Rotunda Restaurant & Brewery: dinner and drinks around the Rotunda (Lebanon Valley Food Critics)

Editor’s Note: In 2021, Michael and Nicole Borrell began reviewing Lebanon Valley’s restaurants and eating attractions as the Lebanon Valley Food Critics. Since then, the couple has aimed to offer unbiased reviews of the eating and drinking establishments the Lebanon Valley has to offer. LebTown is pleased to be partnering with LVFC to share these reviews with our readers. Bon appétit!

It was the end of the week; we had a trip to Florida in the next couple of days, and we didn’t want to cook. That’s a good recipe for dinner and drinks. So, we needed to pick a restaurant with a fine beer selection as well.

Located on West Main Street in Annville, Rotunda Restaurant & Brewery is a brewpub with a Tex-Mex style and about 30 beers on tap, including 16 of their own brews.

Featuring two bar areas and an individual dining area, Rotunda can become a lively place on busy nights. On this Saturday evening it was busy, and we needed to wait about 25 minutes for a low table in the tiki bar area. They had immediate seating for high-top tables, but we had our little critic with us so that option was out.

Our draft selections tonight were Dope Psychedelic ($7) and Stubberry Monknana (I didn’t catch the price). The Dope Psychedelic is a New England-style double IPA. If you are an IPA fan, you will enjoy this beer, which pairs well with a spicy burger; more on that later. A smooth finish on this beer made me glad I chose it.

The Stubberry Monknana is a collaboration with Snitz Creek Brewing based on a strawberry banana smoothie. This sour beer caught our one critic’s eye from their Facebook posts and was a must-try. It did not disappoint. Upon first sip, you can tell why it was the winner of the Schuylkill County Brew Fest.

For our meals, we chose the loaded nachos with guajillo chicken ($12.99) and the southwest burger with fries ($14.49). Even though it’s listed as a table appetizer, don’t be afraid to make this your meal. This loaded dish comes with all the fixings and has an appealing presentation. At no point did this get soggy and lose its crispy factor. It could have used more queso. I mean, who doesn’t want more queso? Still, some of the best nachos around.

The southwest burger was topped with caramelized onions, jalapenos, chorizo sausage covered with pepper jack cheese, and fresh pico de gallo. Again, Rotunda does have a knack for plate presentation. As for the burger, they contain the fixings under the cheese, which helps keep the burger together. The spicy factor starts to heat up as you work your way through. Having a good beer will cool you down to allow for an enjoyable dinner with the side of crunchy fries.

Our take: Rotunda offers a vibrant venue that can feel like different locations all in one place. The menu offers pub fare and Tex-Mex options with an expansive beer menu. The food quality is top-notch. If you are a sour beer fan, you have plenty of options. Though we did not get it this time, we have had it before, and we highly recommend the jambalaya. During peak times, you may need to wait your turn, but don’t worry, it’ll be worth it.

We give this place .

If you have a restaurant you would like us to visit or review, whether a place you like or are nervous to try, please message us on Facebook or email lvfoodcritics@outlook.com and let us know. We thank everyone for the recommendations and the kind words we have received.