Finger Lakes Region
Diners, Dives, and Deliciousness…
The Best Diners in the Finger Lakes…
Steve’s Diner - Rochester
Pancakes as big as a dinner plate? Cannoli and Cheesecake stuffed pancakes? Nutella French Toast? Are you kidding me? There is a reason that they now have three locations around the Rochester area instead of just the original in Penfield - because their food is FANTASTIC! There is a 45 minute or more wait at the original location on the average weekend, so our recommendation is that you check out the Whitney Road location a few miles away if you don’t have the time to wait in line. After many Sunday morning treks to breakfast havens in the Finger Lakes region, we couldn’t find one better than Steve’s.
Bluewater Grill - Skaneateles
You can’t really count the Bluewater as a Diner because the food doesn’t make you want to immediately grab a bottle of Tum’s. But we had to put this restaurant in the list because for over 20 years, you can’t beat the view, and the great food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Coronarita that comes with a pony sized bottle of Corona beer face down in the Margarita is a great “Hangover Helper” on a Sunday morning. Wings, nachos, and popcorn shrimp are the diner fare, but they up their game with Sushi, Scallops and Corn Chowder Soup, and Grilled Salmon all at affordable prices.
Durf’s Family Restaurant - Fairport
On most Saturday and Sunday mornings, Durf’s has a line out the door. Why you ask? Because it has all the greasy deliciousness that anyone could ask for, with a pinch of gourmet and a hint of crazy goodness. The best pancakes that we have ever had were the Custard Stuffed Stack of Pancakes on a lazy Sunday at Durf’s. OMG - picture the perfect marriage of Buckwheat Pancake and his lovely sophisticated partner, Vanilla (Not Ice) Custard! This couple should have a long and happy marriage longer than the 45 year marriage that Durf’s has had with great food.
Auburn Diner - Auburn
Look at that picture. You cannot possibly find a Diner that looks more like the stereotypical 1970’s Diner than this! But you know what? The food was delicious. When the waitress came over to take our order, the inner monologue that I was having with myself went exactly like this - “I’ll have the Western Omelete, no, how about the Auburn Diner Big Breakfast, or Sausage and Gravy. Yes, the Sausage and white gravy - when is the last time I had that?” And so it was. I had the Sausage and Gravy, and it was fantastic.
Nick Tahoes - Rochester
This isn’t a diner, but it is the world famous Rochester dive that put the Garbage Plate on the map. It also puts a 2 pound slab of granite in your stomach when you wakeup in the morning after eating one the previous evening, but the pain is worth it. Comedian Jim Gaffigan came to Rochester for a show and hasn’t stopped talking about the culinary concoction of a Garbage Plate ever since. Since 1918 - yes, over 100 years of delicious heartburn has been doled out one Styrofoam container at a time. Unfortunately, they close at 7 p.m. now, but back in the day when they were open until 3 a.m., you would see the cook flipping a 12 inch high by 2 foot wide pile of home fries with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. There would be college students, businessmen in suits, prostitutes, and other miscellaneous riff-raff standing elbow to elbow waiting for their 2 a.m. post-bar treat. Good times, good times.
Penn Yan Diner - Penn Yan
You cannot get a more quintessential diner than this one. There are tables, but whenever we go there we feel compelled to sit on the circa 1960 stools, just because. They have all of the breakfast standards of omelets, french toast, and pancakes, but they throw in some clever combinations like the Loaded Tater Tots that are topped with ham or bacon, 2 eggs, hollandaise sauce, and cheese. Your arteries will hate you if you eat this, but your taste buds will lllloooovvveee you!