These Are Some of the Best Finger Lakes Restaurants You Must Try This Year
With so many wineries, breweries and even distilleries along the lake trails, as well as outdoor adventures and museums, but with all this activity, visitors are going to need some sustenance. Fortunately, the Finger Lakes is brimming with easy fresh and gourmet options, a little something to suit everyone’s tastes.
For a detailed travel guide to the region, check out our full itinerary for navigating the Finger Lakes (including where to stay). You can also take a look at some of these great hotel options not far from the restaurants mentioned below. Finally, we HIGHLY recommend taking this fantastic Seneca Lake wine tour if you’re in the area.
RELATED: These are The Best Wineries in the Finger Lakes According to Winetraveler Readers
16 Best Restaurants in the Finger Lakes Region
Keuka Lake
The Waterfront
12664 West Lake Road, Hammondsport
The Waterfront Restaurant, is exactly that, a waterfront dining option on Keuka Lake. From easy summer bites to a relaxing four-course meal, The Waterfront offers specials throughout the day. Including Keuka Lake’s Original Clammin’ and Jammin’ out on our docks every Sunday, Memorial Day through Labor Day, with free live music and fresh steamed clams.
RECOMMENDED: If you’re staying near or plan on visiting Keuka Lake, we highly recommend hiring a driver and getting a private tour of Finger Lakes wine country. Crush Beer & Wine Tours will handle all of the logistics for you, schedule your wine tastings in advance, and drive and guide you around this delectable region.
RELATED: 6 Best Keuka Lake Wineries to Visit around Hammondsport
The Lakeside Tavern & Restaurant
13780A West Lake Road, Hammondsport
A restaurant and amusement park established in 1936, The Lakeside has a long tradition on Keuka Lake. Today the restaurant offers spectacular views, indoor seating, a three-level outdoor deck for dining in season and even dock space to park your boat. They offer nightly campfires and a variety of menu options from Italian to American cuisine.
Dr. Konstantin Frank
9749 Middle Road, Hammondsport
For a snack with some of the region’s most celebrated wines, the 1886 outdoor terrace at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery overlooking Keuka Lake opens for the season beginning July 1, offering cheese and wine pairings.
The terrace is located on the rooftop adjacent to the 1886 Reserve Room and offers a stunning view of the historic Dr. Konstantin Frank vineyards and Keuka Lake bluff. This experience offers a selection of seasonal cheeses prepared for each party of two served with four wines of your choice off of the wine menu.
Seneca Lake
F.L.X. Table/F.L.X. Fry Bird/F.L.X. Wienery
22 Linden Street, Geneva
Created by Master Sommelier Christopher Bates, this restaurant trio is a must-visit. First up is the F.L.X. Table, one of the Finger Lakes region’s premier dining experiences with only fourteen seats and no barrier between the guests and the kitchen. Each evening a set menu is served based on the seasonality of local ingredients.
If you’re looking for something more casual, next door at the F.L.X. Fry Bird you can dine on fried chicken and waffles while sipping Champagne. Yes, it’s a thing! And further south on the lake you’ll come to the F.L.X. Wienery which you can read all about it here (warning: you may drool!) while enjoying some of Master Somm Bates’s personal line of wines, Element Winery.
Stonecat Café
5315 NY-414, Hector
You cannot visit the Finger Lakes and not eat at the Stonecat! It is hands-down my favorite restaurant destination in the region. On one trip I actually stopped in three different times!
The expert chefs at Stonecat continue to create and evolve the regional cuisine of the Finger Lakes, using local ingredients and global culinary influences. Just click here to glance through the menus!
Fox Run Café
670 NY 14, Penn Yan
Open seasonally from April through December, the café offers a variety of menu items, including fresh produce from Fox Run’s very own vegetable garden, when available. The chefs take pride in providing high-quality foods from New York State businesses and farmers, and in knowing the people behind the products. Plus you can have a glass of Fox Run wines with lunch!
Ginny Lee Café
9322 NY 414, Lodi
One of our favorite places to dine outdoors on a sunny afternoon with views of the vineyards and Seneca Lake. The Ginny Lee is a Finger Lakes winery restaurant with casual, easy American cuisine and it pairs well with a glass of wine outside.
Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca
9564 NY 414, Lodi
Modeled after a centuries-old Viennese tradition, Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca, America’s first heuriger (pronounced Hoy-rig-er), combines the traditional Viennese Winery Restaurant concept with the region’s award-winning wines and superb Viennese-inspired cuisine.
Veraisons
5435 NY 14, Dundee, New York
Veraisons is a from-scratch kitchen located at Glenora Cellars, where all the meats, produce, and cheese come from local farms and the fish is sustainably sourced. The kitchen staff pickles, preserves, and puts away local fruits and vegetables for the winter months. They also make their own condiments, sauces, and dressings. Veraisons’ bread is sourced from several local bakers and the desserts are designed and made in-house, including pastries and custards.
Cayuga Lake
Crystal Lake Café
4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken
Americana Vineyards’ café is a great stop for interesting, full-flavored dishes. From salsa and sauces to soups and bread; house-roasted pork and turkey to hand-packed burgers; and cheesecake with Baco Noir ganache to Sweet Rosie Brownies. The café strives to use fresh, local and seasonal ingredients so the menus change weekly.
Knapp Winery & the Vineyard Restaurant
2770 Ernsberger Road, Romulus
Open on weekends in season (April – November), Knapp Vineyard Restaurant is known for its eclectic, casual, and gourmet meals. Chefs use local ingredients from area farms, including herbs and vegetables from their own garden while offering meals with wine flights or pairings. Located steps away from the tasting room, this winery and restaurant opens to an outdoor patio, shaded by a trellis of grape vines that looks west to the estate vineyards. A perfect setting for a Finger Lakes wine country experience.
1833 Kitchen & Bar at the Aurora Inn
391 Main Street, Aurora
The Aurora Inn was built in 1833 and its dining room restaurant — the 1833 Kitchen — is known for its respect for local ingredients, farmers and the shared environment. That’s why everything from pasta to ice cream is made from scratch whenever possible, and why they source from local purveyors and responsible harvesters.
The Rook
404 West State Street, Ithaca
Located in the heart of Ithaca’s West End, The Rook takes pride in being the neighborhood spot for elevated-comfort food with a fresh take on your favorite classic flavors. With an approachable passion for food and drink, the three chefs pride themselves on creating a unique experience for guests that combines time-honored techniques, high-quality ingredients and a hip, professional dining atmosphere.
Moosewood Restaurant
215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca
Moosewood is the OG of Finger Lakes restaurants, dishing up exceptional vegetarian and vegan meals for over 50 years. It’s hard not to love their commitment to their mission as they consistently create creative and delicious dishes. The wine list is no slouch either with many local by-the-glass options. It’s a must.
Frequently Asked Questions about Finger Lakes Restaurants
More Ways To Explore Finger Lakes Wine Country
Old World Wine in the Finger Lakes: A Journey through France, Here in the Finger Lakes
Top Seneca Lake Wineries To Visit If You Love Dry Red Wine
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