Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Lancaster by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Lancaster using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. The Brasserie
- Rating: 3.6/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1679 Lincoln Hwy East Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Sakura
- Rating: 3.7/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 North Queen St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Huckleberry's Restaurant & Tavern at The Fulton Steamboat Inn
- Rating: 3.6/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 Hartman Bridge Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Lancaster Dispensing Company
- Rating: 3.7/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 - 35 North Market St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. El Serrano
- Rating: 3.7/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2151 Columbia Ave. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Latin American, Salad, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#24. The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 595 Greenfield Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Bars, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Old San Juan Latin Cuisine & Rum Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 25 West King St. Hager Mall Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Puerto Rican, Spanish, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. American Bar & Grill Lanc
- Rating: 3.8/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1081 North Plum St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rosa Rosa Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.8/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1040 Harrisburg Ave. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Annie Bailey's Irish Public House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (555 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 28-30 East King St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Irish Pub, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (706 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 781 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breweries, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Harvest Seasonal Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (231 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1573 Fruitville Pike Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Manor Buffet
- Rating: 4.1/5 (326 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2090 Lincoln Hwy East Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Seafood, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Sa La Thai
- Rating: 4.1/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 339 North Queen St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#15. J.B. Dawson's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 491 Park City Center Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Shot and Bottle
- Rating: 4.1/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 North Queen St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. C'est La Vie Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 North Market St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Gibraltar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 488 Royer Drive Ste 101 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. LUCA
- Rating: 4.2/5 (564 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 436 West James St. Ste 101 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The Belvedere Inn
- Rating: 4.2/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 402 North Queen St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. John J Jeffries
- Rating: 4.3/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 300 Harrisburg Ave. The Lancaster Arts Hotel Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Gran Sabor Latino Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 North Franklin St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Caribbean, Spanish, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Awash Ethiopian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1027 Dillerville Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Ethiopian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Rice & Noodles
- Rating: 4.3/5 (496 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1238 Lititz Pike Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Horse Inn
- Rating: 4.4/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 540 East Fulton St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Gastropubs, American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Citronnelle
- Rating: 4.4/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 110 West Orange St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: French, Asian Fusion, Basque
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Josephine's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 50 West Grant St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: French, Cocktail Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Silantra Asian Street Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (219 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 East King St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Salad, fast food, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Chellas Arepa Kitchen
- Rating: 4.8/5 (393 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1830 Hempstead Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Venezuelan, Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
