Gettysburg isn't just for history buffs! This city also offers its visitors a very delicious and vibrant local food scene making it the perfect getaway for die hard foodies as well...
This post was created in partnership with Destination Gettysburg. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.
(Updated May 2023)
Food happens to be a big part of our family travels. I genuinely believe it is one of the best ways to get a true feel for the flavor & local vibe of any new city or area that we visit. We do have a few rules in place when dining out while we are traveling though...
- No fast food restaurants or national chains, aka nothing that we can eat back in our hometown on any ole day of the week.
- Locally owned & operated. Bonus points if most or all of their menu happens to be locally sourced as well.
- And they must be family friendly (a decent kids' menu, friendly atmosphere), but still appeal to the adults (aka, the hard core foodies) and the almost adult in the family. ;)
During our recent visit to Gettysburg a few weekends ago, not only did we get to immerse ourselves in the rich history and Civil War heritage of the city, but we also got a taste of the city's local food scene largely thanks to our friends at Destination Gettysburg.
From local coffee spots to dining in buildings where history was created to locally crafted brews, Gettysburg is not just for history buffs, folks. Gettysburg also has a very delicious and vibrant local food scene making it the perfect getaway for die hard foodies as well...
Gettysburg Baking Company- 17 Lincoln Square, located in the heart of the city
But what might have been most impressive was this burger, folks... ;)
Whether you are looking for a cup of fresh brewed coffee, a creamy latte, or freshly baked treat for breakfast or a quick dessert, the Gettysburg Baking Company is a must when visiting the city.
On the recommendation of one of my Instagram followers, we decided to quickly duck into this little bakery and coffee shop after dinner at The Pub and right before heading out for our candlelit ghost tour.
My son and I both went for flavored lattes to help keep us warm during our walking tour. All of their flavored syrups are homemade, folks. I snagged one of their flaky and tender Morning Glory Rolls (pictured above) to enjoy for breakfast the next morning in our hotel room. ;)
The Ragged Edge Coffee House- 82 Steinwehr Avenue
The Ragged Edge Coffee House was just a short walk from our hotel, so my son and I ventured out to check out this cafe and art gallery during our last morning in Gettysburg. The beans are roasted in-house, and they also provide a full breakfast and lunch menu making it perfect for a quick breakfast stop before heading out to explore the battlefield.
The coffee was definitely delicious, but what impressed me most was the upstairs of the coffee house...
There is a ton of comfortable seating upstairs, but there is also a play area, folks! If you all have ever tried visiting a trendy coffee shop with little ones in tow, then you know just how amazing this is. ;)
The kiddos can play and stay entertained while the parents enjoy a nice mug of java and have some adult conversation- gasp!
Dobbin House Tavern (Springhouse Tavern)- 89 Steinwehr Avenue
Having been built in 1776, the Dobbin House is the oldest building located in Gettysburg. While the building was first built as a home for Reverend Alexander Dobbin and his family, it also later served as a "station" in the Underground Railroad and as a field hospital following the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg.
The home has been completely restored to how it looked over 200 years ago. Even the china & flatware that they use in the tavern & dining rooms have been recreated to exactly match fragments that were unearthed during the excavation of the cellar!
We headed to the Dobbin House to dine in their Springhouse Tavern for lunch on our first full day in Gettysburg. Due to the low lighting (note all the candles), I was unable to get any decent photos of our meals using my DSLR.
But feel free to click on over to my Instagram to check out a pic of their Baked King's Onion Soup. This soup is one of their bestsellers, and it was easy to see why! My son opted for the Dobbin's Hot Beef Sandwich and my husband enjoyed one of their burgers.
And make sure to save room for dessert! Their Pecan Pye is simply divine- chock full of buttery pecans!
Insider Tip- Get there before they open at 11:30am! The tavern is quite small and fills up quickly, and there is usually a small crowd waiting to get into the tavern at least 20 minutes before they open the doors. We were one of the first tables sat, thus why I was able snap the photo above before the tavern quickly filled up. You can access the tavern from inside the building directly across from the Country Curiosity Store or from a narrow entrance on the outside of the building.
Gettysburg Eddie's- 217 Steinwehr Avenue
Gettysburg Eddie's is a baseball themed restaurant & sports bar that happens to be a favorite spot with many of the locals. We took a break from our battlefield tour and stopped in here for a quick bite for lunch. To say that my baseball loving husband was in his element here would be an understatement.
They offer a variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and pasta dishes, but we were most impressed with their Little Leaguer's menu for children. Although all of the restaurants we visited in Gettysburg were kid and family friendly, I believe that Gettysburg Eddie's may have been Little Miss's favorite. And it had nothing to do with the fact they gave her Cracker Jack after her lunch. ;)
Appalachian Brewing Company- 70 Presidential Circle
The Appalachian Brewing Company is about a 10 minute drive from the historic downtown area of Gettysburg, but is definitely worth a visit if you happen to be a lover of locally crafted beers. Or a lover of really tasty pub food.
Either way you will not be disappointed with ABC. ;) I will admit that the fact that they offer a generous selection of locally produced Flagship and Seasonal Specialty beers on tap is what first drew me in. But they also offer a nice variety of small-batch brewed craft sodas perfect for the kiddos.
Though I was tempted by many of the dinner choices on the menu, I went with the recommendation of our server and ordered one of their popular signature dishes- the Mile High Meatloaf. A thick slice of tender Angus beef meatloaf is served over Texas Toast and then topped with a beer gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, and crispy fried onion straws. Comfort food perfection, folks.
Insider Tip- It appears to get quite busy there are weekend nights, so if you have little ones with you I would suggest arriving early for dinner or trying the brewing company for lunch instead. The youngest (and even the oldest) got a bit restless during the wait for our table.
The Pub & Restaurant- 20-22 Lincoln Square
The Pub is located right in the heart of historic downtown Gettysburg & was just around the corner from our hotel. The Pub offers a very extensive menu with everything from homemade soups to pizza to pastas to burgers and so much more.
Even their kids' menu is impressive with 14 different meal choices for those 12 years old and younger!
My son was feeling brave and decided to order the Brandt's Gut Buster bacon cheeseburger which consisted of two 8-ounce burgers stacked with lots of cheese and crispy bacon! They seriously should start offering a free t-shirt or your name on a wall or something if you happen to finish it all.
Which much to the awe and amazement of all of us sitting at our table, my son did just that- he polished off the entire thing!
I ordered the Grimster's Beef grilled sandwich, and wowzers, folks! Tender & juicy pulled beef brisket is sauteed with mushrooms & onions, topped with cheese & au jus, and then served on a baguette roll from Gettysburg Baking Company. Amazingness!
My only regret about our visit to The Pub is that we didn't have time to share a slice of their Andes Mint Cake. We are saving that for our next visit to Gettysburg though. ;)
Have you visited Gettysburg before?
What is your favorite local spot to eat at when visiting there?
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