Like others have mentioned, we too have eaten here previously and had relatively good experiences. However today's brunch experience will most likely be the reason we choose not to return. We were the second of 3 couples to arrive. After actively tracking down a waiter so that we could order some coffee, etc. what seemed like an excessive time elapsed before we then inquired why the drinks hadn't arrived. The response was the computer was down. Seriously- no way to make a note that we ordered a couple items and then put them on the tab later when the system was up and running? I suppose if the computer failed to respond we would have been unable to eat? One member of our group ordered the stuffed French Toast and was given honey as a topping. When he realized it wasn't syrup and asked for some, he was advised there was none available. Later we overheard another patron order the same thing but this time the server advised in a voice a bit louder (and possibly sarcastically) you'll have to do without syrup. I ordered the Farmer's Skillet and asked for the eggs over-medium on top of the skillet mix. Apparently this came across as an unusual request, but they did at least put the eggs on top- but the eggs were over-hard and therefore no nice warm egg yolk to mix into the contents of the skillet. Perhaps they've never eaten breakfast with real farmers. Mrs. Foodie's breakfast was served cold and the accompanying fried potatoes looked closer to black than a nice golden-brown. Throughout the meal subsequent attempts at drink refills were too slow and infrequent. To top it off, the bill had a 20% tip already figured into the total. I love to give a tip of that size (and quite frequently a bit higher) when service warrants it. I'm sorry folks- that wasn't the case today.
(2)
Samantha H.
We came expecting exceptional food because of reviews and we were greatly disappointed. They were out of 4 things that we wanted to order and seemed to be off when wanting suggestions. Way overpriced for the quality of food and quantity! Would never recommend or go back again
(1)
Marie T.
We stopped by Lily's on Main after a day of antiquing in Adamstown. It is located on the second floor of a modern building not too far from Adamstown and Lititz, PA. This was a Thursday night and it was empty except for two other tables. We waited a few minutes to be seated and then were given a seat near the window. The decor is very Art Deco with beautiful lights on each table. We asked our waitress about a local wine listed on the menu and she was kind .enough to allow us to sample it. It was a little too sweet for our dinner selections so we ordered a more known wine. I had ordered the trout which was filleted and served on a bed of roasted root vegetables. The trout was dry and many of the bite-sized root vegetables were burned. My friend had ordered the pumpkin raviolis. She enjoyed her meal. The restaurant has such potential since it is in a nicely decorated building and probably one of the most elegant places in the area, but the quality of the meal was lacking.
(2)
Lakresha Z.
Was the worst meal I ever had! Ordered a crab pretzel and was a frozen pretzel I could buy at the store. The meals we ordered were disgusting. Spaghetti and meatball: meatball was raw! The Cobb salad the chicken tasted horrible and the avocado was rotten. And the filet for $33 the mashed potatoes tasted like Idaho mashed potatoes from a box. The worst $133.00 I ever spent I will will never go back.
(1)
Andy W.
Easter buffet left much to be desired. Mediocre food replaced irregularly and left luke warm. Slow, unintelligible staff. And a completely undeserved 20% gratuity included in the bill! Unfortunately, even the view from the dining room won't redeem the completely lackluster Lilly's on Main
(1)
Bianca O.
Pricey, but the food was amazing! Worth the cost! However, the service was sllooowwwww, waited almost 20 minutes just for drinks. If the service was a bit more on their toes, I would have given them more stars.
(3)
Callie T.
We went to Lilly's on Main while in town visiting family and it was fabulous !!! Lauren, our server, was AMAZING! She took the whole fine-dining experience to a whole new level. This is a first class restaurant right next door to a restored vintage movie theater (that offers beer and wine also) and it was a real treat! Taylor, the chef in charge that day, came and introduced himself after our meal due to our request because the 'smoked ham Madame' and 'crabbed stuffed soft pretzel' were both delicious and the presentation was impeccable also. Our waitress, Lauren, makes the best 'Old Fashioned' ever and we told her she should coin the drink Lauren's Old Fashioned. So if you have one there know it is she who invented it. The entire staff is awesome and completely welcoming. Come here if you want to feel at home in Ephrata!
(5)
Mike J.
The beef slider appetizers were like butter! Best I have ever had.
Service is a little slow, we went out on a Wednesday night. We got the shrimp cocktail and the trout/salmon appetizers. They were nothing special. The bread was dry. My NY sirloin had a nice presentation, juicy but was a little bland.
(3)
John K.
This is a good place that I've eaten in under somewhat strange circumstances.I've only eaten here on Thanksgiving.But I've done so twice and it was surprisingly good .Have the the duck with duck sausage.I figure if they can deliver on a day like Thanksgiving , they should really be able to perform on a more normal day.
(3)
Lauren B.
The food at Lily's is fantastic! You haven't lived until you've eaten their grilled romaine salad or their chicken salad wrap! The decor is very art deco - it is the perfect romantic dinner spot! I would highly recommend this restaurant not only for their fabulous food, but for the good the owner does in the community of Ephrata.
(5)
Greg S.
I drove by this place more than twice. Being on the second floor of Brossman Business Complex, it didn't jump out at me. I stopped at the famous Ephrata Cloister and inquired about where to eat in Ephrata and the lady in the gift shop recommended Lily's on Main and suggested the raspberry chicken and reported the meatloaf was well liked. I located the Business Complex (the tallest building in Ephrata) and was quite impressed with the waterfalls in the entryway. The other clientelle appeared to be local and mostly older folks. I tried the sirloin tips in wine sauce with whipped potatoes and fresh asparagus. It was yummy as was the salad that preceeded it. I was enjoying myself so much that I decided to have a capuccino and asked for a dessert recommendation. Mark, the nice young waiter (who is studying at Harrisburg Area Community College in Lancaster), recommended the Banana Cheesecake after admitting that it didn't completely comply with my request for something light. It was delightful anyway. I am very glad that I found Lily's on Main and will likely return if my business brings me back this way.
(5)
Dana B.
I've only ever eaten at Lily's once, and it was 2 years ago, Father's Day 2006, with a party of about 10 people total, and I wasn't impressed. I'm not sure exactly what I ate there but I do remember the strawberry lemonade being very good (despite the small glass in which it was served to me). The service wasn't amazing--the staff seemed like they tried to be personable but it just came out the wrong way. I remember the food took quite a while to come (figures, there were 10 of us!) and we had our own private room, but it seemed a bit small for the number of people we had.
(2)
Lewis S.
9/9/15 Had not been to the restaurant for a very long time. Arrived around 5:15 no one else there, but we were early. Our waitress at first seemed annoyed, but did warm up later on. My husband ordered the crab cakes I ordered the raspberry chicken. The salad was sparse, a couple of sliced radishes and the slivered carrots had a dried up look to them. The bread seemed dry and sandy, but my husband said was it was the type of bread. Disappointing, who does not look forward to great bread. My husband really enjoyed his crab cakes, however the raspberry chicken had an odd taste, could not pinpoint it. Could not finish the chicken. The mashed potatoes were good. Decided to share a slice of citrus cake, the cake was extremely dry, the saving grace was the buttercream icing. My husband ordered a 10 ounce glass of wine. The wine was wonderful, but he questioned whether it was actually 10 ounces. The waitress assured him it was. He is still not sure. Our bill was $72., we left feeling we could have spent that money elsewhere and had a wonderful dining experience. We left the restaurant around 6:20, still no other patrons, but, there was a lady waiting to be seated. We do not feel a need to return.
(4)
Celeste A.
I was a bit put off initially when we had to wait several minutes for the hostess to quit chatting with the kitchen staff and notice we were standing there. However, even if the hostess was ineffectual, this restaurant has great food and we had great service. I wish I could remember the name of our waiter. He was helpful in explaining in a matter of fact way how the menu was constructed and made suggestions that proved very sound. The menu at Lily's changes seasonally depending on what is readily available through local markets. I was dining with my parents and to quote my dad "I can't remember the last time I actually dined instead of just ate and left." Your meal will be leisurely with a little space between courses so you can actually have a conversation and digest a little as you move through your meal. We each got an appetizer to start. Salmon Crespelle - a marscapone and smoked salmon crepe concoction. very good but not as good as what each of my parents chose. Wild Game Sampler - tasty. So tasty Dad was very reluctant to share any of it. Spring Roll in Orange Sauce - WOW. If they found a way to bottle that sauce, they could sell it at Whole Foods across the country. Dang. So good. Soup: I had the baked tomato soup. Good stuff. Dad had Thai Spicy Mushroom Soup. You could taste the earthiness of the mushroom and the heat of the soup crept up slowly on you. Mother had chicken corn chowder. If they ever have that again when I am in Lily's, I would chose that as the best out of the three soups. Salad: Pomegranate vinagrette is the house salad dressing. I went a little out of my comfort zone to try it and I am glad that I did. Entree: Dad had seafood risotto and was very pleased. I tried it and it was excellent but my food was better. The Jackson Square crab stuffed flounder was exquisite. That's the best remoulade sauce I have had other than at Stingaree's Restaurant on the gulf coast in Crystal Beach, TX. It was THAT good. Mom's raspberry chicken was excellent but that remoulade sauce on my plate was the stuff that dreams are made of. Dessert: All of them that we tried were fantastic. My banana foster inspired dessert was a wondeful thing. Dad's banana bread pudding was wonderful. Mom's chocolate mousse was wonderful. Three weeks has passed since I ate this meal and I can remember the details of each plate clearly. Lily's is a treasure. If this restaurant was in Dallas, you would have a hard time getting a table and the prices would probably double. If you live nearby or you're visiting Ephrata, I highly recommend Lily's. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, you should make a reservation.
(5)
Chris S.
Service terribly slow. Food terribly average. Portions less than desirable. Staff did not pro actively apologize for service. Severely disappointed.
(1)
John D.
We looked on the website the day before Easter. We found an "Early Spring Menu" and a Buffet Menu for Mother's Day as well as a Dinner Menu for Mother's Day. There was no menu for Easter. So we assumed the Early Spring Menu would be used. There was one dish I wanted and we drove 40 minutes out of our way to go there for that dish. When we arrived--they were using an EASTER menu and lo and behold the item I wanted was not on the EASTER menu. I asked why the menu hadn't been posted on the website and the waitress said they weren't responsible for the website-really? Who is then? Why on earth would a Mother's Day Menu be posted (over one month early) when there was no Easter menu posted the day before? I think I know why...continue.... The Easter menu had a lamb dish called "roast of lamb" (not sure what that even is) vs the "lamb tenderloin chops" on the Early Spring Menu. The waitress went to check if they could serve me the Early Spring Menu lamb since they had the item the day before and would have it the day after--she returned with a yes. Thank you. I ordered the lamb Medium--they were purple inside. The "spicy" sausage with the lamb was not spicy at all nor was it heated--it was room temperature at best as was the couscous. I felt like the only thing that was cooked was the lamb and it was done far too briefly. However, I did not bother to return it. If they felt it appropriate to serve unheated/uncooked food--well, I just didn't trust them to fix it. I paid $25 for this uncooked meal. We had read lots of complaints about service issues at the restaurant. When we saw the REQUIRED 20% gratuity we thought, wow, that's how they deal with the bad service issues? Now they force the customers to pay for service regardless of whether or not it's good? AND, they didn't put this menu up on the website. Had I seen the required gratuity on top of knowing there were service issues--we would never have gone. Oops. I think I answered my own question about why the menu wasn't posted on the website!
(2)
Cheryl A.
Yes. I actually feel this can not be any better. the food is amazing. The owner makes sure it stays that way and is personally invested. The view and location is very nice and the theater is downstairs and makes a romantic date. I have love this consistently wonderful place for years and years after my daughter worked there as a teen and for many years to come! I will tell anyone, this is a place you will never be disappointed!!
(5)
Donna M.
Always a pleasure when I come here the service is always nice and prompt! Food is great I recommend the Raspberry Chicken or even the Bacon Cheeseburger! Great place for first date, anniversary or even alone time!! The staff always makes you feel welcome!!
(5)
Cynthia S.
We ate here at 4:30 on a Sunday. The place was empty when we went in. We had Caesar salads. They were a piece of romaine with 2 anchovies, 3 olives , & some creamy dressing. Mine even had brown spots on the romaine. These accompanied the entree. I had the seafood stew and my husband had the salmon. They were fresh but uninspired. Bland. The only good thing was the bruschetta which came with the appetizers. At $80 I can go elsewhere for brown lettuce and uninspired cooking.
(2)
Peter M.
Very attentative service. Service not rushed, at our pace. Food very well prepared and very flavorable. Several unique items we just had to try..
(4)
Lauren D.
DO NOT COME!!!!....THE SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!! GOT HERE AT 7pm did not order until 7:30 (we had to ask to order) it is now 9:00pm and still have not gotten my food. The food is good but honestly it is not worth the 1.5 hour+ wait. DO NOT COME! I REPEAT, DO NOT COME!!! Sidenote: there was no one else in the restaurant.
(1)
Shane K.
Wow...just wow. Previous experiences here have always been wonderful but the Easter Sunday buffet just missed on every level. Some of the offered items we were never able to sample because the pans were empty the entire time we were there, and what was there was dried out and cold. $35.00 per person plus a 20% gratuity and we bussed our own dirty dishes and refilled our own glasses. If you aren't prepared to serve buffet style, just don't do it. We will think strongly about returning to Lily's on Main in the future as this experience left such a bad taste in our mouths. Doesn't even deserve the 1 star I am forced to give. Shameful. Utterly shameful.
(1)
Tim R.
Very disappointed....not sure what happened here but food quality has gone down. Used to be regular here but no more. Yellow fish tuna was cooked well when supposed to be med rare. Worst tuna ever had. Colleague had strip steak-over cooked and not very flavorful.
(2)
Gina Marie B.
Was looking forward to spending quality time with co-workers and their spouses after a long week. We made reservations for 8 at 6:30. Our table was ready promptly and everything went downhill after that. Our waitress had little personality and was rarely seen. Several of the men waited 25 minutes and longer for their next beer. It took 45 minutes for our appetizers to arrive and most of them were cold. We waited another 50 minutes for our meals to come. Tables were sat and paid their bills before our food finally came. My husbands 'medium' burger was so rare the bun was bloody and not edible. The filet that was ordered medium came out raw and cold. Those of us who ordered the meatloaf were happy as those were the only meals done correctly. After asking to speak to the owner, we were ignored. This is the second time eating at Lily's, the second time thinking it was an awful experience and I will never spend another dime there in the future.
(1)
Travelerz Z.
I have always been a fan of Lily's, & have enjoyed many good meals there. So absolutely disappointed at brunch today. First-the service was painfully slow. We only saw our waitress twice during a meal that took 2 hours. Note: the restaurant was NOT full-not even close. We have to admit that the food was good w/the exception of one of us receiving a hair baked in to our food (not the hair on top of one's head). We had someone who was under 18 (info as per our waitress) hanging over us like a hawk asking us, as well our children, if we were "done eating that"-Shortly after having received our food-however-this helper could not serve is any mimosas or any other alcoholic beverages due to being underage-so our drinks came few & far between. Apparently the under 18 yr old took our drink orders when we were seated- but never bothered asking my spouse what they wanted. The time between being visited by our actual waitress was unacceptable. When my spouse returned their entree due to the hair issue we heard the staff in the back exclaim "ewww! gross!" we were not offered a credit-my spouse had to bring this up to the waitress-who replied "would you like that taken off (your check)? Uh-yes. We were not offered desserts-we had to ask. Before our waitress brought the dessert offerings to the table, she dawdled around, then took the order of the large table behind us. The bottom line is that the service was ridiculously bad & slow, & the hair-took away from what was well prepared food (though the food was delivered somewhat cold). We hope that Lily's is aware of what is going on-& fixes it-or they will lose patrons. So utterly disappointing.
(2)
Michael T.
Whenever we're anywhere near Lancaster County we make appoint to eat at Lily's and we've never had a bad experience. This atmosphere is a weird combination of upscale and casual, and food fits it exactly; gourmet comfort food with a lot of local flavor. The grilled meatloaf is a perfect example; who would have thought meatloaf could be so extraordinary? It's a very small restaurant and on weekends and holidays you need reservations...and even then you might have a bit of a wait. But the food is always worth it. From the warm breads to their imaginative salads and appetizers, to their well-crafted entrees. Portions are just the right size, not too big and not too small, and I've always enjoyed good service. I've probably had almost half of their regular menu and haven't found anything I don't like.
(5)
Juliette Z.
I live in Ephrata and dine at Lily's about 3 times a year. This restaurant rivals places I have dined at in Philadelphia and New York. This place is a gem. The meals are leisurely, the drinks are excellent, the service is wonderful, and the food is unique and well prepared. Liliy's is not a place you run in to grab a bite to eat, Ephrata has plenty of fast food restaurants for that, but rather a dining experience. I highly recommend Lily's for a special occasion or just a wonderful evening out.
(5)
mark h.
I knew this wasn't going to be a good experience when a party of 3 walked in ahead of us and hadn't been seated by the time we arrived at the hostess station. As a matter of fact it was at least an additional 2-3 minutes after we arrived before the hostess came out to seat the party in front of us. So they had to have been waiting at least 5-6 minutes to be seated. The hostess wasn't very pleasant or welcoming at all either. It must have been the same young woman another reviewer mentioned. The waiter was standoffish as well but he eventually warmed up. I think his frustrations with the kitchen affected his mood and he did his best to hide those frustrations. So an extra point for him. About 10 minutes after ordering the waiter came out and informed us there were no portabello mushrooms to make the appetizer I had ordered. TEN MINUTES TO TELL US? We should have had our appetizers in 10 minutes! I think the delay was the kitchen's fault, not the waiter's. They offered to make it on bruschetta but I wasn't interested. It ended up being 20 minutes from the time we ordered until we received our appetizers. The plating was very nice. But a nice presentation doesn't always translate into a nice meal. Calamari: Nothing special here, move along. Spring rolls: Too many flavors resulting in no flavor at all, move along. Pork tenderloin: Overcooked and slightly dry. Scallops OK. Mashed potatoes tasted like they were made from over-roasted Yukon gold potatoes. Not good. The sauce was tasteless. Crab cake: Was excellent, very different with a southwestern type flare. Too small a portion and overpriced (although they do state on menu it is 3 oz portion...you are warned). Tartar sauce was good but didn't pair nicely with the uninspired polenta and tomato that the crab cake sat on. The excellent crab cake isn't enough to save the meal though and we won't be going back anytime soon. I feel bad for the waiter. He seemed embarrassed. My four year old son's chicken tenders and fries were fantastic though! A note on the facilities: The decor inside the restaurant was nice. Utensils and glassware nice and clean. But the property management company, if they are the responsible party, need to repair the broken glass in the stairwell as well as give it a good cleaning. If you go, don't take the stairs!
(1)
Susie M.
Friday lunch date at Lily's on Main in Ephrata. My first visit to Ephrata, and my first date with my companion, who chose the restaurant. Lily's is on the second floor of the movie theater, housed in the former Ephrata Telephone and Telegraph building on Main Street, a weirdly renovated/re-purposed edifice. The restaurant was empty when we arrived at twelve. We were seated by the window and perused the menu, which was oddly eclectic. There were sandwiches and salads, but the entree list was the most entertaining- it started with meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but also included pork belly and scallops in a huckleberry sauce. Really? Either ambitious or deluded, I mused. Our waitress was young, slightly goofy, sweet. We asked about the pork belly. Don't have that any more. In fact, virtually all of the 'exotic' dishes on the menu were no longer available. We settled on two sandwiches to split and share: the Reuben and the grilled crab and cheese. Both were tasty if unremarkable. The sandwiches came with chips; I opted to 'upgrade' (our server's word) to grilled asparagus. It was not a bad meal, nor was it a memorable one. I have no idea what Lily's might be like for dinner, or when the room is lively. The food was hot and fresh, and the portions were not bad- nice-sized for lunch, but the empty room was a bit eerie. I wouldn't be opposed to eating at Lily's again, but would not go out of my way to seek it out.
(3)
George L.
Very nice atmosphere, and I love the decor. The food was well presented but a bit bland. I had the duck plate; the sausages tasted great but were a bit dry, and the meat was not very flavorful. I really liked the Lily's special salad. Banana cheesecake was very good though. As a side note, the way they present a slice of cake is a bit much. Somebody's got issues.... I can see myself trying one more time, maybe a filet or strip steak, but only if I need to eat in Ephrata and don't want to drive 20 mins to Lancaster
(3)
Nan H.
Loved this place . Wonderful, fresh and imaginatively prepared food. We had the best veggie dish ever - - zucchini ribbon pasta (just zucchini, no pasta) in pesto cream reduction with tiny chopped aromatic vegetables for flavor. So good that I also tried to make it at home! Also enjoyed a cheese plate with local cheeses and wonderful, crunchy fresh baked bread. Enjoyed a duck dish with a nice faro and edamame pilaf. Service was great too. My only drawback was the setting. It is in a 4 story "skyscraper" that even with the nice art deco touches left me a little cold. Otherwise it would have been a 5. But if you want really well constructed food that goes behind typical Lancaster fate, this is the place. Yum!
(4)
Kimba Z.
We stopped in for drinks (decent wine selection; someone here knows French wines) and will be back, despite the limited choices for alternative diets. The entrance is impressive, with an Art Deco elevator, a modern waterfall as you ascend the steps, and film-themed decor. Cool tile floors, film posters and prints, collector's-item lamps on the tables, 1940s music, Arts & Crafts windows = many nice touches. The restaurant now owns the adjacent movie theater and offers deals on movies -- for example, dining on Tuesday comes with a free movie ticket. Other nights, a movie ticket gets you 10% off your meal. We learned that this theater is on the site of a torn-down oldtime one, some items of which are preserved here, such as the marquee. Ah, a pox on you, Urban Renewal movements of the 50s and 60s, which destroyed so many wonderful old buildings rather than restore them. One of the staff told us that the owner's wife has a master's degree in film and that they run both a children's film and a first run film together. The selection when we were there was Toy Story 3 and the new Twilight film. And there are rumors of independent offerings someday, yes please! Even better, they now have a liquor license over there, so you can buy a glass of wine to take into the movie with you, not that I haven't been doing this surreptitiously for years, but it's nice to be both civilized AND legit. We spotted an edamame hummus and a black bean burger on the menu, which is hip-ified American comfort food that seems well done, for example, a lobster macaroni and cheese. We didn't even see anywhere else to eat along Ephrata's main street, and I know this area doesn't have a big call for healthy food, but there is a sense of progressiveness at this place that makes me urge the owners to offer a few more veg meals. Clearly they have the creativity to do it. And just about anyone can enjoy a well-prepared plant-based dish. Yes, we can ask for meal alterations, but we hate to do this because it's a clear sign we are not welcome when there is nothing on the menu we can just order (NOT the case with this place, as stated above). When we are out relaxing, we like to avoid food negotiations and try to go where we feel welcome, yet we also feel compelled to support local independent restaurants. I'm really getting off track here, sorry. Wine comes in 2 sizes, 5 oz and 10 oz, and they also have flights. Much better selection than I expected considering Ephrata is between two small gritty cities not known for sophistication, hello Reading and Lancaster.
(3)
Randy T.
Let's start with the positives, which far outweigh the negatives. Food: absolutely delicious, from the appetizer, to the salads, to the main course and sides. Every course was perfect. Did not have room for dessert, so cannot comment on that (but they looked very good). Presentation: each portion of the meal was a subdued art feast. Not over the top, but very attractive, and some a bit unusual. Well done! Facility: Decent decor, from the movie theater theme out front (since there IS a theater also housed inside), to the slight upscale motif. Now for the problems: Waitress: Our waitress made several blunders. She was quite nice and professional appearing, but a few critical errors. She stated that the house salad came with the entrees, and any of the specialty salads could be substituted "but would be a smaller version." Each of us thought that was a good deal, and ordered one of the specialties. Unfortunately, when the bill came, each salad was charged an additional $6. When we inquired, we were told what she had said was that the specialty salads could be substituted "but would be the smaller priced version." No one heard that price statement, and when we told her so, she made us feel like the stupid ones, and offered no recourse or apology (the latter would have been acceptable, the former preferred). So beware of that - not sure if a ploy to hike up the meal, or a misspeak on her part. Yet the specialty salads were very good. In addition, several minor special requests were totally ignored. For example, no sauce on an appetizer was requested, but it came on it anyway. On the main course, we were told "specialty ketchup was on the side", but in fact, the entree and side were sitting directly on top of the ketchup which lined the bottom of the plate. Not quite the side, or avoidable to the taste. Again, no apologies forthcoming for either. Lastly, the hostess who "greeted" us may be a very nice person (?), but she needs to show it (or at least fake it). We were met with a rather gruff attitude, and not a single smile or friendly comment upon arrival or departure. So, overall, a great food experience, but a poor person experience. Definitely will be going back for the food - we'll see how the 2nd round of service goes.
(4)
Stacie D.
My husband and I were staying at The Artist's Inn in Terre Hill and the innkeepers recommended Lily's On Main. It was without a doubt, one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I would rate it as good as le Bec Fin (different type of fare, but as delicious). Our waiter, Mark, recommended the short ribs and they were melt-in-your-mouth delicious! My husband had a seafood and polenta dish which was equally as good. The specialty drinks were also delicious. We also had the cheese platter appetizer and it was a wonderful medley of local cheeses. Dessert was also very good - banana cheesecake is decadent and the fruit tart was very light (good ending to the meal). After dinner, the owner treated us to a tour of the adjacent art-deco style movie theater and invited us to see a movie as his guest - what could have been better? nothing. We live an hour away but will make the drive to sample more of this inventive menu - well worth the trip!
(5)
Louie N.
Spotted the (Open on Sunday) restaurant while passing through town in August. Decided to try it because very few places are open on Sunday. Well, that was a stroke of luck. The place was not very busy (Sunday for lunch) so service was quick and pleasant. We started with the cheese plate and the smoker fish appetizer. Great presentation and very good choice of Cheeses. The Lily's Special side salad was excellent, the greens were fresh and young, and the dressing was very good. The Raspberry chicken (almond crusted / chambord sauce) was every bit as good as it sounds. The meal arrived quickly and hot. This will be a stop each time we pass through Ephrata....and most likely with the same meal
(4)
Paul T.
Perhaps this is the best restaurant in Ephrata, but I wasn't impressed. The place wasn't too busy, but my girlfriend and I had to wait too long for our meals, and when our meals finally arrived my Venison Osso Bucco was too chewy. The restaurant is fairly elegant and relatively quiet for a nice romantic dinner. I might give the place another chance to see if it was just the Osso Bucco.
(2)
Tammy F.
My husband and I keep wanting to like this restaurant, but every time we have gone in the last year has been disappointing. The service is great, but food is awful. I had the WORST lobster Mac and cheese I have ever had. When Ruby Tuesday can beat fine dining there is something wrong. It was so runny it was inedible. The brown bread that is usually the highlight of the meal anymore, was stale and not the least bit warm. I think we may be done trying this restaurant. Pity!
(1)
Bruce N.
Went here on New Year's Eve with the wife, trying to treat her nice with a big bucks meal. Waited 15 minutes for table, even though we had reservation, listening to nice woman sing nightclub type Christmas songs by the coat room. They had a special menu for New Year's eve, 65 bucks each plus 20% tip - that would be big bucks. For appetizers, my wife ordered the oysters casino and I ordered the lobster bisque. Server came back quickly and said they were out of oysters casino. I don't get that. it was only 7:30 and you had a limited menu. She was not happy but ordered the shrimp cocktail. i got my lobster bisque and frankly it tasted watered down, like they were going to run out of that so they added water. (Do fancy restaurants do that?) We were not pleased. Ceasar salad was tiny but okay. The glass of champagne was nice and dry. We then ordered our entrees. My wife had the Scottish salmon while i wolfed down the prime rib - surprisingly, both were fabulous. We were feeling better. Cheesecake for dessert was fresh and delicious. Coffee was fresh too. Our server was the best. Very nice and attentive without being too attentive. Had a quiet ease about her. I like the atmosphere and the windows provide a nice view of Ephrata (is there a nice view of Ephrata?). The bathroom, however, needed a good mopping, extremely sticky floor. I almost walked out of my loafers coming out of the stall. But, my wife had a good time and felt valued knowing I spent the big bucks on her. Then off to Akron shoe drop to ring in the new year.
(3)
Seth H.
We ate here for Valentine's Day. The hostess was less than enthused to be there. She sat us at a small table in the very center of the restaurant, while several booths and tables were open. The tables were so close to each other, I felt like I was sitting at the fellow diners table right beside us! You could tell other diners felt uncomfortable by the arrangements that evening. The menu was limited for the holiday. We ordered the Seafood Risotto & Raspberry Chicken. Very limited selection of Red wine by the glass. The salad arrived drenched in blue cheese dressing. I love Blue Cheese, but could not even finish the salad. The seafood risotto was mushy and the seafood was pre-frozen tid-bits. The scallops were the mini-marshmallow size and not thoroughly cooked. Which was surprising because the couple at our...I mean their table ordered the pork with scallops which were nice sized and wrapped in bacon. I was surprised by my imitation marshmallows. The "raspberry" sauce was definitely pre-made or store bought. It was seedless and began to congeal on the plate. It seemed like heated up jam. Our waitress was nice but not overly as attentive as we would have liked. The fresh bread was very good. The bill for 2 entrees and 1 glass of wine was over $65. A little pricey for the experience and bland imitation food. We have eaten here for lunch in the past, which seemed to be OK, but dinner I would not suggest. We will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)
Shirley R.
If you want a little bit of the New York "feel" in the middle of Lancaster County, Lily's on Main is my choice every time......Just dined there Saturday Nov. 3. 2012 and had the chef's special Salmon dish......my husband had three files with three different sauces! WOW! "Delicious" just doesn't quite describe our experience!Looking forward to returning when it is snowing....the view from the dining room is fabulous!
(4)
Jane S.
Hard to find, but worth the trip, unexpected but great decor, music and view. Husband loved the tomatoe soup baked like French Onion soup. Calamari was great as was the raspberry chicken. Can't wait to go back to this upscale gem.
(4)
Matthew W.
We had a wonderful experience. The food was great, the waiter was friendly and helpful. It was very comfortable and enjoyable. We will be going back.
(5)
Carl K.
Can not say enough about Lily's on Main. Always an awesome experience. I have been there several times and each time is just as wonderful as the last. Thank you for providing us locals here in eastern Lancaster County such a wonderful place to go to for dinner.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Foodie B.
Like others have mentioned, we too have eaten here previously and had relatively good experiences. However today's brunch experience will most likely be the reason we choose not to return. We were the second of 3 couples to arrive. After actively tracking down a waiter so that we could order some coffee, etc. what seemed like an excessive time elapsed before we then inquired why the drinks hadn't arrived. The response was the computer was down. Seriously- no way to make a note that we ordered a couple items and then put them on the tab later when the system was up and running? I suppose if the computer failed to respond we would have been unable to eat? One member of our group ordered the stuffed French Toast and was given honey as a topping. When he realized it wasn't syrup and asked for some, he was advised there was none available. Later we overheard another patron order the same thing but this time the server advised in a voice a bit louder (and possibly sarcastically) you'll have to do without syrup. I ordered the Farmer's Skillet and asked for the eggs over-medium on top of the skillet mix. Apparently this came across as an unusual request, but they did at least put the eggs on top- but the eggs were over-hard and therefore no nice warm egg yolk to mix into the contents of the skillet. Perhaps they've never eaten breakfast with real farmers. Mrs. Foodie's breakfast was served cold and the accompanying fried potatoes looked closer to black than a nice golden-brown. Throughout the meal subsequent attempts at drink refills were too slow and infrequent. To top it off, the bill had a 20% tip already figured into the total. I love to give a tip of that size (and quite frequently a bit higher) when service warrants it. I'm sorry folks- that wasn't the case today.
(2)Samantha H.
We came expecting exceptional food because of reviews and we were greatly disappointed. They were out of 4 things that we wanted to order and seemed to be off when wanting suggestions. Way overpriced for the quality of food and quantity! Would never recommend or go back again
(1)Marie T.
We stopped by Lily's on Main after a day of antiquing in Adamstown. It is located on the second floor of a modern building not too far from Adamstown and Lititz, PA. This was a Thursday night and it was empty except for two other tables. We waited a few minutes to be seated and then were given a seat near the window. The decor is very Art Deco with beautiful lights on each table. We asked our waitress about a local wine listed on the menu and she was kind .enough to allow us to sample it. It was a little too sweet for our dinner selections so we ordered a more known wine. I had ordered the trout which was filleted and served on a bed of roasted root vegetables. The trout was dry and many of the bite-sized root vegetables were burned. My friend had ordered the pumpkin raviolis. She enjoyed her meal. The restaurant has such potential since it is in a nicely decorated building and probably one of the most elegant places in the area, but the quality of the meal was lacking.
(2)Lakresha Z.
Was the worst meal I ever had! Ordered a crab pretzel and was a frozen pretzel I could buy at the store. The meals we ordered were disgusting. Spaghetti and meatball: meatball was raw! The Cobb salad the chicken tasted horrible and the avocado was rotten. And the filet for $33 the mashed potatoes tasted like Idaho mashed potatoes from a box. The worst $133.00 I ever spent I will will never go back.
(1)Andy W.
Easter buffet left much to be desired. Mediocre food replaced irregularly and left luke warm. Slow, unintelligible staff. And a completely undeserved 20% gratuity included in the bill! Unfortunately, even the view from the dining room won't redeem the completely lackluster Lilly's on Main
(1)Bianca O.
Pricey, but the food was amazing! Worth the cost! However, the service was sllooowwwww, waited almost 20 minutes just for drinks. If the service was a bit more on their toes, I would have given them more stars.
(3)Callie T.
We went to Lilly's on Main while in town visiting family and it was fabulous !!! Lauren, our server, was AMAZING! She took the whole fine-dining experience to a whole new level. This is a first class restaurant right next door to a restored vintage movie theater (that offers beer and wine also) and it was a real treat! Taylor, the chef in charge that day, came and introduced himself after our meal due to our request because the 'smoked ham Madame' and 'crabbed stuffed soft pretzel' were both delicious and the presentation was impeccable also. Our waitress, Lauren, makes the best 'Old Fashioned' ever and we told her she should coin the drink Lauren's Old Fashioned. So if you have one there know it is she who invented it. The entire staff is awesome and completely welcoming. Come here if you want to feel at home in Ephrata!
(5)Mike J.
The beef slider appetizers were like butter! Best I have ever had.
(5)Mike S.
After having great meals here in the past, we decided to have our New Years Eve dinner at Lily's. We arrived 10 minutes early and were promptly seated, after that, things seemed to go downhill. Unbeknownst to us, there was a prix fix menu for $65 per person...fair enough I suppose, it was New Years Eve. Everything from the drinks and appetizers, to the entires and final check seemed to take forever. We had the lobster bisque along with the pork belly and sea scallops for appetizers. The lobster bisque had no visible lobster meat at all and the taste was bland. The sea scallops were tender and tasted great, but the pork belly was over cooked and tough. Next came the salads, the Lily's special and a "classic" caesar salad. The Lily's special was nice but, the caesar was extremely small, 2-3 fork fulls at best. Finally our entrees arrived, grilled filet mignon with portobello mushroom,truffle macaroni & cheese finished with mushroom bordelaise sauce and crab cakes with garlic butter French fries. Both meals were borderline warm, and seemed like they may have been sitting in the kitchen for a period of time. My filet was grilled as ordered, medium rare, but obviously sat too long before being served. The crab cakes were about the size of scallops, but had flavor unlike most of the meal. Both entrees came with asparagus and carrots, the carrots were uncooked. And lastly, the desserts, tiramisu and rice pudding topped with fresh berries. The tiramisu was excellent, but my fiancé had 2 bites of her rice pudding and gave up...she helped finish my tiramisu. We had plenty of opportunities to complain, but we decided to make the best of it, we didn't want to ruin the evening. When the waitress asked how our meals were, we were honest and explained our displeasure. As a result, they discounted our meals from from $175 to $142 dollars. They automatically added a 20% gratuity to the check...adding insult to injury. We spent over 2 hours trying to enjoy what was for us, a mediocre meal. Based on this experience, I don't think we will be returning to Lily's on Main in the future.
(1)Steven M.
Service is a little slow, we went out on a Wednesday night. We got the shrimp cocktail and the trout/salmon appetizers. They were nothing special. The bread was dry. My NY sirloin had a nice presentation, juicy but was a little bland.
(3)John K.
This is a good place that I've eaten in under somewhat strange circumstances.I've only eaten here on Thanksgiving.But I've done so twice and it was surprisingly good .Have the the duck with duck sausage.I figure if they can deliver on a day like Thanksgiving , they should really be able to perform on a more normal day.
(3)Lauren B.
The food at Lily's is fantastic! You haven't lived until you've eaten their grilled romaine salad or their chicken salad wrap! The decor is very art deco - it is the perfect romantic dinner spot! I would highly recommend this restaurant not only for their fabulous food, but for the good the owner does in the community of Ephrata.
(5)Greg S.
I drove by this place more than twice. Being on the second floor of Brossman Business Complex, it didn't jump out at me. I stopped at the famous Ephrata Cloister and inquired about where to eat in Ephrata and the lady in the gift shop recommended Lily's on Main and suggested the raspberry chicken and reported the meatloaf was well liked. I located the Business Complex (the tallest building in Ephrata) and was quite impressed with the waterfalls in the entryway. The other clientelle appeared to be local and mostly older folks. I tried the sirloin tips in wine sauce with whipped potatoes and fresh asparagus. It was yummy as was the salad that preceeded it. I was enjoying myself so much that I decided to have a capuccino and asked for a dessert recommendation. Mark, the nice young waiter (who is studying at Harrisburg Area Community College in Lancaster), recommended the Banana Cheesecake after admitting that it didn't completely comply with my request for something light. It was delightful anyway. I am very glad that I found Lily's on Main and will likely return if my business brings me back this way.
(5)Dana B.
I've only ever eaten at Lily's once, and it was 2 years ago, Father's Day 2006, with a party of about 10 people total, and I wasn't impressed. I'm not sure exactly what I ate there but I do remember the strawberry lemonade being very good (despite the small glass in which it was served to me). The service wasn't amazing--the staff seemed like they tried to be personable but it just came out the wrong way. I remember the food took quite a while to come (figures, there were 10 of us!) and we had our own private room, but it seemed a bit small for the number of people we had.
(2)Lewis S.
9/9/15 Had not been to the restaurant for a very long time. Arrived around 5:15 no one else there, but we were early. Our waitress at first seemed annoyed, but did warm up later on. My husband ordered the crab cakes I ordered the raspberry chicken. The salad was sparse, a couple of sliced radishes and the slivered carrots had a dried up look to them. The bread seemed dry and sandy, but my husband said was it was the type of bread. Disappointing, who does not look forward to great bread. My husband really enjoyed his crab cakes, however the raspberry chicken had an odd taste, could not pinpoint it. Could not finish the chicken. The mashed potatoes were good. Decided to share a slice of citrus cake, the cake was extremely dry, the saving grace was the buttercream icing. My husband ordered a 10 ounce glass of wine. The wine was wonderful, but he questioned whether it was actually 10 ounces. The waitress assured him it was. He is still not sure. Our bill was $72., we left feeling we could have spent that money elsewhere and had a wonderful dining experience. We left the restaurant around 6:20, still no other patrons, but, there was a lady waiting to be seated. We do not feel a need to return.
(4)Celeste A.
I was a bit put off initially when we had to wait several minutes for the hostess to quit chatting with the kitchen staff and notice we were standing there. However, even if the hostess was ineffectual, this restaurant has great food and we had great service. I wish I could remember the name of our waiter. He was helpful in explaining in a matter of fact way how the menu was constructed and made suggestions that proved very sound. The menu at Lily's changes seasonally depending on what is readily available through local markets. I was dining with my parents and to quote my dad "I can't remember the last time I actually dined instead of just ate and left." Your meal will be leisurely with a little space between courses so you can actually have a conversation and digest a little as you move through your meal. We each got an appetizer to start. Salmon Crespelle - a marscapone and smoked salmon crepe concoction. very good but not as good as what each of my parents chose. Wild Game Sampler - tasty. So tasty Dad was very reluctant to share any of it. Spring Roll in Orange Sauce - WOW. If they found a way to bottle that sauce, they could sell it at Whole Foods across the country. Dang. So good. Soup: I had the baked tomato soup. Good stuff. Dad had Thai Spicy Mushroom Soup. You could taste the earthiness of the mushroom and the heat of the soup crept up slowly on you. Mother had chicken corn chowder. If they ever have that again when I am in Lily's, I would chose that as the best out of the three soups. Salad: Pomegranate vinagrette is the house salad dressing. I went a little out of my comfort zone to try it and I am glad that I did. Entree: Dad had seafood risotto and was very pleased. I tried it and it was excellent but my food was better. The Jackson Square crab stuffed flounder was exquisite. That's the best remoulade sauce I have had other than at Stingaree's Restaurant on the gulf coast in Crystal Beach, TX. It was THAT good. Mom's raspberry chicken was excellent but that remoulade sauce on my plate was the stuff that dreams are made of. Dessert: All of them that we tried were fantastic. My banana foster inspired dessert was a wondeful thing. Dad's banana bread pudding was wonderful. Mom's chocolate mousse was wonderful. Three weeks has passed since I ate this meal and I can remember the details of each plate clearly. Lily's is a treasure. If this restaurant was in Dallas, you would have a hard time getting a table and the prices would probably double. If you live nearby or you're visiting Ephrata, I highly recommend Lily's. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, you should make a reservation.
(5)Chris S.
Service terribly slow. Food terribly average. Portions less than desirable. Staff did not pro actively apologize for service. Severely disappointed.
(1)John D.
We looked on the website the day before Easter. We found an "Early Spring Menu" and a Buffet Menu for Mother's Day as well as a Dinner Menu for Mother's Day. There was no menu for Easter. So we assumed the Early Spring Menu would be used. There was one dish I wanted and we drove 40 minutes out of our way to go there for that dish. When we arrived--they were using an EASTER menu and lo and behold the item I wanted was not on the EASTER menu. I asked why the menu hadn't been posted on the website and the waitress said they weren't responsible for the website-really? Who is then? Why on earth would a Mother's Day Menu be posted (over one month early) when there was no Easter menu posted the day before? I think I know why...continue.... The Easter menu had a lamb dish called "roast of lamb" (not sure what that even is) vs the "lamb tenderloin chops" on the Early Spring Menu. The waitress went to check if they could serve me the Early Spring Menu lamb since they had the item the day before and would have it the day after--she returned with a yes. Thank you. I ordered the lamb Medium--they were purple inside. The "spicy" sausage with the lamb was not spicy at all nor was it heated--it was room temperature at best as was the couscous. I felt like the only thing that was cooked was the lamb and it was done far too briefly. However, I did not bother to return it. If they felt it appropriate to serve unheated/uncooked food--well, I just didn't trust them to fix it. I paid $25 for this uncooked meal. We had read lots of complaints about service issues at the restaurant. When we saw the REQUIRED 20% gratuity we thought, wow, that's how they deal with the bad service issues? Now they force the customers to pay for service regardless of whether or not it's good? AND, they didn't put this menu up on the website. Had I seen the required gratuity on top of knowing there were service issues--we would never have gone. Oops. I think I answered my own question about why the menu wasn't posted on the website!
(2)Cheryl A.
Yes. I actually feel this can not be any better. the food is amazing. The owner makes sure it stays that way and is personally invested. The view and location is very nice and the theater is downstairs and makes a romantic date. I have love this consistently wonderful place for years and years after my daughter worked there as a teen and for many years to come! I will tell anyone, this is a place you will never be disappointed!!
(5)Donna M.
Always a pleasure when I come here the service is always nice and prompt! Food is great I recommend the Raspberry Chicken or even the Bacon Cheeseburger! Great place for first date, anniversary or even alone time!! The staff always makes you feel welcome!!
(5)Cynthia S.
We ate here at 4:30 on a Sunday. The place was empty when we went in. We had Caesar salads. They were a piece of romaine with 2 anchovies, 3 olives , & some creamy dressing. Mine even had brown spots on the romaine. These accompanied the entree. I had the seafood stew and my husband had the salmon. They were fresh but uninspired. Bland. The only good thing was the bruschetta which came with the appetizers. At $80 I can go elsewhere for brown lettuce and uninspired cooking.
(2)Peter M.
Very attentative service. Service not rushed, at our pace. Food very well prepared and very flavorable. Several unique items we just had to try..
(4)Lauren D.
DO NOT COME!!!!....THE SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!! GOT HERE AT 7pm did not order until 7:30 (we had to ask to order) it is now 9:00pm and still have not gotten my food. The food is good but honestly it is not worth the 1.5 hour+ wait. DO NOT COME! I REPEAT, DO NOT COME!!! Sidenote: there was no one else in the restaurant.
(1)Shane K.
Wow...just wow. Previous experiences here have always been wonderful but the Easter Sunday buffet just missed on every level. Some of the offered items we were never able to sample because the pans were empty the entire time we were there, and what was there was dried out and cold. $35.00 per person plus a 20% gratuity and we bussed our own dirty dishes and refilled our own glasses. If you aren't prepared to serve buffet style, just don't do it. We will think strongly about returning to Lily's on Main in the future as this experience left such a bad taste in our mouths. Doesn't even deserve the 1 star I am forced to give. Shameful. Utterly shameful.
(1)Tim R.
Very disappointed....not sure what happened here but food quality has gone down. Used to be regular here but no more. Yellow fish tuna was cooked well when supposed to be med rare. Worst tuna ever had. Colleague had strip steak-over cooked and not very flavorful.
(2)Gina Marie B.
Was looking forward to spending quality time with co-workers and their spouses after a long week. We made reservations for 8 at 6:30. Our table was ready promptly and everything went downhill after that. Our waitress had little personality and was rarely seen. Several of the men waited 25 minutes and longer for their next beer. It took 45 minutes for our appetizers to arrive and most of them were cold. We waited another 50 minutes for our meals to come. Tables were sat and paid their bills before our food finally came. My husbands 'medium' burger was so rare the bun was bloody and not edible. The filet that was ordered medium came out raw and cold. Those of us who ordered the meatloaf were happy as those were the only meals done correctly. After asking to speak to the owner, we were ignored. This is the second time eating at Lily's, the second time thinking it was an awful experience and I will never spend another dime there in the future.
(1)Travelerz Z.
I have always been a fan of Lily's, & have enjoyed many good meals there. So absolutely disappointed at brunch today. First-the service was painfully slow. We only saw our waitress twice during a meal that took 2 hours. Note: the restaurant was NOT full-not even close. We have to admit that the food was good w/the exception of one of us receiving a hair baked in to our food (not the hair on top of one's head). We had someone who was under 18 (info as per our waitress) hanging over us like a hawk asking us, as well our children, if we were "done eating that"-Shortly after having received our food-however-this helper could not serve is any mimosas or any other alcoholic beverages due to being underage-so our drinks came few & far between. Apparently the under 18 yr old took our drink orders when we were seated- but never bothered asking my spouse what they wanted. The time between being visited by our actual waitress was unacceptable. When my spouse returned their entree due to the hair issue we heard the staff in the back exclaim "ewww! gross!" we were not offered a credit-my spouse had to bring this up to the waitress-who replied "would you like that taken off (your check)? Uh-yes. We were not offered desserts-we had to ask. Before our waitress brought the dessert offerings to the table, she dawdled around, then took the order of the large table behind us. The bottom line is that the service was ridiculously bad & slow, & the hair-took away from what was well prepared food (though the food was delivered somewhat cold). We hope that Lily's is aware of what is going on-& fixes it-or they will lose patrons. So utterly disappointing.
(2)Michael T.
Whenever we're anywhere near Lancaster County we make appoint to eat at Lily's and we've never had a bad experience. This atmosphere is a weird combination of upscale and casual, and food fits it exactly; gourmet comfort food with a lot of local flavor. The grilled meatloaf is a perfect example; who would have thought meatloaf could be so extraordinary? It's a very small restaurant and on weekends and holidays you need reservations...and even then you might have a bit of a wait. But the food is always worth it. From the warm breads to their imaginative salads and appetizers, to their well-crafted entrees. Portions are just the right size, not too big and not too small, and I've always enjoyed good service. I've probably had almost half of their regular menu and haven't found anything I don't like.
(5)Juliette Z.
I live in Ephrata and dine at Lily's about 3 times a year. This restaurant rivals places I have dined at in Philadelphia and New York. This place is a gem. The meals are leisurely, the drinks are excellent, the service is wonderful, and the food is unique and well prepared. Liliy's is not a place you run in to grab a bite to eat, Ephrata has plenty of fast food restaurants for that, but rather a dining experience. I highly recommend Lily's for a special occasion or just a wonderful evening out.
(5)mark h.
I knew this wasn't going to be a good experience when a party of 3 walked in ahead of us and hadn't been seated by the time we arrived at the hostess station. As a matter of fact it was at least an additional 2-3 minutes after we arrived before the hostess came out to seat the party in front of us. So they had to have been waiting at least 5-6 minutes to be seated. The hostess wasn't very pleasant or welcoming at all either. It must have been the same young woman another reviewer mentioned. The waiter was standoffish as well but he eventually warmed up. I think his frustrations with the kitchen affected his mood and he did his best to hide those frustrations. So an extra point for him. About 10 minutes after ordering the waiter came out and informed us there were no portabello mushrooms to make the appetizer I had ordered. TEN MINUTES TO TELL US? We should have had our appetizers in 10 minutes! I think the delay was the kitchen's fault, not the waiter's. They offered to make it on bruschetta but I wasn't interested. It ended up being 20 minutes from the time we ordered until we received our appetizers. The plating was very nice. But a nice presentation doesn't always translate into a nice meal. Calamari: Nothing special here, move along. Spring rolls: Too many flavors resulting in no flavor at all, move along. Pork tenderloin: Overcooked and slightly dry. Scallops OK. Mashed potatoes tasted like they were made from over-roasted Yukon gold potatoes. Not good. The sauce was tasteless. Crab cake: Was excellent, very different with a southwestern type flare. Too small a portion and overpriced (although they do state on menu it is 3 oz portion...you are warned). Tartar sauce was good but didn't pair nicely with the uninspired polenta and tomato that the crab cake sat on. The excellent crab cake isn't enough to save the meal though and we won't be going back anytime soon. I feel bad for the waiter. He seemed embarrassed. My four year old son's chicken tenders and fries were fantastic though! A note on the facilities: The decor inside the restaurant was nice. Utensils and glassware nice and clean. But the property management company, if they are the responsible party, need to repair the broken glass in the stairwell as well as give it a good cleaning. If you go, don't take the stairs!
(1)Susie M.
Friday lunch date at Lily's on Main in Ephrata. My first visit to Ephrata, and my first date with my companion, who chose the restaurant. Lily's is on the second floor of the movie theater, housed in the former Ephrata Telephone and Telegraph building on Main Street, a weirdly renovated/re-purposed edifice. The restaurant was empty when we arrived at twelve. We were seated by the window and perused the menu, which was oddly eclectic. There were sandwiches and salads, but the entree list was the most entertaining- it started with meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but also included pork belly and scallops in a huckleberry sauce. Really? Either ambitious or deluded, I mused. Our waitress was young, slightly goofy, sweet. We asked about the pork belly. Don't have that any more. In fact, virtually all of the 'exotic' dishes on the menu were no longer available. We settled on two sandwiches to split and share: the Reuben and the grilled crab and cheese. Both were tasty if unremarkable. The sandwiches came with chips; I opted to 'upgrade' (our server's word) to grilled asparagus. It was not a bad meal, nor was it a memorable one. I have no idea what Lily's might be like for dinner, or when the room is lively. The food was hot and fresh, and the portions were not bad- nice-sized for lunch, but the empty room was a bit eerie. I wouldn't be opposed to eating at Lily's again, but would not go out of my way to seek it out.
(3)George L.
Very nice atmosphere, and I love the decor. The food was well presented but a bit bland. I had the duck plate; the sausages tasted great but were a bit dry, and the meat was not very flavorful. I really liked the Lily's special salad. Banana cheesecake was very good though. As a side note, the way they present a slice of cake is a bit much. Somebody's got issues.... I can see myself trying one more time, maybe a filet or strip steak, but only if I need to eat in Ephrata and don't want to drive 20 mins to Lancaster
(3)Nan H.
Loved this place . Wonderful, fresh and imaginatively prepared food. We had the best veggie dish ever - - zucchini ribbon pasta (just zucchini, no pasta) in pesto cream reduction with tiny chopped aromatic vegetables for flavor. So good that I also tried to make it at home! Also enjoyed a cheese plate with local cheeses and wonderful, crunchy fresh baked bread. Enjoyed a duck dish with a nice faro and edamame pilaf. Service was great too. My only drawback was the setting. It is in a 4 story "skyscraper" that even with the nice art deco touches left me a little cold. Otherwise it would have been a 5. But if you want really well constructed food that goes behind typical Lancaster fate, this is the place. Yum!
(4)Kimba Z.
We stopped in for drinks (decent wine selection; someone here knows French wines) and will be back, despite the limited choices for alternative diets. The entrance is impressive, with an Art Deco elevator, a modern waterfall as you ascend the steps, and film-themed decor. Cool tile floors, film posters and prints, collector's-item lamps on the tables, 1940s music, Arts & Crafts windows = many nice touches. The restaurant now owns the adjacent movie theater and offers deals on movies -- for example, dining on Tuesday comes with a free movie ticket. Other nights, a movie ticket gets you 10% off your meal. We learned that this theater is on the site of a torn-down oldtime one, some items of which are preserved here, such as the marquee. Ah, a pox on you, Urban Renewal movements of the 50s and 60s, which destroyed so many wonderful old buildings rather than restore them. One of the staff told us that the owner's wife has a master's degree in film and that they run both a children's film and a first run film together. The selection when we were there was Toy Story 3 and the new Twilight film. And there are rumors of independent offerings someday, yes please! Even better, they now have a liquor license over there, so you can buy a glass of wine to take into the movie with you, not that I haven't been doing this surreptitiously for years, but it's nice to be both civilized AND legit. We spotted an edamame hummus and a black bean burger on the menu, which is hip-ified American comfort food that seems well done, for example, a lobster macaroni and cheese. We didn't even see anywhere else to eat along Ephrata's main street, and I know this area doesn't have a big call for healthy food, but there is a sense of progressiveness at this place that makes me urge the owners to offer a few more veg meals. Clearly they have the creativity to do it. And just about anyone can enjoy a well-prepared plant-based dish. Yes, we can ask for meal alterations, but we hate to do this because it's a clear sign we are not welcome when there is nothing on the menu we can just order (NOT the case with this place, as stated above). When we are out relaxing, we like to avoid food negotiations and try to go where we feel welcome, yet we also feel compelled to support local independent restaurants. I'm really getting off track here, sorry. Wine comes in 2 sizes, 5 oz and 10 oz, and they also have flights. Much better selection than I expected considering Ephrata is between two small gritty cities not known for sophistication, hello Reading and Lancaster.
(3)Randy T.
Let's start with the positives, which far outweigh the negatives. Food: absolutely delicious, from the appetizer, to the salads, to the main course and sides. Every course was perfect. Did not have room for dessert, so cannot comment on that (but they looked very good). Presentation: each portion of the meal was a subdued art feast. Not over the top, but very attractive, and some a bit unusual. Well done! Facility: Decent decor, from the movie theater theme out front (since there IS a theater also housed inside), to the slight upscale motif. Now for the problems: Waitress: Our waitress made several blunders. She was quite nice and professional appearing, but a few critical errors. She stated that the house salad came with the entrees, and any of the specialty salads could be substituted "but would be a smaller version." Each of us thought that was a good deal, and ordered one of the specialties. Unfortunately, when the bill came, each salad was charged an additional $6. When we inquired, we were told what she had said was that the specialty salads could be substituted "but would be the smaller priced version." No one heard that price statement, and when we told her so, she made us feel like the stupid ones, and offered no recourse or apology (the latter would have been acceptable, the former preferred). So beware of that - not sure if a ploy to hike up the meal, or a misspeak on her part. Yet the specialty salads were very good. In addition, several minor special requests were totally ignored. For example, no sauce on an appetizer was requested, but it came on it anyway. On the main course, we were told "specialty ketchup was on the side", but in fact, the entree and side were sitting directly on top of the ketchup which lined the bottom of the plate. Not quite the side, or avoidable to the taste. Again, no apologies forthcoming for either. Lastly, the hostess who "greeted" us may be a very nice person (?), but she needs to show it (or at least fake it). We were met with a rather gruff attitude, and not a single smile or friendly comment upon arrival or departure. So, overall, a great food experience, but a poor person experience. Definitely will be going back for the food - we'll see how the 2nd round of service goes.
(4)Stacie D.
My husband and I were staying at The Artist's Inn in Terre Hill and the innkeepers recommended Lily's On Main. It was without a doubt, one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I would rate it as good as le Bec Fin (different type of fare, but as delicious). Our waiter, Mark, recommended the short ribs and they were melt-in-your-mouth delicious! My husband had a seafood and polenta dish which was equally as good. The specialty drinks were also delicious. We also had the cheese platter appetizer and it was a wonderful medley of local cheeses. Dessert was also very good - banana cheesecake is decadent and the fruit tart was very light (good ending to the meal). After dinner, the owner treated us to a tour of the adjacent art-deco style movie theater and invited us to see a movie as his guest - what could have been better? nothing. We live an hour away but will make the drive to sample more of this inventive menu - well worth the trip!
(5)Louie N.
Spotted the (Open on Sunday) restaurant while passing through town in August. Decided to try it because very few places are open on Sunday. Well, that was a stroke of luck. The place was not very busy (Sunday for lunch) so service was quick and pleasant. We started with the cheese plate and the smoker fish appetizer. Great presentation and very good choice of Cheeses. The Lily's Special side salad was excellent, the greens were fresh and young, and the dressing was very good. The Raspberry chicken (almond crusted / chambord sauce) was every bit as good as it sounds. The meal arrived quickly and hot. This will be a stop each time we pass through Ephrata....and most likely with the same meal
(4)Paul T.
Perhaps this is the best restaurant in Ephrata, but I wasn't impressed. The place wasn't too busy, but my girlfriend and I had to wait too long for our meals, and when our meals finally arrived my Venison Osso Bucco was too chewy. The restaurant is fairly elegant and relatively quiet for a nice romantic dinner. I might give the place another chance to see if it was just the Osso Bucco.
(2)Tammy F.
My husband and I keep wanting to like this restaurant, but every time we have gone in the last year has been disappointing. The service is great, but food is awful. I had the WORST lobster Mac and cheese I have ever had. When Ruby Tuesday can beat fine dining there is something wrong. It was so runny it was inedible. The brown bread that is usually the highlight of the meal anymore, was stale and not the least bit warm. I think we may be done trying this restaurant. Pity!
(1)Bruce N.
Went here on New Year's Eve with the wife, trying to treat her nice with a big bucks meal. Waited 15 minutes for table, even though we had reservation, listening to nice woman sing nightclub type Christmas songs by the coat room. They had a special menu for New Year's eve, 65 bucks each plus 20% tip - that would be big bucks. For appetizers, my wife ordered the oysters casino and I ordered the lobster bisque. Server came back quickly and said they were out of oysters casino. I don't get that. it was only 7:30 and you had a limited menu. She was not happy but ordered the shrimp cocktail. i got my lobster bisque and frankly it tasted watered down, like they were going to run out of that so they added water. (Do fancy restaurants do that?) We were not pleased. Ceasar salad was tiny but okay. The glass of champagne was nice and dry. We then ordered our entrees. My wife had the Scottish salmon while i wolfed down the prime rib - surprisingly, both were fabulous. We were feeling better. Cheesecake for dessert was fresh and delicious. Coffee was fresh too. Our server was the best. Very nice and attentive without being too attentive. Had a quiet ease about her. I like the atmosphere and the windows provide a nice view of Ephrata (is there a nice view of Ephrata?). The bathroom, however, needed a good mopping, extremely sticky floor. I almost walked out of my loafers coming out of the stall. But, my wife had a good time and felt valued knowing I spent the big bucks on her. Then off to Akron shoe drop to ring in the new year.
(3)Seth H.
We ate here for Valentine's Day. The hostess was less than enthused to be there. She sat us at a small table in the very center of the restaurant, while several booths and tables were open. The tables were so close to each other, I felt like I was sitting at the fellow diners table right beside us! You could tell other diners felt uncomfortable by the arrangements that evening. The menu was limited for the holiday. We ordered the Seafood Risotto & Raspberry Chicken. Very limited selection of Red wine by the glass. The salad arrived drenched in blue cheese dressing. I love Blue Cheese, but could not even finish the salad. The seafood risotto was mushy and the seafood was pre-frozen tid-bits. The scallops were the mini-marshmallow size and not thoroughly cooked. Which was surprising because the couple at our...I mean their table ordered the pork with scallops which were nice sized and wrapped in bacon. I was surprised by my imitation marshmallows. The "raspberry" sauce was definitely pre-made or store bought. It was seedless and began to congeal on the plate. It seemed like heated up jam. Our waitress was nice but not overly as attentive as we would have liked. The fresh bread was very good. The bill for 2 entrees and 1 glass of wine was over $65. A little pricey for the experience and bland imitation food. We have eaten here for lunch in the past, which seemed to be OK, but dinner I would not suggest. We will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)Shirley R.
If you want a little bit of the New York "feel" in the middle of Lancaster County, Lily's on Main is my choice every time......Just dined there Saturday Nov. 3. 2012 and had the chef's special Salmon dish......my husband had three files with three different sauces! WOW! "Delicious" just doesn't quite describe our experience!Looking forward to returning when it is snowing....the view from the dining room is fabulous!
(4)Jane S.
Hard to find, but worth the trip, unexpected but great decor, music and view. Husband loved the tomatoe soup baked like French Onion soup. Calamari was great as was the raspberry chicken. Can't wait to go back to this upscale gem.
(4)Matthew W.
We had a wonderful experience. The food was great, the waiter was friendly and helpful. It was very comfortable and enjoyable. We will be going back.
(5)Carl K.
Can not say enough about Lily's on Main. Always an awesome experience. I have been there several times and each time is just as wonderful as the last. Thank you for providing us locals here in eastern Lancaster County such a wonderful place to go to for dinner.
(4)