If I were a carpenter this place would give me a heart attack before I even got inside the door! I remember when this was a fish restaurant, a simple box-shaped building like the auto parts place next door. Now it has grown steadily in a way that suggests that it is alive, like a plant, and constantly grows new additions! That said, if you can navigate the corridors you will find public dining, private dining, a courtyard with live music on weekends, a tapas bar, etc. Now where is the men's room?!? This isn't the most authentic Mexican place in town, but it is pretty good nonetheless. Chips and salsa as a warmup are a good sign for any Mexican place, and they do that at El Serrano. If you like a little spice, the green sauce is worth asking for. My personal favorites are the dishes that feature shredded beef/pork/chicken. They also offer some plates that use ground beef -- I don't recommend these. El Serrano's Peruvian owners offer some native Peruvian dishes, as well as a vegetarian menu. Finally, there is the frozen marguerita machine. It's a bit like the Mr. Misty cooler at Dairy Queen, but with alcohol. The flavor goes in much like a Mr. Misty too -- pumped from a bottle. Maybe this isn't the original technique, but I still wish I had a machine like this in my house! Overall a good place to eat, to take a date or relatives.
(4)
Jen N.
Step through the doorway of El Serrano's and you'll feel instantly transported to the feisty and rich culture of South America. All the ornate wood that lavishly decorates this expansive restaurant was handmade in Peru. The all-brass bar tells the story of the conquistadors in the design. Recipes have been handed down through the generations and paintings of family members hang proudly in the wandering halls. But enough about the environs. Let's talk food. The fresh and tangy salsa is one of the best I've had. The chunky guacamole has a rich, creamy texture spiked with yummy cilantro. The handmade chips are crispy and delicious. I tried the Chile Rellenos: not bad. A little too much breading for my taste. But our friends come back again and again for the chimichangas. Be sure to ask the floor manager if they have time for a tour. Wandering through the little nooks and crannies of this expansive building while learning about a bit of history is a wonderful experience. Such a neat place - we'll be back for sure!
(4)
Kirsten D.
Being originally from San Diego, I expect a lot from Mexican Restaurants and the other Mexican restaurants in the area just aren't doing it for me. While El Serrano is actually a Peruvian restaurant, it also does fantastic authentic Mexican dishes. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. We're constantly coming here for dinner and frequently coming just to enjoy the fantastic margaritas for happy hour with coworkers. I've even taken my kids here and they loved it. All in all, it's a works-for-everyone type of restaurant! Can't go wrong!!!
(5)
Amanda W.
El Serrano is a great place to get authentic Latin food in Lancaster. Everyone, back away from the chain restaurants! Get yourself to this great place for some amazing food that wasn't warmed up from frozen in a microwave and served drenched in grease on a fancy plate. FOOD Amazing food! Lots of seafood dishes in the Peruvian style and some with a good amount of heat. Chuletas de Puerco is a favorite of everyone as well as the Shrimp a la Veracruzana, El Bandido, and Pollo Fundido. Don't be afraid to try something new, there are lots of tasty things here. ATMOSPHERE This place gets a bonus for their amazing decor and ambience. The lighting is low, there are private alcoves with wooden high-back benches and accents of red. It is a fun atmosphere if you're there with a group and it can be a great romantic date night (although you may want to check out their other dining options for an even more unique experience ... read on... ) The place is huge! There are 3 separate types of dining in the building under slightly different names/themes ... El Serrano (Main), Culturas (Tapas) and Clementina's (Private Dining) fill out the other floors along with a few banquet-style rooms. My husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner in a semi-private area of the main El Serrano dining room (near the amazing bar), but we were treated to a tour of the rest of their facilities prior to making our final arrangements to see all the options available. Everything about this place is gorgeous and well decorated. SERVICE Each time we've come here we've had amazing table service. Additionally, working with them for our rehearsal dinner was also very simple and streamlined ... once I met the even coordinator. It did take me a while to be able to get a hold of someone, but I think most of that was due to the fact that I was doing all my wedding planning from Seattle, WA and months in advance (which was probably earlier than they are used to). I finally had a chance to speak with someone while on a trip back to PA and the in-person service was excellent. Just don't expect to get much help through e-mail or over the phone until you've talked to someone face-to-face.
(5)
Ray T.
My wife and I have been fans of El Serrano for over 10 years, and have never had a poor meal there. There's everyone else...El Rodeo,Carlos and Charlies, LaBorimex...and then there's El Serrano. The gold standard of Mexican in Lancaster. FWIW, La Borimex is great, in its own way. But, El Serrano is the one that keeps the bar raised high. Reasons? 1. Atmosphere: Great. Live music on weekends, authentic feeling villa-esque building, beautiful atmosphere. The real deal...not just some building gussied up to look Mexican. 2.Chips and Salsa: Salsa defies all categorization. It's amazing. Bummer is that they now charge $2 for refills. I'd love to get a copy of the recipe! 3. Comidas: The food is exceptional. Favorites include El Ranchero combo($15), El Gordo ($18), and Lomo Saltado (although my wife got a headache afterwards...too much on the saltado, perhaps). Everything is flavorful, outstanding. Menu has a wonderful variety. 4.Service: Waiters and waitresses are usually attentive, pleasant, observant. Never hadaproblem with mixed-up orders,long waits for food, or hostile service staff.Very good! Lunch is also a great time to come, especially as many nights (Friday and Saturday) are guaranteed to be packed with long waits. They are now shutting down between 2 PM-5PM many afternoons,so call before going between those hours. On this Tuesday night, we were seated immediately (for 2), but business was steady. El Serrano will, for us, be the special night out for Mexican. Sure, we will hit the other places, but it will take a whole new contender to somehow dethrone the champ!
(5)
Taylor Z.
Ugh. Never again. I used to come here quite frequently actually when I was in High School. It was a much smaller establishment and way less crowded. The food was better the staff was more attentive, worth at least a 3 star review. But now ... it's just sad. Let's start at the beginning . . . I wanted to come here because I remembered it was a decent place for getting Mexican Inspired food. I haven't been here for ages so I thought we'd give it a try on a Saturday night. I called ahead and asked how long is the wait for a party of two. I was told 30-40 minutes and we could not make reservations over the phone, first come first serve. (BTW take out orders are not made over the phone, you must order from the restaurant) Ok fine with us. When we got there, I was told the wait was 5 minutes . . . hmm sounds better, but I wonder what happened during the time between when I called 10 minutes ago and now. As I was sitting down a couple came in and was told the same thing 5 minutes . . . but were shortly ushered in ahead of us ... I thought that was strange since I put my name in first .. but oh well, we waited 5 minutes and were seated inside. WOW things have changed ... It was very nice inside ... well decorated. This is the only nice thing about El Serrano's folks, as you walk in ... it looks ... NiCE. It's only goes downhill from here. As we were being seated we realized not only how packed it was, but the tables are so close together it is uncomfortable. I am not kidding... when the table across from us was getting up to leave, the man's chair fell backward and smashed against our table. Other than being kind of awkward we were lucky to not have our drinks on that side of the table and/or our hands/limbs where the chair fell. SOo it took 30 minutes for our food, and in the meantime we ordered margarita's ... the 1800 house Margarita's .. they were the WORST !! MY mother finished hers in less than 3 minutes and said it was like drinking a $7 glass of juice with lots of ice. . . I agree, I tasted no alcohol at all, it was all sweet and sour mix ... really gross. Our meals came and were completely tasteless. "filler" stuff, with lots of sour cream and cheese and salsa. The enchilada didn't taste like anything. My mother's burrito grande was cold and stuffed mostly with cream cheese ... eww. If you are new to the area and are looking for mexican style food.. do not be fooled by the "cool" decorations and hip atmosphere. Lancaster isn't really known for it's amazing Latin food, but there are much MUCH better options than this .. (check out La Cocina for example) P.S. On my way out I saw the valet boy checking to see if just hit another car as he was either parking or backing out .... YIKES !!!
(1)
Paul T.
My girlfriend recommended this restaurant, and after my visit, I have to agree. The decor is beautiful, and the food was scrumptious. I had never had a peruvian meal before, so I didn't recognize too many things on the menu, so I decided to try the tacu tacu. It was delicious. What a great new experience. By the time we left the restaurant was pretty packed. I recommend getting there early. I think we got there around 5pm.
(4)
Dana S.
My husband and I used to eat here quite often after we built our house in the Hershey area in 2005, but our visits started tapering off within the past few years, so we decided to go back recently since it had been about a year. Unfortunately, we were reminded of why we have been coming less often and are at the point where we are questioning if we will ever go back now. On this visit, we were told the wait would be about 20-25 minutes, so we gave our name and cell phone number and went over to the bar area to order drinks and wait. After about 45 minutes, and becoming a little suspicious when all the people around us had been called that we were sure arrived after us, we checked with the front and all of a sudden they had a table open up right away. What a coincidence! (Not) Our favorite is the pollo fundito, and that was good, but I do question the price of $14 for chicken and cheese grilled in a burrito. After we ate and the bill came, I noticed that I was charged $2 for my hot tea, which I had already paid for at the bar and carried over with me, and when I asked the waitress about it, she said that they charge for refills on hot tea. (Seriously? a Lipton tea bag and hot water???) I was also a little annoyed that they usually put the tea in a full size glass, but the guy at the bar said they were out, so he had to put it in one of those very small saucer-like coffee cups, so of course it was gone and I needed another quickly. Little annoyances like this are the norm for what we've experienced within the past few years, so I think we're pretty much done with El Serrano for the moment.
(2)
Philip M.
Nice setting but a bit over priced with food that felt mediocre. I for sure enjoyed my experience but have had better Mexican downtown. Skip it... save money and hit la cocina on king st for a taste treat delight
(3)
Chris B.
Went there about a month ago. Didn't understand what all the hype was about. Service was absolutely deplorable. The food was not good. My fajitas were bland and mostly just onions. Not much chicken or even peppers. El Rodeo may not have the atmosphere but I'll take their food over this place any day!
(2)
Justin S.
Such great Peruvian food, but terrible margaritas. I've now been here 10x, and sadly cannot go back due to the lame amount of tequila and inconsistency on every margarita on the menu. Not to mention the poor attitude of the staff after you inform them it's not made properly. Sorry El Serrano, the Margarita's suck. I hope you improve in this area. Feel free to contact me if you do. I'll be your best customer. P.S. It's not about the money, but why would you charge me for an extra 8 tablespoons of salsa? Tomato, onion and cilantro prices must be high these days? :) No offense, just hoping you improve.
(2)
Ashley Z.
for me, el serrano is what mexican food tastes like. even when i got mexican food in texas i didn't think it met the standards of el serrano! they definitely blow the local competition out of the water. they have the best chips and salsa of any place i've been to. their burritos, tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, taco salad - all are great. service at both the lancaster and york locations has been outstanding. the lancaster location is a vastly superior building, much larger and really intricate carvings, woodwork, and better ambiance. they also have a full bar.
(4)
Leslie E.
Today is the second time we have been to El Serrano. The first time was in February with a group of about 15 friends, this time, just me and the husband. I always thought that it was going to be expensive.. but I was WRONG. So, let's back track to February. Give or take about 15 friends get together and the special birthday gal picks El Serrano. Now I always wanted to go, but as beautiful as the place looks on the outside and from their website I thought.. damn that will be expensive. But... we went. So I jumped in to cover us and another couple thinking.. here we go with a big big $$$. I WAS WRONG!!! First of all the place is beautiful. It really is an experience. We heard some music and had a drink at the beautiful bar area before our table was ready. I could spend an hour describing how awesome it was.. but I don't have time and I just want to make a good point. The food was great. The service was wonderful, the whole experience was one I would recommend to anyone. The best news for that Feb trip was that 4 people on my tab, with dinners and drinks I thought here we go.. but believe it or not.. under $100!!!!! Fast forward to today. We had an awesome pre-paid deal and dinner today was again outstanding. The food is so flavorful and CLEAN tasting. It was beautiful weather today and the many windows left in great natural light. We went a little early, around 5 so it was just starting to get a little busy. Just such a great place! The prices are great even if you don't have any special coupons but if you keep an eye on the local coupon clipper magazines or apps on your phone you might come across some super duper great deals that makes going there just the best thing! There are few restaurants that I really would feel like the real super duper need to tell everyone about but I def feel like I need to share this because if you are like me and you think the place is going to be expensive.. trust me it is worth a visit to prove you wrong. Not expensive and super awesome!
(5)
M. D.
Great food, fantastic building and decent service. What a great find in Lancaster of all places?! We've been coming to Lancaster for many years and never knew about this place - thanks Yelp friends! I was shocked that with so many reviews there are so few photos - but after visiting I know why - it's dark inside and photos don't show up. It creates a romantic feeling. It is worth it and we'll be back many times in the future I'm sure!
(4)
Abdul M.
Excellent Peruvian ceviche and tapas. Eat upstairs not downstairs. There are 3 diff restaurants in this building. You want upstairs.
(5)
Chris I.
I went to El Serrano this past weekend and had an OKAY experience. The atmosphere is very nice and the place was very busy. Typically a good sign. We were seated relatively quickly and enjoyed the chips and salsa. I have a saltier pallet, so I didn't mind that the salsa was pretty salty. Service was decent, margarita with fresh juices was excellent. Our entrees were just okay. Steak fajitas were nothing to rave about and the Peruvian dish with tilapia and crab was a little lack luster. Finished the night off with desserts, the fried ice cream was delicious, but in all I felt everything was a bit overpriced. For $70 for two people, I expected to be wowed. That didn't happen
(3)
Justin Y.
This has been a standby as a favorite restaurant when I am in town. After having lived in Peru for a few years it's nice to have familiar dishes. After having several great experiences over the years some friends and I went for dinner and to celebrate a few birthday's, and unfortunately it seems my luck at El Serrano has ended. We were greeted only after the hostess sorted out what must have been a Rubik's cube under the hostess stand, as she finally popped up and took our name. A 20-25 minute wait certainly isn't unreasonable for a table of 5 so we opted for waiting by the bar. I must admit I get a bit excited by the chance to order a Pisco Sour, so I took advantage of the opportunity. I must admit however, that I've never in my life seen a Pisco Sour made with Egg Beater's-- which certainly was a shock. The friendly bartender confirmed they aren't allowed to serve raw egg at the bar and this was their concession to legal constraints. Still gross, but allowable I suppose. After over an hour the eery feeling crept in that we had been forgotten, which was confirmed by the bartender looking at our pager number and going to the hostess stand. With over 1/3 of the restaurant completely empty and none of us jumping at the chance for another drink, he must have suggested they find us a table. We all ordered and had a pleasant enough dinner. Food quality was good, portion sizes were hearty. I asked if they had hot sauce though and our cheery server said absolutely and brought me some. It wasn't particularly flavorful or hot, but it was fine. She made no mention that it would come at a cost of $1.50, the first time I've been charged for a condiment outside of Europe. Maybe El Serrano is just that hip now. As we had 2 people who shared a birthday within days, and the chance to embarrass a friend via live music is too much to relinquish, I asked if there was anything they did for such occasions. Our server was quick to check and soon we were greeted by a small plate with a sparkler and a jolly voice with accompanying guitar. It was all you could hope for. With the small fire extinguished we passed around the 'dessert' to share with the table. Many of us must have seen one of those gold hunting shows on Discovery Channel as we tried to move the whipped cream aside to partake in what we assumed would be the ice cream treasure below. Alas we were greeted with just a giant pile of whipped cream masterfully covered with chocolate sauce, accompanied by a stale tortilla. A lovely gesture of a birthday gift, however you can't help but feel they couldn't care less for a patron with such a dish. Perhaps we should have just ordered a dessert after all. Overall a decent experience, though out of principle I find it offensive to charge someone 10% of their meal cost for a condiment without prior warning, and I would definitely opt for any dessert over their complimentary pile of saggy whipped cream. If I go back I hope they at least don't forget about seating me so I don't have to wait as long for the decent food, and later (possible) disappointments. However, I'm told there's many new Latin Food options opening up, so I'll likely take my business elsewhere.
(2)
Clea M.
Although my boyfriend is from Lancaster and we've been dating for over 3 years, we never ventured into El Serrano together because it seemed expensive. Now I'm upset I didn't come here sooner, because the food is fantastic and well worth the prices (which, if you're eating vegetarian here, are not that bad!) I had the tacu-tacu, which was delicious. Some kind of big rectangular rice, beans and egg patty...hard to describe, but the waiter perked up when I ordered that dish and said it was great. Their chips and salsa are also very good, and I also want to comment on the seating- this place was packed when we went, but the side "booths" offer a very intimate dining experience. I also had some of my boyfriend's chiles rellenos. I've never had it before so I can't compare it to anything else, but man was it tasty. Doughy, cheesy, slightly spicy- mmm! I'll definitely be back, mainly because the food is very unique (for the area) and the whole vegetarian menu looks fantastic.
(5)
Craig H.
It's okay but the menu is pretty limited and the food lacks the zing you expect on Mexican cuisine. We had quessadilas and chimichanga. The former was bland and the later, though well stuffed, didn't show much evidence of Mexican flavors. Even the salsa was pretty plain. The decor is nice bit needs a freshmen up. The service was pleasant.
(2)
John R.
This place is awesome. Great food and environment. The level of detail inside is amazing. The owner is a super friendly guy and will take you on a tour of the building if you ask him. He designed the place himself.
(5)
Lori J.
I tried this for a second time. The first time gave me a bit of a belly ache. Second time, had nachos grande to start, just a giant pile of stuff. Everything was unidentifiable, onions, tomatoes, beans, ground beef, a couple of nachos that were overwhelmed under the mess. Not yummy. My daughter had a chimichanga, and I had enchiladas. Both were pretty decent, the rice that accompanied it was ok. But same as the first time I went home and a few hours later I was nauseous. Maybe to much oil or too many onions. I gave it a second shot and they didn't redeem themselves, so this was my last time. Next time I am going to try Carlos & charlies, from what I hear it may be a better experience. I'll let you know.
(2)
Jeremy J.
There is a very pretty fountain. I like the live music. There is very good guacamole. Salsa is excellent too. I liked my pollo fundito dish. You should go here. - written by my 7 year old.
(4)
Prakash S.
The best Mexican restaurant in all Lancaster. I would even say that this is definately one of the top 10 restaurants in Lancaster! Great food, friendly prompt service, lovely atmousphere. Nice bar & drinks too. We always hit this place at least once per visit to Lancaster.
(5)
Hannah D.
You really cannot describe how beautiful this restaurant is. It looks like an old Spanish monastery. The food was fantastic. I had some of the best fajitas I have ever had. Stellar service and great margaritas!
(5)
Keith H.
This is the 3rd time I have been to El Serrano. My wife loves this restaurant and that is the only reason I have been back multiple times. If I would have rated this restaurant after either of my first trips it would have gotten a one star. I have to give credit to El Serrano on this trip. My food was finally good! For starters we just stuck with the complimentary chips and dips. But be warned, if you ask for more chips their is a $2 fee which is ridiculous! For dinner I had the taco salad with chicken. I rarely order salads at restaurants, especially a Mexican restaurant. The only reason I did was because I have had their burritos and other Mexican food on prior trips and thought they were horrible. I figured they could not mess up a salad. I was pleasantly surprised to find the salad was excellent! The mix of ingredients had a nice balance with the chicken. I am not sure what the dressing was but it was very tasty. It comes served in a fried tortilla shell which made for a nice pairing. I am glad I finally found something on the menu that I can eat when my wife gets a craving to go back to El Serrano. The low rating is due to the combined experience of the three trips I have had to the restaurant. PS: I am forced to continue to tell my wife the restaurant is good so she does not feel bad about asking me to go........man I hope she does not read this!
(2)
Tony W.
Not as good as reviews make it sound. In my families opinion average. Nice place, decent food.
(3)
Steve P.
Latest review: I did recently return for another visit. The meal I had was fine, very tasty, and was cooked to my liking. I do think the portions were rather small for the price. However my biggest problem was the crowds and long waits to be seated. Reminds me of Olive Garden. I realize as they are popular, this is going to be a constant scenario. Now I read in the latest Board of Health inspection they were written up for keeping their clean dish storage on the floor! That doesn't do much for my appetite.
(1)
Ashley H.
We came here after being told it was Mexican food, which it isn't. It's Peruvian food fyi. That being said, the food is very good. My husband is especially fond of their pork chops with grilled pineapple. We've been here numerous times and have always left happy.
Emerging from the lofty green valleys of Lancaster county is an unexpected but ethereal find, El Serrano! When in town to visit the love interest's family, El Serrano offers a Peruvian/Mexican sojourn with promises of generously proportioned glasses of sangria and my favorite Peruvian delicacy, Lomo Saltado. The palatial architechture and furnishings, coupled with the revered Lancaster county hospitality makes El Serrano my first choice for dining whilst in the area.
(4)
Kacey K.
Wow! I visited the new tapas restaurant in El Serrano called "Culturas" when I was in town a few weeks ago and it was incredible! My mom and I shared 6 tapas and I was highly impressed by the quality of the food. The chicken ceviche, fried avocado and tomato mozzarella salads were our faves. They were pretty big portions. In addition, there was a fun martini list and plenty of reasonable wines by the glass. I hadn't been here in years and couldn't believe how huge it was! It is very resort - like. The original El Serrano is downstairs, and the new "Culturas" is upstairs, overlooking a cute little garden where there in an outdoor bar area with some people milling around. It's all very grand. Very unexpected for Lancaster. Food, Service, Ambiance - all excellent. Highly Recommended.
(5)
Mike M.
The Peruvian food is very good, I have had the pork chops and they are really good. Also have had the steak fajitas, and they are made with real steak. Nachos are really good - excellent ingredients, vs. the normal nacho dish. My wife loves their sangria and they have a good beer selection. If they are crowded there is an option to go to the Tapas restaurant upstairs - little more expensive, but also great food
(4)
Bob W.
First time here, heard it was good. We loved the food and the atmosphere. We will be back!
(5)
Christopher P.
This is the best Mexican restaurant in the area. I really like the steak dinner with onions and tomatoes. I am not sure what it is called. I think it is the most expensive dish on the menu but it really isn't that expensive if I can recall. The salsa is very good as well the margaritas. Watch your drinking or your bar tab will cost double your meal in no time. lol Just a little info about the place. Believe it or not, it used to be a pretty hot club. If you look closely, you will see the middle of the restaurant used to be the dance floor and you will see the speakers hanging accordingly and you may also recognize the DJ booth which is an office now I think with a window looking out. Very well decorated in there now with custom wood work which was not there before. Awesome place to take a loved one or a date. The food comes out pretty fast as well. It will be very busy on the weekends so be aware of that. When I am in town and crave Mexican food, this is my spot to go to. If you have not tried it, I highly recommend it!
(5)
lee c.
This place is not Mexican. At least I have to pretend that. It does have all the usual TexMex burrito/enchilada stuff that better left to the bros, but I came here to get Peruvian food. Indeed, a friend from work who is from Peru, recommended this place and several dishes. The plates I and my date got were Ceviche, Tacu Tacu, and Lomo Saltado. I've never had any of these before and they were so good. For those of you like me who have never heard of these before here's the rundown. Ceviche is raw fish cooked in very acidic citrus sauce. Its really spicy too. Tacu Tacu is traditionally just mashed up leftovers. This dish was more like a latin-ized fried rice then notched up for a nice restaurant, and it was very good as well. Finally the Lomo Saltado was this crazy salad-like amalgamation with FRENCH FRIES, onions, and filet mignon tips. It was extremely good. I highly recommend this place. It wasn't too badly priced for the size and quality of the dishes. Also the atmosphere was very relaxing and enjoyable. Oh and they have a gorgeous bar with great drinks.
(4)
george a.
Huge is an understatement.. ---------- FOOD: We were asked upon entering weather we wanted the regular restaurant or the new tapas restaurant upstairs. we chose tapas and what a treat it was! Similar to dim sum, you get to choose a bunch of small dishes and share with your partner. They bring them out one at a time like courses in a huge meal. It was certainly a unique experience and the food was awesome. DECOR: The is the biggest stinkin' restaurant ive ever been in. You cant see all the tables with all the different levels, nooks and crannies. We even got to take an elevator to the tapas room! And its a really beautiful place too. Pretty much wherever you are, youre next to a window. Ours overlooks a courtyard with a fountain and it looks like you can dine outside in summer. SERVICE: Great. Theres lots of people standing around waiting to help. They guided us to the elevator, met us at the top, led us to a table and then bring you food until you leave. ---------- WOULD I GO BACK? Darn right! My only issue was leaving. Its such a big place that it can be maze like and hard to find the exit. Also, because of the size of the restaurant, the parking lot is small. But everything else is soo awesome.
(4)
Rick H.
Ok, this is a "Mexican" restaurant, owned and run by a Peruvian family. So, there are plenty of standard Mex dishes, but try the Peruvian dishes. ask server about them, and about the specials. we go there, and get the Peruvian items. tasty. new, upstairs tapas bar. good. weekends, and some weekday nites, the place gets packed. so, plan to wait some. they have a couple of bars, so you can have a drink while a table opens up. The place is big, so tables move pretty quick. a good south american food place.
(3)
Robert C.
This place is great,and reasonable, people complain about lines and waiting, HELLO there is a reason for that, great meals at a good price = great resturant and lines. If you don't like lines and waiting there is always TACO BELL....LOL
(5)
Susan F.
El Serrano is my favorite restaurant in Lancaster County! I will start out by explaining that I actually do not like Latin cuisine normally. I visit El Serrano at least twice a month, and 90% of the time I have the Pollo Fundido. They also have a broad selection of other Peruvian dishes that are equally as delicious. El Serrano also has the best salsa & guacamole bar none. The ambiance is romantic and warm.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
great food i have been here many times & will continue to go back over & over again very nice atmosphere, hand carved doors & chairs etc i highly recommend this place!
(4)
Samantha M.
Everyone loves this place for MExican - it's nicer on the inside than it look slike on the outside, and i think it's a great bargain. also the chimichunga is great, as well as the artichokes
(3)
Jill H.
I don't enjoy their Mexican food; instead I always order the Peruvian classic Lomo Saltado. You should try it!!!
(4)
Jazmine D.
I had heard that food in Lancaster was nothing special (this coming from a native). I can't speak for the rest, but El Serrano is certainly an exception. We went on a Friday night and called ahead to see if we needed reservations. They don't take them but the lady advised that during their peak hours (6-9), it was usually no more than a 30 min wait. We were seated right away. The decor is crazy! You can tell that it was just really thought-out-- the wooden chairs have the restaurant's name engraved into them! I ordered a Peruvian Margarita and my sister got the Red Sangria. I had never tried Pisco before, but it was awesome! The cinnamon on top really makes the drink. Had a sip of my sister's sangria and (even though im not a fan of red wine), I loved it! We ordered Papa a la Huancaina for an appetizer to share, my brother and I got the Mixto Limeno and my sister got the Lomo Saltado. I guess now would be a good time to say that I'm Peruvian. I've tasted good, authentic, your-mom-could-have-made-it Peruvian food and I've tasted bad/imitation/cafeteria-grade Peruvian food. And I'll admit, my expectations weren't all that high. I mean, good Peruvian food in the middle of Amish country is not exactly likely. I was blown away. The presentation alone was awesome. When my mom has guests over she has this way of presenting the rice in a special way-- a little Peruvian trick. They do the same thing at El Serrano. The Tilapia in the Mixto was so tender and the rice was cooked perfectly (good white rice is the key to any decent Peruvian dish). I tasted my sister's Lomo and it was seasoned so well. We both agreed that it was even better than my mom's. The only thing missing was banana. We always slice banana over our Lomo at home. My sister decided to just ask if they had one in the back. Our server, Julia, said she didn't know if they had any but she'd look. Ten minutes later she comes back with 2 bananas. She had searched high and low and finally found some upstairs! For their great customer service alone, I knew that I had to review this restaurant and sing its praises. Never got to taste the Papa a la Huancaina (Julia apologized once she brought our entrees. she had completely forgotten, but the food came so quickly that it worked out better that way.), but I have no doubt that it must taste as amazing as the rest of their Peruvian cuisine. All in all, El Serrano is a pleasant surprise-- a little ethnic gem hidden in Lancaster, of all places. WE WILL BE BACK!
(5)
Sara E.
This has to be one of my local favorites. I actually prefer lunch here, as the waitstaff is consistent and the management, despite this being a larger operation, will recognize you. The salsa is to die for, the chips homemade, and the Mexican dishes are well-prepared and beautifully portioned. Try the fried ice cream for dessert. Also, this place is great for birthdays and anniversaries as well as your regular lunch or dinner out. It's a beautiful atmosphere, and I can't wait to try their other restaurants connected with it.
(4)
Fred L.
I admit I had mixed expectations about Mexican food in Lancaster, PA, but our host swore by it and the food was good. 1. AMBIANCE. This is a huge facility done up very authentically in true Mexican style. There's a big courtyard room and the place was nice. 2. APPETIZERS. The appetizer list at dinner was a little thin compared to what I'm used to seeing. We had the guacamole, which was good. 3. CHIPS AND SALSA. Very good quality, freshly made chips and spicy salsa. 4. ENTREE. My enchiladas were surprisingly good. The sauce was very tangy and the chicken had some kick to it. The cheese enchilada would stack up against the best TexMex enchiladas I've ever had in Dallas, so kudos to them on the recipe and preparation. 5. MARGARITA. It was pretty solid. I had the house, they do suffer from the same 'Margarita Explosion' that seems to be infecting all Mexican food places now-a-days. Why do we need six varieties of Margarita? There should only be two; salt or no salt. The meal was good, the company was pleasant and I'd definitely go back. NOTE: I have Celiac disease and follow a gluten / wheat free diet. As usual, no issues with Mexican food, although I did ask about the enchilada sauce and it was okay.
(3)
Doug S.
I would not consider visiting Lancaster without dinner at El Serrano. This place is huge, first of all with really impressive decor...even the building itself looks awesome from the outside. The chips and salsa are very good (a must for me) and I love the tacu tacu with chicken. Its a Peruvian dish that i'd never heard of before or ever seen anywhere else but it rocks. I mean, I live in the NYC area and yet I have to come to Central PA for this great dish. Those of you who reside in the area should consider yourselves lucky.
(5)
Frank P.
This would be a decent Mexican/South American restaurant anywhere; for Lancaster, it's excellent. Restaurant really looks the part, and the food lives up to the looks. Sangria was yummy (tiny bits of diced apple - a nice touch), ceviche was pleasantly spicy, and my entree (lomo saltado) was superb. Waitress was pleasant, efficient, and didn't hesitate to move us to a quieter spot when we requested it. (Live music on weekends can be a bit loud when you're next to the performer... but the booths are quiet.) Review is based on one visit, and they weren't busy... but I want to go back. Our only complaint: nothing was spicy except the ceviche, not even the salsa.. a bit disappointing for chile heads. One other thing: every time a sizzling, steaming fajita platter went by we'd both stop and inhale. I hope the fajitas' flavor lives up to the aroma, because they smelled heavenly.
(4)
Jason E.
Superb atmosphere. You feel like you've arrived at a Hacienda. Food ranges from so so to superb. Try the pork chops....I also quite liked the ceviche even though I'm not the biggest seafood fan. I'd say the South American cuisine may be a better choice over the mexican entrees. Nice place to bring the in-laws or such for a semi-formal dinner outing. *** Not sure if this is the same as the El Serrano in York. If so, will have to check it out. As the limiting factor was driving out to Lancaster.
(4)
Carrie Y.
Every visit to El Serrano is a pleasant experience. The food and service are great, and the interior is lovely.
(4)
Steve C.
Very good. But I'd have liked a larger dinner portion.
(4)
Alex Z.
This is a very large restaurant. It has a nice atmosphere; the atmosphere is a bit unusual. Part of it looks like it used to be a dance club. There are different levels...some of them typical of an American Mexican restaurant but others more open...it's slightly classy, but slightly weird. There is a new addition--this place just keeps getting larger and larger. They have live music on some nights, but I generally try to avoid it because it's loud and not really my style. The food here is unauthentic, but good. This place is clearly a few steps up from the usual chi-chi's crap Mexican food. However, it's not real Mexican food...both the offerings and the food itself are more their own thing than they are Mexican food. There is Peruvian cuisine on the menu too, but from my experience, it is quite bland. My main complaint about this place is that there is not much variety to the menu. Many of the items are similar and there are a ton of things that just aren't on the menu. I can enjoy going here once every six months at most; any more often and I quickly get sick of it.
(4)
Rob H.
Recent trips show a good range of classics. Though not traditional Mexican the dishes, particularly tacu tacu (a bean and egg and rice brick with green hot sauce), are distinct and delicious. The salsa rocks but I make better guac at home.
(3)
Shawn W.
This has been a favorite of my wife and i since our dating days. The atmosphere is really elegant and inviting. We usually split a platter between the two us with 2 glasses of their homemade Sangria. (it is amazing!) The servers are really great and the food is never disappointing. It is the perfect addition to a date night!
(5)
William S.
The food was definitely very good (would give it a 4.5), but El Serrano won't get more than three stars from me because of the interior decor, the service, and the prices. I ordered the Lomo Saltado because I wanted to compare dishes to other Peruvian restaurants I've visited, and was impressed. It was a good meal. However, in no way is the dish deserving of a $20 price tag. Other restaurants in town offer the same dish for $10 - $15 and are of comparable quality. For $20 I was expecting something amazing, not simply "a very good Lomo." The higher price probably results from the garish interior decor, which is cavernous and reminds one of eating in a pavilion at Epcot. Service was passable but I had to flag my waitress down a couple of times to refill my water. If this were the only Peruvian and/or South American restaurant in town, I'd probably give it five stars. But with such selection, why go here when other places offer a more enjoyable experience, comparable dishes, and much cheaper prices?
(3)
Erin S.
We have had lunch and dinner at this spot three times over the last year. The first two times we experienced horrible service but good food. Today we went back with our kids for lunch and were very upset. Not only was the server nonexistent but the food was not good at all. It took 25 minutes to get our check and the waitress at no time made any attempt to apologize even though it was a ridiculous wait. No one wants to sit theory at two hour lunch with two small kids. Overall this spot is a disaster.
(2)
Jim H.
WORTH THE WAIT You might have to wait to be seated--but it's worth it! Whether for a casual dinner or special evening out, thi is the place to go.
(5)
Seneca O.
This is not a Chi-chi's type restaurant, so if that's what you're looking for, I'd suggest On The Border. El Serrano is one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever seen architecture-wise - I want to take pictures every time I'm there! The service is attentive and friendly, and the food is delicious. They serve some things that would be familiar to Americans, like fajitas and nachos, but also a wide variety of Peruvian goodness I recommend you try! Also, upstairs is the Tapas restaurant, and it is excellent! A bit pricey, but seriously worth saving up for - you each get 3 or 4 Tapas and (if you're like my family) share with each other - these exquisite little dishes will make for a great night out with anybody! Their drink selection is vast and impressive, during the summer they have an outdoor courtyard bar which is magazine-worthy, and their desserts are delicious as well.
(5)
Rob S.
Fairly good food all things considered.
(3)
C. M.
Excellent Peruvian/Latin American food in an astonishing atmosphere. Perfect for a romantic dinner, it's one of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster.
(5)
Kevin H.
Very nice Latin find in Lancaster, PA. The salsa that came with our meal was very fresh, and very flavorful. I ordered the Lomo Saltado with beef. It was quite frankly the best meal that I have had in weeks. The seasoning brought this dish so much life (I definitely detected some cumin). I was so excited for every bite. The next time I come to Lancaster, I will return for this dish. My wife had the Pollo Fundido. It was good, not great. I had to try and conceal my enjoyment while eating my ridiculously awesome plato de comida. The service was great, everyone was very friendly. The restaurant itself was gorgeous both inside and out. There was also some live music which was nice. When they went to the canned music, it was too loud. That was my only real complaint. Come to El Serrano, and have a nice night out!
(4)
Skip B.
This is my favorite mexican restaurant in Lancaster. It goes beyond your basic burritos, enchiladas and chimichangas. It has them, but it is so much more. I usually get their beef tenderloin fajitas but everything I have tried has been good. Shrimp with garlic sauce is my favorite appetizer. Good margaritas, good deserts and reasonable prices for the quality If somebody ask me where to to for Mexican in Lancaster El Serrano is what I tell them.
(4)
Ms G.
The chicken fajitas here are amazing! Delicious! They are very reasonably priced. It's a unique, vibrant atmosphere (inside and outdoor seating). My husband and I come here often! We've always had excellent service and food! We try to do lunch or an early dinner to beat the crowds on weekends.
(5)
Shawn B.
Excellent excellent excellent!!! The host staff was friendly and inviting. The server was also super friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is absolutely outstanding. The salsa is a beautiful red and has just the right amount of onions and cilantro. I was absolutely blown away by the beef Lomo Saltado. I will remember that dish for a long time.
(5)
Daphne M.
Never a bad meal! Love the tapas restaurant too! I have been there many times. Margaritas are really good!
(5)
Brandon H.
Love it here. Chicken fajitas with large side of guac is all you need. Well, maybe try some of the caliente sauce. Ambiance is incredible most of the time. Sometimes hard to find parking.
(5)
Ashley N.
We came here on a Friday evening around 9:30. My husband had the shrimp fajitas which were good. Nothing to brag about. The shrimp were large which made up for the small portion of them which was about enough for two tortillas. I had the El Bandito with chicken and it was very flavorful and spicy, which I liked. We also ordered fresh guacamole and thought it was rather bland, and the same could be said about their salsa.
(3)
Kevin B.
Here we go again. Another Mexican/Latin flavor Restaraunt. Overall the food was good and on par with all the other places we frequent. But...still can't find the right sangria. For 32.00 a carafe....I would give the sangria a "B" rating. We found it way too expensive for the amount given. Would definitely come back but not for the drinks. Our bill was 64.00 for two dinner and chips and guacamole but half that bill was the carafe. That's a game changer
(4)
Rob W.
The waitress Esther was awesome and was on top of things the whole time! I'm from Tx and this is the only restaurant in Lancaster that has good Mexican food. We had a group and it was great!!
(5)
Al T.
This restaurant hits on all cylinders. The attention to detail is beyond impressive. Each view of the various dining rooms in this castle like space is awesome. Service was extremely attentive and professional. Our server offered to give us a tour of the building inclusive of the various private dining areas and upper level tapas bar. We met the owner during the tour and were extremely impressed to learn that employees have a gym on the premises. The network of craftsmen that the owner met abroad lend there respective crafts to the surroundings. Brass bars , wood carved chairs etc. Food was fantastic and I expect to become a regular here. The spicues and variety of South American flavors the menu offers is phenomenal. Great job El Serrano you are an unexpected delight to all . Bravo to the owner for pushing the enevople and delivering a 5 star delight.
(5)
A H.
So I went here on a Saturday night...expecting at least a half an hour wait..but we got seated right away, which was great. Really love the atmosphere of this place.. outside of this place reminds me of someone's mansion in Mexico... I'll be honest the food was avaerage to me...but the drink I had was very good, I didn't feel like I was getting jyped on alcohol..lol This is def a go to Latin restaurant if you want something a little more special than your typical Mex spot...I will be back!
(5)
Tiffany C.
My hubby and I have been coming here for several years now and are never disappointed! The house made salsa is fantastic as are the margaritas! I always get the chicken fajitas because they are some of the best I've ever had flavor wise. If I have one criticism with regard to the fajitas it would be that while they're huge on flavor, they tend to be heavy on the veg and a little light on the meat. All in all this place is great and definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Daniel R.
Excellent food, good atmosphere and pleasant staff. Would love to go back on a day when they have live music. The talapia with spinach and lentils was amazing and the appetizer nachos were HUGE.
(4)
Michael C.
Came to Lancaster to experience the Amish. The fiance brought me to El Serrano, which I was skeptical of because it's Pennsylvania, and after being born and raised in southern California, I just assume I won't be able to find "real" South American food. Turns out, it's legitimate Peruvian, and I was quite amazed. I'm not sure why you go to this place for Mexican, because the specialty is Peruvian, and it's amazing. The waitress was super helpful, and we had no complaints. I had the Mixto Limeño, which was light, but super tasty. My fiance had the Lomo Saltado, which was classic Peruvian, and also tasted great.
(5)
Drew K.
Left full and content! Had a large group and Esther treated us like Gems! I had the Steak fajitas and was not disappointed.
(5)
Barry G.
Crowded but we were seated immediately. The sights, the smells, the drinks.So authentic! Loved it. Definitely would go back. Great way to celebrate national magarita day.
(5)
Greg K.
I love El Serrano! This is a mash-up of Peruvian and Mexican... and maybe some interesting takes on other American and Central American fare. It will probably have something to offer everyone and anyone who likes Hispanic-themed food. Lots of seating, but will sometimes sit in the bar area just to switch it up. The building is an interesting renovation (I believe) of some old Columbia Ave home, and there are other options with the "restaurant-within-a-restaurant" for the initiated. One-star off for the ongoing parking issues and the sometimes spotty service (which is more the exception than the rule and often depends on how busy they are, which is usually). These are the only true negative things to say.
I had the bandito which was spicy but not abusively hot by any means. My wife had the lomo saltado (chicken) which was excellent. I love this place.
(5)
Damian P.
This place is large and spacious, yet still be prepared to wait for a table - it's popular. Outdoor courtyard space is impressive. The flan was incredibly good.
(3)
CJ C.
Love this restaurant! Great food and great service. They always work hard to seat people as quickly as possible even when they are very busy.
(5)
Stephy S.
I would give the food a 3.0-3.5, but the actual restaurant has a spacious, great feel that i'd give the overall experience a 4. We were there for lunch. They start you off with complimentary chips and salsa, which is a nice touch. I got the chimichanga (w/ ground beef) and my date ordered the Lomo Saltado (beef tenderloin tips). The food was pretty good, especially for not being in a major city (I'm use to the great restaurants of Philadelphia). We had the flan, which is homemade and I'd recommend getting if you like flan (has a light caramel taste). I would definitely come back again when back in Lancaster county. Very close to the Tanger Outlets and movie theatre :)
(4)
Erik C.
As most have mentioned, this place is massive. It could hold the Alamo, a Barnstormers game, and an Elton John concert simultaneously. We came on a Sunday afternoon, around 2PM, so were greeted with absolutely no wait, and no crowd whatsoever. When we sat, we immediately received some warm, tasty chips and cold salsa (I prefer my salsa cold... some do, some don't, some don't bother themselves with such trivialities). Together, it was a welcomed appetizer. They do a good job here, and sometimes connoisseurs of Latin American cuisine will use this as a benchmark. I happen to be one of them. My wife ordered the El Serrano combo, which had a soft taco, a "mini-chimichanga", and a cheese enchilada. It also had rice and beans. I partook in the enchilada plate (my usual "gateway dish" for any Mexican joint... if they do good enchiladas, they usually will be decent on other dishes), which had two shredded beef-filled corn tortillas covered in ranchero sauce, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo. It also had a side of rice and beans. The food was excellent. This will always be subjective, but growing up in west Texas, living in Austin later on (a haven for great Mexican food), and having the stuff in most of the other states in the Union, I was impressed. My wife raved about her dish as well. The service was very good. Now, it wasn't busy at all, but the waiter was as attentive as he needed to be without smothering us. He was very knowledgeable about the menu, smiled, and gave an overall impression that he actually cared about the place and its customers. A refreshing change from the usual "here's your Coke, where's my 10 bucks" attitude at some places. Next trip, I'll dig in to some Peruvian offerings. Maybe some chuletas or lomito is in order. (*** To the 21-year old "alcohol expert" who gave the restaurant 2 stars despite praising the food, due to his margarita not having enough tequila: Get over yourself.)
(4)
Kelly J.
I am on a business trip to Lancaster, PA. My coworker and I stopped here for lunch. Overall, the food was decent. I found it odd that the guacamole was priced at "market price" and the market price for avocado, onion, tomato and some spices can't vary all that much. I enjoyed my Minichanga. My coworker ordered a side of beans and received a huge bowl. That was a little excessive. He also requested sour cream that was never brought out to him. I wish they hadn't set us at the first table you saw after you walked in the restaurant. Every time anyone entered or exited, we "enjoyed" an extended rush of freezing air from outside. I would not recommend this restaurant to any friends visiting Lancaster. But it wasn't so bad that I would actively avoid it, either.
(3)
John S.
Went here last Monday night for the first time. I visit Lancaster quite often and have been to many local restaurants. I ordered the Pollo le Parilla, which was marinated breast of chicken with white rice and steamed veggies. The chicken was very tasty and moist. Definitely worth a second visit.
(4)
Pamela B.
The food was outstanding. Unusual pairing of food but it works. Waitstaff was helpful and attentive.
(4)
Lisa E.
Went here after a long week (Friday evening) and was treated to a table in the courtyard. Lucky for us, a band was just getting started in the courtyard too. The host warned us about the noise-level, but it made the atmosphere so much fun! The overall look and feel of this place is absolutely overwhelming - and gorgeous! We sat down and ordered margaritas and fajitas - one chicken and the other shrimp. The fajitas came out sizzling and were accompanied by plenty of fillers, rice and beans. Everything was delicious! The margaritas were great too. Our server always made sure we had everything we needed and was quick to bring back our requests. Added bonus, while at El Serrano, I joined the loyalty club mentioned on the menu. The next day I received a $10 off coupon in my email. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Josh F.
Excellent food and a great atmosphere and great ambiance make this a 5 star place to eat! The chefs were able to accommodate my vegan diet quite easily, and the waitress was knowledgable about what came in each dish. The service was very friendly, and made for an enjoyable night.
(5)
Deepkamal K.
I visited twice to the restaurant as seeing all the reviews online. Experience for the first visit was excellent as per the wait time had to wait 90 minutes to get to the table. However, in the first visit it was just m wife and I. Second visit I took my whole family there thinking we will get the same experience. Let me begin by again breaking it down in pros and cons: Pros: - Place has excellent parking but on weekend it can be an issue - The place is decorated and excellent food. - Good vegetarian choices as well. Cons: - The floor is very dirty - Our wait time was 85 minutes to be exact. - During over visit, my mom slipped due to beans on the floor and fell on a chair. Due to that she got a jerk in her knee. We have made medical appointment with the doctor (will see how that goes) - Secondly, the first table we were given was not cleaned at all, the chairs had food on it and the floor had napkins, pieces of food, and ketchup..... - They had candle in the middle of the table which was not lit. Overall, the experience was worst. I have never had this bad experience at any restaurant of this type. We will never be going to this restaurant and warn other if you have a special thing planned for your loved once, do not go to this place.
(2)
Andrew C.
The best Mexican/Peruvian food in all of Lancaster. The fajitas are absolutely delicious. Typically, I think fajitas taste the same at most places, but these are above and beyond. Specially marinated in some sort of secret ingredient apparently. They might be my favorite meal. The service is great. For some reason, even the soda tastes especially good. And the complimentary chips and salsa is pretty good. And the atmosphere is great - just about everything in the restaurant is authentic Peruvian furniture. This is not cheap Mexican/Peruvian food, but it's well worth it.
(5)
Tracy D.
Mid-day on a Sunday drive. Hubby had the ranchero, which he liked after doctoring the blandish beans & rice with their pico de gallo and salsa. I had the Taco salad with chicken, good enough though the overall flavor was salt more than spice. Good service, decent prices.The decor is very beautifully carved woodwork, detailed metalwork, lovely. We'd return if we're in the area, bit wouldn't go out of our way, like we do for our favorite places.
(3)
Steve L.
Latin American fusion on some plates. Very authentic interior.... Lancaster? The goods: meats, meats on the bone, meats on a sizzling plate, and fish. Chips, salsa, sides including rice, sauces. Heck even the deserts were good. In fact the pork chops on the sizzle plate with pineapple is the tastiest simple thing I've had in a while. Yuca?! Value. The so so: Service, fast pace servers in a horse and buggy town is not gonna happen, we'll unless your at a truck stop diner of coarse. Plus the staff appeared very young, however it is farmland so they do know food.... That means if you slow down and think like a farmer you can get almost anything you want. What else is missing: Brunch time favs for the metros like bottomless mimosas? Nope, not here.. BUT the margaritas make up for the mimosas, leaving those tippers a bit tipsy from my observation. The bad?: Not much, the only real criticism I have worth listing in the bad section was a couple of gristle prices of tenderloin on my tenderloin platter. The rest were actually as tenderloin as expected. IF the plate was 7 bucks more I would have given this place 2 stars, but cost weighs in on the weight of the beef here. Will I go here again? Only if I'm in the area. BTW, I ate in the downstairs restaurant with the court.
(4)
Megan B.
Love this place! Awesome food and atmosphere. wish the drinks weren't so expensive but they are good! Haven't been able to go in a long time because of the pricey nature of the place but I still recommend a visit!
(5)
Elizabeth O.
Manuel Torres, owner, his daughter, Melanie, and Manuel Ayala, executive chef, were welcoming and made for an unforgettable Cinco de Mayo celebration. The live music kept us dancing in their large courtyard and their food is top-notch. I can't wait to go back for their tapas-style menu/events.
(5)
AJ B.
I want to give them a 4.5, the food is always above my expectations. I feel like the perfect time to come in is later in the night its a tad bit more relaxed and overall I just enjoy it better. The lighting and atmosphere are perfect for groups of friends or a date night. The only reason for the 4 is my server lacked a little and wasn't attentive to our drinks. We were greeted by 2 managers asking about our experience. The food was spot on I got the lomo saltado with beef it was flavorful and cooked properly to my request. I look forward to going back again soon.
(4)
Ted T.
Parking lot was packed when we arrived and I feared a long wait. But the restaurant is massive and we were seated immediately. Very cool, old Mexico kinda feel inside. Live music playing. Not too loud so we could hear each other perfectly clear. We started with the Nachos which were very tasty. The ground beef is seasoned to perfection. Then we split the chicken fajitas. My wife and I both felt it was the best fajita we've had in a long time. Perhaps because this place is more Peruvian than Mexican it's a bit different tasting. But can't say enough about how delicious everything was. Oh yeah, the salsa is really good too.
(5)
Walter B.
We came here for our 18th Wedding Anniversary with my wife's parents based on their recommendation and the reviews we've read on it. The food was quite good, however the service was sloooooooooooooow. We basically felt ignored the entire night despite be place directly in front of their "live entertainment." It appeared that our waitress was assigned a different part of the restaurant and had to cover our tables as she kept appearing from a door that leads to another section of the restaurant. She only had one other table in our section to cover that we could see. Multiple tables who were seated after us were finished with their dinner and leaving as we were just getting served. It started with being seated. 15 minutes later, a waitress finally appeared, dropped some chips and then said she would be right back. About 10 minute later, our drink orders were taken. Another 10 - 15 minutes and the drinks finally arrived. Just not a great first impression. For dinner the four of us ordered completely different dinners and the food was quite good though the plating of the pork chops was questionable. Trio Vegetariano for my wife which she liked. I went with the Mixto Limento as I was craving something lighter. The tilapia was well seasoned and cooked, the vegetables were rather bland and flavorless, which was accentuated by the wealth of seasoning on the fish. I pushed the vegetables around in the leftover fish seasoning to give them more flavor. My mother in law went with the Arroz con Mariscos which is a mix of fish and shrimp, she said it was quite good though she also got the bland vegetables on the side. It was the Chuletas de Puerco that was good, but weird. Served on a hot skillet, it's two pork chops with a 1" thick slice of grilled pineapple that was the entire length of the pineapple with the skin left on. It was simply placed on top of the pork chops with absolutely no way to cut into it or eat it. For pure presentation, it was pretty, but no way to actually cut into it and eat if that's the purpose of it. Especially with the hard skin still holding it together. If you're going to serve grilled pineapple with a dish, you should actually be able to enjoy it. The manager ended up coming by seeing my Father in law struggling with the pineapple, he offered to get a plate and ended up cutting the pineapple for hi. in fact the entire dish really should be served with an empty plate on the side so the diner can remove the pork chop to more easily cut it. Great flavor on the pork chop, but it could not be enjoyed with the pineapple as it was too thick, too hard and just brought the entire dish down. So overall, food was good, but the dinner was a disappointment due to the very slow service and just being ignored. Especially watching all the other wait staff all around us properly attending to their tables. No clue why none of them could have been assigned to our table. Looking at Yelp it looks like there are plenty of other choices in the local area for a unique dining experience. This is certainly an interesting place but I doubt we will be back.
(2)
Tls K.
Beautiful old-world charm to the restaurant. We exited the turnpike after seeing the online reviews and were not disappointed. Definitely try the jalapeno salsa...we ordered a jar to go! Service was attentive, the food was freshly prepared. We will definitely return next time we are in PA.
(5)
Tania M.
Excellent food, and ambience! Beautiful decor. Would definitely suggest it to anyone! !
(5)
Cyn M.
Went for a late lunch a couple months ago. The place was nearly empty, yet we were initially seated at a horrible table right by the door. The room is huge; it must seat at least 200 people, and there were only 2 or 3 other small parties there. We asked for a different table and were relocated to a comfy booth. Why in the world did they seat us at the worst table in the whole place? Nuts! Our server brought us a drink, then came back very (too) quickly to take our order. We weren't quite ready, as we wanted to relax and peruse the big menu. After about 15 minutes, she at last emerged from somewhere far, far away and took our order--the "pizza" and a quesadilla. She said we'd LOVE the pizza, one of their biggest sellers, a signature dish. Then we waited... and waited... munching on tasty chips and salsa, with a side of guacamole that was pretty good. Finished our drinks. The food took quite a while to come out. We figured the chef was surely cooking us up a treat, considering the wait. Meanwhile, we sought our server for a drink refill, but could only catch an occasional glimpse of her across the cavernous space. We heard laughing and chatter coming from the kitchen area, but it was impossible to get her attention, as we leaned out of our booth, looking for our "server," getting thirstier after eating the salty tortilla chips. Worth the wait? Unfortunately, no. Cool quesadilla that should've been hot.. And the pizza was was HOT on the outside (for a couple minutes)--but fridge-cold on the inside. Pretty enough, but obviously microwaved. Yuck. Finished the drinks we were finally able to obtain, and left. I am glad we only ordered a light meal, or I would've felt very annoyed and ripped off. In my opinion, the food is mediocre at best, and quite overpriced. I cook way better Mexican dishes than these microwave "chefs." IOW, disappointing. I am again befuddled by the rave reviews this joint has garnered. Was my first--and definitely last--visit.
(2)
Frank B.
Very good place that serves generous portions. Came here for a business lunch recently and found this Restaraunt to be outstanding. The food was very well prepared; the wait staff fantastic and just a great place to have a nice meal.
(4)
Ed S.
We have eaten here several times. Food always good and we had no problem with the service. Don't understand those complaints. Salsa and chips just keep coming if requested. My friend from Peru says not pure but still very good food. We will return.
(4)
Leigh H.
The building is totally cool and looks like it was dropped right of the sky from another country. The menu is a bit limited and eclectic between Mexican and Peruvian. We enjoyed our meal and would definitely go back on our next trip.
(4)
Tom W.
I'm picky about Mexican food. El Serrano is solid. The building and decor are amazing and you don't find that often. They spared no expense in the construction and furnishing of this incredible restaurant. The food is pretty good, not great. I enjoyed the Yucca fries as an app but they only give you 4 so if you're sharing with a larger party, you might need more than one order. My wife had the Vegetarian trio. It was a huge plate of food and she seemed to enjoy it. I had the beef fajitas and the meat was a tender and perfect medium rare. Solid 4 star place, seems to do a nice business so you may want to make some reservations, assuming they allow that.
(4)
Christa G.
I've never made a yelp review before but for this place I definitely had to. I wanted to bring my boyfriend to a special place for his birthday. I checked online and saw the incredible amount of positive reviews for this restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful online and so we decided to check it out. Best.decision.ever! It's located on columbia Avenue yet we've never seen it until now. That's the only con I have to say about this place. I wish it was in a different location so it can stand out. It would get tons of customers. Anyway, the restaurant is gorgeous. Inside and out, they definitely made it feel as if you went to Latin America. The staff and manager were extremely helpful and friendly. They suggested we sit outside and that was a great advice. The courtyard was breathtaking and there was also a singer who sang a birthday song for my boyfriend which was so nice :). The food and drinks were amazing. The manager was so friendly and was very interactive with us, as well as the other customers. He even set aside a private tour for us after dinner. Definitely request that because the whole restaurant is something you need to see. I can't describe how gorgeous this place is. Everything was amazing. We had an incredible time. Definitely coming back as soon as possible :)
(5)
Bill M.
Another trip to El Sorrano and once again we were pleased. Noticed that place was crowded on a Sunday afternoon at 5 which was a departure from past trips but still feel it's a good time to go and avoid wait for table and enjoy guitar player. They ran out of Guacamole which is a major screwup but the owner personally brought over a sliced avacado to an attempt to make amends. Cusps to the waiter for bringing it to his attention. Moves like that make us happy regulars.
(4)
Sarah M.
Nice decor, decent food, good service. It's a little dark inside and the food is kind of pricey. I would rather go to a mom & pop place for this type of cuisine. You have to go at least once though because their margaritas are pretty good!
(3)
Aaron D.
El Serrano probably has the best building and design in Lancaster. A great spot for Taps with friends. Menu is Peruvian which is different then Mexican. Always have very good service and food. The room is just fun using the classic colors of Peru. There is actually three different restaurants in this one building. El Serrano is the first floor. Culturas is the tapas bar on the second and the third is the private dinner area. That is a great idea for an intimate dinner with someone special or another couple. A star on the Lancaster food map, well worth the visit.
(4)
Sheila K.
Delicious food and Margaritas. My friends from Phila go here and say who would believe a place like this would be in Lancaster, PA. Very reasonable prices and great atmosphere. You don't want to miss this place.
(5)
Jake H.
This is a solid, middle of the road Mexican restaurant. The service was pretty good and the food was "meh". In short, this place is nothing to write home about, but not bad either.
(3)
Jon L.
I want to love this place more than I do. But lately they've been making it hard. The last two times I have gone there it took over an hour to get our food. And this wasn't a Saturday night at prime dinner time with the joint packed. This was more of a Thursday night at 7pm when it's half filled. Anywhere even close to an hour is unacceptable and our waitress, both times did not say anything to us about it. Not only that, but they will bring you extra chips and salsa if you ask, but even though you have to sit there for an hour and wait for your meal they still charge you for the extra chips. The most recent time I went there I asked for crab enchiladas, and since I was very hungry I asked if I could please add shrimp to that. The waitress looked at me weird and said "ummm you have to pay for that!!" I know that ding dong, it's normal to pay for something EXTRA you as for, just not normal to charge us for the chops and salsa being consumed while we wait patiently. So my meal comes out and there is no shrimp on it. By this point I was starving and didn't want to wait any longer. Then I discovered one enchilada had crab and the other had shrimp, so I thought maybe I just wasn't clear about what I wanted. Then she asks if we want dessert. My friend ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Not fried ice cream. Just a scoop of ice cream. We waited 15 minutes for the ice cream. I don't know how it can take that long. Then we get the bill and our waitress charged me $7 for shrimp but I didn't even get that in addition to the 2 enchiladas they shorted me the crab and just substituted shrimp. I was waiting for our waitress to come back so I could ask about it but after waiting 10 minutes and not knowing where she was we just all threw in our money and left. By the time we were finished it was 10 o clock. How the heck does dinner last 3 hours. Needless to say I think it's gonna take some arm twisting to get me back there anytime soon
(2)
John C.
My gf and I tried this place for lunch. Service was very slow and waiter didn't check back with us. Our waiter neither brought out our food nor refilled our water glasses (the busboy did). As for the food, I had the shredded beef chimichanga. Chimichangas should be deep fried not just a rolled cold burrito with only two tiny pieces of meat about the size of a marble. They decided that a flavorless white sauce was a much better compliment than the more traditional salsa verde, they were wrong. The food here was less Mexican than Taco bell and less flavorful as well.
(1)
Carolyn C.
I was really excited to go to El Serrano but I won't be going back. They seated us next to a huge very fake potted plant that looked over us as we waited for our server. The aisle was so narrow that every time a server brought out food they almost elbowed us in the face. The food came quickly but I suspect it was microwaved and not made fresh because the plates were sizzling hot but the food was cold. I ordered a chimichanga and the cheese was completely congealed and disgusting. There was absolutely no flavor or spice. There was nothing authentic or especially Spanish about the food. Taco bell is tastier and cheaper.
(1)
Johan E.
My wife and I went there for our anniversary a few weeks ago for the first time although we've been to Culturas upstairs before. My first warning would be that the private parking lot feels a bit small for the size of the building and tends to fill up fast. So far we've been fortunate that we've never had to park elsewhere but I can't imagine that being a fun experience on that stretch of Columbia Avenue. For a weeknight, there was still about a 15 minute wait which was necessary because they only take reservations for large parties and even then, only on weekends. Once seated, our drink orders were quickly taken and requisite chips and salsa delivered. The chips were hot a fresh and the salsa was excellent. The only real problem I had with our server came in the next few minutes. After our drinks were brought, the table next to us was seated (about 7-8 in their party). From that point on, our server seemed to give that table priority and we ended up behind them on every step from simply ordering our food to closing our tab. That shouldn't be the case when we had the better part of a ten minute head start. To be fair, one of the women in their party was pretty bullheaded and kept demanding the server's attention whenever he was nearby but a simple "I'll be right with you" would have been enough to diffuse her and ensure he properly attended his other tables. As for the food, it's important to mention that this isn't so much as a Central/South American restaurant. Mostly a mixture of Mexican and Peruvian food. I am a fan of spicy food so I ordered El Bandido with shredded beef. The beef was delicious but the real winner was the jalapeno sauce on top. I don't recall what my wife ordered but I had a couple bites and it was equally delicious. For dessert we had the rum cake and the flan. The flan was delicious and reminded me of my Cuban grandmother's. To be honest, the rum cake wasn't anything special and I would probably never order it again given the other choices. I know people tend to rant about the prices here but paying in the teens range for an entree that will more than fill me up seems like a good deal when the food it good quality. Obviously extras like dessert, appetizers, and drinks can put a meal here into a pricey range but dinner for two with a drink each and no extras should easily come in under $50 before tip. As for the decor, nothing can really be said that others haven't already said. In my opinion, this is the most impressive restaurant in Lancaster. No expense seems to haven been spared on every detail from the building itself down to the chairs. Eating here feels like you're in one of the countries at the World Showcase at Epcot Center.
(4)
TheKritik N.
I did a quick search on my phone for a good restaurant in Lancaster city, PA and was really pleasantly surprised to find El Serrano. We got there without reservations on Saturday evening and had to wait for about 20 min. The staff was very polite and helpful and did the impossible to accommodate us. The Owner was very friendly and walk us to our table. Inside the restaurant the atmosphere is fantastic, lots of people and nice live music playing in the background. The food was really good, nothing spectacular but enjoyable. On the way out we heard loud music and it turned out there is another live band playing out in the courtyard. People were dancing and having a blast. I really liked the place and will definitely go back on our next trip to Lancaster.
(4)
Ben O.
Good atmosphere and they often have a live guitarist. Nice courtyard for drinks, variety of margaritas, and delicious food.
(5)
Nathan C.
This is a fantastic find in Lancaster! We came in here after spending a loooong day at Dutch Wonderland, amidst the hordes of unleashed rug monkeys. So the adults among our group were seeking food that wasn't hot-dog-related at a place that served alcohol. Yay, El Serrano! So the menu is a nice mix of Mex-American fare and Peruvian dishes. We started off with the tilapia ceviche and the Super Nachos (try and find that combo in DC!). Both were excellent. For dinner, we ended up with the salmon serrano, the lomo saltado, and chicken in enchilada, fajita, quesadilla, and finger form. The salmon serrano was delicious, as was the lomo saltado. Surprisingly, the chicken dishes were also outstanding - including the chicken fingers! The chicken fajitas in particular were tasty, tender, and not at all dried out or chewy. They also make a mean manhattan and mojito (well, three mojitos). Desserts are delicious, and bad enough for you that you should probably share them. Yes, I'm talking to you, fatty. The place is enormous but seemed to be getting full by the time we left (about 7:30 pm on Saturday) - we didn't stop to check out the other restaurant that occupies the rest of the building (it appears to be a tapas place). Note that while it looks fairly upscale, they are excellent with kids and there were quite a few in there (including our two) making noise and having fun. But the way the place is laid out will isolate your group well, which is good if you're either a source of noise or trying to avoid it.
(5)
J T.
Whoa! This place really blew me away! I grew up in an area outside of NYC with great Mexican food, and this place is at least as fantastic as any of my old faves. I was in Lancaster last week and decided to give this place a try -- such a good idea this was... the decor and atmosphere were beautiful, and the food was reeeeally delicious :-) I'll be sure to visit the next time I'm in Lancaster.
(5)
Sabrina M.
On Tuesday April 1st my husband and I went to El Serrano restaurant for lunch with my one year old son. We were greeted by a young girl who probably hated every second of her job. She gave us a dirty high chair that had the previous child's food stuck on it. We ordered the fish tacos for appetizers. They were ok. Then we ordered our main course. 15 minutes later a manager comes up to us and asks us to move tables. I asked why. He replied that he had a school trip and they needed my table. The table we sat at was a table for four and in the section we sat in had no room to add another table. I told the manager that the restaurant is empty and why can't you find another table. He replied no I need that one. I then proceeded to ask the nice waitress Maurita for my check and she asked me what was the problem and I explained how embarrassed I was in the way the manager treated us. My food wasn't even served yet. So I told the waitress that I'm taking my food to go. The manager never came back. While I was talking to the waitress all he was doing was preparing my table for the next guest. I paid $50 bucks for take out food. As I was exiting the restaurant I spoke to two other waiters about the situation and they informed me that that wasn't the first time that this manager pulled a stunt like that. He has no regard for people and I will never eat there again. The best part of this whole story is that the chicken fajitas weren't even good. I should've went to Taco Bell. 18th century old world charm on the inside with 18 century people running the place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Matt B.
If I were a carpenter this place would give me a heart attack before I even got inside the door! I remember when this was a fish restaurant, a simple box-shaped building like the auto parts place next door. Now it has grown steadily in a way that suggests that it is alive, like a plant, and constantly grows new additions! That said, if you can navigate the corridors you will find public dining, private dining, a courtyard with live music on weekends, a tapas bar, etc. Now where is the men's room?!? This isn't the most authentic Mexican place in town, but it is pretty good nonetheless. Chips and salsa as a warmup are a good sign for any Mexican place, and they do that at El Serrano. If you like a little spice, the green sauce is worth asking for. My personal favorites are the dishes that feature shredded beef/pork/chicken. They also offer some plates that use ground beef -- I don't recommend these. El Serrano's Peruvian owners offer some native Peruvian dishes, as well as a vegetarian menu. Finally, there is the frozen marguerita machine. It's a bit like the Mr. Misty cooler at Dairy Queen, but with alcohol. The flavor goes in much like a Mr. Misty too -- pumped from a bottle. Maybe this isn't the original technique, but I still wish I had a machine like this in my house! Overall a good place to eat, to take a date or relatives.
(4)Jen N.
Step through the doorway of El Serrano's and you'll feel instantly transported to the feisty and rich culture of South America. All the ornate wood that lavishly decorates this expansive restaurant was handmade in Peru. The all-brass bar tells the story of the conquistadors in the design. Recipes have been handed down through the generations and paintings of family members hang proudly in the wandering halls. But enough about the environs. Let's talk food. The fresh and tangy salsa is one of the best I've had. The chunky guacamole has a rich, creamy texture spiked with yummy cilantro. The handmade chips are crispy and delicious. I tried the Chile Rellenos: not bad. A little too much breading for my taste. But our friends come back again and again for the chimichangas. Be sure to ask the floor manager if they have time for a tour. Wandering through the little nooks and crannies of this expansive building while learning about a bit of history is a wonderful experience. Such a neat place - we'll be back for sure!
(4)Kirsten D.
Being originally from San Diego, I expect a lot from Mexican Restaurants and the other Mexican restaurants in the area just aren't doing it for me. While El Serrano is actually a Peruvian restaurant, it also does fantastic authentic Mexican dishes. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster. We're constantly coming here for dinner and frequently coming just to enjoy the fantastic margaritas for happy hour with coworkers. I've even taken my kids here and they loved it. All in all, it's a works-for-everyone type of restaurant! Can't go wrong!!!
(5)Amanda W.
El Serrano is a great place to get authentic Latin food in Lancaster. Everyone, back away from the chain restaurants! Get yourself to this great place for some amazing food that wasn't warmed up from frozen in a microwave and served drenched in grease on a fancy plate. FOOD Amazing food! Lots of seafood dishes in the Peruvian style and some with a good amount of heat. Chuletas de Puerco is a favorite of everyone as well as the Shrimp a la Veracruzana, El Bandido, and Pollo Fundido. Don't be afraid to try something new, there are lots of tasty things here. ATMOSPHERE This place gets a bonus for their amazing decor and ambience. The lighting is low, there are private alcoves with wooden high-back benches and accents of red. It is a fun atmosphere if you're there with a group and it can be a great romantic date night (although you may want to check out their other dining options for an even more unique experience ... read on... ) The place is huge! There are 3 separate types of dining in the building under slightly different names/themes ... El Serrano (Main), Culturas (Tapas) and Clementina's (Private Dining) fill out the other floors along with a few banquet-style rooms. My husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner in a semi-private area of the main El Serrano dining room (near the amazing bar), but we were treated to a tour of the rest of their facilities prior to making our final arrangements to see all the options available. Everything about this place is gorgeous and well decorated. SERVICE Each time we've come here we've had amazing table service. Additionally, working with them for our rehearsal dinner was also very simple and streamlined ... once I met the even coordinator. It did take me a while to be able to get a hold of someone, but I think most of that was due to the fact that I was doing all my wedding planning from Seattle, WA and months in advance (which was probably earlier than they are used to). I finally had a chance to speak with someone while on a trip back to PA and the in-person service was excellent. Just don't expect to get much help through e-mail or over the phone until you've talked to someone face-to-face.
(5)Ray T.
My wife and I have been fans of El Serrano for over 10 years, and have never had a poor meal there. There's everyone else...El Rodeo,Carlos and Charlies, LaBorimex...and then there's El Serrano. The gold standard of Mexican in Lancaster. FWIW, La Borimex is great, in its own way. But, El Serrano is the one that keeps the bar raised high. Reasons? 1. Atmosphere: Great. Live music on weekends, authentic feeling villa-esque building, beautiful atmosphere. The real deal...not just some building gussied up to look Mexican. 2.Chips and Salsa: Salsa defies all categorization. It's amazing. Bummer is that they now charge $2 for refills. I'd love to get a copy of the recipe! 3. Comidas: The food is exceptional. Favorites include El Ranchero combo($15), El Gordo ($18), and Lomo Saltado (although my wife got a headache afterwards...too much on the saltado, perhaps). Everything is flavorful, outstanding. Menu has a wonderful variety. 4.Service: Waiters and waitresses are usually attentive, pleasant, observant. Never hadaproblem with mixed-up orders,long waits for food, or hostile service staff.Very good! Lunch is also a great time to come, especially as many nights (Friday and Saturday) are guaranteed to be packed with long waits. They are now shutting down between 2 PM-5PM many afternoons,so call before going between those hours. On this Tuesday night, we were seated immediately (for 2), but business was steady. El Serrano will, for us, be the special night out for Mexican. Sure, we will hit the other places, but it will take a whole new contender to somehow dethrone the champ!
(5)Taylor Z.
Ugh. Never again. I used to come here quite frequently actually when I was in High School. It was a much smaller establishment and way less crowded. The food was better the staff was more attentive, worth at least a 3 star review. But now ... it's just sad. Let's start at the beginning . . . I wanted to come here because I remembered it was a decent place for getting Mexican Inspired food. I haven't been here for ages so I thought we'd give it a try on a Saturday night. I called ahead and asked how long is the wait for a party of two. I was told 30-40 minutes and we could not make reservations over the phone, first come first serve. (BTW take out orders are not made over the phone, you must order from the restaurant) Ok fine with us. When we got there, I was told the wait was 5 minutes . . . hmm sounds better, but I wonder what happened during the time between when I called 10 minutes ago and now. As I was sitting down a couple came in and was told the same thing 5 minutes . . . but were shortly ushered in ahead of us ... I thought that was strange since I put my name in first .. but oh well, we waited 5 minutes and were seated inside. WOW things have changed ... It was very nice inside ... well decorated. This is the only nice thing about El Serrano's folks, as you walk in ... it looks ... NiCE. It's only goes downhill from here. As we were being seated we realized not only how packed it was, but the tables are so close together it is uncomfortable. I am not kidding... when the table across from us was getting up to leave, the man's chair fell backward and smashed against our table. Other than being kind of awkward we were lucky to not have our drinks on that side of the table and/or our hands/limbs where the chair fell. SOo it took 30 minutes for our food, and in the meantime we ordered margarita's ... the 1800 house Margarita's .. they were the WORST !! MY mother finished hers in less than 3 minutes and said it was like drinking a $7 glass of juice with lots of ice. . . I agree, I tasted no alcohol at all, it was all sweet and sour mix ... really gross. Our meals came and were completely tasteless. "filler" stuff, with lots of sour cream and cheese and salsa. The enchilada didn't taste like anything. My mother's burrito grande was cold and stuffed mostly with cream cheese ... eww. If you are new to the area and are looking for mexican style food.. do not be fooled by the "cool" decorations and hip atmosphere. Lancaster isn't really known for it's amazing Latin food, but there are much MUCH better options than this .. (check out La Cocina for example) P.S. On my way out I saw the valet boy checking to see if just hit another car as he was either parking or backing out .... YIKES !!!
(1)Paul T.
My girlfriend recommended this restaurant, and after my visit, I have to agree. The decor is beautiful, and the food was scrumptious. I had never had a peruvian meal before, so I didn't recognize too many things on the menu, so I decided to try the tacu tacu. It was delicious. What a great new experience. By the time we left the restaurant was pretty packed. I recommend getting there early. I think we got there around 5pm.
(4)Dana S.
My husband and I used to eat here quite often after we built our house in the Hershey area in 2005, but our visits started tapering off within the past few years, so we decided to go back recently since it had been about a year. Unfortunately, we were reminded of why we have been coming less often and are at the point where we are questioning if we will ever go back now. On this visit, we were told the wait would be about 20-25 minutes, so we gave our name and cell phone number and went over to the bar area to order drinks and wait. After about 45 minutes, and becoming a little suspicious when all the people around us had been called that we were sure arrived after us, we checked with the front and all of a sudden they had a table open up right away. What a coincidence! (Not) Our favorite is the pollo fundito, and that was good, but I do question the price of $14 for chicken and cheese grilled in a burrito. After we ate and the bill came, I noticed that I was charged $2 for my hot tea, which I had already paid for at the bar and carried over with me, and when I asked the waitress about it, she said that they charge for refills on hot tea. (Seriously? a Lipton tea bag and hot water???) I was also a little annoyed that they usually put the tea in a full size glass, but the guy at the bar said they were out, so he had to put it in one of those very small saucer-like coffee cups, so of course it was gone and I needed another quickly. Little annoyances like this are the norm for what we've experienced within the past few years, so I think we're pretty much done with El Serrano for the moment.
(2)Philip M.
Nice setting but a bit over priced with food that felt mediocre. I for sure enjoyed my experience but have had better Mexican downtown. Skip it... save money and hit la cocina on king st for a taste treat delight
(3)Chris B.
Went there about a month ago. Didn't understand what all the hype was about. Service was absolutely deplorable. The food was not good. My fajitas were bland and mostly just onions. Not much chicken or even peppers. El Rodeo may not have the atmosphere but I'll take their food over this place any day!
(2)Justin S.
Such great Peruvian food, but terrible margaritas. I've now been here 10x, and sadly cannot go back due to the lame amount of tequila and inconsistency on every margarita on the menu. Not to mention the poor attitude of the staff after you inform them it's not made properly. Sorry El Serrano, the Margarita's suck. I hope you improve in this area. Feel free to contact me if you do. I'll be your best customer. P.S. It's not about the money, but why would you charge me for an extra 8 tablespoons of salsa? Tomato, onion and cilantro prices must be high these days? :) No offense, just hoping you improve.
(2)Ashley Z.
for me, el serrano is what mexican food tastes like. even when i got mexican food in texas i didn't think it met the standards of el serrano! they definitely blow the local competition out of the water. they have the best chips and salsa of any place i've been to. their burritos, tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, taco salad - all are great. service at both the lancaster and york locations has been outstanding. the lancaster location is a vastly superior building, much larger and really intricate carvings, woodwork, and better ambiance. they also have a full bar.
(4)Leslie E.
Today is the second time we have been to El Serrano. The first time was in February with a group of about 15 friends, this time, just me and the husband. I always thought that it was going to be expensive.. but I was WRONG. So, let's back track to February. Give or take about 15 friends get together and the special birthday gal picks El Serrano. Now I always wanted to go, but as beautiful as the place looks on the outside and from their website I thought.. damn that will be expensive. But... we went. So I jumped in to cover us and another couple thinking.. here we go with a big big $$$. I WAS WRONG!!! First of all the place is beautiful. It really is an experience. We heard some music and had a drink at the beautiful bar area before our table was ready. I could spend an hour describing how awesome it was.. but I don't have time and I just want to make a good point. The food was great. The service was wonderful, the whole experience was one I would recommend to anyone. The best news for that Feb trip was that 4 people on my tab, with dinners and drinks I thought here we go.. but believe it or not.. under $100!!!!! Fast forward to today. We had an awesome pre-paid deal and dinner today was again outstanding. The food is so flavorful and CLEAN tasting. It was beautiful weather today and the many windows left in great natural light. We went a little early, around 5 so it was just starting to get a little busy. Just such a great place! The prices are great even if you don't have any special coupons but if you keep an eye on the local coupon clipper magazines or apps on your phone you might come across some super duper great deals that makes going there just the best thing! There are few restaurants that I really would feel like the real super duper need to tell everyone about but I def feel like I need to share this because if you are like me and you think the place is going to be expensive.. trust me it is worth a visit to prove you wrong. Not expensive and super awesome!
(5)M. D.
Great food, fantastic building and decent service. What a great find in Lancaster of all places?! We've been coming to Lancaster for many years and never knew about this place - thanks Yelp friends! I was shocked that with so many reviews there are so few photos - but after visiting I know why - it's dark inside and photos don't show up. It creates a romantic feeling. It is worth it and we'll be back many times in the future I'm sure!
(4)Abdul M.
Excellent Peruvian ceviche and tapas. Eat upstairs not downstairs. There are 3 diff restaurants in this building. You want upstairs.
(5)Chris I.
I went to El Serrano this past weekend and had an OKAY experience. The atmosphere is very nice and the place was very busy. Typically a good sign. We were seated relatively quickly and enjoyed the chips and salsa. I have a saltier pallet, so I didn't mind that the salsa was pretty salty. Service was decent, margarita with fresh juices was excellent. Our entrees were just okay. Steak fajitas were nothing to rave about and the Peruvian dish with tilapia and crab was a little lack luster. Finished the night off with desserts, the fried ice cream was delicious, but in all I felt everything was a bit overpriced. For $70 for two people, I expected to be wowed. That didn't happen
(3)Justin Y.
This has been a standby as a favorite restaurant when I am in town. After having lived in Peru for a few years it's nice to have familiar dishes. After having several great experiences over the years some friends and I went for dinner and to celebrate a few birthday's, and unfortunately it seems my luck at El Serrano has ended. We were greeted only after the hostess sorted out what must have been a Rubik's cube under the hostess stand, as she finally popped up and took our name. A 20-25 minute wait certainly isn't unreasonable for a table of 5 so we opted for waiting by the bar. I must admit I get a bit excited by the chance to order a Pisco Sour, so I took advantage of the opportunity. I must admit however, that I've never in my life seen a Pisco Sour made with Egg Beater's-- which certainly was a shock. The friendly bartender confirmed they aren't allowed to serve raw egg at the bar and this was their concession to legal constraints. Still gross, but allowable I suppose. After over an hour the eery feeling crept in that we had been forgotten, which was confirmed by the bartender looking at our pager number and going to the hostess stand. With over 1/3 of the restaurant completely empty and none of us jumping at the chance for another drink, he must have suggested they find us a table. We all ordered and had a pleasant enough dinner. Food quality was good, portion sizes were hearty. I asked if they had hot sauce though and our cheery server said absolutely and brought me some. It wasn't particularly flavorful or hot, but it was fine. She made no mention that it would come at a cost of $1.50, the first time I've been charged for a condiment outside of Europe. Maybe El Serrano is just that hip now. As we had 2 people who shared a birthday within days, and the chance to embarrass a friend via live music is too much to relinquish, I asked if there was anything they did for such occasions. Our server was quick to check and soon we were greeted by a small plate with a sparkler and a jolly voice with accompanying guitar. It was all you could hope for. With the small fire extinguished we passed around the 'dessert' to share with the table. Many of us must have seen one of those gold hunting shows on Discovery Channel as we tried to move the whipped cream aside to partake in what we assumed would be the ice cream treasure below. Alas we were greeted with just a giant pile of whipped cream masterfully covered with chocolate sauce, accompanied by a stale tortilla. A lovely gesture of a birthday gift, however you can't help but feel they couldn't care less for a patron with such a dish. Perhaps we should have just ordered a dessert after all. Overall a decent experience, though out of principle I find it offensive to charge someone 10% of their meal cost for a condiment without prior warning, and I would definitely opt for any dessert over their complimentary pile of saggy whipped cream. If I go back I hope they at least don't forget about seating me so I don't have to wait as long for the decent food, and later (possible) disappointments. However, I'm told there's many new Latin Food options opening up, so I'll likely take my business elsewhere.
(2)Clea M.
Although my boyfriend is from Lancaster and we've been dating for over 3 years, we never ventured into El Serrano together because it seemed expensive. Now I'm upset I didn't come here sooner, because the food is fantastic and well worth the prices (which, if you're eating vegetarian here, are not that bad!) I had the tacu-tacu, which was delicious. Some kind of big rectangular rice, beans and egg patty...hard to describe, but the waiter perked up when I ordered that dish and said it was great. Their chips and salsa are also very good, and I also want to comment on the seating- this place was packed when we went, but the side "booths" offer a very intimate dining experience. I also had some of my boyfriend's chiles rellenos. I've never had it before so I can't compare it to anything else, but man was it tasty. Doughy, cheesy, slightly spicy- mmm! I'll definitely be back, mainly because the food is very unique (for the area) and the whole vegetarian menu looks fantastic.
(5)Craig H.
It's okay but the menu is pretty limited and the food lacks the zing you expect on Mexican cuisine. We had quessadilas and chimichanga. The former was bland and the later, though well stuffed, didn't show much evidence of Mexican flavors. Even the salsa was pretty plain. The decor is nice bit needs a freshmen up. The service was pleasant.
(2)John R.
This place is awesome. Great food and environment. The level of detail inside is amazing. The owner is a super friendly guy and will take you on a tour of the building if you ask him. He designed the place himself.
(5)Lori J.
I tried this for a second time. The first time gave me a bit of a belly ache. Second time, had nachos grande to start, just a giant pile of stuff. Everything was unidentifiable, onions, tomatoes, beans, ground beef, a couple of nachos that were overwhelmed under the mess. Not yummy. My daughter had a chimichanga, and I had enchiladas. Both were pretty decent, the rice that accompanied it was ok. But same as the first time I went home and a few hours later I was nauseous. Maybe to much oil or too many onions. I gave it a second shot and they didn't redeem themselves, so this was my last time. Next time I am going to try Carlos & charlies, from what I hear it may be a better experience. I'll let you know.
(2)Jeremy J.
There is a very pretty fountain. I like the live music. There is very good guacamole. Salsa is excellent too. I liked my pollo fundito dish. You should go here. - written by my 7 year old.
(4)Prakash S.
The best Mexican restaurant in all Lancaster. I would even say that this is definately one of the top 10 restaurants in Lancaster! Great food, friendly prompt service, lovely atmousphere. Nice bar & drinks too. We always hit this place at least once per visit to Lancaster.
(5)Hannah D.
You really cannot describe how beautiful this restaurant is. It looks like an old Spanish monastery. The food was fantastic. I had some of the best fajitas I have ever had. Stellar service and great margaritas!
(5)Keith H.
This is the 3rd time I have been to El Serrano. My wife loves this restaurant and that is the only reason I have been back multiple times. If I would have rated this restaurant after either of my first trips it would have gotten a one star. I have to give credit to El Serrano on this trip. My food was finally good! For starters we just stuck with the complimentary chips and dips. But be warned, if you ask for more chips their is a $2 fee which is ridiculous! For dinner I had the taco salad with chicken. I rarely order salads at restaurants, especially a Mexican restaurant. The only reason I did was because I have had their burritos and other Mexican food on prior trips and thought they were horrible. I figured they could not mess up a salad. I was pleasantly surprised to find the salad was excellent! The mix of ingredients had a nice balance with the chicken. I am not sure what the dressing was but it was very tasty. It comes served in a fried tortilla shell which made for a nice pairing. I am glad I finally found something on the menu that I can eat when my wife gets a craving to go back to El Serrano. The low rating is due to the combined experience of the three trips I have had to the restaurant. PS: I am forced to continue to tell my wife the restaurant is good so she does not feel bad about asking me to go........man I hope she does not read this!
(2)Tony W.
Not as good as reviews make it sound. In my families opinion average. Nice place, decent food.
(3)Steve P.
Latest review: I did recently return for another visit. The meal I had was fine, very tasty, and was cooked to my liking. I do think the portions were rather small for the price. However my biggest problem was the crowds and long waits to be seated. Reminds me of Olive Garden. I realize as they are popular, this is going to be a constant scenario. Now I read in the latest Board of Health inspection they were written up for keeping their clean dish storage on the floor! That doesn't do much for my appetite.
(1)Ashley H.
We came here after being told it was Mexican food, which it isn't. It's Peruvian food fyi. That being said, the food is very good. My husband is especially fond of their pork chops with grilled pineapple. We've been here numerous times and have always left happy.
(5)Kim B.
One of the best restaurants in Lancaster as far as I'm considered. Delicious Peruvian and Mexican dishes. They have a unique menu with items like pork chops and pineapples and then some classics like fajitas. The flavors on the dishes is just amazing and it's really beautiful inside and romantic. Me and my fiancé always enjoy the food and fruity drinks when there.
(5)Courtney S.
Emerging from the lofty green valleys of Lancaster county is an unexpected but ethereal find, El Serrano! When in town to visit the love interest's family, El Serrano offers a Peruvian/Mexican sojourn with promises of generously proportioned glasses of sangria and my favorite Peruvian delicacy, Lomo Saltado. The palatial architechture and furnishings, coupled with the revered Lancaster county hospitality makes El Serrano my first choice for dining whilst in the area.
(4)Kacey K.
Wow! I visited the new tapas restaurant in El Serrano called "Culturas" when I was in town a few weeks ago and it was incredible! My mom and I shared 6 tapas and I was highly impressed by the quality of the food. The chicken ceviche, fried avocado and tomato mozzarella salads were our faves. They were pretty big portions. In addition, there was a fun martini list and plenty of reasonable wines by the glass. I hadn't been here in years and couldn't believe how huge it was! It is very resort - like. The original El Serrano is downstairs, and the new "Culturas" is upstairs, overlooking a cute little garden where there in an outdoor bar area with some people milling around. It's all very grand. Very unexpected for Lancaster. Food, Service, Ambiance - all excellent. Highly Recommended.
(5)Mike M.
The Peruvian food is very good, I have had the pork chops and they are really good. Also have had the steak fajitas, and they are made with real steak. Nachos are really good - excellent ingredients, vs. the normal nacho dish. My wife loves their sangria and they have a good beer selection. If they are crowded there is an option to go to the Tapas restaurant upstairs - little more expensive, but also great food
(4)Bob W.
First time here, heard it was good. We loved the food and the atmosphere. We will be back!
(5)Christopher P.
This is the best Mexican restaurant in the area. I really like the steak dinner with onions and tomatoes. I am not sure what it is called. I think it is the most expensive dish on the menu but it really isn't that expensive if I can recall. The salsa is very good as well the margaritas. Watch your drinking or your bar tab will cost double your meal in no time. lol Just a little info about the place. Believe it or not, it used to be a pretty hot club. If you look closely, you will see the middle of the restaurant used to be the dance floor and you will see the speakers hanging accordingly and you may also recognize the DJ booth which is an office now I think with a window looking out. Very well decorated in there now with custom wood work which was not there before. Awesome place to take a loved one or a date. The food comes out pretty fast as well. It will be very busy on the weekends so be aware of that. When I am in town and crave Mexican food, this is my spot to go to. If you have not tried it, I highly recommend it!
(5)lee c.
This place is not Mexican. At least I have to pretend that. It does have all the usual TexMex burrito/enchilada stuff that better left to the bros, but I came here to get Peruvian food. Indeed, a friend from work who is from Peru, recommended this place and several dishes. The plates I and my date got were Ceviche, Tacu Tacu, and Lomo Saltado. I've never had any of these before and they were so good. For those of you like me who have never heard of these before here's the rundown. Ceviche is raw fish cooked in very acidic citrus sauce. Its really spicy too. Tacu Tacu is traditionally just mashed up leftovers. This dish was more like a latin-ized fried rice then notched up for a nice restaurant, and it was very good as well. Finally the Lomo Saltado was this crazy salad-like amalgamation with FRENCH FRIES, onions, and filet mignon tips. It was extremely good. I highly recommend this place. It wasn't too badly priced for the size and quality of the dishes. Also the atmosphere was very relaxing and enjoyable. Oh and they have a gorgeous bar with great drinks.
(4)george a.
Huge is an understatement.. ---------- FOOD: We were asked upon entering weather we wanted the regular restaurant or the new tapas restaurant upstairs. we chose tapas and what a treat it was! Similar to dim sum, you get to choose a bunch of small dishes and share with your partner. They bring them out one at a time like courses in a huge meal. It was certainly a unique experience and the food was awesome. DECOR: The is the biggest stinkin' restaurant ive ever been in. You cant see all the tables with all the different levels, nooks and crannies. We even got to take an elevator to the tapas room! And its a really beautiful place too. Pretty much wherever you are, youre next to a window. Ours overlooks a courtyard with a fountain and it looks like you can dine outside in summer. SERVICE: Great. Theres lots of people standing around waiting to help. They guided us to the elevator, met us at the top, led us to a table and then bring you food until you leave. ---------- WOULD I GO BACK? Darn right! My only issue was leaving. Its such a big place that it can be maze like and hard to find the exit. Also, because of the size of the restaurant, the parking lot is small. But everything else is soo awesome.
(4)Rick H.
Ok, this is a "Mexican" restaurant, owned and run by a Peruvian family. So, there are plenty of standard Mex dishes, but try the Peruvian dishes. ask server about them, and about the specials. we go there, and get the Peruvian items. tasty. new, upstairs tapas bar. good. weekends, and some weekday nites, the place gets packed. so, plan to wait some. they have a couple of bars, so you can have a drink while a table opens up. The place is big, so tables move pretty quick. a good south american food place.
(3)Robert C.
This place is great,and reasonable, people complain about lines and waiting, HELLO there is a reason for that, great meals at a good price = great resturant and lines. If you don't like lines and waiting there is always TACO BELL....LOL
(5)Susan F.
El Serrano is my favorite restaurant in Lancaster County! I will start out by explaining that I actually do not like Latin cuisine normally. I visit El Serrano at least twice a month, and 90% of the time I have the Pollo Fundido. They also have a broad selection of other Peruvian dishes that are equally as delicious. El Serrano also has the best salsa & guacamole bar none. The ambiance is romantic and warm.
(5)Elizabeth H.
great food i have been here many times & will continue to go back over & over again very nice atmosphere, hand carved doors & chairs etc i highly recommend this place!
(4)Samantha M.
Everyone loves this place for MExican - it's nicer on the inside than it look slike on the outside, and i think it's a great bargain. also the chimichunga is great, as well as the artichokes
(3)Jill H.
I don't enjoy their Mexican food; instead I always order the Peruvian classic Lomo Saltado. You should try it!!!
(4)Jazmine D.
I had heard that food in Lancaster was nothing special (this coming from a native). I can't speak for the rest, but El Serrano is certainly an exception. We went on a Friday night and called ahead to see if we needed reservations. They don't take them but the lady advised that during their peak hours (6-9), it was usually no more than a 30 min wait. We were seated right away. The decor is crazy! You can tell that it was just really thought-out-- the wooden chairs have the restaurant's name engraved into them! I ordered a Peruvian Margarita and my sister got the Red Sangria. I had never tried Pisco before, but it was awesome! The cinnamon on top really makes the drink. Had a sip of my sister's sangria and (even though im not a fan of red wine), I loved it! We ordered Papa a la Huancaina for an appetizer to share, my brother and I got the Mixto Limeno and my sister got the Lomo Saltado. I guess now would be a good time to say that I'm Peruvian. I've tasted good, authentic, your-mom-could-have-made-it Peruvian food and I've tasted bad/imitation/cafeteria-grade Peruvian food. And I'll admit, my expectations weren't all that high. I mean, good Peruvian food in the middle of Amish country is not exactly likely. I was blown away. The presentation alone was awesome. When my mom has guests over she has this way of presenting the rice in a special way-- a little Peruvian trick. They do the same thing at El Serrano. The Tilapia in the Mixto was so tender and the rice was cooked perfectly (good white rice is the key to any decent Peruvian dish). I tasted my sister's Lomo and it was seasoned so well. We both agreed that it was even better than my mom's. The only thing missing was banana. We always slice banana over our Lomo at home. My sister decided to just ask if they had one in the back. Our server, Julia, said she didn't know if they had any but she'd look. Ten minutes later she comes back with 2 bananas. She had searched high and low and finally found some upstairs! For their great customer service alone, I knew that I had to review this restaurant and sing its praises. Never got to taste the Papa a la Huancaina (Julia apologized once she brought our entrees. she had completely forgotten, but the food came so quickly that it worked out better that way.), but I have no doubt that it must taste as amazing as the rest of their Peruvian cuisine. All in all, El Serrano is a pleasant surprise-- a little ethnic gem hidden in Lancaster, of all places. WE WILL BE BACK!
(5)Sara E.
This has to be one of my local favorites. I actually prefer lunch here, as the waitstaff is consistent and the management, despite this being a larger operation, will recognize you. The salsa is to die for, the chips homemade, and the Mexican dishes are well-prepared and beautifully portioned. Try the fried ice cream for dessert. Also, this place is great for birthdays and anniversaries as well as your regular lunch or dinner out. It's a beautiful atmosphere, and I can't wait to try their other restaurants connected with it.
(4)Fred L.
I admit I had mixed expectations about Mexican food in Lancaster, PA, but our host swore by it and the food was good. 1. AMBIANCE. This is a huge facility done up very authentically in true Mexican style. There's a big courtyard room and the place was nice. 2. APPETIZERS. The appetizer list at dinner was a little thin compared to what I'm used to seeing. We had the guacamole, which was good. 3. CHIPS AND SALSA. Very good quality, freshly made chips and spicy salsa. 4. ENTREE. My enchiladas were surprisingly good. The sauce was very tangy and the chicken had some kick to it. The cheese enchilada would stack up against the best TexMex enchiladas I've ever had in Dallas, so kudos to them on the recipe and preparation. 5. MARGARITA. It was pretty solid. I had the house, they do suffer from the same 'Margarita Explosion' that seems to be infecting all Mexican food places now-a-days. Why do we need six varieties of Margarita? There should only be two; salt or no salt. The meal was good, the company was pleasant and I'd definitely go back. NOTE: I have Celiac disease and follow a gluten / wheat free diet. As usual, no issues with Mexican food, although I did ask about the enchilada sauce and it was okay.
(3)Doug S.
I would not consider visiting Lancaster without dinner at El Serrano. This place is huge, first of all with really impressive decor...even the building itself looks awesome from the outside. The chips and salsa are very good (a must for me) and I love the tacu tacu with chicken. Its a Peruvian dish that i'd never heard of before or ever seen anywhere else but it rocks. I mean, I live in the NYC area and yet I have to come to Central PA for this great dish. Those of you who reside in the area should consider yourselves lucky.
(5)Frank P.
This would be a decent Mexican/South American restaurant anywhere; for Lancaster, it's excellent. Restaurant really looks the part, and the food lives up to the looks. Sangria was yummy (tiny bits of diced apple - a nice touch), ceviche was pleasantly spicy, and my entree (lomo saltado) was superb. Waitress was pleasant, efficient, and didn't hesitate to move us to a quieter spot when we requested it. (Live music on weekends can be a bit loud when you're next to the performer... but the booths are quiet.) Review is based on one visit, and they weren't busy... but I want to go back. Our only complaint: nothing was spicy except the ceviche, not even the salsa.. a bit disappointing for chile heads. One other thing: every time a sizzling, steaming fajita platter went by we'd both stop and inhale. I hope the fajitas' flavor lives up to the aroma, because they smelled heavenly.
(4)Jason E.
Superb atmosphere. You feel like you've arrived at a Hacienda. Food ranges from so so to superb. Try the pork chops....I also quite liked the ceviche even though I'm not the biggest seafood fan. I'd say the South American cuisine may be a better choice over the mexican entrees. Nice place to bring the in-laws or such for a semi-formal dinner outing. *** Not sure if this is the same as the El Serrano in York. If so, will have to check it out. As the limiting factor was driving out to Lancaster.
(4)Carrie Y.
Every visit to El Serrano is a pleasant experience. The food and service are great, and the interior is lovely.
(4)Steve C.
Very good. But I'd have liked a larger dinner portion.
(4)Alex Z.
This is a very large restaurant. It has a nice atmosphere; the atmosphere is a bit unusual. Part of it looks like it used to be a dance club. There are different levels...some of them typical of an American Mexican restaurant but others more open...it's slightly classy, but slightly weird. There is a new addition--this place just keeps getting larger and larger. They have live music on some nights, but I generally try to avoid it because it's loud and not really my style. The food here is unauthentic, but good. This place is clearly a few steps up from the usual chi-chi's crap Mexican food. However, it's not real Mexican food...both the offerings and the food itself are more their own thing than they are Mexican food. There is Peruvian cuisine on the menu too, but from my experience, it is quite bland. My main complaint about this place is that there is not much variety to the menu. Many of the items are similar and there are a ton of things that just aren't on the menu. I can enjoy going here once every six months at most; any more often and I quickly get sick of it.
(4)Rob H.
Recent trips show a good range of classics. Though not traditional Mexican the dishes, particularly tacu tacu (a bean and egg and rice brick with green hot sauce), are distinct and delicious. The salsa rocks but I make better guac at home.
(3)Shawn W.
This has been a favorite of my wife and i since our dating days. The atmosphere is really elegant and inviting. We usually split a platter between the two us with 2 glasses of their homemade Sangria. (it is amazing!) The servers are really great and the food is never disappointing. It is the perfect addition to a date night!
(5)William S.
The food was definitely very good (would give it a 4.5), but El Serrano won't get more than three stars from me because of the interior decor, the service, and the prices. I ordered the Lomo Saltado because I wanted to compare dishes to other Peruvian restaurants I've visited, and was impressed. It was a good meal. However, in no way is the dish deserving of a $20 price tag. Other restaurants in town offer the same dish for $10 - $15 and are of comparable quality. For $20 I was expecting something amazing, not simply "a very good Lomo." The higher price probably results from the garish interior decor, which is cavernous and reminds one of eating in a pavilion at Epcot. Service was passable but I had to flag my waitress down a couple of times to refill my water. If this were the only Peruvian and/or South American restaurant in town, I'd probably give it five stars. But with such selection, why go here when other places offer a more enjoyable experience, comparable dishes, and much cheaper prices?
(3)Erin S.
We have had lunch and dinner at this spot three times over the last year. The first two times we experienced horrible service but good food. Today we went back with our kids for lunch and were very upset. Not only was the server nonexistent but the food was not good at all. It took 25 minutes to get our check and the waitress at no time made any attempt to apologize even though it was a ridiculous wait. No one wants to sit theory at two hour lunch with two small kids. Overall this spot is a disaster.
(2)Jim H.
WORTH THE WAIT You might have to wait to be seated--but it's worth it! Whether for a casual dinner or special evening out, thi is the place to go.
(5)Seneca O.
This is not a Chi-chi's type restaurant, so if that's what you're looking for, I'd suggest On The Border. El Serrano is one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever seen architecture-wise - I want to take pictures every time I'm there! The service is attentive and friendly, and the food is delicious. They serve some things that would be familiar to Americans, like fajitas and nachos, but also a wide variety of Peruvian goodness I recommend you try! Also, upstairs is the Tapas restaurant, and it is excellent! A bit pricey, but seriously worth saving up for - you each get 3 or 4 Tapas and (if you're like my family) share with each other - these exquisite little dishes will make for a great night out with anybody! Their drink selection is vast and impressive, during the summer they have an outdoor courtyard bar which is magazine-worthy, and their desserts are delicious as well.
(5)Rob S.
Fairly good food all things considered.
(3)C. M.
Excellent Peruvian/Latin American food in an astonishing atmosphere. Perfect for a romantic dinner, it's one of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster.
(5)Kevin H.
Very nice Latin find in Lancaster, PA. The salsa that came with our meal was very fresh, and very flavorful. I ordered the Lomo Saltado with beef. It was quite frankly the best meal that I have had in weeks. The seasoning brought this dish so much life (I definitely detected some cumin). I was so excited for every bite. The next time I come to Lancaster, I will return for this dish. My wife had the Pollo Fundido. It was good, not great. I had to try and conceal my enjoyment while eating my ridiculously awesome plato de comida. The service was great, everyone was very friendly. The restaurant itself was gorgeous both inside and out. There was also some live music which was nice. When they went to the canned music, it was too loud. That was my only real complaint. Come to El Serrano, and have a nice night out!
(4)Skip B.
This is my favorite mexican restaurant in Lancaster. It goes beyond your basic burritos, enchiladas and chimichangas. It has them, but it is so much more. I usually get their beef tenderloin fajitas but everything I have tried has been good. Shrimp with garlic sauce is my favorite appetizer. Good margaritas, good deserts and reasonable prices for the quality If somebody ask me where to to for Mexican in Lancaster El Serrano is what I tell them.
(4)Ms G.
The chicken fajitas here are amazing! Delicious! They are very reasonably priced. It's a unique, vibrant atmosphere (inside and outdoor seating). My husband and I come here often! We've always had excellent service and food! We try to do lunch or an early dinner to beat the crowds on weekends.
(5)Shawn B.
Excellent excellent excellent!!! The host staff was friendly and inviting. The server was also super friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is absolutely outstanding. The salsa is a beautiful red and has just the right amount of onions and cilantro. I was absolutely blown away by the beef Lomo Saltado. I will remember that dish for a long time.
(5)Daphne M.
Never a bad meal! Love the tapas restaurant too! I have been there many times. Margaritas are really good!
(5)Brandon H.
Love it here. Chicken fajitas with large side of guac is all you need. Well, maybe try some of the caliente sauce. Ambiance is incredible most of the time. Sometimes hard to find parking.
(5)Ashley N.
We came here on a Friday evening around 9:30. My husband had the shrimp fajitas which were good. Nothing to brag about. The shrimp were large which made up for the small portion of them which was about enough for two tortillas. I had the El Bandito with chicken and it was very flavorful and spicy, which I liked. We also ordered fresh guacamole and thought it was rather bland, and the same could be said about their salsa.
(3)Kevin B.
Here we go again. Another Mexican/Latin flavor Restaraunt. Overall the food was good and on par with all the other places we frequent. But...still can't find the right sangria. For 32.00 a carafe....I would give the sangria a "B" rating. We found it way too expensive for the amount given. Would definitely come back but not for the drinks. Our bill was 64.00 for two dinner and chips and guacamole but half that bill was the carafe. That's a game changer
(4)Rob W.
The waitress Esther was awesome and was on top of things the whole time! I'm from Tx and this is the only restaurant in Lancaster that has good Mexican food. We had a group and it was great!!
(5)Al T.
This restaurant hits on all cylinders. The attention to detail is beyond impressive. Each view of the various dining rooms in this castle like space is awesome. Service was extremely attentive and professional. Our server offered to give us a tour of the building inclusive of the various private dining areas and upper level tapas bar. We met the owner during the tour and were extremely impressed to learn that employees have a gym on the premises. The network of craftsmen that the owner met abroad lend there respective crafts to the surroundings. Brass bars , wood carved chairs etc. Food was fantastic and I expect to become a regular here. The spicues and variety of South American flavors the menu offers is phenomenal. Great job El Serrano you are an unexpected delight to all . Bravo to the owner for pushing the enevople and delivering a 5 star delight.
(5)A H.
So I went here on a Saturday night...expecting at least a half an hour wait..but we got seated right away, which was great. Really love the atmosphere of this place.. outside of this place reminds me of someone's mansion in Mexico... I'll be honest the food was avaerage to me...but the drink I had was very good, I didn't feel like I was getting jyped on alcohol..lol This is def a go to Latin restaurant if you want something a little more special than your typical Mex spot...I will be back!
(5)Tiffany C.
My hubby and I have been coming here for several years now and are never disappointed! The house made salsa is fantastic as are the margaritas! I always get the chicken fajitas because they are some of the best I've ever had flavor wise. If I have one criticism with regard to the fajitas it would be that while they're huge on flavor, they tend to be heavy on the veg and a little light on the meat. All in all this place is great and definitely worth checking out!
(4)Daniel R.
Excellent food, good atmosphere and pleasant staff. Would love to go back on a day when they have live music. The talapia with spinach and lentils was amazing and the appetizer nachos were HUGE.
(4)Michael C.
Came to Lancaster to experience the Amish. The fiance brought me to El Serrano, which I was skeptical of because it's Pennsylvania, and after being born and raised in southern California, I just assume I won't be able to find "real" South American food. Turns out, it's legitimate Peruvian, and I was quite amazed. I'm not sure why you go to this place for Mexican, because the specialty is Peruvian, and it's amazing. The waitress was super helpful, and we had no complaints. I had the Mixto Limeño, which was light, but super tasty. My fiance had the Lomo Saltado, which was classic Peruvian, and also tasted great.
(5)Drew K.
Left full and content! Had a large group and Esther treated us like Gems! I had the Steak fajitas and was not disappointed.
(5)Barry G.
Crowded but we were seated immediately. The sights, the smells, the drinks.So authentic! Loved it. Definitely would go back. Great way to celebrate national magarita day.
(5)Greg K.
I love El Serrano! This is a mash-up of Peruvian and Mexican... and maybe some interesting takes on other American and Central American fare. It will probably have something to offer everyone and anyone who likes Hispanic-themed food. Lots of seating, but will sometimes sit in the bar area just to switch it up. The building is an interesting renovation (I believe) of some old Columbia Ave home, and there are other options with the "restaurant-within-a-restaurant" for the initiated. One-star off for the ongoing parking issues and the sometimes spotty service (which is more the exception than the rule and often depends on how busy they are, which is usually). These are the only true negative things to say.
(4)Jim R.
After riding the back roads of Lancaster buying everything from fresh eggs to jam to corn on the cob, to just-picked watermelon, it was time for a complete change of pace - so why not go to a Peruvian Restaurant for lunch ! As noted by other reviewers, the place is both gigantic and beautiful. It was a Saturday afternoon and they only serve the dinner menu on weekends. We were not familiar with Peruvian food and asked our very helpful and fun sever what her recommendations would be from that side of the menu. (The other/bigger portion of the menu is on the Mexican side.) She picked 2 entrees for us. The first was Lomo Saltado, which were strips of beef tenderloin grilled Peruvian style with red onions, french fries and tomatoes, served with white rice. This had a very good flavor but was a little odd with the soggy French fries that were cooked/served with the beef. The 2nd entrée (Tacu Tacu) was very very good and consisted of grilled rice and beans, mixed with egg and Pico de Gallo. I had it topped with grilled, marinated chicken breast. So if you're looking for a change of scenery, give it a try. I know we'll be back. With the above, 2 beers, tax and tip, the bill came to around $55.00
(4)J K.
I had the bandito which was spicy but not abusively hot by any means. My wife had the lomo saltado (chicken) which was excellent. I love this place.
(5)Damian P.
This place is large and spacious, yet still be prepared to wait for a table - it's popular. Outdoor courtyard space is impressive. The flan was incredibly good.
(3)CJ C.
Love this restaurant! Great food and great service. They always work hard to seat people as quickly as possible even when they are very busy.
(5)Stephy S.
I would give the food a 3.0-3.5, but the actual restaurant has a spacious, great feel that i'd give the overall experience a 4. We were there for lunch. They start you off with complimentary chips and salsa, which is a nice touch. I got the chimichanga (w/ ground beef) and my date ordered the Lomo Saltado (beef tenderloin tips). The food was pretty good, especially for not being in a major city (I'm use to the great restaurants of Philadelphia). We had the flan, which is homemade and I'd recommend getting if you like flan (has a light caramel taste). I would definitely come back again when back in Lancaster county. Very close to the Tanger Outlets and movie theatre :)
(4)Erik C.
As most have mentioned, this place is massive. It could hold the Alamo, a Barnstormers game, and an Elton John concert simultaneously. We came on a Sunday afternoon, around 2PM, so were greeted with absolutely no wait, and no crowd whatsoever. When we sat, we immediately received some warm, tasty chips and cold salsa (I prefer my salsa cold... some do, some don't, some don't bother themselves with such trivialities). Together, it was a welcomed appetizer. They do a good job here, and sometimes connoisseurs of Latin American cuisine will use this as a benchmark. I happen to be one of them. My wife ordered the El Serrano combo, which had a soft taco, a "mini-chimichanga", and a cheese enchilada. It also had rice and beans. I partook in the enchilada plate (my usual "gateway dish" for any Mexican joint... if they do good enchiladas, they usually will be decent on other dishes), which had two shredded beef-filled corn tortillas covered in ranchero sauce, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo. It also had a side of rice and beans. The food was excellent. This will always be subjective, but growing up in west Texas, living in Austin later on (a haven for great Mexican food), and having the stuff in most of the other states in the Union, I was impressed. My wife raved about her dish as well. The service was very good. Now, it wasn't busy at all, but the waiter was as attentive as he needed to be without smothering us. He was very knowledgeable about the menu, smiled, and gave an overall impression that he actually cared about the place and its customers. A refreshing change from the usual "here's your Coke, where's my 10 bucks" attitude at some places. Next trip, I'll dig in to some Peruvian offerings. Maybe some chuletas or lomito is in order. (*** To the 21-year old "alcohol expert" who gave the restaurant 2 stars despite praising the food, due to his margarita not having enough tequila: Get over yourself.)
(4)Kelly J.
I am on a business trip to Lancaster, PA. My coworker and I stopped here for lunch. Overall, the food was decent. I found it odd that the guacamole was priced at "market price" and the market price for avocado, onion, tomato and some spices can't vary all that much. I enjoyed my Minichanga. My coworker ordered a side of beans and received a huge bowl. That was a little excessive. He also requested sour cream that was never brought out to him. I wish they hadn't set us at the first table you saw after you walked in the restaurant. Every time anyone entered or exited, we "enjoyed" an extended rush of freezing air from outside. I would not recommend this restaurant to any friends visiting Lancaster. But it wasn't so bad that I would actively avoid it, either.
(3)John S.
Went here last Monday night for the first time. I visit Lancaster quite often and have been to many local restaurants. I ordered the Pollo le Parilla, which was marinated breast of chicken with white rice and steamed veggies. The chicken was very tasty and moist. Definitely worth a second visit.
(4)Pamela B.
The food was outstanding. Unusual pairing of food but it works. Waitstaff was helpful and attentive.
(4)Lisa E.
Went here after a long week (Friday evening) and was treated to a table in the courtyard. Lucky for us, a band was just getting started in the courtyard too. The host warned us about the noise-level, but it made the atmosphere so much fun! The overall look and feel of this place is absolutely overwhelming - and gorgeous! We sat down and ordered margaritas and fajitas - one chicken and the other shrimp. The fajitas came out sizzling and were accompanied by plenty of fillers, rice and beans. Everything was delicious! The margaritas were great too. Our server always made sure we had everything we needed and was quick to bring back our requests. Added bonus, while at El Serrano, I joined the loyalty club mentioned on the menu. The next day I received a $10 off coupon in my email. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Josh F.
Excellent food and a great atmosphere and great ambiance make this a 5 star place to eat! The chefs were able to accommodate my vegan diet quite easily, and the waitress was knowledgable about what came in each dish. The service was very friendly, and made for an enjoyable night.
(5)Deepkamal K.
I visited twice to the restaurant as seeing all the reviews online. Experience for the first visit was excellent as per the wait time had to wait 90 minutes to get to the table. However, in the first visit it was just m wife and I. Second visit I took my whole family there thinking we will get the same experience. Let me begin by again breaking it down in pros and cons: Pros: - Place has excellent parking but on weekend it can be an issue - The place is decorated and excellent food. - Good vegetarian choices as well. Cons: - The floor is very dirty - Our wait time was 85 minutes to be exact. - During over visit, my mom slipped due to beans on the floor and fell on a chair. Due to that she got a jerk in her knee. We have made medical appointment with the doctor (will see how that goes) - Secondly, the first table we were given was not cleaned at all, the chairs had food on it and the floor had napkins, pieces of food, and ketchup..... - They had candle in the middle of the table which was not lit. Overall, the experience was worst. I have never had this bad experience at any restaurant of this type. We will never be going to this restaurant and warn other if you have a special thing planned for your loved once, do not go to this place.
(2)Andrew C.
The best Mexican/Peruvian food in all of Lancaster. The fajitas are absolutely delicious. Typically, I think fajitas taste the same at most places, but these are above and beyond. Specially marinated in some sort of secret ingredient apparently. They might be my favorite meal. The service is great. For some reason, even the soda tastes especially good. And the complimentary chips and salsa is pretty good. And the atmosphere is great - just about everything in the restaurant is authentic Peruvian furniture. This is not cheap Mexican/Peruvian food, but it's well worth it.
(5)Tracy D.
Mid-day on a Sunday drive. Hubby had the ranchero, which he liked after doctoring the blandish beans & rice with their pico de gallo and salsa. I had the Taco salad with chicken, good enough though the overall flavor was salt more than spice. Good service, decent prices.The decor is very beautifully carved woodwork, detailed metalwork, lovely. We'd return if we're in the area, bit wouldn't go out of our way, like we do for our favorite places.
(3)Steve L.
Latin American fusion on some plates. Very authentic interior.... Lancaster? The goods: meats, meats on the bone, meats on a sizzling plate, and fish. Chips, salsa, sides including rice, sauces. Heck even the deserts were good. In fact the pork chops on the sizzle plate with pineapple is the tastiest simple thing I've had in a while. Yuca?! Value. The so so: Service, fast pace servers in a horse and buggy town is not gonna happen, we'll unless your at a truck stop diner of coarse. Plus the staff appeared very young, however it is farmland so they do know food.... That means if you slow down and think like a farmer you can get almost anything you want. What else is missing: Brunch time favs for the metros like bottomless mimosas? Nope, not here.. BUT the margaritas make up for the mimosas, leaving those tippers a bit tipsy from my observation. The bad?: Not much, the only real criticism I have worth listing in the bad section was a couple of gristle prices of tenderloin on my tenderloin platter. The rest were actually as tenderloin as expected. IF the plate was 7 bucks more I would have given this place 2 stars, but cost weighs in on the weight of the beef here. Will I go here again? Only if I'm in the area. BTW, I ate in the downstairs restaurant with the court.
(4)Megan B.
Love this place! Awesome food and atmosphere. wish the drinks weren't so expensive but they are good! Haven't been able to go in a long time because of the pricey nature of the place but I still recommend a visit!
(5)Elizabeth O.
Manuel Torres, owner, his daughter, Melanie, and Manuel Ayala, executive chef, were welcoming and made for an unforgettable Cinco de Mayo celebration. The live music kept us dancing in their large courtyard and their food is top-notch. I can't wait to go back for their tapas-style menu/events.
(5)AJ B.
I want to give them a 4.5, the food is always above my expectations. I feel like the perfect time to come in is later in the night its a tad bit more relaxed and overall I just enjoy it better. The lighting and atmosphere are perfect for groups of friends or a date night. The only reason for the 4 is my server lacked a little and wasn't attentive to our drinks. We were greeted by 2 managers asking about our experience. The food was spot on I got the lomo saltado with beef it was flavorful and cooked properly to my request. I look forward to going back again soon.
(4)Ted T.
Parking lot was packed when we arrived and I feared a long wait. But the restaurant is massive and we were seated immediately. Very cool, old Mexico kinda feel inside. Live music playing. Not too loud so we could hear each other perfectly clear. We started with the Nachos which were very tasty. The ground beef is seasoned to perfection. Then we split the chicken fajitas. My wife and I both felt it was the best fajita we've had in a long time. Perhaps because this place is more Peruvian than Mexican it's a bit different tasting. But can't say enough about how delicious everything was. Oh yeah, the salsa is really good too.
(5)Walter B.
We came here for our 18th Wedding Anniversary with my wife's parents based on their recommendation and the reviews we've read on it. The food was quite good, however the service was sloooooooooooooow. We basically felt ignored the entire night despite be place directly in front of their "live entertainment." It appeared that our waitress was assigned a different part of the restaurant and had to cover our tables as she kept appearing from a door that leads to another section of the restaurant. She only had one other table in our section to cover that we could see. Multiple tables who were seated after us were finished with their dinner and leaving as we were just getting served. It started with being seated. 15 minutes later, a waitress finally appeared, dropped some chips and then said she would be right back. About 10 minute later, our drink orders were taken. Another 10 - 15 minutes and the drinks finally arrived. Just not a great first impression. For dinner the four of us ordered completely different dinners and the food was quite good though the plating of the pork chops was questionable. Trio Vegetariano for my wife which she liked. I went with the Mixto Limento as I was craving something lighter. The tilapia was well seasoned and cooked, the vegetables were rather bland and flavorless, which was accentuated by the wealth of seasoning on the fish. I pushed the vegetables around in the leftover fish seasoning to give them more flavor. My mother in law went with the Arroz con Mariscos which is a mix of fish and shrimp, she said it was quite good though she also got the bland vegetables on the side. It was the Chuletas de Puerco that was good, but weird. Served on a hot skillet, it's two pork chops with a 1" thick slice of grilled pineapple that was the entire length of the pineapple with the skin left on. It was simply placed on top of the pork chops with absolutely no way to cut into it or eat it. For pure presentation, it was pretty, but no way to actually cut into it and eat if that's the purpose of it. Especially with the hard skin still holding it together. If you're going to serve grilled pineapple with a dish, you should actually be able to enjoy it. The manager ended up coming by seeing my Father in law struggling with the pineapple, he offered to get a plate and ended up cutting the pineapple for hi. in fact the entire dish really should be served with an empty plate on the side so the diner can remove the pork chop to more easily cut it. Great flavor on the pork chop, but it could not be enjoyed with the pineapple as it was too thick, too hard and just brought the entire dish down. So overall, food was good, but the dinner was a disappointment due to the very slow service and just being ignored. Especially watching all the other wait staff all around us properly attending to their tables. No clue why none of them could have been assigned to our table. Looking at Yelp it looks like there are plenty of other choices in the local area for a unique dining experience. This is certainly an interesting place but I doubt we will be back.
(2)Tls K.
Beautiful old-world charm to the restaurant. We exited the turnpike after seeing the online reviews and were not disappointed. Definitely try the jalapeno salsa...we ordered a jar to go! Service was attentive, the food was freshly prepared. We will definitely return next time we are in PA.
(5)Tania M.
Excellent food, and ambience! Beautiful decor. Would definitely suggest it to anyone! !
(5)Cyn M.
Went for a late lunch a couple months ago. The place was nearly empty, yet we were initially seated at a horrible table right by the door. The room is huge; it must seat at least 200 people, and there were only 2 or 3 other small parties there. We asked for a different table and were relocated to a comfy booth. Why in the world did they seat us at the worst table in the whole place? Nuts! Our server brought us a drink, then came back very (too) quickly to take our order. We weren't quite ready, as we wanted to relax and peruse the big menu. After about 15 minutes, she at last emerged from somewhere far, far away and took our order--the "pizza" and a quesadilla. She said we'd LOVE the pizza, one of their biggest sellers, a signature dish. Then we waited... and waited... munching on tasty chips and salsa, with a side of guacamole that was pretty good. Finished our drinks. The food took quite a while to come out. We figured the chef was surely cooking us up a treat, considering the wait. Meanwhile, we sought our server for a drink refill, but could only catch an occasional glimpse of her across the cavernous space. We heard laughing and chatter coming from the kitchen area, but it was impossible to get her attention, as we leaned out of our booth, looking for our "server," getting thirstier after eating the salty tortilla chips. Worth the wait? Unfortunately, no. Cool quesadilla that should've been hot.. And the pizza was was HOT on the outside (for a couple minutes)--but fridge-cold on the inside. Pretty enough, but obviously microwaved. Yuck. Finished the drinks we were finally able to obtain, and left. I am glad we only ordered a light meal, or I would've felt very annoyed and ripped off. In my opinion, the food is mediocre at best, and quite overpriced. I cook way better Mexican dishes than these microwave "chefs." IOW, disappointing. I am again befuddled by the rave reviews this joint has garnered. Was my first--and definitely last--visit.
(2)Frank B.
Very good place that serves generous portions. Came here for a business lunch recently and found this Restaraunt to be outstanding. The food was very well prepared; the wait staff fantastic and just a great place to have a nice meal.
(4)Ed S.
We have eaten here several times. Food always good and we had no problem with the service. Don't understand those complaints. Salsa and chips just keep coming if requested. My friend from Peru says not pure but still very good food. We will return.
(4)Leigh H.
The building is totally cool and looks like it was dropped right of the sky from another country. The menu is a bit limited and eclectic between Mexican and Peruvian. We enjoyed our meal and would definitely go back on our next trip.
(4)Tom W.
I'm picky about Mexican food. El Serrano is solid. The building and decor are amazing and you don't find that often. They spared no expense in the construction and furnishing of this incredible restaurant. The food is pretty good, not great. I enjoyed the Yucca fries as an app but they only give you 4 so if you're sharing with a larger party, you might need more than one order. My wife had the Vegetarian trio. It was a huge plate of food and she seemed to enjoy it. I had the beef fajitas and the meat was a tender and perfect medium rare. Solid 4 star place, seems to do a nice business so you may want to make some reservations, assuming they allow that.
(4)Christa G.
I've never made a yelp review before but for this place I definitely had to. I wanted to bring my boyfriend to a special place for his birthday. I checked online and saw the incredible amount of positive reviews for this restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful online and so we decided to check it out. Best.decision.ever! It's located on columbia Avenue yet we've never seen it until now. That's the only con I have to say about this place. I wish it was in a different location so it can stand out. It would get tons of customers. Anyway, the restaurant is gorgeous. Inside and out, they definitely made it feel as if you went to Latin America. The staff and manager were extremely helpful and friendly. They suggested we sit outside and that was a great advice. The courtyard was breathtaking and there was also a singer who sang a birthday song for my boyfriend which was so nice :). The food and drinks were amazing. The manager was so friendly and was very interactive with us, as well as the other customers. He even set aside a private tour for us after dinner. Definitely request that because the whole restaurant is something you need to see. I can't describe how gorgeous this place is. Everything was amazing. We had an incredible time. Definitely coming back as soon as possible :)
(5)Bill M.
Another trip to El Sorrano and once again we were pleased. Noticed that place was crowded on a Sunday afternoon at 5 which was a departure from past trips but still feel it's a good time to go and avoid wait for table and enjoy guitar player. They ran out of Guacamole which is a major screwup but the owner personally brought over a sliced avacado to an attempt to make amends. Cusps to the waiter for bringing it to his attention. Moves like that make us happy regulars.
(4)Sarah M.
Nice decor, decent food, good service. It's a little dark inside and the food is kind of pricey. I would rather go to a mom & pop place for this type of cuisine. You have to go at least once though because their margaritas are pretty good!
(3)Aaron D.
El Serrano probably has the best building and design in Lancaster. A great spot for Taps with friends. Menu is Peruvian which is different then Mexican. Always have very good service and food. The room is just fun using the classic colors of Peru. There is actually three different restaurants in this one building. El Serrano is the first floor. Culturas is the tapas bar on the second and the third is the private dinner area. That is a great idea for an intimate dinner with someone special or another couple. A star on the Lancaster food map, well worth the visit.
(4)Sheila K.
Delicious food and Margaritas. My friends from Phila go here and say who would believe a place like this would be in Lancaster, PA. Very reasonable prices and great atmosphere. You don't want to miss this place.
(5)Jake H.
This is a solid, middle of the road Mexican restaurant. The service was pretty good and the food was "meh". In short, this place is nothing to write home about, but not bad either.
(3)Jon L.
I want to love this place more than I do. But lately they've been making it hard. The last two times I have gone there it took over an hour to get our food. And this wasn't a Saturday night at prime dinner time with the joint packed. This was more of a Thursday night at 7pm when it's half filled. Anywhere even close to an hour is unacceptable and our waitress, both times did not say anything to us about it. Not only that, but they will bring you extra chips and salsa if you ask, but even though you have to sit there for an hour and wait for your meal they still charge you for the extra chips. The most recent time I went there I asked for crab enchiladas, and since I was very hungry I asked if I could please add shrimp to that. The waitress looked at me weird and said "ummm you have to pay for that!!" I know that ding dong, it's normal to pay for something EXTRA you as for, just not normal to charge us for the chops and salsa being consumed while we wait patiently. So my meal comes out and there is no shrimp on it. By this point I was starving and didn't want to wait any longer. Then I discovered one enchilada had crab and the other had shrimp, so I thought maybe I just wasn't clear about what I wanted. Then she asks if we want dessert. My friend ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Not fried ice cream. Just a scoop of ice cream. We waited 15 minutes for the ice cream. I don't know how it can take that long. Then we get the bill and our waitress charged me $7 for shrimp but I didn't even get that in addition to the 2 enchiladas they shorted me the crab and just substituted shrimp. I was waiting for our waitress to come back so I could ask about it but after waiting 10 minutes and not knowing where she was we just all threw in our money and left. By the time we were finished it was 10 o clock. How the heck does dinner last 3 hours. Needless to say I think it's gonna take some arm twisting to get me back there anytime soon
(2)John C.
My gf and I tried this place for lunch. Service was very slow and waiter didn't check back with us. Our waiter neither brought out our food nor refilled our water glasses (the busboy did). As for the food, I had the shredded beef chimichanga. Chimichangas should be deep fried not just a rolled cold burrito with only two tiny pieces of meat about the size of a marble. They decided that a flavorless white sauce was a much better compliment than the more traditional salsa verde, they were wrong. The food here was less Mexican than Taco bell and less flavorful as well.
(1)Carolyn C.
I was really excited to go to El Serrano but I won't be going back. They seated us next to a huge very fake potted plant that looked over us as we waited for our server. The aisle was so narrow that every time a server brought out food they almost elbowed us in the face. The food came quickly but I suspect it was microwaved and not made fresh because the plates were sizzling hot but the food was cold. I ordered a chimichanga and the cheese was completely congealed and disgusting. There was absolutely no flavor or spice. There was nothing authentic or especially Spanish about the food. Taco bell is tastier and cheaper.
(1)Johan E.
My wife and I went there for our anniversary a few weeks ago for the first time although we've been to Culturas upstairs before. My first warning would be that the private parking lot feels a bit small for the size of the building and tends to fill up fast. So far we've been fortunate that we've never had to park elsewhere but I can't imagine that being a fun experience on that stretch of Columbia Avenue. For a weeknight, there was still about a 15 minute wait which was necessary because they only take reservations for large parties and even then, only on weekends. Once seated, our drink orders were quickly taken and requisite chips and salsa delivered. The chips were hot a fresh and the salsa was excellent. The only real problem I had with our server came in the next few minutes. After our drinks were brought, the table next to us was seated (about 7-8 in their party). From that point on, our server seemed to give that table priority and we ended up behind them on every step from simply ordering our food to closing our tab. That shouldn't be the case when we had the better part of a ten minute head start. To be fair, one of the women in their party was pretty bullheaded and kept demanding the server's attention whenever he was nearby but a simple "I'll be right with you" would have been enough to diffuse her and ensure he properly attended his other tables. As for the food, it's important to mention that this isn't so much as a Central/South American restaurant. Mostly a mixture of Mexican and Peruvian food. I am a fan of spicy food so I ordered El Bandido with shredded beef. The beef was delicious but the real winner was the jalapeno sauce on top. I don't recall what my wife ordered but I had a couple bites and it was equally delicious. For dessert we had the rum cake and the flan. The flan was delicious and reminded me of my Cuban grandmother's. To be honest, the rum cake wasn't anything special and I would probably never order it again given the other choices. I know people tend to rant about the prices here but paying in the teens range for an entree that will more than fill me up seems like a good deal when the food it good quality. Obviously extras like dessert, appetizers, and drinks can put a meal here into a pricey range but dinner for two with a drink each and no extras should easily come in under $50 before tip. As for the decor, nothing can really be said that others haven't already said. In my opinion, this is the most impressive restaurant in Lancaster. No expense seems to haven been spared on every detail from the building itself down to the chairs. Eating here feels like you're in one of the countries at the World Showcase at Epcot Center.
(4)TheKritik N.
I did a quick search on my phone for a good restaurant in Lancaster city, PA and was really pleasantly surprised to find El Serrano. We got there without reservations on Saturday evening and had to wait for about 20 min. The staff was very polite and helpful and did the impossible to accommodate us. The Owner was very friendly and walk us to our table. Inside the restaurant the atmosphere is fantastic, lots of people and nice live music playing in the background. The food was really good, nothing spectacular but enjoyable. On the way out we heard loud music and it turned out there is another live band playing out in the courtyard. People were dancing and having a blast. I really liked the place and will definitely go back on our next trip to Lancaster.
(4)Ben O.
Good atmosphere and they often have a live guitarist. Nice courtyard for drinks, variety of margaritas, and delicious food.
(5)Nathan C.
This is a fantastic find in Lancaster! We came in here after spending a loooong day at Dutch Wonderland, amidst the hordes of unleashed rug monkeys. So the adults among our group were seeking food that wasn't hot-dog-related at a place that served alcohol. Yay, El Serrano! So the menu is a nice mix of Mex-American fare and Peruvian dishes. We started off with the tilapia ceviche and the Super Nachos (try and find that combo in DC!). Both were excellent. For dinner, we ended up with the salmon serrano, the lomo saltado, and chicken in enchilada, fajita, quesadilla, and finger form. The salmon serrano was delicious, as was the lomo saltado. Surprisingly, the chicken dishes were also outstanding - including the chicken fingers! The chicken fajitas in particular were tasty, tender, and not at all dried out or chewy. They also make a mean manhattan and mojito (well, three mojitos). Desserts are delicious, and bad enough for you that you should probably share them. Yes, I'm talking to you, fatty. The place is enormous but seemed to be getting full by the time we left (about 7:30 pm on Saturday) - we didn't stop to check out the other restaurant that occupies the rest of the building (it appears to be a tapas place). Note that while it looks fairly upscale, they are excellent with kids and there were quite a few in there (including our two) making noise and having fun. But the way the place is laid out will isolate your group well, which is good if you're either a source of noise or trying to avoid it.
(5)J T.
Whoa! This place really blew me away! I grew up in an area outside of NYC with great Mexican food, and this place is at least as fantastic as any of my old faves. I was in Lancaster last week and decided to give this place a try -- such a good idea this was... the decor and atmosphere were beautiful, and the food was reeeeally delicious :-) I'll be sure to visit the next time I'm in Lancaster.
(5)Sabrina M.
On Tuesday April 1st my husband and I went to El Serrano restaurant for lunch with my one year old son. We were greeted by a young girl who probably hated every second of her job. She gave us a dirty high chair that had the previous child's food stuck on it. We ordered the fish tacos for appetizers. They were ok. Then we ordered our main course. 15 minutes later a manager comes up to us and asks us to move tables. I asked why. He replied that he had a school trip and they needed my table. The table we sat at was a table for four and in the section we sat in had no room to add another table. I told the manager that the restaurant is empty and why can't you find another table. He replied no I need that one. I then proceeded to ask the nice waitress Maurita for my check and she asked me what was the problem and I explained how embarrassed I was in the way the manager treated us. My food wasn't even served yet. So I told the waitress that I'm taking my food to go. The manager never came back. While I was talking to the waitress all he was doing was preparing my table for the next guest. I paid $50 bucks for take out food. As I was exiting the restaurant I spoke to two other waiters about the situation and they informed me that that wasn't the first time that this manager pulled a stunt like that. He has no regard for people and I will never eat there again. The best part of this whole story is that the chicken fajitas weren't even good. I should've went to Taco Bell. 18th century old world charm on the inside with 18 century people running the place.
(1)