Seneca Lodge:
Racing in Watkins Glen and the Seneca Lodge go hand-in-hand. The lodge was constructed by Don Brubaker in 1948 in time for the first race on the roads around the town. In fact, Brubaker helped bring those early races to the village and the post-race awards ceremony was held there. The place has been around ever since.
The lodge – overlooking Seneca Lake – not only has rooms and cabins for rent; but also is a popular restaurant/tap room. A who’s-who from racing has dined there with the prime rib being the restaurant’s
“claim to fame.” A wide-variety of beef, chicken and fish is offered as well as sandwiches, vegetarian dishes. A variety of New York Finger Lakes region wine is also served.
Address: Walnut Road & Route 329, Watkins Glen, N.Y. 14891
Phone: (607) 535-2014
Website: www.SenecaLodge.com
Race fans coming to Watkins Glen come from a variety of directions and stay throughout Upstate New York. Below are a few favorites located away from the track but in cities hosting race fans.
Lupo’s Char Pit – Endicott, N.Y.
Spiedies are a common food in the triple-cities area of New York (Binghamton area). Spiedies are marinated meat (chicken, pork, beef) serviced on either Italian bread or a sub roll. They are FANTASTIC!
Address: 2710 East Main Street, Endicott, N.Y.
Phone: (704) 748-1916
Glenwood Pines – Ithaca, N.Y.
This RoadFood.com suggestion is northwest of Ithaca overlooking Cayuga Lake. The “Pinesburger” is the specialty but a large variety of food is on the menu. What is a “Pinesburger”? Traditional cheeseburger served on French bread with thousand islands dressing.
Address: 1213 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Phone: (607) 273-3709
Website: www.GlenwoodPines.com
Dinosaur Bar B Que – Syracuse and Rochester N.Y.
Dinosaur Bar B Que is a “biker bar” that has gone more mainstream serving outstanding barbeque items like ribs, brisket, pork and chicken. There is a large variety of food on the menu, but it’s a BBQ joint so why not try what they are famous for?
Address: Syracuse – 246 W. Willow St., Syracuse (315) 476-4937
Rochester – 99 Court St., Rochester (585) 325-7090
Website: www.DinosaurBarBQue.com
Earl’s Drive-In – Chaffee, N.Y. (suburb of Buffalo)
The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives place serves traditional farm-fresh home-cook American meals. A review on Yelp.com stated: “Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, eggs and bacon, turkey dinners, it’s all here and it’s all just like mom used to make – if you grew up on a farm with 12 siblings.”
Address: 12139 Olean Road, Chaffee, N.Y.
Phone: (716) 496-5125