My husband & I had dinner at Moonwinks for our 44th wedding anniversary. The food and service were exceptional. The ambiance was okay, not great. I ordered the Scallops and a side salad. The Scallops were served over garlic risotto and garnished with perfectly cooked slices of zucchini. There were 5 very large and perfectly cooked scallops. I cut each one into 4 tender pieces. My husband ordered the filet mignon which he said was as perfectly cooked and he added the scallops for an up charge, he also had a baked potato. He enjoyed his meal very much. For dessert our waiter brought us a crème brulee' with a little candle in it and he wished us a Happy Anniversary and told us it was on the house! I had already ordered a piece of their peanut butter pie, which was wonderful! We had such a tremendous dinner! And we were very pleased and a bit surprised that we could have a meal that exceptional, so close to our home! read more

I don't know if the food is good because I went in on a Tuesday evening and I stood at the hostess podium for 10 minutes. I walked forward and shouted for a hostess and nobody came. I asked the other couple waiting if they had seen her and they said yes, they put their name down but they hadn't seen her since. They had been waiting for 15 minutes... it was about 6:45 on a Tuesday night. We left at that point because I had seen the reviews already on here and people had said they waited for 45 minutes before they even got their drink orders in. They don't know how to run a restaurant. read more

3.5 stars. Hopefully it was just an off night. Newly remodeled with new ownership. Big upgrade from before. Some seating in the bar needs touched up though because it's worn. Nice staff. Nice bar selection. Very clean. Fast kitchen. Hangout for locals. Great food aside from the beef soup, but expensive. They overcharged me A LOT by not billing me for the Cajun alfredo SPECIAL. The bill was too high, but we didn't notice until we left that I was overcharged for my special and upcharged for my mediocre soup. I added a lot of salt and pepper to eat it. Amazing pasta dishes though. Tender seafood and chicken. Go over your bill BEFORE you leave! read more

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Went there on a busy Friday night. I had not been to this restaurant in almost 30 years. Unfortunately there was a long wait for a table so we decided to stay in the bar and grab a drink. As Luck would have it that we ended up sitting at the bar and meeting great folks on either side of us. I had the Pittsburgh salad pictured and my wife had a simple house salad with chicken. Both were huge. The food was great. The camaraderie was great and the music, alive singer was, great as well not too loud, but definitely able to hear the music. The next time we're here we will definitely sit in the bar again and look forward to great conversations with locals on either side of us. Pete, the bartender, was very attendive to us and, our food arrived extremely fast. Definitely recommend this place as a more upscale restaurant in the Cuba/Olean/Houghton area read more

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The newly remodeled restaurant and lounge are refreshing and lovely. The wait staff are attentive and cheerful, the food comes out of the kitchen quickly and is very well prepared. Definitely recommend a reservation if you're going during a busy time but walk ins are seated very timely. read more

The Scarlet Vetter says......we came here for dinner on a busy Friday night. The restaurant is under new management, and unfortunately, they are temporarily without a liquor license. That did not deter us. The staff were friendly and attentive. The menu looked similar to the prior menu, but it had been some time since I had been here. The facility is quite nice and well appointed. We noticed quite a few tables with no food yet, so I was a bit worried that they were in over their heads, as a large party was seated in one room. However, our order was quickly taken, and we were given our beverages. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi, my husband ordered the New York Strip, and our friend ordered his usual Friday restaurant meal, Fish Fry. My and my husband's meals were great. Our friend reported that he thought the fish was rubbery and dry and he was disappointed. A bright note is that they permitted a switch of the coleslaw with broccoli, which he loved. My scampi shrimp were perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. It had just the right amount of sauce on the pasta. My husband ordered his steak medium, and it arrived as ordered and was very flavorful. Broccoli and a nice baked potato rounded out his meal. He reported that he felt his meal overall was quite good. Our salads, which came with the meal, were cool and crisp, and the house dressing was lovely! We ordered a Creme Brulee and a lemon cake for dessert. They were both delightful....I am dreaming about that cake still...it was very richly lemon flavored and scented and the cake was light and airy. We will be coming back when the restaurant has its liquor license to try it out again! read more

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Our local friends mentioned the new owners, so we gave it a try. The pasta dishes were fantastic. I had the prima Vera and my wife had the pesto. Both were well done. The service was impeccable and friendly. The decor remains vaguely 1950's noir, but the food is the best iteration on Moonwinks, yet! read more

Food was great. Service too .we are new to area and wanted a new "go to" place! I think we found it.

We got there at 545. No one said anything to us. We got in line behind one other couple who said that had been waiting forever. The host came to seat then finally and never said a word to us, completely ignoring us. After waiting 15 more minutes i stopped a waitress and explained that we were waiting for the host. She rudely said that they had no tables available and wouldn't for at least 40 minutes (at which time they closed). I'll never go there again because the host could have spoken to us and the waitress could have been more pleasant. We didn't have to stand there 20 minutes plus to find out there was no seating. read more

A favorite dining experience. I do wish they had offered the cheese and crackers or a salad with the prime rib. It seems like a long wait for your food to arrive, it is a reasonable wait but it seems long. The food was excellant as always. Service was excellent as usual. SalDs are offered with other meal choices. I understand they do have appitisers and they want to sell those as well. However, with a big meal like the prime rib appetizers are too much. A very cozy country setting. read more

Moonwinks is presently going through an ownership change so it would not be fair to post a review but the Mothers Day banquet was really good and the service was excellent. My husband enjoyed prime rib and we had a wonderful time read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - Prime rib Mothers Day banquet - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

I have been going to Moonwinks for the most part of my life, but recently visited for the 1st time since new ownership took over. Had a lovely time with my bestie. Wendy and Pete were attentive, friendly, and accommodating as bartenders. The menu is well rounded and there is something for everyone as far as appetizers and entrées. We shared 3 decent clusters of snow crab legs which were served with zucchini and a hefty baked potato. Cooked to perfection and plated nicely when served. There is a substantial selection of cocktails and quite a collection of fine bourbon and wine display that only connoisseurs can appreciate. The Owners were kind enough to introduce themselves and we easily chatted & made friends around the bar as we dined. As we discussed mutual acquaintances, I actually met someone who was my sister's former paramour from 30 years ago. That's the type of atmosphere you will find. We had a great time! Good food, excellent service and stellar atmosphere! read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - Snow, crab clusters, zucchini, and baked potato - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

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A group of 6 women who all enjoy good food and drinks were blown away with the interesting, wonderful appetizers, dinners, drinks, and desserts. Josh was our server and he was amazing. The ambiance was lovely and we were happy to be seated at a round table, away from the other guests (we were a bit loud). The finest dining experience in this area! read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - Hanging bacon that was incredible! Charcuterie board was also fabulous! - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

We came here on a Friday night, not knowing what to expect with the place having new ownership. The food/ service was amazing!!! We loved the numerous TVs in the bar area with all the latest sports on. The inside was absolutely amazing. The new wine and bourbon rooms are so cool with all the glass it was just a great vibe!!! This area is pretty amazing for a small town. read more

This has changed hands & is a fabulous restaurant with many excellent options! This site needs updated. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the menu. read more

Nice atmosphere, excellent service, and great food. Prime rib and steak fillet is outstanding!

Stopped in for a late lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and great service...food as well. I'd definitely recommend this place and the bartender/server was both professional and personable...a hidden gem. read more

Had a Fish Fry on the way to a St Bona game in Olean. The food was very good as was the beer and service. Ambience in the huge dining room could be amped up a little. Make it smaller? read more

What a great local place to visit! Was in the area doing some training for work so we stopped here for lunch and was not disappointed! I had the chicken, bacon ranch wrap with fries and it was so fresh and so delicious! The other guys food looked amazing and no one had a complaint! Worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

This is our second trip since the new owners took over and the whole experience was amazing. Our waitress was very attentive even with a full dining room. Our food came out in a very timely manor and was absolutely delicious. The recent renovations really brightened up the atmosphere as well. Prices were very fair, especially with the quality of food. We will definitely be back. read more

This is a long overdue review! We had been told that Moonwinks was a great place to eat, but it took us a while to finally try it, and we are so glad we finally did! It is our favorite place to eat, of all the places we have ever eaten, anywhere. The atmosphere is fantastic, beautifully decorated, able to be enjoyed equally as a fancy night out for a special occasion or a casual fun evening in the bar area, and it is a perfect venue for special events. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. We happened to go there for dinner this past Memorial Day weekend, and had a bit of a longer wait than usual, because of a large wedding that was happening there. We didn't mind at all, because the food is phenomenal and we would have waited indefinitely for the amazing hanging maple bacon or the perfectly seared scallops, or the flavorful salmon, and risotto, or the fantastic pasta dishes, but a gentleman in a tux from the wedding party saw us waiting, apologized profusely for our wait and vowed to get us a table right away and arrange for us to meet the chef. Turned out the gentleman was not just in the wedding- he was the groom. And he was not just holding his wedding at Moonwinks, he was the owner!! He had our family set up in the room where their reception meal had been served prior to the party moving to the event room for the rest of the festivities. We had the room to ourselves, and he, the groom/owner took our order himself, then grabbed several servers and instructed them to treat us as his personal guests. He told us to order what ever we wanted, as it was on him. He even checked back on us later, and brought the chef, as promised, for us to meet and spent time talking with us about where we were from and how he and his cousin, the chef, came to be the owners and operators of the restaurant. We told him he didn't have to sell us on the place, we are already regular customers and we recommend it to everyone we know. The evening was so special, and so fun! We also enjoyed the wedding desserts they brought us (magnificent!) and tipped the fantastic wait staff what we would have paid for the meal, before leaving for the night, without taking him up on his offer to crash the reception and join the party! This restaurant is a must visit if you are ever fortunate enough to visit Cuba, NY. read more

Sophisticated menu with great foodie choices. Never disappoints. Bring your friends and family, you're going to love it!!!

Went to Moonwinks while on a business trip in the area with some coworkers. We were told it was the first night serving drinks with the new liquor license and they did not disappoint!! The expresso martini was authentic! So delicious! My coworkers tried the Mr Mule and it was well made! The appetizers and entrees were excellent! The new owner was so accommodating and explained the work they are putting in to the restaurant! Best of luck for the future of Moonwinks. Looks like it will continue to be a hit like it has for the last 100 years! Next time I'm traveling through I'll be sure to stop there! read more

Our most recent visit to Moonwinks was just wonderful! We hadn't seen the newly renovated bar/restaurant and it is just gorgeous! Cassandra was our server and she was just fabulous, as usual! Our food was just great-fresh salads, excellent entrees and always cold beer! We always make sure to visit Moonwinks when we have visited over the last 15 years and Wendy and Josh are amazing employees who have become friends! Moonwinks is a treasure to this area! read more

our first visit, food was very good, service was excellent. we will definitely return for dinner again ! read more

Another great Friday night for dinner in the bar. Excellent drink specials for the Halloween season. Food was above average, all (4) of had the fish either broiled or scampi style Service was good. read more

Food was good but the service, omg! I guess there's not many options in this tiny town but I've never had food take so long. Hire competent cooks who can keep up with the demands of a restaurant. Even soup and salad took 45 minutes, this is crazy! When I was a server, salads were prepped in the afternoon so we had trays of salads ready to hand out. read more

I don't usually write a negative review, but some circumstances warrant a comment, so the establishment can access its validity and hopefully take some corrective measures, and the future customers have an opportunity to compare reviews and make educated decisions. This is a regular local's, as well at tourist, hangout. Being near a popular recreation area somewhat off the beaten path, it had a nice following. The former group might contribute to the problems we encountered, as we seemed to be relegated to second class service and food delivery delays while locals were served long before we were even though they came in later. The delay in getting meals was secondary to the main problem we encountered. The big issue we had was the attitude of the attending general manager, Steve Hollowell. When we voiced our displeasure to the waiter the 1st time, he replied, "Well, you DID get appetizers!" Soon after he asked if we wanted to speak to the GM. You bet we did. When Mr. Hollowell arrived at the table, he came straight out with attitude, he made reference to the appetizers, and when told that was over 40 minutes ago, he remarked it was very busy, the kitchen staff was short and doing their best, and basically it is what it is and sit there and wait, in not so many words. Because we were with clients and friends, neither my business associate nor I made an issue of it at the table. The clients had recommended this place and they were unnecessarily embarrassed and apologized. There was no need as they had no control over the operation. Had we been there by ourselves, there would have been words in front of the whole dining room. We've traveled on business together for 40 years, and that means eating at a lot of places, from street vendors to highest rated, and we know at some establishments going in what to expect and accept attitude. We were not in NYC, where that might be expected. If I wanted attitude, I'd have driven to the City. And, at this restaurant, they apparently are only lukewarm to non-regulars at best. I didn't give it 1 star because the food was good, not great, and most of the staff, the bar, were very nice. Steve needs to take lessons from them on communicating with customers in a professional and service-oriented manner, not being a jerk and expressing a "take it or leave it" attitude verbally or with that look of "I don't care about your complaint" written across his face. 1st visit, LAST visit. read more

Nice bar and dining rooms to eat in. Bar appeared to have many locals doing more drinking than eating. Shame you walked thru bar to access dining rooms. Kinda had a local watering hole vibe to it versus a nice dining establishment. Several dining rooms that were comfortably appointed. Good variety on the menu and willing to make accommodations for dietary needs. Portions were light especially the side dishes (small baked potato, pathetic side salad and sautéed onions side was a tablespoon portion) and Reuben was light on cheese & sauerkraut. Given the small portions, didn't feel it was a good value for the money. A couple of high points --- top notch service experience by the wait and bus staff, yummy homemade blue cheese dressing and an immaculate ladies room. Next time in area would give another try but do question the portions. read more

Hot-slow-cold food cold bread. Heavy on the crackers. I bet the bar would have been better to eat at. It seemed to have Ac rather than the heat on. read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

Absolutely ridiculous. 1 and a half hours for chicken sand and burger. Server was beyond horrible. Had it worth these restaurants that say they are short staffed. There are capable, competent people. Never again read more

CRAZY.. I sent in a 5 star review earlier... Then we return as only 2 people a few days later and disastrous. Waited over 1.5 hours for dinner. Was told, well it rained and we got slammed after it stopped raining. People left at table next to us due to long wait. Had the Thursday seafood platter special and was told it was the last one. You could tell by the quality... Haddock was thin and dry. Also separate Haddock filet meal was the end piece, like a tail... very thin and very dry... Disappointing... read more

This restaurant is probably the worse one in the area. The food is horrible. The service was great!!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOOD!! Hands down the best take out!! And the lady that was working super nice!!! We ordered the walleye very tasty! The scallops where cooked to perfection! Definitely order again real soon! read more

Hands down the best dang clam chowder I've ever had in my life !!!!!! Huge hunks of clams perfect flavor could have licked the bowl for sure Yummmmmmmmmmm Can't wait to come back Service was as great Very friendly read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

Not impressed. I understand the issues restaurants are having because of COVID but being the premier place in the area I expected better. The good points. My wife's shrimp was very good however very small the waiter was friendly and obviously new so I won't make too big a deal about not refilling the water glasses, forgetting our side dishes and not asking if we needed anything else the place wasn't that busy. The bad, our friend ordered a margarita it was the worst I've ever tasted and I don't like sweet drinks but it was weak and tasteless. Good thing it was cheap. Waited 45 min for a table even though the place was 1/3 full. Understand staff issues because of COVID. Ordered prime rib medium rare it came beyond medium barely any pink and looked like it had been microwaved. Grisly fatty and honestly not very tasty. Came with No vegetables just a potato which was forgotten. I would have rated one star but I'm rating on a curve because of COVID read more

Not being from around here I was informed by some local "townies" that this was considered the "yacht club" of Cuba so it peaked my interest even though those townies were missing every tooth in their head they didn't disappoint with their recommendation of this place! Amazing service and my waitress Liz was awesome! Very prompt with my drinks, food and just enough small talk to make me feel at home! Highly recommended for anyone passing through! Ask for Liz! read more

Moonwinks Restaurant & Lounge - Had a very romantic dinner with my Snapchat wife. Great fish fry ... - American Near Me - Cuba, New York

Driving through the area and decided to give Moonwinks a try. It was a Friday night, full parking lot, hostess seated us quickly but even though we passed many empty tables, we were seated in a back room corner. The restaurant caters to an over 50 crowd. We fit that demographic! The waiter was attentive except for the overly loud voice he and all the servers used (not everyone is hard of hearing). Ok sounds good, food was just ok. I had a filet if beef, it was tough and chewy, side of mashed potatoes probably out of a box, gravy was salty and blah. Two slices of zucchini were the vegetable. Husband had chowder, very good but his pasta dish had big chunks of raw garlic. They also offered a Friday night buffet but no one told us about it. I guess if you summer on Cuba Lake this is the place to go...but we won't be back. read more

Giving one of our favorite restaurants a very poor rating, not for the food, not for the service, but for the very poor management. We waited for an hour and a half just to get our salads. 2 managers working but not visiting tables to apologize for slow kitchen, leaving that for the exasperated wait staff. Spoke to a female manager about the delay and lack of communication. She was apologetic and nice when we politely asked for our bill because we knew our entrees would not be coming anytime soon. (2 hours by that time.) Spoke to the "big guy" Steve on our way out and were given excuses, nastiness and attitude. He even told us "it wasn't his fault because the food comes out of the kitchen, not the office." I get that he may not know our names, but after our many years of patronage, at least know our faces. Either way, an apology was warranted, not attitude. Very poor showing. read more

Traveling on I-86? Step off the highway and drive just a mile to reach this excellent local spot with freshly prepared, casual fare. Warm, low key bar area with a fireplace and a menu of soups, burgers, hot sandwiches and salads. Lunch menu until 4pm, dinner menu after 5. We had a delicious cream of tomato soup with a touch of roasted jalapeño, a great little cup of French onion with melted cheese, and a solid chicken quesadilla. Would like to try some of the hot open faced sandwiches. read more