Service: The service at restaurant was goofy. First the server brings the wrong wine, then the order of our meal was backwards. After siting over fifth teen minutes without anything, then the bread arrived, and then immediately after the entrees were served. Initially the bread was served without any accompany. Not until we asked for butter, he brought butter and a tapenade. Our table for two looked like a buffet at a cheap restaurant... And this was not cheap. The service at this restaurant is a generous one star.
Food: Quality of the ingredients was good. However the preparation needed culinary help. The calamari, which other reviewers raved about was just okay ( they must not have had well prepared calamari). The tuna was cooked well, however it was not properly seasoned or sauced. The bread and the accompanied tapenade was good. The food to value at this restaurant gets 2 stars.
Ambience: The inside is decorated with French posters and nice. However the acoustics were not good. We sat by the window and it was very loud.
We would not  be returning to this restaurant. Overall rating for the place is 2 stars.
Lobster rolls very good, the calamari was OK. Â We also had the strawberry rhubarb tart for dessert, along with a Late Harvest Riesling. Â The tart was good, the Riesling was not - I would try something different for a dessert drink. Â We sat at the bar, and service was very good. Â The bartender was very attentive. Â Definitely worth a second trip back to try their full dinner
Review Source:I love this restaurant and try to eat here any time I'm in York. The food is top notch and you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely one of the best restaurants in the York area. Â While the menu changes seasonally, there are definitely some staples worth trying including the calamari and banana peppers, and tuna tartare, for example.
The menu is set up nicely with many different appetizer choices and salads, and a selection of slightly fancier "Bistro" entrees as well as more "comfort food" Â entrees (pastas, chicken parm, etc). Can't go wrong with either, it just depends on the mood you're in. I don't think we have ever had a bad meal here. Steaks are delicious and it's definitely worth it to check out the specials (usually a few fish options). The service is genuinely friendly and they have always been super accommodating to any requests we've made. The seared foie gras & scallops is a must order if it is on the menu!
Your best bet is to make a reservation in advance as it fills up on the weekends. If you aren't in the mood for a full dinner, you can grab a drink at the bar and have a quick bite. Extensive martini menu if that's your thing.
I've been to The Left Bank dozens of times over the past decade, for both business meals and pleasure, and have never had anything but great experiences. The calamari appetizer with banana peppers is excellent, as is the grilled romaine salad - split it as an appetizer with another at your table. I've had good beef, chicken and seafood entrees, and the vegetables or other accompanying "sides" (like couscous) are always tasty.
Drinks are always prepared correctly, and there is a great selection of desserts regardless of the season. Â The ambiance is nice, too, other than occasionally being seated next to someone who is obnoxiously talking too loud - the place is small, no need to yell, folks! My husband and I brought my parents, brother and sister-in-law here to announce the first time I was expecting.
We have always had excellent service (both table and bar) and I love the host - he's wonderful! This is one of the two places I try to visit every time I come back to PA from CA. (The other is Tapenade Bistro!)
Atmosphere 4
Decor 4
Service 4
Food 4.5
This is really a hidden gem! -- I could literally just end my review here...
After a day of travelling and work, I was tired, did not think I was hungry at all. At the end of the day, my work team was scrambling to find a place to eat -- naturally we turned to Yelp :)
The first thing we really looked at as soon as we sat down was the drinks menu. They had quite a selection of martinis (not your usual martinis). My co worker and I both ordered the Peach schnapps sunrise. It had chocolate liqueur, peach schnapps, champagne and some other stuff, it was really good. Not overly sweet, peachy with a note of chocolate.
We ordered a few appetizers to share: Lobster sliders, Mushroom Bruschetta and the fried calamari. The lobster slider was pretty good, the bread could have used a little grilling, but the lobster tasted fairly good, and their was good amount of it. The Mushroom Bruschetta was my favorite. Very earthy flavors, with melted brie cheese on top of a slice of toasted french baguette. Finally, the fried calamri was not your normal fired calamari, it was very lightly dusted with breadcrumbs, and the sauce was a creamy white sauce, little on the sour side, but it was a pleasant surprise.
For my entree, I ordered the Lobster Chowda, which was a medley of seafood in a milk broth. There was so much seafood (they didn't have mussels which I am so happy about, because I do not like mussels), I wished I Â had more broth, because it was equally as delicious. My account manager who had the steak said it was also one of the best steaks he had had in a while. What are the chances...in York?!?
All in all, this is a place I'd definitely return to.
Great restaurant all around. Â This past Saturday we had a surprise dinner at the Left Bank - and a rather large party of 14. Â The manager was SO accomodating, he could not have been more pleasant to deal with. Â We were set up in a room towards the back which was wonderful for the birthday dinner. Â The wait staff was great and the food was top notch!!!
I had the thyme roasted chicken with risotto - seasoned perfectly and absolutely delicious.
The service was wonderful and the calamari was incredible. Our main courses were okay, nothing too spectacular. My husband had lamb and I had scallops with duck bacon. For the price we paid for everything, we both agreed it wasn't quite worth it. We would, however, go back for the appetizers.
Review Source:I have dined  here several times and have always had wonderful service and great tasting well presented food. The other night we shared a bowl of a Crab chowder and after the first taste sharing was difficult to say the least. Our entrees were fabulous I had the Tuna over shrimp scampi with their roof top tomatoes and my lovely wife had the Coffee rubbed Prime rib steak done to perfection! To end  our evening we shared a wonderful Tequila infused Orange confection  in white chocolate. If you are in the area and are looking for an exceptional dining experience this is the place!!!
Review Source:I found myself in York for a show at the Strand theater and this restaurant is not but a half a block away. Even though I had tickets to my show 2 months in advance, I didn't make reservations as I figured a restaurant booked on a Tuesday night in York? Â Bad move.
We walked in at 5pm looking for a table for 2 only to be told they were booked. We lucked out as there is 1 high table in the corner of the bar which the host said we could have. We jumped on it and it was a good thing we did.
The menu is not overwhelming, but there is something there for everyone. We started with a gin martini and glass of pinot grigio. The server was knowledgable about the wine and gave a little history before serving waiting for my wife's approval. The martini with extra olives was perfect as well.
There is a Chef Chalkboard on the menu with fish specials. I didn't notice any actual chalkboard and simply asked the server what they were. For appetizer we got roasted asparagus with panchetta and a poached egg. Odd, yes. But delicious. My wife got a salad and me, being a soup lover, got a lemon soup with chicked meatballs and arugula. It was outstanding. There were steaks,of course, on the menu but I was looking to try something new. My wife got scallops with firecrack risotto and I got Ocean Stew. The risotto was filling and great. The Ocean Stew was filled with mussles, shrimp, scallops and the "fish of the day" in a bit of spicy red sauce. it was delicious but I would have loved bread with it and maybe a little more.
For dessert we shared a chocolate cake filled with mint chocolate and some coffe and cognacs. By the time we left the place was packed and people were eating at the bar and standing along the bar. (More of a reason to get a table and make reservations)
The meal was great and reasonable. The food portion of my bill was more that reasonable, we did get whacked for the 2 glasses of wine, martini and cognacs, but the server did keep up on the club soda refills at no charge (I can't stand a place that charges for refills on club soda)
It was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend for anyone in traveling through or staying in York. The only reason I gave 4 stars was that I wanted MORE bigger portions and I only tried a couple things. If a return, it can easily turn into a 5 start rating
Best restaurant in York. We have eaten here many times and never been disappointed. Restaurant is small, so if you go on busy weekend you should probably make a reservation. Â Service is always stellar. Â Not best restaurant for kids, although they do try to accommodate them. Â We will continue to go to Left Bank when we are looking for good upscale food.
Review Source:In York for business. Â Had dinner at the bar here. Excellent food and wine selection by the glass. Â Only had a couple small plates. Â The calimari with parmesan and banana peppers in garlic butter was amazing. Â The freidn green tomato salad that also feature cherry tomatoes, hothouse tomatoes, and goat cheese over a bed of spinish was very satisfying especially with the glass of rose recommended by the bartender. Finally, the lime chipotle tuna ceviche tacos with a side of crabmeat guacamole was my least favorite of the three dishes but definitely was interesting and tasty for what seemed like an ambitious attempt by the chef. Â Really enjoyable meal. Would definitely go back!
Review Source:I was in York this week for work for the first time. Since I didn't know the area, I turned to Yelp for a suggestion on a place for dinner. I came across The Left Bank, which seemed like a perfect spot for a good steak after a long drive.
We arrived around 8pm and were seated right away even without reservations. The place was pretty busy with what looked to be middle aged business men.
I immediately noticed the decor: Lots of Art Nouveau on the walls and bookshelves filled with old bound books. Our table was right next to one of the shelves so I browsed some of the titles. They were from the obscure to the very obscure.
The menu has several options for fish, pasta and meats but I settled on the chimichurri steak with a nice bottle of Concha y Toro Pinot Noir. The steak was fantastic and the presentation with the asparagus, mini cuts of garlic bread and assorted veggies was outstanding.
I'm not normally one to order desert but they had a Grand Marnier crème brûlée, so I had to indulge. Unfortunately, the crème brûlée was not very good. I would have given it a 1.5 out of 5 at the most. The crust was thin and the creme was cold and had the consistency of an old omelet.
Finally, we got our cheque and it was brought to us in an old copy of The wines of San Lorenzo. A nice touch that went with the decor.
I will be back in town a few times this month and I'll be sure to try this place again, although definitely not the crème brûlée.
This place is one of the best that York has to offer. The ambiance is nice and it is a different change of scenery for the city--if you lived here you know what I am talking about. The staff is really nice and they have a decent wine selection (this is coming from a non-wino) and the menu is varied and they have interesting takes on food.
I had the filet mignon meatballs and they were delicious. Our waitress was nice and the entire staff seemed friendly and very accommodating. It is in downtown York City near the other restaurants so it is easy to leave and grab a drink elsewhere.
Damn it was cold out. Â We were told Left Bank was the best restaurant in York and after dining here, I don't doubt it at all. Â
The service was impeccable, their timing was just right, they gaged when we wanted another round of drinks, our apps, and our entrées correctly; without us needing to speak up.
I got the Fillet covered in crab. Â Everything was done correctly, even the vegetables still had a little bite to them when, at so many places, they are cooked to death.
We gladly parted with $75 a person and didn't bat an eye. Â Thanks for the meal. Â If I ever go back to York, I'll try and eat here again.
Auf.
This place is real good. I was traveling with a co-worker who spent a good amount of time at MIT where he says the best clam chowder is made. He tried their clam chowder and says it was pretty damn good.
The food and atmosphere is really good. It's been awhile since I've been but the caesar salad and their lunch specials are really good. I think we went there 3 or 4 times during our 2 week stay in middle of nowhere PA.
Parking is present. Good service. Good food. I would definitely visit this place if I'm back in York.
Who would have thought there would be a restaurant of this caliber in York, PA. The decor was nice, the portions were good, and the food was creatively tasty. For a "fine dining" restaurant the flavors of all the dishes were thought through and executed well. We started with a deconstructed cheese steak which was clever and tasty. The tomato bisque with lump crab meat was fresh and delicious. The summer salad was fair. My Fiance' enjoyed it, but I wasn't too fond of the dressing. It turned out to be more of a savory salad, and I would have enjoyed more of a light, refreshing, slightly sweet salad. For Entrees we had the fish special which was a pacific blue nosed bass with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The vegetables and fish were covered in a tomato based sauce giving the whole dish a nice tang of needed acidity. The fish was surprisingly flavorful and cooked beautifully. The mashed potatoes were fair( with a puddle of butter on top that I had to dispose of) and the vegetables were well steamed. The other entree was yellowfin tuna/lobster roll. A take on a large sushi roll, rare tuna covered with lobster meat was on the inside, the outer layer was a seaweed wrap coated with a panko crust and fried. This dish was also interesting and good. Being from Florida and having access to the freshest ingredients, I was impressed with the quality of the seafood being this landlocked. We had no room for dessert, but walked away 125$ lighter. It was a good meal, and there was plenty on the menu we would like to try. That will wait until we go again!
Review Source:Consistently great food and service - a York institution. Â Seasonal menu that is a little fancier than the typical York fare but still approachable. Â The dining room is perfect for a special night out and is always a good choice for out of town guests. Â Definitely the best restaurant in York and one of the best in the region. Â Bar is also fun for happy hour and they have a slightly less formal bistro area with the same menu as the dining room. Â Lunch is also very good - sandwiches, soups, entrees - and is perfect for business lunches or small get-togethers
Review Source:In a geographic area that is a total desert of fine dining a recent recommendation to try the Left Bank was a welcome oasis. Â My wife is from this general area and for years now I've been trying to find a decent place to eat when we visit - the list is still really small but we can add Left Bank for sure. Â This place didn't blow my mind but it was very good and compared to say a frightening place like Hoss' it is welcome for sure. Â We took our neighbors last Sat night. Â I had a dirty martini that was done right the first time (you'd be suprised how often they get this simple drink wrong). Â I ordered the Mexican spiced NY Strip, wife got the Crispy Chicken, neighbors got the crab cake (we're from MD - I advised against it!), and the Crispy Eggplant. Â The NY Strip was a great piece of beef and it was perfectly cooked med rare as I requested. Â The seasoning was a little overpowering to the beef however and I don't have a clue if it was angus, prime, choice etc - if it said so on the menu I missed it. Â But it was very good as were the mixed veggies that accompanied it as well as some diced browned potatoes. Â Wife's chicken dish was very good - moist for white meat chicken. Â The guest that had the crab cake commented that it "wasn't as good as Edgewater Restaurant (a local spot known for its amazing crabcakes)". Â That's like comparing a trip to the blow up pool in your back yard to a trip to the Grand Cayman. Â I warned him crabcakes in York PA would be a no-no but hey some people have to learn to listen to me. Â I don't think it was a BAD crabcake but no self-respecting Marylander should even be gambling on them outside the state and even then it's iffy unless you know where to go. Â I finished with a capucino which was a tad weak but came with a nice piece of biscotti which provided dessert for the table (which is all we had room for after supper).
Soups of the day included NE Clam Chowder and a vegetable with lamb meatballs but none of us tried that - another special that I recall was a catfish stuffed with crawfish - I almost ordered that but I had a rare hankering for beef that night.
Ambiance is a little library-like and your check is given to you as a bookmark in an old book (cute). Â The floors of this obviously old building were very bumpy - you can feel every single person walking by. Â Service was good but unremarkable really.
This place isn't something I'm going to wear a beard of bees over however if you're in the downtonwn York area (I highly recommend a York Revolution baseball game and dinner here before or after) this is certainly one of the best dining options I've found thus far. Â
We will definitely go back and try some other stuff on the menu next time we're in the area.
NOT VERY HUMBLY submitted,
D. Foodsnob, PhD
We've been going to the Left Bank for years. Â I just wish it was a little closer to Gettysburg! Â Like others, I'm particularly fond of the flash fried calamari with banana peppers. Â It's THE best calamari I've had, and I say that, having just returned from a week's stay in New Orleans, where food rules. Â Well, folks, there are not many restaurants that can hold a candle to Left Bank. Â The cocktails, the pacing, the portions ... they really know what they're doing. Â Last evening, I had the petite filet of beef with lump crab meat scampi and cheddar cheese dutchess potatoes. Â Yum, and I had to help my wife finish her melt-in-your mouth scallops, which wasn't too hard. Â One of these days, we'll leave room for dessert. Â Anyway, we love this restaurant!
Review Source:The Left Bank is the restaurant in town that we enjoy sharing with our out of town friends. Â David and his staff do an excellent job taking care of our needs and provide a varied selection of dishes to suit every palette. Â The staff is well versed in the menu and is pleasant and courteous. Â The Tomato Crab Bisque that was recently on the menu arrived at our table with more hunks of crab than you would normally find in most restaurant's crab cakes. Â It was wonderful. Â The fish on the menu is always very fresh. Â The other meats well prepared. The Left Bank is also an excellent restaurant for lunch. Â The lunch menu includes custom variations on standard lunch dishes at prices lower than you would expect at a restaurant of this caliber.
The bar is also a fun place to enjoy a martini or beer after an event downtown. Â If I can save enough room, I enjoy the creative desserts.
Great place to dine in York, PA. Close to parking and other downtown entertainment. Excellent service. Scott, the host/front of house manager, makes you feel right at home and wanting to come back as soon as you can. Two of my favorite dishes are the Flash fried Calamari with spicy banana pepper parmesan cream  and the filet with crab. They also have wonderful seasonal soups. The presentation is artistic, but not pretentious - a very approachable menu. You will often see the who's who of York dining here. You can get dressed up, or be casual, but not too casual. The bar is small and comfortable, with plenty of friendly staff and downtown enthusiasts willing to help you find your way around. Highly recommended.  If you are passing through York, this is a must stop. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fleftbankyork.com%2Fdinner_menu.htm&s=3a46bb037095537d7845fa16e79ccd2e61ffbe18f8d35554e236b3248f78fdc8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://leftbankyork.com/…</a>
Review Source:Fifth anniversaries don't come by too often, so my wife and I decided to celebrate at Left Bank. We hope our marriage works out better than dinner did, which started out great but went down hill very, very fast.
Busy night, but we were seated promptly and well taken care of by attentive wait staff. Wine was great, the ubiquitous bread and olive oil made interesting by a nice balsamic reduction and tapenade. For an hors d'oeuvre, we selected the hummus, pita and roasted veg, which was tasty and a nice way to start dinner. Soups next; a refreshing gazpacho for her and a satisfying corn and crab soup for me. Things were looking up!
And then came the main course. My wife had ordered a filet mignon, reputedly marinated in Worcestershire, with some undefined Farmer's Market veg and a grilled potato and carmelized onion gratin. Nice looking filet; probably a pricey piece of meat, absolutely drowning in Worcestershire fashioned into a jus-like sauce. Not as described on the menu, and absoutely reeking of sauce, it could well have been a filet, or a potato, or a piece of sytrofoam. Veg turned out to be some odd version of succotash with broccoli, and the potato was virtually uncuttable.
My wife's brave, but this wasn't going to work, and she was mortified to have a plate in front of her that she couldn't possibly eat. Thoughtful server offered another dinner, but the reality of that is pretty simple; service is leisurely, and I would have long been done by the time her's came, and frankly, having been served such an unexpectedly off entree on her anniversary pretty well sapped her appetitie. She declined a replacement while I bravely worked through a coffee crusted Porterhouse, oddly sauced with a curry sauce. Again, lots of saucy flavors, absolutely trouncing on what was probably a nice cut of beef, once upon a time.
We reflected that, next time, maybe we'll come for appetizers and soup. That is, until the maitre d' arrived, and triumphantly showed us in the menu how my wife's filet was marinated in Worcestershire in such a way to leave us feeling like we'd rather have thrown up on ourselves than to return her plate. Guess he felt better, though, for having gotten in the last word, except what she got wasn't what was on the menu.
So, we're no longer interested in going back for appetizers, soups, or much of anything else. In a nutshell, this is a restaurant trying too hard to be something it's not, and with all the pretension and none of the restraint of a true fine dining establishment. Be forewarned.
I ended up giving them 1 star, out of charity for the kind server and the great apps and soup. Had I been able to score the maitre d' and the entrees separately, they'd have gotten nothing, since that's what they left me with. Oh, I did pay $100 for this botched affair, so I did get that to take away.
I was lucky enough to have been brought to Left Bank by in-the-know locals with taste on a recent business trip to York. From its red-painted facade, it immediately stood out against the few other bars and restaurants in the area. The maitre d' was incredibly cordial from the start. While we waited in comfy chairs near the door for our third, I perused the Lunch Menu and he quickly brought over the Dinner Menu. The lunch offerings looked great, and if I worked in the area I would surely be here at least once a week for lunch. The bar is sleek and stylish, a little bit different than the books and bookshelves that line the walls. I guess those touches are a tip of the hat to the intellectual and poetic history of the arondisements of the same name in Paris!
Service was excellent and prompt all night. The wine list was a bit small for such fancy place. I would like to see more reds by the glass, but my Bordeaux was superb.
We started off with a couple appetizers, the calamari is a local staple, the panko topped crab cake was a good starter dish. I also ordered the Chalkboard special, Maui Baby Spinach salad with bits of pineapple, firecracker walnuts, and toasted won ton noodles. It popped with freshness and was a great combination of flavors.
I guess I dug Chef David Albright's Chalkboard specials because that's where my entree came from as well. My filet mignon was incredible, cooked to perfection! It was paired with carpaccio-wrapped asparagus, and baby potatoes in the shape of mushrooms. It's asparagus season for sure! My dining partners ordered the prime rib of lamb (juicy, interesting) and the fish special of the day. Both raved about their dishes as well.
Dessert is a rarity for me, since I don't have a big sweet tooth. Also, the dessert menu seemed pretty tame; you have your creme brulee, your tart, your mousse...I almost got the Milkshake and Cookies just because it was the odd eggman out on the dessert menu! I ended up choosing the Peanut Butter and Chocolate mousse. The tower-like presentation was a bit of a surprise, not really described in the menu. It was just okay. It was then that I wondered if their milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...
Left Bank seems a bit pricey for York, but it's all worth it, really! It's good for a date, an intimate catch-up place with the gal pals, or a business lunch. A must if you're ever in York!
The LB is my favorite place to take guests when they visit. And everyone who has been is amazed that this little city has such a great place to eat. I have been for lunch and dinner and always been satisfied. The food, the service, the atmosphere all great. Why I'm not giving 5 stars...the prices. Yes its fine dining in a city with barely any, but I don't think I should have to pay the same prices I would in a larger city.
Review Source:York is a small town with very little options for fine dining. Â The Left Bank is definitely the best restaurant choice if you are looking for a quality dining experience. Â Â It is a little pricey; however it is worth every penny. Â Excellent service, great food, perfect atmosphere and friendly people make this place!
Try the calamari with banana pepper cream sauce and always save room for dessert!
Came here for dinner tonite with some colleagues. The people who recommended it swore by it. When we got there, we definitely thought it was a pretty nice place.
Don't be mistaken--this isn't the same Left Bank in the bay area in calif., or so I was told when I thought it was possibly related. But judging by the logo, this place probably isn't related.
The decor is kinda dark. Deep color walls with retro posters around. Very relaxing atmosphere. Candle light at the table, but bright enough so you won't have to feel like you're blind.
This is a pretty upscale restaurant, and the prices reflect that. But it's not super outrageous.. the most expensive dinner entree I saw was $33-35. Everyone at the table loved their food, their cocktail and their dessert. Great praise all the way around.
The wait staff was professional and courteous. The host asked if everything was good and how the food was when we were on the way out. I think it was a superb dining experience.
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