I'll start off by saying i've been to the Yard of Ale maybe a handful of times in my life but it was once operated by one of my ancestors, J.D. McGuire, in the 1800s when it was the Genesee Hotel - this restaurant has about a century and a half of history in the area and deserves to be classified as an historic landmark. It is also one my grandmother's favorite restaurants, and she's eaten there for decades. Last night, she turned 95 and we put the old YoA to the test, booking a dinner party for roughly 20 people, in the restaurant's private room. Our waitress was absolutely on her game, getting orders for drinks, appetizers, meals and dessert out as promptly as she could given the size of our party with no mistakes or fumbling of people's orders. I ordered the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and the Tournados (steak fillets with seafood stuffing and hollandaise sauce) with rice pilaf as my main course, and both were delicious. The kitchen will do steak all the way down to rare but won't serve it blue, probably for safety reasons since they're not a dedicated steakhouse. For dinner I got the NY cheesecake with wild strawberries and sauce, and it was wonderful. A five course meal (bread, appetizer, salad, main, dessert) plus drinks cost me a little shy of $90, so I thought the price was more than fair. The wine list is limited (I asked for a dry white wine and got a choice between a sauvignon blanc and a pinot grigio. I went with the blanc and it was light, crisp, and delicious with a lot of pear notes - a good choice on the part of whoever on the YoA's staff handles sommelier duty. I didn't get a chance to ask the waitress for a snapshot of the bottle and I wish I had. For a cocktail, I ordered an old fashioned, and this is the kind of place where you can go up to the bar and order a cocktail like that and the bartender won't bat an eye before getting out the muddler. If it's your birthday, be sure to tell the waitress - I believe that they give you a free lava cake dessert for your birthday. If you order a dish like the chicken parm here the portion they serve you will be massive - two or three breaded chicken cutlets covered with mozz over pasta and sauce. This is not a restaurant that does haute cuisine portions; the old roadside inn sensibilities remain in place in places like the YoA, you expect to be fed and feed you they will. Now that I've said all that, remember, de gustibus - but if you're visiting Letchworth Park or otherwise out in Livingston County I recommend you call and book a table. And you should absolutely call ahead, the locals tend to pack the place. read more

We were visiting in Geneseo and a local resident recommended checking out The Yard of Ale, she said we wouldn't be disappointed. We pulled up and the parking lot was packed(that's a good sign). We went in and were greeted and seated right away. The entire staff was very friendly and accommodating. I loved the decor, it gave a small town charm, with a little bit of history. The appetizers were delicious and the bread too! Drinks were good. Our main dishes were had cheeseburgers and they were good. Overall a good experience, nice ambiance, low volume in the dining area. We would definitely be back to try the Prime Rib next time (we got there late so they sold out). Thank you for a great experience. read more

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I ordered take out because I'm lazy. Also the specials menu intrigued me. The specials on the weekend are always excellent, so I ordered the elk because we are an elk- loving family. ( 2 elk hunters). IT. WAS. SO. DELICIOUS! I don't have enough words to describe how tender and juicy it was. Demi-glacé was great, but it was gilding the lily. The sides of mashed potatoes and fresh green beans made it a perfect meal. Thank you Yard of Ale for rewarding me with an excellent meal after a hard day's work. read more

very nice and talkative and keep you know about what's happening the best in Detriot!!! read more

Everything! My only suggestion would be to wear layers or be prepared to remove layers. I found our room to be too cold, AC too high. Ambiance, service and food were very good. Worth the trip and cost. read more

On a recent girl's trip to Conesus Lake this restaurant was recommended to us by a local as being "consistently great" so we decided to give it a try. Things started out fine. A nice selection of breads was set before us with oil, butter, and olive tapenade as accompaniments. Four dinners were ordered: Maple Dijon salmon, prime rib, burger, and a breaded cod dinner. The dinners came with good salads (garden or Caesar). Three of the main courses were good, not great. The garlic mashed potatoes and the vegetable medley were bland and the French fries with the burger were just ok. We would have been fine with all of that were it not for the breaded fish dinner. The piece of fish that was served was so burnt that it never should have left the kitchen. The waitress set it in front of us without batting an eye and seemed shocked when we called her over (after having given it the benefit of the doubt by tasting it) and asked that she please remove it from the table and remove the charge from our bill. The woman who ordered it had completely lost her appetite. She declined a new piece of fish and also the option of picking a different entree, which would have meant waiting for it to be prepared while the rest of us ate. There was barely an apology for something that never should have been served. We anticipated a visit from a manager or perhaps an offer for a dessert neither of which happened. Three of us paid for our meals and were wished a good evening by our waitress. As an afterthought and 4 steps away from the table she half-heartedly said "sorry" to our fourth companion. So much for being "consistently great". Perhaps it was just an "off" night but they certainly deserve the demerits for the way the situation was handled. We're still shaking our heads as to what cook and server thought it was acceptable to place that in front of a customer. read more

The Yard of Ale - Breaded fish (cod) dinner - New American Near Me - Piffard, New York

Very expensive way to make everyone sick. The only correctly prepared part of the meal was the free bread. Somehow 3 different diners all ended up with terribly prepared food and a long, sick, night. We had a very well done, tough steak that was ordered medium and came with cold mashed potatoes and vegetables , a chicken French that was like rubber and the coating was gelatinous and gummy which also came with cold mashed potatoes and vegetables , and a fish fry that was ok, but had cold rice and vegetables in the side. Our server was nice enough. The ambience was fine. All three diners who ate there, none of whom live or work together, were sick afterward. Wish I could leave a warning instead of a review. read more

Outstanding food every time!!!...super friendly staff... Definitely one of our family favorites... I would highly recommend this restaurant... read more

We went to the Yard of Ale for our 45th wedding anniversary and we couldn't have been happier! The atmosphere, waitress and the food - all superb. This is our new go to dining place. As a matter of fact, my birthday is the 25th of March and we will be returning to celebrate. read more

Very enjoyable, very splendid meal. Everything was so delicious. Especially the garlic olive spread for the bread. I recommend getting the shrimp alfredo it was so yummy and bussing in my mouth! Kreme Broolay was fantabulous! read more

OMG! For my southern tier friends, please try Yard of Ale! We were in Letchworth for a baloon ride (cancelled, sigh) and were looking for a place to eat. Saw this restaurant with lots of stars and good reviews. Colonial style bldg, very welcoming. Inside, same, like stepping back to the 1800s. Lots of rooms so no overcrowding feelings and kept noise down. Bar was cool. An actual yard length beer glass over the bar. Good drinks, good pour, good price. Food: i had the prime rib of course, wife had blackened scallops. Her scallops were well seasoned, slight crisp on the outside, moist and juicy inside. Perfect! My rib was absolutely awesome. Angus beef they claim is the best in NY. Idk if I can argue! Prices were reasonable. Staff was great. Long way to go but worth it! read more

The Yard of Ale - Angus Prime Rib with garlic mashed - New American Near Me - Piffard, New York

We went to the restaurant to eat, the host was very rude. She said they don't do walk ins. However the people in front of us were a walk in. If you don't play the fake high society type, you are NOT WELCOME HERE. Why would anyone have to make a reservations when there were a lot of tables and it's 7:00 Pm!?! read more

This is by far our most favorite restaurant now. We were introduced to it by our kids & are so glad they did!!! We had the most wonderful evening from drinks to almost getting dessert. Our dinners varied from lobster & filet, lobster & steak, scallops special, & prime rib dinner. Each & everyone's dinner was fabulous! Garlic mashed potatoes or fries were the potato choices with no baked potato & that was my only want. This restaurant is in an old home with so many different cubbies with tables. The great thing is that we could hear each other without yelling loved that!! read more

Second time here, and did not disappoint! Made reservations and we were seated as soon as we arrived. Service was efficient and fast... I need to give the busboy and busgirl a shout out, they were great! My prime rib was good, tender and well seasoned, slightly overdone for me (I ordered it med rare, and was definitely medium). We also tried the scallops with mushroom sauce and they were good. Had key lime pie crème brûlée for dessert, the custard was great but the graham crumbs on top of the caramelized sugar were unnecessary, in my opinion. Prices are reasonable, I would definitely recommend. read more

The food was fair at best and the prices are incredibly expensive. Maybe I'm missing something bc the other reviews were good but I think it's desperation in an area where there just aren't many restaurants. I would not recommend it and will not go back. Just my opinion read more

We have driven by the Yard of Ale many times and always said we should go there sometime for dinner, so we were happy to agree when our friends suggested we meet there for dinner. It's about a 35 minute drive for us and was well worth it. The service was great and we were seated early for our reservation even though they were busy. They brought out a bread tray with pretzel bites and fresh bread, along with butter, olive tapenade, and oil. I got the beef tornadoes topped with lobster and they were amazing. My wife had the prime rib and it was perfect. The only problem was we didn't have room for some of the amazing looking desserts. We will definitely be going back. read more

Food was very good but be prepared to have a very leisurely meal. Servers were polite. When they ran out of fish on a Friday night, she was apologetic . read more

Excellent and classy restaurant. Food is outstanding with numerous gluten free options. Wait staff excellent Prices are appropriate. Nice date night or celebration place as well as just a nice meal out. read more

Food is amazing service is good (as usual) ambiance sorta old timey rustic But it is sorta fancy so dress nice . It also a a small building so if you have a large group make a reservation read more

The ambiance feels a grandparent's home which is up to you to decide if you like. The service was typical and was antentive. The bread was very good. I ordered a filet for dinner and it was pretty average for a filet (I love filets). Mashed potatoes were decent. Cheesecake was delicious. Decent food for decent prices. Overall, I am feeling a high 3 to a low 4 on this establishment (out of 5). read more

Food was excellent and big portions. Turned one meal into three. Service was nice. I think some people in my party know the server so was treated like family though likely this is how everyone is treated. The building had that old timey feel like I'm in a civil war era / Victorian times with some 40s type memoriabilia on the walls. The place is pricey so would go for special occasions. read more

Prime rib was excellent. Friendly service and great value. Quaint setting. Highly recommend

This community restaurant, with community restaurant prices, presents cuisine like a fine dining establishment. With fare that ranges from the ordinary to the exquisite, it is no wonder that the Yard of Ale is packed each and every time we've come. My wife, friends and I value our time; but we value quality food even more which is why we would travel 90 minutes just to come to this delightful restaurant. Despite the work shortage that COVID-19 has wrought upon the industry, waitresses like Liz service the customers with an efficiency that ensures that no one waits too long for their meals. As we sit down, outcomes the tray of bread with choice of infused oil, butter or olive tapenade. The 16 ounce Angus prime rib that I had this evening, seared on the outside and rare in the middle, was as fine a steak as I've had anywhere around the world. Beautifully marbled, tender like butter, and perfectly seasoned, I would put this steak up against the finest restaurants. Served with a side of smashed garlic potatoes and a medley of steamed vegetables, I started the meal off with a bowl of their New England clam chowder. There were five in our party and I could extol the wonderful qualities of each and every meal. They mixed a perfect bourbon Ricky exactly as I ordered it, their wine selection was limited but acceptable and everyone was served properly, in the proper glasses, at the proper temperatures and by a waitress who knew what she was doing. No errors in any of the complicated orders by my discerning companions. I had a peppercorn salad dressing that was dark - not ranch - that I had never had before and is worthy of a write up all its own. My wife had the chicken French which was excellent. One of my companions ordered the scallops and she claimed they were done perfectly. A special of the evening was Wiener schnitzel which looked and smelled sumptuous and my companion reported on its perfection. I was shocked to learn that the classically trained chef de cuisine, Brian Simmons, whose talents I have come to enjoy over the past three years, was out for the evening and that it was his protégé and manager Benjamin Shepard who prepared all these meals himself. Five people eating gourmet food, drinking wine and spirits and ending dinner with coffee and dessert got out of there for a combined check under $200 + a very well deserved gratuity. I recommend the Yard of Ale with enthusiasm. read more

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We ordered a little bit of everything and loved it all! Bread butter board was great and ahi was fantastic. Can't wait to go back!!

Very good food and service. Nice atmosphere..xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx

My father in law brought my wife and I here for dinner recently. They are both big fans of the prime rib, and "when in Rome...", so I ordered it as well. It was very good, and the sides of rice pilaf and steamed vegetables were perfect. They didn't overcook the vegetables at all, which was a welcome relief from some places. The complimentary bread (ciabatta and what seemed to be pretzels) was a fun starter. The interior was dark and "cozy" being late nighttime, and the staff were helpful and very friendly Their prices are a bit much for a weekly dinner outing, but for special events this would be a wonderful place to visit. read more

The welcome was very warm, they seated us next to 2 large groups so it was a little difficult to have conversations, there were other tables available, I should of asked for another table (my fault I didn't) drinks were nice size, the service was a little rushed until we asked them to slow down, food was well prepared, the bread plate was great. I will definitely return, but I will be more aware of the seating arrangement. read more

The food here is very well cooked. The seasoning is impeccable removing the need to salt and pepper anything at your table. the service was outstanding as well. We will definitely be frequenting this establishment. read more

Even though Yelp said they were open, they were not. They were closed. Drove 30 minutes to get there.

Stopped in for the first time. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. My wife and I normally share a dinner because we are not big eaters. Tonight we decided to each order a dinner. When the food came we immediately regretted our decision. I ordered the chicken parmigiana. I was fantastic but I was only able to eat half. My wife ordered the burger and she didn't even eat half. Our food was delayed because of some miscommunication. They told us the dessert was on them. We refused because we were to full and mistakes happen. When the bill came they took off a percentage because of the mistake. Great atmosphere and we will definitely be back read more

What more can one say about The Yard? This is what is called Fine Dining! It exceeded all expectations for a higher caliber cuisine! Despite that they were very busy on the particular evening we dined there, every aspect was perfect! Our meals were incredibly delicious and done to perfection. Not just delicious but also beautiful to view. The table service was professional in that every aspect from appetizer to dessert was delivered on time and when appropriate. Our wine was a perfect compliment to the food and also the proper temperature with appropriate glassware. Do not hesitate to explore this fine eatery!!! read more

Our dining experience at The Yard of Ale was incredible! We dined as a party of nine, and sat upstairs. There was plenty of room, it was very comfortable. The service was great and the wait time for food was perfect. The food however was the star of the show. I highly suggest making the trip to enjoy the Prime Rib or the Maryland Chicken; both choices were delicious. We finished with the Crème brûlée and their homemade Coconut chocolate chip ice cream. Both of which were the perfect way to end the course. Overall, great atmosphere and amazing food!! read more

Went to the yard of Ale of Ale last night on a fall Sunday. It was pretty busy, but the staff handled it well. I had a delicious 10oz Prime Rib with garlic mashed potatoes. Great service and always a great Prime Rib. read more

A great place for a reunion with an old friend. Good service, and some innovative menu items! Which we could have stayed to try dessert- next time! read more

Thought I was on candid camera but it was real life. Lets prime this story with the website which calls itself upscale and fine dining. We initially are sat at a table directly against a wall, and in the middle of the room; people bumping into us and trying to squeeze past the table. We were eventually switched to another table, however we were shivering now as the A/C was on in 45 degree weather. Not a big deal- we are from Buffalo. We get some bread, 2 bite size pieces and some frozen butter. 15 minutes later we are able to place our drink order and to save time we also place our whole order. We ordered: an old fashioned, glass of Chardonnay, clams casino, prime rib, and a tortellini shrimp Alfredo. Enter our drinks; cant mess up wine. The "old fashioned" though was served in a juice glass with an entire orange slice, a cherry from the Charcoal Corral and an entire sugar mine on the bottom; another 15 minutes and a Wegmans salad later, we are asked how everything is. We don't want to make a scene so we hand back the "old fashioned" and order a double of bulleit bourbon with a splash of ginger. In comes the same glass with ginger ale. We state our problem and it is "rectified" with a shot of bourbon in a candle holder. We get our food and the great barrier reef of salt is served under our clams casino. Uncooked vegetables from Wegmans or Sysco with the prime rib and pasta with shrimp tails still attached. $104 dinner. Waitress comes again and drops the mints on the floor, says "sorry" and gives them to us. Charged an additional fee which is not mentioned anywhere, but honestly for this trip in Disney World I would too. Oh and by the way, the hostess or the owner was slamming the same old fashioned I was served. read more

The Yard of Ale - New American Near Me - Piffard, New York

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The restaurant was busy had to make reservations a day in advance. Four meals plus drinks bill was 180ish house hamburgers was just okay, seafood special was delicious, chicken Marcellus was bland side veggies were just warm garden salad had wilted pieces. on a good note the waitress was out standing very attentive drinks were cold. Will try it again in a year or two. read more

This time for my wife's birthday they served 2 bad cuts of prime rib. We never had that happen here. So I sent them back and the next cuts were good. They recovered in less than 10 minutes with another roast. That's the good news and the server, she was great. The bad news is they served it and it was too stringy to cut on both and the medium cut was close to raw. But they get a 4 for the recovery ! We love this place and are going back read more

The best place to enjoy a dining experience in the vicinity of Geneseo. Everything we ordered was prepared exquisitely and the service was fantastic. read more

I had some family from out of state came to visit so we decided to make reservations for that fallowing evening for dinner. I've never been here so I was pretty excited to try it out. Few of us arrived early so we sat at the bar and waited and had a drink. The waitress was very lovely and easy to chat with. While sitting and waiting for our party there was a very odd fishy smell. It was friday night so fish dinners I'm sure were very popular. Unfourtantly this had a weird fish gone bad smell. Our party arrived and we were walked to our table. Our waitress was very friendly, sadly I don't remember he name. We all ordered drinks and my uncle and I ordered water. We are very picky with our water mind you. Tap usually doesn't brother me but before I could say something my uncle asked where the water came from because it tasted very chemically. All the other drinks were wonderful. Our waitress returned to take our orders. While we were waiting we were served a platter of assorted bread along with multiple butters. They were delicious and served on a very cute platter mite I add. Along with the bread we had our salads. A mixture of greens and veggies. Very filling for just a side salad. Shortly after that our main courses came out. I ordered chicken parm with a side of spaghetti. I loved that you had the option to choose what kind of pasta you would like. Angel hair it was! Not going to lie, it looked it a little off. Praying it tasted alright and to my surprise it didnt taste much like anything. The chicken was dry and the breading didn't tatse like much of anything. Gave you a bit of a crunch for texture. The pasta was cooked perfectly but again The sauce was lacking flavor and was very thin. I didnt get to ask about the other dinners much or take pictures. (my family inhales their food lol!) Everyone was focused on catching up with each other I didnt get to ask how everything else was. My aunt ordered the same thing as I did and she was more annoyed with the price for the quality. I would have to agree for a "fancy dinner" it was far from it. The friendly staff and bussers were awesome to say the least. The other down fall besides the high prices was how dimmly lit the place was. Wouldn't of been so bad but the carpet and wall coloring was pretty dark as well and it kind of made you feel trapped in a square box type room. I do want to try this place again in the future. It showed high potential and every place has an off night. Hopefully the food quality will be better next time!! read more

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Nice atmosphere with really good service and food. French onion soup is consistently fantastic!