The Circular

At the Hershey Hotel, this is one of the restaurants inside the hotel. We had buffet breakfasts here during our entire stay. A very wide selection of food. The service was quite good and the restaurant was very clean and elegant with the stained glass windows. I would definitely eat here again.

We’ve lived in central PA for a few years now and the all over the place nature of the reviews for the Circular have kept us away… kept us away for too long.
You have to put things in context. Hershey is a nice little town and the Hershey Hotel is a classic historic venue. But this isn’t Manhattan. This isn’t Philly or DC. As places in central PA go The Circular is a classy and classic as it gets and if you take a deep breath and realize that the servers in this area are not quite in the same league as the upper east side, you might just realize this is a good place. The room is lovely. The view of the gardens and the mountains beyond makes for a tranquil setting. And though not big city crisp as you might find in Chicago, our server with her 37 years of experience was a genuine delight to deal with.
Big city three star. Central PA five star. We will go back now that we have discovered this gem.

I had dinner here in April 2016 with my wife. We enjoyed it very much. The room is beautiful, with wonderful views and good natural light. The décor is really nice. The bar is beautiful and our drinks were tasty. Service is outstanding. The food was very good. My wife ordered Swordfish (approx. $ 30) which looked small and lonely on a huge white plate, but it was actually a good sized portion of well-​cooked fish. I ordered a cheeseburger ($ 15) and it was super good. These are some of the less expensive things on the menu; several entrees exceed $ 40. Generally we liked our side dishes, asparagus and carrots ($ 6 each), but a side dish of squash was not to our liking because it was mixed with ingredients we could not identify. The experience of arriving at this magnificent, historic hotel is terrific, and this main dining room does not disappoint. Highly recommended.

We went to the Circular Dining room on Valentine’s Day weekend for a nice and quiet meal. The ambiance of the Hotel and the dining room are lovely — and if you get there during sunset with a table near a window it really is beautiful.
For starters we ordered a salad and marinated mushrooms. The salad was fine but the mushrooms with ricotta were absolutely amazing — seriously, get them if you like mushrooms.
As a main I ordered the hangers steak with bernaise and creamed spinach. Hanger steak isn’t known for being the most tender but it was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend ordered the chicken dish with grits — they were out of the chicken so he ordered pheasant instead. We were both very pleased with the meals and got a chocolate and hazelnut soufflé for dessert.
We thought the service, quality of food, and ambiance were well worth the price. The hanger steak is about $ 25 I think — which is quite reasonable for restaurants of this nature. The mushroom appetizer which came with mushrooms, fresh ricotta, and grilled sourdough was about $ 8.
We would recommend and will be going back!

One of the best meals of my life… and as always gluten-​free accommodation was epic.
Didn’t know what to expect but walked in with no reservations and got seated right away, there is a circular bar in the middle and all the windows overlook the outside courtyard which is beautifully lit up.
Got an old fashioned to start that you can pick from on their iPad menu which is totally legit and reminds me of Vegas at Gordon Ramsay’s spot. It came out with an entire sphere ball made of ice and I was like where is the whiskey? Then she goes bam with a hammer on it and the drink spills out, I was amazing how epic that was done.
Deviled Eggs appetizer and pumpkin soup all was presented beautifully and tasted so darn good. Had flavor explosion in mouth k thanks. For dinner I just got a filet Mignon and sides of mash potatoes which were so creamy and bomb-​bay, and a side of roasted fall squash that had feta and pomegranate DAMN good. This place is epically good and wish I lived here I’d go here everyday.
The service, food quality, cleanliness and atmosphere were all 5 stars.

I’ve been here for both breakfast and dinner, with the former being our most recent meal here.
Dinner was over a year ago and it was really good. Service was nice, we had a table looking out over the gardens and it was a real nice, positive atmosphere. I don’t recall specifically what I had to eat but I’m pretty sure it was steak. At any rate, the visit was a good one.
Breakfast was also good. I was excited for the buffet but as soon as I saw the price, my girl and I knew there was no way either of us would eat $ 22 worth of food. That was a bit overpriced in my mind. We ended up ordering off the normal breakfast menu and both got dishes that totaled the cost for one of us going with the buffet.
I went with the Chorizo and Eggs and it was delicious! Lots of flavor and a decent sized portion. I also snuck in a chocolate croissant and it was also a delight. My girl had the East Coast Eggs Benedict and she really enjoyed it.
The service was good but the server was a little too frequent with the coffee refills. I know this sounds crazy, but I literally took two sips and she came over to refill it. She was so quick, I couldn’t stop her from throwing off my cream/​sugar ratio with the refills. Maybe space out those visits a little longer :)
Definitely think this is a better option over Harvest but we’ve yet to try Trevi 5, we’ll save that for next time!

If you live or visiting in PA, The Circular at The Hotel Hershey is a must! You will feel the zenith warmth of hospitality that PA has to offer.

My family and I came here recently for breakfast (2 adults and two children, 14 and 10). We were amped up because of the reputation and reviews from friends who’ve dined here in the past. The price was reasonable… an AYCE buffet for $ 21 per person. I thought it was a steal since the average prices for food here are way above what I normally go for. The ambiance was wonderful, the views even lovelier. Our server was efficient and very nice. I opted for the buffet, although some of the menu items looked divine.
First stop was one of two omelette stations. I was a little underwhelmed with the options but it had the basics. I love peppers, onions and mushrooms together but the station I chose was out of onions. She kept apologizing that no one was coming to ask if she needed a refill. But there’s another station 10 feet away that had a whole bowl. Why not ask or go grab some? But I didn’t want to make a scene so I said no problem. Sure enough, as soon as they finished my omelette, someone came to see refill the bowls. Damn.
I peeked at the hot foods station which had a lot of so-​so items like french toast (a splurge for me but tasted just okay), chocolate chip pancakes (the teenager was disappointed with the taste so I didn’t waste the calories) and a few other things I didn’t try. The other hot food station had potatoes O’Brien (a little cold but flavorful), and a variety of meats of which were average in quality.
I didn’t bother with the oatmeal station and they had a decadent-​looking chocolate bread pudding but fortunately allergens were listed and I have two so I couldn’t try it. Many of the pastries were also off-​limits because they may or did contain allergens. Although I tried the oatmeal raisin muffin and it was scrumptious.
The fruit bar did have a lot of variety and I enjoyed that portion very much.
The best part of the meal was the orange juice. Truly fresh squeezed and wonderful.
All in all, for all of the hype, I felt a bit cheated with the quality but had I not walked in with that expectation, I’d have given this four stars instead of three.

We had a great time, the sun was setting and the atmosphere and dining room was stunning. We sat at the bar and had a great bartender named Justin who spent a lot of time going thru the cocktail menu.
Must try the first cocktail comes served in an ice cube that is cracked open once served first I have seen anything like this
Would like to come back and try the food

Breakfast Review: If you have an extra $ 30 per person laying around, the brunch is spectacular. It truly is. However, unless you are a teenage boy, you won’t eat $ 30 worth. We ordered off the menu, which just threw our waitress off and, apparently, the kitchen as well. Coffee poured cold, the $ 3.25 4 oz. OJ came after asking twice and the food took THIRTY MINUTES! Being lucky enough to have stayed in some of the nicest hotels in the world, the basic theme is always «Would I come here again?» The food was okay, and the bill for two was a TOTAL of $ 30, but it wouldn’t be a place I’d take out of town guests for brunch.

Don’t expect to order $ 500 in wine and get a seat at 2130. Because they’re closed unless you’re a «private» group. Go to #trevi instead. Better service. We’ve been all over this hotel but a really sad experience. Boo #hotelhershey…

The food was excellent, easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had. We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary dinner, though I had been here previously for Sunday brunch. This review will focus on dinner.
Our server, John, was very polite and accommodating. He took care of a lot of tables, and this allowed us to have plenty of time to ourselves in between courses. Most people do not like being left alone, but it worked out for us. I ordered the Tarragon and Tonic, and the drink was perfect. Hubby ordered Bombay Sapphire and Tonic, and the gin was poured table side — THIS SHOULD HAPPEN EVERYWHERE. It was a generous portion. To start, we ordered the Croquettes to share, and the 5 balls of cheesy goodness paired so lovingly with the tomatoes. For entrees, hubby ordered the dry-​aged NY strip with house steak sauce and I ordered the Cowboy steak with black garlic Demi. I didn’t really like the house steak sauce, just because my Demi was out of this world. A la carte sides were the Mac and Cheese and Truffle Mashed Potatoes — both excellent and well worth it. For our dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Soufflé (which does come with a 15 minute prep warning); and I also shamelessly ordered 2 tall glasses of cold milk. While waiting for the soufflé, they gave us a special anniversary treat of chocolate covered strawberries. This meal was entirely too incredible. It is pricey, but I think it’s worth it for the quality of food, ambience, and service.

It was good. had cowboy steak very good broccoli Rabe very good. nice atmosphere. Would go again if staying at hotel otherwise not.

Presentation is outstanding, service can’t be match by any other restaurant around. Food quality is nothing but perfection, flavors are second to none. Very small portions but worth it. I had salmon and my husband had cornish game hen. I feel this is a great place for adults but kinda pricy for children. No reservation is needed to get the best seat in the house. Fast service! The wine selections is beyond my dreams. We actually stayed in the hotel, what a delightful experience. The place is spotless, i cannot find one thing to complain… not one people.

Prior to my visit, I had flown in my sister from KS for my dad’s birthday as well as a Christmas present for the rest of the family. Seeing as this was a special occasion on 2 accounts I decided to take my dad and sister here for a special meal. I have always heard nice things about The CDR, only to discover it has since been remodeled and renamed «The Circular». Either way, I booked reservations for 3 with much anticipation and even higher expectations.
Now, I should mention that I have dined at higher-​end Hershey establishments before, so I knew what to expect in some capacity. Easter Brunch at the Hershey Lodge for two years had me expecting a large bill for an elegant meal. But, in my own opinion, I only received one of these things. Let me go on to say that the place was immaculate.
For those who don’t know, the Circular is one of several restaurants at the Hotel Hershey. Of them all it is the only one I have dined in. Having now done so, I plan on trying the rest. As the name implies, The Circular is a round room with fancy table settings and a bar in the center. I really liked the design of the restaurant as the shape gave it a very open feel, unlike some other places that feel cramped and crowded. Another major plus is the spectacular use of natural lighting. The perimeter of the room is primarily glass doors and windows that not only allow the sun to illuminate the room, but it also allows for diners to look out at more of the scenic layouts The Hotel Hershey has to offer. A+ to the remodeling team; especially to the designer. My only complaint would be that the restroom, any restroom, is a far piece away from the restaurant itself. This makes for an inconvenience should nature call; in particular urgent calls.
Moving on, as I have mentioned above, my visit here centered around the lunch buffet: a myriad of edibles ranging from an elaborate salad bar complete with greens, pasta, smoked meats and fish; a meat and cheese display with fresh bread and humus; hot entrees with a selection of meats and side dishes; and of course the desserts; among them was plenty of Hershey’s best: chocolate.
I enjoyed everything I ate and I made sure to eat everything. Not a dish went un-​tasted: a personal feat for every buffet. And the damage: a hundred bucks; this includes gratuity. And I left an extra hefty tip for our extra friendly server. I believe the actual meal for three cost about seventy dollars give or take. For all of you gasping out there you probably aren’t accustomed to «fine dining», but let me tell you, this is the best deal I have found. Hope to do it again someday.

The best part about this restaurant is the décor and the views. I felt that the food was overpriced for what it was. Presentation was good, but the food was lacking flavor and the proportions of the dishes were a little off (my grilled cheese appetizer came with tomato soup in a dipping sauce bowl). My Caesar salad dressing didn’t taste like Caesar– maybe even more ranch.
I haven’t tried the dessert, so I can’t comment on that. Service was attentive.

Beautiful restaurant. Service was very good, our server shared some Milton Hershey history. It has been a couple of weeks, so can’t go into detail, but the steaks and sauces were perfect, as was the French onion soup. The pretzel bread sticks were delicious too. My husband enjoyed the lobster cocktail and the peanut butter pie. The caramel at the end was incredible. If you stay at the Hershey Hotel, don’t miss the Circular.

This is a review for their breakfast buffet only.
Although we didn’t stay at the Hershey Hotel we did make it to breakfast at the Circular for one of our vacation days.
The restaurant is beautiful, with huge windows that opened up to a garden outside. We were a large party and were seated at our own private table with tall wine cabinets separating us from the rest of the dining room. That may sound odd but the effect was pretty and gave us some great privacy.
The food was excellent as well. I will say that we had been eating our hotel’s medicore continental breakfast so that may have colored my perceptions.
The chocolate bread pudding was fantastic. I am not a huge fan of bread pudding but this was great and I happily enjoyed ruining my calorie counting. Most of the buffet was standard menu items: eggs, bacon, blintz, sausage, made to order omelets, fruit etc.
The staff was very friendly and got us in and out quickly without feeling rushed. I would without a doubt go back to enjoy the food as well as walking around the hotel.

My wife and I used to look forward to eating at the circular dining room for special occasions but never again. Last time we were there was for our wedding anniversary at the end of December 2013. Many other visits were before it was renovated.
The food has become just OK and service was a couple notches lower than all the other previous experiences. The room was noisy and was only about half full. We never experienced this in prior visits. Lastly, we didn’t care for the new décor.
Two stars awarded solely for remembering the good times in the past. Sorry to say «The Circular» is no longer worth the money.

I met some friends here for some apps and drinks before going to Troegs brewery. The ambiance and feel of Hershey hotel just exudes high class and sophistication, so I was worried they might frown upon my trucker hat with a cat on it. Nonetheless they let me in and I joined my friends around the circular bar. This is a cocktail bar, but of course I ordered an IPA for my first beverage.
Food wise, everything sounded good, lots of seafood on the menu. I ordered the cocoa crusted diver scallops, and the fried oysters. The scallops came out first. They were cooked perfectly. The meat was tender and not rubbery at all. The cocoa crust was interesting, giving it a burnt bark flavor which was better after every bite. The oysters came out next and the smell ruminating from them were intoxicating. Now I usually prefer my oysters raw, but these were awesome! Fresh oysters fried to perfection, with a lightly dresses coleslaw and BBQ sauce.
With all this goodness in my belly, I needed a good stiff drink to wash it down. My bartender/​mixologist (Kara, cute blonde) suggested the blind tiger. It was bangin! It had pomegranate in it which gave it a mild sweetness. Next time your in the sweetest place on earth, and you enjoy the company of cougars, check out the circular at hotel Hershey.