Whether you’re in the Finger Lakes to sample wine, seek outdoor adventure, or embark on a road trip, you’ll need to eat well! Restaurants in the region are plentiful but finding one is easier when you know, geographically, where in the region you plan to dine. This article solely recommends Seneca Lake restaurants, specifically those located on the west side of the lake.
Given their location, the restaurants below will be the most convenient to people traveling between Geneva and Watkins Glen. Perhaps your accommodations are on the west side of Seneca Lake and you need a good breakfast to start the day, or maybe you’re visiting the wineries and want to include lunch or dinner on your wine tasting itinerary.
We’ve eaten at all the restaurants on this list and feel confident recommending each and every one. Read on for tips on where to eat unforgettable meals on the west side of Seneca Lake. For planning purposes, I’ve also added notes on the wineries and breweries near each restaurant.
NOTE: Always check current hours before you go. Many restaurants in the Finger Lakes hold seasonal hours and may be closed certain days of the week.
1. Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora
Dining on creative dishes made with fresh local ingredients within sight of stunning vineyard views are what make Veraisons the longstanding favorite that it is.
I had the perfect meal, with a summer berry salad to start, followed by Chilean sea bass with lemon scented jasmine rice, all paired with a glass of rose wine. Matt had crab cakes and needless to say, both plates were entirely empty by dinner’s end.
This was a meal in early August and suited the season perfectly. Veraisons prides itself on sourcing ingredients from local farms and fish from sustainable sources. Customers benefit by choosing from a rotating menu that fits the season. Vegan and gluten-free options are available.
If weather permits, definitely dine on the large outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards and Seneca Lake. If you have to sit inside, that’s OK, too. The dining room is spacious with high ceilings and a stone fireplace, and large windows look out onto that lovely view.
Veraisons Restaurant is part of the winery resort at Glenora Wine Cellars, which also includes a 30-room inn, altogether on the same property. Glenora was the first winery on Seneca Lake and Veraisons is generally considered one of the best restaurants on Seneca Lake.
✔ Dine here if you’d love a Seneca Lake winery restaurant with vineyard and lake views.
🍷Nearby wineries: Glenora Wine Cellars on the premises. Other nearby wineries: Fulkerson Winery, Magnus Ridge Winery, Barnstormer Winery, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars
🍺Nearby breweries: Seneca Lake Brewing Company & The Beerocracy, Tin Barn Brewing
- Address: 5435 NY-14, Dundee, NY
- Phone: 800-243-5513
- Call for reservations (required)
2. F.L.X. Wienery
This is not your average comfort food joint!
Yes, you can order bratwurst topped with brown mustard and sauerkraut, a burger with toppings like bacon or kimchi, and fries loaded with chili (or even Foie Gras if you’re fancy).
But the owners of F.L.X. Wienery pride themselves on quality. That means you’re getting house-made sausages, freshly ground burgers, and hand cut fries in every meal. Which makes sense when you know the couple behind the venture, owners Isabel Bogadtke and Christopher Bates, come from a long background of working in fine dining.
In other words, the husband and wife team are accustomed to preparing food with a great deal of care. Eating at F.L.X. Wienery is a casual, fun experience with counter service and both indoor and (seasonal) outdoor seating.
Customers can pair their meals with signature shakes, house wines, a wide range of beers, and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. You can also bring your own wine and uncork it yourself for no fee. There’s a small charge if they uncork it for you. By far, this is one of the most unique places to eat on Seneca Lake! They also sell a selection of fun merchandise.
✔ Casual and fun, F.L.X. Wienery is a great choice if you need a quick, satisfying meal from a restaurant on the Seneca Lake Wine Trial.
🍷Nearby wineries: Tabora Farm & Winery, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars, Glenora Wine Cellars, Fulkerson Winery
🍺Nearby breweries: Seneca Lake Brewing Company & The Beerocracy, Tin Barn Brewing
- Address: 5090 NY-14, Dundee, NY
- Phone: 607-243-7100
3. Tabora Farm & Winery
Whether you’re sampling wines here or not, this is the perfect place for a winery lunch or a pit stop to pick up provisions.
We stopped in on our way to Watkins Glen, where we were planning to hike the gorge trail and then have a waterfront picnic at Clute Park. Though it’s much more casual than Veraisons, I would still consider this a Seneca Lake winery restaurant. They serve food and there are tables available for dining.
The deli, bakery & market offer a nice selection of salads and quiche, and sandwiches made on freshly baked bread. There’s also a mouthwatering choice of homemade donuts, cakes, pies, and pastries, not to mention an array of fancy chocolates, gourmet popcorn, craft beer, and Tabora wine.
This was definitely one of those places where the danger lies in leaving with much more than you planned to buy!
We didn’t have time for a wine tasting but we did pick up a bottle of Tabora rose. The wine was fantastic and drinking it at sunset by the waterfront firepit at our hotel (Plum Point Lodge) was sheer perfection!
Tip: If you’re shopping for grocery items or food on the go, you can also drive 4.5 miles further west to Dutch Kuntry Store, a market with lots of great snacks, produce, and a deli counter with made to order sandwiches.
✔ Tabora’s bakery & deli is a great choice if you’ve been sampling wines at their tasting room, or if you require lunch, snacks, beer, or wine on the go.
🍷Nearby wineries: Tabora Winery on the premises. Other nearby wineries: Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars, Glenora Wine Cellars, Fulkerson Winery
🍺Nearby brewery: Tin Barn Brewing
- Address: 4978 Lakemont-Himrod Rd, Dundee, NY
- Phone: 607-678-4342
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4. Sapalta
Down a back road in Himrod is Plum Point Lodge, a whimsical purple motel on the shores of Seneca Lake. Their restaurant Sapalta is open to both guests and non-guests, with a dock available for customers arriving by boat.
In the summer, dine on the relaxing outdoor terrace, especially pretty at sundown when the tea lights turn on. Easily, this is one of the most scenic Seneca Lake restaurants we’ve been to.
There’s plenty of seating in the dining room, as well, located inside the whimsical purple lodge, just beyond the reception area.
Dishes at Sapalta are made with locally-sourced ingredients. Some rotate by the season. Try a charcuterie board made from various Finger Lakes cheeses, or their homemade bread and butter with jam.
Entrees are unique and creative. I had the Homemade Potato & Goat Cheese Gnocchi. Matt ordered the Moroccan Spiced Shrimp. My dish came with two meatballs made with beef and bison, and while bison isn’t something I would normally order (I do try to be a little more adventurous when I travel!), the meatballs were small and perfectly complemented the dish.
There was one entrée choice for vegetarians on our visit (Portobello Mushroom “Steak”) and several more in the Salads & Snacks category. Pescatarians and fish-lovers will be delighted by the many seafood offerings.
✔ Dine here if you’d like a Seneca Lake restaurant with lake views, if you’re arriving by boat, or if you’re coming from the wineries on Keuka Lake, particularly those on the east side (i.e. Rooster Hill Vineyards is just nine miles west of Sapalta).
🍷Nearby wineries: Shaw Vineyard, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Miles Wine Cellars, Torrey Ridge Winery, Prejean Winery
🍺Nearby brewery: Climbing Bines Hop Farm & Brewery
- Address: 3482 Plum Point Rd S, Himrod, NY
- Phone: 607-395-2022
- Reservations recommended
5. Ports Cafe
People recommend Ports Café to us on a regular basis whenever we’re in the Finger Lakes.
It was only on our most recent trip that we finally made it there for dinner, and it was worth the wait. Owned by two friends from Geneva, NY, Ports Café has been in business for more than 20 years.
Their signature menu offers lots of choices, like a delicious bang bang shrimp, tender lamb chops, and hearty smoked ribs. For lighter fare, try a shrimp saute, mussels, and a selection of salads. They also pride themselves on their daily specials, which, as our server described to us, are carefully created by the chef each day.
Seasonal outdoor seating is available. Ports Café is across Route 14 from Seneca Lake and while there are no big lake views, you won’t miss it because the food’s so good. I can confidently say that Ports Cafe is one of the top Seneca Lake restaurants I’ve eaten at.
✔ Dine here if you want a meal so good, you’ll rave about it long after it’s over!
🍷Nearby wineries: Billsboro Winery, Missick Cellars Geneva, White Springs Winery, Bellhurst Castle and Winery, Ravines Wine Cellars
🍺Nearby breweries: Big aLICe Brewing Finger Lakes, Brewery Ardennes Tap Room & Kitchen, WeBe Brewing Company
- Address: 4432 W Lake Rd, Geneva, NY
- Phone: 315-789-2020
- Reservations recommended
6. The Crossing Diner
“Where Home Cookin’ Tastes Like Home Cookin’!” That’s the motto here and you can’t ask for much more than that. But there’s more!
The railroad themed décor is pure Americana, the service is super friendly, and the customers, at least on our visit, all seemed to know each other by name, giving it all the feel of someone’s cozy country kitchen.
Crossing Diner is named for the railroad tracks that were laid near here in 1851. Back then, trains carried passengers to local tourist destinations. Now, they only transport products like salt and coal.
If you’re looking for a hearty breakfast or lunch, be sure to stop at The Crossing. Fill up on typical diner offerings, including house specialties like the Train Wreck, which comes with pancakes, French toast, eggs, and bacon.
Or if you’re feeling up to it, challenge yourself to the Boxcar Breakfast, which includes, among other items, six eggs and seven layers of Texas Toast. If you can pack it away in 30 minutes or less, it’s on the house. On our visit, only 42 had completed the challenge out of 158 attempts, with the top finishing time clocking in at seven minutes.
And don’t worry—there’s plenty of lighter fare available and kids (10 and under) can order from the Little Conductors menu.
✔ Dine here if you want a super hearty breakfast or if you’re craving a Friday Fish Fry!
🍷Nearby wineries: Tabora Farm & Winery, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars, Glenora Wine Cellars, Fulkerson Winery
🍺Nearby breweries: Tin Barn Brewing FLX, Seneca Lake Brewing Company & The Beerocracy
- Address: 5005 NY-14, Dundee, NY
- Phone: 607-243-5454
I hope that dining at these Seneca Lake restaurants enhances your trip. Eating fresh and delicious food is one of the defining experiences of the Finger Lakes region!
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