You’re walking down Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, and the first thing you notice about the Farnsworth House isn't the food. It's the holes. Over 100 bullet holes pockmark the south brick wall, leftovers from Confederate sharpshooters who used this place as a high-ground perch back in 1863. It’s heavy.
But once you step inside, the smell of nutmeg and slow-simmered beef takes over, and suddenly the Farnsworth House restaurant menu becomes the main event. Honestly, most people come for the ghosts, but they stay for the Game Pie.
There’s a weird misconception that "historical dining" just means bland porridge or hardtack. It’s not that. At all. Eating here is basically a time-travel hack, but with better seasoning.
The Weird, Wonderful Civil War Flavors
If you look at the Farnsworth House restaurant menu, you’ll see stuff you just don’t find at a typical chain. We’re talking about "period fare." It’s basically what people were eating when Lincoln was in office, just refined for modern palates that aren't used to wood-fired scarcity.
The Famous Goober Pea Soup
Yeah, "Goober Pea" is just a fancy 19th-century way of saying peanut.
Don't let the name throw you. It’s creamy, savory, and surprisingly filling. It’s one of those dishes that sounds like a dare but ends up being the thing you crave three months later. It’s usually priced around $5.95 a cup. Small price for a local legend.
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Game Pie: The Heavy Hitter
This is the MVP of the menu. No contest.
It’s a thick, steaming casserole of turkey, pheasant, and duck. They blend it with mushrooms, bacon lardoons (fancy fat chunks), and red currant jelly. Then they top the whole thing with a golden egg crust. It sits on a bed of long grain and wild rice.
At about $18.95, it’s a steal for how dense it is. You’re eating the "day’s kill" style of the 1800s. It’s rich. It’s salty. It’s probably the best thing in the building besides the original woodwork.
Why the Sides Actually Matter
Usually, sides are an afterthought. Here? They're the stars. When you order an entree, you aren't just getting a plate of meat. You’re getting a full-on Pennsylvania Dutch spread.
- Spoon Bread: It’s not quite bread, not quite grits. It’s corn-based, moist, and kinda grainy in a way that makes you want to keep eating it until you can’t move.
- Pumpkin Fritters: These are basically little clouds of autumn. Sweet, fried, and dangerous.
- Jennie Wade Bread: Named after the only civilian killed during the battle. They serve it with Adams County apple butter. If you don't like apple butter, we might not be able to be friends. It’s smooth, tart, and basically the taste of Pennsylvania.
Sweney's Tavern vs. Fine Dining
Here is where it gets a little confusing for first-timers. The Farnsworth House is split. You've got the Meade and Lee Fine Dining Rooms and then you've got Sweney's Tavern.
The Fine Dining side is where you go if you want the full experience. Servers in period clothes, candlelight, the whole bit. It’s open Thursday through Sunday in the late fall, but it usually takes a nap in January and February. Reservations aren't just a "good idea"—they’re basically mandatory if you want a seat.
Sweney's is the casual sibling. It’s where you go for a pint of local Pennsylvania beer and maybe some Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie ($16.95). The tavern is packed with props from the 1993 Gettysburg movie. It’s cozy. It feels like a place where a soldier would have grabbed a drink to forget the noise outside.
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What You Should Actually Order
If you're staring at the menu and feeling overwhelmed, just keep it simple.
- Start with the Mushroom Caps. They’re stuffed with crab imperial ($12.95). It’s a nod to the nearby Maryland influence.
- Get the Game Pie. Seriously. Don't overthink it.
- The Yankee Pot Roast ($22.95). It’s slow-cooked until it basically falls apart if you look at it too hard.
For the seafood fans, the Maryland Style Crab Cakes ($24.95) are legit. Being so close to the border, Gettysburg takes its crab seriously. They don't use a ton of filler, which is the hallmark of a good cake.
The Reality Check: Logistics and Vibe
Look, this isn't a "fast" meal. If you’re in a rush to catch a ghost tour, don't sit down in the dining room. This is slow-paced, candlelit, and meant to be soaked in.
Winter Hours Warning: Check the calendar. Sweney's Tavern often closes on Mondays and Tuesdays during the off-season. The fine dining rooms might only be open on weekends in March. Always call (717-334-8838) before you drive two hours.
Pricing Nuance:
Prices shift. A steak might be $22 one year and $26 the next. That’s just the world we live in. But generally, you can have a massive, historic meal for under $30 per person, which is wild considering you’re eating in a living museum.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Book a Tour First: Do the house tour before you eat. It gives the food context. Knowing that the basement was a field hospital makes that glass of red wine in the tavern feel a lot more poignant.
- The Apple Butter Hack: Buy a jar of the apple butter from the gift shop. You’ll regret it if you don't once you get home and realize grocery store butter is boring.
- Check the Theater Schedule: Sometimes they do "Winter Dinner Theater" performances in Sweney's. It’s a dinner and a show, usually focusing on Civil War stories or ghost lore.
- Ask About the Specials: Sometimes they have seasonal Pennsylvania Dutch dishes that aren't on the printed menu, like specific heritage soups or local fruit cobblers.
Eating off the Farnsworth House restaurant menu isn't just about refueling after walking the battlefield. It’s the final piece of the Gettysburg puzzle. You’ve seen the fields, you’ve heard the stories, now you’re tasting the culture that survived it all.
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Make sure to arrive about 15 minutes before your reservation. It gives you time to look at the bullet holes in the wall without feeling like you're rushing. Just stand there for a second. Look at the lead marks. Then go inside and order the soup.