John Wright Restaurant
234 N Front St, Wrightsville, PA, 17368
John Wright Restaurant Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Wrightsville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Wrightsville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
-
Address :
234 N Front St
Wrightsville, PA, 17368 - Phone (717) 252-0416
- Website https://www.jwrpa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Amanda S.
Went today for lunch. Looked very promising. Great atmosphere. We decided to sit on the patio. Waited at least 10 mins before we got up to find the hostess to find our server. She walked out and said "sorry I was at the bar" and asked for a drink order. Waited another 5 minutes for drinks for two. Both the drinks and food were good. The service continued to be very poor. I'm not sure I'd return for the good food or drinks based on the terrible service.
(3)Cole H.
I had to create a yelp account just to share my utter disbelief that horrible establishments like this stay in business. Don't bother wasting your money on any food or drinks here. The view is free. I'm embarrassed that my parents took me here and wasted hard earned money for quite possibly the worst food I've ever eaten. The pizza was bread, no sauce, and distasteful cheese. The burger medium was extremely well done. The chicken my mother had wasn't even fully cooked, to which the waiter said that's not good and still charged us $18 for it. Horrible service as well it took 30 minutes just to get drinks. Don't bother going here. You've been warned.
(1)Zygote E.
Had aunts 50th bday party there for over 150 people. Researched practically every wedding venue and all did not come close to the level of professionalism with service, price, environment. Coordinator and Head Chef, Jim made event very customized and accommodating. Balcony over the river! Best view from rest in lancaster. Will defiantly be back for any large celebration. Just had dinner: outdoor pizza as good as it gets. View of bridge against a full moon, best view in lancaster. Culture of service from Head Chef to waitress/hostess is contagiously excellent. Gem of the area.
(5)Joe C.
This place was great. Came here for brunch with my mom and even though it was humid and overcast, we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful view of the grounds and the river. A wedding party had been taking pictures and it really is an ideal spot for it. There's a nice little store attached to the restaurant so you can buy cool things while you wait for your table. The brunch was awesome and I went back for many seconds, and the service staff was very welcoming and enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend checking out this little gem only about 15 minutes from Lancaster and right near the Turkey Hill experience.
(4)Mia B.
Kind of funny story. After I published my review I was given a responds as everybody can read it. I was accused of not telling the truth (to put it mildly). Yet I received an e-mail (from the John Wrights Restaurant names are not important here) thanking me for my honesty. I was asked with whom I spoke when I made the reservation and to hear of this was very disturbing was or is not acceptable behavior within their business and will be addressed and corrected immediately, I was invited with family and friends to the establishment (John Wrights) to "thank" me personally for the provided information. I will stop here. You can draw your own conclusion. I did not go back and will not go back in the future.
(1)Gigi C.
Very beautiful place at the river bank. Nice view of the two bridges. Service is ok. Food is awful and overpriced. Don't even consider the ceviche. Bad. Pizzas are average, maybe. Would return only for drinks and music. Nice jazz ensamble playing tonight.
(2)Bailey R.
The view is amazing. Can't say the same for the pizza. I know there's not much the restaurant can do about the bugs but it was pretty unappetizing. Definitely a cool place to get drinks...after a few I'm sure the bugs wouldn't be as obnoxious.
(3)Nic B.
Service was horrible. White wine was warm when brought to table, sent it back 30 mins later brought another bottle...still warm. Horrible beer selection. Ordered a couple appetizers..crab dip, don't bother unless you just want a bunch of pita bread...same with hummus platter. We didn't even order main course...left to go to another restaurant. Multiple visits to John Wright same results...This restaurant is 86'd off my list.
(1)Greg D.
Great find in Wrightsville, PA, York Co. Here with the family for Christmas Eve dinner. Our dining experience was excellent--good value, menu selections for everyone in our party, good service and, the most important, well prepared meals by the kitchen staff. It was also a huge plus to see the resto purchasing from local providers. Keep doing this! It keeps money local and supports very hard working local farm families. I had the "local grass fed steak" in demi glas and garlic mashed 'tatos. The sirloin was a very high-end sirloin cut. Other diners ordered the veggie lasagne, the blackened tuna and salmon on top of a bed of udon noodles and the baked trout. We all shared a bit and enjoyed the food. On the drinks front, Good wine and bubbly selections both by the glass and the bottle. Oh, and since our views of the river were fogged in, we will be returning next time we are in town. Beer selection was good too bit didn't have a chance to sample any. There was a stoudt on Nitro that i would have liked to try. I have been very pleased with the quality of restos popping up in York, Co and hope this can be sustained.
(4)Patricia O.
Great view. Service was wonderful. Food was basic but good. We had mushroom burger with sweet potato chips. Burger great. Chips not good. Crab soup good but a lot if old bay.
(3)Jennifer S.
Dinner on the pizza patio. Great view, decent pizza (big enough to share) and good beer. Sure there are bugs...you're outside...beside a river. Really good server. Overall a nice time. Would definitely go again.
(4)Aimee M.
Great view of the river. Satisfying food. Best for brunch. Servers are nice. Downside is its noisy.
(4)Karaya E.
Easter Sunday Brunch, was awesome. Eggs Benedict was tasty, fresh with Hollandaise sauce - yummy! Variety of dishes to sample and splurge. Great customer service. Gets busy though, and can get caught into a line that wraps around so plan serving options accordingly!
(5)Denise T.
We had brunch on Valentine's Day which was good and told everyone about, but tonight was an epic fail. We were greeted rudely by staff, the pizza was not cooked and was raw dough and the salsa tasted more like marinara sauce. Thank God the view was nice. There was possible rain and I guess they can't cook in the kitchen for dinner. The servers looked miserable except for one who was nice. They need a better weather plan to keep staff and customers happy.
(2)Nikki Q.
Overpriced and dishonest. The 'lump' crab cake is $25 and consists of one small crab cake made of backfin crab meat. There is ZERO lump crab meat in this dish. The filet mignon has little taste despite the high price tag. The view is nice and atmosphere is nice, but the food is terrible. It's a shame. This restaurant has real potential but is poorly managed.
(1)David F.
Not sure what's up with the negative reviews. Our lunch experience here was fantastic. Sat outside on the patio, overlooking the river. Service was friendly and attentive. I got the tomato basil bisque and the Rueben with sweet potato chips. My coworker got the crab and asparagus soup and the crab cake sandwich with potato chips. Everything was excellent, prices were in line with the atmosphere. I'd definitely eat here often if I was a local.
(4)Peter G.
Date night and another great meal. We both started with soup, I had the cream of crab and asparagus, which was very tasty, but a little thick. My wife had the pumpkin garlic, which was excellent, kind of wished I had ordered it. For my main course I had the local grass fed steak with mushroom demi, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable of the day. The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted great, as did the rest of the meal. My wife had the roasted beet and goat cheese salad with salmon. She was quite pleased with her choice. For dessert, we shared the chocolate cheesecake, which was the perfect end to a great meal.
(5)Brent L.
Save your $$$. Minus. I am from Denver CO and the food prices are major metropolitan levels. $13 for a burger that is overcooked and with american cheese. Joke. Salmon skewers for $16 that is 2oz of salmon. A $16 6oz steak with potato chips. Maybe people don't know better here but this is a joke. Plus would be great view of the river and restaurant atmosphere.
(1)Anthony M.
Seated first, had to ask twice for menus and then we're served last. Two beers we ordered sat on the bar for ten minutes until I asked a staff member to retrieve them. Pizza was under cooked and soggy. Hamburger ordered well done was raw in the center. Staff is curt and rude except for the bartender who always has a smile and is very pleasant. Not being shy I didn't tip and left a note of complaint on the check. Save your money and go to one of the York golf courses for excellent service and food in their outdoor venue! As an aside, many of the online glowing reviews are written by the staff. Don't believe me, research it yourself.
(1)Lark M.
Great lunch. Nice warm window table on a cold winter day. The view of the river is perfect. Shared a reuben and each had a cup of soup. Will definitely come back.
(5)James H.
I had been wanting to visit this place for some time mainly to see what it looks like. I love old buildings that have been refurbished and this was everything I had hoped it would be. Beautiful restaurant that doesn't seem to overly packed together (hard to tell as we were there during a slow period, but it still seemed open not stuffy. Being winter we didn't get to enjoy the view of the river but I can imagine its spectacular. The service was excellent and friendly. The food was five star all the way. I started with the pumpkin risotto, which I would highly recommend. Very creamy and cheesy. For dinner I had the ribeye special with a horseradish cream sauce. The sauce came on the side which I was fine with since I'm not crazy about cream sauces. Steak was done perfectly and had great flavor. The sides were garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, both of which were terrific, especially the green beans. My mom had the short ribs, which I sampled and can tell you they were nothing short of excellent. For dessert I tried the peanut butter bomb because, well I love peanut butter. The chocolate cake part I could have done without but it was still a very good dessert. I would highly recommend this place and plan on returning, maybe in the summer so I can enjoy the sight of the river.
(5)Angela A.
I can't quite understand the low ratings. I had a lovely experience at John Wright. I do notice most of the lower rating reviews are from a year or two ago so perhaps they might have tightened up the place. We had wonderful service, great beer, and a great lunch. My favorite was the cream of crab with asparagus soup. It was some of the best soup I have had. I love cream of crab, and I never had it with asparagus. I love asparagus too so this was a fantastic combo for me. I had the shrimp salad BLT. The bread was a bit too much, I should have done what my dad did, he had his made open face. I did eat the second half with only one slice. The shrimp salad was good and the portion on the BLT was perfect. My mother had a turkey flat-bread and she made many comments about how delicious it was. All three of us enjoyed the broccoli salad as a side. The desserts sounded so good but we were stuffed. The view is superb, it's just too bad it was a bit too hot for the patio that afternoon. I hear they do a lot of events on the patio that sound like fun. They also do weddings, what a beautiful backdrop! They also have a gift shop, but since I'm from York I didn't really need a souvenir to take back to CO with me :)
(4)Elizabeth O.
I have been here for both lunch and drinks. I am impressed by the interior space, the menu, and the service. The bar does tend to become a ghost town at 10pm so not the best place for late night get togethers.
(4)Hector C.
well we're do we start first staff need more training deliver drink with no napkin .then there no bartender so a waitress made made our drinks .not her fault she read them out of book . then we got a Cobb salad made incorrect not dress, missing topping . then a non grilled Reubens that was so dry .we also had a California chicken wrap that was most wrap and lettuce with a watery ranch dressing
(1)Cathy Y.
My husband and I hadn't been to John Wright's in awhile since our last meal wasn't the best. Decided to give them another try on Friday evening. View of the river at night is great, service was fine, but food was terrible again! My husband had the Caesar salad and I had the Applewood Smoked Salmon. The salad had no Caesar flavor at all and the salmon was way too smoky and tiny portion. The waitress had no response to my comment about the salmon. Very disappointing. We will not be back!
(1)Rich K.
First off, if you are expecting to be out in an hour, don't even come here. It took three hours from seating to paying. We had 12 people in our group, but no one was late or indecisive. As others have said the view isn't bad for being seated outside, at our request. It was a great summer night and it was close to dusk. Everyone had a plastic cup filled with city water, yuck, already waiting at the table before you get seated. The menu is pretty simple, and sometimes that is good. There are several pizzas and three burgers to choose from. There are a couple of entrees too. The appetizers didn't really sound good so we passed. They have about 10 beers on tap and more bottled beers. I will warn you, the beer isn't really cold when it comes out. It's served in the same plastic cup the water comes in, so it gets warm quick. I didn't like that. We had ordered a grilled chicken pizza and a california burger that supposedly had guacamole on it. After 2 bites of the burger i was looking for the guacamole and asked my wife if it was supposed to come with. The patty could have been local beef but reminded me of a frozen patty. It was dry, little flavor and the bun was way too big for the burger. It was not worth $14, maybe $8-9. You get to choose between homemade chips or two other sides with the burger. I had specifically asked if the chips were from a bag and he waitress said they were made in house. there is no f-in way they made these. They came from a bag. The pizza tasted good, but was burnt. It seems like they don't have a clue how to not burn these pizzas. We didn't get dessert. There was a jazz band that was playing while we ate. It was very entertaining, but it made conversations very difficult as it was loud and we had to shout to talk. It was a different experience. But, I won't go back unless someone else is paying and they serve food from another restaurant. Our bill was about $55 with the tip for a burger, pizza, and three beers. Too much for not great food. I would have given one star but the music saved them there.
(2)Melissa S.
Do not go there. They are more intrrested in private party's. Twice we tried going there fri and sat nights. Only offered pizza menu which was burnt when we tried ii t. This Sunday We never even got to eat. when trying to make reservations we got the run around. everything is separate. kitchens decks patio. manager came out to explain but had an excuse for anything and everything.mwould never try and eat there again.ended up going to wrightsville inn for true crabcakes. Apparently they dont like bikers I woulldnever take a club ride their after the way we were treated.
(1)Barry G.
Service was very good. Confusing menus. Kitchens cannot cross service. Outside woodfire pizza was quite blackened. Doubt that I will ever go back. Manager of course had an excuse for everything.
(1)Zachary R.
Ate here twice today. Lunch was the best experience I've had in the area recently. Great burger, great prices, great atmosphere. Didn't feel rushed to get out of there, even during a busy time of day. One of my favorite parts was having my mustard served in a dish. I hate when nice dining establishments serve me condiments in disposable, plastic cups. Loved the lunch experience. Dinner, not so much. Too expensive for the quality of food, too loud, and the service wasn't excellent. I'm not the best cook and I know I could have made my meal at home better and quicker than I received it at John Wright. Takeaway: go for lunch. Go home for dinner.
(3)Louise Y.
Tried going on a Sunday afternoon after I had a bad experience before. Order pizza again...........oh lord. It was terrible!! The couple with me also ordered pizza and their response was the same. What a shame. The view is beautiful. That is the reason for the 2 star.
(2)Susanne B.
FIVE STARS for the location and view! Had the crab stuffed trout with snow peas and potatoes and it was very good. The potato soup had blue cheese and bacon and was excellent! The best of them all was the peanut butter bomb dessert. OMG. Dark chocolately peanut butter perfection!!! I loved that there is also a bar side outdoors with trivia games and corn hole. We all enjoyed watching the lights come on on the bridge and reading about bridge history. A very relaxing place, good service, good food, good views, good times!
(5)Amber P.
Just got back from here for my fiance's 40th birthday. Pros: *The Atmosphere. Inside is very nice and spacious. Patio and bar is very nice and offers an incredible view of the river. *Drinks: Nice variety and delicious *Staff was friendly Cons: *The Calamari: Came out as a gumbo soup, not an appetizer. Was not described as such on the menu. The smell made me gag. *The burger: over cooked, over charred. The roll was stale. bleu cheese was runny *The Price: I could get a better burger for a 1/3 of the price at my local hole in the wall. Tiny steak with a 1/2 scoop of potatoes was $26. I would definitely go back here for drinks, but will not order food again. I expect a bit better for the pricing.
(2)Mark M.
Great spot for brunch on Sundays or a Friday summer night on the patio.
(4)Steve P.
Visited for the first time recently. What a gorgeous view of the river. A little too hot, but after a few drinks we didn't mind. Service was slow at first, it was busy. Later we moved inside to the bar and had a blast. For being first-timers, they sure made us feel welcome. Our food was plentiful and very good. Not fine dining, but it was a nice evening. The chef knows his way around large fish, the seafood was great. The beer, wine and liquors were great. But if for nothing else, go for that view!
(3)P V.
Great location. Great service. Really enjoyed the sweet potato chips. The crab cake was large with very little filler. Would come again. The menu was not particular imaginative but fine. Liked browsing through the attached gift shops.
(4)Jeff S.
Great view, food and service not very good. Dined here for the first time while visiting some friends in the area. Ordered cream of crab soup w/asparagus...soup had some spice in it which made it taste very bitter, maybe it was from the asparagus. The pieces of asparagus in the soup were the woody, chewy ends. Very unpleasant to chew! Entree was a pork chop with a mustard bourbon glaze and garlic mashed potatoes. The chop was cooked perfectly, but it was quite tasteless. The mustard bourbon glaze was actually a glob of sauce over the chop. The "glaze" was so strong tasting it had to be scraped from the chop. Garlic mashed potatoes were also very bland, tasted like just potatoes without any salt or seasoning. Best item on the plate was the green beans! Service was also poor. Drink service slow, waitress seemed very uninterested. Did not check back during dinner to see how meal was going. Might return for a drink on the patio, but would not eat there again
(1)Patricia Y.
Great location along the Susquehanna River with outdoor bar and dining overlooking the river weather permitting. Panaramic windows in the dining area of the river during cold months. Good service and good steaks.
(4)Ray C.
Great service and atmosphere but the food needs help unfortunately. Burger was not cooked to temp requested, others at our table received undercooked chicken. Salmon was good says someone at our table. Staff saved a 1-2 star review.
(3)Lisa E.
If this restaurant was not on a river no one would go. The service is horrific having been there three times just to be sure. Reservations were for 530PM didn't get drinks instill 615 Pm and didn't eat till 7PM . Food is average at best. Manager comes by table and asks how is everything, I tell him our food was late and cold and he walks away . Will not go back
(2)S W.
I would give atmosphere and service 5 stars. We came for the New Year's Eve dinner which is was $70 per couple that included an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Food presentation is beautiful but I believe they would be better off selling "less fancy" items with good taste. I had the crab stuffed prawns and the shrimp were chewier than I like but what really disappointed me is the grayish crab stuffing. At the price I paid for this dinner the crab meat should have been lump. The chef needs to take a trip to Baltimore and order anything with crabmeat to understand. I also had the crab/lobster bisque. It was salty and was garnished with 2 tiny shrimp that must have come from a can (think tiny shrimp inside an egg roll.) How disappointing! The dessert choices were beautiful but lacked taste. Maybe we're just "brownie sundae and cheesecake" type people but the desserts they served might have been purchased frozen and thawed. No taste at all. One of our party enjoyed the filet meal and was very pleased. Another one is our party enjoyed the huge cowboy pork chop. But we love the look and location of the restaurant so much we will be back in the spring to enjoy the view from the deck. We'll come for lunch and order a sandwich.
(3)Greg M.
I dined at JW for the first time tonight. Walking into the place there is a country store off to the right which looked really interesting however they were closed. Instantly we were showed to our table where are friends were waiting. The layout of the place was very appealing and seemed to flow very nicely. The atmosphere was cozy, ambiance was rustic with a splash of modern touches. The restaurant section was unique with glass from floor to ceiling. All of the dining tables were dazzling copper slabs. During the day there is a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. The bar area was funky and eye appealing. There was a brilliant aroma of restaurant flavors in the air that tantalized your pallet and prepared you for your experience. Our server was friendly and didn't push us at all considering our res. were 8:30 and they close at 9. This made me happy. Drinks were decent, my dirty martini was delicious . Home made breads and whipped butter hit the table and were good. I wish the bread was warm. I ordered cream of crab with asparagus and the baked oysters. The soup was awesome , full of crab and tender pieces of asparagus, a nice twist. Maybe a little more sherry and old bay however being from Baltimore that's just a personal preference of mine. I ordered the Rib eye with horseradish mashed potatoes and carrots. My fiancée ordered the crab cake with carrots and Yukon gold potatoes. Our entrees came out and my baked oysters never made it to the table. No biggie though for me it wasn't the end of the world. However that did keep this review from being a solid 4 stars. The rib eye was cooked perfect, great grill marks too. There was a blackberry Demi glaze sauce that was spectacular. As for the crab cake , again being from Baltimore I would liked to taste a little less lemon and a little more old bay. My fiancée thought it was a tad fishy I had to agree. But for 25 bucks what can you expect. I had a glass of 2011 Murphy Good Cab that harmoniously complimented the meat notes on my pallet. In conclusion our evening was enjoyable and JW was a pleasurable experience. We were the last people to leave and I stress we never felt pushed out. I would definitely like to try this place again and would recommend the restaurant to my friends.
(3)Tania N.
Great lunch. I had the Reuben which was exactly what I had hoped for. Tried the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was really good! The atmosphere was great and the view was awesome, even though we sat inside. Service was prompt and as expected.
(5)Kelly A.
Very nice view. Warm friendly atmosphere. Service is a little slow but in putting in perspective it is OK to slow down and enjoy the view and conversation with your party. Food was definitely prepared with a home grown quality for use of local products. I will be back to dine again.
(4)MoCe C.
The menu here is, plain old salads, steak,and pasta, also know as classic americian. Yet, with these old classics the wright twist is infused to take the dish to the next expenssive, enjoyable, very very eatable level. I'v come here 3 times and I guess I have to admit it's because of the views. The huge outside brick patio has breath-taking river views. The steak salad, grass fed cow was customary. The lobster mac and cheeze was fantastic, but I could eat toilet paper wrapped with that kinda killer cheese. Steak was perfection, seasoning was steller. I hope they'll offer a summer half off happy hour not just for the bar. Enjoy:)
(4)Justin H.
Terrible Management / Beautiful View. We made plans to celebrate our two year anniversary here. We were a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar to wait. We were overlooked and then told the tab could not be transferred to our table. Once at our table, we were not able to place our order for 20 minutes. Our crab dip appetizer arrived frozen. We let the staff know we were using the restroom, and once back at our table, it had been cleared and wiped. The main course was mediocre at best. At the end of the meal the manager, Eric, asked how our meal was. Our answer was, "the meal was ok, everything else was not so much". Instead of asking what was wrong, he replied "ok, have a good night". I called the next day to speak with a manager to inform them of the terrible experience. Kirsten answered the call and was very receptive and concerned. She had Eric, the manager, call us back. I told him the story and reminded him of how he handled our response after asking how the dinner was. He had little to say. He offered a $25 gift card and I explained that we did not want to return and would like a partial refund. He said I would have a follow up call on Monday. He never called, so I called on Thursday. On Thursday, Eric mentioned that the "owner", Jim, stated that we had great service and great food. Somewhere there is a disconnect in communication and management. I spoke with the owner, Jim, who accused us of simply wanting food for free and offered no apology. Happy Anniversary!
(1)Tanya R.
Ate here for the first time, really enjoyed it. Prices were fair for the portions we received and had a great view of the Susquehana River while we ate. Shrimp salad BLT was great! We will be back.
(4)Lee S.
A York County, PA hidden gem. Tucked away in the town of Wrightsville along the banks of the Susquehanna River, in a great restoration of an old historical building is the John Wright Restaurant. Our first trip to the patio was so relaxing and enjoyable I decided to invite the entire shift of firefighters that I work with to kick back and enjoy the excellent brick oven pizza, cold spirits, live music and the lazy flow of the Susquehanna. I corresponded with Jim Switzenberg, director of operations to make arrangements. Upon our arrival we found our table waiting just as Jim said it would be. All the items and details I spoke to Jim about were passed on to our waitress and taken care of. Customer service is a high priority at JWR. The patio is very open and spacious, one of the best outside seating restaurants you will find in the York-Lancaster area. The patio menu is separate from the inside restaurant menu. You can check that out on line before you go. The brick oven pizza is excellent; we have had both the grilled chicken and crab. We like the fact JWR practices "Buy fresh; Buy local". When I inquired about the dessert pizza and heard the words, "local peaches", I knew we had to have a couple to end our evening. They were excellent and a big hit. The live music, "Cooper Sky", was an added bonus to our evening. Being a Saturday night and very crowded, our waitress was attentive to our table and the wait for food and or drinks was well within reason. Numerous comments were made on a "great choice" and "good job" which is exactly what I was hoping for.
(5)Ellen H.
We've been to the John Wright Restaurant on several occasions. The setting is wonderful and it is convenient to our home. However, last night was the last time. Our waitress was very nice and the Grouper was good, but our two appetizers, calamari and clams were truly terrible. The clams were the size of dimes and the calamari was limp and tasteless. But, the reason I'm writing is because of the rude hostess. We made a reservation for 6:00 p.m. for the outdoor terrace. We were seated in the worst possible spot - the left side of the terrace, in the sun and against the building. There were many free tables. I went back to the hostess and asked if we could be moved because of the sun. She didn't answer, but looked at her chart and finally told her assistant to seat us at table 54. Then she informed me that other people had reservations at 8:00 p.m. I asked her if this table was being saved for them. She said no and just looked at me. I was truly baffled by this information, but I went back to join my party and we were moved to table 54, which was also against the wall, but out of the sun. There were still many tables free on the edge of the terrace nearer the water. About 45 min. after we arrived, several parties showed up and were seated at these tables. Why was it necessary for the hostess to tell me that other parties were coming at 8:00 p.m.? What if we weren't done before that? Did she expect us to leave before were ready? We were done long before 8:00 p.m., but just what is their policy? Do they actually save prime tables for certain people? This unsmiling and rude young woman did not represent John Wright very well and they have lost us as customers, not that they probably care since they are only catering to select people.
(2)Barbara W.
Delicious lunch items, great service & a beautiful view of the river. Both visits here have been delightful!
(5)Kim S.
John Wright Restaurant has fantastic crab cakes. We were visiting and heard good things about the restaurant and decided to give it a try. We are so glad that we did. Any time we are in the area and have the time to make it we will be sure to go. Not only are the crab cakes delicious the atmosphere was superb. The dining room overlooks the river. I would highly recommend John Wright Restaurant. Make sure you have time either before or after you eat to browse their store, that is great as well!
(5)Rachel C.
This place is pretty fantastic. The food is uniformly great, the service is good, and the place is beautiful. There's something for everyone here: a bar, outdoor seating, and a gorgeous dining area surrounded on 3 sides by glass windows. There's also a cute gift shop that's pretty big. Tons of Vera Bradley if you're into that and also Life Is Good items. My big tip: head to the back of the shop and go upstairs!! There's a tiny art gallery up there but more importantly there are amazing cast-iron items for sale. Handles, locks, cookware, stepping stones, etc, etc. And they are VERY reasonably priced. Check it out!
(4)Evylon D.
Too late for lunch - ended up on patio with abbreviated menu - brick fire pizza. Shared a crab one - yum! Patio salad grossly overpriced however-very fresh though. Great food and service. We'll be back.
(5)Randy S.
Best view of the river.
(5)Robin L.
Kind of a strange set up. The patio has a lovely view of the river, (one of the only spots in the area with a river views) but a limited menu. You can however get wood fired pizza, which was what two of us ordered and it was really tasty. One person in our party ordered a pulled pork panini which was supposed to come with chipotle BBQ sauce. The sauce was completely left off the sandhich and the pork was bland and not really pulled - just tender. We asked for BBQ sauce on the side, which was forgotten until we reminded our waiter. By the time it came, the sandwich was mostly gone. Wine is served in small plastic cups. Service friendly, but a bit lacking. We were also informed that the indoor patio has a more varied menu with upsale choices that included lots of fish and pasta, but then no wood fired pizza. Hence the strangeness. Come for the patio view and music, not necessarily the food and you won't be disappointed.
(3)Kelly T.
My family had planned an afternoon at Turkey Hill Experience so we needed to find a place to eat beforehand. Not being from that area, I luckily stumbled across this restaurant and was VERY happy. I called ahead of time and made a reservation for 10 (5 adults, 2 babies, 2 toddlers, & a 6 yr old). The table was set up and ready for us when we arrived about 20 minutes early for a Saturday lunch. The room is gorgeous with exposed beams & glass all around - I guess I would describe is as an industrial sunroom. I loved the decor! Having a group like our's, eating a meal together is always a bit stressful, but this couldn't have gone better! The kids played outside while we waited for our food. The noise level was high enough that when the babies were screaching like eagles, I didn't have to worry about disturbing other guests. We felt completely at home and weren't having to reel our toddlers in when they weren't in their seats as there was plenty of room between our table and other guests. The food was really good - I had the turkey wrap & my husband had the turkey sandwich - both delicious! I had the blackberry spritzer which was a bit pricey but yummy. They only serve pizza after 3pm and it was too hot so they weren't serving pizza at all. Not sure why they do this, but I would have liked to have had that option. Also, they didn't have printed kids menus so they just gave us some paper and crayons for the kids. I would definitely go back, but I doubt I'll ever be in that area again.
(4)Diane T.
The location can't be beat. It's a beautiful view of the Susquehanna and the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge. I've never had breakfast there, but my parents go to JW every time they visit the area. They say they really like the breakfast buffet. My bf & I went for dinner and the only disappointment was the *lack* of a view because we couldn't be seated by a window. But, not all the seats can be window seats, so we got over it. He raved about the filet mignon. Perfectly cooked to medium-rare. I had the pasta in a garlic afredo sauce. It was the best alfredo I've had in a long time. The garlic was at a perfect level. If I could I'd hire the bartender to stand beside my couch and hand me "Chocolate-Covered Banana" martinis to me all night so that way I wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere. I'm not always one for sweet martinis...but, wow, that one is better than any dessert.
(4)Kelly I.
I'm sorry...I don't know why this place gets such good reviews! I have tried giving it several chances but am always disappointed. The only positive is the atmosphere on the patio. Last time I went with some friends for drinks and appetizers. Every time the waitress left the table, she was gone for 30 minutes. I ordered ceviche....small shrimp from a can and shredded crab with tortilla chips with no salt. We shared some Thai chicken skewers...chicken was ok....dip was nothing but peanut butter. Thankfully, my wine was good. We didn't get out for 3 hours because the service was so slow. I tried taking my sister-in-law for lunch. Homemade chips were BURNED.. I mean unedible! Burger was dry and overcooked. Salad was OK. My husband and I went for dinner....again unimpressed for the price we paid. Crabcake was average and the steak overdone. I really wish they would do a better job. It is within walking distance of my house and I would love to have a great restaurant close by. I did have quiche and fruit a long time ago that was tasty....but overpriced!
(2)Jeff F.
I have heard so many good things about this place and was very excited to go for a nice dinner with family from out of town. Big mistake! We had 10 people in our party so not to big but a bit bigger then normal. When we got there the waitress was very friendly but my wife ordered a mixed drink and the waitress said they might not make it at our inside bar if they don't YOU can go to our outside bar and get it. Really?? So we ordered some apps. which came out and everyone enjoyed. But when it was time for our main course to come out it took about 45 minutes after our apps were done to get our meal. All that time I waited I was hoping that the taste of the meal was so good it would be worth the wait........wrong! I ordered a pork chop with a Honey Dijon sauce. Dry pork and plain Dijon does not cut it. We wanted to have desert but the wait and the lack of quality made us pass on that Idea. No I will not come back!
(2)Bob B.
We dined at John Wrights on November 21, 2013 with a dinner group. We arrived before the designated time and had to suggest to the wait staff that the folks might like to order drinks before being seating. That did work out eventually. The staff was very accommodating when non-expected group members arrived, needing a rearrangement of the tables. The food service was fairly timely and was very good. Of the large group attending no one had any negative comments about the food or service. Our group has dined at John Wright's on other occasions and plans to return in the future.
(4)Jonathan H.
I was there for breakfast and the buffet was an excellent value. $7.25 per person and the eggs and potatoes were excellent. The views are excellent and the restuarant is extremely nice on the inside. It is true that the service is a bit spotty at times, but really not that bad. I look forward to going back for lunch and/or dinner in the near future.
(4)Eymon Z.
great food, great views! Came here for the brunch and it was delish!
(4)Dan S.
I love the ambiance of the patio. There is nothing better than listening to a band play while enjoying pizza and drinks amongst friends in the summer at the John Wright house.
(5)Elaine G.
I never thought anyone could screw up a cobb salad. Great crab & asparagus soup and really bad salad. Wilted greens, rubbery egg, unripe avocado, really overdone and very salty chicken. But the salad dressing was fine. Lol! No, I would not give it a second chance. You might want to just have a drink and enjoy the view. It is a beautiful spot.
(2)David R.
We arrived at 6:55pm. A server didn't make it over to our table until 7:30 to take our drink order. 20 minutes later our drinks arrived. The server came back 15 minutes later to take our food order. We didn't get our food until 8:30. The food was great when we finally got it. It did take another 15 minutes to get our check once we were finished. I don't blame the server she was working 2 large groups that came in. Management should have had more than one waitress working the groups.
(1)Michael E.
Incredible little treasure on the shores of the Susquehanna! One of the better restaurants I've been to in awhile. The location and view of the river and bridges is just what this town needed. The food (appetizers and dinner) were incredibly fresh and flavorful. I follow them on Facebook so you see that they take great pride in finding fresh and local food as often as they can. I got a chance to talk to the main chef as he was making his rounds - nice guy and very personable. The biggest "complaint" I heard from friends and family about this place was the PRICE. Yes this place is not a $10 meal deal. I believe I saw dishes from the menu ranging from $18-25'sh a plate mostly; but everything we ordered was well worth it and incredibly good. I'm writing this review by memory as we were there about 3 weeks ago 7/5/2013. We got to enjoy a few drinks at the outside bar the first night where the waitresses were extremely nice and the bourbons were great. And our second visit we got to sit at the inside bar for a drink or two and enjoy some good live music. The bartenders inside were not "quite as friendly or talkative" as the outside ones but they definitely had a fairly busy bar to maintain. We want to go back for the pizzas as they look amazing. Only complaint was the one gazpacho appetizer dip we ordered at the bar was either to pricey for the amount of of gazpacho you got. The flavor was there but they probably could have doubled up on the bowl... or maybe cut back on the price a bit. In general, for me and my wife it was fantastic and a must go back.
(5)Jake S.
I am a huge fan of the wood oven pizza, $5 dollar yuengling pitchers, and $2 drafts between 5-7.
(4)Brian S.
Great location. Nice views of the river. Slow service. Order taken and still no food an hour later. Lots of flies in the four seasons room. They need to keep the screen doors closed! Stagnant air movement. Need to at least have ceiling fans. Ok food finally arrives. My burger is a dry hockey puck, my son's chicken tenders were completely raw. Waitress said she told the manager. He never came to our table. We will never dine at this establishment again.
(1)Matt W.
Great view, great service, great food! The John Wright restaurant is not a place to overlook if you want a good meal with a great view of the Susquehanna river and the historic Wrightsville bridge. I was greeted immediately upon entering and was offered a table in the glass-enclosed room beyond the bar. There were only a few tables occupied on a Friday night at 5:15 pm. I choose the corner table, which had the best view in the house. After an elegantly served cocktail I ordered one of the daily specials - grilled rockfish served over a crabcake with steamed asparagus and a hollandaise sauce - it was superb! The rockfish had a perfect sear on it, the crabcake was lump crab, the asparagus was peeled and cooked perfectly and the sauce brought it all together. The prices are a bit steep, my entrée was $28.00 and the drinks are on the high side also. Nonetheless I would bring a coupon (either restaurant.com ) or one from the Coupon Clipper and definitely go back!
(4)Rich K.
First off, if you are expecting to be out in an hour, don't even come here. It took three hours from seating to paying. We had 12 people in our group, but no one was late or indecisive. As others have said the view isn't bad for being seated outside, at our request. It was a great summer night and it was close to dusk. Everyone had a plastic cup filled with city water, yuck, already waiting at the table before you get seated. The menu is pretty simple, and sometimes that is good. There are several pizzas and three burgers to choose from. There are a couple of entrees too. The appetizers didn't really sound good so we passed. They have about 10 beers on tap and more bottled beers. I will warn you, the beer isn't really cold when it comes out. It's served in the same plastic cup the water comes in, so it gets warm quick. I didn't like that. We had ordered a grilled chicken pizza and a california burger that supposedly had guacamole on it. After 2 bites of the burger i was looking for the guacamole and asked my wife if it was supposed to come with. The patty could have been local beef but reminded me of a frozen patty. It was dry, little flavor and the bun was way too big for the burger. It was not worth $14, maybe $8-9. You get to choose between homemade chips or two other sides with the burger. I had specifically asked if the chips were from a bag and he waitress said they were made in house. there is no f-in way they made these. They came from a bag. The pizza tasted good, but was burnt. It seems like they don't have a clue how to not burn these pizzas. We didn't get dessert. There was a jazz band that was playing while we ate. It was very entertaining, but it made conversations very difficult as it was loud and we had to shout to talk. It was a different experience. But, I won't go back unless someone else is paying and they serve food from another restaurant. Our bill was about $55 with the tip for a burger, pizza, and three beers. Too much for not great food. I would have given one star but the music saved them there.
(2)Melissa S.
Do not go there. They are more intrrested in private party's. Twice we tried going there fri and sat nights. Only offered pizza menu which was burnt when we tried ii t. This Sunday We never even got to eat. when trying to make reservations we got the run around. everything is separate. kitchens decks patio. manager came out to explain but had an excuse for anything and everything.mwould never try and eat there again.ended up going to wrightsville inn for true crabcakes. Apparently they dont like bikers I woulldnever take a club ride their after the way we were treated.
(1)Barry G.
Service was very good. Confusing menus. Kitchens cannot cross service. Outside woodfire pizza was quite blackened. Doubt that I will ever go back. Manager of course had an excuse for everything.
(1)Karaya E.
Easter Sunday Brunch, was awesome. Eggs Benedict was tasty, fresh with Hollandaise sauce - yummy! Variety of dishes to sample and splurge. Great customer service. Gets busy though, and can get caught into a line that wraps around so plan serving options accordingly!
(5)Denise T.
We had brunch on Valentine's Day which was good and told everyone about, but tonight was an epic fail. We were greeted rudely by staff, the pizza was not cooked and was raw dough and the salsa tasted more like marinara sauce. Thank God the view was nice. There was possible rain and I guess they can't cook in the kitchen for dinner. The servers looked miserable except for one who was nice. They need a better weather plan to keep staff and customers happy.
(2)Nikki Q.
Overpriced and dishonest. The 'lump' crab cake is $25 and consists of one small crab cake made of backfin crab meat. There is ZERO lump crab meat in this dish. The filet mignon has little taste despite the high price tag. The view is nice and atmosphere is nice, but the food is terrible. It's a shame. This restaurant has real potential but is poorly managed.
(1)Joe C.
This place was great. Came here for brunch with my mom and even though it was humid and overcast, we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful view of the grounds and the river. A wedding party had been taking pictures and it really is an ideal spot for it. There's a nice little store attached to the restaurant so you can buy cool things while you wait for your table. The brunch was awesome and I went back for many seconds, and the service staff was very welcoming and enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend checking out this little gem only about 15 minutes from Lancaster and right near the Turkey Hill experience.
(4)Mia B.
Kind of funny story. After I published my review I was given a responds as everybody can read it. I was accused of not telling the truth (to put it mildly). Yet I received an e-mail (from the John Wrights Restaurant names are not important here) thanking me for my honesty. I was asked with whom I spoke when I made the reservation and to hear of this was very disturbing was or is not acceptable behavior within their business and will be addressed and corrected immediately, I was invited with family and friends to the establishment (John Wrights) to "thank" me personally for the provided information. I will stop here. You can draw your own conclusion. I did not go back and will not go back in the future.
(1)Cole H.
I had to create a yelp account just to share my utter disbelief that horrible establishments like this stay in business. Don't bother wasting your money on any food or drinks here. The view is free. I'm embarrassed that my parents took me here and wasted hard earned money for quite possibly the worst food I've ever eaten. The pizza was bread, no sauce, and distasteful cheese. The burger medium was extremely well done. The chicken my mother had wasn't even fully cooked, to which the waiter said that's not good and still charged us $18 for it. Horrible service as well it took 30 minutes just to get drinks. Don't bother going here. You've been warned.
(1)Amanda S.
Went today for lunch. Looked very promising. Great atmosphere. We decided to sit on the patio. Waited at least 10 mins before we got up to find the hostess to find our server. She walked out and said "sorry I was at the bar" and asked for a drink order. Waited another 5 minutes for drinks for two. Both the drinks and food were good. The service continued to be very poor. I'm not sure I'd return for the good food or drinks based on the terrible service.
(3)Gigi C.
Very beautiful place at the river bank. Nice view of the two bridges. Service is ok. Food is awful and overpriced. Don't even consider the ceviche. Bad. Pizzas are average, maybe. Would return only for drinks and music. Nice jazz ensamble playing tonight.
(2)Zygote E.
Had aunts 50th bday party there for over 150 people. Researched practically every wedding venue and all did not come close to the level of professionalism with service, price, environment. Coordinator and Head Chef, Jim made event very customized and accommodating. Balcony over the river! Best view from rest in lancaster. Will defiantly be back for any large celebration. Just had dinner: outdoor pizza as good as it gets. View of bridge against a full moon, best view in lancaster. Culture of service from Head Chef to waitress/hostess is contagiously excellent. Gem of the area.
(5)Bailey R.
The view is amazing. Can't say the same for the pizza. I know there's not much the restaurant can do about the bugs but it was pretty unappetizing. Definitely a cool place to get drinks...after a few I'm sure the bugs wouldn't be as obnoxious.
(3)Nic B.
Service was horrible. White wine was warm when brought to table, sent it back 30 mins later brought another bottle...still warm. Horrible beer selection. Ordered a couple appetizers..crab dip, don't bother unless you just want a bunch of pita bread...same with hummus platter. We didn't even order main course...left to go to another restaurant. Multiple visits to John Wright same results...This restaurant is 86'd off my list.
(1)Greg D.
Great find in Wrightsville, PA, York Co. Here with the family for Christmas Eve dinner. Our dining experience was excellent--good value, menu selections for everyone in our party, good service and, the most important, well prepared meals by the kitchen staff. It was also a huge plus to see the resto purchasing from local providers. Keep doing this! It keeps money local and supports very hard working local farm families. I had the "local grass fed steak" in demi glas and garlic mashed 'tatos. The sirloin was a very high-end sirloin cut. Other diners ordered the veggie lasagne, the blackened tuna and salmon on top of a bed of udon noodles and the baked trout. We all shared a bit and enjoyed the food. On the drinks front, Good wine and bubbly selections both by the glass and the bottle. Oh, and since our views of the river were fogged in, we will be returning next time we are in town. Beer selection was good too bit didn't have a chance to sample any. There was a stoudt on Nitro that i would have liked to try. I have been very pleased with the quality of restos popping up in York, Co and hope this can be sustained.
(4)Patricia O.
Great view. Service was wonderful. Food was basic but good. We had mushroom burger with sweet potato chips. Burger great. Chips not good. Crab soup good but a lot if old bay.
(3)Jennifer S.
Dinner on the pizza patio. Great view, decent pizza (big enough to share) and good beer. Sure there are bugs...you're outside...beside a river. Really good server. Overall a nice time. Would definitely go again.
(4)Aimee M.
Great view of the river. Satisfying food. Best for brunch. Servers are nice. Downside is its noisy.
(4)Angela A.
I can't quite understand the low ratings. I had a lovely experience at John Wright. I do notice most of the lower rating reviews are from a year or two ago so perhaps they might have tightened up the place. We had wonderful service, great beer, and a great lunch. My favorite was the cream of crab with asparagus soup. It was some of the best soup I have had. I love cream of crab, and I never had it with asparagus. I love asparagus too so this was a fantastic combo for me. I had the shrimp salad BLT. The bread was a bit too much, I should have done what my dad did, he had his made open face. I did eat the second half with only one slice. The shrimp salad was good and the portion on the BLT was perfect. My mother had a turkey flat-bread and she made many comments about how delicious it was. All three of us enjoyed the broccoli salad as a side. The desserts sounded so good but we were stuffed. The view is superb, it's just too bad it was a bit too hot for the patio that afternoon. I hear they do a lot of events on the patio that sound like fun. They also do weddings, what a beautiful backdrop! They also have a gift shop, but since I'm from York I didn't really need a souvenir to take back to CO with me :)
(4)Elizabeth O.
I have been here for both lunch and drinks. I am impressed by the interior space, the menu, and the service. The bar does tend to become a ghost town at 10pm so not the best place for late night get togethers.
(4)Hector C.
well we're do we start first staff need more training deliver drink with no napkin .then there no bartender so a waitress made made our drinks .not her fault she read them out of book . then we got a Cobb salad made incorrect not dress, missing topping . then a non grilled Reubens that was so dry .we also had a California chicken wrap that was most wrap and lettuce with a watery ranch dressing
(1)Cathy Y.
My husband and I hadn't been to John Wright's in awhile since our last meal wasn't the best. Decided to give them another try on Friday evening. View of the river at night is great, service was fine, but food was terrible again! My husband had the Caesar salad and I had the Applewood Smoked Salmon. The salad had no Caesar flavor at all and the salmon was way too smoky and tiny portion. The waitress had no response to my comment about the salmon. Very disappointing. We will not be back!
(1)Matt W.
Great view, great service, great food! The John Wright restaurant is not a place to overlook if you want a good meal with a great view of the Susquehanna river and the historic Wrightsville bridge. I was greeted immediately upon entering and was offered a table in the glass-enclosed room beyond the bar. There were only a few tables occupied on a Friday night at 5:15 pm. I choose the corner table, which had the best view in the house. After an elegantly served cocktail I ordered one of the daily specials - grilled rockfish served over a crabcake with steamed asparagus and a hollandaise sauce - it was superb! The rockfish had a perfect sear on it, the crabcake was lump crab, the asparagus was peeled and cooked perfectly and the sauce brought it all together. The prices are a bit steep, my entrée was $28.00 and the drinks are on the high side also. Nonetheless I would bring a coupon (either restaurant.com ) or one from the Coupon Clipper and definitely go back!
(4)David R.
We arrived at 6:55pm. A server didn't make it over to our table until 7:30 to take our drink order. 20 minutes later our drinks arrived. The server came back 15 minutes later to take our food order. We didn't get our food until 8:30. The food was great when we finally got it. It did take another 15 minutes to get our check once we were finished. I don't blame the server she was working 2 large groups that came in. Management should have had more than one waitress working the groups.
(1)Kim S.
John Wright Restaurant has fantastic crab cakes. We were visiting and heard good things about the restaurant and decided to give it a try. We are so glad that we did. Any time we are in the area and have the time to make it we will be sure to go. Not only are the crab cakes delicious the atmosphere was superb. The dining room overlooks the river. I would highly recommend John Wright Restaurant. Make sure you have time either before or after you eat to browse their store, that is great as well!
(5)Elaine G.
I never thought anyone could screw up a cobb salad. Great crab & asparagus soup and really bad salad. Wilted greens, rubbery egg, unripe avocado, really overdone and very salty chicken. But the salad dressing was fine. Lol! No, I would not give it a second chance. You might want to just have a drink and enjoy the view. It is a beautiful spot.
(2)Greg M.
I dined at JW for the first time tonight. Walking into the place there is a country store off to the right which looked really interesting however they were closed. Instantly we were showed to our table where are friends were waiting. The layout of the place was very appealing and seemed to flow very nicely. The atmosphere was cozy, ambiance was rustic with a splash of modern touches. The restaurant section was unique with glass from floor to ceiling. All of the dining tables were dazzling copper slabs. During the day there is a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. The bar area was funky and eye appealing. There was a brilliant aroma of restaurant flavors in the air that tantalized your pallet and prepared you for your experience. Our server was friendly and didn't push us at all considering our res. were 8:30 and they close at 9. This made me happy. Drinks were decent, my dirty martini was delicious . Home made breads and whipped butter hit the table and were good. I wish the bread was warm. I ordered cream of crab with asparagus and the baked oysters. The soup was awesome , full of crab and tender pieces of asparagus, a nice twist. Maybe a little more sherry and old bay however being from Baltimore that's just a personal preference of mine. I ordered the Rib eye with horseradish mashed potatoes and carrots. My fiancée ordered the crab cake with carrots and Yukon gold potatoes. Our entrees came out and my baked oysters never made it to the table. No biggie though for me it wasn't the end of the world. However that did keep this review from being a solid 4 stars. The rib eye was cooked perfect, great grill marks too. There was a blackberry Demi glaze sauce that was spectacular. As for the crab cake , again being from Baltimore I would liked to taste a little less lemon and a little more old bay. My fiancée thought it was a tad fishy I had to agree. But for 25 bucks what can you expect. I had a glass of 2011 Murphy Good Cab that harmoniously complimented the meat notes on my pallet. In conclusion our evening was enjoyable and JW was a pleasurable experience. We were the last people to leave and I stress we never felt pushed out. I would definitely like to try this place again and would recommend the restaurant to my friends.
(3)Tania N.
Great lunch. I had the Reuben which was exactly what I had hoped for. Tried the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was really good! The atmosphere was great and the view was awesome, even though we sat inside. Service was prompt and as expected.
(5)Kelly A.
Very nice view. Warm friendly atmosphere. Service is a little slow but in putting in perspective it is OK to slow down and enjoy the view and conversation with your party. Food was definitely prepared with a home grown quality for use of local products. I will be back to dine again.
(4)MoCe C.
The menu here is, plain old salads, steak,and pasta, also know as classic americian. Yet, with these old classics the wright twist is infused to take the dish to the next expenssive, enjoyable, very very eatable level. I'v come here 3 times and I guess I have to admit it's because of the views. The huge outside brick patio has breath-taking river views. The steak salad, grass fed cow was customary. The lobster mac and cheeze was fantastic, but I could eat toilet paper wrapped with that kinda killer cheese. Steak was perfection, seasoning was steller. I hope they'll offer a summer half off happy hour not just for the bar. Enjoy:)
(4)Justin H.
Terrible Management / Beautiful View. We made plans to celebrate our two year anniversary here. We were a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar to wait. We were overlooked and then told the tab could not be transferred to our table. Once at our table, we were not able to place our order for 20 minutes. Our crab dip appetizer arrived frozen. We let the staff know we were using the restroom, and once back at our table, it had been cleared and wiped. The main course was mediocre at best. At the end of the meal the manager, Eric, asked how our meal was. Our answer was, "the meal was ok, everything else was not so much". Instead of asking what was wrong, he replied "ok, have a good night". I called the next day to speak with a manager to inform them of the terrible experience. Kirsten answered the call and was very receptive and concerned. She had Eric, the manager, call us back. I told him the story and reminded him of how he handled our response after asking how the dinner was. He had little to say. He offered a $25 gift card and I explained that we did not want to return and would like a partial refund. He said I would have a follow up call on Monday. He never called, so I called on Thursday. On Thursday, Eric mentioned that the "owner", Jim, stated that we had great service and great food. Somewhere there is a disconnect in communication and management. I spoke with the owner, Jim, who accused us of simply wanting food for free and offered no apology. Happy Anniversary!
(1)Tanya R.
Ate here for the first time, really enjoyed it. Prices were fair for the portions we received and had a great view of the Susquehana River while we ate. Shrimp salad BLT was great! We will be back.
(4)Lee S.
A York County, PA hidden gem. Tucked away in the town of Wrightsville along the banks of the Susquehanna River, in a great restoration of an old historical building is the John Wright Restaurant. Our first trip to the patio was so relaxing and enjoyable I decided to invite the entire shift of firefighters that I work with to kick back and enjoy the excellent brick oven pizza, cold spirits, live music and the lazy flow of the Susquehanna. I corresponded with Jim Switzenberg, director of operations to make arrangements. Upon our arrival we found our table waiting just as Jim said it would be. All the items and details I spoke to Jim about were passed on to our waitress and taken care of. Customer service is a high priority at JWR. The patio is very open and spacious, one of the best outside seating restaurants you will find in the York-Lancaster area. The patio menu is separate from the inside restaurant menu. You can check that out on line before you go. The brick oven pizza is excellent; we have had both the grilled chicken and crab. We like the fact JWR practices "Buy fresh; Buy local". When I inquired about the dessert pizza and heard the words, "local peaches", I knew we had to have a couple to end our evening. They were excellent and a big hit. The live music, "Cooper Sky", was an added bonus to our evening. Being a Saturday night and very crowded, our waitress was attentive to our table and the wait for food and or drinks was well within reason. Numerous comments were made on a "great choice" and "good job" which is exactly what I was hoping for.
(5)Ellen H.
We've been to the John Wright Restaurant on several occasions. The setting is wonderful and it is convenient to our home. However, last night was the last time. Our waitress was very nice and the Grouper was good, but our two appetizers, calamari and clams were truly terrible. The clams were the size of dimes and the calamari was limp and tasteless. But, the reason I'm writing is because of the rude hostess. We made a reservation for 6:00 p.m. for the outdoor terrace. We were seated in the worst possible spot - the left side of the terrace, in the sun and against the building. There were many free tables. I went back to the hostess and asked if we could be moved because of the sun. She didn't answer, but looked at her chart and finally told her assistant to seat us at table 54. Then she informed me that other people had reservations at 8:00 p.m. I asked her if this table was being saved for them. She said no and just looked at me. I was truly baffled by this information, but I went back to join my party and we were moved to table 54, which was also against the wall, but out of the sun. There were still many tables free on the edge of the terrace nearer the water. About 45 min. after we arrived, several parties showed up and were seated at these tables. Why was it necessary for the hostess to tell me that other parties were coming at 8:00 p.m.? What if we weren't done before that? Did she expect us to leave before were ready? We were done long before 8:00 p.m., but just what is their policy? Do they actually save prime tables for certain people? This unsmiling and rude young woman did not represent John Wright very well and they have lost us as customers, not that they probably care since they are only catering to select people.
(2)Barbara W.
Delicious lunch items, great service & a beautiful view of the river. Both visits here have been delightful!
(5)Rachel C.
This place is pretty fantastic. The food is uniformly great, the service is good, and the place is beautiful. There's something for everyone here: a bar, outdoor seating, and a gorgeous dining area surrounded on 3 sides by glass windows. There's also a cute gift shop that's pretty big. Tons of Vera Bradley if you're into that and also Life Is Good items. My big tip: head to the back of the shop and go upstairs!! There's a tiny art gallery up there but more importantly there are amazing cast-iron items for sale. Handles, locks, cookware, stepping stones, etc, etc. And they are VERY reasonably priced. Check it out!
(4)Evylon D.
Too late for lunch - ended up on patio with abbreviated menu - brick fire pizza. Shared a crab one - yum! Patio salad grossly overpriced however-very fresh though. Great food and service. We'll be back.
(5)Randy S.
Best view of the river.
(5)Robin L.
Kind of a strange set up. The patio has a lovely view of the river, (one of the only spots in the area with a river views) but a limited menu. You can however get wood fired pizza, which was what two of us ordered and it was really tasty. One person in our party ordered a pulled pork panini which was supposed to come with chipotle BBQ sauce. The sauce was completely left off the sandhich and the pork was bland and not really pulled - just tender. We asked for BBQ sauce on the side, which was forgotten until we reminded our waiter. By the time it came, the sandwich was mostly gone. Wine is served in small plastic cups. Service friendly, but a bit lacking. We were also informed that the indoor patio has a more varied menu with upsale choices that included lots of fish and pasta, but then no wood fired pizza. Hence the strangeness. Come for the patio view and music, not necessarily the food and you won't be disappointed.
(3)Kelly T.
My family had planned an afternoon at Turkey Hill Experience so we needed to find a place to eat beforehand. Not being from that area, I luckily stumbled across this restaurant and was VERY happy. I called ahead of time and made a reservation for 10 (5 adults, 2 babies, 2 toddlers, & a 6 yr old). The table was set up and ready for us when we arrived about 20 minutes early for a Saturday lunch. The room is gorgeous with exposed beams & glass all around - I guess I would describe is as an industrial sunroom. I loved the decor! Having a group like our's, eating a meal together is always a bit stressful, but this couldn't have gone better! The kids played outside while we waited for our food. The noise level was high enough that when the babies were screaching like eagles, I didn't have to worry about disturbing other guests. We felt completely at home and weren't having to reel our toddlers in when they weren't in their seats as there was plenty of room between our table and other guests. The food was really good - I had the turkey wrap & my husband had the turkey sandwich - both delicious! I had the blackberry spritzer which was a bit pricey but yummy. They only serve pizza after 3pm and it was too hot so they weren't serving pizza at all. Not sure why they do this, but I would have liked to have had that option. Also, they didn't have printed kids menus so they just gave us some paper and crayons for the kids. I would definitely go back, but I doubt I'll ever be in that area again.
(4)Diane T.
The location can't be beat. It's a beautiful view of the Susquehanna and the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge. I've never had breakfast there, but my parents go to JW every time they visit the area. They say they really like the breakfast buffet. My bf & I went for dinner and the only disappointment was the *lack* of a view because we couldn't be seated by a window. But, not all the seats can be window seats, so we got over it. He raved about the filet mignon. Perfectly cooked to medium-rare. I had the pasta in a garlic afredo sauce. It was the best alfredo I've had in a long time. The garlic was at a perfect level. If I could I'd hire the bartender to stand beside my couch and hand me "Chocolate-Covered Banana" martinis to me all night so that way I wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere. I'm not always one for sweet martinis...but, wow, that one is better than any dessert.
(4)Kelly I.
I'm sorry...I don't know why this place gets such good reviews! I have tried giving it several chances but am always disappointed. The only positive is the atmosphere on the patio. Last time I went with some friends for drinks and appetizers. Every time the waitress left the table, she was gone for 30 minutes. I ordered ceviche....small shrimp from a can and shredded crab with tortilla chips with no salt. We shared some Thai chicken skewers...chicken was ok....dip was nothing but peanut butter. Thankfully, my wine was good. We didn't get out for 3 hours because the service was so slow. I tried taking my sister-in-law for lunch. Homemade chips were BURNED.. I mean unedible! Burger was dry and overcooked. Salad was OK. My husband and I went for dinner....again unimpressed for the price we paid. Crabcake was average and the steak overdone. I really wish they would do a better job. It is within walking distance of my house and I would love to have a great restaurant close by. I did have quiche and fruit a long time ago that was tasty....but overpriced!
(2)Jeff F.
I have heard so many good things about this place and was very excited to go for a nice dinner with family from out of town. Big mistake! We had 10 people in our party so not to big but a bit bigger then normal. When we got there the waitress was very friendly but my wife ordered a mixed drink and the waitress said they might not make it at our inside bar if they don't YOU can go to our outside bar and get it. Really?? So we ordered some apps. which came out and everyone enjoyed. But when it was time for our main course to come out it took about 45 minutes after our apps were done to get our meal. All that time I waited I was hoping that the taste of the meal was so good it would be worth the wait........wrong! I ordered a pork chop with a Honey Dijon sauce. Dry pork and plain Dijon does not cut it. We wanted to have desert but the wait and the lack of quality made us pass on that Idea. No I will not come back!
(2)Bob B.
We dined at John Wrights on November 21, 2013 with a dinner group. We arrived before the designated time and had to suggest to the wait staff that the folks might like to order drinks before being seating. That did work out eventually. The staff was very accommodating when non-expected group members arrived, needing a rearrangement of the tables. The food service was fairly timely and was very good. Of the large group attending no one had any negative comments about the food or service. Our group has dined at John Wright's on other occasions and plans to return in the future.
(4)Jonathan H.
I was there for breakfast and the buffet was an excellent value. $7.25 per person and the eggs and potatoes were excellent. The views are excellent and the restuarant is extremely nice on the inside. It is true that the service is a bit spotty at times, but really not that bad. I look forward to going back for lunch and/or dinner in the near future.
(4)Eymon Z.
great food, great views! Came here for the brunch and it was delish!
(4)Dan S.
I love the ambiance of the patio. There is nothing better than listening to a band play while enjoying pizza and drinks amongst friends in the summer at the John Wright house.
(5)Michael E.
Incredible little treasure on the shores of the Susquehanna! One of the better restaurants I've been to in awhile. The location and view of the river and bridges is just what this town needed. The food (appetizers and dinner) were incredibly fresh and flavorful. I follow them on Facebook so you see that they take great pride in finding fresh and local food as often as they can. I got a chance to talk to the main chef as he was making his rounds - nice guy and very personable. The biggest "complaint" I heard from friends and family about this place was the PRICE. Yes this place is not a $10 meal deal. I believe I saw dishes from the menu ranging from $18-25'sh a plate mostly; but everything we ordered was well worth it and incredibly good. I'm writing this review by memory as we were there about 3 weeks ago 7/5/2013. We got to enjoy a few drinks at the outside bar the first night where the waitresses were extremely nice and the bourbons were great. And our second visit we got to sit at the inside bar for a drink or two and enjoy some good live music. The bartenders inside were not "quite as friendly or talkative" as the outside ones but they definitely had a fairly busy bar to maintain. We want to go back for the pizzas as they look amazing. Only complaint was the one gazpacho appetizer dip we ordered at the bar was either to pricey for the amount of of gazpacho you got. The flavor was there but they probably could have doubled up on the bowl... or maybe cut back on the price a bit. In general, for me and my wife it was fantastic and a must go back.
(5)Jake S.
I am a huge fan of the wood oven pizza, $5 dollar yuengling pitchers, and $2 drafts between 5-7.
(4)Jeff S.
Great view, food and service not very good. Dined here for the first time while visiting some friends in the area. Ordered cream of crab soup w/asparagus...soup had some spice in it which made it taste very bitter, maybe it was from the asparagus. The pieces of asparagus in the soup were the woody, chewy ends. Very unpleasant to chew! Entree was a pork chop with a mustard bourbon glaze and garlic mashed potatoes. The chop was cooked perfectly, but it was quite tasteless. The mustard bourbon glaze was actually a glob of sauce over the chop. The "glaze" was so strong tasting it had to be scraped from the chop. Garlic mashed potatoes were also very bland, tasted like just potatoes without any salt or seasoning. Best item on the plate was the green beans! Service was also poor. Drink service slow, waitress seemed very uninterested. Did not check back during dinner to see how meal was going. Might return for a drink on the patio, but would not eat there again
(1)Patricia Y.
Great location along the Susquehanna River with outdoor bar and dining overlooking the river weather permitting. Panaramic windows in the dining area of the river during cold months. Good service and good steaks.
(4)Ray C.
Great service and atmosphere but the food needs help unfortunately. Burger was not cooked to temp requested, others at our table received undercooked chicken. Salmon was good says someone at our table. Staff saved a 1-2 star review.
(3)Lisa E.
If this restaurant was not on a river no one would go. The service is horrific having been there three times just to be sure. Reservations were for 530PM didn't get drinks instill 615 Pm and didn't eat till 7PM . Food is average at best. Manager comes by table and asks how is everything, I tell him our food was late and cold and he walks away . Will not go back
(2)S W.
I would give atmosphere and service 5 stars. We came for the New Year's Eve dinner which is was $70 per couple that included an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Food presentation is beautiful but I believe they would be better off selling "less fancy" items with good taste. I had the crab stuffed prawns and the shrimp were chewier than I like but what really disappointed me is the grayish crab stuffing. At the price I paid for this dinner the crab meat should have been lump. The chef needs to take a trip to Baltimore and order anything with crabmeat to understand. I also had the crab/lobster bisque. It was salty and was garnished with 2 tiny shrimp that must have come from a can (think tiny shrimp inside an egg roll.) How disappointing! The dessert choices were beautiful but lacked taste. Maybe we're just "brownie sundae and cheesecake" type people but the desserts they served might have been purchased frozen and thawed. No taste at all. One of our party enjoyed the filet meal and was very pleased. Another one is our party enjoyed the huge cowboy pork chop. But we love the look and location of the restaurant so much we will be back in the spring to enjoy the view from the deck. We'll come for lunch and order a sandwich.
(3)Brian S.
Great location. Nice views of the river. Slow service. Order taken and still no food an hour later. Lots of flies in the four seasons room. They need to keep the screen doors closed! Stagnant air movement. Need to at least have ceiling fans. Ok food finally arrives. My burger is a dry hockey puck, my son's chicken tenders were completely raw. Waitress said she told the manager. He never came to our table. We will never dine at this establishment again.
(1)David F.
Not sure what's up with the negative reviews. Our lunch experience here was fantastic. Sat outside on the patio, overlooking the river. Service was friendly and attentive. I got the tomato basil bisque and the Rueben with sweet potato chips. My coworker got the crab and asparagus soup and the crab cake sandwich with potato chips. Everything was excellent, prices were in line with the atmosphere. I'd definitely eat here often if I was a local.
(4)Peter G.
Date night and another great meal. We both started with soup, I had the cream of crab and asparagus, which was very tasty, but a little thick. My wife had the pumpkin garlic, which was excellent, kind of wished I had ordered it. For my main course I had the local grass fed steak with mushroom demi, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable of the day. The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted great, as did the rest of the meal. My wife had the roasted beet and goat cheese salad with salmon. She was quite pleased with her choice. For dessert, we shared the chocolate cheesecake, which was the perfect end to a great meal.
(5)Brent L.
Save your $$$. Minus. I am from Denver CO and the food prices are major metropolitan levels. $13 for a burger that is overcooked and with american cheese. Joke. Salmon skewers for $16 that is 2oz of salmon. A $16 6oz steak with potato chips. Maybe people don't know better here but this is a joke. Plus would be great view of the river and restaurant atmosphere.
(1)Anthony M.
Seated first, had to ask twice for menus and then we're served last. Two beers we ordered sat on the bar for ten minutes until I asked a staff member to retrieve them. Pizza was under cooked and soggy. Hamburger ordered well done was raw in the center. Staff is curt and rude except for the bartender who always has a smile and is very pleasant. Not being shy I didn't tip and left a note of complaint on the check. Save your money and go to one of the York golf courses for excellent service and food in their outdoor venue! As an aside, many of the online glowing reviews are written by the staff. Don't believe me, research it yourself.
(1)Lark M.
Great lunch. Nice warm window table on a cold winter day. The view of the river is perfect. Shared a reuben and each had a cup of soup. Will definitely come back.
(5)James H.
I had been wanting to visit this place for some time mainly to see what it looks like. I love old buildings that have been refurbished and this was everything I had hoped it would be. Beautiful restaurant that doesn't seem to overly packed together (hard to tell as we were there during a slow period, but it still seemed open not stuffy. Being winter we didn't get to enjoy the view of the river but I can imagine its spectacular. The service was excellent and friendly. The food was five star all the way. I started with the pumpkin risotto, which I would highly recommend. Very creamy and cheesy. For dinner I had the ribeye special with a horseradish cream sauce. The sauce came on the side which I was fine with since I'm not crazy about cream sauces. Steak was done perfectly and had great flavor. The sides were garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, both of which were terrific, especially the green beans. My mom had the short ribs, which I sampled and can tell you they were nothing short of excellent. For dessert I tried the peanut butter bomb because, well I love peanut butter. The chocolate cake part I could have done without but it was still a very good dessert. I would highly recommend this place and plan on returning, maybe in the summer so I can enjoy the sight of the river.
(5)Steve P.
Visited for the first time recently. What a gorgeous view of the river. A little too hot, but after a few drinks we didn't mind. Service was slow at first, it was busy. Later we moved inside to the bar and had a blast. For being first-timers, they sure made us feel welcome. Our food was plentiful and very good. Not fine dining, but it was a nice evening. The chef knows his way around large fish, the seafood was great. The beer, wine and liquors were great. But if for nothing else, go for that view!
(3)P V.
Great location. Great service. Really enjoyed the sweet potato chips. The crab cake was large with very little filler. Would come again. The menu was not particular imaginative but fine. Liked browsing through the attached gift shops.
(4)Zachary R.
Ate here twice today. Lunch was the best experience I've had in the area recently. Great burger, great prices, great atmosphere. Didn't feel rushed to get out of there, even during a busy time of day. One of my favorite parts was having my mustard served in a dish. I hate when nice dining establishments serve me condiments in disposable, plastic cups. Loved the lunch experience. Dinner, not so much. Too expensive for the quality of food, too loud, and the service wasn't excellent. I'm not the best cook and I know I could have made my meal at home better and quicker than I received it at John Wright. Takeaway: go for lunch. Go home for dinner.
(3)Louise Y.
Tried going on a Sunday afternoon after I had a bad experience before. Order pizza again...........oh lord. It was terrible!! The couple with me also ordered pizza and their response was the same. What a shame. The view is beautiful. That is the reason for the 2 star.
(2)Susanne B.
FIVE STARS for the location and view! Had the crab stuffed trout with snow peas and potatoes and it was very good. The potato soup had blue cheese and bacon and was excellent! The best of them all was the peanut butter bomb dessert. OMG. Dark chocolately peanut butter perfection!!! I loved that there is also a bar side outdoors with trivia games and corn hole. We all enjoyed watching the lights come on on the bridge and reading about bridge history. A very relaxing place, good service, good food, good views, good times!
(5)Amber P.
Just got back from here for my fiance's 40th birthday. Pros: *The Atmosphere. Inside is very nice and spacious. Patio and bar is very nice and offers an incredible view of the river. *Drinks: Nice variety and delicious *Staff was friendly Cons: *The Calamari: Came out as a gumbo soup, not an appetizer. Was not described as such on the menu. The smell made me gag. *The burger: over cooked, over charred. The roll was stale. bleu cheese was runny *The Price: I could get a better burger for a 1/3 of the price at my local hole in the wall. Tiny steak with a 1/2 scoop of potatoes was $26. I would definitely go back here for drinks, but will not order food again. I expect a bit better for the pricing.
(2)Mark M.
Great spot for brunch on Sundays or a Friday summer night on the patio.
(4)Anthony M.
Seated first, had to ask twice for menus and then we're served last. Two beers we ordered sat on the bar for ten minutes until I asked a staff member to retrieve them. Pizza was under cooked and soggy. Hamburger ordered well done was raw in the center. Staff is curt and rude except for the bartender who always has a smile and is very pleasant. Not being shy I didn't tip and left a note of complaint on the check. Save your money and go to one of the York golf courses for excellent service and food in their outdoor venue! As an aside, many of the online glowing reviews are written by the staff. Don't believe me, research it yourself.
(1)Lark M.
Great lunch. Nice warm window table on a cold winter day. The view of the river is perfect. Shared a reuben and each had a cup of soup. Will definitely come back.
(5)James H.
I had been wanting to visit this place for some time mainly to see what it looks like. I love old buildings that have been refurbished and this was everything I had hoped it would be. Beautiful restaurant that doesn't seem to overly packed together (hard to tell as we were there during a slow period, but it still seemed open not stuffy. Being winter we didn't get to enjoy the view of the river but I can imagine its spectacular. The service was excellent and friendly. The food was five star all the way. I started with the pumpkin risotto, which I would highly recommend. Very creamy and cheesy. For dinner I had the ribeye special with a horseradish cream sauce. The sauce came on the side which I was fine with since I'm not crazy about cream sauces. Steak was done perfectly and had great flavor. The sides were garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, both of which were terrific, especially the green beans. My mom had the short ribs, which I sampled and can tell you they were nothing short of excellent. For dessert I tried the peanut butter bomb because, well I love peanut butter. The chocolate cake part I could have done without but it was still a very good dessert. I would highly recommend this place and plan on returning, maybe in the summer so I can enjoy the sight of the river.
(5)Louise Y.
Tried going on a Sunday afternoon after I had a bad experience before. Order pizza again...........oh lord. It was terrible!! The couple with me also ordered pizza and their response was the same. What a shame. The view is beautiful. That is the reason for the 2 star.
(2)Lisa E.
If this restaurant was not on a river no one would go. The service is horrific having been there three times just to be sure. Reservations were for 530PM didn't get drinks instill 615 Pm and didn't eat till 7PM . Food is average at best. Manager comes by table and asks how is everything, I tell him our food was late and cold and he walks away . Will not go back
(2)Angela A.
I can't quite understand the low ratings. I had a lovely experience at John Wright. I do notice most of the lower rating reviews are from a year or two ago so perhaps they might have tightened up the place. We had wonderful service, great beer, and a great lunch. My favorite was the cream of crab with asparagus soup. It was some of the best soup I have had. I love cream of crab, and I never had it with asparagus. I love asparagus too so this was a fantastic combo for me. I had the shrimp salad BLT. The bread was a bit too much, I should have done what my dad did, he had his made open face. I did eat the second half with only one slice. The shrimp salad was good and the portion on the BLT was perfect. My mother had a turkey flat-bread and she made many comments about how delicious it was. All three of us enjoyed the broccoli salad as a side. The desserts sounded so good but we were stuffed. The view is superb, it's just too bad it was a bit too hot for the patio that afternoon. I hear they do a lot of events on the patio that sound like fun. They also do weddings, what a beautiful backdrop! They also have a gift shop, but since I'm from York I didn't really need a souvenir to take back to CO with me :)
(4)Elizabeth O.
I have been here for both lunch and drinks. I am impressed by the interior space, the menu, and the service. The bar does tend to become a ghost town at 10pm so not the best place for late night get togethers.
(4)Hector C.
well we're do we start first staff need more training deliver drink with no napkin .then there no bartender so a waitress made made our drinks .not her fault she read them out of book . then we got a Cobb salad made incorrect not dress, missing topping . then a non grilled Reubens that was so dry .we also had a California chicken wrap that was most wrap and lettuce with a watery ranch dressing
(1)Cathy Y.
My husband and I hadn't been to John Wright's in awhile since our last meal wasn't the best. Decided to give them another try on Friday evening. View of the river at night is great, service was fine, but food was terrible again! My husband had the Caesar salad and I had the Applewood Smoked Salmon. The salad had no Caesar flavor at all and the salmon was way too smoky and tiny portion. The waitress had no response to my comment about the salmon. Very disappointing. We will not be back!
(1)Susanne B.
FIVE STARS for the location and view! Had the crab stuffed trout with snow peas and potatoes and it was very good. The potato soup had blue cheese and bacon and was excellent! The best of them all was the peanut butter bomb dessert. OMG. Dark chocolately peanut butter perfection!!! I loved that there is also a bar side outdoors with trivia games and corn hole. We all enjoyed watching the lights come on on the bridge and reading about bridge history. A very relaxing place, good service, good food, good views, good times!
(5)Rich K.
First off, if you are expecting to be out in an hour, don't even come here. It took three hours from seating to paying. We had 12 people in our group, but no one was late or indecisive. As others have said the view isn't bad for being seated outside, at our request. It was a great summer night and it was close to dusk. Everyone had a plastic cup filled with city water, yuck, already waiting at the table before you get seated. The menu is pretty simple, and sometimes that is good. There are several pizzas and three burgers to choose from. There are a couple of entrees too. The appetizers didn't really sound good so we passed. They have about 10 beers on tap and more bottled beers. I will warn you, the beer isn't really cold when it comes out. It's served in the same plastic cup the water comes in, so it gets warm quick. I didn't like that. We had ordered a grilled chicken pizza and a california burger that supposedly had guacamole on it. After 2 bites of the burger i was looking for the guacamole and asked my wife if it was supposed to come with. The patty could have been local beef but reminded me of a frozen patty. It was dry, little flavor and the bun was way too big for the burger. It was not worth $14, maybe $8-9. You get to choose between homemade chips or two other sides with the burger. I had specifically asked if the chips were from a bag and he waitress said they were made in house. there is no f-in way they made these. They came from a bag. The pizza tasted good, but was burnt. It seems like they don't have a clue how to not burn these pizzas. We didn't get dessert. There was a jazz band that was playing while we ate. It was very entertaining, but it made conversations very difficult as it was loud and we had to shout to talk. It was a different experience. But, I won't go back unless someone else is paying and they serve food from another restaurant. Our bill was about $55 with the tip for a burger, pizza, and three beers. Too much for not great food. I would have given one star but the music saved them there.
(2)Melissa S.
Do not go there. They are more intrrested in private party's. Twice we tried going there fri and sat nights. Only offered pizza menu which was burnt when we tried ii t. This Sunday We never even got to eat. when trying to make reservations we got the run around. everything is separate. kitchens decks patio. manager came out to explain but had an excuse for anything and everything.mwould never try and eat there again.ended up going to wrightsville inn for true crabcakes. Apparently they dont like bikers I woulldnever take a club ride their after the way we were treated.
(1)Barry G.
Service was very good. Confusing menus. Kitchens cannot cross service. Outside woodfire pizza was quite blackened. Doubt that I will ever go back. Manager of course had an excuse for everything.
(1)Zachary R.
Ate here twice today. Lunch was the best experience I've had in the area recently. Great burger, great prices, great atmosphere. Didn't feel rushed to get out of there, even during a busy time of day. One of my favorite parts was having my mustard served in a dish. I hate when nice dining establishments serve me condiments in disposable, plastic cups. Loved the lunch experience. Dinner, not so much. Too expensive for the quality of food, too loud, and the service wasn't excellent. I'm not the best cook and I know I could have made my meal at home better and quicker than I received it at John Wright. Takeaway: go for lunch. Go home for dinner.
(3)Amber P.
Just got back from here for my fiance's 40th birthday. Pros: *The Atmosphere. Inside is very nice and spacious. Patio and bar is very nice and offers an incredible view of the river. *Drinks: Nice variety and delicious *Staff was friendly Cons: *The Calamari: Came out as a gumbo soup, not an appetizer. Was not described as such on the menu. The smell made me gag. *The burger: over cooked, over charred. The roll was stale. bleu cheese was runny *The Price: I could get a better burger for a 1/3 of the price at my local hole in the wall. Tiny steak with a 1/2 scoop of potatoes was $26. I would definitely go back here for drinks, but will not order food again. I expect a bit better for the pricing.
(2)Mark M.
Great spot for brunch on Sundays or a Friday summer night on the patio.
(4)Steve P.
Visited for the first time recently. What a gorgeous view of the river. A little too hot, but after a few drinks we didn't mind. Service was slow at first, it was busy. Later we moved inside to the bar and had a blast. For being first-timers, they sure made us feel welcome. Our food was plentiful and very good. Not fine dining, but it was a nice evening. The chef knows his way around large fish, the seafood was great. The beer, wine and liquors were great. But if for nothing else, go for that view!
(3)P V.
Great location. Great service. Really enjoyed the sweet potato chips. The crab cake was large with very little filler. Would come again. The menu was not particular imaginative but fine. Liked browsing through the attached gift shops.
(4)Jeff S.
Great view, food and service not very good. Dined here for the first time while visiting some friends in the area. Ordered cream of crab soup w/asparagus...soup had some spice in it which made it taste very bitter, maybe it was from the asparagus. The pieces of asparagus in the soup were the woody, chewy ends. Very unpleasant to chew! Entree was a pork chop with a mustard bourbon glaze and garlic mashed potatoes. The chop was cooked perfectly, but it was quite tasteless. The mustard bourbon glaze was actually a glob of sauce over the chop. The "glaze" was so strong tasting it had to be scraped from the chop. Garlic mashed potatoes were also very bland, tasted like just potatoes without any salt or seasoning. Best item on the plate was the green beans! Service was also poor. Drink service slow, waitress seemed very uninterested. Did not check back during dinner to see how meal was going. Might return for a drink on the patio, but would not eat there again
(1)Patricia Y.
Great location along the Susquehanna River with outdoor bar and dining overlooking the river weather permitting. Panaramic windows in the dining area of the river during cold months. Good service and good steaks.
(4)Ray C.
Great service and atmosphere but the food needs help unfortunately. Burger was not cooked to temp requested, others at our table received undercooked chicken. Salmon was good says someone at our table. Staff saved a 1-2 star review.
(3)S W.
I would give atmosphere and service 5 stars. We came for the New Year's Eve dinner which is was $70 per couple that included an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Food presentation is beautiful but I believe they would be better off selling "less fancy" items with good taste. I had the crab stuffed prawns and the shrimp were chewier than I like but what really disappointed me is the grayish crab stuffing. At the price I paid for this dinner the crab meat should have been lump. The chef needs to take a trip to Baltimore and order anything with crabmeat to understand. I also had the crab/lobster bisque. It was salty and was garnished with 2 tiny shrimp that must have come from a can (think tiny shrimp inside an egg roll.) How disappointing! The dessert choices were beautiful but lacked taste. Maybe we're just "brownie sundae and cheesecake" type people but the desserts they served might have been purchased frozen and thawed. No taste at all. One of our party enjoyed the filet meal and was very pleased. Another one is our party enjoyed the huge cowboy pork chop. But we love the look and location of the restaurant so much we will be back in the spring to enjoy the view from the deck. We'll come for lunch and order a sandwich.
(3)Greg M.
I dined at JW for the first time tonight. Walking into the place there is a country store off to the right which looked really interesting however they were closed. Instantly we were showed to our table where are friends were waiting. The layout of the place was very appealing and seemed to flow very nicely. The atmosphere was cozy, ambiance was rustic with a splash of modern touches. The restaurant section was unique with glass from floor to ceiling. All of the dining tables were dazzling copper slabs. During the day there is a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. The bar area was funky and eye appealing. There was a brilliant aroma of restaurant flavors in the air that tantalized your pallet and prepared you for your experience. Our server was friendly and didn't push us at all considering our res. were 8:30 and they close at 9. This made me happy. Drinks were decent, my dirty martini was delicious . Home made breads and whipped butter hit the table and were good. I wish the bread was warm. I ordered cream of crab with asparagus and the baked oysters. The soup was awesome , full of crab and tender pieces of asparagus, a nice twist. Maybe a little more sherry and old bay however being from Baltimore that's just a personal preference of mine. I ordered the Rib eye with horseradish mashed potatoes and carrots. My fiancée ordered the crab cake with carrots and Yukon gold potatoes. Our entrees came out and my baked oysters never made it to the table. No biggie though for me it wasn't the end of the world. However that did keep this review from being a solid 4 stars. The rib eye was cooked perfect, great grill marks too. There was a blackberry Demi glaze sauce that was spectacular. As for the crab cake , again being from Baltimore I would liked to taste a little less lemon and a little more old bay. My fiancée thought it was a tad fishy I had to agree. But for 25 bucks what can you expect. I had a glass of 2011 Murphy Good Cab that harmoniously complimented the meat notes on my pallet. In conclusion our evening was enjoyable and JW was a pleasurable experience. We were the last people to leave and I stress we never felt pushed out. I would definitely like to try this place again and would recommend the restaurant to my friends.
(3)Tania N.
Great lunch. I had the Reuben which was exactly what I had hoped for. Tried the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was really good! The atmosphere was great and the view was awesome, even though we sat inside. Service was prompt and as expected.
(5)Kelly A.
Very nice view. Warm friendly atmosphere. Service is a little slow but in putting in perspective it is OK to slow down and enjoy the view and conversation with your party. Food was definitely prepared with a home grown quality for use of local products. I will be back to dine again.
(4)MoCe C.
The menu here is, plain old salads, steak,and pasta, also know as classic americian. Yet, with these old classics the wright twist is infused to take the dish to the next expenssive, enjoyable, very very eatable level. I'v come here 3 times and I guess I have to admit it's because of the views. The huge outside brick patio has breath-taking river views. The steak salad, grass fed cow was customary. The lobster mac and cheeze was fantastic, but I could eat toilet paper wrapped with that kinda killer cheese. Steak was perfection, seasoning was steller. I hope they'll offer a summer half off happy hour not just for the bar. Enjoy:)
(4)Robin L.
Kind of a strange set up. The patio has a lovely view of the river, (one of the only spots in the area with a river views) but a limited menu. You can however get wood fired pizza, which was what two of us ordered and it was really tasty. One person in our party ordered a pulled pork panini which was supposed to come with chipotle BBQ sauce. The sauce was completely left off the sandhich and the pork was bland and not really pulled - just tender. We asked for BBQ sauce on the side, which was forgotten until we reminded our waiter. By the time it came, the sandwich was mostly gone. Wine is served in small plastic cups. Service friendly, but a bit lacking. We were also informed that the indoor patio has a more varied menu with upsale choices that included lots of fish and pasta, but then no wood fired pizza. Hence the strangeness. Come for the patio view and music, not necessarily the food and you won't be disappointed.
(3)Kelly I.
I'm sorry...I don't know why this place gets such good reviews! I have tried giving it several chances but am always disappointed. The only positive is the atmosphere on the patio. Last time I went with some friends for drinks and appetizers. Every time the waitress left the table, she was gone for 30 minutes. I ordered ceviche....small shrimp from a can and shredded crab with tortilla chips with no salt. We shared some Thai chicken skewers...chicken was ok....dip was nothing but peanut butter. Thankfully, my wine was good. We didn't get out for 3 hours because the service was so slow. I tried taking my sister-in-law for lunch. Homemade chips were BURNED.. I mean unedible! Burger was dry and overcooked. Salad was OK. My husband and I went for dinner....again unimpressed for the price we paid. Crabcake was average and the steak overdone. I really wish they would do a better job. It is within walking distance of my house and I would love to have a great restaurant close by. I did have quiche and fruit a long time ago that was tasty....but overpriced!
(2)Jeff F.
I have heard so many good things about this place and was very excited to go for a nice dinner with family from out of town. Big mistake! We had 10 people in our party so not to big but a bit bigger then normal. When we got there the waitress was very friendly but my wife ordered a mixed drink and the waitress said they might not make it at our inside bar if they don't YOU can go to our outside bar and get it. Really?? So we ordered some apps. which came out and everyone enjoyed. But when it was time for our main course to come out it took about 45 minutes after our apps were done to get our meal. All that time I waited I was hoping that the taste of the meal was so good it would be worth the wait........wrong! I ordered a pork chop with a Honey Dijon sauce. Dry pork and plain Dijon does not cut it. We wanted to have desert but the wait and the lack of quality made us pass on that Idea. No I will not come back!
(2)Bob B.
We dined at John Wrights on November 21, 2013 with a dinner group. We arrived before the designated time and had to suggest to the wait staff that the folks might like to order drinks before being seating. That did work out eventually. The staff was very accommodating when non-expected group members arrived, needing a rearrangement of the tables. The food service was fairly timely and was very good. Of the large group attending no one had any negative comments about the food or service. Our group has dined at John Wright's on other occasions and plans to return in the future.
(4)Jonathan H.
I was there for breakfast and the buffet was an excellent value. $7.25 per person and the eggs and potatoes were excellent. The views are excellent and the restuarant is extremely nice on the inside. It is true that the service is a bit spotty at times, but really not that bad. I look forward to going back for lunch and/or dinner in the near future.
(4)Eymon Z.
great food, great views! Came here for the brunch and it was delish!
(4)Dan S.
I love the ambiance of the patio. There is nothing better than listening to a band play while enjoying pizza and drinks amongst friends in the summer at the John Wright house.
(5)Brian S.
Great location. Nice views of the river. Slow service. Order taken and still no food an hour later. Lots of flies in the four seasons room. They need to keep the screen doors closed! Stagnant air movement. Need to at least have ceiling fans. Ok food finally arrives. My burger is a dry hockey puck, my son's chicken tenders were completely raw. Waitress said she told the manager. He never came to our table. We will never dine at this establishment again.
(1)Matt W.
Great view, great service, great food! The John Wright restaurant is not a place to overlook if you want a good meal with a great view of the Susquehanna river and the historic Wrightsville bridge. I was greeted immediately upon entering and was offered a table in the glass-enclosed room beyond the bar. There were only a few tables occupied on a Friday night at 5:15 pm. I choose the corner table, which had the best view in the house. After an elegantly served cocktail I ordered one of the daily specials - grilled rockfish served over a crabcake with steamed asparagus and a hollandaise sauce - it was superb! The rockfish had a perfect sear on it, the crabcake was lump crab, the asparagus was peeled and cooked perfectly and the sauce brought it all together. The prices are a bit steep, my entrée was $28.00 and the drinks are on the high side also. Nonetheless I would bring a coupon (either restaurant.com ) or one from the Coupon Clipper and definitely go back!
(4)Justin H.
Terrible Management / Beautiful View. We made plans to celebrate our two year anniversary here. We were a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar to wait. We were overlooked and then told the tab could not be transferred to our table. Once at our table, we were not able to place our order for 20 minutes. Our crab dip appetizer arrived frozen. We let the staff know we were using the restroom, and once back at our table, it had been cleared and wiped. The main course was mediocre at best. At the end of the meal the manager, Eric, asked how our meal was. Our answer was, "the meal was ok, everything else was not so much". Instead of asking what was wrong, he replied "ok, have a good night". I called the next day to speak with a manager to inform them of the terrible experience. Kirsten answered the call and was very receptive and concerned. She had Eric, the manager, call us back. I told him the story and reminded him of how he handled our response after asking how the dinner was. He had little to say. He offered a $25 gift card and I explained that we did not want to return and would like a partial refund. He said I would have a follow up call on Monday. He never called, so I called on Thursday. On Thursday, Eric mentioned that the "owner", Jim, stated that we had great service and great food. Somewhere there is a disconnect in communication and management. I spoke with the owner, Jim, who accused us of simply wanting food for free and offered no apology. Happy Anniversary!
(1)Tanya R.
Ate here for the first time, really enjoyed it. Prices were fair for the portions we received and had a great view of the Susquehana River while we ate. Shrimp salad BLT was great! We will be back.
(4)Lee S.
A York County, PA hidden gem. Tucked away in the town of Wrightsville along the banks of the Susquehanna River, in a great restoration of an old historical building is the John Wright Restaurant. Our first trip to the patio was so relaxing and enjoyable I decided to invite the entire shift of firefighters that I work with to kick back and enjoy the excellent brick oven pizza, cold spirits, live music and the lazy flow of the Susquehanna. I corresponded with Jim Switzenberg, director of operations to make arrangements. Upon our arrival we found our table waiting just as Jim said it would be. All the items and details I spoke to Jim about were passed on to our waitress and taken care of. Customer service is a high priority at JWR. The patio is very open and spacious, one of the best outside seating restaurants you will find in the York-Lancaster area. The patio menu is separate from the inside restaurant menu. You can check that out on line before you go. The brick oven pizza is excellent; we have had both the grilled chicken and crab. We like the fact JWR practices "Buy fresh; Buy local". When I inquired about the dessert pizza and heard the words, "local peaches", I knew we had to have a couple to end our evening. They were excellent and a big hit. The live music, "Cooper Sky", was an added bonus to our evening. Being a Saturday night and very crowded, our waitress was attentive to our table and the wait for food and or drinks was well within reason. Numerous comments were made on a "great choice" and "good job" which is exactly what I was hoping for.
(5)Ellen H.
We've been to the John Wright Restaurant on several occasions. The setting is wonderful and it is convenient to our home. However, last night was the last time. Our waitress was very nice and the Grouper was good, but our two appetizers, calamari and clams were truly terrible. The clams were the size of dimes and the calamari was limp and tasteless. But, the reason I'm writing is because of the rude hostess. We made a reservation for 6:00 p.m. for the outdoor terrace. We were seated in the worst possible spot - the left side of the terrace, in the sun and against the building. There were many free tables. I went back to the hostess and asked if we could be moved because of the sun. She didn't answer, but looked at her chart and finally told her assistant to seat us at table 54. Then she informed me that other people had reservations at 8:00 p.m. I asked her if this table was being saved for them. She said no and just looked at me. I was truly baffled by this information, but I went back to join my party and we were moved to table 54, which was also against the wall, but out of the sun. There were still many tables free on the edge of the terrace nearer the water. About 45 min. after we arrived, several parties showed up and were seated at these tables. Why was it necessary for the hostess to tell me that other parties were coming at 8:00 p.m.? What if we weren't done before that? Did she expect us to leave before were ready? We were done long before 8:00 p.m., but just what is their policy? Do they actually save prime tables for certain people? This unsmiling and rude young woman did not represent John Wright very well and they have lost us as customers, not that they probably care since they are only catering to select people.
(2)Barbara W.
Delicious lunch items, great service & a beautiful view of the river. Both visits here have been delightful!
(5)Rachel C.
This place is pretty fantastic. The food is uniformly great, the service is good, and the place is beautiful. There's something for everyone here: a bar, outdoor seating, and a gorgeous dining area surrounded on 3 sides by glass windows. There's also a cute gift shop that's pretty big. Tons of Vera Bradley if you're into that and also Life Is Good items. My big tip: head to the back of the shop and go upstairs!! There's a tiny art gallery up there but more importantly there are amazing cast-iron items for sale. Handles, locks, cookware, stepping stones, etc, etc. And they are VERY reasonably priced. Check it out!
(4)Evylon D.
Too late for lunch - ended up on patio with abbreviated menu - brick fire pizza. Shared a crab one - yum! Patio salad grossly overpriced however-very fresh though. Great food and service. We'll be back.
(5)Randy S.
Best view of the river.
(5)Kelly T.
My family had planned an afternoon at Turkey Hill Experience so we needed to find a place to eat beforehand. Not being from that area, I luckily stumbled across this restaurant and was VERY happy. I called ahead of time and made a reservation for 10 (5 adults, 2 babies, 2 toddlers, & a 6 yr old). The table was set up and ready for us when we arrived about 20 minutes early for a Saturday lunch. The room is gorgeous with exposed beams & glass all around - I guess I would describe is as an industrial sunroom. I loved the decor! Having a group like our's, eating a meal together is always a bit stressful, but this couldn't have gone better! The kids played outside while we waited for our food. The noise level was high enough that when the babies were screaching like eagles, I didn't have to worry about disturbing other guests. We felt completely at home and weren't having to reel our toddlers in when they weren't in their seats as there was plenty of room between our table and other guests. The food was really good - I had the turkey wrap & my husband had the turkey sandwich - both delicious! I had the blackberry spritzer which was a bit pricey but yummy. They only serve pizza after 3pm and it was too hot so they weren't serving pizza at all. Not sure why they do this, but I would have liked to have had that option. Also, they didn't have printed kids menus so they just gave us some paper and crayons for the kids. I would definitely go back, but I doubt I'll ever be in that area again.
(4)Diane T.
The location can't be beat. It's a beautiful view of the Susquehanna and the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge. I've never had breakfast there, but my parents go to JW every time they visit the area. They say they really like the breakfast buffet. My bf & I went for dinner and the only disappointment was the *lack* of a view because we couldn't be seated by a window. But, not all the seats can be window seats, so we got over it. He raved about the filet mignon. Perfectly cooked to medium-rare. I had the pasta in a garlic afredo sauce. It was the best alfredo I've had in a long time. The garlic was at a perfect level. If I could I'd hire the bartender to stand beside my couch and hand me "Chocolate-Covered Banana" martinis to me all night so that way I wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere. I'm not always one for sweet martinis...but, wow, that one is better than any dessert.
(4)Kim S.
John Wright Restaurant has fantastic crab cakes. We were visiting and heard good things about the restaurant and decided to give it a try. We are so glad that we did. Any time we are in the area and have the time to make it we will be sure to go. Not only are the crab cakes delicious the atmosphere was superb. The dining room overlooks the river. I would highly recommend John Wright Restaurant. Make sure you have time either before or after you eat to browse their store, that is great as well!
(5)Elaine G.
I never thought anyone could screw up a cobb salad. Great crab & asparagus soup and really bad salad. Wilted greens, rubbery egg, unripe avocado, really overdone and very salty chicken. But the salad dressing was fine. Lol! No, I would not give it a second chance. You might want to just have a drink and enjoy the view. It is a beautiful spot.
(2)David R.
We arrived at 6:55pm. A server didn't make it over to our table until 7:30 to take our drink order. 20 minutes later our drinks arrived. The server came back 15 minutes later to take our food order. We didn't get our food until 8:30. The food was great when we finally got it. It did take another 15 minutes to get our check once we were finished. I don't blame the server she was working 2 large groups that came in. Management should have had more than one waitress working the groups.
(1)Michael E.
Incredible little treasure on the shores of the Susquehanna! One of the better restaurants I've been to in awhile. The location and view of the river and bridges is just what this town needed. The food (appetizers and dinner) were incredibly fresh and flavorful. I follow them on Facebook so you see that they take great pride in finding fresh and local food as often as they can. I got a chance to talk to the main chef as he was making his rounds - nice guy and very personable. The biggest "complaint" I heard from friends and family about this place was the PRICE. Yes this place is not a $10 meal deal. I believe I saw dishes from the menu ranging from $18-25'sh a plate mostly; but everything we ordered was well worth it and incredibly good. I'm writing this review by memory as we were there about 3 weeks ago 7/5/2013. We got to enjoy a few drinks at the outside bar the first night where the waitresses were extremely nice and the bourbons were great. And our second visit we got to sit at the inside bar for a drink or two and enjoy some good live music. The bartenders inside were not "quite as friendly or talkative" as the outside ones but they definitely had a fairly busy bar to maintain. We want to go back for the pizzas as they look amazing. Only complaint was the one gazpacho appetizer dip we ordered at the bar was either to pricey for the amount of of gazpacho you got. The flavor was there but they probably could have doubled up on the bowl... or maybe cut back on the price a bit. In general, for me and my wife it was fantastic and a must go back.
(5)Jake S.
I am a huge fan of the wood oven pizza, $5 dollar yuengling pitchers, and $2 drafts between 5-7.
(4)Nic B.
Service was horrible. White wine was warm when brought to table, sent it back 30 mins later brought another bottle...still warm. Horrible beer selection. Ordered a couple appetizers..crab dip, don't bother unless you just want a bunch of pita bread...same with hummus platter. We didn't even order main course...left to go to another restaurant. Multiple visits to John Wright same results...This restaurant is 86'd off my list.
(1)David F.
Not sure what's up with the negative reviews. Our lunch experience here was fantastic. Sat outside on the patio, overlooking the river. Service was friendly and attentive. I got the tomato basil bisque and the Rueben with sweet potato chips. My coworker got the crab and asparagus soup and the crab cake sandwich with potato chips. Everything was excellent, prices were in line with the atmosphere. I'd definitely eat here often if I was a local.
(4)Joe C.
This place was great. Came here for brunch with my mom and even though it was humid and overcast, we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful view of the grounds and the river. A wedding party had been taking pictures and it really is an ideal spot for it. There's a nice little store attached to the restaurant so you can buy cool things while you wait for your table. The brunch was awesome and I went back for many seconds, and the service staff was very welcoming and enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend checking out this little gem only about 15 minutes from Lancaster and right near the Turkey Hill experience.
(4)Amanda S.
Went today for lunch. Looked very promising. Great atmosphere. We decided to sit on the patio. Waited at least 10 mins before we got up to find the hostess to find our server. She walked out and said "sorry I was at the bar" and asked for a drink order. Waited another 5 minutes for drinks for two. Both the drinks and food were good. The service continued to be very poor. I'm not sure I'd return for the good food or drinks based on the terrible service.
(3)Mia B.
Kind of funny story. After I published my review I was given a responds as everybody can read it. I was accused of not telling the truth (to put it mildly). Yet I received an e-mail (from the John Wrights Restaurant names are not important here) thanking me for my honesty. I was asked with whom I spoke when I made the reservation and to hear of this was very disturbing was or is not acceptable behavior within their business and will be addressed and corrected immediately, I was invited with family and friends to the establishment (John Wrights) to "thank" me personally for the provided information. I will stop here. You can draw your own conclusion. I did not go back and will not go back in the future.
(1)Cole H.
I had to create a yelp account just to share my utter disbelief that horrible establishments like this stay in business. Don't bother wasting your money on any food or drinks here. The view is free. I'm embarrassed that my parents took me here and wasted hard earned money for quite possibly the worst food I've ever eaten. The pizza was bread, no sauce, and distasteful cheese. The burger medium was extremely well done. The chicken my mother had wasn't even fully cooked, to which the waiter said that's not good and still charged us $18 for it. Horrible service as well it took 30 minutes just to get drinks. Don't bother going here. You've been warned.
(1)Gigi C.
Very beautiful place at the river bank. Nice view of the two bridges. Service is ok. Food is awful and overpriced. Don't even consider the ceviche. Bad. Pizzas are average, maybe. Would return only for drinks and music. Nice jazz ensamble playing tonight.
(2)Bailey R.
The view is amazing. Can't say the same for the pizza. I know there's not much the restaurant can do about the bugs but it was pretty unappetizing. Definitely a cool place to get drinks...after a few I'm sure the bugs wouldn't be as obnoxious.
(3)Zygote E.
Had aunts 50th bday party there for over 150 people. Researched practically every wedding venue and all did not come close to the level of professionalism with service, price, environment. Coordinator and Head Chef, Jim made event very customized and accommodating. Balcony over the river! Best view from rest in lancaster. Will defiantly be back for any large celebration. Just had dinner: outdoor pizza as good as it gets. View of bridge against a full moon, best view in lancaster. Culture of service from Head Chef to waitress/hostess is contagiously excellent. Gem of the area.
(5)Greg D.
Great find in Wrightsville, PA, York Co. Here with the family for Christmas Eve dinner. Our dining experience was excellent--good value, menu selections for everyone in our party, good service and, the most important, well prepared meals by the kitchen staff. It was also a huge plus to see the resto purchasing from local providers. Keep doing this! It keeps money local and supports very hard working local farm families. I had the "local grass fed steak" in demi glas and garlic mashed 'tatos. The sirloin was a very high-end sirloin cut. Other diners ordered the veggie lasagne, the blackened tuna and salmon on top of a bed of udon noodles and the baked trout. We all shared a bit and enjoyed the food. On the drinks front, Good wine and bubbly selections both by the glass and the bottle. Oh, and since our views of the river were fogged in, we will be returning next time we are in town. Beer selection was good too bit didn't have a chance to sample any. There was a stoudt on Nitro that i would have liked to try. I have been very pleased with the quality of restos popping up in York, Co and hope this can be sustained.
(4)Patricia O.
Great view. Service was wonderful. Food was basic but good. We had mushroom burger with sweet potato chips. Burger great. Chips not good. Crab soup good but a lot if old bay.
(3)Jennifer S.
Dinner on the pizza patio. Great view, decent pizza (big enough to share) and good beer. Sure there are bugs...you're outside...beside a river. Really good server. Overall a nice time. Would definitely go again.
(4)Aimee M.
Great view of the river. Satisfying food. Best for brunch. Servers are nice. Downside is its noisy.
(4)Karaya E.
Easter Sunday Brunch, was awesome. Eggs Benedict was tasty, fresh with Hollandaise sauce - yummy! Variety of dishes to sample and splurge. Great customer service. Gets busy though, and can get caught into a line that wraps around so plan serving options accordingly!
(5)Denise T.
We had brunch on Valentine's Day which was good and told everyone about, but tonight was an epic fail. We were greeted rudely by staff, the pizza was not cooked and was raw dough and the salsa tasted more like marinara sauce. Thank God the view was nice. There was possible rain and I guess they can't cook in the kitchen for dinner. The servers looked miserable except for one who was nice. They need a better weather plan to keep staff and customers happy.
(2)Nikki Q.
Overpriced and dishonest. The 'lump' crab cake is $25 and consists of one small crab cake made of backfin crab meat. There is ZERO lump crab meat in this dish. The filet mignon has little taste despite the high price tag. The view is nice and atmosphere is nice, but the food is terrible. It's a shame. This restaurant has real potential but is poorly managed.
(1)Peter G.
Date night and another great meal. We both started with soup, I had the cream of crab and asparagus, which was very tasty, but a little thick. My wife had the pumpkin garlic, which was excellent, kind of wished I had ordered it. For my main course I had the local grass fed steak with mushroom demi, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable of the day. The steak was cooked perfectly and tasted great, as did the rest of the meal. My wife had the roasted beet and goat cheese salad with salmon. She was quite pleased with her choice. For dessert, we shared the chocolate cheesecake, which was the perfect end to a great meal.
(5)Brent L.
Save your $$$. Minus. I am from Denver CO and the food prices are major metropolitan levels. $13 for a burger that is overcooked and with american cheese. Joke. Salmon skewers for $16 that is 2oz of salmon. A $16 6oz steak with potato chips. Maybe people don't know better here but this is a joke. Plus would be great view of the river and restaurant atmosphere.
(1)