Moonlight Cafe — Restaurant in Dover Township

For years, we've been told how this is the best Italian food in York, so we decided to give it a try.

The first thing to notice is that the seating area is very small with a lot of tables. The lighting and overall atmosphere is not what you expect from a high-end Italian restaurant. No romantic date nights here, but we got the small table in the corner by the kitchen, and that's the closest you will get.

It's BYOB, so we brought a nice bottle of wine, and once they saw it, they brought us glasses and a corkscrew. The fact that it's BYO does save a lot compared to buying by the glass.

We started with the spicy fried green beans, which were very good. The marinara sauce was a very simple standard american-italian marinara sauce. Which I believe would be good over a classic chicken parm or spaghetti and meatballs.

For entrees, we got the Scallops Diablo and the Spicy Sausage with Broccoli. The portions are massive, which is great when the food is good. For the Scallops Diablo, despite the scallops most likely being frozen, they were cooked well, and I was able to cut them with a fork. The sauce was very good. Whatever spices they added to it made it much better and more flavorful than the one with the beans. I changed the pasta to penne, which picked up the sauce nicely. I added a side of meatballs, which were very good and would be fantastic in a meatball sub.

The sausage and broccoli however was not very good. The sauce was too thin and watery. It was overkill with the amount of red peppers that overpowered the dish. Do not recommend the wine sauce here.

While being the best Italian restaurant in the York area is not a high bar, I think this one makes it there. If you want a romantic, authentic Italian meal, you still need to go to Lancaster, Harrisburg, or Little Italy in Baltimore. If you want a good local homestyle, American-Italian, I believe this...

Sitting in the heart of Dover, Pennsylvania, Moonlight Cafe offers a quaint and cozy dining experience that transports you straight to the heart of Italy. The ambiance of the cafe is warm and inviting, with a decor that blends rustic charm with a touch of elegance. The walls are adorned with Italian-inspired art, and the lighting is soft, creating a moonlit effect that lives up to the cafe’s name. Cleanliness is a priority here, with well-maintained facilities that reflect the staff’s attention to detail.

Service at Moonlight Cafe is commendable. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring that your dining experience is pleasant from start to finish. While there may be a wait during peak hours, reservations are recommended to secure a spot in this popular locale.

The food quality is a high point for Moonlight Cafe. The menu boasts a variety of authentic Italian dishes, with sauces made from scratch and a selection of pasta dishes and paninis that have become local favorite. The taste is rich and satisfying, with a presentation that is simple yet elegant. Portion sizes are generous, leaving diners content and often with a delicious reminder of their meal to take home.

However, no dining experience is without its flaws. Some guests have reported varying wait times, and on rare occasions, unexpected closures can occur, which can be an inconvenience. Communication in such instances seems to be an area for improvement.

Overall, Moonlight Cafe’s strengths lie in its delightful food, charming atmosphere, and diligent service. While there is room for improvement in managing wait times and communication, the overall experience is one that I would recommend to others seeking a taste of Italy in Dover, PA. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Moonlight Cafe is a gem...

Literally every single chicken parm I've ever ordered was covered in bread crumbs. Or fried chicken parm. I've never once had it without. This place can make it how they want obviously. But being that this is the standard or norm to have chicken parm breaded. They should say that under the item description. It's simple. Grilled chicken breast with parm cheese and marinara sauce. Now I'm out $14 plus 15% tip on something I'm throwing away because it is not appetizing at all. I called and the restuarant could care less about my more than valid complaint. If everyone else does it one way then it's your obligation to notify the customer as not to expect the normal standard. They still get 3 stars ( knocked down to 2 because they didnt respond. I really feel like my money was stolen on this one.) because the pasta meal was outstanding. But just google chicken parm. You will have to scroll for like 50 pics till you yet to 1 that it lightly breaded let alone just grilled chicken. It's not the norm of what someone would expect. Properly describe and then you won't have customers feeling like you stole...