Buffalo, Ithaca, Watkins Glen?

Question

Hi all, don't see a ton of stuff on upstate at a quick glance but will be doing a road trip to Toronto from Boston spending one night in Ithaca on the way out, one in Buffalo and 3 nites on the lake in Watkins Glen. Any recs? I'm trying to cram a lot in 24 hr in BUF, do people have thoughts on these places (everything from dives to bakeries/donuts to beef on weck to fancy cocktails). Haven't looked into Ithaca or WG yet. Thanks.

Allen St Hardware Café, Central Park Grill, Coles, Famous donuts, Paula's, Five Points Bakery, Gene McCarthy's, Pink, Taffy's Hot Dog Stand, Wiechecs: 
Buffalo Proper Cocktails, Lockhouse Distillery, Marble & Rye, Martin Cooks, Oshun Oyster Bar, Savoy

Answer

Harvest Cafe near Montour Falls (Watkins Glen) and Stonecat Cafe in Hector.

Answer

A write up for people who may need info in the area (or maybe I'm the only one who cares). Left Boston around 12:30 and drove straight to Buffalo rather than stay in Ithaca, had a decent lunch at the Schodack Diner in Castleton-On-Hudson right off Rt. 90. Got to BUF around 8:15 and went to the Allentown section and ate at Allen St Hardware Café, nice bartender, tasty well priced jambalaya and cool space. Pretty quiet at that time tho. Stopped at The Old Pink, a cool dive bar down the street and ended with a fresh donut from Donut Kraze. Before checking out the Frank Lloyd Write House I grabbed a donut at Famous Donuts but it wasn't worth finishing. We did like our late breakfast at Kostas, a gyro omelet. We came back to Buffalo after going to Toronto and Niagara and started with lunch at Gene McCarthy's by the grain elevators, ate the traditional Buffalo wings and beef on weck there. Cool old place, copper ceilings, nice patio, interesting beers. Went to Buffalo Proper later for happy hour and had a nice cocktail and beer there then dinner was at a new spot across from our Hyatt, Lucky Day. A good looking space that used to be a Masonic temple, they concentrate on whiskies. Food was okay, forgot what we had. We ended the nite at the divey Tudor Lounge where the folks were friendly and didn't care that we were Patriots fans.

We took the scenic route to Watkins Glen and stopped for breakfast at Marie's in Alden, had a great ham/hash brown scramble. After a stop in Geneva and our first winery at Glenora, we checked into the Anchor Inn, a passable motel but it's right on Seneca Lake and has a little tiki bar. That view couldn't be denied. Started at Rooster Fish brewery in downtown Watkins Glen, got deviled eggs and a flight. They're only open until 5 but have two associated restaurants. The first one we hit was Crooked Rooster where we had good mussels at the bar. The second was Nickel's Pit BBQ, we really liked the fun atmosphere and interesting sandwiches that were a bit off the beaten BBQ path. We had a dinner at Seneca Harbor Station; crab cakes, salad whatever else was all right but we liked sitting on the deck. Also enjoyed the patio at Blue Pointe Grille where they made me a great salty dog martini. We didn't think the donuts at Tobey's Donuts were great but they made a decent breakfast sandwich.

Other places we went to were Dano's Heuriger for German food in Lodi. Had a nice "bento box" of sausage, pork loin, potato and cucumber salad, spaetzel, etc. overlooking beautiful grounds and the lake. Had a pancake and eggs at the Penn Yan diner, I didn't like it as much as my friend. It's a cute, real diner tho. I did really enjoy Publick Coffee Bar down the street, a very cool space where they also serve wine. Also enjoyed Donuts Done Right/BBQ Shack where the tasty donuts come fresh out of the "donut robot", only $1!. We split a hot dog at Eastside Grill and then split a brat at FLX Wienery, good stuff.

We then drove to Rhinebeck with a stop at the Harris Diner in Owego, we split an onion/pepper omelet and grilled blueberry muffin and were deep in enemy territory with all the Yankees and Giants items on the walls. We got to Kingston and split a huge yummy turkey club w/ fries (for about $8.95) at Dietz Stadium Diner then stopped at the Stockyard which my friend runs for a nice Bee's Knees and beer. We checked into our hotel and headed to Rhinebeck for dinner starting with a drink and Brussels sprouts app. at The Local then over to The Amsterdam where we had great service and fun bar mates. Did some charcuterie and cheese, wine and beer and had a great time.

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Central Park Grill

Coles Robina

Famous Doughnuts

Five Points Bakery

Gene McCarthy's Old First Ward Brewing Company

Buffalo Proper

Taffy's Hot Dog Stand

Wiechec's Lounge

Lockhouse Distillery and Bar

Marble & Rye

Savoy

Looks good!

Buffalo, Ithaca, Watkins Glen?

Discussion Summary

Central Park Grill

Coles Robina

Famous Doughnuts

Five Points Bakery

Gene McCarthy's Old First Ward Brewing Company

Buffalo Proper

Taffy's Hot Dog Stand

Wiechec's Lounge

Lockhouse Distillery and Bar

Marble & Rye

Savoy

Harvest Cafe

Marie's Italian Specialties

Anchor Inn

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