LANCASTER, Pa. — Passerine, a French-inspired American restaurant located in the heart of downtown Lancaster, was named to the New York Times (NYT) America's 50 Best Restaurants.
Over the past 12 months, NYT reporters and editors have been traveling across the U.S. to find restaurants to be named to the list, with one of them happening to be in Lancaster.
Passerine opened in June 2024 and works to celebrate the 'hard work and abundance of fresh ingredients' from regional producers' of the Susquehanna River Valley.
Since opening, Passerine's mission is to, "create a culture of equitable hospitality, cultivate an environment of communal learning and showcase the best of our region through meaningful food, beverage and conversation."
Nikita Richardson, an NYT food reviewer visited the eatery and stated, "Downtown Lancaster is an especially attractive setting for this months-old restaurant, which since June has been quietly serving outstanding dishes made with the bounty of the surrounding farmland and accented by global sensibilities."
The establishment offers small bites and shareable dishes along with a unique beverage menu and curated wine list with 60% coming from the East Coast.
Richardson praised the food she tasted saying, "Think perfectly seared scallops set into a colorful salad of sweet summer corn and shishito peppers, or a 25-layer zucchini and goat ricotta crepe cake under a shower of ramp powder. Based on my visit in July, it’s unclear whether Lancastarians know that they have an absolute gem of a restaurant in their midst. Consider this a heads-up."
Following its mission statement, Passerine leads by its five core values; exceptional experience, meaningful food and beverage, sustainable systems, regional focus and intentional education.
Passerine is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5-10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Brunch is also served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Passerine offers a Happy Hour menu as well.
A full list of all 50 restaurants can be found here.
