Brights Ephrata, PA restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat. I grew up eating their broasted chicken and when I got married, I introduced my husband to Bright’s Restaurant in all its yumminess.

Where is Bright’s Restaurant?

1025 S. State Street

Ephrata, PA 17522

Phone # 717-738-1177

Fax # 717-738-1177

Hours: 5:30am till 8pm, breakfast served until 11am

Directions to Bright’s Restaurant:

Bright’s Ephrata restaurant is located on State Street in Ephrata, which is also known as Rt 272 or Oregon Pike. Maybe the name changes as you enter Ephrata, but that’s what it’s called elsewhere in Lancaster County. Now, Bright’s is really easy to find, but it’s a little hard to get to, unless you make an illegal turn against traffic.

If you’re coming from Lancaster/Brownstown/Akron, you’ll follow 272 into Ephrata, past the Wendy’s and to the fork in the road (where 272 splits off from State Street- 272 will be on the left, with State Street being directly in front of you). Technically, you can take either way because of that whole illegal turn business. If you go left via 272, you’ll need to continue on to the auto parts store (I want to say Auto Haus, but I’m not sure) and turn around in their parking lot so that you can make a right turn into Bright’s parking lot. Or, you could just make a left turn across the double yellow lines and hope that there’s no traffic coming.

If you go straight via State Street and there’s no cars backed up, you can turn left where State makes that curve just at the fork and has a light (right in front of what used to be the Hess station which is right in front of the Wa-Wa. Basically, as soon as you split from 272, turn left). When the light turns green, you can drive straight across 272 and into the Pancake House parking lot and make a right into Bright’s restaurant parking lot.

If you’re coming from Ephrata, you’ll either be coming up 272 or State Street. If you’re on 272, just turn right into the parking lot. If coming from State Street, follow it past the Wa-Wa’s and follow the curve in the road until you’re at the light, then cross the street into the parking lot. Super easy.

Bright’s Broasted Chicken Restaurant Menu

While Bright’s Restaurant does have a website, they don’t have their full menu there. Below is Bright’s menu typed up from the copy that I have. Keep in mind that by the time you see it, items and prices may be out of date.

Starters:

Chicken Fingers $4.75, Cheese Sticks $4.75, Fresh Fruit Cup $2.50, Soup of the Day $?, Broasted Potatoes $2.25, French Fries covered with cheddar $3.25

Daily Specials:

Monday- Pork & Sauerkraut with Mashed Potatoes $6.55, Meat Loaf with two veggies $6.55, Broasted pork chops (2) $9.95 (1) $7.95

Tuesday- Spaghetti with meatballs $6.55, Lasagna (our own made) with salad $7.75, Italian pork chops with spaghettie (2) $9.95 (1) $7.95

Wednesday- Baked fresh sausage $6.55, Chicken pot pie (“We’re Famouse for Ours”) with pepper cabbage $6.55, Broasted pork chops (2) $9.95 (1) $7.95

Thursday- Baby back ribs- half rack $12.95 Full rack $14.95, Pig stomach with a veggie $9.55 (served from 4 pm), 3 piece chicken dinner $5.95 4 piece chicken dinner $6.45

Friday- Baby Back Ribs- half rack $12.95 Full rack $14.95, Shrimp dinner (13 shrimp, french fries, pepper cabbage) $7.50, Crab cakes (our own made) $?, Chicken and rib combo $10.95, Pig stomach with a veggie $9.55 (served from 4pm)

Saturday- Baby back ribs- half rack $12.95 Full Rack $14.95, Prime rib: petite $9.95, 12oz $14.45, 16oz $17.95, Crab cakes (our own made) $?, Chicken and rib combo $10.95

Sunday- Roast turkey with filling $7.95, Baked ham with pineapple sauce $7.95, Baby back ribs half rack $12.95, Full rack $14.95, Chicken and Rib combo $10.95, Crab cakes (our own made) $?, Sliced prime rib of beef over filling $9.95

Over Stuffed Sandwiches

JB Burgers:

JB Burger with fries $5.75, JB Burger $5.25 (1/3 lb burger choice of cheese & choice of ham, bacon, or lettuce tomato & mayo)

JB Slammer $6.95 (1/2 lb burger, choice of cheese, bacon or ham, and lettuce, tomato, mayo)

Served on a Toasted Kaiser Bun:

$4.95 Hot Roast Beef, $4.10 Hot Baked Ham, $4.60 Hot Baked Ham & Cheese, $3.95 Fish Sandwich (with lettuce, tomato, mayo), $3.85 Charbroiled Chicken (with lettuce, tomato, mayo), $4.85 Chicken Cordon Bleu

Charbroiled Burgers:

$2.40 Hamburger, $3.85 Bacon Cheeseburger, $3.30 Pizza Burger, $2.70 Cheeseburger, $3.99 Mushroom Burger, $3.70 Deluxe Burger (lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, onion, & green pepper), $3.00 Grilled Cheeseburger, $3.20 Supreme Burger (cheese, lettuce, tomato, & mayo), $5.99 Grilled Cheese Burger Slammer (1/2 lb burger, lots of cheese, and bacon), $3.95 Veggie Burger (lettuce, tomato, mayo)

Steak Sandwiches:

chopped steak, onions, and sauce

$7.95- large (12″), $5.75 Regular (9″), $4.45 Small (6″)

without onions

$8.95 Large, $6.95 Regular, $4.45 Small

Extra Toppings Add

Cheese $0.30 & $0.50, Mushrooms $0.75 & $0.90, Green Peppers $0.75 & $0.90, Hot Peppers no charge

Deli Sandwiches

$4.05 Grilled Hame & Cheese, $2.75 Grilled Cheese, $3.85 Grilled cheese with bacon, $3.25 Grilled Cheese with tomato, $3.65 Baked Ham and Cheese, $3.35 Baked Ham, $3.95 Bacon Lettuce & Tomato, $4.25 Chicken Salad, $4.45 Roast Beef, $4.25 Turkey (white breast meat), $4.95 Grilled Roast Beef & Swiss, $4.75 Grilled Tukey & Swiss, $6.95 Club Sandwich (ham or turkey with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo)

All sandwiches with lettuce & mayo. Tomato $0.50 additional. Available on white, rye or wheat.

Wraps (Your Choice $6.25)

Chicken Caesar (lettuce tomato), Roast Beef (swiss, lettuce, tomato, mayo), Breaded Chicken (lettuce, tomato, & parmesan ranch dressing), Ham & Turkey (melted provolone & honey mustard), BLT with swiss, BBQ Chicken with Swiss & Bacon, Roast Beef & Bacon (melted cheddar & honey mustard)

Hot Dog Varieties

$2.35 Hot dog with cheese, $3.05 Hot dog with bacon & cheese, $1.95 Hot dog, $2.75 Pizza dog with sauce & provolone

Subs

Turkey- SM $4.95 Med $5.95 LG $7.75, Steak- SM $5.25 Med $6.45 LG $8.25, Roast Beef- SM $4.95 Med $5.95 LG $7.75, Ham- SM $4.25 Med $5.25 LG $6.25, Cheeseburger- SM $3.65 Med $5.55 LG $7.45

Chicken Dinners

$7.65 Marinated Chicken Breast, $7.95 Chicken Parmesan, $7.65 Chicken Monterey, $7.65 Lemon Peppered Chicken Breast, $6.95 Charbroiled Chicken Breast, $9.95 Chicken Deluxe (breast topped with mushrooms, bacon, provolone cheese and honey mustard)

Broasted Chicken Dinners

$7.45 Four Piece (leg, thigh, wing, breast), $6.95 Three Piece (leg, thigh, breast), $5.95 White (breast, wing), $5.25 Dark (leg, thigh)   also available ala carte

Seafood Dinners

Breaded Fantail Shrimp (7) $12.95, Breaded Cod (2) $10.95 (1) $7.95, Crab Cakes ~ our own made Fri, Sat, Sun~ (2) $14.25 (1) $10.95, Breaded Mini Shrimp (13) $8.50, Breaded Oysters (in season) Market Price

Favorite Dinners

Delmonico Steak 12oz $13.95, Breaded Veal Patty $7.25, Pork Chops (2) $9.95 (1) $7.95, Ground Round Hamburger Steak 8oz (sauteed onions, mushrooms, gravy), Steak and Shrimp Combo (Delmonico & 4 Fantail Shrimp) $17.95, Grilled Ham Steak $6.95, Veal Parmesan $8.95, Roast Beef $8.95

All dinners served with a potato,;slaw, pepper cabbage, apple sauce, macaroni salad, cottage cheese, or hot veggie; roll & butter

Hot Roast Beef or Hot Turkey Sandwich with Potato $6.55

Salads

Chicken Salad on Lettuce with Tomato $4.95, Garden Salad $2.45, Cold Plate (chicken salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, and tomato on lettuce) $6.25, Chef’s Salad $6.45 (half portion $4.90), Charred Chicken Salad (gardan salad with sliced breast of chicken) $4.95

Broasted Chicken By The Piece Or Box

Box: 4 pieces $4.24, 8 pieces $8.50, 12 pieces $12.50, 16 pieces $16.50, 20 pieces $19.95, 24 pieces $22.95, 28 pieces $25.95, 12 wings $5.99

By the piece: leg $0.99, thigh $1.09, wing $0.75, breast $1.90

Family Chicken Meal

Broasted chicken, tub of french fries, and a quart of our own made salad (macaroni, cole slaw, or pepper cabbage)

12 pieces $18.50, 16 pieces $21.50, 20 pieces $24.50, 24 pieces $27.50

Sunday’s Chicken Special

Choose your own sides

12 pieces $11.25, 16 pieces $15.25, 20 pieces $18.95, 24 pieces $21.95

Baby Back Ribs

available without sides

Full Racks $12.95 each, or  Our Rib Meal

1/2 racks (5) baked potatoes (5) (sour cream and butter), rolls, and a quart of our own made salad $49.95

Sides:

Deli Salads  macaroni, pepper cabbage, cole slaw  Quarts: $3.50, Pints $1.80

French Fries  Tub (feeds 3-5) $4.60, Large $2.70, Regular $1.85

Mashed Potatoes  Quarts $4.95, Quarts gravy $3.95

Broasted Potatoes  $2.25

Onion Rings $3.25

Soups (our own made)

Broth soups- bowl $2.75, cup $1.75, Quart $5.20

Cream soups-  bowl $3.25, cup $2.25, Quart $6.45

Drinks:

Diet Pepsi, Pepsi, Iced Tea, Root Beer, Sierra Mist, Dr Pepper, Lemonade $1.50 (free refill)

Bright’s Restaurant Review

How does one review a restaurant that’s been loved since childhood? Bright’s does have the best broasted chicken in the area, though Caddy Shack in Manheim, PA beat it for a time. The Lancaster Airport Diner also has broasted chicken, but it’s as greasy as fried chicken. No, Bright’s is still the best in the area.

I’m also a little biased, but I’ve always loved their fries. My husband loves their macaroni salad.  And to be honest… I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything else there! Mashed potatoes and gravy once, and the gravy was awesome but the mashed potatoes tasted like they were made with water (and probably were, it is a kind of a diner after all).

Bright’s also has one of the coolest looking covered decks for eating ice cream or picnic-ing on in good weather, but the interior has the dated non-aluminum diner look that’s always popular with the older crowd. I believe they consider themselves a family restaurant, but it’s rare to see anyone under the age of 50 actually eating there (though plenty of us order and take it home).

The staff is always really nice if not downright adorable, and, well, I just love it there. But be forewarned that you use the bathroom before you leave the house, because the public bathroom is outside (when you get to the door to go in, turn right and walk down the dark path). Not so pleasant, but at least it’s available in an emergency!

Their menu is quite huge, and my parents (who actually have ordered something other than broasted chicken there) tell me that everything they’ve had was quite good.

If you would like to review Brights Restaurant in Ephrata, PA, please do so in the comments below.