The Imperial Restaurant

Name: The Imperial Restaurant
Address: 26 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA, United States, 17602
Telephone: (717) 539-4865
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2 (15)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

26 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Great for creative cocktails
Great for brunch

Nestled in the historic heart of Downtown Lancaster, The Imperial Restaurant offers a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience, perfect for locals and visitors alike. Our restaurant blends artistic elegance with a warm, welcoming atmosphere—making it the ideal destination for everything from casual gatherings to large groups, and special occasions.

Our thoughtfully curated menu showcases seasonal, locally inspired dishes crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. We feature a leisurely brunch, an elevated dinner, and handcrafted cocktails at the bar with bold flavors and impeccable service.

The Imperial boasts a spacious dining area and private event options. We are a perfect choice for intimate occaisions, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and group dining. Join us in our stylish dining room or on our seasonal outdoor patio.

Book your table today and discover Lancaster’s premier dining experience at The Imperial Restaurant. Please call for large parties.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(717) 539-4865
Website
https://www.theimperialrestaurant.com/
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
26 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602
Neighborhood
Lancaster
Cross street
Corner of Chestnut St and Queen St.
Parking details
Hotel Parking
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Wine

What 15 people are saying

The Imperial Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.3Service
4.4Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia County
Great for brunch
Philadelphia County
Great for outdoor dining
Lancaster County
Good for groups
Lancaster County
Healthy
Lancaster County
Neighborhood gem
Lancaster County
Great for fine wines
Lancaster County
Great for outdoor dining
Lancaster County
Romantic
Lancaster County
Lively

15 Reviews

P
Paul VIP
Peru40 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 8, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The staff was five star all the way. Friendly, attentive, professional and fun at the same time. Our kudos to the bartender Howard and the new manager. The entire dining experience was a pleasant surprise. We'll be back. BTW, the salmon was great.
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G
Grace
New York City4 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
We made reservation for 8 people much in advance. When our group arrived on time it turned out that our table wasn’t set yet, despite the fact that the restaurant was almost empty. It was Saturday night and I was surprised that the restaurant in the center of old town is almost empty. However, after our experience in this restaurant, I am not surprised anymore. From time we ordered our food we were waiting one hour until first meals arrived, but it was only for two people only. The other 6 people were waiting additional 10-15 minutes for their orders. The rolls and butter were brought just between the meals for these two lucky and the others who were still waiting. The food was overpriced, for example $42 for scallops. It would be ok for large scallops, but there was 5 pieces of less then medium size scallops on the small scoop of rice and few pieces of carrots. The food was tasty but it was just luke warm not hot. At the end 20% of tip was added to our check for service. I do not mind to pay 20% or more as a tip for service, but I do not feel that this service was worth any tip. Overall if we will visit Lancaster again, we definitely will avoid this restaurant.
The Imperial RestaurantResponded 7 days ago
Hi Grace, We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at The Imperial Restaurant. We apologize for the long wait times and the disappointment with your meal. We value your feedback and will use it to improve our service and food quality. We hope to have another chance to serve you better in the future. Best, The Imperial Management Team
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M
Mary
Philadelphia County3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Pleasant surprise! A hotel restaurant with excellent food and service. My husband and I made a last minute reservation but sat at the bar. Michael, the bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. I had a filet (prepared exactly as ordered) and my husband had the scallops. Both were delicious. Service was prompt. All around enjoyable experience.
The Imperial RestaurantResponded 7 days ago
Hi Mary, We're thrilled to hear that you had such a pleasant surprise at The Imperial Restaurant! It's wonderful to know that our team's knowledge and friendliness made your dining experience enjoyable. We're glad that you enjoyed your filet and the scallops, and we're pleased that you had prompt service. We look forward to serving you again soon. Best, The Management Team
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M
Michelle VIP
Philadelphia County6 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 15, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Waiter was weirdly rude and passive aggressive. Food was just ok, nothing great for the price especially.
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J
JASON
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had two main dish from the mothersday menu. Great experience! We will be back! Thank you!!
The Imperial RestaurantResponded on May 17, 2025
Hi Jason, Thank you for choosing The Imperial Restaurant for your Mother's Day celebration! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our menu and found it satisfying. Your kind words mean a lot to us. We're looking forward to your next visit. Thank you for choosing The Imperial Restaurant and for leaving us such a wonderful review. Best Regards, The Management Team
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X
Xavier VIP
Philadelphia County16 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
This was my second time here and if sucked the second time. It was for Mother’s Day. The menu and food wasn’t that good for the 3 of them they got the steak and baked potato. The baked potato was bad. I got the crab cake which was amazing. Then they had issues with my card, had to call my bank: my bank didn’t kno why they were having issues. And it was expensive that day
The Imperial RestaurantResponded 7 days ago
Hey Xavier, We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at The Imperial Restaurant. It's disappointing to know that we didn't meet your expectations on your second visit for Mother's Day. We strive to provide our guests with a memorable dining experience, and it seems we fell short this time. We're glad you enjoyed our crab cake, and we appreciate your feedback on our food and service. We'll certainly take your comments into consideration as we continually work to improve our guests' experiences. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best, The Imperial Restaurant Management Team
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K
Kay
Philadelphia County1 review
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Mother’s Day menu was throughly enjoyed! Started w Caesar Wedge Salad, presented beautifully, chilled perfectly, tasteful, enough to be shared by 2 women prior to our entrees. The Seared Salmon and Lump Crab Stuffed Halibut, OMG, outstanding!!! Both entrees were hands-down well worth the price of lunch menu. Filling and the accompanying sides were flavorful risotto, and perfectly cooked green beans. Already made my Father’s Day reservation. That reservation will be my second time to Imperial Restaurant and I can’t wait to share the experience with my father. Well done downtown Lancaster!! All staff was professional, cheerful and busy. Definitely make a reservation on OpenTable. ENJOY!!!
The Imperial RestaurantResponded on May 17, 2025
Thanks for visiting us, Kay! We're thrilled to hear that you and your mom enjoyed the Caesar Salad, Seared Salmon, and Lump Crab Stuffed Halibut during your Mother's Day brunch. It's fantastic to know that you found both the risotto and green beans to be flavorful and well-prepared. We always aim to provide a memorable dining experience and your feedback is a testament to that. We're looking forward to your next visit to The Imperial Restaurant. Hope to see you soon!
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B
Ben
Philadelphia County1 review
5.0
Dined on May 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was excellent. I had the crab cake which was one of the best I've ever had. Can't wait to go back and try out some of the other entrées.
The Imperial RestaurantResponded on May 17, 2025
Thanks for visiting us, Ben! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the crab cake and found it to be one of the best you've ever had. It's always a pleasure to serve guests like you who appreciate the quality of our dishes. We're looking forward to your next visit to try out some of our other entrées. Thanks again for your kind words!
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M
Martin
Orlando / Central Florida East1 review
5.0
Dined on May 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted warmly and swiftly escorted to our table. The service was impeccable from the start, setting the tone for an incredible evening. The Old Fashioneds? Absolutely spot-on! I’d heard that the restaurant was under new leadership, with a talented new chef at the helm, and based on our experience, they’re truly hitting it out of the park. The revamped menu offered so many tempting choices that it was tough to decide—from appetizers to entrées. For starters, we opted for the saffron mussels and short rib frites, and both were outstanding. As for the main course, the filet mignon and scallops did not disappoint—each bite was perfection. I also couldn’t help but notice the enticing selection of vegan dishes, proving that even a devoted carnivore could find something exciting. I’m already counting down the days until my next visit!
The Imperial RestaurantResponded on May 17, 2025
Thanks for the review, Martin! We're thrilled to hear that you had an incredible evening at The Imperial Restaurant. It's wonderful to know that our service, Old Fashioneds, and revamped menu made a positive impression on you. We're also delighted to hear that you enjoyed our unique vegan options. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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C
Christine
Philadelphia County1 review
4.0
Dined on April 30, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cocktails amazing, our server Bree was amazing. We had a nice romantic dinner. Loved the atmosphere. Will defiantly come back.
The Imperial RestaurantResponded on May 17, 2025
Hi Christine, We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Imperial Restaurant. It's wonderful to know that you found our cocktails amazing and our server, Bree, to your liking. We're also glad that you appreciated the ambiance of our restaurant, as we strive to create a romantic and memorable atmosphere for our guests. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're excited to welcome you back for another delightful experience.
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FAQs

The Imperial Restaurant is rated 4.2 stars by 15 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

26 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Corner of Chestnut St and Queen St.
Neighborhood
Lancaster
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Hotel Parking
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Wine

Website
https://www.theimperialrestaurant.com/
Phone number
(717) 539-4865

The Imperial Restaurant

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 15 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is The Imperial Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is The Imperial Restaurant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information