Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake — Restaurant in City of Canandaigua

If you're looking for a dining experience that truly captures the essence of hospitality, quality, and warmth in the Finger Lakes region, look no further than Nolan’s on Canandaigua Lake. From the moment you walk through the doors, you're greeted not just as a customer, but as a valued guest—something that reflects the heart and soul of this locally beloved establishment.

We recently dined at Nolan’s and were absolutely blown away by the Chicken French—a classic Upstate New York dish that they execute to perfection. Tender, juicy chicken breast is delicately sautéed in a buttery, lemony sherry wine sauce that is simultaneously rich and refreshing. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s one of the best renditions of Chicken French we’ve ever tasted.

The steak was equally unforgettable—expertly grilled to a perfect medium rare, well-seasoned, and bursting with flavor. The quality of the meat and the skill in preparation are immediately apparent. Every bite was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, accompanied by sides that complemented the main course beautifully.

But what really sets Nolan’s apart is the dedication of the owner and staff. The owner, whose pride in the restaurant is evident in every detail, is hands-on and incredibly welcoming. You can often find him walking the dining room, checking in with guests, and ensuring everyone is enjoying themselves. The staff is just as impressive—professional, attentive, and genuinely kind. They strike the perfect balance between friendly and efficient, making the dining experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

We also had the opportunity to work with Nolan’s for a memorial catering event at the Canandaigua Country Club, and they exceeded every expectation. Planning a memorial can be emotional and stressful, but the team at Nolan’s handled every aspect with compassion, grace, and meticulous attention to detail. The food was, once again, phenomenal—elegant yet comforting, and beautifully presented. Their catering team was respectful, responsive, and made the day easier for everyone involved.

Whether you're looking for a memorable dinner by the lake or a trusted partner for a special event, Nolan’s delivers an experience that is second to none. It's clear why this place holds such a special spot in the hearts of Canandaigua locals and visitors...

This place is a real find. Normally, we wouldn't drive more than an hour for a great meal, but this restaurant is certainly worth a drive of 1 hour and 20 minutes from Syracuse. For an appetizer, I chose the French onion soup. When available, I often order this at restaurants and I make a very good version of it at home following an Alton Brown recipe. This restaurant serves a French onion soup as good as the best I've had anywhere. The broth was very dark and flavorful, appropriately salty, and the cheese was stringy and tasty. My meal was off to an excellent start. From the pub menu I ordered a lobster roll with french fries and coleslaw. The lobster roll was served with warm melted butter as is the custom in Connecticut, as opposed to the cold mayonnaise-based lobster salad served in Maine. Very tender and delicious claw meat was used and the roll was toasted and pillowy. Definitely a step up from the normal New England-style hot dog roll. Keeping with their attention to detail, the French fries were crispy and hot, and the coleslaw, made with purple cabbage, was not served just to add color to the plate, but to be eaten and enjoyed. An absolutely delicious meal, and the service was excellent. We'll be back. I would note that the name of the restaurant "Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake" is a bit misleading. The original location of the restaurant may have been on the lake, but at its current location you can only see the lake in the distance through gaps between other buildings from several windows on their porch. So, come here for the excellent food rather than the view. UPDATE-1: On our second visit, we both ordered, and very much enjoyed, the lobster roll. As appetizers my wife tried the meatballs in marinara sauce with ricotta cheese and I ordered a cup of sausage gumbo soup. Both were delicious. Here's hoping the owners will decide to open a second location in...

Took my son's girlfriend here for her 17th birthday. We had dinner reservations and only had to wait a few moments. The hostess and the busser were extremely wonderful and took great care of us. Our waitress was not rude directly but very inattentive and rushed when she dealt with us; we were very confused as to why. It was so bad that she would literally just reach her hand around the wall to plop something on our table, only quickly came by once to check on us, and the most hilarious part -even though I had announced that we had a birthday girl at our table when we were ordering drinks/appetizers- the waitress literally just called over her shoulder as she was leaving the dining area to ask if we "wanted coffee or dessert". God forbid she come to our table and ask if we'd like to see a dessert menu or tell us our choices!!! Her name is Lydia, according to the receipt, and her service was so bad it was amusing!

5 stars for this place in spite of Lydia. I actually consider the prices quite fair and the quality and portions excellent. My only gripe would be the sticker shock of the $16 coconut shrimp appetizer. It was a special so the price was a surprise. Otherwise no issues with pricing. I thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp with its dipping sauce and the bread that was brought to our table looked mouthwatering! But I believe they gave us an old batch because it was cold and CHEWY like microwaved pizza crust! Can't wait to go back and try it fresh. Even with the little quirks we truly did have a nice dinner and then enjoyed the lake afterwards.

I suggest trying their lobster roll which is large and tasty and the fries are really good, too. The pasta dishes were huge, and the chicken French was a giant portion. I had the scallops which were cooked perfectly.

We'll be back but hopefully we...