If you’re in Watkins Glen, looking for your next stomach refilling station, you need to read this article.
Watkins Glen is a village and a census-designated place in Schuyler County, New York, USA. It is also the seat of the county. Watkins Glen had a population of 1,832 in 2021.
This small village was named Watkins Glen in honor of the city’s earliest promoter Dr. Samuel Watkins. The Watkins Glen State Park is a famous attraction site that features a spectacular gorger emerging in the center of the village.
The village also features Watkins Glen International Auto Race Track, one of the premier automobile road racing tracks in the U.S.
It has a lot of lodging, dining, and brewing spots. Watkins Glen are precious gems that are worth exploring for a premium vacation experience.
Let’s check out the best restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY.
Best Restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY
1. Thai Elephants
Are you a fan of Thai cuisine? Do you want to eat some Thai food in Watkins Glen? Then you should consider ordering at Thai Elephants. It is one of the top restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY.
This is the best Thai restaurant in the village. The menu features traditional Thai dishes in a family-friendly setting with modern interior details.
They serve chicken Pad Thai Noodles, Thai dumplings, Tom Yum soup, red curry chicken, lobster Pad Thai, som tum, fried ice cream, chicken satay, and fried calamari. Thai tea and honey ginger tea are two good drink options to choose from.
Thai Elephants® is a full-service eatery that serves great food in a good ambiance with friendly staff. They operate in two sessions – morning and evening. The morning operating hours are from 11.30 am to 2 pm, and the evening session runs from 4-9 pm.
Address: 133 E 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1211. Phone: +1 607-210-4168
2. Nickel’s Pit BBQ
Nickel’s Pit BBQ is the best barbecue spot and one of the best places to eat in Watkins Glen, NY. It is set in a historic building wherein BBQ meals, craft beer, and live music performances are provided.
This BBQ restaurant is a vibrant outpost for enjoying smoked or grilled meat. They serve smoked chicken wings, brisket sandwiches, pork & brisket combo, pork wings, loaded tater tots, pulled pork nachos, and more.
Our favorite choice is deep-fried pickles and cold beer at Nickel’s Pit BBQ. Brisket Lovers Combo is highly recommended for solo and group dining arrangements.
Nickel’s Pit BBQ is a place to be in if you want to tear through delicious meats or BBQ dishes that accompany them. They are open only on weekends from noon to 9 pm.
Address: 207 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1201. Phone: +1 607-210-4646
3. Scuteri’s Cannoli Connection
Scuteri’s Cannoli Connection is one of the best bakeries in Watkins Glen, NY.
Though it’s a bakery, it also serves Italian pastries such as pizza, tiramisu, and so on. They serve freshly filled cannoli along with tiramisu, rum cakes, rolls, Italian cookies, and other yummy baked products.
Scuteri’s Cannoli Connection has been serving fresh bread, pizzas, and cannoli since its opening in 1971. The pastry chefs here are experts at producing high-quality baked goods for the Watkins Glen community.
They offer catering services for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special events. Cakes, hot pizza slices, and specialty desserts such as cannoli are common favorites the staff prepares for such occasions.
There are several food options to pick from for a delightful breakfast or brunch at Scuteri’s Cannoli Bakery.
You can visit Scuteri’s website and Facebook page to see their range of baked goods. You can also get weekly updates on the menu offerings and specials.
Address: 409 E 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1216. Phone: +1 607-535-7568
4. The Great Escape Ice Cream Parlor
Have you ever thought of a place to take your kids to during the weekends in Watkins Glen? Well, now you know because there’s one place they love: an ice cream shop.
The Great Escape features homemade ice cream & gelato, including vegan varieties.
It is a local family-owned ice cream parlor that offers common ice cream flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. They are happy to serve you and your kids your favorite flavors.
Milkshakes and sundaes are also interesting menu items at this ice cream shop.
The Great Escape is a must-see when visiting Watkins Glen, NY. Its homemade ice creams, cakes, novelties, and Italian gelato are the best-tasting ones in the whole area.
Another plus for this ice cream shop is the variety of its vegan and non-dairy options. There are hard to miss for those who are vegetarians and those on a non-fat or gluten-free diet.
Address: 221 S Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1508. Phone: +1 607-535-7354
5. Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Co.
Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Co. is a family-run ristorante & pizzeria serving the village with tasty Italian fare. Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza is among the best-rated Watkins Glen restaurants that serves Italian cuisines.
It was established in 1993 in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Watkins Glen, NY. This Italian restaurant/pizzeria offers the best in quality, value, and quantity compared to other similar restaurants in the area.
They currently have two locations where they have operated to serve delicious Italian and American cuisine for over 20 years. It is a perfect place to visit after you’ve taken shots of the Gorgeous Finger Lakes Region.
Jerlando’s features a full-service dining room with bar seating, a pizza area, and a small cozy seating corner.
Some of Jerlando’s menu items include gluten-free chicken parmigiana & potato fries, garlic knots & marinara sauce, garlic bread with melted mozzarella, Fettuccine Alfredo, and more.
Jerlando’s Ristorante opens by 11 am and closes by 9 pm every day.
Address: 400 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1226. Phone: +1 607-535-4254
6. Graft wine + Cider Bar
Do you know of any wine bars in your area? Interestingly, Watkins Glen has Graft Wine and Cider Bar as their one and only wine bar.
It features hundreds of wine bottles collected from several local and foreign wineries. Graft Wine + Cider Bar is the best place for wine tasting.
It is a nice place with an appropriate ambiance that matches the social class of customers. They offer lots of wine, roasted chicken, steamed mussels, rice pudding, cheese plates, and more.
A Cheesecake slice is a great dessert to take here to accompany your wine consumption. Two of the best dinner choices are swordfish special and Ricotta Gnocchi. They are both delicious and have unique culinary attributes.
At Graft Wine, the belief is that a glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away. The ciders, as well as all appetizers and entrees, are fantastic.
Graft Wine + Cider Bar opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 4-9 pm.
Address: 204 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1224. Phone: +1 607-210-4324
7. BluePoint Grille
Who doesn’t like a restaurant on a harbor with riverside views, sea breeze, and yachts docked on the harbor? That describes BluePoint Grille. It is one of the best restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY.
BluePoint Grille is located at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. It is a polished hotel eatery featuring steaks, seafood, and pasta, plus a patio with scenic lake views.
The outdoor dining seats offer you views of the surrounding Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes.
This restaurant accepts reservations and offers takeaways and pickups. They have an impressive wine list selected from many award-winning local wineries. The bar area serves craft beers, pub fare, and cocktails.
It serves lobster roll, seafood scampi, crème brulee cheesecake, chocolate martini, scrambled eggs with sausages, and a chicken parmesan sandwich.
BluePoint Grille’s menu always has fresh, local flavors on each food plate. Though an upmarket restaurant, it always uses fresh ingredients from the nearest local supplier to prepare meals.
BluePoint Grille aims to provide the perfect food that satisfies every palate. They offer classic American cuisine in a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
Address: 16 N Franklin St Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1221. , Phone: +1 607-535-6116
8. Glen Dairy Bar
Glen Dairy Bar is a top-tier ice cream shop that has been located in Watkins Glen since 1947. They provide some of the yummiest sundaes and ice creams.
If you’re up for a sweet treat in Watkins Glen, Glen Dairy Bar is the best spot for that. They serve the finest ice cream and food products to the village’s old and young.
Glen Dairy Bar was established in the year 2000 and aimed to change the food industry scene in Watkins Glen. Since then, it has helped to change tastes and perceptions about what sweet treats and desserts should be.
This ice cream shop doesn’t produce all its menu offerings in-house. It works with a select group of trusted vendors and distributors who are readily supplying them with more than half of their sold food.
With the quality undermined and the prices spiking up, Glen Dairy Bar is one of the fastest-growing establishment in Watkins Glen. They offer curbside pickup and takeaway service options to all customers.
The menu contains banana split, ice cream cones of varying lengths, peanut butter ice cream sundae, mint chocolate chip, cake, vanilla peanut butter ice cream, and so on.
Soft serve options are popular picks at Glen Dairy Bar. You can select blueberry lemon soft serve, soft serve with rainbow sprinkles, and the infamous Mega Mega Soft Serve.
Address: 433 S Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1528. Phone: +1 607-535-2757.
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9. Tobey’s Donut Shop
Tobey’s Donut Shop is a traditional donut shop near the waterfront for full breakfast and coffee served at diner-style booths.
It is a great place for friends and families in the surrounding villages to gather around to enjoy delicious foods and homemade pastries. The restaurant offers doughnuts, eggs & home fries, croissants, cake donuts, breakfast sammich, and cinnamon rolls.
The shop’s baked bagels are particularly yummy. They are of excellent quality. You can select their bagel flavors to order from when you see the menu.
Tobey’s Donut Shop is hands down the best donut shop in Watkins Glen, NY. It opens by 5 am and closes by 3 pm daily except Sundays.
Address: 137 E 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1211. Phone: +1 607-535-5355
10. Rooster Fish Brewing Pub
Rooster Fish is among the best-rated Watkins Glen restaurants. It is a neighborhood brewpub serving gourmet burgers and other elevated grub, along with homemade craft beers.
The interesting thing about Rooster Brewing is that it offers a unique world-class craft ale from locally sourced ingredients. On-tap ales include tripel witch ale, dog tooth pale ale, original dark nut brown, and more.
You can’t go wrong with it because of its great selection of tap beers and the great service from the bartender. Rooster Fish Brewing Pub has a fun atmosphere, attentive staff, and abundant drinks and pub fare.
It brings some of the best foods in town to the table for all Rooster’s customers to enjoy. The menu contains items, such as fly-bread tacos, onion rings, Caesar salad, homemade fries, and sandwiches.
Rooster Fish Brewing Pub hosts live performances that make night outs worth your while. They open by noon and stay till 9-10 pm every day, including weekends.
Address: 301 N Franklin St #301, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1202. Phone: +1 607-535-9797
11. Seneca Lodge Restaurant
Nestled in the hills above Seneca Lake is Seneca Lodge. It is just a stone’s throw away from the gorge in Watkins Glen State Park.
Seneca Lodge features a microbrewery, accommodation rooms, a tavern room, and restaurant. Our concern is the Seneca Lodge Restaurant.
Seneca Lodge Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY, and the Finger Lakes area. It always serves great food and service. It has a wonderful staff and nice surroundings.
The Seneca Lodge’s dinner menu is filled with many good foods such as lobster bisque, clam chowder, Gnoochi, ravioli, chicken fried steak, and so on.
It is usually busy, especially during NASCAR tournament periods. So, they accept dinner reservations and prior booking of accommodation space.
Address: Route 329, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Phone: +1 607-535-2014
12. Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake
Do you like the idea of sightseeing around Seneca Lake and its surroundings? Then you should get onboard Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises.
Captain Bill’s Cruises is a tour operator that offers informative sightseeing excursions around the beautiful areas in Watkins Glen.
They serve food that is reportedly delicious at every bite. The friendly crew serves dinner, lunch, and cocktails during the ship cruise. There is also entertainment arranged for guests to enjoy during their tour.
Captain Bill’s Cruises heighten the food experience with elegant dinner afloat arrangements executed with style and charm. It is one of the best places to eat in Watkins Glen, NY.
They serve salads, seafood, appetizers, pier side entrees, burgers, and sandwiches. The crab cake sandwich is yummy as it is handmade with a recipe of delicious crab and spices on a toasted dough.
Shrimp pasta and shrimp cocktails are great choices to combine while eating onboard. You get the best of both solid and liquid shrimp preparations.
Address: 1 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1275. Phone: +1 607-535-4541
13. Ben & Jerry’s
This is one of the best ice cream shops in Watkins Glen. It is an iconic Vermont-based ice cream parlor chain known for its creative, cleverly named flavors.
Ben & Jerry’s is locally owned and run. Ice cream scoops are served like they were originally meant to be served by the founders, Ben and Jerry themselves.
They serve cups & cones, ice cream cakes, waffle bowl sundaes, chocolate cookie dough, and more. You are missing a lot if you don’t go to Ben & Jerry’s today!
Address: 418 N Franklin Street 418 N Franklin St, 14891, Watkins Glen, Finger Lakes, New York, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Phone: +1 607-535-4131
14. Seneca Harbor Station
Seneca Harbor Station is another alternative way to tour the Finger Lakes area in New York. Seneca Harbor Station is an 1876 train station that is now converted into a restaurant with a mahogany bar, beach patio, and Seneca Lake views.
It serves New England clam chowder, fish & chips, calamari, crab cake sandwich, tossed salad, and grilled applejack chicken salad.
The bar serves beers, wines, and cocktails to all Seneca Harbor Station guests who order there. There are outdoor seating arrangements plus ample space for kids to move around.
Seneca Harbor Station restaurant has many vegetarian options that are good for all. It is no doubt one of the best Watkins Glen restaurants. It is always open throughout the daytime and evenings.
Address: 3 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1251. Phone: +1 607-535-6101
15. Glen Mountain Market
Glen Mountain Market Bakery & Deli is located along the busy Franklin Street in the upstate village of Watkins Glen. It is a top-rated bakery in Watkins Glen, NY.
Glen Mountain Bakery is a bright, intimate counter-serve offering breakfast pastries, coffee, and hearty sandwiches. It offers catering services and vegan options to all who desire them.
The menu includes turkey club sandwiches, focaccia, croissant, bread, blueberry muffin, hoagies, and coffee as their offerings.
Address: 200 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1224. Phone: +1 607-535-6900.
Map of the Best Restaurants in Watkins Glen, NY
To get around during your trip to Watkins Glen, here is a map of the best restaurants in Watkins Glen with markers of the top places to eat in Watkins Glen, NY.
Are you considering more exploration of New York? Here is our list of things to do in New Paltz, things to do in Jamestown and things to do in Olean for a fun vacation.
Plan a Trip to Watkins Glen, NY
There is no doubt that Watkins Glen is a great place to live. It is a village in New York that affords you views of waterfalls, eco-friendly environment, and speedy racecars.
Watkins Glen restaurants heightens the wonderful experience by offering mouthwatering treats you can’t resist It’s time to visit Watkins Glen for your share of exciting memories!