The notion that this place has a 2.5 rating is a sin. This place is very good.....and nothing, NOTHING beats their lunch buffet. This is my first check-in here somehow, but I've been here at least 40 times. That speaks for itself.
(5)
Emma S.
small place, overrated but still GREAT food!! serviced by people who dont care about you really.. but honestly great bread and pasta. BYOB!!
(2)
Ashley A.
It's a shame I only gave this restaurant two stars, because the food is worth about 4 stars, but the service and inconsistencies are more like two stars. I usually come here with my family and it's great! But, the service has always been hit or miss. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's the complete opposite. The lunch buffet is a great price and the food is good, not wonderful. Overall, the menu prices are moderate, some things are over-priced and some are moderately priced. Every time I've been here dinner, it's been pretty good! I usually order the pasta or chicken dishes, such as the bowtie with eggplant and fresh mozzarella in a marinara sauce or chicken marsala, chicken picatta or chicken rossano. I would suggest not ordering the fettuccine alfredo. It's just not that good in comparison to their other entrees.
(2)
K E.
Decided to try Sammy's because it's always packed. The food was below average and over priced. The place is way too small and I was back to back with another diner. If you want good Italian go to Gabriella's.
(1)
Brian R.
Wonderful location, romantic view of the capitol up close. If you were any closer you'd be on the steps. Restaurant was very nice inside, service was great, and the food was wonderful. I've got to say the scallops were the best I've ever tasted, the melt in your mouth kind. And the chicken saltimbocca was absolutely delicious. A little pricey but the restaurant is BYOB so it's actually pretty reasonable. Really enjoyed Sammy's. Good spot for a date night!
(4)
Carol V.
Worse Italian food I've ever eaten...a can of Chef Boyardee tastes better. Don't waste your money.
(1)
Barbara V.
Love the lobster ravioli best and eggplant rollatini was good too. I like the atmosphere and fact it's BYOB. My only issue is the staff the handles reservations needs to work on their customer service skills a bit. I keep going back though for the pasta. Go figure.
(4)
Steve P.
Minus the prices on some of the entrees', Sammy's is a fantastic place. They have an upper and lower level to try and accommodate as many people as possible with the limited space there is. A great view of the steps and rotunda of the capitol building. My wife and I came in for a quiet dinner for 2 and finished off with their buttery smooth Creme Caramel (Get it I don't care what diet you are on). I ordered the Lobster Ravioli (18.95), something that I always regret due to the fact there never is enough, the flavor made up for it though. My wife got the Chicken Francese (16.95) and loved it, not too much lemon or wine sauce, it was blended very well. The menu is pretty large and we like how they sort everything by price. They also have the option to BYO which is always a nice touch. This place gets a tad busy during lunch when the state workers descend on the 6.95 buffet from 11:30 - 2, but for that price, you can see why.
(4)
Kate Y.
I went during Harrisburg restaurant week and it was great. We had a table by the window with a full view of the Capitol. We did one of the 3 courses for $30 and then a seafood pasta special that was another $30. The food was also served piping hot which almost never happens. We got: Bruschetta: Perfectly ripe tomatoes. Really good. Caesar Salad: Good, nothing out of the ordinary. Shrimp and Scallops in Creamy Pesto: Big portion, delicious fresh tasting sauce. Seafood was perfectly cooked and not chewy or overdone at all. Shrimp marinara: Really flavorful sauce, well cooked shrimp, large plate as well. Chocolate cake: Really well done, yummy and not overly sweet. The best part was our server. He was stellar. We had everything we needed with no additional asks. He knew all about the menu and special and was charming without being over the top. BYOB is a definite plus.
(4)
GingerSnap G.
FANTASTIC FOOD! Great Service... But WAY over priced. Ordered New Year's Eve special of Seafood Pesto Pasta w/Shrimp and (not bay) scallops. The pasta dish was fantastic... but really surprised that they skimped a bit on the pasta itself. they could've added 1/3 to 1/2 more pasta and it would not have detracted from the quality of the food. It would've also been a more satisfying meal. Or should i say, closer to being worth the price. Either way I didn't consider the dish to be $44 amazing. Esp as the night's special. And while I understand that was NYE, you will see that their seafood pasta normally runs $29. It was crowded and there was a seemingly pretentious frou frou vibe in the crowd that nite (which i guess goes hand in hand with the prices) which I didn't love. So yes, fantastic food, but I probably wont be going back.
(2)
Jay F.
Best Italian in town. Little small and outdated but the food is fantastic. The specials are always delicious. It's a fabulous BYOB so you can bring your favorite bottle. Beautiful view of the capital and I always try and get the window seat.
(4)
Samson R.
Far and away my FAVORITE Italian spot in Harrisburg... can it be pricey? sure, but the food is delicious.. everything i've ever had i've raved about.. from the intimate decor, to the fact that it's BYOB (i bring multiple bottles), to the lunch buffet which i always pass up b/c the special board always has something that makes my mouth drool, oh to my favorite the rice pudding for dessert.. totally, and unequivocally, in love with Sammy's
(5)
Daren B.
Haven't been here in a while. Was not impressed at all. Food was pre made and finished up in the microwave. I know this because part of my lasagna was boiling hot on some parts and cool on the other. My mother got eggplant parmigiana and the pasta was cold. Our waiter was excellent and his coustomer service skills were second to none. This and the cozy decor were the only positive points I have. $40 for two VERY easy routine itatlian meals was outrageous.
(1)
Tracey C.
Absolutely 4 stars for the food. My date had the veal and I had the flounder. Both were presented nicely and the pasta that accompanied my flounder was perfect... A light garlic and butter toss. Didn't take away from the flavor of the flounder. We had the portobello mushroom appetizer and I would go back again just for that dish. So very very good. But alas, the service was poor at best. Our waiter (whomever he was since we had 4 throughout the evening)...was never to be found. Took forever to even get water, let alone our bottle of wine opened...which was displayed on our table so it wasn't like he couldn't see it! He/they passed by us at least 3/4 times before stopping to see if we were ready to order and then we had to ask about the specials. He hurried through them but didn't mention those that were displayed outside on the board. The food was terrific...absolutely wonderful. Worth going back just for the food but ONLY if Sammy's staff gets some much needed customer service training!
(4)
C. B.
Over-priced for Harrisburg, PA ! Food was very average! I eat out a lot in the Harrisburg and there are much better choices of dining establishments in the Harrisburg area . It was very hard to park and hard to get into the restaurant if you are with a handicap person. (steps into restaurant and narrow spaces for walker/wheelchair once in the restaurant.) The waiter acted as though he was on staff at Rao's in New York, not Sammy's in Harrisburg! (He could have been a little nicer and not as snooty.)
(2)
Robin G.
I had the grilled salmon with capers. The salmon was ok. I wasn't really feeling the carrots and the lemon sauce. The service was pretty good. Oh, the bread, the bread was terrible! It was some cheap bargain bread that appeared to have come from like the dollar store. Awful. Not home made and not delicious and dense. The silverware and plates looked and felt like they came from the dollar store as well. So cheap and flimsy. So not upscale. We ate in the basement and it was cold.
(2)
Robert F.
This place is overrated and overpriced! I ordered what the waiter recommended which was angel hair pasta with shrimp mixed with lobster sauce. This was after he read of 10+ individual specials, which I could not memorize or recall. I then asked him if they had the specials in writing and he pointed to a dry erase board directly in front of the kitchen. I then asked him how much two of the specials were. One was lobster ravioli and other was salmon with lobster sauce? Both were at least $30. My entree came to $30 and basically it was a huge bed of angel hair pasta mixed in with about 5 shrimp and 5 scallops. The shrimp and scallops were tasty, but they didn't put enough in to justify the $30 charge. I refuse to pay again $30 to eat mainly pasta, even if it is so called "imported." The bread was stale and the seating was small. I don't recommend.
(1)
Caitie L.
I have now been to Sammy's for dinner three times, and I have loved it each time. Yes, the restaurant is a bit cramped. Yes, service can be a little slow during busy times (where isn't it?). But the food makes up for both of those shortcomings. Everything I have had at Sammy's has been delicious, and worth every penny. I especially recommend the Chicken Rossano, and any of the homemade desserts. I'm not sure why Sammy's is getting bad reviews, but I highly recommend it!
(5)
aaron r.
Really bad place...I haven't lived in Harrisburg for the better part of 10 years, so I'm not 100% sure about the restaurant scene in HBG, but I'm pretty sure that prickish waiters and mediocre food are not the norm anywhere... I asked the waiter if I could have spaghetti instead of penne. He told me that I could not; the head chef was training a new cook, and there were no substitutions...I normally wouldn't care, but on the menu it emphasized the restaurants generous substitution policy, and I have to think that replacing 4 ounces of cooked pasta with another 4 ounces of cooked pasta wouldn't really be testing the limits of that policy. Never going back...but they do manage to keep 1 star for BYOB.
(2)
Mike W.
A wide variety of classic and contemporary Italian dishes to choose from. Dishes were carefully prepared and the service was attentive. Only thing I think could be better is more homemade items like pasta and sausage. I ordered a dish that had sausage and could tell from the taste it was mass prepared (ie Johnsonville). Will go back again next time I'm in town.
(4)
Bob G.
I've eaten here for many years but last night was probably the last. Sammy is a great guy but the decor is old, the bill came in a holder that was taped together, and the portions were way smaller than they used to be. Add in the outrageous parking fees and harried waitstaff and you can see it is time to head down to Home 231 and enter the 21st century of dining experiences.
(2)
Cheryl P.
Sammy's is by far the WORST resturant I have ever been too. The resturant itself is small and just has a greasy feel to it. The decor...I can't even begin to imagine what direction they are trying to go in, but it looks as if it was just thrown together. The food was horrid!! Before we even got in the resturant, glasses of ice water where at the tables with dust collecting in them. The appetizers, which was escarole and artichoke hearts was swimming in oil. The bread they brought to the table was stale and instead of olive oil and herbs to dip it in, they gave you balsamic vinger. My friedn and I each ordered the chicken parmaesan. First of all chicken parm is susposed to come with spaghetti or angel hair pasta...not bow-ties!! The chicken was burned crispy on the edges and looked like it sat in the fryer way too long. And the marinara sauce tasted and looked like ketchup. My other friend had the eggplant rollatini and he said it was bland and chewy. Not to mention the soda was flat and had no flavor! I don't know how this resturant stays open, but if you are looking for real Italian food, this is not the place to eat. You would be better off at the Olive Garden!!
(1)
Kayla D.
I've lived in Harrisburg for over a year and decided to eat here with my husband. Walking in it has a very nice decorative environment. When we went to go sit down I felt very crowded. There was only about 6 other tables with people at them but the table and chairs are very close together. There was only 1 server on, which was fine and he was very nice but he was rushed and not attentive to us because he had 6 other tables. Now, when it came to prices I didn't think much only because Italian is a little pricey. When we got our plates I was very disappointed and price and portion. I had gotten Veal Marsala, I never had my pasta on the side and in Marina. Veal pieces were small, mushrooms were not portobella or big and the Marina was bland. I'm used to Veal Marsala being over top of pasta. The food taste was just okay. I've defiantly have had better, bigger and cheaper food. I don think we will be returning.
(2)
Jena B.
i was utterly UNDERWHELMED by this place -- i almost gave it two stars, but honestly, that would be too generous. my best friend and i went there in september, so it's not very clear in my mind, but we were both extremely disappointed. i believe i got manicotti or something, based on the waiter's recommendation -- he said that the meat sauce that came with the manicotti was divine. WRONG! it was thin and watery, and the manicotti was nothing to write home about -- the pasta wasn't properly cooked, and the cheese blend inside was bland. you could get better at olive garden (gag me -- i won't even eat at olive garden). my best friend got the tuna steak w/mashed potatoes. the tuna steak was the ONLY part of this meal that was worthwhile, and, let's face it, it's next to impossible to mess up a medium-rare tuna steak. basically we paid $30 for the tuna steak, b/c the mashed potatoes that were served w/it tasted like cardboard -- instant taters out of a box. again, gross. i'm extremely upset that i gave these guys $60 of my money. i will NEVER eat here again and i will definitely tell my friends to avoid this place too. we almost went to mangia qui, but walked past sammy's first and decided to give it a shot. in hindsight, that was a huge mistake. :( i live in lancaster, and my best friend lives in york, so we don't get to harrisburg often, but i really want to come back and give mangia qui a shot!
(1)
Lisa R.
I've eaten here twice now, once about a year and a half ago and then last night. Both were good experiences. The waitstaff were helpful and pleasant. I consider BYOB a plus as well. The menu is full of classic Italian dishes and the specials board has some tempting offerings. We had the tomato and mozz salad for an appetizer and complimentary bread was offered with a dip of their house balsamic vinaigrette. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli with a smoked salmon cream sauce. The ravioli were ok. They didn't seem home made or up to the price tag but the sauce was amazing. I don't want to think about how good FOR me it wasn't! My BF had the filet over mashed potatoes with peppercorn cream sauce. Wow. The steak was really tender and the whole thing had great flavor. Impressive. Both portions were substantial as well. We were too full for dessert. The check was a little high in my opinion but not too terrible for the overall quality and experience. Well be back I think.
(4)
Susan D.
I can't believe Sammy's received some poor reviews! No wonder why they're all filtered. But anyway four of us (2 from Pittsburgh, 2 from Philadelphia) were in Harrisburg on government business and thanks to to tight scheduling, we had limited time for lunch. Fortunately for us, the staff at the State Capitol recommended Sammy's. It's a cozy little place with a great view of the Capitol grounds. Sammy's offers an Italian lunch buffet for $6.95 but y'know I'm always a little leery of buffets. On the other hand, I do love a good sandwich and they've got 'em here! My meatball hoagie was out of this world. Apparantly Sammy's gets good marks for dinner too so I'll keep it in mind for my next trip here. It's certainly within my per diem!
(4)
M B.
Highly recommend Sammy's. Great menu, location and service. This is not the typical Italian restaurant for Central PA. Most people around here look for quantity and price vs quality. My wife and I have visited many times, never a bad experience.
(5)
Diana D.
Three of us dined there last night. Chicken Francese, Veal ala Sammy and I ordered the grouper special. One of our diners ordered the seafood bisque which was bland and only tasted of heavy cream. The waiter refunded the price of the soup when we complained. The chicken and fish dishes were average, but the veal was below average. A portion of veal that looked like a piece of lunchmeat with 2 measly shrimp and one piece of broccoli, left our diner still hungry after his meal. We were expecting some nice crusty rolls or Italian bread and were disappointed by the ordinary soft bread. There are much better Italian restaurants in Harrisburg, so we won't be back.
(1)
Haras R.
I found my experience at Sammy's similar to S.M.'s review. A few of my friends and myself decided to give it a try based on a co workers good recommendation. We sat down at our table at 10pm on New Years Eve. We were headed out right after dinner so before even going we decided to order a few things and share as to not be stuffed or have to carry left overs. Upon sitting down we saw the "special" New Years Eve menu a.k.a. the same menu as normal with jacked up prices! When we told the waitor that we would be sharing he gave us a dirty look and told us there was $20 plate charge just for sitting there. We were all forced to order our own dinners. My dish was pasta with eggplant (no meat) for $24! Nothing special. The entire dinner our server's attitube was sub par like he had written us off as bad tippers and wasn't even going to try. A little heads up that there was a special menu/plate charge would have been nice when we made the reservation. The only salvation of the meal was our bottles of wine we brought. The food was good but average. We ended up tipping the waitor way more than he deserved because I've served and I can't bring myself to leave a bad tip, but I will never return to Sammy's and I will definitely not be recommending it to any of my friends or coworkers!
(1)
Joy G.
I've been here 3 times and it's easily my favorite restaurant in the area. My only complaint would be that there is no local parking and you have to hunt - but such is life in a city. The service and the food are wonderful and although they don't have a liquor license it still feels like an authentic Italian restaurant like the name states. Love this place!
(5)
Kelly h.
Great small BYOB! My husband and i love it! Its small and please note to NEVER order "special" you will pay over $30. Other than that everything i have had was great! The bad reviews are very surprising. We have been there over 8 or 9 times and have had a great experience every time...
(5)
Jo E.
Don't get me wrong, the food was good and its a BYOB. The main issue for me is the price- they must expect us to dine on an expense account each time. Compared to other restaurants in the area with just as good, if not better, food, I'd have to say this is overpriced.
(3)
S M.
Terrible service, mediocre food...Went there New Years Eve with a large group. I wouldn't recommend doing so, because the wait staff did not even try to earn the included tip. Had our waiter put forth any effort, he would have received more than the included minimum. We had a reservation and still had to wait for 30 minutes to be seated at our table in a basement. The menus for this "fancy" restaurant were under glass on top of the table. Our party consisted of one vegan who couldn't really find anything on the menu; when he asked if one vegetable dish could be served without the slice of melted mozzarella, our snooty waiter told him that the kitchen was too busy to accommodate his request. The veal parm I ordered was good, but was not worth the $30. Throughout our meal, the waiter was obnoxious and rude. I'm not from Harrisburg, but I'm sure there are better places to eat in that town. This restaurant is definitely not worth trying. The quality of the food is the same fare you would find at any Italian restaurant. This place is over-priced, with rude staff and mediocre food.
(1)
Pat B.
Quaint little place with a great view of the Harrisburg Capitol. They have the best linguine with clam sauce (red) and the chicken Marsala is excellent as well. I have tried other pasta w/ clam sauce (even in Italy) and to this day still thinks that Sammy's is the best. Also, try the smoked salmon pasta (very decadent). You can bring your own wine and that makes the food affordable.
(4)
Christopher W.
Whoa, I have no idea what's going on with the bad experiences, but I've been to Sammy's three times myself and each was great. Maybe coming from Philly gives me a bias, but I thought the prices were very reasonable - $12 entree - for a nice meal, great place for a date. It's right across from the Capitol so at night seats by the big window are spectacular. This is my favorite place in Harrisburg - hope the others give Sammy's another chance.
(5)
Marianne T.
We went to Sammy's on Chrismas Eve with a party of about 10. The food was decent and atmosphere was nice. The waiter was rude and didnt give us menus until we were there for at least ten minutes. He was very rude and as we were waiting for menus, he bussed all the tables around us. Maybe he was mad he had to work on Christmas eve. IDK. I may go back at some point for food, everyone seemed to enjoy their entrees, but they was not that special.
(2)
Emily T.
We love Sammy's! The food was great, just be careful if you can't eat shell fish because it's in most of the choices. We each had one of the specials, both worth ordering a second time. The restaurant is small, so it was a little crowded but the closeness was not uncomfortable. I was impressed at the knowledge of our waiter. Love the BYOB.
(5)
Jeff S.
wow, I'm surprised to see all the negative reviews of Sammy's. I had a good time there and would go back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No 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.
Andrew R.
The notion that this place has a 2.5 rating is a sin. This place is very good.....and nothing, NOTHING beats their lunch buffet. This is my first check-in here somehow, but I've been here at least 40 times. That speaks for itself.
(5)Emma S.
small place, overrated but still GREAT food!! serviced by people who dont care about you really.. but honestly great bread and pasta. BYOB!!
(2)Ashley A.
It's a shame I only gave this restaurant two stars, because the food is worth about 4 stars, but the service and inconsistencies are more like two stars. I usually come here with my family and it's great! But, the service has always been hit or miss. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's the complete opposite. The lunch buffet is a great price and the food is good, not wonderful. Overall, the menu prices are moderate, some things are over-priced and some are moderately priced. Every time I've been here dinner, it's been pretty good! I usually order the pasta or chicken dishes, such as the bowtie with eggplant and fresh mozzarella in a marinara sauce or chicken marsala, chicken picatta or chicken rossano. I would suggest not ordering the fettuccine alfredo. It's just not that good in comparison to their other entrees.
(2)K E.
Decided to try Sammy's because it's always packed. The food was below average and over priced. The place is way too small and I was back to back with another diner. If you want good Italian go to Gabriella's.
(1)Brian R.
Wonderful location, romantic view of the capitol up close. If you were any closer you'd be on the steps. Restaurant was very nice inside, service was great, and the food was wonderful. I've got to say the scallops were the best I've ever tasted, the melt in your mouth kind. And the chicken saltimbocca was absolutely delicious. A little pricey but the restaurant is BYOB so it's actually pretty reasonable. Really enjoyed Sammy's. Good spot for a date night!
(4)Carol V.
Worse Italian food I've ever eaten...a can of Chef Boyardee tastes better. Don't waste your money.
(1)Barbara V.
Love the lobster ravioli best and eggplant rollatini was good too. I like the atmosphere and fact it's BYOB. My only issue is the staff the handles reservations needs to work on their customer service skills a bit. I keep going back though for the pasta. Go figure.
(4)Steve P.
Minus the prices on some of the entrees', Sammy's is a fantastic place. They have an upper and lower level to try and accommodate as many people as possible with the limited space there is. A great view of the steps and rotunda of the capitol building. My wife and I came in for a quiet dinner for 2 and finished off with their buttery smooth Creme Caramel (Get it I don't care what diet you are on). I ordered the Lobster Ravioli (18.95), something that I always regret due to the fact there never is enough, the flavor made up for it though. My wife got the Chicken Francese (16.95) and loved it, not too much lemon or wine sauce, it was blended very well. The menu is pretty large and we like how they sort everything by price. They also have the option to BYO which is always a nice touch. This place gets a tad busy during lunch when the state workers descend on the 6.95 buffet from 11:30 - 2, but for that price, you can see why.
(4)Kate Y.
I went during Harrisburg restaurant week and it was great. We had a table by the window with a full view of the Capitol. We did one of the 3 courses for $30 and then a seafood pasta special that was another $30. The food was also served piping hot which almost never happens. We got: Bruschetta: Perfectly ripe tomatoes. Really good. Caesar Salad: Good, nothing out of the ordinary. Shrimp and Scallops in Creamy Pesto: Big portion, delicious fresh tasting sauce. Seafood was perfectly cooked and not chewy or overdone at all. Shrimp marinara: Really flavorful sauce, well cooked shrimp, large plate as well. Chocolate cake: Really well done, yummy and not overly sweet. The best part was our server. He was stellar. We had everything we needed with no additional asks. He knew all about the menu and special and was charming without being over the top. BYOB is a definite plus.
(4)GingerSnap G.
FANTASTIC FOOD! Great Service... But WAY over priced. Ordered New Year's Eve special of Seafood Pesto Pasta w/Shrimp and (not bay) scallops. The pasta dish was fantastic... but really surprised that they skimped a bit on the pasta itself. they could've added 1/3 to 1/2 more pasta and it would not have detracted from the quality of the food. It would've also been a more satisfying meal. Or should i say, closer to being worth the price. Either way I didn't consider the dish to be $44 amazing. Esp as the night's special. And while I understand that was NYE, you will see that their seafood pasta normally runs $29. It was crowded and there was a seemingly pretentious frou frou vibe in the crowd that nite (which i guess goes hand in hand with the prices) which I didn't love. So yes, fantastic food, but I probably wont be going back.
(2)Jay F.
Best Italian in town. Little small and outdated but the food is fantastic. The specials are always delicious. It's a fabulous BYOB so you can bring your favorite bottle. Beautiful view of the capital and I always try and get the window seat.
(4)Samson R.
Far and away my FAVORITE Italian spot in Harrisburg... can it be pricey? sure, but the food is delicious.. everything i've ever had i've raved about.. from the intimate decor, to the fact that it's BYOB (i bring multiple bottles), to the lunch buffet which i always pass up b/c the special board always has something that makes my mouth drool, oh to my favorite the rice pudding for dessert.. totally, and unequivocally, in love with Sammy's
(5)Daren B.
Haven't been here in a while. Was not impressed at all. Food was pre made and finished up in the microwave. I know this because part of my lasagna was boiling hot on some parts and cool on the other. My mother got eggplant parmigiana and the pasta was cold. Our waiter was excellent and his coustomer service skills were second to none. This and the cozy decor were the only positive points I have. $40 for two VERY easy routine itatlian meals was outrageous.
(1)Tracey C.
Absolutely 4 stars for the food. My date had the veal and I had the flounder. Both were presented nicely and the pasta that accompanied my flounder was perfect... A light garlic and butter toss. Didn't take away from the flavor of the flounder. We had the portobello mushroom appetizer and I would go back again just for that dish. So very very good. But alas, the service was poor at best. Our waiter (whomever he was since we had 4 throughout the evening)...was never to be found. Took forever to even get water, let alone our bottle of wine opened...which was displayed on our table so it wasn't like he couldn't see it! He/they passed by us at least 3/4 times before stopping to see if we were ready to order and then we had to ask about the specials. He hurried through them but didn't mention those that were displayed outside on the board. The food was terrific...absolutely wonderful. Worth going back just for the food but ONLY if Sammy's staff gets some much needed customer service training!
(4)C. B.
Over-priced for Harrisburg, PA ! Food was very average! I eat out a lot in the Harrisburg and there are much better choices of dining establishments in the Harrisburg area . It was very hard to park and hard to get into the restaurant if you are with a handicap person. (steps into restaurant and narrow spaces for walker/wheelchair once in the restaurant.) The waiter acted as though he was on staff at Rao's in New York, not Sammy's in Harrisburg! (He could have been a little nicer and not as snooty.)
(2)Robin G.
I had the grilled salmon with capers. The salmon was ok. I wasn't really feeling the carrots and the lemon sauce. The service was pretty good. Oh, the bread, the bread was terrible! It was some cheap bargain bread that appeared to have come from like the dollar store. Awful. Not home made and not delicious and dense. The silverware and plates looked and felt like they came from the dollar store as well. So cheap and flimsy. So not upscale. We ate in the basement and it was cold.
(2)Robert F.
This place is overrated and overpriced! I ordered what the waiter recommended which was angel hair pasta with shrimp mixed with lobster sauce. This was after he read of 10+ individual specials, which I could not memorize or recall. I then asked him if they had the specials in writing and he pointed to a dry erase board directly in front of the kitchen. I then asked him how much two of the specials were. One was lobster ravioli and other was salmon with lobster sauce? Both were at least $30. My entree came to $30 and basically it was a huge bed of angel hair pasta mixed in with about 5 shrimp and 5 scallops. The shrimp and scallops were tasty, but they didn't put enough in to justify the $30 charge. I refuse to pay again $30 to eat mainly pasta, even if it is so called "imported." The bread was stale and the seating was small. I don't recommend.
(1)Caitie L.
I have now been to Sammy's for dinner three times, and I have loved it each time. Yes, the restaurant is a bit cramped. Yes, service can be a little slow during busy times (where isn't it?). But the food makes up for both of those shortcomings. Everything I have had at Sammy's has been delicious, and worth every penny. I especially recommend the Chicken Rossano, and any of the homemade desserts. I'm not sure why Sammy's is getting bad reviews, but I highly recommend it!
(5)aaron r.
Really bad place...I haven't lived in Harrisburg for the better part of 10 years, so I'm not 100% sure about the restaurant scene in HBG, but I'm pretty sure that prickish waiters and mediocre food are not the norm anywhere... I asked the waiter if I could have spaghetti instead of penne. He told me that I could not; the head chef was training a new cook, and there were no substitutions...I normally wouldn't care, but on the menu it emphasized the restaurants generous substitution policy, and I have to think that replacing 4 ounces of cooked pasta with another 4 ounces of cooked pasta wouldn't really be testing the limits of that policy. Never going back...but they do manage to keep 1 star for BYOB.
(2)Mike W.
A wide variety of classic and contemporary Italian dishes to choose from. Dishes were carefully prepared and the service was attentive. Only thing I think could be better is more homemade items like pasta and sausage. I ordered a dish that had sausage and could tell from the taste it was mass prepared (ie Johnsonville). Will go back again next time I'm in town.
(4)Bob G.
I've eaten here for many years but last night was probably the last. Sammy is a great guy but the decor is old, the bill came in a holder that was taped together, and the portions were way smaller than they used to be. Add in the outrageous parking fees and harried waitstaff and you can see it is time to head down to Home 231 and enter the 21st century of dining experiences.
(2)Cheryl P.
Sammy's is by far the WORST resturant I have ever been too. The resturant itself is small and just has a greasy feel to it. The decor...I can't even begin to imagine what direction they are trying to go in, but it looks as if it was just thrown together. The food was horrid!! Before we even got in the resturant, glasses of ice water where at the tables with dust collecting in them. The appetizers, which was escarole and artichoke hearts was swimming in oil. The bread they brought to the table was stale and instead of olive oil and herbs to dip it in, they gave you balsamic vinger. My friedn and I each ordered the chicken parmaesan. First of all chicken parm is susposed to come with spaghetti or angel hair pasta...not bow-ties!! The chicken was burned crispy on the edges and looked like it sat in the fryer way too long. And the marinara sauce tasted and looked like ketchup. My other friend had the eggplant rollatini and he said it was bland and chewy. Not to mention the soda was flat and had no flavor! I don't know how this resturant stays open, but if you are looking for real Italian food, this is not the place to eat. You would be better off at the Olive Garden!!
(1)Kayla D.
I've lived in Harrisburg for over a year and decided to eat here with my husband. Walking in it has a very nice decorative environment. When we went to go sit down I felt very crowded. There was only about 6 other tables with people at them but the table and chairs are very close together. There was only 1 server on, which was fine and he was very nice but he was rushed and not attentive to us because he had 6 other tables. Now, when it came to prices I didn't think much only because Italian is a little pricey. When we got our plates I was very disappointed and price and portion. I had gotten Veal Marsala, I never had my pasta on the side and in Marina. Veal pieces were small, mushrooms were not portobella or big and the Marina was bland. I'm used to Veal Marsala being over top of pasta. The food taste was just okay. I've defiantly have had better, bigger and cheaper food. I don think we will be returning.
(2)Jena B.
i was utterly UNDERWHELMED by this place -- i almost gave it two stars, but honestly, that would be too generous. my best friend and i went there in september, so it's not very clear in my mind, but we were both extremely disappointed. i believe i got manicotti or something, based on the waiter's recommendation -- he said that the meat sauce that came with the manicotti was divine. WRONG! it was thin and watery, and the manicotti was nothing to write home about -- the pasta wasn't properly cooked, and the cheese blend inside was bland. you could get better at olive garden (gag me -- i won't even eat at olive garden). my best friend got the tuna steak w/mashed potatoes. the tuna steak was the ONLY part of this meal that was worthwhile, and, let's face it, it's next to impossible to mess up a medium-rare tuna steak. basically we paid $30 for the tuna steak, b/c the mashed potatoes that were served w/it tasted like cardboard -- instant taters out of a box. again, gross. i'm extremely upset that i gave these guys $60 of my money. i will NEVER eat here again and i will definitely tell my friends to avoid this place too. we almost went to mangia qui, but walked past sammy's first and decided to give it a shot. in hindsight, that was a huge mistake. :( i live in lancaster, and my best friend lives in york, so we don't get to harrisburg often, but i really want to come back and give mangia qui a shot!
(1)Lisa R.
I've eaten here twice now, once about a year and a half ago and then last night. Both were good experiences. The waitstaff were helpful and pleasant. I consider BYOB a plus as well. The menu is full of classic Italian dishes and the specials board has some tempting offerings. We had the tomato and mozz salad for an appetizer and complimentary bread was offered with a dip of their house balsamic vinaigrette. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli with a smoked salmon cream sauce. The ravioli were ok. They didn't seem home made or up to the price tag but the sauce was amazing. I don't want to think about how good FOR me it wasn't! My BF had the filet over mashed potatoes with peppercorn cream sauce. Wow. The steak was really tender and the whole thing had great flavor. Impressive. Both portions were substantial as well. We were too full for dessert. The check was a little high in my opinion but not too terrible for the overall quality and experience. Well be back I think.
(4)Susan D.
I can't believe Sammy's received some poor reviews! No wonder why they're all filtered. But anyway four of us (2 from Pittsburgh, 2 from Philadelphia) were in Harrisburg on government business and thanks to to tight scheduling, we had limited time for lunch. Fortunately for us, the staff at the State Capitol recommended Sammy's. It's a cozy little place with a great view of the Capitol grounds. Sammy's offers an Italian lunch buffet for $6.95 but y'know I'm always a little leery of buffets. On the other hand, I do love a good sandwich and they've got 'em here! My meatball hoagie was out of this world. Apparantly Sammy's gets good marks for dinner too so I'll keep it in mind for my next trip here. It's certainly within my per diem!
(4)M B.
Highly recommend Sammy's. Great menu, location and service. This is not the typical Italian restaurant for Central PA. Most people around here look for quantity and price vs quality. My wife and I have visited many times, never a bad experience.
(5)Diana D.
Three of us dined there last night. Chicken Francese, Veal ala Sammy and I ordered the grouper special. One of our diners ordered the seafood bisque which was bland and only tasted of heavy cream. The waiter refunded the price of the soup when we complained. The chicken and fish dishes were average, but the veal was below average. A portion of veal that looked like a piece of lunchmeat with 2 measly shrimp and one piece of broccoli, left our diner still hungry after his meal. We were expecting some nice crusty rolls or Italian bread and were disappointed by the ordinary soft bread. There are much better Italian restaurants in Harrisburg, so we won't be back.
(1)Haras R.
I found my experience at Sammy's similar to S.M.'s review. A few of my friends and myself decided to give it a try based on a co workers good recommendation. We sat down at our table at 10pm on New Years Eve. We were headed out right after dinner so before even going we decided to order a few things and share as to not be stuffed or have to carry left overs. Upon sitting down we saw the "special" New Years Eve menu a.k.a. the same menu as normal with jacked up prices! When we told the waitor that we would be sharing he gave us a dirty look and told us there was $20 plate charge just for sitting there. We were all forced to order our own dinners. My dish was pasta with eggplant (no meat) for $24! Nothing special. The entire dinner our server's attitube was sub par like he had written us off as bad tippers and wasn't even going to try. A little heads up that there was a special menu/plate charge would have been nice when we made the reservation. The only salvation of the meal was our bottles of wine we brought. The food was good but average. We ended up tipping the waitor way more than he deserved because I've served and I can't bring myself to leave a bad tip, but I will never return to Sammy's and I will definitely not be recommending it to any of my friends or coworkers!
(1)Joy G.
I've been here 3 times and it's easily my favorite restaurant in the area. My only complaint would be that there is no local parking and you have to hunt - but such is life in a city. The service and the food are wonderful and although they don't have a liquor license it still feels like an authentic Italian restaurant like the name states. Love this place!
(5)Kelly h.
Great small BYOB! My husband and i love it! Its small and please note to NEVER order "special" you will pay over $30. Other than that everything i have had was great! The bad reviews are very surprising. We have been there over 8 or 9 times and have had a great experience every time...
(5)Jo E.
Don't get me wrong, the food was good and its a BYOB. The main issue for me is the price- they must expect us to dine on an expense account each time. Compared to other restaurants in the area with just as good, if not better, food, I'd have to say this is overpriced.
(3)S M.
Terrible service, mediocre food...Went there New Years Eve with a large group. I wouldn't recommend doing so, because the wait staff did not even try to earn the included tip. Had our waiter put forth any effort, he would have received more than the included minimum. We had a reservation and still had to wait for 30 minutes to be seated at our table in a basement. The menus for this "fancy" restaurant were under glass on top of the table. Our party consisted of one vegan who couldn't really find anything on the menu; when he asked if one vegetable dish could be served without the slice of melted mozzarella, our snooty waiter told him that the kitchen was too busy to accommodate his request. The veal parm I ordered was good, but was not worth the $30. Throughout our meal, the waiter was obnoxious and rude. I'm not from Harrisburg, but I'm sure there are better places to eat in that town. This restaurant is definitely not worth trying. The quality of the food is the same fare you would find at any Italian restaurant. This place is over-priced, with rude staff and mediocre food.
(1)Pat B.
Quaint little place with a great view of the Harrisburg Capitol. They have the best linguine with clam sauce (red) and the chicken Marsala is excellent as well. I have tried other pasta w/ clam sauce (even in Italy) and to this day still thinks that Sammy's is the best. Also, try the smoked salmon pasta (very decadent). You can bring your own wine and that makes the food affordable.
(4)Christopher W.
Whoa, I have no idea what's going on with the bad experiences, but I've been to Sammy's three times myself and each was great. Maybe coming from Philly gives me a bias, but I thought the prices were very reasonable - $12 entree - for a nice meal, great place for a date. It's right across from the Capitol so at night seats by the big window are spectacular. This is my favorite place in Harrisburg - hope the others give Sammy's another chance.
(5)Marianne T.
We went to Sammy's on Chrismas Eve with a party of about 10. The food was decent and atmosphere was nice. The waiter was rude and didnt give us menus until we were there for at least ten minutes. He was very rude and as we were waiting for menus, he bussed all the tables around us. Maybe he was mad he had to work on Christmas eve. IDK. I may go back at some point for food, everyone seemed to enjoy their entrees, but they was not that special.
(2)Emily T.
We love Sammy's! The food was great, just be careful if you can't eat shell fish because it's in most of the choices. We each had one of the specials, both worth ordering a second time. The restaurant is small, so it was a little crowded but the closeness was not uncomfortable. I was impressed at the knowledge of our waiter. Love the BYOB.
(5)Jeff S.
wow, I'm surprised to see all the negative reviews of Sammy's. I had a good time there and would go back.
(3)