Gettysburg Gourmet, Part 1

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Elegant dining in and around Gettysburg, Pa., is informal. On hot summer days, the scent of crops waft up from the fields that farmers lease to plant crops that were grown since 1863. In cooler seasons, crisp mountain air blows down from the distant Blue Ridge Mountains. In any season, a hot shower after a day outside is refreshing. Though jacket and tie are not required, a change into clothes lends respect for good food and elegant service. None of the places I describe would be appropriate for cutoffs and ragged sneakers, but casual clothes are acceptable.

Right in the heart of town, off the lobby of the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg, at 516 Baltimore St., gourmet chef Marcel Engelmann operates Marcel’s Restaurant and Lounge. Marcel is in the process of refurbishing his restaurant, which currently is decorated with an amazing collection of prints by Dale Gallon. The Gallon Historical Art Gallery across the street is visible from the windows. His realistic renditions of events from the battle of Gettysburg are astounding.

Marcel’s starters include portabello mushrooms stuffed with crab for $8, one pound of little neck steamed clams for $9, crab martini with cusabi for $8. The dishes come out of the kitchen hot and savory. All are homemade from fresh ingredients. If you enjoy crab and lobster bisque soup, Marcel makes it from scratch, it has large bits of seafood, and costs only $4.

“Marcel is German. He is young and hip and likes to bring in new things,” Sandra Price said. Sandra is a gem. She serves efficiently and loves people. She helps strangers feel at home and welcomes them warmly. To make it affordable for family visitors, there is a menu of house specials offered as a main course, which includes a basket of fried shrimp and onion rings for $7.95, half-rack of ribs for $11.95, or N.Y. strip steak for $19.95. From the menu, all meals are served with a house salad and warm rolls with butter. The salad has a wonderful taste of nuts, fresh greens, and fruit.

“The food is elegant and good and [is] still reasonable,” Sandra said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years. People want rapport. They are traveling and want to feel at home. I get feedback all the time. A person might say, ‘I’m here for a conference, and I don’t know anyone. You made my food taste better.’” She provides attentive service, sincere friendship, and excellent food.

The menu offers Maryland crab cakes, “The best in town,” for $15. This area is resplendent with crab cakes. To say theirs is the best is a bluff I had to call. It was no bluff. Marcel’s crab cakes came out of the kitchen browned to perfection with no extraneous fillers that detracted from the savor of tender crabmeat.

After the lobster bisque, amazing salad and crab cakes, I was convinced Marcel has to be on the top of any dining list in Gettysburg. Marcel offers German veal schnitzel with potato pancakes for $17, grilled or sauteed salmon with baby spinach and rice pilaf for $18, and even Maine lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp over baby spinach for $17.

Desserts include chocolate mousse with fresh fruit for $5, fire and ice vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries for $6, among others. Check out the vanilla ice cream. Dinner for two, including 2 bottles of well chilled Korbel sparkling wine, cost $134, including tax, excluding the gratuity.

Marcel’s is not only fine dining but likely Gettysburg’s best bargain. Call 717-337-5865.