The Finger Lakes Region is astonishingly beautiful and
nothing can beat sitting by the water enjoying a glass of locally produced wine
or beer – or partaking in a complete meal. Cascadilla Cat is on a quest to find
lakeside dining on each of the Finger Lakes and here’s my first of several recommendations:
13807A West Lake Road
Hammondsport, NY
14840
607-868-3636
This is my all-time favorite place to have a meal and take
in the gorgeous scenery on the west side of Keuka Lake. In fact, I try visit at
least once a summer. Well, I didn’t get it together until fall this year, but three
of us finally made the drive to Hammondsport two weeks ago. Lakeside is a seasonal
operation, so be sure to call ahead if you’re hoping to visit in late fall. On
the day that we visited, the inside bar and boat docks and lowest open deck were
hopping with a large group of folks celebrating Halloween early as they toured
the lake in their motor boats. A good time was definitely being had by all!
What makes this place so special?
First off, it’s situated directly on Keuka Lake, which is arguably
the most breath-taking of the Finger Lakes. Seriously, when I drive down the hill
on the east side of the lake and head towards Hammondsport, the stunning view can
literally take my breath away! With the fall foliage nearly at peak, we surely
picked a terrific day to make the trip. FYI, I get the same sensation when I
visit Heron Hill Winery and Dr. Konstantin Frank, both of which sit
high up overlooking the lake from the west side. (Please note: Neither of these
websites are secure.) Both of these superb wineries are a short but steep drive
from Lakeside. But I digress…
The good folks at Lakeside have really upped their game and
expanded their seating options over the past few years. They have added more
tiered deck seating outside and have also added an open air bar down by the
dock, which has plenty of slips for those wishing to visit by boat. They also
put on an addition with rooftop seating and a nice indoor seating area
overlooking the water. The first year that we sat inside the new addition, we
liked the open air dining. They’ve since added windows and, when we visited
recently, they had a space heater going. So, you can dine in comfort here even
when it’s rainy and/or chilly. They also have a lovely dining room inside the older
part of the tavern, and a terrific indoor bar. Plus, their food is consistently
excellent and the staff are friendly and attentive. They also serve a superb
Bloody Mary! Oh, and there’s a friendly yellow lab occasionally on the
premises, who hasn’t met a visitor he doesn’t like!
As you travel north, Lakeside will be on the right. Note
that there is a very steep driveway with limited parking next to the business.
It’s much easier to park directly across the road where there is ample, level
parking. I’ve checked their website and have gotten a message today saying that
the site has been suspended. But, they do have a presence on Facebook, so that
link is provided above. This is definitely one place you don’t want to miss.
Enjoy!
(C. Cat, 2:55pm, 11/3/19)
