Lancaster City Restaurant Week Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary

When: September 9-15 • Where: Lancaster City

It takes a dedicated core of volunteers to carry out an ambitious project such as the city’s Restaurant Week. Lancaster is fortunate to have a planning committee – headed by Chris Trendler of Decades – that does it not once but twice a year.

This year, 40 city restaurants are joining the party with enticements such as food and drink specials, prix fixe and tasting menus and more. Visitors will be able to taste the world thanks to Lancaster’s accomplished chefs who will be preparing American, Asian, Irish, French, Greek, Indians, Italian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Nepalese and vegan cuisine for diners. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit your favorite dining spot or discover new ones.

Photo by Jordan Bush

Thanks to a press preview, Jordan Bush and I were able to sample some delicious food and drinks and learn what’s new in the restaurant world. For example, some restaurants will be introducing new concepts and menu items this fall, including Isaac’s, which will be unveiling Grilled Cheezers, their spin on that cold-weather favorite, the grilled-cheese sandwich. Isaac’s Johnny Roberts promises they’re quite tasty and will pair nicely with Isaac’s famous soups. (Let it snow!) The mini-sized club sandwiches we sampled also represented a throwback, with the bacon making them sing! Issacsrestaurants.com

Photo by Jordan Bush

The relatively new The Coffin Bar (owned by Spring House Brewery and beautifully designed by Henrietta Heisler) shared roast beef sandwiches, black bean hummus and toasted pita bread with guests. The website describes the space as a “60-year-old haunt.” Sounds like a perfect place to get in the Halloween spirit! Coffinbar.com

Photo by Sue Long

Diyo Fusion is now offering a new dinner menu with table service, which provides patrons with more of a fine dining experience. It’s available Tuesday-Sunday evenings. The Chicken Lababdar and white rice dish we sampled was delicious! Jordan was already making plans to go for Valentine’s! Never fear: the restaurant’s popular Bowls are still available, but only during lunch. Diyofusion.com

Photo by Jordan Bush

The Imperial Restaurant demonstrated the growing popularity of mocktails with a refreshing Apple Ginger Spritz that was composed of sparkling apple cider, honey, ginger-pepper syrup and lemon. The drink was paired with Watermelon Peach Salad and together the two made for a tasty (and healthy) combo. Theimperialrestaurant.com

Photo by Sue Long

Farther down the line, Jimmy Juice was creating a “buzz” due to its added Fizzy flavors and news of its wider distribution. Made at Sickman’s Mill in Conestoga, the drink is named in honor of owners Joe Devoy and Dana Paparo’s beloved dog, Jimmy, who has crossed the rainbow bridge. The carbonated beverage is made with fruit juice (orange, cranberry, pineapple), vodka and a secret ingredient. (There’s also a flavor called Blanco Ginger.) As for distribution, in addition to Sickman’s Mill, it’s available (on draft and in cans) at a slew of area restaurants and clubs. It’s also making itself known through local beverage/beer distributors. According to the company’s website, the drink is “dangerously good.” I have to agree, as I went back for seconds … or was it thirds ,,, of the Cranberry Fizzy. Sickmansmill.com

Photo by Jordan Bush

Vescor Hospitality Group (Belvedere Inn, 401 Prime, Josephine’s Downtown and C’est La Vie) offered their spin on some of the most popular items on the planet right now by offering Triple Cut Miso Bacon, Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese, Braised Short Ribs and bite-sized S’mores (which also prompted several return visits to the station). Vescorhospitality.com

Photo by Jordan Bush

The setting – Issei Noodle’s new home at 38 W. Orange Street – brings a new level of international flair to Lancaster. The preview was held in an area of the restaurant that bears the name Hi-Fi Izakaya. According to Issei’s website, an izakaya is an informal and casual Japanese bar that serves snacks and beverages. Popular with the after-work crowd, izakayas are the Japanese version of pubs. The Lancaster version offers seating in booths and at the long bar. The space, which is at the rear of the building, was also inspired by the Kissa, a niche Japanese café that specializes in “whisky, vinyl and high-end audio systems.” Hi-Fi Izakaya features its own DJ, Max Kornhauser, AKA DJ Hex Wax, who mixes Japanese and other global citypop tunes using vintage equipment. Hi-Fi Izakaya is currently open Thursday-Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m. The menu features small plates (ramen, sando and other items), while the adventurous beverage menu offers everything from whisky and hi-balls to sake, wine and Japanese beer. The space is beautiful, as it is an interesting mix of Japanese aesthetics and urban-industrial design. The front of the building is home to Issei Noodle, where classic and signature ramen dishes dominate the menu, along with offerings such as small plates and vegetarian and gluten-free selections. Isseinoodle.com