Tell me about your three restaurants. How do they differ?
Mangia Qui is more Italian-leaning. At Suba we do traditional Spanish tapas. The tacos that we offer are certainly not that, but it was something fun for us to do and I think it makes the tapas more accessible to folks. Rubicon is very playful, French-inspired, but there is also a hamburger on that menu, as there is (beef) bourguignon. So you can have what you want. Price points vary between all three restaurants. You can start off with something less expensive, then you can move your way up if you choose. You can have a snack, or small plates, or a three-course dinner.
What do you love most about Harrisburg?
I never thought that I would live in such a small town, but having been here for this many years, quite frankly I really enjoy it. I love the sense of community. I love the fact that we have green space. I love the fact that we’re able to jump on a bike, get on a kayak, and do all this minutes from our home. You don’t need to go out of town to experience the arts. All of that comes together and has really produced what I think is a really livable city.
What do you do in your free time?
I take advantage of the green spaces. I like to bike up and down the riverfront, going into uptown, and I love the wider roads—the promenade with the tall trees. Kayaking is also a favorite activity. It’s so easy. Obviously the river’s right here. I can do a run in 45 minutes in between lunch and dinner and am able to get back for dinner service. So I take advantage of those things.
What do you recommend to people looking for something to do in the city?
First I would try to gauge if they were interested in live music, because there are so many great venues in town for live music right now: HMAC, or ABC, or even at Suba on a Saturday night. If they just wanted to take a stroll, I’d probably direct them to the riverfront. If they were here for an early dinner and they could catch a ballgame, I would recommend them doing that or taking a stroll through City Island. I think there’s ample opportunity for people to experience some good night life here in the city.
