Stonecat: Regional Cuisine & Bar — Restaurant in Town of Hector

I need to say that was extremely disappointed with this place that came highly recommended. First off I understand why they make you pay before you get anything, because only one person in our party of six enjoyed their meal. The hummus was dry, it was like eating a thick flavorless chalky paste. The “Smokey” Bloody Mary was super sweet with no sign of any vodka and why was it so chunky? Absolutely Undrinkable; couldn’t even be doctored, and believe me I tried! Basically everything I tasted was not quite right; either the flavor or the texture was off or nonexistent, and practically inedible. Other than the view this place could use some major help. Now let’s talk about the service. There were servers and yet we had to pay at the counter, where of course they expect you to tip as if they actually took care of you; there’s even a tacky sign reminding you, of course. With a lot of serving experience under my belt I would like to say that this practice confuses me, and in my opinion takes away from having a good dining experience. I mean where’s the hospitality?

To continue, our lack luster food was brought to the table but no one checked on us afterwards for quite a while; in fact until we were done trying to eat. We ended up presenting our concerns with the meal at the end to the person who came to clear our table. We told them all of our disappointments and all they had to say was we can bring the chef out and you can tell them. No compensation or at least an apology for a wasted, expensive and not good, meal. If you are going to get and try to use all those amazing ingredients please know what you are doing!!!

I do not believe anyone enjoys wasting time or money, however that is what I feel like I did that day. I should’ve (and wish I would’ve) requested a refund, because of course one was not offered. But alas we left, most likely never to return.

And on a side note… all the NFA stuff on all the merchandise is what kept me from purchasing anything. Pretty silly to put such profound letters on attire you’re trying to sell for profit.

Good luck with the future of...

Perched on a valley crest overlooking Seneca Lake, this charming spot is a must-visit. We attended their Sunday jazz brunch, but they also offer dinner service from Wednesday to Friday and extended hours on Saturdays.

The ambiance is delightful, with options for bar seating, an indoor dining room, and a stunning outdoor patio. We chose the patio, which was festooned with string lights under a ceiling of carefully cultivated ivy—a perfect setting to complement the bluesy tunes floating through the air.

I cannot recommend the Sunday brunch highly enough. The food was delectable, and the music set the perfect tone for a relaxing morning. The performers, Wayne Gottlieb & Alex Specker, serenaded the crowd with twin semi-hollow guitars and soothing vocals, playing a wonderful mix of original songs and classic blues and jazz numbers.

We ordered the Eggs Louisianne and the Sausage Gravy & Biscuits, accompanied by a drip coffee and a mimosa.

The Eggs Louisianne was a sublime dish: two perfectly poached eggs over ground sausage, sautéed peppers, and onions, all served on sweet cornbread triangles pan-fried to a perfect crisp. The dish was topped with a fresh dill hollandaise sauce that brightened every bite.

The Sausage Gravy and Biscuits was a savory, indulgent classic with unexpected, creative twists. The sausage was seasoned with juniper for a bright, aromatic note, while the biscuits were infused with thyme, adding a pleasant earthiness to the dish.

However, the breakfast potatoes that accompanied both dishes nearly stole the show. These dark red wedges belie their intense and complex flavor. The secret? The restaurant smokes the potatoes before frying them and then seasons them generously with rosemary. The result is an unforgettable, smoky flavor I've never experienced before.

My only regret is that we couldn't visit a second time. If I could give the restaurant one piece of advice, it would be this: market those potatoes! They are a star side dish with a unique flavor that deserves...

///UPDATE/// - UNFAIR TREATMENT AND HORRIBLE SERVICE

We were hoping to have another great experience but, not so much. We made reservations and told them we had a dog. They said that would be fine and accepted our reservation. When we arrived, the hostess said we were only allowed to eat outside in the bar service (limited menu to 4 sandwiches)/first available seating area. There were only 4 tables and you had to order at the bar. We had to order food and drinks at the bar which had a limited drink menu as well. We saw a friend who said we should order the steak. I told him it wasn’t on the menu and he said “don’t worry about it, just order it”. We didn’t and ordered a few sandwiches instead. As we waited, we noticed people in our same area ordering and getting items from the regular menu such as the risotto and steak. We also noticed people getting specialty drinks such as manhattans and bourbon cocktails. Service was poor as the servers really didn’t know where to deliver the food. The server behind the bar spent more time talking to and helping locals than other customers. The food was ok. I approached the hostess on our way out and explained my displeasure and she said “To my knowledge, you are only allowed to have dogs at those few tables” and “To my knowledge, you’re only allowed to order off the bar menu”. I asked “why bother accepting a reservation when I told you we have a dog?” She had no reply. I’ve surmised that this establishment caters to locals more so than other customers. Additionally, their staff is uneducated to their own policies and unwilling to rectify mistakes.

We went for lunch. The food was amazing and our waitress was nice and very knowledgeable...