Excellent. Atmosphere is very nice. Brick walls and rough wooden beams. My wife had the lamb shank. Good lamb flavor. Very tender. She loved the squash. She substituted the fried sweet potatoes for Brussel sprouts. I had small plates. Cream of mushroom soup, brussel sprouts and shrimp and grits. We both loved the soup. Nice mix of fine ground mushrooms. The brussel sprouts were delicious with onions and crunchy bacon. Shirimp and grits were good and as I had read in other reviews was full of vegetables (spinach and squash). The grits were thick and creamy. Shrimp were a little lack luster. 3-4 smallish shrimp and a few baby ones. Could have been seasoned a little more however the veggies really made up for it and was a smart choice The day before was my wife's birthday which we mentioned and they offered Prosecco or a desert. We went with the sparkling cranberry orange sorbet. Two good size scoops with a candle. Sorbet was very good. A little heavy actually Overall well worth it. I would go back. read more

My black Alaskan cod was very tasty, cooked just right. Our server described it perfectly and served each of our for dinners hot, straight from the grill. read more

This was the first time that we had a private room since my sister-in-law had a birthday party here nine years ago. We were a party of 11 and the meal went fairly well. Our only disappointment was that they ran out of some of the things that we ordered, such as the pork porterhouse became a pork loin and the chicken dish was changed to duck. They still brought out the bread and the chefs tasting spoons which was surprising for a large group. I did feel bad for our server because she was by her self, but then she did have some other people helping to bring out the food since we were a large party. We had a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine. My favorite was the smoked trout salad and I was glad that that was still on the menu. I wasn't as enthused with their large plates this time especially with the changes after we ordered. Everyone mostly enjoyed their meals and the salmon tartare was tasty. We had the lemon curd dessert which was rather yummy and others had the crème brûlée. This is still one of my go to high end restaurants in Lancaster. Be prepared to pay up to $80-$100 for a single person though FYI (if you're ordering drinks). read more

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wonderful food with plenty of great options to chose from! we loved the oysters and the venison! the wait staff was quick and kind. would go back to lancaster again next year! read more

Outstanding service, flavorful food, and nice ambiance! We had the semi-private party area & just under 20 people - you'd never know there was a busy entrance & bar just outside the room! read more

This is a beautiful historic place. The food is very good and so is the service. I loved the cozy atmosphere.

Bread and butter were great to start with. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. Beef tartare was great. I loved the beef liver. The lamb loin had a sweet sauce that didn't convince me but the quality was still high all around. The decorations and lights of the place could be improved. read more

Our go to spot for birthdays or anniversaries! Their food is always fresh & delicious. I love their commitment to the farm to table style, using as much of the animal as possible and creating some unique and delicious options. read more

walking in, you get an immediate sense of the quiet ambiance of the place. it is a place you can have a elegant night with some friends and enjoy locally sourced foods. the menu was fantastic and everything seems to be given deep thought and care. i got the vegetarian dosas. i wouldn't expect an authentic dosa, but this was an interesting take on it. the wild rice and vegetables were flavorful and rich. The dosa was a little hard and not as crispy as I hoped, but still added some beautiful structure to the dish. Their servings are in the bigger side! You will be filled after an entree. we got the lavender honey creme brûlée for dessert and it was made perfectly! Crispy torched sugar top with a creamy custard under. Not overly sweet with a hint of lavender. would come back with friends any day! read more

John J Jeffries - Vegetarian Dosas - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Always a must when I visit the area. I discovered this place ages ago and it has been in my top ten since. You can get a great cocktail here, as well as a great selection of wine. Dishes are prepared using local and seasonal products. Service is always great and distinguished. The interior is spacious and welcoming; a lot of wood is featured. Their deserts are also quite delicious. Booking ahead is recommended or you can try to wing it at the bar. Parking can be limited. Personal favourite: liver & onions read more

John J Jeffries - Crispy Pork Belly Love - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Let me start by saying the drinks were good. I was highly disappointed by the options on the entree menu. Only choice of beef was a skirt steak or chuck. Um what. Two cuts that aren't exactly the best. The surf and turf was good, the rainbow trout salad was good. The pheasant was decent- potatoes looked like they were reheated. Skirt steak was of course tough. The vegetables were good. The desserts were disappointing- tres leches cake was far from an actual tres leches cake. It was more like strawberry shortcake. I had high expectations considering our bill was $200+, our waitress threw me off. Asking questions about the menu seemed like an annoyance. Not knowledgeable about wine menu let alone pairings. Just overall disappointed. Especially when I see that all Pinot noir wines are under 30$ in store yet priced around $100 on menu!!! read more

My husband and I ate here a few weeks ago while staying at the Arts Hotel. First, I was so happy with how accommodating John J Jeffries was--even though I delayed too much in making reservations, they were extremely accommodating. We ate outside, and I was pleased to discover what a beautiful courtyard the restaurant has. To start, we ordered a cured salmon special and a salad, and to eat we both ordered the vegetarian dosas. Everything was incredible, from start to finish. We'll definitely be back. read more

John J Jeffries - Cured salmon appetizer special - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Pros: not your cheapest restaurant but I think still affordable and a good place to have a dinner date. Our waiter was very nice and very knowledgeable about the menu! We were seated promptly and given Great suggestions on what to drink! We got some zucchini bread which I thought was delicious! We ordered appetizers which were really like meals imo! I got this Kim bop bowl which was very good! I didn't think I was going to eat the whole thing but I did! My husband had the bone marrow which he found to be delicious as well! My dessert was the crepe brûlée and I loved it! It was a honey lavender creme brûlée and I thought it was sweet, crunchy, smooth, and just overall very yummy! Cons: I got the leg lamb dish, and while I found the potatoes to be super yummy, there wasn't much to be said about the roasted veggies and my leg lamb was cooked just a little more than I'd like and it was a little salty for my liking. I liked it overall tho. I probably could had said something about how salty it was but we were short in time and I didn't want to wait. Overall: I would definitely come back again! Lovely restaurant, nice ambience, good wait staff, and delicious food! read more

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Note: this review is strictly for the bar at JJJ. After a looong day of learning all any of us wanted/needed was a drink. Thank goodness for John J Jeffries inside the Lancaster Arts Hotel... perfectly convenient to our rooms upstairs and open until midnight. The bartender, whose name is a mystery, was super cool with his hipster beard and did a stellar job keeping up with the drink orders from not only our group of 15 but the several other parties situated around the room. Oh, and he made a delicious 'Jeffries Mule' aka a their version of Moscow Mule (Pennsylvania made potato vodka, lime juice, fresh ginger, cane sugar, club soda; $12). I could have drank them all night long... But a few things about JJJ made me not really want spend all night there: - It's loud! So so loud. Lots of hard surfaces so sound is just bouncing everywhere. - Space is a bit limited in the bar area... the bar itself is a u-shape and the long sides are a bit narrow and lead to nowhere. When you've got a group it can be tricky to move around. - Lighting in the floor is a bit blinding. Who's idea was this? More than once we positioned someone to stand on top of the light so we could all see the next day. Negatives aside John J Jeffries is worth a visit if you're visiting Lancaster. read more

John J Jeffries - Jeffries Mule - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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I came to John J. Jeffries for dinner, and upon walking in, there was no one there to greet me. Instead, I awkwardly stood around for a few minutes before a host came up to help me. Once I got seated, though, service did improve, and with the help of the knowledgeable waiter, I settled on the Pork "Gordita." Overall, the dish was pretty good. The johnnycake, grits, and sauces all came together to give an explosion of complex flavor, all of which paired excellently with the pork. However, there was one major problem. I ordered my pork medium, and while the sides of it were indeed medium, a sizeable portion towards the center was completely raw and cold. Upon presenting this to my waiter, they immediately re-cooked the pork and re-presented it as a fresh dish. In sum, I found John J. Jeffries to have variable service and variable food. Had they properly cooked my pork, they would've definitely earned a higher rating. read more

John J Jeffries - Pork "Gordita" - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

the hostesses were super friendly and had huge smiles. the food was so flavorful. it wasn't too loud either. the server was knowledgable with what was in the food. really the food was tremendous. i had the beef Tartare. my wife had the meat balls. then we had the coffee chocolate chip ice cream. and french press coffee. the coffee almost put me in the hospital. super strong. holy moly. tasted great. my kidneys were hurting with out much they flushed water out of me.. all in all, a great experience. read more

Great farm to table dining experience. The food was delicious and the service wonderfully memorable. I'm so glad I was talked into having dessert. read more

I was here several years ago and was so pleased to discover that the downtown area of Lancaster has been revitalized. Anchoring the food and art scene is John J Jeffries and the Lancaster Arts Hotel. The restaurant and bar are connected to the hotel. Parking is available in the garage. The meals are prepared with thought to creating with local produce and products. Creative dishes with ethnic touches like Jim Bim Bop which is Themed like a Korean Mixed Rice Bowl. The appetizers were outstanding as were the mains. Perfectly roasted potatoes and crispy but moist chicken on the bone. Loved seeing all the F and M students eating a fancy dinner with their parents on Homecoming weekend too! On the way out make sure to check out the lobby of the hotel where they have some interest art objects on display, some available for purchase. read more

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The food was fresh and the customer service excellent. We arrive around half an hour before closing time (), however the waitress was very attentive and happy to help us, she even offered the dessert menu after they had closed. For drinks we had the Midsommer cocktail, made with blueberries. Totally recommend it if you are staying at the Lancaster's Arts Hotel or if you happen to be in the area. read more

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Food is awesome and they have a great wine selection. They are a little pricey but the good is awesome

Great restaurant in Lancaster. Focused on farm to table within 30 miles. We had a mix of small hot and cold plates. Started with steak tartare and seasonal salad. The steak was properly seasoned and the toast had a great flavor. The salad was fresh and dressed just right. Followed the cold plates with shrimp and grits and Jim's bim bap. Shrimp and grits had lots of throw-ins (mushroom, spinach,tomato) that were fresh and added a nice flavor. Bim bap has heat but not too much - they will take it up or down at request. Added a trio of ice cream to share for dessert - singing dog vanilla, blackberry and mint chocolate chip. Will be back. read more

The food was decent although they were out of quite a few things on the menu or had substitutions (chicken for pheasant as an example). The biggest disappointment was that this restaurant had good ratings from a gluten free perspective but clearly the wait staff was uneducated on this. Our waiter kept saying "you should be fine" which is not reassuring for someone with celiac! I'm not sure I would go back. read more

This was our first time visiting Lancaster and I really wanted to eat local. We landed on JJJ and it did not disappoint! We were lucky to have a gorgeous night, since we are only eating outside due to COVID. There is a lovely back patio and we felt like there was enough spacing for everyone to enjoy their meals. And enjoy we did! I don't think the meal would have been nearly as great without our server April, who was kind, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our food. Everything was great, especially the eggplant and the lavender honey creme brûlée. The main portions were very hardy and we both left with lots of leftovers. I hope to return someday! read more

John J Jeffries - Confit Turkey leg - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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I visited JJJ restaurant for first time for dinner service mid week. The food was plenty tasty; however, the environment was very uncomfortable. I ordered a shrimp and grits dish, and their ribeye on special. The grits dish was very, very good with the chosen flavor pairings (green vegetable and bacon), except slightly underseasoned. The ribeye was good, but I didn't notice it was undercooked...it was way more raw than medium rare. Unfortunately the reason I didn't notice is because of the atmosphere. The entire restaurant was very dark even though it wasn't dark outside. With the dark jus and lighting, I couldn't see the steak. Now it was still good, just not prepared to correct temp. I have no idea why restaurant kitchens don't employ internal meat temps for such expensive cuts of meat. Other gripes with the atmosphere beside how dark it was, was the noise everywhere. This restaurant lacks any kind of noise control and what results is a tinny and loud main dining room, and a bar that shares another "private" event space on the side which is separated with curtains. The restaurant didn't feel like a top-notch spot since they haven't invested in the physical experience for guests. They can also improve their execution game for the food since they're using such high-quality ingredients. Service was attentive until a party of 18 or so came in. At that point I asked to be reseated to the bar area since my table was facing them directly and it was very loud and distracting. It felt like they should have a private dining room to better serve large parties like that and not impact other small dining parties. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant because of the atmosphere despite their potential with the food. I don't like eating high quality food in a makeshift dark environment that caters to everyone all at once without appropriately serving any type of customer. When I think of farm to table, I don't envision a dark dining room. I think of natural light, and even lighting. read more

This is a bummer review as we really wanted to love our night at JJJ but If this is the best restaurant in Central PA then that doesn't speak well for C.PA eats. For us, it was kinda disappointing to be honest. We were staying at the Arts Hotel for the weekend, celebrating our 40th anniversary. We started our evening at JJJ bar for a few pre-dinner drinks. The bartender was great, the drinks were strong and fairly-priced, and the ambiance was fine. Tbh by the end of our dinner we left wishing we had just stayed at the bar. Moving to JJJ, the host was very nice, wishing us a happy anniversary with a big smile (when I made reservations they asked if we had a special occasion). but nothing else for the rest of the evening indicated they were aware. I wasn't expecting anything free, or a chorus of singing waiters, but a matching "happy anniversary, thanks for spending it here" from the waiter or a nicer table at the window or along the wall, instead of one jammed-in the middle of the room, would've been nice. I guess most folks there were celebrating something but it was still a bummer. Anyway, the food was excellent, very tasty, and we both enjoyed much of what we ordered very much. What we didn't love, tartare (raw hamburger) was on us for trying something new. As for the waitstaff; the male waiter was obviously uninterested and going through the motions. He was borderline cold and almost snotty. Didn't care for him much. During our time in town we also drank and ate at Annie Baileys and in many ways enjoyed our night there more. read more

Food was amazing! I love that everything is so fresh. my husband and I absolutely loved it. we tried some new things and Bill our waiter was very helpful and kind. highly recommend! read more

John J Jeffries - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Not a great start. The spinach in B's spinach and beet salad was way too big and had long send still attached. Bleu cheese was good, but overpowered everything else. Beets were fresh? Server didn't know if they were pickled, but knew that they were fresh because "everything is fresh." My tuna tartare was just meh. B complained to a surprisingly defensive server about her salad, but declined a replacement. Thankfully, entrees were better. My lamb was done to proper degree (even though our server didn't ask how I wanted it), and the sides were good. The brown sauce was just average. B's braised beef was good, but eventually the spiciness of the ratatouille blocked everything else for her. Opted for no dessert in favor of 3B ice cream at home. Bill was over $100, and we were not not comped for B's appetizer. How can we not get comped for something when we were offered a replacement? Doesn't make sense. Sevice was generally innattentive, especially given that the restaurant was virtually empty. Our server had at most two other tables. Enjoy your 15% Kimberly. Not going back. Best part of the meal was the bar, which is exceptional. Too many outstanding restaurants in Lancaster, and others yet to be tried, to settle for below par service and food. read more

The food and drink are outstanding! I say at the bar as I was by myself but loved every moment!

Everything was fine. Food was fine, drinks were fine, and service was fine. "Excellent write home about" no, just fine. A little uninspired but good quality food. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance. Greet location. I will definitely return

Amazing dining experience! Service and food were phenomenal. Husband and I had a rare date night here and it didn't disappoint! I had the Lavender Sidecar drink, which was great. My husband had the shrimp bisque and I had the cream of watercress soup. Very delicious. My husband had the fisherman's stew, which he loved. The mussels and shrimp were humongous. I had the pheasant and was glad I chose it. Seasoned and cooked well. We then shared the chocolate pâté, which was amazing! If you're looking for an upscale and amazing dining experience in Lancaster, then this is your best place to go! An added bonus is that the food is locally sourced when possible and the menu is seasonal. And they offer a sustainable living to their employees. And seem to give back to their community in so many read more

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Eat here! No, really just stop looking around and go here. Farm to table, super inviting, welcoming, knowledgeable, attentive staff and the food.... just really good. Unexpected new flavors and textures in familiar dishes. The Shrimp and grits was like none I've had and just perfect. Shrimp was fresh and tender the grits creamy with a sauce that made it wonderful. There were grilled vegetables in the grits and with the steak that were done so well. Great char but not burned and remained crisp and delicious. Even the simple potatoes were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside and stayed there was while eating. It was just truly a enjoyable dinner. Had the chocolate pate for desert... so rich and delicious. Just go here. read more

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Delightful, lovely, and local. I hopped downstairs from the hotel and enjoyed every moment of eating at John jefferies. I ordered the surf and turf- raw beef and smoked scallops with herb sauce. It was perfect. Followed that with a bowl of the mushroom and sherry soup. I almost placed a to go order on the phone from the bathroom, changed my clothes and went back for a second round to eat it again. Although I never get desert, the first two dishes were so wonderful, I splurged for the chocolate pate. They held the whip cream upon my request and boxed up what I couldn't eat so I could relive my experience later. I appreciate the philosophy, the fresh food, the friendly service, and the variety. I hope I end up back here again one day. read more

John J Jeffries - Surf and turf - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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One of the classier places in Lancaster. Food was special, service fine, ambiance upscale.

We had a fabulous dinner here on a Fri night. We didn't have reservations so sat at the bar. Even though place was bustling we were never forgotten. The bar area had a friendly vibe in cool rustic setting. Had Jim Bim Bop for app and great pork porterhouse for entree. Both were scrumptious and filling. Wife made surprise choice of trout for dinner and was still talking about its awesomeness 2 days later. read more

We just returned from ours son's wedding in Lancaster. John J Jeffries hosted our rehearsal dinner for 52 people. The Neville room was quant and charming. The best part of the room was it opened to a beautiful patio where our guest had delicious cocktails and hors d'oeuvres under a canopy of wisteria and lights. The food was exceptional- we went with the pre-fix menu of vegetarian, chicken and char. The deserts were a perfect ending with the creme brûlée as the favorite of the night! Landon was an amazing host and went up and beyond to help with the decor, food selections and service. The serving staff were cheerful , attentive and professional. The guests and bide/groom couldn't stop raving about the night! read more

John J Jeffries - a table set for a formal dinner - New American Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Just awesome. High end cuisine, local organic sources. Even the beef! It's amazing stuff without the pretentiousness of an Amorette. Nice setting in the hotel area and the bar is fantastic. You'll definitely enjoy the chef's samples and deserts as well. read more

Very nice little hotel bar with a tiki vibe . Our bartender was great - helpful and attentive. Our stay at the Lancaster Arts Hotel was perfect and this downstairs bar was just the thing we needed !! read more

I haven't been here in quite some time and glad we chose to dine here. The food was prepared beautifully and the flavors were on point. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. It was a lovely place and I'm sure we'll be back. read more

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This might be a 3.5 star review on the basis of diverging experiences: I got the fish of the day, which was a salmon in watercress foam, and thought it was quite good (fish was fresh though a bit heavy from the oil). My wife got their take on a Korean dish and was considerably less impressed. I think her experience was a 2, and mine was closer to a 5. I'd definitely return again and get either the same dish or the pheasant. read more