We like to go to some of the towns around ours to disc golf and try local restaurants. I'm super glad we found this gem. My boyfriend and I went there twice and each had different dishes each time and all of them were amazing. The Spinach & Artichoke Dip is a must for us every time! This time I got the Chicken Varenna. I was pretty hesitant to get it because I'm typically not big on pesto. Honestly this is one of the first pestos I really liked. On top of the food being amazing the restaurant just has a really nice and classy feel on the inside. Both times we went our servers were nice and attentive. I was impressed by that because I know how hard of a time (especially smaller towns) are having keeping good servers right now. They don't do reservations, but they do 30 minute call ahead seating. Both times we went seating wasn't really an issue, but we've never been on a Friday or Saturday night. Really the only complaint I have is that they aren't open on Sundays. That's our day we typically like to travel around. I think if my biggest complaint is that I want them to be open more then they are doing pretty good! read more

Ale House 1890 - Chicken Varenna - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

This place is great for Lancaster and the surrounding community. They did an awesome job redeveloping an old building downtown and created an amazing dining location in southeast Ohio. The decor is everything I like to create an amazing atmosphere; brick, metal, wood, lots of wood, tin ceiling, exposed ceiling, duct work, etc. A little classic, a little industrial, a little modern, a little country, and a lot of thought to create a great experience. Our service was outstanding from door to door. Quickly greeted, seated, orders taken, drinks brought out, served our food, drinks, and we were offered desert but opted for a another round of drinks instead. Server was friendly, worked efficiently as she hit all of her customers each time on a loop, and I think a manager stopped mid meal to follow up on the food. My family, that is local, have been coming here since they opened and stated they are known for the steaks, burgers, and pizza. As they got mulitple pizzas that I can't eat, I went with the Peanut Butter and Jalapeno Burger and loved it. Never had peanut butter on a burger but now that I have I will do it again. The burger was cooked perfectly to order, the peanut butter was just the right amount to let you know it is there, the bacon is BACON, the jalepenos gave it a nice kick, somehow the tomato worked in well, and the fresh cut lettuce and onions gave it a crunch. The fries were fresh, crispy on the outside and slightly fluffy in the middle. Family enjoyed their pizzas and we all loved the beers. They have a full service bar with plenty of national and local flavors on tap as well as in the cooler. They have specialty and cocktails and all types of liquor. Prices are pretty good and are lower than you would find a lot of places in Columbus. I would have no problems recommending this place to anyone that lives, works, or is passing through the area. Ale House is a great alternative to making the drive to Columbus and back for the people that are local and would make a great option for someone that wants to get out of the city and try something new. The food prices are moderate but you get high quality and good portion sizes. This place would be great for lunch, after work with friends, date night, and any special occasion. read more

We had a party of six eating outside on the terrace. The service was good the food was good but the sun without any cover was brutal.

Pleasantly surprised by the menu! More then just basic offerings and the salads were generous. Service was good. A nice crowd coming and going. Would go back and recommend read more

I absolutely love everything about this place!! The food is great! The atmosphere is great! Great selection of Bourbon, and deserts are made locally and amazing! I stop by every time I'm in Lancaster. read more

Ale House 1890 - Fish and Chips.... Delicious !!! - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

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I really love the atmosphere at the Ale house. The food and service is always top notch. The place stays busy in the evenings

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. read more

Ale House 1890 - Love the light fixtures - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

My boyfriend graduated his Masters program and he wanted to choose his place for all of his family to come and eat dinner. They told us no reservations so we called right on the dot when they open to let them know we are on our way. When we arrive to the owner was super snarky telling us that we had to wait two hours even though the restaurant had just open 20 minutes ago. And then they proceeded to tell us that people had reservations before us when they had told us over the phone that they cannot take any reservations. The front staff proceeded to lie to us saying that they don't do reservations, as they are saying that a reservation walked in behind us.We went to the Gaelic pub down the street. The food was amazing the atmosphere was way better than the ale house. Don't waste your time eating with a bunch of douche bags go to the Gaelic pub and have some fun read more

What an awesome place and what an asset to Lancaster. Visited for the first time and was promptly greeted and led to our seats. Our waiter was absolutely fantastic. He even recommended some special items they were offering for the St. Patrick's Day weekend. He talked me into the reuben pizza which was amazing! The prices are very reasonable too. I will visit again, and if the next visit is as good as the first, this establishment will earn a 5 star rating. read more

If are looking for a nice place to have dinner or a little more upscale crowd Ale House is it. The atmosphere is wonderful and the restaurant has brought a little of the old school into this new school era. They have a decent size sitting area with a large bar. In the summer time you can sit outside and they have a nice fire pit area where they will host live music. If you are looking for a banquet room they have a beautiful one that holds a large crowd and over looks downtown. If you want a great drink then I would suggest to sit at the bar and ask for either Potter or Chelcia and you can thank me later. The food there is really good and they have specials most nights of the week. My wife and I love the bruschetta for an appetizer and then we will get either the Cajun chicken pasta or one of the specials. They also have great burgers and if the prime rib is available I would order that. Dessert I would go with the chocolate cake and it can easily be shared by two. When we are looking for a night out or just want a drink or two with friends Ale House is our spot every time. read more

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This is by far our favorite place to eat in Lancaster Ohio. Very casual , reasonably priced , fresh delicious food friendly and engaging staff. There simply are not enough words to convey just how wonderful this local business read more

While in Lancaster Ohio we came to eat here twice. The food and beer selection is very good. The food comes out very quickly and tasted great. The prices are very reasonable. They have a cow head near the front entrance that kept looking at me while I was eating but it was a nice distraction. Servers are very friendly. Not a big place but it's a nice size and nicely decorated. Clean restrooms. It's become one of my favorite spots in this town. We saw an interesting thing close to our table which was located near the back of the building. A delivery person was bringing in kegs of beer, opened a trapdoor in the floor by us, and went down there with the kegs. Must be a secret hiding place. You can kind of see it in one of the photos. read more

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I've been coming to this place for the past few years now with my family. This place beats anywhere else in Lancaster, Ohio. They have great staff. My Family and I are always pleased to come in. Definitely have to check out there gluten free options. Last but not least they're amazing beer selection. Definitely recommend this place! read more

I have been here several times for carry out with the pandemic. I am happy with the French Onion Soup. However, I wish they would do a soup of the day again. My husband often gets a chicken Santa Fe wrap and he is unimpressed. Now he gets a wedge salad and a side of risotto. In the past I've enjoyed the beer battered fried fish and the pecan crusted chicken. At the present time I rely on soup due to a stricture. One suggestion I would make is offer a baked potato as the garlic in the mashed potatoes is way too much! Same with green beans...cook to order and for some of us that means reduced to no garlic. read more

It's a downtown restaurant so parking is slim. The decor and ambiance is classy, clean and aesthetic. I wasn't very impressed by the menu, there was nothing offered that I could order without some alteration. I think they might be trying too hard on the menu to be "avant-garde" or "high end" there's nothing wrong with a simple and classic cheeseburger or salad. I just got a stuffy vibe from the menu and lack of options. I ordered the Santa Fe wrap with no pepper relish or tomato with fries because my parents raved about them. For a really slow early Friday afternoon our food service too way to long, but once we actually got our food it's was delicious. The fries are amazing, probably the only fries I don't use ketchup with because the flavor and balance of seasoning was superb. The price is fair, which surprised me usually places with this chic, hipster feel are overpriced. Our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable and was rarely around when we needed something. Overall : I docked a star for lengthy wait and poor service and another for the limited, yet stuffy and overcompensating menu. Would return but not regularly and only for the fries. read more

We enjoy stopping here when passing thru Lancaster, great feel to the place with plenty of seating, with tons of outdoor seating as well. Plenty of beer options and great food! read more

Ale House 1890 - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

We stopped here to try a local favorite, waited about 30 minutes and casually watched other patrons we knew that had arrived after us be seated but we thought maybe there's a call ahead we didn't know about. About 15 minutes after that (45 minutes total of waiting to be seated) my husband finally asked a different hostess the status of when we would be seated, only to find out the other hostess (young college aged girl) crossed our name off and didn't ask, mention it, call us, nothing. So the hostess said you'll be seated next - sure great! Guess what - the college girl seats another couple next. We left. I don't know - maybe she's having an off night, or maybe customer service isn't her thing. But seriously? read more

Stopped in based on a high Yelp rating and waited almost an hour - we were excited to give it a get try. Once we were finally seared the below average experience continued. Food and service were both below average and everything on the menu was overpriced. Given the choice I would choose elsewhere. read more

Absolutely delicious. Chopped salad had a balsamic dressing was excellent. Chicken with pasta & pesto and shrimp & grits. Lots of flavors. Ali was our server. Very friendly and attentive. Took our pups and they're super dog friendly on their patio, read more

Love love love . A must try. I had the scallops they were wonderful. We are from Cincinnati but thinking about driving up again just to eat. read more

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 ! read more

Ale House 1890 - Fish and chips .... Awesome ! - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

Great food and drinks, fantastic, fun atmosphere, wonderful service! All-round favorite in Lancaster!

What a great find! Can't say enough about it. Super service from a gal named Kendall. She was on top of everything - we were traveling to Missouri and needed something good. Awesome beers. Had a Moscow mule that was superb. Grilled cheese was the best my boyfriend said he ever had. I had a chicken wrap with blue cheese and strawberries. All delicious. Very clean place! Highly recommend! read more

We do enjoy going to the Ale House but usually only go once every couple of months. I, personally feel, that the quantity of food does not match the price. The food tastes wonderful but it is a bit too expensive. For special occasions, this would be a great place to celebrate. This would not be a weekly hang out for us as the prices are too high. Great atmosphere and great service but only every once in a while for us! read more

Ale House 1890 - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

A couple of friends told us to go here and it was really good. My wife had a burger that she said was really good. She had a side salad that was amazing. I went with the ahi poke salad that was just huge. Great flavors and I would order again. Service was good. Little slow on the refills. Knock down for the desert. It was just ok. read more

Ale House 1890 - Poke salad - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

This establishment gets 1 star from me. The permanent #1 tap line of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale kills it for me. In 2021, any establishment that still procures this liquid is way behind the times or pressured by big distro. It's garbage, and any local brewery could offer a far superior barrel aged palatable product. read more

Our server Mac was great. Food was modern pub with a twist. The craft beer list was great - good variety and fair prices. We stopped for lunch on Saturday to take a break from the antique shops. The 7 pepper burger was good - a little hotter than I expected and I like spicy foods. Sweet potatoes fries were a little burnt tasting - so that dropped the star. Also had the BLT w egg - a TON of bacon on Texas toast. The coleslaw is a little different (ok a lot different) so if you are a purest stay away from it. Also at the table we had pretzel bites (Delish) and the three cheese grilled cheese which pulled apart like great slice of pizza - house made chips were very good wished I had those instead of the sweet potato fries. Overall a great stop. Place has a modern vibe, cool decor and we spent a couple hours eating and enjoying some cold ones. read more

I ate here with my family after a day at Hocking Hills. Food was excellent, service was good, and portions were generous but they have major problems with seating capacity. I did call ahead seating from 30 minutes out and they thought we'd be able to get seated for a group of 5 fairly soon after we got there. It ended up being almost an hour wait and that was only because we convinced them to stick a chair on the end of a booth because I had a 3-hour drive home afterwards. The host said they sometimes have difficulty predicting times because of customers lingering since it's more of a bar atmosphere. I can appreciate that, but I wish they would have been upfront because we would have gone elsewhere. It took over 2.5 hours from when we arrived until we left, and we did our best to keep moving on the parts we could control. The host said they sometimes have 3+ hour waits during the summer. Unless you're going to be around Lancaster all day, I'd probably look elsewhere. read more

I recommend the pecan crusted chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. Great crust, not greasy, and normal portions for an affordable price. Also got the fig and pig (thin crust) pizza - rich in taste, not overpowering with bleu cheese (which is a plus). My recommendation to make this pizza spot on would be to add arugula on top (sharp arugula to contrast the sweet fig and carmelized onions). read more

Amazing drinks! Great beer selection, spirits were really good as well. Awesome bourbon available. Food was pretty good, appetizers we got calamari and it was really good. read more

Really disappointed in it tonight. Our 30 min wait was really 45. Waitress more interested in other customers. Ordered an appetizer but were served meal first. Then appetizer was brought as a meal not the appetizer. It was awful. The waitress told us she would charge us for the appetizer instead of the entrée that was brought. However we said it was delivered after a meal we don't want any of it she did take it off of our bill read more

Ale House 1890 - Service is slow hoping diner makes up for it - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio

We will be back!!! Great Service. Delicious Food. Price is Right. Nice Atmosphere. Clean Restaurant (including the bathrooms). My husband ordered the special for the evening, tacos. He said is was very good and fresh ingredients. My daughter ordered the pecan crusted chicken with green bean and red mashed potatoes. She said it was delicious and she would order it again. I ordered the steak and blue cheese salad. It too was delicious. The portion was huge. I ate 3/4 of it and my husband eagerly finished it off. I would order it again. Our waitress was very attentive even though the restaurant was full. We had to wait about 25 minutes for our table but it was worth it. If you haven't been there, give it a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Ale House is fantastic! Food is always good and the new menu is wonderful. The Pecan Crusted Chicken is a favorite along with the Pretzel Bites and the Bread Pudding. The fire pit and outdoor patio area is a great place to spend the evening with friends. read more

I really wanted this place to be great but it fell short in many ways. Atmosphere: The building is very cool and beautiful. Staff: Our waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating. Food: This is where it takes a dive. We ordered the 1890 cheeseburger and it had no taste at all. It was just beef and no frills. It was ordered as medium well and came out medium rare which I promptly sent back. The slaw was ok but had a bit to much vinegar present. The other burger was also very plain. The menu is very simple with not a lot of selection. We had heard that the food was not good, but we decided to take a chance anyway. With that said, Ale House needs to get their act together if they want to remain in the food business. Word is already spreading about its inadequacies. We will not be back unless we hear it the food has improved. read more

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 decor. 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. read more

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. read more

Great place to go in Lancaster! This place kind of restaurant I would expect to find in the Short North in Columbus. We had appetizers to share and each of us ordered cheesy grits which were delicious. Really good drinks for half the price you'd find in Columbus. Our servers were very nice and friendly. They have a great patio with a fire pit out side . Great place to go! I'll be back!! read more

The chocolate cake is to die for, even Marie Antoinette would agree!!!! I've had most of the vegetarian options on both the lunch and dinner menu, they were well prepared also. read more

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. read more

Go. Just go. I could wax poetic here, but just go. Great selection of beers (wine here, too). Had the Tuscan chicken sandwich and the jalapeño cheese grits. Excellent. Gives me a reason to go to Lancaster. Not that I was looking for one. read more

Ale House 1890 - Tuscan chicken sandwich and jalapeño cheese grits. Had it with the Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA and then a Bison Chocolate Stout. - American Near Me - Lancaster, Ohio