Restaurant Round-Up: Paxtang Grill, Hampden Diner & El Rodeo

Sometimes you want to get dressed up, go out and try something new and exotic on a Friday night. Sometimes you just don't feel like cooking and want to go somewhere you know the kids will be able to get the chicken fingers that they like and the bill won't completely empty your wallet.

Every community has a few inconspicuous restaurants that the locals swear by, and the Paxtang Grill is a place I've heard about from East Shore people ever since I moved back to the area. This week in the Restaurant Round-Up, Dori talked about it, Dave tried breakfast at the Hampden Diner and I ordered Pepe's Special (pictured... yum, right?) from El Rodeo. Again. As always, if you've been to any of these places, leave us some feedback in the comments section.

Paxtang Grill
Name: Dori P.
When: An early dinner.
Been Before: Yes.
Ordered: Large Greek salad with house dressing and mildly hot wings. Plain spaghetti and green beans for the kid. Lasagna with a small house salad and a draft beer for the husband. Cranberry and soda with lime for me. Milk for little mister.
The Food: Good, basic bar food.
The Ambiance: Better now that there’s no smoking in the dining room (still allowed in the bar area, but not an issue on weekdays). Basic tables, booths, local sports team photos on the wall — a neighborhood hangout, plain and simple.
Company: Hubby and toddler son.
Cost: Total bill was less than $50 including tip.
The Service: Excellent for this type of establishment, though somehow my husband ended up with ravioli instead of lasagna. He didn’t mind.
Notes: It’s a great place to meet up with friends for wings and a few beers. It’s owner-operated, with friendly bartenders and a crowd that is consummately local (if you want to avoid East High and McDevitt alums, not the place for you). The homemade Greek dressing is yummy, so try it. The wings are on the small side, but they are better than most. Stick with the basics and you won’t be disappointed.
Recommendation: Yes – if you live nearby. Truth be told, I would probably not go out of my way to come here if I wasn’t a local. That’s part of the charm.

Hampden Diner
Name: Dave B.
When: Sunday, 2:00pm; after church.
Been Before: Nope, first time.
Ordered: I had the Country Fries, which was a glorified omelet, with hashbrowns, cheese, and onions with coffee; my daughter had a giant pancake with juice and my girlfriend had a giant Belgian waffle with coffee.
The Ambiance: It was surprisingly quiet. Very big and spacious. It’s under new management, and you can tell that it’s a very wonderful and tight-knit family that has taken special care and attention to ensure that everything is just right. They were very, very hospitable and gracious. It was very clean, and for whatever reason, it had the most interesting (almost bizarre) selection of music.
Company: My girlfriend and my beautiful daughter.
Did Others Like Their Meals: Ultimately, yeah. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the strawberry topping for my girlfriend’s Belgian waffle, so she just had it plain (with syrup). There was a miscommunication about an item on the kid’s menu, so we had to send it back, but my daughter was very happy with her giant pancake. My meal seemed like it was missing the cheese, because it was a ‘lil dry, but still pretty good.
Cost: About $6 per person.
The Service: At first it was a 2 out of 10 until our server was relieved. Then one of the lead staff members came in and saved the day. She was absolutely perfect, and incredibly pleasant with my daughter.  I’ll give it a 9 out of 10.
Notes: Just some regular ‘ol diner food, but in a nice, quiet environment.
Recommendation: Yes; I really think that this family wants to earn your business. It’d be nice for you to check ‘em out, and enjoy a very pleasant meal.

El Rodeo (Lemoyne)
Name: Justin
When: Friday night.
Been Before: All of the time.
Ordered: Pepe’s Special—two taquitos, one chicken enchilada, one beef enchilada, one beef taco and rice.
The Food: Excellent. Honestly, I could eat Mexican three times a week and I love El Rodeo. When I briefly lived in Reading I became obsessed with Alebrije, and El Rodeo has become my Harrisburg area stand-in.
The Ambiance: It looks like someone bought Cinco de Mayo in a can and sprayed it all over the interior, but it kind of fits.
Company: My Fiancée.
Did Others Like Their Meals: Yes. She had the #21, which is one hard beef taco, one beef burrito and one bean chalupa. It was the first time she had it and she really enjoyed it.
Cost: The Lemoyne location doesn’t have a liquor license, so only about $20 for both of us.
The Service: Attentive and FAST. You can blow through a meal at El Rodeo in no time.
Notes: If I want a meal I know that I’m going to like and I don’t feel like paying a bunch of money for it, El Rodeo is always a good choice.
Recommendation: Of course.