I've been here for happy hour and for dinner. It is a good weeknight happy hour location...the crowds weren't too bad. For dinner, I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. I had a Taphouse Burger...and it was amazing. Usually I put ketchup on everything...but not on this burger as it was juicy and perfect without it. Will definitely be back for happy hour...and won't shy from dinner here.
(4)
christian C.
Conceptually, this place is great. I give it a 5 for its approach and selection of on tap beers. Food, is about a 1.5. They have 101 beers on tap, with no bland corporate swill - love that! So, really just go for a beer; skip the food. The food sounds much better than it's executed, and we're not talking about an ambitious menu here. Everything was bland, bland, bland, and anything that came close to a fryer was greasy. I applaud their initiative - Harrisburg needs what they are trying to accomplish. I just hope some day the kitchen gets better.
(2)
Daniel T.
100 beers on tap says it all. Not sure if they were all available but they had every one that I requested. I went on a Saturday and they had a good crowd. I sat at the bar, but they also have outdoor seating. I was asked if I needed another drink every time my current one was getting low. They'll also let you sample on request. I had the Ribeye tacos as well which were amazing. I definitely recommend this place especially if you like craft beers from all over (Michigan, NY, FLA, CA and of course local)
(4)
Gervaise L.
Food was pretty great. Definitely the best frittata I've had -- wish I knew what the little skinny mushrooms they used were. The house Bloody Mary was pretty good -- loved the pickled veg garnish. The service was okay -- a little aloof, maybe even condescending. I'd probably go back if I am ever in Harrisburg again.
(4)
Paul W.
Awesome beer! We were in a large party and all pretty much ordered different things. All of the food was great, as was the beer. HUGE beer selection. Nice Place. Will do again.
(4)
DC M.
On second review, I've been disappointed by their food twice recently. The crab cake sandwich tasted like fish past its prime, and on another occasion their beet salad w added grilled chicken was just abysmal. The beer selection is still fine, but I'd pass on the chow.
(2)
jay y.
Nice rehab. Great atmosphere. Great beer selection. Great service. Will not go back. Stopped in for Happy Hour. $8 beers were now $7. Really, why bother? Personal Pizza of the day sounded good, was $15. Can you say "overpriced"? Pretty empty during happy hour, I wonder why.Owner got in his $70K SUV and drove away, so I guess he's doing OK. A good place to go if you have an expense account.
(3)
Julie B.
I had been wanting to check this out and ending up doing so with a large group. Surprisingly, despite it being very busy, we were seated promptly. The beer list is huge and there are some excellent choices. The food was fine. We had a burger which was good, but there wasn't anything unique or exceptional about, it was just a good burger. Also had the olives (never had olives warm before) and they were very tasty and the portion was sizable. The service was excellent, even with our large party. I'm really glad that this is here as a downtown option. I would take this any day over Dragonfly. I guess the only reason I don't rank Federal Taphouse higher is 1) it's pretty expensive for what it is and 2) the food isn't that interesting and again is expensive for what it is.
(3)
Nate M.
Brought my nieces to Federal Taphouse for brunch Sunday before they head home to Ohio! They loved the pizzas they ordered. I had the Ricotta & Lemon Pancakes. It was a lot of food too, enough to take leftovers home. The service was top notch, attentive and helpful! I loved the atmosphere and the menu selection. I'm looking forward to coming back for dinner soon and trying some of the beers on tap, they have more than 100! Plus, they have a Ramen Night on Wednesdays too!!!
(5)
Jasin R.
Been here twice. One awesome and amazing experience. Second time average. One hundred beers on tap. Have a list you are sure to find something to enjoy. Food is eclectic. Fries in duck fat. Steaks are perfectly prepared. Outside seating is cool. Free entertainment from from drunks on street. Inside very open with lots of beautiful wood work. Bartender very knowledgeable about product. Stay away from the pizza. Coal oven does not produce best pie. Worth giving a whirl.
(4)
Chris M.
Devil on Horesback appetizer. Just order it.
(4)
Lexi M.
We went here for a Paint Nite event. The drinks were expertly prepared and yummy. We ordered fries (we were leery since they are fried in duck fat - says so right on the menu) and they are possibly the best fries we've ever had. We also ordered a margherita pizza which was good , but a little saucy. Overall we had a great nite with paint and good food and better drinks.
(4)
Jen A.
If you don't get excited about a really huge beer list, then don't waste your time, here. One star is for the beer list and one star for the bbq chicken pizza. I ordered the zucchini pancetta pizza and it was BLAND. How can something with pancetta be bland? The service was marginal, at best. The server wouldn't let my sister in law change her wine order - way to be accomodating. I won't be going back.
(2)
Jess P.
Great spot for a casual night out. With 100 beers on tap, you won't be disjointed with the selection. I recommend the southwest black bean burger. I've tried many black bean burgers and they can be a bit on the dry side, but the Federal Taphouse's was crafted to perfection. They have a variety of unique dishes as well, ranging from pork belly and watermelon tacos to duck confit.
(5)
Deric L.
Atmosphere was nice. Service at the bar was good. Beers were tasty, but expensive. Fruit flies were an annoyance. Quite expensive for lunch (over $30 for a personal pizza, two beers and half an order of fries, plus tax and tip). The wood-fired oven pizza was hit-or-miss: The asparagus with smoked ham and egg was fantastic; another, with roasted tomatoes and shaved cheese (ricotta salata, I think) wasn't very flavorful. They are generously sized for personal pizzas, though, and can be shared. The beer menu is extensive, but the lack of prices turns ordering into a bit of Russian roulette. I appreciated the beer descriptions on the printed menu. All of the beers my party ordered were $6-7. I'm certain there's more expensive ones, but I doubt there are any much cheaper. The fries cooked in duck fat sound delicious and were good, but not spectacular (though, again, the portion was generous). I didn't notice any difference from normal, good fries except they were darker in appearance. Their accompanying aioli was nice the first few times, but then just tasted like mayonnaise. Walking back to work, I remarked to my friend that I'd probably only go back if their happy hour specials are good or if there's a beer I really want to try. I've got to get the happy hour details, but I did see another review that mentioned they're nothing to write home about. We shall see.
(3)
Mike B.
Beer selection is aces. Comes in behind only Al's of Hampden in the region. Unfortunately, the good news stops there. First problem of the food is the schizophrenia of the menu. The Federal Taphouse can't decide what kind of place it wants to be. The menu is all over the place: high-minded bar type food, traditional wings and fries type of place, or white trash dive. My first time there, I somehow ordered a caprese sandwich and poutine. My fault for coming up with such a silly combo, but really, it shouldn't even be possible. Then, there's the matter of quality. I've had some food that's perfectly fine. But I've also had some disasters. The poutine was a mess, even by poutine standards. Second time around, I got what may have been the worst calamari I ever had. It appears to have been breaded in sand, and then overcooked. Ew. Service was good, but the interior is huge and cold, and combined with the lack of customers, created a bit of a haunted, impersonal feel. Yelp's description of 2 stars, "Meh, I've experienced better", sums it up perfectly.
(2)
Brigette K.
So, the beer selection here was pretty awesome. Tons of drafts from a variety of beer places. Only bad thing is there is no notice of things that are out/tapped - until you ask for it. I'm giving two stars because of the food and the bartenders. Food: Lackluster and the menu was ALL over the place. My boyfriend and I shared an order of the pierogies, Asian salad, and Brussels sprouts pizza. The pierogies were yummy. The Asian salad was gross and did not have enough dressing on it. The pizza had about no taste. Bartenders: EVERY time someone or a group of people would come into the restaurant, the bartenders would sigh obnoxiously and say, "ugh seriously? does it never end?" And then, they ignored people when they sat at the bar. It took awhile to get our bartender's attention while sitting at the bar, and it was about 9pm on a Sunday night at this point. Then, every beer I asked for was out, so the bartender would walk away. Honestly I don't feel the need to come back here, which is unfortunate since it does have a good beer selection. The bartenders alone were so horrible though, I would rather my money go elsewhere.
(2)
Veronica N.
This place has a fantastic beer selection! They have so many on draught that it gets really hard to choose what to try next. The Federal Taphouse is situated in what used to be a First Federal Bank building. It is pretty cavernous inside, which makes it noisy. They have a brick oven and they make excellent pizzas in it. I had the Tartufo pizza. It had ricotta & fontina cheeses, arugula, truffle, and an egg as toppings. It was sooooo good! I love truffles and was happy to see it on a brick oven pizza. As soon as the pizza is brought to the table, the server splits the yolk on the soft-cooked egg and spreads it around the top of the pizza. Yum! I also got the grilled Caesar salad, which was very good as well. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jeff L.
I am in Harrisburg for a few days and was looking for a place not far from my hotel where I could drunk a beer that I cannot get in my area. Nice tap line up. Located near the Pennsylvania capitol building. I got here on a Monday evening and everyone was in business attire. I felt underdressed in my jeans. But I enjoyed a Bell's Oberon and a juicy turkey burger with blue cheese stuffed inside. Quick and friendly service.
(4)
Mike W.
Hands down, the best beer selection in downtown Harrisburg. 100 beers on tap, and I believe a small bottle selection as well. The beers they they have represent a wide variety of locations and brew styles, however they did thankfully leave off most of the lower end mass produced beers, at least from the tap list. The menu is well thought out with a combination of high end bar food, unique entrees, and pizza. The pizza is cooked in an open section of the restaurant where you can see the staff prepare and bake it. I believe this restaurant used to be one of the two main night clubs in downtown Harrisburg before they both went out of business. The former night club next door also seems to be trying the beer concept, however if you're a true beer snob or foodie, Federal Taphouse is definitely the better of the two.
(5)
Mike G.
Give it a try. I went up to Harrisburg on a quick road trip to see my family. It's my hometown and it's always nice to establishments like this coming around. My wife and I stopped by for a nice little dinner before we hit the highway, and at first I was amazed at how nice the place was. The environment was well put together. The customer service on point, but my meal was okay. It wasn't bad, it just was missing something (a little flavor). I ordered the slow cooked prime rib and it was missing a little salt. My wife ordered the chicken when she said was okay. I would definitely come back to enjoy the bar on a friday or saturday night as it seems like it would be the place to be!
(3)
Kevin J.
I have been here twice, both times have been awesome! The Coal fired wings are a must try. There are a lot of them. They have over 100 beers here and I think they rotate their list on a consistent basis. Try the peach beer. It had a sweet taste and a nice aroma. The atmosphere in here is really good. Some days quiet, some days it's busy you laughter. I love coming here whenever I am in town. I hope they grow and maybe one day we will have these in NYC. The more of these places the better it is. So come on down for a good beer, great food and even greater company. I assure you...you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Jeanine C.
Alright, let me start off by saying I'm not a beer drinker. This review ISN'T about that. My one star that they deserve is based off the service and food. We had a group of 7, meaning our service should have been on point. Needless to say it was far from that. The waitress was never anywhere to be found. Barely any refills on our drinks, so we had to do the next thing and call a manager to inform him of this. Our food was disgusting, the pizza was horrible (soggy and AWFUL), the "brownie" I ordered - which was actually a cake - was the worst. The pretzel with I believe was a "garlic beer" and honey mustard sauce, absolutely nasty. We then asked for Dijon sauce to go with it instead, wasn't any better - we went through four different sauces to finally be satisfied with it. Oh, and I went to the bathroom.. No soap in either of the four dispensers. Was this place so full before dinner that they had that many customers? They OBVIOUSLY don't wait on tables, so might as well check on bathrooms. Disgusting. And when you come here, if you don't like to feel left out, make sure you wear a dress, suit, tie, slacks - you know, the formal stuff. That's what type of atmosphere this is. The menu I'll say was a decent size, but I will never be back again to try ANYTHING more they have to offer........Believe THAT.
(1)
Kurt I.
I like that Harrisburg is trying to revamp itself and provide places for good clean fun, but this place is just another sterile, overpriced bar where the servers really don't know what they are pouring. Please Harrisburg, give me something with some atmosphere, and a little grit doesn't hurt.
(3)
David P.
The beer selection is great! The beer is a little over priced by they have a great variety of IPAs and lighter beers. The burgers were delicious but stay away from the crab Mac n cheese, there isn't really much crab in it and it isn't worth the money.
(4)
Tamara B.
This is a gem - from beer to pizza to the risky and innovative menu, this is a restaurant that belongs in Manhattan or Philadelphia. Our group of 25+ was delightfully impressed with the extensive beer offerings, but the food was delicious, fresh and left all the jaded business travellers wanted to have each meal at the Taphouse. The wings are almost a half a chicken, great sauce and one is like a meal. Order the Devils on Horseback - dates with Blue cheese covered in bacon. Yummy, only wish there was more crisp to the underlying bacon. Pizzas were super, flavorful and with excellent sauces. I had a beet salad with salmon. Their wood burning ovens smoked and crisped the salmon perfectly - but my dining companions had the pork shoulder with polenta and greens. Possibly the best taste combination with the greens and polenta and the meat just feel off the bone. Other dish was the beef leg with vegetables and potatoes - it looked like a Paleo dare with a huge bone sticking out, but the meat was smokey, and throughly melted and delicious. Didn't have dessert, but overall impressed with this best of 2nd Street location.
(5)
Thomas A.
Good food, good drinks. I had the steak and fries and my husband had the salmon with fried arancini. He loves the Dirtywolf. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Katherine M.
I like this place. I dunno, I might love it. Yeah, sure. It can have 5 stars. You know why? They have a lot of beer. They are always super friendly with me. And the beer is always good. For beer alone, it's my place to go. It's never too loud like Anthony's and there is plenty of room. I'm always able to be seated, never crowded in by too many sweaty people, and I'm comfortable. They have that down. The service is always good. Our waiters have never failed to bring us beers, check in on us, and bring us food in good time. Not only that, but they are nice. One of our waiters even let us take home both of our glasses when Star Hill was doing a 'get one of our beers and take the glass home free' thing. I heart you, man. I like the food. The pizza is yummy - I'm a big fan of it. It's cooked well, the cheese is good, and I'm happy with it always. The duck fat fries with the aioli is darn good too, although not as good as others, it's damn good for Harrisburg.
(5)
Shra G.
Best on-tap craft beer selection in Harrisburg. Bar tenders know all 100 beers by heart, which is impressive considering how often many of them change. Great ambiance! Anthony is the coolest bartender and has great suggestions if you get stumped on which drink to choose. It's a great place to take friends visiting from out of town. Food menu is short, but everything is unique and somewhat fairly priced. But everything I tried so far is fantastic.
(4)
Ray T.
9/5/2013 100-beer beer menu. We only tried 2. The place is big, serving the downtown businesses and government employees and tourists. Good service; decent food. We ordered the BBQ ribs which were good but had a sauce on the sweet side. Potato salad is what is sold with ribs! For this restaurant, potato salad is not a mix of overcooked potatoes, mayo, etc., but fingerling potatoes.
(3)
Patrick B.
Went back for a second bite tonight, and sorry to be disappointed. I have observed far too often the new restaurant in town that goes all out after opening to establish a reputation, then slacks off in service, ingredients, prep or all three after it becomes obvious just how costly it is to excel in all three categories. Yet, that's what it takes to be a great eatery. Our experience tonight, service was indifferent, and food was just okay. I raved about the wings last time, remembering them as being the second best in Harrisburg (Official BBQ), but tonight, while they were good, they were not great. The wings I had Thursday at Sturges were better. B & M had tomato basil soup, which I thought was no better than average. Special pizza was crab, bacon and mozzarella. B had sausage and broccoli rabe pizza, and M chose fish and chips. Pizza crust was chewy but burned on the bottom. The burned taste totally colored the seafood, giving the pizza a bland non-taste, not good. B's pizza crust also burned and tasted like it. Should do better with the brick oven. Just an okay dining experience tonight. Not at all busy for a Saturday night.
(3)
Kate S.
I had a really nice dinner here in the spring (2014). The beer list is fairly extensive with some really fun options (creme brulee and banana bread were hits for me). The restaurant itself is loud but nice; chairs are pretty uncomfortable, though. I ordered a pizza, and it was delicious. Goat cheese & pepitas & brussle sprouts -- really unique and tasty. It was cooked perfectly. The table split the hummus appetizer which was mediocre - but then again, how exciting can hummus be? Server was friendly, but did delay in bringing over the check. Overall, a good place to stop.
(4)
Amy G.
A must-go for beer lovers. But . . . don't go expecting cheap beer - even during happy hour. The fries were fantastic. Food was pretty standard but over priced. Service absolutely stunk one evening when I stopped in for happy hour. There were employees all over the place but it was like our two tables were almost invisible (even though we were near the entrance and bar). I eventually went up to the bar and waited a good 5 minutes before the bartender even looked at me. I don't understand how they have one bartender during happy hour at a downtown establishment. It made me miss Washington, D.C. where bars with happy hours were overstaffed behind the bar. Maybe it's because I'm a women and there's a stereotype of women not tipping well. I'll only go back if my hubby is with me because he loves trying different beers (particularly if they're on a tap).
(3)
Lina K.
I had been excited to try this place but found it disappointing. The restaurant looks great and has an amazing beer list. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was not so great. I tried the wings, which were burnt. I had the margarita pizza which was not done well enough and was more mushy than crispy.
(3)
Sara L.
Really cool atmosphere. A million beers on tap, not a huge connoisseur myself, I was delighted that three ciders were available. Food was very underwhelming. Caesar salad had some warm to room temp leaves, but some cold crisp leaves too? Part of they hype and reason we stopped in was the brick oven pizza. It left much to be desired. the pizza was very thin, but not a crispy thin. Just kind of limp. We ordered the Polpette, which reminded me of elementary school pizza party pizza left out all afternoon, there was very little cheese and it seemed to be burned into the sauce. There was a half of a huge meatball on each slice, that was very good, but It would have been better evenly distributed throughout the pie. But, it seems like a cool place, they have excellent events scheduled, so maybe I will be back to watch a band and drink a cider, but I wont come hungry.
(2)
Benjamin B.
Came to this spot as a referral from a local and was excited about all the beers on tap. We came in on a Monday night so it was fairly empty, but it worked since we got our food and beers pretty fast. The restaurant has a hip and trendy vibe, great for socializing. Our server was very knowledgable of their huge beer selection and gave great recommendations for each person. The food was ok...I ordered the crabcake sandwich as our server said it was one of her favorites and ordered it with the poutine fries. The crab cake sandwich was good but I wasn't crazy about it. The poutine fries were disappointing - barely any gravy or cheese. But overall it seemed like a cool place and would definitely come back for the beer selection.
(2)
Matt B.
Unbelievable beer selection! Aged burger was a great when paired with Ballast Point Brewing Company's Habanero Sculpin IPA. Service was very average but our waiter was very knowledgeable about their offerings and made some great suggestions. Highly recommend this spot to anyone who has a passion for craft brews and new American cuisine.
(4)
Larry W.
Went there today to have a bite and a couple beers. We were told that the only menu items available were Wings, Burgers and Pizzas. The bartender was knowledgeable about the beer selection, but the pizza was burnt on the bottom and raw on the top! For the price, I expected better food and service but I will go again just for the beer selection!
(2)
Elizabeth S.
The concert venue upstairs is a lot of fun. It's very spacious and the sound system is great. The restaurant on the first floor is not my favorite. We sat at the bar and ordered a few simple appetizers like the Margarita pizza and wings, to split. The food was soggy and the pizza sauce was too sweet. The beer was fine but the service was horrendous. I have never been to a restaurant and seen SO MANY servers and bartenders on duty just standing around talking to one another and not checking on their customers. There were about ten members of the service staff just standing at the end of the bar... about one staff member per guest in the restaurant because it was It in the evening (about 5:30). It seemed as if the staff were indifferent about the guests because it was not busy enough for them to care. Meanwhile, we sat with empty beers wanting a second. Eventually we were brought the check without ever being asked how everything was or if we needed anything else. Go here for the concerts because they get interesting bands in, which is a rarity for the Harrisburg area. If you are looking for a good meal with pleasant service, I recommend trying anywhere else.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Stopped in for a little bit of food, so I wanted to give a quick update: I had the wings and the duck confit pizza. The wings are absolutely delicious! I am usually the type of wing eater that wants a puddle of hot sauce left over after I polish my dozen off, but these were an exception for sure. They are full wings, meaning drummettes and wingettes attached, which you don't usually see. They come with a side of hot sauce, but are certainly flavorful enough to ignore and just eat as-is. Definitely the best wings I've ever had of that style, and up there for overall wing experience also. I recommend an order or two of these! On the other hand, the duck confit pizza was a bit of a disappointment. Our pizza had a very minimal amount of duck, and the little bit that was included was overcooked and tough. Along with there not being enough duck, they also overdid the carmelized onions on the majority of the pizza. This led to the flavor being pretty much one-note, and that note was just overly sweet. The basic components of the pizza lead me to believe that I would enjoy another pizza with different toppings, but I'm not rushing back to see if that's true. Service was good and the chalkboard was complete this time, so that was nice. Unfortunately, I still don't think there is enough beer knowledge among the staff to entice me to pay an extra $1 per beer for the experience. The owners could learn a little something from a conversation with the owners/staff of some of the better beer bars in the Philly area (TJ's, Monk's Cafe, Capone's, Memphis Taproom, Station Taproom, etc).
(3)
T W.
Tried it for the first time for lunch. Atmosphere is big, meant to handle hoards of 2nd St drunks on weekends, but not offering much in the way of comfort and cozyness at mid-day. The service was also surprisingly cold and inattentive despite how slow it was. Sandwich was good. Fries cooked in duck fat a decedent treat. Chips cooked in the same fat disgusting. Cool seeing all the taps and nice beers. This whole 2nd street no-style, economy drinking, pack-them-in places are just not my thing.
(3)
Joshua N.
This is a refreshing change to 2nd street Harrisburg. First of all the 100 beer taps is amazing. The selection is obviously fantastic with great local beers and choices from all over the country. Not just a great variety of styles but a nice variety of breweries. There were a few beers they were out of which for a week night I was disappointed about but it wasn't like there weren't 99 or 98 other beers to choose from. My friends and I sat at the bar where they had the massive TVs which was nice for viewing sports. The bartenders were great and even once the HYP crowd came in were still very attentive and quick to get new drinks. For food I tried the fried cooked in duck fat and the duck confit pizza. The confit pizza has far too much arugula on top. A little would have been great but it overwhelmed the pizza in my opinion. The confit was great and went well with the pizza. I hadn't really had a gourmet pizza before but it was good and cooked well. The fries were excellent as well. The restaurant is new and beautiful on the inside. It's inviting and makes you feel like you want to hangout for a while and smell the wood fire.
(4)
Matt N.
A great beer selection and nice selection of wood fired pizza choices including roasted duck with fig and Italian sausage w/ broccoli rabe. The service was attentive and only waited about 15 min when they were packed on Saturday night -I want to come back to see what the place is like on a week night
(4)
Pamela C.
Everything is very hit or miss here. The food, service, and even the atmosphere, depending on the night. The concept of the food is very impressive, but sometimes the attractiveness of the food description on paper did not translate to the dish itself. On the upside - it's not your typical bar food. The service is pretty good but beware - the bartenders know enough about beer to get by, but many of the waitstaff are clueless. On my first visit, I ordered "so and so" beer and the waitress asked me to say the number it is listed under. Disappointing. However, it is definitely worth a visit as the food can be very good depending on what you get and they do have a great selection of beer. P.S. What's up with the happy hour?
(3)
Jenn K.
Stopped in for a few drinks and lunch on a Sunday. Place was not very busy so we could sit wherever we wanted. We chose a seat at the bar to watch the Phillies. Our server was very friendly and let me try a few samples of beers before I picked one. Also got a pizza to split that was very good. Overall very nice place with a huge beer list, definitely going to bring back some friends, dinner menu looks promising!
(5)
Joe D.
Its just ok for me. I think the meals are over priced and now that its $3.00 an hour to park in Harrisburg, it's just not worth it.
(3)
Andrea R.
I was so excited for this place when it opened. Its impressive looking inside: nice decor, hip atmosphere, but I've been so disappointed with the service every time I've been there that I won't be returning. I'm a full time bartender and am typically very lenient and understanding with wait staff but yikes. After bad service at the bar a handful of times on weekend nights, I decided today to give it one more chance, thinking Sunday brunch would be different. Unfortunately I still got sat at a high top and was waited on by a bartender. The extent of her conversation (I wouldn't know her name but I think someone called her Jen) was "Hi, can I get you a drink?" and "Ready to order?". I don't think we spoke again. I watched the other servers describe specials and make recommendations to their guests, which is what I would expect for $20+ per person just for breakfast. I was appalled, and felt terrible for the other bartender that she was pooling tips with since he clearly cared about guest service more than her. I left a good tip because the male bartender seemed friendly and checked on me a few times. But ultimately, I haven't left a restaurant this upset in a very long time. If it could offer better service then I would be understanding of the prices of Federal Taphouse. But with the caliber service I've experienced, its hugely overpriced. I've had more attentive and friendly service at the front street diner.
(2)
Melissa D.
I've stopped in here twice and had the aged burger twice!!! Best burger I've had as of yet in the area. Burger is aged, dry rubbed, so it has a crunchy edge to it with a moist middle even at medium-well done! It's topped with BBQ sauced onions enveloped under pepper jack cheese, and applewood smoked bacon. The bun is amazing though, I'm not quite sure how the bun gets so fluffy but still supports the burger and juices without getting soggy. It's the type of bun that you can squish down, leaving finger marks, but like a good foam mattress, the indentations start to disappear during your fry break. Speaking of the fries. Holy crap. They're fried in duck fat, which makes them incredibly crispy while still keeping the potatoey center and they stay that way throughout the meal. Usually I down half of my fries before my burger to ensure their heat and crispiness, but not required here. I can alternate between bites :) This place is kid friendly too. They offer a plate of chicken fingers and fries or a cheese pizza cheaper than what you'd find a meal at a local diner. I've heard the crab cake sandwich is a favorite too. As for the super long menu of beers, I unfortuantely cannot comment since I'm not a beer drinker!! Burgers and fries...now that's my cup of tea!
(4)
James S.
Spent a weekend in Harrisburg and this quickly became my favorite spot. Ended up coming here both nights while doing some bar hopping. The huge attractions are the 100 beers they have on tap here. The beer list on the wall is absolutely magnificent and I'm not even typically a beer drinker. That doesn't matter here because there is certain something for everyone if you look hard enough. Prices were decent. Crowd was generally young with some older people sprinkled in. They have some outdoor seating and open the whole place up in the summer. Although the restaurant is enormous, the dining area takes up majority of it so the crowd basically surrounds the bar as it does anywhere else. My friends ordered a margherita pizza which looked pretty tasty, but was a little too strategically planned out with a single basil leaf on each slice. No real complaints though. Would love to go back next time in in the neighborhood.
(4)
Lee S.
We heard two things about the Federal Tap House, brick oven pizza and lots of craft beer, so we had to give it a try. This was the loudest restaurant we ever been in. The nose level was so high we had to lean into each other to talk. No normal conversation here. Yes, it is a bar and it was Saturday evening but, it is a restaurant also. Both are combined in one large room. Most likely more occupants that actually allowed. There is an upper level room but limited tables and chairs. As the evening progressed the bar crowd got closer and closer to our table and the F Bombs became every other word. Not that I have never left and F Bomb fly, but there is a limit and in public. The beer selection is the most we have ever seen in one location. 100 taps of craft beer from everywhere. The brick oven pizza was really good. Service was OK but I have to give that a pass as the place was jam packed. As much as I like craft draft craft beer and brick oven pizza I doubt if I will go back. John Wright and Iron Hill are better suited for us.
(3)
Jessica S.
Great beer, huge selection...the beer pretzel and beer cheese is AMAZING. I like the inside of this place, it's large, clean, and trendy.
(5)
Shana S.
The food was okay. The service was fine to bad. The beer selection is huge, but you don't get much of an explanation of what's what.
(3)
John F.
Great lunchtime service. 100 draft beers! My pilsner wasn't as cold as I would like. Standard offerings of pizzas and sandwiches. My sausage pizza was a bit light on sausage, which was chunks of commercial sausage. The brocolli rabe on it was very bitter, and chewy. I won't rush back.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Andrew R.
I've been here for happy hour and for dinner. It is a good weeknight happy hour location...the crowds weren't too bad. For dinner, I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. I had a Taphouse Burger...and it was amazing. Usually I put ketchup on everything...but not on this burger as it was juicy and perfect without it. Will definitely be back for happy hour...and won't shy from dinner here.
(4)christian C.
Conceptually, this place is great. I give it a 5 for its approach and selection of on tap beers. Food, is about a 1.5. They have 101 beers on tap, with no bland corporate swill - love that! So, really just go for a beer; skip the food. The food sounds much better than it's executed, and we're not talking about an ambitious menu here. Everything was bland, bland, bland, and anything that came close to a fryer was greasy. I applaud their initiative - Harrisburg needs what they are trying to accomplish. I just hope some day the kitchen gets better.
(2)Daniel T.
100 beers on tap says it all. Not sure if they were all available but they had every one that I requested. I went on a Saturday and they had a good crowd. I sat at the bar, but they also have outdoor seating. I was asked if I needed another drink every time my current one was getting low. They'll also let you sample on request. I had the Ribeye tacos as well which were amazing. I definitely recommend this place especially if you like craft beers from all over (Michigan, NY, FLA, CA and of course local)
(4)Gervaise L.
Food was pretty great. Definitely the best frittata I've had -- wish I knew what the little skinny mushrooms they used were. The house Bloody Mary was pretty good -- loved the pickled veg garnish. The service was okay -- a little aloof, maybe even condescending. I'd probably go back if I am ever in Harrisburg again.
(4)Paul W.
Awesome beer! We were in a large party and all pretty much ordered different things. All of the food was great, as was the beer. HUGE beer selection. Nice Place. Will do again.
(4)DC M.
On second review, I've been disappointed by their food twice recently. The crab cake sandwich tasted like fish past its prime, and on another occasion their beet salad w added grilled chicken was just abysmal. The beer selection is still fine, but I'd pass on the chow.
(2)jay y.
Nice rehab. Great atmosphere. Great beer selection. Great service. Will not go back. Stopped in for Happy Hour. $8 beers were now $7. Really, why bother? Personal Pizza of the day sounded good, was $15. Can you say "overpriced"? Pretty empty during happy hour, I wonder why.Owner got in his $70K SUV and drove away, so I guess he's doing OK. A good place to go if you have an expense account.
(3)Julie B.
I had been wanting to check this out and ending up doing so with a large group. Surprisingly, despite it being very busy, we were seated promptly. The beer list is huge and there are some excellent choices. The food was fine. We had a burger which was good, but there wasn't anything unique or exceptional about, it was just a good burger. Also had the olives (never had olives warm before) and they were very tasty and the portion was sizable. The service was excellent, even with our large party. I'm really glad that this is here as a downtown option. I would take this any day over Dragonfly. I guess the only reason I don't rank Federal Taphouse higher is 1) it's pretty expensive for what it is and 2) the food isn't that interesting and again is expensive for what it is.
(3)Nate M.
Brought my nieces to Federal Taphouse for brunch Sunday before they head home to Ohio! They loved the pizzas they ordered. I had the Ricotta & Lemon Pancakes. It was a lot of food too, enough to take leftovers home. The service was top notch, attentive and helpful! I loved the atmosphere and the menu selection. I'm looking forward to coming back for dinner soon and trying some of the beers on tap, they have more than 100! Plus, they have a Ramen Night on Wednesdays too!!!
(5)Jasin R.
Been here twice. One awesome and amazing experience. Second time average. One hundred beers on tap. Have a list you are sure to find something to enjoy. Food is eclectic. Fries in duck fat. Steaks are perfectly prepared. Outside seating is cool. Free entertainment from from drunks on street. Inside very open with lots of beautiful wood work. Bartender very knowledgeable about product. Stay away from the pizza. Coal oven does not produce best pie. Worth giving a whirl.
(4)Chris M.
Devil on Horesback appetizer. Just order it.
(4)Lexi M.
We went here for a Paint Nite event. The drinks were expertly prepared and yummy. We ordered fries (we were leery since they are fried in duck fat - says so right on the menu) and they are possibly the best fries we've ever had. We also ordered a margherita pizza which was good , but a little saucy. Overall we had a great nite with paint and good food and better drinks.
(4)Jen A.
If you don't get excited about a really huge beer list, then don't waste your time, here. One star is for the beer list and one star for the bbq chicken pizza. I ordered the zucchini pancetta pizza and it was BLAND. How can something with pancetta be bland? The service was marginal, at best. The server wouldn't let my sister in law change her wine order - way to be accomodating. I won't be going back.
(2)Jess P.
Great spot for a casual night out. With 100 beers on tap, you won't be disjointed with the selection. I recommend the southwest black bean burger. I've tried many black bean burgers and they can be a bit on the dry side, but the Federal Taphouse's was crafted to perfection. They have a variety of unique dishes as well, ranging from pork belly and watermelon tacos to duck confit.
(5)Deric L.
Atmosphere was nice. Service at the bar was good. Beers were tasty, but expensive. Fruit flies were an annoyance. Quite expensive for lunch (over $30 for a personal pizza, two beers and half an order of fries, plus tax and tip). The wood-fired oven pizza was hit-or-miss: The asparagus with smoked ham and egg was fantastic; another, with roasted tomatoes and shaved cheese (ricotta salata, I think) wasn't very flavorful. They are generously sized for personal pizzas, though, and can be shared. The beer menu is extensive, but the lack of prices turns ordering into a bit of Russian roulette. I appreciated the beer descriptions on the printed menu. All of the beers my party ordered were $6-7. I'm certain there's more expensive ones, but I doubt there are any much cheaper. The fries cooked in duck fat sound delicious and were good, but not spectacular (though, again, the portion was generous). I didn't notice any difference from normal, good fries except they were darker in appearance. Their accompanying aioli was nice the first few times, but then just tasted like mayonnaise. Walking back to work, I remarked to my friend that I'd probably only go back if their happy hour specials are good or if there's a beer I really want to try. I've got to get the happy hour details, but I did see another review that mentioned they're nothing to write home about. We shall see.
(3)Mike B.
Beer selection is aces. Comes in behind only Al's of Hampden in the region. Unfortunately, the good news stops there. First problem of the food is the schizophrenia of the menu. The Federal Taphouse can't decide what kind of place it wants to be. The menu is all over the place: high-minded bar type food, traditional wings and fries type of place, or white trash dive. My first time there, I somehow ordered a caprese sandwich and poutine. My fault for coming up with such a silly combo, but really, it shouldn't even be possible. Then, there's the matter of quality. I've had some food that's perfectly fine. But I've also had some disasters. The poutine was a mess, even by poutine standards. Second time around, I got what may have been the worst calamari I ever had. It appears to have been breaded in sand, and then overcooked. Ew. Service was good, but the interior is huge and cold, and combined with the lack of customers, created a bit of a haunted, impersonal feel. Yelp's description of 2 stars, "Meh, I've experienced better", sums it up perfectly.
(2)Brigette K.
So, the beer selection here was pretty awesome. Tons of drafts from a variety of beer places. Only bad thing is there is no notice of things that are out/tapped - until you ask for it. I'm giving two stars because of the food and the bartenders. Food: Lackluster and the menu was ALL over the place. My boyfriend and I shared an order of the pierogies, Asian salad, and Brussels sprouts pizza. The pierogies were yummy. The Asian salad was gross and did not have enough dressing on it. The pizza had about no taste. Bartenders: EVERY time someone or a group of people would come into the restaurant, the bartenders would sigh obnoxiously and say, "ugh seriously? does it never end?" And then, they ignored people when they sat at the bar. It took awhile to get our bartender's attention while sitting at the bar, and it was about 9pm on a Sunday night at this point. Then, every beer I asked for was out, so the bartender would walk away. Honestly I don't feel the need to come back here, which is unfortunate since it does have a good beer selection. The bartenders alone were so horrible though, I would rather my money go elsewhere.
(2)Veronica N.
This place has a fantastic beer selection! They have so many on draught that it gets really hard to choose what to try next. The Federal Taphouse is situated in what used to be a First Federal Bank building. It is pretty cavernous inside, which makes it noisy. They have a brick oven and they make excellent pizzas in it. I had the Tartufo pizza. It had ricotta & fontina cheeses, arugula, truffle, and an egg as toppings. It was sooooo good! I love truffles and was happy to see it on a brick oven pizza. As soon as the pizza is brought to the table, the server splits the yolk on the soft-cooked egg and spreads it around the top of the pizza. Yum! I also got the grilled Caesar salad, which was very good as well. I will definitely be back!
(4)Jeff L.
I am in Harrisburg for a few days and was looking for a place not far from my hotel where I could drunk a beer that I cannot get in my area. Nice tap line up. Located near the Pennsylvania capitol building. I got here on a Monday evening and everyone was in business attire. I felt underdressed in my jeans. But I enjoyed a Bell's Oberon and a juicy turkey burger with blue cheese stuffed inside. Quick and friendly service.
(4)Mike W.
Hands down, the best beer selection in downtown Harrisburg. 100 beers on tap, and I believe a small bottle selection as well. The beers they they have represent a wide variety of locations and brew styles, however they did thankfully leave off most of the lower end mass produced beers, at least from the tap list. The menu is well thought out with a combination of high end bar food, unique entrees, and pizza. The pizza is cooked in an open section of the restaurant where you can see the staff prepare and bake it. I believe this restaurant used to be one of the two main night clubs in downtown Harrisburg before they both went out of business. The former night club next door also seems to be trying the beer concept, however if you're a true beer snob or foodie, Federal Taphouse is definitely the better of the two.
(5)Mike G.
Give it a try. I went up to Harrisburg on a quick road trip to see my family. It's my hometown and it's always nice to establishments like this coming around. My wife and I stopped by for a nice little dinner before we hit the highway, and at first I was amazed at how nice the place was. The environment was well put together. The customer service on point, but my meal was okay. It wasn't bad, it just was missing something (a little flavor). I ordered the slow cooked prime rib and it was missing a little salt. My wife ordered the chicken when she said was okay. I would definitely come back to enjoy the bar on a friday or saturday night as it seems like it would be the place to be!
(3)Kevin J.
I have been here twice, both times have been awesome! The Coal fired wings are a must try. There are a lot of them. They have over 100 beers here and I think they rotate their list on a consistent basis. Try the peach beer. It had a sweet taste and a nice aroma. The atmosphere in here is really good. Some days quiet, some days it's busy you laughter. I love coming here whenever I am in town. I hope they grow and maybe one day we will have these in NYC. The more of these places the better it is. So come on down for a good beer, great food and even greater company. I assure you...you will not be disappointed!
(5)Jeanine C.
Alright, let me start off by saying I'm not a beer drinker. This review ISN'T about that. My one star that they deserve is based off the service and food. We had a group of 7, meaning our service should have been on point. Needless to say it was far from that. The waitress was never anywhere to be found. Barely any refills on our drinks, so we had to do the next thing and call a manager to inform him of this. Our food was disgusting, the pizza was horrible (soggy and AWFUL), the "brownie" I ordered - which was actually a cake - was the worst. The pretzel with I believe was a "garlic beer" and honey mustard sauce, absolutely nasty. We then asked for Dijon sauce to go with it instead, wasn't any better - we went through four different sauces to finally be satisfied with it. Oh, and I went to the bathroom.. No soap in either of the four dispensers. Was this place so full before dinner that they had that many customers? They OBVIOUSLY don't wait on tables, so might as well check on bathrooms. Disgusting. And when you come here, if you don't like to feel left out, make sure you wear a dress, suit, tie, slacks - you know, the formal stuff. That's what type of atmosphere this is. The menu I'll say was a decent size, but I will never be back again to try ANYTHING more they have to offer........Believe THAT.
(1)Kurt I.
I like that Harrisburg is trying to revamp itself and provide places for good clean fun, but this place is just another sterile, overpriced bar where the servers really don't know what they are pouring. Please Harrisburg, give me something with some atmosphere, and a little grit doesn't hurt.
(3)David P.
The beer selection is great! The beer is a little over priced by they have a great variety of IPAs and lighter beers. The burgers were delicious but stay away from the crab Mac n cheese, there isn't really much crab in it and it isn't worth the money.
(4)Tamara B.
This is a gem - from beer to pizza to the risky and innovative menu, this is a restaurant that belongs in Manhattan or Philadelphia. Our group of 25+ was delightfully impressed with the extensive beer offerings, but the food was delicious, fresh and left all the jaded business travellers wanted to have each meal at the Taphouse. The wings are almost a half a chicken, great sauce and one is like a meal. Order the Devils on Horseback - dates with Blue cheese covered in bacon. Yummy, only wish there was more crisp to the underlying bacon. Pizzas were super, flavorful and with excellent sauces. I had a beet salad with salmon. Their wood burning ovens smoked and crisped the salmon perfectly - but my dining companions had the pork shoulder with polenta and greens. Possibly the best taste combination with the greens and polenta and the meat just feel off the bone. Other dish was the beef leg with vegetables and potatoes - it looked like a Paleo dare with a huge bone sticking out, but the meat was smokey, and throughly melted and delicious. Didn't have dessert, but overall impressed with this best of 2nd Street location.
(5)Thomas A.
Good food, good drinks. I had the steak and fries and my husband had the salmon with fried arancini. He loves the Dirtywolf. Will definitely be back!
(4)Katherine M.
I like this place. I dunno, I might love it. Yeah, sure. It can have 5 stars. You know why? They have a lot of beer. They are always super friendly with me. And the beer is always good. For beer alone, it's my place to go. It's never too loud like Anthony's and there is plenty of room. I'm always able to be seated, never crowded in by too many sweaty people, and I'm comfortable. They have that down. The service is always good. Our waiters have never failed to bring us beers, check in on us, and bring us food in good time. Not only that, but they are nice. One of our waiters even let us take home both of our glasses when Star Hill was doing a 'get one of our beers and take the glass home free' thing. I heart you, man. I like the food. The pizza is yummy - I'm a big fan of it. It's cooked well, the cheese is good, and I'm happy with it always. The duck fat fries with the aioli is darn good too, although not as good as others, it's damn good for Harrisburg.
(5)Shra G.
Best on-tap craft beer selection in Harrisburg. Bar tenders know all 100 beers by heart, which is impressive considering how often many of them change. Great ambiance! Anthony is the coolest bartender and has great suggestions if you get stumped on which drink to choose. It's a great place to take friends visiting from out of town. Food menu is short, but everything is unique and somewhat fairly priced. But everything I tried so far is fantastic.
(4)Ray T.
9/5/2013 100-beer beer menu. We only tried 2. The place is big, serving the downtown businesses and government employees and tourists. Good service; decent food. We ordered the BBQ ribs which were good but had a sauce on the sweet side. Potato salad is what is sold with ribs! For this restaurant, potato salad is not a mix of overcooked potatoes, mayo, etc., but fingerling potatoes.
(3)Patrick B.
Went back for a second bite tonight, and sorry to be disappointed. I have observed far too often the new restaurant in town that goes all out after opening to establish a reputation, then slacks off in service, ingredients, prep or all three after it becomes obvious just how costly it is to excel in all three categories. Yet, that's what it takes to be a great eatery. Our experience tonight, service was indifferent, and food was just okay. I raved about the wings last time, remembering them as being the second best in Harrisburg (Official BBQ), but tonight, while they were good, they were not great. The wings I had Thursday at Sturges were better. B & M had tomato basil soup, which I thought was no better than average. Special pizza was crab, bacon and mozzarella. B had sausage and broccoli rabe pizza, and M chose fish and chips. Pizza crust was chewy but burned on the bottom. The burned taste totally colored the seafood, giving the pizza a bland non-taste, not good. B's pizza crust also burned and tasted like it. Should do better with the brick oven. Just an okay dining experience tonight. Not at all busy for a Saturday night.
(3)Kate S.
I had a really nice dinner here in the spring (2014). The beer list is fairly extensive with some really fun options (creme brulee and banana bread were hits for me). The restaurant itself is loud but nice; chairs are pretty uncomfortable, though. I ordered a pizza, and it was delicious. Goat cheese & pepitas & brussle sprouts -- really unique and tasty. It was cooked perfectly. The table split the hummus appetizer which was mediocre - but then again, how exciting can hummus be? Server was friendly, but did delay in bringing over the check. Overall, a good place to stop.
(4)Amy G.
A must-go for beer lovers. But . . . don't go expecting cheap beer - even during happy hour. The fries were fantastic. Food was pretty standard but over priced. Service absolutely stunk one evening when I stopped in for happy hour. There were employees all over the place but it was like our two tables were almost invisible (even though we were near the entrance and bar). I eventually went up to the bar and waited a good 5 minutes before the bartender even looked at me. I don't understand how they have one bartender during happy hour at a downtown establishment. It made me miss Washington, D.C. where bars with happy hours were overstaffed behind the bar. Maybe it's because I'm a women and there's a stereotype of women not tipping well. I'll only go back if my hubby is with me because he loves trying different beers (particularly if they're on a tap).
(3)Lina K.
I had been excited to try this place but found it disappointing. The restaurant looks great and has an amazing beer list. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was not so great. I tried the wings, which were burnt. I had the margarita pizza which was not done well enough and was more mushy than crispy.
(3)Sara L.
Really cool atmosphere. A million beers on tap, not a huge connoisseur myself, I was delighted that three ciders were available. Food was very underwhelming. Caesar salad had some warm to room temp leaves, but some cold crisp leaves too? Part of they hype and reason we stopped in was the brick oven pizza. It left much to be desired. the pizza was very thin, but not a crispy thin. Just kind of limp. We ordered the Polpette, which reminded me of elementary school pizza party pizza left out all afternoon, there was very little cheese and it seemed to be burned into the sauce. There was a half of a huge meatball on each slice, that was very good, but It would have been better evenly distributed throughout the pie. But, it seems like a cool place, they have excellent events scheduled, so maybe I will be back to watch a band and drink a cider, but I wont come hungry.
(2)Benjamin B.
Came to this spot as a referral from a local and was excited about all the beers on tap. We came in on a Monday night so it was fairly empty, but it worked since we got our food and beers pretty fast. The restaurant has a hip and trendy vibe, great for socializing. Our server was very knowledgable of their huge beer selection and gave great recommendations for each person. The food was ok...I ordered the crabcake sandwich as our server said it was one of her favorites and ordered it with the poutine fries. The crab cake sandwich was good but I wasn't crazy about it. The poutine fries were disappointing - barely any gravy or cheese. But overall it seemed like a cool place and would definitely come back for the beer selection.
(2)Matt B.
Unbelievable beer selection! Aged burger was a great when paired with Ballast Point Brewing Company's Habanero Sculpin IPA. Service was very average but our waiter was very knowledgeable about their offerings and made some great suggestions. Highly recommend this spot to anyone who has a passion for craft brews and new American cuisine.
(4)Larry W.
Went there today to have a bite and a couple beers. We were told that the only menu items available were Wings, Burgers and Pizzas. The bartender was knowledgeable about the beer selection, but the pizza was burnt on the bottom and raw on the top! For the price, I expected better food and service but I will go again just for the beer selection!
(2)Elizabeth S.
The concert venue upstairs is a lot of fun. It's very spacious and the sound system is great. The restaurant on the first floor is not my favorite. We sat at the bar and ordered a few simple appetizers like the Margarita pizza and wings, to split. The food was soggy and the pizza sauce was too sweet. The beer was fine but the service was horrendous. I have never been to a restaurant and seen SO MANY servers and bartenders on duty just standing around talking to one another and not checking on their customers. There were about ten members of the service staff just standing at the end of the bar... about one staff member per guest in the restaurant because it was It in the evening (about 5:30). It seemed as if the staff were indifferent about the guests because it was not busy enough for them to care. Meanwhile, we sat with empty beers wanting a second. Eventually we were brought the check without ever being asked how everything was or if we needed anything else. Go here for the concerts because they get interesting bands in, which is a rarity for the Harrisburg area. If you are looking for a good meal with pleasant service, I recommend trying anywhere else.
(2)Jeremy L.
Stopped in for a little bit of food, so I wanted to give a quick update: I had the wings and the duck confit pizza. The wings are absolutely delicious! I am usually the type of wing eater that wants a puddle of hot sauce left over after I polish my dozen off, but these were an exception for sure. They are full wings, meaning drummettes and wingettes attached, which you don't usually see. They come with a side of hot sauce, but are certainly flavorful enough to ignore and just eat as-is. Definitely the best wings I've ever had of that style, and up there for overall wing experience also. I recommend an order or two of these! On the other hand, the duck confit pizza was a bit of a disappointment. Our pizza had a very minimal amount of duck, and the little bit that was included was overcooked and tough. Along with there not being enough duck, they also overdid the carmelized onions on the majority of the pizza. This led to the flavor being pretty much one-note, and that note was just overly sweet. The basic components of the pizza lead me to believe that I would enjoy another pizza with different toppings, but I'm not rushing back to see if that's true. Service was good and the chalkboard was complete this time, so that was nice. Unfortunately, I still don't think there is enough beer knowledge among the staff to entice me to pay an extra $1 per beer for the experience. The owners could learn a little something from a conversation with the owners/staff of some of the better beer bars in the Philly area (TJ's, Monk's Cafe, Capone's, Memphis Taproom, Station Taproom, etc).
(3)T W.
Tried it for the first time for lunch. Atmosphere is big, meant to handle hoards of 2nd St drunks on weekends, but not offering much in the way of comfort and cozyness at mid-day. The service was also surprisingly cold and inattentive despite how slow it was. Sandwich was good. Fries cooked in duck fat a decedent treat. Chips cooked in the same fat disgusting. Cool seeing all the taps and nice beers. This whole 2nd street no-style, economy drinking, pack-them-in places are just not my thing.
(3)Joshua N.
This is a refreshing change to 2nd street Harrisburg. First of all the 100 beer taps is amazing. The selection is obviously fantastic with great local beers and choices from all over the country. Not just a great variety of styles but a nice variety of breweries. There were a few beers they were out of which for a week night I was disappointed about but it wasn't like there weren't 99 or 98 other beers to choose from. My friends and I sat at the bar where they had the massive TVs which was nice for viewing sports. The bartenders were great and even once the HYP crowd came in were still very attentive and quick to get new drinks. For food I tried the fried cooked in duck fat and the duck confit pizza. The confit pizza has far too much arugula on top. A little would have been great but it overwhelmed the pizza in my opinion. The confit was great and went well with the pizza. I hadn't really had a gourmet pizza before but it was good and cooked well. The fries were excellent as well. The restaurant is new and beautiful on the inside. It's inviting and makes you feel like you want to hangout for a while and smell the wood fire.
(4)Matt N.
A great beer selection and nice selection of wood fired pizza choices including roasted duck with fig and Italian sausage w/ broccoli rabe. The service was attentive and only waited about 15 min when they were packed on Saturday night -I want to come back to see what the place is like on a week night
(4)Pamela C.
Everything is very hit or miss here. The food, service, and even the atmosphere, depending on the night. The concept of the food is very impressive, but sometimes the attractiveness of the food description on paper did not translate to the dish itself. On the upside - it's not your typical bar food. The service is pretty good but beware - the bartenders know enough about beer to get by, but many of the waitstaff are clueless. On my first visit, I ordered "so and so" beer and the waitress asked me to say the number it is listed under. Disappointing. However, it is definitely worth a visit as the food can be very good depending on what you get and they do have a great selection of beer. P.S. What's up with the happy hour?
(3)Jenn K.
Stopped in for a few drinks and lunch on a Sunday. Place was not very busy so we could sit wherever we wanted. We chose a seat at the bar to watch the Phillies. Our server was very friendly and let me try a few samples of beers before I picked one. Also got a pizza to split that was very good. Overall very nice place with a huge beer list, definitely going to bring back some friends, dinner menu looks promising!
(5)Joe D.
Its just ok for me. I think the meals are over priced and now that its $3.00 an hour to park in Harrisburg, it's just not worth it.
(3)Andrea R.
I was so excited for this place when it opened. Its impressive looking inside: nice decor, hip atmosphere, but I've been so disappointed with the service every time I've been there that I won't be returning. I'm a full time bartender and am typically very lenient and understanding with wait staff but yikes. After bad service at the bar a handful of times on weekend nights, I decided today to give it one more chance, thinking Sunday brunch would be different. Unfortunately I still got sat at a high top and was waited on by a bartender. The extent of her conversation (I wouldn't know her name but I think someone called her Jen) was "Hi, can I get you a drink?" and "Ready to order?". I don't think we spoke again. I watched the other servers describe specials and make recommendations to their guests, which is what I would expect for $20+ per person just for breakfast. I was appalled, and felt terrible for the other bartender that she was pooling tips with since he clearly cared about guest service more than her. I left a good tip because the male bartender seemed friendly and checked on me a few times. But ultimately, I haven't left a restaurant this upset in a very long time. If it could offer better service then I would be understanding of the prices of Federal Taphouse. But with the caliber service I've experienced, its hugely overpriced. I've had more attentive and friendly service at the front street diner.
(2)Melissa D.
I've stopped in here twice and had the aged burger twice!!! Best burger I've had as of yet in the area. Burger is aged, dry rubbed, so it has a crunchy edge to it with a moist middle even at medium-well done! It's topped with BBQ sauced onions enveloped under pepper jack cheese, and applewood smoked bacon. The bun is amazing though, I'm not quite sure how the bun gets so fluffy but still supports the burger and juices without getting soggy. It's the type of bun that you can squish down, leaving finger marks, but like a good foam mattress, the indentations start to disappear during your fry break. Speaking of the fries. Holy crap. They're fried in duck fat, which makes them incredibly crispy while still keeping the potatoey center and they stay that way throughout the meal. Usually I down half of my fries before my burger to ensure their heat and crispiness, but not required here. I can alternate between bites :) This place is kid friendly too. They offer a plate of chicken fingers and fries or a cheese pizza cheaper than what you'd find a meal at a local diner. I've heard the crab cake sandwich is a favorite too. As for the super long menu of beers, I unfortuantely cannot comment since I'm not a beer drinker!! Burgers and fries...now that's my cup of tea!
(4)James S.
Spent a weekend in Harrisburg and this quickly became my favorite spot. Ended up coming here both nights while doing some bar hopping. The huge attractions are the 100 beers they have on tap here. The beer list on the wall is absolutely magnificent and I'm not even typically a beer drinker. That doesn't matter here because there is certain something for everyone if you look hard enough. Prices were decent. Crowd was generally young with some older people sprinkled in. They have some outdoor seating and open the whole place up in the summer. Although the restaurant is enormous, the dining area takes up majority of it so the crowd basically surrounds the bar as it does anywhere else. My friends ordered a margherita pizza which looked pretty tasty, but was a little too strategically planned out with a single basil leaf on each slice. No real complaints though. Would love to go back next time in in the neighborhood.
(4)Lee S.
We heard two things about the Federal Tap House, brick oven pizza and lots of craft beer, so we had to give it a try. This was the loudest restaurant we ever been in. The nose level was so high we had to lean into each other to talk. No normal conversation here. Yes, it is a bar and it was Saturday evening but, it is a restaurant also. Both are combined in one large room. Most likely more occupants that actually allowed. There is an upper level room but limited tables and chairs. As the evening progressed the bar crowd got closer and closer to our table and the F Bombs became every other word. Not that I have never left and F Bomb fly, but there is a limit and in public. The beer selection is the most we have ever seen in one location. 100 taps of craft beer from everywhere. The brick oven pizza was really good. Service was OK but I have to give that a pass as the place was jam packed. As much as I like craft draft craft beer and brick oven pizza I doubt if I will go back. John Wright and Iron Hill are better suited for us.
(3)Jessica S.
Great beer, huge selection...the beer pretzel and beer cheese is AMAZING. I like the inside of this place, it's large, clean, and trendy.
(5)Shana S.
The food was okay. The service was fine to bad. The beer selection is huge, but you don't get much of an explanation of what's what.
(3)John F.
Great lunchtime service. 100 draft beers! My pilsner wasn't as cold as I would like. Standard offerings of pizzas and sandwiches. My sausage pizza was a bit light on sausage, which was chunks of commercial sausage. The brocolli rabe on it was very bitter, and chewy. I won't rush back.
(3)