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Dining in the Cooperstown, N.Y. Area
Doubleday Cafe in Cooperstown NY.
  Doubleday Cafe, Cooperstown NY

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There is a restaurant for every taste in Cooperstown and Otsego County, in general.

Whether it's romantic lakeside dining or eating informally in front of a big screen television with lots of loud children and adults cheering predominantly for the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, Cooperstown has all the bases covered when it comes to finding great local restaurants.


Cooperstown Diner, 136 1/2 Main Street, Cooperstown. 607-547-9201


The tiny Cooperstown Diner is better than some restaurants that think they're really good. One taste of the chicken and biscuits dinner special makes one realize that home style cooking can still be done effectively when eating out. Hearty breakfasts, substantial lunches and a few dinner selections (the pot roast is very good) make the Cooperstown Diner a terrific, family-friendly restaurant. Service is always friendly, quick and informal. A classic diner experience, not to be missed!

Cooperstown Diner, Cooperstown NY

Cooperstown Diner.

 

Council Rock Brewery, 4861 Route 28, Cooperstown. 607-643-3016

If I had to rate a Cooperstown area restaurant on food alone, Council Rock Brewery would come out on top. Pardon the baseball play on words, but they seem to hit a home run with every menu selection. Reasonably-priced, family-friendly, big on portions, and with an outstanding rotating beer selection, this small pub-sized restaurant does comfort foods classics as well as I have ever experienced -- that says a lot as my home is in the restaurant-rich Boston area. I personally love any burger on a toasted pretzel roll!

Burger from Council Rock Brewery, Cooperstown NY.

Burger from Council Rock Brewery


Doubleday Cafe 93 Main Street, Cooperstown. 607-547-5468

The Doubleday Cafe is pure Cooperstown, an extremely pleasant, popular one-room cavernous bar and restaurant attracting tourists and locals. The Doubleday has a knack of going beyond good "grub" and venturing into some sophisticated and ultimately well done dinners. It may be a great restaurant for a burger, but it's even better for a marinated vegetable dish or seafood special of the day. A popcorn machine, four televisions, a charming brick wall and high ceilings, and always good service add up to the ultimate "townie" restaurant to dine.

 

The Hawkeye Bar and Grille PO Box 311; Location: 60 Lake Street, Route 80, Cooperstown. 800-348-6222

The Hawkeye Bar and Grille is a great Cooperstown Village dining choice. Located in the stunning Otesaga Hotel -- a Federal-style piece of architecture featuring incredible 30-foot columns, an elegant interior, the magnificent Leatherstocking Golf Course, and huge outside porches with rocking chairs overlooking the 700 feet of lakefront -- the Hawkeye Bar and Grille, open for lunch and dinner, serves the best steak, seafood and chicken dishes in town. Contrary to the upscale Hotel, the Hawkeye Bar and Grille is informal, and in some areas, has a clear and beautiful view of Otsego Lake. The melange of New England seafood ( Shrimp, Scallops, Lobster and Littleneck Clams Served over Linguine Pasta with a Tomato Basil Vinaigrette) is as good as anything served in New England as the seafood and pasta are equally fresh and combine to make a truly exceptional dish. Another fine choice is the rack of lamb with a zinfandel reduction -- this is so tasty, you might want to come back one more time during your vacation to sample this excellent entree. Sample menus

 

Rose & Kettle Restaurant, 4 Lancaster Street, Cherry Valley, N.Y. 607-264-3078
What a great restaurant! The chef-owned Rose & Kettle taps into local, seasonal, and small-farm ingredients, whenever possible, in and around farm-rich Leatherstocking Country to create one of the best dining experiences we've experienced, not only in the Cooperstown area, but anywhere. Tucked away in the quaint and cozy Village of Cherry Valley, N.Y., the Rose & Kettle's 200-year-old house setting creates a relaxing, charming atmosphere, perfect for a romantic night out or for that special vacation dining experience. Upscale, but never stuffy (they are nice to kids and have a children's menu), the Rose & Kettle offers myriad culinary gems, especially the orichiette pasta with caramelized garlic and shallots, chicken, and almond cream as well as the sky land farm lamb shank, "braised and toasted," with lemon herb risotto and creamy reduction. Wonderfully fresh salads, delicious desserts, some unusual wine selections and stellar service add to the overall great experience, helping make the Rose & Kettle a truly special restaurant, sure to please even the most finicky urban sophisticate. For the rest of us, the Rose & Kettle is an instant dining memory, pleasing the palate with the freshest selections in the Cooperstown region, and far beyond. Rose & Kettle Menu

 

Stagecoach Coffee 31 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown 607-547-6629

Stagecoach Coffee might be the best run restaurant in Cooperstown. Clean, attractive and with quick service, the Stagecoach would bode well in any urban area with its attractive hardwood floor, funky background music and light and airy coffeehouse feel. Sandwiches are terrific -especially the fresh panini - and the variety of coffees, ice cream, smoothies and muffins make the Stagecoach an instant favorite for people of all ages. The backyard patio is particularly pleasant, sort of an oasis in a Village that already is an oasis. The Stagecoach does everything right, which isn't always the way Cooperstown restaurants operate in the Village.


New York Pizzeria, 75 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. Tel. 607-547-2930

Cooperstown has a shortage of good pizza places, but New York Pizzeria opened in 2009 to save the day. The pizzas are fresh and have a soft doughy taste with a tremendous cheese and tomato blend while providing good value for the money. The restaurant also offers plenty of seating on two floors, although crowds frequently fill the rooms quickly on a summer day or night. It's also great to see a restaurant like New York Pizzeria being exceptionally well-run with friendly and attentive service -- not always the case in Cooperstown. Here's the real test: If New York Pizzeria was located in a more populated town with numerous pizza options, I would still place it at the top of the list.  It's that good!


Mel's at 22, 22 Chestnut St., Cooperstown. Tel 607-435-7062

22 Chestnut Street has seen many restaurants come and go through the years after the landmark Sherry's Turkey Farm closed years ago, but Mel's at 22 looks like it is here for the long run. Upscale but informal within a cozy setting, Mel's serves creative twists for lunch and dinner on American cuisine while offering an excellent cocktails list. Mixed greens salads, homemade , paninis, wraps,  burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of chicken, steak and seafood dishes offer something for everyone. I recently had a carrot ginger soup that was to die for. Don't forget the Sunday brunch, too, where skillets, Benedict dishes, waffles, pancakes,  and quiche lead the menu. Make sure to put some New York maple syrup on those pancakes and waffles -- or any other food that you see fit!


Fly Creek Cider Mill, 288 Goose St., Fly Creek. Tel. 607-547-9692.

This famous 1856 water-powered cider mill is best known for its apple cider and specialty food, but the Snack Barn Restaurant and Bakery with its order-at-the-window counter and picnic tables during the summer makes fora fantastic family-friendly experience. You can't go wrong with the pot roast sandwich, homemade chili, BBQ pulled pork, dumplings, pies, cookies, ice cream, apple cider doughnuts, and of course, cider slush or cider float! SEASONAL


Fly Creek Cider Mill Snack Barn Restaurant and Bakery, Fly Creek NY.

Look at the choices at the Fly Creek Cider Mill's Snack Barn Restaurant and Bakery. Yum!



Blue Mingo Grill 6098 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. 607-547-7496

The Blue Mingo creates such fine cuisine that it competes with the unbelievably beautiful setting on Lake Otsego. The scenic boatyard, and the amazingly fresh air would be worth the price of admission even if the Blue Mingo served the worst fast food. They don't and that is a good thing.On our memorable night, we sampled a healthy green salad (translated: no iceberg), bourbon berry baby back ribs and a herb flavored sea bass that rank somewhere in our top five best meals, including some pretty well known choices in Boston, Mass., and Quebec City, Quebec.The menu changes frequently and is brought to you on a chalkboard by the wait staff. Regarding the wait staff, we found them to be always courteous, right there when needed, and very friendly.

The Blue Mingo is located in a boatyard a few miles from the Cooperstown.You have to enter through a gift and clothing shop before finding the soothing environment of the Blue Mingo. From that point on, the night is there to remember long after you've left this incredible lakeside restaurant. Blue Mingo Grill dinner menu ... Blue Mingo Grill lunch menu  SEASONAL

 

Cafe Nicoletta, 96 Main Street, Cooperstown. 607-547-7499

Cafe Nicoletta is terrific, on par with some of the best urban Italian restaurants. It's best experienced as a special night out, although families are more than welcome in the handsome dark, candle lit environs with Sinatra frequently playing in the background.

 

The Pit at the Tunnicliff Inn , 34-36 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown. 607-547-9611
Located in the basement of the historic Tunnicliff Inn, this downtown favorite delivers solid steaks, chicken and seafood in a cozy setting, with an antique bar to please those who like adult beverages. Particularly good is the Sam Adams strip steak,topped with sauteed mushrooms, prepared in a Boston lager beer and dijon mustard cream sauce. The Pit lunch menu and The Pit Dinner menu

 

Brooks Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 5560 State Highway 7, Oneonta, N.Y. 607-432-1782

Famous for some of the best barbecue chicken, pork spareribs, beef, pork and steaks this side of the Mason-Dixon line, Brooks isn't one of those "Johnny-Come-Lately," trendy barbecue joints that serves watery rotisserie meats. With the largest indoor charcoal barbecue pit (38 feet in length) in the East, Brooks Bar-B-Que certainly isn't for the macrobiotic, vegetarian crowd as this 300-capacity family-oriented restaurant serves high-quality, hearty portions that never disappoint. The great food, low prices, efficient service and cleanliness make Brooks a must-visit dining spot when visiting Cooperstown, even if it is a half-hour away. Brooks Bar_B-Que Restaurant lunch and dinner menu


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Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown NYThe Otesaga Resort Hotel

Grand, historic hotel in the Village of Cooperstown. Scenic Otsego Lake Views. Fabulous lakeside resort amenities. Memorable dining options. Easy walk to to National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and quaint, charming downtown. Reserve A Room At The Otesaga Resort Hotel



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VisitingCooperstown.com is dedicated to Linda Smirk,  a long-time Cooperstown resident who co-owned the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast with husband John Smirk. She brought endless joy to our world, and we think about her every day with unconditional love.

Unless otherwise stated, all VisitingCooperstown.com articles written and photos taken by Eric H.
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