Hidden Gem Restaurants in Lancaster PA
June 20, 2023
101+ of The Best Lancaster PA Restaurants You’ve Never Heard Of
A couple years ago I posed the question on a foodie FaceBook group page, Lancaster County Take Out & Dining, “What are the GREAT restaurants around you that no one knows about?”. The response was pretty fantastic and every single one of the restaurants that was called-out on that post can be found in the list below.
This list is all about those restaurants only the locals know about. Maybe they’re on back roads that don’t get much traffic, maybe they’re small, maybe they’re super-niche. Regardless the reason, there are a whole bunch of people in Lancaster County who think these hidden-gems should be more well known & popular than they are!
What’s ALSO on the list:
- Some places that I felt were left off from everyone’s suggestions.
- Some NEW places that have opened since the initial question was posed back in 2020.
- A few places where you think to yourself, “EVERYONE knows that place!”. For example, Quips Pub is on the list. And while we’ve all driven by Quips, and we’ve definitely heard of it… SO MANY people have never actually eaten
What’s NOT on the list:
- Did I miss something? Let me know! The best thing about blogs is that they’re easy to edit!!
- Restaurants that have closed! It was so sad to me to see the volume of great hidden gem restaurants that are no longer open. Sure, Covid caused the demise of some… but that’s not the only reason. A restaurant can only make it so long when prospective customers keep MEANING to try them out.
My biggest take away from putting this list together is that we all need to find a way to actively & consciously support local restaurants (and retail stores…).
Some possible ways to support these Hidden Gem Restaurants:
- Eat out at one restaurant you’ve never been to 1x per month.
- Any time you eat at a favorite restaurant that’s a ‘hidden gem’, post about it on social media. Sure, it could become popular & busy… but that’s exactly what the owner needs to survive! Keeping the secret to yourself won’t help you much if the restaurant goes under!
- Drive further than you’re used to going for dinner, 1x per month. If you only eat out in a 10 mile radius of where you live, you’re probably missing out.
- Grab a friend who always eats a the same-old-places and bring him/her to one of the restaurants on this list that neither of you have ever eaten before… then share it on social!
OK, enough talking… here’s the list, broken down by town… with Lancaster broken down further by “type” because there were so many great-but-not-known restaurants listed there. Bon Appetite!!
Lancaster:
Bar-Restaurants
Horse Inn | 540 E Fulton St, Lancaster | Website
Conway Social Club | 28 E King St, Lancaster | Website
Quips Pub | 457 New Holland Ave, Lancaster | Website
The Fridge | 534 N Mulberry St, Lancaster | Website
Zoetropolis | 112 N Water St, Lancaster | Website
Decades | 438 N Queen St, Lancaster | Website
Big Dog Craft Brewing | 1559 Manheim Pike, Lancaster | Website
Our Town Brewery | 252 N Prince St, Lancaster | Website
Lancaster Dispensing Company (DipCo) | 33 - 35 N Market St, Lancaster | Website
American Bar & Grill | 1081 N Plum St, Lancaster | Website
Central-South American
Chellas Arepa Kitchen (food truck) | 1830 Hempstead Rd, Lancaster | Website
Plaza Azteca | 1700 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster | Website
El Cubano | 33 Ranck Ave, Lancaster | Website
Frisco’s Chicken | 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster | Website
Cocina Mexicana | 112 N Water St, Lancaster | Website
Gran Sabor Latino | 120 N Franklin St, Lancaster | Website
Flora’s | 306 N Mulberry St, Lancaster | Website
Tequila Mexican Grill & Bar | 109 Richmond Square, Lancaster | Website
Carribean
Callaloo | 351 N Mulberry St, Lancaster | Website
Caribbean Wave | 701 E Chestnut St #3125, Lancaster | Website
Italian:
Finazzos | 2121 New Holland Pike, Lancaster | Website
Valentino’s Café | 132 Rider Ave, Lancaster | Website
Pasquales | 1657 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster | Website
House of Pizza | 23 W Chestnut St, Lancaster | Website
Asian
Hong Kong Garden (Chinese) | 1807 Columbia Ave, Lancaster | Website
Himalayan Curry & Grill (Nepalese) | 22 E Orange St, Lancaster | Website
Onion’s Café (Korean) | 340 N Queen St, Lancaster | Website
Norbu (Bhutanese and Nepalese) | 38 N Christian St, Lancaster | Website
Middle Eastern
Tanzeel International | 798E New Holland Ave, Lancaster | Website
Diners:
Neptune Diner | 924 N Prince St, Lancaster | Website
Central Manor Bakery & Grill | 3667 Blue Rock Rd, Lancaster | Website
George’s Kendig Square Restaurant | 2600 Willow Street Pike N #9388, Willow Street | Website
The Pantry Restaurant | 2715 Marietta Ave, Lancaster | Website
The Bread Peddler | 116 W Orange St, Lancaster | Website
Seafood:
Mr. Bill’s Seafood | 430 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster | Website
African:
Big Five African Cuisine | 630 N Plum St, Lancaster | Website
Fine Dining
John J. Jeffries | 300 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster | Website
El Serrano | 2151 Columbia Ave, Lancaster | Website
C’est la Vie Lancaster | 18 N Market St, Lancaster | Website
Bistro Barbaret | 26 E King St, Lancaster | Website
Josephine’s | 50 W Grant St, Lancaster | Website
Citronnelle | 110 W Orange St, Lancaster | Website
Burgers / Sandwiches:
Route 66 | 45 W Liberty St #2700, Lancaster | Website
Double C | 220 N Prince St, Lancaster | Website
Cabalar | 325 N Queen St, Lancaster | Website
Savory Truffle Lancaster | 398 Harrisburg Ave #250, Lancaster | Website
Blazin J's | 15 E King St, Lancaster | Website
Ephrata:
Griddle & Grind | 20 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Stonehouse Café | 2415 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Nara Cafe | 415 E Main St, Ephrata | Website
Hills to the Sea Restaurant | 433 N Reading Rd, Ephrata | Website
DiMaria’s Pizza | 1278 Division Hwy, Ephrata | Website
3 Sisters Park | 119 E Main St, Ephrata | Website
La Borimex | 1623 Division Hwy, Ephrata | Website
Black Forest Brewery | 301 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Olde Lincoln House Tavern | 1398 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Javateas | 1 Dutchland Ave, Ephrata | Website
Little Nicki's | 1635 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Tin Roof Cafe & Sweets | 108-I N, Reading Rd, Ephrata | Website
Wired Cup | 440 N Reading Rd, Ephrata | Website
Lititz
Tied House | 27-31 E Main St, Lititz | Website
Brazilian Table | 26 E Main St, Lititz | Website
Café Arabella | 40 E Main St #1947, Lititz | Website
Picollo | 53 E Main St, Lititz | Website
Chilangos Authentic Mexican | 56 N Broad St, Lititz | Website
Brunnerville Hotel | 1301 Front St, Lititz | Website
Blackworth Live Fire Grill | 52 N Broad St, Lititz | Website
Bull's Head Public House | 14 E Main St, Lititz | Website
Per Diem | 50 Rock Lititz Blvd, Lititz | Website
Stevens / Denver / Reinholds / Reamstown:
The Penguin Hotel | 55 E Church Rd, Stevens | Website
Giovanni’s Pizza | 188 E Main St, Reinholds | Website
Castanedas | 323 Main St, Denver | Website
Courtyard Cafe | 349 Main St, Denver | Website
Rural City Beer | 6 N Reamstown Rd, Reamstown | Website
Johnny's Steakhouse & Kyma Seafood | 1640 N Reading Rd, Stevens
Adamstown:
Boehringers Drive In (seasonal) | 13160 N Reading Rd, Adamstown | Website
Millersville:
Jack’s Family Tavern | 15 S Prince St, Millersville | Website
Copper Hill Public House | 1 Crossland Ps, Millersville | Website
Columbia:
Hinkles Restaurant | 261 Locust St, Columbia | Website
Rocky’s BBQ | 28 N 3rd St, Columbia | Website
Columbia Family Restaurant | 3985 Columbia Ave, Columbia | Website
Griddles Malt Shop | 315 Locust St, Columbia | Website
Cafe 301 Food Truck | Mobile, but primarily Columbia-Area | Website
Marietta:
Railroad House Inn | 280 W Front St, Marietta | Website
McCleary’s Public House | 130 W Front St, Marietta | Website
Shanks Tavern | 36 S Waterford Ave, Marietta | Website
River Trail Brewing | 40 E Front St, Marietta | Website
Manheim:
The Shack (seasonal) | 662 S Oak St, Manheim | Website
Cat’s Meow | 215 S Charlotte St, Manheim | Website
Radazzo's Italian Restaurant | 1981 State Rd, Manheim | Website
Twisted Sister's Ice Cream & Handmade Chocolates | 47 N Main St, Manheim | Website
Artiface Ales & Mead | 55 N Main St, Manheim | Website
Landisville:
Miss Callee’s Eats & Treats | 329 Main St, Salunga-Landisville | Website
Jake's on Main | 188 Main St, Salunga-Landisville | Website
Mountville:
Square Mile Public House | 14 W Main St #1632, Mountville | Website
East Petersburg:
Mad Chef | 2023 Miller Rd, East Petersburg | Website
Conestoga:
Conestoga Wagon Restaurant | 2961 Main St, Conestoga | Website
Strasburg / Ronks:
Café 1832 (at Strasburg Railroad) | 305 Gap Rd, Ronks | Website
Fireside Tavern | 1500 Historic Dr, Strasburg | Website
Speckled Hen | 141 E Main St, Strasburg | Website
Route 30 Diner | 2575 E Lincoln Hwy, Ronks | Website
Agape Cafe & Grill | 366 Hartman Bridge Rd, Ronks | Website
Smoketown
Hudson Botanical Café | 2433A Old Philadelphia Pike, Smoketown | Website
Elizabethtown:
Black Gryphon | 54 Mt Gretna Rd, Elizabethtown | Website
Leola:
Gracie’s on Main | 264 W Main St, Leola | Website
New Holland:
Palermo’s | 351 W Main St, New Holland | Website
Dutch Country Pretzels | 2758-1 Division Hwy, New Holland | Website
Lickety Split | 209 E Main St, New Holland | Website
Pequea:
Frogtown Café | 684 Marticville Rd, Pequea | Website
Outside of Lancaster (but not that far!)
Reading:
The Brickhouse Pub | 1348 Brooke Blvd, Reading | Website
Mount Gretna:
Timbers | 350 Timber Rd, Mt Gretna | Website
Porch and Pantry | 106 Chautauqua Dr, Mt Gretna | Website
Hallam:
Hallamshire Restaurant | 480 W Market St, Hallam | Website
Nottingham:
Post House Restaurant | 2458 Baltimore Pike E, Nottingham | Website
Spend the Night at a Hidden Gem Bed and Breakfast – the Historic Smithton Inn
Then come back to your well-appointed guest room or suite (we have 9 to choose from!) for a relaxing night’s sleep. Every guest room has either a queen or king bed, working fireplace, private in-room bathroom, large flat screen TV and fast/reliable WiFi. Click here to see photos of all the rooms.
If you stay with us over a weekend you can visit our own HIDDEN GEM, Weathered Vineyards Ephrata wine bar, with live music performed every weekend (Friday & Saturday from 5-8 pm). Guests can enjoy appetizers or a light meal along with their choice of wine, craft beer or craft cocktails. Fun fact: Weathered Vineyards Ephrata was voted “Best Winery 2023” by the readers of Susquehanna Style Magazine!
CLICK HERE to see rates and availability.
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