Ale House 1890

You know it’s good when you spend the whole meal saying, «you’ve gotta try a bite of this.»

Had a great lunch here today the tomato bisque was delicious so was the Caesar salad my boyfriend got the buffalo chicken pizza and really enjoyed it we are definitely coming back!

I’ve been here about 5 times. It was really good when it first opened. Last nite we had too wait on a table «they were giving the kitchen some space»? I should have known that was code for ‘We are overwhelmed’. My salmon was over cooked and the rice was clumped, sticky and cold. The craft beer was fresh and cold. The server was nice enough thru the ordering process, but when she dropped off the check there was no ThankYou or No Hurry, take your time. Then again when she dropped off the check for a signature, there was nothing said. I always tip between 20−30%, but servers that don’t act appreciative ?
Bottom line, I’ll go back.

Was visiting Lancaster for a wedding and let Unilocal lead me to this place… Only giving 4 since I’ve only been once and my group and I just had sandwiches, however all three of us were extremely satisfied with our choices. I had the Se7en Pepper Burger that was top notch. Prepared perfectly and had a perfect level of spice with the pepper jack cheese, pepper relish and spicy sriracha aioli. It was the bartenders recommendation as a favorite and it did not disappoint. The Cheech and Chong is a massive burger that was highly acclaimed by my friend that bears a chorizo patty on top of the burger! Overall this place gave nice twists to original classics and has a nice updated feel in restored downtown Lancaster. Would not hesitate to make the 30 min trip from East Columbus to have the Se7en Pepper Burger again!

Came here for my best friends wedding and reception. The place is just beautiful I loved the light fixtures upstairs. The brick is just beautiful!
The hors d’euvres were fantastic! The stuffed mushrooms were out of this world. It’s the perfect combination of perfect texture and savory. Must try and there was also little crostini type sandwiches. The Moscato was perfect with it.
As if we couldn’t get enough… post reception we went downstairs. Excellent choice in craft beers and cocktails. I had a pear cider… and pardon my language but it was fan-​fucking-​tastic! And the scallops… I know it’s not fresh but damn they can cook hell out of it better than some places that ive been to that serve it fresh. The fries were cooked perfect. Maybe it was luck but I’m definitely coming back to little OH Lancaster soon.

I so want to write a good review for this place. I love the look and layout. But the poor service killed it for me. Our waitress was MIA. And we were there for a late lunch on a Monday when the place was empty. And she didn’t even have to bring us the food which was served by a runner. Unbelievably bad service. It seems Lancaster has several other eatery options in the downtown area so next time we’ll go elsewhere.

My fiancé and I were scouting places to serve at our wedding reception. The hostess was super friendly and let us know the wait would be awhile but there were seats opened at the bar. We sat down and right a way we were helped by two of the bartenders. They were great. We ordered the spinach dip. I watched this appetizer sit in the window for over 15 mins. I understand the bartenders can’t always run their own food. I watched several servers walk right past it, I watched several stand there and chitchat. Time it finally made it to us it was more of a cool dip. Next we ordered the fish and chips. The exact same issue. It was really the servers we were scouting, for your wedding reception it’s important to have great service as much as great food. I sat there and watched several servers and even a manager over look our food in the window and wait for their tables food and let the bar food sit in the window for 23 mins (yes I timed it!) The same servers would go from the food window to the bar and wait for their tables drink but wouldn’t run the food. Finally after the bartender realized it’s been way too long, he went to get it for us.
As I’m sure the food would of been good if it was warmer. Nothing like heat lamp warm fish and chip. This place failed for us. As we might return to eat, definitely won’t be booking them for our reception needs.

Our food was delicious. A little pricey but you do get what you pay for. They have a great selection of craft beers. Our waitress was awesome and I noticed all of the staff was working hard and being friendly. I would definitely recommend.

Nice to see a new place in Lancaster that has interesting items to choose from on the menu. Service was good and food was too.
Definitely will be back !!

Went with my boyfriend and my mom. It was pretty decent for OH. I’d totally come back when we’re back in town (most likely December) :)

I’m torn as I write this review. Been here twice and once was meh and the second was OK. First visit I had the fish and chips. The fish was heavily breaded which in itself isn’t bad but it wasn’t cooked properly and had some doughy spots which made it not the greatest. Second time I had the burger and it was excellent! The barnyard burger The cow, the chicken, the pig & the garden. Our Ale House angus burger over garlic aioli then topped with onion marmalade, prosciutto ham, an over easy egg and finished with micro greens. The onion marmalade is to die for.
My dining partner on first visit had the 7 pepper burger and it was delicious and the second time had the pecan crusted chicken. True to our experience the burger was top notch. The pecan crusted chicken left lots to be desired. First it was a single chicken breast and a huge gob of sweet cinnamon butter. Not a great portion for the price. The chicken was crusted with a paste more so rather than a nice crispy pecan crust.
The deciding factor for overall rating was the service that was consistent on both visits. Not very attentive and slow. At one point the server set the water pitcher on our table while she went off to tend to other tables.
To sum it up if you want a kick ass burger you’ll probably have a good experience here. If you want to try a different dish you can take your chances.

The food is good. No complaints in that area.
But the Host do not know how to properly seat people. They tell you 20 mins and you wait an hour. They have no experience in this department.
Food is good and I like the ambiance.

It is nice what they have tried to do with the location but the menu is nothing great. While the environment is great the food is not the greatest. Pricing seems higher for what you get here including their beer selection. Once while sitting at the bar I was not waited on for 20 min and there was no crowd.

Fantastic surprise in downtown Lancaster with a cool vibe and a great menu! The food was top notch and the prices incredibly reasonable. The blue cheese chips were homemade crunchy and delicious and the sweet potato fries are not to be missed. The only drawback is the lack of gluten free and vegetarian options. My choices were rather limited to salad and soup. Overall a great find and a place I will recommend to many.

Came here for a wedding dinner party in the reserved upstairs portion of the place.
Very cool historical place with awesome décor. Perfect for a wedding dinner. Decent catered meals. Waiters were very on top of keeping tables cleared and keeping water glass stopped off.
Very cool place and I look forward to coming back. Certainly worth checking out.

Today I went there for the first time. I tried the tomato bisque which was to die for. The kale salad was so yummy and fresh as well. I was surprised at how inexpensive the food was but the drinks are very expensive. It seems like the perfect lunch spot.
I’m not in the area often but if I am, I’d definitely return.

Three for the main dish. Phenomenal friendly, accurate service has most definitely earned a 3.5÷3.75!
The place has been a bar since 1890 — thus the name. Clean, modern design inside — simple. Absolutely ginormous patio out back. Newly remodeled second-​floor patio, so if you enjoy being above the rest, by all means, head on up. They have a nice, spacious «banquet» room on the second floor of the restaurant. Great for weddings, family gatherings, birthdays, etc.
Our Waitress, Alex, was a complete waste breathe of fresh air. So kind and thoughtful, ready to help at any point. She deceived and suggested. Wonderful, polite, suggestions if needed.
Zucchini Verde Salmon. I love salmon. Only fish I’ll willingly eat, if given an option. Came with A rice pilaf, steamed green beans, and what I thought was going to be a chunky green zucchini salsa. My heart sank a bit, after a few bites of the dish. Too much seasoning and butter. The salmon was perfectly cooked — moist on tender! But, too much pepper-​cyan-​Cajun seasoning, I could hardly taste the fish. I was bummed. The «Verde» was chopped zucchini with parsley? sprinkled; no salsa. In fact, no liquid or sauce to it. The rice was ok, but I thought it had too much Nature’s Season, or the like. The green beans were cooked perfectly: crunchy, yet soft enough to give good flavor. But they must have been cooked in pure salt and butter. I almost couldn’t finish them cause of over-​seasoning. Double bummed.
Because of the locally run aspect, and the great service, I definitely plan to try this restaurant again. Lancaster is trying to make a comeback, so supporting the efforts make the meal more worth the cause. There were a few other dishes that is love to try, so perhaps those better fit with the tastebuds.

Great atmosphere, great food ! Service was awesome ! Sheila was a great waitress !
The only thing I wish they had was flights, some bars will offer them.
They are 4 or 5, 6 to 8oz of samples of various beers. Your choice of the draught beers on tap.
My wife had a porter, I had a rye beer ! They were great !

Wow, Minute Bar… you’ve grown up, got your degree and made something of yourself! Not that there was anything wrong with the place before the renovation, but this has transformed downtown Lancaster!
Having grown up in this town, I’ve become used to go going to Columbus for a decent non-​chain restaurant. I can stop that now. The Ale House is everything a good restaurant should be. Nice big comfortable bar with friendly professional bartenders who know what they are doing, and a big open dining room. With all the space, there aren’t as many tables as you would think, so on busy nights, there’s a wait. Since Lancaster has been needing a place like this for a while, I’m sure the waits will continue. That’s what the bar is for! However, if waiting for a table, I’m not a fan of patrons standing in the bar and not ordering… just a pet peeve of the loitering feel.
I ordered a perfect manhattan, and they actually knew how to make it… perfectly! (Don’t try this just anywhere in this town!)
Our server was friendly, yet busy — she managed the combo well. She gave us a history of the place, as I never paid much attention to the details before and it was interesting to hear the history of the building. But back to the food! I ordered the fish and chips and was pleased. Light and flaky cod, with a crisp golden finish — like it should be.
I’ll be back on my next trip home!

Ale House 1890 is a pretty cool place. I used to come here years ago when it was the Minute Bar and oh what an improvement they have made. I really enjoyed the historic building mixed with more modern décor. We ended up all sitting at the bar and the bartender was gracious and accommodating. I wish they had better seating arrangements for large groups, as there was absolutely nowhere for our party of 7 to sit. To their credit however, we did not call ahead.
The lunch menu is not large at all, which I don’t mind. Too many places try to be everything to everyone. You get one page of appetizers, salads and sandwiches. I ordered the Cheech and Chong which was a burger made with both beef and chorizo patties and it was absolutely fantastic as well as humongous. The spicy chorizo patty was a super interesting touch and had good flavor. The beef patty also had good flavor and the whole thing was a delightful mess of a meal. Against my better judgement, I ate the whole thing along with the fries and I didn’t need to eat again the rest of the day. I also tried a bit of a club sandwich, pretzel bites, and sweet potato fries and all were very good.
Ale House 1890 has a real modern, metro and upscale vibe going for it. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I walked in here and was told I was in Columbus Ohio and not Lancaster. I hope this translates into success and I wish them all the best. I should hope to return next time I am looking for good eats in Lancaster.