This place really underwhelmed me after I've heard so much. Went for Restaurant Week for the $30 for 3 courses with a large group. Most of us were disappointed and glad we didn't pay full price. Way to expensive for what you get. Great service however. TIP: Get your drink in the bar then walk it over. You'll save a little. Drink prices in the dinning room where criminal! read more

Service - Excellent. Very attentive. We had a waiter and a server, both of whom were great. The host also frequently checked in with us. Food - Exceptionally well prepared. Certainly higher quality preparation and cuisine than anything I've had in Philadelphia. Atmosphere - The dining room is grand with magnificent views of the surrounding gardens. Definitely impressive. Go back? - If ever I am back in this part of PA with a need for fine cuisine, then for sure. read more

We just had the buffet style breakfast here, since it came with our Bed and Breakfast package. The staff were proper polite and attentive to drinks and cleaning off our table of plates. The food is delicious. I had an omelette with peppers, onions and cheese, then went for some sausage and coffee and fruit. I don't really have any complaints. We went there at 9am, just beating the crowd! read more

The Circular - New American Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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The food was excellent, easily one of the best meals I've ever had. We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary dinner, though I had been here previously for Sunday brunch. This review will focus on dinner. Our server, John, was very polite and accommodating. He took care of a lot of tables, and this allowed us to have plenty of time to ourselves in between courses. Most people do not like being left alone, but it worked out for us. I ordered the Tarragon and Tonic, and the drink was perfect. Hubby ordered Bombay Sapphire and Tonic, and the gin was poured table side - THIS SHOULD HAPPEN EVERYWHERE. It was a generous portion. To start, we ordered the Croquettes to share, and the 5 balls of cheesy goodness paired so lovingly with the tomatoes. For entrees, hubby ordered the dry-aged NY strip with house steak sauce and I ordered the Cowboy steak with black garlic Demi. I didn't really like the house steak sauce, just because my Demi was out of this world. A la carte sides were the Mac and Cheese and Truffle Mashed Potatoes - both excellent and well worth it. For our dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Soufflé (which does come with a 15 minute prep warning); and I also shamelessly ordered 2 tall glasses of cold milk. While waiting for the soufflé, they gave us a special anniversary treat of chocolate covered strawberries. This meal was entirely too incredible. It is pricey, but I think it's worth it for the quality of food, ambience, and service. read more

The Circular - Cowboy steak with black garlic Demi sauce. Please feed me this, like every day. - New American Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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My family and I came here recently for breakfast (2 adults and two children, 14 and 10). We were amped up because of the reputation and reviews from friends who've dined here in the past. The price was reasonable...an AYCE buffet for $21 per person. I thought it was a steal since the average prices for food here are way above what I normally go for. The ambiance was wonderful, the views even lovelier. Our server was efficient and very nice. I opted for the buffet, although some of the menu items looked divine. First stop was one of two omelette stations. I was a little underwhelmed with the options but it had the basics. I love peppers, onions and mushrooms together but the station I chose was out of onions. She kept apologizing that no one was coming to ask if she needed a refill. But there's another station 10 feet away that had a whole bowl. Why not ask or go grab some? But I didn't want to make a scene so I said no problem. Sure enough, as soon as they finished my omelette, someone came to see refill the bowls. Damn. I peeked at the hot foods station which had a lot of so-so items like french toast (a splurge for me but tasted just okay), chocolate chip pancakes (the teenager was disappointed with the taste so I didn't waste the calories) and a few other things I didn't try. The other hot food station had potatoes O'Brien (a little cold but flavorful), and a variety of meats of which were average in quality. I didn't bother with the oatmeal station and they had a decadent-looking chocolate bread pudding but fortunately allergens were listed and I have two so I couldn't try it. Many of the pastries were also off-limits because they may or did contain allergens. Although I tried the oatmeal raisin muffin and it was scrumptious. The fruit bar did have a lot of variety and I enjoyed that portion very much. The best part of the meal was the orange juice. Truly fresh squeezed and wonderful. All in all, for all of the hype, I felt a bit cheated with the quality but had I not walked in with that expectation, I'd have given this four stars instead of three. read more

I live in Manhattan--the land of ever-increasing gastronomical delights--and i eat out quite often. I am rarely wowed by both the ambiance of a restaurant AND the food, but the dinner I and my guests had at the Circular Dining Room at The Hotel Hershey was indeed a special event. The food was excellent. It was not over-salted, was served in healthy but not ridiculous proportions, and very interesting without being cloying. The room is majestic and elegant, with a beautiful trompe l'oeil ceiling fresco containing trellis with birds and sunlight among the clouds. We were seated along the outer windows, with a few of the gardens. I will definitely return to this special oasis among the farms and fields of Central Pennsylvania! Chris Cirgenski read more

Love this place it has old world class and charm. We come here every year for the thanksgiving week end. It's a great way to start the Christmas season. It's beautiful and the staff is not only patient with my kids they are so polite and sweet as well. Keep up the great work ladies and gents. Oh most important, food is great too. read more

The Circular - Rock fried shrimp Just like Nobu in NYC. - New American Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

I've been here for both breakfast and dinner, with the former being our most recent meal here. Dinner was over a year ago and it was really good. Service was nice, we had a table looking out over the gardens and it was a real nice, positive atmosphere. I don't recall specifically what I had to eat but I'm pretty sure it was steak. At any rate, the visit was a good one. Breakfast was also good. I was excited for the buffet but as soon as I saw the price, my girl and I knew there was no way either of us would eat $22 worth of food. That was a bit overpriced in my mind. We ended up ordering off the normal breakfast menu and both got dishes that totaled the cost for one of us going with the buffet. I went with the Chorizo and Eggs and it was delicious! Lots of flavor and a decent sized portion. I also snuck in a chocolate croissant and it was also a delight. My girl had the East Coast Eggs Benedict and she really enjoyed it. The service was good but the server was a little too frequent with the coffee refills. I know this sounds crazy, but I literally took two sips and she came over to refill it. She was so quick, I couldn't stop her from throwing off my cream/sugar ratio with the refills. Maybe space out those visits a little longer :) Definitely think this is a better option over Harvest but we've yet to try Trevi 5, we'll save that for next time! read more

I know there are a lot of folks who think the Circular Dining Room is all that and more, and who will be upset about the coming changes. For my part, I think it's about time. read more

Presentation is outstanding, service can't be match by any other restaurant around. Food quality is nothing but perfection, flavors are second to none. Very small portions but worth it. I had salmon and my husband had cornish game hen. I feel this is a great place for adults but kinda pricy for children. No reservation is needed to get the best seat in the house. Fast service! The wine selections is beyond my dreams. We actually stayed in the hotel, what a delightful experience. The place is spotless, i cannot find one thing to complain... not one people. read more

The Circular - This salmon melted in my mouth. Lord it was sinfully delicious. - New American Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Obviously, I expected the best and The circular did not disappoint! Exceptional service and delicious food! We went for dinner and had a reservation. read more

The food and drinks were amazing. Know going into it you're paying top dollar but overall was great. The servers are excellent and the menu had a lot of options. We had the filet and salmon which was great. The only slight criticism is as far as atmosphere - it was pretty empty. Especially for Labor Day weekend. They also had a bar nearby for a late night drink but there was maybe 3 people there. Anyways, try the Reece's pieces martini - it's very good. read more

This review has been a long time coming. We went to Brunch at the Circular Dining Room for the first time over 5 years ago. We've now been at least 10x's! (a lot when you live in Africa and only visit the USA once a year). It was a weekend, and so everything was out- instead of having to order ala carte. (an important thing to know ahead of time, as it means an entirely different experience, the breakfast buffet is only out when they have enough guests). It's the perfect date morning. Arrive early, grab a complimentary newspaper, get a window table in the corner, and order a freshly squeezed orange juice, and a hot chocolate- and while you're at it a cappuccino too. Why not!?! Savor each bite, and slowly wade through the meal, the paper, the friendship and romance of your date.. *sigh. It's bliss here. My favorite? The cheese blintzes, drizzled with either raspberry or strawberry sauce. Oh and the most unique, natural, amazing homemade muesli. hmmmm, the itsy bitsy croissants. and there are the free refills of drinks, and the hot chocolates with lovely whipped cream... and the fresh piping hot waffles... Are you hungry yet? I know there seems to be some back and forth over this place- and to be honest, I've only experienced it once as a breakfast with no buffet (over priced, but still nice), and everything else has been the brunch buffet. I love it. Every year we plan at least one visit into our trip to Pennsylvania...worth the trip every time! read more

Our company graciously took us to the Circular Dining Room for this year's holiday party. The dining room itself is spectacular and the Christmas decorations were beautiful. However, the lunch buffet left a lot to be desired. There were many other groups there, and many stations were out of food. The salad station was out of salad, and it took quite a while for them to refill it. Some of the meat stations were quite picked over as well. A vegetarian friend had a hard time finding an entree, and just ate salad once they refilled it. The food was unspectacular and the only thing that really stood out was that my duck was overcooked and dry. Then again, that could be what happens when you eat duck from a warming tray. The desserts were fantastic- you'd expect no less from Hershey. It is possible that they were hosting many holiday parties that day and were busier than usual, but last year we went to the Hotel Hershey and had a private dining room with a seated dinner, and almost everyone enjoyed their food more then. I know they are capable of exquisite food, and had higher hopes for their buffet. read more

We had a great time, the sun was setting and the atmosphere and dining room was stunning. We sat at the bar and had a great bartender named Justin who spent a lot of time going thru the cocktail menu. Must try the first cocktail comes served in an ice cube that is cracked open once served first I have seen anything like this Would like to come back and try the food read more

Great dining experience! Many gluten free options clearly marked on the menu. We said we were sharing a salad as an app And they split it for us on 2 plates- always a nice touch. The cauliflower side was amazing and so were many of the drinks! read more

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Sorry this was a repeat review. We were happy with our meal and experience.

as a guest of the hershey hotel, i was very dissatisfied with the restaurant. my sisters and I were looking for a place to grab some drinks and appetizers, but this spot made us feel so uncomfortable and unwelcome. we were told we could not dine in because of being "booked out" for the night, but not one table sat during our time at this restaurant (45 minutes). the bartender was the most helpful, but the staff at this institution provided a very uncomfortable experience, and we will not be returning. the drinks & food were not to our satisfaction, and the discrimination we faced by the hostesses was unreal. 2/10, will not be returning. The hershey hotel is a great place, but the Circular left a disgusting remark on my family vacation. read more

I had one of the BEST pieces of Alaskan King salmon I've had it years. It was seared perfectly. Our servers were friendly and attentive. The dessert, a Black Forest cherry bread pudding (or something along those lines, not sure of the exact name) had the adults scraping the dish. The 10 year old wasn't a fan because of the bourbon. More for us!! read more

This place was great! We had the carpaccio and Lobster Bisque to start. Both were very good, just wished there was more lobster! I had a veal chop and the gf had the lamb loin. She is still talking about the lamb 3 days after. If that does not get 5 stars, I don't know what does. lol PS the salted caramel you get at the end was heavenly. rich and buttery I wish I could buy it somewhere. read more

Visited the Circular Restaurant with family while visiting Hershey. Although the venue opened at noon, we were not seated until the exact time of our reservation (12:15). The restaurant had only several people seated at the time. Service staff was attentive. We were not told that a brunch cocktail and beverages were included. Selections were fresh and well prepared. Menu changes regularly for brunch. Check their website before you go. Raw bar was well chilled and continually being replenished. Omelette station, carving station and perogi staton as well as an antipasto display offered as well. Save room for the dessert bar. On the pricy side. Nice way to celebrate the holiday season without children. Guests were dressed from jeans to elaborate holiday attire. This is not a kid friendly venue. The menu is upscale with no food choices for children. Guests at the next table were served fresh berries and a variety of sorbets. When we asked for the same for my grandson, we were told it was not available. Pretty Christmas tree in the lobby for Holiday photos. read more

We had reservations at The Circular that we were going to cancel after eating at Harvest the night before. Both restaurants are linked to the Hotel Hershey but Harvest was terrible the night before. Wow am I glad we didn't cancel the reservation. We are picky and love fine dining and this place did not disappoint! The views are breathtaking! Our waitress was friendly, fast and professional. The timing of the food was perfect. Loved that they leave you with an iPad to browse their extensive drink menu. I of course got the Hershey chocolate martini and it was excellent! Tasted great and came with an actual Hershey kiss in your martini glass...too cute! Bread and butter for the table was delicious. Ordered the lobster bisque and the gnocchi appetizers. Lobster bisque was fantastic and less creamy than bisque usually is which I liked. The gnocchi and mushroom app was good but I wouldn't order it again. It needed a little more flavor in my opinion. For entrees I ordered the lemon herb shrimp and scallops for around $33 and my husband ordered the salmon. Portion size was decent but obviously not huge. We definitely left feeling comfortably full. We ordered asparagus and mashed potatoes for the table for $6 each. We ended up eating about half of each side. Hubby loved the salmon and I loved my dish as well. We spent about $140 here after tip which wasn't terrible considering we ordered a drink, 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 sides. When they bring you the bill the leave you with caramels with sea salt for each person adorably wrapped and so, so delicious! I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be back! read more

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Ate dinner here a few nights ago. What a disappointment!!!Huge! There were 5 of us and no one was happy with their food. Live up to your reputation...I won't be back. read more

Excellent service, beautiful view, food was amazing only thing I was not impressed by was the dessert

Best breakfast/brunch buffet I've ever been to. Well worth the price given the breadth and quality of the dishes served.

I was in Hershey spending it with my boyfriend of two years. We went to the Circular after a fantastic visit to the Hershey Spa. The moment we got there we felt like royalty. The hostess pulled my seat out for me, as well as graciously took our coats. It only got better from there. Our waitress was fantastic, very friendly and very attentive. Everything we needed she helped us with. When the food came we were pleasantly surprised. My boyfriend and I are food critics so to speak, we travel to some of the best restaurants. The food here was VERY good and definitely lived up to my expectations. I personally had the fillet mignon with mashed potatos and cocoa dusted scallops. Fantastic. When came time for dessert I had an even better surprise as the waitress brought out a plate with "Will you marry me?" written in chocolate with strawberries. Turns out the restaurant worked with my then boyfriend to create a fantastic proposal. This definitely made it unexpected and was a wonderful twist. Never did I expect a restaurant to work with someone like that. Needless to say this restaurant is wonderful, the staff is great, and the food is definitely some of the best. I would recommend dining here. read more

I tried the breakfast buffet on Monday Columbus Day it was ok. Service was in point coffee was always topped off but some of the food was not hot, due to the limited customers. Overall I enjoyed the Sunday brunch over the buffet breakfast. It's a decent breakfast nothing out of the ordinary. The restaurant is beautiful which is a good enjoy reason to check this place out read more

Just an average place for a $$$$ dining place. The food I would give as very good but not excellent for the price. The customer service was terrible. It takes time to be acknowledged and constant mess ups on where the food should go to on the table. We were a family of 8 celebrating 2 birthdays. The Roasted Lancaster County Chicken Breast was too dry, and not worth the cost of this selection. Pan Roasted Wild Striped Bass was a tasty dish and the Salmon was good. One of the people at our table ordered the Roasted Wild Striped Bass and received their daily feature which was a Back Bass. They had to remake this and by the time it finally came, everyone else was done with their main dish. No compensation was made for this mistake on their part. This was very unprofessional for a supposedly 5 star restaurant. We are celebrating birthdays, and someone has to wait to get there main dish while everyone else finishes their dinner. All items that arrived from appetizers to desert were given to the wrong person. We kept switching food around the table. They didn't seem to know who ordered what. I blame this communication on our waitress Alexandra. As well as the dish that was ordered wrong. Then to get the bill straighten out from the wrong dish received and waiting to pay the bill, took forever. Not worth the aggravation for the price you pay here. We have been here before and service was always an issue, this is the last time and we will not be back. read more

I left this place with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the food was nicely done. Beautifully presented and an eclectic combination of flavors. My issue was the overall vibe from the staff. Never have I seen such an overall unhappy group of serving staff. I'm not talking about one or two folks, but the staff as a whole collectively looked like they wanted to be anywhere in the world but at work that day. I'm not sure if they all just received bad news or whatever, but the negativity in the air was palpable. Circular's crew could really use some training on projecting positivity and a smile. It would change the entire energy of the place. read more

We have visited here on Christmas Eve for more than 20 years. It's always been a good experience, this year was as good as usual, mostly. My mother had shrimp and scallops, I had a fillet. I ordered the steak medium rare, it came out medium, but that isn't a big deal, it was still good. The shrimp and scallops were perfect. The steak was reasonably priced at $38 the catch is sides are ordered separately and that increases the price of the meal significantly, but we don't come here looking for a bargain, good food, good service and atmosphere are more important. The atmosphere was lacking, a very noisy dining room and no Christmas music were a disappointment and I'm not really a fan of the remodel. Overall it seems kind of sterile compared to what it used to be. The food and service were good and that is what counts I guess. read more

We came here as family. The display of the food was gorgeous and delicious! Good selections of food. The waitress was very nice to us. We are all happy when we left. We will come back again-!! read more

I have lived in Hershey for five years, and finally made it up to the Hotel Hershey for dinner at the Circular Dining Room to celebrate my birthday. The build up of anticipation made me nervous... getting all dressed up to suit the "jackets-required" dress code and dining in what so many call a ritzy place. My first impression upon walking in the room was "wow". Simply put, the CDR is beautiful. The view overlooking the gardens is amazing, and if you have a chance to glance around, the interior of the restaurant is beautifully done as well. The service was spectacular. Granted, our entire meal from appetizer through dessert took 2 and a half hours to get through, I never felt like I was waiting for my next portion of the meal. The sommelier was excellent with his recommendation of a wine, and the server was very polite and friendly. I was very impressed. The food had its ups and downs. I really enjoyed my Lobster Bisque appetizer, which was surprisingly lack on the lobster meat. My entree selection was the Grilled Beef Tenderloin with potatoes, asparagus and mushrooms. The beef was good, but honestly I've had better. I think my favorite part of the entree was the mashed potatoes and the baby mushrooms. Overall tasty, but not earth-shatteringly delicious. And last, the much anticipated dessert. I selected the chocolate souffle and a mug of spiced apple cider. The drink was very delicous, but I was disappointed in the souffle. I found myself eating it just to clear my plate. It was kinda hard, crunchy and tasteless. After that dessert, the server brought out a special little birthday dessert of two chocolate covered strawberries, which were divine. I agree with a previous review... go for the experience, not so much the food. I really enjoyed my evening out at the Hershey Hotel, and would recommend going for a special celebration. read more

What a wonderful brunch. From custom omelets , Hershey kiss waffles to knockout sticky buns this buffet will have your wants covered. The staff is very friendly and quick to take care of your needs. The views of the garden are very picturesque. Be sure to check on the dress code as you do not want to be turned away from this experience. read more

Excellent restaurant! Extensive wine list, delicious food! Definitely a special occasion treat (our anniversary). I had the duck, my husband had filet mignon- both tender and full of flavor. Service was excellent- Louise was so great, very personable but not overbearing. We took our time and she never made us feel rushed. She knew it was a special night for us and really went out of her way for us. I would have hugged her if it wouldn't have been weird to do lol. We would definitely return and request her. read more

We went on New Year's Eve & we had no reservations. They went above & beyond to accommodate us & get us a table. We had to wait for an hour but we found things to do in the hotel & it was a lovely vibe all around. This was a 5 star dining experience all the way through. Service was perfect. Super efficient, non intrusive but always around. Drinks were on point. Food was divine & prepared with extra care & attention. I had the filet mignone. It was perfect. My appetizer salad had incredible meticulously made dressing. My husband had the lobster chowder & said it was the best he's ever had. Our lil lady had her own kid's filet which she wolfed down like a champ. Haha. Super rare. I also appreciate that a fine dining place would accommodate little kids. My only mini gripe was the dessert. Dude, I had really high expectations, I mean it's Hershey, right? We got a raspberry Choco torte of sorts. Yeah. It was nice. Just nice. Nothing moan inducing. I may be particular about this cause I had a stint as a budding pastry chef back in the day. Next time, we'll order the soufflés early. You know what though, they gave us salted caramels to take home. Now, that's some divine caramel. Don't miss those. read more

Great atmosphere; great service! Very pricey a la cart menu - food is mediocre. Been there for breakfast buffet and dinner about 6 times during conferences. Coffee is tasteless and weak! read more

I wish that I had the experience described by other diners. My family took me here for my birthday today for the Sunday brunch. We gave them our name at 1:53 for a 2:00 reservation. After all of the 2:00 reservations other than us were seated, we eventually found out that if one has a 2:00 reservation that 2:01 is the earliest one is allowed to check in and that apparently our initial check in did not count. By the time we were seated (20 minutes after our reservation) half of the food on the displays was gone and was not replaced. What food was left was fine. But, my experience with the least hospitable hosts I have ever encountered ruined the experience. I am a local, and while I have fond memories of this place, after today I doubt I will be back. I guess if you go, make sure you don't show up early for your reservation and make sure it is earlier in the day so that they still have food left for you! read more

We are staying at the Hotel Hershey and have now eaten at The Circular twice and on both occasions we found the food lousy. The dining room itself is very attractive and the views are lovely. I really really wanted to love the meal here. Unfortunately, the food is just not...good. The first night I had french onion soup (which was passable, but not great) and hanger steak (which was dry and tasted like a hockey puck). As a side for the hanger steak, I ordered asparagus, which was edible, but too overcooked to be enjoyable. The rest of my party had similar disappointments with their dishes. The second night I tried to play it safe with a burger. So did my brother. So did my mother. The presentation was very nice. The buns are attractive and they skewer the burger with a pickle and jalepeno on top. Unfortunately, my brother's hamburger, (which he ordered medium) was so rare you could call it blue. My mother's (which she ordered medium-well) came out very pink. And my own (also ordered medium-well) was burnt and hard on the outside with a sliver of cold red in the center. There were several other sad, subpar dishes that were served to other people in our party, including a rubbery cornish hen, but suffice to say, I don't recommend the meal. One bit of silver lining: they give you a piece of salted caramel at the end of the meal that is very yummy. read more

While the ambiance is amazing, we were extremely disappointed with the food. Ordered three medium rare burgers which came out charcoal black and over cooked. All three burgers were not cooked the way we asked. Overpriced for the quality. Server was awesome though! read more

At the Hershey Hotel, this is one of the restaurants inside the hotel. We had buffet breakfasts here during our entire stay. A very wide selection of food. The service was quite good and the restaurant was very clean and elegant with the stained glass windows. I would definitely eat here again. read more