The First Post — Restaurant in Springettsbury Township

We've been coming to The First Post for a few years now. We kept coming back because the food has always been good and we've always had an enjoyable experience.

A few weeks ago, we had an experience that was less than ideal. We made a reservation for nine for dinner. When we arrived, they showed us to our table, which we didn't have to wait for. However, they told us that we needed to be out by a certain time. I hate this. I get you having other reservations and walk ins, but I've never been told this at any other restaurant I've been to. Why is this always a thing here? It makes you feel like, "Sure, you can come in, but don't overstay your welcome". It makes you feel unwelcome.

When we sat down, we ordered a bunch of appetizers and drinks. After a while the waitress asked us for our entrees. My son loves the steak here. A year or so ago, he ordered a steak that was served with a peppercorn sauce. He loved it. Last time we were there, though, they had replaced it on the menu. We mentioned this and the wait staff had no issues asking the chef if they could make it. Sure enough, they were happy to make the sauce for him. That was awesome. During this visit, the waitress said she would see if they could do it. This time, however, she said they didn't have the ingredients to make the sauce. I find it hard to believe that their kitchen didn't have the ingredients for a simple peppercorn sauce. Based on her delivery of the news it sounded like 1) she didn't feel like asking or 2) they didn't feel like making it. Either way, for a place like this, that's really not a good look.

At times, the place feels like it's trying to be more upscale. The bar and front setup feel high end. The pricing is a little on the higher side for certain things. That's kind of where it ends though. Some of the wait staff give off this vibe that you're just taking up their time and couldn't care less if you were actually there. I mean, even the hostess staff likes to tell you how long you have left. Between all of this, the general attitude vibes and the lack of flexibility for a basic sauce, it just doesn't give you that upscale experience. There are many other places in York and even Baltimore that can provide a better experience than what...

I have been to The First Post in some capacity or another probably 20 times since they opened and never once had a bad meal or experience, it was always really great, and one of our favourite places to go out, and to take friends and family who were from out of town.

So I was really disappointed when myself and a family member from out of town arrived on Friday (around 4:45p hoping to beat some of the Friday rush), and asked for a table for 2, and was asked if I had a reservation. I was unaware when that changed, because any other time, I was told that reservations were only for parties of I think 5 or 6+. But anyway, they told me otherwise, I couldn't get in until 7:30p. We looked at the bar, but there was not space-- it was packed, every high top table and every seat at the bar filled. There were even a few people lingering at the bar like they were waiting for a high top to empty.

As we were leaving, two women were standing at the host station and also asked for a table for two. When asked if they had a reservation, they said no. But one of the other employees said "hold on", and went in to the dining room, like she was possibly looking for a table? It sat the wrong way with me. We lingered outside for a bit, to try and find another place to dine, and never saw those women come back out.

I don't know exactly what happened there, but I know they were not told the same thing that we were, and from that, I will think twice about coming here when we have guests in town. Unless I guess I make a reservation. I'm sure the hostesses will say this never happened, but I know what I heard.

And it's sad because as I mentioned, never once did I have a negative experience here. We always enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and the staff has been great....chuck it up to an off night? Chuck it up to preferred service over someone else...whatever. It's...

I was impressed. Often you have a knock out atmosphere and high quality appointments but the food is an afterthought; this is not the case with The First Post. Everything was great. Shrimp tempura were crispy and not overcooked, grilled octopus was delicious (a few pieces got a little too much char), steak was expertly prepared, perfect medium rare as ordered. They were out of the scotch eggs which disappointed me. My staff got burgers and they looked amazing. Beautiful brioche buns, they really looked like an ad for burgers that an agency would put out. Smith Island cake for desert was phenomenal, this gets messed up alot, at some places, but 10 out of 10! Service could not have been better. The ambiance feels as though you've walked into the first class lounge of a train station in 1895, I want to live there. I will be back! I've been back twice. They had scotch eggs, they are fabulous, everything you want them to be. Blackened steak salad was great. Cream of crab was superb (I am from Baltimore so I was skeptical to say the least about getting crab soup in York, Pa). They had a soup special of roasted red pepper and shrimp bisque and that was also amazing.They were out of Smith Island cake so I tried the flour less chocolate cake with what seemed to be homemade marshmallow. It was fantastic. Nothing has been bad, I am waiting to be disappointed and they diappoint me. My favorite restaurant in...