Leon J.'s Profile

My wife and I went in for dinner yesterday expecting the high quality food, service, and generous portions that we were accustomed to from La Kasbah, the previous version of The Dunes.

Unfortunately, we were left with our worst dining experience in Harrisburg in some time.

Decor:  The inside is a new coat of paint slapped on an old diner/lunch counter type place.  It seemed that the seating (that was filled upon our 7pm arrival) at the back of the restaurant was a little better than our spot closer to the front.  I endlessly peered into very, very bright lights and an open prep kitchen.

Appetizers:  We got a sampler platter of appetizers that I knew was finished because of the "DING" of the MICROWAVE that was used to prepare them in plain view.  $10 for a microwaved app...If you are going to sell me less than freshly prepared food, then at least have the respect to not do it in front of my face.

Main Course:  My wife had the Dunes Couscous, which was their renamed version of the T'faya Couscous from La Kasbah.  The portion was smaller than before and the chicken was extremely dry.  I had the lamb tagine that was supposed to come with a mediterranean salad that never came.  The lamb was ok, except for the fact that it was COVERED IN BITS OF TINFOIL.

Service:  Service was spotty at best.  We were not checked on a single time after we received our main course which resulted in me not receiving my side dish.  Upon polite explanation of the tin foil and lack of side, then owner graciously ~sarcasm~ took $2 off our tab and never even apologized or asked for any explanation.  He just didn't care.

Summary:  Just because you are located next to Bricco and El Sol, you can't charge fine dining pricing and give us microwaved, tin foil covered food with poor service.  I love local HBG restaurants and never try to bad talk them, but my advice is to steer clear.

If it weren't for the fact that I live right around the corner, I probably wouldn't go here.

It's standard "ehh" pizza.  Nothing really stands out, but it's not terrible either.  Good take-out if you happen to have a 2 foot snowstorm...which seems to be happening more frequently lately.

Authentic.  That about sums it up. Great fresh food in a new, bright clean location.

Mrs. Jackson had a chorizo burrito and I had enchiladas verdes. The food was clean, hot, and yummy.

New additions to this location are a pizza menu and a killer baked goods section.

The prices are great, too!  My only complaint is that they were piping Wink 104 through the stereo. We would have preferred something more authentic and less gringo.

Decent Mexican food at an above average price.

The setting is nice, but I also prefer to sit in the bar area.  As another review noted, the seats are way too far apart from each other in the regular dining area.  Also, service seems to be much slower in the dining room.

At the bar, you can pop in, have a Margarita (ask for it Fresco style) and an entree and be on your way.  

Not a bad place to go if you are picking up a hungry person at the train station.

If you are looking for authentic mexican that is cheap and setting isn't an issue, Tres Hermanos is a better choice in my book.

Not a bad change of pace though.

Recently got takeout here and was very pleasantly surprised. Clean, fast, diverse menu, moderately priced, and attentive staff were a few of the highlights.  Will be returning to dine in soon.

If you like Thai food, this is worth a try.

Went there recently for a couple of drinks and apps on the deck.  This is my new favorite deck in the area.  It overlooks the Stoney Creek and has a cool waterfall that literally keeps you cool on a hot summer day.  Had fresh oysters that were very good and friend had steamed clams.  The beer selection is very nice.

Service was friendly, but a bit slow as we had to wait a couple of times for drinks and my (raw) food took over 30 minutes to come.  Waitstaff blamed this on a group inside, not my problem though.  

10 minutes from downtown Harrisburg.  Easy access off 322.  Can't wait to go back for a full meal outside.

A hidden gem!

I wish this place were better considering I live very close by, but it just isn't up to snuff.

After taking a couple month break after going there quite regularly, I tried them again yesterday for lunch.  Unfortunately, the sandwiches just aren't that good.

Their homemade mozzarella isn't fresh a lot of the time.  Quite frankly, the frozen bread that they use is not good at all.

The owners should call up Sal at Alvaro's and arrange for fresh bread to be delivered every morning to be used.  Until they straighten out the cheese and bread issue, there's not much of a sandwich to eat there.

The setting is nice.  The staff is friendly.  I hope they make it, but I fear they won't unless the food improves.

The hoagies are great.  A wonderful deli.  The burgers are great too.

The only negative about this place is that they are only open for lunch during the week.

Three suggestions:

1.  Call ahead
2.  Call ahead
3.  Call ahead

I'll call at 10 or 10:30 and order my lunch for 12:30.  The benefits are two-fold.  First, you don't have to wait like the rest of the poor suckers craving their great food.  Second, you get two hours to pat yourself on the back for making a great decision for lunch.

Great, seriously great, outdoor seating in the back.  Best in the city and surrounding area.  It's truly a hidden gem.

So why two stars?  My last three visits have come with horrendous service and bland, boring food.  

A few years back, the service was great, and the food was better, but with each passing year, it inexplicably gets worse and worse.

I've resigned myself to visit in the afternoon for a couple of drinks when the place isn't packed so that the service is bearable and I don't have to get food.

Stop over for a drink out back, either before or after dinner at nearby Mangia Qui, Suba, or the Firehouse.

I love walking over to city island and catching a game.  The team stinks, but the atmosphere is fun.  $2 beers on Thursdays.  It's great to see that the $46 Million improvements are finally taking shape.

Will be purchasing season tickets for the 2010 season with the completion of stadium renovations.  Hopefully the team will even win a game or two as well.