|
Dinner on January 16th, 2012 I was traveling in central Illinois
for work, more specifically Bloomington IL, and I needed to find a burger. After
looking for a little while I came across "Lancaster's Fine Dining",
skimming their menu I found a burger, and I mean A burger , they had only one.
This had to be the place. Upon entering the restaurant I noticed
one thing, it was empty with the exception of a couple with a soft spoken young
lady an a fairly rude gentleman (he spent a good bit of time on his telephone),
after a while I was alone in the establishment. Sitting at
the bar I spoke with the lone waitress and asked he about the burger, she explained
to me that it was a fairly recent addition mostly for the college kids in town.
Reading the description of said burger it seemed pretty sophisticated to me. The
Burger was described as a Sweet and Spicy Fried Cheese Burger; a 1/3 lb. steakburger
patty, fried goat cheese, brown sugar chili bacon, tomato, grilled onion with
wilted spinach on ciabatta bun, 14.00 I ordered the burger
and it came out open face it looked beautiful, the ciabatta bun looked rustic
and crusty, the goat cheese was beautifully fried, the rest of the ingredients
all seemed in such balance. Taking my first bit the bun offered a good bit of
resistance, but managed to contain the topping . The cheese was creamy and tangy,
the onions grilled but still slightly crisp and the spinach just tasted so fresh.The
bacon, OH THE BACON!!! Chili brown sugar bacon, is like a party at a house of
ill repute in my mouth, its amazing. I have one and only one complaint, the patty
was good but it could have been much better. Not that there was anything wrong
with the meat, it could have just been prepared a little differently. Had the
Chef made an oblong patty more suited to fit the bun, they would have had a thicker
patty that did not need to be cut in half (effectively causing the loss of the
juice), it could have better conveyed the flavor of the meat. This
was not a cheap burger at $14, nor did it taste like it , the burger tasted very
organic (not the marketing kind, but more the native flavor of the ingredients).
I did not add any condiments or seasoning, and frankly I didn't think it needed
it. If they adjust the patty, I believe Lancaster's will have a Five star burger
on their menu. The owners and employees are definitely running a gem of a restaurant.
P.S. Do NOT skip dessert, and DO get the sweet potato rounds.
Fine dining does not really happen
in Bloomington, Illinois. Ask most of the locals and they recommend Biaggi's,
which is more like an Olive Garden (with slightly better food). But here in downtown
Bloomington you can have a great meal (the Filet is great) with good wine and
interesting local artwork for a cheap price. Cheap in my mind compared to meals
in major metropolitan areas... The staff is nice, although service
can be hit or miss with such a small locally owned place, generally the two main
server/owners are fun and lively with good recommendations and low key attitude.
I have not had a bad meal here yet! Sara
P. New York, NY Lancaster's is the place
we go for a lovely meal with a lovely ambiance...always wonderful setting and
the food is excellent. Their menu changes seasonally...we love it . Kelly
M. Bloomington, IL What can I say about
Lancaster's?? They have seen us through nearly every major event in our lives,
from baptisms to funerals/memorial services and they never ever have let us down!!
We have used them to cater many spectacular evenings in our home and I know that
I can trust the food to be superb and the help the best anywhere! When they leave
I don't even know that I have entertained except for the glow I have! Then of
course we eat at the restaurant on average once a week and usually we sit at the
bar and visit with other regulars and the incredibly friendly staff!! Whether
you have a special event to celebrate or just want a wonderful dinner before a
show at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts I highly recommend Lancaster's
Fine Dining!! Vicki T. Bloomington, IL
Exquisite food
Impeccable
service. Charming surroundings. There is no better place for that special occassion.
The best martini in town. My wife and I like the corner booth. Besides intimate
dinners we have had two memorable special events in the restaurant. Julian
A Wonderful Fine Dining Experience
Another
wonderful restaurant in Bloomington/Normal with a chef that has created a unique
menu that changes from time to time to keep it fresh. One of the few fine dining
experiences in the area (next to Central Station) and it's well worth the price
of the food. We've had our annual Christmas party there two times and have never
had a bad meal. Highly recommended!
Chris
User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
A hidden treasure: Wow! Great food and
Great service. Ambiance was sublime with all the wonderful art on the walls. I
will be going back again. Ramona
Fabulous vintage downtown Bloomington location
and spirits
I went in to Lancaster's thinking it might be too much "fine
dining" and found it is a family oriented dining establishment with well
balanced menu choices. The bacon wrapped grilled scallops are a tasty appetizer.
The Irish Duck Nachos are a stretch of the imagination with spicy breast of duck
over home cooked potato chips and garnished with corn and bean relish, jalapenos,
and queso blanco. I did engage the fare with red wine to match. Overall, the steak
is my first choice and it is prime. Other choices; fish, pasta, burger, or sandwiches
for a lighter meal. This is fine food, so its not cheap. Have a good time! bestofbuds
Best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal
I have lived
in BN for fifteen years, and have had an opportunity to dine in nearly all the
eating establishments in the community. Lancaster's is by far our favorite restaurant
and we tend to make it a part of special dining experiences for Valentine's Day,
Christmas Eve, etc. Some of the things I like best about Lancaster's is that it
is not a huge place, the service is always attentive, and you can pretty much
just close your eyes and point to something on the menu and whatever it is, you
can count on it being outstanding. All aspects of the menu are wonderful and special,
from creative appetizers and salads, to amazing entrees and fabulous desserts. RobBN | 
