Mattucci's Willow Cafe — Restaurant in Mount Carmel

Today, when I went to Mattucci's, it was to celebrate a personal accomplishment. I first went there in 1978, and I've been there a number of times since. Forget Olive Garden. This is the real deal. It's like stepping back into time and experiencing what it's like to eat in the dining room of an old Italian home. It's very relaxing. Very comforting.

I've always had great service here. Which is why I keep coming back. But today was a little different. This is the first time I've been to a restaurant, by myself, since my wife passed away 3 years ago. I've been putting it off, because I knew it would be difficult. However, my server today was Ashley. She really blessed me today with her level of energy, her personality, and her grace. She impressed me so much that she joined the ranks of the best servers I've ever had, with 2 others, a server from Hotel Hershey, and Scott's (a former restaurant in downtown Harrisburg). She made my day, and greatly enhanced my experience today.

The meal I got today was great and arrived fairly quickly. Compared to some other Italian restaurants, Mattucci's gives bigger portions, and the quality is so much better. Along with the ambience, it is just a great dining experience. The result of small town living. This is rapidly unraveling. Take advantage of it while you can. Soak it up. Revel in it. Celebrate it. It's the remnant of a bygone era in our history.

Return Visit (11/04/23) Took my daughter here for her birthday. After eating at a number of restaurants in the past few months, and getting a pathetic amount of food. My faith is restored coming to Mattucci's. They have a large menu. I was worried that the recent renovations would change the ambiance. It didn't. When we came in, it was really busy, and there were only 2 servers working. Yet, we got waited on fairly quickly, and got our food in a reasonable amount of time. The food was great, the service was great. When I left, I was not hungry, like I am when I leave other restaurants. Food prices are going up, and I don't mind paying, if the amount of food balances is out. Here it does. I will be coming here more often rather than these other restaurants that I believe are taking advantage of people. In addition, Mount Carmel is a neat little town to visit, with a number of shops to visit in their...

Our reservations were for 6pm. When you walk in, you're faced with a wall. Several servers walked past us, and we were unsure if we used the correct door. There was no sign saying, "Please wait to be seated.". We asked a girl working in the bar if we were in the correct area and she told us we were. Finally got sat at our reserved table and sat there with no silverware for 15 minutes. When the waitress came over, she gave us bread and plates. (No silverware to spread the butter and no drinks yet). She came back 10 minutes later to get drink order: 4 waters, 2 cokes, 2 blood marys). I told her we had no silverware and she didn't hear me because she wouldn't make eye contact and stayed at the table for 5 seconds at a time. She came back to tell us no blood marys because they dont have the mix as she dropped off the waters and sodas. Ok. So we ordered 2 cokes in place of Bloody Marys. While she was at the table she asked if we were ready to order. We said yes, but we needed a few minutes. She came back with the cokes, dropped them off and then went to the table across from us to run their credit card. They had been waiting for at least 20 minutes to leave. She finally came back to get the order. 30 minutes later we got our food piece meal from someone not dressed in uniform. The table behind us got there 30 minutes after and had eaten, paod and were gone before we got our check. When we asked her if we could get one slice of apple pie she responded, "If we have any". Then when she came back after clearing only a few dirty plates amd to give us boxes, we asked for the check. We told her in the beginning it was 2 checks. She told us since we didn't tell her at the start we couldn't do it and out one check on the table. It was so loud in there that when I told her we told her right away she said, " Don't yell at me!" And them magically she was able to split the check. SERVICE WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!! The food was good except for the soups. They were WAY too salty. Wont...

MARCH 2025 - We are the second generation of our family to enjoy Mattucci's over the decades. I have always been excited to dine there. In the last several years, I have driven over 2 hours to get there, and it was always worth nearly 5 hours in the car, there, and home. One member of our family brings the train from NYC to meet us and eat at Mattucci's.

How wonderful to see the renovations and be able to appreciate the beautiful woodworking of the bar. And here comes the homemade bread, yes!

A mushroom pizza was among the appetizers we ordered to share. It was unremarkable except that it was heavy cheese and lacked flavor.

I ordered spaghetti and meatballs, thinking simple and wonderful, as it has been since I was 7. Sadly, the sauce in which the NOT homemade spaghetti swam was very sweet, lacked seasoning, and did not cling to the spaghetti as it has for decades. NO FLAVOR. Where are the savory, simmered delights? This IS NOT the Mattucci's our family has adored since we were children. The food was not better than ordinary, perhaps less. Even if I were not comparing it to the Mattucci's I have loved for years, I would not find it special.

I will be in the area in a few weeks and will give it another try, ordering different items. I really hope that was an off day and they find the old wonderful groove. Otherwise, we won't have reason to return.

The desserts were excellent. Tiramisu, cheesecake, and lemon poppyseed cake.

In 2019, I posted 5 stars: As good as we remembered this old favorite to be 35 years ago. Fabulous authentic Italian. Red sauce, oh my, good! Jake gave us...