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    The Elf In The Oak

    4.8 (348 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    The Elf In The Oak Photos

    Business Info

    THE ELF IN THE OAK ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Elf In The Oak

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    Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich
    Jen R.

    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.

    Entrance
    John Joshua C.

    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

    Kid's grilled cheese
    Lydia M.

    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!

    Rebecca K.

    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!

    Chickpea Shawarma Salad
    Bill M.

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

    Blood orange soda
    Christianna D.

    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.

    An amazing breakfast sandwich.
    Anthony I.

    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!

    Clockwise from top left:  chicken cordon bleu sandwich, cheese curds, breaded cauliflower & lobster roll.
    Mel K.

    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.

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    5 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

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    The Elf In The Oak B.

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Great food and service! We came back two days in a row for the best paninis and the staff was great :)

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    4 years ago

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    10 months ago

    This place never disappoints! Casual eatery with amazing food. Been here several times and it's one of my favorite local spots to eat.

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    1 year ago

    Food was incredible for breakfast, so flavorful. Wish we hadn't stopped on our last day out of town! Highly recommend! Super kind service.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fun stop on the Seneca wine trail. Busy, but great outdoor seating, dog friendly. Would recommend

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    Ask the Community - The Elf In The Oak

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    Yep!

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes, there are.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    The Elf In The Oak - salad - Updated May 2026

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