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Best Restaurants In York, Pennsylvania

Pepperoni pizza
Pepperoni pizza | Photo by Food Photographer on Unsplash

York, Pennsylvania is best known as ‘The Factory Tour Capital of the World,’ offering 13 different factories that the general public can tour. York’s restaurants have been serving up seasonal, local fare from the region’s fertile farms long before it became trendy. From restaurants with nearly a century of history to newcomers that have been open for less than a year, here are ten restaurants to check out in York.

The Left Bank Restaurant

Open since 1998, The Left Bank Restaurant takes its name from a restaurant set on the River Siene in Paris. The ever-evolving menu at this sophisticated restaurant focuses on Mediterranean-influenced steak, lamb, and seafood dishes. Try the penne with grilled steak au poivre or the pan-seared scallops served with black rice and lemon aioli. On Sundays, the restaurant offers a Sunday brunch accompanied by the music of a live jazz duo. Brunch items are served alongside a variety of breads, which are baked on-site.

The Accomac

Set in a historic stone inn on the bank of the Susquehanna River, The Accomac offers an elegant fine-dining experience. Open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, the restaurant partners with local farmers to incorporate regional produce into their menu as much as possible. Expect dishes like house-made goats cheese cavatelli and marietta fish tacos on the restaurant’s small but thoughtful lunch and dinner menus. The restaurant regularly hosts special events, such as live jazz performances, candlelit dinners, and Wine Down Wednesdays with special deals on select wines.

Otto’s Kitchen & Cocktails

Otto’s Kitchen & Cocktails is named after American inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder, creator of the first bread-slicing machine. Like Rohwedder, the restaurant aims to take something that exists and make it better, with its menu of re-invented comfort foods and innovative cocktails. Look for a portrait of Rohwedder and his wife in the restaurant’s rustic-chic dining room, which features repurposed Lancaster County barn wood and sliding doors separating the restaurant and bar areas. The menu changes seasonally, but expect dishes with Southern influences, such as chicken and waffles with maple whole grain mustard glaze. Cocktails are made in-house with handcrafted ingredients.

Victor’s Modern Mediterranean Cuisine

Open since 1984, Victor’s Modern Mediterranean Cuisine is a fine-dining restaurant with an ever-changing seasonal menu. The restaurant is set in a beautiful 19th-century former church, and its interior still features some of the original stained glass decor. In the warmer months, seating is available outside on a lovely patio. In addition to the regular menu, the restaurant also offers a weekly ‘Chef’s Table’ menu, as well as an extensive gluten-free menu. To pair with its dishes, the restaurant offers creative cocktails, an excellent craft beer selection and a hand pump for cask beers, in addition to wines kept at cellar temperature.

White Rose Bar & Grill

White Rose Bar & Grill is a York institution, with a history stretching back to 1933 when it was opened as a small sandwich shop by the current owners’ grandparents. The restaurant has expanded over the decades, today offering two open-air bars and dining rooms in addition to an inviting indoor dining area. Be sure to try a dish from the restaurant’s unique Hot Rock menu. For Hot Rock dishes, meat, fish, or seafood is placed on a volcanic stone where it is then seared using no oil or fat. This method allows the food to continue cooking as diners eat. The restaurant also offers great daily and happy hour specials on drinks and food.

The Busy Bee

The Busy Bee is headed by Chef Andrew Barnes, who worked in fine-dining restaurants for ten years before opening the Busy Bee in 2009. The restaurant is named in honor of Andrew’s grandfather who served in World War II on the U.S.S. Biloxi, which was nicknamed ‘The Busy Bee.’ Set inside Central Market York, the restaurant makes the most of its ingredients in-house, including sauces and salad dressings, in addition to sourcing others from neighboring market stalls. The eclectic menu includes dishes ranging from Indian chicken vindaloo to cheesesteak, along with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

Crimson American Grill

Crimson American Grill offers a contemporary American menu and three distinctive dining areas. The main dining room features exposed brick walls decorated with black-and-white photographs of ’50s-style diners. Guests can also eat in the pub, which is decorated with vintage beer signs, or out on the patio, which is covered and heated in the winter. The menu features a standard but well-prepared selection of salads, burgers, and steaks, as well as fresh seafood and chicken dishes. There’s also a fine selection of wines, speciality cocktails, and beers, with at least six taps dedicated to Pennsylvania breweries.

Pho Bistro

Pho Bistro offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a low-key setting. The restaurant takes its name from its signature dish, pho, a popular Vietnamese delicacy consisting of white rice noodles in a slow-cooked broth. The restaurant offers more than a dozen different kinds of pho, most of which include brisket, beef flank, meatballs, or a combination of these meats. Owner Lee Huynh’s wife learned to cook at her mother’s small cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, and is always happy to explain dishes on the menu to diners who are new to Vietnamese cuisine.

Brewvino

Brewvino is a family-owned restaurant specializing in handcrafted pizza. The restaurant is inspired by the gourmet pizza shops that owners (and cousins) Jordan Chronister and Marc Bower enjoyed while visiting the eastern shore of Maryland. Diners can choose between 13 different personal-sized pizzas or have the option to create their own by choosing from a selection of sauces, veggies, and meat toppings. Diners can enjoy their pizza in the L-shaped dining area, which features four 39-inch flat screen TVs around the bar or out on a pleasant patio in the warmer months.

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About the author

Jessica Dawdy is a serial expat who has been slowly working her way around the world since 2011. She’s lived in 7 different countries, doing everything from painting houses to teaching English. Catch up with her travel stories and expat adventures at Ways of Wanderers.

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