We just had dinner at Mangia Qui last weekend...the curb appeal is very charming, a few tables outside to sit on but there is not much parking available on the street. The interior is fairly small and loud (we went on a Friday night). So not the place if you want a quiet dinner! That being said, the environment is very fun and a hip place to be seen. We had a reservation (customer service over the phone is not the best....the lady who answers the phone is not very pleasant!) and we were sat immediately. As for the food, we ordered the octopus appetizer which was very good and the presentation was nice. The scallop appetizer was overpriced and the portion was very small. They serve small slices of ciabatta bread with olives (complimentary) that is ok, nothing too special. The best part of the dinner was my entree...ruffled edge pasta with short ribs. Wow!! This was outstanding. Great flavor,a little greasy, and perfect portion size and a $24 price. Others had the soft shell crab special and pasta special. The steak on the menu with the salt rub is delicious but could feed 3 people!! Overall, I recommend it for a nice night out! Grest service and wine list,too. the entrees are very good and well priced with good size portions but the appetizers are too small.
I ate here for brunch today. It was fantastic! I had "The Ritz" which is composed of 2 4 oz filets over an english muffin with a poached egg and red wine reduction with hollandaise sauce. My wife had the salmon "benny". Both dishes were delicious. I cleaned off my plate. Mangia Qui is definitely the best restaurant in the Harrisburg area. I may stop in for dinner later this week.
(5)
Mohun K.
Very good food. Dinner on 5/3/13. Had the spring special appetizer with asparagus, crisped artichoke and duck egg. For the main course I had the risotto of the menu which was very good. First review after multiple visits. Have always been pleased with the meals here!
(4)
Kalene W.
One of the owners sat us and delivered all of our food (appetizer of the day and our entrees) and we never got so much as a small smile out of her. Portion size was decent as was the food. Slightly bland for Italian. Place was nicely decorated with artsy menus and tin/copper accents. The only way that this restaurant reminded us of true Italian cooking and service was that the server rarely if ever returned back to the table to check on us.
(2)
Jon S.
This review is for Suba Tapas Bar, upstairs. I'm a fan, but the place is just too pricey. So, why will I go back? The offerings upstairs are very tasty, indeed. Both times I've visited, the live music was nice. But, what's this nonsense of not seating our party because we are less than 4 people? Tables sit empty, right there next to us and my date and I have to wait? Here we are ready, able and willing to pay for their food and we cannot be seated because we don't have the right number of people in our party? I've spent about 4 hours total in the place and not once have I've seen anyone waiting for a table. How about this: If I show up with a date-- SEAT US! If another party shows up after we do, seat them at the first opportunity. Otherwise, the service is good. The gals at the bar are pushed to their limits, yet retain a nice demeanor. The food is delicious. Tasty. Do not get the bread that's smeared with tomato sauce. What is that? They actually charge money for that? Yuck. The potatos are first rate...very spicy. The grilled shrimp are ridiculously tiny. I don't even think they qualify for the term shrimp...well, maybe they are the shimpy kind of shrimp. The spicy chicken is delicious. The green beans are great. The fried cheese is not what you expect. Order it. Expensive, but nice. Yes, I'm a fan, but don't ask me about the filet sandwich in the main dining room. It stinks!
(4)
Molly B.
I had brunch at Mangia Qui on Sunday. We showed up without reservations, but were able to sit outside. Our server was amazing. I wish I could remember his name, he was very attentive and friendly even though we were the only people seated outside (and it was very busy inside). I had the Back to Basics and coffee, my boyfriend had the Asparagus and Tomato Timbale and a bloody mary. The food and drinks were great, as usual. We also decided to splurge on dessert, which was a trio of small treats and it was fabulous. And just to make it even better, all of that was under $50!
(5)
Ken E.
For more "formal" dining in Harrisburg, Mangia Qui is it. The food, drinks, service and ambiance are all first rate. There's a tappas bar upstairs and together with Mangia Qui downstairs represent some of the best eats in Central PA. I've tried a number of different entrees and all were prepared well and absolutely delicious. Great cocktail menu too. A must do if you're looking for good eats in the PA state capitol. thumbs up!
(4)
Simon B.
Consider this a 3.5 star review. Mangia Aqui has a simple concept that works. upscale appearances: mannered waitstaff, fancy teas, and mostly healthy but simple dishes. Combine this with the proximity of the capitol and you get a succesful mix. I went alone for lunch on a random thursday, and the place was full of business people. I had an hour and a half to kill and wanted something better than a deli, and this seemed to be one of the few choices near (0.6 miles) the transportation center. I was seated rapidly by one of the two waiters (one man, one woman both in late 30s). I was offered the fancy teas, and paid attention to the man bursting out the daily specials: yellow squash soup with coconut flavor, pork tamales, and a chicken breast served on rice. He let it all out as if I needed to be impressed. I took the time to appreciate the place: narrow shape, yellow walls with spanish decorations, dim lighting, and a fairly crowded dining area. Tables were close to one another. There also were about 4-5 tables in front of the restaurant outside but all were taken: it was a gorgeous late april day. They brought me the diet coke i wanted, and I placed my order for chicken diablo: a sweet-hot sauce (orange colored, fairly thick) on a mixed greens salad with tomatoes and couscous. The dish arrived slightly over 5min later. It was excellent, although i wish there had been less olive oil on the green (the default dressing). The waitress checked in once, offered me another diet coke (lots of ice, glass size of about 2/3 can) and brought me the check. I was a little surprised that i had been charged $3 for sodas when she hadnt even informed me it would be extra, and actually didnt even asked me if i wanted more.. oh well, the price for the entree was cheap and for a total of $15 with taxes and tip i was on my way. Would i go back? Depends. If i lived in the area, i sure would but given that i dont come to Harrisburg often id probably want to try something else. A solid 3.5 star alternative to diners and fast food, nothing more.
(3)
Keidi K.
Oooemmgeee! How did I not know about this place!! It's freakin' amazing. Forget all the other 'landmarks' in Harrisburg just go here. The service is top notch!
(5)
Michael B.
Our party of 7 arrived for brunch (incomplete, I might add, due to difficulty with parking) and we were seated immediately. I'm always pleased when that happens, particularly at brunch. Drinks-The drinks were great, especially their cocktail special. Bloody Mary's were delicious, not too spicy, and garnished nicely with olives and baby tomatoes. Coffee had good flavor and was nice and hot. Refills of the coffee were also constant, which is appreciated. Food-I shared the benny with smoked salmon and the benedicto with my sister-both were extremely delicious. The Italian breakfast special french toast was okay, biggest ding is that it came with the world's tiniest dollop of marscarpone cheese (tiny to the point of not really being able to taste it). Minus one star for that. The desserts were great, especially the panna cotta, which no one wanted to order, but everyone wanted to eat. Service-Friendly and attentive. One member of our party has food allergies, and the waiter was very helpful and able to assist her in selecting items that she could eat. The biggest downside to this place is the difficulty with parking, as mentioned above. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to find parking. We were surprised to find out that area parking lots were closed on Sunday, and street parking is not easy to come by. Overall, it was a nice place with good food that I would recommend to anyone coming to the area.
(4)
vineeta r.
This place is good. Went on a very hectic New Years Eve (to Suba- the tapas restaurant above Mangia Qui) and the staff was very accomodating. Knowing they were busy I just asked for some Hornitos with a splash of margarita mix and she promptly replied "ill make you a real margarita." She then proceeded to muddle various citrus fruits for at least five minutes even though they were swamped. forearms of steel. Food was great, but honestly after that margarita I have a hard time remembering what we ate.
(4)
Ginnie G.
Mangia Qui rivals any restaurant in Philly, NY and Paris. As good as it gets. Its a priviledge to have it here in Harrisburg!
(5)
Daniel A.
This review is for overall service and the food and drinks at Subas upstairs. I called earlier in the day to ask about the menu and reservations and was greeted by the loveliest person ever - just kidding. She was horribly rude. But then again, how dare I call a business to ask them questions? When I asked something the girl didn't know the answer to, first she made something up. Then, she told me to "hold on" while she checked. This was when she covered up the phone...or so she thought...and I could clearly hear her saying "This guy is driving me f***ing nuts!!" Upon return to the phone, in a tone as pleasant as ever, she changed her answer to something completely different, without any apology. I still went to meet friends there later, and we ordered the Patatas Bravas (the chunks of potato were too big, so many were undercooked) and the Alcachofa Frita (deep fried anything is good, and the sauce was nice and complimentary) along with some specialty drinks and beers. My mojito and Acai Press were good - but my friend's beers were way too overpriced. The service wasn't great - didn't feel very welcomed, before or during our visit. It's a real shame that the physical atmosphere is so nice, but then the staff have to ruin it.
(1)
Alma B.
This review is about the downstairs restaurant. Service was excellent and ambiance was nice. My salad was delicious and diver scallops risotto entry was ok. However, I thought the meal was overpriced. I agree with an earlier reviewer that there are better options in Harrisburg. I am open to trying Mangia Qui's tapas place upstairs.
(3)
Summer W.
Wow! The only word that comes to mind! I am from Central PA and was home for my sister's graduation. I don't often get a chance to go out in Hburg, but my friend decided he wanted to show me and my husband a good time in the city. His recommendation for dinner was Mangia Qui. My friend has impeccable taste, so I had a sense this dining experience was going to be good. Well, good is a total understatement. My husband and I split some items from the tapas menu. We had a shrimp dish, sauteed mushrooms, lightly breaded crab cakes, Spanish tortilla, the fish tacos (best tacos in the world).... I am salivating right now just thinking of the overall experience. My friend had the strip steak, the oysters, and the home made pasta which was all scrumptious! For desert we ended with a bread pudding and I sware that fire works should have been shooting off as we were eating it. If I lived in PA, this is where I would come for all my special occasions. Living in Oregon now, I also value restaurants that utilize local and organic ingredients when they can. Kudos to this place! I will be back some day!
(5)
Tina Z.
This is my favorite place. I have been to MQ 20+ times. Brunch, lunch, dinner and booked a private party there. Always great food and wonderful service. Brunch is the best. The things they do with eggs benedict. Ya-um!
(5)
Mia B.
So far I've only been here for Brunch, but I really want to come back for dinner. The times we have been here the food has been amazing. They have really yummy mimosas in all different flavors as well. It was a bit small and crowded, but its a charming little place with cool artwork and good service. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Kym D.
This is for Brunch. I looove the brunch here. The food and service are spectacular. I also love the atmosphere here.
(5)
Dave B.
I have been to Mangia Qui for brunch and it was superb. Amazing flavors and delicious menu choices. Now I have been there for dinner also, and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The service was very good, and our food was fantastic. I had the Black Current Duck Breast, which was cooked to perfection. Very fresh flavors, original dishes, and I highly recommend any of their pasta dishes. Definitely a great little date spot!
(4)
Jeff S.
12/28/08 Sunday Brunch Another top-notch experience at Mangia Qui. The Smoked Salmon Benny is TO DIE FOR. Brunch for 4 was $50 (no alcohol).
(5)
S K.
The food is good (which is why I didn't give it the lowest rating), but overpriced. I was extremely dissatisfied with the service. I was part of a large party in the upstairs Suba tapas bar. The server/bartender was overwhelmed and made several mistakes concerning bills. She never apologized and made me feel like I was inconveniencing her. I expect great service at a place that tries to sell an upscale atmosphere. I realize that the server was under a lot of pressure, and I am not putting blame solely on her. Since we had announced our big party several days in advance, there should have been extra help to make the experience better.
(2)
Jarad B.
This review is for their upstairs Tapas restaurant, Suba. AMAZING! My gf and I ate there two months ago and I never got the chance to post my experience. When we walked in, the bartender was actually the hostess/server also. She was amazing, handled the ENTIRE upstairs with 10 tables masterfully and attended to everyone miraculously (never seen this before in a restaurant done so great) I am a beer drinker and she suggested a spicy, savory tequila drink (which I am impartial to, I don't like tequila). She changed my mind overall about tequila, it was fantastic. My gf loves tequila, so her two drinks were outstanding in her eyes, one was a balsamic strawberry i think, really interesting concoctions, i must say. Now to the food, which was everything I expected out of tapas. We had fried asparagus sticks which were new to me and very delicious. The octopus (which i always get at tapas restaurants) was perfectly cooked, nice and tender. The cheese plate was filled with all kinds of goodies, cheese I have never tasted before minus the manchego. The lamb was deliciously prepared. We wound up getting 9 tapas, we kept on ordering as we were constantly being impressed, it's good to be glutinous once in a while i guess! The atmosphere was quiet, low light, and had a skylight in the middle of the ceiling, giving you the "outdoor spanish" feel of Madrid. Dinner in Spain I am always told is eaten later than what Americans are used to. This feel definitely was given with the atmosphere. Sadly, it was 2 months since i was there so my specific memory on the preparations of the food are a bit fuzzy, but definitely memorable. It is difficult to get into Suba I would imagine on a weekend, but certainly worth the wait, we went on a wednesday night and it was pretty busy. Overall, awesome menu, superb and attentive service, and really interesting art deco atmosphere. Really, really great place to eat!
(5)
Lea C.
This is my go-to favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. I would have eaten there every single day if I had the chance. Tapas is my favorite type of food, because I like to try everything, and consequently like small plates. To my knowledge this is the only tapas joint in the metro area. The restaurant is divided into what turns out to be essentially 2 restaurants: Suba, the tapas bar, is upstairs and Manquia Qui, the modern "Italian" restaurant is downstairs. It overlooks the Capitol, so sitting outside in the summer is a must. The restaurant is not handicapped accessible, but they try hard to be accommodating when they can, so don't think you can't have tapas if you can't get up the stairs--just tell them so, and they'll bring you the tapas menu. At Suba I have a specific line-up: patatas bravas, monte caballo (almond-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with cabrales cheese), queso frito (fried cheese), pa amb tomaquet (grilled bread rubbed with garlic, olive oil, and tomato), calamares a la romano (fried calamari), pintxo moruno (pork kebob with tamarind sauce), and the Suba taco (fish taco with mango and cabbage). The patatas bravas, probably the most well-known of all the tapas, here is the spiciest I have ever had, but delicious. It's not covered in romesco, just rolled in spices and fried crispy. My absolute favorite of all the tapas is the almond-stuffed dates-the perfect harmonization of sweet and salty, and endlessly satisfying (they only come 3 to a plate, which generally means I order more than one). I also put the dip that comes with a the queso frito, sriracha sour cream, on everything, from the patatas bravas to the calamari. Both restaurants churn out amazing food, but I really wouldn't call Mangia Qui's food Italian--the entrees I've had were closer to classical French in technique (though the menu these days is dominated by pasta). Either way, the food is consistently good, and I would recommend it for any occasion.
(5)
Paul E.
Great food, reasonably priced. Lots of organic food, including ice tea. Waiter is nice, and the owner serves the crowd also. Limited seating, but if you avoid the lunch rush you are in for a treat. Will def come back
(4)
Stephen A.
Really great food. One of only a handful of restaurants I trust to deliver on a conistent basis. A diamond in the rough. The salt encrusted steak was a taste sensation. Sunday brunch is also one of the best around.
(4)
Ann B.
The $$ is definitely not accurate. Be prepared to drop a bundle of cash at this place. Food was good and service was fine but not a great price performer.
(3)
Randall G.
Lovely place to bring friends for brunch on Sundays. Excellent food and staff. Tapas & cocktails before an evening out are always enjoyed here. Nice gay-friendly atmosphere.
(4)
Betty W.
OK I should probably give them three stars as one dish was excellent but I have experienced better...way better. First, the service, for the price of the meal the service was that of a diner. Causal and attentive but without any real food (you should know your menu) or wine knowledge...and my wine glass was empty for far too long. My friend and I wanted to try a lot on the menu so we decided to order 4 tapas and one entree. First tapas means small plate...not appetizer. At over 10 dollars (we are in Harrisburg not NY), the portions should be larger than an appetizer and smaller than an entree. Two of the for tapas were excellent. One was so so and one was just so bland and verged on awful. When the mushroom penne entree came out I almost fell off my chair. It was as small as the tapas...which were really really small. It didn't even come out in a bowl but rather a small five inch by 1 inch pan with petite penne flattened. How much does a pound of pasta cost ...a dollar...they couldn't have spared more for a 20$ pasta dish. Needless to say we were both still hungry after dinner but after shelling out $120.00 we were not going to order anything else. I would NEVER go there again. There are far too many good tapas restaurants and since Baltimore is closer to me than Harrisburg it's a no brainer.
(2)
Gene P.
Brunch for 2 people was 50 dollars with no alcohol purchased. they charged $14 for pancakes and $16 for a tapas plate that had one bacon wrapped date the size of well a small date, a piece of tuna the size of a quarter handful of mushrooms and green beans. I'm sorry but that is just crazy. Now maybe It's partially my fault because I didnt ask the prices of the specials we ordered but come on $14 for pancakes is in the insane category.
(2)
Martin W.
Tonight we had reservations here to celebrate our wedding anniversary with good friends. Upon arriving in the restaurant, it was uncomfortably hot. The small window unit is not sufficient to adequately cool the restaurant. I asked the waitress if this is as cool as I can expect and she concurred it was uncomfortable. I joked that I would rather eat in my car to keep cool. The menus were presented and after close examination I did not find anything appealing. I asked the others in my party what they thought and we all agreed there was nothing that anyone was excited about ordering. Often I have the exact opposite dilemma, there are 3 things I want to try and wish I could have them all. If I had to I was going to order the Tuscan steak, but this would have been a $35.00 consolation prize, the best of the worst. I polled the rest of our group, my wife and my friends spouse could not find anything to order and he had a dish that he would have tried but certainly with no enthusiasm. It seemed the chef wanted to combine exotic ingredients in an effort to have a creative menu like no other restaurant. Earlier in the week I looked at the menu on the restaurant website, and saw 3-4 dishes that appealed to me. The menu tonight only had a few dishes from that menu and only 1 special. I felt like it was a classic bait and switch. I certainly understand the need for the chef to change the menu and offer seasonally fresh items, but, this contrived approach did not work for us and we made a difficult decision to leave and go somewhere else.We appologized to the waitress and left $6.
(1)
Joonarhee L.
If I were to rate this restaurant just based on the quality of the food, I would have given 3 and half or four, but for the price I have paid, I expected much more because I know for sure that I could have gotten better food somewhre else for less money. I went to Mangia Qui for dinner on a weekend; I had high hopes for this restaurant because of the reviews on yelp; but I guess good reviews are mostly about tapas bar and brunch. Honestly, I don't think I will go back there for dinner; may be I will try brunch later on. Liked their home-made mozzarella cheese but wasn't impressed with desserts...
(3)
Art C.
Definitely overrated. Very good food indeed, but not worth the prices they charge.
(2)
Leon J.
Suba is my favorite place in the city. Can't beat the food and atmosphere!
(5)
Justin B.
at least 4, almost 5 star. Went for brunch, it was excellent - great coffee and fresh squeezed juice. The entree selection for brunch was great. Cool take on eggs benedict. Nice pancake dish. Also cool tapas at brunch.
(4)
Sean I.
We were visiting Hershey park and drove into Harrisburg with 4 hungry people in the car. Thanks to Yelp we found Mangia Qui which is an Italian restaurant. But after getting there we found they have a Tapas bar upstairs- SUBA. Hope they advertise this more.....to say the food was awesome is putting it mildly. We ordered 6 different kinds of Tapas and each was better than the other. Some we had to order again. My 10 yr old began by saying he wouldnt try anything new and wanted to order the pastas from downstairs.....i got him to try the tapas and we just ordered more and more tapas and made a meal out of it. We wanted to try the fish taco (highly recommended) but were stuffed with the tapas. As for desserts.....i will have to write a book on that review. Just go there and tell them to bring you a sampling of the day's dessert...u will not regret it. We have to come back to this place.....enjoy !!
(5)
derek m.
I'd like to start off by explaining the 3 stars. Valentines Day, I ate at Mangia Qui; I had probably the best meal I've ever had in Harrisburg. I had some sort of delicious duck and if I remember correctly it had a blackberry sauce. My fiancee had a delicious filet with a mushroom sauce and collard greens; very tasty, very classy. Then came the list of desserts... unimpressed. I really don't think the waitresses here are briefed on how to make desserts sound good. Among the offerings (more recently at Suba and on Valentine's day at Mangia Qui) were "chocolate log" (really? that's what you're going to call it?) and a listing of other forgettable choices. Suffice to say, both times I've eaten at the restaurants, we went elsewhere for dessert; in itself, dessert wouldn't be enough to bring this down to a 3 star. Because I'm including Suba in my review as others have, it's a 3. This past Saturday, my fiancee and I took a couple friends out to Suba; I was expecting delicious, decent sized portions like those of other tapas places I've been to ( yelp.com/biz/cha-cha-cha… Cha Cha Cha and yelp.com/biz/isa-san-fra… Isa). The friends followed my fiancee's lead and ordered the "traditional Cuban mojitos", light on the sugar and mint and heavy on the club soda, the general consensus was that these were not the best mojitos but that they weren't bad. I decided to stick with a Spanish favorite and asked for a glass of Sangria, unfortunately, it being 8:30 on a Saturday night, they were all out. So we decided to order 5 dishes, see how they were, and then go from there. We ordered scallop seviche, fried cheese accompanied by sriracha sour cream, fried calamari, "patatas bravas" spicy potatoes, and the "escalivada" (grilled veg). The scallop serviche was bland, there seemed to be nothing special about it, and the citrus was barely noticeable; the menu said it was accompanied by papaya but none was to be found. The fried cheese was delicious and well paired with the slightly sriracha tinged sour cream (wondering what kind of cheese was used). The fried calamari was about what I would expect of a bar... overly breaded, inconsistently seasoned but really nothing that stuck out about this dish. The spicy potatoes were the first thing served to us of all the dishes, this just struck me as odd as these crazy spicy potatoes don't really set your palette up for enjoying the rest of the meal; overall the potatoes were unspectacular, sort of like spicy diner home fries. Finally, the grilled veg, served in a stack, this portion was the most shocking... $5 for one slice of eggplant with a couple rings of red onion on top, and a bit of red pepper on top of that, all sparsely seasoned. All in all my impression of Suba was highly influenced by my past exposure to tapas and my perception of what a dollar should get you. All told, we spent $60 (not including tip) of which 27 was spent on drinks ($9 x 3 for mojitos), we then sought out the cheapest of bar foods (elsewhere) to actually fill us, bringing our total tab to well over $75. If you're actually looking to fill yourself at Suba, my advice (?), skip it all together and grab a table downstairs; while more expensive, you'll be sure to enjoy it!
(3)
Andrea W.
If you wanna get lucky, bring your date here! This meal was excellent, but I showed up in sweats with a restaurant.com gift certificate and was a little out of place. The waitress was extremely knowledgeable and could have narrated her own cooking show because I wanted to try every special she described. Decided on a shrimp and pasta dish with blistered tomatoes and clover. It was very good. Authentic Italian with al dente pasta and fresh ingredients. If you are used to chain restaurant type pasta dishes with 1,000+ calories you will not like this. Portions could be considered small but I was totally satisfied and even took some home. Also brought a dessert home that I was slightly disappointed with, it was your run of the mill lava cake. It was rich and fairly tasty. I am just jaded on the whole lava cake trend and if the waitress had described it as such I would not have ordered it. Service and ambiance was great had a very personal touch to it. If you are a man bring a first date that you realllly like here. Candle lit tables and outdoor seating, a small personal bar and a quirky owner who mingles with the quests, quiet atmosphere if you want to talk - awesome. Also gorgeous nighttime views of the capitol building within walking distance.
(4)
Matt Z.
Our favorite restaurant in Central PA. Their food philosophy (think Wendell Berry) combined with world class food, top-notch service, and simple classy environment makes this the best around.
(5)
Heather B.
Everything was amazing! We went upstairs for the tapas dining. Tried all different kinds of stuff, everything was DELICIOUS! We also got two cocktails...amazing. Service = great; atmosphere = great - would recommend for families, dates, and ladies night out.
(5)
Arnab M.
Primarily Italian menu, though they have a few random, out-of-place entrees as well. The food was good, and I was glad it was right next to our client's office, since I was sick of having lunch from the deli nearby. The portions here were massive, I don't think I ever finished my food. Oddly enough, this place is closed on Mondays, since when are restaurants closed ever?
(3)
Betsy H.
Love Suba! Their fish tacos are amazing as well as their sangria! Nice atmosphere (as long as you time it right and can get a table)!
(4)
Cydney L.
Delicious. We were a group of 5 with very different tastes and diets, and the tapas menu was perfect. We tried about 70% of the menu and it was all wonderful. The best part was that when we got there the upstairs (where they offer the tapas menu) was full, but the owner sat us at a nice table downstairs and let us order from the tapas menu. Drinks were excellent. I will definitely go back!
(5)
J A.
Amazing teas. Cute decor. Wonderful delectable foods! Spices are interesting, savory, but not overdone. The food dances on your tongue! Loved it.. Will definitely go again!
(5)
Robert Z.
Mangia Qui (and Subas) is our favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. Consistently wonderful food and great atmosphere.
(5)
Reni V.
I have been dying to go to Mangia Qui for brunch for ages. After a fairly dreadful evening/morning, I decided that today was the day. The restaurant is well-lit and bright, while having a quaint, rustic charm as well. We ate at Suba (the tapas restaurant upstairs), which was a refreshing change from other restaurants in the area. The serving staff was attentive but not obnoxiously so. They recommended the specials and offered drink options. Admittedly, I knew my server as a friend and acquaintance, but it was readily apparent that the welcome is extended to everyone walking through the doors. I opted for one of the specials for brunch. I began with a lychee mimosa on the server's recommendation. I then had an omelet stuffed with crab meat, topped with fresh pico de gallo and served with homemade tortilla chips. My mimosa was crisp and refreshing and didn't taste at all like carbonated juice. The omelet was a little underdone for my liking, but the first bite more than made up for the slight softness. The sweetness of the crab combined with the tangy salsa was an intriguing combination. My blue corn chips were just from the fryer and were amazing in their own right. It was a difficult decision choosing what to eat. Everything on the menu sounds amazing. They have an assortment of "Benny"s - variations on eggs benedict. The specials today included a lobster benny, which looked and smelled delectable (even to me who really dislikes poached eggs). I left the restaurant feeling full, but pleasantly so. I would definitely return for brunch and possibly any other meal they want to serve.
(5)
Sheila M.
I stopped here for lunch and felt pretty under dressed in seersucker bermuda shorts and a t-shirt. It's a hot spot for all of the people who work in the senate building just across the street. I was with my fiance and two sons, so I got to try quite a few lunch items. We ordered the Filet Mignon Sandwich for my five year old and he just ate the french fries. I was glad because his sandwich was awesome. My nine year old had the Cavatelli Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, and that too was great. My fiance ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich which was pretty good. My own sandwich, the Roasted Chicken Salad with Fresh Dill was kind-of blah. The herbal iced teas are great and I loved the lime-aid. They don't really have any kid friendly menu items, but we went in knowing that. They did, however, have cups with lids for the kids.
(4)
Colleen S.
Best Brunch in Harrisburg. Biggest tip for brunch is to go at ten as they open or book a reservation. Love the classic eggs benedict, the pecan french toast is to die for and the filet migon special could not leave the biggest of appetite hungry. Go on Sunday.
(5)
Michelle S.
Went to Mangia Qui on Friday night as a result of a restaurant.com $25 gift certificate and was very pleasant surprised with the quality of the food. We shared an appetizer of ahi tuna that was delicious! Next, I got the clams and linguine and my boyfriend got the filet mingon. Both meals had us raving about how great everything was! We followed them up with dessert, and were not disappointed. The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the price. Had we not had the gift certificate, we would have spent more than $100 on the meal, and we didn't have drinks! This will definitely be kept in our reserve as a "special occasion" restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Joshua N.
**This Review is for Suba, the tapas bar upstairs** Besides the fact that it's going to cost you a ton to go to a tapas bar on an empty stomach, this place was so so so much fun. I really like tapas bars because the food is so very exotic to me and interesting in flavor. Suba had some really amazing choices and I thought they were all well done. I can't remember them all but they were all wow. The patatas bravas were probably my least favorite because the spice seemed over done, but they were far from bad. Monte Caballo was a almond inside a date wrapped in amazing bacon. I ordered 2 of them!! They also had a baby octopus dish which was so so good, you'd have never guessed. They had a fried artichoke. The Atun was one my favorite. I love ahi tuna and the way they presented it and the sauce it came with was perfect. Each dish has it's own distinct flavor and was usually coupled with a very good sauce. I've been to one other tapas bar before and I thought the sauces at Suba were a little weak sometimes. However, the flavor overall was very very good. I also enjoyed some sangria which wasn't bad, but not the best sangria I've ever had. The service was very quick an the servers were very pleasant. The atmosphere is super nice, yet very small. I didn't mind that and thought it added a lot to the experience. Check this place out! I'm going to try the restaurant downstairs soon too and amend this review to include that.
I've been to Mangia Qui for both lunch and dinner (four times, total) and i'm constantly disappointed. My first note would be that this place smells kind of like a nursing home (it has old carpet) and the decor is lacking. The tables are sometimes sticky. The entrees are just okay (portions are decent) but they are usually under-seasoned. They have a variety of daily-brewed iced teas but are lacking just a normal one for those who don't want a fruity or spicey variety. Their desserts are a bright spot- the pannacotta is smooth, creamy and not too sweet. The restaurant itself is very cramped, so I wouldn't recommend bringing a child or a person with a walker. Plus, their bathrooms are located down a STEEP set of stairs, so I don't think this place is very friendly for people with mobility issues. I've never been there for brunch, and I've never been to Suba.
(2)
T W.
Love Mangia Qui! I've had brunch several times downstairs and Tapas upstairs at Suba. Both are outstanding. Best brunch in Harrisburg, food-wise. Only thing that would make it better would be $15 unlimited Mimosa's maybe? (hint hint) Tapas at Suba is a great experience. The room, music, and atmosphere remind me of the many great Tapas places I've enjoyed downtown in NYC. Great vibe that is unmatched in Harrisburg. The food was outstanding. The only thing that wasn't great were the spicy potatoes (don't remember what they were called). Too spicy overwhelmed and lacked balance. But everything else was outstanding. The tuna, fried articokes, calimari, flaming cheese were all delicious. And the cocktail menu is creative and drinks made perfectly. And Qui will often come out and say Hi and see how things are. Great touch. Price is reasonable as well. This place is a jewel!
(5)
Brian R.
Finally got upstairs to Suba, the Spanish Tapas Bar that compliments the Italian restaurant downstairs. Wow. I mean really - wow. Everything was incredibly fresh and high quality, the decor is really relaxing and beautiful, the service great, I'll go ahead and say this is my favorite spot in Harrisburg hands down. Tried the Fritura de can grejo - seasoned crab fritter fried with a spicy chili cream sauce, Alcach ofa Frita - crispy fried artichoke with a dill horseradish dipping sauce, and Monte caballo - almond stuffed dates wrapped in peppered bacon with cabrales cheese. All were magnificent. I mean really unique and wonderful combinations of flavor. The martinis and sangria were also delicious and just right. I will personally endorse the firefly martini, the tequila used for this mango drink is infused with habaneros, quite a kick to it! You need to go to Suba . .
(5)
H B.
Great Lunch! Had the Chicken Paillard yum! A must for lunch again! Service was good & friendly!
(4)
Juliet G.
The food here is always top notch. After a busy morning educating legislators about trauma centers my colleagues and I enjoyed lunch outside as we took in the energy of the crowds at the Capitol. Fresh brewed pomegranate tea was a nice start followed by mahi mahi and roasted veggies in a coconut sauce on a bed of rice - a flavorful healthy lunch! I will be back!
(5)
J. K.
Great lunch menu. Enjoyed the grilled eggplant which was delicious. Will return to try more menu options and Tapas. Service was good. Appeared to be a popular spot for local business persons.
(4)
Jessica M.
My husband and I got some certificates online for this place. The several times I have been to Mange Qui, the food has been very good and the wait staff very pleasant. But I must say, I prefer going upstairs to the bar at Suba. They have some crazy concoctions on their cocktail list. I love trying the variety of Tapas which is delicious every time. Save room for dessert because it is made on the premises and it is always rich and amazing, esp. the orange almond pound cake. I had a catered party at Suba's once for a surprise birthday. They were very helpful in arranging the party and the ceviche they made was nearly blowing my mind. It's a bit pricey but it's worth it. And once again, the upstairs Suba staff is knowledgable and delightful!
(4)
Sue S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. The Il Toscano is to DIE for. This is not a place to go if you one of those, rush me through dinner, just to get it over kind of person. At Mangia Qui they "get it", I mean its dinner and it's meant to be relaxing and not rushed. The timing and it's perfect for my husband and our friends, because you not rushed and you can really enjoy each part of your dinner, especially the wine. LOVE U!
(5)
Vanessa W.
Met a friend here with the hubs for tapas at Suba. I had never been a true Spanish tapas bar (only trendy fusion ones). I truly enjoyed it. I ordered a variety of small plates - imported cured meats, imported cheeses (excellent) and a taco plate. Hubs ordered a salsa with shrimp in it and amazing almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. I had a delightful mojito and they had sangria. Food came sort of out of order than I would normally expect, but it's tapas so I suppose there is no order. The place was small - maybe 12 tables and they have live music on Saturday nights. We got there when it opened at 5 and it was full by the time we left. Definitely go if you're in the area.
(4)
Amy G.
It's a nice alternative for lunch. Prices aren't terrible, the quality is good, the ambiance is a trendy "ladies who lunch" type of environment. Service is top notch. It can get crowded quickly. I had heard a lot about the crab cake but I found it to be just a typical (albeit good) crab cake. Most of the lunch time menu options are proven favorites of what I call the "trendy semi-upscale" lunch menu. Salads, sandwiches, and pasta. The have an neat variation of a grilled cheese and tomato soup, blackened mahi-mahi, Caesar salad, the crab cake, a filet sandwich, etc. Definitely a great place to go when you need to get away from the cube-ville ambiance of the office and enjoy a nice meal.
(4)
Jack L.
Great tacos plus drinks made from scratch. Happy hour deals are awesome. Excellent
(5)
Mark T.
By far Harrisburg's best fine dining, She can cook and always looking to use the freshest products in the area. Very nice wine selection too
(5)
Anjali A.
I wonder why have I not eaten at this restaurant before! Here's what we tried: 1) Peperoncini - excellent. Mixed peppers - some were really hot. 2) Taco 47 - excellent. 3) Patatas Bravas - just ok. They were not spicy and I did not find any flavor in the sauce. 4) Gambas al Ajillo - good. 5) Pollo Frito - excellent I also tried Bollywood from the cocktail menu and found it perfect. They do not cut any slack in the alcohol department. I don't remember names of one of the desserts we tried. It was like a chocolate cookie/cake with some cream. The other was a Tiramisu. I liked both of them. Service was excellent and quick. They have outside seating.
(4)
Finch M.
Exquisite. This word sums up each and every experience I've had at this lovely establishment. The food is always on point. Whether rich and savory, light and refreshing, the dishes never disappoint. The presentation is attractive and the prices are just for the food and experience. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed with a classy flair. Music plays in the background at the perfect level while you dine. It's not too noisy of an atmosphere, but it is buzzing with great energy and chatter. This is a choice spot for a romantic dinner for two or a business lunch or a girls night out! The temperature is comfortable and compliments the dining experience and is welcoming from any outside weather. Mangia Qui is upscale Italian done right. I highly recommend this gem of a place.
(5)
Jay F.
Just ate at supa. Was fantastic !! Get the fish tacos, and sangria. F They don't take reservations, and the service was slow or else id give them 5 stars
Mangia Qui is an experience. There is such an incredibly positive and professional atmosphere matched by food that is just about perfect every time. The specials I've tried have always been memorable. Their pasta dishes are perfection. The tomatoes, the mushrooms, the cheeses, the oils...everything is paired and combined so tastefully. Absolute satisfaction from start to finish. Every. Single. Time. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Harrisburg and one of my all time favorites.
(5)
David S.
I love this place, top notch service and the prices are comparable to menu. Very clean and the Wait Staff is awesome. Very relaxing atmosphere.
(5)
Jay B.
$$ sign on yelp and positive reviews are extremely misleading People of Harrisburg are probably impressed, but if you have tried good Italian restaurants in major metros like NY, LA, Chicago or Houston, you won't be impressed. Pros: - Good italian food. Everything tasted good, nothing that blew me away. - This is a decent sit-down, formal dining restaurant Cons: - It is tapa style, yes very small portion sizes. Prices are not tapa style, prices are more like paying for a full size entrees - $15 small salads and $25-$30 small sized entrees doesn't exactly make this a $$ restaurant - Our check for 1 salad, 2 entrees, 1 dessert (no drinks, no appetizer) was $100 including 18% tip....not exactly a $$ restaurant, is it? - Almost no meal options for vegetarians Recommendation: Give this restaurant a pass, you would not regret it.
(2)
Chrissy Y.
Risotto's rice is well done... Pulpo is totally different from the picture consumer post on Yelp.. Everything is sour even the lamb we ordered.. This restaurant is not doing well now.. Tuesday day night... Only me and my boyfriend is here.. The waiter did not even bring restaurant menu to us when we sit down..... Just don't come... Disappointed...
(1)
Lynnette L.
The food is probably some of the best in Harrisburg. The tenderloin has got wonderful flavor and the fork slides through like butter. We have been here several times both lunch and dinner, as a couple and with large parties. Everyone is always pleased, gluten free, vegetarian, or carnivore. I look forward to each new addition to the menu.
(5)
Andrew G.
I had been reading reviews for unique restaurants in the Harrisburg area and this place struck me. My girlfriend and I had several of the seafood tapas dishes to share. Lots of flavor and perfectly-cooked fish! The dish that stuck out to both of us was the "queso frito". Friend spanish cheese and sriracha sour cream! The tacos were delicious as well; I would recommend either the fish tacos with the tilapia or "Taco 47". The flavor combination they created was out of t his world! Now for the drinks. Every drink that we had was created by the bartenders/waitresses. That's the first thing that attracted me to them. I'm not one who goes out and spends 10 bucks on something that I know how to make myself. We tried the Firefly, The Barbed Wire, Calypso, Cuban Mojito, both Sangrias, and the Dorian Gray. I want to go back and try the rest. The atmosphere was very nice. It's a quaint, relaxing setting with beautiful artwork and nice music. We arrived shortly after 5pm so we were guaranteed a seat since they don't take reservations. We were the only ones there for most of the evening, but don't let that discourage you!! Everything is fantastic! I was surprised there weren't others dining as well. 5 STARS.
(5)
K E.
Had the Italian breakfast and crab cake sandwich, both delicious! Would have given 5 stars if the server treated us equally to his other tables.
Innovative cocktail menu. Starters were very small, pasta courses were excellent. Entrees were fair. I can recommend the pasta carbonara, amatricciana, and squid ink. Not sure I'd want to order much else.
(3)
Patrick B.
The only "5 star" restaurant in Harrisburg, IMHO. Food and service are excellent. Thanks, ladies!
(5)
Katherine M.
I want with every thing in my body to like this place. But I don't. This was my first restaurant experience in Harrisburg ever. I remember getting the rigatoni with the Italian sweet sausage. I was less than impressed, but I was also on an interview and I'm chalked not enjoying it up to being more attentive to the people around me than my food. Two years later, I decided to come by for lunch again. We chose the grilled cheese and the cavatelli pasta. The grilled cheese is deep fried which is totally not listed on the menu and really not okay by me. I ended up pulling out all the cheese and avoiding the bread - I just have issues with deep fried things. The tomato soup was good, but Home 231 and Tomato Pie Cafe both blow this one out of the water. The cavatelli was 'meh.' I consider most chain place pasta to be better. It was plain and topped with the weird crunchy parmesan cheese (like the Kraft kind) I can't stand either. The broccoli rabe was the best thing in the dish. I've only been here for lunch, but I just haven't had anything to entice me to bring me back for dinner. I've heard Suba tapas upstairs trumps this, so I'll be back one of these days to hopefully try that, but I think I'll skip Mangia Qui for lunch from now on.
(2)
Ajay S.
This is the real deal. Went for brunch. Relaxed creative ambience. Creative dishes. The omelette with 4 cheeses fantastic. Tartuffo well done. Pancakes light and fluffy. Coffee is nice. Look no further foodies this is your Sunday brunch spot. It cuisines elevates beyond central PA.
(5)
Tim H.
My wife and I met a friend and his mother for brunch today. The menu was small enough to keep your choices limited yet big enough to give you some choices, not to mention the fact the server will also name a few daily specials. I tried the surf and turf which was a fillet and a crab cake. The others had a variation of eggs Benedict. The tomatoes with red onion and basil on the side of some of the entrees was very good. The fillet was cooked to the temperature I had requested and the crab cake was flavorful. The service is first class and I would recommend to anyone wanting to try a new place out to give this a try. Thanks for reading my review. This review is based on my personal experience and opinion.
(4)
Tina S.
I would eat here everyday if I had the money! The food is mindfully prepared by a magnificent chef. The servers have all been knowledgeable and gracious. The upstairs Tapas bar, Suba's, is a great intimate space with local artwork and music. My favorite drink is the mojito with fresh crushed mint. Big city style with small town warmth.
(5)
Louis G.
Tapas night! Monte Caballo (bacon wrapped dates) will make you curse your brain chemistry...they are so addictive. Tostadas de Pato, Empanadas, etc. washed down with bin 120 Perusina Ronchi de Gramogliano Refosco '10. Now for a long walk.
(5)
Lissette A.
After a few disappointing dinners in Harrisburg.. I was SO happy that i stumbled upon this restaurant. The tapas menu had a large selection of delicious dishes. The cocktails were creative and well made. It is a small restaurant, so if you don't have reservations make sure to get there earlier in the evening.
(4)
Corey H.
I've had 2 meals here so far. The first was really good, and my wife and I thought we had really hit on a great local gem. The second was on New Year's Eve and I should really know better than to go to a restaurant on either NYE or Valentine's day. We both ordered lobster and pasta and it was not good. Very rubbery lobster, that just didn't seem fresh, but more likely frozen, and for the price, completely not worth it. Stick to the tapas. For me, it's the better choice.
(2)
Pamela C.
Brunch is a must. That is all.
(5)
Juliana K.
Food is delicious here (but that's it). Can't go wrong with any entree from the scallops with risotto, to the duck entree, to the lion of venison special...etc. Good cocktails too like the mojitos. Some things are over priced though, like $42 for an entree of pasta. I know it's homemade and I know truffles are very expensive, but wow... No wonder the pushy waitress kept trying to "suggest" ordering pasta for the whole table. PUSHYYY on drinks, on having everyone order a first course and everything else. I declined on a first course appetizer. she recommended the endive salad, I said no thanks-I'm sticking with the entree. And she proceeded to ramble about the endive salad and all the great ingredients. That scenario basically sums up the night of service. Stop up selling me. Also it took a bit over a half hour before we ordered, where was she!? This place is loud for dinner. Hope you have good ears and a loud voice especially if you're going with a group. Love the food here, decor is okay, but everything else is lacking!
(3)
Nicholas M.
Mangia Qui is probably one of the most successful and well know restaurants in Harrisburg. I've been for lunch, brunch and dinner. The food is always spot on delicious. Lunch is very reasonable at $10-14 per plate, so is brunch for the most part. Dinner is more in $25 plus range but worth every penny. The food is creative and expertly prepared. Great for special occasions. Also, best rib eye steak I've ever had (and one of the biggest)--end of discussion.
(5)
David S.
Everything is divine, but the caprese salad is the best I've ever had. Amazing. Beautiful location next to the capitol. Not a '$$' restaurant, though. Definitely '$$$'. Entrees = $20-$35.
(5)
Nikki K.
Review of Suba: My friend and I went there to celebrate. It was awesome. The tacos are great and so are the Tapas. We got like 8 different dishes and enjoyed all of them. We also got the pitcher of Sangria, which is a great deal! The waitstaff is wonderful. We went on a Saturday and they had live music which was great. The music wasn't overpowering and it made the restaurant feel very relaxed. The place is a bit on the pricier side, but it is definitely worth a splurge on a night out to celebrate. I can definitely see myself returning for a happy hour.
(5)
Kimberley B.
From the mintue I entered the lovely space the employees were welcoming and knowledgeable. My meal was exquisitely prepared with just the right portions. I highly recommend the port chestnut soup and the Cervo (venison). The cat nip drinks are Devine but 3 can make you clumsy. They even called me a cab to get back to my hotel. Kudos to the chef and staff what a wonderful experience.
(5)
Kelly h.
Amazing. Best Ciparina you can get without going to brazil to get one! The people and food are equality amazing. We have been to Suba and downstairs to Mangia Qui. It's never a let down. Extreally cool atmosphere.
(5)
Lou L.
The food here is still awesome. I am dropping a star due to the big haired, New Jersey looking lady that sat us. She was extremely rude, unprofessional, and pushy. First off she waved us to table from across the room, not a big deal but showing us would have been nice. She then told my wife which seat to sit in, which is unnecessary. I also observed her taking a shot from the bar then looking like she was going to be sick...awesome. Lastly I saw her use a rag to wipe something off the floor then use the same rag to clean a glass behind the bar...right in front of us!!! Don't get me wrong, the food here is top notch and my server was great, but when I spend over $200 for two people I don't expect a train wreck of a woman to be acting manager. She makes me debate if I will come back or not, which is sad.
(3)
Abby I.
My biggest disappointment at Mangia Qui was the slow service. I was seated at 11:45AM for Sunday Brunch and shortly after placed my order. The food did not arrive until an hour later. I wouldn't have been so stressed about it had I not have had a flight departing a few hours later but this was still unacceptable. An hour wait for our pancakes? And that was just for appetizer. The employees at Mangia Qui were also not very apologetic for the slow service. We didn't see them much after placing our orders. They weren't very communicative about what was going on with the long wait. Absolutely no word. I felt invisible and unattended. Sad face. The noise level upstairs was to the point where I could not hear anyone at my table even though we were all seated very closely. I felt like I had to scream to be heard. Despite the painfully slow service and noise level, the food was good. The portions are large. Unfortunately, they ran out of french fries so they replaced them with matchstick fries instead. That was a major disappointment for a girl that loves thick fries. I wish the hostess sat us downstairs instead of upstairs at the bar. It would have been more appropriate as we had a child with us. He did not like the noisy atmosphere either. Also- Off the subject but the bathroom did not have good lighting. I wasn't sure if the light was turned on but indeed it was. The light setting makes for a dimly lit bathroom which I don't really need. No romance in there... I am very disappointed especially after reading the positive reviews on Yelp. Maybe they were having an off day but I will always remember my experience there and the way we were treated. Perhaps take-out only next time....
(1)
Christina L.
It was my third time in (1st time at Suba and once for brunch) we were planning on heading up to Suba but it was closed for a private function. Our hearts were set on tapas and we were able to enjoy selections in the downstairs restaurant. Service was pleasant, pretty busy for a Tuesday! I think we will plan on trying the Mangia Qui menu on our next visit. Still can't beat the Suba Tacos or the quesadilla, mmmm mmmm good :-)
(4)
Trajean S.
This place is like a hidden treasure. I love the staff they are so knowledgable and helpful. It's easy to think that this place is like a family owned restaurant by how friendly everyone is.
(5)
Ross W.
I'm newer to the harrisburg area/scene. I grew up/frequent west palm and ft lauderdale. This by far was the largest and worst pretentious waste of time space and money i have ever encountered. the server was so rude, i felt like a jerk because they gave me a well done steak when i ordered medium rare. all i wanted to do was take my girlfriend, her sister and friends to a nice dinner, what a mistake this place was. the appetizers were ok, the wine was good but you really can't screw alcohol up. OK the menu said salt crusted, i cracked several large chunks, not grains, chunks of salt in the 3-4 bites of the rubber steak they served. and again the waitress was just miserable and rude. Kept randomly interjecting into our conversations. thank you sheetz for not letting me go to bed hungry. try again mangia qui...... I saw a ton of great reviews but they are for the place upstairs.
(1)
Jennifer B.
Great place for brunch, just went this past Mother's Day and had the crab and salmon Benedict. Won't get the salmon again but the crab was good. Also ordered a tapas sampler that was alright. Great drink menu.
(3)
sara f.
Review is for Suba. Great atmosphere, really liked the decor. Tapas menu was very intriguing, making it difficult to choose which dishes to try. Staff was friendly, helpful, and pleasant. To start I ordered 2 different grilled breads with different toppings (I love my carbs) Problem was neither of the breads were really grilled or toasted, this makes a huge difference in taste and would have helped bring out the nuances of the ingredients that were topping them. Second try was Shrimp in garlic sauce (Gambas Ajillo) I've had this dish many times in many different places it can be plate licking addictive. These were not. I could tell as soon as the plate was delivered that the shrimp were farm raised, something I despise, they are tasteless and have a very strange texture. I sent the dish back. Besides using a good quality of shrimp my additional suggestion would be to use a superior quality of Olive Oil. The restaurant is serving Spanish Tapas and using olive oil that is pale in color and flavorless. Maybe use a good Spanish Olive oil. This change would have helped the breads as well as the shrimp. Saving grace. Lamb tenderloin was outstanding, flavors unbelievable (better quality olive oil would have really been a great addition)
(3)
Full C.
Four stars for the food. Polenta is yummy. Enjoying a quiet Sunday brunch is the bastion of adulthood. Four stars for the staff and decor. Attentive wait staff, very little wait time for food, and plenty to look at to keep me occupied. Two stars for the other restaurant patrons. Dear Sunday over-the-hill Midtown Hipsters. I don't care you're hungover, and truly if this was the case you should be MORE QUIET! I get you're trying to re-live your early 20s but are really twice that age. It's no longer cute. Act like a polite member of society and maintain decorum during Sunday brunch. Mangia Qui is small and intimate; it is NOT COOL to have a party of 4 turn into a party of 12 because your friends just happened by. Plan ahead.
Fantastic ambiance. Make sure to try the appetizers - oysters are delicious. Best main dishes include pork chop and ribeye. Must try!
(5)
Kelly C.
Suba's, the upstairs tapas bar has it all: atmosphere, great service, fresh and amazing food, a great happy hour and soothing live jazz on weekends. The happy hour features their signature firefly margarita and half priced tacos. Now drinking here will get wicked, wicked expensive. The staircase is hard on the elderly which I regret because I really would love to bring the parents. Suba's is a hidden gem...I'd say the best secret in Harrisburg.
(5)
Arthur L.
Hands down the best brunch in Harrisburg...or even in the state. I lived in Harrisburg for most of my life and this place easily wins for brunch every time. My wife agrees and wants to go every time we pass through. We get the Ritz (Eggs florentine with Filet Mignon served with red wine reduction) and tomato timbale. Both so good that we can't be pulled to change our selections.
(5)
Josiah F.
My favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. Especially the Suba Tapas. The service is really friendly. My family tries to recreate some of the dishes for our own parties. The cocktails are a work of art also. I recommend the Palmitos and the Suba Tacos!
(5)
Connie H.
Had a wonderful meal here on Friday night. We enjoyed interesting specials with fabulous knowledgable service. Can't wait to go again!
(5)
David K.
This restaurant rivals the best we had in Washington DC. Honestly, it really does. The creations on this menu are straight out of a Food Network hosts' head, or they could be. Biggest suggestion - the Steak. This steak trumps the best Mortons, Ruth's Chris, and any other high dollar chain has ever put in front of me. That said, everything here is good. You will find unique creations like a pasta meal made with squid ink?? Seriously. And it was awesome. The desserts are amazing, the apps are amazing, the cocktails are out of this world. Just so you know though, the prices are also DC prices! Its very hard to walk out of here spending less than 150 bucks for my wife and I. We also always get a bottle of wine, cocktails to start, app, meals and dessert though :)
(5)
Christopher M.
I will be faithful to Qui for the rest of my life because SHE is the awesome woman who taught me how to order and eat meat (hey now!). I went here years ago with a friend. I ordered the sea salt-crusted rib eye...COOKED WELL DONE!! *ducks* I know!! But I was raised to order every meat well done. The waitress actually got a little nervous. She asked me if I would compromise with medium. I sighed heavily and dramatically. I told her that I would only go as far as medium-well. She scampered to the kitchen. Minutes later Qui came to our table and playfully said (I paraphrase), "Young man, am I hearing correctly that you want me to destroy one of the finest cuts of meat on this evening's menu?" I laughed and tried to explain to her how I was raised. She listened attentively! Then she said, "Tell you what. You're young and cute. I like your spunk. So I'll do you a favor. I'll cook it one degree higher than it should be cooked. I'll actually serve it to you medium-rare. You try a few bites. If it isn't the best meat you've ever tasted, I'll take it back, make you one well done, and your entire bill is on the house." Multiple courses and several glasses of wine later we happily paid our entire bill and walked out customers for life :-)
(5)
Shelly K.
We had a fantastic evening here! The food was creative and delicious and the service was outstanding. Everyone in the dining room was affected by the welcoming atmosphere - it was like a large family dinner in there. We savored every bite and look forward to going back again soon.
(5)
Jennie S.
Went there this evening for dinner. Oh my!!! Amazing. The special pasta with roasted chestnuts was out of this world.
(5)
Tom J.
Have been to Mangia Qui a few times over the years. The food is generally good and different when compared to the local options, it is way overpriced. A conservative dinner for two without alcohol is $100+. Nicer big city restaurants charge less. Actually got fed up the prices, so stopped going.
(3)
Samiam H.
To support Harrisburg having a restaurant week, a group of friend made a reservation at Mangia Qui. Parking was difficult although parking in the reserved Senate spaces is OK after 6 pm. They had a function in the main restaurant so we had to sit upstairs. A pleasant room but it is small the table s are on top of each other and it was incredibly noisy. I think all table were filled with diners. We ate off the $30 three course menu. There were three selections for each course. We all enjoyed our food. A friend ordered the caprese salad which looked very good.I had the Rollatini which was not very big and the different flavors did not come through for me. I had the pork entree which was very good. Our only complaint was the service which was pleasant but just slow. Our coffee came before our dessert, and the coffee was warm not hot. Alcohol is expensive and easily doubled our bill. I was surprised there was no bread offered and no amuse bouche considering this was restaurant week and trying to attract first time diners, reward regular customers or win back former diners.
(3)
Dan R.
Mangia Qui does a pretty decent lunch. The food is good and not too-too overpriced. It was super crowded when we visited, but our waitress didnt take to long to get our food ready. Our parties lunch consisted of: blackened Mahi-Mahi sandwich 12, Filet Mignon burger 12, Lamb burger sliders 12 and Chicken Diablo 9. Pretty much everything has already been said in the other reviews. Fresh food, trendy upscale atmosphere, nice selection of Wines, and a great Tapas Bar upstairs (SUBA). Open for lunch: 11a-2pm dinner: 5p-10pm Tuesday-Friday, and Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm. Street Parking, Cash, Visa, Mastercard.
(4)
Colleen D.
Go to Restaurant.com for a $25 gift certificate, but be warned that Mangia Qui has a secret policy where they refuse to honor certificates presented on your phone (despite the fact that I used my phone to redeem a certificate there a couple of months ago). That aside, the food and service have been excellent for every dinner I've had here, hence the five stars.
(5)
Amanda S.
I've eaten upstairs at Suba, the tapas bar several times. I would suggest coming here with 4-6 people, so you can try a lot and split the tapas. The sangria is a must. Downside is the seating is first come first serve, no reservations. It's a small area and the type of place you could stay at for hours. Can be a bit loud when they have live music. The ambience is nice, besides that. Food alone deserves five stars.
(4)
Lina K.
Review of Suba Tapas Bar: Came here after dinner to meet up with friends to go to Suba. They were still eating at Mangia Qui and although I didn't eat dinner there, the mixed grill looked amazing and that is definitely on my list to try. The wait staff was very attentive, friendly and gracious and even let my friends bring their wine upstairs. Suba was packed that night to see a band called The Greatest Funeral Ever and they put on a great show. The sangria was very tasty and the venue, while small, was cozy. I liked the atmosphere and decor a lot and have put this place on my list of fun places in Harrisburg. Will report more after I attend the Carnival event on February 24.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Sara S.
We just had dinner at Mangia Qui last weekend...the curb appeal is very charming, a few tables outside to sit on but there is not much parking available on the street. The interior is fairly small and loud (we went on a Friday night). So not the place if you want a quiet dinner! That being said, the environment is very fun and a hip place to be seen. We had a reservation (customer service over the phone is not the best....the lady who answers the phone is not very pleasant!) and we were sat immediately. As for the food, we ordered the octopus appetizer which was very good and the presentation was nice. The scallop appetizer was overpriced and the portion was very small. They serve small slices of ciabatta bread with olives (complimentary) that is ok, nothing too special. The best part of the dinner was my entree...ruffled edge pasta with short ribs. Wow!! This was outstanding. Great flavor,a little greasy, and perfect portion size and a $24 price. Others had the soft shell crab special and pasta special. The steak on the menu with the salt rub is delicious but could feed 3 people!! Overall, I recommend it for a nice night out! Grest service and wine list,too. the entrees are very good and well priced with good size portions but the appetizers are too small.
(4)Peter B.
Lived here in central PA for about 18 months and this is the first really good restaurant we have found. Food was great, different, drinks were excellent, great décor, everything about it was top notch. Owner was very nice, came over to talk, service was excellent - pretty much all my wife and I were hoping for. Price was a little high, but they more than delivered on the quality for the money.
(5)Brad T.
I ate here for brunch today. It was fantastic! I had "The Ritz" which is composed of 2 4 oz filets over an english muffin with a poached egg and red wine reduction with hollandaise sauce. My wife had the salmon "benny". Both dishes were delicious. I cleaned off my plate. Mangia Qui is definitely the best restaurant in the Harrisburg area. I may stop in for dinner later this week.
(5)Mohun K.
Very good food. Dinner on 5/3/13. Had the spring special appetizer with asparagus, crisped artichoke and duck egg. For the main course I had the risotto of the menu which was very good. First review after multiple visits. Have always been pleased with the meals here!
(4)Kalene W.
One of the owners sat us and delivered all of our food (appetizer of the day and our entrees) and we never got so much as a small smile out of her. Portion size was decent as was the food. Slightly bland for Italian. Place was nicely decorated with artsy menus and tin/copper accents. The only way that this restaurant reminded us of true Italian cooking and service was that the server rarely if ever returned back to the table to check on us.
(2)Jon S.
This review is for Suba Tapas Bar, upstairs. I'm a fan, but the place is just too pricey. So, why will I go back? The offerings upstairs are very tasty, indeed. Both times I've visited, the live music was nice. But, what's this nonsense of not seating our party because we are less than 4 people? Tables sit empty, right there next to us and my date and I have to wait? Here we are ready, able and willing to pay for their food and we cannot be seated because we don't have the right number of people in our party? I've spent about 4 hours total in the place and not once have I've seen anyone waiting for a table. How about this: If I show up with a date-- SEAT US! If another party shows up after we do, seat them at the first opportunity. Otherwise, the service is good. The gals at the bar are pushed to their limits, yet retain a nice demeanor. The food is delicious. Tasty. Do not get the bread that's smeared with tomato sauce. What is that? They actually charge money for that? Yuck. The potatos are first rate...very spicy. The grilled shrimp are ridiculously tiny. I don't even think they qualify for the term shrimp...well, maybe they are the shimpy kind of shrimp. The spicy chicken is delicious. The green beans are great. The fried cheese is not what you expect. Order it. Expensive, but nice. Yes, I'm a fan, but don't ask me about the filet sandwich in the main dining room. It stinks!
(4)Molly B.
I had brunch at Mangia Qui on Sunday. We showed up without reservations, but were able to sit outside. Our server was amazing. I wish I could remember his name, he was very attentive and friendly even though we were the only people seated outside (and it was very busy inside). I had the Back to Basics and coffee, my boyfriend had the Asparagus and Tomato Timbale and a bloody mary. The food and drinks were great, as usual. We also decided to splurge on dessert, which was a trio of small treats and it was fabulous. And just to make it even better, all of that was under $50!
(5)Ken E.
For more "formal" dining in Harrisburg, Mangia Qui is it. The food, drinks, service and ambiance are all first rate. There's a tappas bar upstairs and together with Mangia Qui downstairs represent some of the best eats in Central PA. I've tried a number of different entrees and all were prepared well and absolutely delicious. Great cocktail menu too. A must do if you're looking for good eats in the PA state capitol. thumbs up!
(4)Simon B.
Consider this a 3.5 star review. Mangia Aqui has a simple concept that works. upscale appearances: mannered waitstaff, fancy teas, and mostly healthy but simple dishes. Combine this with the proximity of the capitol and you get a succesful mix. I went alone for lunch on a random thursday, and the place was full of business people. I had an hour and a half to kill and wanted something better than a deli, and this seemed to be one of the few choices near (0.6 miles) the transportation center. I was seated rapidly by one of the two waiters (one man, one woman both in late 30s). I was offered the fancy teas, and paid attention to the man bursting out the daily specials: yellow squash soup with coconut flavor, pork tamales, and a chicken breast served on rice. He let it all out as if I needed to be impressed. I took the time to appreciate the place: narrow shape, yellow walls with spanish decorations, dim lighting, and a fairly crowded dining area. Tables were close to one another. There also were about 4-5 tables in front of the restaurant outside but all were taken: it was a gorgeous late april day. They brought me the diet coke i wanted, and I placed my order for chicken diablo: a sweet-hot sauce (orange colored, fairly thick) on a mixed greens salad with tomatoes and couscous. The dish arrived slightly over 5min later. It was excellent, although i wish there had been less olive oil on the green (the default dressing). The waitress checked in once, offered me another diet coke (lots of ice, glass size of about 2/3 can) and brought me the check. I was a little surprised that i had been charged $3 for sodas when she hadnt even informed me it would be extra, and actually didnt even asked me if i wanted more.. oh well, the price for the entree was cheap and for a total of $15 with taxes and tip i was on my way. Would i go back? Depends. If i lived in the area, i sure would but given that i dont come to Harrisburg often id probably want to try something else. A solid 3.5 star alternative to diners and fast food, nothing more.
(3)Keidi K.
Oooemmgeee! How did I not know about this place!! It's freakin' amazing. Forget all the other 'landmarks' in Harrisburg just go here. The service is top notch!
(5)Michael B.
Our party of 7 arrived for brunch (incomplete, I might add, due to difficulty with parking) and we were seated immediately. I'm always pleased when that happens, particularly at brunch. Drinks-The drinks were great, especially their cocktail special. Bloody Mary's were delicious, not too spicy, and garnished nicely with olives and baby tomatoes. Coffee had good flavor and was nice and hot. Refills of the coffee were also constant, which is appreciated. Food-I shared the benny with smoked salmon and the benedicto with my sister-both were extremely delicious. The Italian breakfast special french toast was okay, biggest ding is that it came with the world's tiniest dollop of marscarpone cheese (tiny to the point of not really being able to taste it). Minus one star for that. The desserts were great, especially the panna cotta, which no one wanted to order, but everyone wanted to eat. Service-Friendly and attentive. One member of our party has food allergies, and the waiter was very helpful and able to assist her in selecting items that she could eat. The biggest downside to this place is the difficulty with parking, as mentioned above. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to find parking. We were surprised to find out that area parking lots were closed on Sunday, and street parking is not easy to come by. Overall, it was a nice place with good food that I would recommend to anyone coming to the area.
(4)vineeta r.
This place is good. Went on a very hectic New Years Eve (to Suba- the tapas restaurant above Mangia Qui) and the staff was very accomodating. Knowing they were busy I just asked for some Hornitos with a splash of margarita mix and she promptly replied "ill make you a real margarita." She then proceeded to muddle various citrus fruits for at least five minutes even though they were swamped. forearms of steel. Food was great, but honestly after that margarita I have a hard time remembering what we ate.
(4)Ginnie G.
Mangia Qui rivals any restaurant in Philly, NY and Paris. As good as it gets. Its a priviledge to have it here in Harrisburg!
(5)Daniel A.
This review is for overall service and the food and drinks at Subas upstairs. I called earlier in the day to ask about the menu and reservations and was greeted by the loveliest person ever - just kidding. She was horribly rude. But then again, how dare I call a business to ask them questions? When I asked something the girl didn't know the answer to, first she made something up. Then, she told me to "hold on" while she checked. This was when she covered up the phone...or so she thought...and I could clearly hear her saying "This guy is driving me f***ing nuts!!" Upon return to the phone, in a tone as pleasant as ever, she changed her answer to something completely different, without any apology. I still went to meet friends there later, and we ordered the Patatas Bravas (the chunks of potato were too big, so many were undercooked) and the Alcachofa Frita (deep fried anything is good, and the sauce was nice and complimentary) along with some specialty drinks and beers. My mojito and Acai Press were good - but my friend's beers were way too overpriced. The service wasn't great - didn't feel very welcomed, before or during our visit. It's a real shame that the physical atmosphere is so nice, but then the staff have to ruin it.
(1)Alma B.
This review is about the downstairs restaurant. Service was excellent and ambiance was nice. My salad was delicious and diver scallops risotto entry was ok. However, I thought the meal was overpriced. I agree with an earlier reviewer that there are better options in Harrisburg. I am open to trying Mangia Qui's tapas place upstairs.
(3)Summer W.
Wow! The only word that comes to mind! I am from Central PA and was home for my sister's graduation. I don't often get a chance to go out in Hburg, but my friend decided he wanted to show me and my husband a good time in the city. His recommendation for dinner was Mangia Qui. My friend has impeccable taste, so I had a sense this dining experience was going to be good. Well, good is a total understatement. My husband and I split some items from the tapas menu. We had a shrimp dish, sauteed mushrooms, lightly breaded crab cakes, Spanish tortilla, the fish tacos (best tacos in the world).... I am salivating right now just thinking of the overall experience. My friend had the strip steak, the oysters, and the home made pasta which was all scrumptious! For desert we ended with a bread pudding and I sware that fire works should have been shooting off as we were eating it. If I lived in PA, this is where I would come for all my special occasions. Living in Oregon now, I also value restaurants that utilize local and organic ingredients when they can. Kudos to this place! I will be back some day!
(5)Tina Z.
This is my favorite place. I have been to MQ 20+ times. Brunch, lunch, dinner and booked a private party there. Always great food and wonderful service. Brunch is the best. The things they do with eggs benedict. Ya-um!
(5)Mia B.
So far I've only been here for Brunch, but I really want to come back for dinner. The times we have been here the food has been amazing. They have really yummy mimosas in all different flavors as well. It was a bit small and crowded, but its a charming little place with cool artwork and good service. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Kym D.
This is for Brunch. I looove the brunch here. The food and service are spectacular. I also love the atmosphere here.
(5)Dave B.
I have been to Mangia Qui for brunch and it was superb. Amazing flavors and delicious menu choices. Now I have been there for dinner also, and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The service was very good, and our food was fantastic. I had the Black Current Duck Breast, which was cooked to perfection. Very fresh flavors, original dishes, and I highly recommend any of their pasta dishes. Definitely a great little date spot!
(4)Jeff S.
12/28/08 Sunday Brunch Another top-notch experience at Mangia Qui. The Smoked Salmon Benny is TO DIE FOR. Brunch for 4 was $50 (no alcohol).
(5)S K.
The food is good (which is why I didn't give it the lowest rating), but overpriced. I was extremely dissatisfied with the service. I was part of a large party in the upstairs Suba tapas bar. The server/bartender was overwhelmed and made several mistakes concerning bills. She never apologized and made me feel like I was inconveniencing her. I expect great service at a place that tries to sell an upscale atmosphere. I realize that the server was under a lot of pressure, and I am not putting blame solely on her. Since we had announced our big party several days in advance, there should have been extra help to make the experience better.
(2)Jarad B.
This review is for their upstairs Tapas restaurant, Suba. AMAZING! My gf and I ate there two months ago and I never got the chance to post my experience. When we walked in, the bartender was actually the hostess/server also. She was amazing, handled the ENTIRE upstairs with 10 tables masterfully and attended to everyone miraculously (never seen this before in a restaurant done so great) I am a beer drinker and she suggested a spicy, savory tequila drink (which I am impartial to, I don't like tequila). She changed my mind overall about tequila, it was fantastic. My gf loves tequila, so her two drinks were outstanding in her eyes, one was a balsamic strawberry i think, really interesting concoctions, i must say. Now to the food, which was everything I expected out of tapas. We had fried asparagus sticks which were new to me and very delicious. The octopus (which i always get at tapas restaurants) was perfectly cooked, nice and tender. The cheese plate was filled with all kinds of goodies, cheese I have never tasted before minus the manchego. The lamb was deliciously prepared. We wound up getting 9 tapas, we kept on ordering as we were constantly being impressed, it's good to be glutinous once in a while i guess! The atmosphere was quiet, low light, and had a skylight in the middle of the ceiling, giving you the "outdoor spanish" feel of Madrid. Dinner in Spain I am always told is eaten later than what Americans are used to. This feel definitely was given with the atmosphere. Sadly, it was 2 months since i was there so my specific memory on the preparations of the food are a bit fuzzy, but definitely memorable. It is difficult to get into Suba I would imagine on a weekend, but certainly worth the wait, we went on a wednesday night and it was pretty busy. Overall, awesome menu, superb and attentive service, and really interesting art deco atmosphere. Really, really great place to eat!
(5)Lea C.
This is my go-to favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. I would have eaten there every single day if I had the chance. Tapas is my favorite type of food, because I like to try everything, and consequently like small plates. To my knowledge this is the only tapas joint in the metro area. The restaurant is divided into what turns out to be essentially 2 restaurants: Suba, the tapas bar, is upstairs and Manquia Qui, the modern "Italian" restaurant is downstairs. It overlooks the Capitol, so sitting outside in the summer is a must. The restaurant is not handicapped accessible, but they try hard to be accommodating when they can, so don't think you can't have tapas if you can't get up the stairs--just tell them so, and they'll bring you the tapas menu. At Suba I have a specific line-up: patatas bravas, monte caballo (almond-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with cabrales cheese), queso frito (fried cheese), pa amb tomaquet (grilled bread rubbed with garlic, olive oil, and tomato), calamares a la romano (fried calamari), pintxo moruno (pork kebob with tamarind sauce), and the Suba taco (fish taco with mango and cabbage). The patatas bravas, probably the most well-known of all the tapas, here is the spiciest I have ever had, but delicious. It's not covered in romesco, just rolled in spices and fried crispy. My absolute favorite of all the tapas is the almond-stuffed dates-the perfect harmonization of sweet and salty, and endlessly satisfying (they only come 3 to a plate, which generally means I order more than one). I also put the dip that comes with a the queso frito, sriracha sour cream, on everything, from the patatas bravas to the calamari. Both restaurants churn out amazing food, but I really wouldn't call Mangia Qui's food Italian--the entrees I've had were closer to classical French in technique (though the menu these days is dominated by pasta). Either way, the food is consistently good, and I would recommend it for any occasion.
(5)Paul E.
Great food, reasonably priced. Lots of organic food, including ice tea. Waiter is nice, and the owner serves the crowd also. Limited seating, but if you avoid the lunch rush you are in for a treat. Will def come back
(4)Stephen A.
Really great food. One of only a handful of restaurants I trust to deliver on a conistent basis. A diamond in the rough. The salt encrusted steak was a taste sensation. Sunday brunch is also one of the best around.
(4)Ann B.
The $$ is definitely not accurate. Be prepared to drop a bundle of cash at this place. Food was good and service was fine but not a great price performer.
(3)Randall G.
Lovely place to bring friends for brunch on Sundays. Excellent food and staff. Tapas & cocktails before an evening out are always enjoyed here. Nice gay-friendly atmosphere.
(4)Betty W.
OK I should probably give them three stars as one dish was excellent but I have experienced better...way better. First, the service, for the price of the meal the service was that of a diner. Causal and attentive but without any real food (you should know your menu) or wine knowledge...and my wine glass was empty for far too long. My friend and I wanted to try a lot on the menu so we decided to order 4 tapas and one entree. First tapas means small plate...not appetizer. At over 10 dollars (we are in Harrisburg not NY), the portions should be larger than an appetizer and smaller than an entree. Two of the for tapas were excellent. One was so so and one was just so bland and verged on awful. When the mushroom penne entree came out I almost fell off my chair. It was as small as the tapas...which were really really small. It didn't even come out in a bowl but rather a small five inch by 1 inch pan with petite penne flattened. How much does a pound of pasta cost ...a dollar...they couldn't have spared more for a 20$ pasta dish. Needless to say we were both still hungry after dinner but after shelling out $120.00 we were not going to order anything else. I would NEVER go there again. There are far too many good tapas restaurants and since Baltimore is closer to me than Harrisburg it's a no brainer.
(2)Gene P.
Brunch for 2 people was 50 dollars with no alcohol purchased. they charged $14 for pancakes and $16 for a tapas plate that had one bacon wrapped date the size of well a small date, a piece of tuna the size of a quarter handful of mushrooms and green beans. I'm sorry but that is just crazy. Now maybe It's partially my fault because I didnt ask the prices of the specials we ordered but come on $14 for pancakes is in the insane category.
(2)Martin W.
Tonight we had reservations here to celebrate our wedding anniversary with good friends. Upon arriving in the restaurant, it was uncomfortably hot. The small window unit is not sufficient to adequately cool the restaurant. I asked the waitress if this is as cool as I can expect and she concurred it was uncomfortable. I joked that I would rather eat in my car to keep cool. The menus were presented and after close examination I did not find anything appealing. I asked the others in my party what they thought and we all agreed there was nothing that anyone was excited about ordering. Often I have the exact opposite dilemma, there are 3 things I want to try and wish I could have them all. If I had to I was going to order the Tuscan steak, but this would have been a $35.00 consolation prize, the best of the worst. I polled the rest of our group, my wife and my friends spouse could not find anything to order and he had a dish that he would have tried but certainly with no enthusiasm. It seemed the chef wanted to combine exotic ingredients in an effort to have a creative menu like no other restaurant. Earlier in the week I looked at the menu on the restaurant website, and saw 3-4 dishes that appealed to me. The menu tonight only had a few dishes from that menu and only 1 special. I felt like it was a classic bait and switch. I certainly understand the need for the chef to change the menu and offer seasonally fresh items, but, this contrived approach did not work for us and we made a difficult decision to leave and go somewhere else.We appologized to the waitress and left $6.
(1)Joonarhee L.
If I were to rate this restaurant just based on the quality of the food, I would have given 3 and half or four, but for the price I have paid, I expected much more because I know for sure that I could have gotten better food somewhre else for less money. I went to Mangia Qui for dinner on a weekend; I had high hopes for this restaurant because of the reviews on yelp; but I guess good reviews are mostly about tapas bar and brunch. Honestly, I don't think I will go back there for dinner; may be I will try brunch later on. Liked their home-made mozzarella cheese but wasn't impressed with desserts...
(3)Art C.
Definitely overrated. Very good food indeed, but not worth the prices they charge.
(2)Leon J.
Suba is my favorite place in the city. Can't beat the food and atmosphere!
(5)Justin B.
at least 4, almost 5 star. Went for brunch, it was excellent - great coffee and fresh squeezed juice. The entree selection for brunch was great. Cool take on eggs benedict. Nice pancake dish. Also cool tapas at brunch.
(4)Sean I.
We were visiting Hershey park and drove into Harrisburg with 4 hungry people in the car. Thanks to Yelp we found Mangia Qui which is an Italian restaurant. But after getting there we found they have a Tapas bar upstairs- SUBA. Hope they advertise this more.....to say the food was awesome is putting it mildly. We ordered 6 different kinds of Tapas and each was better than the other. Some we had to order again. My 10 yr old began by saying he wouldnt try anything new and wanted to order the pastas from downstairs.....i got him to try the tapas and we just ordered more and more tapas and made a meal out of it. We wanted to try the fish taco (highly recommended) but were stuffed with the tapas. As for desserts.....i will have to write a book on that review. Just go there and tell them to bring you a sampling of the day's dessert...u will not regret it. We have to come back to this place.....enjoy !!
(5)derek m.
I'd like to start off by explaining the 3 stars. Valentines Day, I ate at Mangia Qui; I had probably the best meal I've ever had in Harrisburg. I had some sort of delicious duck and if I remember correctly it had a blackberry sauce. My fiancee had a delicious filet with a mushroom sauce and collard greens; very tasty, very classy. Then came the list of desserts... unimpressed. I really don't think the waitresses here are briefed on how to make desserts sound good. Among the offerings (more recently at Suba and on Valentine's day at Mangia Qui) were "chocolate log" (really? that's what you're going to call it?) and a listing of other forgettable choices. Suffice to say, both times I've eaten at the restaurants, we went elsewhere for dessert; in itself, dessert wouldn't be enough to bring this down to a 3 star. Because I'm including Suba in my review as others have, it's a 3. This past Saturday, my fiancee and I took a couple friends out to Suba; I was expecting delicious, decent sized portions like those of other tapas places I've been to ( yelp.com/biz/cha-cha-cha… Cha Cha Cha and yelp.com/biz/isa-san-fra… Isa). The friends followed my fiancee's lead and ordered the "traditional Cuban mojitos", light on the sugar and mint and heavy on the club soda, the general consensus was that these were not the best mojitos but that they weren't bad. I decided to stick with a Spanish favorite and asked for a glass of Sangria, unfortunately, it being 8:30 on a Saturday night, they were all out. So we decided to order 5 dishes, see how they were, and then go from there. We ordered scallop seviche, fried cheese accompanied by sriracha sour cream, fried calamari, "patatas bravas" spicy potatoes, and the "escalivada" (grilled veg). The scallop serviche was bland, there seemed to be nothing special about it, and the citrus was barely noticeable; the menu said it was accompanied by papaya but none was to be found. The fried cheese was delicious and well paired with the slightly sriracha tinged sour cream (wondering what kind of cheese was used). The fried calamari was about what I would expect of a bar... overly breaded, inconsistently seasoned but really nothing that stuck out about this dish. The spicy potatoes were the first thing served to us of all the dishes, this just struck me as odd as these crazy spicy potatoes don't really set your palette up for enjoying the rest of the meal; overall the potatoes were unspectacular, sort of like spicy diner home fries. Finally, the grilled veg, served in a stack, this portion was the most shocking... $5 for one slice of eggplant with a couple rings of red onion on top, and a bit of red pepper on top of that, all sparsely seasoned. All in all my impression of Suba was highly influenced by my past exposure to tapas and my perception of what a dollar should get you. All told, we spent $60 (not including tip) of which 27 was spent on drinks ($9 x 3 for mojitos), we then sought out the cheapest of bar foods (elsewhere) to actually fill us, bringing our total tab to well over $75. If you're actually looking to fill yourself at Suba, my advice (?), skip it all together and grab a table downstairs; while more expensive, you'll be sure to enjoy it!
(3)Andrea W.
If you wanna get lucky, bring your date here! This meal was excellent, but I showed up in sweats with a restaurant.com gift certificate and was a little out of place. The waitress was extremely knowledgeable and could have narrated her own cooking show because I wanted to try every special she described. Decided on a shrimp and pasta dish with blistered tomatoes and clover. It was very good. Authentic Italian with al dente pasta and fresh ingredients. If you are used to chain restaurant type pasta dishes with 1,000+ calories you will not like this. Portions could be considered small but I was totally satisfied and even took some home. Also brought a dessert home that I was slightly disappointed with, it was your run of the mill lava cake. It was rich and fairly tasty. I am just jaded on the whole lava cake trend and if the waitress had described it as such I would not have ordered it. Service and ambiance was great had a very personal touch to it. If you are a man bring a first date that you realllly like here. Candle lit tables and outdoor seating, a small personal bar and a quirky owner who mingles with the quests, quiet atmosphere if you want to talk - awesome. Also gorgeous nighttime views of the capitol building within walking distance.
(4)Matt Z.
Our favorite restaurant in Central PA. Their food philosophy (think Wendell Berry) combined with world class food, top-notch service, and simple classy environment makes this the best around.
(5)Heather B.
Everything was amazing! We went upstairs for the tapas dining. Tried all different kinds of stuff, everything was DELICIOUS! We also got two cocktails...amazing. Service = great; atmosphere = great - would recommend for families, dates, and ladies night out.
(5)Arnab M.
Primarily Italian menu, though they have a few random, out-of-place entrees as well. The food was good, and I was glad it was right next to our client's office, since I was sick of having lunch from the deli nearby. The portions here were massive, I don't think I ever finished my food. Oddly enough, this place is closed on Mondays, since when are restaurants closed ever?
(3)Betsy H.
Love Suba! Their fish tacos are amazing as well as their sangria! Nice atmosphere (as long as you time it right and can get a table)!
(4)Cydney L.
Delicious. We were a group of 5 with very different tastes and diets, and the tapas menu was perfect. We tried about 70% of the menu and it was all wonderful. The best part was that when we got there the upstairs (where they offer the tapas menu) was full, but the owner sat us at a nice table downstairs and let us order from the tapas menu. Drinks were excellent. I will definitely go back!
(5)J A.
Amazing teas. Cute decor. Wonderful delectable foods! Spices are interesting, savory, but not overdone. The food dances on your tongue! Loved it.. Will definitely go again!
(5)Robert Z.
Mangia Qui (and Subas) is our favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. Consistently wonderful food and great atmosphere.
(5)Reni V.
I have been dying to go to Mangia Qui for brunch for ages. After a fairly dreadful evening/morning, I decided that today was the day. The restaurant is well-lit and bright, while having a quaint, rustic charm as well. We ate at Suba (the tapas restaurant upstairs), which was a refreshing change from other restaurants in the area. The serving staff was attentive but not obnoxiously so. They recommended the specials and offered drink options. Admittedly, I knew my server as a friend and acquaintance, but it was readily apparent that the welcome is extended to everyone walking through the doors. I opted for one of the specials for brunch. I began with a lychee mimosa on the server's recommendation. I then had an omelet stuffed with crab meat, topped with fresh pico de gallo and served with homemade tortilla chips. My mimosa was crisp and refreshing and didn't taste at all like carbonated juice. The omelet was a little underdone for my liking, but the first bite more than made up for the slight softness. The sweetness of the crab combined with the tangy salsa was an intriguing combination. My blue corn chips were just from the fryer and were amazing in their own right. It was a difficult decision choosing what to eat. Everything on the menu sounds amazing. They have an assortment of "Benny"s - variations on eggs benedict. The specials today included a lobster benny, which looked and smelled delectable (even to me who really dislikes poached eggs). I left the restaurant feeling full, but pleasantly so. I would definitely return for brunch and possibly any other meal they want to serve.
(5)Sheila M.
I stopped here for lunch and felt pretty under dressed in seersucker bermuda shorts and a t-shirt. It's a hot spot for all of the people who work in the senate building just across the street. I was with my fiance and two sons, so I got to try quite a few lunch items. We ordered the Filet Mignon Sandwich for my five year old and he just ate the french fries. I was glad because his sandwich was awesome. My nine year old had the Cavatelli Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, and that too was great. My fiance ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich which was pretty good. My own sandwich, the Roasted Chicken Salad with Fresh Dill was kind-of blah. The herbal iced teas are great and I loved the lime-aid. They don't really have any kid friendly menu items, but we went in knowing that. They did, however, have cups with lids for the kids.
(4)Colleen S.
Best Brunch in Harrisburg. Biggest tip for brunch is to go at ten as they open or book a reservation. Love the classic eggs benedict, the pecan french toast is to die for and the filet migon special could not leave the biggest of appetite hungry. Go on Sunday.
(5)Michelle S.
Went to Mangia Qui on Friday night as a result of a restaurant.com $25 gift certificate and was very pleasant surprised with the quality of the food. We shared an appetizer of ahi tuna that was delicious! Next, I got the clams and linguine and my boyfriend got the filet mingon. Both meals had us raving about how great everything was! We followed them up with dessert, and were not disappointed. The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the price. Had we not had the gift certificate, we would have spent more than $100 on the meal, and we didn't have drinks! This will definitely be kept in our reserve as a "special occasion" restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Joshua N.
**This Review is for Suba, the tapas bar upstairs** Besides the fact that it's going to cost you a ton to go to a tapas bar on an empty stomach, this place was so so so much fun. I really like tapas bars because the food is so very exotic to me and interesting in flavor. Suba had some really amazing choices and I thought they were all well done. I can't remember them all but they were all wow. The patatas bravas were probably my least favorite because the spice seemed over done, but they were far from bad. Monte Caballo was a almond inside a date wrapped in amazing bacon. I ordered 2 of them!! They also had a baby octopus dish which was so so good, you'd have never guessed. They had a fried artichoke. The Atun was one my favorite. I love ahi tuna and the way they presented it and the sauce it came with was perfect. Each dish has it's own distinct flavor and was usually coupled with a very good sauce. I've been to one other tapas bar before and I thought the sauces at Suba were a little weak sometimes. However, the flavor overall was very very good. I also enjoyed some sangria which wasn't bad, but not the best sangria I've ever had. The service was very quick an the servers were very pleasant. The atmosphere is super nice, yet very small. I didn't mind that and thought it added a lot to the experience. Check this place out! I'm going to try the restaurant downstairs soon too and amend this review to include that.
(4)Melissa M.
This review is for Suba, the tapas bar, upstairs. What a fantastic place for an anniversary dinner. It's a laid back place with great food, but it makes you feel special. We spent about three hours here, ordering tapas whenever we ran out. It's dimly lit, but not in a sleazy way. It is cramped, but we got a space at the bar, so we were perfectly comfortable. We had several different tapas. We started with the patatas bravas and the queso flambeado. Spicy potatoes and flaming cheese with chorizo with their house made tortilla chips. Delicious, on both counts. Chorizo and cheese though... Kind of cheating! We sipped on two of their house made cocktails: the firefly and the velvet underground. Firefly was made with their homemade habanero infused tequila, so interesting and not something frequently seen around here. After our first round of drinks and tapas we ordered the el pastor tacos. Shaved pork tenderloin in chiles and spices. This was the highlight of my night. My only complaint is I didn't have four!! We then got the salata catalana followed by the solomillo. Sautéed bitter greens, golden raisins and pine nuts were a great way to cut the fat. The solomillo was tender filet mignon accompanied with a roasted red pepper chimichurri and fried diced potatoes. Needless to say, we went home full and happy! The only downside, if you can call it that, was that it does take a while to eat there. The bartenders there work very hard, though, and we had an excellent time, so I really didn't mind. They hand muddle all the drinks, and deliver all the food to the bar and actual restaurant. I'm willing to spend a few hours there, and a few bucks, to have the entire experience. That's what Suba is; an experience.
(4)Jen J.
I've been to Mangia Qui for both lunch and dinner (four times, total) and i'm constantly disappointed. My first note would be that this place smells kind of like a nursing home (it has old carpet) and the decor is lacking. The tables are sometimes sticky. The entrees are just okay (portions are decent) but they are usually under-seasoned. They have a variety of daily-brewed iced teas but are lacking just a normal one for those who don't want a fruity or spicey variety. Their desserts are a bright spot- the pannacotta is smooth, creamy and not too sweet. The restaurant itself is very cramped, so I wouldn't recommend bringing a child or a person with a walker. Plus, their bathrooms are located down a STEEP set of stairs, so I don't think this place is very friendly for people with mobility issues. I've never been there for brunch, and I've never been to Suba.
(2)T W.
Love Mangia Qui! I've had brunch several times downstairs and Tapas upstairs at Suba. Both are outstanding. Best brunch in Harrisburg, food-wise. Only thing that would make it better would be $15 unlimited Mimosa's maybe? (hint hint) Tapas at Suba is a great experience. The room, music, and atmosphere remind me of the many great Tapas places I've enjoyed downtown in NYC. Great vibe that is unmatched in Harrisburg. The food was outstanding. The only thing that wasn't great were the spicy potatoes (don't remember what they were called). Too spicy overwhelmed and lacked balance. But everything else was outstanding. The tuna, fried articokes, calimari, flaming cheese were all delicious. And the cocktail menu is creative and drinks made perfectly. And Qui will often come out and say Hi and see how things are. Great touch. Price is reasonable as well. This place is a jewel!
(5)Brian R.
Finally got upstairs to Suba, the Spanish Tapas Bar that compliments the Italian restaurant downstairs. Wow. I mean really - wow. Everything was incredibly fresh and high quality, the decor is really relaxing and beautiful, the service great, I'll go ahead and say this is my favorite spot in Harrisburg hands down. Tried the Fritura de can grejo - seasoned crab fritter fried with a spicy chili cream sauce, Alcach ofa Frita - crispy fried artichoke with a dill horseradish dipping sauce, and Monte caballo - almond stuffed dates wrapped in peppered bacon with cabrales cheese. All were magnificent. I mean really unique and wonderful combinations of flavor. The martinis and sangria were also delicious and just right. I will personally endorse the firefly martini, the tequila used for this mango drink is infused with habaneros, quite a kick to it! You need to go to Suba . .
(5)H B.
Great Lunch! Had the Chicken Paillard yum! A must for lunch again! Service was good & friendly!
(4)Juliet G.
The food here is always top notch. After a busy morning educating legislators about trauma centers my colleagues and I enjoyed lunch outside as we took in the energy of the crowds at the Capitol. Fresh brewed pomegranate tea was a nice start followed by mahi mahi and roasted veggies in a coconut sauce on a bed of rice - a flavorful healthy lunch! I will be back!
(5)J. K.
Great lunch menu. Enjoyed the grilled eggplant which was delicious. Will return to try more menu options and Tapas. Service was good. Appeared to be a popular spot for local business persons.
(4)Jessica M.
My husband and I got some certificates online for this place. The several times I have been to Mange Qui, the food has been very good and the wait staff very pleasant. But I must say, I prefer going upstairs to the bar at Suba. They have some crazy concoctions on their cocktail list. I love trying the variety of Tapas which is delicious every time. Save room for dessert because it is made on the premises and it is always rich and amazing, esp. the orange almond pound cake. I had a catered party at Suba's once for a surprise birthday. They were very helpful in arranging the party and the ceviche they made was nearly blowing my mind. It's a bit pricey but it's worth it. And once again, the upstairs Suba staff is knowledgable and delightful!
(4)Sue S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. The Il Toscano is to DIE for. This is not a place to go if you one of those, rush me through dinner, just to get it over kind of person. At Mangia Qui they "get it", I mean its dinner and it's meant to be relaxing and not rushed. The timing and it's perfect for my husband and our friends, because you not rushed and you can really enjoy each part of your dinner, especially the wine. LOVE U!
(5)Vanessa W.
Met a friend here with the hubs for tapas at Suba. I had never been a true Spanish tapas bar (only trendy fusion ones). I truly enjoyed it. I ordered a variety of small plates - imported cured meats, imported cheeses (excellent) and a taco plate. Hubs ordered a salsa with shrimp in it and amazing almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. I had a delightful mojito and they had sangria. Food came sort of out of order than I would normally expect, but it's tapas so I suppose there is no order. The place was small - maybe 12 tables and they have live music on Saturday nights. We got there when it opened at 5 and it was full by the time we left. Definitely go if you're in the area.
(4)Amy G.
It's a nice alternative for lunch. Prices aren't terrible, the quality is good, the ambiance is a trendy "ladies who lunch" type of environment. Service is top notch. It can get crowded quickly. I had heard a lot about the crab cake but I found it to be just a typical (albeit good) crab cake. Most of the lunch time menu options are proven favorites of what I call the "trendy semi-upscale" lunch menu. Salads, sandwiches, and pasta. The have an neat variation of a grilled cheese and tomato soup, blackened mahi-mahi, Caesar salad, the crab cake, a filet sandwich, etc. Definitely a great place to go when you need to get away from the cube-ville ambiance of the office and enjoy a nice meal.
(4)Jack L.
Great tacos plus drinks made from scratch. Happy hour deals are awesome. Excellent
(5)Mark T.
By far Harrisburg's best fine dining, She can cook and always looking to use the freshest products in the area. Very nice wine selection too
(5)Anjali A.
I wonder why have I not eaten at this restaurant before! Here's what we tried: 1) Peperoncini - excellent. Mixed peppers - some were really hot. 2) Taco 47 - excellent. 3) Patatas Bravas - just ok. They were not spicy and I did not find any flavor in the sauce. 4) Gambas al Ajillo - good. 5) Pollo Frito - excellent I also tried Bollywood from the cocktail menu and found it perfect. They do not cut any slack in the alcohol department. I don't remember names of one of the desserts we tried. It was like a chocolate cookie/cake with some cream. The other was a Tiramisu. I liked both of them. Service was excellent and quick. They have outside seating.
(4)Finch M.
Exquisite. This word sums up each and every experience I've had at this lovely establishment. The food is always on point. Whether rich and savory, light and refreshing, the dishes never disappoint. The presentation is attractive and the prices are just for the food and experience. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed with a classy flair. Music plays in the background at the perfect level while you dine. It's not too noisy of an atmosphere, but it is buzzing with great energy and chatter. This is a choice spot for a romantic dinner for two or a business lunch or a girls night out! The temperature is comfortable and compliments the dining experience and is welcoming from any outside weather. Mangia Qui is upscale Italian done right. I highly recommend this gem of a place.
(5)Jay F.
Just ate at supa. Was fantastic !! Get the fish tacos, and sangria. F They don't take reservations, and the service was slow or else id give them 5 stars
(4)David A.
Ate here Friday night in the upstairs area, which has a different menu and kitchen. They do offer the menu from downstairs (which looked great), but I chose three tapas: I started with the sautéed greens. My favorite dish. It was a large portion and tasted great. Next I had braised octopus. A small portion, served over garbonzo beans. The beans were great. The octopus was just average. Next I had the sautéed calamari. It was supposed to have some kick to it but it was not spicy at all. It was, however, a nice sized dish with very good flavor. Service was great. I look forward to returning to try the downstairs menu, along with additional tapa upstairs. A good Harrisburg find!
(4)Shawn B.
Mangia Qui is an experience. There is such an incredibly positive and professional atmosphere matched by food that is just about perfect every time. The specials I've tried have always been memorable. Their pasta dishes are perfection. The tomatoes, the mushrooms, the cheeses, the oils...everything is paired and combined so tastefully. Absolute satisfaction from start to finish. Every. Single. Time. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Harrisburg and one of my all time favorites.
(5)David S.
I love this place, top notch service and the prices are comparable to menu. Very clean and the Wait Staff is awesome. Very relaxing atmosphere.
(5)Jay B.
$$ sign on yelp and positive reviews are extremely misleading People of Harrisburg are probably impressed, but if you have tried good Italian restaurants in major metros like NY, LA, Chicago or Houston, you won't be impressed. Pros: - Good italian food. Everything tasted good, nothing that blew me away. - This is a decent sit-down, formal dining restaurant Cons: - It is tapa style, yes very small portion sizes. Prices are not tapa style, prices are more like paying for a full size entrees - $15 small salads and $25-$30 small sized entrees doesn't exactly make this a $$ restaurant - Our check for 1 salad, 2 entrees, 1 dessert (no drinks, no appetizer) was $100 including 18% tip....not exactly a $$ restaurant, is it? - Almost no meal options for vegetarians Recommendation: Give this restaurant a pass, you would not regret it.
(2)Chrissy Y.
Risotto's rice is well done... Pulpo is totally different from the picture consumer post on Yelp.. Everything is sour even the lamb we ordered.. This restaurant is not doing well now.. Tuesday day night... Only me and my boyfriend is here.. The waiter did not even bring restaurant menu to us when we sit down..... Just don't come... Disappointed...
(1)Lynnette L.
The food is probably some of the best in Harrisburg. The tenderloin has got wonderful flavor and the fork slides through like butter. We have been here several times both lunch and dinner, as a couple and with large parties. Everyone is always pleased, gluten free, vegetarian, or carnivore. I look forward to each new addition to the menu.
(5)Andrew G.
I had been reading reviews for unique restaurants in the Harrisburg area and this place struck me. My girlfriend and I had several of the seafood tapas dishes to share. Lots of flavor and perfectly-cooked fish! The dish that stuck out to both of us was the "queso frito". Friend spanish cheese and sriracha sour cream! The tacos were delicious as well; I would recommend either the fish tacos with the tilapia or "Taco 47". The flavor combination they created was out of t his world! Now for the drinks. Every drink that we had was created by the bartenders/waitresses. That's the first thing that attracted me to them. I'm not one who goes out and spends 10 bucks on something that I know how to make myself. We tried the Firefly, The Barbed Wire, Calypso, Cuban Mojito, both Sangrias, and the Dorian Gray. I want to go back and try the rest. The atmosphere was very nice. It's a quaint, relaxing setting with beautiful artwork and nice music. We arrived shortly after 5pm so we were guaranteed a seat since they don't take reservations. We were the only ones there for most of the evening, but don't let that discourage you!! Everything is fantastic! I was surprised there weren't others dining as well. 5 STARS.
(5)K E.
Had the Italian breakfast and crab cake sandwich, both delicious! Would have given 5 stars if the server treated us equally to his other tables.
(4)E R.
For tapas: lamb, tuni and musheoom truffle quesadilla were great. Had sautéed calamari for the first time. Pretty good recent visit: empanadas and tostada de pato was amazeballs
(5)Erin L.
Innovative cocktail menu. Starters were very small, pasta courses were excellent. Entrees were fair. I can recommend the pasta carbonara, amatricciana, and squid ink. Not sure I'd want to order much else.
(3)Patrick B.
The only "5 star" restaurant in Harrisburg, IMHO. Food and service are excellent. Thanks, ladies!
(5)Katherine M.
I want with every thing in my body to like this place. But I don't. This was my first restaurant experience in Harrisburg ever. I remember getting the rigatoni with the Italian sweet sausage. I was less than impressed, but I was also on an interview and I'm chalked not enjoying it up to being more attentive to the people around me than my food. Two years later, I decided to come by for lunch again. We chose the grilled cheese and the cavatelli pasta. The grilled cheese is deep fried which is totally not listed on the menu and really not okay by me. I ended up pulling out all the cheese and avoiding the bread - I just have issues with deep fried things. The tomato soup was good, but Home 231 and Tomato Pie Cafe both blow this one out of the water. The cavatelli was 'meh.' I consider most chain place pasta to be better. It was plain and topped with the weird crunchy parmesan cheese (like the Kraft kind) I can't stand either. The broccoli rabe was the best thing in the dish. I've only been here for lunch, but I just haven't had anything to entice me to bring me back for dinner. I've heard Suba tapas upstairs trumps this, so I'll be back one of these days to hopefully try that, but I think I'll skip Mangia Qui for lunch from now on.
(2)Ajay S.
This is the real deal. Went for brunch. Relaxed creative ambience. Creative dishes. The omelette with 4 cheeses fantastic. Tartuffo well done. Pancakes light and fluffy. Coffee is nice. Look no further foodies this is your Sunday brunch spot. It cuisines elevates beyond central PA.
(5)Tim H.
My wife and I met a friend and his mother for brunch today. The menu was small enough to keep your choices limited yet big enough to give you some choices, not to mention the fact the server will also name a few daily specials. I tried the surf and turf which was a fillet and a crab cake. The others had a variation of eggs Benedict. The tomatoes with red onion and basil on the side of some of the entrees was very good. The fillet was cooked to the temperature I had requested and the crab cake was flavorful. The service is first class and I would recommend to anyone wanting to try a new place out to give this a try. Thanks for reading my review. This review is based on my personal experience and opinion.
(4)Tina S.
I would eat here everyday if I had the money! The food is mindfully prepared by a magnificent chef. The servers have all been knowledgeable and gracious. The upstairs Tapas bar, Suba's, is a great intimate space with local artwork and music. My favorite drink is the mojito with fresh crushed mint. Big city style with small town warmth.
(5)Louis G.
Tapas night! Monte Caballo (bacon wrapped dates) will make you curse your brain chemistry...they are so addictive. Tostadas de Pato, Empanadas, etc. washed down with bin 120 Perusina Ronchi de Gramogliano Refosco '10. Now for a long walk.
(5)Lissette A.
After a few disappointing dinners in Harrisburg.. I was SO happy that i stumbled upon this restaurant. The tapas menu had a large selection of delicious dishes. The cocktails were creative and well made. It is a small restaurant, so if you don't have reservations make sure to get there earlier in the evening.
(4)Corey H.
I've had 2 meals here so far. The first was really good, and my wife and I thought we had really hit on a great local gem. The second was on New Year's Eve and I should really know better than to go to a restaurant on either NYE or Valentine's day. We both ordered lobster and pasta and it was not good. Very rubbery lobster, that just didn't seem fresh, but more likely frozen, and for the price, completely not worth it. Stick to the tapas. For me, it's the better choice.
(2)Pamela C.
Brunch is a must. That is all.
(5)Juliana K.
Food is delicious here (but that's it). Can't go wrong with any entree from the scallops with risotto, to the duck entree, to the lion of venison special...etc. Good cocktails too like the mojitos. Some things are over priced though, like $42 for an entree of pasta. I know it's homemade and I know truffles are very expensive, but wow... No wonder the pushy waitress kept trying to "suggest" ordering pasta for the whole table. PUSHYYY on drinks, on having everyone order a first course and everything else. I declined on a first course appetizer. she recommended the endive salad, I said no thanks-I'm sticking with the entree. And she proceeded to ramble about the endive salad and all the great ingredients. That scenario basically sums up the night of service. Stop up selling me. Also it took a bit over a half hour before we ordered, where was she!? This place is loud for dinner. Hope you have good ears and a loud voice especially if you're going with a group. Love the food here, decor is okay, but everything else is lacking!
(3)Nicholas M.
Mangia Qui is probably one of the most successful and well know restaurants in Harrisburg. I've been for lunch, brunch and dinner. The food is always spot on delicious. Lunch is very reasonable at $10-14 per plate, so is brunch for the most part. Dinner is more in $25 plus range but worth every penny. The food is creative and expertly prepared. Great for special occasions. Also, best rib eye steak I've ever had (and one of the biggest)--end of discussion.
(5)David S.
Everything is divine, but the caprese salad is the best I've ever had. Amazing. Beautiful location next to the capitol. Not a '$$' restaurant, though. Definitely '$$$'. Entrees = $20-$35.
(5)Nikki K.
Review of Suba: My friend and I went there to celebrate. It was awesome. The tacos are great and so are the Tapas. We got like 8 different dishes and enjoyed all of them. We also got the pitcher of Sangria, which is a great deal! The waitstaff is wonderful. We went on a Saturday and they had live music which was great. The music wasn't overpowering and it made the restaurant feel very relaxed. The place is a bit on the pricier side, but it is definitely worth a splurge on a night out to celebrate. I can definitely see myself returning for a happy hour.
(5)Kimberley B.
From the mintue I entered the lovely space the employees were welcoming and knowledgeable. My meal was exquisitely prepared with just the right portions. I highly recommend the port chestnut soup and the Cervo (venison). The cat nip drinks are Devine but 3 can make you clumsy. They even called me a cab to get back to my hotel. Kudos to the chef and staff what a wonderful experience.
(5)Kelly h.
Amazing. Best Ciparina you can get without going to brazil to get one! The people and food are equality amazing. We have been to Suba and downstairs to Mangia Qui. It's never a let down. Extreally cool atmosphere.
(5)Lou L.
The food here is still awesome. I am dropping a star due to the big haired, New Jersey looking lady that sat us. She was extremely rude, unprofessional, and pushy. First off she waved us to table from across the room, not a big deal but showing us would have been nice. She then told my wife which seat to sit in, which is unnecessary. I also observed her taking a shot from the bar then looking like she was going to be sick...awesome. Lastly I saw her use a rag to wipe something off the floor then use the same rag to clean a glass behind the bar...right in front of us!!! Don't get me wrong, the food here is top notch and my server was great, but when I spend over $200 for two people I don't expect a train wreck of a woman to be acting manager. She makes me debate if I will come back or not, which is sad.
(3)Abby I.
My biggest disappointment at Mangia Qui was the slow service. I was seated at 11:45AM for Sunday Brunch and shortly after placed my order. The food did not arrive until an hour later. I wouldn't have been so stressed about it had I not have had a flight departing a few hours later but this was still unacceptable. An hour wait for our pancakes? And that was just for appetizer. The employees at Mangia Qui were also not very apologetic for the slow service. We didn't see them much after placing our orders. They weren't very communicative about what was going on with the long wait. Absolutely no word. I felt invisible and unattended. Sad face. The noise level upstairs was to the point where I could not hear anyone at my table even though we were all seated very closely. I felt like I had to scream to be heard. Despite the painfully slow service and noise level, the food was good. The portions are large. Unfortunately, they ran out of french fries so they replaced them with matchstick fries instead. That was a major disappointment for a girl that loves thick fries. I wish the hostess sat us downstairs instead of upstairs at the bar. It would have been more appropriate as we had a child with us. He did not like the noisy atmosphere either. Also- Off the subject but the bathroom did not have good lighting. I wasn't sure if the light was turned on but indeed it was. The light setting makes for a dimly lit bathroom which I don't really need. No romance in there... I am very disappointed especially after reading the positive reviews on Yelp. Maybe they were having an off day but I will always remember my experience there and the way we were treated. Perhaps take-out only next time....
(1)Christina L.
It was my third time in (1st time at Suba and once for brunch) we were planning on heading up to Suba but it was closed for a private function. Our hearts were set on tapas and we were able to enjoy selections in the downstairs restaurant. Service was pleasant, pretty busy for a Tuesday! I think we will plan on trying the Mangia Qui menu on our next visit. Still can't beat the Suba Tacos or the quesadilla, mmmm mmmm good :-)
(4)Trajean S.
This place is like a hidden treasure. I love the staff they are so knowledgable and helpful. It's easy to think that this place is like a family owned restaurant by how friendly everyone is.
(5)Ross W.
I'm newer to the harrisburg area/scene. I grew up/frequent west palm and ft lauderdale. This by far was the largest and worst pretentious waste of time space and money i have ever encountered. the server was so rude, i felt like a jerk because they gave me a well done steak when i ordered medium rare. all i wanted to do was take my girlfriend, her sister and friends to a nice dinner, what a mistake this place was. the appetizers were ok, the wine was good but you really can't screw alcohol up. OK the menu said salt crusted, i cracked several large chunks, not grains, chunks of salt in the 3-4 bites of the rubber steak they served. and again the waitress was just miserable and rude. Kept randomly interjecting into our conversations. thank you sheetz for not letting me go to bed hungry. try again mangia qui...... I saw a ton of great reviews but they are for the place upstairs.
(1)Jennifer B.
Great place for brunch, just went this past Mother's Day and had the crab and salmon Benedict. Won't get the salmon again but the crab was good. Also ordered a tapas sampler that was alright. Great drink menu.
(3)sara f.
Review is for Suba. Great atmosphere, really liked the decor. Tapas menu was very intriguing, making it difficult to choose which dishes to try. Staff was friendly, helpful, and pleasant. To start I ordered 2 different grilled breads with different toppings (I love my carbs) Problem was neither of the breads were really grilled or toasted, this makes a huge difference in taste and would have helped bring out the nuances of the ingredients that were topping them. Second try was Shrimp in garlic sauce (Gambas Ajillo) I've had this dish many times in many different places it can be plate licking addictive. These were not. I could tell as soon as the plate was delivered that the shrimp were farm raised, something I despise, they are tasteless and have a very strange texture. I sent the dish back. Besides using a good quality of shrimp my additional suggestion would be to use a superior quality of Olive Oil. The restaurant is serving Spanish Tapas and using olive oil that is pale in color and flavorless. Maybe use a good Spanish Olive oil. This change would have helped the breads as well as the shrimp. Saving grace. Lamb tenderloin was outstanding, flavors unbelievable (better quality olive oil would have really been a great addition)
(3)Full C.
Four stars for the food. Polenta is yummy. Enjoying a quiet Sunday brunch is the bastion of adulthood. Four stars for the staff and decor. Attentive wait staff, very little wait time for food, and plenty to look at to keep me occupied. Two stars for the other restaurant patrons. Dear Sunday over-the-hill Midtown Hipsters. I don't care you're hungover, and truly if this was the case you should be MORE QUIET! I get you're trying to re-live your early 20s but are really twice that age. It's no longer cute. Act like a polite member of society and maintain decorum during Sunday brunch. Mangia Qui is small and intimate; it is NOT COOL to have a party of 4 turn into a party of 12 because your friends just happened by. Plan ahead.
(4)Rocio R.
We decided on this place to celebrate fianceé's birthday. We arrived at 5:30 and went directly upstairs to Suba for the happy hour and tapas. The place was packed. The Happy Hour was for charity (Susquehanna Art Museum) and a lot of people were there to take part. So the bartender greeted us and took us to a table near the windows. Eventhough the place was seriously packed, the service was spot on! Our drinks came out fairly quick and so did the tapas we ordered. First round of drinks were the Firefly (mine) and a night in Bangkok (fianceé's). They were both veeery good. Next round I had the Lima Sour (good but strong) and he had a beer called Black Butte Porter. He liked the beer so much that he had two. For tapas, we ordered various plates. We shared an order of the frontera tacos, the pastor tacos, the solomillo, and the calamari a la romana. We both loved every bite and thought they were well prepared, fresh, and nicely plated. The girl that waited on us was super nice, energetic, helpful with the menu, and answered all our questions. We had a really nice time. To finish it all off, we were given two glasses of champagne with the check as a birthday gift. Couldn't have been better and the night couldn't have ended on a better note. We will be back to try other things on the menu and we definitely want to go try the brunch. Thumbs up to Suba and their staff for a lovely evening.
(5)Jen R.
Fantastic ambiance. Make sure to try the appetizers - oysters are delicious. Best main dishes include pork chop and ribeye. Must try!
(5)Kelly C.
Suba's, the upstairs tapas bar has it all: atmosphere, great service, fresh and amazing food, a great happy hour and soothing live jazz on weekends. The happy hour features their signature firefly margarita and half priced tacos. Now drinking here will get wicked, wicked expensive. The staircase is hard on the elderly which I regret because I really would love to bring the parents. Suba's is a hidden gem...I'd say the best secret in Harrisburg.
(5)Arthur L.
Hands down the best brunch in Harrisburg...or even in the state. I lived in Harrisburg for most of my life and this place easily wins for brunch every time. My wife agrees and wants to go every time we pass through. We get the Ritz (Eggs florentine with Filet Mignon served with red wine reduction) and tomato timbale. Both so good that we can't be pulled to change our selections.
(5)Josiah F.
My favorite restaurant in Harrisburg. Especially the Suba Tapas. The service is really friendly. My family tries to recreate some of the dishes for our own parties. The cocktails are a work of art also. I recommend the Palmitos and the Suba Tacos!
(5)Connie H.
Had a wonderful meal here on Friday night. We enjoyed interesting specials with fabulous knowledgable service. Can't wait to go again!
(5)David K.
This restaurant rivals the best we had in Washington DC. Honestly, it really does. The creations on this menu are straight out of a Food Network hosts' head, or they could be. Biggest suggestion - the Steak. This steak trumps the best Mortons, Ruth's Chris, and any other high dollar chain has ever put in front of me. That said, everything here is good. You will find unique creations like a pasta meal made with squid ink?? Seriously. And it was awesome. The desserts are amazing, the apps are amazing, the cocktails are out of this world. Just so you know though, the prices are also DC prices! Its very hard to walk out of here spending less than 150 bucks for my wife and I. We also always get a bottle of wine, cocktails to start, app, meals and dessert though :)
(5)Christopher M.
I will be faithful to Qui for the rest of my life because SHE is the awesome woman who taught me how to order and eat meat (hey now!). I went here years ago with a friend. I ordered the sea salt-crusted rib eye...COOKED WELL DONE!! *ducks* I know!! But I was raised to order every meat well done. The waitress actually got a little nervous. She asked me if I would compromise with medium. I sighed heavily and dramatically. I told her that I would only go as far as medium-well. She scampered to the kitchen. Minutes later Qui came to our table and playfully said (I paraphrase), "Young man, am I hearing correctly that you want me to destroy one of the finest cuts of meat on this evening's menu?" I laughed and tried to explain to her how I was raised. She listened attentively! Then she said, "Tell you what. You're young and cute. I like your spunk. So I'll do you a favor. I'll cook it one degree higher than it should be cooked. I'll actually serve it to you medium-rare. You try a few bites. If it isn't the best meat you've ever tasted, I'll take it back, make you one well done, and your entire bill is on the house." Multiple courses and several glasses of wine later we happily paid our entire bill and walked out customers for life :-)
(5)Shelly K.
We had a fantastic evening here! The food was creative and delicious and the service was outstanding. Everyone in the dining room was affected by the welcoming atmosphere - it was like a large family dinner in there. We savored every bite and look forward to going back again soon.
(5)Jennie S.
Went there this evening for dinner. Oh my!!! Amazing. The special pasta with roasted chestnuts was out of this world.
(5)Tom J.
Have been to Mangia Qui a few times over the years. The food is generally good and different when compared to the local options, it is way overpriced. A conservative dinner for two without alcohol is $100+. Nicer big city restaurants charge less. Actually got fed up the prices, so stopped going.
(3)Samiam H.
To support Harrisburg having a restaurant week, a group of friend made a reservation at Mangia Qui. Parking was difficult although parking in the reserved Senate spaces is OK after 6 pm. They had a function in the main restaurant so we had to sit upstairs. A pleasant room but it is small the table s are on top of each other and it was incredibly noisy. I think all table were filled with diners. We ate off the $30 three course menu. There were three selections for each course. We all enjoyed our food. A friend ordered the caprese salad which looked very good.I had the Rollatini which was not very big and the different flavors did not come through for me. I had the pork entree which was very good. Our only complaint was the service which was pleasant but just slow. Our coffee came before our dessert, and the coffee was warm not hot. Alcohol is expensive and easily doubled our bill. I was surprised there was no bread offered and no amuse bouche considering this was restaurant week and trying to attract first time diners, reward regular customers or win back former diners.
(3)Dan R.
Mangia Qui does a pretty decent lunch. The food is good and not too-too overpriced. It was super crowded when we visited, but our waitress didnt take to long to get our food ready. Our parties lunch consisted of: blackened Mahi-Mahi sandwich 12, Filet Mignon burger 12, Lamb burger sliders 12 and Chicken Diablo 9. Pretty much everything has already been said in the other reviews. Fresh food, trendy upscale atmosphere, nice selection of Wines, and a great Tapas Bar upstairs (SUBA). Open for lunch: 11a-2pm dinner: 5p-10pm Tuesday-Friday, and Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm. Street Parking, Cash, Visa, Mastercard.
(4)Colleen D.
Go to Restaurant.com for a $25 gift certificate, but be warned that Mangia Qui has a secret policy where they refuse to honor certificates presented on your phone (despite the fact that I used my phone to redeem a certificate there a couple of months ago). That aside, the food and service have been excellent for every dinner I've had here, hence the five stars.
(5)Amanda S.
I've eaten upstairs at Suba, the tapas bar several times. I would suggest coming here with 4-6 people, so you can try a lot and split the tapas. The sangria is a must. Downside is the seating is first come first serve, no reservations. It's a small area and the type of place you could stay at for hours. Can be a bit loud when they have live music. The ambience is nice, besides that. Food alone deserves five stars.
(4)Lina K.
Review of Suba Tapas Bar: Came here after dinner to meet up with friends to go to Suba. They were still eating at Mangia Qui and although I didn't eat dinner there, the mixed grill looked amazing and that is definitely on my list to try. The wait staff was very attentive, friendly and gracious and even let my friends bring their wine upstairs. Suba was packed that night to see a band called The Greatest Funeral Ever and they put on a great show. The sangria was very tasty and the venue, while small, was cozy. I liked the atmosphere and decor a lot and have put this place on my list of fun places in Harrisburg. Will report more after I attend the Carnival event on February 24.
(4)