Jethro’s Restaurant & Bar
659 1st St, Lancaster, PA, 17603
Jethro’s Restaurant & Bar Menu
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Address :
659 1st St
Lancaster, PA, 17603 - Phone (717) 299-1700
- Website https://jethrosrestaurantandbar.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Zak S.
Jethro's is always a great meal. Staff and service are always top notch. I don't agree with a couple of reviews on "tough chicken" or "salty food". I'm very sensitive to salty flavors and over salted food and have never experienced this in any of my dozen or so visits to Jethro's. Menu no longer changes daily but they always offer exciting and different specials. Love the atmosphere. It's a great little spot.
(5)Lew B.
Meant to write this back in October when we went, but...the memory's solid, as this was outstanding. I suggested Jethro's as our Homecoming dinner at Franklin & Marshall College this year; my wife and I met there, our maid of honor went there and was celebrating her anniversary this same weekend, and our daughter is a student there now. I wanted to go back to Jethro's because I'd just written about the place in a book I'm working on; it was the first place I ever had a real, hand-made whiskey sour, and the memory was, again, solid, after 30 years. I got there early, and there was only one thing to do: sit down at the bar and have a whiskey sour. It was superb: fresh-squeezed juice, just a touch of sugar, and a solid slug of bourbon. Good thing the rest of the party showed up shortly thereafter! Bar service was perfect: friendly but not familiar, sophisticated and smooth. We had a great meal -- I got smoked trout and a delicious chunk of grouper -- and the service was very attentive. That was actually the only downside, and the reason I'm going four stars -- which would be 4.5 if I could -- is that the service was maybe a bit much, and interrupted the dinner a little too often. Still, if you have to err, that's the side to err on. Desserts and coffee were excellent. Really, one of the best places in Lancaster still, and I'd encourage you to visit.
(4)Scott M.
Possibly Lancaster City's greatest hidden gem. It isn't on a main road like King Street but travel a few blocks south and you have hit pay dirt. The ambiance is very bohemian, and overall the place is a tight fight. You'd be wise to make reservations. The menu is constantly changing and I don't think you can go wrong with anything. The mixed drinks from the bar are high quality. If you are looking for good food and a kooky staff, be ready to save room for desert.
(5)randy s.
I read the reviews and was completely let down. My meal was as plain and boring as it gets. There was no creativity, love, or passion put into my meal. It tasted like it was out of a jar. And I am not exaggerating one bit. Maybe I should give them a chance for redemption. Some day. All I know is that it is a cool place for a drink, but the pasta dish I had was pathetic.
(2)Kristina S.
A little off the beaten path, but definately a diamond in the rough. Low key, but cozy and lovely atmosphere. Very thoughtful menu. Excellent experience.
(4)Patrick G.
Excellent food! I typically get the duck breast every time, but every once in a while I'll get a burger. Everything is always flavorful and well cooked. My wife slays their bread pudding and their pecan pie is the best I've had. Never a dull moment with the staff...great personalities and always, always friendly. It seems none of them ever have a bad day. The parking is on street, but you typically don't have to walk more than a block or two even on busy nights.
(5)Betsy N.
Let me start by saying my husband Thomas and I love Jethro's- we have been coming here for all our special occasions since 1997. We have known the staff and the Chef, and consider it our favorite Lancaster spot. Tonight, however, we are having a ow night. We arrived at 5:15, knowing that we were a bit before serving time- however, it is now 6:30 and we are not yet served, but all we ordered were appetizers- ack! We hope all is ok at our fav place!
(3)Mark W.
Wow! Definitely one of my new favorite restaurants in Lancaster. Check this place out if you haven't been here. It's definitely not in the heart of downtown, but such a neat place that is worth finding your way to. The #1 thing that stands out about this place is the service and friendliness of the staff. The hostess and waitress were chatty and friendly, telling us about specials and asking about how our day was. I felt like we were their long lost friends! I tried the cucumber gazpacho, which was spicy, but REALLY good. For my main course, I ordered the portobello caps, which were equally delicious. The food tasted fresh and I loved the creativity of how the dishes were designed. I could go on for hours about this place, but do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Doug B.
This place is one of my absolute Lancaster favorites. The ONLY negative is the parking. Only on street parking available... but the extra effort to park is worth it. Fresh oranges, limes and lemons are fresh squeezed for every drink... no sour mix here... Ask for a drink made with their housemade ginger juice. I would recommend always ordering from the weekly specials. They have a soup, a pasta, a pizza, a chicken, and a salmon special every week. Always save room for the homemade desserts. Bread pudding is absolutely the best ever; however all the desserts are homemade and amazing. If you can parallel park or can grab a cab get to Jethro's. I have lived in Lancaster all my life and this is one of the very best places.. a hidden gem for sure. Fantastic service... great personalities.
(5)Wenxin W.
This 3 star review is an average of my two visits here. I first visited Jethro's about 2 years ago and sat at the bar. It's a friendly, corner neighborhood bar that seemed frequented by regulars. The place was dark in a nice way, service was great and everyone was very friendly. Drinks were well made, quick and appetizers were tasty. We came back recently on a tuesday night for a sit down dinner in the dining room. The decor was spot on. Waitress service was quick, attentive and exactly what we expected. We were checked up on frequently and drinks were quickly brought to the table. The 2 soups we ordered were great, and possibly the best part of the meal. Unfortunately, this time, we were let down by the dinner. My burger, which I ordered as medium, was probably between medium well and well done. There was no pink at all in the middle, and the meat seemed a bit dry. The Bernaise sause was the best part of the burger. I liked the concept of serving it on an open face toasted piece of bread. Instead of fries or chips, the burger came with stir fry, which was well cooked, but different from what I expected with a burger. I just wish they would have taken the burger off a few minutes earlier. The waitress must have noticed that the burger was a bit overcooked, because halfway through, she came by and asked if it was too well done, which was very thoughtful. The pasta, chicken, and artichoke dish was ok, but overpowered by enough sun dried tomatoes for 3-4 servings, and a bit overseasoned. The herbs seemed more like dried herbs than fresh. We may have come on an off night, and if my burger was a little less dry, this place could have received 4-5 stars, just based on drinks, service and atmosphere. We'll have to come back again for dinner to see if we just came on a bad night.
(3)Jack H.
Came here on the recommendation of a "local" while I was in town visiting a client. Warning, it is in some kind of GPS vortex that means you will never find it. I had to drive around for almost two hours, probably passed it about 10 times and it wasn't until I got so frustrated I flagged down a cop in order to find the place. In a way I'm glad I did find a cop because he was very friendly and he told me a bit about the history of the place. Apparently, before prohibition the restaurant served as a meeting place for members of the Pennsylvania Uprising who were able to trade products from their small farms for ammunition and weapons. During prohibition it was a speakeasy and it still retains some of that mysterious charm. There is virtually no lighting inside and both my client and I had trouble seeing the menu and our food, you might want to consider bringing a pen light if you have trouble in dark places. The decor is lovely and the food is AMAZING. I have never had such succulent pork tenderloin and my client had the grilled portobello. Since we loved the food so much we shared everything and his food was every bit as good as mine. We also had the prosciutto, an order of calamari and split a Jethro burger that is covered in delicious bearnaise sauce. We figured, if it's named after the restaurant it's probably not to be missed and we were right. We were a little curious what the "wine fingers" on the menu were, but we forgot to order them. All in all, a memorable meal.
(4)Brandon D.
After hearing about it from others, went there for first time last week. It was awesome!! Food and service and atmosphere... all great.
(5)Joslyn D.
Love this place. Not big so you might want to call ahead but interesting menu, super friendly staff and great drinks.
(5)Jackie P.
It wasn't horrible. That about sums it up. My entre was so-so, my boyfriend got the tuna steak which was delicious, but the entire meal was a single tuna steak on a plate. They brought a little side plate with a few green beans on it but that was it. We both came in pretty hungry, and left feeling pretty much just as hungry with a $56 bill (we also both got two of the less expensive entrees on the menu). We actually thought about going to the Thai place a few blocks over for a second meal! In summary, it wasnt horrible. But I wouldnt go back.
(2)Amanda K.
During prohibition, Jethro's was a speakeasy and it still maintains a lot of charm. The property is very well taken care of, and was a pleasant surprise in my neighborhood. The lighting is dim, but creates an ambiance that is felt as soon as you enter. The building itself is small; there are only three booths near the bar area and a back dining room. We were lucky enough to snag the middle booth. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. My boyfriend and I mentioned we were new to town and got a complete run down of the menu and some local hot spots. Both couples on either side of us were regulars and also gave us some Lancaster living tips. They also said to call ahead to reserve the booths because they usually aren't available. The beers were reasonably priced, although the selection doesn't include Anheuser Busch products. They have weekly specials that all sounded fantastic, but I ended up with the grilled portobello and Lou with the Jethro burger with a béarnaise sauce. The entrées are served with Tapenade and bread basket. If you like olives, this spread is spot on. The portobello was perfection, although the bread underneath ended up a bit soggy. The Jethro burger was phenomenal. It was cooked perfectly medium rare and the homemade béarnaise sauce was a great addition. It is served open face with vegetables and would probably be my next menu selection. The service was prompt, but relaxed. I felt we were able to enjoy our dinner together. I will definitely be back; the service and atmosphere, the food and drinks, oh, and it's only a block from my new place.
(4)Larry P.
Jethro's is a small restaurant. The bar area has 3 good size booths in addition to bar seating. There is a larger back room with tables that can accommodate larger groups. This arrangement is both a positive and negative. When groups are waiting at the bar, the small room can get noisy but, once they move to back room, it becomes a cozy room for quiet conversations. The food was good. My partner had the First & Ruby pasta. She described it as above average with good proportions of chicken, artichokes, and tomatoes that were not overwhelmed by the pasta. I had the burger plain so I cannot speak to the their usual burger which has a house sauce. The large thick burger is unusual in that it is served open faced on a baguette. It was perfectly medium for me. There is only a limited selection of beers on tap. The wine list is modest. Service was good. Jethro's is located in a quiet residential neighborhood. Someone described it as a rough neighborhood. I disagree but maybe I am biased since my partner had lived just a block away. There is no off-street parking. The unisex restroom was clean and well decorated.
(4)Stephen G.
Jethro's is a little hard to find--even GPS had trouble. Parking is on-street only, and a little hard to find. Don't be surprised to have to walk a block or two. The restaurant itself is quaint, an old house in the old part of town. It's tiny, but fun; the decor is perfect for the building. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable, but less attentive than one might expect in a small place. Sadly, the food did not live up to the atmosphere. The appetizer was okay, a little spicier than one would expect, but palatable. The entrees, however, were overly salted, to the point of overpowering. The menu changes daily, and we were there late, which may have explained some of the disappointment. Still, I expected better from a place with such good reviews. It's worth a second try, though.
(3)Tina Z.
In a neighborhood in Lancaster which makes parking tricky but if I had this bar in my neighborhood I'd love it We started with some cocktails that were perfect and only $7.00 each The place is SMALL but the bar is pretty cool and there were people eating at the bar and the few booths in the bar. Then there is a very small dining room and there was music upstairs in small room We were a party of 5 and had Fresh Mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto $8.95 3 pieces 1"x2" with balsamic vinegar and few roasted red peppers, was tasty Salads were nice and were a nice size $6- $7 Pork Tenderloin with mash, steamed veg $19.95 Looked and smelled great and was really enjoyed 2 had the Filet Mignon $27.95 but did not come with any sides, only thing on the menu that had no sides, and there are no À la carte items on the menu, came in a pool of port wine reduction but was cooked nicely Grilled Portabello $15.95 was had by our vegetarian I had the chicken special with peanut sauce $18.95 came with nice amount of sno peas, some rice noodles, but I had a heck of a time cutting my chicken it was tough Desserts are homemade, we ordered the apple pie, the bread pudding which was huge, and the creme caramel but that one never came The food overall was good but I think overpriced, our service was very good
(3)Keith L.
Jethro's is a local secret. Not sure how you call a restaurant reviewed by Bon Appetite as a secret but it is. I used to live in Lancaster and fell in love with the place 20 years ago. When back in town I still take my children there, just did last weekend. Between all of us we had Calamari, burgers, shrimp, fish, Asian veggies, and the most wonderful...shall I state that 4 women were present... Wilbur's chocolate dessert... melted when your tongue pushed it to the top of your mouth!!! As important I will state that my 13 and 14 year old children find it the best place to go...think a local bar, with good prices and incredible food...you are treated as family...you really matter, to the point that my youngest children realized how special this place is and always want to be and spend hours chatting and laughing at Jethro s. I for a living traveled every week for more than 10 years of my life there is no better Calamari than from Jethro's. My son who hates Calamari orders extra bread for the privilege to dip it in my sauce. If you live in our are coming to Lancaster and want to get away from the tourist life, this restaurant is what is Lancaster city life. As it is intimate, this is a very small locale so expect people close but not so much that it is obtrusive.
(5)Carrie R.
Great food! Much more than you'd expect just looking around the 'neighborhood bar' style ambiance. Super friendly staff. Great cocktails. Fresh ingredients and sophisticated dining options. I'd definitely go back!
(5)Cindy T.
Had one or two off nights with this place, but generally it's something to get excited about and I have been back often. Amazing calamari, sauteed in a ton of garlic, butter, and red pepper flakes.... AWESOME open-faced burger with high quality meat and amazing sauce choices as garnish. The service here is always great, bartenders and weight staff are equally pleasant and unique. Also unique and charming is the history of the place, and the dim lights and cool decor....They don't advertise much, and it's a bit small and quaint here. It took me a few years to even try this place because of it, and I am glad I did.
(4)Ralph G.
It's been more than TWENTY years since I've eaten at Jethro's but I can see from the many very positive reviews posted here that they've defied the odds and have continued to succeed in a very tough business. One of the more memorable meals I've ever eaten was here, followed by several more that never once disappointed. I usually ate some kind of pizza with some kind of salad, accompanied by excellent cocktails and great wines, but I have had entrees and desserts and everything in between and it was ALWAYS excellent and an excellent value. Jethro's isn't large and it isn't cheap but the quality is excellent and the atmosphere always pretty jovial without being too loud. Definitely a good vibe here. The one thing for which I will always remember Jethro's best, however, was a deceptively simple salad that to this day I have not been able to replicate with 100% accuracy: Romaine lettuce with hearts of palm and salmon caviar in a poppyseed vinaigrette. Should be a snap, right? WRONG! Jethro's made it to perfection and I got it every time I could and it was to DIE for. I usually ate it with the duck sausage pizza and it was a killer combo. Jethro's: I sure do wish Los Angeles had one around the corner from me!
(5)Steph G.
I have tried Jethro's three times in the past 5 months, and have to say that each time further confirms my opinion of the place. Basically, the atmosphere is awesome, and the service is excellent. But, the food is terrible! And I would recommend they stop serving their food on Fiesta ware plates ... I completely agree with Steve S.'s recent review on 2/14/12. My most recent visit to this neighborhood restaurant & bar was earlier this weekend. My husband had the exact same chicken pasta dish with sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts that Steve S. refers to. He said the chicken was rubbery, and that a Kashi frozen meal tastes exceedingly better. I am fairly certain that the rice in my dish was Minute Rice (how difficult is it to make rice?!), and another person was sure her side of noodles was Pasta Roni. For the price, and the menu descriptions, the food does not come close to meeting expectations. Unless there is a new chef, we will not be back. There are far too many better choices in the area.
(1)Jonathan V.
When you are looking for an amazing mouthwatering, thick, juicy, tender burger and a killer sidecar, Jethros is where you go. This place has so much character, mostly given by the waitresses and the dark ambiance. Their burgers are made to perfection. It's not traditional at all, no fries or a hamburger bun... Served w veggies and either a bernaise or port wine sauce (both to die for). I recommend this place to anyone. But don't just stop in for burgers, all their food is AMAZING. There's only one problem which deserves one less star, parking is a pain (street).
(4)Ben D.
This is a wonderful little restaurant. This is a great place to take a special someone for a nice dinner outside of the beaten path.
(5)cotie s.
Lancaster in my opinion is an underrated city for restaurants and Jethro's I believe is definitely the best "off the beaten path" restaurant in the city. Jethro's is my aunt and uncles favorite restaurant and they have lived in the Lancaster area for about 15 years. Jethro's is for starters a tiny, yet cozy restaurant that I would suggest reservations for. If you do make reservations you're in for a foodies treat. From pretty much anyway in the restaurant you can see back into the kitchen with looks to be about the size of a small walk in closet and makes you wonder how they prepare everything in such a small space. Though what comes out of the miniature kitchen is divine. The duck I ordered was cooked perfectly and had a vanilla glaze in which I could see the specks of vanilla beans in the glaze. Unfathomably good. Since my fated night with the delicious duck was a few years ago I forget what everyone else ordered, thought I do remember they raved about their food. I would love to give Jethro's a five spot, though the length of time since I was there and having only been there once, I feel a four is as high as I can score Jethro's. I will say I as this is being written my salivary glands are acting up and I will soon begin my plans to visit Jethro's sooner than later.
(4)Amita R.
My fiancee and I were in Lancaster visiting his Aunt, when she told us about this place as being her favorite place to eat out in Lancaster, so we decided to try it out. The restaurant itself is located on the corner of First and Ruby Street. The neighborhood itself is mostly residential, so unless you're really looking for the restaurant, you may miss it. Once inside, the restaurant is dimly lit. We actually took a booth near the bar, but the main dining room was located towards the back of the restaurant. The food here was incredible. For starters, they give you some home made bread with butter and a raspberry/strawberry/some kind of red berry tapenade, that was really good. Next, my fiancee and his Aunt both got salads. He got the 227 salad, which the vinegrate for was actually pretty tastey and I'm usually not a fan of. She got the large Caesar salad, which she also mentioned was delicious. Dinner was the best. I got the Pork Tenderloin that was done with Honey and Thyme and some kind of ju sauce that was amazing. I haven't had anything this amazing in a very long time. My fiancee got the Catfish, which was covered in bread combs, and with a creamy sauce with tequilla. It sounds like a weird combination, but he gobbled the whole thing done and I even didn't think it was half bad, considering I don't eat fish. For dessert, they had several home made pies, which we tried the blueberry. It was delicious. Overall, the restaurant was great. The owner of the restaurant was sitting at the end of the bar the entire time we were there. It has that home-town feel to and the entire staff is so friendly, that you have no problem sitting there for hours and just chatting with them. They're great people and the food just compliments them.
(4)Steve P.
Very nice corner restaurant. Some of the best made drinks in town. Food is unique, well made, and the menu changes weekly. Very friendly staff, good prices and nice bar crowd. AND some of the best music around. We love this place, visit 4-6 times a month. Parking can be a problem at times, but we've always found a spot nearby.
(4)