Chef's Gathering — Restaurant in Town of Dix

From owner to owner, this diner has been a beloved staple for many generations of families in our area. My grandparents took my parents. My parents took us. When I started bringing my own family to "Chef's Diner", Tony Pulo was still the owner. I remember the night he introduced us to Bill and Tiffany Hill. We were sad to see Tony go but we were excited to see what the Hill family's vision was for "Classic Chef's". We were not disappointed, and our patronage never wavered. Now, with Rashanna Gee as the new owner, we were again sad to see Bill and Tiffany go but were excited to see what "Chef's Gathering" would look like. My husband and I went to "Chef's Gathering" for the first time tonight, and we were absolutely delighted to see a mix of old and new. It still has the same charm and warm embrace its always had. But it also has a few updated touches, like the new menu that debuted tonight. While there were plenty of past favorites, there were also some new dishes. My husband went old school with the Texas Hots (which he scarfed down before I could blink). I tried one of the new dishes; Quinoa bowl with orzo, veggies, and steak. It was so good! I ate as much as I could possibly stuff in my stomach and took the little bit that was left home. I suspect it will be just as yummy cold as it was warm. Thank you for the tasty meal and for handling the reopening with such care. Good luck, Rashanna and crew!

(Updated to add more pictures from a...

I had high hopes coming in to Chef's Gathering. The new owner has done a really nice job of cleaning up the old Chef's look. It is clean, and bright with new booths. Our server was very pleasant and was trying her best on a fairly busy Saturday night. We ordered "poutine" as an appetizer. It is not really poutine, it is fries with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese and a thick brown gravy poured on it. It tasted okay, but not poutine. Then came dinner, one of us had the chicken tender platter that came out with two chicken tenders the size of extra large nuggets. We asked our server and she said there are supposed to be four, I will go get you two more. I had a turkey club that was loaded with onions. I have never had a turkey club served with onions nor did it say so on the menu. The bread was literally falling apart, so that it was impossible to pick it up and eat it. In fairness the server did offer to have them make another sandwich without onions, but at that point I was just ready to go. I will give Chef's Gathering another chance for breakfast, but will not be returning for lunch or dinner items. I hope they make a go of it, but really the food quality needs alot of...

This spot has had more name changes than a witness in a crime novel—Chef’s, Classic Chef’s, and now Chef’s Gatherings—but whatever they’re calling it these days, it’s still serving up the kind of breakfast that fuels adventurers.

We stopped in before tackling Shequaga Falls, Seneca Lake, and Taughannock Falls, because nothing says “ready to hike” like a plate of bacon, eggs, and hash browns that could double as a weighted vest. The coffee was strong enough to wake up even the laziest hiker, and the service was just the right mix of friendly and efficient—classic diner style.

The pies in the case were eyeing us the whole time, whispering, “you’ll regret not ordering me.” Sadly, we stayed disciplined… but next time, those pies are mine.

Bottom line: Chef’s Gatherings may change names like it’s in witness protection, but it’s still a reliable, hearty, small-town diner. Perfect for loading up before...