Local Business Spotlight: Note Wine Bar In Harrisburg, PA

Bistro fare done right with a healthy dose of boutique wines (and a side of Rock and Roll)…

Just Add Paint recently visited Note Wine Bar in Harrisburg, PA with some close friends and family for a night out on the town – here is a short review of our experience…

Note is a welcome addition to the local Harrisburg dining scene. The location itself is unassuming and quaint; the décor is a lovely mix of cozy and chic with soft lighting, a small bar, and a chalkboard to remind you that this is a bistro where casual meets succulence.

The service is prompt, yet relaxed. On our most recent visit, we needed help navigating through the 40 carefully selected European wines, and our server was knowledgeable and helpful in filtering the list to our palate. We went with a fabulous Chateau du Pin (actually 2 Chateau de Pins) which proved to be an approachable Bordeaux Merlot-Cabernet blend with which to commence our meal.

We started with the mussels steamed in white wine, pancetta, and a sambucca broth. The dish was deliciously fragrant with anise and smoky nuances—don’t forget to sop all the broth with fresh bread on this one. We also went with the fig salad which was an excellent collaboration between the soft sweetness of the figs and savoriness of the prosciutto. Setting this on top of greens and goat cheese made this dish perfect.

For our entrees, the salmon en croute was definitely a winner. It is a wonderful French classic that is difficult to master and even more difficult to find in Harrisburg. The trick is to crisp the flaky, buttery pastry to perfection without forsaking a melt-in-your-mouth salmon kind of experience. The grapefruit and crab salad accompaniment was the kind of unique addition that shows through the dishes of a good chef. The lamb confit black pepper and rosemary gnocchi was another winner. The lamb was tender, and the dish itself was incredibly rich and earthy from the pine nuts and Garrotxa cheese—a truly wonderful Spanish-influenced dish.

Of course we did not leave without trying dessert, and the crème brulee was a custardy dream. Note Bar & Bistro has certainly got their method right with a slightly creamy, rich custard with whispers of vanilla and a perfectly caramelized crust. To polish off the meal with a cocktail, I picked the Sicilian, and boy, was I pleased! It was carefully crafted with bourbon and a mix of the caramel-laced Amaro Averna with a delicate splash of orange bitters. It was a simple yet decadent night-cap to end a fabulous evening of dining amongst friends.

The service was attentive throughout the meal with courses accurately timed and plates appropriately taken away to make you feel taken care of without being rushed. The dog-friendly patio is a genial touch and befitting of a European-style bistro. People go to restaurants for the experience, and our experience at Note Bar & Bistro was inviting and exquisite. We are THRILLED to support a new local business in the neighborhood with such talented staff and such notable care in their food.

And if our review was not enough to get you through the doors, here are some other NOTE-worthy features found at this fine establishment:

Sunday night 1/2 price bottles of wine!
Tuesday night BYOB (we like to drop by Tuesdays with one of our own and try one of the house recommendations)
Tasty and VERY reasonably priced Sunday Brunch
A wide variety of live music in the most intimate setting possible. Co-owner Michael Giblin has been a stalwart of the Harrisburg, PA music scene since… well… longer than we can remember. His dedication to the craft has led him to collaborations and friendships with music industry giants from the far reaches of the globe, many of which have graced the tiny stage at Note. Past acts included Jeffry Gains, Peter Case, and the JellyBricks among others. Keep an eye out here http://notewinebar.com/note_events.asp for future events.

We hope you have enjoyed our review of Note Wine Bar in Harrisburg, PA, and encourage you to stop by and give them a try. For more information on Note Wine Bar or Just Add Paint, please visit them at one of the following:

www.notewinbar.com, www.facebook.com/notewinebar, www.justaddpaint.net, www.facebook.com/justaddpaint