Went for Easter brunch last year, and the food was very disappointing. However, the food there in their banquet space for a wedding this january was delicious!
Angela B.
My husband has been wanted to come here for years and I always said no because it's just not my kind of place. His birthday was last week, so I'd thought I'd surprise him and take him here for a nice dinner. I looked online and they had menus for a coffee shop and a dinner menu. We walked in and only saw the diner to the right but the hostess said two? To us and promptly walked away to the diner. I was a little confused but sat down and opened the menu to find a diner menu. The hostess was long gone, so I go back to the front to see if there was a more formal dining area or a different menu. As I was trying to ask the hostess, she just grabs a different menu, hands it to me and walks away again. I sit back down and see the menu was just for wine. My husband and I are still confused and trying to figure out if there's a different place we should be but no one is taking the time to answer my questions. Eventually our waitress comes over and I try once again to explain we were looking for a more formal place and not a diner to eat at where she said you guys have the wine menu. I will go grab you the dinner menu. And runs away before I was even done talking. The couple next to us chuckles and says yes there's a different dining room. The waitress comes back, hands us the dinner menu and asks what we want for drinks in one breath. My husband I guess was just going to roll with it and ordered a beer. I ordered a water. As I look at the menu she handed to me, I realize this was the dinner menu I saw on the website. My husband just wanted to stay, but I really didn't want to pay for an expensive steak and eat it in a diner setting on my husband's birthday when I wanted a nice meal. The waitress came back and asked what we wanted to eat and I said that I think we're just going to do drinks because we were looking for a nice formal meal. She rolled her eyes and said ..okaaaay... and walked away. My husband drank his beer and we waited a little while for her to bring the check which she never did. Eventually I grabbed a $20 bill and took it up to the register handed it to her and said have a good night. She got a little more polite and explained to me that they have another dining room but it's not open because they don't have the staff for it and if you want to dine there, you have to call ahead 48 hours ahead of time. We told her no problem and to have a good night and we left. I understand staffing issues and that the dining room was closed, that wouldn't have been a problem. My issue was that I tried to ask multiple staff members about it and no one took the time to talk to me or even listen to what I was saying so I just walked back-and-forth multiple times looking like an idiot. If they don't have the main dining room open, they should list it on social media or their website. There's no indication anywhere or on their sign that it's closed. They should also rename their coffee shop to a diner. It's not just open for breakfast. What a confusing place, no desire to go back.
Gallery Bry
Dear Lampligher,Thanks for the wonderful day today. We took my mom here for her birthday breakfast. I had the eggs and home fries and they were excellent. The eggs were just right and the home fries were thick and golden. Looking forward to coming back again.Wheelchair accessibility: There is ADA parking and the bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. there are a number of booths in the diner if you would like to get out of your wheelchair and sit in a booth and there are a few tables if you would like to sit in your chair at a table. The banquet hall is spacious with plenty of tables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angi
Only negative - wings too small and cost more than our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle W
Was there 11 years ago and the place is horrible. Haven't been back since and have no desire to go there again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bertram Judson
Love going Herr for breakfast. Foods are always good. The place is clean and the crew is awesome for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs
Bud H
Awful!! Went for the Easter Buffet. TERRIBLE!!! Over priced, bad food."Service" (I use that term loosely) with an attitude. $40 per person for less than mediocre food and a poor variety? Then the nerve to automatically charge a 20% gratuity? For what? Bringing me 1 glass of iced tea? Desserts were also terrible. Never again.In response to the owner below....criticizing me for saying a 20% gratuity for a buffet (no wait service) is unthinkable? You are the one so cheap you only pay your people $3.00 per hour. Maybe for the holiday that the people "sacrificed" you could pay them a decent wage and not expect me to pay your employees.As for your other excuses, the desserts looked terrible, at our station there were only 2 meats being offered (no prime rib in sight), the pasta was terrible, the chicken was dry, and the fruit was bland. As for the cheese..it was warm and dried out with nothing to use to pick it up. Also, the seating was way too crowded with people constantly banging into our chairs. Is that specific enough?Please, no need to tell me I should eat elsewhere (which you did before your edit of your response. You also edited the part where you told me your people were only paid $3.00 per hour)...the experience we had told me that.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ted Sonnie
Easter BuffetI did not like hearing waitress' complaining about their tip because I didn't add anything to the automatic 20% gratuity. "Come get your big tip" VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!!
Edith Cole
First time at this place and probably my last. Not organized enough for the amount of people expected on a holiday like today. Despite the fact, my family and I had reservations made and were earlier to it we still waited twenty additional minutes. Food was good but too crowded to get to…all in all, not worth the amount of money to pay for a meal that was not enjoyable at all for so many reasons besides the ones I just mentioned.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Joe Sciullo
The Robert Michael band was very good.The kitchen ran out of things on the menu.The waitress did not service the tables well to replenish quest drink.The restaurant lost alot of money because of serviceKitchen closed to early.Band started at 7 Kitchen closed at 8
Great buffet for holidays. Variety of typical foods, that are carefully selected and prepared. Im picky, and was not disappointed. The people that work here are super nice, and hard working. It's obviously a very family oriented business, that does well to ensure the quality is worth the price of admission. The restaurant is huge, and quite clean. It will feel a tiny bit dated, but honestly that added to the vibe of one giant family celebrating an event or holiday. Im not sure how to put it, but I hope they dont change a thing. I was not only surprised but shocked at how well they pull off a major holiday buffet for that many people. You cant find restaurants like this anymore. This is a gem of the Pittsburgh area, A+Kid-friendliness: It's a family restaurant.Wheelchair accessibility: Fairly easy in and out with some gentle slopes in the parking lots (it's pennsylvania after all)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah K.
The Lamplighter has the old school diner vibe with that old school diner home cooking! Everything at this diner is delicious! The service can be hit or miss depending on how busy it can get, but the prices are right and the food us so good! I always make sure that I stop for their pumpkin pancakes in the fall and their gingerbread pancakes in the winter. My go-to toppings for my pancakes include bananas and cinnamon chips! Yum! You won't be disappointed going to The Lamplighter if you're looking for inexpensive prices and good food!
Victoria Easton
I ordered the Devonshire open faced sandwich served with fresh cut fries and the alcoholic caramel coffee drink. Everything was delicious, but the fries could have been cooked a tad bit more. Great service as well!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela K.
Older classic atmosphere of a place with "okay" food but good service and a good selection of wine. I've come here for a few wine dinners , some of which I enjoyed but some I questioned how valuable the price per person was comparable to the food. I have also sat at the their bar and enjoyed a few martinis with friends. May not be the most up to date atmosphere but like I said it's classic and the Tinis were delicious !
Went for Easter brunch last year, and the food was very disappointing. However, the food there in their banquet space for a wedding this january was delicious!
My husband has been wanted to come here for years and I always said no because it's just not my kind of place. His birthday was last week, so I'd thought I'd surprise him and take him here for a nice dinner. I looked online and they had menus for a coffee shop and a dinner menu. We walked in and only saw the diner to the right but the hostess said two? To us and promptly walked away to the diner. I was a little confused but sat down and opened the menu to find a diner menu. The hostess was long gone, so I go back to the front to see if there was a more formal dining area or a different menu. As I was trying to ask the hostess, she just grabs a different menu, hands it to me and walks away again. I sit back down and see the menu was just for wine. My husband and I are still confused and trying to figure out if there's a different place we should be but no one is taking the time to answer my questions. Eventually our waitress comes over and I try once again to explain we were looking for a more formal place and not a diner to eat at where she said you guys have the wine menu. I will go grab you the dinner menu. And runs away before I was even done talking. The couple next to us chuckles and says yes there's a different dining room. The waitress comes back, hands us the dinner menu and asks what we want for drinks in one breath. My husband I guess was just going to roll with it and ordered a beer. I ordered a water. As I look at the menu she handed to me, I realize this was the dinner menu I saw on the website. My husband just wanted to stay, but I really didn't want to pay for an expensive steak and eat it in a diner setting on my husband's birthday when I wanted a nice meal. The waitress came back and asked what we wanted to eat and I said that I think we're just going to do drinks because we were looking for a nice formal meal. She rolled her eyes and said ..okaaaay... and walked away. My husband drank his beer and we waited a little while for her to bring the check which she never did. Eventually I grabbed a $20 bill and took it up to the register handed it to her and said have a good night. She got a little more polite and explained to me that they have another dining room but it's not open because they don't have the staff for it and if you want to dine there, you have to call ahead 48 hours ahead of time. We told her no problem and to have a good night and we left. I understand staffing issues and that the dining room was closed, that wouldn't have been a problem. My issue was that I tried to ask multiple staff members about it and no one took the time to talk to me or even listen to what I was saying so I just walked back-and-forth multiple times looking like an idiot. If they don't have the main dining room open, they should list it on social media or their website. There's no indication anywhere or on their sign that it's closed. They should also rename their coffee shop to a diner. It's not just open for breakfast. What a confusing place, no desire to go back.
Dear Lampligher,Thanks for the wonderful day today. We took my mom here for her birthday breakfast. I had the eggs and home fries and they were excellent. The eggs were just right and the home fries were thick and golden. Looking forward to coming back again.Wheelchair accessibility: There is ADA parking and the bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. there are a number of booths in the diner if you would like to get out of your wheelchair and sit in a booth and there are a few tables if you would like to sit in your chair at a table. The banquet hall is spacious with plenty of tables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Only negative - wings too small and cost more than our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Was there 11 years ago and the place is horrible. Haven't been back since and have no desire to go there again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Love going Herr for breakfast. Foods are always good. The place is clean and the crew is awesome for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs
Awful!! Went for the Easter Buffet. TERRIBLE!!! Over priced, bad food."Service" (I use that term loosely) with an attitude. $40 per person for less than mediocre food and a poor variety? Then the nerve to automatically charge a 20% gratuity? For what? Bringing me 1 glass of iced tea? Desserts were also terrible. Never again.In response to the owner below....criticizing me for saying a 20% gratuity for a buffet (no wait service) is unthinkable? You are the one so cheap you only pay your people $3.00 per hour. Maybe for the holiday that the people "sacrificed" you could pay them a decent wage and not expect me to pay your employees.As for your other excuses, the desserts looked terrible, at our station there were only 2 meats being offered (no prime rib in sight), the pasta was terrible, the chicken was dry, and the fruit was bland. As for the cheese..it was warm and dried out with nothing to use to pick it up. Also, the seating was way too crowded with people constantly banging into our chairs. Is that specific enough?Please, no need to tell me I should eat elsewhere (which you did before your edit of your response. You also edited the part where you told me your people were only paid $3.00 per hour)...the experience we had told me that.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Easter BuffetI did not like hearing waitress' complaining about their tip because I didn't add anything to the automatic 20% gratuity. "Come get your big tip" VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!!
First time at this place and probably my last. Not organized enough for the amount of people expected on a holiday like today. Despite the fact, my family and I had reservations made and were earlier to it we still waited twenty additional minutes. Food was good but too crowded to get to…all in all, not worth the amount of money to pay for a meal that was not enjoyable at all for so many reasons besides the ones I just mentioned.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
The Robert Michael band was very good.The kitchen ran out of things on the menu.The waitress did not service the tables well to replenish quest drink.The restaurant lost alot of money because of serviceKitchen closed to early.Band started at 7 Kitchen closed at 8
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Great buffet for holidays. Variety of typical foods, that are carefully selected and prepared. Im picky, and was not disappointed. The people that work here are super nice, and hard working. It's obviously a very family oriented business, that does well to ensure the quality is worth the price of admission. The restaurant is huge, and quite clean. It will feel a tiny bit dated, but honestly that added to the vibe of one giant family celebrating an event or holiday. Im not sure how to put it, but I hope they dont change a thing. I was not only surprised but shocked at how well they pull off a major holiday buffet for that many people. You cant find restaurants like this anymore. This is a gem of the Pittsburgh area, A+Kid-friendliness: It's a family restaurant.Wheelchair accessibility: Fairly easy in and out with some gentle slopes in the parking lots (it's pennsylvania after all)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Lamplighter has the old school diner vibe with that old school diner home cooking! Everything at this diner is delicious! The service can be hit or miss depending on how busy it can get, but the prices are right and the food us so good! I always make sure that I stop for their pumpkin pancakes in the fall and their gingerbread pancakes in the winter. My go-to toppings for my pancakes include bananas and cinnamon chips! Yum! You won't be disappointed going to The Lamplighter if you're looking for inexpensive prices and good food!
I ordered the Devonshire open faced sandwich served with fresh cut fries and the alcoholic caramel coffee drink. Everything was delicious, but the fries could have been cooked a tad bit more. Great service as well!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Older classic atmosphere of a place with "okay" food but good service and a good selection of wine. I've come here for a few wine dinners , some of which I enjoyed but some I questioned how valuable the price per person was comparable to the food. I have also sat at the their bar and enjoyed a few martinis with friends. May not be the most up to date atmosphere but like I said it's classic and the Tinis were delicious !
Get the Reuben. Best I've ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5