Time was (in the not-too-distant past) you had to go downtown to have an upscale or…read moreoff-the-beaten-path dinner. You know, when parking was less than a car payment? It took a number of years but enterprising restauranteurs laid claim to appropriate buildings and neighborhoods and opened places where you could actually get something interesting to eat. Hell, even BERWYN has a fine-dining joint (or 2)! The "3rd Street" corridor in Batavia is prima facie evidence this crusade is thriving, as there are a BUNCH of great places on that Rue to stuff your face in style, (and drink accordingly.) We've been working our way down the street, and as I have been in the mood for French, Le Cochon was high on the list. It was late afternoon when I and a foodie pal of mine visited. The rooms were at once light, open and airy, yet personal. The bar was adjacent and it looked heroically stocked. The waiter was personable and pleasant. The menu shouted "Bistro", and actually was sort of irritating, 'cos even after poring over it online before, everything looked so good I couldn't make up my mind! But rules are rules, and I have mine. When I go into a place for the first time, I always try to get the specialty of the house. As this is a "bistro" I finally swung with the Escargot and Steak Frites. Cliche'd, I know, but c'est le cuisine. My pal bucked tradition and went with a Burger. I should say here the house is known for a Pork Belly dish, but Belly of Pork (unless it's cured into Bacon) is a protein I will not eat. There's not much I won't stuff down my gullet, but Pork Belly is one. I just don't like that much fat. The good news? More for YOU! But I digress... The 'Scargots were classic in prep and top-notch in quality. As expected there was a lagniappe course in sopping pieces of the excellent baguette of the bread service in the garlicky butter remaining after munching the snails. It was a Hanger Steak wot arrived on my plate replete with an herb-y compound butter. I ordered the steak "Rare-Bleu", and it was the perfect temp, even with serious char marking. The steak was chunk-cut when served. I blessed the chef for seasoning the steak deftly. The Frites came with ketchup and aioli, they were great. There was nothing out of the ordinary about my pals burger, but he IS a knowledgeable foodie and reported it was delicious. Burgers are pretty easy to do, but to get one of championship quality takes skill. Notable were the two rashers of excellent, thick Bacon hanging over the sides of the sandwich. The chef here hit the mark! The Predominantly French WineList is dizzying expensive for bottles. My pal is an experienced oenophile and says the list shows care, but Oy! the prices! He's a very successful businessman, and even HE thought the prices were high. In contrast, the "per glass" prices were normal. LeCochon IS in a posh neighborhood, after all. I had a glass of Rhône blend which was hand-in-glove with my steak. flavors outasite! Fine coffee and a classic Crème Brûlée for afters. I know somewhere behind the bar they prolly had a Calvados, which would have topped the meal off with a gold ribbon, but I was driving, and there are many miles between LeCochon and Stately Breakwind Manor. A wonderful feed, and a surprisingly good value considering the high quality. I'll bet that "light and airy" vibe turns quite romantic after dark; but know the tables are actually quite cozy together. There are a few booths available-try to snarf one of those if you're on a date. Throwing 5 for this super boîte. Eat here soon!

Excellent service!!! Delicious food!! Great vibes. Perfect for a date night…read more Food overall has great flavor, and very well balanced. The best surprise for us was the Charcuterie! The duck proseiutto is absolutely divine. 10/10, I will definitely see you again!

Stumbled across this gem of a shop while walking through Geneva yesterday. Immediately you could…read morefeel the coziness and warmth of the tasting room. There were a lot of different sized tables to accommodate any group. This would be a great spot for a rainy afternoon, book club, date night, etc. We didn't realize it was Michigan wines only which is not our favorite, but the bartender was really helpful in helping us find alternatives. They offered Michigan whiskey, cocktails, cider, and beer. I got a cider & my fiancée got a beer from a local Geneva brewery. We absolutely loved both of them! There were also some bar snacks available, candy, cherries, cheese & crackers, etc. to munch on if you're hungry. They have a cute retail shop in the front with merch, cutting boards, and wine. Weirdly specific, but they also carry my FAVORITE line of lavender soaps and lotions from northern Michigan.

This is a very nice wine tasting shop off of the Main Street in Geneva. My wife and I stopped in…read moreover the summer for a tasting and were greeted by such friendly folks workin there. You could tell everyone loved their job and we really enjoyed the wine. I'd stop back when I'm in town again!

I'm sure they're in season and perfect. One thing you do not want to be in between of is a man and…read morehis award winning beef

Cozy, romantic, quaint vibe on a cold winter night - The Alchemist is great spot. We came here…read moreafter some shopping in the area and were looking for some drinks before dinner. We were tucked away in a corner table and felt cozy. Interesting drinks, cocktails are unique, their small bites were a little limited but the cocktails were good.

A nice spot to grab a drink on a nice weather day - the outdoor patio is fantastic!…read more The fellas and I grabbed a round of brews here while roaming around downtown Geneva and we had zero complaints. It was really nice out so, naturally, we were at the outdoor bar/patio. What a delightful space: open, airy, ample seating, great staff. The biggest bummer is navigating inside for the bathroom but everything else is top notch. We're fans and will return again!

I'd love to share my full experience at Preservation but alas, there isn't much in the way of food…read moreor drink I can report on. The service however, is a different story. My friend and I arrived around 7:15pm this evening, Tuesday night, a weekday. We were greeted by a hostess in a full winter jacket and completely empty front room. She gave us the option to sit in said empty room or to follow her back to a "cozy heated area." We couldn't decide so we asked her to choose, and she led us down a long, narrow hallway to the back. There were three parties total in the indoor patio--us, another table of 2 and a large party of 8. Their outdoor patio was open, and with a view of it from the cozy room. The outdoor patio was festive with holiday lights, heaters and perhaps 3 people sitting at the bar. Many employees bustled back and forth through the door linking our two spaces. Our waitress brought us two glasses of water and food menus, pointed out the QR code menu on our table and walked away. That was our ONLY interaction with her. We proceeded to then sit for 15 minutes, watching our waitress, along with 3 other employees walk back and forth, attentively serving the large party, cleaning up a recently vacated back booth, chatting with one another and even saw another employee take a moment to vape inside near the POS system. We were ignored. No eye contact, no smile, no acknowledgment. It's as if we were not even there. For a slow Tuesday night, with ample staff, this was unacceptable. It grew so uncomfortable that we gathered our jackets and began to walk out. As we made our way back down the long hallway, the hostess, carrying a tray of waters, thanked us for coming in. Clearly there is a lack of awareness--or attention to detail. In what world would we have been able to order drinks, eat and pay our bill in less than 30 minutes since you seated us? But Finally! Someone noticed us. Too bad it was too little too late. We walked a block down to a different restaurant, and had an amazing time, spending more time & money than originally anticipated at that establishment, as a direct result of the poor hospitality and lack of service received at Preservation. Their loss was the Alchemist's gain.

One of my favorite local musicians now has a residency here sooo had to check this place out!…read moreNeedless to say, I was not alone - it was standing room only! The wonderful guys working the exchange setup a table for us, which is so sweet. Great service, will return just because of that! But alas I needed food - check! and a nice glass of champagne - check! Champagne is only by the bottle, but they have a great variety. The Prosecco by glass was good, but I wanted a little something more. The tequila and whiskey/bourbon selection is vast for a wine bar, I was wildly impressed considering I'm not actually a wine drinker. The flatbreads are huge and the charcuterie board was fantastic! Can't wait to come back

Had an event at the Wine Exchange recently and it well exceeded the expectations. From the planning…read morestages to the close everything was really spectacular. The food/drinks were AMAZING and staff exceptional too! The atmosphere is very cool, and guests were relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Thank you, Wine Exchange, for making our event turnkey and wonderful!

Awesome winery located in downtown Geneva! We absolutely loved it here! It definitely has a cabin…read morefeel to it, which we really enjoy. The inside is relaxing and the outside area is super cute with plenty of seating. There was live music when we were there so we sat outside and enjoyed our wine flights while listening to the music. Can't get better than that! Service was great- the girls working were amazing. I liked talking to Lisa. She was really nice! The wine is incredible! We are sweet wine lovers and that's most of their wine menu. They have so many unique sweet wines. I particularly enjoyed the raspberry dragonfruit, black cherry, and orange sangria. I love how they set up the flights. The first wine you list on your sheet is at the top of the flight and then it tapers down to 2nd, 3rd and 4th. I've attached photos. They also offer wine slushies, which we thought was really cool! We will definitely be back when it's warmer out to enjoy those!

On a nice day, there is not a better outdoor spot than Geneva Winery! And the service and offerings…read moreback it up! A small group of friends and I snagged a table and had some beverages (beers, wine) accompanied by some snacks they sell. The weather was amazing and our outdoor table offered the most perfect ambiance and atmosphere. Surrounding us was a healthy mix of young and old, married and single, kids and adults and it made for a wonderful picnic vibe. Sophisticated yet casual. Drinks were modestly priced and snacks were a bit more, as expected. But nothing that made me beer-out. The one thing, however, was the restroom situation. We ended up finding... other alternatives... plan accordingly. This was my first time @ GW and I'm a big fan; can't wait to come back!

Quick take: We stopped into The James for one round at the bar. The placed was pretty full on a…read moreSaturday afternoon but we were able to nestle ourselves at the end of the bar and partake. It's an upscale establishment with absolutely wonderful decor: an old house that harkens back to times of yesteryear. The ambiance is lively but not loud and it seems to host a slightly older (and more sophisticated?) demographic. We just had beers but did peruse the menu for fun and things looked very tempting. Although this visit was quick it left me wanting more on a return visit, of which there will be!

Had a great brunch at The James this weekend! They were able to accommodate a reservation for a…read morelarger group (10+) for Sunday brunch. We got the basement wine cellar to ourselves which was awesome and made for a fun and intimate dining experience. Our server was phenomenal and made navigating a large group of indecisive people look easy. The food and drinks were amazing. The beignets were a great starter! The Focaccia BLT was a big hit in our group. I got the Brie Frittata with a hash brown. The frittata was topped with balsamic cherry tomatoes which was perfection. They ran out of Bloody Mary mix, but the chef made some and let us try it before ordering to make sure we liked it. It was DELICIOUS! I'd highly recommend and would definitely visit again if in the area!

We had a wonderful dining experience. The ambiance is warm and friendly. The service was…read moreexemplary with a knowledgeable, personable and conscientious server who was attentive but not invasive. We found him charming. The food was exceptional. We started with the Baby Gem salad and the Artisan Cheese Plate, both excellently prepared and delicious. My husband had the 14 oz. Prime Ribeye with Cafe De Paris butter, horseradish jus, herb garlic fritesthat was perfectly prepared and came with wonderful, flavorful sauces. I enjoyed the Grilled Petite Tender, emphasis on tender! It was lovely. For dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean Canelé, which was unique and sweet and made a delightful ending to an excellent meal. We will be back!

Vinny and his team having been putting out great product with a passion for service and a perfect…read moreambiance for years. One of our top spots for a date night or special occasion. The burger in the bar is one of my favorites and the whiskey / tequila selections are the best in the Fox valley.

All around had an amazing time! Visiting in town for work…read moreand wondered along this place that was delightful and charming. Henry was our server/bartender and gave us excellent service. He was naturally humorous and humble. The best part was my Tuna Tartare. I order it everywhere I go & I must say - it was the best I've had this year! Thank you Barrel + Rye!

Had an amazing date night here. Cocktails were great--loved the old fashioned. The salmon…read morebruschetta and birria egg rolls were out of this world. Crab cake sandwich was second only to one I had when I lived in Maryland. Dessert cocktails were a great night cap! The Tira-Miss-you and s'mores espresso martini were a great end of the night. The server was so kind and willing to give solid recommendations. The food came quickly and was great. 10/10. We can't wait to go back

Great selection and service. Good people. They know their wines. Solid ambiance with the right feel…read moreto it.

New owners have transformed this Geneva Jewel into an amazing place. Good wine fabulous atmosphere…read more It's the new place to be.