Haydn Zug's

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  Avoid this restaurant, my wife and I tried have dinner there on September 3, 2013 to celebrate our anniversary. We were told that the restaurant was closed due to a kitchen emergency.  We later found out that Haydn Zug's failed their restaurant inspection that day as reported in the Lancaster Sunday News, Business Section, page D6, on September 16, 2013.  According to the inspection report, they are roach and insect infested along with other unsanitary problems.  They lost me as a customer.

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  Posted on 09.29.13 Richard M.

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  Great service and kid friendly. The iceberg wedge salad was very good. The steak is cooked perfectly and goes very well with the sautéed onions.

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  Posted on 08.14.13 Vincent N.

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  Top-notch from start to finish! Service, experience, food and atmosphere were all amazing! I wish I could go back every week, though my wallet certainly does not. It's expensive, worth every penny!

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  Posted on 07.09.13 James D.

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  Lovely old Lancaster place. Historic building. Excellent food.
  I had the lamb which is best I might've ever had and my wife had the fish (grouper I think). She loved it as well. Would highly recommend Johanna who waited on us.. She was definitely part of the 5 star experience.

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  Posted on 02.22.13 John L.

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  My husband took me here last night and I really loved the entire experience!
  
  We had a lovely, romantic dinner and have already made plans to go back when my parents visit.
  
  PS - make reservations whenever you can.
  
  Our waitress was fantastic!  Her name was Betty - ask for her if you can.  The entire staff was great to be honest, the bus boy Collin was sweet, the maitre'd was charming and on and on.
  
  The atmosphere is pretty, simple and classy with a single red candle on each table, the artwork around the establishment was fun to look at.  I noticed that upstairs (where the ladies room is) had even more artwork but also rooms for private events that looked very nice.
  
  The food was terrific - I had the French onion soup that had a 3 cheese mixed topping, made with vermouth and the perfect balance of broth to onions to bread ratio.    My husband had the apple, walnut and goat cheese salad to start and he cleaned his plate.  For the entree he had a steak with red bliss mashed potatoes and julienne vegetables that he really savored.  For my entree I had the pasta special of fettuccine with shrimp and spinach in a cream sauce and I was not disappointed! It was a huge portion and I took most home to have today...
  
  The wines were terrific.  
  
  There was subtle music on in the background.
  
  The lighting was perfect, not too dark but great for a romantic dinner.  
  
  We were too full for dessert but they brought us a little tasting of an ice cream (I think a butter-walnut-vanilla combo; I can't remember) with a slice of brownie and it was excellent.  
  
  For 3 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers and 2 entrees it came to $99.00.  Having moved here from living in NYC and Boston most recently we thought the prices for special dinner out were appropriate.  
  
  I loved it here and am so happy to have found this place.
  Again  ask to be seated in Betty's section!!
  
  Oh - we plan to check out the less formal bar for dinner too.

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  Posted on 02.14.13 Kate L.

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  It was a toss up between 4 stars and 5 stars so I went with 5 because I didn't have any bad experiences here.
  
  I have been wanting to dine here for a while so when I found a coupon in the Clipper Mag we decided to go.  I ordered the lamb tenderloin and my boyfriend ordered the seared duck breast.  Pictures added.  Both were good and so was the service.  The interior of the place was interesting and the restaurant as a whole still held that 1852 look and feel.
  
  I would return without hesitation and would recommend Haydns.

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  Posted on 01.18.13 Blue M.

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  Last night we celebrated my Brother's birthday here. There were 4 of us and I was surprised at how unsatisfying the meal turned out.. I expected an excellent restaurant, but instead I got a very unmemorable meal. We all had a drink. They have wine and beer, not sure if they have a bar. There is a wine menu inside their regular menu. And then we ordered dinner. I had the half order of the tenderloin Chesapeake. I was not allowed to choose my sides and the meal did not come with a salad. After having only 3 minutes to look at the menu I ordered the Seafood Bisque, and my Dad had the beer soup. His soup was cold and had to send it back. My soup had two small shrimp and that fake crab made from pollack fish. It was $5.95 and I was disappointed in the lack of seafood. The dinner was ok, but she didn't ask if we wanted a half portion or whole portion and didn't hear me order a half portion. She took it back and brought out my dinner. For $27.95 I got a tiny 3 oz tenderloin with three small pieces of crab on top and a few drops of sauce, a few fried potatoes and a tablespoon of shredded veggies. There was no seasoning on anything and it wasn't really warm. It was my brother's birthday so they offered him a brownie sundae. The brownie was 1in by 1in and a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream. All the other birthday people had candles but they forgot his. I got the Lemon Drop sundae, a scoop of cashew ice cream with a little caramel sauce. Not sure where the lemon came into the desert. This tiny "half" desert was $4.95 and served in a huge soup bowl, making it look a lot smaller. We ate at 5pm and by 9pm my stomach was already growling. I thought it was funny that after a bill of $300 with tip that I would be full after eating dinner, apparently not.

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  Posted on 12.16.12 Cynthia L.

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  My meal included the filet mignon with lump crab and lobster sauce, the corn and potato soup and the bananas fosters desert.  The steak was buttery and cooked perfectly. There was no filler with the crab topping and it was moist and fresh. The side vegetables were steamed and not overlooked. The soup was good but nothing special.  A few bits of crumbled bacon on top or a few shavings of parm would have been perfect. The bread was was the perfect crunch with a soft center. The desert was tasty because of the bourbon sauce but the bananas should have been lightly caramelized.  Overall impressed with my meal and I would definitely go back.  Thanks for a satisfying meal and friendly knowledgeable wait staff!

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  Posted on 11.17.12 Emily C.

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  Hard to come up with a number given my mixed experience.  The waitress was wonderful, the food was excellent, but the owner sort of ruined the experience for us.  We asked about a wine the waitress was not familiar with, and she said she would have the owner come over to discuss it.  She then sort of sheepishly returned without him and told us what he had said about it.  No big deal, until he then spent the next 20 minutes fawning over the obvious regulars at the next table, discussing their wines in detail.  We didn't ask to see him, but the fact that he had no time for us while plenty of time for them just rubbed us the wrong way.  We are unlikely to return soon.

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  Posted on 02.27.12 Valerie S.

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  What a neat surprise this place was.  My GF, being from the area, recommended this as it being one of her favorites, but had only been there once or twice.  So once we had the opportunity, we decided to go.  
  
  I will start with what I see as the only drawback, the condition and/or decor.  This place is seriously dated.  I really felt like I was in someone's great-grandmother's house.  In some ways it made it interesting, but the same effect could definitely be had with still some refresh of the look.  There was a note in the menu that they were going to be closed for lunch certain days to do some repainting.  Hopefully they don't stop there.  They can definitely use some new carpeting and maybe a little color, even subdued.  This is really the only reason for the 4 vs. 5 star rating.
  
  The food was just downright good.  I ordered the special Strawberry and Gorgonzola salad with Champagne Vinaigrette and loved it.  It was very nice sized and all the components were very good.  We ended up sharing this since it was so big and definitely worth sharing.
  
  I got the recommended signature entree Medallions of Beef Tenderloin Chesapeake.  I can see why this is so popular.  Filet Mignon with tons of lump crab meat and a very mild lobster sauce.  Just a great dish.  If you go and those things appeal to you, get it.
  
  My lovely girlfriend ordered the special softshell crab over jicama slaw. The crab was done in a tempura batter and was hearty and fresh.  The slaw was interesting as the jicama provided a unique sweet bite that was unusual but still pretty safe.
  
  The waiter recommended the chocolate mousse cake for dessert which, I chose and really enjoyed.  It hit the spot being very light but tasty.  She ordered the cheesecake which seemed to be good too as she made her way through a good portion of the slice, which after a big meal is usually a challenge.
  
  All in all a very pleasurable experience that I look forward to doing again and again.  The price point for met for the quality of food and service was certainly reasonable.  I am used to NJ prices so the bill being about 130 bucks including a nice bottle of wine (Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot, I think about $53) I thought very amenable.  I definitely look forward to going back to see if they make some renovations which will certainly bump this place up and make it truly a hidden gem.

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  Posted on 05.26.11 Brian H.

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  While commuting roundtrip from Washington, D.C., to neighboring Manheim, Pa., to buy a car at Manheim Imports, my travel companion and I noticed Hayden Zug's on our first trip, mostly because of the name, while we were stopped at the traffic light nearby.  We wound up, foolishly, eating at a diner near the highway instead.  On our second trip, when I actually picked up my new car, we decided to stop here instead.  We had no idea what to expect and in fact thought this might be just some roadside watering hole, but we were amazed at what awaited us.  On a cold, rainy evening, Hayden Zug's was a quiet, cozy, and upscale refuge.  We each had soup, entree, dessert, wine, and coffee since we were celebrating, and the bill was quite reasonable, at least in comparison to D.C. prices!  The waitstaff was very attentive, and when I couldn't find a vegetarian entree, they consulted with the chef to prepare something off-menu for me, even suggesting a wine pairing for this unconventional option.  The resulting lemon-butter risotto with vegetables and avocado fritters was one of the best restaurant meals I've had in a while.  Even the appetizer bread and butter were delicious, served on small pewter plates, so the friendly server kept bringing us additional rounds until we were sated.  Should we ever be back in this neck of the woods, we will be certain to stop by Hayden Zug's again.  The discovery of this little gem of a restaurant made a quirky trip all the more memorable.

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  Posted on 04.27.11 B. G.

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  I like to eat at nice places.  There's only one big problem.  I'm a cheapskate.  When I'm traveling on the company dime (which used to be very often - now, not so much), I tend to pick better eating establishments but when the check is  coming directly out of my own pocket. I tend to look for the better values.
  
  But it's my birthday!  And my wife treated me to a fine meal at Haydn Zugs in East Petersburg, PA.  The budget had no specific constraints.
  
  First let me say that I've read lots of reviews for H Zugs - some not so favorable.  So I was prepared to be disappointed.  But I wasn't, in fact my Haydn Zugs meal was one of the better dinners I have had in Central PA.
  
  I started with the French Onion Gratinee - very nice, perfect temperature, made with Jarlsberg cheese, good size.  My wife had the Seafood Bisque.  She also liked her soup although she questioned if it was made with some seafood flakes (you know  . . ."krab").  Not sure about that, but she did like the flavor of the bisque broth made with a noticeable but good white wine base.  
  
  I had the Lamb Tenderloin with a Dijonnaise sauce "puddle" (that was what the server called the sauce amount!) - cooked medium-rare.  The lamb was really wonderful.  I mean really, really good!  The many strips of meat were placed on top of the sauce - and a nice amount of seared baby mushrooms sat upon the lamb.  Plated nicely.  Spring vegetables with a slice of carrot and parsnip "flan" accompanied the meat.  Yummy!  Also fried "Saratoga" potatoes - this was my least favorite part of my entree.  They were good but I would have rather had the smashed garlic potatoes that came with my wife's entree.
  
  My wife had the Surf & Turf - steak cooked medium-well (not my choice of "doneness" but that is her preference).  She loved her steak and commented on the quality of the beef.  Good sized portion.  My guess = 8oz.  Lobster tail was also nicely sized.  She would have liked the lobster slightly more done (as mentioned previously, she likes her food cooked more than me).  But she didn't send it back and seemed to enjoy both meat and shellfish.  She had the same veggies as me but had a garlic mashed potato.
  
  Creme Brulee finished my meal - vanilla bean with a nice raspberry sauce.  Better than average taste and quality - creamier, richer than the standard fare.
  
  Excellent service.  Not sure of her name but a blonde-haired woman who obviously had experience with the menu.  She was very helpful with tips and ideas but not overbearing.  Atmosphere was very nice.  Quiet, peaceful - but not stuffy ambiance.
  
  No wine - we don't drink alcoholic beverages (not a soapbox, just our preference).
  
  Meal was about $100 prior to tax and gratuity.  More than we usually spend but worth the money in our measurement.  We will go back, no doubt.  Likely for special occasions that we want to remember more than our weekly dining-out.  I wish I could give Haydn Zugs more than 4 stars - not perfection (5 stars) better than 4.

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  Posted on 04.22.11 john w.

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  filet mignon, topped with crab meat, and lobster sauce....medallions of chesapeak.  
  
  atmosphere is cozy and homey.  staff is friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu.

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  Posted on 12.20.10 Curious G.

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  If you want a great steak cut to order this is the place!
  It's a bit on the Pricey side, but no more than a good steakhouse in the big city!
  A good selection of desserts!
  The apple dumpling was yummy!
  Great place for those special occasions!

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  Posted on 10.17.10 H B.

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  A little pricy, but they have great upscale food in a neat old fashioned atmosphere.

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  Posted on 08.06.10 Brian L.

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  The service was great, the food was just ok. The special 6 layer carrot cake for dessert (which I split with my wife) was excellent.
  
  The chicken dish that I ordered was ok, but a tad on the dry side.
  
  My wife order a prime rib, and it was just ok.

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  Posted on 03.26.10 Justin E.

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  I've been to Haydn Zug's a few time over the years. Its one of the better high end restaurants in the area. We had a large dinner reception for my grandparents 50th anniversary a number of years ago. It was fantastic.
  
  The steaks have been great every time ive gone and I am a big fan of the lobster bisque

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  Posted on 03.20.10 Chris P.

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  Pricey. Moderately good food. Nothing really special.

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  Posted on 02.02.10 Eric L.

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  overpriced.
  not sure why all the fuss.
  not impressed.

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  Posted on 12.04.09 will r.

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  This was my first time going to Haydn Zug's.  I was quite impressed with the interior.  Very romantic and quaint.  
  
  I had lunch there with my father.  I ordered the Cheesy Chowder and the Medallions of Tenderloin.  Both my soup and steak were excellent.  The steak was cooked medium rare just as I asked and it tasted perfect.  Not a bad value either.  
  
  Check out the wine list too.  There are a lot of great values ('00 La Tache for $600!)  There are also some wines off menu that you can ask about as well.  Had a nice conversation about wines with the owner.  He was a real nice guy and had an ok wine knowledge.  
  
  I would recommend this to anyone who lives in the Lancaster area.  Great food and great service.

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  Posted on 03.05.09 Geoffrey M.

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