The Elf In The Oak - Burdett

This charming and lovely restaurant near Seneca Lake offers a beautiful view. While the ambiance is delightful, I do find the prices a bit high. The menu is fairly limited, featuring only standard hot or iced coffee, and there are no fresh juice options—only packaged ones. Paying $9 for a simple croissant feels excessive to me, but the stunning views and pleasant atmosphere make it worth considering. On the plus side, parking is free.

The background music sets a great ambiance, enhancing the overall experience. The bread served is fresh, flavorful, and wonderfully warm. What sets their sandwiches apart is the generous grilling of both sides of the bread. The freshly made garlic mayonnaise adds a delicious touch. For breakfast, I highly recommend the bacon, egg, and cheese on a biscuit—it's baked to perfection and served hot. The coffee is good, and they have a lovely self-serve station. They also offer Italian seltzers; I particularly enjoyed mine with mint and basil. It's nice to see them open until 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Parking was manageable, although we arrived shortly after a rain and found the place filling up quickly. Just a heads up: come prepared for outdoor porta-potties. While the prices are a bit higher than expected, the ambiance and beautiful landscape make it worth it! This is a dining destination in the Finger Lakes area that you absolutely shouldn't miss.

What a great little find! Fantastic view. The food was delicious. The Italian soda was a game changer. Would highly recommend the Italian soda! The biscuit sandwich was really delicious, but it fell apart at dinner (maybe my own fault keeps it too hard) but still really delicious!

We enjoyed lunch at the Elf in the Oak while we were in the area for a wedding. The food was absolutely fantastic. Since it was a lovely day, dining on the deck was a delightful experience. The view from there was perfect.

I loved sitting outside on the covered deck eating our lunch. Very nice atmosphere with gorgeous views of Seneca lake. Theirs is a strictly outside restaurant, no inside seating. You order at a window then then they call your name when your order is ready. Everyone was super nice and answered any questions. Lots of variety to choose from. It was a bit pricey for sandwiches, two sandwiches and 2 colas were $40. I would be back to try their breakfast menu. Dog friendly. No bathroom, just a port-a-potty.