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 Hornell 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.
1. Marino’s
Marino’s offers Italian-American cuisine, lunches and dinners along with a full bar and comes in at No. 1 on Yelp’s list of best restaurants in Hornell.
The restaurant, which has been in Hornell since 2004, has marked its menu with its best sellers for customers.
Marino’s serves sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads, chicken, pork, seafood and steak as well as much more.
One Yelper said: Excellent! Was there for the first time tonight and I was impressed. We had the spinach artichoke dip for an appetizer and it was delicious. For our meals, I had the philly chicken cheese steak and my wife had the rigatoni. Both meals were great. Service was prompt and I will definitely return.
Go: 110 Loder St., Hornell; 607-324-5896; marinoshornell.com
2. Paddy’s Pub and Grill
Paddy’s Pub and Grill earns the No.1 spot according to Yelp.
This bar and grill features American/Irish cuisine, burgers and nightly specials.
They have 30 tap lines at Paddy’s that feature brewing companies like Lawson’s, Fiddlehead and Finback.
The most mentioned dishes on Yelp are the Dublin Gate burger, the cow pig wrap, Dodger blue burger, pulled pork and the Reuben.
One Yelper said: “My wife and I were so impressed with the food we had for dinner last night. The Reuben was absolutely amazing! Carved pieces of Corned Beef, not sliced lunch meat. My Cesar salad was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. Our waitress took very good care of us even though she was very busy. Great job! We will be back!!”
Go: 66 Broadway Mall, Hornell; 607-324-1960; paddyspubandgrill.com
3. Railhead Brewing Company
Railhead Brewing Company features an assortment of wood fires pizzas as well as an assortment of drinks.
The brewery currently brews on a three-barrel brewhouse and produces all beers in-house (unless there is a guest tap).
The most mentioned dishes on Yelp include the Buffalo chicken pizza, chicken bacon ranch pizza, chicken and arugula pizza, and Margherita pizza.
One Yelper said: “We went on Saturday and we are never disappointed. YUM! We did a tasting and had the pretzel. Truthfully we haven’t been out since the pandemic but we sat outside and it was nice and spread out. I liked the Misty eye lager and my husband loves IPAs so he enjoyed Cosmic something?? Either way nice place and good beer.”
Go: 40 Park Dr., Hornell; 607-324-3286; railheadbrewing.com
4. Club 57
Club 57 specializes in baby back ribs and also features burgers, prime rib and Italian dishes.
The restaurant features daily specials like Wing Night, Pint Night, Fight Night and more.
According to its website, Club 56 says, “from steaks to pasta, from our huge salads to our famous baby-back ribs (people actually drive for hours to enjoy them!) “The Club” really is great food and good times!”
One Yelper said: “This is an incredible place to eat! The food is great and so is the staff! My wife and I are extremely happy with the new ownership. We go on a regular basis and have never had a complaint. Great service by a happy and upbeat staff. You can’t go wrong if you are in the area!”
Go: 7465 Seneca Road N., Hornell; 607-324-1143; club57.com
5. Italian Villa Restaurant
Established in 1974, this restaurant in Hornell has been selling Italian favorites ever since.
Rich Argentieri makes his homemade sauce, meatballs, pizza dough, lasagna, eggplant and chicken parmigiana each day from the family recipes that his grandparents brought to America from Italy.
In addition, the restaurant serves pizza, steak, pasta and shrimp, mac and cheese and much more.
One Yelper said: “This is a great place to get a meal if you are a couple or a party of 12! Great value and the staff is very friendly and courteous! Food was amazing and large portions. Yes the place is a little dated but it’s very clean. Keep up the good work guys!”
Go: 196 Seneca St., Hornell; 607-324-6063; italianvillaonline.com
6. Milliner’s Southern Smoke
From food truck to restaurant, Millner’s Southern Smoke specializes in barbeque and dry drubs.
The menu features sandwiches, fish fry, pulled pork, ribs, fried chicken and more. All of the sides are made in-house and include to salt potatoes, coleslaw, smoked beans and mac and cheese.
One Yelper said: “Awesome bbq and dry rubs! The spice in the smoked chicken flavored the meat exquisitely! The ribs and brisket perfect pink, all with awesome sauces. The sides of coleslaw and smoked beans were delicious and healthy. Friendly peeps!”
Go: 66 River St., Hornell; 607-661-9414; millinerssouthernsmoke.com
7. Giovanni’s Pizzeria Restaurant
Giovanni’s has been owned and operated since 1992 and features authentic Italian cuisine made from Old World recipes.
‘We use the freshest ingredients, and it shows in our pizzas. Get an authentic Pizza from Giovanni’s, you won’t eat anywhere else.’ Giovanni’s boasts on its website.
Giovanni’s offers a wide variety of pizza choices from slices, thin crust and thick crust pizzas, party pizzas, stuffed pizzas, strombolis and calzones.
Giovanni’s also sells pasta and baked dishes and features an all-you-can-eat salad bar.
One Yelper says: “The ownership cares deeply about the food and creates a healthy atmosphere with a happy staff. You can’t have quality food unless you create a great work environment. Make no mistake, this is great food! The subs are incredible! It is a treat to stop in and watch the food being made. I’ve never had a bad experience and I’ve been going there for many years. Stop in for food, you will be glad you did!”
Go: 119 Seneca St., Hornell; 607-324-6000; facebook.com/Hornellgios
8. Old Mill
Old Mill sells traditional American food and is a quintessential small-town American pub and eatery in Alfred Station.
According to the website, it offers an expanded menu featuring classic American cuisine as well as a variety of other traditional favorites.
The Old Mill recently opened after being forced to close due to renovations.
One Yelper said: “Came in here on my way through. Nothing too big or fancy, but they did have pretty good drinks for not too expensive at all, and they do have some pretty cracking jalapeno poppers, so that was a plus for me. They had a much wider range of items to choose from (chicken tenders, pizza logs, chicken wings, etc…), and I heard from the locals that the wings here are the best in town, so sounds like they have enough so you dont feel like you’re eating the same stuff over and over.”
Go: 1 Depot St., Alfred Station; 607-587-9060; onedepotstreet.com
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