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Like the German cuisine that influenced it, Pennsylvania Dutch cooking is hearty and uses ingredients from local farms. Though their numbers are dwindling, there are still a few traditional Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants where you can dine family style. Lancaster County has numerous reasonably priced family restaurants, along with a number of eateries offering more exotic fare. The cuisine is changing and expanding to include many flavors beyond traditional Amish. Unless otherwise noted, liquor is served.
A festive air permeates this eatery on North Queen Street, in part because the locals are thrilled that their favorite food truck (still operating outside the far-off Costco) finally graduated to a brick-and-mortar space. The bold flavors of Peru and Venezuela pop in a variety of bowls and, of course, the Venezuelan arepas, soft cornmeal rounds stuffed with savory fillings such as chimichurri chicken. Mad Chef Brewery operates a tap room on-site, pouring its own brews.
Built in 1776, Dobbin House is the oldest building in town and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In six original rooms adorned with Colonial decor and antiques, staff in period clothing serve Colonial and classic American fare such as baked king's onion soup and roast duck. The floors are creaky, the ceilings low, and the rooms are small, but Dobbin House is just right for date night and special occasions.
Farmland surrounds this spacious creamery, which serves what many locals consider to be the best ice cream in Lancaster County. Flavors range from classics like cookies 'n cream to creations like honey-lavender; order yours in a waffle cone bowl. A complete coffee selection and a lunch menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads are also available.
This little roadside spot on the edge of Kitchen Kettle Village serves warm, buttery Pennsylvania Dutch soft pretzels and freshly squeezed lemonade. The traditional salt-flecked variety is superb, but other flavors such as cinnamon-sugar don't disappoint. The pretzel-wrapped hot dogs are a great pick-me-up snack.
At this waterfront spot in historic Wrightsville, across the Susquehanna River from Columbia, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the river while seated outdoors eating wood-fired pizzas topped with ingredients grown on-site. The popular bar and restaurant (reservations strongly suggested) also has a glass-walled dining room to take in the scenery year-round. Several menus are offered, from lunch (cream of crab soup) and dinner (house sausage platter) to a mammoth fixed-price Sunday brunch buffet complete with a prime rib carving station, omelets made to order, and a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Look for weekly dinner specials and seasonally inspired favorites.
Tucked away downstairs from its sibling C'est la Vie, this cushy dinner spot is lined with photos from the golden age of Hollywood; it's the kind of place where you order a cocktail with a movie-star name. The chef spins French techniques and local ingredients into refined plates such as cream of artichoke soup and 8-ounce crab cakes, and the stunning desserts are worth the calories, but the one you must order is the lemon meringue that reveals its secret when you cut into it.
A self-described "wood-burning Italian kitchen," LUCA serves up handmade pasta and mains, plus a large menu of hot and cold starters. Reservations are hard to get, and for good reason—the food is consistently delicious and the vibe is upbeat. The ever-changing menu might include wood-grilled strip loin or gnocchi with sweet corn and pancetta, while the carefully curated wine list includes natural, low-intervention wines. The arbor-covered patio overlooking the tree-lined residential street is open when weather permits.
Within Stoltzfus Meats, a meat-centric supermarket selling all things sausage, cold cuts, and cheese, is Amos' Place, a popular deli serving breakfast and lunch. A surprisingly lengthy menu includes cheesesteaks, subs, and broasted chicken (similar to fried chicken), and there are salads for the cholesterol-challenged. Order at the counter and snag a table, or grab something to go.
Southern Italian gems like arancini (risotto balls), osso buco (braised lamb shank), and spinach and artichoke canneloni (crepes) are expertly prepared at this spacious, modern trattoria. Relatively new on the scene, Beccafico delivers fine dining without frills or fuss and a reasonably priced wine list with a dozen choices by the glass.
Meander off Route 340 a few turns up a bucolic side road to reach this farmhouse full of baked goods and canned goodies. Fresh coffee is here to go with pies, sticky buns, and muffins, as well as 12 kinds of whoopie pies and a locals-favorite shoofly pie. Shelves are lined with local preserves and pickles ripe for the picking. A play area and some petting animals keep the kids happy.
Since 1936, this little roadside stand has been selling burgers, dogs, cheesesteaks, and homemade ice cream. Order your food at the counter and take it out to the tree-shaded picnic tables along the creek.
Take a table in the tavern-like dining room or a stool at the bar for a menu of English and American classics. Welsh rarebit, fish-and-chips, or chicken-and-leek pie will power you up for an afternoon of shopping or an evening of trivia competition, or you can stick with the burger and a cask ale. There's outdoor seating in warm weather.
Bistro-style C'est la Vie, right in the middle of downtown, serves a mix of traditional and modern French fare in a contemporary but not fancy space. Dishes range from boeuf bourguignon to trout macaroons, and the brick-oven pizzas include a stellar fig and goat cheese pie. To accompany your meal, choose a bottle from the long list of French and other wines. If the weather's nice, get a patio table in the pretty brick alley behind Central Market.
\nIn a restored 1869 railroad hotel, this eatery is themed as a speakeasy from the Roaring '20s, with newspapers from the era and gangster portraits adding to the period flavor. Entrées include broiled crab cakes, seafood pasta, and tenderloin tips on toast, a Lancaster County tavern favorite that dates to Prohibition. The menu is huge, offering a variety of plates both big and small.
If a beer sounds like a refreshing break from the dry work of shopping for antiques, this brewpub will hit the spot. More than 12 taps' worth of the brewery's beers, plus local wines and spirits, wash down snacks, panini, and charcuterie plates in the indoor beer garden.
Perched atop the Marriott at Penn Square, this chic lounge and restaurant (for those 21 and over) has the best views in town from its floor-to-ceiling windows and stylish deck. Enjoy a cocktail and the globally inspired small plates, from Lebanon bologna sliders to crispy halloumi cheese, and a rotating selection of wood-fired pizzas while enjoying the view.
With friendly service and tasty food, it's no wonder Fireside Tavern is a huge locals' favorite. The surf-and-turf burger or shepherd's pie will fill you up after a day of sightseeing, and adults might enjoy the busy bar. From some of the indoor tables and the outdoor deck, there are gorgeous views of farmland.
This family-owned brewpub downtown sells its own beers, which range from Double Citra Pillows (a hazy IPA) to Hiding in Plain Sight (a hoppy lager). The menu includes appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. Sit in the large tasting room or grab a seat on the patio.
A favorite with locals, this pub serves authentic Irish dishes made from the owner's family recipes, importing some of their ingredients direct from Ireland. The kitchen also sends out American pub favorites like wings and burgers and more than 100 Irish whiskies and 15 draft beers quench thirsts. Irish sesiuns (open Celtic music jams) take place twice a month and live music plays every Friday and Saturday night.
This little café in the center of town serves crepes and coffee—what more could you want? Breakfast crepes are filled with omelets or scrambles, lunch crepes have savory insides such as cheesesteak or caprese, and dessert crepes include the classic Nutella. In fair weather, you can sit on the shaded patio or the front porch of the 1880s building.
Part of the Hershey Farm hotel complex, this is a huge smorgasbord of Pennsylvania Dutch and American dishes. The bright, airy space underscores the freshness of the buffet, most of it scratch-made on-site. There's also a grill where you can get made-to-order burgers and sandwiches. It's a satisfying stop before or after a show at nearby Sight and Sound Theatre.
This family-friendly restaurant is a beloved favorite among locals for its hearty breakfast lineup, probably one of the best in Pennsylvania. The menus are huge, portions are generous, and the food is unpretentious in a good-ole-diner sort of way. Reservations are not taken, and the restaurant closes at 3 pm.
This family-owned Nepalese and Indian restaurant is a longtime favorite in downtown Lancaster, serving up popular Indian specialties like tandoori and chana masala (a chickpea-based curry), as well as Nepalese dry curries and steamed dumplings. The cozy dining room quickly gets packed on weekend nights and weekday lunch hours (there's an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet Monday through Saturday in addition to the regular menu), but the staff gracefully handles the constant flow. There's also an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet on Monday night, and although there is no alcohol on the menu, the restaurant has a BYOB policy.
This seasonally driven gastropub located in a former inn, stable, and speakeasy makes magic with locally grown produce and meat and Pennsylvania-made beer and spirits. The day's menu, and a list of "Farmers and Friends" who supply the restaurant's ingredients, are posted on chalkboards. The former horse stables have been transformed into booths and there is a bar on each end of the dining room. It's a great place to enjoy live jazz on most Tuesday and Saturday nights.
Not only do the chefs here source organic produce, dairy, and eggs from local farms, but the restaurant also operates a grass-fed cattle ranch, so you know the ingredients are top-quality. The menu does change seasonally, but mains might include bone-broth mushroom risotto or an entrée-size portion of dry-aged beef tartare, and the appealing wine list is well-priced. The quiet dining room is located in the Lancaster Arts Hotel, which occupies a former tobacco factory.
This former home in Kitchen Kettle Village is a couple of notches above the other options in Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand. Lunch off the seasonal menu might include a chicken salad sandwich or boeuf bourguignon; the complimentary appetizer of crackers with cream cheese and red-pepper jam is tasty. Shoofly pie is a treat for dessert, but don't miss the brown butter cookies. Try to get one of the tables on the sunny enclosed porch.
Take a coffee and pie break at this café along Prince Street's Gallery Row. Hefty slices of heavenly pie range from coconut cream to sour cherry to bourbon pecan; Liege waffles (similar to Belgian) are also on the board, along with savory quiches and meat pies. There's a stall in Central Market, too.
A lively pub up front and a dining room and enclosed patio in back, McCleary's serves up satisfying dishes such as crab cakes and pub steaks. There's a long list of Irish and American brews, and live music Wednesday through Saturday.
This all-you-can-eat smorgasbord has been a local institution since 1929, offering enough food to satisfy any appetite. The spread here is lavish, with a good selection of Pennsylvania Dutch specialties such as house-made pickles, baked cabbage in cream sauce, and shoofly pie (made with molasses). Unlike at most buffets you can make reservations, which are recommended.
What looks rather ramshackle from the nondescript street outside is the only place in Ephrata for oysters and prime rib, but along with the dinner plates it also serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The tablecloth-dressed dining room is spacious, and the tin-ceilinged tavern has an 1800s bar.
