Gabriella Italian Restaurant

05/07/2008 Posted by DonnaBee22

Gabriella's is our favorite Italian restaurant in the Harrisburg area. We have been there at least 20 times and every single time not only is the food wonderful, but also the service!! It's always my first choice and you can bet that is where I want to go for Mother's Day. The marianara sauce is scrumptous as are the chicken dishes, particularly chicken francais. Our family recommends it highly!

04/20/2008 Posted by Rboltuck1

Driving from Ithaca to Bethesda, we anticipated passing Harrisburg around dinner time, and a hundred miles ahead, Gabriella showed up on my nav system -- I knew it was around Harrisburg and reasoned it was a real restaurant, on the route, near a city, and hence likely a cut above normal travel fare. How lucky we were! This was a real find. We had a great meal, attentive service, delicious gnochi, nice atmosphere, accommodating to our need to get back on the road, amazing for a place right off the highway. We'll be making this trip frequently, and Gabriella is in our plans. In short, you don't have to live near Harrisburg to benefit from this gem.

Pros: En route, DC to upstate NY

Cons: No credit cards, bring your checkbook or cash . . .

10/29/2007 Posted by xnumberoneson

Gabriella's is a fantastic little Italian place that trounces the more famous chain restaurant a mile up the road. The menu is exactly what you would expect from a "red sauce" joint. They have the basic veal, chicken, seafood and dishes that we have all come to associate with Italian-American cuisine. My favorite dish is the bowtie pasta in a red pepper cream sauce with proscuitto and bacon, but I've never had a bad meal in this place. I wish I could take the sauce home in a jar. The prices are reasonable and comparable to the big chains, but with much better quality and more friendly service. You really do feel at home in this classy little Italian restaurant. Granted, this is not cutting-edge stuff. The menu is not large and there is not a great variety of options. It's old-school Italian, but Gabriella's is the best in town if that's what you're looking for.

Pros: great value, quality and service

Cons: cash only, tiny parking lot.

09/13/2007 Posted by mycontour

After driving past many times, we decided to give it a try one evening. We had a large party, 14 of us, and had an excellent experience! Most restaruants do a poor job serving large groups, but not Gabriella's! We had 2 servers that kept our drinks filled, and food brought out food quickly. The food was excellent. Everything we ordered came out piping hot, and tasted great. The prices were very reasonable, similar to The Olive Garden prices, but much higher quality of food. Portions were also generours! I suggest saving room for the tiramisu! This same large group has gone back several times since our first time there.

Pros: Relaxing atmosphere, excellent service, great food

Cons: Parking is tight, and no credit cards

02/20/2007 Posted by auctionimage

We recently visited Gabriella's, and had a truly enjoyable experience. The service and atmosphere, was as good as the food. You'll enjoy the homey, friendly feeling while dining. My meal was the Veal Francaise and was the best I have ever eaten. The side dish of angel hair pasta was very tasty. Their tomato sauce is out of this world! My wife had a seafood medley combined with pasta, and that was equally as good. Of course, I had to sample her meal, and vice-versa. We will be returning this weekend, even though we live about 30 miles away. It is well worth the drive, for authentic Italian dining. Stop in and say hello to Pietro. You will be greeted warmly.

Pros: Great Italian Food

Cons: None So Far

12/24/2006 Posted by gentileschi

I have to disagree with the previous poster. Gabriella's presents a more faithful rendition of the type of food that you would find in Italy. Anyone who has ever been to any city in Italy would know that Italians eat their bread unadorned with a greasy and garlicky concoction know in the US as garlic bread. Gabriella's makes their own crusty bread, which is very good in its simplicity. I love their spaghetti alle vongele which is graced with about a dozen littleneck clams. Their fettucine alfredo is also authentic. I cannot fault the place. As someone who has been to terrific Italian restaurants in Venice, Rome, Florence, Naples, New York and Philadelphia, I regularly choose Gabriella's when eating Italian food in Harrisburg.

Pros: Authentic Italian food, Good bread, BYO

Cons: Does not accept credit cards

10/10/2006 Posted by spectatorb

The service was very good... seated fast and a very responsive server... we can't fault the server for the quality of the food. The food however had allot to be desired. I'm sorry to write this review... the bread was very small and the food was something equitant to the quality of microwave dinners. Slices on meat where sliced very thin and yet overcooked... with fatty deposits at the end of the meats. Not authentic as described... As in other authentic restaurant... oils and spices are served with the bread. However in this establishment, it was not severed. This takes away from the authenticity of the meal. The pasta sauce was very watered down and not many vegetables could be found with-in it, mainly noodles and fatty low quality meats. We have eaten at other restaurants in the area, that do provide you with a top meal and service. I will not mention the name... But one in Shipoke / Harrisburg meets and exceeds all our expectations. With a high dollar for the food you certainly get what you pay for. We will not be retuning to Gabriella Italian Restaurant ever again... It's not even close to authentic Italian food.

Pros: Great service

Cons: Bad food quality

08/03/2006 Posted by linamarty

My husband and I love Garbriella's. This is the best Italian restaurant in Harrisburg, hands down. You can make reservations or just walk in on the weekends. Garbriella's is cash or check so be prepared...but it is WELL worth it. I look forward to bringing my Italian mother and mother-in-law here for a good meal next time they are in town. Meanwhile, we frequent this establishment at least twice a month. Highly recommended and worth trying.

Pros: Great atmosphere, fabulous food and great value

03/07/2006 Posted by freelancer317

The food is very well presented. I know that looks aren't everything, and so does Gabriella's chef. They talk the talk, and they walk the walk. Creating some of the best Italian food in the Harrisburg area. The wait staff is very personable, knowledgeable, and efficient. And the price is very reasonable for the caliber of food.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: No Credit Cards, Parking is tight