Pennsylvania Dutch Country Restaurants

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.

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  • 1. John Wright Restaurant

    $$$

    At this waterfront spot in historic Wrightstown, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Susquehanna River while seated at the outdoor bar, eating wood-fired pizzas topped with ingredients grown on site. Directly across the river on the original ferry route from Columbia, this popular bar and restaurant also has a glass-walled dining room to enjoy the scenery year-round. Several menus are offered, from lunch and dinner (pork-belly BLT or baked oysters from Virginia) to a mammoth fixed-price Sunday brunch buffet, complete with a waffle station, omelets made to order, and a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Expect weekly dinner specials and seasonally inspired favorites.

    234 N. Front St., Pennsylvania, 17368, USA
    717-252–0416

    Known For

    • Seasonal pizza patio
    • Farm-to-table focus
    • Braised boar and gnocchi
  • 2. Lemon Street Market

    $

    A locally owned full-service grocery store with a focus on sustainable and health-minded products, Lemon Street Market is a great spot to pick up snacks and fruit to take back to your hotel, or drop by for a smoothie or coffee break. It's within walking distance of many downtown Lancaster hotels.

    241 W. Lemon St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, USA
    717-826–0843

    Known For

    • Great selection of local products
    • Delicious homemade soups (in cold weather)
    • Great take-away options
  • 3. LUCA

    $$$

    A self-described "wood-burning Italian kitchen," LUCA serves up seasonally inspired pasta, Neapolitan-style pizza, and wood-roasted meats. Located in a residential neighborhood near the Franklin & Marshall campus, this sun-drenched space with roll-up garage doors is always busy, and for good reason—the food is consistently delicious and the dining room vibe is upbeat. Outdoor seating on the arbor-covered patio is open when weather permits. The carefully curated wine list includes natural, low-intervention wines and the amaro selection is second to none.

    436 W. James St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, USA
    717-553–5770

    Known For

    • Wood-fired pizzas
    • House-made pasta
    • Impressive selection of Italian spirits and craft cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 4. Annie Bailey's Irish Public House

    $$

    Located in a Victorian-era building in downtown Lancaster, Annie Bailey's is a traditional Irish pub, from the dark wooden bar and furnishings sourced in Ireland to classic menu staples like shepherd's pie and fish-and-chips. There are at least 10 rotating beers on tap and an impressive selection Irish whiskey. The owners have transformed the second floor into Conway Social Club, a speakeasy (you knock and wait for the green light to enter) serving craft cocktails and globally inspired small plates.

    28–30 E. King St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17602, USA
    717-393–4000

    Known For

    • Bangers and mash
    • Good selection of Irish beer
    • Vegetarian options
    • Irish curry

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 5. Fourscore Beer Co.

    $

    This family-owned brewpub is located minutes from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. Beers range from Double Citra Pillows (a hazy IPA) to Hiding in Plain Sight (a hoppy lager) and the menu includes appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.

    603 S. Washington St., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325, USA
    717-345--8171

    Known For

    • Beer-inspired menu items like hop hat mac and cheese
    • Nightly specials like wing Wednesday and trivia Thursday
    • Beers to-go available in cans and growlers

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Tues.
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  • 6. Hershey Pantry

    $$$

    This family-friendly restaurant is a beloved favorite among locals for its hearty breakfast lineup. Portions are generous, the menus are huge, and the food is unpretentious in a good-ole-diner sort of way. Reservations are not taken, and no is alcohol served, but they welcome BYOB.

    801 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA
    717-533–7505

    Known For

    • Hearty breakfast
    • Afternoon tea service
    • Huge selection of in-house desserts

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun., No credit cards
  • 7. John J. Jeffries

    $$$$

    Named after a bygone tobacco inspector, John J. Jeffries is the dining anchor of the hip Lancaster Arts Hotel, which occupies a former tobacco factory in downtown Lancaster. Not only do the chefs here source produce, dairy, and eggs from local farms, but they also own and operate a grass-fed cattle ranch, abattoir, and nose-to-tail butcher shop in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; in 2019, the restaurant received an EAT Real certification for its commitment to responsible sourcing and animal welfare.

    300 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, USA
    717-431–3307

    Known For

    • Dry-aged steak from Lil' Ponderosa ranch
    • Artisanal cheese plate from local creameries
    • Using lesser-known cuts of meat, like beef cheeks or venison leg steak
  • 8. Lancaster Dispensing Co.

    $

    Locally known as Dipco, this welcoming pub next to Central Market is a fun haunt for a nosh and a pint, especially when there's live music on the weekends. Sandwiches, house-made chili, burritos, as well as nightly specials, are among the many menu options. The building, as is the case with so many in downtown Lancaster, is more than 100 years old.

    33–35 N. Market St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, USA
    717-299–4602

    Known For

    • Nachos platters
    • Weekday happy hour
    • Extensive selection of baked dips

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 9. Miller's Smorgasbord

    $$$$

    This buffet-style eatery has been a local institution since 1929, offering views of Amish farmland and enough food to satisfy any appetite. The spread here is lavish, with a good selection of Pennsylvania Dutch specialties at the daily smorgasbord. There's an à la carte menu, and even beer, wine, and spirits are now available. The attached shopping complex includes a quilt shop.

    2811 Lincoln Hwy. E, Ronks, Pennsylvania, 17572, USA
    800-669–3568

    Known For

    • Iced raisin bread
    • Chicken corn soup
    • Brown buttered noodles

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 10. Smokehouse BBQ and Brews at Plain & Fancy Farm

    $$$

    The newest dining option at the expansive Plain & Fancy Farm complex is catering to individual families and groups under 20. The menu is a variation on the traditional Amish theme, featuring various smoked meats, but still with many of the country sides like chowchow and pepper cabbage; the "Smokehouse Sampler," a fixed-price feast, is the heartiest offering. Beer and à la carte dining is also available. Also on the grounds are shops selling everything from quilts to baked goods, and attractions like the Amish Experience. For smaller groups interested in an all-you-can eat experience, Plain & Fancy's sister restaurant, Miller's Smorgasbord, is 3 miles away.

    3121 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, 17505, USA
    717-768–4400

    Known For

    • Smoked brisket
    • The "Smokehouse Sampler," a fixed-price feast
    • A variety of barbecue sauces

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 11. The Cat's Meow

    $$$

    In a restored 1869 railroad hotel, this eatery has the atmosphere of 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, as well as items with some cutesy, Prohibition-era names like machine gun linguine and a flapper salad. The menu is huge, but there are a variety of plates both big and small.

    215 S. Charlotte St., Manheim, Pennsylvania, 17545, USA
    717-664–3370

    Known For

    • Speakeasy vibe
    • Huge menu with lots of options
    • Tenderloin tips on toast

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 12. The Pressroom

    $$$

    Originally a hardware store from the mid-1700s, this Victorian building in the center of town is now home to a casual bistro. It's owned by the company that also owns the local newspaper (hence the name) and is outfitted with a classic mahogany bar, tall leather booths, and an exposed baking hearth. Salads, sandwiches, and burgers dominate the menu, with a rotating selection of seasonally inspired dishes featuring local produce and meat. The Park Bar in the adjoining brick courtyard is lovely for cocktails and light fare in warm months.

    26–28 W. King St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, USA
    717-399–5400

    Known For

    • Tacos de asada
    • Daily soup and quiche
    • Friendly vibe

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon.
  • 13. The Ragged Edge Coffee House

    $

    This homey café is a popular spot for locals to start their day with a cup of joe from locally roasted beans. The menu offers egg sandwiches and wraps for breakfast and a changing lineup of soups, sandwiches, and salads that are served all day.

    110 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325, USA
    717-334–4464

    Known For

    • Locally roasted organic and fair trade coffee
    • Housemade chai
    • Great place to grab breakfast

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

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