Ports Cafe

We had an amazing dinner at this American restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious — we tried the cauliflower, the steak, and the New York strip, and everything was cooked perfectly. The wine was excellent and paired so well with our meal. Our server, Liz, was wonderful — very attentive and friendly. The service overall was outstanding. The place is beautiful and definitely worth visiting. Highly recommended!

It has been about 20 yrs since the last time I ate and Ports and the food is still excellent! I recommend booking reservations a few weeks in advance because it is very popular. The service was excellent and the food was very tasty and cooked perfectly. We had a party of 5 and our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. We will definitely be going back the next time we are in Geneva.

Don't pass this place up! Came into the area for an anniversary weekend and had an incredible experience and meal at Ports Cafe. Atmosphere was perfect for a nice night out. The food was top notch. Drink selection was great as well. Melissa S was our server and was wonderful! She made the experience even that much better! We are already planning our next trip out for dinner. The place came highly recommended by friends who are local to the area and strongly suggested reservations be made well ahead of time.

We had the specials of the day. The food was great. The lamb chops were delicious.

The Good: You will not find better fried calamari or steamed muscles anywhere in this area. Come here if you want well prepared, high quality streaks and seafood. You will pay top notch, but it will be worth every dollar. Flavorful, unique and good portion sizes. Great bar selection/ great house made deserts. Notes: It's loud, but it's almost part of the experience at this point. Decor is strange and outdated. Sound absorbing art would be the way to go. Overall: 5/5

Reservation is a must. Service was so-so, server was friendly enough but nothing out of the ordinary - didn't really delve into details about the food or if we really enjoyed it. I could get better service from a family diner. Food was nothing special. Eat here if you really wanna know what the fuss is about (it's always packed) but I don't feel like I got my $250 worth for 4 people. I feel like it's really just for the status and not the culinary experience 🤷🏾‍♀️

What a phenomenal time I had with my friend on 7/9. Our waitress was well seasoned, knowledgeable about all items, and made us feel like we were regulars even though it was our first time there. I have extremely high standards for food and have to say this was the best tasting meal I have ever had. The gnocchi 10/10. Make sure you have a reservation.

We know why this place is always busy, the food is fantastic! After a day of wine tastings and cheese and crackers, we needed a good meal and Ports Cafe delivered! All our meals were delicious and filling. Great wine list and love that they featured local wines.

What a gem! Very unassuming and casual looking from the outside belying the sophistication inside. Top notch and very friendly service throughout. We started with cocktails at the bar, perfection after the drive in from Rochester on a hot summer day. Despite the place being packed, they were generous and quick (two great qualities in a drink!) Once seated, our server, Andrew (fantastic), pointed out the specials menu which is what they are known for. It changes daily and is seasonal. So many fantastic options it was difficult to choose. Again, exceptional service and every dish a winner. Make a reservation in the summer. Luckily my sister did because even as a repeat customer, she was surprised how busy it was - on a Tuesday! We were told it's like that every day in the summer! I'll also note that even tho the parking lot was overflowing and it was full inside, we were seated immediately, drinks and food served promptly and we were served with warmth and grace. PS great view of Seneca Lake across the street!

This place was absolutely amazing. Wonderful food. Fresh ingredients. We all tried the mussels which were so tender and had a wonderful broth. I had the mushroom pasta dish, the parents had rack of lamb, and my husband had the fish. Everyone was very happy and our waitress was fantastic. Highly recommend. Two days later and I am still thinking of the mushroom pasta dinner. Yummmmmm!

This is the best food in Geneva! Food is always consistent. Farm to table cooking. Everything is so fresh and delicious. Nice environment with friendly attentive staff. Reservations recommended if you want to get in

Amazing food. The winter salad was amazing and nicely flavored with the raspberry vinegarette. I got the mushroom papadelle with the steak. The steak was medium rare and perfect. The focaccia bread was okay. Not my favorite thing. The least favorite thing was the vegetables that came with the steak. The Napoleon was good with it's layered cream and strawberries and chocolate. Would recommend reservations here if you're in the area.

Ports Cafe came up in my search from restaurants in the Geneva area... and I am so glad it did! We were blown away by everything we ate and the service was impeccable. To start, we each ordered a glass of wine. We shared the sourdough bread with garlic butter (specials menu) and I can confidently say it was the best bread I have ever had! We even asked if we could buy a loaf to take home with us, but it was so popular they were not able to at the time and suggested ordering ahead of time in the future. We also each had the soup of the day - roasted red pepper which was delicious and paired well with the bread. For my meal I ordered the salmon which was crispy and grilled to perfection. It came with saffron rice but we were very tempted by the garlic mashed potatoes so shared it as a side and we are so glad we did. They were creamy and flavorful. My husband had the prosciutto wrapped monk fish which also came with mashed potatoes. Our server was lovely and attentive. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant was welcoming and warm. We cannot wait to come back on our next visit to the Finger Lakes!

A group of 4 of us came to Ports Cafe on a Saturday night after a day of exploring Geneva, NY. Though we didn't have a reservation, the host was very welcoming and told us to wait and see what he can do. After waiting about 10 minutes, we were seated. Ports Cafe is very modern looking and cozy. We weren't too hungry so we ordered a few items to share. We ordered the sourdough bread, calamari-shrimp fry, burnt ends, and bread pudding. All the food was delicious. The flavors were on point and just melted in your mouth. Service was amazing from the start to the end. The restaurant has a parking lot too.

It was disappointing! The chicken soup had bones in it and the wiener schnitzel was burnt and overly salty. There were no veggies with the main course and overall it was a mediocre meal specially considering the price!

Sat outside on the patio under an umbrella and had a terrific dinner and terrific service. Terrific cocktails, yummy crab and corn bisque and a nice warm loaf of sourdough bread with homemade butter. Entrees were delicious and filling - though everyone had room for desserts. A blueberry crumble a la mode and a coconut crème brûlée. Everything added up to a lovely evening.

Had reservation. Promptly seated. Service good. Lots of specials. Really good farm to table food expertly prepared!

Not pub food! Much finer dining, with an upbeat dress-casual atmosphere. Our waitress, Alyssa, brought refreshing energy and a "can-do" smile. The chef/chefs really know how to take food up a notch from good to VERY VERY GOOD!

Love this place so much! It is the absolute only place I made a reservation for to be certain we visited on our long weekend. The staff is great, knowledgeable on their options and attentive. The setting is beautiful, we were seated indoors with a view of the lake. We set the reservation online several days ahead & the earliest time slot was 8PM, but we adjusted for it and knew it would be worth it. The day of, there were several time slots showing (that had not been there before), but could've been due to cancellations or opening outdoor seating due to perfect weather. We had already timed our meals out and kept our spot. The food.... That gnocchi dish is soooo delicious that we couldn't help ourselves and ordered it again. It was just sheer perfection and although other dishes were described so temptingly ... IYKYN & our mouths were watering in anticipation of that dish. No regrets! Wait, yes... I regret not taking their amazing chocolate torte to go! Last year I did and it was heaven!

The Delmonico Steak and Lamb Chops were done to perfection. Our Server Jade S. was great , we went with her recommendations, and honestly she was spot on!!! The area we were seated in was very nice, almost private. I ordered an Old Fashioned with Jameson's Irish Whiskey "muddled" it reminded me of the Drink I had at the Distillery in Dublin. We will definitely be back. FYI make sure you make reservations, well in advance.

We always visit Ports when we are in this region; it has always been our favorite dinner spot. This time the food was awesome as usual, but the service left a lot to be desired. We sat at the bar where one server was great (friendly and attentive) while the other was the opposite - put a big damper on our otherwise superb dining experience.

Unfortunately we hit this on a BAD night (highly recommended by a friend that lives in the area). From being seated 20 minutes late to no waitress showing up for 15 minutes to drinks 10 minutes later to sitting in part of the restaurant with carpeting that needs replacing.. G&T was absent gin. Mussels and pear salad were good; their signature short rib gnocchi was not up to par, and the veal came out medium rare. We skipped dessert.. The manager was super sorry (staffing and kitchen issues) and comped about 1/3 of our bill. I expect it is a swell place most nights or it wouldn't be this popular.

Fabulous diner from start to finish. Mussels were delightful for our app. Diners had great flavors & perfectly cooked steak!!!

Definitely one of the very best places in the area. Cocktails. A+. Good selection, cozy bar while you wait. Food. Really good, definitely take their advice and go with specials menu, this is where they shine. Wine. Great local wines. Our server knowledgeable and put us on good stuff we might have missed otherwise. Host stand was a little scattered but apparently they take seating seriously and with care, but wait was a bit much, especially if you not looking to have multiple cocktails while you wait. Make a reservation.

We chose this place as our last dinner spot in the finger lakes area and we were pleased with our flank steak and scallops, bolognese, and short rib gnocchi. While the food was cooked well and the atmosphere is just shy of fancy, the bolognese left room for more to desire and the serving size among all of the meals were much smaller than expected. For the cost of the meals, we had expected about 15%-20% more on the plate, but other than that the service was also really great minus the longer wait for food. We went on a Tuesday night with reservations for four at 5:30pm. It got really busy after that and the food wait was long like I mentioned. I'd recommend making you eat something before unless you want to pay a lot for a little amount of food, but you'll be pleased by the taste and service!

We came here last night for the first time. It's hard to get into so make sure to have a reservation! We ended up snagging a 6pm reservation the day before we went, assuming someone canceled. We were greeted right away and seated right away. All staff was kind. We enjoyed our cocktails from their menu. We ordered ribs for an appetizer. They were tasty and had a good flavor but were tough to chew, definitely not fall off the bone. Our entrees were wonderful though, recommended by our server, Jennifer. I got the flank steak and scallops which was cooked perfectly. The sautéd veggies were tasty and the smashed potatoes so yummy! My boyfriend got the market code stuffed with seafood which was also cooked perfectly and delicious. We ended the night with the churro cheesecake which was also very good. Overall, great restaurant and we'd come back!

Great food / small portions for price I don't normally post reviews for places we go, but felt this would hopefully help others looking for a decent meal in area. We were visiting lake Seneca area and found this restaurant on yelp and thought to give it a try. The waitress was great and the meals were well prepared excellent flavor. I ordered swordfish with vegetables and rice, and my wife ordered flank steak and grouper. When orders arrived, I looked down and there was a very small portion of swordfish maybe 3oz, with side rice and 2 pieces of broccoli and other vegetables. My wife's meal was normal sized portion as expected and was excellent. Recommendation to owner if you are going to charge higher prices for a meal, at least serve normal portions of the main entree. We will not be returning here on our next trip to the area.

First the food was excellent (the mushroom paradella was cold when came out but that was fixed quickly). However, the service was horrible. After getting our corrected meal crickets from Melissa. We finished our meal and waited 20 mins for her to bring the wrong check. After another 15 mins waiting for her to come back to run our credit card we gave up and left cash instead- her tip reflected the lack of service

We love Ports! It's our first stop every time we come up to Geneva. Cocktails and food are all great.

Food was fair, I had the pork schnitzel outside was way over cooked, but the pork was edible. I removed all of the outside coating and the waitress asked me if I wanted a box?? I told her that it was way over cooked and she said they just got a new fry cook (chef) he should have stayed at McDonald. The place is not worth the money... too many place to choose from in the area. my wife had a salad and soup, soup was bland/ no taste

This place was amazing! We were given a recommendation to come here by a friend and are so happy that we did! The food was incredible. Service was good. Ambiance is classy but casual. Would love to come back again.

From the appetizers through the creme brulee was outstanding we had reservations at 5:30 needed. Wait staff were friendly ran us through the menu answered any questions we had. Cozy atmosphere lots of windows. By 6:00 the place was filling up fast.

Everything was perfect! Exquisite food -- we had rack of lamb that was cooked exactly as requested, tender and a very good size portion; the halibut was flavorful and again, cooked to perfection. We had the peach tiramisu for dessert and it was lucious. The wine list is very good. And the service was impeccable - our charming server (Liz) was familiar with each offering and guided us in our selections . The tables are well- spaced so you don't feel cramped. The finest dining experiences we have had in the Finger Lakes in a very long time.

We had an 8:30 reservation. We arrived early hoping that we can get seated early and they did accommodate us. The white sangria looked beautiful and tasty too. The short rib of the gnocchi was tender, the gnocchi was different, doughy, I wasn't sure if I like it. The peen with meatballs was good. Buffalo cauliflower was different and delicious. The beet salad was ordinary, can use a little bit more dressing. The midnight mocha cheesecake was great but taste more like a mocha chocolate cake than a cheesecake.

Wife and I have been taking drives through the area for years. Driven by this place but never tried it until last night. Spot on! My wife had their flank steak and myself the Delmonico. Cooked to perfection and one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Service was excellent and Jennifer was great! Great spot for a dinner and we will definitely return!

A return visit for a much-anticipated dinner. We have had several of our best meals in Geneva at Ports Cafe. Tonight, service was (as it always is) really fine. The wine list is good (though make sure the vintage on the wine list matches what is being served) and the by-the-glass Prosecco is superb. Lobster Ravioli was ok - more about the sauce than the lobster it would seem. Halibut special was quite good. Pork tenderloin special was odd. Skillfully made, though with way too much going on on the plate. A profoundly complicated dish, that didn't end up doing service to any of the ingredients. Strange to have great pork that was simply covered up by all of the other ingredients. New chef or just an unusual combination of things that weren't to our taste? Not sure. We will be back, but this was not up to what we have come to expect.

Great place. Always have phenomenal meals. Service impeccable. Date nights in the winter with no corkage fee is a definite plus.

Very nice atmosphere, well trained staff, reservations were made & we waited 20 minutes which was annoying. Food was overpriced & not as tasty as our first experience 3 yrs ago. We were a disappointed & we agreed this was not worth the price we paid. by husband had a chicken dish he sent back -we were credited. Waitress said we were the 3rd ones who returned undercooked chicken dish ! Chef left early n & another employee filled in ! Very disappointed dinner.

This was a lovely place to dine in the area of Geneva. We sat outside on a beautiful night and our server was one of the best. The food was spectacular and the quality, service, ambience and overall experience was one of the best. I highly recommend and so glad we chose this place while on vacation there.

This place is highly recommended and has great reviews so we had high expectations and were sadly disappointed. The staff was very friendly to start off. We ordered the Calamari Shrimp Fry for an appetizer. There were 2 shrimp in it. It was just ok, nothing exciting by any means. We both ordered the special Flank Steak and Scallops. The steak was about 4 oz of meat, MAYBE 5 oz. While very tender, it was a ridiculously small portion for the price. There were 2 small scallops with it and they were so mushy, I had to spit it out when I tried it. I was excited to try an espresso martini (my favorite) for "dessert" but the waitress confirmed they do not have an espresso machine so there is no actual espresso in it. (because the machine is too expensive). With the outrageous prices they are charging for miniscule servings of food, they should be able to by 10 espresso machines. I have no idea why everyone loves this restaurant. It was not good, ESPECIALLY not for the price. We have no problem paying a higher price for a good meal. This was not it.

Excellent service. Delicious food. Date night offerings were many and wonderfully tasty.

We are visiting from California and found this restaurant on Yelp with excellent reviews. We booked a reservation online and we were not disappointed. The meal, ambience and service did not disappoint! If we lived here this would be on a favorite list of restaurants for us. The Mahi and Ribeye steak were both delicious!! We shared the cheesecake for dessert. If we make it back to Geneva we will definitely come back. Highly recommend!

Truly, one of the best meals I've ever had. I had the haddock with a creamy corn base which was melt in your mouth delicious. Husband had the shrimp over linguine with the sauce just to die for it. The bread that they serve with the fresh butter was great. We had muscles as an appetizer which were OK, but we soaked up so much of the delicious white wine sauce with our bread. We just couldn't stop.my only regret was we were two for dessert.

A lovely find that we have driven by previously. Thanks to Yelp reviews we tried it out and it did not disappoint. Can't wait to return. Food was great, service good, and enjoyed the ambience. A lovely celebration for our 58th wedding anniversary.

Still 5 star service. Knowledgeable,friendly,afficant. A bit noise sitting at tables. Booths are better, cuts outbthe noise of others having a grand time. View of the lake, large windows. It can be a romantic place to have dinner, I always orderbthe same dish and it always comes hot and fresh. I do not think we had any bad food here. I recommend making reservations. There maybe a spot at the bar. We eat here often.

We made the trip from Ithaca for different scenery and upscale dining Father's Day weekend. I chose it more specifically for the Delmonico steak did my husband, so even though it's a nice looking place, I was very disappointed when my husband sent his steak back because it wasn't medium as he had requested. Everything else was fairly good overall. The desserts left something to be desired, the key like pie in particular was quite "runny" and lacked that firm/smooth texture that is usually expected. Also, my son's wagyu was overly charred and salty. I do wish it was a true waterfront location since Seneca Lake is so beautiful!

Excellent food, drinks and service! David Harvey is a great host and runs a tight ship!

Pleasantly surprised with the food options in the Finger lakes area, including Ports. Ports cafe was recommended to us by the tasting room manager at one of the wineries we visited on Keuka lake, and we're glad we took her suggestion. We made sure to come on a Wednesday, when they have their date nigh special, which is an app and entrée or entrée and dessert for $38 per person. We started with the sourdough bread and garlic butter (on their standard menu) and a burrata app. Bread and butter was very good- would definitely recommend. Entree's we had were the Barbacoa Tostadas- very flavorful and spicy and the filet with a sauce that was also delicious. We couldn't help but order dessert- a churro cheesecake bar which was to die for. Will definitely return when we are back in the area.

From the outside this place looks like it could be a locals bar? Inside it is gorgeous! The mixture of wood,metal and glass are stunning. We had heard a few good things so we decided to check it out. Boy were we impressed! They have a regular menu and a specials menu, but it's not overwhelming. Our waitress informed us that they are known for their ever changing specials. We all ordered from the specials and everyone loved the special they chose. We also had a boil as an appetizer to share and it was delicious. Three of us shared it and the broth the seafood was in was amazing. We could have eaten it as a soup. We will definitely go back and try different things next time. Highly recommend.

Great service and OUTSTANDING food in a casual atmosphere! Vibrant house makes it a fantastic experience.

My first indoor dining experience in three months! Ports Cafe has set the bar high for me. 1) Staff are super hygienic, wipes down everything, and wears masks. 2) Ambiance was great. 3) Food was delicious. I did not make a reservation. The bar is available but the bartender was pre-occupied by this one group who was making a ridiculous cocktail. Luckily, there was an available table and we were seated right away. The waiter was great and showed excellent manners. For a group of 2, we probably over ordered upon seeing the many delectable items on the menu. Though the bar was occupied, we were able to get our drinks fairly quickly to start off the meal. We ordered the mussels, lobster gnocchi as starters. The mussels and the house focaccia was fabulous in their sauce. Gnocchi sauce was creamy. I was hoping the ravioli would be overstuffed with lobster... that wasn't the case but still tasty. For entrees, we got the short rib gnocchi and that was amazing, also came with their house focaccia! I took part of it to go since I couldn't eat anymore and it was still delicious the next day. The second entree was the monkfish and it was meaty and fulfilling. My partner was hoping to find the head but to his disappointment, the fish meat was plated and presented neatly.

The foods and service were fantastic and that is why they are always full. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time and for the early time else they could do run out of items towards the night. Yes, the main dining room could get noisy when the room is full. We sat at the outdoor deck but it is located right next to a busy road. No umbrellas. No matter, we would go again just for their New England clam chowder. The chowder was that awesome.

The food is second to none in Geneva. Severs are professional and virtuous. You will pay a premium price but it is worth every penny.

The food is always fantastic and the menu changes with the season, although favorites remain. Service is great as well.

This was a nice evening with good food, wine and great service. The ambiance was relaxed but professional, and friendly. I had the Manhattan cut steak and my wife had the shrimp scampi with avocado. We split a great pear/baby greens salad vinaigrette and a bottle of Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet, and a crème brûlée. Definitely recommend them. Also advise getting a reservation a few days in advance.

We had reservations for 2 @830 and was seated promptly when we arrived. Very nice establishment as we walked through one dinning room to where we were seated. We sat down with our menus and water was brought out soon after. A few minutes later our server Melissa came to the table with the specials menu and explained how the items changed daily. My girlfriend wanted to look over the cocktails which were on the specials menu. Melissa said she would give us time to look over the menu and would be back. A few minutes had passed and another server ask if we had been helped. We said yes and waited patiently. Needless to say she didn't come back, but we waited till 915 and decided to walk out. By this time our section had cleared out. When we got back to our hotel room there was a message on my girlfriends phone stating that we walked out with the credit card receipt @834. How could that be possible. I'm sure this was an isolated case due to the outstanding reviews but first impressions do make a difference.

Booked a reservation 1month in advance. Arrived on time. Wasn't seated for 40 minutes and restaurant was out of over half the menu items. Staff communication was non existent. Waiter was decent. I wouldn't go back on a weekend.