JB Dawson's Restaurant & Bar - Lancaster

JB Dawson's is my over all favorite restaurant to dine out, my husband and I have been here a few times already and each visit has been as good as the 1 before! I'd advise you to make reservations tho, it gets very full!! The food is fantastic and always made to perfection👍🏼 Our waitress 'Morgyn..?' did an excellent job, helpful and making sure we had everything we needed. I love the bread they bring out to your table, and the butter!!...also the twisted shrimp is our absolute fave! The texas tenders platter is huge, and their signature twisted sauce is amazing!! I always leave looking forward to coming back!

Stopped in here with my family. It wasn’t too busy when we arrived and the service was good. Our waitress Leila was excellent. Wasn’t scared to jump in with recommendations which my wife and I found nice. Also very pleasant. The honey sriracha brussel sprouts were wonderful. I got the chicken bruschetta pasta and it was very filling (leftovers for sure) My son loved his twisted burger. My wife was in complete bliss with her chicken Oscar and apple brussel sprouts. The drinks were made pretty well too. I don’t have anything bad to say about my first experience. Wife and I will be going back for sure

Five stars all around. The staff, service and food were excellent. From the moment we walked through the doors to when we left, we were taken care of. We came here for my birthday and the staff were friendly, professional and provided an experience I will never forget. I highly recommend visiting with friends & family for special occasions.

Great restaurant in Lancaster. We've been here multiple times and always have a great experience. The cheesesteak egg rolls are phenomenal. I really enjoy the monthly specials that they have - there are really unique special cocktails and interesting special food items. And the complimentary bread is great. The overall ambience is a nice romantic, warm feel. Low lighting and feels great overall inside. And the service is very friendly. Never any complaints here. And finally, I recommend getting the giant cookie dessert!! It's so delicious and we like to get this often.

Had a wonderful meal in this cozy restaurant. Conveniently located at Park City Mall. The food was superb, friendly service and comfortable seating. It gets quite crowded so reservations are a must!

Awesome atmosphere, staff were on point, not too pricey, and amazing food after a long day out!

What a great find. Were spending a rainy day wandering the mall. Thought we would try here for lunch as we prefer avoiding the big chains when possible. Staff was very friendly and provided excellent service. Location was very clean and atmosphere felt upscale but still welcoming. The food was amazing. I had the Cobb salad which was the best I had ever had. Very fresh ingredients. We will definitely be back

My wife and I stopped in on a Tuesday for lunch at the noonish hour. Our server,Brian, greeted us with a cheerful smile and wend over the lunch recommendations and took our drink orders. We ordered the the crab Dip appetizer , which will go down as an all time favorite and highly recommended!. The lunch feature I choose was the lobster Bisque soup and Ceasar salad and my wife's choice was the crab cake sandwich and house salad. Both excellent. The lobster Bisque 🦞 I did not take a picture due to the could not wait to try, and it did not disappoint garnished with claw meat that was flavorful to the last drop. Brian was very attentive to our needs during lunch and we will definitely make this a must stop on our next trip thru lancaster. The manager made it his priority to stop at our table as well and see if things were satisfactory. They were not satisfactory . ...they were excellent!

Everyone was very attentive, all the dishes were delish and on point! My key lime pie was the perfect ending. My husband's apple-walnut cobber was awesome too. We will definitely be back to explore other options soon! Pictured is Lobster Bisque, Petite Oliver (6 oz center cut sirloin topped with lump crab), Key-Lime pie and Apple-Walnut Cobber. So good! #yum

We were looking for a new place in Lancaster PA to eat. I ran across JB Dawson's in a travel guide. All the reviews were 5 stars. I did a lot of research before we ventured to the place. Reservations were easy. We were there for lunch and got a seat right away. My 96 year old mother were there so we needed some special attention to get through this event. First parking is ample and free. It is on the outside of a large mall and very easy to access. Kerry our waitress was amazing and never made my mom seem a problem. The actual restaurant was tastefully done and comfortable. Menu selection was American and priced very reasonable. The food was amazing. The side dishes very all very special. Cheezy spinach was amazing. Steak Sandwich was great, even offered a creamy Horseradish sauce. Loved the very thin french fried. Everything was cooked to perfection. Lobster Bisque was amazing with chunks of Lobster included. I really enjoyed this meal. They get a clear 2 points for immaculate easy access bathrooms and a sparklingly clean kitchen which is open for everyone to see.

This place always hits with the food, flavor, and atmosphere! Pro-tip: always order the cornbread tower!

Everything I've tried was nothing short, then amazing. Thee best cornbread I've ever had in my life. The signature drinks are delicious as well. I live 45min away but I visit often. Great atmosphere for any occasion.

From the moment we stepped into J.B. Dawson's my wife and I knew we were in for a special evening. The ambiance struck the perfect balance between elegant and inviting, with soft lighting and a gentle buzz of conversation. Our server, Emily, was an absolute delight—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the menu. We started with the seared scallops, which were cooked to perfection, tender and sweet, resting on a bed of creamy risotto. For our main courses, I opted for the pan-seared duck breast, and my companion chose the filet mignon. Both dishes were exceptional. The duck was crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender within, while the filet was cooked exactly to order, juicy and flavorful. The wine list was extensive, and Emily's recommendation paired beautifully with our meal. And of course we had to try dessert. We shared the chocolate lava cake, and it was a decadent and wonderful way to end the meal. What truly set J.B. Dawson's apart was the attention to detail. Every element, from the impeccable service to the exquisite food, was thoughtfully executed. It's clear that the chef and staff are dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience. I highly recommend J.B. Dawson's for anyone seeking a truly exceptional meal."

One of the best restaurants in the area! My cheeseburger was delicious! Update - had another lunch and tried the crab cakes. Wow! You cannot find crab cakes as good as this unless you are willing to travel to Baltimore. So good! Lump crab with little filler. And our server, Shaolin, was outstanding! Update #2 - Yesterday, my son graduated from college, and we had his graduation lunch here. Party of ten! The service was beyond excellent. Kudos to Grace, who gave us the best possible service ever. It's not easy dealing with larger parties but Grace was perfect. And the food was also amazing. I can never give enough compliments to this restaurant. One of the best in the area.

Delicious Meal, Fantastic Drinks, Great Service, Affordable Prices, Welcoming Atmosphere!

Took a chance while visiting Lancaster and made reservations thru open table. Great food great service. The servers must share tips - they were all attentive and friendly. My husband ordered the braised short ribs and I got the shrimp and scallops. All delicious. Next time we’re in the area we’ll be sure to visit.

This place was a very nice dinning experience. To the 2 young gentleman welcoming us and seating us. To our waitress, drinks, and food. I have a hard time finishing meals at places, I finally finished one! It was such an awesome burger I couldn't put it down. Our Drinks were top notch!

I was here this past Saturday evening with my sister and some friends for the first time and the whole experience was excellent! The food was delicious, the drinks were good and our server Candi was amazing! We ordered a lot of things and then needed to leave at a certain time and she made sure we got our food and checks promptly so we could go when we needed to. I will definitely be returning when I’m in the area again!

We went for my Husband's Birthday. It was really nice because his Birthday was on a Monday and they were open. Most places that serve great food is closed on Mondays, but not JB Dawson's and I'm glad I chose this place. Thankyou for a great dinner and great service. The food and especially the Lobster Bisque is fantastic.

My wife and I were on an anniversary trip around Lancaster and found this extension of Austin's restaurant. We are familiar with the Reading sister store. The menu was very similar and the food was equally delicious. I will always recommend their chili and those fantastic Texas tenders. My pulled pork was more shaved than pulled, but the flavor was excellent. A favorite date spot of ours.

Restaurant has a great ambiance, service was great very attentive and nice, the crabcake and rib combo was great. The waitress and manager Ryan went above and beyond to make my sons 35th birthday a great one!

The restaurant is on the outside edge of the local mall, excellent nearby parking. Large and comfortable restaurant, likely 3-4 years old maximum. Very comfortable booth seating, plush leather seats. Table for two was sufficiently sized. Service was excellent. Menu good-to-great. Interesting appetizers reasonably priced, with happy hour specials available. We tried four appetizers, one entree and the desert. The tuna was excellent, the Philly Egg rolls fun. Hot crab dip excellent but a tad salty. Shrimp good. Fish tacos good. Rounded off the experience with the Apple and Walnut Cobbler, very good. Overall excellent visit and the final check was less than anticipated. Beer (stout) smooth and excellent. Highly recommended!

This is literally my favorite local restaurant, I get here maybe once or twice a year, the food is absolutely delicious! I normally get a burger, but recently I had gotten the shrimp and scallops and it definitely was the most delicious seafood I've had in a very long time! It's the Perfect place to go on a food date.

We really enjoyed our meal! The service was great, and the food quality was excellent. The overall feel was nice, however, the lighting is just a little too ambient. We do plan to come back at some time.

Consistently great food, and service. We had multiple issues with our waitress. My husband spoke with the manger and the whole team was able to jump in and help serve us.

This restaurant doesn’t get the recognition it deserves! Consistently good food, fresh and tasty. The staff greets you and is pleasant and friendly. A very nice experience.

Excellent staff. Good ambiance. Large GF menu. Gotten sick once from CC once out of 6 visits. I miss their amazing chicken tenders, but haven't had them for 10 years.

Went to J B Dawson's because we happened to be at the mall at dinner time. Very nice atmosphere, the music was a little loud in the bar area but was at a nice level in the rest of the restaurant. Vanessa was a wonderful server, personable and checking back just the right amount. My wife and I both had chicken sandwiches, her's cajun and mine grilled. Both were just the right size and very tasty. It is always nice to see managers and runners jumping in help out the servers, especially on a busy night. Very good prices for the quality and quantity of food. We will definitely return.

Had dinner with friends, the food was quite good. Our waitress, Sierra, did a fantastic job of servicing us and checking back for drinks and to make sure our food was acceptable. Our food orders covered the full spectrum from steaks, rotisserie chicken, and parmasan crusted chicken. Everything was prepared well and delivered with an array of vegetables. The steaks were both cooked as ordered. I had the gluten free brownie which was amazingly delicious.

I was just there for Valentines day. They were super busy. I ordered the stripe steak, broccoli, and garlic mashed potatoes. It was amazing. My food was perfect, the best I have had in a while. The staff was very attentive and did an amazing job. I would definitely recommend them. I have been there before it as always been good but the other day they were definitely on top of it.

Came here for lunch the other day. Walked in, it seemed like a very nice place. Everything was very clean, even the bathrooms. Our waiter was super nice and attentive. He checked back a few times and was very nice. The manager also came by the table to see how we were doing, which was great. Now for the food. We went simple with chicken tenders. Not too hard to mess up. It was very buttery, and contained a LOT of gristle. I’m sure some people would love them, but it just wasn’t for us. The fries were pretty good, as were the green beans. There seemed to be some regulars there who were really enjoying their food. But if you go there, I’d just suggest staying away from the chicken tenders.

Good food and atmosphere. We enjoyed the shrimp and bruschetta appetizers, salad with grilled salmon, grilled chicken and prime rib sandwiches. Everything was tasty, fresh and warm. The service was friendly and prompt. Great drink selection too.

Went here for anniversary dinner. Food was great. Service was lacking. Saw our waiter 3 times. Once when we came in. Then 20 min later we finally got to order food and drinks. Never checked on us after that. Finally came back for us to order desert. The managers were on point though. Had to have manager get us check. Will go back though.

The only thing we were impressed with were the cheese steak egg rolls. The main course plates were plain, the seafood was dry and overcooked. My husband did enjoy his steak although it was overcooked as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice and the staff were friendly.

Atmosphere was great.The staff was great. Drinks were awesome. The cesar salad actually came with anchovies which I was impressed with since thats rare. But, the entrees here are very Applebees like. The microwaved perfectly rounded mashed potatoes and the fake prechar that goes on the steak and salmon. And the French fries were McDonald's like. It wasn't bad tasting but I'd expect a little better quality in the food.

Really disappointed by our most recent visit to JB Dawson’s. My husband got a steak that he enjoyed enough, but the Cobb salad was absolutely horrible. I subbed the cheddar for the blue cheese that comes with it, but did not anticipate the plate of toppings I received. There is almost no lettuce on here and enough bacon for 3-4 salads. The chicken seemed boiled and was rubbery and flavorless. The avocado looked rotten and like they tried to scrape the brown off it. It was the only topping in an appropriate ratio, though. Our server was nice enough and tried to bring me a bowl to toss it in but there was no saving it. Thank god I ordered a side of fries- those are great at least.

Hair in pasta… the manager Natalie was rude & passive aggressive. Not too sure why you would have an attitude with the customer when a health hazard is brought to your attention. Patiently waiting for my refund. Won’t be back.

Went there this evening 10/4/25 at 345 meet friends for dinner. Server was excellent, ordered full rack of baby back ribs, noticed they weren't as big as in June, started cutting them, started eating and they were tough. Had a few more same thing, meat was tough hard chewing. My friend ordered the same, he starts eating saying the same thing. Tough, hard chewing and cold. Manager came over gave us more ribs that were more suitable for eating, but at that point I was finished eating my dinner in disappointment. If you're going to raise prices for your food, at least keep the food the same. We'll the four of us won't be returning. Service from our waitress was great. Food wasn't good.

Olivia was great and provided friendly attentive service. Unfortunately we had an uncomfortable interaction with another server when our food was delivered. She appeared frustrated with the kitchen sending a dish to the wrong table and she threw it on our table saying to “figure it out” before walking away. Another server quickly came over apologized for her behavior and removed the dish. Based on his reaction it seemed this may not have been an isolated incident. Food ratings Crab dip 9 out of 10. Great flavor though the chips were a little off Lobster fettuccine 9 out of 10 Potato soup 7 out of 10 Cajun chicken sandwich 7 out of 10 Fries 5 out of 10 Chicken strips 1 out of 10. Funnel cake style batter over soggy chicken- one bite in were done

This is the worst restaurant experience we have ever had. I wasn’t going to leave a review but my boyfriend and I both came home very ill from the food. We sat at the bar, and Becca has 0 clue how to be a server or bartender. Please, teach her how to pour a beer. She filled it up, completely with foam, and then just kept dumping and refilling. My wine tasted old, like it’s been open for awhile. Stale. Becca can not serve at all. She ignored us 90% of the time, didn’t ask how anything was. We sat down, it took her 10 minutes to greet us. She offered a menu and we said we are just going to do the happy hour drink and apps. She left and came back about 15 minutes later, and said “just drinks right?” And I said we will get drinks and apps. She takes our drink orders and then brings us our check. It takes us 30 more minutes just to get her attention to put in our app orders. There was a woman who sat after us and was served her food before we even ordered ours. She did not have Becca, she had the other bartender (blonde with a bow, she was great and did actually check with us once. The only time we were even talked to besides “what do you want”) We put our food in, got the seared tuna and the old bay fries. The seared tuna is the worst tuna I have had at a restaurant. Had no flavor and tasted frozen. The fries were good but it’s hard to mess up fries, Took her another 20 minutes to take our payment, we actually asked the blonde girl to check us out because we’ve been ready (and my card was on the table since she gave us our second reciept, immediately after putting our food order in. I guess they dont do tabs or offer dessert or more drinks?) The kicker of it all is my boyfriend and I are now both sick. My boyfriend more so than me, as he has been throwing up since we got home. Glad we didn’t order the shrimp and crab dip like we were originally going to do in addition to what we got. Spent $35 and got sick. Needless to say we won’t be back.