Best Restaurants of Upstate New York

by | Nov 12, 2015 | John Partilla, New York City, Upstate New York

New York City has some of the finest restaurants in the world, but fabulous restaurants can be found all over the great state of New York. Here’s four places to try the next time you are in their neck of the woods.
Ristorante Lombardo, BuffaloWhile Buffalo may not be famous for its cuisine, outside of the wing that is, it does boast a thriving culinary scene. Lombardo’s is a family owned business that has been serving authentic Italian food for 40 years. Feast on exciting appetizers like grilled octopus with a white bean cassoulet and sweet wood-roasted figs with prosciutto and gorgonzola. For the main event, try the shrimp scampi with homemade linguine or the grilled swordfish with fried polenta. They are also open for lunch and offer pizzas to-go for only $9 bucks!

The Bear Café, Woodstock

According to Gourmet magazine, The Bear Café is “arguably the best restaurant in the region.” Enjoy the rustic ambiance, overlooking a stream or sitting by the cozy fire, while you dine on owner and chef Eric Mann’s locally sourced favorites. House-made goat cheese ravioli, Hudson Valley duck confit, and grass fed filet mignon are popular entrées. Don’t forget to save room for their white chocolate ricotta cheesecake with cranberries.

Fish and Game, Hudson

Serving dinner Thursday through Sunday and brunch on the weekends, Fish and Game offers a seasonal three course, prix fixe dinner menu, with options for vegetarians and pescatarians. They also have a chef’s tasting menu available upon request. Brunch consists of both breakfast and lunch options. Fish and Game works with farms and artisans all over the Hudson Valley to bring you the freshest locally sourced ingredients possible.

The Frisky Oyster, Greenport

Head out to the north tip of Long Island for a wonderful day exploring the boutiques and winery. When you get hungry, head to The Frisky Oyster, which offers more than just their delectable fresh oysters. Try the garganelli, an egg-based pasta similar to penne, tossed with local lobster, sautéed arugula, and a Meyer lemon-vodka sauce or the mammoth Tomahawk-cut bone-in rib eye with pomme frites for two.

John Partilla, CEO of Screenvision, is a marketing industry executive with more than thirty years of experience. He’s held executive positions at numerous institutions after graduating from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, as well as earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. Please visit http://JohnPartilla.net, http://JohnPartillaNYC.com, and http://JohnPartillaMedia.com to learn more. Also, find him on LinkedIn.