Tomato Pie Cafe is one of the top rated restaurants in Harrisburg PA for a reason. Delicious food and wonderful service will keep you coming back for more!
Last month I went back to Maryland for a quick trip to visit family. It was kind of a last-minute trip, but I did get to go to a Maryland Basketball game and see some friends. I flew into town on Friday afternoon, and first thing Saturday morning I was back on the road to Harrisburg PA. The Great American Outdoor Show was that week, and Hero Outdoor Products had a booth. Since it’s only a 2 hour drive from my parents’ house, I jumped at the opportunity to help out my friends for the weekend.
The show began Saturday morning, I’d never driven to Harrisburg, and I wanted to eat breakfast before I got to the show. So I left my parents’ house at 5:30AM to make sure all went well. When I travel, particularly to new places, I rely heavily on TripAdvisor for restaurant recommendations. I always take the reviews with a grain of salt, and my choices are almost always solid. After a little back and forth I decided on Tomato Pie Cafe.
Tomato Pie Cafe has 2 locations; Harrisburg and Lititz, just north of Lancaster PA. The Harrisburg location is very close to Harrisburg Mall, and on the corner of a small strip center. Tomato Pie Cafe is open 7am-9pm Monday – Saturday, and 8am-5pm Sunday. I was one of the first guests in the door, but that didn’t last long. Guests arrived steadily during my visit, and by the time I left it was nearly full. Makes sense, as Tomato Pie Cafe ranks #7 overall and #1 for breakfast in town.
I liked Tomato Pie Cafe as soon as I entered. The wall of windows on 2 sides lets in lots of natural light. The interior is very open and spacious, with a small waiting area to the right, a large beautiful coffee bar along one back wall, and the main dining room to the left of the host stand. Tomato Pie Cafe offers full service dining, carry out, and an assortment of divine looking desserts.
First things first, coffee and water
I love the little creamer pot, and the bottle of water. Caffeine was my primary need, so I did appreciate the consistent refills.
I don’t do well with large menus, so I was happy to see that The Tomato Pie Cafe menu is not overwhelming. However, they offer a wide variety of unique items, so that kind of threw me for a loop. I briefly considered the Tomato Pie, their signature dish, but it sounded a little more adventurous than I wanted to go that hour of the morning. With a little help from my server Joanne, I decided on the Fried Eggs and Brie Sandwich. Breakfast sandwiches come with your choice of sides, and Joanne recommended the Parmesan grit cake, hands down. How can I say no to that?
I’d never seen a grit cake before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I love grits, so I dug right in. The grit cake is scorching hot, and the golden brown top has a wonderful crunch. I really like the contrast between that crunch and the creamy grits underneath. I decided right there and then that I needed to figure out how to make them at home.
Two fried eggs, arugula, bacon and raspberry Brie. Served on Multi-grain Sunflower bread
The Fried Eggs and Brie is another win. I’m not a big fan of raspberries on their own, but this raspberry brie is delicious, and the brie tones down the tart bite of the raspberries. The thick-cut bacon and toasted bread create a wonderful contrast of textures in every bite. The absolute only negative was the egg, fried more than I prefer.
Joanne asked if I wanted dessert. I was too full to even think about more food, and knew I wouldn’t have time to eat it during the show, so I passed. I planned to return to try some, but I never got a chance to get back.
Will I go back to Tomato Pie Cafe? Well, I honestly am not sure when I’ll ever be back in Harrisburg. But, next time that does happen, I know where I’ll definitely go eat. I want to try some of their lunch/dinner menu items, plus of course dessert.
