE HORSE INN | LANCASTER, PA
THE IMPERIAL | LANCASTER, PA
THE INN AT HERR RIDGE | GETTYSBURG, PA
THE LEFT BANK | YORK, PA
THE LOG CABIN | LEOLA, PA
THE MILL AT HERSHEY | HERSHEY, PA
THER PRESSROOM | LANCASTER, PA
TRATTORIA FRATELLI | LEBANON, PA
VICTOR'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT | YORK, PA
Visiting one of our winners? Remember to hashtag your food photos with: #silverspoons2019
