I love to try out new restaurants, and recently Candee, Debbie and I found an Egyptian restaurant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. that we just had to try. The name of the restaurant is Sphinx of Pa and is the only Egyptian cuisine in Central Pennsylvania.
Sphinx of Pa
The restaurant is owned and run by two really nice people by the name of Hanan and Mike. They went out of their way to explain the items on the menu and offer suggestions on what to eat. After much deliberation, Candee and Debbie decided to start off with the appetizer platter which included Sphinx salad, tehini, side salad, hummus, tabouli, and baba ghannoujj. There were wedges of pita served with the platter, and we all enjoyed sampling the various items.
Hanan and Mike
For her entree, Candee ordered the Sphinx platter which included Kofta, Chicken Shish Kebob, Shawerma Beef, Shawerma Chicken w/Rice or Spaghetti & any Salad and sauteed vegetables. Debbie ordered the Vegetarian Sphinx platter which consisted of fava beans, koshary, and falafel…yummy!
Sphinx Platter
Vegetarian Sphinx Platter
Below are descriptions of some of the dishes, because if you’re like us, you’re probably not sure what some of the dishes are.
Sphinx salad-chopped tomatoes, parsley, peppers and red onion.
tehini-a thick Middle Eastern paste made from ground sesame seeds
hummus-a thick spread made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic; used especially as a dip for pita, originated in the Middle East
tabouli-salad of bulgur, finely chopped parsley and mint, tomato and spring onion, seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil
baba ghannoujj-A purée of roasted eggplant and tahini, flavored with garlic and lemon juice.
kofta-a dish of spicy meatballs or kebabs that are grilled, fried, or put in soup.
koshary-a traditional Egyptian meal that consists of a strange combination of macaroni, spaghetti, rice, black lentils, chick peas, garlic sauce and a spicy tomato chili sauce, all topped with fried onions.
falafel-ball or patty made from ground chickpeas and/or fava beans
The walls of the restaurant are covered with Egyptian murals that were painted by a friend of Mike and Hanan. The murals really add to the atmosphere and enhance your dining experience.
We were very impressed with both the food, and the service and would love to go back sometime for another meal. The restaurant is located at 2810 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, Pa.
Tags: Polly 3
March 6th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
That’s some tasty-looking food! I can’t wait to go to an Egyptian restaurant!
May 25th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Cool pic’s!