Catalano's
Restaurant
461 South Front Street Wormleysburg, PA
717-761-6000
By Dawn Eckenrode
Let me start by admitting to some favoritism. Catalano’s has
always been one of our very favorite Italian restaurants in Harrisburg. So, it was with
great anticipation that we awaited the re-opening of Catalano’s. We weren’t the
only ones, though, and when you go, you’d be well advised to make reservations in
advance. When you enter, you will see the spacious bar and lounge to the left, complete
with a shiny new player piano. The bar, like the rest of the restaurant, is bounded by a
wall of windows, from which you will get a magnificent view of the Susquehanna, and the
lighted shoreline of Harrisburg. The dining area is divided into two general areas, with
ample seating along the riverfront. The decor is unobtrusively done in deep hunter green
with burgundy and floral accents. It did not seem to us, that it carried across quite the
personality or romance of the old Catalano’s, although I suspect it will just take a
little time for it to develop its character.
Now to get to the part we’d all been waiting for - the food. We brought along a party
of eager taste-testers with us, in order to take advantage of the chance to sample a wide
variety of Chef Fred Bateman’s offerings. The menus weren’t back from the
printer yet, so we were given temporary paper ones, which really made little difference to
our happy group. I was pleased to see the extensive offering of tasty appetizers, and we
of course ordered our favorite Mussels Marinara. For entrée, I chose a crabmeat-stuffed
flounder. Other choices around the table were Veals Aaltimbocca & Francaise, lasagna,
and several pasta combinations including angel hair with Alfredo sauce, pennes with
spinach and sausage, and Tortellini with Bolognese. Beware though, because wonderful warm
rolls are served that could tempt you to fill up before you get to the main course.
The mussels arrived, steaming warm and heaped high, surrounded by a lovely marinara sauce
with chunks of fresh tomatoes. Dipping my fresh bread in the sauce for the first taste of
the evening was all that I had hoped for, and elicited an unexpected ummm from my dining
companion. We were all served the house salad, which was basic but good, with a mix of
mainly iceberg lettuce, and topped with garbanzos. I had the house vinaigrette, which was
absolutely tasty, while a few in our group reported that the bleu cheese dressing was
super. Our server came after a moderate, yet comfortable wait, bearing our entrées.
Here’s where the fun began. My flounder was generously stuffed with excellent lump
crabmeat, simply garnished, and accompanied by a baked potato. We found it a little
strange that the veal and seafood dishes were accompanied with a baked potato instead of a
side of pasta. When I inquired about this, I found it could be substituted for an extra
charge. My companion’s Veal Saltimbocca was beautifully plated and immediately drew
our attention with anticipation for more to come. The pasta dishes were ample, and all
were simply plated and garnished. The lasagna came in a small baking dish atop a plate,
again with a side potato. The Veal Francaise wasn’t as dramatic-looking as the
Saltimbocca, lacking the mushrooms and green onions in the wine sauce, but appeared to be
ample. Right away, I have to tell you that Chef Bateman’s lasagna is arguably the
best in Harrisburg. Instead of the more traditional ricotta, it is layered with Mornay and
Swiss cheeses, with a very tasty meat filling, and baked in an absolutely perfect red
sauce. It is rich and wonderful; with a glass of your favorite red wine it is bound to
become a Harrisburg favorite. My next favorite dish from among our tempting table was the
Veal Saltimbocca, followed closely by the Veal Francaise. The Saltimbocca had an
incredible depth of flavors, with the generous veal portions simmered in a fabulous sauce
of white wine, fresh mushrooms, and green onions. The Veal Francaise was sautéed, and
topped with a lovely tart lemon and wine sauce that kept the palate fresh and desiring
more. My flounder was fairly plain, but the lump crab stuffing was generous, delicate, and
very good. This would be a good choice for someone desiring a healthy and not too spicy
dish. The Alfredo sauce on the angel hair pasta was well-done, with a fresh and full
flavor. The spinacho was an interesting dish, with spicy sliced pork sausage atop fresh
cooked spinach with garlic, all atop the penne pastas. The only disappointment, perhaps,
was the Tortellini with Bolognese, which was a bit bland, or perhaps just couldn’t
compete with the other wonderful dishes we enjoyed. After our meal, our server came around
with a desert tray, which had a moderate selection of cakes. I picked the Italian rum
cake, after I inquired if tiramisu was to be had. We were told that tiramisu is an
occasional desert offering, but it was not on the menu that evening. I was the only one
with room for desert, and had a very good cup of espresso served with my cake. The cake
was passable, but would have been better had it been a home-made pastry. Overall, one can
have a wonderful meal there. The wine list has good selection of US whites and reds, with
a smaller but varied selection of imported French and Italian wines. Sparkling wines from
Dom Perignon to Asti are offered also. The prices ranged from $15 to $20 for the meat and
seafood entrées, with a wide variety of pasta entrees moderately priced from $7 to
$12.50. Graci, Catalano’s, we’re glad you’re back! |
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Checklist
Average Entree Price:
$16.95
Average Dining Time:
2 hours
Parking:
Self Serve - Parking Lot
Handicapped Access:
Entrance way
Exterior Appearance: Impeccable
Initial Interior:
Needs Waiting Seats
Reservations Necessary:
Preferred
Preferred Dining Attire:
Neat & Clean
Wait (to be seated): 10-20 minutes
Wait (for service):
Up to 5 minutes
Lighting:
Romantic
Meal-time Music:
Very Light Muzak
Dining Area Appearance:
Brand new
Noise:
Chatter
Climate:
Comfortable
Tables:
Cloth covers
Chairs:
Simple with arms
Booths:
None
Table Setting:
Full with cloth napkins
Your Meal:
From Dinner Menu
Appetizers:
Wide selection
Salads:
Basic
Dressings:
House specialty
Vegetables: Fresh/Satisfactory
Desserts:
Tray - fair selection
Coffees:
Includes Espresso
Staff Attitude:
Friendly
Staff Appearance:
Neat & clean
Hospitality:
Felt at home
Cleanliness:
Spotless
Wash Rooms:
Exceptional
Crowd (Qty):
Busy
Crowd (Attitude):
Casual/laughter
Food (portions):
Satisfied
Food (prices):
Reasonable/Pricey
Overall Service:
Busy/Waited
Total Dining Time:
2 hours
Payment Accepted:
Major credit cards
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