Ask anyone in the Greater Rochester-Finger Lakes (FLX) region, and they’ll agree that Fall 2026 has been an exceptionally beautiful, and gradual fall with a significant amount of warmer days. This gradual pace of the changing season is arguably due to the “Super” El Nino that NOAA predicted earlier this year; possibly one of the warmest falls on record. What I have learned over the years living in the Rochester and FLX region is that when you’re experiencing a long stretch of warmer days during the fall months you have to enjoy it while it last. That was the case on Saturday, October 24th, when Rochester experienced a warm and beautiful day. My wife and I decided to head to Geneva, a hip and vibrant little wine-focused community on the northwestern tip of Seneca Lake.
The radiant bar space at Kindred Fare in Geneva, New York.
The Kindred Kale Salad made with pickled red onions, bacon, goat’s milk feta, focaccia croutons, and a buttermilk herb dressing.
For years, I had been looking into the local food scene in Geneva, and while there are many high quality eateries in the area, Kindred Fare had been on my list of places to visit. Usually when I’m touring the Finger Lakes, I am lounging at wineries, tasting beers at local breweries, or hanging out by the water on the gorgeous lakes. On this visit, I was determined to grab a seat at one of Geneva’s highly regarded gourmet restaurants. Let me start by saying this, the experience and ambiance at Kindred Fare is truly remarkable from the quality of the entrees, the attentiveness of the service, the unique flavors of the cocktails, the fresh ingredients, and the ambiance that somehow feels like you’re dining in a phenomenal restaurant in Napa Valley without stepping foot outside of Upstate New York.
From Downtown Rochester, @kindredfare is roughly a 50-minute drive. Between this excellent restaurant, and the numerous wineries around Seneca Lake, a day trip to Geneva is worthwhile. There you can immerse yourself into one of the greatest wine regions in the United States, and satisfy the senses at a lovely establishment that offers an elevated dining experience.
A 16oz grass fed grilled flank steak with a side of rosemary fries, garlic aioli, steak sauce, a house-made ketchup, and topped with black garlic butter.
If you’ve followed my writing then you know I keep it simple. My efforts are usually to give a synopsis of the experience with the hopes that you too will find the time to come to your own conclusions of the vibe and local scene whatever that may be. When thinking about Kindred Fare, it is notable to share that the meal was fantastic. Starting with the Kindred Kale Salad, it was made with a rich and creamy buttermilk herb dressing, and had an excellent crisp to each bite between their juicy and tender cuts of bacon and focaccia croutons which had some nice butteriness to them. Layered throughout the salad were crumbles of salty and savory goat’s milk feta, and gently pickled red onions all atop fresh crisp kale. The grass-fed flank steak was cooked to perfection, and was topped with melting black garlic butter which added a satiating flavor to the juicy and tender grilled steak.
The Hip Hop Anonymous and A Horse With No Name cocktails from Kindred Fare.
The cocktails were also perfectly balanced, probably some of the best cocktails I’ve had all year. The Hip Hop Anonymous was made with tequila, manzanilla, lime, spiced jalapeño, bittered mezcal, and gave off plenty of citrus and spice flavors with each sip. Similarly, A Horse With No Name featured mezcal, crème de pêche, vecchio amaro, grenadine, lime, and salt, which was smoky and savory libation with a hint of underlying sweetness from the grenadine. These were undeniably high quality craft cocktails.
A side view of the space and kitchen at Kindred Fare in Geneva, New York.
When it comes to high quality dining, I am drawn to establishments that make service a priority. From my perspective, the quality of service can elevate any meal taking it from great to exquisite. It is safe to say that Kindred Fare provided excellent service and there was not a single moment that felt unattended, even during a busy dinner rush. It should be noted that the restaurant opened their doors to the public in December 2015, and even now as we approach the end of 2026, they are still elevating the gourmet experience in Geneva, New York, and the FLX.
