By the time Lincoln gave his address Dobbin House had already been in Gettysburg for 87 years. Colonial history often gets over looked in this Civil War town. So walking down the narrow stairs into the Springhouse Tavern can be a refreshing change. Built in 1776 by the Reverend Alexander Dobbin, the house appears virtually the same as it did over 200 years ago. In the mid 1800s the building contained a secret crawl space used to hide runaway slaves traveling the Underground Railroad.
Upstairs at Dobbin House is the fine dining restaurant. I prefer to sit at the long, well-worn, wooden bar downstairs in the Springhouse Tavern. The tavern has the decor and feel of an 18th century roadhouse and in the cool weather the two fireplaces are usually going. If the unflappable Joyce is your bartender, you will always get great service, even on a busy night during tourist season. Several regional beers are available on tap, along with colonial-era cocktails like Rum Bellies Vengeance. If Joyce isn’t busy, she’s well- versed on the interesting history of the antique wooden bar and the building.
My favorite dish is the Spit-Roasted Chicken (served after 5 pm weekdays and all day on weekends). The spit-roasting makes the well-spiced skin crisp and keeps the chicken moist and juicy. It’s a big portion. When it comes out of the kitchen I always think “I will never finish all that, I’ll have to take some home with me.” I haven’t left with a doggie bag yet.
Another specialty is the Baked King’s Onion Soup, which is really a classic French onion soup, but also contains chunks of beef. (Not for the vegetarian in your party.) The Spinach Salad is served with a warm bacon dressing. It is a nice combination; the smoky flavor of the bacon, balanced with sweetness from the dressing. House-baked desserts include a Warm Colonial Gingerbread which I think is even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
Colonial charm, friendly service and consistently good food make Springhouse Tavern at Dobbin House a smart choice for dinner or lunch in Gettysburg.
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