The Terrace Room - Lancaster

Great American lunch options in a charming historical setting. It wasn't crowded on a Saturday afternoon, but I can imagine it gets busier in the evening. The service was decent, though the staff seemed a bit inexperienced. Overall, it was a satisfying lunch that really hit the mark.

It looks like The Pressroom is making a comeback! I've eaten there twice in the last month, and both times the service was fantastic. The food was delicious, and the drinks were top-notch. Just a tip: remember to park in the garage behind the restaurant, as they will validate your parking ticket.

I can't emphasize enough how disappointing the food was. I ordered the cheese charcuterie appetizer, and I could swear it featured sliced salami straight from the supermarket deli. The flatbread was completely flavorless. The worst part was that they had run out of ketchup, and instead of going to buy some, they served us tiny cups of tomato sauce instead. On a positive note, our server was quite good.

The bartender was friendly and created the best surprise cocktail I've ever tasted — a gin drink that was subtly sweet and floral. He really went above and beyond for me; I had my heart set on the Ossobuco, but I believed it couldn't be served until 6 PM due to its preparation time. I was about to settle for a burger when the bartender made a trip back to the kitchen and managed to secure the Ossobuco for me. It was absolutely amazing, as the picture clearly shows!

First of all, the ambiance is beautiful and visually appealing. However, I think the layout could be optimized to make better use of the space. The hostesses were kind and we were seated promptly at our reservation time, with one older woman making a great first impression. Our server, Brooklyn, was friendly, but that’s where the positives end. She didn't seem familiar with the menu and, despite us asking about specials, she said there were none, yet there was a rotating soup that I had to inquire about. She also wasn't very attentive, as I had to physically push aside empty glasses and dishes to get them cleared. When it came to drinks, our server couldn’t recommend any bourbons, so my husband opted for a Manhattan. The drinks took ages to arrive, and we actually received our appetizers before our drinks — an ongoing issue in the industry. I would have liked to enjoy more than two glasses of wine during the two hours we spent there, but that wasn’t in the cards. Furthermore, the prices are quite excessive. As for the food, I was far from impressed. We spent $70 on two appetizers that were disappointing at best. The oysters were tiny and came with only one sauce (a cocktail sauce would have been nice). The cheese and charcuterie board was among the worst I’ve encountered, featuring just a few olives and some crostini, and had a poor variety of meats and cheeses. The presentation was unappealing, with poorly cut cheese that didn’t pair well with the meats and crostini. Neither my husband nor I enjoyed our main courses; they lacked flavor, and the sides were laughable. My salad was filled with oversized chunks of pickled onion. The cheesecake was decent and was probably the highlight of the meal, but unfortunately, my espresso—which I waited about 15 minutes for—arrived after my dessert. In terms of pricing, it's worth noting that I had a better meal at Josephine's the week before for $100 more. I don’t mind paying for excellent food, but the portions here are laughable, and the quality didn’t justify the prices. This place is far from the quality of 401 Prime or Josephine's. Lastly, if you have an open kitchen, I would suggest that the staff wear gloves. I noticed one gentleman touching everything and then handling the food, which is not only unsanitary but also increases the risk of food allergies. Overall, I will not be returning. This restaurant has great potential, but coming from someone in the industry, I was genuinely disappointed. Save your money and time for another local establishment.