The Exchange Lancaster Review: A Rooftop Dining Experience

This in-depth, Alternate Lancaster overview covers all the things that you must find out about downtown Lancaster’s premier rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar.

Positioned on the Twelfth ground of the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Sq., The Alternate provides panoramic views, upscale New American delicacies, craft cocktails, and an environment not like the rest within the area.

Whether or not you’re planning a date evening, weekend brunch, or sundown drinks with a view, The Alternate Lancaster delivers a memorable eating expertise definitely worth the reservation.

The Alternate Lancaster Evaluation: First Impressions

It’s not on daily basis you discover a subtle rooftop bar in a mid-sized historic metropolis, which makes The Alternate so surprising in Downtown Lancaster, PA.

This rooftop restaurant and lounge on the Twelfth ground of the Lancaster Marriott provides one thing you merely can’t discover elsewhere within the space – panoramic views of each the town’s historic character and the encompassing Amish nation.

We arrived round 5:30pm on a spring night, taking the devoted elevator on to the restaurant. Stepping out, we have been instantly struck by the stylish, modern environment that felt prefer it belonged in a a lot bigger metropolitan space.

The house is superbly designed with floor-to-ceiling home windows, dramatic lighting, smooth furnishings, and an open kitchen the place you’ll be able to watch the culinary workforce in motion.

The Area

The Alternate completely balances indoor magnificence with out of doors rest. The inside eating space options snug leather-based seating, a bar, and unimaginable views from practically each desk. The design aesthetic is trendy however heat, with wooden tones and earth colours creating an inviting environment that’s upscale with out feeling stuffy.

The out of doors terrace is the place The Alternate actually shines. A number of seating areas embrace high-top tables, lounge seating, bar seating, and comfy hearth pits surrounded by chairs. Glass obstacles guarantee clear views whereas offering safety from the wind.

The View from The Alternate Lancaster Rooftop

Okay, the view right here is totally unimaginable. We scored a desk close to the home windows and have been handled to a sweeping panorama of downtown Lancaster’s church steeples, historic buildings, and the rolling countryside past. Even with mild rain that night, watching the sundown paint all the things in pink, purple, and orange was fairly magical.

What blew me away is how one can see Lancaster’s whole character specified by entrance of you. The entire historic downtown spreads out beneath, after which simply past all that metropolis appeal, you’ve bought rolling inexperienced farmland stretching to the horizon. It’s like getting the proper snapshot of what makes Lancaster so distinctive – you actually see the place the historic metropolis ends and the countryside begins.

The Meals at The Alternate: Small Plates, Massive Taste

Govt Chef Ryan McQuillan has created a menu that’s as spectacular because the views – elevated consolation meals with inventive twists that showcase native elements. The menu is split between shareable small plates and extra substantial entrées, with wood-fired pizzas forming a good portion of the choices.

What We Ordered

The Calabrian Chili Hen Wings ($16) have been crispy with simply the best steadiness of warmth, sweetness, and crunch from the toasted hazelnuts. They’re served with a blue cheese dressing to chill off the spice. These aren’t your typical bar wings. They’re significantly next-level and utterly addictive.

The Crispy Child Artichokes ($14) are an enormous portion that arrive golden and crunchy however completely tender inside. They’re served with a vibrant citrus aioli that’s perfect for dipping and the parmesan on high ties all of it collectively superbly. We actually scraped the plate clear.

For one thing extra substantial, the Spicy Crab Bucatini ($26) delivered wealthy, satisfying flavors with a touch of warmth. The pasta was al dente, and the crab was surprisingly beneficiant. No skimping on the seafood right here. The San Marzano tomato sauce had depth with out overpowering the fragile crab.

For dessert, the distinctive Strawberry Matcha Tiramisu was the proper finish to tame the warmth from the wings and pasta. Strawberry flavored cream wrapped round a cloud-like cake and dusted with matcha powder made for a pleasant spring-inspired pairing, balancing earthy richness with vibrant sweetness.

All through our meal, we watched the kitchen sending out wood-fired pizzas that regarded and smelled unimaginable, they usually weren’t skimping on dimension both. A number of diners round us ordered them, and primarily based on their reactions, these will certainly be on our record for subsequent time.

The Drinks

The bar program at The Alternate is significantly spectacular. The colourful purple and pink cocktails aren’t simply Instagram-worthy, they’re expertly crafted with distinctive taste mixtures.

The Elixir #2 ($14) with gin, St. Germaine, and Sauvignon Blanc was floral and refreshing, perfect for heat climate sipping on the out of doors terrace.

We additionally tried the Mezcolada ($14) with Joven Ilegal Mezcal, Piña Colada Tea, lemon juice, and peppered honey. It’s a smoky-sweet mixture that was properly balanced and distinctive. I’m usually not an enormous fan of Mezcal, however this drink modified my thoughts.

In addition they supply a stable wine record with good by-the-glass choices and native craft beers. For non-alcoholic choices, they’ve a number of inventive mocktails with the identical consideration to element as their spirited counterparts.

Service & Hospitality

The service at The Alternate is excellent. Our server Jozlyn was educated about each the foods and drinks menus, providing trustworthy suggestions when requested and checking in at applicable intervals.

After we had questions on elements, she didn’t hesitate to examine with the kitchen, and she or he appeared genuinely enthusiastic concerning the restaurant. That zeal got here by way of in her detailed descriptions of preparation strategies and taste profiles. The pacing of our meal was spot-on. We by no means felt rushed, even because the house stuffed up.

The Crowd

By the point we left round 8pm, each seat on the bar and most tables have been full of a full of life mixture of date evening {couples}, after-work gatherings, and guests like us experiencing Lancaster’s stunning rooftop scene. The ambiance was energetic however not overwhelming. You can nonetheless maintain a dialog with out shouting.

The gang appeared numerous in age, with a mixture of younger professionals, middle-aged {couples}, and even just a few well-dressed older patrons. There’s no gown code however general the vibe was smart-casual, relaxed, and even a bit subtle.

Worth

Whereas The Alternate isn’t a price range eating possibility, the costs really feel truthful for the standard, expertise, and setting you’re getting. Small plates vary from $12-18, mains from $24-36, and cocktails from $12-16.

Contemplating the prime location, glorious service, and the apparent care put into each meals and drinks, we discovered it to be good worth in comparison with related institutions in bigger cities, the place you’d simply pay 30% extra.

Last Ideas on Eating Right here

For Lancaster’s dimension, The Alternate feels just like the type of stylish rooftop you’d anticipate in a a lot bigger metropolis, but it maintains a heat and accessibility that makes it a must-visit throughout any downtown Lancaster keep. It’s perfect for particular events, spectacular date nights, or just treating your self to sundown drinks with a view.

The Alternate efficiently balances being a vacation spot restaurant with out feeling like a vacationer entice. They’ve created one thing that appeals to guests whereas sustaining the standard and authenticity that retains locals coming again.

Insider Ideas

• Reservations: Make them properly upfront for prime sundown hours (5:30-7:30pm)
• Timing: Arrive 15-Half-hour earlier than your reservation to take pleasure in a drink on the bar first
• Seating: Request a window desk when reserving, however the out of doors terrace is the prime spot when climate permits
• Climate Concerns: Outside seating is topic to cancellation for rain or excessive winds, so have a backup plan
• Parking: The Penn Sq. Storage is most handy, situated at 28 S Duke Road
• Age Restriction: Have to be 21+ to enter after 4pm
• Costume Code: Whereas not explicitly said, good informal is suitable and helps you match the vibe

See additionally

Backside Line

The Alternate provides some of the memorable eating experiences in Lancaster. The place nice meals, inventive cocktails, and sweeping rooftop views come collectively in an area that feels each elevated and welcoming. It’s the type of place you inform buddies about, and the explanation you’ll begin planning your subsequent go to earlier than you’ve even left.

Instructions

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