There are three restaurants that share the John Wright name and location. There's the lunchtime restaurant with great sandwiches and burgers and a glass patio room so you can see the Susquehanna River & the Wrightsville Bridge (now in its 4th version; the 2nd was burned by the Union Army to stop the Confederates' advance). For years we've hosted my in-laws' holiday family gathering in this version. Try the reuben, it's terrific! And the crab & asparagus soup is nothing short of transcendental. There's also a summertime outdoor brick pizza oven. We've gone to see local musicians we enjoy play there, on the brick patio. That experience can be more laid back and we've had kids along for outdoors because they can run and play on the lawn by the river. There's a corn hole setup and rocks to climb. Bring a frisbee! We recommend the crab pizza but we've been with big groups and sampled a number of the offerings, all of which we enjoyed. This time, due to schedule, the in-laws' gathering was an evening do. Which meant my farm-wife, rarely-eats-at-restaurants MIL had options like grouper and wagyu beef. And sticker shock. Yes, dinner is markedly pricier than lunch. (We told her to order whatever she wanted, just not six of them.) But my fear that high-end cuisine would mean tiny portions proved entirely unfounded. The evening's favorite was a Duroc pork chop that was literally 2" thick and perfectly moist from edge to bone. Personally, I had a daily special, a sea bass with corn risotto in a creamy dill sauce ... I was 6 "wow"s on the risotto alone and would sum it up as an 18-wow meal. As a delightful conclusion to our evening, Jim Switzenberg, the Director of Operations, came to talk to us, and he recognized us from years past, although he said he was used to seeing us at lunchtimes. We rhapsodized to him about how much we loved the meal, and he recommended for our next time in we try his seasonal preference, the short ribs. "And even if you don't like grits, you'll like these grits." (I should also point out that there is "indoor" live music many weekend evenings year round, so if your favorite group is playing and you want to be near them, you need to clarify if you want to be near the musicians outdoors or in.) read more

See all

Food was very disappointing, 2 of us ordered filet Mignon at is was gristly, chewy to the point of having to remove from your mouth. The mushroom sauce was very mustardy. My friends steak he could barely eat it. He said it was the worst steak he's ever eaten. We have been here numerous times over the years. And always good. Not sure what going on but, do not order the steaks. Very POOR quality of meat. Definitely NOT from Geoff meats as they advertise. Our family has bought from Groff's Meats for over 34 years! Groff's should not allow them to use their name! Time for an immediate change in management and cooks. And we did speak with the manger, shes very smug. And never apologize just accused us of never complaining to her earlier. She never said she was the manager. We thought she was a hostess. She is the one who sat us. read more

After kayaking in the river, we stopped here to eat. We sat outside on the patio to enjoy the scenery. The ambiance was dreamy with the lighting and view of the river. I got the caprese salad and was delighted to see fresh ripe tomatoes on it. It barely needed any dressing since it was so fresh. My son got the cheeseburger and gave it a thumbs up. Most others got the pizzas and enjoyed them as well. I need to hit the redo button on this meal and beautiful night in their patio! Also, the service was perfect and staff were very friendly. The mayflys were not a problem for us, except they liked our fun loving waitress. She was in good spirits and we all had a good laugh together. read more

See all

This review is for John Wright Restaurant as a wedding venue. I recently had the opportunity to visit here for the rehearsal dinner, the wedding ceremony, and the reception and I think this place does a great job. The restaurant itself is quite easy to find, in a renovated factory building right on the Susquehana River. Obviously, this afford spectacular views from anywhere outside and a nice backdrop for wedding festivities. Staff is friendly and professional and all three events I attended here went off without a single hitch. Overall the venue is clean, well-maintained, and lovely. The food was decent. At the rehearsal dinner we were treated to an okay "pizza buffet" from the restaurant's outdoor pizza oven, with accompanying music from a live band. The atmosphere was great, but the pizzas were nothing to write home about. Same with the food at the reception; it was a passable buffet. Overall, however, I'd definitely recommend John Wright Restaurant for a wedding venue and would definitely come here again. read more

See all

We enjoyed a late lunch (2:30 PM) here after seeing a production at the Sight N Sounds theater. I had the crab cake on gluten free bread with sweet potato chips. Also had the chocolate peanut butter bomb dessert. Everything was delicious. Service was good and we sat at a table with a beautiful view of the Susquehanna. There was a sign at the front desk thanking people for patience as they were short staffed, so, I am not sure how the service would be at a busier time. We do plan to return because of the tasty food and beautiful view. read more

Came for the Sunday Buffet to and was not happy The Prime Rib (if it was PR0 was not rare, only med to done. I even asked the person cutting the beef. The shape of the roast on the station was not a Prime Rib roast. Woody read more

We dined outside on the 4 th of July. Sarah B. did an excellent job serving us. We had Pizza and bottled beer. A great location for the Fireworks. Food is pricey, but Wrightsville had the nicest Fireworks display. Cream of Crab wasn't an option. That was a heartbreaker! They add asparagus, and it is delicious. -Tim read more

Was suppose to go kayaking and then brunch at the John Wrights Restaurant but bad weather cancelled the kayaking but kept our reservations for brunch and as not disappointed. A variety of choices and delicious food. read more

Incredible!! This place is top-notch! Located in a very cool building, right on the waterfront, with a beautiful view of the bridge. The atmosphere of the place is comfortable, classy, and timeless. Every detail is well thought-out, great mood lighting, tons of natural light throughout the restaurant. Their menu is astounding; most of it is locally sourced. I had the crap dip, my wife, the braised boar and gnocchi. It was so incredibly delicious, words cannot really describe it. They have a great drink selection, top-of-the-line dessert tray, and a fairly good wait staff. We live almost an hour away, but I'd be willing to make the trip back out just for another dinner here. read more

Not really sure why this restaurant is rated so low on here. I have been to the restaurant a few times and have sat in the dining room which is surrounded by windows, giving the dining room a beautiful atmosphere especially when it is night time. The food has always been great but the last time I went I absolutely loved my dish, it was gnocchi in a pesto cream sauce with duck confit and house made pancetta. I wanted to lick the plate when I was finished with it. read more

There are many things that I wishd Lancaster/Harrisburg had and one of them is a bottomless brunch. In New York, there are restaurants that have all you can drink brunch and 2 entrées for $29. This place didn't have bottomless booze, but they did have a buffet. For starters, the buffet is about $19 a person. Any buffet I have ever been to, non alcoholic drinks were included. We were charged for coffee and a cup of chocolate milk. Also, it gets busy between 11 and 12. Expect to wait in long lines in a crowded room to get your food. You have the option to add the bloody mary bar. You get to make your own bloody mary but pricing is based on every shot of vodka you order. As far as the food the only thing that really tasted good was their breakfast items. This includes eggs benedict, potatoes, omelette station, breakfast casseroles, French toast, muffins, bacon, and a sausage patty that wasn't real sausage. Lunch items were a disappointment. There weren't any labels on some of the foods so you had to guess what it was or ask someone. Some of the items featured dry chicken cordon Bleu, Mac n cheese, salads, pastas, shark with rice, stromboli, and mystery dishes....whatever the kitchen felt like putting in there and it was never the same. Service was painfully slow. It upsets me because it was noticeable that our waitress had a favorite table. She gave better service and was always available for the table next to ours and was barely present for us. It's not the worst place to go, but it's certainly not the best. For the price and quality you receive (both in food and service), I'd probably go somewhere else. read more

John Wright Restaurant - New American Near Me - Wrightsville, Pennsylvania

See all

We ate on the pizza patio and we're sadly disappointed. The pizza we had was burnt..and not normal wood fire burnt. They make the pizza with whole tomatoes so be warned! Cream Brûlée was over done so texture was like scrambled eggs. Sad because it showed such promise and sounded so good. read more

Everything was 5 star but the homemade Caesar Dressing. It is so heavy on the anchovy oil it is disgusting. Don't order it! Worst ever dressing. read more

Beautiful restaurant with scenic river views, good parking and looks like a local favorite. We did not have a reservation and were lucky to be seated at 5:15. I had a Manhattan and the jerk pork chop. My date had the smoke house dinner. My chop was cooked perfectly. The Manhattan was served in a chilled cocktail glass. The smokehouse meat was a tad dry but the sides and cornbread were very good. They have a variety of beers. The wait staff is attentive and familiar with the menu. Most items on the menu can be made gluten-free. I want to return again the next time we are in town read more

I had a small curly hair in my quesadilla dipping sauce 1 few years back and that was it.Shame we really liked the atmosphere . We did bring it to out servers attention. read more

Hubs and I went for a Saturday night dinner during a thunderstorm. Waited for seating. We were seated at a table under the air conditioning vent. We FROZE. Re-seated and waited 35 minutes for a simple cup of coffee while our server (older lady) talked and socialized like she was on vacation. Very irritating. After 45 minutes we placed our order for appetizers. I still do not know what was in those GREEN EGGS, but DONT DO IT! So bad, we've laughed about it every since! The server was spacey... and totally unconcerned with any requests from us. It was obvious she just didnt care. We decided to cut and run. No entrees were ordered. Food: overpriced and NASTY. Nice building, but we didnt get a window seat, so BOO YA. WE WONT BE VISITING. read more

I may have had a better burger at some point in my life, but I'm having a hard time remembering one I have enjoyed so much. On a work trip to Harrisburg, I asked a friend who used to live in the area for some recommendations. John Wright Restaurant was the first one she said. Despite local reviews being sometimes less than favorable, I drive the 45 minutes from my hotel and was not disappointed. I came during slow hours, for sure, so service was quick and attentive and the tables were open for my choice. It's a comfortable 80ish degrees, so sitting outside was the obvious choice. If you're not a fan of water smell, you might want to stay inside, but I enjoy it as it summons memories of childhood trips to my grandparents', so I was very comfortable sitting next to the water. The breeze is blowing, I'm drinking a Yuengling which I haven't been able to do in a very long time, and all is well. I got the foundry burger, and while the bun is a little bready and dense, the rest was wonderful. The tomatoes look like they were freshly picked and sliced thick. The bacon is truly thick cut, and cooked to sandwich perfection. I should have ordered the burger medium instead of medium-well, but it's smoky flavor from the fire grill, which can be smelled in the air as well, permeated the meat and even the cheddar and barbecue sauce. I could not ask for a better early lunch. read more

John Wright Restaurant - View from my table. The classic bridge architecture, modern stone sculpture, and the breeze from the water...no better way to spend the day - New American Near Me - Wrightsville, Pennsylvania

See all

I asked for medium rare, New York strip, and received it medium. Afterwards they returned it almost raw, and the meat did not have blood coming out of it, which was weird. it is the most expensive plate on the menu. The texture did not seem right and it's not of good quality meat. It was chewey. I do not recommend it. I also ordered the burger medium rare, and they returned it Well done. Fries were too salty. my wife ended up eating by herself because we had already ate our food. She had ordered the steak and had to wait for it to be cooked properly. Crème brûlée was below average. If you value your money, do not come here. My bill was $177. I will never teturn. read more

Amazing place, definitely must go if u are visiting Turkey Hill. Beautiful view and delicious food.

I have been sending people to your restaurant but after what I got Saturday I won't anymore. I got 2 quarts of soup, 1 cream of crab with asparagus and 1 vegetable beef soup. The crab soup was old because it was salty and gross and made my stomach hurt and the vegetable was pretty much lentil soup. So the $32.86 for 2 quarts of soup I might as well have thrown my money in the River because neither were edible. I later find out that both soups were the same soups since like Wednesday. You can't keep serving soup or anything else that is old! I wish I could have given you less than one star it was my last time eating your food. read more

If I could describe this restaurant in one word, it would be Pretentious. Good drinks, not bad apps, but ludicrously overpriced considering the quality of care put into the food. Will it be the WORST meal you've ever had? No. Will it but astronomically overpriced? Yes. I feel like they get away with charging the prices they do considering the ambiance and location, but man is it a shame a place as pretty as this is putting out the disappointing sub par food it does. You would think a restaurant who's main entrees are fish would excel at preparing an A+ fish dish, but you would be sorely disappointed. In short, looking for a happy hour spot for drinks and apps? It's your place. Looking to have a nice meal out? You'd be better off spending your money at the Burger King across the river, which is exactly what we did. It's a real feel bad when you leave a place spending $100+ on a meal and drinks while having to stop at the local fast food joint because you're still hungry read more

As the summer winds down and they will be closing the patio at John Wright we had to go enjoy a meal there. Such a great place to relax and enjoy that awesome view. Our service from Jennifer was FANTASTIC, she took great care of us and was spot on with everything. She made sure our drinks stayed filled and cleared empty plates in an efficient manner and did not interrupt our conversation. She went over the specials and reccomended her favorites. We got the Hawaiian pizza and shrimp skewers we also had a special shrimp risotto prepared by Chef Rob that was OUT OF THIS WORLD! He did such an unbelievable job preparing that dish and we could not stop eating it.We both agreed it was hands down one of the best risootos we have ever eaten. THANK YOU! read more

See all

We enjoyed our Christmas Eve lunch at John Wright. We had one of the final reservations of the day at 2:45. The store was delightful & I wished a had more time to check it out before it closed at 3pm-it's definitely worth a look before or after your meal for some unique hand crafted items. We were seated promptly & our order was taken promptly as well. There is a wonderful view of the bridges & the Susquehanna River. The interior retains its original character with exposed brick. It's a great space for outdoor summer dining, but still cozy with a great view in the winter. You can still sit on the enclosed patio in winter & they have heat lamps to ward off the chill. I had a bowl of cream of crab with asparagus which was delicious. My husband had a chunky beef stew, which he also loved. I had catfish tacos which were fine, but the soft shells were a bit overdone. The lunch selection was slightly limited with just sandwiches & no actual entrees, but it was fine. I had a tasty vanilla & chocolate porter beer that was fresh & cold. So, worth a stop if you're in the area and want a lovely river view. You can also see the remains of the Wrightsville Lime Kilns on the street outside. I hope to visit again in warmer weather. FYI, they are closed for renovations in January 1-19, 2019. read more

See all

We sat inside the main dining room - not sure if that menu is different, but everything was excellent! The crab and asparagus soup was one of the best I've had. Moms loved her crabcake entree. Pops liked his chicken stuffed with crab and his catfish bites app. I got a smoked ribeye that was very smoky and unique - also came with an unnecessary (but delicious) bleu cheese/bacon butter blob that was chunky and bold. Lamb meatballs were very good but I'm not sure about the sauce they were in. Scallops app was delicious though the scallops weren't the largest in the world and there were only 3 of them. Strawberry feta salad was pretty outstanding as well. That house-made bread though??? Wow. Maybe I hadn't had a good slice of fresh warm bread in a while, but damn, I ate probably a basket to myself. All in all quite good, if expensive, and I'd go back again for sure. Facility is gorgeous, located in a very cool vantage point of the Mighty Susquehanna, and the produce/meats/cheeses are source from local farms. With the number of farmers in Central PA, there's simply no excuse to NOT locally source, but it's surprising how few business do! read more

Nothing fancy. My friends and I sat outside on the pizza patio, and it was just ok. Very busy night and not the best display of social distancing. Can't say I loved the food but I loved sitting outside with my friends read more

Came in for a family reunion brunch and it was awesome. First time in the area, but I would come back if in the area!

A perfect venue for any occasion - special or otherwise! I made reservations for my father's 70th birthday and the table was ready when we got there, our server was ridiculously attentive to details - in a great way! The food was delicious; no one had a bad meal. I personally had the special (miso salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes and pickled vegetables) and it was perfection. My father did not want a big deal made out his birthday and they listened to him; a simple candle on his dessert, no singing - just as he wanted it! A great atmosphere, not loud at all. I'd only ever previously been here for drinks and appetizers and I am so glad we got the full experience! read more

My wife and I have lived in York for over a year now and finally got around to trying this place. To be honest after seeing the yelp score it made me a little worries but we really enjoyed the whole experience. The restaurant itself has a great charm and warm feeling. Our waiter was wonderful and fully attentive to our needs. I got the Ribeye and my wife got the sausage/penne pasta dish. Both where great as well as the soup of the day. Only thing we didn't care for was the Caesar Salad. I'm assuming they made it with sardines which don't bother me except in this case the salad tasted fishy. We will defiantly be back during the summer because it looks like a great place when the weather is right. read more

I only live a mile away so I frequent it quite a bit. It's cool on the river the place is really nice and the adjoining shops are a nice touch. The menu is getting better all the time and is quite eclectic with dishes like tuna tataki and grilled octopus. One of the best in York county and quite popular with Lancaster folks too. read more

The food was fine but the table I was sat at and how the server handled it was atrocious . We sat in the full sun with the sun shining in our eyes and sweat running down our faces . I asked to be moved to the many empty tables that were not in the full sun and they refused . I suppose if you book a table you have to specifically request that you don't sit in the sun with the sun in your eyes . No excuse read more

First time at John Wright Restaurant! Double date with friends. Sat out on the patio. Live music. Very cozy. Although, I thought the music was a bit loud, the band was good. I had the Foundry Burger based on our friend's suggestion and "Our Burgers are Local Grass Fed" on the menu. Great burger. Pasta salad was delicious. Apps were great (Terrific Bruschetta & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus). Desserts were fantastic (Creme Brûlée & Peanut Butter Bomb). Zack, our server, was terrific. Friendly and attentive (he even took a server-selfie with me!). And the view.....amazing! Overall a terrific experience. I would definitely return and recommend. read more

See all

Very disappointed. The restaurant was was not horribly busy. Very short staffed. The kitchen was extremely slow. Took an hour at least to get our food. Food was salty. Diner food is comparable, but the price point is far different. Very poor experience. I may not ever return. read more

The good first. This place has great views. But the food well. I never had raw chicken until I ordered the Paprika Chicken. Even I server looked at it and said "eww". So I order a burger which was ok but after eating raw chicken I did feel kind of sick. read more

VERY LOUD! As you can hardly hear anyone else at your table when TRYING to have a conversation. You have to YELL just to talk to each other!!! The service was good, and for a good price. Great tasting food. However, they take your plate from you before you are actually finished with your meal. Difficult to get to and hard to find parking. read more

Why does one go to a restaurant? To get something to eat, right? The ambience may be wonderful, the wait staff might be courteous and attentive, but if the food isn't good then nothing else matters. My sausage/peppers/onions sandwich was burnt to a crisp. REALLY bad. The ambience and wait staff were OK. I cannot rate this higher than a one. 2/24/18 - whadda-ya-know!!! A miscommunication with our neighbor about where we were going to have lunch and I ended up at this place again. Better than last time, but not a place I will deliberately visit again. read more

Beautiful views. We sat outside and it was such a beautiful day. Staff was friendly. Food was mostly good. I have it 4/5 just cuz I didn't think food was anything out of the ordinary. My pork chop was dry but flavor was decent. They accommodated us girls and we enjoyed our experience over all. read more

Great view of the river. Satisfying food. Best for brunch. Servers are nice. Downside is its noisy. read more

See all

This place is amazing I try and come here when ever I have a chance. The food is amazing it is a nice fancy place. I would like if they put the chicken Alfredo would be back on the menu. read more

Ok bar food, choices were few. Expensive Loud. I don't see the big draw. Staff nice. I would not go back read more

Got the seafood manicotti tonight, not that impressed. Hardly any seafood or mushrooms in the dish. It was mainly pasta, too pricy to not get a great meal. I will not go back. read more