Michael DiSante
Uncle Clucker's Unreal Chicken Sammy
Believe it — Unreal Kitchen is the real deal Story and Photos By Deborah Lynch
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dlynch@harrisburgmagazine.com
hosts do much more than jump out and yell “boo” in today’s online pandemic world. People can be ghosted, cut off from communication — either virtual or in person -without any warning, and products can appear from seemingly nowhere. Michael DiSante hopes to exploit the far-from-scary latter concept with Unreal Kitchen, which opened in late February in the kitchen of a catering business on Market St. Road near Harrisburg High’s John Harris campus. He’s jumping on a trend that took off in 2020 — crafting delivery-only restaurant concepts that are created in one commercial kitchen. According to Eater online magazine, virtual brands, ghost kitchens, and deliveryonly concepts have skyrocketed since the start of Covid-19, and could become $1 trillion 34 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE APRIL 2021
businesses by 2030. Restaurants are copying the model that’s been successful with other companies — the direct-to-consumer model used by mattress companies like Saatva and Casper, toothbrush fulfillment companies like Quip, and even meal kit plans. DiSante, a Lewisberry native who now lives in Lancaster, grew up working for the caterer at his new Penbrook location, but he has been in the restaurant franchise business for a while. He owns Philly Pretzel Factory franchises (Camp Hill, Lititz, and Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster) as well as a SoBol, a bowl/smoothie/soup franchise that he opened in Lancaster. Through SoBol, he met Angelina Perry from Long Island, who is partnering with him on Unreal Kitchen. UnReal Kitchen will be the umbrella
Unreal Kitchen
Website: www.unrealkitchen.com Address: 2805A Market St. Road, Harrisburg Phone: 717-412-7161 Open: Monday-Sunday, 3-10 p.m. Delivery and curbside pickup only Covid-19 Updates: All proper safety protocols in place Years in service: Soft opening late February Busiest Times: 5 - 8 p.m. Chef: Michael DiSante Most popular dishes: Korean Chili Burger, Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Price range: $3-$15 No alcohol Owner: Michael DiSante
