Sand Bar — Restaurant in City of Canandaigua

Warning! Proceed at Your Own Risk! Visited this venue for the first time yesterday, Memorial Day. All I can say in summary, is avoid this venue like the pandemic, if management/ownership cannot seriously reassess and revamp their future business, culinary and hospitality practices . What I thought was an upscale lake view resort restaurant called “The Sand Bar” restaurant, is actually a dog kennel (unless in fact you like eating with slobbering dogs and inconsiderate patrons who bring them) coupled with an inferior and severely limited “holiday” menu of laughable carnival cuisine consisting of only 2 items: hot dogs, undercooked, bland 1/5 lb. hamburgers ( actually 2x more bread than meat) served with something resembling scraggly tasteless potato sticks imitating as French fries. The management/ownership should be charged with false advertising, health code violations, larceny (prices) and fraud as it is, in my opinion, the worst possible excuse for a purported relaxing, lake view upscale resort culinary experience one could imagine. It was like a scene out of bad movie. What’s this deal with unlimited dogs being allowed at restaurants. Leave the dogs home for goodness sakes!!! They’ll survive and so will their owners for a few hours! If I owned a ferret, a turtle or a snake as pets could I bring any of them – because they comfort me??? Would others be offended-- of course they would. That’s how stupid and rude this snow flake policy is and how inconsiderate others are of those fellow patrons who do not wish to eat with animals around. Furthermore, the understaffing of service to patrons is another story, but these young ladies were doing all they could to keep up with 2 bartenders doubling as waitresses and only one waitress handling everyone outside the pavilion. On holidays or busy summer weekends, it should be all hands on deck to help out. No greeting by a hostess, no coffee offered, no appetizers, no desserts ( nor even a cookie), they all kept apologizing and it was not their fault. Victoria, the bartender tried her best to be accommodating. I awarded the one star because of her/their efforts and the fact that management hung them out without a safety net. I’ve seen charities at sporting events with volunteers do a much better job with tastier food in their tents serving hundreds of patrons an hour as compared to the lazy, unpreparedness and mismanagement of this establishment. Even a grill out there on the main grounds serving BBQ chicken( like the firemen do), mac salad, Zweigles white & red hots, Italian sausage and real seasoned hamburgers/cheeseburgers would have been much better than waiting for an inexperienced 3rd rate line cook to serve up an inedible order. My hamburger was literally raw. But they only gave me two choices: pink or well done. The pink really meant raw. Just absurd. Better yet, save your hard earned $$$ and enjoy peace of mind by staying home, drink your own bottle of wine or cocktail of choice, ordering a large pizza and wings from Pontillo’s, a meatball sub from Macri’s Deli, a Philly Steak and Cheese from Mac’s (or similar) and enjoy yourself with family or friends. Its simply not worth it to fight a lack of common sense, disorganization and disrespect for paying customers. They can paint any picture they want but as an entrepreneur, I can tell you this establishment can improve, and has all the makings of 5 stars with a real leader in charge who knows what he/she is doing and paying the already stressed-out staff a little more to attract better trained and dedicated talent. I’m sure Sands...

During my recent stay at The Lake House on Canandaigua, I had the pleasure of dining at The Sand Bar, and it was an experience worth sharing. Originally, our group had plans to dine at a local restaurant in town, but after a couple of recommendations from locals, we decided to change our reservation to The Sand Bar—and I’m so glad we did.

The Sand Bar is situated right by the water, and the atmosphere is both casual and inviting, with a laid-back elegance that makes you feel right at home. The setting, with its dockside views and cozy design, made it the perfect spot to unwind after a full day of meetings. It has a charm that’s distinctly lakeside, yet it offers a level of sophistication that elevates the dining experience.

The menu is an upscale take on classic pub fare, and one standout for me was the lobster roll. It struck a perfect balance between the Maine and Connecticut styles. The bun was that of a classic Connecticut roll, warm and buttery, while the lobster itself was served cold, paired with crisp lettuce, just like a traditional Maine lobster roll. The combination worked beautifully, offering the best of both worlds in a single bite. It was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely satisfying—a must-try if you visit.

The rest of the menu also impressed, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and inventive spins on comfort food. The bar itself was well-stocked, and their craft cocktails were a perfect complement to the meal. It’s easy to see how this spot is a favorite for both locals and guests of the resort.

The service at The Sand Bar was another highlight. Much like the rest of The Lake House, the staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring we had everything we needed while never being intrusive. Their recommendations were spot on, and the entire experience felt relaxed and enjoyable.

Overall, The Sand Bar was the perfect choice for a relaxed yet elevated dining experience. It offers a unique combination of lakeside ambiance, exceptional service, and delicious food that I’d highly recommend. Whether you’re staying at The Lake House or just passing through Canandaigua, it’s a must-visit spot for a great meal with unbeatable views—and don’t leave without trying the...

My Wife and I spent 2 nights at the Lake House. The location of the Lake House and the Sand Bar are beyond perfect. We were welcomed at the entrance of the restaurant and were seated outside where we experienced a beautiful view. The furniture was new, clean and very comfortable. We were shaded by one of the many outdoor umbrellas during our dining experience.

The food portion of the menu is pretty small, but to me that means things are fresher so I wasn't disappointed. With that being said, this isn't a chain food joint where you can order every kind of food under the sun. The drink menu definitely outshines the food menu. My wife and I do not drink, but if wines, spirits, and beers are up your alley, the menu will be very pleasing to you.

We ordered the potato skins as an appetizer. It comes with 5 potatoes filled with cheese, sour cream, green onion, and bacon. They were cooked PERFECTLY. Some people over cook them and they're dry. These were on point for sure. The bacon was very flavorful and added so much more to the dish.

My Wife ordered the steak and pepper jack sandwich. The steak was cooked medium well and was seasoned as well. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The steak was topped with onions, cheese, and an aioli sauce.

I order the Sand Bar Burger. It was cooked medium well (a little bit of pink, but mostly cooked). It was topped with an aioli sauce, a blend of cheeses, red onion, lettuce, and tomato. The bun was very soft all around, the burger was juicy , and the other elements of the burger were very fresh! Our fries were on point as well! Fresh, and crunchy.

Our servers were very pleasant and made sure we were taken care of during our time there. Overall, the food was good, the views were great, and the service was great as well. We would for go back the next time we spend some time at...