After attending a convention in Lancaster and then visiting the Lancaster Farmer's Market I thought this restaurant in the heart of Lancaster historic district would be a tourist trap. It was not. We had a very nice lunch here at a very good price. Sausage and orzo soup was tasty and good. Our chicken salad sandwiches on croissants were very good--homemade potato salad and macaroni salad on the side was indeed homemade and very tasty. Very nice ambience-very friendly staff. A good lunch and a pleasant visit! Nuff said!
(4)
William F.
Came here from New Orleans for lunch and ordered the small nachos plate. The food was great and a very large serving for the price. The staff was friendly and great atmosphere.
(5)
Roselle C.
I ordered the crab croissant with a fruit bowl side. The watermelon on the fruit bowl had turned and I spat that out. It just made the whole plate unappetizing to me. I ended up with stomach pains and throwing up at home. What a shame. I loved the actual bar (marble counter tops, great wood detailing, hooks for your bags!) but I think they should check their mis en place more often for spoiled supplies.
(2)
MountainGurl C.
The food is good, but the service is horribly slow. The one waitress who is always there, stops and talks to people for 10-15 minutes sometimes, ignoring customers needs - like bringing their food or check.
(3)
Elizabeth O.
Sucks that I had to pay a $5 cover for a band I won't wait around to see :( Don't come unless you mean to stay.
Me and my friend walked in here around 6:30 on a Wednesday evening, it was packed. The hostess told us the wait would be about 10 minutes, but it was closer to 5. I got some sort of Lancaster stout, it was delicious. I ordered the tenderloin tip sandwich for my dinner. We were in a rush to make a show at 7:30, and our food came out relatively quickly despite every seat being occupied. The bread was not firm enough for my taste, which is my major complaint. I ordered my tenderloin tips medium, but they were overdone. They were a little too chewy. The cole slaw had way too much mayo, kind of yucky. The sandwich was OK, but I would not order it again. When I got my bill, I was surprised to see the beer was only $3.25 - cheap! The sandwich was 11.50, a bit overpriced. I would come here again but order something different.
(3)
James R.
Came here on a market day for a place to sit and eat. Just look at the pictures. Not good chili covered in pre shredded yellow cheese. Under seasoned salads. Old school not done well. Three stars mite too nice....
(3)
E. R.
Can't count how many times I've been here... Taco Nights with friends and coworkers, dates, celebrations, casual lunches... I've never had a bad meal, bad service or a bad time. It's charming and old-fashioned inside with a huge, gorgeous wood bar, pressed tin ceiling and changing selection of local art. Veggie Works Nachos are great to share... But everything is good. I don't, however, go when they have live music, as something about the intimacy of the space and the acoustics just make it too loud for me to appreciate.
(4)
Everett T.
I had a great short rib sandwich on a pretzel roll one Friday evening. My son liked the turkey burger as well. The waitress was attentive, and did not make me wait for anything. If I come back to Lancaster, I will definitely come back here.
(5)
Kasey T.
This place is just so old school. I've had a lunch a bunch of times and never left hungry nor disappointed. The beer / wine list offers a good selection. Food is nothing out of the ordinary but done well. Service is never overly enthusiastic; however; it is attentive and efficient. And the price is more than reasonable. I will keep returning.
(4)
Christina D.
This place has great food, great ambiance, & a large beer selection. There is a full bar running, pretty much, the length of the whole place, plenty of room if you like to sit at the bar to eat or drink. We had a small table in a corner, it was pretty crowded because it was their Trivia Night. The Market Fresh Vegetable Stir Fry with Grilled Chicken was really flavorful & the vegetables were cooked perfectly, not overdone & mushy. The Cajun Cream Linguine with Shrimp was also delicious & it is spicy, but not unbearably spicy. There were so many great choices on the menu, I couldn't decide. Wish I lived in the area, I'd come here all the time.
(4)
John S.
Probably one of my favorite places for lunch when I'm visiting Lancaster. It has a beautiful bar and nice ambiance. The service is excellent and the food is very good. Their sandwiches are excellent!
(4)
Rachel C.
I've been to DipCo around 4 or 5 times over the last few years. The food is consistent but nothing really sticks out. Sandwiches and burgers are decent but not memorable. The drinks are good and the service is fine. Honestly, the only reason that I keep coming back here is the location (10 steps from Central Market) and the interior...it's absolutely beautiful and super old-school. Can't get enough of the tin ceiling, the wallpaper, artwork, and wood details.
(3)
Michele K.
I ordered the pretzels. They are hard pretzels in a basket with a dip. I was expecting soft pretzels. Their menu is huge, but with that many items don't expect anything to be great. I had a Tenderloin Tip sandwich that was Ok at best. It was wing night so wings were $4.95 for a dozen. That's what brought the crowds in, but I didn't find anything special about this place nor do I have a desire to go back.
(3)
J H.
Another consistently great spot for lunch or a light dinner, this Lancaster institution happens to serve one of the best salads in the area: large spinach salad with Jamaican jerk chicken and Greek dressing. I get it once a week. The only reason I give only 4/5 stars is because there are no Belgium beers.
(4)
Monique H.
I came in for lunch and ended up having some crab dip, it just sounded so good. It wasn't a meal but it totally hit the spot, quite tasty. The bartender is awesome, she pours them on the strong side. I met a few locals while I was here and had a great time chatting it up with them. They told me the bartender always flies solo, no matter how busy it is, what a woman!
(4)
Beth A.
The building architecture was cool, the waitstaff was friendly and the joint was jumping when we ate here for a Friday lunch. I had a soup and burger and my partner had Reuben and soup. The food was good enough, we finished everything on the plate, but there was nothing that would entice me to go out of my way to eat here again.
(4)
Jonathan M.
Average food nothing special but the drinks are cheap. It's a shame because it's a great location and tons of history!
(3)
Heather J.
This is a great place to grab lunch in downtown Lancaster. It's right next to Central Market, so basically in the center of everything. It's very casual (we seated ourselves) and they have a huge menu with lots of choices. There's something for everyone. I had the grilled chicken club sandwich with potato salad. The sandwich was great. The chicken was tender and the tomatoes tasted home-grown. The potato salad was also really good. The prices are very reasonable and the service is friendly. My only complaint is that we had to wait a while to order and then to pay, but I can't blame our waitress at all. Nearly all the tables in the restaurant were filled and there were only two servers. Our waitress was juggling a lot at once. If I were back in Lancaster, I'd go back to this place!
(4)
Jon K.
We stopped off here for a quick lunch on Saturday. We started with warm bacon and horseradish dip. The menu stated that it was served with pretzels (part of the allure for me) but was served with a roll and some packaged crackers. Once I mentioned the pretzels they happily brought me out a bread basket filled with them! The dip was the highlight of the meal. Wife had the Brie Open Face sandwich. Baked ham topped with melted brie and served on pumpernickel toast. The cheese looked like it could have used a bit more melting. One of the options was a side of fresh fruit. Nice touch. I had the boneless breast of chicken sandwich prepared Blackened Jamaican Jerk style served on a Kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato and a side of dill mayonnaise. I chose the side of cole slaw. The sandwich was just okay. Service started out great but by the end of lunch it was tough to get more iced tea and the check.
(3)
Stephanie S.
The food was AMAZING!!! Seriously, the pesto and brie appetizer was so good. The tuna croissant was pretty good. The drinks were very reasonable! I only wish it weren't over an hour away from me. The only downside was that the waitress seemed to give more attention to the "regulars". Oh well, I would still definitely come back!
(4)
Ed B.
Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday with my wife and was very impressed! The atmosphere is that of an old saloon and service was fast and friendly. The menu had so many fantastic looking items that it was really hard to decide! I settled on the braised short rib sandwich and it was wonderful. My wife had the LDC club and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming back here to eat when we're in the area again!
(5)
Jon L.
I want to like it here so badly but I feel like everything I've ever eaten is something I could have made at home. I remember the first time I ate there I inquired about the "basket of pretzels", she told me it's just pretzels like the grocery store with a side of mustard. That made me feel like I should have stayed home. It's nice that it's close and open late because we enjoy sitting with friends.
(4)
Rich S.
Not sure what happened here. Walked in with my family on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Every empty table was filthy. There was one waitress and one bartender. The waitress was very confused and the bartender was too busy texting to help her. The menu was huge and for a pub can only mean bad things. After about 10 minutes of sitting at a dirty table our waitress took out drink order. Never cleaned the table. 10 minutes later she brought our drinks and said she would be right back to take our order. A short while later we smelled something burning In the kitchen. 10 minutes later after finishing our drinks we stopped her to get out check so we could find another place to eat. It was clear she had forgotten about us. Maybe the food is good. Maybe it is great. Unfortunately we will never know for sure as I don't plan on going back.
(1)
Bob B.
We decided to dine at LDC before going across the way for the 7:30 preformance at the Fulton Theater. The restaurant was packed but a table was located for us up on the stage area. Both the hostess and our server were super friendly and attentative. I had a Ceasar salad and thier Monte Cristo sandwich which was quite good. My wife ordered, and was pleasantly suprised with their 6 ounce Angus beef filet. She did not expect the steak to be perfectly prepared and quite tasty. Our last visit to LDC was nearly 10 years ago. We'll probably return.
(4)
Jonathan B.
Been here a handful of times and am constantly disappointed. I don't want to be though. The location is great. Nice vibe. Cozy. I'm sure the drinks are good, and they even have a taco night. But the few times I've been here, the food is extremely underwhelming. Poorly slapped together, mostly tasteless, and nothing special. Worst of all, it's overpriced, and the portions are small. Stay away from the salads. No fries with the sandwiches? C'mon.
(2)
Jonny R.
I really love Lancaster City. Some of the places I went to there were awesome. But it seems to me like mediocrity stays because there isn't a lot of competition. Is this bar passable? Yes. Would it survive in Philly? No way. Enjoyed my $3.50 Stoudt's Oktoberfest though.
(2)
Julie G.
I wish I could give this place no stars and still write a review. It was an AWFUL experience. I am sure the drinks are good and reasonably price which seems to be what most people talk about here but let's get to the food. The menu was overwhelming with endless amounts of food, which I guess you shouldn't complain too much about but I didn't know where I was at! There was stir fried rice next to chicken and apple (huh?) then you flip it and there's croissants and burgers and sandwiches and wraps and crap cakes. I didn't know what country, state, region I was in! Fine...we settled on the chicken sandwich with honey mustard. I wish I took a pic of that bc it looked like someone drank the honey mustard and threw it up on top of my chicken. You eat with your eyes first and there was NO WAY I was going to put that in my mouth. Now, let's talk about the service. My server was nice at first but very very slow! There would be 10 min gaps before I could order my drinks, my food, and 20 mins to actually get our food. So if you're in a rush, don't waste your time there. After I complained about my food she gave me no options on how to fix it. Just took it and walked away. And she was gone for another ten minutes leaving us there very uncomfortable. When she came back she handed me the check! I didn't even eat one piece of my food and she expected me to pay! She was soooo rude. SOOOO RUDE!! I couldn't believe they treated customers like this. Also, keep in mind that I had my 2 year old daughter with me and my daughter started to get upset bc of how the server was behaving. The manager was called over but he even threatened to call the police on us! Finally, they waived the meals off (leaving the drinks of course). I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN!!
(1)
Tom W.
Found this place for lunch, great food, the burger was one of the tastiest I eaten in a long time. Service was friendly and the food was served quickly.
(4)
Kate S.
Been here loads of times and just can't stay away. The atmosphere itself is reason enough to come back but couple that with a great selection of brew and food...one of my favourite spots in Lanc. The only downfall is the service can be a bit spotty. Depends who is on for the night but I generally would say this isn't a spot for a quick bite. Expect to drink and have a good conversation while you wait for food - sometimes it can take a while. Try the Spinach and Artichoke Dip!! It is AMAZING!
(4)
Krissy S.
I went here to catch up with a friend and the setting was perfect. This place has the perfect vibe and is located right near central market. It is very affordable. We went for the fish & chips special, which is $7.25 and it was all around delicious. I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which came out to be $2.75. The service was all around great. We sat down at the bar and the bartender immediately asked us what we wanted and came back a reasonable time later to check in on us. All-around great time, highly recommend going here!
(5)
Candi K.
Strong, reasonable priced drinks. Nice atmosphere. Huge appetizers (maybe not the most flavorful, but hey, there has to be a downside to everything). A nice place to spend an hour before heading out to dinner. A business partner made the recommendation...glad he did!
(4)
Nina W.
Home of one of the best bloody Mary's I've had in Lancaster. The menu is huge with specials for every week night. My favorite is $1 taco night which happens every Monday.
(4)
Crystal L.
This place is always packed and is located in the heart of historic downtown Lancaster. *Strong drinks *Friendly bartenders *Great happy hour deals *Extensive menu, very reasonably priced. *The food is tasty! They have different daily specials on food and drink items. Here are a few examples: *Monday: hard tacos $1 each, bottled draft imported beer specials 6p-12a *Wednesday: wings $4.95/dozen (jerk, hot garlic etc..), 6-12p $1 off draft pitchers * Friday: 430-6p drink specials, complimentary wings, and homemade stromboli+live music starting at 10pm Visit their website for more information on special events! dispensingco.com/pages/i…
(4)
Russell F.
A Lancaster tradition... Slow, inconsistent, often rude and mostly terrible service. The place is cramped and often crowded. Between the visitors and the regulars, there's not much, if any room left. Dipco is a local favorite which doesn't mean it's good or the crowd is especially attractive. The bar is frequently lined with patrons resting on their elbows and the tables are shoved together in a manner which leads to service akin to being on a rush hour subway. If you enjoy the guy next you being on the phone constantly with his bookie, Dipco may be a fun adventure for you. All of which is rather funny considering the food is average at best and the offerings limited. For six bucks you can find a better burger and actually get french fries along with it, rather than the bag of potato chips which Dipco offers. Looking at it in the best light, it's favorite with a lot of locals and also hosts lost of tourists because of the location next to Central Market. Dipco has regular special nights where cheap tacos or wings are offered. It's a place a lot of locals go to liquored up and eat cheap. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever IF that is what you are looking for. For myself, Dipco just isn't my thing.
(1)
annie z.
I definitely won't go back. Very average bar food. Not very exciting. Ordered The Works Nachos, cheap round kinda stale chips, not so wonderful chili, half melted cheese... Just very unimpressed. Was hoping for greasy good/bad food. Not here
(3)
Rocio R.
We always stop here after shopping at Central Market. We order Bloody Mary's every time. Can't say much about the food because we have never dined here, but it is a nice place to stop and have a drink.
(5)
S R.
This has become our go-to place on the weekend. Food is delicious and reasonably priced. We had slow/iffy dinner service when we went on a Friday night with a big group but the poor girl was really working her kiester off. Drinks are reasonable. We LOVE the live music though - every time we've gone the bands have been phenomenal and incredibly varied (my favorite was the band Sunshine Superman)!
(4)
Donna T.
When I first stumbled upon DipCo, I was thrilled. Being somewhat new to the area, hailing from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area where there's a bar on every corner, I was just happy to find more of a neighborhood bar. When I first visited, I was living in E-town at the time and I quickly realized that with only the choice of TJ Rockwell's, I'd need to venture into Lancaster if I wanted a real pub experience. I've lived in Lancaster city now for about six months and I was excited to be closer to DipCo. However, now that I've been there a few times, I've become disappointed. The food is good and they have great specials. The pricing is decent and the beer selection is huge. The service and atmosphere, though, leaves a lot to be desired. The first few times I went, it took a while to be waited on. The host/hostess often doesn't notice when someone new walks in, and if it's a busy night, from my experience, doesn't really try hard to figure out seating arrangements or give a wait time or suggest that you have a drink first; it's almost like they want you to leave. So that leads us to another negative point. I'm all for small bars; I love the intimacy. However, this place is so crowded and the tables so sqiushed together that the dining experience is not comfortable. Hard to get up and get to the bathroom if you are on the inside of a table; you risk bumping into the person behind you as you push out your chair, and then if you are on the inside, also have to ask the other people to move to get out. I love that DipCo brings in live entertainment, but I just question if the size of the venue is conducive to this. I did see am amazing sock puppet show there and I applaud them for supporting the local arts -- not just the music aspect of it. However, it was so tight. The bar itself is nice and has all the makings of a good, local bar, but I can't say that I've ever had a lot of fun there. I was too busy moving my chair in and out to let people by or waiting too long for a refill. If they had the ability to build an addition -- not something huge that would take away from the intimacy -- it would be perfect. Maybe an additional dining room?
(3)
Brittney S.
Suggested to us by a coffee chick in the market. Locally referred to as "Dip Co". Good prices, croissant was yum. Neat space, looks like a Victorian saloon.
(4)
Nora G.
Love the bar, do not love the sub-par food. From the wings to the tacos to the salads, the food is not good. At all. However, they do pour mean drink, have great live music and I enjoy the atmosphere.
(2)
Elise G.
On a quest to find Amish country, my friend and I were recommended this place by a local for some good burgers. We went one afternoon and it was very reasonably priced, and we both had awesome cheeseburgers with provolone. The best part? I left my scarf in my chair (silly me) and after walking out, the manager literally ran me down and put the scarf back on me! How kind of him! I'll always recommend this place just because of him!
(4)
Elena C.
After a morning of touring Lancaster's version of RTM, T and I consulted Yelp and headed across the alley way to check out the Lancaster Dispensing Company. Very cute and cozy with a line of locals already throwing down at the bar. (It was 11:45 but to be fair, it was college football Saturday.) To start we had the crab dip. Served warm with HUGE pieces of crab and crusty bread for dipping we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was! And a steal at only $7! For lunch T had the Tenderloin Tip Sandwich which was stuffed with juicy meat, sauteed onions and peppers and melted provolone. It looked and smelled great. I had the Caesar salad with tenderloin tips which I asked them to put in a wrap for me. I love when restaurants wrap salads for you. :) It was amazing. The steak was tender and overflowing, the dressing was salty and delicious and the wrap was fresh. A really great meal to fuel us for the rest of our day in Lancaster!
(4)
Anthony D.
I've eaten at DipCo many many times over the course of many years but haven't been there in a few months. I went there today for lunch with a coworker and his wife and the lunch special was a braised short rib sandwich with caramelized onions and motz. This was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a long time. Jay (or server and bar tender) told me that they are changing up the menu and they are adding short rib sliders to the regular offerings. If the sliders are anything like the sandwich you gotta try it.
(5)
Marion C.
I stopped by this place on my way to York, PA. It's small and a little dark, but the food and service was perfect!!! Plus it's near some great indoor markets!! I would stop here again if I was in the area. ... But I would not go out of my way. Long story short it's decent no complaints.
(4)
Yvonne K.
Had lunch here...nothing special or memorable.Would stop in if there were not other places to try as well.Had a grilled chicken Taco salad (average) and a Local beer.Husband had a Salmon burger off the specials, he enjoyed!Cute and very old building and not "chain"...good service!
(3)
Judy B.
looks cool inside and the drinks arnt to bad. nothing great, but nothing bad
(3)
Kurt I.
This place has a magical quality. I walk in normally, the voodoo occurs and suddenly I am staggering, slurring and quite full. I don't think I've ever left here sober or hungry. The best vegetarian nachos in Lancaster county. The v-chili is bursting with flavor, faux beef, plump beans and chock full of yum. Plenty of alch and food selections to please anyone. Go and experience magic.
(4)
Matthew L.
This is a neat little place. I was in town for work and hit it on burger night. The burger was good, but nothing to write home about. The menu did have a nice selection to choose from. The place is vintage and charming. The staff is friendly. The prices are very reasonable.
(3)
Matthew K.
I've been eating here as long as I was old enough to get served, which is longer than I'd like to admit. I can honestly say that I've tried nearly everything on the menu and never been unhappy with my meal, aside from one or two questionable choices on the soup-of-the-day. That said, Judy's soups are the best around. Period. I've gotten stuck on repeat with one or two menu items over the years (the LDC Veggie is tops in my book!) but I still enjoy mixing it up here even though I'm the sort who has a 'usual' order most other places. On top of that, the building is a late-1800's Victorian which can't be beat for bar ambiance and they even host great local musicians. But we're at three stars here, and I see it as an average: five for years gone by balanced with one for today. More and more of the staff treat the customers (including the regulars) like shit, certain bartenders have been actively 'boycotted' for years without correction and now the younger generation of management seems to have completely lost the plot. No need to tell tales; every regular has heard at least a few by now. There will undoubtedly be an endless stream of college kids to keep this place packed but with the direction things seem to be headed, you're gonna be a lot less likely to recognize anyone or enjoy the experience. We haven't been back and don't intend to.
(3)
Bruce N.
my wife and i keep coming back. Food and service have been great. we usually get that table on the upper level so i can watch the football on TV and have intimate sharing with my wife at the same time. Last time she had a delicious burger and potato salad. i had the ceasar salad with salmon. i washed it down with a palm Belgian amber brew - very tasty. prices are very reasonable and while it is crowded, you can usually get a table pretty quickly. Tight bathroom but last few times i entered i accidently bumped the towel dispenser button with my shoulder on way to sink; thus a towel is waiting for me. no need to wave my hands frantically trying to get something to come out. nice feature. Definitely a go to place.
(4)
Becky M.
Made my first trip here last night, on a busy Saturday night and LOVED it! Fantastic atmosphere: wide range of ages and party sizes, large bar to sit at, many tables, fairly dark lighting, unique bathrooms and use of an old phone both to create a wishing booth. Despite being packed and very busy, the service was great. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and offered me a sample (which was quite large) of a wine I was considering. We placed an order for an appetizer, spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms, which arrived about 10 minutes later, tops. They were AMAZING! Super tasty, hot, and served with crackers on the side for some crunch. Our meals came about 15-20 minutes after the appetizer. We were both very happy with the food. I got a Greek salad with grilled chicken and he got the apple chicken. Both were perfect sized portions that we could finish without being too stuffed, but were completely satisfied. Very tasty too! The prices here are perfect for the portions: very affordable!! I don't get to Lancaster too often, but if I did, I would return to LDC for sure. It's a fantastic spot for a date or to hang out with friends.
(5)
Danny L.
Great atmosphere in a very classic, old american bar. Could really use some help on the beer selection though. I did not try the food.
(3)
Kristi M.
I went here three times and every time the food was awful!!!! I can't recommend anyone wasting their money on food there. Service was slow, food cold and tastless. It may be fine if you just want to hang out and have a drink w/friends but don't get the food....unless you're drunk (it's the only way you can eat it)
(1)
Tina S.
Love the jerk chicken! Service is slow, but if you go in knowing that you should be ok.
(4)
Michael K.
dipco is so-so. uber crowded got the twin veggie burrito... its was ok - the side of salsa was a welcomed spicy addition. the spanish rice was kinda bland so i had to mix the salsa in there. (see where im going with that?) the bartendress and the server were super id go elsewhere next time tbh ( and 'h' is what we're really here about isnt it? otherwise, we are all just fooling ourselves) good night and thank you
(3)
Paul L.
Right off the square is this little hidden gem. I went there for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised. I always heard they're a great venue for music but they also have some great food. I was in the mood for a chicken sandwich and they had at least 10 different varieties to choose from. I went with the honey mustard and was very surprised how quickly it came out and how good it was I am looking forward to the next time I am in downtown Lancaster for dinner this place would be top of my list. I really give five stars but this place earned it
(4)
tony c.
Full Disclosure = My wife worked there many years ago. Great little place with an awesome ceiling. Has a small town feel with lots of locals and friendly staff. I would recommend to any visitor to the area.
(4)
Cindy T.
Home away from homes in the heart of Lancaster city/market area... Great specials and prices on both food AND drinks, big menu with tons of options (including healthy sides like fresh fruit!!!), cool atmosphere, fun and diverse crowd, and most of the servers and bartenders are attentive and pleasant at all times. Can't go wrong with Dipco...ever.
(5)
Andrew C.
First off, this place has great food for a bar. They have wing night, taco night, and many other special nights. The wing night was especially good with unique sauces. It is on Wednesday. I also had fajitas, which were good. This is a great place. The atmosphere is cool. The location is nice - right next to central market. They always have good music and friendly staff. Try it out.
(5)
Julie B.
There is nothing to write home about this place. Food is mediocre at best. The beer selection was good. But this is more or less bar food.
(2)
Jessica K.
Dipco is like "Cheers" You go there for the friends, the drinks, the chill vibe and convenience of location. If you go often enough they do "know your name" and even what you order. One is especially in Luck if they have the wonderful waitress Val. As a foodie, I don't go there to have my mind blown with some new dish with fiddlehead ferns and other often pretentious things that "we" love to explore. Dipco is like spending a night with a good friend. It's comfortable, warm and never judges. It gives you staples that you want. Taco night Burger night Wing night Fish and chips It's busy, but not too crazy to be frustrating. Most importantly it's easy...and sometimes with being inundated all day with all sorts of things that's exactly what someone needs.
(4)
Megan H.
Been here a few times for lunch. Good service, decent food. Wouldn't suggest the coffee (close to water) but I'll be back.
(4)
J B.
Hand's down one of my favorite places in Lancaster County. Good food, great atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Plus the menu has several vegetarian options which, as a vegetarian, I appreciate. Sure, it isn't exactly "fine dining" but for a great meal at a great price it is difficult to find anywhere in the area that can beat DipCo.
(4)
David A.
Good old antique looking bar in a historic part of the city, if you happen to catch a foggy night, place could be 19th century London. This is one of my favorite places when in Lancaster, food is good, drinks are good, always someone willing to strike up a conversation. Highly worth the experience, weekends are always busy...
(4)
Chris M.
I haden't been to this place in a few years because for probably about 30 years it had the most limited and outdated menu on God's earth, and the food was mediocre. So I was not pleased when some friends invited me to join them 2 nights ago. Well I'm glad I did! They've updated the menu and the food is well prepared, quickly prepared, and they have a nice selection of beers on tap. It's no gourmet restaurant...definitely a soup and sandwich type menu...but basic food, well-prepared, and at prices so crazy cheap you could eat here every night.
(3)
Karl B.
First, let me say that we were really amazed by the vitality and attractiveness of Lancaster. After touring Wheatlands and seeing the Quilt Museum and Central Market we wanted a light lunch. Found LDC on Yelp and were amazed at the European feel of the place. The soup and sandwich lunch special was great and just what we wanted. Good service, great beer.
(5)
James S.
Came in on a Saturday during lunch. Food was good and they had a great draft menu. Also had a few meals that were unique. Kid friendly. It was a little slow because it was so busy, but that was to be expected. Almost every seat was taken. It was on the small side.
(4)
Austen T.
My friends and I started going here a lot for dinner in high school. The food was always really good. The chili was one of my favorite's. If you go in early evening or late afternoon, it's not too busy, and the atmosphere is really nice. I finally got to check out their bar a few months back. They have a decent selection of good beers, and the bartenders were really friendly. I'm looking forward to going back again whenever I'm back in Lancaster.
(4)
Simeon T.
I know nothing about Lancaster, PA. I was in town for a wedding and the morning after the girlfriend and I were slightly foggy and definitely in need of some grub. So what do two tourists, in a town we've never been in do? Why go on the Yelp app on my trusty iPhone of course (yes, yelp is paying me for in review advertisements suckers) and pulled the The Lancaster Dispensing Company. It was a no brainer from the get-go for us, let's just review the facts: Bar Food....check Darker atmosphere (for those with a mild headache from the night before)...check Acceptable to wear basketball shirts and sunglasses indoors...check AND check Hair of the dog...can you not tell that this place serve alcohol from the name alone? Needless to say it was exactly what we wanted. We ordered a plate of "small" nachos as an appetizer, which almost turned out to be more than enough for the both of us for the entire meal, but our sandwhiches were awesome too. Wait staff was awesome, even if a bit overworked, and for that I can't hate on some longer waits.
(4)
Roy K.
I have been coming to the Dispensing Company almost as long as it has been open. Although I do not live in Lancaster anymore I make frequent trips here. 50% of the time I come to the Dispensing Company for lunch. In the past 9 months, I have introduced two friends to the Dispensing Company and they loved it. Today we had the veggie croissant with a side of potato salad and the Monte Cristo with a side of fresh fruit. Two meals, two sodas and tip = $20! Till we left there was only one empty table. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. Maybe it's just me but I have never noticed that the service was that slow. Sometimes the food comes faster than others, but I don't recall feeling the need to eat my left arm or any other drastic measures. I have never had bad food or bad service in the 30+ years I have been a customer.
(5)
ReviewHaiku F.
Cute and cozy bar Get there before your friends and And face a few shots. (b)
(4)
randy s.
Maybe its just me but the staff at DIPCO are a bunch of ignorant, snooty, jerks. And word goes round and round about this. Word of mouth, its the best or worst advertising. Maybe they will shape up. I will go in again just for the confrontation. I do enjoy telling someone to fuck themselves. So hey, how bout an attitude adjustment people? Jerks...
(1)
Jane H.
So let me start this by saying that this was the only time I have ever considered skipping out on a check. The food was fine, cheap, but the meal took so long that we thought it would be the only way to get out before closing. The food is pretty good standard bar fare. The only real problem is the service. Our waitress seemed to be completely incapable of multitasking and walking at a reasonable pace. The host was completely oblivious to how annoyed customers were by the slow service. Many seated at tables tried ordering and paying at the bar when they got tired of waiting. So we sat right around 1 PM. Our drink orders were taken around 1:20. We tried to order our food at the same time but our waitress wouldn't take our food order. Our food order was taken at 1:30 and our food arrived around 2:00. We asked for our check at 2:30 and after waiting until 2:50 we asked the host to get it for us. Now a meal that takes 2 hours is completely acceptable at a fine dining establishment or in a foreign country but at a place that serves bar food? I'm sorry but that is never OK. So basically I gave the place four stars for food and then downgraded one star for every hour it took to get through this meal and another for the daft host. Go to this place if you have nowhere to be/are the most patient person in the world. Avoid it if you tend to get worked up when people are sucking at their job. However people seated at the bar seemed to have great service so if a spot is open there then go for it since the food is decent.
(1)
Phil C.
My favorite spot in Lancaster hands down. Great staff, great food, and great beer selection. They host a really varied and quality selection of live music on the weekends, and their daily beer/food specials are great values on good stuff. I have tried several things off their menu and have never been disappointed. They put their own flair on everything from tacos to burgers to seafood and it shows. Even the most mundane dish doesn't feel sterile and the prices are super reasonable on just about everything.The menu also has great options for vegetarians out there who don't want to settle for a salad or some bland veggie only dish. The place gets lost in the shuffle when people are mentioning great places to go, but it belongs up there as a primary destination for lunch or nightlife.
(5)
Adam H.
Great food! Inexpensive! Smoke Free! Need I say more? I love this place!
(4)
Bret W.
I've been here a few times for lunch, every time I've left satisfied, both by the quality of the food and quality of the atmosphere.
(5)
Julia T.
This restaurant was one of the few places in Lancaster that was open on the 4th and I think that the crowd was 70% out-of-towners like us. Overall, I liked this place. The food was good and they had a decent beer selection (and sarsparilla which I love). The decor was OK - pretty typical bar/restaurant dark wood, etc. They need to work on the washroom - the saloon doors on the stalls offer little privacy and barely close. I am not familiar with local restaurants so don't have much to compare it to in the area, but this places was alright...
(3)
Dan E.
After spending some time at Central Market, my wife and I decided to come here for lunch. I went to college in Lancaster and had always heard from people that this place was good but I had never been. Upon entering, we were greeted and told about the specials immediately. The special on this particular day was wings. Being a wing aficionado and having had some very good wings in Lancaster before, I had to try them. Once we were seated, we put in for an order of hot wings and a couple of beers. They probably had about 7 beers or so on tap. I also must say that the place is very cool inside. It reminded me of a New York City bar. At this point, I was totally loving this place. The wings came out and it was a full dozen. They weren't breaded (the way I like them) but they were very meaty and they gave you a full dozen. The sauce also wasn't a traditional buffalo sauce - more of a hot sauce. I must say that the wings were very good. The blue cheese that came with the wings was also phenomenal. For some reason, Central PA has the best blue cheese. There are always tons of blue cheese chunks and it just goes great wings. Even the good wing places in NJ have terrible blue cheese - it always tastes like that generic salad dressing blue cheese. Needless to say, I was very impressed. For our meals, I went with the Italian sub that came with a side of cole slaw and my wife ordered the "chef" salad. When our food came out, her chef salad magically turned into a chicken salad. Since it took a while for our food to come out and we had to get going, my wife decided to just stick with it. She did say it was decent. I wasn't as lucky with my Italian sub. The meats were decent but it wasn't very well constructed and I did not like the bread that came with the sandwich which was definitely disappointing. The bread was literally falling apart as I ate my sandwich. Never good. To sum it up - I thought the place was incredibly cool, the prices were great (almost cheap), I loved the wings but I was very disappointed with my sandwich. I am actually going to give this place another shot when I am back in Lancaster and my next visit will be the make or break for me. If I have a better meal, then I will update my review accordingly.
(2)
Kyle Y.
My favorite spot in Lancaster, without a doubt. Taco night, Burger night, Wing night....all have their own phenomenal qualities! I'm here several times a week, and depending on the night and time, it does tend to get a bit crowded inside. Of course, with the crowd comes a higher volume inside as well as longer ticket-times for food to come out. However, on most nights the service stays at a respectable level, especially if you have Val. She is on top of it, as most of the servers there tend to be, and the food never fails to satisfy my cravings. Definitely worth checking out, if even for just one of the selections of draft beer.
(5)
AJ B.
I've been going here for years being someone that works crazy hours and being single I enjoy eating out several times a week it just makes sense for me. The staff are all experienced ... friendly and typically always smiling. It's a cute place to meet up for lunch but can be sort of hectic at night and a little crowded but that's because it's a much enjoyed place.
(4)
Charles S.
Great sandwiches! Excellent beer selection. Service was very friendly. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon after going to the market, and the place was just packed to the rafters. We were walking around downtown Lancaster, trying to choose a place to eat, and the smell coming from LDC did the trick. If I have to have a tiny nitpick, the potato salad could have used a bit of seasoning. But, the cole slaw and macaroni salads were very good. Other than that, it was very nice, and I'll certainly be back again. I'd like to see what this place is like in the evenings. I think this would probably be a good place to stop in an have a beer or two. I'll definitely be back for taco night, wing night, burger night, etc. if I'm nearby. Well worth a stop if you're down near the market looking for a bite.
(4)
Dana S.
Food was incredible, ordered a sirloin steak there the first time I ate there, with mashed potatoes, and a salad everything was delicious, and worth the money spent. I also ordered a couple mixed drinks and they were filled with a lot of alcohol and delicious, worth the money. The chocolate cake was mouth watering delicious, like an orgasm in my mouth-soooo yummy. The second time I had eaten there I ordered something small, a spinach salad with extra bacon....talk about yummy, like the spinach salad my momma used to make. The waitstaff was very friendly and came in a timely manner. The kitchen staff were also very friendly. The price paid at the end of the night was reasonable for the service and food I received. My overall experience was a positive one. I'd just change one thing about this place, the table set up. It's a little too crowded, and you have to hunt for a seat when u enter the building. There wasn't anyone seating you and you had to push through crowds of people to look for a place to sit.
(4)
Melissa L.
I always suggest this place to my out of town friends when they come to visit. Cozy Victorian-era ambiance, very extensive menu (everything from fresh fruit & brie to stir-fry), and excellent selection of beers and cocktails.
(5)
Justin K.
This place has some pretty good food, and its selection is rather eclectic for a bar. Though nothing to outlandish. They also have great weeknight specials on their food like their taco nights and wing nights. The place gets PACKED on weekends and can be packed on weeknights as well. That is the main reason I stray away from the place. It is typically just far to packed for me to want to pay for a meal where I won't be able to hear anything but the TV and the loud people at the bar. The atmosphere is nice when you can hear or look around to see it so I suggest going during lunch or get an early dinner. The wait staff is typically fine and nothing to rave about and nothing to complain. However on a side note I found a piece of plastic in one of my sandwiches I got there and they only took off $3 from our over $15 bill. I was a little disappointed about that, but that's only time I have ever eaten there that I had something to complain about.
(3)
george a.
I havent been here for years and its still Mmmm. ---------- FOOD: They have a number of vegetarian items on the menu, but no veggie section to speak of. Baked mac and cheese was on special, so I go that. And boy I didnt regret it. It was gooood. And there was soo much of it too! DECOR: They have a victorian theme going on thats unique. Its not the biggest restaurant in the world and its often packed full, but if you can get in, its worth it. They have some art hanging on the walls. Since art is subjective, Ill leave it up to you to say if its good or not. I kind of dont think so tho... SERVICE: Good. The friendly waitress came back often to check on me. Single people arent restaurants preferred customers, so sometimes they blow you off. But not this time! ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS: Ive always loved this place and its theme, but its in such an inconvenient location to park at. There is a parking garage nearby, but still on a busy day it can be tough.
(4)
Peyton S.
Hands down one of the best restaurants in Lancaster County - I would recommend this place to anyone. The staff are always so personable and the prices are great for such delicious food. The beer selection is huge! My friends and I always swing by for a bite to eat before heading out to enjoy Lancaster city. Great food, great company, and great atmosphere.
(5)
Joe D.
This place is great. I wish they had more than 7 beer taps. That is my only gripe. I just ate a smoked turkey club on toasted rye. It was superb. The coleslaw probably can't get any better. I am finally finishing this review from a bit ago. The only correction is my comment about coleslaw. I am picky when it comes to coleslaw. Sure, that seems a bit odd but it is important to me. After a number of visits, I have determined it is hit or miss. :)
(4)
dave w.
Decent beer prices and the food was quite tasty too! Bar was crowded but food arrived quickly and service was prompt and curtious, Kitchen open til 12, a plus for a full menu late.
(4)
Sarah S.
Went to the dipco for wing night on Wednesday. Got there around 9 pm was seated right away got waited on very quickly and the service was great! Got a dozen medium wing they were just the way I love them crunchy! They could have used more sauce but that would have taken away from the crunchy! I love the dipco it is a good place for a really cheap dinner but they aren't cheap on the portions or service! Went back this Monday for my favorite night Taco Night!!! Service was a little bit slower but still good! Love taco night! Two people paid 13.17 with a tip!!!!!
(4)
Michelle P.
I think you could really blink and miss this place. And man would that suck! Hidden back in the side streets of Lancaster is this great restaurant. It took us a while to find it, and figure out the seating situation (You seat yourself), but i was pleasantly suprised by the long menu. It wasn't that unique, but i'm always excited when there are five different ways for me to get a grilled chicken sandwich. I chose the honey mustard. The bun made it way too hard to eat so i just chowed down on the chicken breast itself and the very large tomato that accompnied it. I also enjoyed the choices of sides (fries, cole slaw, fruit or potato salad) and man was i excited about the potato salad. A little dressingy (is that a word?) but overall fantastic. Probably some of the best i've ever had. We also got nachos which were just chips with some stuff on them and nothing special, but was a nice tasty little snack while we were waiting. Plus they come in half orders too! Like Jeff said, the waitress was horrible and it really made my experience considerably less enjoyable. What would have really annoyed me was if because of her slow motion pace we were forced to pay more in at the parking lot.
(4)
Jeff W.
Great ambiance and an excellent place to meet with friends for happy hour. It has a nice Victorian feel with plenty of seating at the bar, and at tables around the rest of the main area. Beer list is pretty decent with a wide variety of imports, PA beer, and then beer from the rest of the country. The menu was ok, but not really anything out of the ordinary. Food quality was pretty much on par with any typical pub, so if you're looking for a unique dining experience, it's hard to recommend DipCo. For a unique setting with good drink selection though, this is definitely a good spot. I think it's pretty cool that they only have two TVs, and both of them are small and way off in the corner so you don't get distracted by the antique feel. The real killer here is the service. Our waitress was incredibly slow, and the staff was obviously overworked, but everyone we saw was moving in slow motion and had very little energy, or friendliness, to them. Even after we had been waiting 15 minutes for the check and specifically asked our waitress to bring it, we waited another 5 minutes and even saw her sending text messages to friends, and talking to one of the other customers about a party later that night. Very unimpressed.
(3)
Kurt B.
Nice little corner bar. 7 different draft beers on tap. Good bar food, very affordable. Went at about 5:30 on a friday with my teenage daughter. Seats were readily available. Service was excellent. Order drinks, drinks there. Order food, food there. Quiet enough to have a conversation without screaming. Overall, was impressed.
(5)
Larry M.
This is one of the better places to spend a Saturday night in Lancaster. Great food, the black bean burger I had was really good, and the macaroni salad was a welcome change from the usual fries you get with pub food. If you like beer get the Stoudt's Market Alley, which is brewed for the DipCo. Usually starting around 10'ish they have live music on the weekends. Usually a mix of blues, jazz, or bluegrass. Really helps establish the great atmosphere at this place.
(4)
Rob H.
It's not bad, but the food isn't exceptional and the drinks are meh.
(2)
Taylor G.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Lancaster, this is one of my favorite places to go for lunch or a beer and snack when I'm in my old stomping ground. The Lancaster Dispensing Co... or "The Dip Co" as it's called around town, is truly a gem. The high ceilings, old long bar, and quirky arrangement make this place unlike anything else you'll find in the city. The food is great anytime of day... try the spinach dip, it's amazing. They have a great selection of draft beers and a full bar if you are in the mood for something else. At night this place comes alive (even more so) with beatniks and hippies. Not to say this place is unapproachable by those outside these groups, just be prepared for it. Even the wait staff is laid back and a bit "hippie-esque" Often overheard is political and current event discussions... join in if you dare! The Dip Co just has a cool, chill vibe that makes you want to come back again and again. Sometimes they also have bands or other events, check the fliers on the table or to the left inside the front door for calendars or more info. Love this place... LOVE IT!
(5)
Ace C.
First off, Dipco has the best nachos ever. The food is good all around. I also like the chicken salad, and Wing Night on Wednesdays is always a good time. The atmosphere is nice with local art on the walls, and it's often pretty crowded (in a good way). The only time I don't like hanging out at Dipco when there's a band because it gets too loud and there's a cover.
(4)
Clint F.
Food was good. Had sandwiches for lunch. Great atmosphere but service was a little slow.
(4)
Bodhi B.
If you're in Lancaster and you're looking for a great pub, this is the place to go. It's got a nice, relaxing local feel and for "pub grub", the food can't be beat. Great staff, great atomosphere, entertaining locals -- for what it is, this place is perfectly so....
(5)
Carrie L.
Great beers and lots of vegetarian options, too.
(5)
Clea M.
Relaxed atmosphere, good food, and I like their tiny corner stage where local musicians occasionally play. I have been here several times, and once was for an IVAW fundraiser...nice that they hosted that.
(4)
Nat Z.
Probably my favorite bar in Lancaster. It's cozy, friendly, and they have a great selection of beers. Generally a pretty fun place. Nice ambience. Food is nothing exceptional but is cheap and solid. Many fond memories of taco nights.
(5)
Cynthia P.
This is definitely a home-town pub. Locals gather after work and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. It's a bit squishy, but that encourages conversations. Tourists are treated like regulars and a cozy atmosphere prevails. Food is excellent quality, even if somewhat predictable. Prices are very competitive. Service is good. All around good choice for meals or just drinks.
(4)
Geoff M.
Great location in the Central Market in downtown Lancaster. My wife, eleven-year old son, and I went to the Dispensing Company this evening. The food was terrific and surprisingly healthy for a pub. My wife had the stir fry, I had the chicken with apples, and my son had the pita pizza appetizer. I can personally attest that they were all good :-). They have a selection of 7 great draft beers, which apparently vary from night to night. The service was slower than I would have expected given the volume, but the server appeared to be working the entire floor herself, and was at least friendly and helpful. All in all, a nice pub in a neat location.
(4)
Rick H.
Ok, this place has been around forever. same owners. A locals spot, with a pretty bar, old time dark wood and tile floor. I like to go there for a beer and some food. They really, really have good food, good service, good drinks. Prices, for today's market, are reasonable. They have items on the menu that they have been serving for 20 years. Ask the server what's on special. She probably has been there for 10-20 years also; it's that kind of place. Located next to the famous Lancaster Central Market. Go to the market, work up a thirst, and stop by the "DipCo". Entertainment on some evenings. Kinda a teriffic place for a first date, or for any time. You can tell I like this place, and I don't like many places.
(5)
Andrew T.
Good bars and restaurants that work do things simple, but unique, have quick service for both drinks and food and have great bartenders and servers that engage customers and make them feel welcome! This place, DIPCO for short does it all. I gave it 5 stars because of the above reasons! It should be noted that while the food does have more than typical bar food it wouldn't make it the 5 star restaurant category but that being said to me it IS a 5 star bar/pub/restaurant. They get it right!!!! A place that does not let down.
(5)
Jon G.
Let me second the previous compliments , and add a star for a smoke free environment. Have a few Lagers and sample some of the fancier brews too. I also love their logo on the pint glasses
(5)
Rob S.
Ahh, DipCo. A great place for a few beers with some buds.
(3)
Edward I.
I'm giving this a very solid four stars. I'd like to give it five, but I don't want to mislead people into thinking they're going to a five star restaurant. It's very comfortable, and affordable. The food was good. I had something that had a lot of cheese on it. Can't remember, which indicates that it was OK (not particularly good or bad). I remember enjoying the dining experience as a whole, but it was more about the comfortable ambiance than the food.. I plan on returning.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Harriett T.
After attending a convention in Lancaster and then visiting the Lancaster Farmer's Market I thought this restaurant in the heart of Lancaster historic district would be a tourist trap. It was not. We had a very nice lunch here at a very good price. Sausage and orzo soup was tasty and good. Our chicken salad sandwiches on croissants were very good--homemade potato salad and macaroni salad on the side was indeed homemade and very tasty. Very nice ambience-very friendly staff. A good lunch and a pleasant visit! Nuff said!
(4)William F.
Came here from New Orleans for lunch and ordered the small nachos plate. The food was great and a very large serving for the price. The staff was friendly and great atmosphere.
(5)Roselle C.
I ordered the crab croissant with a fruit bowl side. The watermelon on the fruit bowl had turned and I spat that out. It just made the whole plate unappetizing to me. I ended up with stomach pains and throwing up at home. What a shame. I loved the actual bar (marble counter tops, great wood detailing, hooks for your bags!) but I think they should check their mis en place more often for spoiled supplies.
(2)MountainGurl C.
The food is good, but the service is horribly slow. The one waitress who is always there, stops and talks to people for 10-15 minutes sometimes, ignoring customers needs - like bringing their food or check.
(3)Elizabeth O.
Sucks that I had to pay a $5 cover for a band I won't wait around to see :( Don't come unless you mean to stay.
(1)Jamie D.
This place is your solid neighborhood (if you live in Lancaster) pub. My fiancé and I were in search of a lunch spot during that weird mid-afternoon hour where it's not really lunch, but not quite dinner. We had been driving for a few hours and were totally starved. Not being familiar with Lancaster, I pulled out my Yelp app to find something relatively close to where we were with high ratings. Lancaster Dispensing Company, it was! We started off with drinks - a beer for him, an extra dirty martini for me. This isn't a place known for it's martinis, which I knew when I ordered, but it was still the only thing calling my name so I went with it. It was so-so. Not the best I've had, but not the worst either. Then we shared the pretzel appetizer. I was hoping it would be warm, soft pretzels (my bad, I didn't ask), but it was just crunchy pretzels like the snyder's ones you buy at the store. They did serve them with mustard, which made me really happy. I chose the vegetarian chili and the Mexican salad for my meal. The chili was decent, topped with cheddar cheese, but what really surprised me was the salad. Yes, it was served with round corn chips, but the veggies were shockingly fresh! I loved the crispness, and I was also a fan of the salsa. The salad was served with sides of salsa, jalapenos, and sour cream, and they all paired very well with the veggies and chips. It might seem obvious, but for some reason the ingredients just really worked in a very refreshing way. This joint reminded me a lot of my favorite pub from college... which makes sense being that I went to school in Central PA. If you're looking for a casual place with solid pub grub, then this is definitely your spot.
(3)Laura F.
Me and my friend walked in here around 6:30 on a Wednesday evening, it was packed. The hostess told us the wait would be about 10 minutes, but it was closer to 5. I got some sort of Lancaster stout, it was delicious. I ordered the tenderloin tip sandwich for my dinner. We were in a rush to make a show at 7:30, and our food came out relatively quickly despite every seat being occupied. The bread was not firm enough for my taste, which is my major complaint. I ordered my tenderloin tips medium, but they were overdone. They were a little too chewy. The cole slaw had way too much mayo, kind of yucky. The sandwich was OK, but I would not order it again. When I got my bill, I was surprised to see the beer was only $3.25 - cheap! The sandwich was 11.50, a bit overpriced. I would come here again but order something different.
(3)James R.
Came here on a market day for a place to sit and eat. Just look at the pictures. Not good chili covered in pre shredded yellow cheese. Under seasoned salads. Old school not done well. Three stars mite too nice....
(3)E. R.
Can't count how many times I've been here... Taco Nights with friends and coworkers, dates, celebrations, casual lunches... I've never had a bad meal, bad service or a bad time. It's charming and old-fashioned inside with a huge, gorgeous wood bar, pressed tin ceiling and changing selection of local art. Veggie Works Nachos are great to share... But everything is good. I don't, however, go when they have live music, as something about the intimacy of the space and the acoustics just make it too loud for me to appreciate.
(4)Everett T.
I had a great short rib sandwich on a pretzel roll one Friday evening. My son liked the turkey burger as well. The waitress was attentive, and did not make me wait for anything. If I come back to Lancaster, I will definitely come back here.
(5)Kasey T.
This place is just so old school. I've had a lunch a bunch of times and never left hungry nor disappointed. The beer / wine list offers a good selection. Food is nothing out of the ordinary but done well. Service is never overly enthusiastic; however; it is attentive and efficient. And the price is more than reasonable. I will keep returning.
(4)Christina D.
This place has great food, great ambiance, & a large beer selection. There is a full bar running, pretty much, the length of the whole place, plenty of room if you like to sit at the bar to eat or drink. We had a small table in a corner, it was pretty crowded because it was their Trivia Night. The Market Fresh Vegetable Stir Fry with Grilled Chicken was really flavorful & the vegetables were cooked perfectly, not overdone & mushy. The Cajun Cream Linguine with Shrimp was also delicious & it is spicy, but not unbearably spicy. There were so many great choices on the menu, I couldn't decide. Wish I lived in the area, I'd come here all the time.
(4)John S.
Probably one of my favorite places for lunch when I'm visiting Lancaster. It has a beautiful bar and nice ambiance. The service is excellent and the food is very good. Their sandwiches are excellent!
(4)Rachel C.
I've been to DipCo around 4 or 5 times over the last few years. The food is consistent but nothing really sticks out. Sandwiches and burgers are decent but not memorable. The drinks are good and the service is fine. Honestly, the only reason that I keep coming back here is the location (10 steps from Central Market) and the interior...it's absolutely beautiful and super old-school. Can't get enough of the tin ceiling, the wallpaper, artwork, and wood details.
(3)Michele K.
I ordered the pretzels. They are hard pretzels in a basket with a dip. I was expecting soft pretzels. Their menu is huge, but with that many items don't expect anything to be great. I had a Tenderloin Tip sandwich that was Ok at best. It was wing night so wings were $4.95 for a dozen. That's what brought the crowds in, but I didn't find anything special about this place nor do I have a desire to go back.
(3)J H.
Another consistently great spot for lunch or a light dinner, this Lancaster institution happens to serve one of the best salads in the area: large spinach salad with Jamaican jerk chicken and Greek dressing. I get it once a week. The only reason I give only 4/5 stars is because there are no Belgium beers.
(4)Monique H.
I came in for lunch and ended up having some crab dip, it just sounded so good. It wasn't a meal but it totally hit the spot, quite tasty. The bartender is awesome, she pours them on the strong side. I met a few locals while I was here and had a great time chatting it up with them. They told me the bartender always flies solo, no matter how busy it is, what a woman!
(4)Beth A.
The building architecture was cool, the waitstaff was friendly and the joint was jumping when we ate here for a Friday lunch. I had a soup and burger and my partner had Reuben and soup. The food was good enough, we finished everything on the plate, but there was nothing that would entice me to go out of my way to eat here again.
(4)Jonathan M.
Average food nothing special but the drinks are cheap. It's a shame because it's a great location and tons of history!
(3)Heather J.
This is a great place to grab lunch in downtown Lancaster. It's right next to Central Market, so basically in the center of everything. It's very casual (we seated ourselves) and they have a huge menu with lots of choices. There's something for everyone. I had the grilled chicken club sandwich with potato salad. The sandwich was great. The chicken was tender and the tomatoes tasted home-grown. The potato salad was also really good. The prices are very reasonable and the service is friendly. My only complaint is that we had to wait a while to order and then to pay, but I can't blame our waitress at all. Nearly all the tables in the restaurant were filled and there were only two servers. Our waitress was juggling a lot at once. If I were back in Lancaster, I'd go back to this place!
(4)Jon K.
We stopped off here for a quick lunch on Saturday. We started with warm bacon and horseradish dip. The menu stated that it was served with pretzels (part of the allure for me) but was served with a roll and some packaged crackers. Once I mentioned the pretzels they happily brought me out a bread basket filled with them! The dip was the highlight of the meal. Wife had the Brie Open Face sandwich. Baked ham topped with melted brie and served on pumpernickel toast. The cheese looked like it could have used a bit more melting. One of the options was a side of fresh fruit. Nice touch. I had the boneless breast of chicken sandwich prepared Blackened Jamaican Jerk style served on a Kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato and a side of dill mayonnaise. I chose the side of cole slaw. The sandwich was just okay. Service started out great but by the end of lunch it was tough to get more iced tea and the check.
(3)Stephanie S.
The food was AMAZING!!! Seriously, the pesto and brie appetizer was so good. The tuna croissant was pretty good. The drinks were very reasonable! I only wish it weren't over an hour away from me. The only downside was that the waitress seemed to give more attention to the "regulars". Oh well, I would still definitely come back!
(4)Ed B.
Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday with my wife and was very impressed! The atmosphere is that of an old saloon and service was fast and friendly. The menu had so many fantastic looking items that it was really hard to decide! I settled on the braised short rib sandwich and it was wonderful. My wife had the LDC club and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming back here to eat when we're in the area again!
(5)Jon L.
I want to like it here so badly but I feel like everything I've ever eaten is something I could have made at home. I remember the first time I ate there I inquired about the "basket of pretzels", she told me it's just pretzels like the grocery store with a side of mustard. That made me feel like I should have stayed home. It's nice that it's close and open late because we enjoy sitting with friends.
(4)Rich S.
Not sure what happened here. Walked in with my family on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Every empty table was filthy. There was one waitress and one bartender. The waitress was very confused and the bartender was too busy texting to help her. The menu was huge and for a pub can only mean bad things. After about 10 minutes of sitting at a dirty table our waitress took out drink order. Never cleaned the table. 10 minutes later she brought our drinks and said she would be right back to take our order. A short while later we smelled something burning In the kitchen. 10 minutes later after finishing our drinks we stopped her to get out check so we could find another place to eat. It was clear she had forgotten about us. Maybe the food is good. Maybe it is great. Unfortunately we will never know for sure as I don't plan on going back.
(1)Bob B.
We decided to dine at LDC before going across the way for the 7:30 preformance at the Fulton Theater. The restaurant was packed but a table was located for us up on the stage area. Both the hostess and our server were super friendly and attentative. I had a Ceasar salad and thier Monte Cristo sandwich which was quite good. My wife ordered, and was pleasantly suprised with their 6 ounce Angus beef filet. She did not expect the steak to be perfectly prepared and quite tasty. Our last visit to LDC was nearly 10 years ago. We'll probably return.
(4)Jonathan B.
Been here a handful of times and am constantly disappointed. I don't want to be though. The location is great. Nice vibe. Cozy. I'm sure the drinks are good, and they even have a taco night. But the few times I've been here, the food is extremely underwhelming. Poorly slapped together, mostly tasteless, and nothing special. Worst of all, it's overpriced, and the portions are small. Stay away from the salads. No fries with the sandwiches? C'mon.
(2)Jonny R.
I really love Lancaster City. Some of the places I went to there were awesome. But it seems to me like mediocrity stays because there isn't a lot of competition. Is this bar passable? Yes. Would it survive in Philly? No way. Enjoyed my $3.50 Stoudt's Oktoberfest though.
(2)Julie G.
I wish I could give this place no stars and still write a review. It was an AWFUL experience. I am sure the drinks are good and reasonably price which seems to be what most people talk about here but let's get to the food. The menu was overwhelming with endless amounts of food, which I guess you shouldn't complain too much about but I didn't know where I was at! There was stir fried rice next to chicken and apple (huh?) then you flip it and there's croissants and burgers and sandwiches and wraps and crap cakes. I didn't know what country, state, region I was in! Fine...we settled on the chicken sandwich with honey mustard. I wish I took a pic of that bc it looked like someone drank the honey mustard and threw it up on top of my chicken. You eat with your eyes first and there was NO WAY I was going to put that in my mouth. Now, let's talk about the service. My server was nice at first but very very slow! There would be 10 min gaps before I could order my drinks, my food, and 20 mins to actually get our food. So if you're in a rush, don't waste your time there. After I complained about my food she gave me no options on how to fix it. Just took it and walked away. And she was gone for another ten minutes leaving us there very uncomfortable. When she came back she handed me the check! I didn't even eat one piece of my food and she expected me to pay! She was soooo rude. SOOOO RUDE!! I couldn't believe they treated customers like this. Also, keep in mind that I had my 2 year old daughter with me and my daughter started to get upset bc of how the server was behaving. The manager was called over but he even threatened to call the police on us! Finally, they waived the meals off (leaving the drinks of course). I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN!!
(1)Tom W.
Found this place for lunch, great food, the burger was one of the tastiest I eaten in a long time. Service was friendly and the food was served quickly.
(4)Kate S.
Been here loads of times and just can't stay away. The atmosphere itself is reason enough to come back but couple that with a great selection of brew and food...one of my favourite spots in Lanc. The only downfall is the service can be a bit spotty. Depends who is on for the night but I generally would say this isn't a spot for a quick bite. Expect to drink and have a good conversation while you wait for food - sometimes it can take a while. Try the Spinach and Artichoke Dip!! It is AMAZING!
(4)Krissy S.
I went here to catch up with a friend and the setting was perfect. This place has the perfect vibe and is located right near central market. It is very affordable. We went for the fish & chips special, which is $7.25 and it was all around delicious. I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which came out to be $2.75. The service was all around great. We sat down at the bar and the bartender immediately asked us what we wanted and came back a reasonable time later to check in on us. All-around great time, highly recommend going here!
(5)Candi K.
Strong, reasonable priced drinks. Nice atmosphere. Huge appetizers (maybe not the most flavorful, but hey, there has to be a downside to everything). A nice place to spend an hour before heading out to dinner. A business partner made the recommendation...glad he did!
(4)Nina W.
Home of one of the best bloody Mary's I've had in Lancaster. The menu is huge with specials for every week night. My favorite is $1 taco night which happens every Monday.
(4)Crystal L.
This place is always packed and is located in the heart of historic downtown Lancaster. *Strong drinks *Friendly bartenders *Great happy hour deals *Extensive menu, very reasonably priced. *The food is tasty! They have different daily specials on food and drink items. Here are a few examples: *Monday: hard tacos $1 each, bottled draft imported beer specials 6p-12a *Wednesday: wings $4.95/dozen (jerk, hot garlic etc..), 6-12p $1 off draft pitchers * Friday: 430-6p drink specials, complimentary wings, and homemade stromboli+live music starting at 10pm Visit their website for more information on special events! dispensingco.com/pages/i…
(4)Russell F.
A Lancaster tradition... Slow, inconsistent, often rude and mostly terrible service. The place is cramped and often crowded. Between the visitors and the regulars, there's not much, if any room left. Dipco is a local favorite which doesn't mean it's good or the crowd is especially attractive. The bar is frequently lined with patrons resting on their elbows and the tables are shoved together in a manner which leads to service akin to being on a rush hour subway. If you enjoy the guy next you being on the phone constantly with his bookie, Dipco may be a fun adventure for you. All of which is rather funny considering the food is average at best and the offerings limited. For six bucks you can find a better burger and actually get french fries along with it, rather than the bag of potato chips which Dipco offers. Looking at it in the best light, it's favorite with a lot of locals and also hosts lost of tourists because of the location next to Central Market. Dipco has regular special nights where cheap tacos or wings are offered. It's a place a lot of locals go to liquored up and eat cheap. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever IF that is what you are looking for. For myself, Dipco just isn't my thing.
(1)annie z.
I definitely won't go back. Very average bar food. Not very exciting. Ordered The Works Nachos, cheap round kinda stale chips, not so wonderful chili, half melted cheese... Just very unimpressed. Was hoping for greasy good/bad food. Not here
(3)Rocio R.
We always stop here after shopping at Central Market. We order Bloody Mary's every time. Can't say much about the food because we have never dined here, but it is a nice place to stop and have a drink.
(5)S R.
This has become our go-to place on the weekend. Food is delicious and reasonably priced. We had slow/iffy dinner service when we went on a Friday night with a big group but the poor girl was really working her kiester off. Drinks are reasonable. We LOVE the live music though - every time we've gone the bands have been phenomenal and incredibly varied (my favorite was the band Sunshine Superman)!
(4)Donna T.
When I first stumbled upon DipCo, I was thrilled. Being somewhat new to the area, hailing from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area where there's a bar on every corner, I was just happy to find more of a neighborhood bar. When I first visited, I was living in E-town at the time and I quickly realized that with only the choice of TJ Rockwell's, I'd need to venture into Lancaster if I wanted a real pub experience. I've lived in Lancaster city now for about six months and I was excited to be closer to DipCo. However, now that I've been there a few times, I've become disappointed. The food is good and they have great specials. The pricing is decent and the beer selection is huge. The service and atmosphere, though, leaves a lot to be desired. The first few times I went, it took a while to be waited on. The host/hostess often doesn't notice when someone new walks in, and if it's a busy night, from my experience, doesn't really try hard to figure out seating arrangements or give a wait time or suggest that you have a drink first; it's almost like they want you to leave. So that leads us to another negative point. I'm all for small bars; I love the intimacy. However, this place is so crowded and the tables so sqiushed together that the dining experience is not comfortable. Hard to get up and get to the bathroom if you are on the inside of a table; you risk bumping into the person behind you as you push out your chair, and then if you are on the inside, also have to ask the other people to move to get out. I love that DipCo brings in live entertainment, but I just question if the size of the venue is conducive to this. I did see am amazing sock puppet show there and I applaud them for supporting the local arts -- not just the music aspect of it. However, it was so tight. The bar itself is nice and has all the makings of a good, local bar, but I can't say that I've ever had a lot of fun there. I was too busy moving my chair in and out to let people by or waiting too long for a refill. If they had the ability to build an addition -- not something huge that would take away from the intimacy -- it would be perfect. Maybe an additional dining room?
(3)Brittney S.
Suggested to us by a coffee chick in the market. Locally referred to as "Dip Co". Good prices, croissant was yum. Neat space, looks like a Victorian saloon.
(4)Nora G.
Love the bar, do not love the sub-par food. From the wings to the tacos to the salads, the food is not good. At all. However, they do pour mean drink, have great live music and I enjoy the atmosphere.
(2)Elise G.
On a quest to find Amish country, my friend and I were recommended this place by a local for some good burgers. We went one afternoon and it was very reasonably priced, and we both had awesome cheeseburgers with provolone. The best part? I left my scarf in my chair (silly me) and after walking out, the manager literally ran me down and put the scarf back on me! How kind of him! I'll always recommend this place just because of him!
(4)Elena C.
After a morning of touring Lancaster's version of RTM, T and I consulted Yelp and headed across the alley way to check out the Lancaster Dispensing Company. Very cute and cozy with a line of locals already throwing down at the bar. (It was 11:45 but to be fair, it was college football Saturday.) To start we had the crab dip. Served warm with HUGE pieces of crab and crusty bread for dipping we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was! And a steal at only $7! For lunch T had the Tenderloin Tip Sandwich which was stuffed with juicy meat, sauteed onions and peppers and melted provolone. It looked and smelled great. I had the Caesar salad with tenderloin tips which I asked them to put in a wrap for me. I love when restaurants wrap salads for you. :) It was amazing. The steak was tender and overflowing, the dressing was salty and delicious and the wrap was fresh. A really great meal to fuel us for the rest of our day in Lancaster!
(4)Anthony D.
I've eaten at DipCo many many times over the course of many years but haven't been there in a few months. I went there today for lunch with a coworker and his wife and the lunch special was a braised short rib sandwich with caramelized onions and motz. This was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a long time. Jay (or server and bar tender) told me that they are changing up the menu and they are adding short rib sliders to the regular offerings. If the sliders are anything like the sandwich you gotta try it.
(5)Marion C.
I stopped by this place on my way to York, PA. It's small and a little dark, but the food and service was perfect!!! Plus it's near some great indoor markets!! I would stop here again if I was in the area. ... But I would not go out of my way. Long story short it's decent no complaints.
(4)Yvonne K.
Had lunch here...nothing special or memorable.Would stop in if there were not other places to try as well.Had a grilled chicken Taco salad (average) and a Local beer.Husband had a Salmon burger off the specials, he enjoyed!Cute and very old building and not "chain"...good service!
(3)Judy B.
looks cool inside and the drinks arnt to bad. nothing great, but nothing bad
(3)Kurt I.
This place has a magical quality. I walk in normally, the voodoo occurs and suddenly I am staggering, slurring and quite full. I don't think I've ever left here sober or hungry. The best vegetarian nachos in Lancaster county. The v-chili is bursting with flavor, faux beef, plump beans and chock full of yum. Plenty of alch and food selections to please anyone. Go and experience magic.
(4)Matthew L.
This is a neat little place. I was in town for work and hit it on burger night. The burger was good, but nothing to write home about. The menu did have a nice selection to choose from. The place is vintage and charming. The staff is friendly. The prices are very reasonable.
(3)Matthew K.
I've been eating here as long as I was old enough to get served, which is longer than I'd like to admit. I can honestly say that I've tried nearly everything on the menu and never been unhappy with my meal, aside from one or two questionable choices on the soup-of-the-day. That said, Judy's soups are the best around. Period. I've gotten stuck on repeat with one or two menu items over the years (the LDC Veggie is tops in my book!) but I still enjoy mixing it up here even though I'm the sort who has a 'usual' order most other places. On top of that, the building is a late-1800's Victorian which can't be beat for bar ambiance and they even host great local musicians. But we're at three stars here, and I see it as an average: five for years gone by balanced with one for today. More and more of the staff treat the customers (including the regulars) like shit, certain bartenders have been actively 'boycotted' for years without correction and now the younger generation of management seems to have completely lost the plot. No need to tell tales; every regular has heard at least a few by now. There will undoubtedly be an endless stream of college kids to keep this place packed but with the direction things seem to be headed, you're gonna be a lot less likely to recognize anyone or enjoy the experience. We haven't been back and don't intend to.
(3)Bruce N.
my wife and i keep coming back. Food and service have been great. we usually get that table on the upper level so i can watch the football on TV and have intimate sharing with my wife at the same time. Last time she had a delicious burger and potato salad. i had the ceasar salad with salmon. i washed it down with a palm Belgian amber brew - very tasty. prices are very reasonable and while it is crowded, you can usually get a table pretty quickly. Tight bathroom but last few times i entered i accidently bumped the towel dispenser button with my shoulder on way to sink; thus a towel is waiting for me. no need to wave my hands frantically trying to get something to come out. nice feature. Definitely a go to place.
(4)Becky M.
Made my first trip here last night, on a busy Saturday night and LOVED it! Fantastic atmosphere: wide range of ages and party sizes, large bar to sit at, many tables, fairly dark lighting, unique bathrooms and use of an old phone both to create a wishing booth. Despite being packed and very busy, the service was great. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and offered me a sample (which was quite large) of a wine I was considering. We placed an order for an appetizer, spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms, which arrived about 10 minutes later, tops. They were AMAZING! Super tasty, hot, and served with crackers on the side for some crunch. Our meals came about 15-20 minutes after the appetizer. We were both very happy with the food. I got a Greek salad with grilled chicken and he got the apple chicken. Both were perfect sized portions that we could finish without being too stuffed, but were completely satisfied. Very tasty too! The prices here are perfect for the portions: very affordable!! I don't get to Lancaster too often, but if I did, I would return to LDC for sure. It's a fantastic spot for a date or to hang out with friends.
(5)Danny L.
Great atmosphere in a very classic, old american bar. Could really use some help on the beer selection though. I did not try the food.
(3)Kristi M.
I went here three times and every time the food was awful!!!! I can't recommend anyone wasting their money on food there. Service was slow, food cold and tastless. It may be fine if you just want to hang out and have a drink w/friends but don't get the food....unless you're drunk (it's the only way you can eat it)
(1)Tina S.
Love the jerk chicken! Service is slow, but if you go in knowing that you should be ok.
(4)Michael K.
dipco is so-so. uber crowded got the twin veggie burrito... its was ok - the side of salsa was a welcomed spicy addition. the spanish rice was kinda bland so i had to mix the salsa in there. (see where im going with that?) the bartendress and the server were super id go elsewhere next time tbh ( and 'h' is what we're really here about isnt it? otherwise, we are all just fooling ourselves) good night and thank you
(3)Paul L.
Right off the square is this little hidden gem. I went there for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised. I always heard they're a great venue for music but they also have some great food. I was in the mood for a chicken sandwich and they had at least 10 different varieties to choose from. I went with the honey mustard and was very surprised how quickly it came out and how good it was I am looking forward to the next time I am in downtown Lancaster for dinner this place would be top of my list. I really give five stars but this place earned it
(4)tony c.
Full Disclosure = My wife worked there many years ago. Great little place with an awesome ceiling. Has a small town feel with lots of locals and friendly staff. I would recommend to any visitor to the area.
(4)Cindy T.
Home away from homes in the heart of Lancaster city/market area... Great specials and prices on both food AND drinks, big menu with tons of options (including healthy sides like fresh fruit!!!), cool atmosphere, fun and diverse crowd, and most of the servers and bartenders are attentive and pleasant at all times. Can't go wrong with Dipco...ever.
(5)Andrew C.
First off, this place has great food for a bar. They have wing night, taco night, and many other special nights. The wing night was especially good with unique sauces. It is on Wednesday. I also had fajitas, which were good. This is a great place. The atmosphere is cool. The location is nice - right next to central market. They always have good music and friendly staff. Try it out.
(5)Julie B.
There is nothing to write home about this place. Food is mediocre at best. The beer selection was good. But this is more or less bar food.
(2)Jessica K.
Dipco is like "Cheers" You go there for the friends, the drinks, the chill vibe and convenience of location. If you go often enough they do "know your name" and even what you order. One is especially in Luck if they have the wonderful waitress Val. As a foodie, I don't go there to have my mind blown with some new dish with fiddlehead ferns and other often pretentious things that "we" love to explore. Dipco is like spending a night with a good friend. It's comfortable, warm and never judges. It gives you staples that you want. Taco night Burger night Wing night Fish and chips It's busy, but not too crazy to be frustrating. Most importantly it's easy...and sometimes with being inundated all day with all sorts of things that's exactly what someone needs.
(4)Megan H.
Been here a few times for lunch. Good service, decent food. Wouldn't suggest the coffee (close to water) but I'll be back.
(4)J B.
Hand's down one of my favorite places in Lancaster County. Good food, great atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Plus the menu has several vegetarian options which, as a vegetarian, I appreciate. Sure, it isn't exactly "fine dining" but for a great meal at a great price it is difficult to find anywhere in the area that can beat DipCo.
(4)David A.
Good old antique looking bar in a historic part of the city, if you happen to catch a foggy night, place could be 19th century London. This is one of my favorite places when in Lancaster, food is good, drinks are good, always someone willing to strike up a conversation. Highly worth the experience, weekends are always busy...
(4)Chris M.
I haden't been to this place in a few years because for probably about 30 years it had the most limited and outdated menu on God's earth, and the food was mediocre. So I was not pleased when some friends invited me to join them 2 nights ago. Well I'm glad I did! They've updated the menu and the food is well prepared, quickly prepared, and they have a nice selection of beers on tap. It's no gourmet restaurant...definitely a soup and sandwich type menu...but basic food, well-prepared, and at prices so crazy cheap you could eat here every night.
(3)Karl B.
First, let me say that we were really amazed by the vitality and attractiveness of Lancaster. After touring Wheatlands and seeing the Quilt Museum and Central Market we wanted a light lunch. Found LDC on Yelp and were amazed at the European feel of the place. The soup and sandwich lunch special was great and just what we wanted. Good service, great beer.
(5)James S.
Came in on a Saturday during lunch. Food was good and they had a great draft menu. Also had a few meals that were unique. Kid friendly. It was a little slow because it was so busy, but that was to be expected. Almost every seat was taken. It was on the small side.
(4)Austen T.
My friends and I started going here a lot for dinner in high school. The food was always really good. The chili was one of my favorite's. If you go in early evening or late afternoon, it's not too busy, and the atmosphere is really nice. I finally got to check out their bar a few months back. They have a decent selection of good beers, and the bartenders were really friendly. I'm looking forward to going back again whenever I'm back in Lancaster.
(4)Simeon T.
I know nothing about Lancaster, PA. I was in town for a wedding and the morning after the girlfriend and I were slightly foggy and definitely in need of some grub. So what do two tourists, in a town we've never been in do? Why go on the Yelp app on my trusty iPhone of course (yes, yelp is paying me for in review advertisements suckers) and pulled the The Lancaster Dispensing Company. It was a no brainer from the get-go for us, let's just review the facts: Bar Food....check Darker atmosphere (for those with a mild headache from the night before)...check Acceptable to wear basketball shirts and sunglasses indoors...check AND check Hair of the dog...can you not tell that this place serve alcohol from the name alone? Needless to say it was exactly what we wanted. We ordered a plate of "small" nachos as an appetizer, which almost turned out to be more than enough for the both of us for the entire meal, but our sandwhiches were awesome too. Wait staff was awesome, even if a bit overworked, and for that I can't hate on some longer waits.
(4)Roy K.
I have been coming to the Dispensing Company almost as long as it has been open. Although I do not live in Lancaster anymore I make frequent trips here. 50% of the time I come to the Dispensing Company for lunch. In the past 9 months, I have introduced two friends to the Dispensing Company and they loved it. Today we had the veggie croissant with a side of potato salad and the Monte Cristo with a side of fresh fruit. Two meals, two sodas and tip = $20! Till we left there was only one empty table. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. Maybe it's just me but I have never noticed that the service was that slow. Sometimes the food comes faster than others, but I don't recall feeling the need to eat my left arm or any other drastic measures. I have never had bad food or bad service in the 30+ years I have been a customer.
(5)ReviewHaiku F.
Cute and cozy bar Get there before your friends and And face a few shots. (b)
(4)randy s.
Maybe its just me but the staff at DIPCO are a bunch of ignorant, snooty, jerks. And word goes round and round about this. Word of mouth, its the best or worst advertising. Maybe they will shape up. I will go in again just for the confrontation. I do enjoy telling someone to fuck themselves. So hey, how bout an attitude adjustment people? Jerks...
(1)Jane H.
So let me start this by saying that this was the only time I have ever considered skipping out on a check. The food was fine, cheap, but the meal took so long that we thought it would be the only way to get out before closing. The food is pretty good standard bar fare. The only real problem is the service. Our waitress seemed to be completely incapable of multitasking and walking at a reasonable pace. The host was completely oblivious to how annoyed customers were by the slow service. Many seated at tables tried ordering and paying at the bar when they got tired of waiting. So we sat right around 1 PM. Our drink orders were taken around 1:20. We tried to order our food at the same time but our waitress wouldn't take our food order. Our food order was taken at 1:30 and our food arrived around 2:00. We asked for our check at 2:30 and after waiting until 2:50 we asked the host to get it for us. Now a meal that takes 2 hours is completely acceptable at a fine dining establishment or in a foreign country but at a place that serves bar food? I'm sorry but that is never OK. So basically I gave the place four stars for food and then downgraded one star for every hour it took to get through this meal and another for the daft host. Go to this place if you have nowhere to be/are the most patient person in the world. Avoid it if you tend to get worked up when people are sucking at their job. However people seated at the bar seemed to have great service so if a spot is open there then go for it since the food is decent.
(1)Phil C.
My favorite spot in Lancaster hands down. Great staff, great food, and great beer selection. They host a really varied and quality selection of live music on the weekends, and their daily beer/food specials are great values on good stuff. I have tried several things off their menu and have never been disappointed. They put their own flair on everything from tacos to burgers to seafood and it shows. Even the most mundane dish doesn't feel sterile and the prices are super reasonable on just about everything.The menu also has great options for vegetarians out there who don't want to settle for a salad or some bland veggie only dish. The place gets lost in the shuffle when people are mentioning great places to go, but it belongs up there as a primary destination for lunch or nightlife.
(5)Adam H.
Great food! Inexpensive! Smoke Free! Need I say more? I love this place!
(4)Bret W.
I've been here a few times for lunch, every time I've left satisfied, both by the quality of the food and quality of the atmosphere.
(5)Julia T.
This restaurant was one of the few places in Lancaster that was open on the 4th and I think that the crowd was 70% out-of-towners like us. Overall, I liked this place. The food was good and they had a decent beer selection (and sarsparilla which I love). The decor was OK - pretty typical bar/restaurant dark wood, etc. They need to work on the washroom - the saloon doors on the stalls offer little privacy and barely close. I am not familiar with local restaurants so don't have much to compare it to in the area, but this places was alright...
(3)Dan E.
After spending some time at Central Market, my wife and I decided to come here for lunch. I went to college in Lancaster and had always heard from people that this place was good but I had never been. Upon entering, we were greeted and told about the specials immediately. The special on this particular day was wings. Being a wing aficionado and having had some very good wings in Lancaster before, I had to try them. Once we were seated, we put in for an order of hot wings and a couple of beers. They probably had about 7 beers or so on tap. I also must say that the place is very cool inside. It reminded me of a New York City bar. At this point, I was totally loving this place. The wings came out and it was a full dozen. They weren't breaded (the way I like them) but they were very meaty and they gave you a full dozen. The sauce also wasn't a traditional buffalo sauce - more of a hot sauce. I must say that the wings were very good. The blue cheese that came with the wings was also phenomenal. For some reason, Central PA has the best blue cheese. There are always tons of blue cheese chunks and it just goes great wings. Even the good wing places in NJ have terrible blue cheese - it always tastes like that generic salad dressing blue cheese. Needless to say, I was very impressed. For our meals, I went with the Italian sub that came with a side of cole slaw and my wife ordered the "chef" salad. When our food came out, her chef salad magically turned into a chicken salad. Since it took a while for our food to come out and we had to get going, my wife decided to just stick with it. She did say it was decent. I wasn't as lucky with my Italian sub. The meats were decent but it wasn't very well constructed and I did not like the bread that came with the sandwich which was definitely disappointing. The bread was literally falling apart as I ate my sandwich. Never good. To sum it up - I thought the place was incredibly cool, the prices were great (almost cheap), I loved the wings but I was very disappointed with my sandwich. I am actually going to give this place another shot when I am back in Lancaster and my next visit will be the make or break for me. If I have a better meal, then I will update my review accordingly.
(2)Kyle Y.
My favorite spot in Lancaster, without a doubt. Taco night, Burger night, Wing night....all have their own phenomenal qualities! I'm here several times a week, and depending on the night and time, it does tend to get a bit crowded inside. Of course, with the crowd comes a higher volume inside as well as longer ticket-times for food to come out. However, on most nights the service stays at a respectable level, especially if you have Val. She is on top of it, as most of the servers there tend to be, and the food never fails to satisfy my cravings. Definitely worth checking out, if even for just one of the selections of draft beer.
(5)AJ B.
I've been going here for years being someone that works crazy hours and being single I enjoy eating out several times a week it just makes sense for me. The staff are all experienced ... friendly and typically always smiling. It's a cute place to meet up for lunch but can be sort of hectic at night and a little crowded but that's because it's a much enjoyed place.
(4)Charles S.
Great sandwiches! Excellent beer selection. Service was very friendly. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon after going to the market, and the place was just packed to the rafters. We were walking around downtown Lancaster, trying to choose a place to eat, and the smell coming from LDC did the trick. If I have to have a tiny nitpick, the potato salad could have used a bit of seasoning. But, the cole slaw and macaroni salads were very good. Other than that, it was very nice, and I'll certainly be back again. I'd like to see what this place is like in the evenings. I think this would probably be a good place to stop in an have a beer or two. I'll definitely be back for taco night, wing night, burger night, etc. if I'm nearby. Well worth a stop if you're down near the market looking for a bite.
(4)Dana S.
Food was incredible, ordered a sirloin steak there the first time I ate there, with mashed potatoes, and a salad everything was delicious, and worth the money spent. I also ordered a couple mixed drinks and they were filled with a lot of alcohol and delicious, worth the money. The chocolate cake was mouth watering delicious, like an orgasm in my mouth-soooo yummy. The second time I had eaten there I ordered something small, a spinach salad with extra bacon....talk about yummy, like the spinach salad my momma used to make. The waitstaff was very friendly and came in a timely manner. The kitchen staff were also very friendly. The price paid at the end of the night was reasonable for the service and food I received. My overall experience was a positive one. I'd just change one thing about this place, the table set up. It's a little too crowded, and you have to hunt for a seat when u enter the building. There wasn't anyone seating you and you had to push through crowds of people to look for a place to sit.
(4)Melissa L.
I always suggest this place to my out of town friends when they come to visit. Cozy Victorian-era ambiance, very extensive menu (everything from fresh fruit & brie to stir-fry), and excellent selection of beers and cocktails.
(5)Justin K.
This place has some pretty good food, and its selection is rather eclectic for a bar. Though nothing to outlandish. They also have great weeknight specials on their food like their taco nights and wing nights. The place gets PACKED on weekends and can be packed on weeknights as well. That is the main reason I stray away from the place. It is typically just far to packed for me to want to pay for a meal where I won't be able to hear anything but the TV and the loud people at the bar. The atmosphere is nice when you can hear or look around to see it so I suggest going during lunch or get an early dinner. The wait staff is typically fine and nothing to rave about and nothing to complain. However on a side note I found a piece of plastic in one of my sandwiches I got there and they only took off $3 from our over $15 bill. I was a little disappointed about that, but that's only time I have ever eaten there that I had something to complain about.
(3)george a.
I havent been here for years and its still Mmmm. ---------- FOOD: They have a number of vegetarian items on the menu, but no veggie section to speak of. Baked mac and cheese was on special, so I go that. And boy I didnt regret it. It was gooood. And there was soo much of it too! DECOR: They have a victorian theme going on thats unique. Its not the biggest restaurant in the world and its often packed full, but if you can get in, its worth it. They have some art hanging on the walls. Since art is subjective, Ill leave it up to you to say if its good or not. I kind of dont think so tho... SERVICE: Good. The friendly waitress came back often to check on me. Single people arent restaurants preferred customers, so sometimes they blow you off. But not this time! ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS: Ive always loved this place and its theme, but its in such an inconvenient location to park at. There is a parking garage nearby, but still on a busy day it can be tough.
(4)Peyton S.
Hands down one of the best restaurants in Lancaster County - I would recommend this place to anyone. The staff are always so personable and the prices are great for such delicious food. The beer selection is huge! My friends and I always swing by for a bite to eat before heading out to enjoy Lancaster city. Great food, great company, and great atmosphere.
(5)Joe D.
This place is great. I wish they had more than 7 beer taps. That is my only gripe. I just ate a smoked turkey club on toasted rye. It was superb. The coleslaw probably can't get any better. I am finally finishing this review from a bit ago. The only correction is my comment about coleslaw. I am picky when it comes to coleslaw. Sure, that seems a bit odd but it is important to me. After a number of visits, I have determined it is hit or miss. :)
(4)dave w.
Decent beer prices and the food was quite tasty too! Bar was crowded but food arrived quickly and service was prompt and curtious, Kitchen open til 12, a plus for a full menu late.
(4)Sarah S.
Went to the dipco for wing night on Wednesday. Got there around 9 pm was seated right away got waited on very quickly and the service was great! Got a dozen medium wing they were just the way I love them crunchy! They could have used more sauce but that would have taken away from the crunchy! I love the dipco it is a good place for a really cheap dinner but they aren't cheap on the portions or service! Went back this Monday for my favorite night Taco Night!!! Service was a little bit slower but still good! Love taco night! Two people paid 13.17 with a tip!!!!!
(4)Michelle P.
I think you could really blink and miss this place. And man would that suck! Hidden back in the side streets of Lancaster is this great restaurant. It took us a while to find it, and figure out the seating situation (You seat yourself), but i was pleasantly suprised by the long menu. It wasn't that unique, but i'm always excited when there are five different ways for me to get a grilled chicken sandwich. I chose the honey mustard. The bun made it way too hard to eat so i just chowed down on the chicken breast itself and the very large tomato that accompnied it. I also enjoyed the choices of sides (fries, cole slaw, fruit or potato salad) and man was i excited about the potato salad. A little dressingy (is that a word?) but overall fantastic. Probably some of the best i've ever had. We also got nachos which were just chips with some stuff on them and nothing special, but was a nice tasty little snack while we were waiting. Plus they come in half orders too! Like Jeff said, the waitress was horrible and it really made my experience considerably less enjoyable. What would have really annoyed me was if because of her slow motion pace we were forced to pay more in at the parking lot.
(4)Jeff W.
Great ambiance and an excellent place to meet with friends for happy hour. It has a nice Victorian feel with plenty of seating at the bar, and at tables around the rest of the main area. Beer list is pretty decent with a wide variety of imports, PA beer, and then beer from the rest of the country. The menu was ok, but not really anything out of the ordinary. Food quality was pretty much on par with any typical pub, so if you're looking for a unique dining experience, it's hard to recommend DipCo. For a unique setting with good drink selection though, this is definitely a good spot. I think it's pretty cool that they only have two TVs, and both of them are small and way off in the corner so you don't get distracted by the antique feel. The real killer here is the service. Our waitress was incredibly slow, and the staff was obviously overworked, but everyone we saw was moving in slow motion and had very little energy, or friendliness, to them. Even after we had been waiting 15 minutes for the check and specifically asked our waitress to bring it, we waited another 5 minutes and even saw her sending text messages to friends, and talking to one of the other customers about a party later that night. Very unimpressed.
(3)Kurt B.
Nice little corner bar. 7 different draft beers on tap. Good bar food, very affordable. Went at about 5:30 on a friday with my teenage daughter. Seats were readily available. Service was excellent. Order drinks, drinks there. Order food, food there. Quiet enough to have a conversation without screaming. Overall, was impressed.
(5)Larry M.
This is one of the better places to spend a Saturday night in Lancaster. Great food, the black bean burger I had was really good, and the macaroni salad was a welcome change from the usual fries you get with pub food. If you like beer get the Stoudt's Market Alley, which is brewed for the DipCo. Usually starting around 10'ish they have live music on the weekends. Usually a mix of blues, jazz, or bluegrass. Really helps establish the great atmosphere at this place.
(4)Rob H.
It's not bad, but the food isn't exceptional and the drinks are meh.
(2)Taylor G.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Lancaster, this is one of my favorite places to go for lunch or a beer and snack when I'm in my old stomping ground. The Lancaster Dispensing Co... or "The Dip Co" as it's called around town, is truly a gem. The high ceilings, old long bar, and quirky arrangement make this place unlike anything else you'll find in the city. The food is great anytime of day... try the spinach dip, it's amazing. They have a great selection of draft beers and a full bar if you are in the mood for something else. At night this place comes alive (even more so) with beatniks and hippies. Not to say this place is unapproachable by those outside these groups, just be prepared for it. Even the wait staff is laid back and a bit "hippie-esque" Often overheard is political and current event discussions... join in if you dare! The Dip Co just has a cool, chill vibe that makes you want to come back again and again. Sometimes they also have bands or other events, check the fliers on the table or to the left inside the front door for calendars or more info. Love this place... LOVE IT!
(5)Ace C.
First off, Dipco has the best nachos ever. The food is good all around. I also like the chicken salad, and Wing Night on Wednesdays is always a good time. The atmosphere is nice with local art on the walls, and it's often pretty crowded (in a good way). The only time I don't like hanging out at Dipco when there's a band because it gets too loud and there's a cover.
(4)Clint F.
Food was good. Had sandwiches for lunch. Great atmosphere but service was a little slow.
(4)Bodhi B.
If you're in Lancaster and you're looking for a great pub, this is the place to go. It's got a nice, relaxing local feel and for "pub grub", the food can't be beat. Great staff, great atomosphere, entertaining locals -- for what it is, this place is perfectly so....
(5)Carrie L.
Great beers and lots of vegetarian options, too.
(5)Clea M.
Relaxed atmosphere, good food, and I like their tiny corner stage where local musicians occasionally play. I have been here several times, and once was for an IVAW fundraiser...nice that they hosted that.
(4)Nat Z.
Probably my favorite bar in Lancaster. It's cozy, friendly, and they have a great selection of beers. Generally a pretty fun place. Nice ambience. Food is nothing exceptional but is cheap and solid. Many fond memories of taco nights.
(5)Cynthia P.
This is definitely a home-town pub. Locals gather after work and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. It's a bit squishy, but that encourages conversations. Tourists are treated like regulars and a cozy atmosphere prevails. Food is excellent quality, even if somewhat predictable. Prices are very competitive. Service is good. All around good choice for meals or just drinks.
(4)Geoff M.
Great location in the Central Market in downtown Lancaster. My wife, eleven-year old son, and I went to the Dispensing Company this evening. The food was terrific and surprisingly healthy for a pub. My wife had the stir fry, I had the chicken with apples, and my son had the pita pizza appetizer. I can personally attest that they were all good :-). They have a selection of 7 great draft beers, which apparently vary from night to night. The service was slower than I would have expected given the volume, but the server appeared to be working the entire floor herself, and was at least friendly and helpful. All in all, a nice pub in a neat location.
(4)Rick H.
Ok, this place has been around forever. same owners. A locals spot, with a pretty bar, old time dark wood and tile floor. I like to go there for a beer and some food. They really, really have good food, good service, good drinks. Prices, for today's market, are reasonable. They have items on the menu that they have been serving for 20 years. Ask the server what's on special. She probably has been there for 10-20 years also; it's that kind of place. Located next to the famous Lancaster Central Market. Go to the market, work up a thirst, and stop by the "DipCo". Entertainment on some evenings. Kinda a teriffic place for a first date, or for any time. You can tell I like this place, and I don't like many places.
(5)Andrew T.
Good bars and restaurants that work do things simple, but unique, have quick service for both drinks and food and have great bartenders and servers that engage customers and make them feel welcome! This place, DIPCO for short does it all. I gave it 5 stars because of the above reasons! It should be noted that while the food does have more than typical bar food it wouldn't make it the 5 star restaurant category but that being said to me it IS a 5 star bar/pub/restaurant. They get it right!!!! A place that does not let down.
(5)Jon G.
Let me second the previous compliments , and add a star for a smoke free environment. Have a few Lagers and sample some of the fancier brews too. I also love their logo on the pint glasses
(5)Rob S.
Ahh, DipCo. A great place for a few beers with some buds.
(3)Edward I.
I'm giving this a very solid four stars. I'd like to give it five, but I don't want to mislead people into thinking they're going to a five star restaurant. It's very comfortable, and affordable. The food was good. I had something that had a lot of cheese on it. Can't remember, which indicates that it was OK (not particularly good or bad). I remember enjoying the dining experience as a whole, but it was more about the comfortable ambiance than the food.. I plan on returning.
(4)