Lazzaro’s Italian Bistro

There was a slight wait but after actually eating the food I can understand why. I will start off by saying, we will definitely be back. From the waitress (Nicole) to the calamari to the house made rolls to the dinners, everything was fabulous.
My wife had a seafood dish done in a spice marinara that I can’t recall the name of. It was pretty good. I tried the scallops and risotto (which I rarely ever order) I have to say it was heaven on your tongue. The scallops were to perfection. They literally melted in your mouth like butter. When we come back it will be hard to stray from this but there are so many good things on the menu, it’s hard not to want to try everything. The only thing that would be better is if they offered food samples in flights (like beer) so we could try everything.
If you’re in the area, or a local just looking for an awesome Italian meal, this is the place. Fantasticó!!!

Yum. What a great eatery. More to come. The atmosphere is like you are eating in your mama’s Italian kitchen. All the staff makes you feel like part of the family. Food is served hot and is authentic Italian. The only negative thing was that it took a long time to get our check. For the area it is located in, the food can not be topped

I have eaten a lot of Italian food from many Italian restaurants in my journeys. I have never come across any marsala dishes that have sun-​dried tomatoes in them. However, it was a good thing the veal marsala dish I ordered did as they were the only flavor in the dish. I didn’t even taste a hint of marsala wine and the sauce was like watered down butter. The veal was dry and bland. My wife had the chicken parmigiana which was better but the quality still did not match the price. We did not enjoy the food at all and will not be returning.

Had a fantastic dinner in a terrific atmosphere we will be coming back for sure
Service and staff were super

This place was simply amazing. I went with family a little later in the evening on a weekday. Bread and salad came shortly after ordering. The food was phenomenal! All noodles and sauces are made in house for a true authentic Italian cuisine.
I had the scallops over risotto and delicious doesn’t begin to describe it. The scallops were great quality and seared to perfection over a cheesy risotto. The sauce under the risotto was magnificent! All of my family adored their entrees and we are basically Italian restaurant connoisseurs and this was the best yet I believe.
If you are in this area and looking for a great filling homely Italian meal for a reasonable price then this is the place to be. Their staff is also welcoming, offering nothing but smiles and hospitality.

I go here as often as possible because it may just be the best food in the area. Not only that, but each time I’m there the staff always looks like they are busting their asses to get people their food and feel at home. Get dessert when you’re there too, it’s unbelievable.

Just want to start by saying I don’t right too many reviews. I’ve worked in the bar and service industry for over ten years, and must say I’m beyond impressed with this restaurant, from the moment we walked through the door to the time we left, our experience was memorable.
The owners are not only hospitable but they are very passionate about what they do. They continue to offer some of the best Italian food you’ll find in the area. I actually bartend/​serve here in Hershey and constantly introduce friends and regulars to try this gem of a place. I’m originally from Scranton/​Old Forge and if you know anything about Italian cuisine you are familiar with good authentic Italian food. This place nails it and I look forward to returning. Not only are the prices fair but they are beyond reasonable.

Food is fresh, outstanding! The staff was very friendly and attentive. Fresh homemade desert was wonderful. As Hershey locals, my wife and I found a new restaurant to frequent.

very Good Italian, nice menu with lots of fresh ingredients. The calamari was done perfectly with a cornmeal dusting!

Best sauce in Harrisburg, bar none. Wonderful brunch of Polenta/​meat sauce and Lazzaro’s omelet with potato’s and sausage. Authentic Italian as you can get and brunch for two was $ 20.

Great addition to the local community. The food was good, service was good and prices are reasonable. If you like Italian, you will enjoy this local gem.

This is a stellar BYOB italian restaurant. The food is authentic with great portions and all the main sauces are just right. The sauce is everything in Italian cooking and theirs beats anything around it by a mile. We had Rigatoni Bolognese, Shrimp Scampi, and Original Lasagna and all were perfection.
Service was fast and warm, when the server found out we had a person with Celiac in our party she made sure to bring her some gluten free bread when she brought out our main portion. This was above and beyond the call and very thoughtful of her. They also apparently make five different gluten free pastas so this is the rare place where those who have to eat this way have full range of the menu.
Prices are very reasonable and the BYOB helps, just splurge and bring a nice red wine.
Honestly, do yourself a favor and try this place, what a find for the area.
Cheers.

My wife and I paid a visit to Lazzaro’s this evening.
This place doesn’t look like much from the outside, but don’t let that fool you. The staff is friendly, the menu is very diverse, the atmosphere is open and comfortable — everybody, both staff and customers, are laughing and having a good time.
The service is outstanding. I’ve never gone to a sit-​down restaurant at dinnertime on a Friday and even been seated in less than twenty minutes, especially during the holiday season, but that was not the case at Lazzaro’s. Not only was were we seated immediately, but our food was brought out to us so quickly that I hardly noticed the time passing. I’ve NEVER had service like that before.
I ordered the 4 P’s Ravoli — it was fantastic.
It’s a little pricey, but I think it’s worth it.

Delightful little restaurant. Staff is friendly and professional. Food is delicious. I had lunch there and chose a personal-​size white pizza with spinach. It was terrific… crust was just right; toppings perfect. My friend and I shared two desserts that were equally delicious.
Also had dinner there with my husband. We will definitely return. This is a very good find and a welcome addition to the community. Highly recommended!

No idea what the one and two star reviews are about. I lived at the foot of the Austrian Alps in Northern Italy for several years and Lazzarro’s is the most authentic Northern Italian food I’ve eaten in the states (and I’ve eaten at all the good places in Boston and New York).
Bottom line — these guys understand cook times and sauces. Sauce is everything in Italian dishes and I’ve never seen them fail to nail it. Not only that, the menu itself evidences a really solid understanding of Italian cuisine, rather than the Americanized version of it. Lots of seafood and veal, which is dead on. Veal is hard to get right and of the three veal dishes I’ve tried, not one was lacking. The Saltimboca and Littleneck clams taste *exactly* like what you’d get sitting somewhere near St. Mark’s in Venice or in a small foothill town at a family owned bistro. I can’t stress enough how authentic this food is. Maybe the bad reviews are from people who were expecting Olive Garden.
Service has always been good and timely, servers are friendly, and the owner is frequently interacting with customers. The ambiance is very warm and european. Even the cannolli, tiramisu, and cheescakes on the menu have that Italian touch that’s so hard to capture in stateside deserts.
Just go. You’ll have a new favorite Italian place.

Very nice place. Really good Italian. Portions are just right. We will be going back and bring friends.

This is a good restaurant with nice people and good food. I liked it.

We were told that the wait time was 20 minutes but ended up taking about an hour since the hostess seated 5 parties who were after us on this list ahead of us.
Food was disappointing and the wait staff was friendly enough but probably will not be going back there to eat again.

Was hoping that we would uncover something promising but instead were disappointed (again) in trying to find a serviceable restaurant in the area. While the atmosphere was encouraging (friendly service and Italian speaking staff) the food, wait time for entrees, and price were just plain bad.
The app we got was a sampler of fried mozzarella, calamari, and a ricotta cheese fondue with crostini. The calamari was inedible, the mozzarella tasted like a vat of grease/​oil, and the fondue & bread were like thick glue & cardboard, respectively.
The soups (wedding & sausage/​peppers — I know, how is that a soup?) were just as bad, with the sausage/​pepper one like eating grease soup.
To make matters worse, it took an hour from ordering for the entrees to arrive. We went late too, so it wasn’t really busy while we were there so reason for the long wait was a mystery.
Finally, the entrees were just poor. Lobster ravioli was salty, steak dish was thin and grey (ordered medium — it came out looking like a «steak» from hoss’s), and the chicken parm came with a side of pasta that had a different sauce than the chicken! Overall, the chicken wasn’t half bad, but considering what it was being compared with, who could tell at that point?
Anyway, the bill came to $ 77 for app and 3 entrees, which is kinda steep considering the wait time & poor, poor quality.
It amazes me how this area can get it so wrong so often. Maybe because it’s such a tourist destination and people just look for places to go, they all figure that whatever they put out will be good enough.

Excellent service and fine food at reasonable prices. Family owned. Takes reservations. BYOB. Convenient street and municipal parking. Lunch and dinner.