Crispy Halal - Harrisburg, PA (2nd Street)
This new Crispy Halal location has had a few different lives over the years, as many downtown storefronts do. Before this, it was BurgerIM, and before that it was Neato Burrito--a longtime staple of the downtown Harrisburg state-worker lunch crowd.
I suspect Crispy Halal will find a similar audience.
That said, I'm not your typical weekday lunch-goer. I'm a lunch-packer by trade, but Sundays are my excuse to get out and try somewhere new. So this past Sunday, I found myself at Crispy Halal.
I ordered the lamb gyro along with a mango lassi and fries.
The gyro was generously coated in a creamy white sauce. They didn't specify whether it was tzatziki, but it certainly tasted like it. The lamb was nicely diced, and the vegetables reminded me of a simple chopped salad or pico-style mix that brought everything together well. The whole wrap had a fresh, balanced feel and was definitely enjoyable.
The restaurant itself has been nicely renovated. It feels clean, modern, and thoughtfully put together. I'm also happy to see more halal restaurants making their way into the Harrisburg area.
That said, my biggest criticism is the price.
The gyro by itself was around $11, but once I added fries and a lassi, the total came to about $21. For a quick lunch, that felt a little steeper than I was hoping for. Personally, I think this type of meal feels strongest in the $15 range.
If you're looking to keep costs down, I'd recommend just getting the gyro. You might miss out on the lassi--which, by the way, was excellent--but it'll make for a much more affordable meal.
The fries were perfectly fine, though nothing particularly memorable.
I should also mention that I worked at a Greek restaurant for several years, so I have pretty high standards when it comes to gyros and souvlaki. This wasn't the best gyro I've ever had, but it was absolutely solid, and I'd happily come back.
Overall, I'd give Crispy Halal 3.5 out of 5 stars. The food was good, the interior is clean, modern, and thoughtfully designed, and it's a welcome addition to downtown Harrisburg. But when it came down to it, the experience felt pretty standard. And that's not necessarily a bad thing--sometimes standard becomes a dependable staple. It just wasn't the kind of meal that had me thinking about it the next day or counting down until my next visit. It didn't completely blow me away, but it's a spot I'd happily return to when I'm in the neighborhood. read more