The Four State Food Critic doesn’t mind a bit of travel in
order to find a good meal. One of his
favorite drives is north into Pennsylvania to visit Flannery’s Tavern on the Square in Mercersburg, PA.
(Image Credit
– Tripadvisor.com)
For a small town restaurant, Flannery’s offers an elevated
dining experience that will come as a surprise to most first time
visitors. Think “gastropub meets fine
dining”. The emphasis is on fresh, handmade
dishes featuring local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant itself is divided into two
sections. The “tavern” portion (out front)
is warm and inviting, with a fireplace and elevated tables, as well as a
full-service bar. The rear portion is
reserved for a finer dining experience, with rooms that reflect the historical
heritage of the Mercersburg area. (Be
advised that patrons in the dining room may only order from the dining room
menu, while visitors to the tavern can order from either the tavern menu or the
dining room menu.)
As for the menu, you’ll find many pleasant surprises. The tavern menu includes several tasty and
unique sandwiches, soups, salads, wings, burgers, and flatbread pizzas that
satisfy with a wide variety of flavor combinations. They also feature “small plates”, such as
marinated olives, cheeses, mussels, and stuffed cherry peppers – all the
perfect size to share with the entire table.
The main dining room menu also dazzles, with seasonal
selections such as fresh fish, pan-roasted duck breast, steaks, chops, and
homemade gnocchi. There is also a wide
selection of fresh side dishes. Again,
the emphasis is on local, organic, and sustainable options. A children’s menu is also available.
If (like me) you enjoy a good draft beer, then Flannery’s is
the place for you. They feature 18 beers
on tap, with a nice mix of imports and local craft beers that are regularly
rotated in and out based on the season.
They offer tasting flights (4 for $6.00 and 6 for $7.50) which give an
adventurous soul the chance to sample quite a few. They also offer a nice selection of wines
(by the glass and bottle).
The FSFC is not much of a dessert man, but the bread pudding
served at Flannery’s is one of my few exceptions. Its sinfully delicious and served warm,
bursting with comfort food flavor – a definite guilty pleasure.
Service is provided by a pleasant and seasoned wait staff
who are more than happy to explain the dishes, wines, or beers to aid in your menu
selections. Many options are also
gluten-free.
If you’re looking for elevated pub food, a great selection
of local beers, or an excellent seasonal menu (for finer dining), the Four
State Food Critic recommends that you give Flannery’s Tavern on the Square a
visit.
The Four Star Food Critic Review
(Each category has a possible “best out of 5” rating)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Price: $$$-$$$$
Service: 4
Overall: 4
Flannery’s
is open for lunch and dinner every day (except Tuesday) at 11:00 AM. Live music is presented weekly in the tavern (check
the website for schedules). Reservations
are recommended for dinner (for either the tavern or the main dining room) and
menus can be viewed online.
Location:
5 North Main
Street
Mercersburg,
PA 17236
(717) 328-5011
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