11 family members besieged this high end restaurant Saturday night and frankly I was disappointed. While they gave us a private room and our server was an extremely nice guy who tried hard, but it took at least 15 minutes to get a menu. He kept saying "she's getting the menus." Where is "she" getting them, across the street? Upon being seated, he asked for drinks and we didn't even have a wine list. Finally menus arrived from who knows where, and we were quickly asked to order. While I can order almost immediately, I've found that women, particularly my lovely wife, like to take some time (often too much time) before choosing. They reversed the old adage, hurry up and wait - cuz we waited then hurried up. Food arrived. My lamb chops were excellent, tad too much fat but I like fat. The snapper soup was clove happy and had suspicious entrails hanging off the spoon, looked remarkably like bilge. We passed it around and no one liked it. Others thought their meals were okay to good - no statements like "this is to die for." which is why I can't remember what they had. And at 56 bucks a person (with tip), the only thing that died was my xmas budget. Plus they were out of Chimay beer. Then I go to get my coat and hat from the coat room and they can't find my hat. And it's a fancy fedora, makes even me look distinguished (no easy task). But the kid finally found it on the floor - geez.. I wanted to like this place, they've been through hell with the construction on that bridge lasting eons. But I probably ain't going back. We still left good tip for server because he was a nice guy. I almost wanted him to be a jerk so we could stiff him and save money. But he worked hard and did his best with the dysfunctional crew he was serving.....once he located the menus.
(2)
Mara V.
Great bartenders and good food! Live the free apps especially the buffalo chicken balls for happy hour. Grilled octopus is awesome!
(5)
Mary H.
For years I went to the. Stockyards. Have returned an a real treat. Service fantastic and meal very good. This old place just has a charm to it after all these years. If you want something without something they do provide the change.
(4)
John F.
Took a while to place drink orders. My friend ordered a "dry Manhattan, with a twist of lemon, on the rocks" He received a standard Manhattan, made with sweet, not white, vermouth, with a cherry, served up. When he requested what he originally ordered, he then received what appeared to be a standard Manhattan on the rocks, with a wedge of lemon. The "signature" snapper soup was way salty, and had mysterious very hard chunks of something in it. My tenderloin tips were OK. Some were a bit gristly; most were tender.
I have been here several times over the years. About every two years I have to be reminded why I don't go. I stopped for a quick lunch yesterday, my mistake. The service was extremely slow. The server did me a favor after about 20 minutes and took my order. The food is okay. There are many high end options in Lancaster, try one that values it's customers.
(2)
Kim G.
Great food, great service! Nice relaxed atmosphere. A little pricey, though. Would love to go there more often, if my budget allowed.
(4)
Carrie R.
We made a first trip here because we heard that the crazy road construction had made it hard for people to get to them and wouldn't it be sad for such a long-standing restaurant to suffer. Well they were hard to get to! But we arrived a few minutes before our reservation. Unfortunately we still had to wait more than 20 minutes for a table. All of the staff, even the hostess, seemed really harried. We retrieved drinks from the bar to enjoy on the lobby sofa while we waited. We felt they intentionally short poured them, and even threw out some of the Cosmo...maybe because we were going to carry them to the lobby? They tasted fine despite this. We were finally seated...and the dining room we were seated in had lots of tables so we are unsure why we had to wait so long. I guess I'd sum up the food and experience as not bad just dated...like it should be your grandparents favorite restaurant.... The grouper soup which they said was a signature dish since their opening was weird and bad and should be retired. It was thick and dark brown with mystery chunks in it. They brought rolls after our entrees arrived that were hard and dry with no butter. The steaks were decent but the thick gloppy blue cheese topping totally overpowered the NY Strip and there was no way to remove it. The mashed potatoes had a weird sour taste-maybe because they were supposed to be garlic mashed? My date got the Delmonico special which came with hard fried balls they called gnocchi. Certainly not like any gnocchi I've ever seen. Looked like it was poured from a bag in the freezer into the fryer. We would not have been nearly as disappointed if the prices weren't so high. The gloppy NY Strip was more than $30 and the Delmonico with hard gnocchi was $40. We would gladly pay for fabulous entrees but these were not. And everything was delivered by our nice but harried and sweaty waiter... We don't recommend it.
(2)
Lauren B.
My boyfriend and I went to the Stockyard Inn for our anniversary. We were asked by the older woman hostess (which I am told is the owner's wife) to wait for a few minutes, which was no problem. Multiple older couples walked in after us and proceeded to obtain tables before us even though we had made a reservation. My boyfriend and I waited for 15+ minutes and thought nothing of the situation then proceeded to have a lovely meal. We decided to go to the Stockyard Inn again a few months later. The EXACT same situation happened to us yet again. We thought we were crazy. This time, the other younger hostess walked over to apologize for the older woman's actions because she saw it happen to us months earlier. Long story short, we had some of the best food of our lives at the Stockyard Inn. The steaks were amazing, the deserts were one of a kind, and my favorite part was how the coffee comes in antique cups and saucers, but I will not come back. I can go anywhere to receive good food, but I will not tolerate being treated unfairly by that particular hostess. The Stockyard Inn has an older crowd which they cater to, but soon that older crowd will not be around. When that time comes, they will wish they had treated the younger generations better because that was the last time I will step foot in that restaurant.
(2)
Amy M.
Consistently amazing. It's an institution for the area - vegetarians beware. Beautiful old school place with excellent steaks, professional service, and a lovely ambience. Highly recommend -- a terrific break from the Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbords that permeate the area.
(5)
Jason B.
Crab cakes are a house signature dish? I don't think that a dish advertised like that and cost $31 should include so much White bread that it makes up 1/3 to 1/2 of the cake. I understand that a tiny bit of bread crumbs help hold the cake together (does anyone really mind if it falls apart on the plate as long as it tastes good), but all I could do was try and pull out the crab meat. The crab meat was tasty and nice size pieces and looked to be backfinn however that is the norm. I have had them all over the easy coast, and these are by far the worst. A good meal is hard to come by here. On the plus side, My uncle liked the prime rib and my wife liked the pasta/veggie dish, but that is almost impossible to get wrong.
(1)
M M.
I hadn't been here and years and was shocked and disappointed with last nights meal. We stopped at the bar and the simple mixed drink I ordered was overly strong with very cheap alcohol. We all ordered appetizers and my shrimp cocktail was defrosted in water and tough and tasteless. My salad was simple and fine. My entree was the seafood platter and if it wasn't for the drawn butter nothing would have had any flavor. The staff was attentive and a I was very sad that an iconic place like this has fallen so far.
(1)
Chuck S.
Very, very disappointing visit two weeks ago. I had always heard the Stockyard Inn is wonderful place to sit at the bar to have a drink and order food. Our visit couldn't have been further from the truth. Granted, they were busy that night, I will give them credit for that. However, there was only one bartender working (she indicated she has worked there three years - I'm sure with proper staffing she is very good at what she does) and she was overwhelmed to say the least. The manager made 'visits' to the bar area but was not at all friendly. To add insult to slow bar service, we were one of those at the bar denied food service -not sure how the selection process works there, but others were served so it was some sort of pick and choose process to see who was allowed to order food. After two drinks (some places even offer a complimentary drink when service is slow, however by other reviews, it seems as though poor service is the norm here), we headed to Lancaster City to another establishment and received the type of excellent service one expects when dining out. We have marked this one as 'never again' on our restaurant list! Attention -- Attention: Calling 'Restaurant Impossible'!! (see other reviews not associated with this review)
(1)
Carolyn C.
We were very excited to go to the Stockyard Inn after it was highly recommended by several people as a great place to hold our rehearsal dinner. When we arrived we were greeted by a rather snooty hostess who spent ten minutes arguing with other staff members about where to seat us. We had called ahead and made a reservation (for 4) so I was puzzled as to why she seemed surprised by our presence. After we were seated we waited for another 10-15 minutes before a waitress came to the table and gave us a menu. When she finally came back to take our orders she barked at my future mother in law that she couldn't order the shrimp and crab dish she wanted because she was looking at the wrong menu. She then left for another few minutes to go check with the kitchen to see if she could still put in the order without taking the rest of our orders, When she came back she finished taking the rest of our orders but failed to clearly indicate whether the shrimp and crab dish had been available so my future mother in law just sat there with the menu until the food came. My future in laws ordered the french onion soup which was okay, the cheese was good but some of the onions were still raw. My fiancee and I ordered the cheddar broccoli which tasted like pureed baby food. Mine was so salty no one could eat it. The waitress finally brought out some bread which was completely tasteless and some hard butter which tasted like the inside of a refrigerator. I ordered the petite prime rib with a the wild rice medley and mixed vegetables. The prime rib was cut extremely thick and had a ton of fat. It was tender and moist but completely tasteless. I only ate a few bites of the meat because it was so blah. The wild rice was delicious. The vegetables were forgettable My fiancee ordered the file and like the prime rib it was completely tasteless although tender and juicy, His garlic mashed potatoes tasted as if someone had drizzled a little garlic butter over the top but after the first bit it was just whipped potatoes. My future mother in law ordered shrimp stuffed with crab meat which was delicious. My future father in law ordered the chicken almondine which was bland, breaded chicken. No one really ate much and we decided not to take the leftovers, When the waitress came to clear away our plates she reached over people and nearly cut my neck with a steak knife. She was so oblivious that when I moved away she almost did it again. We won't be going back.
(1)
Laura J.
My family has been coming to the Stockyard for the past ten years. Last night was our last meal here. The service was atrocious. Our waiter, was an absolute jerk to the busboy assigned to our table as well as my in-laws. He was pushing us to leave and didn't offer our table of six dessert, we had to ask. The food was 50/50. The snapper soup was delicious, as usual. The crab augratin was off tasting (we've had it before and it was always a favorite), and the scallops were VERY under cooked. The desserts we ordered, much to our waiter's dismay, were tiny and bland. It ended up being one of the most offensive meals my family and I have shared together. Unfortunately, for the stockyard, they've lost a very good customer who will never again spend $400 on rude service and sub-par food.
(1)
Barry S.
We have eaten here 3 times over the last year or so. Our experience has been about the same each time. Their prices are very high but the food is well prepared and tastes good. Their big problem is service. It is extremely slow. I don't like being rushed when we eat, so we like it on the slow side, but this place is too far in that direction. If they are having some kind of party (and they were each time we ate there) the service is awful. Yesterday we ate there for lunch and my wife ordered one of their salads with a piece of Salmon added. She wanted this for her main dish. I ordered a salad and one of their great burgers. My salad was brought out from the kitchen after waiting about 15 minutes. My wife's salad was not delivered at that time since it was her main dish. I ate my salad (pretty good Greek salad) and we waited for about another 10-15 minutes before the waitress cleared my plate. We sat another 25 minutes until our main dish was brought out. My wife had sat for almost an hour since ordering before getting her food. When the food arrived, I commented to the waitress that service was extremely slow and she didn't even apologize or make any comment. We ate and then waited 10-15 minutes before she came to clear the plates. She asked if we wanted dessert and said she would bring the dessert tray. It took another 10 minutes for her to bring the tray. We ordered dessert to go because we had already spent almost 2 hours there and had other things to do with our day. We will never return to this restaurant and that is a shame since the food is good. The service is just terrible. If you do go here and the parking lot is full, this probably indicates they are having a party in one of their private rooms. Be prepared for a long meal.
(2)
Fan T.
Pros: The crab cakes were the best I've had!! Cons: The service was not so good, it took at least 10 minutes before our server came and took drink orders. She was kinda checked out.. Not very tentative, plus she reeked of smoke, coming back to check on us, that's why it took so long for her to do anything, too bad. I would come back for the food and make sure I had one of those more professional servers.
(4)
Lisa E.
Charming old school. This is a review of the bar. Food is generally good. Have had both excellent (Soft Shell Crab sandwich) and just routine food. Have been back many times because the bar staff is friendly and easy. My biggest gripe is that their glasses are so small, you can finish the drink in 3 sips, requiring continual attention by the bar staff an a unnecessary work load to an already overtaxed staff. It's bizarre. Certainly does not compete to other local bars like Fenz, Belvedere or Checkers. They know how to make a drink and serve it in an appropriate glass .
(3)
A F.
Took family here (again) while visiting Lancaster. White tablecloth dining, candles, the whole bit. Waitron was great. Food, as always, was great. Started with oysters, ended with crabcakes and cheesecake. Really lovely place, great service, outstanding food, outstanding value.
(5)
Joanna C.
One thing to say: Peaunt Butter Pie. (The best EVER!) My dad has been coming to eat here since the 60's when he was a starving student. And, each time we are in the Caster, we go back. Thier food is great but seriously, try th peanut butter pie. And, take a piece to go for later, you wont regret it.!
(5)
Anita B.
Don't let the outside of this place or the dated decor inside fool you; this place is fantastic! We came here for a large family dinner and we've been for other events as it is a favorite of one of my family members who lives nearby. They have the best bar I've ever been to in my life. Drinks are always excellent, taste great and they don't skimp on the alcohol. Food is always expertly prepared and arrives hot and fresh. The calamari is a must for an appetizer. I think our large extended family has ended up trying just about everything on the menu here over the years and it has all been good. The owners are very kind and generous, very nice people. I am not here often, but every time Im in the area visiting family, we come here and I look forward to it. Definitely check it out!
(5)
Rick H.
Ok, have been going here for 50+ years. My wife and her family also have been going here for the same time frame. Originally, it was the restaurant, and bar, for the cattlemen of the Lancaster Stock Yards. Back in the '60's, this was the largest stock yards east of Chicago. My friend Pat M....... was a cattleman there, and he would be at the bar, with a bunch of other cattlemen, having lunch, a bunch of drinks, and talking cattle business. There used to be a lot of stuff on the floor that look, smelled, and oh yeah, it was fresh cow dung, because the guys had just been at the auction pens, buying and selling their cattle. If I didn't know Pat real well, I might have been considered an outsider. So, the place has a lot of real history, and we Lancastrian's value such a place. I feel a little remorseful about writing about this place. We like to keep such places to ourselves. But in deference to the new owners, it's probably been 6-10 years now, they do an excellent job, and I think that deserves a review. The bartender is a real, old time, professional, bartender, who will make you a good bourbon drink, a martini, or any real cocktail. So talk to him, and maybe he will have some good, classic drink recommendations. He makes each drink like it was his last one. This is a place where you can enjoy a good drink. Like the other reviewers said, they don't skimp on the alcohol. The food is very good. Daily specials.
(4)
Tara R.
Just left there 10 mins ago. Terrible service... Food for an old pallet.. Will not go back!! On a lighter note.. The Bartender was fantastic.. For GREAT food at a reasonable price go to the LUCKY DOG on Columbia Ave!!
(4)
Kelley J.
First, let me preface that while I was sitting in Stockyard Inn, I was angry and vowed I would never return. The waitress flat out sucked. She was absent for most of the time, and did not attend to my table. The surrounding tables that had a different waiter received good service, but not me. This place is fancier, so just be prepared for chandelier lighting and a pricey menu. The Stockyard Inn's history is very interesting. It used to be owned by a president and is one of the longest running steakhouses in the USA. (Look it up.) Ok, so why I'm giving 4 stars and I have gone back within 3 days of my terrible waitress experience: THE FOOD. I got a no frills, straight-forward burger. Their signature burger, which was made up of ground filet mignon trimmings. I ordered it medium. It was the juiciest, most delicious burger I can remember ever having. Wow. Delicious.
(4)
Jeff F.
Had a great surprise when I got to the stockyard, my family was there to great me for my birthday. Great surprise set up by my girlfriend. The atmosphere was great at the stockyard. Our waiter, Hunter was friendly and very knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. I had the delmonico steak that was melt in your mouth good. Only complaint was the garlic mash potatoes really had no garlic taste. All 10 people in our party had a great meal. Thank you for a birthday to remember.
(4)
Richard S.
Excellent food. Service was great and the waiter was very attentive. I had the filet which was cooked perfectly and delicious as were the fresh vegetables. My wife had the filet and crab cakes. She raved about the crab cakes saying she loved them.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Bruce N.
11 family members besieged this high end restaurant Saturday night and frankly I was disappointed. While they gave us a private room and our server was an extremely nice guy who tried hard, but it took at least 15 minutes to get a menu. He kept saying "she's getting the menus." Where is "she" getting them, across the street? Upon being seated, he asked for drinks and we didn't even have a wine list. Finally menus arrived from who knows where, and we were quickly asked to order. While I can order almost immediately, I've found that women, particularly my lovely wife, like to take some time (often too much time) before choosing. They reversed the old adage, hurry up and wait - cuz we waited then hurried up. Food arrived. My lamb chops were excellent, tad too much fat but I like fat. The snapper soup was clove happy and had suspicious entrails hanging off the spoon, looked remarkably like bilge. We passed it around and no one liked it. Others thought their meals were okay to good - no statements like "this is to die for." which is why I can't remember what they had. And at 56 bucks a person (with tip), the only thing that died was my xmas budget. Plus they were out of Chimay beer. Then I go to get my coat and hat from the coat room and they can't find my hat. And it's a fancy fedora, makes even me look distinguished (no easy task). But the kid finally found it on the floor - geez.. I wanted to like this place, they've been through hell with the construction on that bridge lasting eons. But I probably ain't going back. We still left good tip for server because he was a nice guy. I almost wanted him to be a jerk so we could stiff him and save money. But he worked hard and did his best with the dysfunctional crew he was serving.....once he located the menus.
(2)Mara V.
Great bartenders and good food! Live the free apps especially the buffalo chicken balls for happy hour. Grilled octopus is awesome!
(5)Mary H.
For years I went to the. Stockyards. Have returned an a real treat. Service fantastic and meal very good. This old place just has a charm to it after all these years. If you want something without something they do provide the change.
(4)John F.
Took a while to place drink orders. My friend ordered a "dry Manhattan, with a twist of lemon, on the rocks" He received a standard Manhattan, made with sweet, not white, vermouth, with a cherry, served up. When he requested what he originally ordered, he then received what appeared to be a standard Manhattan on the rocks, with a wedge of lemon. The "signature" snapper soup was way salty, and had mysterious very hard chunks of something in it. My tenderloin tips were OK. Some were a bit gristly; most were tender.
(2)Gayle C.
Don't throw your money away! Our meal with tip was $100- just the entrée and one greyhound and one tea. The filet was hard crusted but the halibut cooked nicely. The house salad was skimpy. The sides were delivered not as ordered and were cold. The waiter had to actually run to give service which was the worst we have ever experienced. The party consisted of four and we were given four small pats of butter. Never saw the waiter to ask for more butter or more tea. Waited fifteen minutes for the overpriced check! Will never return.
(1)Kyle N.
I have been here several times over the years. About every two years I have to be reminded why I don't go. I stopped for a quick lunch yesterday, my mistake. The service was extremely slow. The server did me a favor after about 20 minutes and took my order. The food is okay. There are many high end options in Lancaster, try one that values it's customers.
(2)Kim G.
Great food, great service! Nice relaxed atmosphere. A little pricey, though. Would love to go there more often, if my budget allowed.
(4)Carrie R.
We made a first trip here because we heard that the crazy road construction had made it hard for people to get to them and wouldn't it be sad for such a long-standing restaurant to suffer. Well they were hard to get to! But we arrived a few minutes before our reservation. Unfortunately we still had to wait more than 20 minutes for a table. All of the staff, even the hostess, seemed really harried. We retrieved drinks from the bar to enjoy on the lobby sofa while we waited. We felt they intentionally short poured them, and even threw out some of the Cosmo...maybe because we were going to carry them to the lobby? They tasted fine despite this. We were finally seated...and the dining room we were seated in had lots of tables so we are unsure why we had to wait so long. I guess I'd sum up the food and experience as not bad just dated...like it should be your grandparents favorite restaurant.... The grouper soup which they said was a signature dish since their opening was weird and bad and should be retired. It was thick and dark brown with mystery chunks in it. They brought rolls after our entrees arrived that were hard and dry with no butter. The steaks were decent but the thick gloppy blue cheese topping totally overpowered the NY Strip and there was no way to remove it. The mashed potatoes had a weird sour taste-maybe because they were supposed to be garlic mashed? My date got the Delmonico special which came with hard fried balls they called gnocchi. Certainly not like any gnocchi I've ever seen. Looked like it was poured from a bag in the freezer into the fryer. We would not have been nearly as disappointed if the prices weren't so high. The gloppy NY Strip was more than $30 and the Delmonico with hard gnocchi was $40. We would gladly pay for fabulous entrees but these were not. And everything was delivered by our nice but harried and sweaty waiter... We don't recommend it.
(2)Lauren B.
My boyfriend and I went to the Stockyard Inn for our anniversary. We were asked by the older woman hostess (which I am told is the owner's wife) to wait for a few minutes, which was no problem. Multiple older couples walked in after us and proceeded to obtain tables before us even though we had made a reservation. My boyfriend and I waited for 15+ minutes and thought nothing of the situation then proceeded to have a lovely meal. We decided to go to the Stockyard Inn again a few months later. The EXACT same situation happened to us yet again. We thought we were crazy. This time, the other younger hostess walked over to apologize for the older woman's actions because she saw it happen to us months earlier. Long story short, we had some of the best food of our lives at the Stockyard Inn. The steaks were amazing, the deserts were one of a kind, and my favorite part was how the coffee comes in antique cups and saucers, but I will not come back. I can go anywhere to receive good food, but I will not tolerate being treated unfairly by that particular hostess. The Stockyard Inn has an older crowd which they cater to, but soon that older crowd will not be around. When that time comes, they will wish they had treated the younger generations better because that was the last time I will step foot in that restaurant.
(2)Amy M.
Consistently amazing. It's an institution for the area - vegetarians beware. Beautiful old school place with excellent steaks, professional service, and a lovely ambience. Highly recommend -- a terrific break from the Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbords that permeate the area.
(5)Jason B.
Crab cakes are a house signature dish? I don't think that a dish advertised like that and cost $31 should include so much White bread that it makes up 1/3 to 1/2 of the cake. I understand that a tiny bit of bread crumbs help hold the cake together (does anyone really mind if it falls apart on the plate as long as it tastes good), but all I could do was try and pull out the crab meat. The crab meat was tasty and nice size pieces and looked to be backfinn however that is the norm. I have had them all over the easy coast, and these are by far the worst. A good meal is hard to come by here. On the plus side, My uncle liked the prime rib and my wife liked the pasta/veggie dish, but that is almost impossible to get wrong.
(1)M M.
I hadn't been here and years and was shocked and disappointed with last nights meal. We stopped at the bar and the simple mixed drink I ordered was overly strong with very cheap alcohol. We all ordered appetizers and my shrimp cocktail was defrosted in water and tough and tasteless. My salad was simple and fine. My entree was the seafood platter and if it wasn't for the drawn butter nothing would have had any flavor. The staff was attentive and a I was very sad that an iconic place like this has fallen so far.
(1)Chuck S.
Very, very disappointing visit two weeks ago. I had always heard the Stockyard Inn is wonderful place to sit at the bar to have a drink and order food. Our visit couldn't have been further from the truth. Granted, they were busy that night, I will give them credit for that. However, there was only one bartender working (she indicated she has worked there three years - I'm sure with proper staffing she is very good at what she does) and she was overwhelmed to say the least. The manager made 'visits' to the bar area but was not at all friendly. To add insult to slow bar service, we were one of those at the bar denied food service -not sure how the selection process works there, but others were served so it was some sort of pick and choose process to see who was allowed to order food. After two drinks (some places even offer a complimentary drink when service is slow, however by other reviews, it seems as though poor service is the norm here), we headed to Lancaster City to another establishment and received the type of excellent service one expects when dining out. We have marked this one as 'never again' on our restaurant list! Attention -- Attention: Calling 'Restaurant Impossible'!! (see other reviews not associated with this review)
(1)Carolyn C.
We were very excited to go to the Stockyard Inn after it was highly recommended by several people as a great place to hold our rehearsal dinner. When we arrived we were greeted by a rather snooty hostess who spent ten minutes arguing with other staff members about where to seat us. We had called ahead and made a reservation (for 4) so I was puzzled as to why she seemed surprised by our presence. After we were seated we waited for another 10-15 minutes before a waitress came to the table and gave us a menu. When she finally came back to take our orders she barked at my future mother in law that she couldn't order the shrimp and crab dish she wanted because she was looking at the wrong menu. She then left for another few minutes to go check with the kitchen to see if she could still put in the order without taking the rest of our orders, When she came back she finished taking the rest of our orders but failed to clearly indicate whether the shrimp and crab dish had been available so my future mother in law just sat there with the menu until the food came. My future in laws ordered the french onion soup which was okay, the cheese was good but some of the onions were still raw. My fiancee and I ordered the cheddar broccoli which tasted like pureed baby food. Mine was so salty no one could eat it. The waitress finally brought out some bread which was completely tasteless and some hard butter which tasted like the inside of a refrigerator. I ordered the petite prime rib with a the wild rice medley and mixed vegetables. The prime rib was cut extremely thick and had a ton of fat. It was tender and moist but completely tasteless. I only ate a few bites of the meat because it was so blah. The wild rice was delicious. The vegetables were forgettable My fiancee ordered the file and like the prime rib it was completely tasteless although tender and juicy, His garlic mashed potatoes tasted as if someone had drizzled a little garlic butter over the top but after the first bit it was just whipped potatoes. My future mother in law ordered shrimp stuffed with crab meat which was delicious. My future father in law ordered the chicken almondine which was bland, breaded chicken. No one really ate much and we decided not to take the leftovers, When the waitress came to clear away our plates she reached over people and nearly cut my neck with a steak knife. She was so oblivious that when I moved away she almost did it again. We won't be going back.
(1)Laura J.
My family has been coming to the Stockyard for the past ten years. Last night was our last meal here. The service was atrocious. Our waiter, was an absolute jerk to the busboy assigned to our table as well as my in-laws. He was pushing us to leave and didn't offer our table of six dessert, we had to ask. The food was 50/50. The snapper soup was delicious, as usual. The crab augratin was off tasting (we've had it before and it was always a favorite), and the scallops were VERY under cooked. The desserts we ordered, much to our waiter's dismay, were tiny and bland. It ended up being one of the most offensive meals my family and I have shared together. Unfortunately, for the stockyard, they've lost a very good customer who will never again spend $400 on rude service and sub-par food.
(1)Barry S.
We have eaten here 3 times over the last year or so. Our experience has been about the same each time. Their prices are very high but the food is well prepared and tastes good. Their big problem is service. It is extremely slow. I don't like being rushed when we eat, so we like it on the slow side, but this place is too far in that direction. If they are having some kind of party (and they were each time we ate there) the service is awful. Yesterday we ate there for lunch and my wife ordered one of their salads with a piece of Salmon added. She wanted this for her main dish. I ordered a salad and one of their great burgers. My salad was brought out from the kitchen after waiting about 15 minutes. My wife's salad was not delivered at that time since it was her main dish. I ate my salad (pretty good Greek salad) and we waited for about another 10-15 minutes before the waitress cleared my plate. We sat another 25 minutes until our main dish was brought out. My wife had sat for almost an hour since ordering before getting her food. When the food arrived, I commented to the waitress that service was extremely slow and she didn't even apologize or make any comment. We ate and then waited 10-15 minutes before she came to clear the plates. She asked if we wanted dessert and said she would bring the dessert tray. It took another 10 minutes for her to bring the tray. We ordered dessert to go because we had already spent almost 2 hours there and had other things to do with our day. We will never return to this restaurant and that is a shame since the food is good. The service is just terrible. If you do go here and the parking lot is full, this probably indicates they are having a party in one of their private rooms. Be prepared for a long meal.
(2)Fan T.
Pros: The crab cakes were the best I've had!! Cons: The service was not so good, it took at least 10 minutes before our server came and took drink orders. She was kinda checked out.. Not very tentative, plus she reeked of smoke, coming back to check on us, that's why it took so long for her to do anything, too bad. I would come back for the food and make sure I had one of those more professional servers.
(4)Lisa E.
Charming old school. This is a review of the bar. Food is generally good. Have had both excellent (Soft Shell Crab sandwich) and just routine food. Have been back many times because the bar staff is friendly and easy. My biggest gripe is that their glasses are so small, you can finish the drink in 3 sips, requiring continual attention by the bar staff an a unnecessary work load to an already overtaxed staff. It's bizarre. Certainly does not compete to other local bars like Fenz, Belvedere or Checkers. They know how to make a drink and serve it in an appropriate glass .
(3)A F.
Took family here (again) while visiting Lancaster. White tablecloth dining, candles, the whole bit. Waitron was great. Food, as always, was great. Started with oysters, ended with crabcakes and cheesecake. Really lovely place, great service, outstanding food, outstanding value.
(5)Joanna C.
One thing to say: Peaunt Butter Pie. (The best EVER!) My dad has been coming to eat here since the 60's when he was a starving student. And, each time we are in the Caster, we go back. Thier food is great but seriously, try th peanut butter pie. And, take a piece to go for later, you wont regret it.!
(5)Anita B.
Don't let the outside of this place or the dated decor inside fool you; this place is fantastic! We came here for a large family dinner and we've been for other events as it is a favorite of one of my family members who lives nearby. They have the best bar I've ever been to in my life. Drinks are always excellent, taste great and they don't skimp on the alcohol. Food is always expertly prepared and arrives hot and fresh. The calamari is a must for an appetizer. I think our large extended family has ended up trying just about everything on the menu here over the years and it has all been good. The owners are very kind and generous, very nice people. I am not here often, but every time Im in the area visiting family, we come here and I look forward to it. Definitely check it out!
(5)Rick H.
Ok, have been going here for 50+ years. My wife and her family also have been going here for the same time frame. Originally, it was the restaurant, and bar, for the cattlemen of the Lancaster Stock Yards. Back in the '60's, this was the largest stock yards east of Chicago. My friend Pat M....... was a cattleman there, and he would be at the bar, with a bunch of other cattlemen, having lunch, a bunch of drinks, and talking cattle business. There used to be a lot of stuff on the floor that look, smelled, and oh yeah, it was fresh cow dung, because the guys had just been at the auction pens, buying and selling their cattle. If I didn't know Pat real well, I might have been considered an outsider. So, the place has a lot of real history, and we Lancastrian's value such a place. I feel a little remorseful about writing about this place. We like to keep such places to ourselves. But in deference to the new owners, it's probably been 6-10 years now, they do an excellent job, and I think that deserves a review. The bartender is a real, old time, professional, bartender, who will make you a good bourbon drink, a martini, or any real cocktail. So talk to him, and maybe he will have some good, classic drink recommendations. He makes each drink like it was his last one. This is a place where you can enjoy a good drink. Like the other reviewers said, they don't skimp on the alcohol. The food is very good. Daily specials.
(4)Tara R.
Just left there 10 mins ago. Terrible service... Food for an old pallet.. Will not go back!! On a lighter note.. The Bartender was fantastic.. For GREAT food at a reasonable price go to the LUCKY DOG on Columbia Ave!!
(4)Kelley J.
First, let me preface that while I was sitting in Stockyard Inn, I was angry and vowed I would never return. The waitress flat out sucked. She was absent for most of the time, and did not attend to my table. The surrounding tables that had a different waiter received good service, but not me. This place is fancier, so just be prepared for chandelier lighting and a pricey menu. The Stockyard Inn's history is very interesting. It used to be owned by a president and is one of the longest running steakhouses in the USA. (Look it up.) Ok, so why I'm giving 4 stars and I have gone back within 3 days of my terrible waitress experience: THE FOOD. I got a no frills, straight-forward burger. Their signature burger, which was made up of ground filet mignon trimmings. I ordered it medium. It was the juiciest, most delicious burger I can remember ever having. Wow. Delicious.
(4)Jeff F.
Had a great surprise when I got to the stockyard, my family was there to great me for my birthday. Great surprise set up by my girlfriend. The atmosphere was great at the stockyard. Our waiter, Hunter was friendly and very knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. I had the delmonico steak that was melt in your mouth good. Only complaint was the garlic mash potatoes really had no garlic taste. All 10 people in our party had a great meal. Thank you for a birthday to remember.
(4)Richard S.
Excellent food. Service was great and the waiter was very attentive. I had the filet which was cooked perfectly and delicious as were the fresh vegetables. My wife had the filet and crab cakes. She raved about the crab cakes saying she loved them.
(5)