Lancaster Arts, Lancaster

Last night for the second time, I experienced the John Jeffries Restaurant in the Arts Hotel. The first time the experience was better although there were serious flaws then, too. Last night, my friend and I ate al fresco. The evening was pleasant enough, the service was acceptable but spotty, but the decor is boring and colorless -- no flowers or color of any kind. On both occasions at this place, I sat in a direct line of vision with the swinging door into the kitchen, so that every time the wait staff went in or out, the glaring lights of the kitchen hit my eyes. Not acceptable, especially when one is paying the prices they charge. They should know enough to put screens in front of those kitchen doors. The quality of the food is good, I will say. However, my friend had a piece of halibut that couldn't have weighed more than about 2 ounces. I'm used to nouvelle cuisine and I like it, and I don't expect a Lancaster County stuff yourself experience, but one should leave the restaurant feeling satisfied, not wanting more. The woman who brought our food had to ask which plate belonged to which diner -- something that should not occur in a restaurant that charges $32 for the main course. We each had a starter course and a main course. One of us ordered desert, a really meager serving of four mini-bites of four flavors of ice cream. We both ordered filtered coffee which was well done -- but $4 for one serving? We had one bottle of an inexpensive white wine ($30). The total bill with a (generous) 15% tip was over $160. If it would be half that, I wouldn't complain but there are other quality restaurants in Lancaster and area that are much better value.

I basically just stayed there to sleep. Din't spend much time in the hotel or around the hotel. Staff was pleasant. Bar was quiet. Room was very nice.

i recently dined at the lancaster arts hotel's restaurant "john jeffries" and needless to say the entire dining experience was quite poor to say the very least. the menu, complete with a three paragraph doctrine on the importance of eating organic food, is overpriced and overly complex. even the tap water (which was explained by my "server" to be triple filtered in the kitchen) lacks simplicity. my dish, a piece of salmon, was so lightly cooked, even a sushi enthusiast would send it back claiming it was too rare. it is not just the menu that comes up short of the lofty pricepoint. The service, affected and arrogant, seemed as if the pleasure was all mine to be served by them. overall, i would recommend traveling the mile+ to wendy's and treating myself to a burger, fries and a delicious .99 frosty for desert. then, i would pocket the extra money and save it for the next inhabitant of the lancaster arts hotel's lobby, at this rate, it wont be long until john jeffries becomes yet another addition to lancaster's rich history.