Heirloom Restaurant

tom kiebala

My server Marcy was terrific. She was attentive without hovering. She took time to describe dishes and told me items that she thought i would enjoy. As a first time guest, her info about Chautauqua was a blessing. My southern tier burger hit all the right notes w the reverie goat cheese playing off the savory meat. The roasted brussel sprouts w onion jam was delish. If visiting here...u must experience and ambience!

MzFabu

The food was simple, yet exquisite and flavorful! The wait staff were extremely welcoming, friendly, and accommodating.

Brenda Lucy

Had drinks with my girlfriends. Bar open during off season 4-8pm in lobby of the hotel. Great time. Stop by and see Bartender Dennis.

Annette Auteri

Thank you, Bill, for making Oliver Agramonte's 90th birthday memorable! Your service was top notch!

An absolutely lovely restaurant and hotel. It was a little hard to navigate to, but get to S. Lake Dr. and it's a bit easier. There is very limited street parking at the hotel, and the streets are very narrow. It's perfect for biking and walking. I definitely recommend parking in the lots by the main entrance to Chataqua Institute and walking especially in the busy season. The high season starts June 20th this year (2024) I assume it's around the same time every year. The restaurant does not fully open till then, but we had access to the Spring Menu and it was quite delicious. Being able to sit on the veranda with the lake laid out before and a gentle breeze, it was a place you want to while away the afternoon.

The restaurant/hotel itself is beautiful and so tranquil. The food is always good as well as the service. They have been doing buffets the last couple times we went and they are well worth the money.

Marc Wagner

What a gem at Chautauqua Institution! Great food, historic porch with great views and staff that provides great service.

Jamie Francis

The restaurant/hotel itself is beautiful and so tranquil. The food is always good as well as the service. They have been doing buffets the last couple times we went and they are well worth the money.

Madalyn Murray

An absolutely lovely restaurant and hotel. It was a little hard to navigate to, but get to S. Lake Dr. and it's a bit easier. There is very limited street parking at the hotel, and the streets are very narrow. It's perfect for biking and walking. I definitely recommend parking in the lots by the main entrance to Chataqua Institute and walking especially in the busy season. The high season starts June 20th this year (2024) I assume it's around the same time every year. The restaurant does not fully open till then, but we had access to the Spring Menu and it was quite delicious. Being able to sit on the veranda with the lake laid out before and a gentle breeze, it was a place you want to while away the afternoon.

This is a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view. We arrived early because it was an event night at the amphitheater. Glad we did because food took a bit longer than anticipated. Staff was friendly. The only reason they are not getting 5 stars was the steak was overcooked and we did not have time to let them fix it. We would go back but on a night with no events. The artichoke lemon chicken was amazing.

Ruby Stone

This is a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view. We arrived early because it was an event night at the amphitheater. Glad we did because food took a bit longer than anticipated. Staff was friendly. The only reason they are not getting 5 stars was the steak was overcooked and we did not have time to let them fix it. We would go back but on a night with no events. The artichoke lemon chicken was amazing.

We had lunch here Aug 6th and based on previous reviews I had low expectations. We had the Mezze Board to start - All of the items were fresh, and surprisingly, the hummus appeared and tasted home-made, not scooped out of a Sysco tub. I was impressed. We also had the wedge salad, pierogies, and lobster bisque. All items very good, the bisque was just ok. The service was ok, but not great. I think that's what you can expect for a seasonal restaurant. All in all, worth it - everyone in my party was happy.

Seth Brown

We had lunch here Aug 6th and based on previous reviews I had low expectations. We had the Mezze Board to start - All of the items were fresh, and surprisingly, the hummus appeared and tasted home-made, not scooped out of a Sysco tub. I was impressed. We also had the wedge salad, pierogies, and lobster bisque. All items very good, the bisque was just ok. The service was ok, but not great. I think that's what you can expect for a seasonal restaurant. All in all, worth it - everyone in my party was happy.

This is the restaurant that is part of the Atheneum Hotel. During the summer reservations are advised. We are here for breakfast and dinner three days in a row. The food could be quite good but varied day from day. We had incredible salmon one day but the very next day the exact same dish came with a very overcooked salmon. Outdoor seating is hard to come by and can’t be reserved in advance. And the one time we were seated outside it was in the morning when the sun was blinding and the heat much too intense (that was the one time we didn’t ask to be outside!). Some of the waitstaff are definitely younger folks here for the summer and clearly in training. We had some lovely servers at the same time too. They also never had oatmilk which is bewildering.

Martin Nguyen

This is the restaurant that is part of the Atheneum Hotel. During the summer reservations are advised. We are here for breakfast and dinner three days in a row. The food could be quite good but varied day from day. We had incredible salmon one day but the very next day the exact same dish came with a very overcooked salmon. Outdoor seating is hard to come by and can’t be reserved in advance. And the one time we were seated outside it was in the morning when the sun was blinding and the heat much too intense (that was the one time we didn’t ask to be outside!). Some of the waitstaff are definitely younger folks here for the summer and clearly in training. We had some lovely servers at the same time too. They also never had oatmilk which is bewildering.

Since we were staying at the hotel for the week, we had 2 dinners and 1 brunch here. You can't beat this restaurant for location, ambience, and charm. Weather-permitting, ask to eat outside on the Porch to take in the great view of the lake and the lawn. So why only a 3-star rating? It's because of the food. The menu selection was good, but the preparation and taste of the dishes are uninspired and mediocre at best. For the price, the value isn't there. Even though the brunch buffet is plentiful, the quality is no better than what you'd find for free at the Residence Inn. Go for the Porch experience. Just keep your food expectations in check.

It’s all about the view! Lovely spot to have a drink and watch the lake. The cocktails are top notch and the porch seating is unrivaled on the grounds. This summer was challenging with staff shortages and so service was quite slow but with the view it didn’t matter! The food is not the best but you’re safe with a salad or a burger.

Tamara Dull

Since we were staying at the hotel for the week, we had 2 dinners and 1 brunch here. You can't beat this restaurant for location, ambience, and charm. Weather-permitting, ask to eat outside on the Porch to take in the great view of the lake and the lawn. So why only a 3-star rating? It's because of the food. The menu selection was good, but the preparation and taste of the dishes are uninspired and mediocre at best. For the price, the value isn't there. Even though the brunch buffet is plentiful, the quality is no better than what you'd find for free at the Residence Inn. Go for the Porch experience. Just keep your food expectations in check.

It was ok. Food took a long time to be delivered to the table. Also, I got bread scraps and they were "out of butter" for the bread. Not worth the price!!!!!!!!

Anna Gerberich

It was ok. Food took a long time to be delivered to the table. Also, I got bread scraps and they were "out of butter" for the bread. Not worth the price!!!!!!!!

For such a gorgeous restaurant, they really need to work on their service and food quality. My friend and i went for dinner and had to wait 15 minutes for a server to come up to us. She brought out the food quite quickly but it was cold. I couldn't eat my meal. I waited for her to come back to check on us so that I could tell her but she never did. We waited for a very long time for her to come back to our table. The food is definitely not worth the price. It's was bland and cold.

Nice view of the lake can't make up for poor quality of food and service. This was a "second chance" visit for our party, after a very disappointing dinner last year. As we experienced last year, a lack of training, skill and management oversight is obvious. Our table tried steak, salmon and vegetarian entrees. All underseasoned and poorly presented on the plate. Service was slow and amateurish. The historic building and grounds present the opportunity for this to be a highlight of the Chautauqua Institution. Too bad they keep missing the opportunity.

Food taste & presentation - 7/10 Customer Service (in the week of June 18 - June 22, 2024...I will explain why this is important) - 4/10 (Literally 4 of my 10 servers provided respectful and courteous service) Food Price - 4/10 I want to note a few things about my experience during this week, especially sense there are similar comments in the review: **Pay attention to the week you go to Chautauqua because there are limited eating options in the off season. (I highly recommend the Italian Restaurant Intermezzo on the square for their kind service and exceptional Key Lime Pie, but I digress...) if you go in the off season you may need a refrigerator or a car to have broader food options beyond this restaurant. It's an unfortunate fact. ** The Heirloom Restaurant had good food (I enjoyed the burger and fries twice), but the food is not exceptional for the price they have listed. Expect to pay $30 - $40 for a meal of this caliber, though it is not the appropriate value. ** oh the customer service...SMH. I'll give them grace because we were in a humid heat wave and everyone was hot. The staff looked too hot and Management should have provided industrial fans in the lobby for their safety (someone call the Labor Department, please). I'm surprised no one had a heat stroke. Outside of that, I witnessed very slow food delivery and disrespect from the waitstaff. Indirect communication to customers about bar seating versus restaurant seating on the porch was unclear and frustrating. There were unnecessary and sly comments under the breath to customers and hotel guests simply asking for respectful service. This is NEVER acceptable and should not be tolerated by the Restaurant Management or the Chautauqua Institute if it is truly willing to uphold its values. It doesn't matter if this is the only food option...disrespect and poor service should never become the norm...but it looks like it is based on the Google Reviews from the past 6 years. REQUEST: **RETRAIN MANAGEMENT FIRST **DEI TRAINING **CLOSER HOTEL AND RESTAURANT COORDINATION FOR CONFERENCES **RETRAIN WAITSTAFF IN BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTICES

I always want to give the servers the benefit of the doubt. For the first hour of my party’s dinner, our waitress seemed stressed and rushed so we were polite and waited patiently for our food. The waitress did not make any effort to check in on us as the night continued. The moments she did come back, it was obvious she didn’t want to talk with us. Understandable to not want to talk with a grumpy party, but we want what the waiter wants; to go home!! We cannot do that when we’re being held up with no clear direction on if we should just leave or not. The appetizers we ordered never came so we went to the bar to cancel them as we just wanted our dinner at that point. The manager comes out and apologizes for the appetizers and offers us free dessert, which was a nice gesture but we honestly just wanted better service. When the food did come out, it was tasty. Some members of my party complained their meal was lukewarm, but we were a party of 11 so I understand if the kitchen cannot make all of our food ready at once. While we eat, I realize the manager (who assumed the role of waitress) was folding tablecloths and closing the restaurant while we’re still there! On top of that, other employees were setting up the breakfast buffet for the next morning. Hello!! You still have tables waiting to go home!! Nobody asked how our food came out or if we needed anything. Nobody was bussing our table so our plates stacked up (that adds time to your closing procedure fyi). Eventually we went to the manager and said, Hey! Instead of closing early can you help whoever is getting our checks! The checks come out and they’re wrong, no shocker! I said outloud, not to anyone in particular, “my stuff isn’t even on my check,” the manager juts in “then whats your stuff?” I resisted rolling my eyes. There are no apologies from anyone. My frustrated and tired party is clashing with an overwhelmed service. Oh, did I mention at this time there was only like 4 other parties in the restaurant? And so many bussers and servers? Priorities need to be changed. If you don’t want to deal with a grumpy group of people, then don’t ignore them while you close the restaurant. All of us just want to go home. For the wait staff, they’re lucky to get paid while they clean up around us. For my family, we’re waiting to do the right thing and pay hundreds of dollars for lukewarm food and downright cold service. Next time, just help us out and get us out the door!

Service was good, quality of the ingredients was about as bad as you can get. Horrible food! With all the lectures on sustainability and what Chautauqua stands for and there’s barely anyplace to get decent food on the grounds. If you want people to come you need to evolve with the times. Why not get good ingredients and have a guest chef every week? Someone young wanting to make a name for themselves? Make the grounds a place of all the arts.

Stephen Shorb

Nice view of the lake can't make up for poor quality of food and service. This was a "second chance" visit for our party, after a very disappointing dinner last year. As we experienced last year, a lack of training, skill and management oversight is obvious. Our table tried steak, salmon and vegetarian entrees. All underseasoned and poorly presented on the plate. Service was slow and amateurish. The historic building and grounds present the opportunity for this to be a highlight of the Chautauqua Institution. Too bad they keep missing the opportunity.

Sophia Hutcheson

I always want to give the servers the benefit of the doubt. For the first hour of my party’s dinner, our waitress seemed stressed and rushed so we were polite and waited patiently for our food. The waitress did not make any effort to check in on us as the night continued. The moments she did come back, it was obvious she didn’t want to talk with us. Understandable to not want to talk with a grumpy party, but we want what the waiter wants; to go home!! We cannot do that when we’re being held up with no clear direction on if we should just leave or not. The appetizers we ordered never came so we went to the bar to cancel them as we just wanted our dinner at that point. The manager comes out and apologizes for the appetizers and offers us free dessert, which was a nice gesture but we honestly just wanted better service. When the food did come out, it was tasty. Some members of my party complained their meal was lukewarm, but we were a party of 11 so I understand if the kitchen cannot make all of our food ready at once. While we eat, I realize the manager (who assumed the role of waitress) was folding tablecloths and closing the restaurant while we’re still there! On top of that, other employees were setting up the breakfast buffet for the next morning. Hello!! You still have tables waiting to go home!! Nobody asked how our food came out or if we needed anything. Nobody was bussing our table so our plates stacked up (that adds time to your closing procedure fyi). Eventually we went to the manager and said, Hey! Instead of closing early can you help whoever is getting our checks! The checks come out and they’re wrong, no shocker! I said outloud, not to anyone in particular, “my stuff isn’t even on my check,” the manager juts in “then whats your stuff?” I resisted rolling my eyes. There are no apologies from anyone. My frustrated and tired party is clashing with an overwhelmed service. Oh, did I mention at this time there was only like 4 other parties in the restaurant? And so many bussers and servers? Priorities need to be changed. If you don’t want to deal with a grumpy group of people, then don’t ignore them while you close the restaurant. All of us just want to go home. For the wait staff, they’re lucky to get paid while they clean up around us. For my family, we’re waiting to do the right thing and pay hundreds of dollars for lukewarm food and downright cold service. Next time, just help us out and get us out the door!

M Al

For such a gorgeous restaurant, they really need to work on their service and food quality. My friend and i went for dinner and had to wait 15 minutes for a server to come up to us. She brought out the food quite quickly but it was cold. I couldn't eat my meal. I waited for her to come back to check on us so that I could tell her but she never did. We waited for a very long time for her to come back to our table. The food is definitely not worth the price. It's was bland and cold.

TeMika Grooms

Food taste & presentation - 7/10 Customer Service (in the week of June 18 - June 22, 2024...I will explain why this is important) - 4/10 (Literally 4 of my 10 servers provided respectful and courteous service) Food Price - 4/10 I want to note a few things about my experience during this week, especially sense there are similar comments in the review: **Pay attention to the week you go to Chautauqua because there are limited eating options in the off season. (I highly recommend the Italian Restaurant Intermezzo on the square for their kind service and exceptional Key Lime Pie, but I digress...) if you go in the off season you may need a refrigerator or a car to have broader food options beyond this restaurant. It's an unfortunate fact. ** The Heirloom Restaurant had good food (I enjoyed the burger and fries twice), but the food is not exceptional for the price they have listed. Expect to pay $30 - $40 for a meal of this caliber, though it is not the appropriate value. ** oh the customer service...SMH. I'll give them grace because we were in a humid heat wave and everyone was hot. The staff looked too hot and Management should have provided industrial fans in the lobby for their safety (someone call the Labor Department, please). I'm surprised no one had a heat stroke. Outside of that, I witnessed very slow food delivery and disrespect from the waitstaff. Indirect communication to customers about bar seating versus restaurant seating on the porch was unclear and frustrating. There were unnecessary and sly comments under the breath to customers and hotel guests simply asking for respectful service. This is NEVER acceptable and should not be tolerated by the Restaurant Management or the Chautauqua Institute if it is truly willing to uphold its values. It doesn't matter if this is the only food option...disrespect and poor service should never become the norm...but it looks like it is based on the Google Reviews from the past 6 years. REQUEST: **RETRAIN MANAGEMENT FIRST **DEI TRAINING **CLOSER HOTEL AND RESTAURANT COORDINATION FOR CONFERENCES **RETRAIN WAITSTAFF IN BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTICES

Jessica

Service was good, quality of the ingredients was about as bad as you can get. Horrible food! With all the lectures on sustainability and what Chautauqua stands for and there’s barely anyplace to get decent food on the grounds. If you want people to come you need to evolve with the times. Why not get good ingredients and have a guest chef every week? Someone young wanting to make a name for themselves? Make the grounds a place of all the arts.