Nice quiet atmosphere, good food, decent portions. Sometimes a little too dark for my liking.

I would not consider visiting Lancaster without dinner at El Serrano. This place is huge, first of all with really impressive decor...even the building itself looks awesome from the outside. The chips and salsa are very good (a must for me) and I love the tacu tacu with chicken. Its a Peruvian dish that i'd never heard of before or ever seen anywhere else but it rocks. I mean, I live in the NYC area and yet I have to come to Central PA for this great dish. Those of you who reside in the area should consider yourselves lucky. read more

I visited twice to the restaurant as seeing all the reviews online. Experience for the first visit was excellent as per the wait time had to wait 90 minutes to get to the table. However, in the first visit it was just m wife and I. Second visit I took my whole family there thinking we will get the same experience. Let me begin by again breaking it down in pros and cons: Pros: - Place has excellent parking but on weekend it can be an issue - The place is decorated and excellent food. - Good vegetarian choices as well. Cons: - The floor is very dirty - Our wait time was 85 minutes to be exact. - During over visit, my mom slipped due to beans on the floor and fell on a chair. Due to that she got a jerk in her knee. We have made medical appointment with the doctor (will see how that goes) - Secondly, the first table we were given was not cleaned at all, the chairs had food on it and the floor had napkins, pieces of food, and ketchup..... - They had candle in the middle of the table which was not lit. Overall, the experience was worst. I have never had this bad experience at any restaurant of this type. We will never be going to this restaurant and warn other if you have a special thing planned for your loved once, do not go to this place. read more

After finishing another tedious work week filled with stress, bills, and appointments I sit back in my worn office chair and think how nice it would be just to get away, somewhere far from my mundane little town of Lancaster. Although it is Friday I still have to start early the next morning to finish up the never ending amount of household chores that I pushed off for the past few weeks due to the long hours I have been putting in at the office. After stuffing my briefcase to the brim, I head out to my car to enjoy an hour of stop and go traffic that post pones my fifteen minute drive home. On my drive home my lovely girlfriend, who is always full of energy and good ideas, suggests that we go to a new restaurant tonight called El Serrano. With a pessimistic and cynical attitude towards anything that doesn't sound like a vacation that is about ten thousand miles from here I can hardly find the same willfulness; but at this point I have nothing left to lose. After arriving at El Serrano we are greeted by a warm and cheerful smile of the hostess as she escorts us to our table. We sit down in a cozy little grotto on the side of the restaurants wall that is illuminated by the radiance and splendor of a flickering candle that sends light bouncing off the walls. Settling into a little secluded niche of our own I cannot help but notice the craftsmanship of the mahogany table and chair that we rest ourselves on. I can already start to feel myself slipping out of my chaotic week and into the unfamiliar grounds of repose. Feeling the grumbles of my stomach my mouth starts to water at the tantalizing Latino American cuisine filled with an abundant amount of Mexican and Peruvian dishes. With so many delicious choices it was hard for me to make up mind on just one but the growls getting louder I think I didn't have a choice; I decided to go with the Chicken Fajita with sautéed grilled strips of chicken, onions, tomatoes, and tri-colored peppers I exclaimed to the sever. Although I had a tough time between a few of the entrees, our server was more than delightful in directing me to the right choice. Dressed in a sharp black attire, our server displayed a congenial and professional manner that I have not found any other restaurant that did not cost more than a hundred dollars a plate to get an unsatisfying three ounce filet with a piece of broccoli. Prepared with a plethora of information on the menu, and intimate knowledge of El Serrano's ingredients, he was able to steer my girlfriend clear away from her onion allergy and suggest items that were better suited for her. I could not be more delighted at this point with this restaurant, they have exceeded my expectations. While waiting for our entrees, we were greeted warmly by the owner of El Serrano, Manuel Torres. Despite the chaotic night which is common for any restaurant owner on a Friday night, Manuel took the time to ask us how our night was going and talk to us about his establishment. He taught us about his Peruvian background and the influence it has had on El Serrano, from the craftsmanship of the hand carved mahogany wood fixtures, to the tiles, to the iron bars that ornately surround the porcelain fountain. I was really taken back by the fact that almost all the materials were from his native land of Peru and that was where majority of the craftsmanship took place. After washing the last bite of my savory chicken fajita down with my margarita, I could not help but notice how content I was after having such a pessimistic attitude all week. It had truly felt like I had gone on that much needed vacation. I found the escape I was looking for at El Serrano. This local jewel is a truly unique dining experience that incorporates authenticity and heritage of Peruvian culinary recipes and tradition. El Serrano took me out of my all too familiar ordain Lancaster, Pennsylvania and into an immeasurable exotic place that will not soon be forgotten. read more

Don't do it! Their menus are very disgusting. Massive building with limited seating. If you're driving by and just wanna stop in don't do it!! read more

Went there about a month ago. Didn't understand what all the hype was about. Service was absolutely deplorable. The food was not good. My fajitas were bland and mostly just onions. Not much chicken or even peppers. El Rodeo may not have the atmosphere but I'll take their food over this place any day! read more

Recent trips show a good range of classics. Though not traditional Mexican the dishes, particularly tacu tacu (a bean and egg and rice brick with green hot sauce), are distinct and delicious. The salsa rocks but I make better guac at home. read more

I've been here twice both times for a work function and both times I was somewhat underwhelmed. The first time was for lunch and the food was meh, I have eaten in some really good mexican/peruvian restaurants having lived in south Florida and Northern California. This place would go out of business in these locations imho. In central PA it's a destination place, go figure. I had the peruvian chicken for dinner with french fries mixed in, it was ok but nothing special. All and all ok but nothing to rave about. Both times it took a long time to seat my party, both times we had reservations but they seemed surprised to see us. read more

Love the versatility of the menu. Mexican. Peruvian. Tapist style. A lot to choose from and the food is fantastic. Atmosphere is really cool too. Like a hacienda lol. read more

I went to El Serrano this past weekend and had an OKAY experience. The atmosphere is very nice and the place was very busy. Typically a good sign. We were seated relatively quickly and enjoyed the chips and salsa. I have a saltier pallet, so I didn't mind that the salsa was pretty salty. Service was decent, margarita with fresh juices was excellent. Our entrees were just okay. Steak fajitas were nothing to rave about and the Peruvian dish with tilapia and crab was a little lack luster. Finished the night off with desserts, the fried ice cream was delicious, but in all I felt everything was a bit overpriced. For $70 for two people, I expected to be wowed. That didn't happen read more

El Serrano had very good food. I had 2 burritos and they were very tasty and had a good amount of meat on them. The nachos were also very good. They have a decent selection of beer and the live music player on Saturday night was also very nice. If you like Mexican this place should be on your list of go to restaurants. read more

My wife & I had an awesome dining experience here with our friends! The food & ambiance was taken to a level not usually experienced in our area. The food was hot, flavorful & delicious & couldn't have been any better. The live music was fantastic. We were blown away by the beautiful restaurant, its custom hand-made Peruvian architectural features & décor and especially the warm & friendly hospitality of the owners, Manuel and his daughter, Melanie. We love, love, love El Serrano's. We're already planning our next visit! read more

Never a bad meal! Love the tapas restaurant too! I have been there many times. Margaritas are really good!

El Serrano probably has the best building and design in Lancaster. A great spot for Taps with friends. Menu is Peruvian which is different then Mexican. Always have very good service and food. The room is just fun using the classic colors of Peru. There is actually three different restaurants in this one building. El Serrano is the first floor. Culturas is the tapas bar on the second and the third is the private dinner area. That is a great idea for an intimate dinner with someone special or another couple. A star on the Lancaster food map, well worth the visit. read more

great food i have been here many times & will continue to go back over & over again very nice atmosphere, hand carved doors & chairs etc i highly recommend this place! read more

Excellent Peruvian ceviche and tapas. Eat upstairs not downstairs. There are 3 diff restaurants in this building. You want upstairs.

Nice setting but a bit over priced with food that felt mediocre. I for sure enjoyed my experience but have had better Mexican downtown. Skip it... save money and hit la cocina on king st for a taste treat delight read more

If I were a carpenter this place would give me a heart attack before I even got inside the door! I remember when this was a fish restaurant, a simple box-shaped building like the auto parts place next door. Now it has grown steadily in a way that suggests that it is alive, like a plant, and constantly grows new additions! That said, if you can navigate the corridors you will find public dining, private dining, a courtyard with live music on weekends, a tapas bar, etc. Now where is the men's room?!? This isn't the most authentic Mexican place in town, but it is pretty good nonetheless. Chips and salsa as a warmup are a good sign for any Mexican place, and they do that at El Serrano. If you like a little spice, the green sauce is worth asking for. My personal favorites are the dishes that feature shredded beef/pork/chicken. They also offer some plates that use ground beef -- I don't recommend these. El Serrano's Peruvian owners offer some native Peruvian dishes, as well as a vegetarian menu. Finally, there is the frozen marguerita machine. It's a bit like the Mr. Misty cooler at Dairy Queen, but with alcohol. The flavor goes in much like a Mr. Misty too -- pumped from a bottle. Maybe this isn't the original technique, but I still wish I had a machine like this in my house! Overall a good place to eat, to take a date or relatives. read more

I threw up the food : super salty crab meat chimichanga. Their service is so slow, we waited for more than 40 min just for dessert. Do not recommend at all. read more

The food is usually quite good... really poor service this time... waited 50 minutes for appetizers that came out over done... were told there was a miscommunication that we wanted our main dish with the appetizers... on top of this, the waitress was just rude. She corrected my 84 year old mother twice... never refilled drinks or took plates. The manager offered 2 free deserts for the four of us to compensate for our wait.. not sure this really helped.... however, one of the waiters did come over and tried to help... great guy, very polite and accommodating. At that point, we were tired and exasperated. read more

My gf and I tried this place for lunch. Service was very slow and waiter didn't check back with us. Our waiter neither brought out our food nor refilled our water glasses (the busboy did). As for the food, I had the shredded beef chimichanga. Chimichangas should be deep fried not just a rolled cold burrito with only two tiny pieces of meat about the size of a marble. They decided that a flavorless white sauce was a much better compliment than the more traditional salsa verde, they were wrong. The food here was less Mexican than Taco bell and less flavorful as well. read more

This is not a Chi-chi's type restaurant, so if that's what you're looking for, I'd suggest On The Border. El Serrano is one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever seen architecture-wise - I want to take pictures every time I'm there! The service is attentive and friendly, and the food is delicious. They serve some things that would be familiar to Americans, like fajitas and nachos, but also a wide variety of Peruvian goodness I recommend you try! Also, upstairs is the Tapas restaurant, and it is excellent! A bit pricey, but seriously worth saving up for - you each get 3 or 4 Tapas and (if you're like my family) share with each other - these exquisite little dishes will make for a great night out with anybody! Their drink selection is vast and impressive, during the summer they have an outdoor courtyard bar which is magazine-worthy, and their desserts are delicious as well. read more

Deliciosa, sabrosa, la mejor comida mejicana!!!!! I absolutely love Mexican food, the best of which I've eaten was in San Francisco. Needless to say, I was skeptical when I found this review here on yelp, but you yelpers have not lead me astray. I first dined at this restaurant in September of this year with my family, who are not adventurous eaters. To everyone's surprise, we all loved the food. I ate el Pollo Fundido with grilled chicken; I absolutely love the flavor of the chicken and its creamy cheese sauce. My mouth waters just thinking about it. My mom, a picky eater, tried the Chicken Burro, and to my family's amazement, she ate everything on her plate. This first time, my dad tried a seafood dish, which he enjoyed. However, since we've been back multiple times, he get the Shrimp a la Veracruzana, a dish with rice, roasted vegetables, and shrimp in a cream sauce. He said, "This is the best dish I've ever had at a restaurant." On a side note, the margaritas are also yummy. El Serrano is the best restaurant in Lancaster. read more

This time around, on 5/6/16 I ate here with friends and I was greatly disappointed. My food came cold, looked like the lettuce was not very fresh. Worst of all, there was something that tasted very bitter. I was very disappointed because all other times before that, I had great meals there. read more

If I could I would give more than 5 stars to this place. Impeccable service, delectable food and great ambience. We were a group of 12 adults and 12 kids (ya!!) and were seated in a separate section. Our server Austin was just awesome. Not once did he frown accommodated all of our requests. The staff is really really good. We were visiting and wished we lived close by to frequent this place. Did I mention the food was delish too! read more

Wow... Love this spot. Friend recommended and hit expectations. We had lunch specials which were delicious, but the dinner meals look expensive. The enchiladas were good, but a small portion for lunch. My friend recommends the fajitas. The margs were delicious.. make sure you try one.. or three. read more

I don't enjoy their Mexican food; instead I always order the Peruvian classic Lomo Saltado. You should try it!!!

Food and service are both below average. There are way better restaurants in the area for the money.

Manuel Torres, owner, his daughter, Melanie, and Manuel Ayala, executive chef, were welcoming and made for an unforgettable Cinco de Mayo celebration. The live music kept us dancing in their large courtyard and their food is top-notch. I can't wait to go back for their tapas-style menu/events. read more

Nice decor, decent food, good service. It's a little dark inside and the food is kind of pricey. I would rather go to a mom & pop place for this type of cuisine. You have to go at least once though because their margaritas are pretty good! read more

This place is large and spacious, yet still be prepared to wait for a table - it's popular. Outdoor courtyard space is impressive. The flan was incredibly good. read more

Here we go again. Another Mexican/Latin flavor Restaraunt. Overall the food was good and on par with all the other places we frequent. But...still can't find the right sangria. For 32.00 a carafe....I would give the sangria a "B" rating. We found it way too expensive for the amount given. Would definitely come back but not for the drinks. Our bill was 64.00 for two dinner and chips and guacamole but half that bill was the carafe. That's a game changer read more

Beautiful atmosphere in this gorgeous restaurant. Service that can't be beat. And very good food. Lots of variety on the menu, albeit mostly Latin American and Peruvian style. On the down side, the live music is well done but way too loud, making it difficult to hold a conversation with your table mates and the prices are definitely too high for what you get, but it's all still an experience you'll probably enjoy. read more

for me, el serrano is what mexican food tastes like. even when i got mexican food in texas i didn't think it met the standards of el serrano! they definitely blow the local competition out of the water. they have the best chips and salsa of any place i've been to. their burritos, tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, taco salad - all are great. service at both the lancaster and york locations has been outstanding. the lancaster location is a vastly superior building, much larger and really intricate carvings, woodwork, and better ambiance. they also have a full bar. read more

I love El Serrano! This is a mash-up of Peruvian and Mexican... and maybe some interesting takes on other American and Central American fare. It will probably have something to offer everyone and anyone who likes Hispanic-themed food. Lots of seating, but will sometimes sit in the bar area just to switch it up. The building is an interesting renovation (I believe) of some old Columbia Ave home, and there are other options with the "restaurant-within-a-restaurant" for the initiated. One-star off for the ongoing parking issues and the sometimes spotty service (which is more the exception than the rule and often depends on how busy they are, which is usually). These are the only true negative things to say. read more

One of the finer restaurants in the Lancaster area. If you enjoy Latin cuisine, you won't be disappointed. I've never had a bad meal at El Serrano. Service has always been good. Enjoy the sweet sounds of Dante on the weekends. Bueno! read more

Great selection of food. And the atmosphere is wonderful inside. The burrito I had was delicious. The staff was also friendly and helpful.

We came here on a Friday evening around 9:30. My husband had the shrimp fajitas which were good. Nothing to brag about. The shrimp were large which made up for the small portion of them which was about enough for two tortillas. I had the El Bandito with chicken and it was very flavorful and spicy, which I liked. We also ordered fresh guacamole and thought it was rather bland, and the same could be said about their salsa. read more

This place was great. I had a late dinner there with family I hadn't seen in years. We made a reservation for 7:30pm and they were ready for us right away. They close at 9, but they were friendly about it and didn't pressure us to leave. The food was great - my aunts raved about their fajitas, and I had a wonderful Pollo Fundido. My nephews had the shrimp appetizer and another shrimp dish that they said were amazing. It's got a great atmosphere. A bit dark for reading menus, like most other places these days. Oh, and I highly recommend the fried ice cream dessert. With honey. Save room, you won't regret it. read more

This would be a decent Mexican/South American restaurant anywhere; for Lancaster, it's excellent. Restaurant really looks the part, and the food lives up to the looks. Sangria was yummy (tiny bits of diced apple - a nice touch), ceviche was pleasantly spicy, and my entree (lomo saltado) was superb. Waitress was pleasant, efficient, and didn't hesitate to move us to a quieter spot when we requested it. (Live music on weekends can be a bit loud when you're next to the performer... but the booths are quiet.) Review is based on one visit, and they weren't busy... but I want to go back. Our only complaint: nothing was spicy except the ceviche, not even the salsa.. a bit disappointing for chile heads. One other thing: every time a sizzling, steaming fajita platter went by we'd both stop and inhale. I hope the fajitas' flavor lives up to the aroma, because they smelled heavenly. read more