Best of Near Campus, Part Two: Cabalar

DipsLocal Best of Near Campus Series (Part Two)

Your son probably already knows. Now, you do, too

We couldn’t let our Best of Near Campus series go any longer without making sure everyone knows about Cabalar.

In Part One: Move-In Day Survival Guide—Three Great Stops Near F&M, we highlighted a few places to recover after move-in, celebrate the start of a new year or simply enjoy a well-earned drink. This time, we’re focusing on one of the places F&M students often discover long before their parents do.

If your son has been at F&M for at least one semester, he already knows about Cabalar. He may have simply forgotten to mention it, or failed to realize that one of Lancaster’s best burgers was an important detail you would want him to share.

Located on West Lemon Street, Cabalar is both a butcher shop and a restaurant, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, quality meats and attention to detail. You can stop in for a meal and also purchase meats to take home, which makes it worth remembering even when you are not looking for a place to eat.

Cabalar is especially good for a casual meal after a game. It is relaxed enough for players and families to arrive as they are, and the menu has enough variety to keep everyone happy.

Just know that the food is not rushed. When Cabalar is busy, you may wait a little longer than you would prefer. The good news is that they now have a limited bar, which makes the wait much easier to handle.

Owen also tells me that you can order online and follow the progress of your order. I haven’t personally tried it, but it sounds like a great option when you want to time your arrival a little more carefully. You can still choose to eat there or take your order with you.

For a small group, try to grab a seat upstairs overlooking the kitchen. You can watch the team at work and see where the magic happens. It also gives you something to do while you wait for your food.

Cabalar is known for serving one of the best burgers in Lancaster, and the reputation is well deserved. But don’t overlook the chicken sandwiches or the other menu offerings. They are also worth writing home about.

And Cabalar gives the same attention to its french fries. They are cooked in beef tallow, and they are definitely not an afterthought added to the side of a great sandwich.

One thing to know before ordering is that Cabalar politely declines substitutions. We have never found that to be a problem. The menu is thoughtful and balanced, and they tend to make very good decisions about which toppings, sauces and flavors belong together. Sometimes it is best to trust the people who created the sandwich.

I can honestly say that I’m not sure I’ve ever had anything at Cabalar that I didn’t like.

At approximately 0.8 mile from Shadek Stadium, and even closer to many of the dorms and The Lofts, Cabalar is an easy walk from campus.

Driving is certainly an option, but don’t count on pulling directly into a convenient parking space. The lot is small, so you may need to find a spot on one of the surrounding streets. The meal will be worth the extra lap around the block.

DipsLocal Pro Tip: Pick up a Gift Card at Costco

The Lancaster Costco always features gift cards for local restaurants at a 20 percent discount and Cabalar is often included. That means there's a good chance you will be able to purchase $100 in Cabalar gift cards for $79.99.

Costco is about 15 minutes from campus, just off Route 30 on the east side of Lancaster. It can be a convenient detour if you are coming from the Philadelphia area or heading into Lancaster from the north on Route 222.

It might be worth a quick stop on your way to campus. And if your son has his own Costco membership, he can always pick them up himself.

Trust us. He will be eating at Cabalar at some point.

Save Room for Dessert, at Least in Theory

If you somehow saved room, or had enough restraint to take half of your sandwich home, you can walk across the street to Splits & Giggles for ice cream.

We have never actually saved enough room to do this, so I can’t personally vouch for the full Splits & Giggles experience. But the name is fantastic, and ice cream is usually very well done in Lancaster.

It is worth at least a quick stop before you head back toward campus.

One More Stop on the Way Back

On your way back to F&M, you may also want to take a quick detour past Pizzeria 211’s new location on West Lemon Street.

In a future installment of our Best of Near Campus series, we’ll focus on this remarkable pizza shop, its new home and why F&M students, faculty and parents should be thrilled that Pizzeria 211 chose a location so close to campus.

For now, start with the burger.

Just don’t be surprised when your son admits he has known about Cabalar all along.