MAIN DECK - PENN YAN, NY An experience far beyond 5 stars This past Saturday, Kim and I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Main Deck in Penn Yan, and from the moment we walked in, we knew we had stepped into something special. The atmosphere alone is breathtaking -- warm wood tones, lake views, stunning decor, and a bar that looks like a piece of art. Everything feels intentional... welcoming... elevated. It's one of those places where you instantly feel relaxed and taken care of. But what truly made our visit unforgettable was our server, Kayla. Kayla wasn't just excellent -- she was exceptional. Friendly, professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable, she carried herself with a level of grace and care that you rarely see. She made us feel like we were her only table, even though the restaurant was busy. Every detail mattered to her, every question answered with genuine enthusiasm. She turned a great meal into a meaningful experience. And the food? Absolutely phenomenal. Perfectly cooked, beautifully plated, full of flavor -- from the French onion soup to the burger, everything was prepared with obvious pride and craftsmanship. Not a single detail missed. Kayla made us fresh coffee to warm the bones. It wasn't just a meal -- it was an experience. The kind that stays with you long after you leave. Main Deck is truly above 5 stars, and Kayla deserves every bit of recognition for the incredible work she does. We can't wait to return -- and if you're anywhere near Penn Yan, treat yourself. You won't just eat well... you'll feel welcomed, appreciated, and right at home. A huge thank you to Kayla and the entire Main Deck team for making our Saturday something special. read more

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We opened a business in the area & are checking out local restaurants so we can make recommendations to our clients. We've heard mixed reviews for this restaurant, and after our own experience we definitely won't be recommending this one. The menu & prices say fine dining.... But that's not what we experienced. We had to ask for the wine list, it wasn't given to us with the menu as you would in a well run restaurant. The view of the lake would have been great, but the windows were filthy on the inside and out. My husbands steak that was ordered well done arrived blackened on the outside and literally ice cold and raw on the inside. The only person who offered any kind of acknowledgment for nearly giving my husband salmonella was the waiter but it wasn't his responsibility to apologize. My steak was cooked correctly but it was a very tough piece of meat. The price markup on the wine was OVER DOUBLE. Pretty sure our deserts were not made fresh.... They were awful. There was really no excuse for a bad experience... there were only a handful of customers. (Now we know why.) Very disappointing experience and we will not go back. I worked in the fine dining restaurant industry for decades... the main deck is very overpriced, very poorly run & desperately needs a new manager. The only positives were the waiter was good, and the risotto was very good. This place has potential with competent management & kitchen staff. We will not be back. *review copied from my Open Table review. read more

Main Deck - Very rubbery cheesecake, and awfully artificially flavored Limoncello trifle - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

I visited Main Deck for the first time last night, and while the setting is absolutely stunning, the food was a major disappointment. The restaurant itself is a beautiful new build (opened July 2024 I believe) with incredible views of Keuka Lake. The décor is thoughtfully done--the upside-down wooden boat hanging over the bar is a standout piece, and the vintage photos throughout add charm. The atmosphere had so much potential... but unfortunately, that's where the positives mostly ended. My friend and I started with the French onion soup. It was the only dish that had any flavor, but even that was underwhelming in portion--maybe 1/4 cup--with an oversized, hardened piece of bread that took up most of the crock. For entrées, I ordered the pasta with beef bolognese and ricotta. As someone who is 100% Italian and an avid cook, I can honestly say this was one of the most tasteless pasta dishes I've ever had. The pasta was completely mushy, there was very little beef, and the sauce had virtually no flavor whatsoever. My friend ordered the braised short rib with butternut risotto. What should have been a rich, comforting dish fell flat. The short rib itself had a large, untrimmed piece of fat and was slightly dry--far from what a properly braised short rib should be. The topping described as a dollop of parmigiana resembled a loose, whipped mixture with minimal cheese and certainly not the quality you'd expect from Parmigiano Reggiano. The risotto lacked depth and cohesion. To make matters worse, all of the food was served lukewarm, and neither entrée had any real flavor. There wasn't even salt or pepper on the tables, which felt like a missed basic. The bathroom, while modern in design, was noticeably unkempt, with dirty-looking floor tiles. It was a warm Saturday night, and for a 6:45 reservation, the restaurant was nearly empty--we were only the second table seated. That alone was surprising for a place with such a beautiful location. The one true bright spot was our server, Matt. He was friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the evening. Pricing is consistent with an upscale dining experience, which I have no issue with--if the food delivers. Unfortunately, it didn't come close. With better execution in the kitchen, this place could be a gem, but it's been opened long enough that these "bugs" should have been worked out by now. Right now, it's all atmosphere and very little substance. read more

I hate to give a bad review because the venue is nice and the wait staff were friendly -- but you go out to eat good food and well... it just so was not good food. The burger smelled and tasted like a hot dog - honestly, worse burger I have eaten in a really long time. I got sick from the bolognese and someone else we were there with got the fish fry which was not fully fried or crispy. The menu is deceptive - it looks good but does not live up to expectations read more

The deck view of Keuka Lake is amazing. Service is always friendly and on point attentive. The food is exquisite and the seasonal cocktails all made with fresh ingredients pair well with seasonal food offerings. Always a good meal! Scallops were superb, Brussels are melt in your mouth with a touch of crisp. Best spot in Penn Yan! read more

We had very good food from our seasonal appetizer to our Salmon dinner and beef bolognese. Service was great and we had a view of the lake. read more

Main Deck - Seasonal Bruschetta outstanding. - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

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I had a very poor experience with Main Deck. They promised me a refund both over the phone and via email. I have not received the refund and no further communications about it. I had hope and planned to return after they apologized about my initial poor experience, but not anymore after the false promise. They are both unprofessional and irresponsible. read more

back again 2years later. New Menu with an amazing variety. I don't eat a lot of meat so reserve it for only the best! the steak was unbelievably tender and delicious and huge! Staff was accommodating with our big party's different wants but even without - the variety on the menu gave my whole party lots of choices even our vegan and vegetarians. and great appetizers and small pates. It was the weekend with live music down stairs. And the decor remains lovely with seating options in dining room, in the charming booths and of course on the deck - all with amazing views of Keuka Lake. I'll be coming back every trip I make to the area. worth the drive!!! read more

Open Monday yay! Service was excellent! I had beef burger sliders that were delicious and butternut squash risotto, also delicious!! My husband had shrimp bucatini that he loved! please support this restaurant!! read more

The food and service were great. I had the braised short ribs. Tender and savory. The risotto was the perfect side. I would return.

The restaurant looks fabulous. Very classy interior and outside deck seating. It is located on the shore of Keuka lake. I got the food is a bit of a letdown. Portions are a bit stingy and the taste was just ok. On this night there was something wrong with the Halibut and Risotto dish and some of the dinners were returned to the kitchen. I like a great looking facility like this but the food leaves a lot to the imagination. read more

Main Deck - Beef Bourguignon - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

The view and the styling of this restaurant is top notch. The drinks are also great and the service was good. However, we definitely wouldn't come back here for food. We should have known something was off when the rolls that were brought to the table looked like they were store bought. I tried the appetizer special - Halibut Meatballs. They were incredibly dry and the sauce they came in was just weird. I think they were going for some kind of Asian fusion gravy but it just didn't work. I couldn't even sleep last night because it gave me the strangest heartburn. My partner had the beef cheek pierogies as an appetizer, and he hated them. The filling inside was lukewarm but the mushrooms that were served with the dish were piping hot. That could be overlooked if the dish had flavor but not amount of salt or pepper could save it. I had a Caesar salad as my main dish, which I thought was impossible to mess up but... it somehow lacked flavor too! There was no saltiness or nuttiness to their dressing which made the entire salad bland. I had ordered a side of Brussels sprouts and they were pretty good so I put them on the salad in an attempt to make it better. My partner ordered the burger which wasn't too bad but the fries looked like they came from the freezer section at Walmart. We're both foodies and truly don't mind spending a lot for a good meal - but for $145 I have to say this was one of the worst meals I've had in the Finger Lakes. read more

Main Deck - Halibut meatballs - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

Our waitress Rachel was wonderful as well as all of our food chooses! The Main Deck is a beautiful venue!

The food lacked in flavor and the portions were quite small for the price. Didn't meet expectations Ambiance is very beautiful and boat lavish. Large selection of wine. As should be expected by the location read more

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We had drinks and ate at the tunnel bar. The Good: The location and the lake view is great. The Bad: The bar seemed understaffed. Only two bartenders to make drinks and deliver the food. We ordered the nachos for an appetizer and it took almost 30 minutes before it came out. And it was the smallest plate of nachos I've literally ever seen at a restaurant. And for $16, waaaaaaay overpriced for the small amount you get(see pic). Our group ordered fish tacos, the smashburger and the mushroom burger. Again, service was extremely slow and took forever to come out. The food was ok, but not worth the price. Here's to hoping they can get the food to match the view someday! read more

Main Deck - $16 for this tiny plate of nachos - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

Ok, lock in fam. We were really excited about the view, aesthetic of the restaurant and the live music! All of those were incredible. The ownership outdid themselves. The waitress was great. Very personable and attentive. She deserves a great tip from everybody. Now to the food. After reading other reviews this seems to be the common trend. Appetizers: we got the corn fritters and the Brussels sprouts. Both exceeded expectations. With how good they were we all mentioned how excited we were for dinner. Entrees: Two people got the Halibut. It was cooked well but seemed like it was all over the place. If they would have removed 1 ingredient (any 1 of them) it would have tasted like it was a complete dish. 1 person got the fish fry AND the salmon. He's a two dinner kinda guy. Fish fry was very watery and lacked seasoning. The salmon he got was maybe only 4oz. It was more like salmon bites not a meal. I got the tomohawk pork chop. It was so good but they put a yellow sauce on it that tasted like Heinz mustard and it was swimming in it. Why would you put a ton of sauce on an already good Parmesan crust just to make it soggy and ruin the flavor? read more

Main Deck - Sunset view from the deck! Bring sunglasses - New American Near Me - Penn Yan, New York

We had a great time at Main Deck! The restaurant itself is lovely - great views of the lake, big spacious interior with a beautiful bar. Plenty of unique menu items and a great wine list. We tried a French Rose that started our wine trip out perfectly, though there are plenty of selections from local wineries that caught our attention. The apple and arugula salad hit the spot (I appreciated being able to order a half size portion) and we split the Schnitzel, which was huge and served with spaetzle and pickled cabbage - a German classic that was done well. The real highlight of our visit was the service from bartender Nicholas. He was super friendly and helpful with recommendations for wineries and other suggestions in the area. He really brought our experience above and beyond. It was so convenient to just hop on over from our hotel, so we can't wait to visit this beautiful little gem next time we are in the area. read more

My wife and I ate there for lunch today. We ate outside . The lake view was wonderful. We were seated promptly and our server was there in less than ten minutes. The menu is very sparse I ordered short ribs. What I got was 4 or 5 pieces of boneless beef about the size of a silver dollar. Mashed potatoes and asparagus. I must say the food was excellent. But it was a so little amount. I walked out hungry. And it was 24; dollars. My wife had roast chicken and some kind of pasta. it was a very small amount but it was very good. And it was 20 dollars. Bill came - my wife had 2 glasses of wine. But it seems like we we charged for 3. I asked and didn't get a good explanation. Service was good. Ambiance was great. My main concern was an inadequate amount of food for the price. 65 dollars plus tip and I had to find something else to eat. read more

We had our rehearsal dinner and, what was supposed to be, our welcome party here in September. The one person who said she was the main contact, Alexandra, did not respond to multiple emails, calls, messages from the start when I was trying to call to set menu, plan, etc. the few weeks before. It was so ridiculous that I was ready to start contacting other places to avoid doing everything the week before! I honestly wish I had.... Our dinner was good. Our waitress was the ONLY helpful, genuine person we encountered. The restaurant was not busy, yet she was left to handle our whole table of 20+ people by herself. She hustled and went above and beyond. It's not her fault that the food took forever! Again- the restaurant was NOT busy at all, and it was 4pm. Onto our "welcome party"....it was set for 6-8pm. I paid for trays of food to be put out, bottles of wine, and buckets of beers that I selected for our party to have. At 7pm, the food was not even out yet. When I approached Alexandra, who was my "main contact" all along, the food was finally brought out at 7:15. The cauliflower was total mush, the sliders were cold, on top of being put out over an hour late. People with our party actually were ordering and paying for food off of the menu!!! The beers I had chosen were not put out, neither were the wines. AGAIN, people from our party were buying their own bottles of wine and beers!!! Absolutely embarrassing! To have to pay for all of this at the end was such an insult. In the weeks after, I called Main Deck manyyyyyy times, left many messages for Alexandra, and never received a call back, and she was miraculously never there to take a call. Avoiding doesn't make something go away. Having a convenient location near a hotel and being right on the water do not make up for the horrible service, lack of accountability, poor management, and bad attitudes. This was supposed to be a great start to a memorable, wonderful wedding weekend, and it was the worst experience ever! I cannot ever express the disgust and anger I hold for Alexandra and this place for making the night before our wedding such a horrible experience! read more

amazing !! the experience the food , the service! Matt our waiter was the best! the chef is beyond perfect! I will drive the 1:15 hour just for dinner!! read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. I came with a group of 8 and our drinks were great. The appetizers were over priced and small. Not shareable and we had to cut things up into small bites. The meals were small and also overpriced. I order the sea scallops $42 for 3 small scallops and some corn. We had others order the wild mushroom bolognese, and they said it tasted like day old noodles in tomato paste with 2 mushrooms. The burger was mediocre, and the short ribs were delicious although they weren't a short rib. We had the peach cobbler and gave it a 2/10 and that was cause the ice cream on top was good. I would not recommend! read more

Kayla and Ace were the best servers we could ask for. 10/10 would recommend!!! Great atmosphere and delicious food.

Beautiful setting on the shore of the lake in Penn Yan with what appears to be a broad and exciting menu and with a staff that tries its best. This restaurant fails in its execution. Our waitress seemed overwhelmed and the back of the house failed at food preparation. Several of our dishes came out cold and had to be returned. Another dish tasted tainted also returned. Another contained pieces of bone in the pasta, which almost caused the guest to almost break a tooth. And one appetizer they also forgot to prepare. Our waitress tried her best and was apologetic but apologies do not substitute for proper food preparation. read more

We rented out the Tunnel Bar for a private family party last evening and our experience was just first rate! The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. It was a lovely experience and I cannot thank you all enough- from working with us on the long range planning to your wonderful service on the evening of our party--just a fantastic experience!!! So many thanks! read more

This was the second company gathering for dinner and the staff, owner and food were beyond reproach again. Most of the food is locally sourced and/ or chef prepared in house. The first gathering was a couple of months ago with 15 attendees and this week we had 11. The owner was personable and attentive to our group and the wait staff was great. The ambiance in the back room was pleasant. The food: We ordered a variety of apps, including oysters, meatballs, cheese tray, meat tray, smoked wings and lobster balls. Each were delicious in their own way. The group's choices ranged from smash burgers (huge!), Schnitzel, duck, steak and mushroom tart. I only took pics of a few dishes and completely missed my own, the steak. Cooked to perfection and the plating was superb. My colleagues were equally impressed. read more

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2 1/2 hours for our meal. We did have a large party but the place was empty. Food was ok but it was super slow.. not worth it and wont be coming back even though it was very convenient to the Hampton. Such a disappointment. And then put the tip on and charged tax on it. read more

A group of 4 of us had dinner last night and as excited as we were for Main Deck, our meal and experience was not good. Our server (forgot her name; middle age, pile of hair on top of her head held up by chopsticks) was not particularly friendly or helpful. She was very curt and twice walked away when we were still wanting to ask questions about the menu. Two of our group ordered the special cocktail which was a bourbon peach mix. The server never mentioned ginger beer when she was mentioning the drink, and when they came to the table, that was the only flavor note that came through. They were not very good. The El Diablo WAS very tasty and enjoyed by our party. We ordered 2 appetizers. The Peach Bruschetta which was so stale it was impossible to eat. And the cheddar biscuits, which were tasty, by served cold and felt more like an afterthought. Of our 4 entrees, the salmon was enjoyed the most. The Vegan Mushroom Bolognese sounded promising, but the mushroom texture was that of rehydrated dried mushrooms which made the dish less than enjoyable. The Main Deck Burger was so over seasoned with spices and pepper that it wasn't really a pleasant burger to eat. And the Chicken Paillard was just ho-hum. No special flavor or marinade was detected on the chicken. It just tasted like plain grilled chicken. The chicken was also overcooked and dry. As much as we love the location, decor and ambiance of Main Deck, we will probably not return for a meal. read more

our Server Josh was attentive and friendly. App peaches and brie bread was too hard too eat. my burger was supposed to be medium but raw on inside. 'Chef came out and offered to throw on grill. asked for a new burger and same half sent back charred. lost appetite. too expensive for quality read more

Food was really good. We hadn't been here in several years but heard they had changed chefs so we figured we would give it a try. Not only good food but was reasonably priced as well. read more

Been in area for two weeks and this was the best restaurant we tried. Wished we had found earlier so we could return. Fish cooked perfectly. Attentive service from Holly. Delightful amuse bouche. read more

Service was wonderful! Ambiance was wonderful! The food was meh. Mac and cheese was mostly onions and bacon. Not a traditional Mac and cheese. The Bolognese had no meat. Sauce was flavorless. We were charged for fries with the burger, when the menu stated fries included. Will probably not eat here again. read more

The location and view.....great. The service....great. The food FANTASTIC. The filet was cooked perfectly. Absolutely delicious. read more

This restaurant was to be the highlight of our vacation. It has so many things going for it - beautiful building, right on the water, and wonderful menu selection. However, they fell apart on delivery. I ordered the special cocktail - a manhattan - there was no ice in the drink when it arrived. It was pure alcohol, not much flavor. I spent the entire dinner adding water and ice to it. The special of the night was beef bourguignon which many of our party ordered. It was good but not very warm and very small servings of beef. It gave the impression they were running out and made each successive order smaller. One person in my party tried the halibut over risotto. The risotto was inedible and had to be returned for another selection. A guest at the next table did the same. This was quite a disappointment and won't be on our list of restaurants on our next visit to the Finger Lakes. read more

Holy Moley!!! If you don't stop in and eat at the Main Deck in Penn Yan then you are missing out on something special!!! First off, the food is more than delicious it's down right lip smacking. The Main Deck has quite a variety of foods that will cover every picky eater in your party. If you can't find something to eat, you're not hungry! The prices will also keep you happy, lol. The selection of drinks is also beyond the average. The waitress we had, please forgive me, I forgot her actual name, was the nicest, sweetest- and most quick witted waitress I've come across in a long time, and if you're not paying attention, bam! It'll go right by ya! I laughed my rear end off. After our meal, there is live music and a bar downstairs which looks out onto Keuka Lake . There is also a fire pit (outside) and a fireplace (inside) to keep warm if it's cold outside. I'm truly amazed at this place and boy oh boy , I will be back there sooner than later! read more

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Our party of seven recommends the Main Deck for drinks, burgers, and appetizers. The ambiance and decor were very inviting. There is a beautiful view of the water and lots of outdoor seating. Several entrees tasted good, but portions were too small for the prices. The airline cut of the chicken was ironic, since the portion size was airline size. One appetizer and one dessert had both cold and hot elements, but that wasn't intentional. Our service was responsive and friendly, but not what I would expect for the prices we paid. Examples are that our server brought out the hot appetizers, and then proceeded to take our dinner orders. Another example is removing the dinner plate in front of one person in the party while others were still eating. All in all, this is a nice environment, worth visiting for a drink and a burger. read more

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Everything was horrible! The food was sub-par. My adirondack hash bowl was burnt. The breakfast sandwiches came with french fries. There was no breakfast for children on the kid's menu. They had run out of prosecco 2 days prior and hadn't bought more. This was Sunday Brunch! We came in with 9 people and everyone complained about their food. Only decent item was breakfast tacos. Not only do they need a new chef, they also should hire a new manager. We will not return. Update: Received this response from management: "Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your recent visit to The Main Deck. I'm truly sorry to hear that your experience during brunch didn't meet expectations, especially for such a large group. I wanted to personally follow up and let you know that we've taken corrective action regarding the Adirondack Hash Bowl. We've worked closely with our kitchen team to ensure that the dish is consistently prepared to our standards--this includes adjusting cooking times and improving quality checks during busy services. Regarding the breakfast sandwich served with fries--I completely understand how that could be confusing. Because our brunch menu blends both breakfast and lunch elements, fries are the standard side listed on the menu. We also offer substituted sides like home fries if the customer is leaning more towards the breakfast side of brunch. That said, we're reviewing how we can clarify this more effectively for guests going forward. As for the prosecco shortage, we had placed a restock order well in advance, but unfortunately experienced a delivery delay from our distributor. We've since adjusted our ordering schedule and added a buffer to avoid similar issues in the future--especially during brunch service. Lastly, your comment about the lack of children's brunch options has sparked a helpful internal conversation. Our chef is now working on a dedicated kids' brunch menu, which we plan to introduce soon to better serve families like yours. We'd really appreciate the chance to make it up to you. If you're open to it, I'd love to invite you back in for brunch and enjoy starters on us, so you can experience the improvements firsthand. Please let me know a time that works best for you--we'll make sure you're well taken care of. If you have any questions or further concerns, you can email me here or call me at 315-261-1094. Thank you again for your honest feedback. We value your input and are committed to making things right. Warmly, Owen Bartell Marketing/PR , The Main Deck" read more

Terrible food. Dry biscuits. Short rib was actually a dry "beef medallion" that required a knife since it was so tough. $42 scallop was 3 small scallops that smelled fishy and tasteless. Never eat here. Disgusting read more

Awesome setting with lovely staff that take good care of their customers. Unfortunately, the menu and results from the kitchen are average leaning toward blah. Won't be back until that changes. read more

Overall good food. I had the scallops and they were well cooked. We were disappointed by the service. We got there early (5:20) and didn't receive food until almost 7pm. We had a toddler with us, and they were kind about that and got her food out first. For the price, the service should've been more efficient. read more

Very accommodating, good food, great atmosphere! Certainly recommend this restaurant!