Gettysburg Area Brunch

Located right in downtown Gettysburg, Mason Dixon Distillery serves up creative comfort food paired with cocktails to match. The small batch spirits mixed into their cocktails are concocted right on site, from locally-grown grains. Sit inside their 100-year old refurbished furniture factory for a cool industrial vibe, or choose outdoor seating.

On the menu: Sharable appetizers are a great place to start. Their Fried Brussel Sprouts are a legendary menu staple, and the Goat Cheese Brulee, topped with hot pepper jam, is a smooth combo of sweet and spicy.

Or, jump right to the brunch menu, and look for a fun spin on every dish. Chicken and Waffles, for example, comes with zesty ancho chili peppers. If you love eggs benedict, you can choose between Fried Chicken Benedict or Brisket Benedict. A nod to their family roots as owners of family-style diners, there’s always at least one classic diner dish (such as Chipped Beef) on the menu. Another fave is the Monte Cristo and its generous layers of pulled pork, ham, bacon, and cheese—with triple berry jam for dipping.

Cheers: Can’t decide between the Rum Punch or Lavender Lemonade featuring MDD Vodka? Make it a sample flight of mini-cocktails. Or choose a brunch staple, a Bloody Mary or Seasonal Sangria.

Something you won’t find anywhere else in Adams County: Beignets! These French fritters, made famous in New Orleans, are a Mason Dixon treat. Look for delicious seasonal flavor variations such as Blueberry Lemon or Banana Foster Beignets.

“To me, brunch is supposed to be an extra-special treat of slight indulgence, great homemade food, great drinks, and great conversation,” says owner Yianni Barakos. “My focus on food is specializing in ‘not the same old, same old.’ We generally make comfort food from anywhere in the world, and often put our own little spin on it. We might even get a touch eclectic in our lineup!”

Brunch bonus: Mason Dixon is a participating Adams County Pour Tour partner, so be sure to pick up a passport and have it stamped. Continue on to additional locations and make a day of it! Be sure to tag your photos #GetPoured for a chance to win additional prizes.

West of Gettysburg, surrounded by orchards and farmland in the small town of Orrtanna, lies Hickory Bridge Farm Restaurant. Here, Sunday brunch is actually a family-style dinner that’s true to the region’s deep agricultural roots.

“We recognize the importance of having a family-style Sunday dinner—except, we offer a traditional Sunday dinner experience every Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” says owner Mary Lynn Martin.

The Martin family is now in its third generation of owning and operating Hickory Bridge, since 1977. In addition to the restaurant, the beautiful property also includes a B&B.

A huge 185-year old barn has housed the restaurant since the early 1960s. Just walking inside, on the wavy floorboards, is a fun experience! Antiques adorn the barn and serve as nostalgic conversation pieces. And one thing you won’t have to talk about are your menu choices: That’s because there’s a rotating family-style menu every weekend. For one price per person, every table is filled edge-to-edge with family-style dishes to pass and share.

“We feature family recipes with a little bit of German flair,” says Martin. “That’s why we have corn fritters and stewed apples—a lot of our recipes were my mom’s.”

On the table: When we visited, the starters were Spiced Peaches, House Salad, and Fresh-Baked Bread. Main dishes included Open Pit Pork (with Apple Barbeque Sauce), Oven Fried Chicken, and Crab Imperial. Somehow our table even held the side dishes—Carrots, Broccoli, and Apple Fritters—along with coffee, tea cups, butter and jams.

“A lot of families come here because they’ve established the importance of family meals as part of their family values,” Martin says. “We embrace the importance of families eating together as part of our hospitality.”

Dessert is probably going to be the hardest choice of the day! Their towering slices of ice cream pie are popular. Apple crisp—especially in the heart of apple country—is always available, and the recipe has a special twist. Martin says it’s thanks to a secret ingredient: coconut. (Now you know!)

But the end of your meal doesn’t have to be the end of your visit: There’s a cute country store on the property, and guests are encouraged to explore the grounds, which includes big vegetable and flower gardens. Martin has even been known to give away freshly-picked veggies, straight from the stalks and vines.

Beyond Brunch: Adams County Winery and Land of Little Horses are nearby!

It’s like stepping onto Main Street, Americana style. Mansion House 1757 really is located along Main Street, in Fairfield, just west of Gettysburg. It’s an especially great brunch option for history buffs. Step inside the restaurant and boutique B&B, and you’ll see framed, historic photos including one of its famous regulars, Mamie Eisenhower. The inn is one of only five in the entire country that’s been in continuous operation since the 1700s!

But owners Cindy and George Keeney don’t want guests to feel intimidated by the property’s history, the word “mansion” or anything else.

“We’ve been to fine dining experiences where we’ve noticed couples who don’t look comfortable—like they’re intimidated—but that’s not what we’re about,” says George Keeney, head chef alongside his son Daniel as sous chef. “When someone walks out our door, we hope they’re relaxed, and we hope they had fun in a nice environment with our genuinely nice staff and excellent service.”

All of the brunch dishes are inspired by Mansion House’s commitment to a long list of farm-to-table partners—about 20!—proudly displayed on their menu. While many restaurants claim to be “farm-to-table,” the proof is in the pudding (and every other dish) at Mansion House. That includes eggs from nearby Weikert’s Egg Farm to locally-sourced meats and cheeses, greens, apples, mushrooms, garlic, honey, and the list goes on and on.

You simply must order a round of biscuits as a starter.

“Our biscuits are killer—the staff just waits around to see if we’ll have any leftover, every Sunday,” says George with a laugh. “It’s just a good formula, handmade with plenty of butter.” He acquired the classic recipe from one of his instructors years ago, at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York.

Cheers: Drinks include coffee with your choice of liqueur, a Bloody Maria (with tequila), a Classic Old Bay Bloody Mary or Jumbo Lump Crabby Mary.

On the Menu: Fresh Cut Ribeye Steak & Eggs is a popular choice, along with French Toast made with handcrafted, wood-fired organic sourdough bread—accompanied by local applesauce and maple syrup. Chef George says one of his secrets ingredients is the Grand Marnier he slips into the French Toast batter.

The Crabby Patty (crab cake, over-hard egg, and “fancy sauce” on a toasted brioche bun) is not only delicious—but it comes with a funny story: “I have a stupid sense of humor, so the Crabby Patty gets its name from Sponge Bob,” says George. “And Fancy Sauce comes with it, named after a funny scene by Will Ferrell’s character in the movie ‘Step Brothers.’” He loves sharing those stories with diners, showing that a chef can have humor.

Beyond Brunch: Take a stroll along Fairfield’s Main Street, or visit nearby Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve, featuring hiking trails.

Brunch-goers at The Lodges at Gettysburg can drink in more than a coffee or cocktail—they can also drink in a gorgeous vista. Choose from indoor or outdoor terrace seating, both overlooking one of the highest views in Adams County.

The driveway winds past a beautiful lake to the main lodge, where brunch is served. The property’s 63 wooded, hillside acres are dotted with individual lodges where many families enjoy staying during their Gettysburg visits. At least once a month, The Lodges welcomes opens to the public for brunch (check their website or social media for dates—and note that reservations are required).

Cheers: Start with a fun Bloody Mary Flight! This trio features a classic, spicier with bacon, plus seafood style Bloody Mary. Or, choose Mamie’s Mimosa, coffee, or even chocolate milk.

On the Menu: If you love omelets, this is the place for you. Eight unique combinations of fluffy, house-made omelets are on the menu including a Meat Lover’s Omelet and Philly Cheesesteak Omelet.

Another brunch fave is the Seafare Benedict, featuring jumbo lump blue crab and shrimp, atop poached eggs and English muffins. It’s the ultimate brunch comfort food (poached eggs), elevated by an elegant seafood twist.

But perhaps the star of the show is the Stuffed Rustic French Toast. It starts with delicious slices of house-made bread, fried and constructed into a French toast tower, made even more yummy by seasonal berries and delectable Crème Anglaise.

“I love seeing the expressions on people’s faces when we bring out the French toast—it’s pure joy,” says Denise Schultz, General Manager.

“Everyone does French toast, but we do an outside-the-box French toast,” says chef Bob Fritts. He’s been in the restaurant industry for 42 years—including 30 years as a chef. Over the years, his motto has become, “Your pleasure is our priority” so he especially enjoys including creative, decadent, and surprising ingredients into his dishes.

Beyond brunch: The Lodges’ location, southwest of Gettysburg, is close to several prominent historic sites—Sachs Covered Bridge, as well as the Eisenhower National Historic Site.