I ordered the chicken schnitzel and a ginger beer. The sandwich was delicious, perfectly cooked and well dressed with sauerkraut and Dijon mustard. The view of the lake was peaceful. The best part of this restaurant was their waitress. I didn't catch her name, but she was incredibly kind with a brown ponytail and sweet aura. She can tell I was traveling alone and gave me a list of all the places to check out in the area! I'm so lucky to have met her and plan to check out recommendations from her list read more

The Elf In The Oak - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

If you're not from here and don't look like you are, expect to be treated very differently from the other customers. Came here for the lunch sammies, but got here a bit early. They start lunch at 11am. Waited in line and let all the breakfast people go first to order at the counter. When they switched over to lunch, the cashier lady requested another few minutes to set up and said she would "come to me" when it was time for lunch ordering as we spoke earlier that lunch would not be ready. To not rush her and respect their transition per what was stated, I sat back down at the table. Then the lunch line immediately formed (that was not there at opening lunch hour), so I got back up to make sure she'd honor her commitment to first-come, first-serve. To my dismay, she began speaking with the gentleman after me, completely forgetting that I had waited 15+ min from breakfast and gotten word from her she would honor my place. She made an excuse that she was just taking the next customer in line, and after I repeated what she told me, she honored my purchase, and SHE clicked no tip automatically. Even more disappointing is that they STILL chose to put out the food of the gentleman behind FIRST. When our food came second, the reuben was burnt. Poor service aside, the chicken snitchzel was good. Unfortunately, I think the young lady was overworked and did not either remember (even though I had been standing there, made conversation) or chose not to remember (much more worrisome). The food is great and interior is beautiful views (on it's own would be 4 stars) but I would be very wary of the treatment you'd receive here as a customer. Please do better, you have really great food for this area. read more

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We spent a few days visiting Seneca Lake. After hiking Watkins Glen, we wanted a place to grab a quick bite to eat. We found the Elf in the Oak on Yelp and once we saw the menu, we knew we had to give it a try. The Elf in the Oak is nestled on Rt 414. If you're not actively using a GPS, you may pass it by. It's not a large place by any means, but there's more than enough seating indoors and out. We went on a Friday morning, so there wasn't a wait and we received our food quickly. We both wanted 'the Spicy' and I have to admit, it's one of the best egg sandwiches I've ever had, which is high praise coming from someone who once worked at a popular bagel joint on Long Island. If we lived locally, we'd definitely go back, but I hope if you're looking for a quick casual brunch place to grab a bite, you consider visiting the Elf In The Oak. read more

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AWESOME CUTE PLACE.!!! Went there for breakfast with my cousin who recommended this place. Outstanding delicious breakfast for all of us. And super friendly staff. VEry casual. Will definitely be back next time we are in town!!!!! read more

I will dream about my waffle sandwich until I return. No pictures were had bc I was in Heaven. Husband asked for a ham, cheese, & egg wrap & said it was delicious. Dogs were able to sit inside with us where they appreciated the A/C. There was a great outdoor seating option though. They are lacking a coffee selection other than "coffee" with whipped cream or cream from the pre-packaged cups. It's fine though, we just supported another local shop for our coffee addiction. Took the croissant roll to go & the only thing I wished was either I had the opportunity to have it fresh from the oven or warm it just a touch to soften it, but the flavor & flakey pastry was a great post-activity snack! read more

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Grabbed lunch here after a hike. They have a great selection of sandwiches and some salads as well as and a good amount of seating inside and out back. You order your food and pay at the counter and then they call your name and you go to pick up the order at the window when it's ready. Food took longer than we expected to come out, but they were fairly busy when we dined in. I ordered the veggie panini (sans goat cheese) and my husband went for the muffalini with a side of sweet potato fries. The veggie panini was excellent - I especially enjoyed the housemade olive salad! My husband thought the muffalini was delicious too. The sweet potato fries were good, but not really worth the fairly exorbitant upcharge. A can of pop was $3+ as well. Overall the food was great but it felt like the extras were overpriced. That said, I would definitely go back for a sandwich. Thank you, The Elf in the Oak! read more

The Elf In The Oak - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

Came here for lunch today because there were options (not many) for vegans, but she was able to find a meal that made her happy. The service was adequate , not the most outgoing staff but no real complaints. I had a muffalini panini- a play on a muffaleta It was very tasty and big. I couldn't finish it and I tried. The place was busy, a little loud active. But it was an enjoyable meal. read more

We visited after a recommendation from a friend. We drove by twice before we could even locate the place- not very visible The restaurant offers tables inside, deck seating & a large lawn area in the back with a lake view. Orders are taken at the front- no table service and orders are called out to pick up when ready. Sorry- but not a lot of ambiance here. The menu is standard pub fare- sandwiches, paninis & salads. Our sandwiches were tasty but not exceptional. Sorry- it does not make the bucket list for a repeat visit! read more

Came here after backpacking, it was delicious. Food: the sandwiches were amazing and worth every penny. The turkey with apple and bacon was amazing. The schnitzel sandwich was also very good. The fries, at $8 as a side were not worth it, I would have rather ordered another sandwich than got two sides of fries. The chips were also almost flavorless, except that of 99% fresh oil. The kids grilled cheese was American cheese, and thus, imho, was not very good. One of my kids took a bite and didn't like it either. Ambiance: simple, nice view of the lake. Service: friendly staff. Tl;DR: I'll be back, but won't order sides or the grilled cheese. read more

We had the Turkey and the Rueben. And a soft shell crab bloody as well as a regular. The sandwiches were delicious and the bloodies spicy! It a cafeteria style service with indoor and outdoor seating. Staff was very friendly. Extremely busy place! Great for people watching. read more

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Expensive, the food was pretty good. Curly fries were disappointing. The Bloody Mary and Shirley temple were great. Very nice indoor and outdoor seating with view of the lake. The outdoor seating is dog friendly. read more

This restaurant was a different vibe than we expected. It's more of a concession stand vibe than a cute brunch place. You order from a window and sit either outside at picnic tables or inside a sun room kind of area. The breakfast sandwiches were okay. The biscuits and gravy however were honestly really bad. There was something off with the whole thing. It was like too seasoned - but in the wrong way. Very chive heavy maybe? It wasn't very enjoyable to eat so we threw it away. But the sandwiches were pretty good read more

The Elf In The Oak - Waffle Breakfast Sandwich - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Ok so saw the great reviews and had to try it out. It was good. Maybe really good, but not great. Outside seating is not covered btw. Got the Robb salad and it was pretty good - again not great but really good. I'd say decent amount of chicken but way too much garlic on the salad. Wife had the chickpea salad as a wrap and again unique Mediterranean spice (nutmeg/cinnamon?) in the wrap. Again - it was good - just not great. Side were some store bought chips. I'd say it's a cute unique place with pretty good food - Yelpers had me hoping hall of fame and we found hall of really good... read more

The Elf In The Oak - Outside view of Seneca and uncovered outside seating - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Delicious food and fast service! We were drawn here by the yelp photos after a hike at Watkins Glen. Passed by the beautiful waterfall on the way. Concept is simple with order and pick up window. Staff is very friendly. Nice view of the lake from the dining area. Food was hot and fresh! read more

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Beautiful view with a great meal! This is a casual place to pick up lunch or breakfast. I I had the smoked turkey panini and it was delicious! It had sharp cheddar, apples, caramelized onions and garlic mayo. My first bite was just perfect! I was able to find a seat near the window and it had a view of the lake. While I sat I chatted with the owner & had the most welcoming personality. Highly recommended read more

What a cute little spot. We were not sure where we wanted to go for lunch. I gave my friend a few ideas from Yelp and we came over. It's not a big place. It's got a bar inside and indoor seating. I'm sure this place rocks the outside seating during the warmer months. When you come in find a menu, go to the counter and order what you want. They take both cash or card so don't worry. Than give them your name and they will call it out when its ready. You can have all kinds of drinks including, beer, cider and a Bloody Mary and soft drinks and the like. My friend got the Chicken Schitznel and I got the Roasted Pork Sandwiches. Both were delicious and I got a side of curly fries. The portions are generous. What I would suggest is find a seat and have the other person order the food. Everyone wants to sit by the window for the view. Considering the area the prices are fair. The have a small parking lot and I assume certain hours they are slammed. It's worth a visit. read more

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This is one of my favorite local spots! The food is amazing. Very casual dining with huge portions.

While staying in the finger lakes for a girls trip we had lunch at this cute cafe. Order at the window from their selection of sandwiches and sides. One of us is vegetarian and there were sandwiches that fit that dietary requirement. Everyone was friendly and our sandwiches came out hot and delicious! The waffle fries were great as was all of our food and of course you can also order a glass of local Finger Lakes wine. read more

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I was looking forward to having lunch with a special friend and to introduce her to Elf in the oak. Neither one of us were disappointed. I will gladly go back when in the area. Staff and service were great and food delicious ! See you again and again, Elf !! read more

Really nice sandwich place with a good variety of sandwiches. I'm a vegetarian and had three sandwich options here, which doesn't happen very often! Very laid back atmosphere. You seat yourself on a nice big deck with an awesome view! You order at a counter and then they call your number and you go get your food. It was packed when we were here and the food still came out pretty fast. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Nice little place that where we stopped one cold afternoon. Our sandwiches were great. No frills otherwise. Staff were friendly and service was quick. You go up to a window and order and they have plenty of choices. Drinks come in the can. Great view of the lake. There is a bar and a wood stove in the corner. As for prices, we paid about $15 each for sandwiches, but they were fairly big and hearty. If you aren't doing anything looking for a place that is actually open in the winter, go here. We'll be back. read more

Visit date: Aug. 15, 2024 TL:DR: 10/10 Highly recommend! As I continued my solo roadtrip adventure throughout the New England area and into upper New York, I stumbled upon this hidden gem. Luckily I expanded my search when I was looking for local eats in the Watkins Glen area because this cute little spot was tucked further north east from the downtown area. A little ways up the lake. Many have found this from their hiking adventures. Seeing many other's high ratings of this place and being one-of-a-kind local joint, I decided to give it a try - and my was I excited and pleased from start to end! Staff were all super friendly the moment you walk through the door. They were helpful in helping choose food items and even catered for my request to heat up a cold sandwich from their menu. I got the Italian sub, warmed / pressed on their panini maker, and a side of sweet potato fries. I was forewarned that they were busy and backed up so the wait was a little longer than usual. No problem since they were being transparent with me, Once I got my order, it was still steaming hot and freshly made! Flavors and textures were spot on if you love an Italian sub. The fries were crispy, not too oily, and seasoned well. (Writing this review a couple months later is now making me crave for this place by the way!) Overall, you could tell this was definitely a local hole-in-the-wall and it's for the best! I would not hesitate recommending this to friends and family that's in the Watkins Glen area - I'd even come back without a doubt! - John read more

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What a cute breakfast spot! This was only 3 mins from our airbnb, and multiple folks had recommended it to us. We visited before hitting some wineries, and we enjoyed some excellent sandwiches that fueled us for the day. The restaurant is on a main drag on Seneca Lake, but it's fairly small so you would miss it if you didn't know it existed. The restaurant itself is decently large with lots of seating in the back area as well as ample outdoor space for nicer days (inclement weather, so we stayed inside). The decor is pretty no frills, but it still worked. Their menu is pretty extensive as well, which made our decisions tougher. I knew I wanted a biscuit, so I ultimately went for their breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese, and bacon. The homemade biscuit was incredible - so buttery and flaky, making for a great vehicle for the contents. My husband got one of the specials - a brisket biscuit - which he really enjoyed too. It was chockfull of meat and goodies! We washed our food down with some basic coffee, which completed the meal. At ~$9-10 for each sandwich and considering how filling they were, the Elf in the Oak is a great deal! I would highly recommend this spot for a filling and delicious breakfast before exploring the Finger Lakes. I would love to try more of their sandwiches, including more of their lunch menu - more reason to revisit! read more

The Elf In The Oak - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

Service was chaotic and disorganized with significant wait times Don't come close to 11 as they will close the kitchen for breakfast from about 20 minutes before until serving their first lunch about 20 minutes after At least the aesthetic was good with nice views read more

Sandwiches and Salads are consistently good. Breakfast was delicious as well. Order the cinnamon rolls! You won't regret it!! read more

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Beautiful location, friendly staff. Shared a huge fried clam poboy and curly fries. Hearty fare. The cinnamon buns are terrific. I had the chicken schnitzel last time. Fantastic. read more

First. It's the cutest little shack right off the 414. Then it's outdoor patio seating so if it's cooler or rainy, bring a jacket. The music is fun and plenty of seating. You seat yourself and then order at the window. Service is pretty straightforward. Nothing fancy. The food. I ordered a tuna melt on sourdough with curly fries and a blood orange flavored local soda. Every bite and sip were TOP TIER. Like I didn't want it to end. The tuna salad was perfect. It had capers and red onions and the sauce wasn't too overpowering. The cheese kind of melted into the crust of the bread and was lovely. The curly fries were just right, soft with some crunch. They also gave you some house made pickles on the side and it was like not fully pickled but soft and vinegary. Very delicious. The sourdough was soft and scrumptious. A very good experience. read more

The Elf In The Oak - Blood orange soda - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Such wonderful sandwiches and breakfast items here, I think we went 3 times on a recent trip. The bagels were great and for lunch the chicken schnitzel is a win! read more

The Elf In The Oak - An amazing breakfast sandwich. - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

Nice find. A little out of the way but worth going to. Staff and s super friendly and helpful. I couldn't decide on hat to have so I left it to my server. She brought me a chicken pesto panini. So satisfying. read more

Definitely an out-of-the-way kind of a joint, but well worth the drive. Don't be confused when you pull in that it's a single family home...the restaurant is on the back porch, so follow the wooden walkway around back for some great food and a gorgeous view. I had the homemade biscuit with egg and cheese...it was great, nothing beats a good homemade biscuit. 2 others ordered plain waffles...and clean their plates. The biscuit and gravy was another big winner. Incredibly polite, friendly and overall generally happy crew working there too! read more

Delicious freshly made sandwiches. Beautiful views. Wonderful service. Very down to earth restaurant!!

What a great find! After hiking in the area and getting soaked, it was so nice to find this gem. It's a low key casual place. You order at a window and the. Get your food. Great variety of food. The sandwich and salads were great. Generous portions and so reasonably priced. It's a quaint setting with lake views. read more

A perfect day at lake seneca includes Elf in the Oak! We started with a hike a Watkins Glen, then went to this restaurant to get a quick bite. I did not expect much from this place other than a decent sandwich to hold us over for the wineries. I was pleasantly surprised by just how good these sandwiches were! My partner and I are vegetarian and my parents who were visiting us for the weekend are not. Every person in the party loved the food they got! The vegetarian options were as well thought out and delicious as the meat options. Which is rare! As a person who tries to eat veggie there are a lot of restaurants that throw something on the menu that is technically vegetarian but does not have flavor or any effort in quality. That is not the case here! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. It felt like going to a friends house for food. Beautiful view of the lake. In a house like setting. Definitely check this spot out! read more

All the food was amazing, absolutely delicious. I had the lobster roll ~ fell in love with the buttered and grilled brioche hotdog roll combined with the lobster roll. I'm not a chip person, but the chips were really good, kettle cooked I'd guess, crispy. The side dishes were definitely made to share, we could not come close to finishing our food. read more

The Elf In The Oak - Clockwise from top left: chicken cordon bleu sandwich, cheese curds, breaded cauliflower & lobster roll. - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

We were given a tip on this place, and they weren't wrong. Everything ordered was over the top, and the views are stunning. Don't hesitate to swing through and give them a little love, as they will give it back. read more

A local friend suggested this sandwich shop to us when we were on a trip and we're SO GLAD we checked it out! We were a little hesitant at first when we couldn't find the menu online but it was delicious. I got a caprese sandwich with mozzarella, tomato and basil and my friend got the lobster roll which we both thoroughly enjoyed! The sweet potato fries with a honey dip were light and fried to perfection. The ingredients were so fresh! It was quite busy at lunch time so there was a little bit of a wait for your food after ordering but it was so worth the wait! There is plenty of seating down on the hillside and the gorgeous view of Seneca lake is the trademark of the area! read more

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Such a great little place for lunch! The people were so nice and all of our sandwiches were delicious. Plus they had great wine and beer options and a small bar inside. Loved it! read more

Great hangover cure breakfast and if not looking for a cure try one of their famous bloody Mary's . Great egg dishes, French toast and sandwiches. Nice elevated deck with a great view of the lake. read more

The Elf In The Oak - Bagel, lox, cream cheese - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

My wife and I stopped by on our way through the area. We both enjoyed the sandwiches and shared a slice of pie. Great food and a wonderful day to eat outside! (10/22) read more

The Elf In The Oak - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York

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Compared to the amount of wineries in the area, the amount of restaurants was lacking a little - stumbled across this place when looking for somewhere to eat and we're so glad we did!! Fresh, perfectly cooked sandwiches, and a beautiful patio/outdoor space to enjoy your meal. So friendly, so fulfilling, bookmarking this for the next time we're in the area for sure! read more

The Elf In The Oak - Salad Near Me - Burdett, New York