Dutch Haven Restaurant — Restaurant in Lock Haven

Update - I reduced the rating another star due to the response. I was gracious about what I thought was really good, and HONEST about what wasn’t. Apparently that wasn’t appreciated, as they basically called me an idiot (I don’t know what a medium rare steak is) and a liar (if two literal bites of steak are half of the meal, it says something about the size of your steaks. Also, after we re-ordered, there were NO attempts to fix the issue - we didn’t even know there WAS an issue until we got the bill). And no, offering a gift card does NOT fix those things. You can keep the gift card. I don’t eat where I can’t trust the people doing the cooking - ever. End of Update.

Let’s start by saying I almost never give bad reviews, but this is a place I won’t be going back to, and I’m extremely disappointed, because it could easily have been so much better. First, the good. The place is cozy, charming and welcoming. The service from the wait staff was very good. But then things start to get complicated.

I ordered Chicken Marsala, and my wife ordered a medium-rare Tavern steak. We were one of only two couples in the place, and the other couple was already eating, so I didn’t expect it to take very long for the food to be prepped. However, it took at least 20 minutes, but probably closer to 30 for the food to arrive. The Chicken Marsala was a large portion and absolutely delicious. My wife’s steak arrived and looked good at first. However, as soon as she cut into it, it was obvious that she hadn’t gotten what she ordered. It was visibly overcooked. It was at least 70% gray through the cross-section, which is at least medium-well done. But she was game to try it.

However, after two bites, it was clear that, without proper training and a warm-up, she was not going to be able to chew that thing. It TASTED good - no issues there. But it was about as digestible as a car tire.

Okay - it happens. When our server stopped back, we explained the issue, and rather than try another steak, my wife ordered the Marsala as well. The server (who was excellent overall) was apologetic and took our new order. That eventually came and was good.

Then we got the bill. To their credit, they only charged us for half the price of the $22 steak dinner, which was inedible, and full price for both my and my wife’s Marsala. Two bites of a very over-cooked steak cost $11. When we asked the manager why we were charged, she said that they “temp” every steak, and that hers was cooked to the medium-rare temperature. And that was all she would say. No offer of an apology, no explanation of how the laws of chemistry and physics don’t apply in their kitchen (the change in color is a chemical phenomenon with stable parameters - you don’t get a steak that color by heating it to the temp for medium-rare. At least not if it’s the FIRST time you’re cooking it), nothing.

We’ve eaten a lot of steaks in a lot of places, and never have we gotten that kind of frigid, dictatorial, inflexible and uncaring response. The normal response is to take back the steak, and prepare a new one correctly. We’ve had it happen, and when it’s corrected, it’s a non-issue - I never blame a place for a simple mistake. And we go back to such places time and again. Not here.

I don’t want to say don’t try it - it has its good points. But if there are any problems, be prepared to have the management consider YOU to be the problem, regardless of what obvious mistakes they...

I've been dining at Dutch Haven every week for the better part of a year, so you can believe me when I say that it's an unusually well-run restaurant. The owners are hands-on both out-front and in the kitchen, and they do a great job hiring and training staff that is consistently both friendly and professional. If you're just looking for a burger or a beer and some hot wings, they've got you covered (especially on Thursday nights!). But there's also fresh fish on Fridays; prime rib on Saturdays; a buffet on Sundays; and a rotating cast of weekly specials, daily fresh soups, and creative desserts. Even if, like me, you're a regular, there's almost always something new to try.

There's plenty of room for large groups, especially if you call ahead. A reservation is also an option for smaller groups. But, except for special holidays, you don't really need one if you're prepared to wait a few minutes during their busiest times (mostly, Saturday nights or...

I ordered the cowboy burger. It was definitely a frozen patty that was burned and dry. I had it sent back, and they brought me a new one. It's not as burned but just as dry, and there is no BBQ sauce. Really could not eat. The waitress never asked me if my second one was better. I wasn't sending it back a second time. I just let it on my plate. She took the plate, and I told her the second was no better than the first. Both owners were there, and no one came to speak to me. Then, when we got the bill, they charged me for the burger. I handed it back to the waitress and told her I was sorry, but I was not paying for the burger. They did remove it, no questions asked. Don't think I will be coming back for the cafeteria food again. There are much nicer restaurants in Lock Haven that have fresh and flavorful foods. No...