Finger Lakes

The Park Inn, Hammondsport, NY., 6/18/26

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exterior – 37 Shethar St, Hammondsport, NY 14840-9380

By our third meal at the Park Inn the menu changed substantially and we got to try some different items.  The dessert menu was the same but we tried a different item.  The chefs have changed since we were there in 2022 but it has the same casual, farm-to-table feel.  Open Tues through Sat. they get a good mix of tourists and locals.  They remembered our preferences and seated us in the dining room to the right each night, in this historic 1861 property, where the noise and light levels are better to me.  Service is super and they are happy to make recommendations however this night our server hadn’t tried any of the new options so we were on our own.  I tried to get it coursed out as we shared all the dishes but the kitchen likes to send out 2 plates at a time.  The tables are big enough so I was okay with that.  This meal may have been the best one we had.  Hope you’ll go and find some options that suit you. Continue reading →

The Olney Place, Penn Yan, NY., 6/18/26

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building – 823 E Lake Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Penn Yan, NY 14527-9559

The Olney Place is on Keuka Lake and not only has a great deli but a small seasonal market for items you might need while staying around the lake (open May to October).  Seth Olney purchased the property in 2006 that had served as Froggy’s General Store since the 1930s.   He tore down the old structure and build a new place.  There is plenty of seating indoors as well as the bar area that overlooks the lake.  Outside tables are also available and they offer dockside pickup for boats that come by.   The market sold various food stuffs and souvenirs but mostly you remember the colorful murals that cover the walls and even the bathrooms.  Opening early every day you could make this a breakfast stop or even an early dinner.  Their sandwiches were good but they’re known for cinnamon rolls which sell out early.  They also are worth the trip.  Friendly staff are welcoming and helpful.  I’d go again. Continue reading →

M & M Hots, Elmira, NY., 6/17/26

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building – 212 Baldwin St, Elmira, NY 14901

M & M Red Hots has been a family owned business for over 100 years.  They have photos of the founders and the relatives that took over on the wall of the place.  Andrew Patros opened it in 1919 and then his sons took over.  A longtime employee then bought the company and now her granddaughter Katie Seymour and her fiancé Ryan Gllagher have taken the reigns from Katie’s dad.   They did close for a couple years during Covid but Katie was anxious to bring it back, in that it’s been in her family 40 years.  There are 3 ‘U’ shaped counters for seating with one looking out at the street and the cooking area.   They are known for their hot dogs that come topped several optional toppings.  We chose the meat sauce, mustard and onions – a classic combination.  They are cash only and also sell hamburgers but I saw no one eating anything but hot dogs with meat sauce.  It’s an institution you should try. Continue reading →

Vern’s Bakery, Hammondsport, NY., 6/17/26

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entrance – 49 Shethar Street, Hammondsport, NY 14840

Vern’s Bakery is a couple doors away from the Park Inn.  Opening in 2022, the owner Vern was on site and happy to chat.  He makes all the options fresh with the selection varying by day and when they’re out they’re closed.  They sell breakfast sandwiches  as well as sweet pastries and coffee.  They are known for their cinnamon rolls so you know what I got.  Vern is a retired pastry chef and tries to highlight seasonal products but admitted he uses frozen berries in his pastries as they have more flavor and are consitently available.  He did have fresh rhubarb in one.  There are tables inside if you want to eat there but also to-go options.  All the pastries are the same price $7, I think.  The coffee prices are posted but not the pastry’s.  He is a cash only establishment.  Both items we tried were excellent and the coffee was good and hot.  I would easily recommend this place to you. Continue reading →

The Park Inn (third visit), Hammondsport, NY, 9/24/22

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exterior – 37 Shether St., Hammondsport, NY, 14840

The last of the 3 nights we were there may have been the best meal yet.  The menu had slightly changed from the previous 2 nights.  We were excited to have our server Ethan from the first night again.  He made the meal so relaxed and enjoyable.  It really is a fun place with good food and the surrounding area has lots to explore.  I hope you’ll visit and let me know what you think. Continue reading →

Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company, Hammondsport, NY, 9/23 &24/22

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exterior – 35 Shether St., Hammondsport, NY, 14840

Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company is a restaurant that pays tribute to Glenn Curtiss, a bicycle racer and aircraft developer.  A number of their dishes are named for him, striving to evoke the same creativity as his inventions,  and the walls are filled with mementos of his fame and success.  The restaurant has been in Hammondsport over 30 years and is open every day except Tuesday.  They have a long counter with stools as well as tables in two rooms, separated by a low wall and a few stools facing the windows to the street.  They had a makeover about 5 years ago but at least they kept lots of their older decorations however, the place feels new and fresh.  Service was very friendly and helpful and once your order is placed it came out quickly.  They do get a crowd and you pay at the front where people are also getting coffee/muffins to go, so there can be some wait there.  The food was fresh, with quality ingredients and good flavors.  Next trip, though, I’ll have to try their ice cream. Continue reading →

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 1986, Hammondsport, NY, 9/23/22

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house – 9749 Middle Road, Hammondsport, NY, 14840

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery offers several tastings of their wines but the 1886 Food and Wine Experience is the most in-depth experience.  It is by reservation only and includes a seated educational wine flight paired with creative, small foods.  The visit also contains tours of some of the wine-making areas as well as some vineyards.  On the property, they also have a retail shop, seated tastings of 5 wines ($15), or Eugenia’s Garden (price varies with what you order) where you sample 3 wines with optional food for purchase.  The 1886 Experience is $75 and in retrospect, I don’t think it’s worth that.  It was a nice, small, informative tour and the paired foods for the different wines were attractive but not that good.  It was fun to see the different buildings and learn a lot about how sparkling wines are made, but I’d recommend one of the cheaper tours and if you really like the wine you can come back for the in-depth experience.  The Frank winery is significant because Konstantin is the one that elevated the Finger Lakes wine region of New York into a well-respected wine region. He planted the first vinifera vines from Europe in 1957 which forever changed the course of winemaking in New York. Continue reading →

The Restaurant at The Park Inn (second visit), Hammondsport, NY., 9/22/22

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exterior – 37 Shether St., Hammondsport, NY, 14840

We ate at The Restaurant at the Park Inn the night before and were scheduled to eat again the next two nights.  We opted for a cocktail in the room first so went straight to wine.  It is very approachable food with a menu that makes you want to try all of it.   See the post of 9/21/22 if you want more photos of the interior.

menu

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Donna’s Restaurant, Corning, NY, 9/22/22

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exterior – 58 East Market Street, Corning, NY, 14830

Donna’s Restaurant is a small place in the old downtown of Corning.  Inside you’ll find a fabulous display of Corning Pyrex through the ages and colors mixed in with cat objects, which is owner Donna Robbins’ other passion.  They are open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch with daily specials posted on their Facebook page.  The restaurant opened in its current location in Nov. 2018 after being evicted from their home of 34 years on a corner down the street.  When the building owner decided to re-purpose the building they gave Robbins about a month to vacate and Robbins promised her loyal patrons she would find a new spot.  Robbins had started working at the spot 15 years prior when it was Bacalles Soda Bar and then the Kozy Korner until 1985 when she was able to buy the place and name it after herself.  We grabbed a couple of the stools at the counter but they also have tables.  Everyone was super friendly and the food was good. Continue reading →

The Restaurant at The Park Inn, Hammondsport, NY., 9/21/22

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exterior – 37 Shether St., Hammondsport, NY, 14840

The Restaurant at the Park Inn is made up of 2 adjacent rooms on the first floor under the small inn located on the second floor.  It’s an old building with the current chef arriving 4 years ago.  We read about their locally sourced and seasonal menu from Chef Dan Eaton and the accompanying wine program under the care of Sommelier Jason Ferris (who received a “Best of Award Excellence” from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2022) and wanted to try the wines of the Finger Lakes area.  We spent 3 nights in the region and managed to snag a reservation at the 60-seat restaurant each evening.   The entry room is long with a bar counter on one side and tables in the back, heading toward the fireplace.  The other room steps down to your right as you enter and has windows to the street with bench seating around the perimeter. The full menu is available at the bar counter as well as at all the tables.  Lots of historical photos are on the walls, music was in the background, lights are lowered, the floor is wood while the ceiling is tin and the tables are well-spaced.  Service is friendly and attentive and will offer guidance if requested.   Its menu has enough choices that it was no strain to go 3 nights in a row but we learned the first night that the portions are generous so don’t over-order.  I totally recommend visiting the region and staying and eating at the Park Inn. Continue reading →