The deepest of central New York’s Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake stretches for 38 miles between Watkins Glen and Geneva. Area activities include boating on the lake, attending races at Watkins Glen International and exploring the up-and-coming Finger Lakes wine region. No matter which side of the lake you find yourself, you’ll always be close to good eats.
Located at the north end of the lake in Geneva, the Red Dove Tavern describes itself as “The Finger Lakes Answer to a Gastropub.” It offers an eclectic menu centered on local ingredients. Small plates, salads and sandwiches are available all day. Red Dove’s mains include pork shank with cheddar grits and fried okra, a Thai veggie curry and daily specials. It has a well-rounded wine list and offers 10 craft beers on tap and specialty cocktails made with juices from a local orchard. The weekend brunch is popular with college students.
Red Dove Tavern
30 Castle St.
Geneva, NY 14456
315-781-2020
reddovetavern.com
Housed in a modernist building on Seneca Lake’s eastern shore, Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca brings the Austrian heuriger (wine tavern) experience to the Finger Lakes. Chef Dano Hutnik offers traditional dishes from his native country in a convivial atmosphere. Diners can share a variety of small bites, which include spreads, such as liptauer and horseradish walnut, served with a basket of bread. Side dishes include spatzle and braised red cabbage, and larger plates range from sausages and other charcuterie to vegetarian dishes and a bento box filled with Austrian classics. An Austrian-style wine served in a traditional heuriger mug is a special treat. Dano’s dining room is cozy in winter, and its outdoor patio features a great view of the lake in warmer months.
Dano's on Seneca
9564 Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860
607-582-7555
danosonseneca.com
Also located on the lake’s eastern side, Red Newt Bistro is attached to the Red Newt Winery. It has a reasonably priced lunch menu, and the bistro’s dinner menu focuses on New American classics, such as duck breast salad and poached sea bass. A wide selection of wines is available by the glass, and diners can order wine flights to sample, for example, Rieslings from three different Finger Lakes wineries.
Red Newt Bistro
3675 Tichenor Road
Hector NY 14841
607-546-4100
rednewt.com
Watkins Glen's Wildflower Café serves up affordable American fare, ranging from salads and sandwiches to crab cakes and steaks, in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Connected to its sister establishment, the Roosterfish Brewing Brewpub, the Wildflower offers Roosterfish craft ales on tap. They’ll fill a growler for you to take home.
The Wildflower Café
301 North Franklin St.
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-9797
roosterfishbrewing.com/wildflower_cafe.php
Situated on the western side of Seneca Lake, Veraisons Restaurant has nice views of vineyards and the lake. Its lunch menu offers salads and sandwiches, and its more upscale dinner menu covers the basics: steaks, chops, fish and fowl. A sampler of locally produced artisanal cheeses is available any time. Veraisons is part of the Glenora Wine Cellars complex, which also includes a popular winery and an inn.
Veraisons Restaurant
5435 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837
800-243-5513
glenora.com/glenorawine/page/veraisons.jsp
