This year, 2020, has been a year like no other. We are still navigating the many changes daily life has experienced and attempting to figure out what is safe, what isn’t, and what risks we feel comfortable taking with our (and others’) health.
My boyfriend and I have been avid foodies our entire relationship. I can vividly mark seasons of our relationship with trips to various restaurants and bars. We would typically go out for dinner at least once a week, sometimes twice. One of our favorite things to do was take day trips and find great new places to try while we were visiting somewhere. However, we typically stuck to Lancaster, though we had started to frequent West Reading before COVID-19 hit the East Coast.
While it was a big change for us to stop going out, it wasn’t particularly hard to do. We knew we needed to stay safe and healthy. He had recently moved into a new apartment, which meant we had plenty to do with moving all of his stuff and getting the place set up. My boyfriend is also a pretty fantastic cook and enjoys doing it (most of the time hah), so we had a chance to try out new recipes.
For a few months, we contented ourselves with cooking at home. It wasn’t until June when we finally did takeout; we got sushi Sakura in Lancaster. I wasn’t working at the time, so I put in the order, drove the 45 minutes to Lancaster, and then brought it back to the apartment around the time my boyfriend finished working. It was fantastic.
Finally, as restaurants began reopening and adapting to this “new normal,” we decided to eat outside. The first restaurant we went to was our favorite; Bulls Head Pub. We both went here for the first time toward the beginning of our relationship and it has become our favorite place to go, whether for lunch, dinner, or just a drink. I had been following them on social media and saw they were taking careful steps to ensure everything was safe for patrons and employees.
Since that first time we ventured to a local restaurant, we’ve felt comfortable going to several others. Here’s the list of the top places we’ve gone to that have done a great job taking precautions.
Bulls Head Pub/General Sutter Inn
Obviously this place is at the top of our list. It was the first place we felt comfortable eating out at and they’ve continued to impress us each time. The General Sutter side always had a patio that opened up as the weather got warmer and we’ve eaten there each time we’ve visited. The servers all wear masks, sanitize tables in between each group of guests, and have them carefully distanced. We can also make reservations for the patio, which is a great perk since many other restaurants offering outdoor seating offer it on a first-come, first-served basis. When they first reopened, they didn’t have their full menu available. Now, nearly everything is back on the menu, though a few things are still missing (like they’re great mac and cheese!). The food is as good as it always was and they continue to have a fantastic list of rotating beers from breweries all over the world. They’ve enclosed their entire patio with a rainproof tent, like what you’d see at an outdoor wedding, and have heaters they’re using as the weather gets colder. We’re planning on going to eat here all winter long and are happy that our favorite restaurant can be a safe place to go while the pandemic is happening. The location at the square in downtown Lititz means you can also visit some of the nearby shops, most of which are taking the utmost precautions to ensure customers’ safety.
Snitz Creek Brewery
Snitz Creek has a really nice deck area with tables and umbrellas, but they’ve not extended that to part of their parking lot as well. They put up a tent, similar to the one at General Sutter, though smaller. The tables are spaced apart well and their food and beer lists are always great! They regularly have raffles and live music, which makes it feel like things are a little bit more normal.
The Hideaway
We’ve only gone here once since the start of the pandemic, but it was a good experience. The deck was always spaced out well and it really doesn’t feel like much has changed, besides mandatory masks by staff and until you’re seated at your table. You’re far away from the people around you and have plenty of space between tables. The food is still great and it’s an awesome location. You feel completely sequestered in the woods in Mt. Gretna and can just enjoy an afternoon enjoying delicious.
2nd Gear
2nd Gear is a more recent addition to the Lancaster bar scene. It’s the taproom for Columbia Kettle Works, a neat brewery in Columbia, PA. The taproom has an extensive beer list, features cider from Levengoods of Lancaster, wines from local wineries, and also has an extensive cocktail menu to choose from if you’re feeling something besides beer. The patio at 2nd Gear is incredible – it feels completely secluded from the city around you and has strings of lights all over the place. They also have heat lamps, which will be perfect as the weather gets colder. An added bonus is that 2nd Gear shares the space with Zoetropolis and La Cocina Mexicana. You can get food from either place and eat it on the 2nd Gear patio.
There are so many great restaurants in our area. Right now, it can be a little challenging to find locations that offer outdoor dining areas that are protected from the elements, but there are several to choose from, even as we wait to see what the winter holds.