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Pok-A-Dot

3.6 (72 reviews)
InexpensiveAmerican
Open • 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Pok-A-Dot Photos

Business Info

POK-A-DOT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Pok-A-Dot

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Reviews With Photos

Roast beef platter with gravy on the side.
Bradley T.

Lovely nostalgic spot that my 80 year old Mother frequented as a little kiddo in the 50s Thinly sliced roast beef and tasty crinkle fries I tried for my first visit. Good portions and the friendliest staff ever! be back to try the famous egg sandwich next

Allison C.

While visiting family in the area, we decided to grab a quick lunch at the Pok-A-Dot diner since we were craving a good beef on weck. It said on the window that they've been famous for them for over 70 years, so we were definitely drawn in. Compared to others I've had, I found this one to be a bit dry, and it didn't completely win me over. My fiancé had a hot dog that was pretty burnt. Good cheese curds though. Seating was definitely limited and it was hard to even find a table for three. I don't see us rushing back on future visits.

ows a table and chairs in a restaurant
Dave D.

If you are driving through Batavia this "kitschy" diner is a must stop just for the fun on saying you've been to the "Pok-a-Dot." To those hoping for a tuxedoed wait staff or candle lit table service perhaps you should have looked at the fun-themed exterior. I asked on my recent visit how long the Pok-A-Dot had been serving food and no one seemed to have an answer, so my guess is 'forever.' You'll be served by the same folks who will be making your meal. They might not notice you immediately but once you engage them in conversation, they are there to answer questions with a smile! The menu offers up some Western New York classics like 'Beef on Weck,' which I recommend and a wide assortment of breakfast and lunch option. My latest stop was for breakfast and when you can smell the bacon and hear it sizzling you know you are going to enjoy your meal. I took my review down a notch because I agree with another reviewer who did not particularly appreciate the boxes of supplies in the dining area. Perhaps there is no room behind the counter, but those stored items do take away from the ambiance of the high tops and full glass walls of the diner. In our high paced world travelers might be in a rush to drive past the Pok-A-Dot but believe me if you have a reason to be in Batavia plan to enjoy a breakfast or lunch looking out the windows from your high top!

Can't miss at the corner of Ellicott and Liberty.
Elizabeth Betsy B.

We've been meaning to stop here for years, finally made it a couple of months ago. Busy place, but personal and friendly service. Great fries! Clean restroom. I don't recommend the white hot. It was some brand x. For the location, the white hot needed to be Zweigle's ... or at least Wegman's. Everything else was very good.

Beef on Weck - still the best I've ever had anywhere!
Andrew A.

Still the best Beef on Weck that I've had anywhere! I always make sure to stop here for one whenever I am in the area!

Grill
Ralph C.

Been coming here for 50 years, sure the cigarette machine is gone, but the grilled cheese and onion rings are still great, you can't beat the prices either. Come support one of the legends of Batavia!

Jeremy C.

Oh. My. Gawd. On point. Frosted mugs, outrageously tasty food, great old school place with friendly staff and quick service, definitely a new favorite. Had the Roast beef sandwich and fries, mouth watering doesn't even begin to cover it.

Counter seating
Jen P.

This was my second time at Pok-A-Dot, but the first was a while ago & I still felt like a newbie. This small town diner is quaint & seems to fit right into its surroundings in Batavia. But you sure do feel like an outsider when you go in. Nobody greeted us, and I feel like it was obvious we maybe hadn't ever been there before because it seemed a lot like Cheers in everyone in there knew everyone else. Except us, of course. The menu is on the wall behind the grill, but there is no obvious place to put in your order. About two minutes after we took a seat at a table, the woman at the grill asked us what we would like to drink. There was no acknowledgement, but she did go up to the fountain machine & fill a glass, then set it on the counter. I grabbed it & set it on the table, waiting for the other two drinks we ordered. A woman came in from the outside and sat at the counter where the drink I took had been sitting. Turns out, I took her drink. The lady behind the grill said, "Oh! I was going to bring your drinks out to you!" It just didn't appear that was how things were done there. Anyway, she finally got our drinks & we grabbed them from her at the counter, and then she took our orders. The food was okay. Not amazing. Not bad. Just okay. I feel like the diner atmosphere is what makes this place, or could make this place. I was not thrilled with how confusing it seems to be to order & to pay. And then, the diner itself could be vastly improved if they would give it some fresh paint & move some stacked boxes to the back room. I'm not sure how this place has stayed open so long (my 80-year-old mother used to eat here as a teenager), except maybe Batavians have a thing for nostalgia.

Beef on weck and crispy fries
Roxanne B.

Excellent beef on weck! Fries hot and crispy! Drove from Rochester and was worth the drive! Beef is so tender and flavorful, just delicious! Will be back again for sure!

Judy B.

First opened in 1953, this famous little greasy spoon diner has more than withstood the test of time. Its black building adorned with brightly colored "dots" has been a recognizable landmark on the corner of Ellicott Street & Liberty Street for 65 years. POK-A-DOT is super easy to find ... just follow your nose ... you may be able to SMELL it before you actually SEE it. POK-A-DOT's exhaust system continually pumps out the mouth-watering aromas of its grilled and deep fried comfort foods. My mouth is watering as I am writing this POK-A-DOT review! My beloved Pok-A-Dot sort of reminds me of a food stand at a carnival. There is no other place quite like it. I always sit at the counter and order my "usual" : Beef-on-Weck (YUM!), Onion Rings (YUM!), and a Root Beer (the only kind of beer I drink! Haha.) I have tried Beef-on-Wecks at other local establishments, and, although they are quite good at Miss Batavia and at Settler's, Pok-A-Dot's Beef-on-Weck continues to reign supreme. I believe it is due to their perfectly salted and seeded Kummelweck bun which they brush lightly with butter and place briefly on their grill for a slight toasting. Then they add a pretty generous helping of roast beef which had been soaking in Pok-a-Dot's secret family recipe of au jus. (Oh boy, now I am really salivating!) Must. Go. To. Pok. A. Dot. Now. Dirty floors, "regulars" who stare at you as you enter, and no-nonsense service without a smile are just a few of the charms of this local dive. No "waitresses" here, per se. Your order-taker is also your cook and your cashier, and, if you're lucky, she will handle your food with the same hand as she handles money. It's all part of the POK-A-DOT "experience."

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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1 month ago

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5 months ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Simple comfort food served with smiles. Excellent food and good people. A great spot for a quick bite to eat.

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Bathroom is gross and tiny, its fun in there and the food is good. It's pretty alright.

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8 years ago

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2 years ago

The food was great and service just as good. Great little place will go again next time in the area.

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

This was a great little place, just what you want. Beware of large portions! Lotsa window space. Order the Italian "omelet".

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

I got the beef on weck it was more like beef leather and I was disappointed your better buying the stuff for it

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

The staff was great. Food was delicious and decent priced. You really feel like you're taken back in time when you go here.

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7 years ago

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Alex's Place - Half rack and loaded mashed potatoes

Alex's Place

(349 reviews)

$$

My sister and I took our mom out to dinner and picked this spot since it's closer to her than us…read more None of us had been before, so we were going in blind. When we walked in, another customer was raving about the food and telling us how much we'd enjoy it, which honestly made me feel a lot better about trying somewhere new in an unfamiliar area. The vibe is like a bar turned restaurant, dark and a little moody but not off-putting. My mom even got a cutesy leprechaun margarita, which made her smile. We started with 10 mild wings for the table, my sister got a Caesar salad and said the dressing tasted homemade, and this is where I tried French onion soup for the first time. It was okay, just really salty. My mom ended up finishing it, but I did like that the cheese layer wasn't too heavy. I'm still on the hunt for a French onion that really does it for me. I didn't get pictures of the mains, but my mom and I both got steak, I had mashed potatoes and she got a baked potato. My sister got the fettuccine alfredo and marveled at the flavor. She kept saying you can tell it's a local spot and not a chain just by the care put into it. My steak was good, nothing crazy but you really can't go wrong. The mashed potatoes were a little bland but still edible. My mom loved her meal and finished everything, while my sister and I both had leftovers. The only downside was the service. Our waitress wasn't very friendly, kind of impatient and a little passive aggressive, like we were bothering her just by being there. Given the lack of diversity in the area, it didn't completely surprise me, but it was still noticeable. We didn't let it ruin the night though. Overall we still enjoyed it and I'd go back if I'm ever in Batavia again. Reasonable prices, solid food. Taking everything into account, I'd give it a 6.9/10.

I have eaten here multiple times by my last experts with take out. My wife had a fish fey that was…read moresolid. Good not great. I had ribs which were the star. Meet fell off the bone. Hard to go wrong with the ribs. The sauce was a bit spicy and delicious.

Jen's Joint - Strawberry Pie

Jen's Joint

(18 reviews)

It's a dive but clean and decent. Waitress was extremely friendly and attentive (pretty sure it…read morewas the owner). The reason my rating is low is two major problems. The food came out extremely slow. We waited for 45 minutes, for a table of 5. There were only a few people there at the time. She offered to box up the food since we spent so much time waiting we had to leave. The next problem was our food was very inconsistent. My sister had the junk plate and my son had the junk fries and they both loved their food. My sister said it was one of the better "garbage plate" type meals she's had. Me and my mom not as good. My mom said the soup was lacking any flavor and was not good at all. The main problem with our meals was we both had the egg and olive sandwich. Tasted good until at different times we both bit into egg shells. Happened more than once to the point I didn't want to eat anymore because I didn't know to expect an eggshell. Therefore both me and my mom could not finish our meals. I posted a pic so you can see it's a big piece of shell.

Quirky little dive diner not far from Batavia. The building is pretty old with crooked counters…read moreetc. which gave it some character. My breakfast was nothing special but perfectly fine. Service was a little off. She got my order wrong then disappeared. As a result I really couldn't do anything about it. Also, she gave me my coffee, cream, and sugar. But she didn't give me anything to stir it with (again disappearing). She was a young girl so I'll mark it off to inexperience. If I was in the area, I would go back.

Pok-A-Dot - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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