John J Jeffries at the Lancaster Arts Hotel

Came here last night for Valentine’s Day and it was delicious! Literally everything hit the spot. We had the lobster risotto appetizer, the mahi mahi risotto, and dry aged beef. We had their coffee chocolate chip ice cream for dessert and a few cocktails. For sure a special occasion place. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was really nice.

This place was top notch from beginning to end! Every employee that we interacted with was so warm and welcoming - from the person who took our reservation over the phone, the hostess, the waitress … A+ personality! We were visiting from out of town and I chose this place because of the high reviews and the “farm to table”. What a great choice!! The food was absolutely incredible!! And the price was very reasonable for the quality of food that was served. We were expecting the bill to be so much higher than it was. We asked to be seated outside and the ambiance outside was incredible! Thank you for such a great dinning experience! If we ever come back to the area we will definitely stop here again!!

We went for dinner on a Monday evening at 5. We had reservations, but that was not necessary. We were the only ones there for the first half hour! Great spot for a date night or special occasion. Darker lighting with candles, peaceful music, and beautiful artwork. Then the food was absolutely delicious. Lots of unique flavors and everything melted in your mouth. Servers were nice and checked on us the right amount. Price felt accurate for the quality of food. Altogether a lovely date night!

My Boss took us here for our Christmas party and everyone had a fabulous meal. The brussel sprout small plate and Tallow potato small plate were extremely tasty. I had the beef tartar entree and it was amazing - and you get a very large portion. I couldn't even finish it! The cheesecake isn't overly sweet and more on the creamy vs dense. We had a great meal and our server was outstanding.

We absolutely loved our dinner tonight! My gin and Prosecco cocktail was refreshing and unique. We had the fried green tomato and shrimp & grits as starters - fresh, delicious and quite generous portions. We have had shrimp and grits so many places and by far this was one of the most unique we’ve had - I loved all the veggies! I had the trout main entree and really enjoyed the accompanying veggie salad as well as the subtle smokey poblano flavor of the gazpacho. My husband also enjoyed his chicken confit entree. Service was outstanding: our server was so friendly and attentive. They were also so kind to offer us a complimentary dessert because we were celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary. Lastly, the outdoor seating area was beautiful with tables nicely spaced. We look forward to returning soon!

Everything we had they made to perfection . Delightful potato parsnip soup - absolutely marvelous lamb chops with butternut squash puree and roasted potatoes , and excellent ribeye steak . For dessert the coconut tart was absolutely to die for .our best restaurant dinner in recent memory

We had a party of five, wait staff was cordial, helpful in our wine selection, patient with our questions, an overall wonderful experience during my friends milestone birthday celebration. The food was prepared well temperature wise as well as presentation; everything was delicious including the tasting spoon of root bisque (would like to see this on the menu)

Beautiful restaurant with great food and fantastic service. Service was way above what you’d expect for the price and everything we order surpassed our expectations. The restaurant sits in a beautiful hotel with a charming atmosphere. We will be back soon.

This was a very pleasant dining experience from top to bottom. Everything is seasonal and locally sourced. We had a party of six so we ordered just about everything. The soup duo was exquisite: tomato and garlic scape bisque + sweet cream corn. The fried zucchini appetizer was delicious as was the beef tartare. My entree was the daily fish selection (barramundi) over gazpacho with smoked onions, cucumber, tomato and corn. Every bite was packed with flavor. Save room for dessert.

One of my favorite places in Lancaster. The food is always excellent. It is farm to table so the menu is always changing but I don’t think I’ve ever had anything I didn’t love. I’ve had different steak versions twice and they were both top notch. The sauces are phenomenal too. My wife has gotten the vegetarian entrees twice and both times they were absolutely delicious. Can recommend this place highly enough.

Amazing amazing dining experience!! The food was marvelous! Farm to table fresh and just super high quality ingredients. The presentation was lovely, the service was amazing and the setting was spot on! A must if ever in Lancaster.

Hands down, John J Jeffries, is the best restaurant in Central Pennsylvania. It's been our favorite for over a decade now, even though it's an hour drive from our home. First of all, the food is absolutely phenomenal. We've never had a bite of anything we didn't like here. It's all knock your socks off delicious. My absolute favorite thing on the menu is their steak tartare. It's actually found twice on the menu, both as a small appetizer portion and as a larger entree sized portion called, "The Truth". The truth about "The Truth" is that it's simply the best steak tartare around, certainly in Central PA, but likely in the whole Mid-Atlantic, and definitely a contender for anywhere in the world. The crostini they serve with it is also leagues and bounds better than the generic, dry, flavorless crostini that is often served with tartare at other restaurants, almost as an afterthought. Here the crostini is so good you could literally just eat piles of the stuff on its own. Their carpaccio with dry aged scallops is also amazing. We also love the delicious foccacia, mini zucchini muffins, and bisque that are often served as appetizers. Their desserts are to die for, especially the chocolate ones! We also love that everything served here is healthy, raised locally according to organic or similar practices and is priced reasonably for the quality. Do yourself a favor and eat here!

Arguably the best restaurant in Lancaster (right up with Belvedere Inn). Empanadas were awesome and the sea bass was divine. Too ful p.m. for dessert, but the cocktail menu alone deserves a second visit.

Food was great! Service top notch! The atmosphere was everything we hoped for! Champagne on the house to help us celebrate our Anniversary! We came for the experience and we will be returning.

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

I came across this restaurant by chance and I was drawn to it due to my clean eating. The server (Hunter) was wonderful and knowledgeable when I told him my restrictions. Food was excellent and one of the best (and cleanest) meals I have had in quite awhile at any restaurant. Will definitely be coming back again! Keep up with the grass fed meats and clean cooking!! Just a suggestion for dessert options to add...cashews make a great substitution for cheesecakes for those who are dairy free :)

Food and drinks were amazing as always!!!! Our waiter was attentive and wonderful! We are always so happy with every single thing we get there! I cant wait to go back!!!

It's hard to find restaurants open in Lancaster on Monday, we found this place and were not disappointed, our dinner was 7 people and everyone was happy and professionally cooked. The waitresses are very friendly.

The small plates, cold and warm, were excellent. Great opportunity to share with your eating mates. Large plates were also excellent with a local flair. Cocktails were also on point. Our server, Noelle , was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!

We had exquisite service and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We sat outside in the back patio and were pleasantly surprised by the spacing of the tables. I thoroughly enjoyed my trout salad and the meatballs and the bottle of nebbiolo was a lovely addition to the meal. Thank you for a great evening!

We were there during restaurant week in Lancaster. The food and service was excellent. The tomato soup with parmesan touille was wonderful. Smooth, creamy, not salty, and rich. The pear and lentil salad was interesting and unlike anything I had before. The goat cheese brought it all together into a refreshing first course. We both got the meatballs with tomato sauce and macaroni and cheese. The macaroni and cheese was served in the center surrounded with wonderful, light, tomato sauce and meatballs. A wonderful combination. Dessert: honey and lavender creme brulee was nicely done as was the chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse (chocolate cake and peanut butter is a big thing in this area)

I had an excellent meal here last night. A duel serving of tomato and corn bisques, which were very good together. The dark line down the middle is a chimichurri paste. This was followed by salmon over sauteed vegetables and topped with a grilled cucumber relish and roasted cherry tomatoes. My bartender was a true professional. Do yourself a favor and stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

The food was great, they accomodate your allergies and requests. The Beef tare tare was really good and the local cheese. They are one of the only place in Pennsylvania with 100% grass fed local meat and their whole restaurant is seed oil free.

One of the top fine dining restaurants in Lancaster! The atmosphere is upscale yet inviting, and the outdoor patio is absolutely beautiful, especially in the evening. The food, service, and overall experience are consistently excellent. If it’s available, definitely try the bone marrow appetizer, it’s rich, savory, and unforgettable. A must-try for food lovers looking for something special. Highly recommend John J Jeffries for date nights, anniversaries, or any time you want a memorable dining experience in Lancaster.

You could tell the ingredients were fresh and likely local. The paté was exceptional, especially with the fresh baked toast point bread. I got the rainbow trout with squash and vegetable risotto, and every bite was delicious.

John J Jeffries is by far our favorite restaurant in Lancaster. We have a lovely dining experience every time we go. Food, drinks, service is all top notch. Highly recommend for anyone who has never been.

The food and service were amazing. The menu was hard to choose from and we can't wait to go back. What a great local Lancaster restaurant!

Absolutely unbelievable. Every single time we come to Lancaster, this is #1 on our list. It is EXQUISITE. The food, the atmosphere, the service, literally everything is a legitimate 10/10. The quality of the food is phenomenal, everything we order is always delicious. My wife and i just went to celebrate our anniversary and we had an amazing experience as always. Very kind staff, just all around amazing. HIGHLY recommended if you’re ever in Lancaster!

Wonderful experience for a milestone birthday party. Multiple courses dinner with wine pairings. The atmosphere, staff, wine and menu was outstanding. The process to schedule and plan the event was so simple. We had guests with special dietary needs. The chef provided unique, tailored courses for them as well. We will definitely plan events here again.

It was my first time dining at John J Jeffries this evening and I have to say everything was outstanding. The food, the atmosphere, the service. Bill and Abbie, our servers, took care of us like we’ve been friends for years. The food was so fresh and delicious. Overall a wonderful experience. I’ll be back again soon!

Wow, impressed with decor, service, menu, food. Farm to table experience. They do small cold, small hot dishes and entrees. You could sit at the bar with a wine by the glass and a small hot, or you can splurge with a small cold/hot and an entree. I had the chicken liver pate and the venison steak with risotto. I already know what I want the next time! Bill our server did a great job explaining and offering options. Everyone, warm and welcoming!

I don't post often, and only post for exceptionable experiences. This is one of our favorite restaurants, even if it's a bit of a drive for us. Everything we've had were high quality ingredients perfectly prepared. Of special note on our last meal was the liver, perfectly seared and a correct temperature, few kitchens can so perfectly execute this dish to such perfection. Great selection of wine by the glass. Worth the drive.

Always a treat, in so many ways. Professional and friendly service, deliciously diverse menu options and drinks. (Despite the variety, I keep coming back to the beef tartare!) Do save room for desserts, which always compliment the meal with a touch of sweetness.

We booked a wedding rehearsal dinner at this wonderful restaurant for a group of 30 and could not be happier. The service and the food were impeccable. The atmosphere was elegant with crisp, white tablecloths and super nice mood lighting. Ladan, our event coordinator, was so attentive during the planning phase and also during the dinner itself. She was such a pleasure to work with and made us feel completely comfortable that everything would go okay, and it absolutely did. The food was incredible- fresh, hot and perfectly seasoned. All of our guests were from out of town and said they would love to move to Lancaster to enjoy the food over and over again. We will definitely be making John J. Jeffries a regular dining experience for our family and for anyone who comes to visit us! Well done John J. Jeffries! You are definitely a big plus for Lancaster and for anyone who visits there.

We had dinner here a while back and it was delicious! Though we had a reservation, they were a little slow to seat us. They were extremely apologetic and offered us some appetizers on the house. We had such a good experience, we reached out to book them for our rehearsal dinner. It’s a beautiful restaurant and was perfect for our needs! They have a few spaces available for parties of various sizes. It’s always tough feeding a large group, but the food quality and service was great once again.

My husband and I eat here every year on our anniversary and have always had a great time! Service is friendly and prompt, even when it is busy. The food is always wonderful! Highly recommend the beef tartare, asparagus soup, and pheasant.

The ambiance and the service was top notch. Our waitress and the entire staff were on top of everything and you got a really nice dining experience. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. We had the ribeye, shrimp and grits, beef tartar, trout caesar salad, and the chocolate patee. While well prepared, I just don't think it warranted the price, and in this price range I've had other food that stood out more. This was the basics done really well, but not an experience. Come here for the atmosphere and great service, they were top notch.

Not too bad of an American restaurant. However, I wouldn't classify this place as a fine dining restaurant. If at most, it's a higher end casual restaurant. The food was above average as well as the service, but it wasn't amazing at the same time. Overall, a 4/5 experience. Cheers.

The service was prompt and attentive. The presentation and food was as expected in a fine dining establishment. Parking is atrocious. We spent more time looking for an open slot than we did driving to the restaurant. They should consider valet parking. There was a manager (?) who seemed nice but he was dressed in street clothes. I had to ask if he worked there when he inquired about our food. He should have been elegantly dressed in a tuxedo, but he looked like he just came in from working his garden. I don't know what was going on there. They have a policy of charging you extra if you use your credit card. I find that petty and it makes them look cheap. When I pay $200 for a meal, I would think they have enough profit built in to cover the $7.00 service charge that AMEX charges them. I imagine some myopic pencil-pusher wanted to justify his position by showing how much money they could save in ten years if they added this surcharge. They would do better by adding $3.00 to the price of each entree.

Been here numerous times over the past 10 years. Always enjoyed the food amd service. However, I've visited on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar at 9:30 pm. I observed a female staff behind the bar - heavier set. She gave me the most disgusting look and then approached me and stated - with an attitude"if you want food, out kitchen is closed." (Closing time: 11 pm). She then proceeded to tell me that "you can do down the street to [name of a bar] and get food there" and walked away. Wow - how far we've fallen from grace. Au revoir, John Jeffreys! I will definitely not return - EVER again!