FlavorFest Restaurant Week

Interestingly enough, I'm finding a lot of our guests are skipping the "fine" restaurants and going to the local diners. (With the notable exception of the guests I sent to the local diner, thinking it was a fine restaurant.)

I think it's because our guests come to us because they want to experience something new (and there aren't many places you can experience an 18th-century ironmaster's mansion), and they want the same from their restaurant as well. And I hate to say it, but most fine restaurants tend to be fairly generic--not in the sense that they all look alike or serve the same food, but they feel the same. A nice French restaurant in Lancaster is probably just like a fine French restaurant in Philadelphia, or any major city.

So our guests want something unique, and it doesn't matter if it's fast food or fine dining, it has to be local and authentic. So I'm in the process of collecting menus for the Lititz Family Cupboard and Capricio's Cafe, and other restaurants I wouldn't have thought to send guests, but that's where they want to go.

Still, for some guests celebrating a special occasion, only the best will do, so here is my list of fine restaurants near us that I'd recommend. Those marked with a star are participating in "Restaurant Week" September 11-17, providing a 3-course meal for $30. For some, it's a great deal.

• Olde Lincoln House in Ephrata (8 miles)
• The Restaurant at Doneckers (10 miles) **
• Log Cabin in Leola (10 miles) **
• Lily's on Main in Ephrata (10 miles)
• Haydn Zugs in East Petersburg (11 miles)
• Stockyard Inn in Lancaster (13 miles) **
• Alois at Bube's Brewery (13 miles, formal) **
• Christopher's Casual in Lancaster (14 miles)
• Strawberry Hill in Lancaster (15 miles)
• Carr's Restaurant in Lancaster (15 miles) **
• Gibraltar in Lancaster (16 miles) **
• Accomac Inn in Wrightsville (26 miles)

Note that this list is entirely different than my family-friendly list, although some restaurants (Olde Lincoln House and Lily's on Main) made both. Christopher's, which just relocated and is opening again tomorrow, is also my only vegetarian option. If anyone knows another restaurant that actually caters to vegetarians (i.e. more than salad and spaghetti), please let me know.