The Village Inn — Restaurant in Town of Grand Island

The Village Inn Restaurant is located in a nondescript, yet historic house in the Ferry Village section of Grand Island, New York. However, don't let appearances fool you - behind its quaint, cozy exterior hides an AMAZING eating establishment.

My wife and I, not being from around the area, decided to take a chance on this restaurant for our 25th anniversary dinner, and it was the best decision we made on our entire vacation. We knew we were in the right place when we heard one of the waitstaff explaining their homemade pie selection to someone on the phone (more on that later). We each had the special - I, the authentic beer battered Fish & Chips platter (with fresh haddock that could have been mistaken for a salmon steak for its size), and she, the Black & Bleu Cajun Chicken Alfredo with penne pasta. We both got the soup to go with our meals. My cream of broccoli soup was melt in your mouth savory, and my wife's Cajun seafood chowder was the perfect complement to her pasta dish. Both, of course, were homemade - a common theme with all of their dishes.

Dessert was kind of a mixed bag. My original selection, the key lime coconut cheesecake, was a bit disappointing as it was somewhat dry, but our server, Jeannie, rectified that quickly by coming back out with a piece of key lime pie (she told me it "wasn't on the menu" but was made that day) that was one of the top 10 pieces of pie that I have ever eaten. Moist, tangy (but not too tangy), and with a homemade graham cracker crust that oozed love in the form of butter and sugar. (As a native Floridian, I consider myself a bit of a key lime pie snob, and their pie was a high form of culinary art.)

Meanwhile, my wife's peach pie was very good, but it was the homemade folded pie crust that made her literally weep (it reminded her of her late mother's crusts that she would roll out). I forced myself to eat my whole very generous pie slice in one sitting, but she had plenty of her peach pie left over.

To make a very long review short (too late, I know), the Village Inn Restaurant on Grand Island is a true diamond in the rough, and a "must-dine" establishment if you plan on a trip to Buffalo, Niagara Falls, or anywhere else in NW...

This was, by far, the worst experience I have had at any restaurant. I am ok with the one star rating because the atmosphere is nice... Close to the water and in a homey setting. Aside from that, I felt that everything was a bit overpriced when looking at the menu, but figured that it would be ok if it was fresh and good food as everyone else has rated it.

Before we get to the food, the service was severely lacking. Everyone was nice, but they seemed to lack any idea of how to provide service. My party wanted to spend more on drinks, but couldn't and we sat with empty glasses for a while. We had to request drinks as the waitress walked past us.

Now on to the food: we each ordered something different... Steak, fish, wings, chicken salad... The best thing was the wings, but how do you mess up mixing frozen wings with Frank's and butter? The broccoli, shrimp, bread, and seemingly even the steak was out of a bag in the freezer. I would guess that the microwave is a key component to the kitchen.

Back to the service: when we finally asked for our check, I saw an extra charge for something that was supposed to be included. I asked about it and got a laugh from the server... "Oh yeah... There's an upcharge for that... Sorry I didn't tell you". She takes our checks and goes to stand by the register to talk to the other employees for a bit... Then she grabs her phone to starts to text before she finally realizes that she forgot about us and rings us out.

I have never left $0 for a tip until tonight. I would not recommend this place to anyone at all. A combination of the cost of the food, quality of food, and lack of service does not make up for the atmosphere of...

The Food is Delicious,Amazing Cooks, Great Service, Cozy Atmosphere, and Affordably Priced!! I had the 1/3 lb. Fresh Hand Pressed Hamburger(added Bacon) with Lettuce and Tomato. Cooked to your liking. It was seasoned and Cooked Perfectly! Out of this World Good!! I would like to mention they Have an Addictively Delicious Award Winning Beef on Weck, and if you Love Soup The Village Inn is second to none for Homemade Delicious Soups. They have Their Own Unique Creative Recipes! Daily Specials featuring those Innovative Creations and the most exciting Menu I have ever seen! House Recipe Beer Battered Fish Fry(Baked or Breaded also available) Wednesday and Fridays. Delicious House Featured Dressings,House made Spinach Artichoke Dip, Fried Pickles, Johnnie Ryan Soda, and Undeniable Innovative one of a kind Homemade Desserts made from Seasonal Ingredients. Outdoor Seating Area, Kids Menu, and Vegetarian Options. The Village Inn is Proud to Support Local Business and Farms.Just a Great Restaurant!! Easy to See and Taste Why they have been in Business 30 Years, and Won Awards for their Dishes. I Highly Recommend The Village Inn. A...