The Elephant & Castle Pub

The copper cup has promise. Startups are bumpy so give them a chance to optimize. Nice small menu, great atmosphere, excellent draft choices. Try the beef tip appetizer and .50 tacos on tue/​thu. As with any est., be sure to inform the manager of any issues to help them get better.

Archie: I know this is an English pub and this is probably a stupid question but what is your specialty here?
Waitress: Oh, easy, the Thai chicken salad.
Archie: Wow. I guess my question wasn’t that dumb after all.
Waitress: Debatable.
Imagine if an Applebee’s was taken over by the English and the menu was changed slightly.
That’s what Elephant and Castle is.
And the slogan was changed from «Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood» to «Leave the flat and join us for some darts old chap.»
Revolution.

I first found out about Elephant and Castle while on a two week business trip to Boston. The corporate hotel where I stayed had an Elephant and Castle on the first floor. Needless to say, after long days with the client I was more than happy to eat downstairs before dropping into bed. The food there was great, the prices were a little high for my per diem, but it usually hit the spot.
I was excited when I found out one would be opening in the Harrisburg area. Whoopee! I went there the first week it was open. Mistake — they obviously were still getting their sea legs in the kitchen. So, I won’t count that one.
Fast forward. I try it again. This time it’s much better. Note: I am a little bummed that their prices are the same as Boston — helllllloooooo, this is Central PA — we aren’t Boston. Can we crank the prices a little lower?
Overall the food is good. The Shepherd’s Pie isn’t Shepherd’s Pie because they don’t use lamb. Bummer. The fish and chips are usually pretty good — as long as your server is on the ball and they don’t get stuck sitting around. The chicken pot pie is good — I really liked the crust the one time I ordered it. If you like meat, the bangers and mash are pretty good, too. The curry isn’t spicy enough to be a decent curry. The burgers are good, but they’re too dang expensive. Ten bucks for some meat on a bun with a side dish? Please don’t insult me.
I like the atmosphere. It’s sort of what you’d expect if an English pub had sex with an Applebee’s. Their beer selection is usually pretty good with at least one interesting beer on tap along with the standards. It’s definitely a great place to have dinner with another couple because they have something for everyone on the menu. It’s also a great place to grab a beer and a few munchies. You can make your own appetizer platter by picking from their offerings. The sweet potato fries, the bruschetta, and the brie toast are good. Skip the spring rolls — good but a complete rip off for the price.

Located inside the Holiday Inn off the Limekiln Rd. exit of I-​83, The Elephant and Castle Pub is easy to get to from Harrisburg, York, or even Lancaster (it’s one exit up 83 from the Harrisburg West Interchange of the Turnpike).
The Elephant and Castle Pub has its own entrance, but you can also enter through the hotel lobby.
I’ve heard good things about the food although I haven’t had it, as the first time I tried to go eat here the food part was over, and the second time I went for beer as I had just eaten.
The atmosphere is great. Everyone sitting around chatting up at the bar. Very authentic feel to it. I started off with a Corona — tried but true as I looked at the other beers to figure out what round 2 would be.
Our server/​bartender was polite and didn’t let our glasses get empty, although he could have been a bit more attentive, he was relatively busy.
So what was round 2? I have no idea what it was called, but there’s an Elephant on top of the tap, presumably the house beer so to speak. It was nice. Semi-​Guinessish but not quite as much of a kick in the teeth as Guiness is. Impressive.
Good beer, good atmosphere, good enough service, great prices. And if you get TOO plastered, hey you’re already at a hotel!