My adult daughter and I just spent the most glorious New Year’s Eve at the Horned Dorset Inn. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Roberta, the proprietor. She gave us a tour of her beautiful B & B that is so meticulously decorated yet so homey and comfortable. Roberta answered all of our questions and we were on our way to enjoy the Munson Museum and GlimmerNights at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown-each a reasonable drive from the Horned Dorset. Our room was just beautiful—so much to experience in the way of furnishings along with an amazingly comfortable bed. The next day, New Year’s Eve, we drove to Colgate University’s lovely campus and then saw a movie in town. We returned to the Horned Dorset to rest up for our six-course meal at their own restaurant. What an experience!! The venue is lovely. We were invited to look around and to visit the artist colony exhibit upstairs. The food was beyond amazing-not enough space here to do it justice. The chef and staff were professional yet friendly and bent over backwards to ensure every guests’ needs were met.Both mornings, my daughter and I were greeted by Roberta and/or Kingsley. They made us a wonderful breakfast and we had such interesting conversation.This mini vacation turned into a peaceful respite as we enjoyed the inn and the surrounding areas. I couldn’t imagine a better way to start 2024!!
Service: 5
JeffreyS
Food was delicious - but service was not coordinated and some food delivered cool / cold - and it should have been hot. I would recommend for dinner - but not for a "planned New Years Eve" menu - unless the restaurant could improve their service and delivery of the food.
Mary Dailey
The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, elegant even. The service is attentive, but the servers do not give a detailed description of food preparation, presentation, or source farms that have become routine for high-end restaurants. The presentation itself is nothing special.Most disappointing is the quality of the food product and the preparation. Tonight, we ordered salmon, rack of lamb, and veal medallions. The salmon was overcooked, the lamb was cooked to the correct temperature but not well seasoned, and the meat itself was not what you would expect for fine dining. The veal was actually bad & tough. The meat was not pounded or seasoned. The cut was not medallions as listed on the menu, and there was a thick bread coating, not thinly breaded as listed. The breading was too browned, actually burnt in spots. The side salad appeared to be out of a bag, and the dressing had too much vinegar.The owners need to do something about what the kitchen is turning out to maintain the restaurant's reputation. At one point, the Horned Dorest was the only fine dining establishment in the larger region. However, Utica has been home to Motus and the Tailor and the Cook for some time now. Those restrauants' menus tell you what local farm sourced your meal, and both the preparation and presentation are as good as you would find in Manhattan. Motus, in particular, also serves killer cocktails.I want to love the Horned Dorest for the unexpected pleasure of fine dining in the middle of nowhere, but tonight, I just wanted to turn back the meal.Food & drinks: See review
Service: 4
Kyk72
Was our first visit since the pandemic, and we weren't disappointed. Worth the drive from Syracuse. Highly recommend. Ambiance, service, and food are all outstanding. A special night out.
DavidT
I can't believe in this area that we have something as grand and as beautiful as this place what a wonderful excursion into some culture... The taste that I had are still with me several days later, it was more than taste. It was the culture the atmosphere, a texture, the presentation, everything was fantastic. Our waiter was superb. It was David as well As the maître ... So impressed I'm going there at least five times a year because of this you have to go and check this place out. Unbelievable for around here. Or anywhere for that matter, Binghamton and Syracuse would be hard for us to have something as quaint and beautiful as this place.
Kevin L.
Traditional fine dining in a beautiful old building with thoughtful, attentive service. Yelp prompted me the other day to write about a business for which I'm grateful, and the Horned Dorset certainly qualifies. I've had several amazing meals there, but I was especially delighted that they were open on Thanksgiving. We often host big friendsgivings, but it just wasn't happening this year, and we were delighted to have some other options for me, my partner, and my partner's mother. Dinner started off with, always, their cheese souffle spread and house-made crackers. The first course had several choices, including an awesome gnocchi, with perfect texture and potato flavor; meatballs with risotto, also tasty; and lobster chowder, which got raves although I didn't try it. The salad that followed was nice. The main course included tender and juicy turkey, a mind-blowing potato dauphinoise, dressing, a smallish helping of green beans, and further vegetables and sides. We all took home at least another meal's worth of leftovers from the supper, and I'm a hearty eater. The deserts were similarly wonderful, including a very flavorful pumpkin cake and two other options. The Horned Dorset always delivers[*], but I especially appreciated the staff being willing to work on a holiday to provide us with such a lovely dinner. And super-attentive service to a room full of happy diners. [*] And they deliver in another way -- I have not had their to-go meals, but my partner raves about them.
Sysan C.
Excellent, expensive dinner in a beautifully understated restaurant. Leonardsville, NY is an out-if-the way location and this is an out if the ordinary restaurant! Waiter was attentive without being overbearing. Our dinners, mine was appetizer and a salad- friend had entree, were delicious and beautifully prepared. Dessert menu looked good. Maybe next time.
Professor
Spending a few days in Cooperstown NY the search engine for Open Table identified this hideaway boutique restaurant as being in close proximity. In fact Leonardsville is a 30 minute drive but we'll worth the effort. Our food selection was elegantly presented and totally delicious. We highly recommend the Horned Dorset Inn both for its wonderful food and quaint charm.
RussM
Decided to go back to the Horned Dorset after about 4 years to celebrate my anniversary. They did not disappoint. Food and service were both exemplary. I mentioned it was my anniversary when I made the reservation and they wrote it in chocolate on our dessert plate. Will certainly go again
Emma P.
Fantastic! Both food and service. Great, ambiance. A homey and comfortable restaurant. 20 minutes from Utica.
Wonderful food, great service. We visit this restaurant monthly and are always pleasantly surprised and impressed with the variety and ingenuity of the dishes. A treasure in an out of the way place, but well worth the search.
webby
The dinner was for our 56th anniversary which the Horned Dorset acknowledged with attentive service and a wonderful meal with a nice white wine. I was too full to eat dessert so they nicely boxed up a chocolate cake for me to take home. The entire event was a wonderful experience. We first dined at the Horned Dorset in February 1979 and it is amazing the atmosphere and quality have remained so consistently excellent through the years. jws
Bill W.
We haven't been to the Horned Dorset in a while but tonight's meal was exquisite. Surprisingly the scallop appetizer had four good sized scallops. The entrees were all excellent. Rack of lamb, duck, veal, and seafood trio, an appetizer done as an entree. Presentation was beautiful but the real delight was in the food. Full of flavor, perfectly prepared and that's hard with duck, and good sized portions. Service was first rate, simultaneous service for entrees, never empty water glasses and just the right table ware when needed. All in all a first class dining experience. The room has a welcoming ambiance and it is quiet but still conversation enticing. Enough room between tables as to not bother anyone else with our conversation.
Andrea Araujo
Food & drinks: The food was fantastic! Super romantic and the perfect place for an intimate dinner.
LoriR
I went with family for my birthday dinner. Two of us had allergies and special diet needs and they were knowledgeable and accommodating. David and all the wait staff were phenomenal!!! Food was of a very high quality and the soufflé was excellent.
My adult daughter and I just spent the most glorious New Year’s Eve at the Horned Dorset Inn. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Roberta, the proprietor. She gave us a tour of her beautiful B & B that is so meticulously decorated yet so homey and comfortable. Roberta answered all of our questions and we were on our way to enjoy the Munson Museum and GlimmerNights at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown-each a reasonable drive from the Horned Dorset. Our room was just beautiful—so much to experience in the way of furnishings along with an amazingly comfortable bed. The next day, New Year’s Eve, we drove to Colgate University’s lovely campus and then saw a movie in town. We returned to the Horned Dorset to rest up for our six-course meal at their own restaurant. What an experience!! The venue is lovely. We were invited to look around and to visit the artist colony exhibit upstairs. The food was beyond amazing-not enough space here to do it justice. The chef and staff were professional yet friendly and bent over backwards to ensure every guests’ needs were met.Both mornings, my daughter and I were greeted by Roberta and/or Kingsley. They made us a wonderful breakfast and we had such interesting conversation.This mini vacation turned into a peaceful respite as we enjoyed the inn and the surrounding areas. I couldn’t imagine a better way to start 2024!!
Service: 5
Food was delicious - but service was not coordinated and some food delivered cool / cold - and it should have been hot. I would recommend for dinner - but not for a "planned New Years Eve" menu - unless the restaurant could improve their service and delivery of the food.
The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, elegant even. The service is attentive, but the servers do not give a detailed description of food preparation, presentation, or source farms that have become routine for high-end restaurants. The presentation itself is nothing special.Most disappointing is the quality of the food product and the preparation. Tonight, we ordered salmon, rack of lamb, and veal medallions. The salmon was overcooked, the lamb was cooked to the correct temperature but not well seasoned, and the meat itself was not what you would expect for fine dining. The veal was actually bad & tough. The meat was not pounded or seasoned. The cut was not medallions as listed on the menu, and there was a thick bread coating, not thinly breaded as listed. The breading was too browned, actually burnt in spots. The side salad appeared to be out of a bag, and the dressing had too much vinegar.The owners need to do something about what the kitchen is turning out to maintain the restaurant's reputation. At one point, the Horned Dorest was the only fine dining establishment in the larger region. However, Utica has been home to Motus and the Tailor and the Cook for some time now. Those restrauants' menus tell you what local farm sourced your meal, and both the preparation and presentation are as good as you would find in Manhattan. Motus, in particular, also serves killer cocktails.I want to love the Horned Dorest for the unexpected pleasure of fine dining in the middle of nowhere, but tonight, I just wanted to turn back the meal.Food & drinks: See review
Service: 4
Was our first visit since the pandemic, and we weren't disappointed. Worth the drive from Syracuse. Highly recommend. Ambiance, service, and food are all outstanding. A special night out.
I can't believe in this area that we have something as grand and as beautiful as this place what a wonderful excursion into some culture... The taste that I had are still with me several days later, it was more than taste. It was the culture the atmosphere, a texture, the presentation, everything was fantastic. Our waiter was superb. It was David as well As the maître ... So impressed I'm going there at least five times a year because of this you have to go and check this place out. Unbelievable for around here. Or anywhere for that matter, Binghamton and Syracuse would be hard for us to have something as quaint and beautiful as this place.
Traditional fine dining in a beautiful old building with thoughtful, attentive service. Yelp prompted me the other day to write about a business for which I'm grateful, and the Horned Dorset certainly qualifies. I've had several amazing meals there, but I was especially delighted that they were open on Thanksgiving. We often host big friendsgivings, but it just wasn't happening this year, and we were delighted to have some other options for me, my partner, and my partner's mother. Dinner started off with, always, their cheese souffle spread and house-made crackers. The first course had several choices, including an awesome gnocchi, with perfect texture and potato flavor; meatballs with risotto, also tasty; and lobster chowder, which got raves although I didn't try it. The salad that followed was nice. The main course included tender and juicy turkey, a mind-blowing potato dauphinoise, dressing, a smallish helping of green beans, and further vegetables and sides. We all took home at least another meal's worth of leftovers from the supper, and I'm a hearty eater. The deserts were similarly wonderful, including a very flavorful pumpkin cake and two other options. The Horned Dorset always delivers[*], but I especially appreciated the staff being willing to work on a holiday to provide us with such a lovely dinner. And super-attentive service to a room full of happy diners. [*] And they deliver in another way -- I have not had their to-go meals, but my partner raves about them.
Excellent, expensive dinner in a beautifully understated restaurant. Leonardsville, NY is an out-if-the way location and this is an out if the ordinary restaurant! Waiter was attentive without being overbearing. Our dinners, mine was appetizer and a salad- friend had entree, were delicious and beautifully prepared. Dessert menu looked good. Maybe next time.
Spending a few days in Cooperstown NY the search engine for Open Table identified this hideaway boutique restaurant as being in close proximity. In fact Leonardsville is a 30 minute drive but we'll worth the effort. Our food selection was elegantly presented and totally delicious. We highly recommend the Horned Dorset Inn both for its wonderful food and quaint charm.
Decided to go back to the Horned Dorset after about 4 years to celebrate my anniversary. They did not disappoint. Food and service were both exemplary. I mentioned it was my anniversary when I made the reservation and they wrote it in chocolate on our dessert plate. Will certainly go again
Fantastic! Both food and service. Great, ambiance. A homey and comfortable restaurant. 20 minutes from Utica.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful food, great service. We visit this restaurant monthly and are always pleasantly surprised and impressed with the variety and ingenuity of the dishes. A treasure in an out of the way place, but well worth the search.
The dinner was for our 56th anniversary which the Horned Dorset acknowledged with attentive service and a wonderful meal with a nice white wine. I was too full to eat dessert so they nicely boxed up a chocolate cake for me to take home. The entire event was a wonderful experience. We first dined at the Horned Dorset in February 1979 and it is amazing the atmosphere and quality have remained so consistently excellent through the years. jws
We haven't been to the Horned Dorset in a while but tonight's meal was exquisite. Surprisingly the scallop appetizer had four good sized scallops. The entrees were all excellent. Rack of lamb, duck, veal, and seafood trio, an appetizer done as an entree. Presentation was beautiful but the real delight was in the food. Full of flavor, perfectly prepared and that's hard with duck, and good sized portions. Service was first rate, simultaneous service for entrees, never empty water glasses and just the right table ware when needed. All in all a first class dining experience. The room has a welcoming ambiance and it is quiet but still conversation enticing. Enough room between tables as to not bother anyone else with our conversation.
Food & drinks: The food was fantastic! Super romantic and the perfect place for an intimate dinner.
I went with family for my birthday dinner. Two of us had allergies and special diet needs and they were knowledgeable and accommodating. David and all the wait staff were phenomenal!!! Food was of a very high quality and the soufflé was excellent.