This restaurant is closed for the season mid Oct - mid May so be sure to check the website before you go. No reservations available. Beautiful view of the lake and tasty food options. For the tables down right next to the lake, it can be very chilly so bundle up when you go. But tables on the patio have heater and can still enjoy the lake while eating. Small parking lot in the back, and you first walk through a shop with its merchandise. The lobster roll is filled to the top and ask for extra toasted if you like the crunch. All the food is packed with flavor and portion is generous. The only subpar part is that the chicken is too dry in the Cobb salad. Would come back in the next fall season read more

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This place was recommended to us by the owner of the hotel where we stayed in Cooperstown. This place was worth visiting for the view, but the food was just so-so. It was mostly bland. Honestly we were disappointed with the quality of the meal compared with the spectacular view. Papas Bravas in particular needed more seasoning and sauce. read more

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Arrived for an early dinner around 3-4pm on a weekday. This place is easy to miss with a little sign, sharp driveway turn, and then very little additional signage about it being down the meandering gravel driveway at water's edge. However, once you master the navigational challenges, you're rewarded with generous seating and table options along the water with umbrellas or a covered porch or a completely indoor bar. The menu leans toward seafood with not-to-be-missed huge chunks of lobster claws on salad or pasta. Coconut shrimp appetizer or make it a meal with coconut rice or sriracha French fries. Entree portions are very filling and could result in leftovers or be enough to share based on your level of hunger. Flavors were fresh and spot on for everything we had while visiting, including some nice local beer and cider options. A few options are available for vegans and vegetarians as well. Meals will come in around $20-$40/pp with drink and tax. Service was friendly, helpful, and always nearby when we needed something. read more

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Love this spot on the lake. Great choices of food. I kept seeing everyone get the shrimp wrap but I wanted a chicken and they did it with bacon and Caesar salad -- so good !! My family all enjoyed their meals as well. Great location and very kind staff. A little shop inside too! read more

Blue Mingo Grill - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Nice place to stop for lunch when out and about Cooperstown. The lobster salad was amazing. read more

Blue Mingo Grill - Lobster salad. - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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Absolutely beautiful lakeside setting. We were accommodated without a reservation with a table right on the marina. Service was friendly. I thought the fish tacos were fine, not bad at all but definitely have had better. Sweet potato fries were good. Wheelchair access details: the outdoor area is accessible via a somewhat steep gravel path around the side of the building. Not sure about indoor or bathroom access. read more

In Cooperstown, NY on Labor Day there isn't much open for dinner. My wife & I are very happily the Blue Mingo was! They asked if we wanted to sit outside by the water & we were both a resounding yes. Eating dockside is a great experience on a warm & gentle night. We had a crab cakes appetizer which we both found very tasty. My wife had a lobster roll & fries which she remarked were very good. I had lover in a fettuccine cream sauce. The lobster was plentiful & tasty. The fettuccine was pretty thick & it could have used more sauce but those are minor quibbles. I enjoyed it very much! It's a seasonal place so so I don't know how much longer it will be open this year but it is well worth visiting if you are in the area. Pro tip The restaurant is down at the bottom of a hill not marked well. Just look for the folks coming out of a building with to go boxes! read more

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Because our room wasn't ready at our hotel, my son and I were recommended this place by the hotel's front desk. Well, he gave us a great recommendation (especially how to get there, because the entrance is easy to miss). Great views of the lake (see my photos) and decent food. The Sweet Chilli Brussels sprout appetizer was excellent (first time I've eaten chimichurri). My fish tacos were decent, but not close to ranking with those in the San Diego area (not many places do). My son said his chicken club sandwich was solid. The best part of our visit was the Cookie Sunday from the dessert menu, it was delicious! Our waitress was awesome and gave us her honest opinion of various dishes on the menu. A well varied menu has just about anything one would want at different price ranges. A good stop for us for dinner. read more

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The $30 Lobster Roll should have cost $3.00, it was like rubber, had nothing more than a 1/4 tsp of mayo on it, a single piece of lettuce and a cold stale bun that wasn't toasted or buttered. The hostess had zero personality and acted like she couldn't care less if the customer was there or not. I live local and will not go back again. read more

Backwoods, lousy dirty parking lot. Food was mediocre. Staff was very nice & entertaining.

Charming lakefront cafe with creative food and drink menu! Wonderful gift shop and friendly servers who made great local suggestions. read more

Blue Mingo Grill - Tuna nachos, patatas bravas, fish tacos - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

We had the best time here! Had a bottle of wine and just people watched. The staff was great, the food looked good (but we didn't eat) the hanging out there was the best. Beautiful! read more

Blue Mingo Grill - Beautiful view - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Very nice hidden gem. Low key at the marina with a great vibe. Clam chowder was solid but could have been a little thicker, crab cakes were great and I didn't have the ny strip but I watched the guy next to me nail one and it was a serious piece of meat for $37. My wife thought I was staring at a super model....kind of was. Great place give it a go. read more

An impromptu boat tour of Ostego Lake led to dinner at the Blue Mingo Grill after we saw the grill from the boat and it did not disappoint! The food was delicious and the waitress was terrific. She was great to recommend items from the menu when we had trouble deciding. The lake view was amazing! read more

Always enjoy going to this restaurant. You have a beautiful view of the lake and always fun to watch the boats coming in and out. Food is enjoyable and staff is great. They serve this one appetizer with chips, melted blue cheese and balsamic vinegar. It is so delicious. I go every time I visit Cooperstown. read more

When by a lake diners want to look at the water while eating, which is exactly the deal at Blue Mingo Grill. Basic fare (burgers, salads, sandwiches) but who cares when you're able to watch the ducks and geese frolicking outside. Service is friendly and efficient -- our meals were so easy that we were served within 15 minutes of ordering. The fish tacos were crispy and hot with nice cole slaw dressing, the fries were fine. The salads were ginormous and required extra dressing! read more

The Caribbean Mango Shrimp Wrap is OFF THE HOOK! Best thing I've eaten in while. The brussel sprouts are fantastic as well. The restaurant is unassuming when you first pull up but you are soon greeted to an intimate view of Otsego Lake right from your table. Perfect place to grab a bite after walking around Cooperstown. read more

This is more of a 3.5 star restaurant, were I able to give half a star. Definitely don't judge this book by its cover! It's located down a gravel road, in a boat yard. Blue Mingo was recommended by our hotel so I was a little surprised that it looks like a shack from the outside. The outside eating area has a nice view though - you can sit on the deck or by the water. The food was pretty darn good. There were three in our party, and between us we ordered a burger, fish tacos, and a shrimp wrap. All the main dishes were really yummy. As my son said, the fries were just average. Two of us had margaritas and they were excellent - shaken not stirred. This isn't a four- or five-star review because the service kind of sucked. We waited several minutes for the hostess and she didn't welcome us, say hi, smile.... Our server walked by us several times without glancing our way. Once she took our order, we got our food and drinks quickly, but I don't think she ever introduced herself or exchanged any words with us that didn't involve ordering our food or paying the check. She definitely did not look happy to be there. So go for the food and the view...ignore the blah staff. read more

Very low key, no frills lake vibe. Best cocktail I had during our trip to Cooperstown. Just had appetizers but all were good. I had potstickers and enjoyed. Food came out super fast. Wish I had had time to stop again during our visit. read more

I'm claiming the Mingo as my favorite Cooperstown Otego Lake, Lakeside dining venue. It's a hidden gem. Casual & comfortable indoor and dockside dining. Reasonable prices and good food. Pleasant staff and lovely shop with quality merch. read more

More bang for your buck! Great atmosphere right on the lake. Great service, and good food. The drinks are poured generously. Had the kimchi fries and they were delicious, but could have used more kimchi. They are spicy though. The Brussels sprouts were also good. I couldn't finish the mango steak and it was prepared just right. The burgers, chicken sandwich, and chicken wrap were great, and the crab cakes rocked. The kids loved the cookie Sunday and the puff pastry with ice cream. We were there early and it got packed quickly. It was hard to get through to make a reservation, and there was definitely a line, and it got loud but not super loud. All and all I'd go again. read more

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Food was amazing- split the lobster roll ' a side salad with my husband- huge portions. Great value. Nice view. Others in our group had the fried pickles, Philly cheese steak, chicken fingers, all delicious! read more

This was absolutely one of out fave spots to eat when we visited Cooperstown. So good we went back a few times for dinner and cocktails. Why not? The weather was perfect there and who doesn't enjoy eating on the water with terrific views of Otsego Lake and the boats at the dock with a cocktail in hand? Great list of specialty libations of which we indulged in. The cocktails are unique and all made fresh. Strong too - they don't skimp on the booze! The staff here were friendly and helpful while offering some real suggestions of what they liked and didn't like on the menu. We started with a delicious fresh mixed salad, and jumbo shrimp cocktail with bloody mary cocktail sauce which so good. I had the Alaskan Halibut with fried green tomatoes and nectarine. She had a half rack of Mingo Babyback Ribs with mango slaw and house fries. Deeeee - licious. Both entrees. Everything. Devoured. Of course, we had to cap off a perfect meal with desserts. Their carrot cake was so moist and flavorful. The coconut pound cake with ice cream was just as good. Oh yeah, dessert is a must to round out a meal like this. We hit up their gift shop and bought a few souvenirs too. Needed some memories of this terrific eatery. Can't wait to go back one day. Nothing like dinner with a view! read more

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Wow! What an awesome find this was (thank you Yelp!) This restaurant is currently OPEN for outdoor dining/drinks and you HAVE to check it out! I wish I lived closer, but we will definitely be making our way back to Cooperstown to eat here! This restaurant is located on the south-western part of Otsego lake. It is right on the water!!! The views are beautiful, and there is also a boat dock. You can dock your boat and walk right up to the restaurant for lunch or dinner. We arrived around 3pm on a Monday. There were 4 or 5 other parties present but there is plenty of seating outside on the deck and by the water. Now for the food/drinks: my bf got the rum punch (DELISH- must try!) and i got a mojito. Both drinks were strong and refreshing. They use FRESH ingredients and have some unique options that I appreciate! We got the korean spicy fries for an app- YAAAAAS BABY must try. Flavors are out of this world. The sauce they use on these fries which is " spicy Gochujang mayo " is BA BA BOMB. GET IT! I got the crab cake sandwich. The crab cake was cooked perfectly, good flavor. I didn't eat the bun because its just too filling with the extra bread. Next time I will get the lobster roll. The bf got the peanut butter bacon burger. He liked it. Like i said, huge portions and FILLING. Our waiter, Julian was absolutely outstanding. 10/10 on the service. He was friendly, personable, knowledgeable about the menu, and even suggested areas to check out in Cooperstown while we were there. Definitely a great dining experience all around from the views, food, and service. He also recommended coming back during dinner time because they have some great dinner options! I love that there is a little gift shop attached to the restaurant. They have novelty cards, gifts, clothes, and other cute nick nack items. Can not wait to come back! There are so many great things on the menu that I want to try! Enjoy fellow yelpers!!! read more

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Creative food, especially the apps. Everything we ordered was delicious. Nice setting right on the water. Worth the trip even though it's a bit hard to find! read more

Food was just okay. Restaurant is literally on the water, so it's a peaceful experience read more

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The Blue Mingo is one of our favorite places to go, both for special occasions or just for a casual drink or meal. We went last week to celebrate our anniversary and had a wonderful time. We sat at an umbrella table on the dock. The weather was perfect and the lake was calm and beautiful. I ordered a lobster roll with sweet potato fries. The lobster was abundant and the fries were delicious. My husband has the steak frites with sweet potato fries. Also perfectly cooked and yummy. We both agreed that their sweet potato fries are the best in town, skinny and nicely crunchy. You can also order them as a side with aioli. I had a huge slice of carrot cake for dessert (I took half home and had it for breakfast the next morning. Hubby had a slice of their flourless chocolate tart, which he loved. Service was, as always, attentive and excellent. A memorable evening! read more

Had lunch at this amazing little gem. Sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful lake weather. Service was excellent and food was not only amazing but HUGE value! My wife had the count shrimp and I went with the beet salad and added lobster... it was much more than a lobster....healthy portion of the sweet and mild ocean creature! read more

Blue Mingo Grill - Coconut Shrimp and Beet Salad add lobster - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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Great food. Awesome service and atmosphere plus a fun gift shop We had clam chowder and the best burgers with arugula and feta cheese. read more

This is by far our very favorite local restaurant. We love to sit right on the water, enjoying the view of the lake and Kingfisher Tower, The service is usually good and the food is consistently outstanding. They will add lobster (and a lot of it!) to any dish for 9-15 dollars. The cocktails are exceptional! The brussels sprouts are so delicious they should be on the dessert menu. My husband loves the lobster pasta, my kids love the lobster roll, and I, who usually go for healthier options, opt for the salmon or a salad substituting the chicken for lobster. OMG. They are so good. I try to resist their desserts, but they do not make it easy. The Keylime pie in a cup is just incredible. We have a business in town and we recommend this place to ALL our customers. Counting the days until opening day in May! read more

A great location, overlooking Ostego Lake. The food is very good bar & grill type offerings. We enjoyed crab cakes, fish tacos, burgers and the tuna nachos. The nachos were particularly good. Everyone enjoyed their meal, some cocktails and the cool breeze off the lake. Can't really go wrong with any seat outside or on the back porch. Solid service, they checked in regularly and were happy to take a few photos of us. Slightly on the louder side (bar and grill vibe), but it fit with what we were looking for as a family meal as opposed to a date night. read more

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Entrees are less than average quality Rude and pompous waiting staff Long wait for food and service Entrees served at table several minutes apart You will be scolded for requesting check split Water overlook ambiance is boat docks Locals welcomed, others are not Many, many better options in & around town read more

Nice atmosphere, wonderful service, and great food. Try their Cosmos! Waterfront restaurant on beautiful Lame Otsego. read more

Traveling around the area we were planning next stop to see the Cardiff Giant, rather hangry we chose Blue Mingo for the view after Googling local restaurants. View is wonderful! Service was extremely slow despite plenty of wait staff. Our waiter in particular disappeared for long periods at a time. (Perhaps a girlfriend in the kitchen?) Simple menu, many drink choices, everything was good. After eating our food and waving down the waiter and handing him our cards when he returned with our checks, we were able to leave just in time for the short drive and a quick view of the giant but no time for the museum which was closing. We had not anticipated almost 2 hours for dinner. Go for the view, food is ok, expect to spend some time there. read more

Blue Mingo Grill - Dining by the water - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

When I found out we were going up to Cooperstown I checked into dinner spots for Wifey and I and this was my first choice. I liked the reviews, I liked the menu, and I liked the pix on Yelp. Blue Mingo did NOT let us down. We made reservations for 6:30 and when we finally found the place (it's hidden from the road and actually behind some buildings right on the lake) we were seated immediately. We ordered a couple of our old standby drinks - I had a Perfect Makers Mark Manhattan and Wifey ordered a Tanqueray and Tonic. We listened to the dinner specials and decided to try the appetizer special which was a local cheese plate with bread and pieces of rabbit sausage and quail sausage. All of the cheese on the plate was sourced locally, within ten miles of the restaurant, and the whole plate was amazing. For dinner I had the Chilean Sea Bass with a soy glaze with coconut rice and cooked fresh spinach drizzled with a sesame oil and soy combo. Wifey ordered Grilled Salmon with coconut rice and a soy ginger glaze and asparagus. Our meals were both very good, in fact Wifey LOVED hers. Salmon was exactly how she wanted it barely to medium. My sea bass was a huge portion and tasted GREAT, but it was a little under done for me. Don't get me wrong, there was NOTHING wrong with it, but I should have asked for it to me cooked for about a minute longer-my fault. The only thing about my meal I didn't love was the spinach (and I normally love spinach) as there was a little too much sesame oil for my liking. Again, this is a personal thing with me and not an issue for the rest of the spinach eating world. For dessert we had a couple of decaf coffees and a slab of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting to share. OMG the carrot cake was amazing-fresh, moist, and the frosting was perfect. I know I read some negative reviews about service, but I didn't see it at all. In fact, our waitress was not only a great server, but she knew the menu very well and even gave some info on the lake and the Craft Castle across the lake. Totally recommend Blue Mingo...I'd eat here again in a heartbeat! read more

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After your tour of the baseball Hall of Fame, slake your hunger outdoors by the lake. The spot is just up the road 3 miles from Cooperstown. What a wonderful find. Patio by Otsego Lake with some seating next to the docks. Food 4 stars seating. comfort and service 5 stars read more

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Excellent experience and I was, quite frankly, beyond pleasantly surprised. Dined there during a fantastic thunderstorm with my little boy and I'd give high marks all around: food, ambiance and the service. We will be back when we visit the lake again. read more

The shrimp wrap and service was great! This was the perfect place to kick start our trip to Cooperstown. The lake view was beautiful! Bring a sweater. read more

Can't beat the setting, outdoor quiet on the lake. I had clam chowder which was fine, lots of clams. Also had a brussel sprout dish with a chimichurri type sauce. Enjoyed it, but the sauce was just a tad sweet for my liking. Reasonably priced for what you get. read more

We called the Blue Mingo Grill before driving the 35 miles one way to enjoy a late lunch / early dinner on 5/12/22 I called first to check the hours and the voice message said they will open at noon. Upon arrival a couple of hours later - the place looked closed. While starting to walk in, a guy who acted like he was the owner was walking out. He said, "not much going on in there" .. I asked is it open .. he said .. no .. I told him the voice message said they open at noon. He told me they are closed and not open for the summer yet. What really sucked is that he laughed and found it all funny ... saying it's last years message. What a crappy businessman. We drove 35 miles (one way) to get there only to be laughed at my someone who appeared to be the owner - to at least he was the person in charge. What a disappointment. 4 Web sites give 4 different days and hours of operation and the voice message stating the hours is 100% wrong - then customers get laughed at. That's crap. read more