Finding the best restaurants is ultimately subjective, pending the likes and dislikes of each person.
But Yelp, an online review site in which customers share their experiences, can help you make informed decisions on which restaurants are worth your time.
Here are the best restaurants in Corning and the surrounding areas according to Yelp.
And please, let us know if you disagree. Subscribers and registered users can click on the blue comment button at the top of the story.
Hand + Foot comes in at the No. 1 spot in Corning according to Yelp and has 285 reviews.
Hand + Foot is a creative bar with an environment focused on craft and community. Open for lunch, dinner, and late-night food.
Menu items include sandwiches, pork chops and fried rice.
The most mentioned menu items according to Yelp are the brisket sandwich, tostones, Korean rice cakes and the tuna poke bowl.
One Yelper said: “The atmosphere is different than any other local restaurant. You share a big table with others and the menu items are unique! I love taking friends from out of town here to experience it! Staff is also knowledgeable and friendly.”
Go: 69 W. Market St., Corning; 607-973-2547; handandfoot.co
The Quincy Exchange is an upscale American bistro located on the heart of Market Street.
The Quincy Exchange offers craft cocktails, wines, and beers alongside brunch and dinner services and a seasonal menu.
The most mentioned menu items according to Yelp are the scrambled duck eggs, crabs Benedict, stuffed French toast and citrus pavlova.
One Yelper said: “Five stars on Yelp is not enough to hail and praise The Quincy Exchange. We stumbled upon this absolute gem thanks to other Yelpers. I spent several years in France and England and can honestly say that the food, dessert, juice, and tea are among the best I’ve ever had. The service is also extraordinary as is the exquisite decor. Enjoy!”
Go: 2 E. Market St. Corning; 607-463-8801; quincyexchange.com
The Cellar opened as a wine and tapas bar. They have since expanded to a full service dining destination that offers modern fusion cuisine made in-house.
They also offer a selection of local Finger Lakes wines, as well as hard-to-find and highly acclaimed international and domestic producers.
The most discussed food on Yelp is the chicken and waffles, lamb lollipops, poutine and the dark chocolate lava cake.
One Yelper said: “The Cellar was great. We were in the area for a getaway. Our server was Kortney, and she was amazing. She was happy to help modify parts of our cheese board based on dietary restrictions, and she was so warm and kind. The lamb lollipop appetizer was very tender, well-seasoned. The best part was dessert. I highly, highly recommend the flourless chocolate lava cake. Amazing. My husband had the seasonal dessert, which was a pumpkin blondie with ice cream. He said it was exactly what you would want in an autumnal dessert.”
Go: 21 W. Market St., Corning; 607-377-5552; corningwinebar.com
Nickel’s Pit BBQ features classic barbecue favorites along with an extensive list of beer, liquor and wines.
Nickel’s has two locations, one in Corning and one in Watkins Glen. All food, according to its website, is locally sourced.
The most discussed foods among Yelpers are the pulled pork sandwich, pig wings, butchie sandwich, BBQ mess plate, brisket sandwich and the breakfast tacos.
One Yelper said: “I thought I didn’t like bbq but this meal was delicious. Our waitress recommended brisket so I went for the Butchie sandwich with tater tots. The onion ring was perfectly done. The brisket had the required smoke ring and was so tender. We had great service and all our meals were finished off.”
Go: 20 E. Market St., Corning; 607-654-7306; nickelspitbbq.com
Nine Elephants specializes in seafood and Thai at its restaurant as well as some Cajun and Creole favorites.
According to its website, Nine Elephants is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients.
The pad thai, drunken noodles, green curry, pad see ew and the panang curry are the most talked about food items on Yelp.
One Yelper said: “Super fast and great service and food arrived very quickly. Ordered the edamame with chili sauce for an appetizer which was great. For our entrees, we ordered chicken pad thai and massaman curry. Both were excellent and portions were large. We ended the night with an order of kanom tuy. Great little Thai restaurant in the heart of Market Street in Corning. If you like Thai and are in the area, its definitely worth a visit.”
Go: 20 W. Market St., Corning; 607-654-7089; nineelephantsny.com
Three Birds in Corning has fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere that features an extensive martini bar and banquet space.
The menu includes steaks, seafood and pasta.
The most talked about food items on Yelp are the honey-roasted pecan pork tenderloin, oven-roasted New Zealand rack of lamb, brie en crote, and hanger steak.
One Yelper said: “I have terrible, terrible luck with ordering steak. I always get it and then inevitably say we could have done that home for less than half the cost. This was not the case here. Cook and seasoning was great, potatoes and asparagus were tasty as well. Shared a crab cake app and again, was really good. Service was very friendly and quick. Price wasn’t too bad for a classier type restaurant either. If you’re looking for a nice going out dinner option in Corning this is a good option for sure.”
Go: 73 E. Market St., Corning; 607-936-8862; threebirdsrestaurant.com
Cugini features a classic Italian menu and boasts its breads are baked fresh daily, meats are of the finest quality, and many of the cheeses are locally made and produced fresh daily.
Cugini is a family-operated business that has deep roots back to a small town known as Futani in the Campania region of Italy.
The cannoli, Marco Polo panini, Caprese salad and pizza of the month are just some of the most mentioned dishes at Cugini.
One Yelper said: “My panini was very tasty, the servers were friendly, and they had reliable WiFi! There are also some Italian products for sale (assorted cheeses, desserts) Plenty of indoor seating. I’ll have to come back for the fresh filled cannoli.”
Go: 16 W. Market St., Corning; 607-973-2269; cuginicafe.com
Tossed specializes in fresh salads, but also has bowls wraps pitas and wraps as well as gyros.
The restaurant has a five-star review on Yelp on 64 reviews with Yelpers calling the restaurant affordable and the portions large.
One Yelper said: “In all my years visiting Corning, I have no idea how I missed this wonderful eatery. Such an awesome eating experience and salad sizes that may be a world record and wraps so fresh it is mind boggling. Very friendly staff, reasonable prices, and very quick service. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. I will absolutely be a return customer.”
Go: 88 W. Market St., Corning; 607-684-6049; facebook.com/tossedonmarketstreet
Slammin Jammin is a hickory-smoked authentic Texas BBQ restaurant on Market Street.
The eatery says its side dishes are made from scratch and all of its meats are smoked daily.
The most mentioned dishes on Yelp are the pulled pork sandwich, chopped brisket, BBQ chicken plate and the BBQ prime rib sandwich.
One Yelper said: “I’ll keep this short and sweet. The food is so spot on it’s not even funny. The sides are included in this assessment. The only thing just as notable is the service and staff. For some reason, I tend to feel out of place at a BBQ restaurant. However, the staff here is friendly and welcoming, and I can’t say enough about that.”
Go: 69 E. Market St., Corning; 607-654-8449; facebook.com/slammin.jammin.50
This staple restaurant on Market Street offers a wide selection of craft beers, wines and cocktails as well as a full menu of food starting with appetizers, soups and salads, entrees and desserts.
Market Street Brewing also holds monthly lunch, dinner, dessert and cocktail specials.
One Yelper said: “The food was absolutely delicious. We sat outside and the decor and atmosphere were both wonderful. The waitress was so friendly but not intrusive — I wish I knew her name to give her a shout out. Definitely will go back when in Corning again.”
Go: 63 W. Market St. Corning; 607-936-2337; www.936-beer.com
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