Culinary Adventures, Global Flavors

Lancaster County is widely known for its culinary heritage that extends to Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, fresh produce, homemade goodies, roadside stands and smorgasbords. Visitors from near and far flock here to taste wet-bottom shoofly pie and homemade, melt-in-your-mouth chicken pot pie. However, a diverse and thriving dining scene is helping to redefine Lancaster’s place on the culinary map, as it’s come to be regarded as a foodie destination for those seeking intriguing flavors of the global kind.

It’s been nearly 10 years since The New York Post named Downtown Lancaster “the new Brooklyn,” thanks to the city’s “culture, design and a rich culinary scene.” Thrillist included Lancaster in their 2018 article titled “15 American Cities That Secretly Have Great Food Scenes.” A year later, The New York Times described Lancaster’s dining scene as “A Global Feast in an Unlikely Spot.” Better Homes and Gardens magazine followed that up by featuring foodie destinations in Downtown Lancaster on its pages. The nationwide acclaim only confirms what locals already know: Lancaster County is a special place, especially where dining experiences are concerned.

Visitors and locals alike can agree that exploring local food culture is essential for experiencing Lancaster County. The dining scene reflects the people, values and history that make Lancaster unique. Nowhere is the merging of Lancaster’s past and present more visible than at Lancaster Central Market, where market stands operated by the same families for generations have been joined by those that offer shoppers and visitors a taste of the world.

The restaurant scene also speaks of Lancaster’s past, present and future, as many family-owned restaurants represent generations of family members and offer tastes of favorite family recipes, some dating to the Old Country. Newcomers are also establishing roots here through their restaurants, bringing diverse flavors that echo their own traditions and cultures from as far away as Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Such cuisine often features a local twist, as Lancaster County’s fertile farmland and dedicated farmers provide the freshest ingredients for local chefs to experiment with and build seasonal menus around.

From cozy cafés and family-friendly experiences to rooftop bars and fine dining, Lancaster County offers an abundance of taste-tempting options. Whether you are looking for farm-to-table fare or global cuisine, you can find it in Lancaster County. As those who speak Pennsylvania Dutch say, kumm esse, or come eat!