Men In The Kitchen Restaurant & Lounge - Harrisburg (PA)

3 /5 DR K: Recently had the opportunity to dine here. This establishment is in an old firehouse, and previously it was known as the Firehouse restaurant. However, the current owners have chosen not to carry this theme forward. The atmosphere feels very cold and industrial... an old building, gray walls, black trim, few decorations, no consistent theme which I saw. Very bright and harsh lighting; honestly, the light reflecting off the menu made it difficult to read the white letters printed on the black menu. Music sounded more like club music than background music for a restaurant and the volume was a little on the loud side. Without anything softening the echoes, it made conversation a little difficult. Our server was wonderful, personable, helpful and prompt. The speed from the time we ordered until we received our meal was reasonable. The food we ordered was delicious. However, the menu is very limited; mostly on the seafood side of things. Otherwise they have a few lamb dishes. They did have one chicken dish (Chesapeake style with crab cake and seafood soup) but I found it interesting that their menu had virtually no other beef, chicken, pork, etc. The partner I was dining with isnt a huge seafood fan and neither of us are lamb fans, so selection was a little limited, but we were satisfied with what we did order. This shouldnt discourage anyone from dining here, just be aware of the menu limitation and ensure that it complements your pallet. The alcoholic beverages were disappointing and resembled something you might get in a dive bar rather than a mid-level dining establishment. Glassware seemed limited to Collins glasses (I didnt see any drinks served in anything else) and presentation was lacking. The specialty drinks were kind of on the basic side; certainly, the cocktails arent going to win my repeat business. Overall, it isnt a bad place, and it REALLY has potential to be much better. Soften the environment, integrate a theme, improve the cocktail serve and maybe expand the menu slightly. The food is already great as was our server. I can envision returning, but based on my visit, it most likely will be with one of my partners who enjoys seafood and EDM/UC music. Would I recommend? Yes, but be aware of the menu limitations and environment; also be aware that their cocktail program doesnt complement their food quality.

5 /5 Nysan Moore: The atmosphere was nice and friendly. The server sat us immediately and brought us our drinks with complimentary corn bread. Honestly I couldve eaten more but I wanted to save my appetite for the food. The menu has plenty of amazing options to order. For appetizers we ordered chicken and collard greens egg rolls and the catfish nuggets. The catfish was freshly fried and delicious. I ordered the shrimp po boy with sweet potato fries. I was surprised to see that they sprinkled brown sugar on the fries, it was a nice touch. For sides the Mac n cheese and yams were both amazing and seasoned well not overdone. I will definitely return to try options on the menu. The outside display for the business is hard to see, I open they find a solution to help customers to see the restaurant clearly despite being on a busy street.

4 /5 The Cuteness: I had several small brunch options. The turkey bacon was delicious crispy, not overcooked.... the fried potatoes were very well seasoned, best Ive had in a long time! The pancakes were fluffy, coffee was really great. The atmosphere was very relaxing. Service was nice. It was a bit busy and our server was attentive and funny. Chris gave great recommendations and we were all happy at the end of the meal. *slight construction/repair on the first floor so we ask to be seated in the balcony area. I was told there was banquet space on the third floor but we didnt eat up there.*