Roadtrip: NYC to Harrisburg to Buffalo

We're going to be flying from California to New York City next week and then driving to Harrisburg see family and then to Buffalo/Niagara Falls before retuning home. Is there any can't miss roadfood we should experience along the way? How about NYC or Buffalo? Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's been a while since we've been on the road. Thanks in advance.

Hope you have a great trip.  I have a feeling you will probably get some responses telling you to use the search engine on this site, as you will find a number of places on your itinerary.  You'll get a number for Buffalo alone; Anchor Bar and Duff's for wings,  Ted's for hot dogs, Charlie's for specialties like beef on weck, etc.

I only would add that I don't recall seeing on this site any mention of what I would call a great, old-fashioned, Italian American place in Buffalo called Chef's. (http://www.ilovechefs.com/ .... be careful, turn down your speakers, as the site is loud!)

You'll get tasty, hearty, solid Italian-American cuisine in a real down to earth environment.  I have to say, it has been a few years since I've been, and the food was very good , so hopefully the food has remained the same.  However, if you google the name for restaurant reviews, you'll find a number of people in other sites who have been recently, and say that the food has maintained its quality.    

I've actually been surprised that this place has apparently never been reviewed on this site, as Roadfood has been great about searching out great food in Buffalo.

Good luck!

may i suggest you visit the canadian side of falls .it is so much nicer than our side.if you visit canada you will need a passport  now as they dont accept drivers id  anymore unless you have a enhanced license.

Dutch,
 
It sounds as though you have a good trip ahead.  I agree with Tacchino's comments.  You can find plenty of good Roadfood in Buffalo: hot dogs at Ted's, ice cream and roast beef at Anderson's, chicken wings at Duff's and Anchor Bar.  I also agree that Chef's is a great place for Italian food.  I have been there several times for lunch the last few months, and the food is very good and filling.  If you go on a weekday at lunch time, you can get a good deal on a lunch with salad, bread, entree, sherbet, and coffee for about $10.00.  Not a bad deal at all.  (I guess I should write a review for the site to explain more about Chef's.)
 
If your trip from Harrisburg to Buffalo takes you through Lewisburg, PA at meal time, you ought to consider stopping at the Country Cupboard (http://www.countrycupboardinc.com/html/restaurant.htm).  The restaurant has a good selection, including great broasted chicken and other comfort-type foods.  It is definitely worth a stop.
 
Starfire62 is quite right about the Canadian side of the Falls being nicer.  NY State just cannot seem to get it right, whether it be with taxes or dealing with natural wonders of the world.
 
Hope you have a good trip, and feel free to check back for more specific recommendations.

i can't understand why people think the canadian side of the falls is nicer. The american side is a state park full of beautifil floral displays and walkways wheareas the canadian side is a tourist trap with ripleys believe it or not and wax museum.either way do the maid of the mist and cave of the winds

Not to get into a debate about the two sides of the falls, but the Canadian side does look nicer in many ways.  Certainly it does have tourist traps, but it does not look like a bombed-out war zone as the American side does.  Someone looking for food or any other services is seriously out of luck on the American side.  Besides, the Canadian side does have a nice set of parks along the river.

Why not both sides? That's what we did. American side does have a nice state park but the town is how BT says. From a photography standpoint I got better shots from the Canadian side and the food choices are much better on the Canadian side.

Buffalo Tarheel


Not to get into a debate about the two sides of the falls, but the Canadian side does look nicer in many ways.  Certainly it does have tourist traps, but it does not look like a bombed-out war zone as the American side does.  Someone looking for food or any other services is seriously out of luck on the American side.  Besides, the Canadian side does have a nice set of parks along the river.

 
Whoa there, Tarheel - while I agree that my hometown looks like cross between 8 Mile Road and Belfast on a bad night, we DO haev much better food on the NY side compared to the Candian tourist trap.
 
Dutch -
 
If you're in the Niagara Falls, NY, may I suggest Buzzy's on Niagara Falls Blvd. or La Hacienda on Pine Avenue for pizza, Viola's on Elmwood for subs, Fortuna's for high end Italian (especially their veal), Michael's for good everyday Italian.
 
Avoid the Como - it's overrated and that's where the tourists get sent.

Hey Niagara,

I don't get to Niagara Falls (the city or the attraction) that often any more unless we have guests from out of town, so I am sure you have some good restaurant recommendations.  When I mentioned the lack of food offerings on the American side versus the Canadian side, I was thinking of the area in the immediate vicinity of the actual falls, not necessarily the two cities.  The Canadian side does have more offerings near the actual falls, although they are mostly chain places and tourist traps.  Your suggestions for food away from the falls in the city of Niagara Falls, NY sound good and are better than the tourist traps; just a bit of a drive is needed.

PS: Sometime in July I should be making my Kansas trip and will contact you in case I end up coming through Topeka - hope it works out.

tarheel-

Sounds good - let me know and maybe we can do lunch at Porubsky's.

from Harrisburg, are you taking 81 to Rt 17 or 81 to the thruway? Either way, the Glider diner in Scranton is definitely worth a stop, as is Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse. Both are reviewed here. The Dinosaur was recently named the best BBQ in the country by Good Morning America. Their sides are even better.

harrisburg N take 22 to 11/15 follow 15 to 160around williamsport and pickup 15 at the end of 160 to NY. Corning. Traveled that route many a time, never had a bad meal anywhere along there.

Don't know about trip from NYC to Harrisburg, day of week or time thru there, but will give my all time two picks for pa and one for NY. You will get  more than enough in your bigger cities.
PA.  The Leather Corner Post out side Allentown
       Fri -Sat nite boomBa 's
       Midway Diner off I-84
NY    Naples    Bob and Ruth's
        They are transplants from Ga and do 
         southern there. Walked in and seen grits on 
        Menu, laughed being southern, but learned, 
        Waffles are excellent. And if you need to walk
        the winery is up the hill. More Brandy in them
        caves, all over NY.

We haven't set our exact route yet but the general plan was to take 78 W to 15 N. We're open to just about anything though especially since we've never been to this part of the country before. Thanks for the help.