Unfortunately, I have to downgrade my previous 5-star review. El Serrano is still a gem of a restaurant. The prices are great, and there's a really nice atmosphere, particularly for the price point. They also have a robust vegetarian menu, which I really appreciate. (The tacu tacu is my favorite!) Over the past year or so, the service has gotten increasingly slow, sometimes taking up to two hours (with ~45 minutes between ordering food and eating), and the portion sizes (especially the taco salad) have gotten smaller. I'd rather pay a little more and have more food. That said, these just put El Serrano back in the realm of normal restaurants, in my opinion (whereas previously it was my #1 top choice restaurant always). The staff is extremely friendly and are always happy to accommodate the customer. The sangria is delicious (as are all bar items), and El Serrano's salsa is the stuff of dreams. If you go on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, there is live music from Dante, which just adds to the atmosphere even more. El Serrano is definitely worth a try! read more

I was really excited to go to El Serrano but I won't be going back. They seated us next to a huge very fake potted plant that looked over us as we waited for our server. The aisle was so narrow that every time a server brought out food they almost elbowed us in the face. The food came quickly but I suspect it was microwaved and not made fresh because the plates were sizzling hot but the food was cold. I ordered a chimichanga and the cheese was completely congealed and disgusting. There was absolutely no flavor or spice. There was nothing authentic or especially Spanish about the food. Taco bell is tastier and cheaper. read more

This place is not Mexican. At least I have to pretend that. It does have all the usual TexMex burrito/enchilada stuff that better left to the bros, but I came here to get Peruvian food. Indeed, a friend from work who is from Peru, recommended this place and several dishes. The plates I and my date got were Ceviche, Tacu Tacu, and Lomo Saltado. I've never had any of these before and they were so good. For those of you like me who have never heard of these before here's the rundown. Ceviche is raw fish cooked in very acidic citrus sauce. Its really spicy too. Tacu Tacu is traditionally just mashed up leftovers. This dish was more like a latin-ized fried rice then notched up for a nice restaurant, and it was very good as well. Finally the Lomo Saltado was this crazy salad-like amalgamation with FRENCH FRIES, onions, and filet mignon tips. It was extremely good. I highly recommend this place. It wasn't too badly priced for the size and quality of the dishes. Also the atmosphere was very relaxing and enjoyable. Oh and they have a gorgeous bar with great drinks. read more

Although my boyfriend is from Lancaster and we've been dating for over 3 years, we never ventured into El Serrano together because it seemed expensive. Now I'm upset I didn't come here sooner, because the food is fantastic and well worth the prices (which, if you're eating vegetarian here, are not that bad!) I had the tacu-tacu, which was delicious. Some kind of big rectangular rice, beans and egg patty...hard to describe, but the waiter perked up when I ordered that dish and said it was great. Their chips and salsa are also very good, and I also want to comment on the seating- this place was packed when we went, but the side "booths" offer a very intimate dining experience. I also had some of my boyfriend's chiles rellenos. I've never had it before so I can't compare it to anything else, but man was it tasty. Doughy, cheesy, slightly spicy- mmm! I'll definitely be back, mainly because the food is very unique (for the area) and the whole vegetarian menu looks fantastic. read more

Wow! I visited the new tapas restaurant in El Serrano called "Culturas" when I was in town a few weeks ago and it was incredible! My mom and I shared 6 tapas and I was highly impressed by the quality of the food. The chicken ceviche, fried avocado and tomato mozzarella salads were our faves. They were pretty big portions. In addition, there was a fun martini list and plenty of reasonable wines by the glass. I hadn't been here in years and couldn't believe how huge it was! It is very resort - like. The original El Serrano is downstairs, and the new "Culturas" is upstairs, overlooking a cute little garden where there in an outdoor bar area with some people milling around. It's all very grand. Very unexpected for Lancaster. Food, Service, Ambiance - all excellent. Highly Recommended. read more

Went for a late lunch a couple months ago. The place was nearly empty, yet we were initially seated at a horrible table right by the door. The room is huge; it must seat at least 200 people, and there were only 2 or 3 other small parties there. We asked for a different table and were relocated to a comfy booth. Why in the world did they seat us at the worst table in the whole place? Nuts! Our server brought us a drink, then came back very (too) quickly to take our order. We weren't quite ready, as we wanted to relax and peruse the big menu. After about 15 minutes, she at last emerged from somewhere far, far away and took our order--the "pizza" and a quesadilla. She said we'd LOVE the pizza, one of their biggest sellers, a signature dish. Then we waited... and waited... munching on tasty chips and salsa, with a side of guacamole that was pretty good. Finished our drinks. The food took quite a while to come out. We figured the chef was surely cooking us up a treat, considering the wait. Meanwhile, we sought our server for a drink refill, but could only catch an occasional glimpse of her across the cavernous space. We heard laughing and chatter coming from the kitchen area, but it was impossible to get her attention, as we leaned out of our booth, looking for our "server," getting thirstier after eating the salty tortilla chips. Worth the wait? Unfortunately, no. Cool quesadilla that should've been hot.. And the pizza was was HOT on the outside (for a couple minutes)--but fridge-cold on the inside. Pretty enough, but obviously microwaved. Yuck. Finished the drinks we were finally able to obtain, and left. I am glad we only ordered a light meal, or I would've felt very annoyed and ripped off. In my opinion, the food is mediocre at best, and quite overpriced. I cook way better Mexican dishes than these microwave "chefs." IOW, disappointing. I am again befuddled by the rave reviews this joint has garnered. Was my first--and definitely last--visit. read more

I admit I had mixed expectations about Mexican food in Lancaster, PA, but our host swore by it and the food was good. 1. AMBIANCE. This is a huge facility done up very authentically in true Mexican style. There's a big courtyard room and the place was nice. 2. APPETIZERS. The appetizer list at dinner was a little thin compared to what I'm used to seeing. We had the guacamole, which was good. 3. CHIPS AND SALSA. Very good quality, freshly made chips and spicy salsa. 4. ENTREE. My enchiladas were surprisingly good. The sauce was very tangy and the chicken had some kick to it. The cheese enchilada would stack up against the best TexMex enchiladas I've ever had in Dallas, so kudos to them on the recipe and preparation. 5. MARGARITA. It was pretty solid. I had the house, they do suffer from the same 'Margarita Explosion' that seems to be infecting all Mexican food places now-a-days. Why do we need six varieties of Margarita? There should only be two; salt or no salt. The meal was good, the company was pleasant and I'd definitely go back. NOTE: I have Celiac disease and follow a gluten / wheat free diet. As usual, no issues with Mexican food, although I did ask about the enchilada sauce and it was okay. read more

Such great Peruvian food, but terrible margaritas. I've now been here 10x, and sadly cannot go back due to the lame amount of tequila and inconsistency on every margarita on the menu. Not to mention the poor attitude of the staff after you inform them it's not made properly. Sorry El Serrano, the Margarita's suck. I hope you improve in this area. Feel free to contact me if you do. I'll be your best customer. P.S. It's not about the money, but why would you charge me for an extra 8 tablespoons of salsa? Tomato, onion and cilantro prices must be high these days? :) No offense, just hoping you improve. read more

I had heard that food in Lancaster was nothing special (this coming from a native). I can't speak for the rest, but El Serrano is certainly an exception. We went on a Friday night and called ahead to see if we needed reservations. They don't take them but the lady advised that during their peak hours (6-9), it was usually no more than a 30 min wait. We were seated right away. The decor is crazy! You can tell that it was just really thought-out-- the wooden chairs have the restaurant's name engraved into them! I ordered a Peruvian Margarita and my sister got the Red Sangria. I had never tried Pisco before, but it was awesome! The cinnamon on top really makes the drink. Had a sip of my sister's sangria and (even though im not a fan of red wine), I loved it! We ordered Papa a la Huancaina for an appetizer to share, my brother and I got the Mixto Limeno and my sister got the Lomo Saltado. I guess now would be a good time to say that I'm Peruvian. I've tasted good, authentic, your-mom-could-have-made-it Peruvian food and I've tasted bad/imitation/cafeteria-grade Peruvian food. And I'll admit, my expectations weren't all that high. I mean, good Peruvian food in the middle of Amish country is not exactly likely. I was blown away. The presentation alone was awesome. When my mom has guests over she has this way of presenting the rice in a special way-- a little Peruvian trick. They do the same thing at El Serrano. The Tilapia in the Mixto was so tender and the rice was cooked perfectly (good white rice is the key to any decent Peruvian dish). I tasted my sister's Lomo and it was seasoned so well. We both agreed that it was even better than my mom's. The only thing missing was banana. We always slice banana over our Lomo at home. My sister decided to just ask if they had one in the back. Our server, Julia, said she didn't know if they had any but she'd look. Ten minutes later she comes back with 2 bananas. She had searched high and low and finally found some upstairs! For their great customer service alone, I knew that I had to review this restaurant and sing its praises. Never got to taste the Papa a la Huancaina (Julia apologized once she brought our entrees. she had completely forgotten, but the food came so quickly that it worked out better that way.), but I have no doubt that it must taste as amazing as the rest of their Peruvian cuisine. All in all, El Serrano is a pleasant surprise-- a little ethnic gem hidden in Lancaster, of all places. WE WILL BE BACK! read more

As most have mentioned, this place is massive. It could hold the Alamo, a Barnstormers game, and an Elton John concert simultaneously. We came on a Sunday afternoon, around 2PM, so were greeted with absolutely no wait, and no crowd whatsoever. When we sat, we immediately received some warm, tasty chips and cold salsa (I prefer my salsa cold... some do, some don't, some don't bother themselves with such trivialities). Together, it was a welcomed appetizer. They do a good job here, and sometimes connoisseurs of Latin American cuisine will use this as a benchmark. I happen to be one of them. My wife ordered the El Serrano combo, which had a soft taco, a "mini-chimichanga", and a cheese enchilada. It also had rice and beans. I partook in the enchilada plate (my usual "gateway dish" for any Mexican joint... if they do good enchiladas, they usually will be decent on other dishes), which had two shredded beef-filled corn tortillas covered in ranchero sauce, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo. It also had a side of rice and beans. The food was excellent. This will always be subjective, but growing up in west Texas, living in Austin later on (a haven for great Mexican food), and having the stuff in most of the other states in the Union, I was impressed. My wife raved about her dish as well. The service was very good. Now, it wasn't busy at all, but the waiter was as attentive as he needed to be without smothering us. He was very knowledgeable about the menu, smiled, and gave an overall impression that he actually cared about the place and its customers. A refreshing change from the usual "here's your Coke, where's my 10 bucks" attitude at some places. Next trip, I'll dig in to some Peruvian offerings. Maybe some chuletas or lomito is in order. (*** To the 21-year old "alcohol expert" who gave the restaurant 2 stars despite praising the food, due to his margarita not having enough tequila: Get over yourself.) read more

Huge is an understatement.. ---------- FOOD: We were asked upon entering weather we wanted the regular restaurant or the new tapas restaurant upstairs. we chose tapas and what a treat it was! Similar to dim sum, you get to choose a bunch of small dishes and share with your partner. They bring them out one at a time like courses in a huge meal. It was certainly a unique experience and the food was awesome. DECOR: The is the biggest stinkin' restaurant ive ever been in. You cant see all the tables with all the different levels, nooks and crannies. We even got to take an elevator to the tapas room! And its a really beautiful place too. Pretty much wherever you are, youre next to a window. Ours overlooks a courtyard with a fountain and it looks like you can dine outside in summer. SERVICE: Great. Theres lots of people standing around waiting to help. They guided us to the elevator, met us at the top, led us to a table and then bring you food until you leave. ---------- WOULD I GO BACK? Darn right! My only issue was leaving. Its such a big place that it can be maze like and hard to find the exit. Also, because of the size of the restaurant, the parking lot is small. But everything else is soo awesome. read more

The wait time from ordering to meal service was 90 minutes. They are probably short staffed. The food came out cold and dry. Would not recommend at this time read more

I went here on a Saturday night with my fiance to try some different (Peruvian) food. The building itself is very impressive and not what you'd expect to see for a restaurant (check out some pictures of it online). It gave off a classy Latin American vibe and had a very unique design. It looked like there was even a courtyard in the middle that had potential seating for outdoor eating in warmer weather. Shortly after we were seated our waitress brought us some free chips and salsa to get started on. I love when they are a part of your meal and you don't have to pay extra for them. Some of the menu items were similar to what you'd see at a typical Mexican restaurant. My fiance not being very adventurous went with the taco salad and a pomegranate margarita, and I ordered the Guiso de Diablo (Stew of the Devil) with shredded beef. Oddly the taco salad had most of the ingredients on the bottom of an edible dish which surprisingly seemed like an easier way to eat the salad. I tried a bit of her margarita and it was on the stronger side and didn't taste like it was soaked in artificial sugar... perfect! My meal was on the spicier side with rice, beans, chicken and some spices/sauces. I love spicy food and this one really hit the spot. Neat place to check out and their dinner menu has a wide range of prices depending on what you want to spend for a meal. I was really pleased with this place and if it weren't so far away I could see coming out here more often. You definitely get a nicer meal than your typical Mexican restaurant and the Margaritas are exceptional. read more

The food here is great and I love their vegetarian menu. My only issue is the appetizers under the sharable plates section, aren't even enough to satisfying person let alone 3 people. We got the fried avocado and paid 8$ for three little pieces. So one piece each. Not worth 8$ at all. We will not order appetizers again. My enchiladas con queso were also good, but still not worth 14$. read more

Really, really good, and been so for a long time. We had the ceviche today for the first time in 10 years and it tasted exactly as delicious as it was the first time I had it what seems like a kid feline ago. The food remains the best of its type anywhere within 50 miles. El Gordo Combo forever! read more

Went here after a long week (Friday evening) and was treated to a table in the courtyard. Lucky for us, a band was just getting started in the courtyard too. The host warned us about the noise-level, but it made the atmosphere so much fun! The overall look and feel of this place is absolutely overwhelming - and gorgeous! We sat down and ordered margaritas and fajitas - one chicken and the other shrimp. The fajitas came out sizzling and were accompanied by plenty of fillers, rice and beans. Everything was delicious! The margaritas were great too. Our server always made sure we had everything we needed and was quick to bring back our requests. Added bonus, while at El Serrano, I joined the loyalty club mentioned on the menu. The next day I received a $10 off coupon in my email. I can't wait to go back! read more

Ok, this is a "Mexican" restaurant, owned and run by a Peruvian family. So, there are plenty of standard Mex dishes, but try the Peruvian dishes. ask server about them, and about the specials. we go there, and get the Peruvian items. tasty. new, upstairs tapas bar. good. weekends, and some weekday nites, the place gets packed. so, plan to wait some. they have a couple of bars, so you can have a drink while a table opens up. The place is big, so tables move pretty quick. a good south american food place. read more

Excellent excellent excellent!!! The host staff was friendly and inviting. The server was also super friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is absolutely outstanding. The salsa is a beautiful red and has just the right amount of onions and cilantro. I was absolutely blown away by the beef Lomo Saltado. I will remember that dish for a long time. read more

El Serrano - Lomo saltado, beef...always. Their signature dish I'm told and I believe. - Latin American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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This is a very large restaurant. It has a nice atmosphere; the atmosphere is a bit unusual. Part of it looks like it used to be a dance club. There are different levels...some of them typical of an American Mexican restaurant but others more open...it's slightly classy, but slightly weird. There is a new addition--this place just keeps getting larger and larger. They have live music on some nights, but I generally try to avoid it because it's loud and not really my style. The food here is unauthentic, but good. This place is clearly a few steps up from the usual chi-chi's crap Mexican food. However, it's not real Mexican food...both the offerings and the food itself are more their own thing than they are Mexican food. There is Peruvian cuisine on the menu too, but from my experience, it is quite bland. My main complaint about this place is that there is not much variety to the menu. Many of the items are similar and there are a ton of things that just aren't on the menu. I can enjoy going here once every six months at most; any more often and I quickly get sick of it. read more

This is the 3rd time I have been to El Serrano. My wife loves this restaurant and that is the only reason I have been back multiple times. If I would have rated this restaurant after either of my first trips it would have gotten a one star. I have to give credit to El Serrano on this trip. My food was finally good! For starters we just stuck with the complimentary chips and dips. But be warned, if you ask for more chips their is a $2 fee which is ridiculous! For dinner I had the taco salad with chicken. I rarely order salads at restaurants, especially a Mexican restaurant. The only reason I did was because I have had their burritos and other Mexican food on prior trips and thought they were horrible. I figured they could not mess up a salad. I was pleasantly surprised to find the salad was excellent! The mix of ingredients had a nice balance with the chicken. I am not sure what the dressing was but it was very tasty. It comes served in a fried tortilla shell which made for a nice pairing. I am glad I finally found something on the menu that I can eat when my wife gets a craving to go back to El Serrano. The low rating is due to the combined experience of the three trips I have had to the restaurant. PS: I am forced to continue to tell my wife the restaurant is good so she does not feel bad about asking me to go........man I hope she does not read this! read more

Excellent Peruvian restaurant that has traditional Mexican items on the menu too. I had ordered the Lomo Saltado and it was amazing! It was very flavorful and the chicken was tender and juicy. Others in our party had ordered a variety of dishes and they were all very pleased with their meal too. Service was quick, attentive and the server was knowledgeable about the menu. Ask for the spicy habanero sauce with your chips and salsa. It has a great kick to it! read more

Great setting and the food here never disappoints! Awesome place to dine with delicious Peruvian food! Sangria is a big hit here!

My wife and I went there for our anniversary a few weeks ago for the first time although we've been to Culturas upstairs before. My first warning would be that the private parking lot feels a bit small for the size of the building and tends to fill up fast. So far we've been fortunate that we've never had to park elsewhere but I can't imagine that being a fun experience on that stretch of Columbia Avenue. For a weeknight, there was still about a 15 minute wait which was necessary because they only take reservations for large parties and even then, only on weekends. Once seated, our drink orders were quickly taken and requisite chips and salsa delivered. The chips were hot a fresh and the salsa was excellent. The only real problem I had with our server came in the next few minutes. After our drinks were brought, the table next to us was seated (about 7-8 in their party). From that point on, our server seemed to give that table priority and we ended up behind them on every step from simply ordering our food to closing our tab. That shouldn't be the case when we had the better part of a ten minute head start. To be fair, one of the women in their party was pretty bullheaded and kept demanding the server's attention whenever he was nearby but a simple "I'll be right with you" would have been enough to diffuse her and ensure he properly attended his other tables. As for the food, it's important to mention that this isn't so much as a Central/South American restaurant. Mostly a mixture of Mexican and Peruvian food. I am a fan of spicy food so I ordered El Bandido with shredded beef. The beef was delicious but the real winner was the jalapeno sauce on top. I don't recall what my wife ordered but I had a couple bites and it was equally delicious. For dessert we had the rum cake and the flan. The flan was delicious and reminded me of my Cuban grandmother's. To be honest, the rum cake wasn't anything special and I would probably never order it again given the other choices. I know people tend to rant about the prices here but paying in the teens range for an entree that will more than fill me up seems like a good deal when the food it good quality. Obviously extras like dessert, appetizers, and drinks can put a meal here into a pricey range but dinner for two with a drink each and no extras should easily come in under $50 before tip. As for the decor, nothing can really be said that others haven't already said. In my opinion, this is the most impressive restaurant in Lancaster. No expense seems to haven been spared on every detail from the building itself down to the chairs. Eating here feels like you're in one of the countries at the World Showcase at Epcot Center. read more

Latest review: I did recently return for another visit. The meal I had was fine, very tasty, and was cooked to my liking. I do think the portions were rather small for the price. However my biggest problem was the crowds and long waits to be seated. Reminds me of Olive Garden. I realize as they are popular, this is going to be a constant scenario. Now I read in the latest Board of Health inspection they were written up for keeping their clean dish storage on the floor! That doesn't do much for my appetite. read more

We have wanted to go to El Serrano for years, finally had the chance for our 33rd wedding anniversary. Made reservations on-line, proof that a 64 year old dog can learn new tricks. The reception and wait staff are young, polite and gracious. Our waiter was a bit pushy but I get it, Saturday evening, turn over tables, etc. The place was chilly and dark. I had the "Mixto Limeño Pan-seared tilapia covered with jumbo lump crabmeat, garlic-herb sauce, served with mixed vegetables and white rice". I'm sorry to say, all that I tasted was salt. And more salt. The rice was good. My wife had "El Bandido Flour tortilla stuffed with cheese, choice of one meat folded in a flour tortilla and grilled, topped with picante (homemade jalapeño sauce), served with Spanish rice, beans, lettuce and pico de gallo." She opted for the chicken. She said that the chicken was dry, but I stole the pico de gallo. Hooray for the staff, but we won't be going back. read more

It's okay but the menu is pretty limited and the food lacks the zing you expect on Mexican cuisine. We had quessadilas and chimichanga. The former was bland and the later, though well stuffed, didn't show much evidence of Mexican flavors. Even the salsa was pretty plain. The decor is nice bit needs a freshmen up. The service was pleasant. read more

El Serrano - Chimichanga - Latin American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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El Serrano is a great place to get authentic Latin food in Lancaster. Everyone, back away from the chain restaurants! Get yourself to this great place for some amazing food that wasn't warmed up from frozen in a microwave and served drenched in grease on a fancy plate. FOOD Amazing food! Lots of seafood dishes in the Peruvian style and some with a good amount of heat. Chuletas de Puerco is a favorite of everyone as well as the Shrimp a la Veracruzana, El Bandido, and Pollo Fundido. Don't be afraid to try something new, there are lots of tasty things here. ATMOSPHERE This place gets a bonus for their amazing decor and ambience. The lighting is low, there are private alcoves with wooden high-back benches and accents of red. It is a fun atmosphere if you're there with a group and it can be a great romantic date night (although you may want to check out their other dining options for an even more unique experience ... read on... ) The place is huge! There are 3 separate types of dining in the building under slightly different names/themes ... El Serrano (Main), Culturas (Tapas) and Clementina's (Private Dining) fill out the other floors along with a few banquet-style rooms. My husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner in a semi-private area of the main El Serrano dining room (near the amazing bar), but we were treated to a tour of the rest of their facilities prior to making our final arrangements to see all the options available. Everything about this place is gorgeous and well decorated. SERVICE Each time we've come here we've had amazing table service. Additionally, working with them for our rehearsal dinner was also very simple and streamlined ... once I met the even coordinator. It did take me a while to be able to get a hold of someone, but I think most of that was due to the fact that I was doing all my wedding planning from Seattle, WA and months in advance (which was probably earlier than they are used to). I finally had a chance to speak with someone while on a trip back to PA and the in-person service was excellent. Just don't expect to get much help through e-mail or over the phone until you've talked to someone face-to-face. read more

Great food, fantastic building and decent service. What a great find in Lancaster of all places?! We've been coming to Lancaster for many years and never knew about this place - thanks Yelp friends! I was shocked that with so many reviews there are so few photos - but after visiting I know why - it's dark inside and photos don't show up. It creates a romantic feeling. It is worth it and we'll be back many times in the future I'm sure! read more

Mid-day on a Sunday drive. Hubby had the ranchero, which he liked after doctoring the blandish beans & rice with their pico de gallo and salsa. I had the Taco salad with chicken, good enough though the overall flavor was salt more than spice. Good service, decent prices.The decor is very beautifully carved woodwork, detailed metalwork, lovely. We'd return if we're in the area, bit wouldn't go out of our way, like we do for our favorite places. read more

Slow, slow service. Party of 6. Including 2 toddlers. From the time we received our menus to the presentation of the check, it took OVER two hours. Waiting extremely long for everything. Food & Service "pre-Covid" was consistently very good at El Serrano in Lancaster on the Columbia Highway. On this Sunday, afternoon visit on March 27, terrible. Food was served barely warm. Fried Chimichangas were a soggy, doughy mess. One guest in our party ordered a side of rice & beans to go along with their taco platter. She was charged $5.00 for an extremely tiny portion of cold rice and refried beans. No manager visit to check on our satisfaction. Server was overwhelmed and seldom available to provide timely refills, ETC. It was so sad to see the how far this restaurant has lowered it standards. Lower your expectations if you do visit. Example, our complimentary salsa and chips were severed in plastic solo cups for the salsa and the chips in paper bags. You expect that at Taco Bell. But when you spend $195.00 plus tip for 4 adults and 2 toddlers, come on! Oh read more

We drove almost an hour for this place. Service was terrible. Manager (blonde girl) spent the whole time with the table next to us looking at photos on her phone. Our server knew nothing about the menu, Peruvian food or any cocktails. The ceviche was terrible. I was recommended between two dishes and I selected the chicken dish, which was a chicken breast wrapped in the burrito tortilla with nothing else inside it. Overall cool building and drinks were strong but huge let down!!! read more

Emerging from the lofty green valleys of Lancaster county is an unexpected but ethereal find, El Serrano! When in town to visit the love interest's family, El Serrano offers a Peruvian/Mexican sojourn with promises of generously proportioned glasses of sangria and my favorite Peruvian delicacy, Lomo Saltado. The palatial architechture and furnishings, coupled with the revered Lancaster county hospitality makes El Serrano my first choice for dining whilst in the area. read more

Decided to go on a weekend night and called to make a reservation but found out that they do not take reservations. We did not have to wait long and were seated immediately. They have outside courtyard seating too. Overall the whole atmosphere was beautiful and they had live music too. Building from outside looks like a Spanish castle and had its own parking. Menu had a mix of Peruvian and Mexican dishes. The chips and salsa which they brought out were served warm and were good to start with. However, the food was a big disappointment. One of the appetizer which was Gambas Al Ajillo which is shrimp sauteed in garlic sauce and was served with french bread slices tasted too bland and hardly had salt in it. The other one ceviche which was tilapia in citrus juices had so much yellow sauce in it and was spicey but too lemoney tasting. On asking we were told that they add some spices to it to change the taste. For the main course we decided to try the Peruvian dishes Lomo Saltado and Arroz Con Mariscos. We asked for medium cooked beef but the strips of beef tenderloin was chewy and did not have any taste to it. The scallops, shrimp and tilapia sautéed with ranchero sauce in the arroz con mariscos was served with rice and was ok, meat was tender and was the only dish we could finish off. The food is entirely different from the typical Peruvian food and wasn't to our liking. Prices are also on the higher side. Service was attentive. Had checked other reviews before going but do not agree with them and overall the experience was less than satisfactory. read more

I tried this for a second time. The first time gave me a bit of a belly ache. Second time, had nachos grande to start, just a giant pile of stuff. Everything was unidentifiable, onions, tomatoes, beans, ground beef, a couple of nachos that were overwhelmed under the mess. Not yummy. My daughter had a chimichanga, and I had enchiladas. Both were pretty decent, the rice that accompanied it was ok. But same as the first time I went home and a few hours later I was nauseous. Maybe to much oil or too many onions. I gave it a second shot and they didn't redeem themselves, so this was my last time. Next time I am going to try Carlos & charlies, from what I hear it may be a better experience. I'll let you know. read more

My girlfriend recommended this restaurant, and after my visit, I have to agree. The decor is beautiful, and the food was scrumptious. I had never had a peruvian meal before, so I didn't recognize too many things on the menu, so I decided to try the tacu tacu. It was delicious. What a great new experience. By the time we left the restaurant was pretty packed. I recommend getting there early. I think we got there around 5pm. read more

Came here after hearing my family rave about the pollo Saltado, but was really disappointed. There were only 5-6 pieces of chicken in the whole dish, the fries to meat ratio was completely off. For $16 that's a total rip off. The sangria was definitely a redeeming factor, along with the nice decor, ambiance, and music. Tip: order the fajitas and a side of fries if you don't want to feel ripped off read more

The food is standard TexMax though I've heard the Peruvian is excellent. Delicious fresh chips and salsa and the sangria is just right!

Latin American fusion on some plates. Very authentic interior.... Lancaster? The goods: meats, meats on the bone, meats on a sizzling plate, and fish. Chips, salsa, sides including rice, sauces. Heck even the deserts were good. In fact the pork chops on the sizzle plate with pineapple is the tastiest simple thing I've had in a while. Yuca?! Value. The so so: Service, fast pace servers in a horse and buggy town is not gonna happen, we'll unless your at a truck stop diner of coarse. Plus the staff appeared very young, however it is farmland so they do know food.... That means if you slow down and think like a farmer you can get almost anything you want. What else is missing: Brunch time favs for the metros like bottomless mimosas? Nope, not here.. BUT the margaritas make up for the mimosas, leaving those tippers a bit tipsy from my observation. The bad?: Not much, the only real criticism I have worth listing in the bad section was a couple of gristle prices of tenderloin on my tenderloin platter. The rest were actually as tenderloin as expected. IF the plate was 7 bucks more I would have given this place 2 stars, but cost weighs in on the weight of the beef here. Will I go here again? Only if I'm in the area. BTW, I ate in the downstairs restaurant with the court. read more

One of the best restaurants in Lancaster as far as I'm considered. Delicious Peruvian and Mexican dishes. They have a unique menu with items like pork chops and pineapples and then some classics like fajitas. The flavors on the dishes is just amazing and it's really beautiful inside and romantic. Me and my fiancé always enjoy the food and fruity drinks when there. read more

Seating area is pretty cramped. Food was good with a little longer that average wait time. Service could definitely be better.