EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect street designation for Cabalar’s first location and misspelled Callaloo.
A few months ago, we reported that Craig LaBan, a Philly-area food reviewer and restaurant critic who has been writing about Lancaster since 2014, had published a list of 15 places that highlight how the food scene is in “full bloom.”
He pointed to chefs like James Beard finalist Nathan Flaim of LUCA coming to the city, noting Lancaster’s welcoming status and tendency to support small business owners and entrepreneurs, along with the area’s value for those looking for farming resources and relationships.
LaBan’s list included familiar names and places, such as Luca, Chellas, Passenger, Lancaster Central Market and Issei Noodle, and as one Facebook reader noted, heavy on pizza places.
So we asked readers to tell us what he left out. You answered in spades, with a varied and lengthy list of nominations.
Two acclaimed restaurants, with wildly different styles, stood out as obvious misses: butchery and burger bar Cabalar and Josephine’s, known for its romantic atmosphere and fine dining.
Cabalar Meat Co., at 501 W. Lemon St. in Lancaster, bills itself as “the happiest place on earth, or at least in Lancaster city.” But it’s the quality of the combined butchery and burger bar that readers feel the Inquirer writer just completely missed. Cabalar sources its ingredients from local farms, uses only meat from pasture-raised animals and crafts its own sauces in-house. Some of its partner farms include Mirror Image Farms in Bainbridge, Myer Springdell Farm in Strasburg and Maplehofe Dairy in Quarryville. Steve Cabalar opened the meat company in 2018 on North Queen Street and moved in 2024 to the former West End Market on West Lemon, and it now also operates a food truck and offers raw meat for sale. Cabalar’s is closed Monday through Wednesday and is open for lunch and dinner the rest of the week.
Josephine’s Downtown occupies the former Carr’s Restaurant spot at 50 W. Grant St. in Lancaster.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
Josephine’s, a fine dining establishment that opened in 2019 at 50 W. Grant St., Lancaster, has made OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants list. The ambience – and the cocktail menu – evoke the glamour of old Hollywood, and the menu focuses on French-, American- and Asian-influenced continental cuisine. Executive chef Rafe Hottenstein also sources ingredients locally, with a focus on “elegant, direct” and “satisfying” fare. Readers also named several of Josephine’s sister restaurants, all part of Lancaster’s Vescor Hospitality Group: The Belvedere Inn, 401 Prime and C’est La Vie Bistro. The Belvedere, at 402 N. Queen St., has also made the OpenTable Top 100 Romantic Restaurants list and is known for its fine dining as well as its rooftop patio and piano bar.
Here’s the full list of what other restaurants readers say Laban should check out, in alphabetical order, with location and focus:
Amanita, 223 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, farm-to-table breakfast, brunch, lunch and catering.
Bulls Head Public House at Lititz Springs Inn, 14 E. Main St., Lititz, authentic British pub fare.
Callaloo, 351 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster, Caribbean fare.
Chévere Cafe, 910 S. Duke St., Suite 105, Lancaster, Puerto Rican fare.
Cocina Mexicana, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster, authentic Mexican.
Double C, 220 N. Prince St., Lancaster, “Keystone Casual” farm-to-table burgers, tacos, salads, rice bowls.
El Serrano, 2151 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, Mexican and Peruvian fare.
Fireside Tavern, 1500 Historic Drive, Strasburg, tavern-inspired lunch and dinner menus.
Gibraltar, 488 Royer Drive, Lancaster, seafood and Mediterranean.
HiFi Izakaya, 40 W. Orange St., Lancaster, Japanese listening lounge and cocktail bar.
Hills to Sea, 433 N. Reading Road, Ephrata, Southeast Asian fusion and sushi.
Himalayan Curry House, 22 E. Orange St., Lancaster, Nepalese and Indian cuisine.
Hong Kong Garden, Wheatland Shopping Center, 1807 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, casual Asian dining.
Hudson Botanical, Smoketown Airport, 2433A Old Philadelphia Pike, Smokewotn, farm-fresh cafe, catering and houseplants
Imperial Restaurant, 26 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster, elevated dining and crafted cocktails.
John J. Jeffries, 300 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, farm-fresh fine dining in a converted tobacco warehouse.
Kole Chophouse, 25 N. Broad St., Lititz, steak and seafood.
La Cajita, 401 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, cafeteria-style eatery serving sandwiches inspired by Puerto Rican flavors.
Lancaster Dispensing Company (DipCo), 33-35 N. Market St., Lancaster, affordable light fare.
Log Cabin, 11 Lehoy Forest Drive, Leola, fine dining in a restaurant that was originally established as a Prohibition-era speakeasy.
Lombardo’s, 216 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, Italian-American dining.
McCleary’s Pub, 130 W. Front St., Marietta, American and Irish pub fare.
Nonna Rosa, 363 S. Seventh St., Akron, traditional Italian kitchen.
Norbu, 38 N. Christian St., Lancaster, Nepalese and Bhutanese fare.
Onion’s Cafe, 340 N. Queen St., Lancaster, breakfast and lunch with American and spicy Korean fare.
Per Diem at Hotel Rock Lititz, 50 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz, locally sourced breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Pie in the Sky, 105 Duncan St. C., Lancaster, gourmet pizza.
Plough, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster, modern American.
Prince Street Cafe, 15 N. Prince St., Lancaster, coffee and light fare.
Proof, Lower Level, 30 N. Queen St., Lancaster, speakeasy-style bar and small plates.
Quips Pub, 457 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, British and American-style pub food.
Rachel’s Creperie, 201 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, crepes.
Railroad House Inn, 240 W. Front St., Marietta, historic inn, restaurant and speakeasy bar.
Rendezvous, 243 W. King St., Lancaster, pizzeria and steak shop.
Route 66, 45 W. Liberty St., Lancaster, American comfort/diner food.
Sai Gon Cafe, 1575 Manheim Pike, Lancaster, Vietnamese.
Sa La Thai, 339 N. Queen St., Lancaster, Thai.
Shot & Bottle, 2 N. Queen St., Lancaster, food, spirits and cocktails.
South County Brewing, 26 W. King St., Lancaster, restaurant and park bar.
Speckled Hen, 141 E. Main St., Strasburg, contemporary cafe serving coffee, tea, breakfast and lunch.
SukhoThai, 398 Harrisburg Ave # 450, Lancaster, Thai.
Torres Family Bakery, 447 S. Prince St., Lancaster, pastries, cakes, including Puerto Rican specialties.
Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster, movie theater, restaurant and distillery.
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