Mendenhall Inn is a unique place that is more of a complex than just a restaurant and hotel. It can be a little confusing to figure out where you are going, even with the signage, as the arrows designating where you are trying to head aren't pointing to their correct destinations, and some things, such as the restaurant, are absent from the signs in the parking lot. Once you find the right entrance though, preparing yourself for brunch here still will not be enough to ready you for the awesome experience that you will receive. The value alone for the price is worth coming here repeatedly, and that is without me even knowing if the menu for brunch changes seasonally or based on what is available on the market at the time! The dining room is very well set, minus the goofy china, and we were quickly greeted by our wonderful server. She engaged in my insane ramblings and conversation and told us all about the comings and goings of the restaurant and everything else I wanted to ask about. Our mimosas, champagne, and coffee were kept flowing and full at all times! The actual brunch buffet was outstanding. I was dumbfounded at the quality and variety of the foods on offer, especially the amount and selection of cold seafood. They have unlimited oysters!!!!!!! With all the accoutrement that you could possibly want for them. As well as mussels. So if you are a shellfish or smoked fish fan, get here immediately. The hot foods were also unbelievably good with one of my personal highlights being a banana foster; flambéed right in front of you that you can stack on top of waffles, French toast, or anything you'd like; in my case just eating a huge bowl of the bananas. This is a great brunch buffet in a little town that I never even knew was there despite having been to Kennett Square and the surrounding areas many times. It's actually a small town called Mendenhall. Makes you wonder if it's named after the Inn? Whether it is or not, this is somewhere you should definitely put on your list and come here. I don't know about lunch or dinner, but the brunch is stellar and I will definitely be returning many times in the future. read more

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My husband and I have been coming to Mendehall Inn Restaurant for many, many years. In fact, we celebrated two weddings there. I have hosted several family gatherings and celebrations there as well for Sunday brunch and we were really looking forward to a very special time when Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, the service and appearance of the food left a lot to be desired. I had a 2:30 reservation for nine family members. Most of us barely ate anything. We had to look for someone to serve coffee and beverages and we were forced to put our dirty plates at the end of our table or put them on another table as the weren't removing them in a timely manner. Going forward I will not plan any family gatherings on holidays at your restaurant. Serving the masses really cuts back on the quality of your service and food We were very disappointed. read more

Fantastic Mother's Day brunch. Expensive but worth it! Had never been in the banquet hall before and it was noisy! But plenty of room. The buffet held everything you can think of : shrimp, mussels, crab claws, oysters, prime rib & lamb to name just a few. read more

The room was okay. The parking is terrible, long walk to a dark lot that is shared with the restaurant. It has a few light posts but several do not work. We asked to check in around 2pm as the place was deserted, the daytime front desk agent didn't want to be disturbed or helpful. Came back at 6pm and the front desk agent on duty then was very helpful. I understand check in time is technically 4pm, but the hotel was pretty empty. We went to the tavern to eat at 7pm and by 7:45 when we hadn't even received our soups we walked out. We weren't drinking, so we weren't a priority for the waitress. There are too many other great restaurants and hotels in the area. Try anywhere else. This place used to be the Gold Standard , but sadly that is no longer true for the hotel or restaurant. read more

This is a hidden gem near longwood gardens. We bring our family/friends here for birthday celebrations and Mother's Day buffet brunch. It's a beautiful restaurant, the ambiance is classy, however, you don't need a suit and tie. The food is all so very delicious, I've never had a bad dish. The desserts are hard to choose from. I normally do the banana fosters which they flambé the bananas in front of you. But this time we went with strawberry bread pudding and hot fudge sundae, both scrumptious. The appetizers and main course was enjoyed by my family. Sherlyn gave excellent service. It's definitely a special place. There are hotels room's attached, however, we've not stayed overnight. read more

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Convenient to tourist sites. Easy parking. Room was quiet at night. But it smelled like mildew and breakfast was no better than a highway Marriott but less healthy. Would not stay here again. read more

Was looking forward to a good meal but left disappointed. The service was ok but the food left a lot to be desired. Always ordered their crabcakes as they were known to be very good. Since the Little Inn and the Concordville Inn are both gone the only place left for the Creamy Crabcakes was the Mendenhall. We had my daughters wedding reception there a few years back and everything was wonderful and delicious. What a disappointment. Ordered the crab cakes .Meal came with one crabcake unless you specified you wanted 2. They were not creamy and the seasonings used were nothing I had ever tasted and were not good at all. Didn't even eat one . The bread with dinner was a sour dough ciabatta that was served with small butter balls that weren't large enough for a piece of bread. (Not a fan of sour dough) Meal came with 2 golf ball sized potatoes and again not enough butter. Was told vegetable would be green beans almondine but were simply green beans. They were the best part of the meal after we added butter to them. One guest in our party ordered stuffed lobster stuffed with crab imperial and again the lobster was stuffed with the same weird tasting crabmeat. All in all, the meal I was looking forward to ended up being very disappointing. I always thought of the Mendenhall as a top notch restaurant but not anymore. read more

Picked this place because it's a stones throw from Longwood Gardens. It was pretty confusing finding the entrance to the restaurant portion. This thing is a small self contained city. Our starter was the devils eggs with blue crab. Those were really good. For my main I got the Mahi Mahi sandwich. The amount of fish on the sandwich was a little sad. It tasted good just a bunch more bun than fun. My wife got the scallops and shrimp. This said on the menu it came with the wasabi mashed potatoes but when it showed up it was a sweet potato. We asked the waiter and he said he thought it was a choose your own adventure kinda thing. It was on the menu though so I don't think it was. Either way the scallops and shrimp were overcooked. They were pretty rubbery. Kinda seemed like this place is fancier in Decor and service than the actual cuisine. 5 people and the bill was only $208 which isn't bad with apps and drinks. read more

Such a beautiful venue for a bridal shower! We rented the space next to the host stand and had a few tables set up outside. The staff was attentive, the bartender kept the drinks flowing and the food was so delicious. Complete with freshly cut prime rib and a mashed potato bar. We were able to arrive early and decorate. They even had extra vases and flowers we could use for outside. A wonderful venue! read more

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Great wedding venue! The gold ballroom, the patio, and the grounds are beautiful! The food is delicious! Everything was perfect! read more

Mendenhall Inn Restaurant - The ballroom is beautiful! - New American Near Me - Mendenhall, Pennsylvania

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The restaurant and conference center were excellent. The servers are their strongest part of their team, i hope they appreciate those servers. The lunch meals were excellent, they out did the dinner! The dinner was also good but not as good as the lunches. Just weird use of gravy (beef) on chicken. I don't think that was a good idea. The energy of the place is positive and i really enjoyed the property. There is a train that comes though every now and then and it shakes the place. Also some of he rooms had mold issues and some of our teammates had to be moved. Other than that, it was a good place and worth the money. Give them a go! read more

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Really enjoyed our dinner here. I had roasted duck which was tender and flavorful with a nicely crisped skin. It came with sides of haricot vert and Yukon gold roasted potatoes. My partner had a Caesar salad with 3 scallops added. The menu allows one to add your preferred number of shrimp, scallops etc. Nice flexibility! The ambience is quiet and upscale. Drinks were generous, service impeccable and prices quite fair. We cancelled our reservation at another place for tonight so we can return here to try other offerings! read more

Mendenhall Inn Restaurant - View into the bar area - New American Near Me - Mendenhall, Pennsylvania

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We had a great time at the Inn. Food was very good, service was amazing. Great menu for both adults and kids in the party. Enjoyed the drinks and desserts. Not sure why we've overlooked this place in the past, but will certainly be back, even without any other reason to be in the area. read more

(4) ~ very good overall Sunday Brunch Buffet. Note: Reservations recommended. DRINKS: ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) ** Mimosa = (4) very nice treat, although I would have preferred just Orange Juice ** Coffee = (4) very fresh FOOD: ** Blue Crab Claws = (4.25) Very good & Rare find;) ** Eggs Benedict = (4.25) Very good, especially considering its buffet style ** Grilled Asparagus = (4) very good ** Peel & Eat Shrimp = (4) very good cocktail sauce ** Broiled Lump Crab Cakes = (4) very nice ** Breakfast Potatoes = (4) very tasty ** Prime Rib Station (w. Au jus) = (4) very tender ** Lobster Bisque = (4) very tasty w. bits of lobster meat. It's located on the Cheese Table. ** Bacon = (4) very solid version ** Chocolate Chip and M&M's cookies = (4) very soft & chewy;) * Pork Sausage = (3.75) Good, but not great... * Ahi Tuna = (3.75) Good, but slightly mushy... * Chocolate Mousse Cup = (3.75) Good, but not great... * Creme Brulee French Toast = (3.5) good, but definitely room for improvement... read more

My family was generally disappointed with this place. Nice ambiance, solid steak, and good salad options were high points. All else was meh. Worst was the roasted half duck (actually two thighs)... over-roasted with rubbery skin. Service was also meh. Our reserved table for six only had 5 chairs, some menus were blank inside. Had to flag folks down for more water or coffee. read more

We live nearby and had not been here in a while, so we ran over for dinner. The restaurant is part of a sprawling campus which includes an inn with guest rooms and several buildings for banquets and meetings. The restaurant blends in and is undistinguishable from the rest. Upon entering the right building, you encounter a large bar that looks fun on Friday. The dining room is beyond the bar, and decorated in a bland, nondescript style that blends in with the rest of the complex. The drink and wine list is ok. Wife chose a ginger liquor-based concoction that she liked. I was looking for wine by the glass, where the best sauvignin blanc is Nobilio, and the best chardonnay is Kendal Jackson. These should be the lesser choices, with Rombauer and Cakebread as the better options. There is no reason not to have high quality whites on thd by the glass list!! And this theme carried through the meal... the best choices offerred were mundane. Things like steaks and pasta are presented in a very basic, traditional way. With each featured protein, we automatically got green beans and chunked potatoes--no option. Wife asked for prime rib medium, and got a thin slice of meat that was rare inside and flash browned on the outside. Not truly medium throughout. I got duck, and it was very bland--almost tasted like chicken. The recipes are bland and vintage, not up to the standards of modern, innovative cuisine. Service was ok, kind of stiff and traditional. Just overall, this place did not vibe with me. Seemed like the kind of place my grandparents might find comforting. It is not worse than a three but I will avoid returning. read more

This is our first time staying at the inn and have dined at their restaurant a few times and always look forward to our next meal. The bartender poured me the best cocktails throughout happy hour and our meal. We were a party of 7. The service was and is always top notch, and was nice to know that some staff were still there after several years from our last visit. Every entree looked and had high reviews! Thank you for another fabulous dining experience! If you haven't been, take the opportunity and venture out to this Inn and restaurant, you won't be disappointed. read more

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The place was packed (Valentine's Day). There were so many delicious-sounding dishes on the menu, it took us a long time to decide what to have. Everything we ordered (steak, shrimp, scallops), including appetizers (Kennett Square stuffed mushrooms, snapper soup with sherry) and desserts (toffee cake), was delicious, with the exception of my mashed potatoes, which were over-mixed and gluey. Everything else was interesting, well seasoned, and cooked correctly. Our server was a little hard to find at times. The ambience is high-end country swank, with exposed beams and that sort of thing. Expensive, so be prepared. I would definitely go back, preferably on somebody else's dime. read more

Sherlyn was the attendee at this fabulous restaurant. The food was delicious and amazing. The ambiance was out of this world. Service was five stars . read more

Me and The Hubs were visiting family in the area last fall and stayed at the Mendenall Inn. On our first night, we had dinner in their restaurant since we'd been traveling ALL day and didn't want to get in the car again to go out and have dinner. Actually, I had made a reservation, but it turned out not to be necessary (it was mid-week and there were only a few other tables of diners when we got there after 7PM). We were tired and punchy after traveling, but both of us wanted to relax and have a nice dinner. We started with martinis and apps. I had a shrimp cocktail and I think The Hubs probably had oysters if they were available. I think we also shared the beet salad. All apps and drinks were great! Our server was a lovely older gentleman who was quite gracious. We dawdled and relaxed with drinks and then ordered dinner. The Hubs ordered a steak (ribeye, I think) that came with potatoes and vegetables and I ordered the fish of the day (I think it might have been halibut) that also came with sides. Anyway, both his steak and my fish were painfully overcooked. His med-rare steak was well-done, and my fish was so dry I had to ask for extra lemon just to eat it. Normally, I would have sent my fish back, but we had lingered so long that it was getting late and close to their closing time (plus I was tired and wanted to get some sleep). The restaurant is fairly upscale in a dated sort of way (80's, maybe early 90's?. There's no need to dress up, although I would plan to wear something decent (no shorts or tank tops). I did see a couple of men leaving when we arrived that were wearing blazers. The majority of of the diners that were there were the 65+ crowd (including us, lol). Despite our overcooked entrees, we had a nice time anyway. I would eat here again under similar circumstances, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back if I wasn't staying at the hotel. read more

They advertise (on Menu) a half a duck. They serve you two duck legs. I called the manager and asked about it. He said they always served the half duck as two legs and no one ever complained. I told him he is a liar. Used to be a great restaurant. Now it is terrible. read more

Ummm don't walk but RUN to the Mendenhall Inn Restaurant Brunch on Sundays!! When I tell you that this is the BEST brunch buffet by far (& reasonable) I really mean it! My husbae and I came celebrating our 4 year anniversary and we are planning to come back at least once a month!! Lol it was PHENOMENAL . They have a fully loaded seafood station, dessert station, carving station. They have made to order omelets and at the time we were there it was made to order bananas foster. The waitstaff were so accommodating and cheerful! There was also a live band which made the vibe extra cool! I'm telling you, this is the one! It's sundays only from 10-1p and by reservation. You will not be disappointed read more

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The service was good, but the food... Please, for the love of God, consider bringing a new chef on board. No modern upscale restaurant garnishes their food with carrot shreds. Carrots as garnish on EVERYTHING just scream cheap cafeteria food. The food wasn't terrible, but looked extremely unappealing, the lighting in the restaurant made everything look even less appealing, almost discolored. Mendenhall's menu reeks of 1990s and it's time to change. I understand that Mendenhall caters to a certain audience, we noticed that we were the only young couple there that night... but what are you guys going to do in another ten years? Still going to try to impress younger generation with the same old menu? It's time. New year, new chef. How about some plant based options? How about a couple of gluten free things? You're in the area that's known for its mushrooms farms and you're not taking advantage of it! An amazing mushroom bisque soup that's to die for, or best stuffed mushrooms in the area will draw more locals in. You know who will take advantage of that? A young talented chef who has a modern vision and who LOVES food. Do you have a chef at all? Do they even like food? Seems like they hate cooking. Please hire a new chef. read more

Mendenhall Inn Restaurant - New American Near Me - Mendenhall, Pennsylvania

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Excellent food and drink. The snapper soup was very tasty. The wait staff was very attentive and very nice ambiance.

I have never had a bad meal here. I ask for the same waiter every time. He is awesome. My wife and daughter have food allergies and he is very attentive. I love the ambiance. The noise level is just right. read more

all good . Andy excellent waiter and remembers people from one time to the next. prices are reasonable too

There for Thanksgiving, several times. This year was deplorable. Run of the mill room, ice cold food, very poor service. The food selections cam right off of a diner menu. Desert pies still in disposable tins. Shrimp heavily seasoned and boiled till dry and tough. Bananas and pasta held for entire period, oud and lost fresh flavor. Roast beef would have been warmer in a refrigerator. Gone are all the thing that made this special. And all this for a 60 dollar lunch.....NEVER AGAIN ​ read more

It's a decent motel, but the restaurant, stay away from. We had high hopes with calamari as an appetizer, done perfectly, and wedge salads, artfully prepared and had the perfect balance of ingredients. Then out came the dinners. and our expectations withered with the first few bites. The medium rare prime rib was tough and chewy, cooked on too high a temperature, The halibut was overcooked and dry. All this came with sides of no flavor potatoes and almost raw green beans. Our server was great. Ambiance is nice for the 1980s. The meals were stunningly bad. Never again for me. read more

Just had a wonderful dinner. Expertly prepared and presented beautifully. Andrew was our waiter and he was quite professional with a great personality. A little on the higher price side but well worth it. read more

Very mediocre and not inexpensive. Attractive dining room and good ambience. Service was attentive but that's the best that I can say. We were expecting better cuts of beef from a 'steak' restaurant, especially for the price. The steak was chewy and prime rib of limited flavor. The salmon was OK. Good side vegetables on the plates Side order of Brussels sprouts was good. Lobster bisque a bit salty We did not have dessert. The restaurant seemed like a great choice, especially when staying at the hotel. We'd go back to the hotel but next time will seek out something down the road for a meal read more

Great specials of prefix meals last time ate with huge party and all were pleasantly pleased. For folks that like Prime rib they are known for this special dish. Very pleasant atmosphere and attentive staff. Have not been here since Covid but they also have nice bar options read more

Traditionally our favorite dining location for our celebrations. Lovely atmosphere, great food & courteous staff. Gracious staff enhance the dining experience! Thankful the restaurant is coming back to life after our country's challenging 2020! Cheers! read more

Can't accommodate wheelchair users. Host and managers have no business running a restaurant. Subpar and extremely rude customer service, made a reservation for six but could seat us due to my 86th year old grandmother being in a wheelchair (on her 86th birthday no less). read more

The Mendenhall Inn is beautiful. I was looking forward to the Easter Buffet. What a disappointment? it was very pricey and before you even were seated you had to pay and a 22% gratuity was added automatically. The food was cold. The food choices were lacking more variety. There was no cooked fish option or a pasta or rice dish. There was one chicken piccata option. The sushi offering was very limited. There were not enough vegatable options. Nor were there option to make a garden salad. The pastries were small, lacked taste and presentation. The lack of cheesecake, carrot cake or chocolate cake was disappointing. Also having to dodge wait staff carrying uncovered platters of food to the buffet through the crowd of people was a turnoff. Woheld not recommen. However I have had wonderful and delicious dinners in the dining room. Easter was such a disappointment. read more

Many great experiences over the years here, especially with my grandparents when they lived nearby. I miss them, and this place totally reminds me of all the dinner memories with them! TIP -- Waitstaff said sometimes Ryan Philippe (nearby resident) hangs out at the bar, though his uncle owns Brandywine Prime, so he is more likely to be there. Hadn't been for several years and a reno had taken place. New patio is perhaps more vibrant and functional, but is tacky stamped concrete, far crappier than bluestone that was there before. Just my personal opinion there. Also, the new bar is kind of corporate decor looking, which is not as cozy as the old Brandywine barn stone and such. Again, my old school opinion, preferring it as it was. Same great entrees and table-side flaming dessert preparation. Same fun ambiance. Husband's prime rib was not the quality it used to be, though. Took a star off for that. Hopefully another try will redeem it. Mike was our server, and he hooked us up with strong-ass awesome drinks! Thank you, Mike! Duck was so delicious. I cleaned the bones! Prime Rib special was excellent, as usual. Pricey, but worth it. IMO, solid choice for a good meal. In many years, we have never been disappointed. read more

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Went for brunch and was completely disappointed. For $42 a person you shouldn't feel like the place is completely mailing it in. It was slow so no fresh food was being brought out even though it was 1:15 and it ends at 2. The prime rib ran out no replacement, crab cakes ran out no replacement. Online it said there was a "chicken of the day" and there was no chicken what so ever. Dessert was also very disappointing. There's a lot else you can do with $42 dollars than to waste it here for brunch. Only giving it a 2 star because the staff and manager were nice people. read more

We had dinner tonight at the Mendenhall Inn for the Thanksgiving Buffet. It was Marvelous! The food was top notch! Every single item on that buffet was extraordinary. The Lobster Bisque was so scrumptious. It was in a smaller than usual crowd, but the service was beyond incredible. The newly renovated ballroom was just beautiful and tastefully decorated. Needless to say, I highly recommend this all inclusive Hotel/ Restaurant/Vacation Spot for any event. read more

Just take the restaurant out back and shoot it! Its time Mendenhall. Your service is god awful, your menu old and tired, your food is just above mediocre and its just time. Shoot yourself. Put us all out of our misery. read more

Wow. What a special brunch that we had today. So it's Christmas time, and there was Santa and a live Frank Sinatra-type singer crooning fantastic Christmas-y tunes. He was really good. But it gets better. Brunch was phenomenal. Omelet bar, lump-crab cakes, delicious shrimp, a carving station, eggs Benedict, extensive dessert bar, banana foster Station, Bloody Mary Station, Stone Crabs!, and many delicious vegetables not to mention lovely fruit kebabs. Our expectations were not high given the 3/5 yelp stars, but Santa was our target and our kids hadn't seen him this season. He was awesome, gentile, kind and truly made for a memorable experience. Oh and our waiter was perfect. Honestly our experience here was as good as, if not better than, the Four Seasons or most any country club I've been to. Well done Mendenhall. We will be back for Sunday brunch, though we will miss the live crooner serenade and Santa's great energy. read more

We have dined at this restaurant several dozen times over the years. The food , atmosphere and service is excellent. In fact it is one of our favorite restaurants in the countey. We eat out all the time and we are in the wine business. Our winery Thorn Hill Vineyards is located in Napa Ca., but we have a home in Lancaster Pa. I find it hard to believe any negative reviews on this fine restaurant, all I can say is some people can not be pleased no matter what you do for them. We highly recommend this restaurant especially the Sunday Brunch. Jack & Amy Thorn. read more