Food is always top notch, excellent selection of beers on draft, great atmosphere and friendly service. Only complaint is that the people who answer the phone to take your reservation should cheer up a little bit, they were pretty rude.
(5)
Katie W.
The Belvedere will always be my favorite place to dine and drink in Lancaster, maybe anywhere! I seriously love this place! The decor and ambiance is beautiful in both the dining room and upstairs lounge. Very romantic, elegant, and charming. The BEST martinis, and the BEST grilled Cesar's ever. They grill an entire head of romaine and it's amazing. Also love the bruchsetta. Love how they serve water from pitchers that are infused with oranges, lemons, and limes. The service is always first class. I am never disappointed. i always want to go to the Belvedere when I am at home visiting.
(5)
Chris M.
I have been here so many times I've literally lost count and have never had a meal that was anything less than perfect. They change up about a quarter of the entrees probably about twice a year which keeps the menu constantly fresh. The food is made from fresh local ingredients where possible and the prices run the gamut from pretty shi-shi to an-ap-and-a-salad (which BTW is plenty of food) for under $20. One of my favorite things here is the Grilled Ceaser Salad...they take the whole slab of Romaine lettuce and char the face of it on the grill...sounds odd but tastes awesome topped with tenderloin tips too. The wait-staff is awesome...fast, fun, and friendly. All of my NY friends love this place and always want to go here when visiting Lancaster.
(5)
Garrett B.
I really enjoyed lunch here. It has a really intimate and eclectic atmosphere and the service was attentive. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the petite grilled Caesar salad. I have to say, I generally do not enjoy salad, but it was to die for. I think it has something to do with the reggiano cheese and warm croutons on the salad. The Mac and cheese was good, but a tad too rich. Even though I did not partake, the dessert options looked and sounded delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant. It definitely is a great contributor to Lancaster's food scene.
(4)
downtowngirl j.
OK - How could you NOT give this 5 stars?? Coming from NJ and used to eating out in NYC restaurants, this dining experience was comparable if not better than most places I've been! Romantic setting, great bar, food was top notch, service impeccable, all around fantastic! The organic salmon was delish and the mussels...yum! The prices were BEYOND reasonable too!
(5)
Christopher P.
I've been coming here for many years and it has always been very clean and the food is always top notch. The Ceaser salad is the best I have ever tasted. If you go here, you must get it, if not as a meal then as a side dish. The escargot is super yummy. The staff is very nice and friendly. The upstairs is nice to take a date for a drink. Although there is no dress code, it is a fine dining restaraunt and you should dress according. Martini's are awesome as well. It is pretty safe to park your car along the restaraunt. It is a main street so there is high traffice and less crime. I have all good things to say about this place, so go give it a shot if you haven't already. It's not the Olive Garden so don't go there thinking your going to spend the same price for meals. It is fince dining like I said and well worth the money. From 1-10. 1-inexpensive, to 10 being very expensive. I give it a 6. It is pretty averaged priced for a fine dining restaraunt.
(5)
Brian H.
Went here a few weekends ago and realized I forgot to write my review. I will keep it short based on what I remembered (which might not be much since I was really enjoying some Scotch that night). We arrived early and had a seat at the bar while we waited for our table. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the bartender who genuinely took pride in his craft. Our drinks were relatively simple but watching him make a few martinis and various cocktails was actually fun and encouraged us to order some of the specialty cocktails with dinner. Now to dinner. We had a really nice table towards the back of the restaurant which was full and abuzz all night. Crowded but not cramped. I ordered the dumpling appetizer and my girlfriend ordered the petite grilled ceasar based on all of the reviews and recommendations. The dumplings were ok and the ceasar was quite good. Who knew that romain lettuce had flavor? Apparently someone found out when they accidentally charred it. Pretty cool, despite the fact that it kind of smelled like a Phish concert, if you follow me.. I ordered the swordfish which was served with finger potatoes, onions, roasted red peppers and green beans. All of which was excellent. The vegetables actually stood out based on their freshness and the fish was quite well prepared with very good portioning. My girlfriend got the shortribs which were also very very good as well as the macaroni and cheese which accompanied it. This dish was huge so I ended helping with some so I can attest to the fact that it was very good. The meat was tender and done just right and the accompanying veggies again were fresh. I don't recall if we got any dessert, but I am thinking not. I know we enjoyed a couple of the specialty drinks though and were eager to go upstairs to listen to some music. We went up to Crazy Shirley's after dinner for a drink and some jazz both of which were just what we needed to finish the night off. If you have read any of my other reviews, you will get that we are people watchers and this bar provided plenty of it. It has a very mixed crowd with very mixed agendas. It was fun watching men and women alike "work the room". Not sleazy but still interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed my night here and look forward to returning. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that the menu is relatively, for lack of better terms, safe. I would like to see a little bit more daring in an upscale place such as this.
(4)
John G.
Great, fresh, creative, big portions, and best outdoor dining in Lancaster! What else could you want, oh, and its reasonably priced! My favorite restaurant in town. I love the lettuce wraps and shrimp and vege tempura! YUM, JAI BABA
(5)
Matt W.
The wife and I ate here on a Sunday night in April 2008. The menu had plenty of options that excited us, and based on another Yelp review we both had glasses of wine and agree that they pour a liberal amount for the price. The food was pretty darn good. I can't complain about how anything was cooked, and we were happy with what we ordered and the quality of the ingredients. The one thing that really bothered me and is preventing me from giving them another star was the lack of staff. Even though we were seating promptly and there were empty tables, it took way too long for our waiter to take our order (30 minutes, probably). They seemed very short on staff. Not sure if someone called in sick or if this was a trend, but sitting there with nothing to nibble on or drink got old pretty quickly. I'd go back, however if we experienced the same wait again, that would be our last time.
(3)
JESSE S.
DATE: once a week ATMOSPHERE: Tasteful, upscale decor in an old Victorian-style building. Sophisticated and charming. PROS: Outstanding bar service and drink quality...Jamie rocks. Not many vegetarian items to choose from but the winter risotto is delicious. Friends rave about the grilled ceasar salad. Service is adequate. Mixed crowd, gay-friendly. Smoke-free. CONS: Dining and bar areas can get quite loud when it's busy. A little pricey but still in line with similar local establishments. WILL I GO BACK? Absolutely.
(4)
Tarah F.
Awesome place to gather for great food and drinks! The bruschetta is out of this world! It's a regular for us!
(5)
Dick H.
Excellent food and good service, with ambience to match. A great place for a special occasion.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Jamie was great, baccala cigars & Thai lettuce wraps scrumptious & crab chowder excellent. Love the Malbec. Thx for a delightful night out with friends!
(5)
Manny O.
It's a great spot to eat and a favorite spot to chill wit my favorite girl
(5)
melissa k.
The atmosphere is unspeakable
(5)
Rick H.
Ok, this is a great place. Old style Victorian Mansion that makes a great dining experience. Very good food. Good drinks. Good service. One of our top choices in Lancaster. The other reviewers are correct. Upstairs, there is a bar area, that on weekends, is a pretty interesting mixed crowd some gay -- some straight, some old, some hip, that mixes well together, with a jazz or light rock --live entertainment. If we have dinner on the weekend, we normally will stop upstairs.
(4)
Carrie Y.
A wonderful choice for a nice evening out. The grilled Caesar salads are superb!
(5)
Jeff G.
Very nice menu, simple and interesting - would have liked more US wine choices though. Atmosphere is good, we were on the second floor in a nice nook overlooking Queen Street. A jazz band was playing (cool) but the bar was noisy a few feet away (not so cool). I expected a little more quiet environment but my wife and I had a great time - great servers and customer service!
(4)
Jaime K.
I go here a couple times a year. Basically, every time I'm back in Lancaster. The caesar salad is so unique and tasty. Everything else on the menu looks great too...maybe one day I'll tear myself away from the caesar and branch out. The decor is a little over the top (screams "special occasion"), but you don't need to dress to match it. The place is pretty unpretentious, really. GO.
(5)
Michelle W.
My mother and stepfather live in the Lancaster area. My husband and I were recently visiting and they took us to dinner at the Belvedere Inn. The decor is beautiful. The place is another gorgeous turn-of-the-century mansions for which Lancaster is known and it's painstakingly decorated and restored. We only had dinner, but the bar is gorgeous and looks like it would be a great place to hang out and have a few. We went on a Sunday night, so it was pretty slow, but the food was great. I wasn't blown away by either the menu or the prices at first, but my opinion changed by the end of the meal. Wine by the glass is around $8/glass, entrees are about $22-25, etc. Basically, everything seemed high to me because it looked like DC prices. But there were some differences. First of all, the portion sizes. The wine came in enormous glasses. I'm not a big drinker to start with, but I nursed mine all night long. The entrees were enormous as well. My grilled ahi tuna entree was at least twice the size of an entree one would receive in a city such as Washington or New York. All of the entrees came with salads and if you paid an extra $2, you could upgrade to the grilled Caesar which is some sort of specialty of the house. It sounds a little schticky, but it's really quite good. The dressing is almost an anchovy aioli and the romaine is grilled just right. The food was delicious. My ahi was seasoned perfectly and there was no need to reach for the salt or pepper. The bed of grits and spinach on which it sat was absolutely perfect. And it really was too much food. If anything, I'd say the Belvedere should be serving 1/2-2/3 portions and charging appropriately. We managed to finish, only because it was so delicious, but if I'd known how big my entree would be, I would not have ordered the delectable escargots in hazelnut butter.
(4)
Bill E.
Worst service and rudest staff I've ever seen, anywhere. Had one cocktail and some appetizers at the bar, late afternoon, early evening... the bartender could not have been less professional. Disappointing on every level.
(1)
Stacie M.
I just don't get it. I've eaten here three times and haven't been all that impressed. The Holiday decor was phenomenal though. So cozy! A good place for a holiday meal. The grilled romaine was soggy and wilted all three times I ordered it. My appetizers have been good, and my entrees were good. just good. Maybe I'm just here on bad nights, but I can't piece together the rave reviews.
(3)
Dennis S.
Thanksgiving night 2009. Everything else in walking distance was closed. Food and service were excellent. Next time I am in Lancaster I will return
(4)
Lisa E.
Great food, "Big Boy Drinks", friendly atmosphere. The main bartender downstairs, Jamie, can be a little cranky. Other bartenders see him as a primadona, which is obvious and although I love the bar sometimes I am not in the mood for him. Certainly may be considered Philly Light if you know that city experience
(4)
A D.
Unless you are from the area or work for a company located there, I don't know why anyone would be in Lancaster, PA. This is a small town in the middle of Amish country that is home to many major manufacturing companies in the US and not much else...hence the reason for my visit. The corporate office for my company is located there and during my last trip to headquarters I found myself dining is the quaint little downtown area of Lancaster. The Belvedere fits in quite nicely on the picturesque Queen St. and made a very good impression on me. The appearance of the building (inside and out) is very attractive, the waite staff is friendly and informative and the food is fantastic. I had the swordfish special which was a 9 out of 10, but I'm a little spoiled when it comes to seafood so maybe an unbiased person would have given it a 10. For appetizers we had brochette and also a crap dip as well, both deserve a perfect 10 rating as far as I am concerned. If you find yourself in Lancaster, stop in and enjoy the night; the Belvedere is a jewel hidden in the land of the followers of Jakob Ammann ;)
(4)
Mark K.
Always a fun time at the Belvedere, and the menu is the among the most original I've seen anywhere in or out of Lancaster. The food and drinks are terrific, the bar nice, and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. All those good points can sometimes even make you forget that you've been waiting for too long for your food on busy nights. Still, one of my top spots in town.
(4)
C Z.
Great food and atmosphere. I went with the Pennsylvanian venison, carpaccio, and the butternut squash salad. I will definitely come here again. Good call for a date.
(5)
Jack L.
Upscale lunch and dining. Great service. Went for lunch. Dark, Victorian charm. The BLT was EXCELLENT. Best lunch sandwich ever...... In house braised bacon put it over the top. Not your normal BLT.
(5)
Jackie M.
The food was delicious but service was really slow. I had the filet and scallops for an appetizer. I'll come again but only for a special occasion since it's pretty expensive.
(3)
JC N.
I was in Lancaster for the evening and The Belvedere Inn came recommended. I called late afternoon the same day hoping for a 7:30 p.m. reservation for two people, but was politely told that 9 p.m. was their first opening. I was politely informed that if we want to, we could eat at one of the bars, which has the same menu as table service. With very high expectations, we took a chance and arrived at the Belvedere Inn at about 7:30 p.m. In a nutshell: Our Belvedere dining experience was a solid 5 stars in all respects. Overall food quality: Excellent. We had the entree size grilled caesar salad with chicken for an appetizer. It was warm and delicious. The chicken was fresh. The dressing was terrific. Our entrees consisted of Chilean sea bass and pretzel crusted veal. Both were perfectly prepared and presented. Dessert: Banana Bread Pudding. Again, excellent. Food quality: A solid 5 stars. Service: Since we did not have a reservation, we did not expect to be seated at a table when we arrived. We opted to head to the upstairs bar and determine if it was suitable for eating dinner. We quickly decided eating at the upstairs bar would be fine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of room. Comfortable chairs and a well placed foot rest around the bar. Live jazz, not too loud so we could carry on a conversation. We found the service to be outstanding. The bartender who served us (originally from NY, I think his name was John), extensively knew every menu item. He answered all of our questions. He was attentive but not overbearing. Perfect service. Again, a solid 5 stars for service. We found it easy to park in front of the restaurant. When we left about 9:15 p.m., every table in the upstairs area was full. It is easy to understand why. I enthusiastically recommend The Belvedere Inn. I would absolutely eat there again without any hesitation.
(5)
Kevin J.
This restaurant showed up as one of the most highly reviewed restaurant w good ratings of 4 stars So my family and i stopped by after visiting sight & sound theatre We got the table at the beautiful deck without any waiting time But we would never go back to this restaurant and wouldn't recommend to anybody and here's why Appetizer - Steamed Mussels : mussels undercooked / wine used in the broth too strong Main dishes - Filet mignon w extra side of fries : ordered medium rare but came out as medium well / inside brown / waste of good steak / Fries didn't come out (but didn't ask for it since all the foods were very disappointing... And didn't even appear on the check so i guess waitress forgot about it) - Fried Veal : no comment my brother took one bite of it and stopped eating - Pan seared salmon : undercooked / too salty - Short ribs w side of macaroni gratin & string beans : ribs and string beans too salty / mac and cheese tasted worse than that of supermarket... And on the way back home, we had to make sudden stop in the middle of four way intersection few blocks away from the restaurant b/c of four kids (seemed like high schoolers) who just ran across the street when the crossing light wasn't even on and even yelled & cursed at us for approaching... Wow We really loved and enjoyed the show we watched at the sight and sound theatre but the food and the people just ruined everything in the end
(1)
Todd B.
I recently visited The Belvedere Inn on my trip to Lancaster, and I am really happy that I stopped into the bar for a cocktail and dinner. I was greeted by a really friendly and funny bartender who seemed to be a standard there for some time, and she knew everyone who came into the bar seemingly except for me. The Manhattan cocktail was one of the best I've ever had, served "up" in a large cocktail glass, and beautifully presented. For dinner, I chose the quinoa shrimp and the grilled caesar salad with chicken. The quinoa shrimp was really creative and something I've never experienced elsewhere, and I loved it. The shrimp were generous in size, and covered in a light coating of quinoa. While the Inn is famous for its grilled caesar salads, I honestly was not impressed. I was served an heaping plate of romaine lettuce and a somewhat dry chicken breast on the top of it. There was not enough cheese or dressing to cover the lettuce, and it just simply was way too much lettuce. For the same price, I would have much preferred 3-5 hearts or leaves of grilled romaine with grilled chicken and dressing to the huge lettuce head on my plate. It was difficult to eat, mostly dry and just too much. Less is more would be true in this case. I was sad that Crazy Betty's was closed upstairs, but I'll be back. Overall, despite the salad, I really liked the vibe, the local flavor, and the food at the Belvedere Inn.
(4)
Nataly N.
I haven't actually tried the food here, but I spent a very pleasant time at the upstairs bar, enjoying some pleasant company while listening to some incredible live jazz music. The atmosphere is so classy and relaxed. The restaurant is gorgeous. There are beautiful light fixtures throughout the restaurant and paintings on the walls. And there are great seating options inside or outside on the balcony. My party had a really great time. Everyone enjoyed their cocktail selections, though someone pointed out that the drink made with elderflower liqueur (I forget the name) was a bit too sweet. I had the coconut mojito, which was very enjoyable. The restaurant was busy, but not too crowded. When I glanced at the tables, I saw great food presentation. They have special deals every day of the week, including $1 Kobe burger sliders on Mondays and karaoke on Wednesday nights at 10pm. It would be lovely to come back for a full meal on my next opportunity.
(5)
Liz B.
My husband and I enjoyed a romantic anniversary dinner here in June. When I made the reservation I let them know that we were celebrating our 20th anniversary. To our surprise not only were we seated near the fireplace but there were beautifully printed place cards with a personalized anniversary greeting! We were also treated to a champagne toast on the house. The service was good and our meals were delish. We would definitely return.
(5)
Alexandra K.
The Belvedere is most definitely my favorite bar/lounge to frequent in Lancaster. The downstairs bar has a very classy, old school vibe to it the bartenders down there are great, especially Jamie! Upstairs you'll find Crazy Shirley's, which feels like a more upbeat jazz bar. Along with a bar and quite a few low tables and comfy chairs, there is also a piano bar you can sit at. Occasionally, they will have local jazz bands performing upstairs, which adds to the experience. All of the food I have tried so far is amazing, especially the baked crab dip! The cocktails are also delicious. Try the Ambrosia, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Adam E.
You can't really beat $1 Kobe sliders on bao buns. I stopped in for a few of those, and ended up also getting an incredible grilled Caesar salad (1/4 wedge of romaine, grilled, with a subtle creamy dressing and fresh croutons) and a couple of drinks. We actually went upstairs to Crazy Shirley's since the downstairs bar was too crowded, so the atmosphere was a little more Jazz than Standards. The bartender was colorful and friendly, and he went out of his way to see to it that we had a good time on our short stay in Lancaster. He even asked around with the locals at the bar to get some opinions on where else we should check out after dinner. The food was awesome, the drinks were great too, and the company was excellent. The neighborhood was a little sketchy though, so for the walk from the car, keep your city face on and your bear mace in your pocket.
(4)
Virginia Y.
I came here for a birthday lunch with the boyfriend. Very cozy atmosphere, I could see what it's called Belvedere Inn since the interior highly reflects it. We sat at the bar area for $1 kobe burger sliders. The moment we sat down, we were immediately greeted with free birthday champagne and printed birthday cards from the restaurant itself. Woo! We ended up ordering 4 kobe burger sliders, side of fries due to the recommendation of the barista and steamed mussels. The food came pretty quick, the mussels was a generous serving. The kobe burger sliders were okay, I'm surprised at how popular they were. They really tasted pretty average to me. The sauce was just a basic sweet chili sauce. I liked the buns though, it reminds me of steamed buns served with pork belly or peking duck. The fries were disappointing. I can't believe they recommended it. It tasted like McDonald's fries to me, beyond average.. We wrapped up our meal with pumpkin creme brulee and a dark chocolate flourless tart. The pumpkin creme brulee was quite..unique. I think I prefer regular creme brulee instead of special flavored ones.. It tasted like a slice of pumpkin pie. It was a bit too much. The pumpkin changed the entire taste of the creme brulee, it was a bit weird. Not only that, the top was kind of burnt, burnt to the point that it tasted bitter... I'm sorry Belvedere but I've had better creme brulee at DisneyWorld...that says a lot. The dark chocolate tart was much much better than the creme brulee but I found it to be too sweet. It's pretty dense though, I liked the texture but I'm not sure if the raspberry jam complimented the dish well... All in all, there needs to be some tweaking done with the food but otherwise the atmosphere was really nice, decent lighting, cozy environment, love the jazz. I'm also pretty surprised at the pricing of this place. Mussels were $10 but desserts were $8? Seems to me that sweets are overpriced here. Not sure if I'd come back here or not yet since my boyfriend's sweet tooth would like to have the pots de creme. I heard they have jazz hour or drink specials on the weekends so we'll see. P.S. the champagne although free tasted blah.
(3)
Steven Z.
My friends from Lancaster took me here to initially try to Coby Beef sliders for a buck, but the bar was rather full and they didn't offer the $1 dollar deal at the tables but we could get them off the menu for $3 a piece in orders of 3...no thanks, I understand a "deal" at the bar but should work both ways just require tables to order drinks or something. Anyway beyond that little annoyance the food here was fantastic the waitress was very attentive and the environment was very calm and relaxing. I ordered the Salmon and it was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was the bed it was laying on was a bit on the sweeter side and was over powered with lemon juice. I still managed to eat most of it as it was still very flavorful. Based on the full experience the money spent was well worth it.
My husband and I come here any chance we get when we don't have our kids with us. It's a bit pricy but so worth it! We never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Ken V.
Had a wonderful family dinner here just before Christmas. I started off with an appetizer and then enjoyed a small plate of shrimp tacos for my main course. The food was superbly prepared, from beginning to end. The wine list was ample, with something for everyone. Service was fabulous. Prompt and courteous without rushing or being overbearing at all. Just right. Will definitely keep this on my list for future family visits in Lancaster.
(5)
Joanna H.
Wednesday nights upstairs in Crazy Shirley's lounge is where I like to be! The bartender up there is superb and always so attentive. I rotate between tableside and barside, both are excellent. Normally there's a great atmosphere and tons of fun to be had. I have been a little disappointed the last few months because there seem to be a lot of private parties upstairs on Wednesdays. I don't blame anyone for wanting to have a meeting or party at the belvedere, can we talk about how amazing the food and drinks are?? It makes perfect sense, but it totally kills the crowd. I just wish that the private parties were on a different night than wednesday. I always bring friends since the belve is a fabulous place to meet new people, but they have yet to experience the amazing culture you guys work so hard to create!! Bring back that weds night atmosphere and claim the 5th star I want so badly to give you!
(4)
Nicholas C.
I've got to say for a place in little old Historic Lancaster this place is fancy!! Come for an awesome meal during the day on a fancy date or dance it up late night and go to the bar for a drink!! Always a welcoming environment!!
(5)
Wayne W.
Wow. This place has jumped the shark. Just to many flavors in one recent dish. Not impressed and very expensive
(3)
Sarah S.
I have been here twice: once with my mother for appetizers/drinks and more recently I went here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend. We typically don't have the money to eat here but splurged since it was a special occasion. Be prepared to pay a decent amount of money here but it is entirely worth it. First of all the interior is fabulous -- love the decor and they change it for the seasons/holidays. It is classy and tasteful yet fun! The service was also impeccable. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and able to provide accurate descriptions as well as make recommendations based on our likes/dislikes/questions we had asked... this goes for food and drinks. The specialty drinks they have there are delicious and fun. I've tasted the Juan Carlos (was hoping it would be a tad spicier), Ambrosia, and also a raspberry/chocolate/espresso martini that the bartender made for us on the house since they had forgotten one of our salads we ordered. All of them were GREAT. They also have a large wine and beer selection. Now we get to the food... We got the Kobe sliders as an appetizer and WOW they were faaaaantastic. We also got the mussels to share and they were quite tasty as well. We ended up splitting an entree since we were starting to feel full from the appetizers and loved whatever it was that we ordered. Can't seem to remember exactly what it was other than it was a type of fish. I believe it was a special that day. The only thing that was sort of a bummer was that they charged a "plating fee" to split up the entree onto two plates. Maybe it is trivial for me to complain about that but I don't feel that's necessary to charge your customers for that. We would have been fine with sharing a single plate before paying for another one for the same amount of food. Overall, great experience and highly recommend going!
Jamie is the best. Go for the drinks, stay for the Kobe burgers. Great stuff. Great atmosphere, honestly, I think it changes every time I go. Not too dark and not too light, so you can see what you are eating. But you feel comfortable, almost cozy, with your date.
(5)
Aaron D.
Another great meal at The Belvedere Inn. A group of 9 celebrating a birthday and this is a great location for any event or dinner. Seated just as we walked in with a special greeting for the birthday boy. Service is quick with good explanation of the specials and bar offerings. I had the Pan Seared Black Sea Bass, Chilled Smoked Crab Udon Noodle Salad, Lemon Avocado Aioli, Kale, Mushrooms, Pickled Radishes, Red Pepper Coulis. The fish could have been a bit larger, but no real complaints. Started with the grilled Caesar Salad (a Belvedere must) and 4 Blue Point Oysters. Very nice sauce on the cold Udon Noodles that pared well with the fish and the noodle's. Wife had the Free Range Chicken Breast with Fresh Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Chasseur Sauce. Excellent dish. The Chasseur sauce had a bit to much salt, but it was cut by the chicken and/or potatoes. Shared and excellent white, milk and dark chocolate dessert that was rich and just sweet enough. Bar in far one of the best restaurants in Lancaster.
(4)
Stephanie G.
We had a wonderful dinner here to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday! They made her so happy with the personalized HAPPY BIRTHDAY napkin insert. The food was delicious and the waiter was great!!!
(5)
Jon L.
I don't eat salads. But get the grilled Caesar. I repeat, get the grilled Caesar. Also, get the grilled Caesar with shrimp
(5)
Catherine C.
My family and I LOVE The Belvedere. We always order the Bruschetta, it's a must! Get the grilled Caesar, you won't be disappointed. Service is great, ambiance is quiet but not uptight. Highly recommend this restaurant. Oh...don't forget to get a martini!
(5)
J K.
Great, attentive service from Tia. Well crafted drinks were the star of the night (my wife loved the drink Tia recommended in the menu). Our appetizer was a plate of pot stickers with an original dipping sauce. I wish I had tried to identify what was going on in the sauce a little better. Seemed like Asian fusion as opposed to anything traditional. I would order it again. The entrees varied. The crawfish pasta in Cajun cream sauce was excellent. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the sauce was rich and flavorful. My pepper crusted ribeye steak was off point. It was overcooked, more resembling medium well when I requested medium rare. Credit where it's due: the steak had a nice char to it and the accompanying sauce added favor and the desired moisture the steak was lacking. I didn't complain because it was overall a good dish, but I would think twice before ordering steak here (my first grilled to order dish at the Belvedere) Dessert...I do not recommend the banana creme brulee. Ever have a banana that was a little bit past it's prime? You know, the kind where you give it a try despite your better judgment. That seemed to be the main flavor note I detected. The texture was nothing like I would expect from creme brulee. Tia asked us if we would like to have something else. We declined but appreciated the offer and her display of professionalism. I've never been disappointed by an appetizer at the Belvedere nor a drink. The entrees are usually of high quality but I'd stick with the roasted dishes or pasta as opposed to a grilled steak. Honestly, it is becoming a rarity to find a fine dining establishment that can cook a steak to the correct doneness.
(2)
Mary L.
You can't go wrong with this place! Excellent food and staff. We are frequent patrons and eat at the upstairs (Crazy Shirley's) bar and enjoy jazz from 7-10 Fridays or Saturdays. The Thai steamed clams are to die for and there's always several specials to choose from. My husband loves the chicken dish!
(4)
Mike T.
Get a grilled caesar.
(4)
Tom H.
Atmosphere is late 19th century bordello. Very dark and very ornate. We've been there for lunch. The service and food were good. Bar menu is very limited. Good walk as you head up a queen street from downtown.
(3)
Laura W.
My Mom and I visit Lancaster once a year and this is the second time we've visited the Belvedere Inn, for wine and app's. We had Josh as our server, as we did the year before - he's as good as it gets! Very personable, friendly, attentive, honest and gracious. What more can you ask for? As far as the food/drink, loved the wine and the grilled Caesar, but stay far away from the crab dip. It was fishy and had something chewy within. Crab meat should NEVER be chewy. Josh, without hesitation, removed it from our bill. We will definitely be back next year.
(4)
Valerie S.
Definitely a special occasion restaurant as the prices and ambience downstairs are high end. This is the Lancaster home of the grilled Caesar and I crave it periodically and am never disappointed. They also make a killer martini.
(4)
Blue M.
This place has pretty good food and service...which you can read about in everyone else's reviews. The A/C ducts ruined our experience dinning there to the point that it's not worth returning. And from the looks on others faces we weren't the only ones. We were seated next to the fireplace at a two seater table. If you look back towards the front door and up a little there are five A/C vents. When the A/C kicks on it just ruins the dinning experience...too cold. But for the other patrons in the place I am willing to bet it may be to warm at times without the A/C on. Mgt there may need to address the air flow.
(2)
Leigh H.
While the grilled romaine is supposedly the claim to fame, it was OK. Missing some garlic in my opinion. However, everything else we had was superb. My daughter ordered the mussels, my husband the pork belly and my son (4) the lettuce wraps. We all cleaned each other's plates. My daughter's filet was perfectly done, my husband's short ribs were succulent and served with some delicious mac and cheese. I had the pasta with crawfish and it was topped with the most delicious deep-fried okra nuggets. The building itself was beautiful inside and out with tons of charm and character. The service was fabulous and while it could have very easily been just a "date" restaurant, they accommodated us with our two younger kids without missing a beat. This place will definitely be a "do again" during our annual trip to Lancaster.
(4)
Jao S.
Great food and creative drinks! Best in Lancaster. I've never had anything bad here. The grilled Caesar salad is a must. Scottie rocks
(5)
Tom W.
I must have missed something. This place is ok, not great. This was our 2nd stop of the night. The first stop of the night was Pour and it was so good that the Belvedere probably didn't have a chance. We started with the short rib dumplings. They weren't bad, the sweet spice in the meat is different. I'm guessing they had some cinnamon, brown sugar, or a combo of both. They were served in wonton-like wrapper. Nothing special. We also had the Duck spring rolls. Not good. The sparse amount of duck was bland and flavorless. My wife had a Grilled Petite Caeser. It was good. I had the Large Petite Caesar with Shrimp. I admit it was good but it was also 21 bucks. Wow, that is ridiculous. One note, our server was Scottie and he was solid.
(3)
Elianny S.
We were visiting Lancaster and decided to try this place based on the reviews and how cool the building looked. I would describe the decor of this place as old fashioned fancy, very dark because of the wood paneling but in a good way. We came for lunch and it was not very crowded. Most of the diners were older and the atmosphere is very subdued. I ordered the shrimp cocktail and chicken & sausage tortiglioni. The shrimp cocktail was absolutely delicious!! It had shrimp and scallops along with this amazing corn in tomato gazpacho. I really loved everything about it. The tortiglioni was also very good but I think I was already full from the shrimp cocktail and the delicious bread. I thought the price for lunch was very reasonable, the bill came to about $90 for four people. If I'm back in the area I will definitely return for dinner.
(4)
Kyle N.
The Belvedere is my favorite Lancaster restaurant. Start and end your experience in the bar with Jamie (unofficial mayor of Lancaster). Make a reservation. You will want a table to sit and enjoy the exceptional food. I have had it all, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Walter C.
My wife and I had an anniversary meal here in October 2013. The food, service and ambiance were excellent. Can't say that I'm a fan of downtown Lancaster, but this is one of the places that make it worth the effort.
(5)
Jolie H.
Food is decent. The decorations pass the line into tacky, but not terrible. Service is TERRIBLE. There is an older female server who looks older than I believe she is who is ABSOLUTELY RUDE. She has dark/black hair, sort of tall, cheap black and white cross scarf. AVOID THIS SERVER AT ANY COST. First of all, she spoke to us as if she found us absolutely annoying. We were also upstairs because of the jazz and she seamed to be annoyed by the music. I was paying my bills earlier today and accidentally left my wallet on my desk. I was out with my mom, which we made a reservation for, and realized this. We expressed our concern to this horrifying excuse of a server. Instead of offering to save the table while we ran home, she rolled her eyes and said, "what? You can't have dinner without a drink?!?" RUDE. If, as a server, I ever said that to a guest, I would have lost my job long ago. So, my mom and I grabbed my wallet and took our business elsewhere.
(1)
Benjamin B.
This is an excellent bar in Lancaster. Every time I visit, I close the bar one night. The atmosphere is wonderful, and despite loud music/karaoke, I always feel like I can find a table and have a wonderful conversation. I do not know if the bar serves food, but the drinks are strong and cheap! This place is wonderful for a night out with good friends.
(5)
Kim Z.
My friend and I were attending our annual Conference in April. The atmosphere is classy, with rich dark woods. It's old-world style makes you feel like you stepped back into time. The elegance is reflective in the crisp white table cloths, grand fireplaces, and upscale chandeliers. The service was attentive and our luncheon special was fantastic! See you next year!
(4)
Bill M.
Great patio setting for our first trip. Second floor outdoor patio made it for us. Food was good (Sea Bass and Braised Short Ribs w/ Mac and Cheese with the Short Ribs the better of the two entrees) but not great although the ambiance made the meal. Upstairs lounge with jazz combo with good looking bar provides a destination stop for after dinner drinks that tops off the evening. Total package will bring us back.
(3)
Morgan H.
So this is gonna sound crazy.... But, I went to this restaurant for the first time on Saturday night with two friends and I think it was the best meal I've ever had. This opinion also takes into account my friends' food, which I was not shy about sampling myself. First the atmosphere. As you'd expect from an upscale place in an old building lots of exposed woodwork.. Tasteful lighting. We got there a bit early so the plan was to sit at the bar and have a couple drinks before getting a table. We got to talking to the couple next to us and they said that they've come there for EVERY significant event since they got married nine years earlier. How cool is that?? They told us how the bartender is awesome (his name is Jamie) and since we agreed, we decided to eat at the bar. We ordered some drinks. Jamie makes a stiff drink. You get your money's worth. Ok so the food. They had 2 soups for specials that were exquisite. I got the sausage and chicken soup and somebody else got a cream of cauliflower with lump crab soup. The third of us got the scallops appetizer. The soups were fantastic. The scallops were perfect. I was in heaven. On to entrees: My god. I don't even have words to describe how good they were. I got the short ribs. He got the strip steak. She got the braised lamb curry. Are you kidding me?? The steak came with a peach and onion medley that was unique and unreal. The lamb was tender and curry with pumpkin? say WHAAAAAAAAAATT???? The short ribs were probably the best thing I've ever eaten. I have a serious food boner thinking about it right now. Yes this place is so good that I said "food boner" out loud. We wanted to stay for dessert but decided we better let that wait for next time since we were completely full. Anyway, I understand that not everybody has the same experiences at the same places. But for me and my friends, this was hands down the best meal and best dining experience i've had in a long time, if not ever.
(5)
Fabrice L.
From France and visiting the area, some friend recommanded it to us. He was not wrong. Place is really nice. Service is fine. My wife and me both got the scallops appetizer and its was really good except maybe a little "cracking" under the teeth : sand still in there or in the vegetable? The quality of the sauce and vegetable compensated this little deffect. The entrees were also great, with Shrimp Scampi and Pork Chop. And the final was just perfect with a wonderfull Cheesecake we are both fan of! Great place to eat in downtown Lancaster. We recommand it strongly too.
(4)
Amy G.
The grilled romaine lettuce is what this place is known for .... you will not have it made better elsewhere. The dinning area is sensual and romantic. The bar on the first floor is simply modern mixed with classic elements. Upstairs is more trendy, but not trendy in the vein that fades. Favorite evening place to visit in Lancaster. Always has great jazz on Fridays & Saturdays. Go early. Leave around 11pm.
(5)
Charles H.
Excellent establishment. Warmly greeted and taken to a nice upstairs table. Our waiter was knowledgable and competent. He ensured our evening was a success from a service standpoint. The kitchen knows it's job as the dishes were scrumptious and beautifully presented. The baked crab appetizer was tasty. Both of the main dishes we ordered surpassed any preconceived ideas.
(5)
Lexy M.
I swear I'm a good wife, but I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOUR CHEF! Our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner was 5 stars! Everything was amazing, the entrees were done with perfection but in all honestly Belvedere Inn... your GRILLED CAESAR SALAD & MINI ASIAN KOBE BURGERS are enough to keep me happy for life. Seriously, stick me naked in a bug filled hut in the middle of a hot jungle and I'd be fine as long as you provide me with those two appetizers. Thanks again as always Belvedere.. you are my GO TO whenever I'm in Lancaster!
(5)
Don F.
My wife had her wedding shower here and was very happy with the results. With guests from PA, NY, CT and VA it was a pleasant setting to have traveled to for such a special occasion. Everyone enjoy themselves and my mother in law was especially impressed with the manager that day (Dean)
(4)
Todd K.
I live in Lancaster City and I eat out a lot. The Belvedere is one of the very best spots to eat in Lancaster, including the whole county. Service is great. The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing. Grilled Ceasars are popular. I like the Kobe burger appetizer and the Thai lettuce wraps. Bartenders are excellent. My son lives in Boston and he visits I always let him pick the restaurant and never fails.....the Belvedere.
(5)
John S.
The service is very friendly and attentive. Sat at the bar for a few pints and enjoyed the Monday night "sliders" special. Some of the best ground beef I've ever eaten. Very good deal at $1 each!
(5)
Ross W.
Classic and classy. Fantastic food and atmosphere. Did I mention the food is amazing?! Well run establishment. I'd put them up against any place I've ever ate, main line, Palm Beach. Any where.
(5)
Geoff And Jenni G.
Superb... really... upstairs outside patio fabulous... Waiter service attentive/excellent... Great food and superb cocktails... Loved it... would definitely go back and recommend...
(4)
Emma J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. I have yet to have a bad meal there, the grilled chicken caesar salad, bruschetta, mac and cheese are all wonderful. The interior is warm, old and rustic, and very inviting. Weather permitting I recommend asking to be seated on the balcony outside which is beautiful. The upstairs bar is also fun, and decorated well for the holidays. This is a must go to restaurant for anyone visiting the Lancaster area.
(5)
Zach L.
The service is good. Food is sometimes okay, sometimes great. Pricey. Dress is casual to upscale if you are inclined. There is a bar area, a formal sitting area, and a balcony area that overlooks the street (and the smoking area toward the back--avoid that). Overall, this is a decent spot to go in a pinch, but don't go there trying to impress. There is an unaddressed problem with flies (either you are okay with them or you're not).
(3)
Cheral Q.
First timer here, we had asked a few of the local shop owners where to go for dinner and every one of them said to go here, and to get the grilled chicken Caesar. We sat at the bar and had a few beers and some mixed nuts then looked over the menu and decided on the Kobe sliders for our appetizer and the grilled chicken Caesar for main course. Just wow! The presentation alone was amazing, but the taste was fabulous. I now can't wait to go back...Queen street had some fantastic little shops and this meal topped off a great day in Lancaster. I live about 40 minutes away and it's worth the drive. Bravo!
(5)
Julie B.
The Belvedere is a great restaurant choice in Lancaster. The dining room/inn are a little eclectic (leopard carpet), but the food and drinks are all great. The roasted caesar salad is one of their signature items and it is excellent. Do not get the Pittsburgh salad though if you actually want a salad. That was the only "miss" that I've had from the menu.
(4)
Christina S.
Just wanted to stop by for a cocktail. The bar was dark and creepy. We wanted to sit upstairs on the balcony but were told we had to order food in order to sit there...the restaurant was EMPTY! Really! So trying to make the best of it we were just going to go sit at the creepy bar but, I'm really sorry, their was a man sitting next to us that really smelled. I can't pay good money for a unpleasant experience. So, we left. Overall, disappointing.
(1)
Jim M.
Service was excellent, as was the food and wine. I had the lamb, which was done to perfection. We ordered a chocolate dessert which was heaven. My only complaint is that I've had better martinis, but it was a small thing and overall, not worth docking a score of five!
(5)
Lindsay B.
Everytime I go to the Belve I say I am going to order something other than the grilled ceasar but never can get away from it! Grilled ceasar is awesome! The full salad with chicken is delicious, but I could never finish it. Last time I was there, I had the petite salad (still pretty large) with the macaroni and cheese. Both were delicious. Quiet spot for lunch, always good.
(4)
Benny E.
What a cool local joint! On a Friday night they had a great band. The vibe was great and the food was good. The short ribs were very good, not amazing but decent. I liked the Caesar Salads! If I would have known I would have just ordered that. They actually grill a quarter of a head of Romaine, dress it, add chicken or steak, and you have a meal of a salad. It was great!
(4)
Tony H.
This is one of the best places to get a drink in Lancaster during the weekdays. I would describe the atmosphere as an upscale version of cheers "very warm and inviting". The bartenders are always able to lift your spirits with their playful flirting, and ability to converse intelligently.
(4)
Tatyana M.
First time here and VERY impressed. The ambiance is very romantic and cozy. The service was impeccable. The food was out of this world. And the value for all the above was outstanding. The only "complain" is - we do not live in Lancaster, otherwise we'd be here a lot more often.
(5)
MoCe C.
I'd give this place 4 stars just because of the good service, yet was very dissapointed in 2 of my items. A Place like this thats still hangin onto the fine dinning moto. with their last hang nail needs way more life then this place offers. Yes, grilled ceaser was alright, wah-howw. But it lacked enough items to chose from. The appitizers were weak on flavor, n the pizza is over priced n bland.
(3)
Charles E.
Grilled ceasar salad. we saw the reviews and were in downtown Lancaster PA for "first Friday" when most of the businesses in Lancaster open late, put tables out, musicians play. It's really neat.. A few people mentioned the Belvedere and everyone including Yelp reviews kept mentioning the grilled ceasar so we tried it. They have choices with chicken, steak or shrimp. All I can say is this is really a great idea, Why hasn't anyone else thought of this? Take a huge slice of Roamain, fill it with chopped lettuce with ceasar dressing that's been grilled. Top with jumbo shrimp and we also had the braised short ribs with mac & cheese on the side. Being it was "First Friday" the place was full so we sat at the bar. Which was fine, a couple of margaritas and we were all set for dinner. This place is all done in red, black and old wood. Real warm, real cozy. They also have a outdoor deck on the second floor but with temps outside hovering around 100 we weren't going to try the deck. Real nice place to have drinks and dinner. Try it.
(4)
Cindy T.
Beautiful atmosphere, great service, good drinks, amazing food-everytime, and FUN upstairs bar/music. I love this place for a nice dinner, a great lunch, or even just a drink. Can't ever go wrong, and I highly recommend the grilled caesar salad.
(5)
Mike I.
I had the curried scallop special for lunch - it was delish! We also had the "brucheta" appetizer...which was really just cheesy garlic bread - but it was amazing! Wasn't a huge fan of the "triple chocolate pudding" - I'll stick with the cream brule next time :)
(4)
Samantha P.
Service was average - she wasn't very helpful and didn't appear to want to serve us. We sat downstairs, while it was decorated beautifully for Christmas it was an older crowd. After being told the specials 10 minutes after looking at the menu we both ordered the special "Mahi Mahi" and was forced into ordering the grilled Cesar ( which was overhyped). Fish was not very flavorful and broccoli was edible. The only good part of the meal was the risotto. Definitely overpriced and over hyped, was not the experience I was expecting. Would be cautious when eating here.
(3)
Lisa B.
The Belvedere Inn is well worth a hefty drive from PHL, BWI, MDT airports. If you don't know why you should visit The Belvedere Inn, I'm going to clue you in NOW--GRILLED CAESAR SALADS! OMG these things are one of the most addicting items of food I've ever eaten. Being a native of Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, Belvedere was close, but now, I must make my yearly trip from Las Vegas to feast upon these Caesars. Let the review of the century begin... The Belvedere Inn is a restored historic mansion in downtown Lancaster City that sits on the corner of Queen and Lemon Streets. Walking inside you'll find a Victorian decor that is tastefully mingled with a jazz motif--WOWZA!! From antique chandeliers, to the art deco paintings, this place screams style and class. For some, the decor may be a bit over the top but, let me explain that it's just a prelude until your meal is served. Through the many visits, I can honestly say, "I've always had excellent meals there." Did I mention the Grilled Caesar is amazing? For the sake of redundancy, this salad is world class! They take a half of a romaine lettuce head, grill it; top it with homemade Caesar dressing (not sure if there are anchovies in it?); top it liberally with shaved parmesan reggiano; top it liberally with homemade croutons. What idiot wouldn't like that? Not to mention, if you are into proteins on your salad, you may add: grilled chicken, tenderloin tips, grilled salmon, grilled tuna, sauteed shrimp, or sauteed scallops. It's delightful with the chicken but, I find the foul takes away from my Caesar euphoria. The fiancee has devoured the Caesars with scallops but usually inhales them with medium rare tenderloin tips. Let this be a reminder that these Caesars are not small, and are a meal in themselves. Unless, you are a glutonous pig like yours truly... I've been known to get a Caesar, filet mignon w/two sides, dessert, and a handful of Kir Royales. Our last trip there (a few days ago), we must've been wearing his and her girdles because we only ordered a plain Caesar, Caesar w/tenderloin tips, and the special--Tuscan Chicken. The Tuscan Clucker was chop-lickin' good. It was a sauteed boneless breast of chicken topped with caramelized red pepper and onion, and a dollop of goat cheese. Below the breast was a wild mushroom risotto cake. The plate was drizzled with a balsamic reduction! So you think The Belvedere is expensive, huh? Nope, it's extremely reasonable. How bad do you want to go to The Belvedere Inn now? If you're a lush like me, they have two fully stocked bars. Drinks are well made by their talented mixologists and many top-shelf libations are available! The first bar is near the entrance and the other is on the second floor in Crazy Shirley's Lounge. Full menus are served both floors. I prefer to gorge myself in Crazy Shirley's because, on the weekends they have some relaxing jazz artists rockin' out. Not to mention, you have to stay somewhat sober if upstairs...remember, you have to make it DOWN the stairs, hopefully in one piece. The only negative aspect of this establishment is the service. It always seems as if the servers or food runners are understaffed. So just be patient, because it's worth waiting for! Speaking of waiting, I highly recommend making reservations if you are coming for dinner. Reservations for lunch aren't needed, though there's a steady lunch crowd. For parking info, hours, or just to be nosey check out their website belvedereinn.biz Dear Belvedere Inn, Please relocate to Las Vegas! Thanks in advance! -Lisa
(5)
cd c.
I went to this place last week, while staying close to Lancaster. This restaurant is located on what looks like an old brick building. It located in a downtown area, if you can even call it that. You may park on the street as long as you don't exceed 2 hours as this restaurant has no private parking. We walked in and were promptly greeted and seated, the place was busy since it was saturday night. The athmosphere is awesome and the overall look and decoration inside is outstanding. You have a feeling you are having dinner in an old mansion. We had a few martinis which were just right. Not watered down. Our server was attentive and kept comming back to see if everything ok. Ordered appetizers which were delivered within 10m. We had Cod fish cigars which were interesting. Then had the Scallops and the Rockfish for entrees, which were well cooked and had great flavour. Food was very good overall. Dessert was creme brule. Delicious Its about $100 for a dinner for two, for about 3 cocktails, 2 appetizers 2 entrees and one dessert. It was well worth it though.
Drove by this place on the way to my hotel and couldn't help but notice how great it looked from the outside. When in the hotel, I Yelp'd it and decided to give it a try. Arrived and tried the Fresh Breeze cocktail. Very good... Even though the menu looked great, because it was late, I went for a couple of appetizers: their famous Grilled Caesar Salad and the appetizer size Mussels. The salad was on my table within minutes which made me think it was pre-prepared and waiting...but nonetheless, it was very tasty with a large leaf of romaine, grilled, with an excellent Caesar dressing and croutons on top. The Mussels came in a big pot and seemed huge as an appetizer, but was perfect. The broth was white wine, tomato, onion, and lots of garlic! The Mussel shells were medium size, but the mussels were actually small, but plentiful. The left over soup was excellent with the bread provided. This was a great meal that I highly recommend to anyone traveling through the Lancaster area.
(5)
Kimba Z.
In a beautiful brick building that was originally a residence, the Belvedere Inn is easy to find on North Queen Street, and parking was no problem on a Thursday night. With nice dark lighting and a good wine list, consider it a romantic date place -- if you are an omnivore. People were definitely coming out and drinking and treating themselves on a Thursday night, I noticed. We had 4 drinks between us, 2 appetizers, and split an entree, for a total of $80. For us vegans who still like a nice date night, the Belvedere offered to swap out the salmon on the Lemongrass Salmon dish for a slab of grilled tofu ($24), and it was a huge dish with an excellent preparation that included two Vietnamese-style cold veg rolls, rice noodles, and an avocado puree. This was plenty for the two of us, but we were majorly bummed to read afterward that the great pineapple sauce on the dish was actually a FISH sauce, bleh. I guess vegans have to ask about everything, but we try to not be complete Ps in the A. They also altered the Thai lettuce wraps from chicken to tofu, and these were really good. So they do keep tofu on hand and know what the word vegan means. I continue to urge restaurants with sophisticated kitchen staff such as this to consider keeping one creative all-plant-based entree on the menu. It's not that hard, is a healthy alternative for dieting omnivores or those on a low-cholesterol diet, and sooooo reassuring to us alternative-diet-types to know that there is something we can have without having to relentlessly interrogate the wait staff. Help us spend our disposable income! There is a fun-looking bar upstairs that seems to be a nightclub, with a very friendly bartender. A lot of money is spent keeping this place looking vintagey-hip. I'll return to check out the music upstairs.
(3)
Greg M.
This place is with out question a dynamite place for remarkable cuisine, top notch drinks, excellent service and a cozy, posh ambiance. They also have an upstairs lounge called Crazy Shirley's that rocks loungy beats and have a champion bar staff. They have anything you could ever ask for top shelf and a great bar menu as well. The last time I dined downstairs I had the pan seared duck that blew me off the chair! This place is certainly one of my hot spots I like to take out of town family and friends for dinner and drinks.
(5)
ReviewHaiku F.
Food is whatever. Dirty martini diet Pickle makes the best. (b)
(4)
M W.
Very torn. We've been faithful customers of the Belle for over ten years. The bar - a full five stars. Used to love the restaurant but it is now uneven. Was there two consecutive Mondays, first with four clients and a huge tab, the next Monday got the same waitress who had zero recognition of the person who had given her an amazing tip six days before. Her attitude bordered on the snotty when we decided to just have grilled Caesar's and a glass of wine. Also, I know things are tight in the restaurant business but would it kill the Belevedere to go back to homemade crouton's on the salads? It's their signature and I could buy better at Sam's Club. The rest of the menu is nice but there's more competition downtown that does it better. We'll still go to the Belle for a drink but it's time to find other pastures to dine in.
(3)
Nick R.
Air reeks of old fish. Sticking amaretto in sangria is NOT a "port old fashioned." Weird crowd, poor service.
(1)
Allison S.
Rib-eye was delicious. Snap peas and potatoes were so fresh. Rockfish was very crispy, but the dish overall was unimpressive. The scallop appetizer was okay. Grilled Caesar was good but didn't understand what the fuss is all about. The staff was very nice with the exception of the girl who tops off your water. Both our server and Brandon at the front desk were wonderful. Great atmosphere. Jazz bar upstairs seemed inviting but we couldn't stay.
(3)
H B.
Good lunch! Price was not bad! Will have to give it a try for dinner, next time I'm in Lancaster!
(3)
Edwin H.
We've been in Texas for three years, and the only thing we miss in Lancaster is the Belvedere Inn. Way too good for a county that prefers "hog and trough style" all you can cram in your mouth, but that's all most Lancastrians understand. No offense, but the gene pool has been a little crowded in Lancaster for the last hundred or so years, (and we don't just mean Amish) The Belvedere would stand out in New York, Philadelphia, LA, Austin, or Chicago. When you're good, you're good.
(5)
cotie s.
Mmmm...lamb chops. Mmmm....braised short ribs. The bruschetta and Caesar salad ain't too shabby either. My first time at the Belvedere included the Lamb Chops, done perfectly and followed up with a sweet chocolate cake for desert. The Caesar salad is half a head of romaine lettuce grilled, sprinkled with cheese, croûtons, and dressing. The bruschetta was also crispy and cheesy goodness. The more recent trip included the braised beef short ribs. They were the best I've ever had. They were fork tender with a rich sauce from them being braised slowly over time. I was a little disappointed this time with the Caesar salad due to sogginess of the lettuce. We've found the staff attentive and willing to give suggestions from the menu. We sat upstairs both times and the noise was not a factor.
(4)
Cheral Q.
First timer here, we had asked a few of the local shop owners where to go for dinner and every one of them said to go here, and to get the grilled chicken Caesar. We sat at the bar and had a few beers and some mixed nuts then looked over the menu and decided on the Kobe sliders for our appetizer and the grilled chicken Caesar for main course. Just wow! The presentation alone was amazing, but the taste was fabulous. I now can't wait to go back...Queen street had some fantastic little shops and this meal topped off a great day in Lancaster. I live about 40 minutes away and it's worth the drive. Bravo!
(5)
Todd K.
I live in Lancaster City and I eat out a lot. The Belvedere is one of the very best spots to eat in Lancaster, including the whole county. Service is great. The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing. Grilled Ceasars are popular. I like the Kobe burger appetizer and the Thai lettuce wraps. Bartenders are excellent. My son lives in Boston and he visits I always let him pick the restaurant and never fails.....the Belvedere.
(5)
JC N.
I was in Lancaster for the evening and The Belvedere Inn came recommended. I called late afternoon the same day hoping for a 7:30 p.m. reservation for two people, but was politely told that 9 p.m. was their first opening. I was politely informed that if we want to, we could eat at one of the bars, which has the same menu as table service. With very high expectations, we took a chance and arrived at the Belvedere Inn at about 7:30 p.m. In a nutshell: Our Belvedere dining experience was a solid 5 stars in all respects. Overall food quality: Excellent. We had the entree size grilled caesar salad with chicken for an appetizer. It was warm and delicious. The chicken was fresh. The dressing was terrific. Our entrees consisted of Chilean sea bass and pretzel crusted veal. Both were perfectly prepared and presented. Dessert: Banana Bread Pudding. Again, excellent. Food quality: A solid 5 stars. Service: Since we did not have a reservation, we did not expect to be seated at a table when we arrived. We opted to head to the upstairs bar and determine if it was suitable for eating dinner. We quickly decided eating at the upstairs bar would be fine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of room. Comfortable chairs and a well placed foot rest around the bar. Live jazz, not too loud so we could carry on a conversation. We found the service to be outstanding. The bartender who served us (originally from NY, I think his name was John), extensively knew every menu item. He answered all of our questions. He was attentive but not overbearing. Perfect service. Again, a solid 5 stars for service. We found it easy to park in front of the restaurant. When we left about 9:15 p.m., every table in the upstairs area was full. It is easy to understand why. I enthusiastically recommend The Belvedere Inn. I would absolutely eat there again without any hesitation.
(5)
Kevin J.
This restaurant showed up as one of the most highly reviewed restaurant w good ratings of 4 stars So my family and i stopped by after visiting sight & sound theatre We got the table at the beautiful deck without any waiting time But we would never go back to this restaurant and wouldn't recommend to anybody and here's why Appetizer - Steamed Mussels : mussels undercooked / wine used in the broth too strong Main dishes - Filet mignon w extra side of fries : ordered medium rare but came out as medium well / inside brown / waste of good steak / Fries didn't come out (but didn't ask for it since all the foods were very disappointing... And didn't even appear on the check so i guess waitress forgot about it) - Fried Veal : no comment my brother took one bite of it and stopped eating - Pan seared salmon : undercooked / too salty - Short ribs w side of macaroni gratin & string beans : ribs and string beans too salty / mac and cheese tasted worse than that of supermarket... And on the way back home, we had to make sudden stop in the middle of four way intersection few blocks away from the restaurant b/c of four kids (seemed like high schoolers) who just ran across the street when the crossing light wasn't even on and even yelled & cursed at us for approaching... Wow We really loved and enjoyed the show we watched at the sight and sound theatre but the food and the people just ruined everything in the end
(1)
Todd B.
I recently visited The Belvedere Inn on my trip to Lancaster, and I am really happy that I stopped into the bar for a cocktail and dinner. I was greeted by a really friendly and funny bartender who seemed to be a standard there for some time, and she knew everyone who came into the bar seemingly except for me. The Manhattan cocktail was one of the best I've ever had, served "up" in a large cocktail glass, and beautifully presented. For dinner, I chose the quinoa shrimp and the grilled caesar salad with chicken. The quinoa shrimp was really creative and something I've never experienced elsewhere, and I loved it. The shrimp were generous in size, and covered in a light coating of quinoa. While the Inn is famous for its grilled caesar salads, I honestly was not impressed. I was served an heaping plate of romaine lettuce and a somewhat dry chicken breast on the top of it. There was not enough cheese or dressing to cover the lettuce, and it just simply was way too much lettuce. For the same price, I would have much preferred 3-5 hearts or leaves of grilled romaine with grilled chicken and dressing to the huge lettuce head on my plate. It was difficult to eat, mostly dry and just too much. Less is more would be true in this case. I was sad that Crazy Betty's was closed upstairs, but I'll be back. Overall, despite the salad, I really liked the vibe, the local flavor, and the food at the Belvedere Inn.
(4)
Nataly N.
I haven't actually tried the food here, but I spent a very pleasant time at the upstairs bar, enjoying some pleasant company while listening to some incredible live jazz music. The atmosphere is so classy and relaxed. The restaurant is gorgeous. There are beautiful light fixtures throughout the restaurant and paintings on the walls. And there are great seating options inside or outside on the balcony. My party had a really great time. Everyone enjoyed their cocktail selections, though someone pointed out that the drink made with elderflower liqueur (I forget the name) was a bit too sweet. I had the coconut mojito, which was very enjoyable. The restaurant was busy, but not too crowded. When I glanced at the tables, I saw great food presentation. They have special deals every day of the week, including $1 Kobe burger sliders on Mondays and karaoke on Wednesday nights at 10pm. It would be lovely to come back for a full meal on my next opportunity.
(5)
Adam E.
You can't really beat $1 Kobe sliders on bao buns. I stopped in for a few of those, and ended up also getting an incredible grilled Caesar salad (1/4 wedge of romaine, grilled, with a subtle creamy dressing and fresh croutons) and a couple of drinks. We actually went upstairs to Crazy Shirley's since the downstairs bar was too crowded, so the atmosphere was a little more Jazz than Standards. The bartender was colorful and friendly, and he went out of his way to see to it that we had a good time on our short stay in Lancaster. He even asked around with the locals at the bar to get some opinions on where else we should check out after dinner. The food was awesome, the drinks were great too, and the company was excellent. The neighborhood was a little sketchy though, so for the walk from the car, keep your city face on and your bear mace in your pocket.
(4)
Liz B.
My husband and I enjoyed a romantic anniversary dinner here in June. When I made the reservation I let them know that we were celebrating our 20th anniversary. To our surprise not only were we seated near the fireplace but there were beautifully printed place cards with a personalized anniversary greeting! We were also treated to a champagne toast on the house. The service was good and our meals were delish. We would definitely return.
(5)
Kyle N.
The Belvedere is my favorite Lancaster restaurant. Start and end your experience in the bar with Jamie (unofficial mayor of Lancaster). Make a reservation. You will want a table to sit and enjoy the exceptional food. I have had it all, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Walter C.
My wife and I had an anniversary meal here in October 2013. The food, service and ambiance were excellent. Can't say that I'm a fan of downtown Lancaster, but this is one of the places that make it worth the effort.
(5)
Virginia Y.
I came here for a birthday lunch with the boyfriend. Very cozy atmosphere, I could see what it's called Belvedere Inn since the interior highly reflects it. We sat at the bar area for $1 kobe burger sliders. The moment we sat down, we were immediately greeted with free birthday champagne and printed birthday cards from the restaurant itself. Woo! We ended up ordering 4 kobe burger sliders, side of fries due to the recommendation of the barista and steamed mussels. The food came pretty quick, the mussels was a generous serving. The kobe burger sliders were okay, I'm surprised at how popular they were. They really tasted pretty average to me. The sauce was just a basic sweet chili sauce. I liked the buns though, it reminds me of steamed buns served with pork belly or peking duck. The fries were disappointing. I can't believe they recommended it. It tasted like McDonald's fries to me, beyond average.. We wrapped up our meal with pumpkin creme brulee and a dark chocolate flourless tart. The pumpkin creme brulee was quite..unique. I think I prefer regular creme brulee instead of special flavored ones.. It tasted like a slice of pumpkin pie. It was a bit too much. The pumpkin changed the entire taste of the creme brulee, it was a bit weird. Not only that, the top was kind of burnt, burnt to the point that it tasted bitter... I'm sorry Belvedere but I've had better creme brulee at DisneyWorld...that says a lot. The dark chocolate tart was much much better than the creme brulee but I found it to be too sweet. It's pretty dense though, I liked the texture but I'm not sure if the raspberry jam complimented the dish well... All in all, there needs to be some tweaking done with the food but otherwise the atmosphere was really nice, decent lighting, cozy environment, love the jazz. I'm also pretty surprised at the pricing of this place. Mussels were $10 but desserts were $8? Seems to me that sweets are overpriced here. Not sure if I'd come back here or not yet since my boyfriend's sweet tooth would like to have the pots de creme. I heard they have jazz hour or drink specials on the weekends so we'll see. P.S. the champagne although free tasted blah.
(3)
Alexandra K.
The Belvedere is most definitely my favorite bar/lounge to frequent in Lancaster. The downstairs bar has a very classy, old school vibe to it the bartenders down there are great, especially Jamie! Upstairs you'll find Crazy Shirley's, which feels like a more upbeat jazz bar. Along with a bar and quite a few low tables and comfy chairs, there is also a piano bar you can sit at. Occasionally, they will have local jazz bands performing upstairs, which adds to the experience. All of the food I have tried so far is amazing, especially the baked crab dip! The cocktails are also delicious. Try the Ambrosia, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Jack L.
Upscale lunch and dining. Great service. Went for lunch. Dark, Victorian charm. The BLT was EXCELLENT. Best lunch sandwich ever...... In house braised bacon put it over the top. Not your normal BLT.
(5)
Jackie M.
The food was delicious but service was really slow. I had the filet and scallops for an appetizer. I'll come again but only for a special occasion since it's pretty expensive.
(3)
Steven Z.
My friends from Lancaster took me here to initially try to Coby Beef sliders for a buck, but the bar was rather full and they didn't offer the $1 dollar deal at the tables but we could get them off the menu for $3 a piece in orders of 3...no thanks, I understand a "deal" at the bar but should work both ways just require tables to order drinks or something. Anyway beyond that little annoyance the food here was fantastic the waitress was very attentive and the environment was very calm and relaxing. I ordered the Salmon and it was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was the bed it was laying on was a bit on the sweeter side and was over powered with lemon juice. I still managed to eat most of it as it was still very flavorful. Based on the full experience the money spent was well worth it.
My husband and I come here any chance we get when we don't have our kids with us. It's a bit pricy but so worth it! We never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Ken V.
Had a wonderful family dinner here just before Christmas. I started off with an appetizer and then enjoyed a small plate of shrimp tacos for my main course. The food was superbly prepared, from beginning to end. The wine list was ample, with something for everyone. Service was fabulous. Prompt and courteous without rushing or being overbearing at all. Just right. Will definitely keep this on my list for future family visits in Lancaster.
(5)
Joanna H.
Wednesday nights upstairs in Crazy Shirley's lounge is where I like to be! The bartender up there is superb and always so attentive. I rotate between tableside and barside, both are excellent. Normally there's a great atmosphere and tons of fun to be had. I have been a little disappointed the last few months because there seem to be a lot of private parties upstairs on Wednesdays. I don't blame anyone for wanting to have a meeting or party at the belvedere, can we talk about how amazing the food and drinks are?? It makes perfect sense, but it totally kills the crowd. I just wish that the private parties were on a different night than wednesday. I always bring friends since the belve is a fabulous place to meet new people, but they have yet to experience the amazing culture you guys work so hard to create!! Bring back that weds night atmosphere and claim the 5th star I want so badly to give you!
(4)
Jon L.
I don't eat salads. But get the grilled Caesar. I repeat, get the grilled Caesar. Also, get the grilled Caesar with shrimp
(5)
Catherine C.
My family and I LOVE The Belvedere. We always order the Bruschetta, it's a must! Get the grilled Caesar, you won't be disappointed. Service is great, ambiance is quiet but not uptight. Highly recommend this restaurant. Oh...don't forget to get a martini!
(5)
Sarah S.
I have been here twice: once with my mother for appetizers/drinks and more recently I went here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend. We typically don't have the money to eat here but splurged since it was a special occasion. Be prepared to pay a decent amount of money here but it is entirely worth it. First of all the interior is fabulous -- love the decor and they change it for the seasons/holidays. It is classy and tasteful yet fun! The service was also impeccable. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and able to provide accurate descriptions as well as make recommendations based on our likes/dislikes/questions we had asked... this goes for food and drinks. The specialty drinks they have there are delicious and fun. I've tasted the Juan Carlos (was hoping it would be a tad spicier), Ambrosia, and also a raspberry/chocolate/espresso martini that the bartender made for us on the house since they had forgotten one of our salads we ordered. All of them were GREAT. They also have a large wine and beer selection. Now we get to the food... We got the Kobe sliders as an appetizer and WOW they were faaaaantastic. We also got the mussels to share and they were quite tasty as well. We ended up splitting an entree since we were starting to feel full from the appetizers and loved whatever it was that we ordered. Can't seem to remember exactly what it was other than it was a type of fish. I believe it was a special that day. The only thing that was sort of a bummer was that they charged a "plating fee" to split up the entree onto two plates. Maybe it is trivial for me to complain about that but I don't feel that's necessary to charge your customers for that. We would have been fine with sharing a single plate before paying for another one for the same amount of food. Overall, great experience and highly recommend going!
Jamie is the best. Go for the drinks, stay for the Kobe burgers. Great stuff. Great atmosphere, honestly, I think it changes every time I go. Not too dark and not too light, so you can see what you are eating. But you feel comfortable, almost cozy, with your date.
(5)
Aaron D.
Another great meal at The Belvedere Inn. A group of 9 celebrating a birthday and this is a great location for any event or dinner. Seated just as we walked in with a special greeting for the birthday boy. Service is quick with good explanation of the specials and bar offerings. I had the Pan Seared Black Sea Bass, Chilled Smoked Crab Udon Noodle Salad, Lemon Avocado Aioli, Kale, Mushrooms, Pickled Radishes, Red Pepper Coulis. The fish could have been a bit larger, but no real complaints. Started with the grilled Caesar Salad (a Belvedere must) and 4 Blue Point Oysters. Very nice sauce on the cold Udon Noodles that pared well with the fish and the noodle's. Wife had the Free Range Chicken Breast with Fresh Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Chasseur Sauce. Excellent dish. The Chasseur sauce had a bit to much salt, but it was cut by the chicken and/or potatoes. Shared and excellent white, milk and dark chocolate dessert that was rich and just sweet enough. Bar in far one of the best restaurants in Lancaster.
(4)
J K.
Great, attentive service from Tia. Well crafted drinks were the star of the night (my wife loved the drink Tia recommended in the menu). Our appetizer was a plate of pot stickers with an original dipping sauce. I wish I had tried to identify what was going on in the sauce a little better. Seemed like Asian fusion as opposed to anything traditional. I would order it again. The entrees varied. The crawfish pasta in Cajun cream sauce was excellent. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the sauce was rich and flavorful. My pepper crusted ribeye steak was off point. It was overcooked, more resembling medium well when I requested medium rare. Credit where it's due: the steak had a nice char to it and the accompanying sauce added favor and the desired moisture the steak was lacking. I didn't complain because it was overall a good dish, but I would think twice before ordering steak here (my first grilled to order dish at the Belvedere) Dessert...I do not recommend the banana creme brulee. Ever have a banana that was a little bit past it's prime? You know, the kind where you give it a try despite your better judgment. That seemed to be the main flavor note I detected. The texture was nothing like I would expect from creme brulee. Tia asked us if we would like to have something else. We declined but appreciated the offer and her display of professionalism. I've never been disappointed by an appetizer at the Belvedere nor a drink. The entrees are usually of high quality but I'd stick with the roasted dishes or pasta as opposed to a grilled steak. Honestly, it is becoming a rarity to find a fine dining establishment that can cook a steak to the correct doneness.
(2)
Mary L.
You can't go wrong with this place! Excellent food and staff. We are frequent patrons and eat at the upstairs (Crazy Shirley's) bar and enjoy jazz from 7-10 Fridays or Saturdays. The Thai steamed clams are to die for and there's always several specials to choose from. My husband loves the chicken dish!
(4)
Mike T.
Get a grilled caesar.
(4)
Tom H.
Atmosphere is late 19th century bordello. Very dark and very ornate. We've been there for lunch. The service and food were good. Bar menu is very limited. Good walk as you head up a queen street from downtown.
(3)
Laura W.
My Mom and I visit Lancaster once a year and this is the second time we've visited the Belvedere Inn, for wine and app's. We had Josh as our server, as we did the year before - he's as good as it gets! Very personable, friendly, attentive, honest and gracious. What more can you ask for? As far as the food/drink, loved the wine and the grilled Caesar, but stay far away from the crab dip. It was fishy and had something chewy within. Crab meat should NEVER be chewy. Josh, without hesitation, removed it from our bill. We will definitely be back next year.
(4)
Valerie S.
Definitely a special occasion restaurant as the prices and ambience downstairs are high end. This is the Lancaster home of the grilled Caesar and I crave it periodically and am never disappointed. They also make a killer martini.
(4)
Leigh H.
While the grilled romaine is supposedly the claim to fame, it was OK. Missing some garlic in my opinion. However, everything else we had was superb. My daughter ordered the mussels, my husband the pork belly and my son (4) the lettuce wraps. We all cleaned each other's plates. My daughter's filet was perfectly done, my husband's short ribs were succulent and served with some delicious mac and cheese. I had the pasta with crawfish and it was topped with the most delicious deep-fried okra nuggets. The building itself was beautiful inside and out with tons of charm and character. The service was fabulous and while it could have very easily been just a "date" restaurant, they accommodated us with our two younger kids without missing a beat. This place will definitely be a "do again" during our annual trip to Lancaster.
(4)
Blue M.
This place has pretty good food and service...which you can read about in everyone else's reviews. The A/C ducts ruined our experience dinning there to the point that it's not worth returning. And from the looks on others faces we weren't the only ones. We were seated next to the fireplace at a two seater table. If you look back towards the front door and up a little there are five A/C vents. When the A/C kicks on it just ruins the dinning experience...too cold. But for the other patrons in the place I am willing to bet it may be to warm at times without the A/C on. Mgt there may need to address the air flow.
(2)
Jao S.
Great food and creative drinks! Best in Lancaster. I've never had anything bad here. The grilled Caesar salad is a must. Scottie rocks
(5)
Tom W.
I must have missed something. This place is ok, not great. This was our 2nd stop of the night. The first stop of the night was Pour and it was so good that the Belvedere probably didn't have a chance. We started with the short rib dumplings. They weren't bad, the sweet spice in the meat is different. I'm guessing they had some cinnamon, brown sugar, or a combo of both. They were served in wonton-like wrapper. Nothing special. We also had the Duck spring rolls. Not good. The sparse amount of duck was bland and flavorless. My wife had a Grilled Petite Caeser. It was good. I had the Large Petite Caesar with Shrimp. I admit it was good but it was also 21 bucks. Wow, that is ridiculous. One note, our server was Scottie and he was solid.
(3)
Elianny S.
We were visiting Lancaster and decided to try this place based on the reviews and how cool the building looked. I would describe the decor of this place as old fashioned fancy, very dark because of the wood paneling but in a good way. We came for lunch and it was not very crowded. Most of the diners were older and the atmosphere is very subdued. I ordered the shrimp cocktail and chicken & sausage tortiglioni. The shrimp cocktail was absolutely delicious!! It had shrimp and scallops along with this amazing corn in tomato gazpacho. I really loved everything about it. The tortiglioni was also very good but I think I was already full from the shrimp cocktail and the delicious bread. I thought the price for lunch was very reasonable, the bill came to about $90 for four people. If I'm back in the area I will definitely return for dinner.
(4)
Jolie H.
Food is decent. The decorations pass the line into tacky, but not terrible. Service is TERRIBLE. There is an older female server who looks older than I believe she is who is ABSOLUTELY RUDE. She has dark/black hair, sort of tall, cheap black and white cross scarf. AVOID THIS SERVER AT ANY COST. First of all, she spoke to us as if she found us absolutely annoying. We were also upstairs because of the jazz and she seamed to be annoyed by the music. I was paying my bills earlier today and accidentally left my wallet on my desk. I was out with my mom, which we made a reservation for, and realized this. We expressed our concern to this horrifying excuse of a server. Instead of offering to save the table while we ran home, she rolled her eyes and said, "what? You can't have dinner without a drink?!?" RUDE. If, as a server, I ever said that to a guest, I would have lost my job long ago. So, my mom and I grabbed my wallet and took our business elsewhere.
(1)
Benjamin B.
This is an excellent bar in Lancaster. Every time I visit, I close the bar one night. The atmosphere is wonderful, and despite loud music/karaoke, I always feel like I can find a table and have a wonderful conversation. I do not know if the bar serves food, but the drinks are strong and cheap! This place is wonderful for a night out with good friends.
(5)
Kim Z.
My friend and I were attending our annual Conference in April. The atmosphere is classy, with rich dark woods. It's old-world style makes you feel like you stepped back into time. The elegance is reflective in the crisp white table cloths, grand fireplaces, and upscale chandeliers. The service was attentive and our luncheon special was fantastic! See you next year!
(4)
Lexy M.
I swear I'm a good wife, but I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOUR CHEF! Our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner was 5 stars! Everything was amazing, the entrees were done with perfection but in all honestly Belvedere Inn... your GRILLED CAESAR SALAD & MINI ASIAN KOBE BURGERS are enough to keep me happy for life. Seriously, stick me naked in a bug filled hut in the middle of a hot jungle and I'd be fine as long as you provide me with those two appetizers. Thanks again as always Belvedere.. you are my GO TO whenever I'm in Lancaster!
(5)
Charles H.
Excellent establishment. Warmly greeted and taken to a nice upstairs table. Our waiter was knowledgable and competent. He ensured our evening was a success from a service standpoint. The kitchen knows it's job as the dishes were scrumptious and beautifully presented. The baked crab appetizer was tasty. Both of the main dishes we ordered surpassed any preconceived ideas.
(5)
Don F.
My wife had her wedding shower here and was very happy with the results. With guests from PA, NY, CT and VA it was a pleasant setting to have traveled to for such a special occasion. Everyone enjoy themselves and my mother in law was especially impressed with the manager that day (Dean)
(4)
Morgan H.
So this is gonna sound crazy.... But, I went to this restaurant for the first time on Saturday night with two friends and I think it was the best meal I've ever had. This opinion also takes into account my friends' food, which I was not shy about sampling myself. First the atmosphere. As you'd expect from an upscale place in an old building lots of exposed woodwork.. Tasteful lighting. We got there a bit early so the plan was to sit at the bar and have a couple drinks before getting a table. We got to talking to the couple next to us and they said that they've come there for EVERY significant event since they got married nine years earlier. How cool is that?? They told us how the bartender is awesome (his name is Jamie) and since we agreed, we decided to eat at the bar. We ordered some drinks. Jamie makes a stiff drink. You get your money's worth. Ok so the food. They had 2 soups for specials that were exquisite. I got the sausage and chicken soup and somebody else got a cream of cauliflower with lump crab soup. The third of us got the scallops appetizer. The soups were fantastic. The scallops were perfect. I was in heaven. On to entrees: My god. I don't even have words to describe how good they were. I got the short ribs. He got the strip steak. She got the braised lamb curry. Are you kidding me?? The steak came with a peach and onion medley that was unique and unreal. The lamb was tender and curry with pumpkin? say WHAAAAAAAAAATT???? The short ribs were probably the best thing I've ever eaten. I have a serious food boner thinking about it right now. Yes this place is so good that I said "food boner" out loud. We wanted to stay for dessert but decided we better let that wait for next time since we were completely full. Anyway, I understand that not everybody has the same experiences at the same places. But for me and my friends, this was hands down the best meal and best dining experience i've had in a long time, if not ever.
(5)
Bill M.
Great patio setting for our first trip. Second floor outdoor patio made it for us. Food was good (Sea Bass and Braised Short Ribs w/ Mac and Cheese with the Short Ribs the better of the two entrees) but not great although the ambiance made the meal. Upstairs lounge with jazz combo with good looking bar provides a destination stop for after dinner drinks that tops off the evening. Total package will bring us back.
(3)
Fabrice L.
From France and visiting the area, some friend recommanded it to us. He was not wrong. Place is really nice. Service is fine. My wife and me both got the scallops appetizer and its was really good except maybe a little "cracking" under the teeth : sand still in there or in the vegetable? The quality of the sauce and vegetable compensated this little deffect. The entrees were also great, with Shrimp Scampi and Pork Chop. And the final was just perfect with a wonderfull Cheesecake we are both fan of! Great place to eat in downtown Lancaster. We recommand it strongly too.
(4)
Amy G.
The grilled romaine lettuce is what this place is known for .... you will not have it made better elsewhere. The dinning area is sensual and romantic. The bar on the first floor is simply modern mixed with classic elements. Upstairs is more trendy, but not trendy in the vein that fades. Favorite evening place to visit in Lancaster. Always has great jazz on Fridays & Saturdays. Go early. Leave around 11pm.
(5)
Julie B.
The Belvedere is a great restaurant choice in Lancaster. The dining room/inn are a little eclectic (leopard carpet), but the food and drinks are all great. The roasted caesar salad is one of their signature items and it is excellent. Do not get the Pittsburgh salad though if you actually want a salad. That was the only "miss" that I've had from the menu.
(4)
Christina S.
Just wanted to stop by for a cocktail. The bar was dark and creepy. We wanted to sit upstairs on the balcony but were told we had to order food in order to sit there...the restaurant was EMPTY! Really! So trying to make the best of it we were just going to go sit at the creepy bar but, I'm really sorry, their was a man sitting next to us that really smelled. I can't pay good money for a unpleasant experience. So, we left. Overall, disappointing.
(1)
Benny E.
What a cool local joint! On a Friday night they had a great band. The vibe was great and the food was good. The short ribs were very good, not amazing but decent. I liked the Caesar Salads! If I would have known I would have just ordered that. They actually grill a quarter of a head of Romaine, dress it, add chicken or steak, and you have a meal of a salad. It was great!
(4)
Jim M.
Service was excellent, as was the food and wine. I had the lamb, which was done to perfection. We ordered a chocolate dessert which was heaven. My only complaint is that I've had better martinis, but it was a small thing and overall, not worth docking a score of five!
(5)
Lindsay B.
Everytime I go to the Belve I say I am going to order something other than the grilled ceasar but never can get away from it! Grilled ceasar is awesome! The full salad with chicken is delicious, but I could never finish it. Last time I was there, I had the petite salad (still pretty large) with the macaroni and cheese. Both were delicious. Quiet spot for lunch, always good.
(4)
MoCe C.
I'd give this place 4 stars just because of the good service, yet was very dissapointed in 2 of my items. A Place like this thats still hangin onto the fine dinning moto. with their last hang nail needs way more life then this place offers. Yes, grilled ceaser was alright, wah-howw. But it lacked enough items to chose from. The appitizers were weak on flavor, n the pizza is over priced n bland.
(3)
Tony H.
This is one of the best places to get a drink in Lancaster during the weekdays. I would describe the atmosphere as an upscale version of cheers "very warm and inviting". The bartenders are always able to lift your spirits with their playful flirting, and ability to converse intelligently.
(4)
Tatyana M.
First time here and VERY impressed. The ambiance is very romantic and cozy. The service was impeccable. The food was out of this world. And the value for all the above was outstanding. The only "complain" is - we do not live in Lancaster, otherwise we'd be here a lot more often.
(5)
Charles E.
Grilled ceasar salad. we saw the reviews and were in downtown Lancaster PA for "first Friday" when most of the businesses in Lancaster open late, put tables out, musicians play. It's really neat.. A few people mentioned the Belvedere and everyone including Yelp reviews kept mentioning the grilled ceasar so we tried it. They have choices with chicken, steak or shrimp. All I can say is this is really a great idea, Why hasn't anyone else thought of this? Take a huge slice of Roamain, fill it with chopped lettuce with ceasar dressing that's been grilled. Top with jumbo shrimp and we also had the braised short ribs with mac & cheese on the side. Being it was "First Friday" the place was full so we sat at the bar. Which was fine, a couple of margaritas and we were all set for dinner. This place is all done in red, black and old wood. Real warm, real cozy. They also have a outdoor deck on the second floor but with temps outside hovering around 100 we weren't going to try the deck. Real nice place to have drinks and dinner. Try it.
(4)
Cindy T.
Beautiful atmosphere, great service, good drinks, amazing food-everytime, and FUN upstairs bar/music. I love this place for a nice dinner, a great lunch, or even just a drink. Can't ever go wrong, and I highly recommend the grilled caesar salad.
(5)
Mike I.
I had the curried scallop special for lunch - it was delish! We also had the "brucheta" appetizer...which was really just cheesy garlic bread - but it was amazing! Wasn't a huge fan of the "triple chocolate pudding" - I'll stick with the cream brule next time :)
(4)
Samantha P.
Service was average - she wasn't very helpful and didn't appear to want to serve us. We sat downstairs, while it was decorated beautifully for Christmas it was an older crowd. After being told the specials 10 minutes after looking at the menu we both ordered the special "Mahi Mahi" and was forced into ordering the grilled Cesar ( which was overhyped). Fish was not very flavorful and broccoli was edible. The only good part of the meal was the risotto. Definitely overpriced and over hyped, was not the experience I was expecting. Would be cautious when eating here.
(3)
Jaime K.
I go here a couple times a year. Basically, every time I'm back in Lancaster. The caesar salad is so unique and tasty. Everything else on the menu looks great too...maybe one day I'll tear myself away from the caesar and branch out. The decor is a little over the top (screams "special occasion"), but you don't need to dress to match it. The place is pretty unpretentious, really. GO.
(5)
Lisa B.
The Belvedere Inn is well worth a hefty drive from PHL, BWI, MDT airports. If you don't know why you should visit The Belvedere Inn, I'm going to clue you in NOW--GRILLED CAESAR SALADS! OMG these things are one of the most addicting items of food I've ever eaten. Being a native of Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, Belvedere was close, but now, I must make my yearly trip from Las Vegas to feast upon these Caesars. Let the review of the century begin... The Belvedere Inn is a restored historic mansion in downtown Lancaster City that sits on the corner of Queen and Lemon Streets. Walking inside you'll find a Victorian decor that is tastefully mingled with a jazz motif--WOWZA!! From antique chandeliers, to the art deco paintings, this place screams style and class. For some, the decor may be a bit over the top but, let me explain that it's just a prelude until your meal is served. Through the many visits, I can honestly say, "I've always had excellent meals there." Did I mention the Grilled Caesar is amazing? For the sake of redundancy, this salad is world class! They take a half of a romaine lettuce head, grill it; top it with homemade Caesar dressing (not sure if there are anchovies in it?); top it liberally with shaved parmesan reggiano; top it liberally with homemade croutons. What idiot wouldn't like that? Not to mention, if you are into proteins on your salad, you may add: grilled chicken, tenderloin tips, grilled salmon, grilled tuna, sauteed shrimp, or sauteed scallops. It's delightful with the chicken but, I find the foul takes away from my Caesar euphoria. The fiancee has devoured the Caesars with scallops but usually inhales them with medium rare tenderloin tips. Let this be a reminder that these Caesars are not small, and are a meal in themselves. Unless, you are a glutonous pig like yours truly... I've been known to get a Caesar, filet mignon w/two sides, dessert, and a handful of Kir Royales. Our last trip there (a few days ago), we must've been wearing his and her girdles because we only ordered a plain Caesar, Caesar w/tenderloin tips, and the special--Tuscan Chicken. The Tuscan Clucker was chop-lickin' good. It was a sauteed boneless breast of chicken topped with caramelized red pepper and onion, and a dollop of goat cheese. Below the breast was a wild mushroom risotto cake. The plate was drizzled with a balsamic reduction! So you think The Belvedere is expensive, huh? Nope, it's extremely reasonable. How bad do you want to go to The Belvedere Inn now? If you're a lush like me, they have two fully stocked bars. Drinks are well made by their talented mixologists and many top-shelf libations are available! The first bar is near the entrance and the other is on the second floor in Crazy Shirley's Lounge. Full menus are served both floors. I prefer to gorge myself in Crazy Shirley's because, on the weekends they have some relaxing jazz artists rockin' out. Not to mention, you have to stay somewhat sober if upstairs...remember, you have to make it DOWN the stairs, hopefully in one piece. The only negative aspect of this establishment is the service. It always seems as if the servers or food runners are understaffed. So just be patient, because it's worth waiting for! Speaking of waiting, I highly recommend making reservations if you are coming for dinner. Reservations for lunch aren't needed, though there's a steady lunch crowd. For parking info, hours, or just to be nosey check out their website belvedereinn.biz Dear Belvedere Inn, Please relocate to Las Vegas! Thanks in advance! -Lisa
(5)
cd c.
I went to this place last week, while staying close to Lancaster. This restaurant is located on what looks like an old brick building. It located in a downtown area, if you can even call it that. You may park on the street as long as you don't exceed 2 hours as this restaurant has no private parking. We walked in and were promptly greeted and seated, the place was busy since it was saturday night. The athmosphere is awesome and the overall look and decoration inside is outstanding. You have a feeling you are having dinner in an old mansion. We had a few martinis which were just right. Not watered down. Our server was attentive and kept comming back to see if everything ok. Ordered appetizers which were delivered within 10m. We had Cod fish cigars which were interesting. Then had the Scallops and the Rockfish for entrees, which were well cooked and had great flavour. Food was very good overall. Dessert was creme brule. Delicious Its about $100 for a dinner for two, for about 3 cocktails, 2 appetizers 2 entrees and one dessert. It was well worth it though.
(5)
Robby S.
Drove by this place on the way to my hotel and couldn't help but notice how great it looked from the outside. When in the hotel, I Yelp'd it and decided to give it a try. Arrived and tried the Fresh Breeze cocktail. Very good... Even though the menu looked great, because it was late, I went for a couple of appetizers: their famous Grilled Caesar Salad and the appetizer size Mussels. The salad was on my table within minutes which made me think it was pre-prepared and waiting...but nonetheless, it was very tasty with a large leaf of romaine, grilled, with an excellent Caesar dressing and croutons on top. The Mussels came in a big pot and seemed huge as an appetizer, but was perfect. The broth was white wine, tomato, onion, and lots of garlic! The Mussel shells were medium size, but the mussels were actually small, but plentiful. The left over soup was excellent with the bread provided. This was a great meal that I highly recommend to anyone traveling through the Lancaster area.
(5)
Allison S.
Rib-eye was delicious. Snap peas and potatoes were so fresh. Rockfish was very crispy, but the dish overall was unimpressive. The scallop appetizer was okay. Grilled Caesar was good but didn't understand what the fuss is all about. The staff was very nice with the exception of the girl who tops off your water. Both our server and Brandon at the front desk were wonderful. Great atmosphere. Jazz bar upstairs seemed inviting but we couldn't stay.
(3)
H B.
Good lunch! Price was not bad! Will have to give it a try for dinner, next time I'm in Lancaster!
(3)
Edwin H.
We've been in Texas for three years, and the only thing we miss in Lancaster is the Belvedere Inn. Way too good for a county that prefers "hog and trough style" all you can cram in your mouth, but that's all most Lancastrians understand. No offense, but the gene pool has been a little crowded in Lancaster for the last hundred or so years, (and we don't just mean Amish) The Belvedere would stand out in New York, Philadelphia, LA, Austin, or Chicago. When you're good, you're good.
A wonderful choice for a nice evening out. The grilled Caesar salads are superb!
(5)
Jeff G.
Very nice menu, simple and interesting - would have liked more US wine choices though. Atmosphere is good, we were on the second floor in a nice nook overlooking Queen Street. A jazz band was playing (cool) but the bar was noisy a few feet away (not so cool). I expected a little more quiet environment but my wife and I had a great time - great servers and customer service!
(4)
Kimba Z.
In a beautiful brick building that was originally a residence, the Belvedere Inn is easy to find on North Queen Street, and parking was no problem on a Thursday night. With nice dark lighting and a good wine list, consider it a romantic date place -- if you are an omnivore. People were definitely coming out and drinking and treating themselves on a Thursday night, I noticed. We had 4 drinks between us, 2 appetizers, and split an entree, for a total of $80. For us vegans who still like a nice date night, the Belvedere offered to swap out the salmon on the Lemongrass Salmon dish for a slab of grilled tofu ($24), and it was a huge dish with an excellent preparation that included two Vietnamese-style cold veg rolls, rice noodles, and an avocado puree. This was plenty for the two of us, but we were majorly bummed to read afterward that the great pineapple sauce on the dish was actually a FISH sauce, bleh. I guess vegans have to ask about everything, but we try to not be complete Ps in the A. They also altered the Thai lettuce wraps from chicken to tofu, and these were really good. So they do keep tofu on hand and know what the word vegan means. I continue to urge restaurants with sophisticated kitchen staff such as this to consider keeping one creative all-plant-based entree on the menu. It's not that hard, is a healthy alternative for dieting omnivores or those on a low-cholesterol diet, and sooooo reassuring to us alternative-diet-types to know that there is something we can have without having to relentlessly interrogate the wait staff. Help us spend our disposable income! There is a fun-looking bar upstairs that seems to be a nightclub, with a very friendly bartender. A lot of money is spent keeping this place looking vintagey-hip. I'll return to check out the music upstairs.
(3)
Greg M.
This place is with out question a dynamite place for remarkable cuisine, top notch drinks, excellent service and a cozy, posh ambiance. They also have an upstairs lounge called Crazy Shirley's that rocks loungy beats and have a champion bar staff. They have anything you could ever ask for top shelf and a great bar menu as well. The last time I dined downstairs I had the pan seared duck that blew me off the chair! This place is certainly one of my hot spots I like to take out of town family and friends for dinner and drinks.
(5)
ReviewHaiku F.
Food is whatever. Dirty martini diet Pickle makes the best. (b)
(4)
M W.
Very torn. We've been faithful customers of the Belle for over ten years. The bar - a full five stars. Used to love the restaurant but it is now uneven. Was there two consecutive Mondays, first with four clients and a huge tab, the next Monday got the same waitress who had zero recognition of the person who had given her an amazing tip six days before. Her attitude bordered on the snotty when we decided to just have grilled Caesar's and a glass of wine. Also, I know things are tight in the restaurant business but would it kill the Belevedere to go back to homemade crouton's on the salads? It's their signature and I could buy better at Sam's Club. The rest of the menu is nice but there's more competition downtown that does it better. We'll still go to the Belle for a drink but it's time to find other pastures to dine in.
(3)
Nick R.
Air reeks of old fish. Sticking amaretto in sangria is NOT a "port old fashioned." Weird crowd, poor service.
(1)
cotie s.
Mmmm...lamb chops. Mmmm....braised short ribs. The bruschetta and Caesar salad ain't too shabby either. My first time at the Belvedere included the Lamb Chops, done perfectly and followed up with a sweet chocolate cake for desert. The Caesar salad is half a head of romaine lettuce grilled, sprinkled with cheese, croûtons, and dressing. The bruschetta was also crispy and cheesy goodness. The more recent trip included the braised beef short ribs. They were the best I've ever had. They were fork tender with a rich sauce from them being braised slowly over time. I was a little disappointed this time with the Caesar salad due to sogginess of the lettuce. We've found the staff attentive and willing to give suggestions from the menu. We sat upstairs both times and the noise was not a factor.
(4)
Scott F.
Food is always top notch, excellent selection of beers on draft, great atmosphere and friendly service. Only complaint is that the people who answer the phone to take your reservation should cheer up a little bit, they were pretty rude.
(5)
Katie W.
The Belvedere will always be my favorite place to dine and drink in Lancaster, maybe anywhere! I seriously love this place! The decor and ambiance is beautiful in both the dining room and upstairs lounge. Very romantic, elegant, and charming. The BEST martinis, and the BEST grilled Cesar's ever. They grill an entire head of romaine and it's amazing. Also love the bruchsetta. Love how they serve water from pitchers that are infused with oranges, lemons, and limes. The service is always first class. I am never disappointed. i always want to go to the Belvedere when I am at home visiting.
(5)
Chris M.
I have been here so many times I've literally lost count and have never had a meal that was anything less than perfect. They change up about a quarter of the entrees probably about twice a year which keeps the menu constantly fresh. The food is made from fresh local ingredients where possible and the prices run the gamut from pretty shi-shi to an-ap-and-a-salad (which BTW is plenty of food) for under $20. One of my favorite things here is the Grilled Ceaser Salad...they take the whole slab of Romaine lettuce and char the face of it on the grill...sounds odd but tastes awesome topped with tenderloin tips too. The wait-staff is awesome...fast, fun, and friendly. All of my NY friends love this place and always want to go here when visiting Lancaster.
(5)
Garrett B.
I really enjoyed lunch here. It has a really intimate and eclectic atmosphere and the service was attentive. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the petite grilled Caesar salad. I have to say, I generally do not enjoy salad, but it was to die for. I think it has something to do with the reggiano cheese and warm croutons on the salad. The Mac and cheese was good, but a tad too rich. Even though I did not partake, the dessert options looked and sounded delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant. It definitely is a great contributor to Lancaster's food scene.
(4)
Brian H.
Went here a few weekends ago and realized I forgot to write my review. I will keep it short based on what I remembered (which might not be much since I was really enjoying some Scotch that night). We arrived early and had a seat at the bar while we waited for our table. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the bartender who genuinely took pride in his craft. Our drinks were relatively simple but watching him make a few martinis and various cocktails was actually fun and encouraged us to order some of the specialty cocktails with dinner. Now to dinner. We had a really nice table towards the back of the restaurant which was full and abuzz all night. Crowded but not cramped. I ordered the dumpling appetizer and my girlfriend ordered the petite grilled ceasar based on all of the reviews and recommendations. The dumplings were ok and the ceasar was quite good. Who knew that romain lettuce had flavor? Apparently someone found out when they accidentally charred it. Pretty cool, despite the fact that it kind of smelled like a Phish concert, if you follow me.. I ordered the swordfish which was served with finger potatoes, onions, roasted red peppers and green beans. All of which was excellent. The vegetables actually stood out based on their freshness and the fish was quite well prepared with very good portioning. My girlfriend got the shortribs which were also very very good as well as the macaroni and cheese which accompanied it. This dish was huge so I ended helping with some so I can attest to the fact that it was very good. The meat was tender and done just right and the accompanying veggies again were fresh. I don't recall if we got any dessert, but I am thinking not. I know we enjoyed a couple of the specialty drinks though and were eager to go upstairs to listen to some music. We went up to Crazy Shirley's after dinner for a drink and some jazz both of which were just what we needed to finish the night off. If you have read any of my other reviews, you will get that we are people watchers and this bar provided plenty of it. It has a very mixed crowd with very mixed agendas. It was fun watching men and women alike "work the room". Not sleazy but still interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed my night here and look forward to returning. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that the menu is relatively, for lack of better terms, safe. I would like to see a little bit more daring in an upscale place such as this.
(4)
John G.
Great, fresh, creative, big portions, and best outdoor dining in Lancaster! What else could you want, oh, and its reasonably priced! My favorite restaurant in town. I love the lettuce wraps and shrimp and vege tempura! YUM, JAI BABA
(5)
Matt W.
The wife and I ate here on a Sunday night in April 2008. The menu had plenty of options that excited us, and based on another Yelp review we both had glasses of wine and agree that they pour a liberal amount for the price. The food was pretty darn good. I can't complain about how anything was cooked, and we were happy with what we ordered and the quality of the ingredients. The one thing that really bothered me and is preventing me from giving them another star was the lack of staff. Even though we were seating promptly and there were empty tables, it took way too long for our waiter to take our order (30 minutes, probably). They seemed very short on staff. Not sure if someone called in sick or if this was a trend, but sitting there with nothing to nibble on or drink got old pretty quickly. I'd go back, however if we experienced the same wait again, that would be our last time.
(3)
Christopher P.
I've been coming here for many years and it has always been very clean and the food is always top notch. The Ceaser salad is the best I have ever tasted. If you go here, you must get it, if not as a meal then as a side dish. The escargot is super yummy. The staff is very nice and friendly. The upstairs is nice to take a date for a drink. Although there is no dress code, it is a fine dining restaraunt and you should dress according. Martini's are awesome as well. It is pretty safe to park your car along the restaraunt. It is a main street so there is high traffice and less crime. I have all good things to say about this place, so go give it a shot if you haven't already. It's not the Olive Garden so don't go there thinking your going to spend the same price for meals. It is fince dining like I said and well worth the money. From 1-10. 1-inexpensive, to 10 being very expensive. I give it a 6. It is pretty averaged priced for a fine dining restaraunt.
(5)
downtowngirl j.
OK - How could you NOT give this 5 stars?? Coming from NJ and used to eating out in NYC restaurants, this dining experience was comparable if not better than most places I've been! Romantic setting, great bar, food was top notch, service impeccable, all around fantastic! The organic salmon was delish and the mussels...yum! The prices were BEYOND reasonable too!
(5)
JESSE S.
DATE: once a week ATMOSPHERE: Tasteful, upscale decor in an old Victorian-style building. Sophisticated and charming. PROS: Outstanding bar service and drink quality...Jamie rocks. Not many vegetarian items to choose from but the winter risotto is delicious. Friends rave about the grilled ceasar salad. Service is adequate. Mixed crowd, gay-friendly. Smoke-free. CONS: Dining and bar areas can get quite loud when it's busy. A little pricey but still in line with similar local establishments. WILL I GO BACK? Absolutely.
(4)
Tarah F.
Awesome place to gather for great food and drinks! The bruschetta is out of this world! It's a regular for us!
(5)
Dick H.
Excellent food and good service, with ambience to match. A great place for a special occasion.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Jamie was great, baccala cigars & Thai lettuce wraps scrumptious & crab chowder excellent. Love the Malbec. Thx for a delightful night out with friends!
(5)
Manny O.
It's a great spot to eat and a favorite spot to chill wit my favorite girl
(5)
melissa k.
The atmosphere is unspeakable
(5)
Rick H.
Ok, this is a great place. Old style Victorian Mansion that makes a great dining experience. Very good food. Good drinks. Good service. One of our top choices in Lancaster. The other reviewers are correct. Upstairs, there is a bar area, that on weekends, is a pretty interesting mixed crowd some gay -- some straight, some old, some hip, that mixes well together, with a jazz or light rock --live entertainment. If we have dinner on the weekend, we normally will stop upstairs.
(4)
Michelle W.
My mother and stepfather live in the Lancaster area. My husband and I were recently visiting and they took us to dinner at the Belvedere Inn. The decor is beautiful. The place is another gorgeous turn-of-the-century mansions for which Lancaster is known and it's painstakingly decorated and restored. We only had dinner, but the bar is gorgeous and looks like it would be a great place to hang out and have a few. We went on a Sunday night, so it was pretty slow, but the food was great. I wasn't blown away by either the menu or the prices at first, but my opinion changed by the end of the meal. Wine by the glass is around $8/glass, entrees are about $22-25, etc. Basically, everything seemed high to me because it looked like DC prices. But there were some differences. First of all, the portion sizes. The wine came in enormous glasses. I'm not a big drinker to start with, but I nursed mine all night long. The entrees were enormous as well. My grilled ahi tuna entree was at least twice the size of an entree one would receive in a city such as Washington or New York. All of the entrees came with salads and if you paid an extra $2, you could upgrade to the grilled Caesar which is some sort of specialty of the house. It sounds a little schticky, but it's really quite good. The dressing is almost an anchovy aioli and the romaine is grilled just right. The food was delicious. My ahi was seasoned perfectly and there was no need to reach for the salt or pepper. The bed of grits and spinach on which it sat was absolutely perfect. And it really was too much food. If anything, I'd say the Belvedere should be serving 1/2-2/3 portions and charging appropriately. We managed to finish, only because it was so delicious, but if I'd known how big my entree would be, I would not have ordered the delectable escargots in hazelnut butter.
(4)
Bill E.
Worst service and rudest staff I've ever seen, anywhere. Had one cocktail and some appetizers at the bar, late afternoon, early evening... the bartender could not have been less professional. Disappointing on every level.
(1)
Stacie M.
I just don't get it. I've eaten here three times and haven't been all that impressed. The Holiday decor was phenomenal though. So cozy! A good place for a holiday meal. The grilled romaine was soggy and wilted all three times I ordered it. My appetizers have been good, and my entrees were good. just good. Maybe I'm just here on bad nights, but I can't piece together the rave reviews.
(3)
Dennis S.
Thanksgiving night 2009. Everything else in walking distance was closed. Food and service were excellent. Next time I am in Lancaster I will return
(4)
Lisa E.
Great food, "Big Boy Drinks", friendly atmosphere. The main bartender downstairs, Jamie, can be a little cranky. Other bartenders see him as a primadona, which is obvious and although I love the bar sometimes I am not in the mood for him. Certainly may be considered Philly Light if you know that city experience
(4)
A D.
Unless you are from the area or work for a company located there, I don't know why anyone would be in Lancaster, PA. This is a small town in the middle of Amish country that is home to many major manufacturing companies in the US and not much else...hence the reason for my visit. The corporate office for my company is located there and during my last trip to headquarters I found myself dining is the quaint little downtown area of Lancaster. The Belvedere fits in quite nicely on the picturesque Queen St. and made a very good impression on me. The appearance of the building (inside and out) is very attractive, the waite staff is friendly and informative and the food is fantastic. I had the swordfish special which was a 9 out of 10, but I'm a little spoiled when it comes to seafood so maybe an unbiased person would have given it a 10. For appetizers we had brochette and also a crap dip as well, both deserve a perfect 10 rating as far as I am concerned. If you find yourself in Lancaster, stop in and enjoy the night; the Belvedere is a jewel hidden in the land of the followers of Jakob Ammann ;)
(4)
Mark K.
Always a fun time at the Belvedere, and the menu is the among the most original I've seen anywhere in or out of Lancaster. The food and drinks are terrific, the bar nice, and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. All those good points can sometimes even make you forget that you've been waiting for too long for your food on busy nights. Still, one of my top spots in town.
(4)
C Z.
Great food and atmosphere. I went with the Pennsylvanian venison, carpaccio, and the butternut squash salad. I will definitely come here again. Good call for a date.
(5)
Nicholas C.
I've got to say for a place in little old Historic Lancaster this place is fancy!! Come for an awesome meal during the day on a fancy date or dance it up late night and go to the bar for a drink!! Always a welcoming environment!!
(5)
Wayne W.
Wow. This place has jumped the shark. Just to many flavors in one recent dish. Not impressed and very expensive
(3)
Stephanie G.
We had a wonderful dinner here to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday! They made her so happy with the personalized HAPPY BIRTHDAY napkin insert. The food was delicious and the waiter was great!!!
(5)
Emma J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. I have yet to have a bad meal there, the grilled chicken caesar salad, bruschetta, mac and cheese are all wonderful. The interior is warm, old and rustic, and very inviting. Weather permitting I recommend asking to be seated on the balcony outside which is beautiful. The upstairs bar is also fun, and decorated well for the holidays. This is a must go to restaurant for anyone visiting the Lancaster area.
(5)
Zach L.
The service is good. Food is sometimes okay, sometimes great. Pricey. Dress is casual to upscale if you are inclined. There is a bar area, a formal sitting area, and a balcony area that overlooks the street (and the smoking area toward the back--avoid that). Overall, this is a decent spot to go in a pinch, but don't go there trying to impress. There is an unaddressed problem with flies (either you are okay with them or you're not).
(3)
John S.
The service is very friendly and attentive. Sat at the bar for a few pints and enjoyed the Monday night "sliders" special. Some of the best ground beef I've ever eaten. Very good deal at $1 each!
(5)
Sandra M.
Classic and classy. Fantastic food and atmosphere. Did I mention the food is amazing?! Well run establishment. I'd put them up against any place I've ever ate, main line, Palm Beach. Any where.
(5)
Geoff And Jenni G.
Superb... really... upstairs outside patio fabulous... Waiter service attentive/excellent... Great food and superb cocktails... Loved it... would definitely go back and recommend...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Scott F.
Food is always top notch, excellent selection of beers on draft, great atmosphere and friendly service. Only complaint is that the people who answer the phone to take your reservation should cheer up a little bit, they were pretty rude.
(5)Katie W.
The Belvedere will always be my favorite place to dine and drink in Lancaster, maybe anywhere! I seriously love this place! The decor and ambiance is beautiful in both the dining room and upstairs lounge. Very romantic, elegant, and charming. The BEST martinis, and the BEST grilled Cesar's ever. They grill an entire head of romaine and it's amazing. Also love the bruchsetta. Love how they serve water from pitchers that are infused with oranges, lemons, and limes. The service is always first class. I am never disappointed. i always want to go to the Belvedere when I am at home visiting.
(5)Chris M.
I have been here so many times I've literally lost count and have never had a meal that was anything less than perfect. They change up about a quarter of the entrees probably about twice a year which keeps the menu constantly fresh. The food is made from fresh local ingredients where possible and the prices run the gamut from pretty shi-shi to an-ap-and-a-salad (which BTW is plenty of food) for under $20. One of my favorite things here is the Grilled Ceaser Salad...they take the whole slab of Romaine lettuce and char the face of it on the grill...sounds odd but tastes awesome topped with tenderloin tips too. The wait-staff is awesome...fast, fun, and friendly. All of my NY friends love this place and always want to go here when visiting Lancaster.
(5)Garrett B.
I really enjoyed lunch here. It has a really intimate and eclectic atmosphere and the service was attentive. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the petite grilled Caesar salad. I have to say, I generally do not enjoy salad, but it was to die for. I think it has something to do with the reggiano cheese and warm croutons on the salad. The Mac and cheese was good, but a tad too rich. Even though I did not partake, the dessert options looked and sounded delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant. It definitely is a great contributor to Lancaster's food scene.
(4)downtowngirl j.
OK - How could you NOT give this 5 stars?? Coming from NJ and used to eating out in NYC restaurants, this dining experience was comparable if not better than most places I've been! Romantic setting, great bar, food was top notch, service impeccable, all around fantastic! The organic salmon was delish and the mussels...yum! The prices were BEYOND reasonable too!
(5)Christopher P.
I've been coming here for many years and it has always been very clean and the food is always top notch. The Ceaser salad is the best I have ever tasted. If you go here, you must get it, if not as a meal then as a side dish. The escargot is super yummy. The staff is very nice and friendly. The upstairs is nice to take a date for a drink. Although there is no dress code, it is a fine dining restaraunt and you should dress according. Martini's are awesome as well. It is pretty safe to park your car along the restaraunt. It is a main street so there is high traffice and less crime. I have all good things to say about this place, so go give it a shot if you haven't already. It's not the Olive Garden so don't go there thinking your going to spend the same price for meals. It is fince dining like I said and well worth the money. From 1-10. 1-inexpensive, to 10 being very expensive. I give it a 6. It is pretty averaged priced for a fine dining restaraunt.
(5)Brian H.
Went here a few weekends ago and realized I forgot to write my review. I will keep it short based on what I remembered (which might not be much since I was really enjoying some Scotch that night). We arrived early and had a seat at the bar while we waited for our table. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the bartender who genuinely took pride in his craft. Our drinks were relatively simple but watching him make a few martinis and various cocktails was actually fun and encouraged us to order some of the specialty cocktails with dinner. Now to dinner. We had a really nice table towards the back of the restaurant which was full and abuzz all night. Crowded but not cramped. I ordered the dumpling appetizer and my girlfriend ordered the petite grilled ceasar based on all of the reviews and recommendations. The dumplings were ok and the ceasar was quite good. Who knew that romain lettuce had flavor? Apparently someone found out when they accidentally charred it. Pretty cool, despite the fact that it kind of smelled like a Phish concert, if you follow me.. I ordered the swordfish which was served with finger potatoes, onions, roasted red peppers and green beans. All of which was excellent. The vegetables actually stood out based on their freshness and the fish was quite well prepared with very good portioning. My girlfriend got the shortribs which were also very very good as well as the macaroni and cheese which accompanied it. This dish was huge so I ended helping with some so I can attest to the fact that it was very good. The meat was tender and done just right and the accompanying veggies again were fresh. I don't recall if we got any dessert, but I am thinking not. I know we enjoyed a couple of the specialty drinks though and were eager to go upstairs to listen to some music. We went up to Crazy Shirley's after dinner for a drink and some jazz both of which were just what we needed to finish the night off. If you have read any of my other reviews, you will get that we are people watchers and this bar provided plenty of it. It has a very mixed crowd with very mixed agendas. It was fun watching men and women alike "work the room". Not sleazy but still interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed my night here and look forward to returning. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that the menu is relatively, for lack of better terms, safe. I would like to see a little bit more daring in an upscale place such as this.
(4)John G.
Great, fresh, creative, big portions, and best outdoor dining in Lancaster! What else could you want, oh, and its reasonably priced! My favorite restaurant in town. I love the lettuce wraps and shrimp and vege tempura! YUM, JAI BABA
(5)Matt W.
The wife and I ate here on a Sunday night in April 2008. The menu had plenty of options that excited us, and based on another Yelp review we both had glasses of wine and agree that they pour a liberal amount for the price. The food was pretty darn good. I can't complain about how anything was cooked, and we were happy with what we ordered and the quality of the ingredients. The one thing that really bothered me and is preventing me from giving them another star was the lack of staff. Even though we were seating promptly and there were empty tables, it took way too long for our waiter to take our order (30 minutes, probably). They seemed very short on staff. Not sure if someone called in sick or if this was a trend, but sitting there with nothing to nibble on or drink got old pretty quickly. I'd go back, however if we experienced the same wait again, that would be our last time.
(3)JESSE S.
DATE: once a week ATMOSPHERE: Tasteful, upscale decor in an old Victorian-style building. Sophisticated and charming. PROS: Outstanding bar service and drink quality...Jamie rocks. Not many vegetarian items to choose from but the winter risotto is delicious. Friends rave about the grilled ceasar salad. Service is adequate. Mixed crowd, gay-friendly. Smoke-free. CONS: Dining and bar areas can get quite loud when it's busy. A little pricey but still in line with similar local establishments. WILL I GO BACK? Absolutely.
(4)Tarah F.
Awesome place to gather for great food and drinks! The bruschetta is out of this world! It's a regular for us!
(5)Dick H.
Excellent food and good service, with ambience to match. A great place for a special occasion.
(5)Jennifer K.
Jamie was great, baccala cigars & Thai lettuce wraps scrumptious & crab chowder excellent. Love the Malbec. Thx for a delightful night out with friends!
(5)Manny O.
It's a great spot to eat and a favorite spot to chill wit my favorite girl
(5)melissa k.
The atmosphere is unspeakable
(5)Rick H.
Ok, this is a great place. Old style Victorian Mansion that makes a great dining experience. Very good food. Good drinks. Good service. One of our top choices in Lancaster. The other reviewers are correct. Upstairs, there is a bar area, that on weekends, is a pretty interesting mixed crowd some gay -- some straight, some old, some hip, that mixes well together, with a jazz or light rock --live entertainment. If we have dinner on the weekend, we normally will stop upstairs.
(4)Carrie Y.
A wonderful choice for a nice evening out. The grilled Caesar salads are superb!
(5)Jeff G.
Very nice menu, simple and interesting - would have liked more US wine choices though. Atmosphere is good, we were on the second floor in a nice nook overlooking Queen Street. A jazz band was playing (cool) but the bar was noisy a few feet away (not so cool). I expected a little more quiet environment but my wife and I had a great time - great servers and customer service!
(4)Jaime K.
I go here a couple times a year. Basically, every time I'm back in Lancaster. The caesar salad is so unique and tasty. Everything else on the menu looks great too...maybe one day I'll tear myself away from the caesar and branch out. The decor is a little over the top (screams "special occasion"), but you don't need to dress to match it. The place is pretty unpretentious, really. GO.
(5)Michelle W.
My mother and stepfather live in the Lancaster area. My husband and I were recently visiting and they took us to dinner at the Belvedere Inn. The decor is beautiful. The place is another gorgeous turn-of-the-century mansions for which Lancaster is known and it's painstakingly decorated and restored. We only had dinner, but the bar is gorgeous and looks like it would be a great place to hang out and have a few. We went on a Sunday night, so it was pretty slow, but the food was great. I wasn't blown away by either the menu or the prices at first, but my opinion changed by the end of the meal. Wine by the glass is around $8/glass, entrees are about $22-25, etc. Basically, everything seemed high to me because it looked like DC prices. But there were some differences. First of all, the portion sizes. The wine came in enormous glasses. I'm not a big drinker to start with, but I nursed mine all night long. The entrees were enormous as well. My grilled ahi tuna entree was at least twice the size of an entree one would receive in a city such as Washington or New York. All of the entrees came with salads and if you paid an extra $2, you could upgrade to the grilled Caesar which is some sort of specialty of the house. It sounds a little schticky, but it's really quite good. The dressing is almost an anchovy aioli and the romaine is grilled just right. The food was delicious. My ahi was seasoned perfectly and there was no need to reach for the salt or pepper. The bed of grits and spinach on which it sat was absolutely perfect. And it really was too much food. If anything, I'd say the Belvedere should be serving 1/2-2/3 portions and charging appropriately. We managed to finish, only because it was so delicious, but if I'd known how big my entree would be, I would not have ordered the delectable escargots in hazelnut butter.
(4)Bill E.
Worst service and rudest staff I've ever seen, anywhere. Had one cocktail and some appetizers at the bar, late afternoon, early evening... the bartender could not have been less professional. Disappointing on every level.
(1)Stacie M.
I just don't get it. I've eaten here three times and haven't been all that impressed. The Holiday decor was phenomenal though. So cozy! A good place for a holiday meal. The grilled romaine was soggy and wilted all three times I ordered it. My appetizers have been good, and my entrees were good. just good. Maybe I'm just here on bad nights, but I can't piece together the rave reviews.
(3)Dennis S.
Thanksgiving night 2009. Everything else in walking distance was closed. Food and service were excellent. Next time I am in Lancaster I will return
(4)Lisa E.
Great food, "Big Boy Drinks", friendly atmosphere. The main bartender downstairs, Jamie, can be a little cranky. Other bartenders see him as a primadona, which is obvious and although I love the bar sometimes I am not in the mood for him. Certainly may be considered Philly Light if you know that city experience
(4)A D.
Unless you are from the area or work for a company located there, I don't know why anyone would be in Lancaster, PA. This is a small town in the middle of Amish country that is home to many major manufacturing companies in the US and not much else...hence the reason for my visit. The corporate office for my company is located there and during my last trip to headquarters I found myself dining is the quaint little downtown area of Lancaster. The Belvedere fits in quite nicely on the picturesque Queen St. and made a very good impression on me. The appearance of the building (inside and out) is very attractive, the waite staff is friendly and informative and the food is fantastic. I had the swordfish special which was a 9 out of 10, but I'm a little spoiled when it comes to seafood so maybe an unbiased person would have given it a 10. For appetizers we had brochette and also a crap dip as well, both deserve a perfect 10 rating as far as I am concerned. If you find yourself in Lancaster, stop in and enjoy the night; the Belvedere is a jewel hidden in the land of the followers of Jakob Ammann ;)
(4)Mark K.
Always a fun time at the Belvedere, and the menu is the among the most original I've seen anywhere in or out of Lancaster. The food and drinks are terrific, the bar nice, and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. All those good points can sometimes even make you forget that you've been waiting for too long for your food on busy nights. Still, one of my top spots in town.
(4)C Z.
Great food and atmosphere. I went with the Pennsylvanian venison, carpaccio, and the butternut squash salad. I will definitely come here again. Good call for a date.
(5)Jack L.
Upscale lunch and dining. Great service. Went for lunch. Dark, Victorian charm. The BLT was EXCELLENT. Best lunch sandwich ever...... In house braised bacon put it over the top. Not your normal BLT.
(5)Jackie M.
The food was delicious but service was really slow. I had the filet and scallops for an appetizer. I'll come again but only for a special occasion since it's pretty expensive.
(3)JC N.
I was in Lancaster for the evening and The Belvedere Inn came recommended. I called late afternoon the same day hoping for a 7:30 p.m. reservation for two people, but was politely told that 9 p.m. was their first opening. I was politely informed that if we want to, we could eat at one of the bars, which has the same menu as table service. With very high expectations, we took a chance and arrived at the Belvedere Inn at about 7:30 p.m. In a nutshell: Our Belvedere dining experience was a solid 5 stars in all respects. Overall food quality: Excellent. We had the entree size grilled caesar salad with chicken for an appetizer. It was warm and delicious. The chicken was fresh. The dressing was terrific. Our entrees consisted of Chilean sea bass and pretzel crusted veal. Both were perfectly prepared and presented. Dessert: Banana Bread Pudding. Again, excellent. Food quality: A solid 5 stars. Service: Since we did not have a reservation, we did not expect to be seated at a table when we arrived. We opted to head to the upstairs bar and determine if it was suitable for eating dinner. We quickly decided eating at the upstairs bar would be fine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of room. Comfortable chairs and a well placed foot rest around the bar. Live jazz, not too loud so we could carry on a conversation. We found the service to be outstanding. The bartender who served us (originally from NY, I think his name was John), extensively knew every menu item. He answered all of our questions. He was attentive but not overbearing. Perfect service. Again, a solid 5 stars for service. We found it easy to park in front of the restaurant. When we left about 9:15 p.m., every table in the upstairs area was full. It is easy to understand why. I enthusiastically recommend The Belvedere Inn. I would absolutely eat there again without any hesitation.
(5)Kevin J.
This restaurant showed up as one of the most highly reviewed restaurant w good ratings of 4 stars So my family and i stopped by after visiting sight & sound theatre We got the table at the beautiful deck without any waiting time But we would never go back to this restaurant and wouldn't recommend to anybody and here's why Appetizer - Steamed Mussels : mussels undercooked / wine used in the broth too strong Main dishes - Filet mignon w extra side of fries : ordered medium rare but came out as medium well / inside brown / waste of good steak / Fries didn't come out (but didn't ask for it since all the foods were very disappointing... And didn't even appear on the check so i guess waitress forgot about it) - Fried Veal : no comment my brother took one bite of it and stopped eating - Pan seared salmon : undercooked / too salty - Short ribs w side of macaroni gratin & string beans : ribs and string beans too salty / mac and cheese tasted worse than that of supermarket... And on the way back home, we had to make sudden stop in the middle of four way intersection few blocks away from the restaurant b/c of four kids (seemed like high schoolers) who just ran across the street when the crossing light wasn't even on and even yelled & cursed at us for approaching... Wow We really loved and enjoyed the show we watched at the sight and sound theatre but the food and the people just ruined everything in the end
(1)Todd B.
I recently visited The Belvedere Inn on my trip to Lancaster, and I am really happy that I stopped into the bar for a cocktail and dinner. I was greeted by a really friendly and funny bartender who seemed to be a standard there for some time, and she knew everyone who came into the bar seemingly except for me. The Manhattan cocktail was one of the best I've ever had, served "up" in a large cocktail glass, and beautifully presented. For dinner, I chose the quinoa shrimp and the grilled caesar salad with chicken. The quinoa shrimp was really creative and something I've never experienced elsewhere, and I loved it. The shrimp were generous in size, and covered in a light coating of quinoa. While the Inn is famous for its grilled caesar salads, I honestly was not impressed. I was served an heaping plate of romaine lettuce and a somewhat dry chicken breast on the top of it. There was not enough cheese or dressing to cover the lettuce, and it just simply was way too much lettuce. For the same price, I would have much preferred 3-5 hearts or leaves of grilled romaine with grilled chicken and dressing to the huge lettuce head on my plate. It was difficult to eat, mostly dry and just too much. Less is more would be true in this case. I was sad that Crazy Betty's was closed upstairs, but I'll be back. Overall, despite the salad, I really liked the vibe, the local flavor, and the food at the Belvedere Inn.
(4)Nataly N.
I haven't actually tried the food here, but I spent a very pleasant time at the upstairs bar, enjoying some pleasant company while listening to some incredible live jazz music. The atmosphere is so classy and relaxed. The restaurant is gorgeous. There are beautiful light fixtures throughout the restaurant and paintings on the walls. And there are great seating options inside or outside on the balcony. My party had a really great time. Everyone enjoyed their cocktail selections, though someone pointed out that the drink made with elderflower liqueur (I forget the name) was a bit too sweet. I had the coconut mojito, which was very enjoyable. The restaurant was busy, but not too crowded. When I glanced at the tables, I saw great food presentation. They have special deals every day of the week, including $1 Kobe burger sliders on Mondays and karaoke on Wednesday nights at 10pm. It would be lovely to come back for a full meal on my next opportunity.
(5)Liz B.
My husband and I enjoyed a romantic anniversary dinner here in June. When I made the reservation I let them know that we were celebrating our 20th anniversary. To our surprise not only were we seated near the fireplace but there were beautifully printed place cards with a personalized anniversary greeting! We were also treated to a champagne toast on the house. The service was good and our meals were delish. We would definitely return.
(5)Alexandra K.
The Belvedere is most definitely my favorite bar/lounge to frequent in Lancaster. The downstairs bar has a very classy, old school vibe to it the bartenders down there are great, especially Jamie! Upstairs you'll find Crazy Shirley's, which feels like a more upbeat jazz bar. Along with a bar and quite a few low tables and comfy chairs, there is also a piano bar you can sit at. Occasionally, they will have local jazz bands performing upstairs, which adds to the experience. All of the food I have tried so far is amazing, especially the baked crab dip! The cocktails are also delicious. Try the Ambrosia, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Adam E.
You can't really beat $1 Kobe sliders on bao buns. I stopped in for a few of those, and ended up also getting an incredible grilled Caesar salad (1/4 wedge of romaine, grilled, with a subtle creamy dressing and fresh croutons) and a couple of drinks. We actually went upstairs to Crazy Shirley's since the downstairs bar was too crowded, so the atmosphere was a little more Jazz than Standards. The bartender was colorful and friendly, and he went out of his way to see to it that we had a good time on our short stay in Lancaster. He even asked around with the locals at the bar to get some opinions on where else we should check out after dinner. The food was awesome, the drinks were great too, and the company was excellent. The neighborhood was a little sketchy though, so for the walk from the car, keep your city face on and your bear mace in your pocket.
(4)Virginia Y.
I came here for a birthday lunch with the boyfriend. Very cozy atmosphere, I could see what it's called Belvedere Inn since the interior highly reflects it. We sat at the bar area for $1 kobe burger sliders. The moment we sat down, we were immediately greeted with free birthday champagne and printed birthday cards from the restaurant itself. Woo! We ended up ordering 4 kobe burger sliders, side of fries due to the recommendation of the barista and steamed mussels. The food came pretty quick, the mussels was a generous serving. The kobe burger sliders were okay, I'm surprised at how popular they were. They really tasted pretty average to me. The sauce was just a basic sweet chili sauce. I liked the buns though, it reminds me of steamed buns served with pork belly or peking duck. The fries were disappointing. I can't believe they recommended it. It tasted like McDonald's fries to me, beyond average.. We wrapped up our meal with pumpkin creme brulee and a dark chocolate flourless tart. The pumpkin creme brulee was quite..unique. I think I prefer regular creme brulee instead of special flavored ones.. It tasted like a slice of pumpkin pie. It was a bit too much. The pumpkin changed the entire taste of the creme brulee, it was a bit weird. Not only that, the top was kind of burnt, burnt to the point that it tasted bitter... I'm sorry Belvedere but I've had better creme brulee at DisneyWorld...that says a lot. The dark chocolate tart was much much better than the creme brulee but I found it to be too sweet. It's pretty dense though, I liked the texture but I'm not sure if the raspberry jam complimented the dish well... All in all, there needs to be some tweaking done with the food but otherwise the atmosphere was really nice, decent lighting, cozy environment, love the jazz. I'm also pretty surprised at the pricing of this place. Mussels were $10 but desserts were $8? Seems to me that sweets are overpriced here. Not sure if I'd come back here or not yet since my boyfriend's sweet tooth would like to have the pots de creme. I heard they have jazz hour or drink specials on the weekends so we'll see. P.S. the champagne although free tasted blah.
(3)Steven Z.
My friends from Lancaster took me here to initially try to Coby Beef sliders for a buck, but the bar was rather full and they didn't offer the $1 dollar deal at the tables but we could get them off the menu for $3 a piece in orders of 3...no thanks, I understand a "deal" at the bar but should work both ways just require tables to order drinks or something. Anyway beyond that little annoyance the food here was fantastic the waitress was very attentive and the environment was very calm and relaxing. I ordered the Salmon and it was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was the bed it was laying on was a bit on the sweeter side and was over powered with lemon juice. I still managed to eat most of it as it was still very flavorful. Based on the full experience the money spent was well worth it.
(4)See D.
Great place! The food and service are both excellent. We LOVE the bar upstairs. It has kind of a speak easy feel. Low lighting, plush décor, live music, and strong drinks all make this place fantastic! We'll continue to frequent when in the area.
(4)Lancaster C.
My husband and I come here any chance we get when we don't have our kids with us. It's a bit pricy but so worth it! We never had a bad meal here.
(5)Ken V.
Had a wonderful family dinner here just before Christmas. I started off with an appetizer and then enjoyed a small plate of shrimp tacos for my main course. The food was superbly prepared, from beginning to end. The wine list was ample, with something for everyone. Service was fabulous. Prompt and courteous without rushing or being overbearing at all. Just right. Will definitely keep this on my list for future family visits in Lancaster.
(5)Joanna H.
Wednesday nights upstairs in Crazy Shirley's lounge is where I like to be! The bartender up there is superb and always so attentive. I rotate between tableside and barside, both are excellent. Normally there's a great atmosphere and tons of fun to be had. I have been a little disappointed the last few months because there seem to be a lot of private parties upstairs on Wednesdays. I don't blame anyone for wanting to have a meeting or party at the belvedere, can we talk about how amazing the food and drinks are?? It makes perfect sense, but it totally kills the crowd. I just wish that the private parties were on a different night than wednesday. I always bring friends since the belve is a fabulous place to meet new people, but they have yet to experience the amazing culture you guys work so hard to create!! Bring back that weds night atmosphere and claim the 5th star I want so badly to give you!
(4)Nicholas C.
I've got to say for a place in little old Historic Lancaster this place is fancy!! Come for an awesome meal during the day on a fancy date or dance it up late night and go to the bar for a drink!! Always a welcoming environment!!
(5)Wayne W.
Wow. This place has jumped the shark. Just to many flavors in one recent dish. Not impressed and very expensive
(3)Sarah S.
I have been here twice: once with my mother for appetizers/drinks and more recently I went here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend. We typically don't have the money to eat here but splurged since it was a special occasion. Be prepared to pay a decent amount of money here but it is entirely worth it. First of all the interior is fabulous -- love the decor and they change it for the seasons/holidays. It is classy and tasteful yet fun! The service was also impeccable. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and able to provide accurate descriptions as well as make recommendations based on our likes/dislikes/questions we had asked... this goes for food and drinks. The specialty drinks they have there are delicious and fun. I've tasted the Juan Carlos (was hoping it would be a tad spicier), Ambrosia, and also a raspberry/chocolate/espresso martini that the bartender made for us on the house since they had forgotten one of our salads we ordered. All of them were GREAT. They also have a large wine and beer selection. Now we get to the food... We got the Kobe sliders as an appetizer and WOW they were faaaaantastic. We also got the mussels to share and they were quite tasty as well. We ended up splitting an entree since we were starting to feel full from the appetizers and loved whatever it was that we ordered. Can't seem to remember exactly what it was other than it was a type of fish. I believe it was a special that day. The only thing that was sort of a bummer was that they charged a "plating fee" to split up the entree onto two plates. Maybe it is trivial for me to complain about that but I don't feel that's necessary to charge your customers for that. We would have been fine with sharing a single plate before paying for another one for the same amount of food. Overall, great experience and highly recommend going!
(4)David A.
been coming here for many years and must say this place is stuck in time, and a good time. Food is always great, the bartenders friendly, the décor top rated, highly recommend this place.
(4)Robert N.
Jamie is the best. Go for the drinks, stay for the Kobe burgers. Great stuff. Great atmosphere, honestly, I think it changes every time I go. Not too dark and not too light, so you can see what you are eating. But you feel comfortable, almost cozy, with your date.
(5)Aaron D.
Another great meal at The Belvedere Inn. A group of 9 celebrating a birthday and this is a great location for any event or dinner. Seated just as we walked in with a special greeting for the birthday boy. Service is quick with good explanation of the specials and bar offerings. I had the Pan Seared Black Sea Bass, Chilled Smoked Crab Udon Noodle Salad, Lemon Avocado Aioli, Kale, Mushrooms, Pickled Radishes, Red Pepper Coulis. The fish could have been a bit larger, but no real complaints. Started with the grilled Caesar Salad (a Belvedere must) and 4 Blue Point Oysters. Very nice sauce on the cold Udon Noodles that pared well with the fish and the noodle's. Wife had the Free Range Chicken Breast with Fresh Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Chasseur Sauce. Excellent dish. The Chasseur sauce had a bit to much salt, but it was cut by the chicken and/or potatoes. Shared and excellent white, milk and dark chocolate dessert that was rich and just sweet enough. Bar in far one of the best restaurants in Lancaster.
(4)Stephanie G.
We had a wonderful dinner here to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday! They made her so happy with the personalized HAPPY BIRTHDAY napkin insert. The food was delicious and the waiter was great!!!
(5)Jon L.
I don't eat salads. But get the grilled Caesar. I repeat, get the grilled Caesar. Also, get the grilled Caesar with shrimp
(5)Catherine C.
My family and I LOVE The Belvedere. We always order the Bruschetta, it's a must! Get the grilled Caesar, you won't be disappointed. Service is great, ambiance is quiet but not uptight. Highly recommend this restaurant. Oh...don't forget to get a martini!
(5)J K.
Great, attentive service from Tia. Well crafted drinks were the star of the night (my wife loved the drink Tia recommended in the menu). Our appetizer was a plate of pot stickers with an original dipping sauce. I wish I had tried to identify what was going on in the sauce a little better. Seemed like Asian fusion as opposed to anything traditional. I would order it again. The entrees varied. The crawfish pasta in Cajun cream sauce was excellent. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the sauce was rich and flavorful. My pepper crusted ribeye steak was off point. It was overcooked, more resembling medium well when I requested medium rare. Credit where it's due: the steak had a nice char to it and the accompanying sauce added favor and the desired moisture the steak was lacking. I didn't complain because it was overall a good dish, but I would think twice before ordering steak here (my first grilled to order dish at the Belvedere) Dessert...I do not recommend the banana creme brulee. Ever have a banana that was a little bit past it's prime? You know, the kind where you give it a try despite your better judgment. That seemed to be the main flavor note I detected. The texture was nothing like I would expect from creme brulee. Tia asked us if we would like to have something else. We declined but appreciated the offer and her display of professionalism. I've never been disappointed by an appetizer at the Belvedere nor a drink. The entrees are usually of high quality but I'd stick with the roasted dishes or pasta as opposed to a grilled steak. Honestly, it is becoming a rarity to find a fine dining establishment that can cook a steak to the correct doneness.
(2)Mary L.
You can't go wrong with this place! Excellent food and staff. We are frequent patrons and eat at the upstairs (Crazy Shirley's) bar and enjoy jazz from 7-10 Fridays or Saturdays. The Thai steamed clams are to die for and there's always several specials to choose from. My husband loves the chicken dish!
(4)Mike T.
Get a grilled caesar.
(4)Tom H.
Atmosphere is late 19th century bordello. Very dark and very ornate. We've been there for lunch. The service and food were good. Bar menu is very limited. Good walk as you head up a queen street from downtown.
(3)Laura W.
My Mom and I visit Lancaster once a year and this is the second time we've visited the Belvedere Inn, for wine and app's. We had Josh as our server, as we did the year before - he's as good as it gets! Very personable, friendly, attentive, honest and gracious. What more can you ask for? As far as the food/drink, loved the wine and the grilled Caesar, but stay far away from the crab dip. It was fishy and had something chewy within. Crab meat should NEVER be chewy. Josh, without hesitation, removed it from our bill. We will definitely be back next year.
(4)Valerie S.
Definitely a special occasion restaurant as the prices and ambience downstairs are high end. This is the Lancaster home of the grilled Caesar and I crave it periodically and am never disappointed. They also make a killer martini.
(4)Blue M.
This place has pretty good food and service...which you can read about in everyone else's reviews. The A/C ducts ruined our experience dinning there to the point that it's not worth returning. And from the looks on others faces we weren't the only ones. We were seated next to the fireplace at a two seater table. If you look back towards the front door and up a little there are five A/C vents. When the A/C kicks on it just ruins the dinning experience...too cold. But for the other patrons in the place I am willing to bet it may be to warm at times without the A/C on. Mgt there may need to address the air flow.
(2)Leigh H.
While the grilled romaine is supposedly the claim to fame, it was OK. Missing some garlic in my opinion. However, everything else we had was superb. My daughter ordered the mussels, my husband the pork belly and my son (4) the lettuce wraps. We all cleaned each other's plates. My daughter's filet was perfectly done, my husband's short ribs were succulent and served with some delicious mac and cheese. I had the pasta with crawfish and it was topped with the most delicious deep-fried okra nuggets. The building itself was beautiful inside and out with tons of charm and character. The service was fabulous and while it could have very easily been just a "date" restaurant, they accommodated us with our two younger kids without missing a beat. This place will definitely be a "do again" during our annual trip to Lancaster.
(4)Jao S.
Great food and creative drinks! Best in Lancaster. I've never had anything bad here. The grilled Caesar salad is a must. Scottie rocks
(5)Tom W.
I must have missed something. This place is ok, not great. This was our 2nd stop of the night. The first stop of the night was Pour and it was so good that the Belvedere probably didn't have a chance. We started with the short rib dumplings. They weren't bad, the sweet spice in the meat is different. I'm guessing they had some cinnamon, brown sugar, or a combo of both. They were served in wonton-like wrapper. Nothing special. We also had the Duck spring rolls. Not good. The sparse amount of duck was bland and flavorless. My wife had a Grilled Petite Caeser. It was good. I had the Large Petite Caesar with Shrimp. I admit it was good but it was also 21 bucks. Wow, that is ridiculous. One note, our server was Scottie and he was solid.
(3)Elianny S.
We were visiting Lancaster and decided to try this place based on the reviews and how cool the building looked. I would describe the decor of this place as old fashioned fancy, very dark because of the wood paneling but in a good way. We came for lunch and it was not very crowded. Most of the diners were older and the atmosphere is very subdued. I ordered the shrimp cocktail and chicken & sausage tortiglioni. The shrimp cocktail was absolutely delicious!! It had shrimp and scallops along with this amazing corn in tomato gazpacho. I really loved everything about it. The tortiglioni was also very good but I think I was already full from the shrimp cocktail and the delicious bread. I thought the price for lunch was very reasonable, the bill came to about $90 for four people. If I'm back in the area I will definitely return for dinner.
(4)Kyle N.
The Belvedere is my favorite Lancaster restaurant. Start and end your experience in the bar with Jamie (unofficial mayor of Lancaster). Make a reservation. You will want a table to sit and enjoy the exceptional food. I have had it all, you can't go wrong.
(5)Walter C.
My wife and I had an anniversary meal here in October 2013. The food, service and ambiance were excellent. Can't say that I'm a fan of downtown Lancaster, but this is one of the places that make it worth the effort.
(5)Jolie H.
Food is decent. The decorations pass the line into tacky, but not terrible. Service is TERRIBLE. There is an older female server who looks older than I believe she is who is ABSOLUTELY RUDE. She has dark/black hair, sort of tall, cheap black and white cross scarf. AVOID THIS SERVER AT ANY COST. First of all, she spoke to us as if she found us absolutely annoying. We were also upstairs because of the jazz and she seamed to be annoyed by the music. I was paying my bills earlier today and accidentally left my wallet on my desk. I was out with my mom, which we made a reservation for, and realized this. We expressed our concern to this horrifying excuse of a server. Instead of offering to save the table while we ran home, she rolled her eyes and said, "what? You can't have dinner without a drink?!?" RUDE. If, as a server, I ever said that to a guest, I would have lost my job long ago. So, my mom and I grabbed my wallet and took our business elsewhere.
(1)Benjamin B.
This is an excellent bar in Lancaster. Every time I visit, I close the bar one night. The atmosphere is wonderful, and despite loud music/karaoke, I always feel like I can find a table and have a wonderful conversation. I do not know if the bar serves food, but the drinks are strong and cheap! This place is wonderful for a night out with good friends.
(5)Kim Z.
My friend and I were attending our annual Conference in April. The atmosphere is classy, with rich dark woods. It's old-world style makes you feel like you stepped back into time. The elegance is reflective in the crisp white table cloths, grand fireplaces, and upscale chandeliers. The service was attentive and our luncheon special was fantastic! See you next year!
(4)Bill M.
Great patio setting for our first trip. Second floor outdoor patio made it for us. Food was good (Sea Bass and Braised Short Ribs w/ Mac and Cheese with the Short Ribs the better of the two entrees) but not great although the ambiance made the meal. Upstairs lounge with jazz combo with good looking bar provides a destination stop for after dinner drinks that tops off the evening. Total package will bring us back.
(3)Morgan H.
So this is gonna sound crazy.... But, I went to this restaurant for the first time on Saturday night with two friends and I think it was the best meal I've ever had. This opinion also takes into account my friends' food, which I was not shy about sampling myself. First the atmosphere. As you'd expect from an upscale place in an old building lots of exposed woodwork.. Tasteful lighting. We got there a bit early so the plan was to sit at the bar and have a couple drinks before getting a table. We got to talking to the couple next to us and they said that they've come there for EVERY significant event since they got married nine years earlier. How cool is that?? They told us how the bartender is awesome (his name is Jamie) and since we agreed, we decided to eat at the bar. We ordered some drinks. Jamie makes a stiff drink. You get your money's worth. Ok so the food. They had 2 soups for specials that were exquisite. I got the sausage and chicken soup and somebody else got a cream of cauliflower with lump crab soup. The third of us got the scallops appetizer. The soups were fantastic. The scallops were perfect. I was in heaven. On to entrees: My god. I don't even have words to describe how good they were. I got the short ribs. He got the strip steak. She got the braised lamb curry. Are you kidding me?? The steak came with a peach and onion medley that was unique and unreal. The lamb was tender and curry with pumpkin? say WHAAAAAAAAAATT???? The short ribs were probably the best thing I've ever eaten. I have a serious food boner thinking about it right now. Yes this place is so good that I said "food boner" out loud. We wanted to stay for dessert but decided we better let that wait for next time since we were completely full. Anyway, I understand that not everybody has the same experiences at the same places. But for me and my friends, this was hands down the best meal and best dining experience i've had in a long time, if not ever.
(5)Fabrice L.
From France and visiting the area, some friend recommanded it to us. He was not wrong. Place is really nice. Service is fine. My wife and me both got the scallops appetizer and its was really good except maybe a little "cracking" under the teeth : sand still in there or in the vegetable? The quality of the sauce and vegetable compensated this little deffect. The entrees were also great, with Shrimp Scampi and Pork Chop. And the final was just perfect with a wonderfull Cheesecake we are both fan of! Great place to eat in downtown Lancaster. We recommand it strongly too.
(4)Amy G.
The grilled romaine lettuce is what this place is known for .... you will not have it made better elsewhere. The dinning area is sensual and romantic. The bar on the first floor is simply modern mixed with classic elements. Upstairs is more trendy, but not trendy in the vein that fades. Favorite evening place to visit in Lancaster. Always has great jazz on Fridays & Saturdays. Go early. Leave around 11pm.
(5)Charles H.
Excellent establishment. Warmly greeted and taken to a nice upstairs table. Our waiter was knowledgable and competent. He ensured our evening was a success from a service standpoint. The kitchen knows it's job as the dishes were scrumptious and beautifully presented. The baked crab appetizer was tasty. Both of the main dishes we ordered surpassed any preconceived ideas.
(5)Lexy M.
I swear I'm a good wife, but I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOUR CHEF! Our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner was 5 stars! Everything was amazing, the entrees were done with perfection but in all honestly Belvedere Inn... your GRILLED CAESAR SALAD & MINI ASIAN KOBE BURGERS are enough to keep me happy for life. Seriously, stick me naked in a bug filled hut in the middle of a hot jungle and I'd be fine as long as you provide me with those two appetizers. Thanks again as always Belvedere.. you are my GO TO whenever I'm in Lancaster!
(5)Don F.
My wife had her wedding shower here and was very happy with the results. With guests from PA, NY, CT and VA it was a pleasant setting to have traveled to for such a special occasion. Everyone enjoy themselves and my mother in law was especially impressed with the manager that day (Dean)
(4)Todd K.
I live in Lancaster City and I eat out a lot. The Belvedere is one of the very best spots to eat in Lancaster, including the whole county. Service is great. The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing. Grilled Ceasars are popular. I like the Kobe burger appetizer and the Thai lettuce wraps. Bartenders are excellent. My son lives in Boston and he visits I always let him pick the restaurant and never fails.....the Belvedere.
(5)John S.
The service is very friendly and attentive. Sat at the bar for a few pints and enjoyed the Monday night "sliders" special. Some of the best ground beef I've ever eaten. Very good deal at $1 each!
(5)Ross W.
Classic and classy. Fantastic food and atmosphere. Did I mention the food is amazing?! Well run establishment. I'd put them up against any place I've ever ate, main line, Palm Beach. Any where.
(5)Geoff And Jenni G.
Superb... really... upstairs outside patio fabulous... Waiter service attentive/excellent... Great food and superb cocktails... Loved it... would definitely go back and recommend...
(4)Emma J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. I have yet to have a bad meal there, the grilled chicken caesar salad, bruschetta, mac and cheese are all wonderful. The interior is warm, old and rustic, and very inviting. Weather permitting I recommend asking to be seated on the balcony outside which is beautiful. The upstairs bar is also fun, and decorated well for the holidays. This is a must go to restaurant for anyone visiting the Lancaster area.
(5)Zach L.
The service is good. Food is sometimes okay, sometimes great. Pricey. Dress is casual to upscale if you are inclined. There is a bar area, a formal sitting area, and a balcony area that overlooks the street (and the smoking area toward the back--avoid that). Overall, this is a decent spot to go in a pinch, but don't go there trying to impress. There is an unaddressed problem with flies (either you are okay with them or you're not).
(3)Cheral Q.
First timer here, we had asked a few of the local shop owners where to go for dinner and every one of them said to go here, and to get the grilled chicken Caesar. We sat at the bar and had a few beers and some mixed nuts then looked over the menu and decided on the Kobe sliders for our appetizer and the grilled chicken Caesar for main course. Just wow! The presentation alone was amazing, but the taste was fabulous. I now can't wait to go back...Queen street had some fantastic little shops and this meal topped off a great day in Lancaster. I live about 40 minutes away and it's worth the drive. Bravo!
(5)Julie B.
The Belvedere is a great restaurant choice in Lancaster. The dining room/inn are a little eclectic (leopard carpet), but the food and drinks are all great. The roasted caesar salad is one of their signature items and it is excellent. Do not get the Pittsburgh salad though if you actually want a salad. That was the only "miss" that I've had from the menu.
(4)Christina S.
Just wanted to stop by for a cocktail. The bar was dark and creepy. We wanted to sit upstairs on the balcony but were told we had to order food in order to sit there...the restaurant was EMPTY! Really! So trying to make the best of it we were just going to go sit at the creepy bar but, I'm really sorry, their was a man sitting next to us that really smelled. I can't pay good money for a unpleasant experience. So, we left. Overall, disappointing.
(1)Jim M.
Service was excellent, as was the food and wine. I had the lamb, which was done to perfection. We ordered a chocolate dessert which was heaven. My only complaint is that I've had better martinis, but it was a small thing and overall, not worth docking a score of five!
(5)Lindsay B.
Everytime I go to the Belve I say I am going to order something other than the grilled ceasar but never can get away from it! Grilled ceasar is awesome! The full salad with chicken is delicious, but I could never finish it. Last time I was there, I had the petite salad (still pretty large) with the macaroni and cheese. Both were delicious. Quiet spot for lunch, always good.
(4)Benny E.
What a cool local joint! On a Friday night they had a great band. The vibe was great and the food was good. The short ribs were very good, not amazing but decent. I liked the Caesar Salads! If I would have known I would have just ordered that. They actually grill a quarter of a head of Romaine, dress it, add chicken or steak, and you have a meal of a salad. It was great!
(4)Tony H.
This is one of the best places to get a drink in Lancaster during the weekdays. I would describe the atmosphere as an upscale version of cheers "very warm and inviting". The bartenders are always able to lift your spirits with their playful flirting, and ability to converse intelligently.
(4)Tatyana M.
First time here and VERY impressed. The ambiance is very romantic and cozy. The service was impeccable. The food was out of this world. And the value for all the above was outstanding. The only "complain" is - we do not live in Lancaster, otherwise we'd be here a lot more often.
(5)MoCe C.
I'd give this place 4 stars just because of the good service, yet was very dissapointed in 2 of my items. A Place like this thats still hangin onto the fine dinning moto. with their last hang nail needs way more life then this place offers. Yes, grilled ceaser was alright, wah-howw. But it lacked enough items to chose from. The appitizers were weak on flavor, n the pizza is over priced n bland.
(3)Charles E.
Grilled ceasar salad. we saw the reviews and were in downtown Lancaster PA for "first Friday" when most of the businesses in Lancaster open late, put tables out, musicians play. It's really neat.. A few people mentioned the Belvedere and everyone including Yelp reviews kept mentioning the grilled ceasar so we tried it. They have choices with chicken, steak or shrimp. All I can say is this is really a great idea, Why hasn't anyone else thought of this? Take a huge slice of Roamain, fill it with chopped lettuce with ceasar dressing that's been grilled. Top with jumbo shrimp and we also had the braised short ribs with mac & cheese on the side. Being it was "First Friday" the place was full so we sat at the bar. Which was fine, a couple of margaritas and we were all set for dinner. This place is all done in red, black and old wood. Real warm, real cozy. They also have a outdoor deck on the second floor but with temps outside hovering around 100 we weren't going to try the deck. Real nice place to have drinks and dinner. Try it.
(4)Cindy T.
Beautiful atmosphere, great service, good drinks, amazing food-everytime, and FUN upstairs bar/music. I love this place for a nice dinner, a great lunch, or even just a drink. Can't ever go wrong, and I highly recommend the grilled caesar salad.
(5)Mike I.
I had the curried scallop special for lunch - it was delish! We also had the "brucheta" appetizer...which was really just cheesy garlic bread - but it was amazing! Wasn't a huge fan of the "triple chocolate pudding" - I'll stick with the cream brule next time :)
(4)Samantha P.
Service was average - she wasn't very helpful and didn't appear to want to serve us. We sat downstairs, while it was decorated beautifully for Christmas it was an older crowd. After being told the specials 10 minutes after looking at the menu we both ordered the special "Mahi Mahi" and was forced into ordering the grilled Cesar ( which was overhyped). Fish was not very flavorful and broccoli was edible. The only good part of the meal was the risotto. Definitely overpriced and over hyped, was not the experience I was expecting. Would be cautious when eating here.
(3)Lisa B.
The Belvedere Inn is well worth a hefty drive from PHL, BWI, MDT airports. If you don't know why you should visit The Belvedere Inn, I'm going to clue you in NOW--GRILLED CAESAR SALADS! OMG these things are one of the most addicting items of food I've ever eaten. Being a native of Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, Belvedere was close, but now, I must make my yearly trip from Las Vegas to feast upon these Caesars. Let the review of the century begin... The Belvedere Inn is a restored historic mansion in downtown Lancaster City that sits on the corner of Queen and Lemon Streets. Walking inside you'll find a Victorian decor that is tastefully mingled with a jazz motif--WOWZA!! From antique chandeliers, to the art deco paintings, this place screams style and class. For some, the decor may be a bit over the top but, let me explain that it's just a prelude until your meal is served. Through the many visits, I can honestly say, "I've always had excellent meals there." Did I mention the Grilled Caesar is amazing? For the sake of redundancy, this salad is world class! They take a half of a romaine lettuce head, grill it; top it with homemade Caesar dressing (not sure if there are anchovies in it?); top it liberally with shaved parmesan reggiano; top it liberally with homemade croutons. What idiot wouldn't like that? Not to mention, if you are into proteins on your salad, you may add: grilled chicken, tenderloin tips, grilled salmon, grilled tuna, sauteed shrimp, or sauteed scallops. It's delightful with the chicken but, I find the foul takes away from my Caesar euphoria. The fiancee has devoured the Caesars with scallops but usually inhales them with medium rare tenderloin tips. Let this be a reminder that these Caesars are not small, and are a meal in themselves. Unless, you are a glutonous pig like yours truly... I've been known to get a Caesar, filet mignon w/two sides, dessert, and a handful of Kir Royales. Our last trip there (a few days ago), we must've been wearing his and her girdles because we only ordered a plain Caesar, Caesar w/tenderloin tips, and the special--Tuscan Chicken. The Tuscan Clucker was chop-lickin' good. It was a sauteed boneless breast of chicken topped with caramelized red pepper and onion, and a dollop of goat cheese. Below the breast was a wild mushroom risotto cake. The plate was drizzled with a balsamic reduction! So you think The Belvedere is expensive, huh? Nope, it's extremely reasonable. How bad do you want to go to The Belvedere Inn now? If you're a lush like me, they have two fully stocked bars. Drinks are well made by their talented mixologists and many top-shelf libations are available! The first bar is near the entrance and the other is on the second floor in Crazy Shirley's Lounge. Full menus are served both floors. I prefer to gorge myself in Crazy Shirley's because, on the weekends they have some relaxing jazz artists rockin' out. Not to mention, you have to stay somewhat sober if upstairs...remember, you have to make it DOWN the stairs, hopefully in one piece. The only negative aspect of this establishment is the service. It always seems as if the servers or food runners are understaffed. So just be patient, because it's worth waiting for! Speaking of waiting, I highly recommend making reservations if you are coming for dinner. Reservations for lunch aren't needed, though there's a steady lunch crowd. For parking info, hours, or just to be nosey check out their website belvedereinn.biz Dear Belvedere Inn, Please relocate to Las Vegas! Thanks in advance! -Lisa
(5)cd c.
I went to this place last week, while staying close to Lancaster. This restaurant is located on what looks like an old brick building. It located in a downtown area, if you can even call it that. You may park on the street as long as you don't exceed 2 hours as this restaurant has no private parking. We walked in and were promptly greeted and seated, the place was busy since it was saturday night. The athmosphere is awesome and the overall look and decoration inside is outstanding. You have a feeling you are having dinner in an old mansion. We had a few martinis which were just right. Not watered down. Our server was attentive and kept comming back to see if everything ok. Ordered appetizers which were delivered within 10m. We had Cod fish cigars which were interesting. Then had the Scallops and the Rockfish for entrees, which were well cooked and had great flavour. Food was very good overall. Dessert was creme brule. Delicious Its about $100 for a dinner for two, for about 3 cocktails, 2 appetizers 2 entrees and one dessert. It was well worth it though.
(5)Stephanie P.
Lunch at the Belvedere Inn was by far the worst service I have ever had in a restaurant. My mother and I went in after a our last day of Christmas shopping (a Friday before Christmas which was on Sunday). We walked in, the older blonde hostess did not greet us kind of just gave us this funny look. My mother said, do you have room for two for lunch? The hostess replied with a rude blunt no. I could see in the dining room that they were busy but it didn't seem to be overly crowded. I also noticed there was a Christmas party going on in another area of the building. I gave the hostess a look like she was insane and she then replied that she had a table in the corner of the bar. Now I my mother and I were dressed very nicely but wearing blue jeans? Maybe this was our mistake? But it was at like 11:30am on a Friday! Anyway, so my mother commented on how she liked the color of the napkins and décor and the hostess just kind of laughed. She was not friendly one bit. Then the bartender, a red headed older lady was our waitress. She brought us water and never asked if we wanted any other type of drink?! I do look like I am underage to be in a bar (actually I am 25) but she didn't even as if we wanted something other than water. Which we would've had..you lost money there Belvedere. The food came which was just average in my opinion. Nothing spectacular. Our table was so small that it was hard to eat. They did not take our bread basket and bread plates away when it was empty. They just slapped on our dinner plates. We had no room at all. Granted we knew we were taking a small bar table but they didn't even clear our dirty dishes! They did not check on us to see if our food was okay. My mother wanted salt but no one came over! By the time we got the check, which was forever. We sat there staring at the bartender/waitress waiting for her to look up at us. She treated all the mid-afternoon drunks with lots of friendliness but only simply asked if we wanted our check..not even asking if we needed anything else..hello dessert? ..Money lost there too Belvedere! We paid the bill. If I wasn't a waitress back in the day, I wouldn't tip.. but alas I did. When we left, the blonde hostess did not say a word to us. She was staring into space. Dear Belvedere, you need to do a better job training your employees with better customer service. We will not be back. I also work for a large law firm so I will be telling all my peers about this experience.
(1)Robby S.
Drove by this place on the way to my hotel and couldn't help but notice how great it looked from the outside. When in the hotel, I Yelp'd it and decided to give it a try. Arrived and tried the Fresh Breeze cocktail. Very good... Even though the menu looked great, because it was late, I went for a couple of appetizers: their famous Grilled Caesar Salad and the appetizer size Mussels. The salad was on my table within minutes which made me think it was pre-prepared and waiting...but nonetheless, it was very tasty with a large leaf of romaine, grilled, with an excellent Caesar dressing and croutons on top. The Mussels came in a big pot and seemed huge as an appetizer, but was perfect. The broth was white wine, tomato, onion, and lots of garlic! The Mussel shells were medium size, but the mussels were actually small, but plentiful. The left over soup was excellent with the bread provided. This was a great meal that I highly recommend to anyone traveling through the Lancaster area.
(5)Kimba Z.
In a beautiful brick building that was originally a residence, the Belvedere Inn is easy to find on North Queen Street, and parking was no problem on a Thursday night. With nice dark lighting and a good wine list, consider it a romantic date place -- if you are an omnivore. People were definitely coming out and drinking and treating themselves on a Thursday night, I noticed. We had 4 drinks between us, 2 appetizers, and split an entree, for a total of $80. For us vegans who still like a nice date night, the Belvedere offered to swap out the salmon on the Lemongrass Salmon dish for a slab of grilled tofu ($24), and it was a huge dish with an excellent preparation that included two Vietnamese-style cold veg rolls, rice noodles, and an avocado puree. This was plenty for the two of us, but we were majorly bummed to read afterward that the great pineapple sauce on the dish was actually a FISH sauce, bleh. I guess vegans have to ask about everything, but we try to not be complete Ps in the A. They also altered the Thai lettuce wraps from chicken to tofu, and these were really good. So they do keep tofu on hand and know what the word vegan means. I continue to urge restaurants with sophisticated kitchen staff such as this to consider keeping one creative all-plant-based entree on the menu. It's not that hard, is a healthy alternative for dieting omnivores or those on a low-cholesterol diet, and sooooo reassuring to us alternative-diet-types to know that there is something we can have without having to relentlessly interrogate the wait staff. Help us spend our disposable income! There is a fun-looking bar upstairs that seems to be a nightclub, with a very friendly bartender. A lot of money is spent keeping this place looking vintagey-hip. I'll return to check out the music upstairs.
(3)Greg M.
This place is with out question a dynamite place for remarkable cuisine, top notch drinks, excellent service and a cozy, posh ambiance. They also have an upstairs lounge called Crazy Shirley's that rocks loungy beats and have a champion bar staff. They have anything you could ever ask for top shelf and a great bar menu as well. The last time I dined downstairs I had the pan seared duck that blew me off the chair! This place is certainly one of my hot spots I like to take out of town family and friends for dinner and drinks.
(5)ReviewHaiku F.
Food is whatever. Dirty martini diet Pickle makes the best. (b)
(4)M W.
Very torn. We've been faithful customers of the Belle for over ten years. The bar - a full five stars. Used to love the restaurant but it is now uneven. Was there two consecutive Mondays, first with four clients and a huge tab, the next Monday got the same waitress who had zero recognition of the person who had given her an amazing tip six days before. Her attitude bordered on the snotty when we decided to just have grilled Caesar's and a glass of wine. Also, I know things are tight in the restaurant business but would it kill the Belevedere to go back to homemade crouton's on the salads? It's their signature and I could buy better at Sam's Club. The rest of the menu is nice but there's more competition downtown that does it better. We'll still go to the Belle for a drink but it's time to find other pastures to dine in.
(3)Nick R.
Air reeks of old fish. Sticking amaretto in sangria is NOT a "port old fashioned." Weird crowd, poor service.
(1)Allison S.
Rib-eye was delicious. Snap peas and potatoes were so fresh. Rockfish was very crispy, but the dish overall was unimpressive. The scallop appetizer was okay. Grilled Caesar was good but didn't understand what the fuss is all about. The staff was very nice with the exception of the girl who tops off your water. Both our server and Brandon at the front desk were wonderful. Great atmosphere. Jazz bar upstairs seemed inviting but we couldn't stay.
(3)H B.
Good lunch! Price was not bad! Will have to give it a try for dinner, next time I'm in Lancaster!
(3)Edwin H.
We've been in Texas for three years, and the only thing we miss in Lancaster is the Belvedere Inn. Way too good for a county that prefers "hog and trough style" all you can cram in your mouth, but that's all most Lancastrians understand. No offense, but the gene pool has been a little crowded in Lancaster for the last hundred or so years, (and we don't just mean Amish) The Belvedere would stand out in New York, Philadelphia, LA, Austin, or Chicago. When you're good, you're good.
(5)cotie s.
Mmmm...lamb chops. Mmmm....braised short ribs. The bruschetta and Caesar salad ain't too shabby either. My first time at the Belvedere included the Lamb Chops, done perfectly and followed up with a sweet chocolate cake for desert. The Caesar salad is half a head of romaine lettuce grilled, sprinkled with cheese, croûtons, and dressing. The bruschetta was also crispy and cheesy goodness. The more recent trip included the braised beef short ribs. They were the best I've ever had. They were fork tender with a rich sauce from them being braised slowly over time. I was a little disappointed this time with the Caesar salad due to sogginess of the lettuce. We've found the staff attentive and willing to give suggestions from the menu. We sat upstairs both times and the noise was not a factor.
(4)Cheral Q.
First timer here, we had asked a few of the local shop owners where to go for dinner and every one of them said to go here, and to get the grilled chicken Caesar. We sat at the bar and had a few beers and some mixed nuts then looked over the menu and decided on the Kobe sliders for our appetizer and the grilled chicken Caesar for main course. Just wow! The presentation alone was amazing, but the taste was fabulous. I now can't wait to go back...Queen street had some fantastic little shops and this meal topped off a great day in Lancaster. I live about 40 minutes away and it's worth the drive. Bravo!
(5)Todd K.
I live in Lancaster City and I eat out a lot. The Belvedere is one of the very best spots to eat in Lancaster, including the whole county. Service is great. The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing. Grilled Ceasars are popular. I like the Kobe burger appetizer and the Thai lettuce wraps. Bartenders are excellent. My son lives in Boston and he visits I always let him pick the restaurant and never fails.....the Belvedere.
(5)JC N.
I was in Lancaster for the evening and The Belvedere Inn came recommended. I called late afternoon the same day hoping for a 7:30 p.m. reservation for two people, but was politely told that 9 p.m. was their first opening. I was politely informed that if we want to, we could eat at one of the bars, which has the same menu as table service. With very high expectations, we took a chance and arrived at the Belvedere Inn at about 7:30 p.m. In a nutshell: Our Belvedere dining experience was a solid 5 stars in all respects. Overall food quality: Excellent. We had the entree size grilled caesar salad with chicken for an appetizer. It was warm and delicious. The chicken was fresh. The dressing was terrific. Our entrees consisted of Chilean sea bass and pretzel crusted veal. Both were perfectly prepared and presented. Dessert: Banana Bread Pudding. Again, excellent. Food quality: A solid 5 stars. Service: Since we did not have a reservation, we did not expect to be seated at a table when we arrived. We opted to head to the upstairs bar and determine if it was suitable for eating dinner. We quickly decided eating at the upstairs bar would be fine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of room. Comfortable chairs and a well placed foot rest around the bar. Live jazz, not too loud so we could carry on a conversation. We found the service to be outstanding. The bartender who served us (originally from NY, I think his name was John), extensively knew every menu item. He answered all of our questions. He was attentive but not overbearing. Perfect service. Again, a solid 5 stars for service. We found it easy to park in front of the restaurant. When we left about 9:15 p.m., every table in the upstairs area was full. It is easy to understand why. I enthusiastically recommend The Belvedere Inn. I would absolutely eat there again without any hesitation.
(5)Kevin J.
This restaurant showed up as one of the most highly reviewed restaurant w good ratings of 4 stars So my family and i stopped by after visiting sight & sound theatre We got the table at the beautiful deck without any waiting time But we would never go back to this restaurant and wouldn't recommend to anybody and here's why Appetizer - Steamed Mussels : mussels undercooked / wine used in the broth too strong Main dishes - Filet mignon w extra side of fries : ordered medium rare but came out as medium well / inside brown / waste of good steak / Fries didn't come out (but didn't ask for it since all the foods were very disappointing... And didn't even appear on the check so i guess waitress forgot about it) - Fried Veal : no comment my brother took one bite of it and stopped eating - Pan seared salmon : undercooked / too salty - Short ribs w side of macaroni gratin & string beans : ribs and string beans too salty / mac and cheese tasted worse than that of supermarket... And on the way back home, we had to make sudden stop in the middle of four way intersection few blocks away from the restaurant b/c of four kids (seemed like high schoolers) who just ran across the street when the crossing light wasn't even on and even yelled & cursed at us for approaching... Wow We really loved and enjoyed the show we watched at the sight and sound theatre but the food and the people just ruined everything in the end
(1)Todd B.
I recently visited The Belvedere Inn on my trip to Lancaster, and I am really happy that I stopped into the bar for a cocktail and dinner. I was greeted by a really friendly and funny bartender who seemed to be a standard there for some time, and she knew everyone who came into the bar seemingly except for me. The Manhattan cocktail was one of the best I've ever had, served "up" in a large cocktail glass, and beautifully presented. For dinner, I chose the quinoa shrimp and the grilled caesar salad with chicken. The quinoa shrimp was really creative and something I've never experienced elsewhere, and I loved it. The shrimp were generous in size, and covered in a light coating of quinoa. While the Inn is famous for its grilled caesar salads, I honestly was not impressed. I was served an heaping plate of romaine lettuce and a somewhat dry chicken breast on the top of it. There was not enough cheese or dressing to cover the lettuce, and it just simply was way too much lettuce. For the same price, I would have much preferred 3-5 hearts or leaves of grilled romaine with grilled chicken and dressing to the huge lettuce head on my plate. It was difficult to eat, mostly dry and just too much. Less is more would be true in this case. I was sad that Crazy Betty's was closed upstairs, but I'll be back. Overall, despite the salad, I really liked the vibe, the local flavor, and the food at the Belvedere Inn.
(4)Nataly N.
I haven't actually tried the food here, but I spent a very pleasant time at the upstairs bar, enjoying some pleasant company while listening to some incredible live jazz music. The atmosphere is so classy and relaxed. The restaurant is gorgeous. There are beautiful light fixtures throughout the restaurant and paintings on the walls. And there are great seating options inside or outside on the balcony. My party had a really great time. Everyone enjoyed their cocktail selections, though someone pointed out that the drink made with elderflower liqueur (I forget the name) was a bit too sweet. I had the coconut mojito, which was very enjoyable. The restaurant was busy, but not too crowded. When I glanced at the tables, I saw great food presentation. They have special deals every day of the week, including $1 Kobe burger sliders on Mondays and karaoke on Wednesday nights at 10pm. It would be lovely to come back for a full meal on my next opportunity.
(5)Adam E.
You can't really beat $1 Kobe sliders on bao buns. I stopped in for a few of those, and ended up also getting an incredible grilled Caesar salad (1/4 wedge of romaine, grilled, with a subtle creamy dressing and fresh croutons) and a couple of drinks. We actually went upstairs to Crazy Shirley's since the downstairs bar was too crowded, so the atmosphere was a little more Jazz than Standards. The bartender was colorful and friendly, and he went out of his way to see to it that we had a good time on our short stay in Lancaster. He even asked around with the locals at the bar to get some opinions on where else we should check out after dinner. The food was awesome, the drinks were great too, and the company was excellent. The neighborhood was a little sketchy though, so for the walk from the car, keep your city face on and your bear mace in your pocket.
(4)Liz B.
My husband and I enjoyed a romantic anniversary dinner here in June. When I made the reservation I let them know that we were celebrating our 20th anniversary. To our surprise not only were we seated near the fireplace but there were beautifully printed place cards with a personalized anniversary greeting! We were also treated to a champagne toast on the house. The service was good and our meals were delish. We would definitely return.
(5)Kyle N.
The Belvedere is my favorite Lancaster restaurant. Start and end your experience in the bar with Jamie (unofficial mayor of Lancaster). Make a reservation. You will want a table to sit and enjoy the exceptional food. I have had it all, you can't go wrong.
(5)Walter C.
My wife and I had an anniversary meal here in October 2013. The food, service and ambiance were excellent. Can't say that I'm a fan of downtown Lancaster, but this is one of the places that make it worth the effort.
(5)Virginia Y.
I came here for a birthday lunch with the boyfriend. Very cozy atmosphere, I could see what it's called Belvedere Inn since the interior highly reflects it. We sat at the bar area for $1 kobe burger sliders. The moment we sat down, we were immediately greeted with free birthday champagne and printed birthday cards from the restaurant itself. Woo! We ended up ordering 4 kobe burger sliders, side of fries due to the recommendation of the barista and steamed mussels. The food came pretty quick, the mussels was a generous serving. The kobe burger sliders were okay, I'm surprised at how popular they were. They really tasted pretty average to me. The sauce was just a basic sweet chili sauce. I liked the buns though, it reminds me of steamed buns served with pork belly or peking duck. The fries were disappointing. I can't believe they recommended it. It tasted like McDonald's fries to me, beyond average.. We wrapped up our meal with pumpkin creme brulee and a dark chocolate flourless tart. The pumpkin creme brulee was quite..unique. I think I prefer regular creme brulee instead of special flavored ones.. It tasted like a slice of pumpkin pie. It was a bit too much. The pumpkin changed the entire taste of the creme brulee, it was a bit weird. Not only that, the top was kind of burnt, burnt to the point that it tasted bitter... I'm sorry Belvedere but I've had better creme brulee at DisneyWorld...that says a lot. The dark chocolate tart was much much better than the creme brulee but I found it to be too sweet. It's pretty dense though, I liked the texture but I'm not sure if the raspberry jam complimented the dish well... All in all, there needs to be some tweaking done with the food but otherwise the atmosphere was really nice, decent lighting, cozy environment, love the jazz. I'm also pretty surprised at the pricing of this place. Mussels were $10 but desserts were $8? Seems to me that sweets are overpriced here. Not sure if I'd come back here or not yet since my boyfriend's sweet tooth would like to have the pots de creme. I heard they have jazz hour or drink specials on the weekends so we'll see. P.S. the champagne although free tasted blah.
(3)Alexandra K.
The Belvedere is most definitely my favorite bar/lounge to frequent in Lancaster. The downstairs bar has a very classy, old school vibe to it the bartenders down there are great, especially Jamie! Upstairs you'll find Crazy Shirley's, which feels like a more upbeat jazz bar. Along with a bar and quite a few low tables and comfy chairs, there is also a piano bar you can sit at. Occasionally, they will have local jazz bands performing upstairs, which adds to the experience. All of the food I have tried so far is amazing, especially the baked crab dip! The cocktails are also delicious. Try the Ambrosia, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jack L.
Upscale lunch and dining. Great service. Went for lunch. Dark, Victorian charm. The BLT was EXCELLENT. Best lunch sandwich ever...... In house braised bacon put it over the top. Not your normal BLT.
(5)Jackie M.
The food was delicious but service was really slow. I had the filet and scallops for an appetizer. I'll come again but only for a special occasion since it's pretty expensive.
(3)Steven Z.
My friends from Lancaster took me here to initially try to Coby Beef sliders for a buck, but the bar was rather full and they didn't offer the $1 dollar deal at the tables but we could get them off the menu for $3 a piece in orders of 3...no thanks, I understand a "deal" at the bar but should work both ways just require tables to order drinks or something. Anyway beyond that little annoyance the food here was fantastic the waitress was very attentive and the environment was very calm and relaxing. I ordered the Salmon and it was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was the bed it was laying on was a bit on the sweeter side and was over powered with lemon juice. I still managed to eat most of it as it was still very flavorful. Based on the full experience the money spent was well worth it.
(4)See D.
Great place! The food and service are both excellent. We LOVE the bar upstairs. It has kind of a speak easy feel. Low lighting, plush décor, live music, and strong drinks all make this place fantastic! We'll continue to frequent when in the area.
(4)Lancaster C.
My husband and I come here any chance we get when we don't have our kids with us. It's a bit pricy but so worth it! We never had a bad meal here.
(5)Ken V.
Had a wonderful family dinner here just before Christmas. I started off with an appetizer and then enjoyed a small plate of shrimp tacos for my main course. The food was superbly prepared, from beginning to end. The wine list was ample, with something for everyone. Service was fabulous. Prompt and courteous without rushing or being overbearing at all. Just right. Will definitely keep this on my list for future family visits in Lancaster.
(5)Joanna H.
Wednesday nights upstairs in Crazy Shirley's lounge is where I like to be! The bartender up there is superb and always so attentive. I rotate between tableside and barside, both are excellent. Normally there's a great atmosphere and tons of fun to be had. I have been a little disappointed the last few months because there seem to be a lot of private parties upstairs on Wednesdays. I don't blame anyone for wanting to have a meeting or party at the belvedere, can we talk about how amazing the food and drinks are?? It makes perfect sense, but it totally kills the crowd. I just wish that the private parties were on a different night than wednesday. I always bring friends since the belve is a fabulous place to meet new people, but they have yet to experience the amazing culture you guys work so hard to create!! Bring back that weds night atmosphere and claim the 5th star I want so badly to give you!
(4)Jon L.
I don't eat salads. But get the grilled Caesar. I repeat, get the grilled Caesar. Also, get the grilled Caesar with shrimp
(5)Catherine C.
My family and I LOVE The Belvedere. We always order the Bruschetta, it's a must! Get the grilled Caesar, you won't be disappointed. Service is great, ambiance is quiet but not uptight. Highly recommend this restaurant. Oh...don't forget to get a martini!
(5)Sarah S.
I have been here twice: once with my mother for appetizers/drinks and more recently I went here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend. We typically don't have the money to eat here but splurged since it was a special occasion. Be prepared to pay a decent amount of money here but it is entirely worth it. First of all the interior is fabulous -- love the decor and they change it for the seasons/holidays. It is classy and tasteful yet fun! The service was also impeccable. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and able to provide accurate descriptions as well as make recommendations based on our likes/dislikes/questions we had asked... this goes for food and drinks. The specialty drinks they have there are delicious and fun. I've tasted the Juan Carlos (was hoping it would be a tad spicier), Ambrosia, and also a raspberry/chocolate/espresso martini that the bartender made for us on the house since they had forgotten one of our salads we ordered. All of them were GREAT. They also have a large wine and beer selection. Now we get to the food... We got the Kobe sliders as an appetizer and WOW they were faaaaantastic. We also got the mussels to share and they were quite tasty as well. We ended up splitting an entree since we were starting to feel full from the appetizers and loved whatever it was that we ordered. Can't seem to remember exactly what it was other than it was a type of fish. I believe it was a special that day. The only thing that was sort of a bummer was that they charged a "plating fee" to split up the entree onto two plates. Maybe it is trivial for me to complain about that but I don't feel that's necessary to charge your customers for that. We would have been fine with sharing a single plate before paying for another one for the same amount of food. Overall, great experience and highly recommend going!
(4)David A.
been coming here for many years and must say this place is stuck in time, and a good time. Food is always great, the bartenders friendly, the décor top rated, highly recommend this place.
(4)Robert N.
Jamie is the best. Go for the drinks, stay for the Kobe burgers. Great stuff. Great atmosphere, honestly, I think it changes every time I go. Not too dark and not too light, so you can see what you are eating. But you feel comfortable, almost cozy, with your date.
(5)Aaron D.
Another great meal at The Belvedere Inn. A group of 9 celebrating a birthday and this is a great location for any event or dinner. Seated just as we walked in with a special greeting for the birthday boy. Service is quick with good explanation of the specials and bar offerings. I had the Pan Seared Black Sea Bass, Chilled Smoked Crab Udon Noodle Salad, Lemon Avocado Aioli, Kale, Mushrooms, Pickled Radishes, Red Pepper Coulis. The fish could have been a bit larger, but no real complaints. Started with the grilled Caesar Salad (a Belvedere must) and 4 Blue Point Oysters. Very nice sauce on the cold Udon Noodles that pared well with the fish and the noodle's. Wife had the Free Range Chicken Breast with Fresh Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Chasseur Sauce. Excellent dish. The Chasseur sauce had a bit to much salt, but it was cut by the chicken and/or potatoes. Shared and excellent white, milk and dark chocolate dessert that was rich and just sweet enough. Bar in far one of the best restaurants in Lancaster.
(4)J K.
Great, attentive service from Tia. Well crafted drinks were the star of the night (my wife loved the drink Tia recommended in the menu). Our appetizer was a plate of pot stickers with an original dipping sauce. I wish I had tried to identify what was going on in the sauce a little better. Seemed like Asian fusion as opposed to anything traditional. I would order it again. The entrees varied. The crawfish pasta in Cajun cream sauce was excellent. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the sauce was rich and flavorful. My pepper crusted ribeye steak was off point. It was overcooked, more resembling medium well when I requested medium rare. Credit where it's due: the steak had a nice char to it and the accompanying sauce added favor and the desired moisture the steak was lacking. I didn't complain because it was overall a good dish, but I would think twice before ordering steak here (my first grilled to order dish at the Belvedere) Dessert...I do not recommend the banana creme brulee. Ever have a banana that was a little bit past it's prime? You know, the kind where you give it a try despite your better judgment. That seemed to be the main flavor note I detected. The texture was nothing like I would expect from creme brulee. Tia asked us if we would like to have something else. We declined but appreciated the offer and her display of professionalism. I've never been disappointed by an appetizer at the Belvedere nor a drink. The entrees are usually of high quality but I'd stick with the roasted dishes or pasta as opposed to a grilled steak. Honestly, it is becoming a rarity to find a fine dining establishment that can cook a steak to the correct doneness.
(2)Mary L.
You can't go wrong with this place! Excellent food and staff. We are frequent patrons and eat at the upstairs (Crazy Shirley's) bar and enjoy jazz from 7-10 Fridays or Saturdays. The Thai steamed clams are to die for and there's always several specials to choose from. My husband loves the chicken dish!
(4)Mike T.
Get a grilled caesar.
(4)Tom H.
Atmosphere is late 19th century bordello. Very dark and very ornate. We've been there for lunch. The service and food were good. Bar menu is very limited. Good walk as you head up a queen street from downtown.
(3)Laura W.
My Mom and I visit Lancaster once a year and this is the second time we've visited the Belvedere Inn, for wine and app's. We had Josh as our server, as we did the year before - he's as good as it gets! Very personable, friendly, attentive, honest and gracious. What more can you ask for? As far as the food/drink, loved the wine and the grilled Caesar, but stay far away from the crab dip. It was fishy and had something chewy within. Crab meat should NEVER be chewy. Josh, without hesitation, removed it from our bill. We will definitely be back next year.
(4)Valerie S.
Definitely a special occasion restaurant as the prices and ambience downstairs are high end. This is the Lancaster home of the grilled Caesar and I crave it periodically and am never disappointed. They also make a killer martini.
(4)Leigh H.
While the grilled romaine is supposedly the claim to fame, it was OK. Missing some garlic in my opinion. However, everything else we had was superb. My daughter ordered the mussels, my husband the pork belly and my son (4) the lettuce wraps. We all cleaned each other's plates. My daughter's filet was perfectly done, my husband's short ribs were succulent and served with some delicious mac and cheese. I had the pasta with crawfish and it was topped with the most delicious deep-fried okra nuggets. The building itself was beautiful inside and out with tons of charm and character. The service was fabulous and while it could have very easily been just a "date" restaurant, they accommodated us with our two younger kids without missing a beat. This place will definitely be a "do again" during our annual trip to Lancaster.
(4)Blue M.
This place has pretty good food and service...which you can read about in everyone else's reviews. The A/C ducts ruined our experience dinning there to the point that it's not worth returning. And from the looks on others faces we weren't the only ones. We were seated next to the fireplace at a two seater table. If you look back towards the front door and up a little there are five A/C vents. When the A/C kicks on it just ruins the dinning experience...too cold. But for the other patrons in the place I am willing to bet it may be to warm at times without the A/C on. Mgt there may need to address the air flow.
(2)Jao S.
Great food and creative drinks! Best in Lancaster. I've never had anything bad here. The grilled Caesar salad is a must. Scottie rocks
(5)Tom W.
I must have missed something. This place is ok, not great. This was our 2nd stop of the night. The first stop of the night was Pour and it was so good that the Belvedere probably didn't have a chance. We started with the short rib dumplings. They weren't bad, the sweet spice in the meat is different. I'm guessing they had some cinnamon, brown sugar, or a combo of both. They were served in wonton-like wrapper. Nothing special. We also had the Duck spring rolls. Not good. The sparse amount of duck was bland and flavorless. My wife had a Grilled Petite Caeser. It was good. I had the Large Petite Caesar with Shrimp. I admit it was good but it was also 21 bucks. Wow, that is ridiculous. One note, our server was Scottie and he was solid.
(3)Elianny S.
We were visiting Lancaster and decided to try this place based on the reviews and how cool the building looked. I would describe the decor of this place as old fashioned fancy, very dark because of the wood paneling but in a good way. We came for lunch and it was not very crowded. Most of the diners were older and the atmosphere is very subdued. I ordered the shrimp cocktail and chicken & sausage tortiglioni. The shrimp cocktail was absolutely delicious!! It had shrimp and scallops along with this amazing corn in tomato gazpacho. I really loved everything about it. The tortiglioni was also very good but I think I was already full from the shrimp cocktail and the delicious bread. I thought the price for lunch was very reasonable, the bill came to about $90 for four people. If I'm back in the area I will definitely return for dinner.
(4)Jolie H.
Food is decent. The decorations pass the line into tacky, but not terrible. Service is TERRIBLE. There is an older female server who looks older than I believe she is who is ABSOLUTELY RUDE. She has dark/black hair, sort of tall, cheap black and white cross scarf. AVOID THIS SERVER AT ANY COST. First of all, she spoke to us as if she found us absolutely annoying. We were also upstairs because of the jazz and she seamed to be annoyed by the music. I was paying my bills earlier today and accidentally left my wallet on my desk. I was out with my mom, which we made a reservation for, and realized this. We expressed our concern to this horrifying excuse of a server. Instead of offering to save the table while we ran home, she rolled her eyes and said, "what? You can't have dinner without a drink?!?" RUDE. If, as a server, I ever said that to a guest, I would have lost my job long ago. So, my mom and I grabbed my wallet and took our business elsewhere.
(1)Benjamin B.
This is an excellent bar in Lancaster. Every time I visit, I close the bar one night. The atmosphere is wonderful, and despite loud music/karaoke, I always feel like I can find a table and have a wonderful conversation. I do not know if the bar serves food, but the drinks are strong and cheap! This place is wonderful for a night out with good friends.
(5)Kim Z.
My friend and I were attending our annual Conference in April. The atmosphere is classy, with rich dark woods. It's old-world style makes you feel like you stepped back into time. The elegance is reflective in the crisp white table cloths, grand fireplaces, and upscale chandeliers. The service was attentive and our luncheon special was fantastic! See you next year!
(4)Lexy M.
I swear I'm a good wife, but I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOUR CHEF! Our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner was 5 stars! Everything was amazing, the entrees were done with perfection but in all honestly Belvedere Inn... your GRILLED CAESAR SALAD & MINI ASIAN KOBE BURGERS are enough to keep me happy for life. Seriously, stick me naked in a bug filled hut in the middle of a hot jungle and I'd be fine as long as you provide me with those two appetizers. Thanks again as always Belvedere.. you are my GO TO whenever I'm in Lancaster!
(5)Charles H.
Excellent establishment. Warmly greeted and taken to a nice upstairs table. Our waiter was knowledgable and competent. He ensured our evening was a success from a service standpoint. The kitchen knows it's job as the dishes were scrumptious and beautifully presented. The baked crab appetizer was tasty. Both of the main dishes we ordered surpassed any preconceived ideas.
(5)Don F.
My wife had her wedding shower here and was very happy with the results. With guests from PA, NY, CT and VA it was a pleasant setting to have traveled to for such a special occasion. Everyone enjoy themselves and my mother in law was especially impressed with the manager that day (Dean)
(4)Morgan H.
So this is gonna sound crazy.... But, I went to this restaurant for the first time on Saturday night with two friends and I think it was the best meal I've ever had. This opinion also takes into account my friends' food, which I was not shy about sampling myself. First the atmosphere. As you'd expect from an upscale place in an old building lots of exposed woodwork.. Tasteful lighting. We got there a bit early so the plan was to sit at the bar and have a couple drinks before getting a table. We got to talking to the couple next to us and they said that they've come there for EVERY significant event since they got married nine years earlier. How cool is that?? They told us how the bartender is awesome (his name is Jamie) and since we agreed, we decided to eat at the bar. We ordered some drinks. Jamie makes a stiff drink. You get your money's worth. Ok so the food. They had 2 soups for specials that were exquisite. I got the sausage and chicken soup and somebody else got a cream of cauliflower with lump crab soup. The third of us got the scallops appetizer. The soups were fantastic. The scallops were perfect. I was in heaven. On to entrees: My god. I don't even have words to describe how good they were. I got the short ribs. He got the strip steak. She got the braised lamb curry. Are you kidding me?? The steak came with a peach and onion medley that was unique and unreal. The lamb was tender and curry with pumpkin? say WHAAAAAAAAAATT???? The short ribs were probably the best thing I've ever eaten. I have a serious food boner thinking about it right now. Yes this place is so good that I said "food boner" out loud. We wanted to stay for dessert but decided we better let that wait for next time since we were completely full. Anyway, I understand that not everybody has the same experiences at the same places. But for me and my friends, this was hands down the best meal and best dining experience i've had in a long time, if not ever.
(5)Bill M.
Great patio setting for our first trip. Second floor outdoor patio made it for us. Food was good (Sea Bass and Braised Short Ribs w/ Mac and Cheese with the Short Ribs the better of the two entrees) but not great although the ambiance made the meal. Upstairs lounge with jazz combo with good looking bar provides a destination stop for after dinner drinks that tops off the evening. Total package will bring us back.
(3)Fabrice L.
From France and visiting the area, some friend recommanded it to us. He was not wrong. Place is really nice. Service is fine. My wife and me both got the scallops appetizer and its was really good except maybe a little "cracking" under the teeth : sand still in there or in the vegetable? The quality of the sauce and vegetable compensated this little deffect. The entrees were also great, with Shrimp Scampi and Pork Chop. And the final was just perfect with a wonderfull Cheesecake we are both fan of! Great place to eat in downtown Lancaster. We recommand it strongly too.
(4)Amy G.
The grilled romaine lettuce is what this place is known for .... you will not have it made better elsewhere. The dinning area is sensual and romantic. The bar on the first floor is simply modern mixed with classic elements. Upstairs is more trendy, but not trendy in the vein that fades. Favorite evening place to visit in Lancaster. Always has great jazz on Fridays & Saturdays. Go early. Leave around 11pm.
(5)Julie B.
The Belvedere is a great restaurant choice in Lancaster. The dining room/inn are a little eclectic (leopard carpet), but the food and drinks are all great. The roasted caesar salad is one of their signature items and it is excellent. Do not get the Pittsburgh salad though if you actually want a salad. That was the only "miss" that I've had from the menu.
(4)Christina S.
Just wanted to stop by for a cocktail. The bar was dark and creepy. We wanted to sit upstairs on the balcony but were told we had to order food in order to sit there...the restaurant was EMPTY! Really! So trying to make the best of it we were just going to go sit at the creepy bar but, I'm really sorry, their was a man sitting next to us that really smelled. I can't pay good money for a unpleasant experience. So, we left. Overall, disappointing.
(1)Benny E.
What a cool local joint! On a Friday night they had a great band. The vibe was great and the food was good. The short ribs were very good, not amazing but decent. I liked the Caesar Salads! If I would have known I would have just ordered that. They actually grill a quarter of a head of Romaine, dress it, add chicken or steak, and you have a meal of a salad. It was great!
(4)Jim M.
Service was excellent, as was the food and wine. I had the lamb, which was done to perfection. We ordered a chocolate dessert which was heaven. My only complaint is that I've had better martinis, but it was a small thing and overall, not worth docking a score of five!
(5)Lindsay B.
Everytime I go to the Belve I say I am going to order something other than the grilled ceasar but never can get away from it! Grilled ceasar is awesome! The full salad with chicken is delicious, but I could never finish it. Last time I was there, I had the petite salad (still pretty large) with the macaroni and cheese. Both were delicious. Quiet spot for lunch, always good.
(4)MoCe C.
I'd give this place 4 stars just because of the good service, yet was very dissapointed in 2 of my items. A Place like this thats still hangin onto the fine dinning moto. with their last hang nail needs way more life then this place offers. Yes, grilled ceaser was alright, wah-howw. But it lacked enough items to chose from. The appitizers were weak on flavor, n the pizza is over priced n bland.
(3)Tony H.
This is one of the best places to get a drink in Lancaster during the weekdays. I would describe the atmosphere as an upscale version of cheers "very warm and inviting". The bartenders are always able to lift your spirits with their playful flirting, and ability to converse intelligently.
(4)Tatyana M.
First time here and VERY impressed. The ambiance is very romantic and cozy. The service was impeccable. The food was out of this world. And the value for all the above was outstanding. The only "complain" is - we do not live in Lancaster, otherwise we'd be here a lot more often.
(5)Charles E.
Grilled ceasar salad. we saw the reviews and were in downtown Lancaster PA for "first Friday" when most of the businesses in Lancaster open late, put tables out, musicians play. It's really neat.. A few people mentioned the Belvedere and everyone including Yelp reviews kept mentioning the grilled ceasar so we tried it. They have choices with chicken, steak or shrimp. All I can say is this is really a great idea, Why hasn't anyone else thought of this? Take a huge slice of Roamain, fill it with chopped lettuce with ceasar dressing that's been grilled. Top with jumbo shrimp and we also had the braised short ribs with mac & cheese on the side. Being it was "First Friday" the place was full so we sat at the bar. Which was fine, a couple of margaritas and we were all set for dinner. This place is all done in red, black and old wood. Real warm, real cozy. They also have a outdoor deck on the second floor but with temps outside hovering around 100 we weren't going to try the deck. Real nice place to have drinks and dinner. Try it.
(4)Cindy T.
Beautiful atmosphere, great service, good drinks, amazing food-everytime, and FUN upstairs bar/music. I love this place for a nice dinner, a great lunch, or even just a drink. Can't ever go wrong, and I highly recommend the grilled caesar salad.
(5)Mike I.
I had the curried scallop special for lunch - it was delish! We also had the "brucheta" appetizer...which was really just cheesy garlic bread - but it was amazing! Wasn't a huge fan of the "triple chocolate pudding" - I'll stick with the cream brule next time :)
(4)Samantha P.
Service was average - she wasn't very helpful and didn't appear to want to serve us. We sat downstairs, while it was decorated beautifully for Christmas it was an older crowd. After being told the specials 10 minutes after looking at the menu we both ordered the special "Mahi Mahi" and was forced into ordering the grilled Cesar ( which was overhyped). Fish was not very flavorful and broccoli was edible. The only good part of the meal was the risotto. Definitely overpriced and over hyped, was not the experience I was expecting. Would be cautious when eating here.
(3)Jaime K.
I go here a couple times a year. Basically, every time I'm back in Lancaster. The caesar salad is so unique and tasty. Everything else on the menu looks great too...maybe one day I'll tear myself away from the caesar and branch out. The decor is a little over the top (screams "special occasion"), but you don't need to dress to match it. The place is pretty unpretentious, really. GO.
(5)Lisa B.
The Belvedere Inn is well worth a hefty drive from PHL, BWI, MDT airports. If you don't know why you should visit The Belvedere Inn, I'm going to clue you in NOW--GRILLED CAESAR SALADS! OMG these things are one of the most addicting items of food I've ever eaten. Being a native of Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, Belvedere was close, but now, I must make my yearly trip from Las Vegas to feast upon these Caesars. Let the review of the century begin... The Belvedere Inn is a restored historic mansion in downtown Lancaster City that sits on the corner of Queen and Lemon Streets. Walking inside you'll find a Victorian decor that is tastefully mingled with a jazz motif--WOWZA!! From antique chandeliers, to the art deco paintings, this place screams style and class. For some, the decor may be a bit over the top but, let me explain that it's just a prelude until your meal is served. Through the many visits, I can honestly say, "I've always had excellent meals there." Did I mention the Grilled Caesar is amazing? For the sake of redundancy, this salad is world class! They take a half of a romaine lettuce head, grill it; top it with homemade Caesar dressing (not sure if there are anchovies in it?); top it liberally with shaved parmesan reggiano; top it liberally with homemade croutons. What idiot wouldn't like that? Not to mention, if you are into proteins on your salad, you may add: grilled chicken, tenderloin tips, grilled salmon, grilled tuna, sauteed shrimp, or sauteed scallops. It's delightful with the chicken but, I find the foul takes away from my Caesar euphoria. The fiancee has devoured the Caesars with scallops but usually inhales them with medium rare tenderloin tips. Let this be a reminder that these Caesars are not small, and are a meal in themselves. Unless, you are a glutonous pig like yours truly... I've been known to get a Caesar, filet mignon w/two sides, dessert, and a handful of Kir Royales. Our last trip there (a few days ago), we must've been wearing his and her girdles because we only ordered a plain Caesar, Caesar w/tenderloin tips, and the special--Tuscan Chicken. The Tuscan Clucker was chop-lickin' good. It was a sauteed boneless breast of chicken topped with caramelized red pepper and onion, and a dollop of goat cheese. Below the breast was a wild mushroom risotto cake. The plate was drizzled with a balsamic reduction! So you think The Belvedere is expensive, huh? Nope, it's extremely reasonable. How bad do you want to go to The Belvedere Inn now? If you're a lush like me, they have two fully stocked bars. Drinks are well made by their talented mixologists and many top-shelf libations are available! The first bar is near the entrance and the other is on the second floor in Crazy Shirley's Lounge. Full menus are served both floors. I prefer to gorge myself in Crazy Shirley's because, on the weekends they have some relaxing jazz artists rockin' out. Not to mention, you have to stay somewhat sober if upstairs...remember, you have to make it DOWN the stairs, hopefully in one piece. The only negative aspect of this establishment is the service. It always seems as if the servers or food runners are understaffed. So just be patient, because it's worth waiting for! Speaking of waiting, I highly recommend making reservations if you are coming for dinner. Reservations for lunch aren't needed, though there's a steady lunch crowd. For parking info, hours, or just to be nosey check out their website belvedereinn.biz Dear Belvedere Inn, Please relocate to Las Vegas! Thanks in advance! -Lisa
(5)cd c.
I went to this place last week, while staying close to Lancaster. This restaurant is located on what looks like an old brick building. It located in a downtown area, if you can even call it that. You may park on the street as long as you don't exceed 2 hours as this restaurant has no private parking. We walked in and were promptly greeted and seated, the place was busy since it was saturday night. The athmosphere is awesome and the overall look and decoration inside is outstanding. You have a feeling you are having dinner in an old mansion. We had a few martinis which were just right. Not watered down. Our server was attentive and kept comming back to see if everything ok. Ordered appetizers which were delivered within 10m. We had Cod fish cigars which were interesting. Then had the Scallops and the Rockfish for entrees, which were well cooked and had great flavour. Food was very good overall. Dessert was creme brule. Delicious Its about $100 for a dinner for two, for about 3 cocktails, 2 appetizers 2 entrees and one dessert. It was well worth it though.
(5)Robby S.
Drove by this place on the way to my hotel and couldn't help but notice how great it looked from the outside. When in the hotel, I Yelp'd it and decided to give it a try. Arrived and tried the Fresh Breeze cocktail. Very good... Even though the menu looked great, because it was late, I went for a couple of appetizers: their famous Grilled Caesar Salad and the appetizer size Mussels. The salad was on my table within minutes which made me think it was pre-prepared and waiting...but nonetheless, it was very tasty with a large leaf of romaine, grilled, with an excellent Caesar dressing and croutons on top. The Mussels came in a big pot and seemed huge as an appetizer, but was perfect. The broth was white wine, tomato, onion, and lots of garlic! The Mussel shells were medium size, but the mussels were actually small, but plentiful. The left over soup was excellent with the bread provided. This was a great meal that I highly recommend to anyone traveling through the Lancaster area.
(5)Allison S.
Rib-eye was delicious. Snap peas and potatoes were so fresh. Rockfish was very crispy, but the dish overall was unimpressive. The scallop appetizer was okay. Grilled Caesar was good but didn't understand what the fuss is all about. The staff was very nice with the exception of the girl who tops off your water. Both our server and Brandon at the front desk were wonderful. Great atmosphere. Jazz bar upstairs seemed inviting but we couldn't stay.
(3)H B.
Good lunch! Price was not bad! Will have to give it a try for dinner, next time I'm in Lancaster!
(3)Edwin H.
We've been in Texas for three years, and the only thing we miss in Lancaster is the Belvedere Inn. Way too good for a county that prefers "hog and trough style" all you can cram in your mouth, but that's all most Lancastrians understand. No offense, but the gene pool has been a little crowded in Lancaster for the last hundred or so years, (and we don't just mean Amish) The Belvedere would stand out in New York, Philadelphia, LA, Austin, or Chicago. When you're good, you're good.
(5)Stephanie P.
Lunch at the Belvedere Inn was by far the worst service I have ever had in a restaurant. My mother and I went in after a our last day of Christmas shopping (a Friday before Christmas which was on Sunday). We walked in, the older blonde hostess did not greet us kind of just gave us this funny look. My mother said, do you have room for two for lunch? The hostess replied with a rude blunt no. I could see in the dining room that they were busy but it didn't seem to be overly crowded. I also noticed there was a Christmas party going on in another area of the building. I gave the hostess a look like she was insane and she then replied that she had a table in the corner of the bar. Now I my mother and I were dressed very nicely but wearing blue jeans? Maybe this was our mistake? But it was at like 11:30am on a Friday! Anyway, so my mother commented on how she liked the color of the napkins and décor and the hostess just kind of laughed. She was not friendly one bit. Then the bartender, a red headed older lady was our waitress. She brought us water and never asked if we wanted any other type of drink?! I do look like I am underage to be in a bar (actually I am 25) but she didn't even as if we wanted something other than water. Which we would've had..you lost money there Belvedere. The food came which was just average in my opinion. Nothing spectacular. Our table was so small that it was hard to eat. They did not take our bread basket and bread plates away when it was empty. They just slapped on our dinner plates. We had no room at all. Granted we knew we were taking a small bar table but they didn't even clear our dirty dishes! They did not check on us to see if our food was okay. My mother wanted salt but no one came over! By the time we got the check, which was forever. We sat there staring at the bartender/waitress waiting for her to look up at us. She treated all the mid-afternoon drunks with lots of friendliness but only simply asked if we wanted our check..not even asking if we needed anything else..hello dessert? ..Money lost there too Belvedere! We paid the bill. If I wasn't a waitress back in the day, I wouldn't tip.. but alas I did. When we left, the blonde hostess did not say a word to us. She was staring into space. Dear Belvedere, you need to do a better job training your employees with better customer service. We will not be back. I also work for a large law firm so I will be telling all my peers about this experience.
(1)Carrie Y.
A wonderful choice for a nice evening out. The grilled Caesar salads are superb!
(5)Jeff G.
Very nice menu, simple and interesting - would have liked more US wine choices though. Atmosphere is good, we were on the second floor in a nice nook overlooking Queen Street. A jazz band was playing (cool) but the bar was noisy a few feet away (not so cool). I expected a little more quiet environment but my wife and I had a great time - great servers and customer service!
(4)Kimba Z.
In a beautiful brick building that was originally a residence, the Belvedere Inn is easy to find on North Queen Street, and parking was no problem on a Thursday night. With nice dark lighting and a good wine list, consider it a romantic date place -- if you are an omnivore. People were definitely coming out and drinking and treating themselves on a Thursday night, I noticed. We had 4 drinks between us, 2 appetizers, and split an entree, for a total of $80. For us vegans who still like a nice date night, the Belvedere offered to swap out the salmon on the Lemongrass Salmon dish for a slab of grilled tofu ($24), and it was a huge dish with an excellent preparation that included two Vietnamese-style cold veg rolls, rice noodles, and an avocado puree. This was plenty for the two of us, but we were majorly bummed to read afterward that the great pineapple sauce on the dish was actually a FISH sauce, bleh. I guess vegans have to ask about everything, but we try to not be complete Ps in the A. They also altered the Thai lettuce wraps from chicken to tofu, and these were really good. So they do keep tofu on hand and know what the word vegan means. I continue to urge restaurants with sophisticated kitchen staff such as this to consider keeping one creative all-plant-based entree on the menu. It's not that hard, is a healthy alternative for dieting omnivores or those on a low-cholesterol diet, and sooooo reassuring to us alternative-diet-types to know that there is something we can have without having to relentlessly interrogate the wait staff. Help us spend our disposable income! There is a fun-looking bar upstairs that seems to be a nightclub, with a very friendly bartender. A lot of money is spent keeping this place looking vintagey-hip. I'll return to check out the music upstairs.
(3)Greg M.
This place is with out question a dynamite place for remarkable cuisine, top notch drinks, excellent service and a cozy, posh ambiance. They also have an upstairs lounge called Crazy Shirley's that rocks loungy beats and have a champion bar staff. They have anything you could ever ask for top shelf and a great bar menu as well. The last time I dined downstairs I had the pan seared duck that blew me off the chair! This place is certainly one of my hot spots I like to take out of town family and friends for dinner and drinks.
(5)ReviewHaiku F.
Food is whatever. Dirty martini diet Pickle makes the best. (b)
(4)M W.
Very torn. We've been faithful customers of the Belle for over ten years. The bar - a full five stars. Used to love the restaurant but it is now uneven. Was there two consecutive Mondays, first with four clients and a huge tab, the next Monday got the same waitress who had zero recognition of the person who had given her an amazing tip six days before. Her attitude bordered on the snotty when we decided to just have grilled Caesar's and a glass of wine. Also, I know things are tight in the restaurant business but would it kill the Belevedere to go back to homemade crouton's on the salads? It's their signature and I could buy better at Sam's Club. The rest of the menu is nice but there's more competition downtown that does it better. We'll still go to the Belle for a drink but it's time to find other pastures to dine in.
(3)Nick R.
Air reeks of old fish. Sticking amaretto in sangria is NOT a "port old fashioned." Weird crowd, poor service.
(1)cotie s.
Mmmm...lamb chops. Mmmm....braised short ribs. The bruschetta and Caesar salad ain't too shabby either. My first time at the Belvedere included the Lamb Chops, done perfectly and followed up with a sweet chocolate cake for desert. The Caesar salad is half a head of romaine lettuce grilled, sprinkled with cheese, croûtons, and dressing. The bruschetta was also crispy and cheesy goodness. The more recent trip included the braised beef short ribs. They were the best I've ever had. They were fork tender with a rich sauce from them being braised slowly over time. I was a little disappointed this time with the Caesar salad due to sogginess of the lettuce. We've found the staff attentive and willing to give suggestions from the menu. We sat upstairs both times and the noise was not a factor.
(4)Scott F.
Food is always top notch, excellent selection of beers on draft, great atmosphere and friendly service. Only complaint is that the people who answer the phone to take your reservation should cheer up a little bit, they were pretty rude.
(5)Katie W.
The Belvedere will always be my favorite place to dine and drink in Lancaster, maybe anywhere! I seriously love this place! The decor and ambiance is beautiful in both the dining room and upstairs lounge. Very romantic, elegant, and charming. The BEST martinis, and the BEST grilled Cesar's ever. They grill an entire head of romaine and it's amazing. Also love the bruchsetta. Love how they serve water from pitchers that are infused with oranges, lemons, and limes. The service is always first class. I am never disappointed. i always want to go to the Belvedere when I am at home visiting.
(5)Chris M.
I have been here so many times I've literally lost count and have never had a meal that was anything less than perfect. They change up about a quarter of the entrees probably about twice a year which keeps the menu constantly fresh. The food is made from fresh local ingredients where possible and the prices run the gamut from pretty shi-shi to an-ap-and-a-salad (which BTW is plenty of food) for under $20. One of my favorite things here is the Grilled Ceaser Salad...they take the whole slab of Romaine lettuce and char the face of it on the grill...sounds odd but tastes awesome topped with tenderloin tips too. The wait-staff is awesome...fast, fun, and friendly. All of my NY friends love this place and always want to go here when visiting Lancaster.
(5)Garrett B.
I really enjoyed lunch here. It has a really intimate and eclectic atmosphere and the service was attentive. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the petite grilled Caesar salad. I have to say, I generally do not enjoy salad, but it was to die for. I think it has something to do with the reggiano cheese and warm croutons on the salad. The Mac and cheese was good, but a tad too rich. Even though I did not partake, the dessert options looked and sounded delicious. I definitely recommend this restaurant. It definitely is a great contributor to Lancaster's food scene.
(4)Brian H.
Went here a few weekends ago and realized I forgot to write my review. I will keep it short based on what I remembered (which might not be much since I was really enjoying some Scotch that night). We arrived early and had a seat at the bar while we waited for our table. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the bartender who genuinely took pride in his craft. Our drinks were relatively simple but watching him make a few martinis and various cocktails was actually fun and encouraged us to order some of the specialty cocktails with dinner. Now to dinner. We had a really nice table towards the back of the restaurant which was full and abuzz all night. Crowded but not cramped. I ordered the dumpling appetizer and my girlfriend ordered the petite grilled ceasar based on all of the reviews and recommendations. The dumplings were ok and the ceasar was quite good. Who knew that romain lettuce had flavor? Apparently someone found out when they accidentally charred it. Pretty cool, despite the fact that it kind of smelled like a Phish concert, if you follow me.. I ordered the swordfish which was served with finger potatoes, onions, roasted red peppers and green beans. All of which was excellent. The vegetables actually stood out based on their freshness and the fish was quite well prepared with very good portioning. My girlfriend got the shortribs which were also very very good as well as the macaroni and cheese which accompanied it. This dish was huge so I ended helping with some so I can attest to the fact that it was very good. The meat was tender and done just right and the accompanying veggies again were fresh. I don't recall if we got any dessert, but I am thinking not. I know we enjoyed a couple of the specialty drinks though and were eager to go upstairs to listen to some music. We went up to Crazy Shirley's after dinner for a drink and some jazz both of which were just what we needed to finish the night off. If you have read any of my other reviews, you will get that we are people watchers and this bar provided plenty of it. It has a very mixed crowd with very mixed agendas. It was fun watching men and women alike "work the room". Not sleazy but still interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed my night here and look forward to returning. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that the menu is relatively, for lack of better terms, safe. I would like to see a little bit more daring in an upscale place such as this.
(4)John G.
Great, fresh, creative, big portions, and best outdoor dining in Lancaster! What else could you want, oh, and its reasonably priced! My favorite restaurant in town. I love the lettuce wraps and shrimp and vege tempura! YUM, JAI BABA
(5)Matt W.
The wife and I ate here on a Sunday night in April 2008. The menu had plenty of options that excited us, and based on another Yelp review we both had glasses of wine and agree that they pour a liberal amount for the price. The food was pretty darn good. I can't complain about how anything was cooked, and we were happy with what we ordered and the quality of the ingredients. The one thing that really bothered me and is preventing me from giving them another star was the lack of staff. Even though we were seating promptly and there were empty tables, it took way too long for our waiter to take our order (30 minutes, probably). They seemed very short on staff. Not sure if someone called in sick or if this was a trend, but sitting there with nothing to nibble on or drink got old pretty quickly. I'd go back, however if we experienced the same wait again, that would be our last time.
(3)Christopher P.
I've been coming here for many years and it has always been very clean and the food is always top notch. The Ceaser salad is the best I have ever tasted. If you go here, you must get it, if not as a meal then as a side dish. The escargot is super yummy. The staff is very nice and friendly. The upstairs is nice to take a date for a drink. Although there is no dress code, it is a fine dining restaraunt and you should dress according. Martini's are awesome as well. It is pretty safe to park your car along the restaraunt. It is a main street so there is high traffice and less crime. I have all good things to say about this place, so go give it a shot if you haven't already. It's not the Olive Garden so don't go there thinking your going to spend the same price for meals. It is fince dining like I said and well worth the money. From 1-10. 1-inexpensive, to 10 being very expensive. I give it a 6. It is pretty averaged priced for a fine dining restaraunt.
(5)downtowngirl j.
OK - How could you NOT give this 5 stars?? Coming from NJ and used to eating out in NYC restaurants, this dining experience was comparable if not better than most places I've been! Romantic setting, great bar, food was top notch, service impeccable, all around fantastic! The organic salmon was delish and the mussels...yum! The prices were BEYOND reasonable too!
(5)JESSE S.
DATE: once a week ATMOSPHERE: Tasteful, upscale decor in an old Victorian-style building. Sophisticated and charming. PROS: Outstanding bar service and drink quality...Jamie rocks. Not many vegetarian items to choose from but the winter risotto is delicious. Friends rave about the grilled ceasar salad. Service is adequate. Mixed crowd, gay-friendly. Smoke-free. CONS: Dining and bar areas can get quite loud when it's busy. A little pricey but still in line with similar local establishments. WILL I GO BACK? Absolutely.
(4)Tarah F.
Awesome place to gather for great food and drinks! The bruschetta is out of this world! It's a regular for us!
(5)Dick H.
Excellent food and good service, with ambience to match. A great place for a special occasion.
(5)Jennifer K.
Jamie was great, baccala cigars & Thai lettuce wraps scrumptious & crab chowder excellent. Love the Malbec. Thx for a delightful night out with friends!
(5)Manny O.
It's a great spot to eat and a favorite spot to chill wit my favorite girl
(5)melissa k.
The atmosphere is unspeakable
(5)Rick H.
Ok, this is a great place. Old style Victorian Mansion that makes a great dining experience. Very good food. Good drinks. Good service. One of our top choices in Lancaster. The other reviewers are correct. Upstairs, there is a bar area, that on weekends, is a pretty interesting mixed crowd some gay -- some straight, some old, some hip, that mixes well together, with a jazz or light rock --live entertainment. If we have dinner on the weekend, we normally will stop upstairs.
(4)Michelle W.
My mother and stepfather live in the Lancaster area. My husband and I were recently visiting and they took us to dinner at the Belvedere Inn. The decor is beautiful. The place is another gorgeous turn-of-the-century mansions for which Lancaster is known and it's painstakingly decorated and restored. We only had dinner, but the bar is gorgeous and looks like it would be a great place to hang out and have a few. We went on a Sunday night, so it was pretty slow, but the food was great. I wasn't blown away by either the menu or the prices at first, but my opinion changed by the end of the meal. Wine by the glass is around $8/glass, entrees are about $22-25, etc. Basically, everything seemed high to me because it looked like DC prices. But there were some differences. First of all, the portion sizes. The wine came in enormous glasses. I'm not a big drinker to start with, but I nursed mine all night long. The entrees were enormous as well. My grilled ahi tuna entree was at least twice the size of an entree one would receive in a city such as Washington or New York. All of the entrees came with salads and if you paid an extra $2, you could upgrade to the grilled Caesar which is some sort of specialty of the house. It sounds a little schticky, but it's really quite good. The dressing is almost an anchovy aioli and the romaine is grilled just right. The food was delicious. My ahi was seasoned perfectly and there was no need to reach for the salt or pepper. The bed of grits and spinach on which it sat was absolutely perfect. And it really was too much food. If anything, I'd say the Belvedere should be serving 1/2-2/3 portions and charging appropriately. We managed to finish, only because it was so delicious, but if I'd known how big my entree would be, I would not have ordered the delectable escargots in hazelnut butter.
(4)Bill E.
Worst service and rudest staff I've ever seen, anywhere. Had one cocktail and some appetizers at the bar, late afternoon, early evening... the bartender could not have been less professional. Disappointing on every level.
(1)Stacie M.
I just don't get it. I've eaten here three times and haven't been all that impressed. The Holiday decor was phenomenal though. So cozy! A good place for a holiday meal. The grilled romaine was soggy and wilted all three times I ordered it. My appetizers have been good, and my entrees were good. just good. Maybe I'm just here on bad nights, but I can't piece together the rave reviews.
(3)Dennis S.
Thanksgiving night 2009. Everything else in walking distance was closed. Food and service were excellent. Next time I am in Lancaster I will return
(4)Lisa E.
Great food, "Big Boy Drinks", friendly atmosphere. The main bartender downstairs, Jamie, can be a little cranky. Other bartenders see him as a primadona, which is obvious and although I love the bar sometimes I am not in the mood for him. Certainly may be considered Philly Light if you know that city experience
(4)A D.
Unless you are from the area or work for a company located there, I don't know why anyone would be in Lancaster, PA. This is a small town in the middle of Amish country that is home to many major manufacturing companies in the US and not much else...hence the reason for my visit. The corporate office for my company is located there and during my last trip to headquarters I found myself dining is the quaint little downtown area of Lancaster. The Belvedere fits in quite nicely on the picturesque Queen St. and made a very good impression on me. The appearance of the building (inside and out) is very attractive, the waite staff is friendly and informative and the food is fantastic. I had the swordfish special which was a 9 out of 10, but I'm a little spoiled when it comes to seafood so maybe an unbiased person would have given it a 10. For appetizers we had brochette and also a crap dip as well, both deserve a perfect 10 rating as far as I am concerned. If you find yourself in Lancaster, stop in and enjoy the night; the Belvedere is a jewel hidden in the land of the followers of Jakob Ammann ;)
(4)Mark K.
Always a fun time at the Belvedere, and the menu is the among the most original I've seen anywhere in or out of Lancaster. The food and drinks are terrific, the bar nice, and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. All those good points can sometimes even make you forget that you've been waiting for too long for your food on busy nights. Still, one of my top spots in town.
(4)C Z.
Great food and atmosphere. I went with the Pennsylvanian venison, carpaccio, and the butternut squash salad. I will definitely come here again. Good call for a date.
(5)Nicholas C.
I've got to say for a place in little old Historic Lancaster this place is fancy!! Come for an awesome meal during the day on a fancy date or dance it up late night and go to the bar for a drink!! Always a welcoming environment!!
(5)Wayne W.
Wow. This place has jumped the shark. Just to many flavors in one recent dish. Not impressed and very expensive
(3)Stephanie G.
We had a wonderful dinner here to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday! They made her so happy with the personalized HAPPY BIRTHDAY napkin insert. The food was delicious and the waiter was great!!!
(5)Emma J.
One of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. I have yet to have a bad meal there, the grilled chicken caesar salad, bruschetta, mac and cheese are all wonderful. The interior is warm, old and rustic, and very inviting. Weather permitting I recommend asking to be seated on the balcony outside which is beautiful. The upstairs bar is also fun, and decorated well for the holidays. This is a must go to restaurant for anyone visiting the Lancaster area.
(5)Zach L.
The service is good. Food is sometimes okay, sometimes great. Pricey. Dress is casual to upscale if you are inclined. There is a bar area, a formal sitting area, and a balcony area that overlooks the street (and the smoking area toward the back--avoid that). Overall, this is a decent spot to go in a pinch, but don't go there trying to impress. There is an unaddressed problem with flies (either you are okay with them or you're not).
(3)John S.
The service is very friendly and attentive. Sat at the bar for a few pints and enjoyed the Monday night "sliders" special. Some of the best ground beef I've ever eaten. Very good deal at $1 each!
(5)Sandra M.
Classic and classy. Fantastic food and atmosphere. Did I mention the food is amazing?! Well run establishment. I'd put them up against any place I've ever ate, main line, Palm Beach. Any where.
(5)Geoff And Jenni G.
Superb... really... upstairs outside patio fabulous... Waiter service attentive/excellent... Great food and superb cocktails... Loved it... would definitely go back and recommend...
(4)