Golden Sheaf   

1 N 2nd St
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-237-6400

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This is the place to go when you feel like getting dressed up to celebrate something special. Elegantly formal and pricey, the Golden Sheaf is not a place for a casual bite after the movies.Located to the left of the Hilton lobby, the relatively small restaurant is a little showplace; cool damask walls display large floral paintings. Each corner features an unusual and exotic flower arrangement. Tables are covered with crisp linens adorned by marble chargers and marble-based tiny lamps. Expect the full array of silverware and stemmed glasses designed to accommodate several courses and more than one wine. Formal it may be, but stuffy it isnt. Service is warm and friendly, and descriptions of ever-changing seasonal menu choices are helpful.This is a place to go for the grandeur. If you like foie gras, Golden Sheaf has it, with the chef's choice of contrasting accompaniments, often sweet. Soups are rich and served in generous portions. A variety of creamy risotto concoctions -- Milanese with saffron, or perhaps dotted with seafood -- show up throughout the menu, from appetizers to side dishes with lobster or lamb. If youre up for beef, try a simple fillet with Gorgonzola butter. Fish and shellfish are always fresh; choices depend on availability. You might consider jumbo grilled shrimp, pan-seared scallops, salmon fillets or crab cakes, served with equally fresh and crisp-cooked vegetable garnishes. Featured pastas will be cooked to your order. Desserts reflect the season: cool mlanges of fruit in summer, crusty crme brulee in winter. The Golden Sheafs wine list is pricey but acclaimed. Cocktails are big and glamorous. Plus, there's live jazz on weekends in the adjacent lounge, which is usually packed. -- Tracey E. Meloni