Enjoyed a date night for two. Got to sit outside, which is very nice because they were busy even at 5:30 PM on a Saturday. Service was friendly and helpful, but was slow at times. Didn't mind too much because we didn't have to be anywhere though so enjoyed savoring our drinks and people watching since we were on the sidewalk. Perfect fall night for just that. For cocktails, we got the Lakewood sparkling And a glass of red wine. The sparkling went great with the Mussels we got for our appetizer. Also enjoyed our entrées of Halibut and Chicken. The halibut was definitely better and more interesting. The chicken was fine just not as much flavor. Probably wouldn't order it again. read more

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We'd received so many recommendations for graft during our long weekend in Watkins Glen. We came in right at opening (4pm) because we knew it fills up fast and they don't accept reservations. We loved from their website that Graft sources local and keeps their menu seasonal. Everything was VERY good, but I'm not sure that it matches the immense hype. Maybe we didn't order the right things. I was only able to snap a photo of the squash which was actually my favorite part of the meal. I got the half chicken with beans and rice, and my partner got the flank steak. The chicken was quite salty but very good. The steak was cooked well and very flavorful, though the portion was small and there was nothing about it that particularly stood out. Again, a solid meal and a super cute atmosphere and we will always support restaurants which feature local/seasonal menus, but this one fell a bit flat. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

I am in love with this place. The waitress was super friendly and talked me through all the specials on the menu as well as her personal favorite dishes. We discussed what I wanted and then she recommended local wines to pair with my meal. Everything here is farm-to-table and the quality of the ingredients are what stood out in this experience. I started off with an order of the house sourdough bread. Nothing fancy, but everything I wanted. For an appetizer, I ordered the PEI Muscles as recommended by my waitress. These were Prince Edward Island mussels, cilantro and garlic in a red curry cream sauce served with warm baguettes. This was incredible. The flavors, the sauce, the crispy bread, it all went so well together. For my main I ordered the Duck Margaret. Dry rubbed duck breast, rosemary polenta, asparagus, pickled celeriac, and a side of ancho chili sauce. This dish was on their specials menu for the day however I have seen it listed on their website previously. The duck was tender and juicy, the asparagus cooked to perfection, and the polenta took this dish over the top. For me, I was not loving the ancho chili sauce, so I was very thankful to have this on the side. Graft is currently rated a 9.9 on my Beli and this is all thanks to their excellent service and the fresh high quality ingredients they use to prepare their food. read more

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We visited Graft on a recent trip and oh man, it was some incredible dining. I can honestly say the duck entree I had with cherries was one of the top five things I've ever eaten. Just excellent. Plenty of the local great wines to choose from (though I have to wonder if they might have a deal with one of the wineries because I did feel like we were being pitched to multiple times to try one of the fancier expensive reds and found that kind of unusual). It's not a cheap dinner, but it is worth it. This really is far and away the best spot in Watkins Glen and they're raising the bar for everyone! Next time we're back in the area, we'll be happy to visit again. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Special duck with carrots, polenta, and cherries. Amazing. - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Dreadful Service. Maitre'd was young, entirely disinterested staffer who couldn't be bothered to assist in finding a table. When seated, tiny uncomfortable table (with a wooden stool) and sunlight beating down on us. No sign of a waiter for 15 minutes so got up and left. Walked one block and had WONDERFUL dinner outside at the Hotel. read more

Stopped by here on Friday night. Good food, and very friendly service. Good list of local wines, beers, and ciders. FYI they don't take reservations. Recommended. read more

Wonderful and thorough service! Amazing food quality. Couldn't have been better and will definitely make a trip back for this place. Great wine too Natalie in particular was a spectacular server! read more

Really a 3.5 star place but rounding to 4 due to overall good food. We found the place cute, with overall very good food (not amazing). However service was ok. We had to ask for menus 10 min after sitting down even though the restaurant was empty. The waitress kept trying to sell the most expensive items from the menu which was very obvious and sort of insulting. Food wise mussels and meat plate were really good. So was the bread. Mains were ok. Rib eye was overcooked (asked for medium hot medium well/well done). Chicken was very simple but tasty. Deserts were not very good. So overall I would summarize it as simple and tasty food but not very creative. Also I found it to be quite overpriced overall. Bottled apple juices at 10$ each...is quite absurd. But overall I would come back as food was tasty. read more

Delicious food, great service. All food locally sourced. I had the flank steak. It was perfectly cooked, with delicious Brussels sprouts and potatoes to accompany, along with a surprisingly good Finger Lakes Cabernet Sauvignon. read more

Graft was SO DELICIOUS!! My husband and I were visiting friends in the area and we stopped here after a wonderful day out on lake Seneca! The food was super fresh, flavorful and delicious. I'm vegan so was pleased to see plenty of vegan options and the staff was knowledgeable about ways to make accommodations for me. All the food is locally sourced and we had some of the biggest, most delicious shishito peppers we have ever had as our appetizer and I enjoyed the tofu bowl for my entree. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food so much- it was a clean plate club for our party of 6. If we come back into the area we would certainly make another stop here. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Wine list - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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Graft feels like a New York City tiny treasure dropped into the country without the hard edges of NYC. The tree stump stools posing as chairs immediately shout out the cool vibe within. We were tired from traveling and delighted in the excellent, early, light dinner we enjoyed sitting by the window watching the street activity. We shared a superb Toy Tomato salad and a delicious order of PEI tender mussels. The local wine and beer rounded out a perfect experience. When you are any where near Watkins Glen don't miss this memorable little piece of fun and yum. Karen Matheson Simsbury Connecticut read more

Wanted to try it out while visiting the area from Southern NY. I walked in and asked to see the menu and was told it was on the window and I could view it outside. However, it was over the head of a guest sitting outside and I didn't want to stand over them. So we left and walked across the street where we were greeted and seated in a friendly and quick manner read more

Really solid selection of local wines and ciders. But the food is where this wine and cider bar really shines. A must if you're in the finger lakes read more

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This is the best location to dine on food in central ny. The food is always fresh, prepared in an exceptional way. Even the chicken!! Yes, the chicken. I love the duck and the other food blows my mind. Wonderful servers, always on point. Great environment and love to eat here! read more

These people KNOW what they're doing. The food tastes sensational and the presentation is on point. Ambience is cozy and inviting, yet can be a bit cramped, but they're using all the square footage the can in there. The service lacked enthusiasm but was quick and did her job. Great location!!! read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - The best duck dish I've ever had! I've never had polenta but this sets a high bar for the future - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Great dinner, we had the ribeye special and the green salad, generous portions and servings The wine selection was fantastic, Service was even better ! The music and ambiance of the restaurant were a bonus. Definitely recommend! read more

The ultimate wine bar. It reminds me of my favorite wine bar in NYC. They have so many wine selections by the bottle or by the glass. The walls are lined with the options they have available. The food is fine dining and so very flavorful. To accommodate the Cuomo mandate to buy food with alcohol purchases, we went with the bread because it was the cheapest item on their menu and we didn't go there hungry, well...I wish we did go there hungry because that was the best warm, crunchy, perfect bread ever. Served with smooth, creamy, spreadable butter, oh no, my mouth is watering again! The staff was so knowledgeable and all we had to do was tell them our personal tastes and they had perfect recommendations. They also have wine flights available so you can try several! Highly recommend! read more

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Service was great. Food was not. Ordered the steak. It was more of a dry steak. With like 2 tiny potatoes and 3 tiny pieces of Broccoli for $48.00 , no seasoning , very unsatisfying. I so badly wanted to enjoy it. I brought my whole meal home not to even eat it here either. The wine was delicious. read more

Graft was off the hook delicious. Salmon w/soba and kale, scallops, and salad ALL five stars!

We were really excited to try this place based on others' reviews during the Wineglass Marathon weekend. When we got there before peak dinner rush, nobody greeted us at the entrance. After standing around for about 10 minutes hoping someone would come up to us, we finally had to flag down an employee ourselves and ask to be seated. That's literally what they did - pointed to one of the many nearby available seats and had us sit, no menus, no server, nothing. The rest of the night proceeded in similar fashion, where there were gaps of 30+ minutes between getting waters, getting our food, etc. It seemed like the whole place was staffed by three people total (bartender, busboy, waitress) during what is probably one of the most busy weekends of the year. When we would hear from the waitress once in a blue moon, it would be to upsell us on items on the menu instead of actual helpful service. It sounds like this matches a pattern from other recent reviews here on Yelp. The service was so bad it overrode the food, which was otherwise standard okay fare nothing exceptional but nothing to complain about. We would have simply forgotten an unpleasant experience and not ventured onto review sites to write about it. Here is the reason for the one star review- this restaurant engages in fraud. We know the tip we left on our bill - the restaurant chose to fraudulently submit an amount $10 higher. That is fraud and stealing. Thankfully credit cards are not a one-way street. Enjoy the chargeback and the one star review. read more

Full disclosure, I'm posting this about a month and a half after my visit, but the meal has stuck with me. Being a big city snob, I had no idea what to expect from the food in Watkins Glen. So, for my first meal, we took a recommendation from our B&B and went to Graft. This meal was delicious and such an excellent welcome to the town. My wife and I decided to share a few plates, we had the Warm Sourdough Bread, PEI Mussels, and a steak that was a special for the night. Sourdough Bread seemed like an odd thing to order since it generally comes free with a meal, but it was delicious, we're glad we got it. The steak was also great, perfectly cooked and surrounded by some delicious accompaniments. But, the real standout were the PEI Mussels. I didn't read the menu closely and didn't realize they came in a curry cream sauce. That sauce was one of the best things I've had in a long time, it made the meal, it was so much more interesting than the typical white wine sauce served with mussels. SERIOUSLY, get the mussels. I also want to add that I got a beer and it came out ice cold. It was like the most perfect glass of beer I've ever had. Maybe the stars just aligned for me on that day and the beer hit just right, but it's worth noting. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - PEI Mussels - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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Overall enjoyed it, would've been five star, but they made a pretty big mistake. My boyfriend ordered the steak at medium rare and they sent out a fully well done steak. I mean it was fully cooked no pink. Which leaves a bad impression for the most expensive meal on the menu, and like it's a steak it's pretty basic to cook right. We kindly pointed it out and the server was very kind back and offered to redo it however we were starving and didn't wait to wait for another steak so he ate it. I ordered the fish and it was fantastic. Beautiful plating on both but like I said the steak was done wrong. Service was very nice, but oh my the restaurant was boiling hot. It felt like there was no AC running. I liked this restaurant and the vibe and would definitely come back. I just expect a little bit more attention to detail from a higher end restaurant. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Steak special and Swordfish - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

This was definitely our favorite place to eat in downtown Watkins Glen! We will go back many more times if we come back to this region for vaca Loved the food. Loved the vibe. Delicious wine selections and great server who was a sweetheart and super knowledgeable! Thanks Faye! read more

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Graft is small, with just a few tables. Additional seating is at the bar or at counters with tall stools that are actually more comfortable than they look. The food is wonderful - everything is fresh, and almost everything is locally sourced. Fish & scallops were perfectly cooked. Service is friendly, efficient, and the servers made great recomendations for wine. We loved it! read more

My boyfriend and I were visiting Watkins glen on a road trip and wanted to try a farm-to-table restaurant for dinner. This is such a wonderful date night spot with great decor and attentive waitresses! My boyfriend and I both got the grass fed porterhouse steak which came with scallions and broccoli which was hiding underneath the massive steak and a cheese platter to share. The cheese platter was so so good and it felt nice knowing that the cheeses were sourced from nearby creameries. Looking at how massive the steak was, I did not think I would be able to finish my entree, let alone get dessert but my boyfriend and I both cleared the plate and demolished the tres leches which was also delicious. It was definitely a meal that we both will remember forever! Because we were driving afterwards, we did not get to taste the wine offered here but I'm sure it is wonderfully sourced by the abundance of nearby wineries! read more

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I get the change to visit Watkins Glen several times a year. Each time I do, I make it a point to visit Graft. I'm usually with a party of 10+ and they are always willing to accommodate us. The place is small, farm to table, with a somewhat seasonally changing menu based of what's in season. Right about now, ask for the heirloom tomato appetizer. You won't be sorry :-) I'm not much of a meat eater so chicken and seafood are my personal preferences. The salmon is awesome and their selection of red wines will satisfy most tastes. If you do go, ask if Fae is working. She's the best. Last year we were there with a party of 14 and she was nice enough to make the upstairs seating available to us. She took each order, never missed a beat, didn't miss a plate and afterwards, I noticed she hadn't write anything down. Managed the whole evening for us by memory. Very impressive. She's always happy to see you and greets everyone with a welcoming smile. All in all, its my favorite place in Watkins Glen, hands down. read more

45 day Aged strip steak, I don't recommend. It tastes like it was 5 days too long. The Demi glacé improved it. But for $48, it should be out of this world. The temperature was good. The potato was good. Service is good. Ambiance good. read more

Super cute inside. Food was good. Service provided was quick and kind. Would definitely go back.

On a Tuesday evening they ran out of many menu items. I had halibut ... which was my third, and last available, choice. While the meal was well presented, the fish was dry and the flavor was unremarkable. This was not a cheap meal either. For top tier prices, this experience was lacking. read more

Great service and fun ambiance. I would not go here for dinner- it is very much a wine bar (limited menu). But we had a great time going out as a group of 5. Got the cheese plate- two types of cheese with bread and grapes. We also got the sourdough which was delicious. It was a little pricey compared to some of the other restaurants around here, but quality food! Enjoyable spot for wine and apps! read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Cheese plate ($18) - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

We didn't have this place on our radar as we thought it was a tasting bar based on its name. But at one of the wineries (Glendora) they highly recommended the restaurant and indicated the chef from their location had just bought the place after he had saved enough money after 20 years at their local restaurant. We decided to give it a try and ventured into town. Wow! What a find. I had the rib-eye and jill had the steelhead trout. Both were excellent. The ginger-carrot mix that came with both dishes as a varnish was awesome. Never tasted anything like that before! And the potatoes in my dish were prepared just like I like them (crispy). We had regional wine and beer with dinner and then finished with the coffee almond cake and cappuccino's. A fantastic meal. Highly recommended. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Coffee almond cake and cappuccino - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Great option for a nice dinner in town, although small so more suited for a couple. It was busy for a Wednesday night in October! We sat at the bar and really enjoyed checking out the decor and style of the room. We got our cider recommendations from the bartender and ordered mussels and the duck. I loved loved loved the curry the mussels were in, and was happy they gave lots of bread to soak it up. The Coffee Almond cake was tasty but extremely sweet. The people next to us really enjoyed their scallops and chicken, which both looked like delightful choices. read more

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Great ambiance! Beautiful bar set up. Really cool way of serving wine. Helpful staff! Absolutely amazing food!!!

Destination restaurant. Wonderful ambience, lovely service and an absolutely delicious meal for my partner's birthday dinner in September. Had a nice chat with the chef/owner who really puts his heart into the locally sourced food. Highly recommend! read more

This is one of our favorite places to go to. However, tonight service was off. It seemed like everybody was disjointed and unorganized. Fortunately, the food was excellent. It appears that a hostess is needed and some focus on roles and responsibilities. Of course we will be back, but I'm only giving this three stars because the service was not up to par. read more

Cute place in the Glen. Super friendly servers. Nice local wine list. Short menu. Almost four stars but the food, although good, didn't wow. The mussel curry, for example, was a nice creamy stew but no pop. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Charcuterie - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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Just had another excellent meal here! Best fine food in the area. Watkins Glen is filled with lots of decent, tourist focused restaurants... Graft is special and Orlando Rodriquez continues to refine his craft! Duck margeit with perfectly roasted broccoli and a triangle of creamy polenta... jam swirled on the plate. Wow! Right here in WG! Great local wine list. My husband had tuna served over braised cabbage- fabulous! read more

We had flat iron steaks and they were so dang good! Shisheido peppers and sourdough bread finished us off and left us sad to leave! The staff were exceptional and friendly and we will definitely come back!! read more

Seriously the best food we ate in all of upstate New York. We had tomatillo soup, mussels, and duck which were all DELECTABLE. The mussels were so soft in a yummy cream sauce, and the duck had the most perfect crispy fat and was served with a sweet jam on the side. The waiter was super helpful in picking out delicious cider and wine, and they helped us pack our bottles up to take home what we didn't finish drinking. The ambiance was warm, upscale, and hip. We loved this restaurant and will 1000% be back if we're in the area again! read more

Great location with convenient street parking. Simple menu with delicious fresh food. No heavy sauces to cover up tasty natural flavors. Gluten free, dairy free, and vegan selections. Large portions, good service, and pleasant decor. read more

Graft Wine Cider Bar - Half chicken with rice and baked beans - Wine Bars Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

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