Black Gryphon — Restaurant in Mount Joy Township

Our first visit to Black Gryphon in Elizabethtown PA was a memorable and overall enjoyable dining experience that brought a subtle taste of Wales to our table.

Appetizers We started with two appetizers the Artichoke and Bitter Greens Dip and the Welsh Rarebit Fondue. The dip was a hit with the whole family. It was rich and flavorful and the bitter greens added a nice contrast to the creamy base.

The fondue was not as well received. It seemed like it may have been thickened with flour which gave it a grainy texture. We were expecting something smoother and creamier. It was not unpleasant but we are unlikely to order it again.

Entrees For main dishes we had the Traditional Welsh Fish and Chips the 10oz Grilled Strip Steak an Amish Pork Chop special and the Crab Cake Sandwich.

The Fish and Chips were tasty. The fish was fresh and well cooked. However it did not seem like a true tempura batter. It lacked the light airy crispiness typically expected from tempura. The portion was also smaller than we expected. One more piece of fish would have helped justify the price.

The Strip Steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and came as two smaller cuts. The stwmp was excellent and even the kid enjoyed it. We did not notice much in the way of mushrooms onions or herb butter on the steak as described. The meat was well prepared but could have used more seasoning or flavor.

The Amish Pork Chop with Apple Gravy was the highlight of the night. It was juicy flavorful and paired well with the sweet apple gravy. The mac and cheese was decent and made a good side for the dish.

Our daughter had the Crab Cake Sandwich. She did not share any of it which usually means it was very good.

Drinks We had two Cokes and an unsweetened iced tea. The tea had a smooth mellow flavor and was very enjoyable.

Desserts For dessert my wife and daughter each ordered the BF Fudge Creme Brulee while I had a scoop of Elderberry Ice Cream. The creme brulee was outstanding with a crisp sugar top and a deep rich chocolate flavor that moved from a mild dark chocolate to a smooth milk chocolate. The elderberry ice cream was creamy and had a unique fruity taste. It was my first time trying elderberry ice cream and I hope to have it again.

Service The service was perfect. Staff were friendly, attentive, and timed the courses just right. We felt welcomed and relaxed and never rushed.

Final Thoughts Black Gryphon offers a thoughtful mix of comfort food and creative flavors with a touch of Welsh inspiration. Not every dish was a standout but the overall experience was positive and the service was exceptional. We are definitely looking forward to a return visit especially for that pork chop and creme brulee.

Our bill was $170 after taxes. We ordered more than most families of three would order, however, we like to explore when we try a new...

Did I go to the same Black Gryphon that everyone else did? Is there another location in Elizabethtown? Why all the great reviews??? Because we unfortunately did not have the same feeling leaving the restaurant as everyone else did. Let me say this first...I never ever take the time to create a review of a restaurant that I visited. If I’m leaving a review, you better listen...lol. Firstly, the menu is a small two sided piece of paper. One side you have several choices for appetizers, and on the reverse side you only have 4 choices for the main course and 10 or so different burger options. Not much to choose from if I’m being honest. Anyway, the website claims that they have a welsh menu, so I thought I’d play it safe and choose the fish and chips......what a pitiful and scrawny piece of fish it was. Did I mention it was $18??? Eighteen dollars for a piece of fish that could have fit in my hand and a handful of fries scraps. I will say that it tasted good, but not a very good value for my money. The service was fine, she was nice and polite. As a recap, my quick review is this: Limited choices on the menu, small portions, and expensive...yep, that sums...

Food wasn't bad but for selling itself as upscale it really doesn't meet those requirements. You have to ask for the menu with the sandwiches on it during dinner which if you don't know they have it, would never be offered to you. We had a large group (9 people) and they took a good hour to finally get the food out to us. Some food of our groups food was not hot when it came out which was unimpressive. Our waiter was attentive at least and filled water and replaced the bread quickly. Our one group member had a messed up order so she asked for a different item. When she asked for crab meaning the crab cake sandwich since she had ordered a sandwich originally they brought her the crab cake meal and she did not find this out until the bill came. I understand she did not specify but logic would follow she meant another sandwich not a meal. It felt a bit like upselling at her expense. All and all a nice establishment as we have been there before they just don't handle groups well. Still I would just as well save some coin and go to a friendlier place like...