Gypsy Kitchen at the Refectory

Our recent visit to the Gypsy Kitchen near the campus of Franklin and Marshall College was our best visit yet. The location and ambiance are relaxing and unlike any other restaurant in Lancaster, PA. The fireplace and lovely soft, live piano in the background makes for a warm atmosphere. The shrimp and scallop dish was delectable and I hope this dish remains on the menu all winter. The salmon was moist and flavorful. The vegetables which include green and purple broccoli along with mushrooms and sun dried tomato were both delicious and pleasing to the eyes. It’s a BYOB and there is no corkage charge. We shared a wonderful coconut ice cream with fruit sauce. We regret not ordering our own ice cream, as it left us wanting more. Our only suggestion would be that an offering of great bread prior to the meal.

A special treat. Very romantic surroundings. The menu was limited but included at least one fish, meat and vegan item in each category. My wife had vegan chili and a salad and I chose the beef burgundy which was scrumptious.
Candles lit the capacious room with a warm glow, and there is a fireplace at one end.

Despite the remarkably long wait for our order to arrive, I love the food and ambiance here. It’s worth the wait, but not when you’re ravenous.

This place is beautiful– gothic architecture, stained glass windows, a roaring fire, floral arrangements, stuffed leather couches and long wooden tables.
I’m from the NYC area and am used to expensive and dives. This place is reminiscent of a fancy NYC eatery gone casual for lunch.
I had the beef and vegetable stir fry. It had an array or rainbow colored vegetables and beef strips with a soy sauce based sauce, served over rice. The presentation was lovely. My husband had the pork loin. It came with green beans and some very good root vegetable.
You order at the front and they give you a number and bring you your food. You pay when you are done. You bring your plate and put it in a plastic bucket when you are finished. I wasn’t sure what to do about tipping. There was a tip jar, so I left a few dollars.
Five star dining for under $ 10. Can’t beat that. It was an experience I look forward to repeating.
Lunch is served 11:30 — 1:30 and dinner on the weekends ($ 20 per dish).

Like sharing a special meal with old friends, the Gypsy Kitchen mixes great food and atmosphere with the hands– on feel one only receives when the owner/​chefs are present.
This spectacular 1919 rectory, complete with two fireplaces and a period Moravian Tile Works floor welcomes with an assortment of large and small tables. Our meals were interesting and delicious — everything we tried was wonderful! Ask for Ed’s suggestions and sit close to the hearths (if possible) in the winter.

Love love love this place. Great food and beautiful old world space. It’s one of our favorites.

A special place to grab lunch. Very nice staff, good food, and a good atmosphere. We sat outside, which was in a scenic shady spot. Inside is cozy and looks like it would be a nice place to visit in winter. Liked the grain salad and hibiscus iced tea that I ordered.

This is perhaps the definition of ”hidden gem”… emphasis on hidden… even life long Lancaster City residents have challenge finding this restaurant… The address is listed as James St. However this place cannot be see from any public road. If you park on James Street walk back a long sidewalk through the Lancaster Theological Seminary under an arc, through a parking lot and in a small corner you will see a sign similar to a real estate for sale sign stuck in the ground that tells you you have arrived at the Gypsy Kitchen.
Dinner is only served Friday and Saturday night, and the menu changes every week based on availability of ingredients… to say ”try the halibut or try the bass… or the roasted cauliflower and carrots are amazing” is merely an expression of a moment in time.
Any given night the handwritten menu will contain about half a dozen ‘first couses’ and about that many entrees… The dessert are limited, but interesting. I was lucky enough to dine with enough foodies that I got to sample most of the choices.
they have espresso and ice cream dessert that sounds simple but is yummy. the honey dew tequila sorbet was absolutely brilliant. The chef (a bit of a Lancaster City legend) is often the person who runs your food.
A BYOB establishment, that has a piano which apparently any patron can play. Leather couches around a candle filled fireplace enhances the rustic feel of this stained glass cloisterish eatery. Super friendly staff… which consists of the chef, his wife and a friend have an amazing ability to describe the menu. A good place for foodies who enjoy a relaxed friendly atmosphere.

Great venue in an old refectory. Friendly fast service. Broad selection: beef, pork, chicken, vegetarian, fish entrees. BYOB. My striped bass en papillote was perfect as were my wife’s grilled lamb chops. Very inexpensive — top value.

The location is very interesting and the ambiance was excellent with the fireplace roaring and a pianist playing throughout the dinner. I went with a group and we each had a different item on the menu. While the entreé was tasty, it really came across as a pot roast regardless of whether you ordered the chicken, pork, or beef meal. I chose the frozen white chocolate mousse for dessert, assuming it would have a texture like frozen yoghurt. Incorrect, it was really frozen to the point where the only taste came from the raspberry reduction sauce on the top. Overall, the food was average in taste at best but unfortunately the price level was «premium». Definitely not worth the cost.

A wonderful hidden gem located on the campus of Lancaster Theological Seminary. Just across the street from F&M College.
We parked on College Ave and walked to the building.
The food was wonderful and the building and grounds are beautiful.
This is worth a trip.
Vegan and Gluten Free options available each day.
They are only open Monday — Friday for Lunch from 11:30AM — 1:30PM and for Friday Night Dinners.
Check their website, they are also open for special occasions. For example, Mother’s Day.
We had the vegan vegetable stir-​fry and a mixed whole grain salad with veggies. YUM!