Gabriella Italian Ristorante

We moved from NJ (an area with great Italian restaurants at every turn) 3 years ago. This is the closest we have come to feeling like we are home in Jersey. Nice wines, tasty pasta dishes, tender veal, friendly staff. Always a nice dinner out.

Great place to eat Italian food. Their wine selections are really good. Love their service and welcoming ambiance. Definitely worth checking out.

This place was good, but not great. The food, service, and setting were all decent, but we were not blown away.
I enjoyed my chicken Marsala — the sauce was delicious, but the chicken itself was kind of mediocre. The salad was fresh and tasty and the pasta was good too. My colleagues liked their veal parmigiana and veal scaloppini, respectively. The flavorful garlic bread was the highlight!
The service was friendly and prompt (aside from the long wait at the beginning for our orders to be taken).
The setting was pleasant and welcoming.
Overall, a decent spot.

The décor of the restaurant is very cute. When we arrived, we were greeted by our server right away. The server was friendly, but service was a little slow. She was the only one waiting on tables, so we did give her a break.
I ordered the eggplant Contadina (stuffed with spinach and ricotta). I understand it was lunch, but for the price and portion, I feel that it should’ve came with pasta or another serving of eggplant. I also got a salad with my meal. The taste of the food was good. I can’t complain.
My girlfriend got the penne vodka pink sauce. OMG. I wanted to steal her plate when she wasn’t looking. Again, small portion, but big in flavor. Everything was just perfect on that plate.
They do not make their own desserts except for the crème brule. We ordered the gelato which I recommend and the tiramisu. The tiramisu was a bit dry, so I probably wouldn’t be getting that again.
This is a pricy restaurant, the portions are small, but the flavor is on point. Even my glass of merlot was delicious! I probably won’t be back unless I had a coupon. I am the type of person who enjoys getting the most for your money:)
Parking lot is a bit tiny. I didn’t check to see if they had more parking in the back.

I am no expert on Italian food, but I’ve had some good meals and this was one on them. Good service, decent wine list, nice atmosphere, made for a good evening.

A NY native this spot isn’t great but good. Service and food was above average. My only complaint is $$$!! It is was over priced and I had two children with me which made it worse because they don’t have a dedicated kids menu. The deserts alone were over $ 25! I can’t understand why they charge so much… it’s not even in the city of Harrisburg with ambiance unless you want to look at the gentlemans club across the street with the bright flashing neon lights. There are better choices in the local area I would focus on them if you have a big group or with kids.

I am giving Gabriella’s two stars for their shear gall In pricing and a lack luster menu. Think you might like a side of sautéed spinach? That will cost you $ 7.00 extra. Asparagus? $ 7.00 again. It takes a lot of nerve for a Harrisburg average Italian restaurant to charge that amount of money. Grrrrrrr. The menu is meh. Not one unique item or signature dish that I couldn’t get at Olive Garden. I ordered pasta with pomodora sauce. Sauce was tarte (thumbs down) and the pasta was cold and dry. The salad, which should be a no brainer, was brown. :(
Why do people accept mediocre food at such high prices?

On the recommendation of a few other Unilocal reviewers, we chose this location for an Italian dinner for 6 on December 28, 2015.
First I’d like to state that I was pleased by the look and overall atmosphere of this restaurant. I thing we normally would have dressed up a bit more, had we known the feel (and cost!) of this restaurant. This is not your family, casual Italian joint. I could see it being a special dinner date spot for two.
With a group of 6, our meal started with a large appetizer order of the fried calamari. ($ 20) It wasn’t bad but not the most outstanding. The crust was crispy, but the actual calamari was tougher/​chewier than I prefer, and the way I have enjoyed it at other locations (Example: Sturges Speakeasy’s calamari appetizer is tender).
I was initially put off by the slightly abrupt way our server Sydney treated us, but through the course of the meal, she warmed up and did a good job of keeping our table bussed, and drink orders filled. I would give her a 4 out of 5 for service.
One of our party ordered the gnocchi in marinara and loved how tender they were, not at all chewy or dense.
One appetizer portion of the crab cake was my chosen dish for dinner ($ 14) with a small Caesar side salad, and the crab cake was very tasty, not overdone with filler, full of flavor but the crab meat was much smaller pieces than I would have liked, definitely not lump crab meat. I would order this crab cake again at this location.
My spouse ordered the capellini pasta and meatballs ($ 14). The marinara sauce was very well balanced, with a fresh tomato taste and balance of acidity with a touch of sweetness. The pasta was slightly overcooked, and not al dente, but not bad, and he enjoyed the sauce and pasta. Upon presentation of the dish, the ratio of pasta to sauce seemed off, so extra sauce was requested. The sauce did not coat the pasta, and there was separated liquid in the bottom, but flavor wise, good marinara… but the two meatballs with the order were horrible. The meatball was mealy in texture, crumbled when cut, and were dry and flavorless. This was the worst part of the meal. Server Sydney offered to bring out some meat sauce instead, but at this point my spouse declined, and the server said she would inform the chef, but this is how their meatballs always were. I would NOT encourage anyone to order them.
We ordered no alcohol with this meal, only sodas, tea and 3 coffees at the end of the meal. 3 desserts were ordered after the meal, two crème brûlée and 1 order of tiramisu. and here is where I will RAVE.
(Ooh heavenly crème brûlée, how I love thee!)
This crème brûlée was EVERYTHING I look for in a crème brûlée order, and garnished with a few fresh berries and a sprig of mint. (I wish there had been just a few more berries). The sugar crust was crisp, the sugar having been perfectly melted and caramelized, had that particularly satisfying crackle as a spoon broke into the dish, and was perfectly balanced with the creamy, simple vanilla custard beneath. My husband and I split this dessert but we could easily each have had our own and devoured them.
The couple beside us also shared the crème brûlée and were just as happy with their dish, and nearly beat us in finishing their shared portion.
Our coffee-​loving friends shared the tiramisu and had no complaints at all. The ladyfingers were properly dipped in espresso but not soggy, the mascarpone was light and the sprinkle of cocoa on top helped balance the rich coffee flavor, and creamy sweetness.
This was an expensive meal… and had we done further research into the pricing, we would not have selected this location, as even with a few of us choosing appetizers as main dishes, and sharing desserts, and having no alcohol, the meal for 6 came to $ 150.25 before tax and tip. ($ 25 per person). (This was not a desirable price point for a Monday night meal with our college age kids and their boyfriends.) That being said, only the meatballs and total bill were the big negatives here. My husband and I agree that we would happily come back JUST for coffee/​tea and the crème brûlée.
When asking for a recommendation from my fellow Unilocalers, I asked for «a good Italian place in Harrisburg» and for authentic cuisine and atmosphere, this place fit the request. Next time I want a crabcake or spaghetti, I know other locations I’d rather go… but for crème brûlée? This is the best I’ve found so far.

Excellent authentic Italian. Good service. Hearty portions and good by the glass wine list if you can’t go for a bottle.

We found this restaurant on Unilocal and very glad we did. The Harrisburg area is lacking good Italian restaurant’s and Gabriella’s is superb. The service was excellent and the food excellent as well. Portions were huge and well worth every penny. Will definitely be passing this on to our friends and family. We can’t wait to come back.

I feel compelled to write another review for this restaurant. If you are looking for a great italian (Sunday at grandmoms house) meal this is the spot. The service was on the ball even considering the fact it was Corvette’s in Carlisle. This is the 3^rd time I had the opportunity to dine here and have not been disappointed yet.

Amazing and authentic Italian cuisine. This is definitely a go-​to spot for special occasions when quality is more important than price. I typically go with the ravioli or lasagna and have never been let down. Yum.

Good solid Italian restaurant. I had the veal picate, and it was great. The side Cesar salad was ok, nothing to write home about. I like mine with a bit more bite and a LOT more anchovies. One thing that REALLY got points with me was the little bottle of olive oil on the table. You don’t use butter on your bread… you use olive oil. And this was GOOD olive oil. I mean REALLY good. It had a nice peppery bite to it.

My wife and I love this place. The staff is very professional, the food is delicious, and the wine list is fantastic. A five-​star restaurant at a great price. I ordered the veal parm delivering a plate full of delicious veal with a side dish of marinara and pasta. The scallops and clams in my wife’s seafood pasta were fresh. The Cabernet and Merlot were a perfect complement. If you’re in the area, eat here.

I needed a place to take my wife for dinner while in Harrisburg for a weekend get-​away so I turned to Trip Advisor and Unilocal.
Gabriella’s is an easy to find restaurant just outside the city and highly rated on both websites, so I took a chance and showed up without a reservation.
We arrived between 4 and 5 on a Saturday evening to a near empty restaurant but people started arriving within the next 30 minutes. I would recommend making a reservation on weekends.
Additional parking available behind the restaurant. The restaurant was clean and very stylish to the theme of Italy.
Our waitress was Angel, and she was awesome… prompt, friendly and knew the menu well.
The calamari appetizer was plentiful, lightly breaded and cooked perfectly. My wife had the Shrimp Francese, I had took a chance on one of the specials, Split Tail Sea Bass with Quiona (keen-​wa) Salad. Both were Very Good. Dessert was their award-​winning Crème Brulee. A must.
If you like Italian food, Gabriella’s will not disappoint.

Gabriella is one of only two Italian restaurants in the Harrisburg area that I think truly comes close to the ideal for Italian cuisine.
I met two friends for dinner there on Thursday, July 16.
We started with one of the appetizer specials, a beef arancini that was just marvelous. Although it was heavier than most rice balls normally are, these were minis and they were cut in half and lain in a marinara sauce. Very good.
For dinner, I ordered the Veal Oscar, which was veal smothered with crab meat, asparagus, and mushrooms sauteed in a pink crème sauce, and while I was skeptical of the combined taste of crab meat and veal, it actually proved to be a wonderfully decadent combination. With the entrée came a side of linguine, which I chose to have with the garlic and oil sauce. Delicious.
After I had finished, I ignored my stomach’s insistence of fullness and had desert, an equally decadent cake infused with chocolate.
My only complaints were that it is noisy in there when the restaurant gets crowded, and parking immediately in front of the restaurant fills up fast. While there’s additional parking in back, and patrons may use the parking lot in the small office building across the parking lot after 6pm, it is an inconvenience, especially given that the neighborhood isn’t the best.
Despite these little inconveniences, the food and service more than make up for it. Anyone looking for a good Italian dining experience in the Harrisburg area will find it at Gabriella.

So far, Harrisburg has been a major disappointment in terms of Italian cuisine. That said, Gabriella is BY FAR, the best Italian restaurant I have been to in Central PA. I will update this review as I check-​out some others; but as it stands on 6/​22, this place is legitimate Italian cuisine.
Food: As with all Italian places that I dine at for the first time, I ordered the veal Parm. They did everything right. I am a snob of the highest degree. I can tell when the veal isn’t fresh. I can tell when it is overcooked. I can tell when the breading isn’t applied to the veal properly. I know when there is too much sauce, too much breading, too much cheese, too little of the above, or a combination of any of those. Repeat: I am a veal Parmesan snob of the highest degree.
This veal was perfect. It was cooked perfectly. So perfectly, that I did not even need a knife. I cut it with the side of my fork. TIP: If a restaurant gives you a steak knife for your veal — LEAVE THE RESTAURANT! In addition to the tenderness, was how well it was seasoned. Finally, a place that understands that you need to season (salt and pepper) every layer of the meat!
Everything was seasoned to perfection, and topped with a sauce that was also PERFECTLY balanced. It was a little acidic, a little bit sweet, was bursting with a fresh tomato flavor, but also had a great flavor of fresh herbs. There was just enough salt to bring out all of the flavors and enhance them. Also, it was an excellent consistency. No watery separation, not an over-​simmered and gloopy mess, not an under-​cooked and raw flavor either — REALLY MAGNIFICENT.
If I had to nitpick, the one issue I had was with the cheese not being melted right. I like my cheese to develop those little spots of golden-​brown awesomeness. It enhances the flavor of the cheese, and also looks great too.
In addition to the veal Parmesan, and like any good Italian restaurant, you are also given a free side salad. The bleu cheese dressing was really good. The bread and side of pasta with my meal was also really nice. I HATE IT when restaurants serve my veal parm on top of the pasta. The bottom gets soggy and gross, and it does NOT look better that way. Stupid. Gabriella executed perfectly. An excellent all-​around dish, and rivals all of the best veal parms I have ever had.
Food: ⁶⁄₅ (+1 for one of the best meals I have ever had)
Service: The service was knowledgeable, prompt, and studious. I like my servers to have a little bit of personality, and our’s really didn’t. She was efficient and sharp, but I am more interested in a great experience. Not to say that this experience was bad — it was just average based on the price I paid. When I go to a fancier restaurant, I expect a higher-​level of service. Her service might have earned her a 5 star review if she were working at Denny’s, but not here.
Service is not necessarily all about the server though. The hostess was extremely pleasant. Lastly, the kitchen also made a special exception for us. My father (on father’s day) really wanted something with a little bit of heat (spiciness). They did not have a ‘fra diavolo’ type meal on the menu, so I asked if it was in the realm of possibility for them to create one on-​the-​fly. They were happy to oblige, and prepared it exactly how my father wanted it. That is great service.
Service: ⁴⁄₅ (3 for Server, 5 for everyone else)
Atmosphere: Beautiful, romantic, clean, fresh, and rustic. These are all of the words that readily came to mind when reminiscing about the experience. Now I would also like to throw in ‘classy’. This place really was decorated beautifully, and the wall art was a nice touch. I absolutely LOVED this atmosphere. It felt like home, but in a much nicer sense. Almost like my grandmother’s house — if she had a lot more money, haha. It definitely enhanced the meal.
Atmosphere: ⁵⁄₅
Price: $ 22 for Veal Parm is a high price-​point; but it was well-​justified in the quality and flavor of the meal. I would even pay more for a dish of this quality. The addition of delicious bread, a side of pasta, and a fairly large salad were all things that really built the value of this dish. Add in some great service and a wonderful atmosphere, and you have a great value well-​worth some extra bucks.
Price: ⁴⁄₅
Final Thoughts: As with all of my reviews, I reserve the right to round up or down. Gabriella has definitely earned the coveted 5 star review from me. Now, whether they know it is coveted or not is up for opinion, haha; but they are still getting it regardless. Although I have not dined at every Italian restaurant in the area, I am damn near certain that this will likely be at the very top when all is said and done. To be honest, I do not even care to try another Italian restaurant. I would be 100% satisfied to just call this my new favorite place. I cannot recommend this place any higher — especially if you live here and are looking for some authentic and delicious Italian fare.

3.5 stars, but I’ll give it 4 because this place is a notch above what most folks are content to call «Italian» food these days… and this place doesn’t seem to advertise much, and it’s worth at least first-​time visit.
Went on a Saturday night when the place was fairly full, and service was a little slow, but the place wasn’t overly loud, and our waiter was very attentive. I also appreciated that they were willing to make substitutions in a couple of my dishes, no questions asked. Clientele seemed to be mostly families and older adults.
Light entrees and sides, all of which were good:
* Caesar Salad: Creamy and delicious.
* Caprese Salad: Fresh tomato slices and mozzarella with generous balsamic vinaigrette, but would’ve been nicer with the traditional whole basil leaves.
* Grilled Salmon Salad: Nicely cooked fish, nice vegetable accompaniments.
* Sauteed Spinach: Generous, though a little garlic would’ve been nice.
* Gnocchi in Alfredo Sauce: Creamy but fresh, with springy pasta (the Alfredo was a substitution for the usual tomato sauce, and it was terrific)
Serving sizes were appropriate and not over-​large, and the prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food.
I hear their Mussels are also a highlight, so I’ll be back!

Went here few weeks ago for a birthday dinner. Even with a large group, service was awesome. The food was beyond expectations. The portions were large which allowed leftovers for the next day!
Reservations are generally required but I would recommend eating here anytime!

Gabriella Italian Ristorante is a nice Italian restaurant with great service, but on my visit, only decent food.
Atmosphere — Inviting, friendly, lively, a mix of casual with those out for a special night.
Service — Our server was excellent. He was very helpful during the ordering process and attentive to our needs. I appreciated that he even provided a bit of the establishment’s history to us during our initial interactions with him.
Food — Sadly, this is where Gabriella failed my high expectations set by the positive vibe I received upon walking into the restaurant and the subsequent great service provided by our server. Yes, unfortunately, on this night the food tasted just okay… not spectacular. I ordered the ziti with meatballs and marinara. The pasta was decent, as it was al dente, just like I prefer; however, the accompanying sauce was a bit tasteless to me. The meatballs with my dish were disappointing as well, as they were hard in texture (I had a difficult time cutting them with a fork) and lacked any real flavor. I even tried my brother’s chicken parmigiana (the portions here are HUGE) and while I thought the chicken parmigiana was good. as it was lightly breaded, it still lacked any strong flavors.
Overall — I was disappointed in my meal while my family members seemed to enjoy their dishes. Maybe it was just the dish I ordered or maybe it was just a bad night. Whatever it was, I may give them another chance to see if the food can match their attentive service and welcoming atmosphere.