10 Best Restaurants in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Pennsylvania

John Wright Restaurant

$$$ Fodor's choice

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.

Lemon Street Market

$ Fodor's choice
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.

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, PA, 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
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Tues.

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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.

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, PA, 17603, USA
717-299–4602
Known For
  • nachos platters
  • weekday happy hour
  • extensive selection of baked dips
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

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.

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, PA, 17505, USA
717-768–4400
Known For
  • smoked brisket
  • the "Smokehouse Sampler," a fixed-price feast
  • a variety of barbecue sauces
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

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.

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.

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.