Upgrades give pub more sparkle

Upgrades give pub more sparkle
Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA) - February 21, 2008
Author: SARA BOZICH , For the Patriot-News
Shady McGrady's is a longtime staple of midtown Harrisburg. But in recent years, a leaking roof, unpleasant facilities and a lack of beer options sent customers elsewhere.

On Sept. 29 of last year, business partners Scott Thomas and Giovanni Barone, who also operate Brothers Pizza on Front Street and Linglestown Road and the new Gianni's in the new Patton Place Plaza on Linglestown Road, took over ownership and have since made strides to improve the neighborhood tavern.

Beer

Shady's now offers 15 beers on tap, including Blue Moon, Guinness, Franziskaner Hefeweizen, Smithwicks and Stella Artois, plus American classics Coors Light and Miller Lite.

In bottles, Shady's supplies an ever-changing variety of more than 60 brands and flavors, including Victory, Troegs, Magic Hat, Chimay, Stone Arrogant Bastard and Flying Dog.

Two large signs by the dart machine announce new brews as they come in. The price? All craft-bottled beers are an easy-to-remember $4, with the exception of Chimay and Stone Arrogant Bastard.

Daily, Shady's has fantastic specials. All day every day, car bombs are $6, and "Fire & Ice" -- five 7-ounce pony bottles of Coors Light and an order of Shady's special hot wings (a flavorful spice, not a burn-your-face hot) -- is $9.

Monday, it's $4 Blacksmiths. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Troegs and Magic Hat are just $3. Thursday, it's $2 Miller Lite drafts, and on Friday Bud Light bottles are $2. Coors Light drafts are $2 all weekend.

Happy hour, from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, zaps 50 cents off all drafts and liquor between those hours.

Food

Shady's was never known for its food, but Thomas and Barone are working on a new concept and expanding the building, which runs all the way back from Verbeke Street to Sayford Street, to incorporate a new kitchen. The old kitchen (just to the right and behind the bar) will be transformed into a modest-size stage to host small live music acts.

An appetizer menu features a variety of classic fried bar food, including mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, wings and even fried zucchini, eggplant triangles and breaded cauliflower. Prices range from $2.50 (french fries) to $8 (jumbo mozzarella sticks), with most prices hovering around $5.

Thanks to a new pizza oven, Shady's now also has a personal pizza menu ($5 to $7.50) with classic options and some wilder creations, such as the chicken bacon ranch pizza or the Irish pizza. Coming with the kitchen expansion will be 14 varieties of personal calzones and strombolis ($7), plus an option to create your own.

The gem we discovered, however, is a little appetizer treat called cheese balls. It's not on the menu, but ask -- they have it. Cheese balls are little, bite-size breaded puffs of pepperjack cheese, deep fried and served hot in a basket -- no sauce necessary. My friend Rachel calls them "little pieces of heaven." Cheesy and with that slight pepperjack heat, they are simply divine. A basket has maybe 30, so share with friends.

Sports and fun

Thomas spares no expense when it comes to sports. One big-screen TV and at least a half dozen decent-size televisions all tuned to sports (except last Tuesday, when we watched "American Idol") should sate every sports enthusiast. They have football and baseball packages, the Big Ten Network, plus the Fox Sports Pittsburgh network, which broadcasts every Pittsburgh sporting event.

Shady's also has a pool table, electronic dart board, Golden Tee Live 2008, Big Buck Hunter, Megatouch and a downloadable jukebox. A cigarette machine and an ATM (coming soon) make it a one-stop shop.

Even the bathrooms, not such a pleasant experience in the past, are in the process of being upgraded. They aren't pretty yet, but they've been gutted and are on their way.

SARA BOZICH : sara. bozich @gmail.com and SaraBozich.com. Celebrate responsibly.

INFOBOX:

IF YOU GO: Shady McGrady's Irish Pub & Grill, 204 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 232-7050, open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday- Friday and noon-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.